Field day to focus on doing more with limited resources

Doing more with less is the theme of this year's field day set for Friday at the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, according to organizers.

File photo

Presentations at the New Mexico State University field day at the agricultural science center at Clovis will focus on producing more crops with less resources, according to organizers. Researchers will talk about new tillage techniques and potential herbicides and fertilizers used in sorghum crops.

Mark Marsalis, extension agronomist, said presenters at the field day will exhibit technologies and methods that show farmers how to make the most of their crops with less resources.

In commemoration of the 150th year of the Morrill Act, which established land grant university systems across the country, Marsalis said longtime local farmers Hoyt Pattison and Blake Curtis will give a presentation of how the agricultural industry has changed over the years. Land grand universities were set up to conduct agricultural research, Marsalis said.

New Mexico State Engineer Scott Verhines will give the keynote address about issues affecting water in the state and how declining water sources in eastern New Mexico could affect the agriculture industry.

Here are highlights of Friday's presentations:

History lesson

Hoyt Pattison has been farming in Clovis for 58 years. His family has farmed in the area for 100 years. Pattison will be one of two speakers giving an historical overview of how agriculture has changed in eastern New Mexico.

For one thing, Pattison said farming machines have advanced to be more productive. He said his first tractor sported a paltry 30 horse power compared to today's versions that have up to 600 horsepower. Pattison, who is also an agricultural engineer, said the sprayer he built can cover an acre a minute, his first tractor could do about three acres an hour.

Pattison said the installation of the science center in Clovis in the 1940s has also helped introduce varieties of crops such as corn, wheat and milo that thrived in the high plains.

But the major trends in farming he's observed have been in irrigation. He said he has seen the region change from dryland farming, which depends on precipitation to nourish crops, to irrigated farming, which uses a system to pump water from sources such as wells and water basin systems to irrigate crop land, and back to dryland farming because of depleting water sources.

Fertilizers and herbicides

In line with the event's theme of doing less with more, Marsalis said he will present new methods of applying fertilizers to crops. He said his presentation will also tackle the different sources of nitrogen, the principal ingredient in fertilizers.

Marsalis will also discuss new potential herbicides from sorghum. Sorghum is a crop that produces grain for animal feed or can be chopped up and used as cattle feed.

"Any new ones we can get can be a good thing," he said.

Strip tillage

Marsalis said Rick Kochenower, area specialist from Oklahoma State University, will discuss a new method of tilling soil, which reduces damage to the land and prevents unnecessary evaporation. He said the method involves a different type of plow that will not disturb organic matter and ground cover between crop rows.

Oilseed crops

Marsalis said crop stress physiologist Sangu Angadi and graduate student Sukhbir Singh will present their research on developing winter oilseed crops. He said Angadi has done research on whether canola or safflower plants could be a potential crops for area farmers. He said the plants are used for oil production for cooking and for biofuels.

"We're trying to find out which ones have potential or are water use efficient," he said.

Fast facts

What: NMSU agricultural science center field day.

When: 9 a.m. Friday (registration at 8 a.m.)

Where: 2346 New Mexico 288, Clovis, NM 88101

Information: 985-2292