SFI Legislative Proposal: Non-Recurring Funds Request

2006-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

NMSU Small Farm Institute, $500,000, Non-recurring General Fund

Bill/Sponsors:

SUMMARY

The NMSU Small Farm Teaching, Research and Extension Institute (hereafter referred to as NMSU Small Farm Institute (SFI)) seeks an appropriation to New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service for the development of an integrated teaching, research and extension facility on the NMSU campus to support small farm and sustainable agriculture teaching, research and extension activities throughout the state of New Mexico—by appropriating $500,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in FY08 to provide funding for infrastructure and equipment. The SFI proposes to develop a practical, innovative and interdisciplinary program to enhance the viability of small and limited-resource farmers and ranchers in New Mexico.

JUSTIFICATION

Tracing back thousands of years, agriculture has played an important cultural, economic and environmental role in the survival of the people in New Mexico. The state has about 10,000-12,000 small-scale farmers and ranchers of 15,000 total farms and ranches. Three-quarters of New Mexico farms gross $20,000 or less annually, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. Many of these small farm and ranch operations lack skills in farm business management practices, record keeping, diversified crop production and water conservation methods. Native American communities in New Mexico, which include 19 Indian Pueblos, two Apache Nations and the Navajo Nation, struggle with retaining their farming and ranching traditions. These communities have been underserved by state and federal agencies.

Loss of small scale farming and traditional livestock grazing systems in the state will lead to erosion of culture and customs that make New Mexico unique. Young people who wish to stay in their rural communities and help sustain agriculture, need training in small scale, ecologically based agricultural systems and marketing strategies. Sustainable agriculture and adaptive farming methods are critical, particularly those that safeguard and improve watersheds, given the challenges posed by fuel cost increases, water scarcity, and global warming.

Increased urbanization is a two-edged sword. Farms are sold for development, but urban residents provide markets for local farms. Consumers demand fresh, local, healthy, clean foods from farmers they know and trust. Farmers markets have more than doubled between 1994 and 2004, according to the USDA-AMS. Organic sales reached $23 billion in 2002 world wide and sales continue to increase about 20% annually, according to the Organic Trade Association.

The NMSU Cooperative Extension Small Farm Task Force has been aggressively addressing the needs of small farmers and ranchers in northern New Mexico. However, similar efforts need to be undertaken statewide. An integrated program anchored at NMSU’s main campus can facilitate and integrate state-wide programs and undertake research programs relevant to the southern half of the state. Existing NMSU agricultural research infrastructure in southern New Mexico is currently dominated by conventional agriculture and turf research programs. Researchers who wish to investigate organic/sustainable agriculture require support staff funding and infrastructure isolated from conventional agricultural research programs.

Although located in Las Cruces, the SFI will serve state and other desert communities. A southern location is needed to initiate and expand programs that can test and disseminate agricultural information specific to southern New Mexico, such as fruits and vegetables variety tests. In addition, enterprises can be undertaken on main campus that have state-wide applicability, such as pastured poultry, sub-surface drip irrigation technologies, and biologically intensive crop/livestock systems that reduce the need for petroleum-based farm inputs.

GOAL

The SFI will focus on three goals to enhance the capacity of NMSU-College of Agriculture and Home Economics programs to support small farms and ranches in New Mexico:

· To conduct ecologically and systems- based agricultural research

· To develop and offer site-based and distance education classes in organic and sustainable agriculture at the high school, community college, undergraduate, graduate and adult-learner level.

· To create and disseminate scientific and practical production and marketing information relevant to small farms in New Mexico and the desert southwest.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The $500,000 appropriation in this request for FY08 is a non-recurring expense to the general fund to support the development of the infrastructure for a small farm demonstration, teaching and research institute on the NMSU campus. Funding will be used to construct and purchase infrastructure and equipment.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

· Increased enrollment of students pursuing small farm production and marketing opportunities

· Increased profitability of small farms and ranches in New Mexico

· Reduced food insecurity, hunger, obesity, and diabetes

· Increased local food markets

TECHNICAL ISSUES

• Specialized educational and culturally sensitive information for targeted audiences will be developed. The project facilitators will use participatory methods and work directly with community-based agriculture organizations, local communities, and local Native American officials to identify the local community’s needs so that the community can actively contribute to successful program outcomes.

• Project partners identified include Doña Ana Community College, with whom a joint program in sustainable agriculture is being developed. Another project partner recently identified is Heifer Project International (HPI), a sustainable development agency focusing on poverty alleviation, with 600 projects in 51 countries. In New Mexico, six HPI projects are underway, with two on the Navajo Nation.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Small scale agriculture plays an important cultural, economic and environmental role in rural and suburban New Mexico. Loss of small scale agriculture in the state will lead to loss of culture and custom in New Mexico. In addition, viable small farms that employ ecologically-based and water-conserving technologies are the backbone of a vibrant, sustainable economy. Failure to support a diversified farming community will undermine long-term sustainability of this region.

NM Small Farms Institute Legislative Initiative

SFI Legislative Proposal: Non-Recurring Funds Request