VOLUME 2023, ISSUE 3 02/20/2023 |
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Dean & Chief Administrative Officer Rolando A. Flores Galarza from the College of ACES addressing the 2022-2023 New Mexico State 4-H Leadership Team |
Greetings, Aggies and friends of the College of ACES, Last week, we participated in the NMSU Outreach Conference, where we had the opportunity to appreciate and value the great contributions that 4-H is giving to the city of Albuquerque, especially to the school system, by providing 4-H Fridays. This is an exemplary activity conducted by Bernalillo County. We will provide further details about this program in future newsletters. It’s interesting to see how this program operates and has impacted the lives of youth in the city, not only helping them to cope better and improve their results in school but also having a positive impact in their lives outside of school. Also, this week, I had the honor to join 4-H state leadership to visit with senators and representatives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It had a great impact on me to observe the support that 4-H has from state legislatures and how they actually commit directly to support these programs. The activities of 4-H within the work of the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) define one of the major differences of a land grant university from other universities. New Mexico State University is the land grant university of the State of New Mexico. As such, we continue to clearly identify the impacts that we produce in the state via the three-legged bench of teaching, research, and extension. It is the impact of this land grant system that has made the U.S the number one country worldwide in agricultural exports. We cannot praise highly enough the land grant system and the vision of it. For us in the College of ACES it is a source of pride, honor, and commitment to our stakeholders, and to all New Mexicans, that we preserve, maintain, and continue to make more efficient the land grant system in our beloved state. In times when we face difficult issues, we find great satisfaction in the work that our colleagues in extension, specifically in 4-H, do with youth in the state. I want to commend all of their work and how they are developing plans to expand and increase youth participation in 4-H activities by widening the demographics represented in our state and in 4-H. Thank you for all of your work! |
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Rolando A. Flores Galarza Dean & Chief Administrative Officer |
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The College of ACES took part in 4-H Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, NM on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. 4-H Day at the Roundhouse is a time for youth to visit with elected representatives in the New Mexico House and Senate. |
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New Mexico State Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham with the 2022-2023 New Mexico 4-H Leadership Team |
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Left to Right – Extension 4-H Agent Ryan Craig, Associate Dean & Director of Cooperative Extension Service Jon C. Boren, State 4-H Agent of Volunteer and Leadership Development Cheryl Butterfiled, 2022-2023 New Mexico 4-H Leadership group, Interim 4-H and Youth Development Department Head Laura Bittner, Dean & Chief Administrative Officer Rolando A. Flores Galarza from the College of ACES |
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NMSU hosted delegation of administrators from UJEDA delegation of deans and department heads from Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED) visited NMSU Feb. 2-3, with an aim to establish a long-term research and educational collaboration between the two universities. The visit further strengthened collaborations between the two universities by creating and promoting mobility programs for regular exchange visits of the faculty and students; a new program for UJED faculty with an M.S. degree to pursue a Ph.D. at NMSU; dual degrees; and a pathway for students of UJED to attend Aggie Experience. Rolando A. Flores Galarza, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, hosted the delegation. The delegation also interacted with NMSU's chancellor, associate vice chancellor and deans from the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering. Contact Manoj Shukla at shuklamk@nmsu.edu for further information. |
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Left to Right – Dr. Manoj Shukla (Director of ACES Global Program, NMSU), Dr. Jorge Saenz Mata (Biological Sciences, UJED), Dr. Rolando A. Flores Galarza (Dean & Chief Administrative Officer, NMSU), Dr. Roberto de Jesús Gómez Estrada (Civil Engineering, Architecture and Computer Technology, UJED), Dr. Cirilo Vázquez (Dean of Agriculture and Zootechnics, UJED) |
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Left to Right – Dr. Jorge Saenz Mata (Biological Sciences, UJED), Dr. Roberto de Jesús Gómez Estrada (Civil Engineering, Architecture and Computer Technology, UJED), Dr. Enrico Pontelli (Dean of Arts & Sciences, NMSU), Dr. Sherry Kollmann (Associate Vice Chancellor, NMSU), Dr. Manoj Shukla (Director of ACES Global Programs, NMSU), Dr. Dan Arvizu (Chancellor of NMSU), Dr. Cirilo Vázquez (Dean of Agriculture and Zootechnics, UJED), Dr. Lakshmi Reddi (Dean of Engineering, NMSU), Dr. Rolando A. Flores Galarza (Dean & Chief Administrative Officer of ACES, NMSU), Dr. Francisco Molinar (Research Professor, UACJ). |
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NEW MEXICO CHILE CONFERENCE POSTER PRESENTATION |
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| We are pleased to announce the results of the 2023 New Mexico Chile Conference Student Poster presentations, held February 7th. Scholarships were awarded to three students in Plant and Environmental Studies (PES) and Molecular Biology (MOBL) programs. 1st Place – Ehtisham Khokhar (PhD, PES) "Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Fruit Morphology Traits in New Mexican Chile Pepper (Capsicum spp.)". 2nd Place – Navdeep Kaur (MS, PES) "Genetic dissection of Phytophthora root rot resistance in Capsicum spp. using multi-locus genome-wide association study". 3rd Place – Sahithi Pulicherla (PhD, MOLB) "Metabolite screening in jalapeno and serrano chile peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using widely targeted metabolomics". Judges for the student poster competition were Dr. Paul Bosland, Dr. Terry Berke, and Mr. John White. These students will receive travel scholarships of $700, $500, and $300, respectively, to present their poster at a professional meeting of their choice, courtesy of the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station. |
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Integrating water science, economics, and policy for climate adaptation Water science, water economics, and water policy issues continue to rise in importance in New Mexico as elevated population, income growth, and climate change magnify scarcity, shortages, and injustices in water access. Based on the unique physical, institutional, and economic characteristics of water, a recently published work by NMSU faculty characterized a path forward for research innovations that enable better integration of water science, water economics, and water policy. Meeting water's sustainable development goals calls for several research innovations that many await in New Mexico as well as internationally. Advances called for in this work include deep uncertainty management, red team reviews, innovative water rights design, accelerating Sustainable Development Goals achievement, valuing water infrastructure, incentivizing water conservation, improving financial performance of rural water systems, water network modularization, better water scarcity signals, modern remote sensing, transboundary benefit sharing, optimized economic growth, and water valuation. The work's second contribution is to present a prototype scalable basin scale hydrologic and economic analysis as a method to integrate these innovations when they occur. Results of the analysis show that losses from a 50% shortage in a representative basin's surface water supply can continue to protect 93% of total economic benefits across economic sectors if an efficient water trading system is established to move water from lower to higher valued uses when shortages occur. This work was published in the Journal of Environmental Management in January 2023. A summary can be seen at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722021478?via%3Dihub Please see Frank A. Ward at fward@nmsu.edu for more details. |
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A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal describes the decrease in green chile production in New Mexico in recent years. As a response to this situation, agricultural research involving NMSU has led to a new chile variety, 'NuMex Odyssey', with the potential to mechanize labor and improve production, creating new discussions around water, soil, and GMO food. To read the full news article in the Albuquerque Journal click on the following link: How NMSU helped produce a green chile that may transform the industry - Albuquerque Journal (abqjournal.com) |
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ACES OPEN HOUSE April 1, 2023 from 9a.m to 12:00p.m. Our college will hold an open house April 1 on the main NMSU campus in Las Cruces. This event provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our college activities and impacts in research, teaching, Extension, and service to the greater NMSU community and to the public. Last year, we offered over 65 activities/demonstrations/tours throughout our buildings and the front yard of Gerald Thomas Hall, to an estimated 750 people. We hope to make this year’s event even bigger! As in previous years, there will also be a student research poster competition for both undergraduate and graduate students. Information regarding the contest is forthcoming. For more information, click on the following link Open House | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future. (nmsu.edu). For questions, contact Priscilla at pbloomqu@nmsu.edu. Thank you in advance for your support of this event. |
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AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION (AES) |
The Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) is the principal research unit of ACES. The AES system consists of scientists from NMSU’s main campus in the College of ACES and twelve agricultural science and research centers throughout the state. Research programs focus on four identified critical issues for New Mexico that will also have a global impact. These programs are (1) Food & Fiber Production and Marketing, (2) Water Use and Conservation, (3) Family Development and Health of New Mexicans, and (4) Environmental Stewardship, all of which are based on the foundation of education and training of qualified professionals in the field of agriculture. These critical issues help guide research initiatives for federal capacity funded research through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA capacity projects can include Hatch, Hatch multistate, McIntire-Stennis, Animal Health and Renewable Resources Extension programs. Each of these programs has specific distinctions for a research focus. The AES has 48 projects ongoing in various areas of research. Here are two more examples of ongoing NIFA Hatch projects that directly impact the New Mexico agricultural industry. |
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A host of federal and state laws, regulations and policies require actions to prevent negative impacts to wildlife. While these laws and policies provide guidance about how wildlife resources should be managed, this task is often difficult or impossible due to significant gaps in knowledge about wildlife species. NMSU researcher, Dr. Jennifer Frey aims to fill knowledge gaps about habitat selection by wildlife species of concern. Her research team has collected data that will provide understanding of the habitat requirements and make management recommendations for two species of chipmunks that are endemic to the Organ Mountains and the Oscura Mountains of southern New Mexico. These small mammals are listed as threatened by the state of New Mexico and are regarded as Species at Risk by Fort Bliss Military Reservation and White Sands Missile Range. The military and the Bureau of Land Management will use the information from these studies to guide management of lands under their jurisdiction to avoid negative impacts to the species. The State of New Mexico will also use the information to evaluate and mitigate threats to the species. |
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| Improper management of organic waste can lead to unnecessary carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and groundwater contamination. In this study, organic waste materials from two of New Mexico’s top agricultural industries, pecans (Carya illinoinensis) and dairy cattle, were used to evaluate the feasibility of an on-farm compost program. Pecan woody residues (P) served as the primary carbon source; regional cattle dairy manure (M) served as the primary nitrogen source. As part of her recently completed PhD work, Dr. Emily Creegan, designed a project to enhance sustainability by utilizing waste generated by dairy and pecan farms. Results indicated that pecan and dairy farms can utilize waste generated from their operation to produce compost that can be used as fertilizer on their farms or sold to others. The use of farm waste in producing a valuable product such as compost can reduce its impact on the environment and make farming more sustainable. |
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For more information, contact AES Program Operations Director Claire Montoya at ccortner@nmsu.edu. |
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE (CES) |
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Extension Health Outreach programs showcased at NMSU Outreach Conference Extension Specialist Karim Martinez facilitated a panel of NMSU faculty and staff who shared program information on a variety of health programs available to the community at the 2023 NMSU Outreach Conference Feb. 9. The panel included Bea Favela, Doña Ana County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent; Eduardo Medina, Extension Program Manager; Lourdes Olivas, Extension Associate II; Marisa Van Dommelen, Extension Program Manager; Gabe Calderon, Extension Program Coordinator; and Rebecca Palacios, Professor of Public Health Sciences. The Extension and other health programs discussed cover multiple important health initiatives in areas such as behavioral health and wellness, chronic disease management, diabetes management and prevention, nutrition education, assisting Hispanic mothers on how to talk to their children about cancer, and supporting success in agriculture for people with disabilities. Panelists shared their insights on the successes, needs and challenges for their programs. For more information, contact CES Program Operations Director Julie Hughes at juhughes@nmsu.edu. |
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4-H Fridays Program highlighted at NMSU Outreach Conference Bernalillo County Extension 4-H Agent Brittany Sonntag lead a community session on the 4-H Friday’s program during the 2023 NMSU Outreach Conference Feb. 9 at the Las Cruces Convention Center. Sontag was joined by Stephani Treadwell, principal of Collet Park Elementary School in Bernalillo County, RaeAnna Gallegos, a 4-H member from Bernalillo County, Molly Hayes, a 4-H volunteer, and Phillip Alden, Bernalillo County 4-H Family & Consumer Sciences Agent. The panel discussed the results of the 4-H Fridays Program at Collet Park Elementary and shared insights into how they are taking 4-H programs to the students in new ways to decrease barriers to participation. Both Treadwell and Gallegos, who started a 4-H Club in her middle school, shared insights into how the program has had a meaningful impact on the students and teachers, including documented decreases in behavioral issues, increased school attendance, improvements in student subject proficiency, and an increase in school-wide scores. For more information, contact CES Program Operations Director Julie Hughes at juhughes@nmsu.edu. |
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| NMSU Extension to host annual fruit grower workshop March 3 New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service will host the 2023 fruit grower workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 3, at the Rio Arriba County Extension Office, State Road 554 House No. 122-A, in Abiquiú, New Mexico. |
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The workshop cost is $20, which includes lunch, and preregistration is required. Register for the workshop at https://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/fruitgrow or call Amanda Benavides at 505-685-4523. NMSU Extension hosts the annual workshop to educate fruit growers on methods for orchard improvement regardless of size of operation, according to Don Martinez, Rio Arriba County Extension agricultural agent. |
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NMSU to host bull management education series March 10-11 Bull owners in New Mexico are encouraged to test their cattle for trichomoniasis every spring. To assist with this effort, New Mexico State University Rio Arriba County Cooperative Extension Service will host the fourth annual Northern New Mexico Bull Management Educational Series March 10-11 in Abiquiú, New Mexico. A herd management education workshop with Craig Gifford, NMSU Extension beef cattle specialist; Marcy Ward, NMSU Extension livestock specialist; and Dr. Andrea Harwell will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Rio Arriba County Extension conference room. Attendees will receive a voucher for Multimin and deworming injections on their bulls the following day. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 11, breeding soundness and trich testing will be offered for $110 per bull, while the trich test only will be offered for $65 by Andrea Harwell, DVM at the New Mexico Producer and Marketing Association at the Ghost Ranch Feedlot. To RSVP for the event, contact Amanda Benavides by March 2, at 505-685-4523 or msb6@nmsu.edu. |
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INNOVATIVE MEDIA, RESEARCH & EXTENSION |
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New Videos promote ACES Mission and Special Projects The Department of IMRE has created a series of videos highlighting ACES college programs to share some of our most exciting and impactful work. Using existing videos and photos, video producer Tomilee Turner pieced together five videos showcasing the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), Cooperative Extension Service (CES), Indian Resources Development (IRD), Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems (CESFAS), and Academic programs that have the most impact across the state and drive New Mexico toward a healthier, more sustainable future for all. The videos mention how these programs serve scientific research, community outreach, support for indigenous peoples, food safety and product development, and train the leaders of tomorrow. The goal was to reinforce the ways in which ACES supports all people in New Mexico, beyond the main campus, with hopes for continued support and funding. View the videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL88jbC2GiaFUCl78S7ZTeICNE-4XQWUtT For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Chamberlin at bchamber@nmsu.edu. |
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Dr. Ivette Guzman (Plant and Environmental Science) examining chile in the field, in a scene from the video about the Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems (CESFAS). |
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NEW MEXICO FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA (FFA) |
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The New Mexico FFA Association would like to extend congratulations to the teams who took part in the 2023 State Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter Meetings Contest this year. The contest was held January 16th, at Artesia High School. Many teams competed to show their skills and knowledge regarding meeting conduct, parliamentary procedure, and effective leadership in the setting of a business meeting. These are all skills that will serve these students well in their chapters and future endeavors. All students leave the contest feeling better prepared for leading their chapter through fun experiences with their chapter members. The winners of each event will advance to the national contest at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this fall. For more information, contact New Mexico FFA Advisor Gary Aycock at rga@nmsu.edu, website: http://www.nmffa.org. |
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State Parliamentary Procedure 1st Place – Artesia FFA 2nd Place – Melrose FFA 3rd Place – Logan FFA 4th Place – Silver City FFA |
| State Conduct of Chapter Meetings 1st Place – Artesia FFA 2nd Place – Silver City FFA 3rd Place – Texico FFA Team B 4th Place – Texico FFA Team A |
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NMSU to host Research and Creativity Week Feb. 21-25 New Mexico State University’s 2023 Research and Creativity Week will take place during a new season and feature new events that are open to the public. This year’s Research and Creativity Week will take place Feb. 21-25, culminating in the Three-Minute Thesis competition organized by the NMSU Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences. This year marks the first time the spring competition will be organized in conjunction with Research and Creativity Week, which in the past has taken place in the fall. Efren Delgado, chair of the University Research Council and professor of food science and technology, said the theme this year is “Research and Creativity Across Borders,” which highlights collaborative efforts among universities and colleges in the region in the fields of both science and the humanities. Click here for more information, or contact Diana Sandoval at 575-646-2481 or dianasan@nmsu.edu. |
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SCHOOL OF HOTEL, RESTAURANT & TOURISM MANAGEMENT (HRTM) |
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The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Welcomes Danielle Young, College Assistant Professor The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management is excited to introduce our newest faculty member, Danielle Young, as Chef Instructor and College Assistant Professor. A graduate from HRTM, Danielle also has a Masters of Arts in Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction from NMSU. Her experience in the hospitality industry coupled with her service as a culinary and hospitality teacher in New Mexico public schools have prepared her for the transition into higher education instruction. Danielle was honored with the 2018 National ProStart Educator of Excellence Award. It is our pleasure to welcome her and we look forward to her involvement in HRTM events including the International Lunch series resuming March 1st in 100 West Café, the Chef Artist Dinner on April 27 at the Las Cruces Convention Center and our K-12 school outreach initiatives. For more information, contact Director/Academic Department Head Jean Hertzman at jhertzma@nmsu.edu. |
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NMSU 4-H Youth Development’s Aggie Next Step (ANS) program provided ANS Day during Newcomb High School’s January Extended Learning Time Program (ELTP). Newcomb High School, located on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, offers the ELTP program to improve academic achievement and test scores and reduce learning loss and achievement gaps. This goal is accomplished by affording non-instructional time to provide students alternative academic learning or extracurricular enrichment opportunities. Dr. Laura Bittner, Interim 4-H and Youth Development Department Head; Augusta Ahlm, San Juan County 4-H Agent; and Newt McCarty, Aggie Next Step Program State 4-H Agent, each provided six hours of education to 56 ninth grade students. Subjects included personal responsibility, time management, discovering personality strengths, managing stress and test anxiety, teamwork and collaboration, and communication. Throughout the day, students participated in hands-on activities, engaging discussions, and teamwork exercises. The NMSU 4-H and ANS partnership with Newcomb High School is scheduled to provide continued educational opportunities in the months to come. For more information, contact Interim Extension Department Head Laura Bittner at lbittner@nmsu.edu. |
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COLLEGE OF ACES MAGAZINE – FALL 2022 ISSUE |
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The College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through academic, research, and Extension programs. |
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