Lea Soil and Water Conservation District

02/27/2025

US Drought Monitor 2-27-25

For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 34.86% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 33.41% last week.

02/11/2025

Despite agricultural importance, the Ogallala Aquifer's groundwater quality and quantity are declining. Warming trends and highly variable precipitation contributes to the decline of a system that drives regional socioeconomic activity and ecosystems.
The vital work of addressing regional aquifer depletion and other water-related challenges requires social connections and management actions from local to global scales. The Ogallala Aquifer Summit (2018, 2021, 2024) unites diverse water managers and practitioners to work on these goals.
The 2024 Ogallala Aquifer Summit Summary Report has been posted! Learn all about the ideas and participation of the Ogallala Aquifer Summit held in Liberal, Kansas on March 18-19, 2024.
Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/49BEAlb

05/21/2024

Thanks to bees, birds, butterflies, bats and even beetles, we get to enjoy beautiful floral landscapes and delicious fruits, vegetables and other pollinated treats we have grown accustomed to. During this season for outdoor activities, it’s important to ensure your backyard garden is a place where pollinators and other beneficial insects can thrive. To learn more about backyard beneficial insects, visit https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_h/H172/.

05/21/2024

DID YOU KNOW ...?

New Mexico-based agricultural businesses may apply for internship funding through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture Agricultural Workforce Development (AWD) Program. The goal of the AWD Program is to create opportunities for young and beginning farmers and ranchers, including students, to gain work experience in agriculture that can turn into careers and thus support New Mexico’s agricultural future. Funding for the FY25 grant application period will be announced in June. For details, visit https://nmdeptag.nmsu.edu/agricultural-workforce-development.html.

03/20/2024

Sustainable farming helps take care of our natural resources today. Farmers and ranchers in New Mexico and across the country continue to protect our soil, water and air, ensuring that the next generation has the necessary resources to provide for growing populations. Some sustainable agricultural practices include planting cover crops, implementing no-till or strip-till conservation practices, crop rotation and rotational livestock grazing.

03/12/2024

03/05/2024

Wildfire preparedness is an important component of spring cleaning. Homeowners should consider establishing defensible space, by removing trees, shrubs & vegetation within 30 feet of a home. For tips on fire prevention & preparedness, visit https://emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/fire-prevention-programs/.

12/01/2023

New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service has launched a new website to address the critical land access needs in the state by connecting farmers and ranchers with landowners.

New Mexico LandLink provides a platform that allows land-seekers and landowners to communicate and discover resources, and a program for NMSU Extension agents to access tools and resources needed to aid New Mexico residents.

https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-extension-website-helps-connect-farmers--ranchers--landowners/s/13615c35-9a2d-41ce-9057-298a938a4bdb