Agriculture Leadership in New Mexico

  In mid-April, class 15 traveled to Artesia, NM to visit with several professionals tied to agriculture and natural resource development in the region.   One of the topics covered was water issues facing farmers and ranchers that live in the Pecos Valley.   Mr. Aron Balok, superintendent of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District (PVACD) spoke on the subject.    Established in 1931, the PVACD is funded through mill levies. The mission of the PVACD is to monitor water use in the region, while navigating regulations that impact the waters that travel through the district.   Its board of directors is made up of local citizens, farmers, ranchers, and oil and gas personnel that all provide input to Mr. Balok.   It is then his job to ensure all obligations are met as effectively as possible. Water is vital to support both agriculture and oil production in this very productive area of New Mexico.   The battle over water between industries and...

   My name is Marcy Ward and I am the Extension Livestock Specialist for New Mexico State University.  I take great pride in being a part of agriculture in New Mexico.  I get to do something different everyday related to livestock production across the state.  I see the benefits and challenges of ranching in New Mexico.  Part of my role is to provide producers guidance in herd and natural resource management.  I also must serve in leadership and supervisory roles for several programs we provide across the state. This year I joined a select few to be a part of the Agriculture Leadership Program to improve my leadership skills.  This program will take us across the state to network with individuals from all different kinds of industries.  Policy makers can have a huge influence on the day to day lives of agricultural producers.  Therefore the group will also travel to Santa Fe, NM (state capital) and to Washington D.C. to meet with lobbyis...