SW New Mexico News

The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service is set to host two workshops on June 6 at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. The first workshop, the Specialty Crop workshop, will focus on crops such as lavender, yellowhorn, tomatoes, pomegranates, pistachios, figs and the basics of soil health. The second workshop, Pesticide Applicator training, will provide an opportunity for active New Mexico Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders to earn continuing education units.

Each workshop carries a cost of $50 per person if registered by May 31. However, late or on-site registration will cost $75 per person. Interested parties can register via https://pesticide.nmsu.edu/.

The Specialty Crop workshop will feature sessions led by various experts in their respective fields. John Idowu, NMSU specialist and Extension agronomist will lead a session on soil health; John Garlisch from Bernalillo County Extension program will cover lavender; Jeff Anderson from Doña Ana County Extension will discuss yellowhorn; Stephanie Walker from NMSU will present on tomatoes; ML Robinson from the University of Nevada will cover pomegranates; Richard Heerema will talk about pistachios; and figs will be covered by Robinson and Anderson.

NMSU’s pesticide applicators have the opportunity to earn five CEUs by attending the training. Topics that are set to be discussed include pesticides in aquatic systems by Rossana Sallenave; top 10 tree diseases and disorders in southern New Mexico by Phillip Lujan; weed management in urban landscapes by Leslie Beck; New Mexico pesticide update by Erica Millette; and beneficial insects by Joanie King.

For more information regarding these workshops, individuals can contact Anderson at lantz@nmsu.edu or 575-525-6649 or Lujan at pl11@nmsu.edu or 575-646-1822. Additional details can also be found at https://pesticide.nmsu.edu/documents/psepcrop-flyer24.pdf.