SW New Mexico News

New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, will host the inaugural New Mexico Soil Health and Soil Carbon Conference. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, and Thursday, Aug. 1 at the Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Place NE in Albuquerque.

“This conference is a product of the carbon management and soil health initiative at NMSU in cooperation with NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program. The carbon management and soil health team at NMSU is investigating carbon sequestration and soil health management in croplands, rangelands, forests and urban landscapes in New Mexico. They have been able to do this due to congressionally directed spending that they received about two years ago,” said John Idowu, Extension Plant Sciences specialist and Extension agronomist. “Efforts have focused on researching carbon management practices and conducting outreach activities targeted toward farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in the state.”

To register for the free event, visit https://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/soilcarbon.

The first day of the conference will feature presentations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., covering topics such as the status of soil health and soil carbon on New Mexico lands; measuring soil carbon and soil health; and managing soil health in cropland, rangeland, urban, and small-acreage settings. NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program will hold a roundtable discussion with past grantees to highlight how farmers, ranchers, and other land managers can improve soil health through successful projects. Agricultural producers who have implemented successful soil health management practices will also share their experiences during the conference.

The second day will focus on field tours designed to help participants understand common soil health issues in crop and range lands and how to conduct in-field assessments of soil health. Participants can select which field tours they want to attend.

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte stated that the conference serves as a critical resource for agricultural producers and land managers in the state.

“This conference is an excellent opportunity for agricultural producers and land managers to learn about improving soil health and crop productivity,” Witte said. “It is important to engage farmers, ranchers, and other land managers in identifying adaptable soil health management practices for arid and semi-arid regions that will enhance production while also providing real and measurable progress for the environment.”

For more information, contact John Idowu at jidowu@nmsu.edu.

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