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Agricultural Science Center field days share research with community members
August is the peak of activities at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences' agricultural science centers across the state, including hosting field days.
In keeping with the land-grant university mission, annual field days allow community members to learn what research is being conducted at the science centers and what is being learned from the research.
"Public events at the science centers are an important opportunity for NMSU researchers to share their progress with the community and to gain valuable insights on their work from the agricultural producers and others who are most impacted by the advances these research efforts can create," said Provost Waded Cruzado.
This year centers at Farmington, Tucumcarri, Los Lunas and Clovis are holding field days. Some centers, Artesia and Alcalde, hold their event every other year, while Corona hosts its field day every three years.
The day combines a guided tour of the farm with a barbeque lunch or supper. It is a time for community members to visit with old friends, make new friends and share ideas on how to improve their agricultural operations.
There are many other activities during the year in which agricultural science center staff members fulfill the land-grant university mission of disseminating research-based information to agricultural producers:
• The extension staff of the Rural Agricultural Improvement and Public Affairs Project at the Sustainable Agriculture Science Center in Alcalde hosts the Pueblo Indian Days every other year, as well as helps with the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference and Small Farm Conference.
• Agricultural Science center at Clovis also hosts a wheat field day in May and a peanut field day in September. The researchers stationed there also participate in many conferences, including the Southwest Dairy Consortium.
• Corona Range and Livestock Research Center holds a half-day college program each July and is involved with the Southwest Beef Symposium.
• Fabian Garcia Research Center in Las Cruces hosts its chile field day in August and an onion field day in May.
• Leyendecker Plant Science Center in Las Cruces hosts many events including the chile conference in January, pecan field day in November, turf field days and tours of its facility for legislators and others.
• Agricultural Science Center at Farmington hosts tours of its native plant xeriscape demonstration garden and educational tours of the weather station for home-schooled students.
• Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcarri conducts an annual bull test with the New Mexico Beef Cattle Association from October through March. Visitors are also welcome to participate in a walking tour of the Eastern New Mexico Outdoor Arboretum on the science center grounds.
• While Clayton Livestock Research Center does not host a field day, its researchers present programs at various workshops and conferences around the state.
Written by Jane Moorman.