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Take a minute to find out how we got started and what we hope to accomplish BeginningsThe La Union Soil and Water Conservation District began the Mesilla Valley Precision Farming Pilot Project at their November 11, 1997 meeting. The board asked the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), District Conservationist, John Allen, and Soil Conservationist, David Christenson, to explore opportunities to apply the latest technologies to agriculture in the Mesilla Valley. Subsequent prioritization of resource concerns by the district ranked water conservation as the number one concern. Rudy Garcia, NRCS Soil Conservationist and Water Quality Specialist, had already developed the Holistic Irrigation Technology program (HIT), to a significant degree. The potential combination of technologies offered a special opportunity.Purpose The initial stage of this project applies proven best management practices in conjunction with support from new technologies like geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Internet, and field sample data analysis to irrigated farms in the Mesilla Valley. The new technologies map soil properties, monitor crop conditions, match crop and irrigation systems to soil properties and water quality, and identify areas of probable concern as soon as possible. The project teaches the proper interpretation of field sample data, use of irrigation guides, and best management practices that conserve water, reduce leaching of nutrients into the ground water, and reduce applications of agricultural chemicals. The end result is a win-win situation! Growers increase their net profit margins and protect the environment as good stewards of the land. The project was expanded to include the 1999 Chile Task Force 16 farms throughout the southern region of New Mexico! Chile growers west of the Rio Grande region in Deming, the Uvas Valley near Hatch, and the southeastern Artesia area all were added to 15 Mesilla Valley farms. A total of 31 farms have begun to implement the program. Today New Mexico ranchers throughout the state have also indicated an interest in exploring the potential of using remote sensing to improve rangeland health. The addition of an SST Information Lab will be a benefit to ranchers and watershed management as well as crop producers. A "Scientific Visualization" program is underway using multimedia technologies to illustrate and teach difficult to understand environmental processes.
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Note: Technical Questions
may possibly be quickly answered by contacting USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service Soil Conservationists: Holistic Irrigation Technology (HIT) Rudy Garcia, Soil Conservationist (Water Quality), rgarcia@nm.nrcs.usda.gov or call: (505) 522-8775, ext. 116 Remote Sensing & GIS Technology Dave Christenson, Soil Conservationist (Remote Sensing), dchriste@nm.nrcs.usda.gov or call: (505) 522-8775, ext. 115 Send mail to LaUnion@zianet.com with questions or comments about this web site.
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