The Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde, part of New Mexico State University, will hold its annual field day on August 14 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event is open to the public and will take place at 371 County Road 40 in Alcalde.
Attendees can participate in wagon tours of the center’s research plots and a walking tour focused on fruit production. During these tours, NMSU researchers will discuss topics such as integrating saffron into local vegetable systems, chickpea cultivation as a sustainable crop for New Mexico, trials with Atacama Choclero and Central Asian melons, native shrub windbreaks for multiple uses, and herbicide testing on beans and chile.
The walking tour will cover fruit tree pest management, high-tunnel stone fruit production, apple rootstocks suitable for high-density planting in northern New Mexico’s conditions, grape cultivars adapted to the region, and jujube cultivar trials.
Saeid Zehtab Salmasi, research director of the Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde, said: “We would like to assist community members in understanding the importance of local agricultural research and present the findings of our research program focused on high-value, low-input and alternative crops that are appropriate for small farms and water-deficient conditions in north-central New Mexico.”
Lunch will be provided at no cost. The center encourages people with disabilities who need auxiliary aids or services to contact Elena Arellano at 505-852-4241 or eare@nmsu.edu. Service animals are welcome.
