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New Mexico's private landowners continue to respond to the natural resource
challenges facing them. Each year, gains in conservation take us closer to our
goal of maintaining productive land and quality environments.
We have made historic strides in recent years. Gains have been realized by
apple growers in Espanola, chile farmers in Hatch, and beef ranchers in Roy
through better irrigation systems, more forage per acre, and a safer way to
handle chemicals on the farm.
New Mexico has experienced drought that dominated talk in recent years over
coffee at the Spic and Span in Las Vegas and across the fence in Reserve. The
drought brought home the point more than ever that farmers and ranchers need a
conservation plan for adapting to conditions during dry years, in addition to
plans for capitalizing on plentiful moisture during wet years. Most of our
farmers and ranchers in their fifties and sixties do this naturally. But we
have new people, and we can buy them some experience by working with them and
doing conservation plans. The 2002 Farm Bill offers New Mexican farmers and
ranchers more resources to do conservation planning and assistance in putting
good conservation practices on the land.
The many victories by farmers and ranchers in New Mexico inspire us. It is
with deep appreciation that we partner with the private landowner, and support
farms and ranches that live well with their environment and are sound
financially. I invite you to visit the various pages of our web site and
determine your role in conserving New Mexico's natural resources.
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