Special Initiatives
The College of Agriculture and Home Economics is aggressively involved in finding solutions to current problems in New Mexico. Many of our research and community educational programs are guided by community advisory groups, which help focus our efforts on improving the economic and environmental conditions and personal quality of life in our communities. The task forces and special initiatives listed below are just a few examples.
- NMSU Sustainability and Climate Change Task Force
- New Mexico Chile Association/Chile Task Force
- E-Commerce
- E-Education
- Invasive Weeds Special Initiative
- Range Improvement Task Force
- Water Task Force
- Agricultural Mediation Program
- Kids, Kows and More
- New Mexico Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program
- New Mexico Homeland Security
NMSU Sustainability and Climate Change Task Force
On April 17, 2007 New Mexico State University President Michael Martin signed an agreement making NMSU a member of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The purpose of the commitment is twofold. First, the signatories agree to make their universities positive examples within their respective communities by enacting policies that encourage climate neutrality, sustainability, and energy conservation on campus. Second, the signatory institutions are charged with the task of educating the next generation of citizens, scientists, and community leaders to be sensitive to the issues of climate change and sustainability and to provide them the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
New Mexico Chile Association/Chile Task Force
Formed in 1998, the Chile Task Force is working to ensure that New Mexico's chile industry is cost-effective enough to be competitive in a global market place. Three working groups (mechanical harvesting, best management practices and drip irrigation) focus on modernizing the local industry.
Proposed research will simultaneously develop harvest and cleaning machinery, breed cultivars and formulate best management practices for mechanical harvesting and assess the economic efficiency, profitability, financial feasibility and risk profile of adopting of mechanical harvesting. Conventional and electronic Extension and education materials will be developed for all aspects of the project.
Contact:
Rich Phillips: rphillip@cnmailsvr.nmsu.edu
Daniel Kim: dkim@nmsu.edu
E-Commerce and the Rural Telecommunications Task Force
The college's Rural Telecommunications Task Force organizes teleliteracy programs and projects in rural communities. It is dedicated to training business people, government officials, community leaders and local youth on establishing e-commerce and local online services.
For example, the Teleliteracy Assistance for Businesses and Communities (T-ABCs) project gives participants the basic tools to take advantage of e-commerce and e-government opportunities. Seminars emphasize Internet use as an effectve way to integrate rural communities into the emerging global economy. The presentations blend multimedia tools with videos, print materials and workbooks.
Contact:Octavio Ramirez, Professor and Department Head, oramirez@nmsu.edu.
- NMSU Launching Teleliteracy Workshops in Rural Areas This Month:
cahe.nmsu.edu/news/2001/021301_global.html - TABCs Website:
www.nmtabcs.net
E-Education and Extension Learning Centers
Distance education is becoming less remote for rural New Mexicans through new online technology and plans for 47 new NMSU learning centers. In April 2001, NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service opened the first four of these centers. Currently, Extension offices across the state are getting high-speed Internet connections and additional computers with support from industry, including Eastern New Mexico Rural-Plateau Communications and TechNet. Several Extension programs are offering online training on an ongoing basis.
Water Task Force
Water is one of the most urgent issues facing New Mexico. Complex problems of supply and demand, ownership and water quality are intrinsically inter-related. As a natural resource and basic element of our environment, decisions affecting water quality and quantity should be based on proven scientific understanding. The College of Agriculture and Home Economics (CAHE) Water Task Force works to provide scientific knowledge of water's physical, biological, chemical, and social relationships and their impacts on New Mexico's most valued treasure.
The Water Task Force is positioned to bring science-based, decision-making and leadership skills to the water dialogue. The Water Task Force contributes unbiased expertise to guide, interpret and implement needed New Mexico water research studies. To help meet the challenge of water problems facing New Mexico, CAHE Water Task Force works with stakeholders to formulate ideas, information, and technologies that may serve as solutions. The Task Force is comprised of NMSU faculty who devote time and knowledge to specific activities. CAHE has identified as many as 75 professionals with expertise in a variety of water topics.
Contact: Craig Runyan, Extension water quality specialist, crunyan@nmsu.edu
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NMSU Water Task Force Web page:
http://www.watertaskforce.org - NMSU Rio Grande Basin Initiative Web site:
http://riogrande.nmsu.edu - Southern Regional Water Quality Program Web site:
http://srwqis.tamu.edu/states/newmexico/ - Water Task Force publications
New Mexico Agricultural Mediation Program
The New Mexico Agricultural Mediation Program is certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Cooperative Extension Service at NMSU. The Program provides mediation on agricultural issues including: wetlands determinations; compliance with farm programs; conservation programs; agricultural credit; rural water loan programs; grazing on Forest Service lands; pesticides, and such other issues as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture considers appropriate.
The mediation process focuses on the problem not the people or their positions. Mediation provides a neutral, confidential setting with a trained facilitator to enable parties to work out a solution that meets the interests of both sides.
Contact: Patrick Sullivan, pasulliv@nmsu.edu
Kids, Kows and More
Kids, Kows and More is designed to bring the farm to the city by teaching young people to appreciate agriculture and understand where their food comes from. The program, which began in El Paso, Texas, in 1990, has expand across New Mexico with support from Texas A & M and Southwest Dairy Farmers, who helped get the original program started in El Paso.
Contact: Alfred Gonzales, ap-gonzales@tamu.edu, (915) 872-8791
New Mexico Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program
The purpose of the NMCCA program is to certify that individuals working in agronomy and advising others on agronomic principles, have a professional level of expertise. The NMCCA program also provides up-to-date information that affects New Mexico growers. With the diversity of crops grown in New Mexico, the NMCCA program will help provide a broad diversity of cropping information to you through both active programs around the state and through accredited programming on the Internet.
New Mexico Homeland Security
New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service is your local partner in stressful times and can help you in your crisis response.
Extension is our statewide informal, educational system with offices located in every county.
If your crisis involves preparedness, security, procedural steps, regulations, contact information, official protocols, or tips for local citizens, Extension has the technology network, personnel assistance, and financial resources to help you respond quickly.