2014 Annual Progress Report New Mexico State

14 downloads 0 Views 3MB Size Report
Educate the public about the personal stories behind local farming to create. “brand” loyalty for ...... Wastewater Treatment Conference, ASA-CSSA-SSSA. April 7 ...
New Mexico State University 2014 Annual Progress Report

Agricultural Science Center At Farmington April 2015

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Forty-eighth Annual Progress Report For 2014 New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington P. O. Box 1018 Farmington, NM 87499

Michael K. O’Neill & Margaret M. West – Editors Permanent Faculty and Staff Richard N. Arnold Superintendent, College Professor

Curtis K. Owen Research Assistant

Michael K. O'Neill Professor

Jonah Joe Research Technician

Dan Smeal College Professor

Joseph Ward Research Technician

Kevin Lombard Assistant Professor

Nathan Begay Farm/Ranch Laborer

Tom Jim Farm/Ranch Superintendent

Dallen Begay Farm/Ranch Laborer

Samuel Allen Agricultural Research Scientist

Sue Stone Associate Administrative Assistant

Margaret M. West Agricultural Research Scientist

Jason Thomas Laboratory Technician

Eugena Armijillo Research Assistant

Desiree Deschenie Ag Research Assistant

Temporary Employees 2014 Student Employees Aiessa Wages Lab. Research Technician

Kyrus George Lab. Groundskeeper

Jeremy Zimmerman Lab: Research Technician

Lionel and Ty Sandoval NIYC – Field Assistant

Cover: Curtis Owen teaches Lionel Sandoval to take wheat heights (M.M. West), Flat Iron Rock on the way to work (Mick O’Neill), and Flags at half mast for Chester Nez, last of original Navajo code talkers of World War II (Mick O’Neill), i

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 ASC Advisory Committee Bart Wilsey Chairman

Karl Garling Vice Chairman

Tsosie Lewis

Jeannie Benally

Mark Bentley

Frank Blackmer

Lynn Blancett

Jean Brown

Carol Cloer

Albert Davis

Doug Docktor

Bill Eaton

Elbert Hamlin

Charlie Joe

Bob Krakow

Robert Lake

Vicky Lake

Steve Lynch

Jim Lukow

Lewis Montoya

Thomas Montoya

Craig Painter

Lawrence Stock

Mandy Valesquez

ii

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Collaborators List New Mexico State University, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and College of Health and Social Services Mary O’Connell Chris Cramer Ian Ray Rolston St. Hilaire Robert Flynn April Ulery Manoj Shukla Sangu Angadi Leonard Lauriault Bernd Leinauer Bernd Maier Mark Marsalis Kathleen Huttlinger Sue Forster-Cox

Professor, Geneticist Professor, Onion Breeder Professor, Alfalfa Breeder Professor, Horticulture Professor, Soil Scientist Professor, Soil Chemist Associate Professor, Soil Physicist Assistant Professor, Agronomist College Asso., Alfalfa Agronomist Extension Turfgrass Specialist Extension Viticulture Specialist Extension Agronomy Specialist Professor, Nursing, CHSS Associate Professor, Health, CHSS

New Mexico State University Ag Science Center – Los Lunas Tessa Grasswitz

IPM Specialist

New Mexico State University, San Juan County Cooperative Extension Service Shelly Hathorn Bonnie Hopkins

County Director, 4-H Home Economist Agriculture Extension Agent

Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Tri-Universities Cooperative Extension Service Jeannie Benally Valery Sandoval

Director, Agriculture Extension Agent Agriculture Agent

University of Arizona Ed Martin

Professor, Irrigation Specialist

Colorado State University, Agricultural Experiment Station George Beck Scott Nissen Phil Westra Scott Haley

Professor, Weed Science Professor, Weed Science Professor, Weed Science Professor, Wheat Breeding Program

Colorado State University, Cooperative Extension Service Tom Hooten

Agriculture Extension Agent

iii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Diné College Marnie Carroll Benita Litson

Head, Environmental Programs Program Manager, Inst. Integrated Rural Dev.

Navajo Preparatory School Betty Ojaye

Executive Director

Oregon State University Clint Shock John Henning

Professor, Superintendent Malheur Exp. Station Professor, Hop Geneticist

San Juan College Michael Tacha Carol Spenser Sheryl Hruska Merrill Adams Callie Vanderbilt Don Hyder Marjorie Black Blake Barnett

Interim President President (former) Vice President for Instruction Dean, Sciences Instructor, Biology Instructor, Entomology Program Developer, Encore Program Assistant Professor, Carpentry

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Scottsbluff Robert Wilson

Emeritus Professor, Weed Science

University of Wyoming Andrew Kniss

Assistant Professor, Weed Science

Washington State University Jeff Kallestad

Research Technologist

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry Tsosie Lewis Wilton Charley Beulah John Orvalle Begay Shantel Begay Renae Pablo Aaron Benally Albert Etcitty Ryan Garcia Lewis Pinto George Martin Roselyn Yazzie Stacy Gould Martin Jones Raynaldo Skeet Hal Thompson Anthony Valdez

Chief Executive Officer Chief Operations Officer Director, Operations & Maintenance Director, Human Resources Director, On-farm Development and Assistant Agronomist Director, Soils Lab Crop Manager, Potatoes Crop Manager, Corn Assistant Crop Manager, Corn Crop Foreman, Corn Crop Manager, Alflalfa Crop Manager, Dry Beans Crop Manager, Small Grains Mill Superintendent Irrigation Manager Trading Manager Projects Manager iv

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Agri-Inject, Inc. Arnold Page

Sales Manager

Albuquerque Wastewater Treatment Facility Steven Glass

Program Manager, Wastewater Utility Division

Animas Environmental Services, LLC Ross Kennemer Blaine Watson Deborah Watson

Senior Project Manager Senior Project Manager Project Manager

Arizona Drip and Sundance Farms Howard Wuertz David Wuertz

Owner President

Harry Quicke Larry Schield

Research Representative Sales Representative

BASF

Basin Cooperative Steve Trudeau Tom Campbell

General Manager Crop Specialist, Durango

Bayer CropScience Charley Hicks Russell Perkins

Research Representative Research Representative

BHP-Billiton Mine Steve Perkins

Environmental Quality

BioTech Remediation Michael Beauparlant Chad Dawson

Environmental Projects Manager Environmental Technician

Buchannan Consultants, Ltd. Bruce Buchannan Justin Tucker

President Project Development Manager

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Indian Irrigation Project Steven Lynch

Director

Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office Mark Kelly Dale Wirth Dave Mankiewicz Daniel Sandoval Jeff Tafoya

Inspector Natural Resources Natural Resources Natural Resources Range Specialist

v

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Bureau of Reclamation, Durango Field Office Pat Page

Water Management Coordinator

Carver Farms, Cortez, CO Doug Carver

Owner

City of Aztec, NM Dennis Taylor

Farmer

City of Bloomfield, NM Jessica Polatty Norman Tucker

Director, Senior Citizen Center Director, Cultural Center

Crop Quest John Hecht

Agronomist

Croplan Genetics Dennis Gehler Matt Sowder

Forage Production Manager Sales Representative

DeKalb Seed Mark Meyer

DeKalb Seed, Sales Representative

Dow AgroSciences Jesse Richardson

Research and Sales Representative

Dyna-Gro Seed John Griffin

Research and Sales Representative

El Paso Field Services Ron Sipe Kent Leidy Joe Velasquez

Representative Representative Representative

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Shirley Beresford

Research Scientist

Grand Junction Pipe and Supply Co. Ken Thorson

Branch Manager, Durango Office

Garst Seed Jeff Schaef Mark Meyer

Research and Sales Representative Area Agronomist

vi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

GreenWood Resources, Inc. Jeff Nuss Brian Stanton Richard Shuren

President and CEO Managing Director of Resource Management Farm Manager, Columbia Tree Farm

Hammond Conservancy District Teresa Lane

Manager

Independent Energy Center Richard Gary Chacon

Owner

Jose Fernandez Chair Gary R. Lowe Thomas Dormody Brenda Seevers April Ulery Stephanie Walker Katherine (Kari) Bachman Mark Gladden Sue Foster-Cox Linda Stout

Global Mentoring Coordinator, Aggies Go Global Professor, AXED Professor, AXED Professor, PES Assistant Professor, EPS/PES Extension Program Coordinator, Nutrition, EFCS Major Gift Officer, ACES Associate Professor, CHSS SLW/AWARD Program Gift Donor

Ku Tips Nursery & Landscape Willie Kutac

Proprietor

Limagrain Cereal Seeds Blake Cooper Marla Barnett

LCS Senior Breeder for Wheat, Northern Plains LCS Plant Breeder, Central Plains

Logan-Zenner Seeds Inc. Les Watada

Seed Specialist

Manning’s Greenhouse Jack Manning

Proprietor

Modern Farm Equipment, Corp. Curt Swanhorst Neal Ziller

Owner Communications Specialist

Monsanto Jeff Tichota Brian Olson

Research Representative Research Representative

Mycogen Seed Ben Benton

Grain Development Specialist

NM Native Plant Society (San Juan Chapter) Donna Thatcher

President vii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

NM Office of the State Engineer Patti J. Bushee John W. Longworth Cheri Vogel

Project Manager Professional Engineer Water Conservation Coordinator

Netafim-USA Pat Fernandes

Sales Manager

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Russell French

District Sales Manager

Public Service Company of New Mexico Mike Farley

San Juan Power Plant

Rain Bird, Inc. Inge Bisconer John McHugh Rob Kowalewski

National Sales Manager Central US District Manager, Agri-Products Drip Irrigation Specialist

Raindrops, Inc. Lloyd Husted

Owner

San Juan Nurseries, Inc. Donnie Pigford

Proprietor

Sandia Laboratories Mike Hightower Alan Sattler

Representative Representative

Santa Ana Native Plants Nursery Mike Halverson

Manager

Southwest Seed, Inc. Walter Henis, Sr. Walter Henis, Jr.

Owner President

Stoller Corporation Jody Waugh

Principal Scientist, Environmental Sciences Lab.

Syngenta Buddy Viramontes Mick Urwiler

Consultant Research Representative

USDA-ARS Plant Material Center David Dreesen Keith White Alex Taylor

Agronomist Biological Science Technician Biological Science Technician viii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Ute Mountain Farm and Ranch Paul Evans

General Manager

Western Excelsior Norm Birtcher

Assistant Plant Manager

Wilber Ellis Dennis Coleman

Director and Head of Fertilizer

Private parties William ‘Bill’ Blythe Mayfield Laura Fink

William (Xeriscape Endowment) William (Xeriscape Endowment)

ix

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

x

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Notice to Users of This Report This report has been prepared as an aid to the Agricultural Science Center faculty and staff in analyzing the results of the various researches during the past year and for recording pertinent data for future reference. This is not a formal Agricultural Experiment Station Report of research results. Information in this report represents results from only one year's research. The reader is cautioned against drawing conclusions or making recommendations because of data in this report. In many instances, data in this report represents only one of several years of research results that will constitute the final formal report. It should be pointed out, however, that staff members have made every effort to check the accuracy of the data presented. This report was not as a formal release. Therefore, none of the data or information herein is authorized for release or publication without the written approval of the New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Mention of a proprietary pesticide does not imply registration under FIFRA as amended or endorsement by New Mexico State University

xi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

xii

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Acknowledgements We want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the administration, faculty and staff of the NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for continuing to support the Agricultural Science Center at Farmington. The Administration of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, the Department of Extension Plant Sciences, and the Cooperative Extension Service have wisely pooled resources for the continued benefit of the residents of the Four Corners region and they should be commended. The Center staff continues to be fully committed to the mandate of the Center. Their hard work and dedication is to be commended. The staff are involved in both onstation and on-farm research in the areas of variety introductions, crop & turf water use, biofuel production, weed control, range rehabilitation. They work closely with the Cooperative Extension Service of San Juan County in a number of dissemination activities including demonstrations, workshops, seminars, and farmers’ markets. It has been a pleasure working with the Center Advisory Committee in charting a new and diversified course for the Center into the new millennium. We must express our gratitude to those governments, organizations and institutions that have provided financial support to the Center so our mandate can be carried out. Special recognition must be extended to State Representative Ray Begay and State Senator William Sharer for their perseverance in obtaining enhancement funds through the legislature. Recognition and thanks must also be extended to the State of New Mexico, the NM State Engineers Office, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Bureau of Land Management Farmington Field Office and the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, and Wilber-Ellis-NAPI continue to support the Center with water, fertilizer, equipment, laboratory analysis, and human resources. Finally, we wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the following companies for providing technical assistance, products, and/or financial assistance: Bayer CropSciences, BASF, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, Pioneer Hi-Bred, and Southwest Seed.

Rick Arnold, Superintendent and College Professor – Weed Control Specialist Mick O’Neill, Professor – Agronomist Dan Smeal, College Professor – Irrigation Specialist Kevin Lombard, Assistant Professor – Horticulturalist

xiii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

xiv

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Executive Summary Adaptive field crops research is concerned with the identification of crop varieties that perform well in the Four Corners region. On-station trials this year included alfalfa (1 test), corn (2), winter wheat (2), and spring wheat (1). The 2012-planted alfalfa trial had 22 varieties from private seed companies and NMSU. In the 2014 growing season for the 2012-planted variety trial, the mean yield for 22 entries yielded was over 9 dry tons per acre for the 4 cuttings, substantially greater that the average alfalfa yield of 4.8 tons per acre for New Mexico in 2014. The highest yielding entry was Gunner from Croplan Genetics with a total yield of 10.6 dry tons per acre. At a NM farm gate sales price of $262 per ton of hay (NASS Quick Stats Tool, New Mexico – 2014), this would represent a sales price of $2,772 per acre. The three-year (2012-2014) mean annual production was 4.0, 8.3, and 9.2 tons per acre for the tree respective years. Average yield over this period was 7.2 tons per acre. With the current interest in biofuels as alternate sources of energy as outlined in the USDA/USDOE 1 Billion Ton Report, ASC-Farmington continues to position itself as a leader in the adaptation of technologies appropriate for the Four Corners Region. We planted one on-station collaborative canola oilseed variety trial with the National Winter Canola Variety Trial, a program coordinated through Kansas State University. Unfortunately, just after planting there were two days of substantial and intense precipitation totaling 0.45 inches which washed the seed from the soil resulting in extremely poor plant stands and the trial was abandoned. The Early Season corn variety trials with a total of 18 entries had an average yield of 226 bu/ac compared to an average state yield of 195 bu/ac. (NASS Quick Stats Tool, New Mexico – 2014). At $4.35 per bushel, this represented an average advantage in productivity of $983 – 848 = $136 per acre. The highest yielding entry in this trial was X13512VX from Mycogen with a total yield of 270 bu/acre. There were 12 out of the 18 entries that had grain yields greater than 200 bu/ac. In 2014, there was one Roundup Ready alfalfa trial to evaluate the response of Priaxor fungicide applied to established Roundup Ready alfalfa (DeKalb DKA4118RR) in between cuttings and to evaluate Priaxor potential to increase yield. There were no significant differences among treatments for yield of any cutting schedule. There were also two broadleaf weed control trials in corn at ASC-Farmington, one with a BASF product and the other with a Bayer product. The trials were to determine herbicide efficacy of for control of annual broadleaf weeds in field corn. Although there were no significant differences between treated plots in the BASF trial, yields were 243 to 264 bu/ac higher in the treated plots as compared to the weedy check. There were no differences between treated plots in the Bayer trial but Yields were 227 to 244 bu/ac higher in the herbicide treated plots as compared to the weedy check.

xv

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Soil erosion and crop damage by wind can be a major limiting factor to potential agricultural and horticultural crop production in the arid Four Corners Region, particularly where excessive tillage has occurred and where soils surrounding cropped areas have been left bare. A study of 14 different of shrub and tree species was established in 2009 to evaluate the establishment and growth of selected plant species having potential use in landscapes, soil remediation or stabilization projects, or windbreaks in the arid southwest under variable levels of drip irrigation. Results to date indicate that several plant species (mostly native) can be established in disturbed, wind-blown soils in northwest NM after one season of weekly irrigations using a drip irrigation system. Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is reportedly more drought-tolerant than the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and has been grown in desert and semi-desert conditions by native peoples since pre-Columbian times. This study was implemented to evaluate the effects of variable irrigation on tepary bean plant establishment and seed yield in northwestern New Mexico. There were significant differences between yields per plant at the different irrigation ranging from 0.71 to 6.31 oz per plant with a positive linear relationship between bean yield per plant and irrigation. Horticultural research at the center spans a diverse range of trials and demonstration activities from table and wine grape variety trials, and hops trials, to medicinal plants, gardening for health, and the development of a viable horticulture program at San Juan College. Some agricultural producers in New Mexico and Southwest Colorado view hops (Humulus lupulus and H. lupulus var. neomexicanus), used in bittering or flavoring beer as a potential specialty crop for local craft brewing needs. Recent workshops for interested hops producers were hosted in Southwest Colorado and Northwest New Mexico. Since ‘Cascade’ is equally the most used and desired cultivar by New Mexico Brewers Guild (NMBG) respondents, in addition to being the best performing cultivar in northwest New Mexico, NM growers might be advised to start with this cultivar. The majority of the respondents, however, are unwilling to pay more than the price of commercially produced hops. Therefore, it would be unwise to sell ‘Cascade’ at a premium unless desirable hop cone chemistry, such as higher alpha acids are consistently found in ‘Cascade’ hops cones grown in New Mexico. The oldest hybrid poplar test, planted at a density of 435 trees per acre in 2002, continued to demonstrate the genetic variability of hybrid poplar with respect to irrigated production in an arid region. After 13 seasons, the clone OP-367 remained the tallest entry reaching a mean height of 74 feet. OP-367 also had the largest mean DBH at 12.4 inches and maximum wood volume of 9,656 ft3/ac. A water application trial was established in 2007 with OP-367 (code 433) and three other clones (544, 910, and 911) crossed from the same species. Although significantly over-irrigated due to sever scheduling problems, the clone OP-367 led for height (57.9 ft) and wood volume (2,949 ft3/acre), and co-led with clone 544 for total aboveground biomass, averaging 67 ton/acre. Also, while there was significant interaction between clones and irrigation treatments, the 120% and 140% ET irrigation treatments produced the most growth. I would like to thank my colleagues and the ASC-Farmington staff for their exceptional performance at the center. I also want to thank all the collaborators and resource people who have contributed to the research and dissemination activities xvi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

carried out by center personnel. Without your contributions, we would not be able to fulfill our mandate and provide you with this annual report. I hope you find the information helpful for your own projects and appreciate the work that has made it possible.

Mick O’Neill – March, 2015

xvii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

xviii

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Dedication Curtis Owen, Research Assistant at NMSU’s Agricultural Science Center at Farmington (ASCF) began his career with the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) in 1983. He is an alumnus of NMSU, graduating 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science. Over the years of service with AES, Curtis performed field research in various crops including, oats, wheat, barley, canola, camelina, corn, and alfalfa. He was a contributing author of climatological and crop reports for the ASCF’s Annual Progress Report. Additionally, Curtis has served as the National ‘Corn Contest’ judge for Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI). As the leader for the National Winter Canola Varity Trial at ASC-Farmington from 2008 to 2013, Curtis had the overall highest mean production of winter canola in the national trial. During Curtis’ career in agronomy, he has received awards from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an Institutional Award in 2001, and NMSU’s CAHE Distinguished Classified Staff Award in 2003. Currently, Curtis is a volunteer for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) collecting precipitation at his home site for the national organization. As an avid fly-fisherman, he serves as a fly fishing instructor and Federation Officer for the San Juan Fly Fishing Federation. Curtis’ work has been a stellar contribution to NMSU’s ASCF research compilation and collaborative network of crop research. The NMSU research community and collaborative entities appreciate his contributions and professional integrity. He has retired from university research service, as of February 2015, with distinguished award winning performance and dignity. His professional rapport and good memories will be everlasting by those who were fortunate to collaborate with him.

xix

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

xx

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................1 WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING 2014 AT THE NMSU AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CENTER ..............5 ADAPTIVE FIELD CROPS RESEARCH IN NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO ...................................... 29 Alfalfa – New Mexico 2012-Planted Alfalfa Variety Trial ...................................................... 30 Corn – Early Season Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial ............................................................. 34 Corn – Forage Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial ...................................................................... 38 Winter Wheat – Southern Regional Winter Wheat Performance Nursery ............................ 42 Winter Wheat – Limagrain Winter Wheat Variety Trial ......................................................... 46 Spring Wheat – Limagrain Spring Wheat Variety Trial ......................................................... 50

PEST CONTROL IN CROPS GROWN IN NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO ........................................ 55 BASF Priaxor SC Applications for Established Roundup Ready Alfalfa Production ............. 57 BASF Broadleaf Weed Control in Field Corn with Preemergence Followed by Sequential Postemergence Herbicides. ................................................................................................ 59 Bayer CropScience Broadleaf Weed Control in Field Corn with Preemergence Followed by Sequential Postemergence Herbicides ................................................................................ 62

MICROIRRIGATION FOR SMALL FARM PLOTS, LANDSCAPES, AND SOIL REVEGETATION SPECIES 65 Xeriscape Demonstration Garden ....................................................................................... 70 Drip Irrigation Requirements of Xeric Adapted Shrubs and Small Trees Suitable for Landscapes, Wind-Breaks, and Soil Reclamation in Northwestern New Mexico ................. 72 Effect of Priaxor Fungicide on Alfalfa Yield under Variable Irrigation ................................... 84 Effect of a Liquid Humate Product on Chile Pepper Yield and Yield Components ............... 92 Effect of Irrigation on Tepary Bean Establishment and Yield ............................................... 97

HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION IN THE FOUR CORNERS REGION105 Commercial wine grape (Vitis sp.) production in northwestern New Mexico ..................... 106 Hops (Humulus lupulus) Evaluation................................................................................... 107 New Mexico brewers’ perception about utilizing locally grown hops. ................................. 112 xxi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Mobile Scaffold Trailer....................................................................................................... 117 Hops Dryer ........................................................................................................................ 122 Where Health and Horticulture Intersect: A Navajo Wellness Collaboration ...................... 126 Website? Video? Facebook? Mobile App? One Group’s Experience Developing and Comparing Urban Landscape Water Conservation Digital Outreach Resources ............... 130 Other Horticultural Activities 2014: .................................................................................... 132 Horticulture at San Juan College ....................................................................................... 138 Small-scale housing project for Northwest, NM: A collaborative proposal to expand teaching, research, and demonstration activities at San Juan College and the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington............................................... 139

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF DRIP IRRIGATION FOR NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO ........... 143 Hybrid Poplar Production under Drip Irrigation in the Four Corners Region ....................... 143 Evaluation of Hybrid Poplar Amended with Composted Biosolids...................................... 151 Evaluation of Hybrid Poplar Grown Under Four Irrigation Treatments ............................... 158 Non-cropland Conservation with Trees, Shrubs and Grasses ........................................... 166 Poplar Phytoremediation Project on an Abandoned Oil Refinery Site in Northwestern New Mexico............................................................................................................................... 169

DISSEMINATION AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................. 173 Publications and Reports .................................................................................................. 173 Proceedings ...................................................................................................................... 174 Abstract, Posters and/or Oral Presentations ...................................................................... 174 Media Contributions and Non-academic Paper or Reports ................................................ 176 Meetings ........................................................................................................................... 178 Awards .............................................................................................................................. 180 Proposals and Grants........................................................................................................ 181

STORIES FROM THE POPULAR PRESS ...................................................................................... 185 Fernbush: A Practical Selection for High Desert Landscapes – (Full Article) ..................... 185 NMSU Horticulture Graduate Student Heading to Peace Corps Nepal. ............................. 187 xxii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

NMSU looks to expand Peace Corps graduate programs ................................................. 189 PES Team joins University of La Salle – Bogotá with Partners in the Americas Exchange 193 Open house at NMSU's Agricultural Science Center in Farmington teaches public about crops ................................................................................................................................. 195 Partnering for Innovation: Global Research Team Carries Out Rainwater Return-onInvestment Study in Kenya - Soil and Water Conservation Society, New Mexico Chapter 197 Regional project works on microirrigation .......................................................................... 198 Research Rally celebrates NMSU partnership with cancer research center ...................... 200 Yéego Gardening Workshops share tips for gardening. .................................................... 201

xxiii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table Of Tables Table 1.

Summary of mean daily climatological data. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. January through December 2014. ............................................... 7

Table 2.

Summary of forty-six year average monthly weather conditions. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. .................................................. 7

Table 3.

Summary of freeze dates and number of consecutive freeze-free days. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ............................... 8

Table 4.

Summary of mean monthly precipitation (in). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ............................................................................. 10

Table 5.

Summary of monthly average of the mean temperature* (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ................................................ 11

Table 6.

Summary of monthly average maximum temperature (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ................................................ 12

Table 7.

Summary of monthly average of the minimum temperature (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ................................................ 13

Table 8.

Summary of highest temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ............................................................................. 14

Table 9.

Summary of lowest temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ............................................................................. 15

Table 10.

Summary of number of days 32 ºF or below and 0 ºF or below in critical months. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. .................. 16

Table 11.

Summary of number of days 100 ºF or above and number of days 95 ºF or above in critical months. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ................................................................................................................... 17

Table 12.

Summary of mean daily evaporation (inches per day). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1972 – 2014. ............................................................. 18

Table 13.

Summary of mean monthly evaporation (inches per month). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1972 – 2014. ................................................ 19

Table 14.

Summary of wind movement in miles per day (MPD) at 6 inch height above evaporation pan. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1980 – 2014. .................................................................................................................... 20

Table 15.

Summary of wind movement in miles per day (MPD) at two meter height above ground. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1980 – 2014. ..... 21

xxiv

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 16.

Summary of mean daily solar radiation (Langleys). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1977 – 2014. ............................................................. 22

Table 17.

Summary of forty-six year total monthly Growing Degree Days* (May thru Sept. and first fall freeze). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. (Automatic weather station data from (http://weather.nmsu.edu/). .............. 23

Table 18.

Summary of mean soil temperature (ºF) 4 inches below soil surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. September 1976 to December 2014. .................................................................................................................... 24

Table 19.

Summary of mean high soil temperatures (ºF) four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. ............................. 25

Table 20.

Summary of mean low soil temperature (ºF) four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. ............................. 26

Table 21.

Summary of soil high temperature (ºF) extremes, four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. .................. 27

Table 22.

Summary of soil low temperature (ºF) extremes, four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. ............................. 28

Table 23.

Procedures for the 2012-planted Alfalfa Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................................................... 31

Table 24.

Forage yield of the 2012-planted Alfalfa Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................................................... 32

Table 25.

Three-year forage yield of the 2012-planted Alfalfa Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2012-2014.................................................... 33

Table 26.

Procedures for the Early Season Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 35

Table 27.

Grain yield and other attributes of the Early Season Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 37

Table 28.

Procedures for the Forage Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 39

Table 29.

Forage yield (dry and green) and other attributes of the Forage Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......... 40

Table 30.

Chemical analysis for forage quality done at the University of Wisconsin on the Forage Corn Hybrid and Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 41

Table 31.

Procedures for the Southern Regional Winter Wheat Performance Nursery. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 43

xxv

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 32.

Winter wheat grain yield and other characteristics of the Southern Regional Performance Nursery. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .................................................................................................................... 44

Table 33.

Procedures for the Limagrain Winter Wheat Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 47

Table 34.

Winter wheat grain yield and other characteristics of the Limagrain Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 48

Table 35.

Procedures for the Limagrain Spring Wheat Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 51

Table 36.

Limagrain Spring Wheat Variety Trial, grain yield and other characteristics. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................... 52

Table 37.

Application of Priaxor applied to cuttings of DKA41-18RR Roundup Ready alfalfa. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 58

Table 38.

Yield of DKA41-18RR Roundup Ready alfalfa from Priaxor applied at different cuttings. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014................. 58

Table 39.

Control of annual broadleaf weeds with preemergence herbicides in Pioneer PO365AM field corn on June 10, 2014; NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 60

Table 40.

Control of annual broadleaf weeds with preemergence followed by sequential postemergence herbicides in Pioneer PO365AM field corn on July 10, 2014. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 61

Table 41.

Control of annual broadleaf weeds with preemergence herbicides in Pioneer PO365AM field corn on June 10, 2014. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 63

Table 42.

Control of annual broadleaf weeds with preemergence followed by sequential postemergence herbicides in Pioneer PO365AM field corn on July 11, 2014. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014............................... 64

Table 43.

Xeric-adapted shrubs or small trees (and standard symbols) planted in 2009 in experimental plots to determine effects of variable drip irrigation on plant survival and growth. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......... 74

Table 44.

Average canopy area of six plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the west plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 78

Table 45.

Average canopy area of five plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the east plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 79

xxvi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 46.

Average height of six plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the west plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 79

Table 47.

Average height of five plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the east plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 80

Table 48.

Average canopy volume of six plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the west plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 80

Table 49.

Average canopy volume of five plant species measured in September 2014 at four levels of drip irrigation in the east plot of the shrub/small tree study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 81

Table 50.

Forage yield of alfalfa from cut 1 (6/5/2014) at seven irrigation levels treated with Priaxor at 4 ounces per acre on 4/25/2014 compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 87

Table 51.

Forage yield of alfalfa from cut 2 (7/10/2014) at seven irrigation levels treated with Priaxor at 4 ounces per acre on 4/25/2014 compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 88

Table 52.

Forage yield of alfalfa from cut 3 (8/7/2014) at seven irrigation levels treated with Priaxor at 4 ounces per acre on 4/25/2014 and 7/24/2014 compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. . 88

Table 53.

Forage yield of alfalfa from cut 4 (9/17/2014) at seven irrigation levels treated with Priaxor at 4 ounces per acre on 4/25/2014 and 7/24/2014 compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. . 89

Table 54.

Total forage yield of alfalfa from 2014 at seven irrigation levels treated with Priaxor at 4 ounces per acre on 4/25/2014 and 7/24/2014 compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ................. 89

Table 55.

Regression parameters describing the best-line fits (in the form Y = A + B1(w) + B2(w2) for the relationships between yield (Y) and water applied (w) shown in Figure 11. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............. 90

Table 56.

Harvest dates of six chile pepper varieties during the 2014 humate treatment study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ................... 93

Table 57.

Fresh weight of marketable chile pods (green and red) per plant for six varieties of chile peppers treated with liquid humate compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 94

Table 58.

Number of marketable chile pods (green and red) produced per plant for six varieties of chile peppers treated with liquid humate compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ................. 95

xxvii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 59.

Fresh weight per marketable chile pod (green and red) produced per plant for six varieties of chile peppers treated with liquid humate compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ................. 95

Table 60.

Fresh marketable yield of six varieties of chile peppers (green and red) treated with liquid humate compared to the untreated control. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................................................... 96

Table 61.

Average bean weight per plant and weight per 100 beans of FG13 Chiapas Select 1 (FG13 CS-1) and FG13 Chiapas Mottled (FG13 CM) tepary beans at various irrigation treatments (8 treatments; 4 reps). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 99

Table 62.

Average bean weight per plant and weight per 100 beans of FG13 Chiapas Select 1 (FG13 CS-1) and FG13 Chiapas Mottled (FG13 CM) tepary beans at various irrigation treatments (16 treatments; 2 reps). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 100

Table 63.

Hop cultivars sampled for five viruses. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 108

Table 64.

Percent virus infection by trial establishment. Only studies with virus detected infection were reported. Unless noted, sample size per entry was six samples (n = 6) per cultivar. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .... 110

Table 65.

Survey instrument utilized to assess New Mexico Brewers’ perceptions of local hops production in New Mexico. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................................................................... 113

Table 66.

Current hop usage (2014) by NMBG (n=18) sorted by volume used (most in pellet form). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ................. 115

Table 67.

Cost-benefit comparison of digital resources. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 131

Table 68.

Taxonomy of ten hybrid poplar clones grown under drip irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2002–2014. ............................. 145

Table 69.

Operations and procedures for 2002-planted hybrid poplar trial under drip irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............ 147

Table 70.

Growth and survival of 2002-planted hybrid poplar clones grown under drip irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............ 149

Table 71.

Baseline chemical traits of soil and biosolids samples collected in 2005. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM, 2014. ....................................... 152

Table 72.

Operations and procedures for 2005-planted hybrid poplars in biosolids application trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM, 2014. .................... 153

xxviii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 73.

Selected growth parameters for hybrid poplars amended with composted biosolids. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................ 155

Table 74.

Operations and procedures for 2007-planted hybrid poplars grown under four irrigation regimes. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.161

Table 75.

Mean DBH, height, wood volume and biomass of four 2007-planted hybrid poplar clones grown under four irrigation regimes. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 165

Table 76.

Survival of various trees, shrubs and grasses planted in a conservation area at NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2009-2014.................... 167

xxix

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table Of Figures Figure 1.

Monthly and average precipitation (in), monthly maximum and minimum temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .. 6

Figure 2.

New Mexico Climate Center (NMCC) weather station. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................................................... 67

Figure 3.

Typical crop coefficient (KC) variability with crop development. From Van der Gulik and Nyvall (2001). ................................................................................................ 68

Figure 4.

Twenty-six year (1985-2011) average daily reference ET computed with standardized Penman-Monteith alfalfa (ETR) and grass (ETO) equations. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 69

Figure 5.

Diagram of the west plot designed to evaluate survival and growth of shrubs or small trees in the soil stabilization study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 75

Figure 6.

Diagram of the east plot designed to evaluate survival and growth of shrubs or small trees in the soil stabilization study. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 76

Figure 7.

Average canopy area of twelve shrubs or small trees included in the study to evaluate establishment and growth at various drip irrigation levels. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 82

Figure 8.

Average height of twelve shrubs and trees included in the study to evaluate establishment and growth at various drip irrigation levels. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................................................ 82

Figure 9.

Average canopy volume of eleven shrubs or small trees included in the study to evaluate establishment and growth at various drip irrigation levels. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................... 83

Figure 10.

Diagram of the sprinkler line-source design used to evaluate the effect of Priaxor fungicide on alfalfa yield at varying levels of irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ......................................................................... 86

Figure 11.

Alfalfa yield per cut as related to applied water (irrigation plus rain) in Priaxor treated and non-treated (control) plots. Each point represents the mean of six replications. Lines represent best-fit regressions (Table 55). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014............................................................. 90

Figure 12.

Total alfalfa yield as related to applied water (irrigation plus precipitation) in Priaxor treated and non-treated plots. Each point represents the mean of six replications. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .............................. 91

xxx

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Figure 13.

Diagram of the single line-source plot used to evaluate effects of variable irrigation on establishment and yield of tepary beans. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.......................................................................................... 98

Figure 14.

Bean yield per plant (ounces) of two selections of tepary beans at various levels of seasonal irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.101

Figure 15.

Weight per 100 beans (ounces) of two tepary bean selections at various levels of irrigation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............ 101

Figure 16.

Configuration of ASCF hops (Humulus lupulus) trials planted 2008-2014. Rows 1-4 tested for five viruses. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .................................................................................................................. 109

Figure 17.

Barrels of craft beer produced annually between 2012 and 2014, by survey respondents in New Mexico. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................................................................... 114

Figure 18.

Form of hops and brewing equipment design and modification relationships of NMBG respondents (n=18). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................................................................... 116

Figure 19.

Twenty foot tall hop-trellis at NMSU-ASC Farmington constructed of high tensile wire and oil stem pipe. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .................................................................................................................. 119

Figure 20.

Hops scaffold upright details. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014 ........................................................................................................... 120

Figure 21.

Hop scaffold toe board and safety chains on platform. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014 ........................................................................ 120

Figure 22.

Hops scaffold outriggers. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .................................................................................................................. 121

Figure 23.

Hops trellis operation with mobile scaffold. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 121

Figure 24.

Front view of hops dryer constructed of recycled pivot pipe, 2 in. x4 in. untreated lumber, shade cloth, and box fans. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 123

Figure 25.

Details of the hops dryer drawers and wheel. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 124

Figure 26.

Two box fans that pull air through the hops dryer. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ....................................................................... 124

Figure 27.

Hops setup for drying process. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................................................................... 125

xxxi

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Figure 28.

Soil volumetric water content of four different grow-box designs. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ....................................... 133

Figure 29.

Grow boxes in winter. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .................................................................................................................. 134

Figure 30.

Post-harvest measurements. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014 ........................................................................................................... 135

Figure 31.

NMSU-ASC Farmington singlewide trailer condemned 2012 and recycled in 2014. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014 ............................. 141

Figure 32.

Dead mouse in carpeting of old trailer. Hantavirus, endemic to the Four Corners region, is an added public health risk. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014........................................................................................ 141

Figure 33.

Small house under construction by San Juan College Building Program students 2012-1014. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014 .......... 142

Figure 34.

House being lifted from transport truck and being lowered onto the foundation. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................ 142

Figure 35.

Cumulative evapotranspiration and water applications plus rainfall for 2002-planted hybrid poplars under drip irrigation during the 2014 growing season. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ....................................... 148

Figure 36.

Plot plan of four hybrid poplar clones grown under four irrigation levels. Clones are shown by code in each subplot; shaded columns show whole plot irrigation levels. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ............................ 159

Figure 37.

Cumulative evapotranspiration and water applications plus rainfall for 2007-planted hybrid poplar clones grown under four irrigation regimes. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................... 163

Figure 38.

Wood volume for 2007-planted hybrid poplar clones grown under four irrigation regimes (80, 100, 120 and 140% of reference ET). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ....................................................................... 164

Figure 39.

Phase 4 hybrid poplar trees planted at the Bloomfield, NM, phytoremediation site on April 1, 2014 and photographed on May 15, 2014, showing reasonably healthy leaf emergence despite growing in heavily petroleum-contaminated soil. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. ....................................... 170

Figure 40.

Phase 4 close-up photo of hybrid poplar tree planted at the Bloomfield, NM, phytoremediation site on April 1, 2014, showing build-up of iron and salt deposits along dripline emitter sites, a result of contaminated well water. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. .......................................................... 171

xxxii

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Introduction Serving the agricultural needs for the San Juan River basin of northwest New Mexico and the Four Corners region, the Agricultural Science Center at Farmington consists of 254 acres leased from the Navajo Nation in 1966. While the major irrigated cropland for northwestern New Mexico is in San Juan County, small parcels of irrigated lands are also found in the two adjoining counties, McKinley and Rio Arriba. These three counties have about 1,800 farms with 198,000 acres of irrigated and 11,000 acres of dry land farming. San Juan County ranks second in the state for irrigated cropland with 150,000 acres or 10% of the state total (Gore and Wilken, 1998). Cash receipts from crop and livestock production in the three-county area is about $96,000,000 annually of which about 50% is from livestock sales and 50% is from crops. In 1997, San Juan County ranked eighth in cash receipts for all farm commodities and the three counties together produced 5.7% of the $1.9 billion cash receipts from all agricultural commodities in New Mexico (Gore and Wilken, 1998). The Agricultural Science Center is located about seven miles southwest of Farmington on the high plateau of northwestern New Mexico. The Center is at an altitude of 5,640 ft above sea level (36º 4’ N by 108º W) in a semi-arid environment with a mean annual precipitation of 8.19 in. The mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures range from 40 and 19 ºF in January to 91 and 60 ºF in July. The average frost-free period is 163 days from May 4 to October 14 (Smeal et al. 2001). There are four soil orders within the Center ranging from sandy loam to loamy sand (59 – 83 % Sand) and having a pH of 7.8 (Anderson, 1970). The Center is the only agricultural research facility in the state of New Mexico that is on the western side of the Continental Divide. River drainage is west into the Colorado River, which then continues west and south to the Saltan Sea and Pacific Ocean by way of the Gulf of California. Over two-thirds of the total surface water that exists in the state of New Mexico runs through the northwest corner of New Mexico (San Juan County). The Center receives water through the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP). Total irrigated land serviced by NIIP comprises about 50% of the 150,000 acres of irrigated land in San Juan County and future development will expand NIIP to over 100,000 acres. Irrigated acreage in San Juan County is increasing and when all projects being planned are completed, acreage will climb from 150,000 to about 240,000 acres. Of the 254 acres comprising the Agricultural Science Center, 170 acres are under cultivation. Over 100 crops have been grown on the Center since its inception in 1966. Many crops, which produce well in northwestern New Mexico, are not grown in the area because of market prices at the time of harvest, high transportation costs to a suitable market, personnel unfamiliar with production practices, etc. The Center currently receives water from NIIP to irrigate crops by sprinkler systems (center pivots, solid set, and side roll). Earlier, irrigation systems also included flood but that was impractical on the Center’s sandy soils. Agricultural productivity within NIIP is carried out by the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) and is managed as a single farm. Close collaborative links are maintained with NAPI through varietal

1

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

testing of potatoes, corn, small grains, beans, onions, chile, alfalfa, and other economically important crops. Variety and agronomic crop research has included winter and spring wheat, winter and spring barley, oats, corn, alfalfa, and crambe. Dry bean variety and type trials, including row spacing and management for white mold control, have been conducted. Fertilizer-type/placement trials and herbicide-type/application trials have been carried out with potatoes, corn, cereal grain, and dry beans in various rotations. Alternative crops evaluated in the past have included soybeans, safflower, kenaf, licorice, buckwheat, sugarbeets, canola (rape), rye, triticale, sorghum, sunflower, amaranth, pasture and other minor acreage crops such as carrots for seed production. Agronomic work has also been conducted in no-till plots and clean-tilled areas as well as intercropping dry bean and soybean in spring wheat. Important areas of study have included leaching associated with herbicides and potential for contaminating drainage water, which affects future crop productivity and ground water draining into the San Juan basin. Past areas of entomological study have included the control of corn ear worm, apple codling moth, and Russian wheat aphid. Weed research has included pre-plant, preemergence, and post-emergence applications of herbicides for grass and broadleaf control in alfalfa, corn, wheat, beans, potatoes, onion, carrot, and pumpkin. Water research has determined consumptive use indexes and efficient water application strategies on a number of crops including tomato, chile, potatoes, winter and spring grains, beans, corn, alfalfa, pasture and buffalo gourd. Turf research has included blue grass variety trials, and buffalo and blue grama evaluations for low-maintenance lawns. Horticultural crops evaluated in the past have included chile pepper, lettuce, tomato, green bean, onion, apple, pear, peach, nectarine, cherry, grape, cucumber, pea, pumpkin, winter and summer squash, and Christmas trees. Research at the present time is being conducted on alfalfa, corn, dry beans, potatoes, onions, chile, pasture grass, winter wheat, and spring oats. Major emphasis at the present time is on variety and other adaptive or production research, weed control, crop fertility, irrigation and consumptive-use, herbicide persistence and leaching, and other varied areas of research. Water application research includes determining water use-production functions of the primary crops in the area. This project includes developing and evaluating formulas to predict water application and consumptive use of crops and turfgrass. An 8-acre subsurface drip irrigation system was installed during 2001, which allows the comparison of productivity and water use efficiencies of economically important crops under micro irrigation systems. Since the mid-1960's, average county yields of alfalfa have increased from 3 to more than 5 tons/acre; corn has gone from 55 to 154 bu/acre and wheat from 35 to 110 bu/acre. Potatoes have become an increasingly important crop and production could be substantially increased if a proposed French fry plant is built. With new acreage being put into production each year, new research initiatives are needed primarily in the areas of high value crops, irrigation management, herbicide use, and soils. Buildings on the Center include an office and laboratory building with six offices, a laboratory and a tissue culture laboratory, conference room, head house, and attached greenhouse partitioned into two bays, and a three-bedroom residence with 2

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

attached garage. There are four metal buildings. The first building is 100 x 40 ft with a shop, small office, and restroom in a 40 x 40-ft section on the south end and a 60 x 40-ft area on the north end for machinery storage. The second building is 60' x 20' and is partitioned to form three small rooms. It is used for seed, fertilizer, and small equipment storage. The third building is a 20 x 60-ft open front machinery storage shed and the fourth building is a 20 x 30-ft chemical storage facility. Most of the machinery and equipment needed to carry out field, laboratory, and greenhouse research is available at the Center. Office, laboratory, greenhouse, and irrigated field plots are available to resident and visiting technical personnel. Graduate students may participate in the program. Most research is towards adaptive or applied research programs. Small breeding programs, however, have contributed to the total program in the past. The Center also has a two-bedroom trailer-house with two baths. Anyone who uses this facility must furnish bed covers and linens. The trailer is furnished with four single-beds, a stove, a refrigerator, a table, and chairs. Center personnel include 3 faculty, 3 professional and 5 support staff. Faculty are an agronomist, a pest management specialist, and an irrigation specialist. The 3 professional staff include the Farm Superintendent and 2 Research Specialists. The Center has 1 full-time Research Technicians, 1 full-time Research Assistant, a fulltime Records Technician, 2 full-time field laborer/tractor drivers, and occasional field assistants. Literature Cited Anderson, J.U. 1970. Soils of the San Juan Branch Agricultural Experiment Station. NMSU Ag. Exp. Stn. Res. Rpt. 180. Gore, C.E. and W.W. Wilken. 1998. New Mexico Agricultural Statistics – 1998. United States Department of Agriculture and New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Service. Las Cruces, NM.

3

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

4

2014 Annual Report

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Weather Conditions During 2014 at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center Curtis K. Owen, Margaret M. West, Jonah P. Joe A weather station was established at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, New Mexico, in January 1969. It was designated an official National Weather Service climatological observation site in 1978. Weather observations are made daily at 8:00 a.m. Initially, the maximum and minimum U.S. Weather Service thermometers were housed in a regulation instrument shelter. In March of 2005, A Nimbus PL digital “bee hive” style thermometer was installed and replaced the mercury thermometers. A standard eight-inch rain gauge was installed in 1982. Wind movement in miles per day has been recorded at two heights since 1980. A 3-cup anemometer is set 6 inches above the rim of the evaporation pan, while a second anemometer is set at 2 meters above the soil surface. Both anemometers were replaced in 2011. Evaporation was measured using a standard Class-A metal pan from 1972 through 2014. A maximum and minimum thermometer with a sensor probe buried 4 inches deep was installed in bare ground to record soil temperature. A second weather station is located at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center. This weather station is one of about 200 located throughout the state of New Mexico and is managed by the New Mexico Climate Center at New Mexico State University main campus in Las Cruces. This weather station was established in 1985 and has an automated data collection system and can be viewed at (http://weather.nmsu.edu). A below average 6.11 inches of precipitation was recorded in 2014. (Table 1) The 46 year annual precipitation average is 7.95 inches (Table 2) with the driest year occurring in 1976 with 3.57 inches of precipitation. The wettest month was September which received 1.55 inches (25% of the total annual of 6.11 inches). March, August, September, and December received above average monthly precipitation. All remaining months received below monthly precipitation of which January and June received no precipitation. (Figure 1) During the 2014 growing season, the freeze-free period was from May 13 through November 3 with 172 consecutive days of above freezing temperature. This was 10 days longer than the 46-year average freeze-free period of 162 days. The killing freeze-free period was May 1 through November 4 with 186 consecutive days above the killing freeze-free temperature (Table 3).

5

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Monthly Rainfall and Temperature January - December, 2014 5.0

Total rainfall: 6.11 in Normal rainfall: 7.95 in

90

4.0

80

3.5

70

3.0

60

2.5

50

2.0

40

1.5

30

1.0

20

0.5

10

0.0

0

Temperature (oF)

Rainfall (in)

4.5

100

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rainfall

Figure 1.

Avg Rainfall

Temp Max

Temp Min

Monthly and average precipitation (in), monthly maximum and minimum temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014.

6

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington Table 1.

Month

2014 Annual Report

Summary of mean daily climatological data. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. January through December 2014. Mean Temperature

Extreme Temp. Precipi-

Max

Min

Mean

Max

Min

tation

(ºF)

(ºF)

(ºF)

(ºF)

(ºF)

(in)

18.0 25.6 30.0 35.4 44.6 54.3 62.8 58.5 55.6 43.2 28.3 25.4 481.7 40.1

32.1 39.0 44.2 50.2 59.2 70.8 77.4 72.1 69.1 56.2 41.7 34.4 646.4 53.9

60.0 66.0 69.0 78.0 91.0 94.0 97.0 92.0 91.0 77.0 74.0 59.0 948.0 79.0

8.0 14.0 18.0 25.0 27.0 46.0 58.0 48.0 41.0 35.0 12.0 3.0 335.0 27.9

0.00 0.41 0.88 0.13 0.26 0.00 0.47 1.07 1.55 0.15 0.31 0.88 6.11 0.51

January 46.2 February 52.3 March 58.3 April 64.9 May 73.7 June 87.3 July 92.0 August 85.6 September 82.5 October 69.2 November 55.1 December 43.4 Total 810.5 Mean 67.5

Wind Speed 18 in 2m height height (mi) (mi) 76.3 68.8 90.0

235.1 19.6

97.3 81.9 99.3 118.0 78.3 74.3 79.5 61.3 51.9 58.4 73.9 64.7 938.8 78.2

Evapo- Sunshine ration (in)

(Langley) 265.2 313.0

7.68 10.64 13.64 13.52 10.24 8.09 5.69

203.8

Summary of forty-six year average monthly weather conditions. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Month

PrecipMean Temperature tation Maximum Minimum (in) (ºF) (ºF) 0.49 0.47 0.65 0.58 0.50 0.23 0.81 1.04 1.11 0.96 0.64 0.46 7.95 0.66

41 48 57 66 76 87 91 88 80 68 53 42

19 24 29 36 45 54 61 59 51 40 28 20

66.4

38.9

538.7 474.2 376.0

69.50 9.93

Table 2.

January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Mean

523.2 613.7 698.1

–––––––––––––– Extreme Temperature –––––––––––– Maximum Year Recorded Minimum Year Recorded (ºF) (ºF) 66 70 82 86 97 100 103 99 97 88 75 67

7

2000 1986 2004 1992 2000 1981-1990-1994 1989,90,03,05 1969,70,83,02 1995 2010 1999-2001 1999

-18 -14 3 16 23 32 43 41 28 15 1 -16

1971 1989 2002 1979 1975 1999 1969 1980 1971-1999 1989 1976 1990

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

Table 3.

Date 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2014 Annual Report

Summary of freeze dates and number of consecutive freeze-free days. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. ––––– Less than or equal to 32 ºF ––––– ––––––– Less than or equal to 28 ºF ––––––– Last Spring First Fall Freeze-free Last Spring First Fall Killing FreezeFreeze Freeze Period Killing Freeze Killing Freeze free Period (date) (date) (days) (date) (date) (days) Apr 27 May 02 May 09 May 02 May 02 May 21 May 08 Apr 27 Apr 21 May 06 May 12 May 26 May 09 May 06 May 19 May 08 May 14 Apr 27 Apr 21 May 07 Apr 30 Apr 10* May 05 Apr 21 May 09 Apr 30 Apr 25 Apr 30 May 02 May 15 Jun 05** May 12 Apr 23 Apr 22 May 11 May 1 Apr 22 Apr 20 May 07 May 03 April 27 May 12 May 03

Oct 05 Oct 08 Sep 18* Oct 30 Oct 11 Oct 30 Oct 14 Oct 07 Oct 31 Oct 26 Oct 21 Oct 16 Oct 16 Oct 06 Sep 21 Oct 15 Sep 30 Oct 12 Oct 19 Nov 12** Oct 18 Oct 09 Oct 28 Oct 08 Oct 19 Oct 17 Oct 06 Sep 19 Oct 13 Oct 06 Sep 28 Oct 14 Oct 11 Oct 04 Oct 27 Oct 23 Oct 31 Sep 23 Oct 07 Oct 12 Sep 22 Oct 26 Oct 08

161 159 132 181 162 162 159 164 193** 173 162 143 160 153 125 160 139 168 181 189 171 181 176 170 163 170 164 142 163 144 115* 154 170 165 168 174 192 155 153 162 147 166 157

Apr 26 May 01 Apr 27 Apr 27 May 02 May 20 May 07 Apr 27 Apr 05 May 06 Apr 20 May 25** Apr 05 Apr 21 May 17 May 08 Apr 01 Apr 27 Apr 21 Apr 11 Mar 21 Mar 31 Apr 29 Mar 19* Apr 20 Apr 08 Apr 18 Apr 29 May 02 Apr 19 Apr 16 Apr 03 Apr 13 Apr 22 Apr 08 Mar 29 Apr 21 Apr 19 Apr 19 May 02 Apr 16 May 12 May 02

8

Oct 06 Oct 09 Sep 18* Oct 31 Oct 27 Nov 04 Oct 14 Oct 19 Nov 02 Nov 13 Oct 22 Oct 17 Oct 17 Oct 10 Nov 09 Oct 16 Nov 01 Oct 13 Nov 11 Nov 16** Oct 27 Oct 21 Oct 29 Oct 08 Oct 27 Oct 31 Oct 06 Oct 18 Oct 13 Oct 06 Sep 29 Nov 02 Oct 11 Nov 04 Oct 27 Oct 30 Nov 15 Oct 22 Oct 07 Oct 12 Oct 2 Oct 26 Oct 28

163 161 144* 187 178 168 160 175 211 191 185 145 194 172 176 161 214 169 204 219** 219** 204 182 203 190 206 171 172 163 170 166 212 180 196 201 214 207 183 171 163 168 166 178

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

Date 2012 2013 2014 Mean

2014 Annual Report

––––– Less than or equal to 32 ºF ––––– ––––––– Less than or equal to 28 ºF ––––––– Last Spring First Fall Freeze-free Last Spring First Fall Killing FreezeFreeze Freeze Period Killing Freeze Killing Freeze free Period (date) (date) (days) (date) (date) (days) Apr 16 Oct 25 192 Apr 16 Oct 25 192 May 3 Oct 5 154 May 3 Oct 17 166 May 13 Nov 3 172 May 1 Nov 4 186 May 3 Oct 13 162.3 Apr 21 Oct 21 182.7

* Earliest date (or shortest freeze-free period) of 46 years. ** Latest date (or longest freeze-free period) of 46 years.

9

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington Table 4.

Year 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

2014 Annual Report

Summary of mean monthly precipitation (in). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

0.85 0.31 0.21 0.30 1.13 0.06 0.03 0.49 0.60 0.11 0.18 0.09 0.05 0.11 0.41 0.03 *trace 0.03 *0.00 0.02 0.28 0.17 1.82 1.54 0.65 1.10 0.13 0.01 0.20 0.02 0.11 0.61 1.52 0.78 0.35 0.06 0.16 *0.00 0.10 0.41 0.42 *trace *0.00 0.01 0.29 0.90 0.64 1.27 0.71 0.96 0.88 0.19 0.46 0.28 0.58 1.45 0.70 0.63 0.25 0.25 trace 0.30 1.76 0.21 1.05 0.32 0.77 1.18 0.67 0.82 0.94 0.69 1.84 0.31 0.13 trace 0.12 0.54 1.00 trace 0.39 0.13 1.74 1.76 0.29 0.11 0.77 0.51 0.97 0.13 0.10 1.75 0.66 trace 0.68 0.63 0.82 0.02 0.72 1.11 1.19 0.56 0.06 *0.00 trace 0.53 0.53 0.74 0.85 1.07 0.59 0.26 0.67 0.01 0.27 0.15 0.18 0.74 0.25 **1.75 **2.05 0.82 0.93 0.28 0.38 0.09 0.48 0.24 0.57 1.32 0.57 0.14 1.45 1.28 0.9 0.09 0.43 0.28 0.17 *0.00 1.03 0.48 0.03 **2.88 0.82 0.12 0.61 0.65 0.73 0.03 0.14 0.05 0.13 1.21 1.26 0.62 0.25 **2.05 0.21 0.03 0.44 0.80 1.37 0.67 0.87 0.04 0.04 0.17 0.37 *0.00 0.08 1.29 0.49 0.02 0.01 0.34 0.90 *0.00 2.50 *0.00 1.09 **1.81 0.36 0.85 0.55 0.39 0.05 0.71 0.58 0.09 0.42 0.59 1.13 0.35 1.73 1.21 0.74 0.14 0.03 0.25 0.36 0.44 0.21 0.28 0.78 1.34 0.95 0.82 0.26 0.10 0.03 0.18 0.34 1.09 0.86 0.10 0.40 0.20 0.01 0.08 0.88 0.07 0.14 0.49 0.26 *0.00 0.41 0.88 0.13 0.26 0.49 0.47 0.65 0.58 0.50

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

**1.00 0.69 0.47 0.81 0.68 *0.02 *0.00 0.31 1.72 0.18 0.04 1.34 0.95 0.27 0.61 0.09 1.48 0.12 0.13 0.84 0.24 0.09 0.62 0.80 0.04 1.01 1.41 *0.00 0.07 0.18 0.43 1.40 0.49 0.07 0.08 0.89 0.16 1.34 0.35 *0.00 1.27 2.78 0.35 1.67 0.72 0.67 0.62 1.64 0.01 1.38 0.43 0.81 **4.10 0.93 0.02 0.28 1.17 0.33 0.58 2.34 trace 1.24 1.62 0.07 0.35 1.32 0.69 0.35 0.58 0.05 0.98 1.25 0.04 *0.03 2.06 0.07 0.20 0.66 0.03 0.23 1.88 0.64 0.24 1.07 0.62 1.28 1.12 0.02 1.38 1.48 0.44 2.51 **2.99 0.12 0.80 1.22 0.03 0.82 1.01 *0.00 0.42 0.32 0.15 0.11 1.24 0.14 0.38 0.16 0.11 0.52 1.84 0.24 1.90 0.79 0.10 0.68 0.81 0.13 0.63 0.53 0.47 0.15 0.27 0.10 0.65 2.50 0.01 0.65 0.05 0.01 1.07 0.15 *0.00 0.54 1.34 *0.00 0.47 1.07 0.23 0.81 1.04

2.07 2.48 1.06 0.57 1.49 0.37 0.80 1.31 0.38 1.55 *0.08 1.05 0.69 1.50 0.53 0.45 1.31 2.18 0.27 0.27 0.14 1.97 1.38 0.85 0.84 1.37 2.04 0.63 2.68 0.68 0.25 0.50 0.26 3.26 0.87 2.53 0.48 1.38 0.74 0.28 0.09 0.84 1.02 0.67 **3.29 1.55 1.11

2.88 0.48 1.15 **3.53 0.35 2.39 0.14 *0.01 0.30 1.46 1.37 0.84 0.89 0.16 0.52 1.13 1.21 0.65 1.07 0.22 0.51 1.12 0.38 0.42 1.25 1.18 0.10 2.21 0.43 2.07 *0.01 2.16 0.24 1.75 0.72 0.60 0.92 1.90 0.11 0.76 0.68 1.32 1.86 0.08 0.66 0.15 0.96

0.38 0.46 0.77 0.19 0.30 0.48 0.22 0.01 0.62 2.24 0.97 0.02 0.36 0.92 0.91 0.23 0.52 **2.73 1.65 0.78 *0.00 0.78 2.07 0.31 0.47 0.96 0.14 0.72 0.67 1.27 0.06 0.78 0.48 0.72 1.03 0.82 0.06 0.06 0.21 0.61 0.32 0.12 0.55 0.24 0.91 0.31 0.64

0.29 0.20 0.16 0.93 0.37 0.38 0.20 *trace 0.63 0.59 0.73 *trace 0.03 0.76 0.67 0.87 0.22 0.76 0.59 0.19 *trace 0.59 **1.01 0.63 0.15 0.64 0.39 0.22 0.80 0.06 0.12 0.22 0.55 0.60 0.31 0.37 0.10 0.73 0.99 0.96 0.42 0.78 0.30 0.69 0.14 0.88 0.46

* Lowest in column ** Highest in column

10

Total 10.58 6.42 6.01 6.86 8.80 6.77 5.94 *3.57 5.15 10.57 7.86 6.23 7.14 11.15 9.28 7.27 9.39 **14.65 8.24 8.01 5.32 9.92 8.26 7.56 9.30 7.78 9.15 6.70 12.84 9.10 9.17 8.96 7.50 7.70 6.32 8.70 8.70 8.80 7.90 6.30 4.50 9.78 6.94 3.70 8.70 6.11 7.95

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington Table 5.

2014 Annual Report

Summary of monthly average of the mean temperature* (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

34 31 30 30 22 24 26 28 25 33 24 33 30 30 31 28 30 40 29 24 27 29 25 28 35 33 33 32 29 34 35 34 31 32 38 30 38 34 28 24 32 26 24 32 24 32 30.0

35 40 34 38 35 28 34 41 37 34 32 39 37 31 36 34 32 39 36 36 35 36 37 39 38 35 44 41 36 35 39 40 37 34 36 34 40 37 37 33 38 33 32 35 32 39 36.1

37 39 43 48 39 48 40 40 39 46 40 40 41 42 42 41 41 47 39 41 49 46 41 45 44 46 44 43 46 42 48 42 45 42 44 50 43 43 47 42 45 41 45 45 44 44 43.2

52 44 50 53 45 48 46 52 54 52 50 48 55 49 45 47 53 51 53 51 57 54 49 56 51 52 48 51 47 48 49 53 54 57 51 53 52 56 52 50 49 51 50 55 50 50 50.9

63 60 58 60 59 63 56 60 59 56 58 57 59 57 56 64 61 60 59 59 63 59 59 62 61 61 57 64 61 61 58 63 63 63 63 64 62 65 61 58 64 57 56 63 60 59 60.2

67 68 71 70 68 74 66 70 74 69 67 71 71 67 66 69 71 70 70 72 70 75 68 68 69 73 67 71 70 67 68 71 71 75 71 72 69 74 72 70 68 72 71 74 73 71 70.2

76 76 77 78 75 75 74 77 76 76 74 76 74 73 74 76 76 72 73 76 78 76 75 72 74 77 74 76 74 77 74 75 77 78 81 75 79 78 78 75 77 76 77 76 77 77 75.8

76 76 74 74 75 74 72 74 75 71 72 73 72 72 75 74 74 74 71 74 72 73 74 73 71 76 76 73 73 74 71 75 74 74 77 73 73 73 76 74 73 72 76 75 73 72 73.7

69 64 64 66 63 65 64 66 68 65 69 65 65 65 68 66 62 62 65 64 69 69 66 66 64 66 67 61 68 70 63 68 70 66 66 65 68 62 68 66 67 67 65 67 67 69 66.0

50 50 52 54 55 55 54 51 56 56 56 52 51 50 54 47 54 52 56 58 55 54 56 56 52 53 53 52 52 54 54 54 57 53 59 54 56 52 55 54 50 56 53 55 50 56 53.7

40 42 40 36 44 40 38 40 43 42 35 41 44 40 41 42 40 40 39 41 41 42 38 35 38 38 44 40 41 42 45 35 45 40 41 41 43 44 44 44 43 39 40 44 41 42 40.8

34 33 30 26 30 28 30 32 36 24 32 37 34 32 34 35 31 33 29 31 31 24 29 26 32 35 35 32 31 32 30 34 31 32 34 33 32 31 30 31 27 38 30 32 28 34 31.4

52.8 51.9 51.9 52.8 50.8 51.8 50.0 52.6 53.5 52.0 50.8 52.7 52.8 50.7 51.8 51.9 52.1 53.3 51.6 52.3 53.9 53.1 51.4 52.2 52.4 53.8 53.5 53.0 52.3 53.0 52.8 53.7 54.6 53.8 55.1 53.5 54.6 54.0 53.7 51.8 52.8 52.3 51.5 54.4 51.6 53.8 52.7

*The mean temperatures are the average of maximum and minimum temperatures for the month.

11

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington Table 6.

2014 Annual Report

Summary of monthly average maximum temperature (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

42 42 43 43 32 34 37 41 34 41 31 41 49 41 40 41 41 49 40 35 38 41 35 38 44 46 42 45 39 45 50 47 41 45 51 41 48 46 38 34 42 35 35 45 35 46 41.1

46 54 48 54 42 40 44 54 51 44 42 50 51 41 46 48 44 51 47 47 45 47 49 50 48 46 58 54 48 46 54 53 48 49 48 45 49 52 48 43 51 42 44 46 43 52 47.9

50 52 59 66 50 62 52 56 53 58 52 53 53 54 53 56 55 61 52 57 63 58 53 58 59 61 58 58 63 57 64 56 57 57 56 65 56 56 61 58 59 54 59 60 59 58 57.1

69 60 66 70 59 64 60 68 69 65 65 64 70 63 59 61 67 64 68 65 73 67 65 71 67 66 61 68 61 62 63 68 68 72 67 66 67 70 66 66 64 65 64 70 65 65 65.7

78 78 74 78 74 80 71 76 74 70 72 72 74 72 72 80 75 75 74 75 79 73 75 76 76 76 71 82 77 78 73 82 79 79 79 80 78 82 74 74 78 73 71 79 75 74 75.8

81 84 87 86 84 91 85 87 90 85 84 89 88 84 82 84 88 84 87 87 86 90 84 84 86 90 83 87 86 85 86 89 89 93 88 89 86 91 88 85 81 88 87 90 90 87 86.6

91 91 93 93 90 89 89 92 90 90 90 93 90 89 90 91 91 86 90 92 93 90 90 86 91 93 91 91 90 92 89 93 92 94 97 91 96 92 93 90 92 90 92 90 90 92 91.1

90 91 87 87 90 88 88 88 89 86 86 88 88 85 89 87 89 89 86 87 87 87 88 87 85 91 90 89 87 90 84 91 88 90 91 88 88 86 90 88 88 85 90 89 87 86 88.0

83 78 80 80 79 80 79 79 81 78 84 80 80 78 83 80 76 75 80 80 84 82 80 81 79 81 81 76 82 86 80 84 85 80 82 79 83 75 82 80 80 82 79 81 79 83 80.4

62 63 65 63 70 66 70 65 71 70 71 66 65 65 68 60 67 65 71 73 69 68 71 72 66 66 69 66 67 68 73 66 72 66 74 67 69 64 69 69 63 69 66 70 64 69 67.6

51 55 51 46 57 52 53 53 54 51 46 55 58 51 52 55 51 50 51 53 56 54 49 48 50 50 59 53 54 56 63 46 59 53 52 51 57 57 59 56 55 52 51 58 52 55 53.3

45 44 39 37 42 39 42 45 47 33 43 51 46 41 43 45 43 44 40 43 45 36 37 36 43 46 47 43 42 45 44 45 43 43 46 44 45 42 39 40 37 47 40 42 38 43 42.4

65.7 66.0 66.0 66.9 64.1 65.4 64.2 67.0 66.9 64.3 63.8 66.8 67.7 63.7 64.8 65.7 65.6 66.1 65.5 66.2 68.2 66.1 64.7 65.6 66.2 67.7 67.5 67.7 66.3 67.5 68.6 68.3 68.4 68.4 69.3 67.2 68.4 67.8 67.3 65.2 65.8 65.2 64.7 68.3 64.8 67.5 66.4

12

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington Table 7.

2014 Annual Report

Summary of monthly average of the minimum temperature (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

25 20 16 18 12 14 14 16 15 25 16 26 20 18 21 16 20 23 18 13 16 18 16 18 26 19 24 19 19 22 21 22 21 19 25 19 28 21 17 13 22 17 14 19 13 18 19.0

24 27 20 22 26 17 23 28 22 25 22 28 23 21 26 20 19 26 25 24 24 25 25 27 28 24 29 28 24 25 24 28 26 18 24 22 31 21 26 24 25 24 19 23 20 26 24.1

24 26 26 31 29 33 28 25 25 33 28 27 29 30 31 27 32 33 26 25 34 35 30 32 30 31 31 29 28 28 31 29 32 26 31 35 30 31 32 27 31 28 31 30 29 30 29.5

35 29 33 36 32 33 31 36 39 38 34 33 39 34 31 33 38 39 39 36 40 41 34 40 36 38 35 34 32 33 34 37 40 41 35 39 37 39 38 34 34 37 36 39 36 35 35.9

48 43 42 43 44 46 40 45 44 43 44 41 44 43 41 48 46 44 45 44 47 45 44 48 45 46 43 47 46 45 43 44 47 46 47 47 47 48 48 42 49 42 42 47 45 45 44.8

51 53 54 55 52 57 48 53 59 53 50 52 54 51 51 53 54 55 53 56 54 59 53 52 52 56 50 54 54 48 50 54 54 57 53 55 52 57 56 54 54 55 55 58 56 54 53.7

61 62 61 62 60 61 60 62 62 61 58 59 58 58 58 61 61 59 57 61 63 63 59 57 57 60 58 60 59 62 59 58 63 61 64 59 62 64 62 61 62 62 61 62 63 63 60.6

62 62 60 60 60 59 57 59 61 57 57 58 56 60 61 60 59 60 57 60 58 60 59 58 58 61 61 58 59 59 57 58 59 58 62 58 59 60 62 60 58 59 62 61 60 59 59.3

55 49 48 53 48 50 50 54 55 52 53 50 50 52 52 52 48 50 49 48 54 56 51 50 48 50 52 47 54 54 46 52 54 51 50 51 54 48 53 51 53 53 52 53 55 56 51.4

39 36 38 45 40 44 39 37 42 43 40 35 37 35 41 36 41 40 40 43 40 40 40 40 38 39 37 38 37 40 36 42 42 39 44 41 43 40 40 40 36 43 39 40 36 43 39.7

30 30 28 27 31 28 24 26 31 33 25 27 30 29 29 30 29 29 28 29 26 30 27 22 25 27 29 28 28 29 28 25 32 27 29 30 29 31 28 32 30 26 29 30 29 28 28.4

22 22 21 15 19 17 19 17 26 15 20 24 22 22 24 25 19 22 19 19 16 11 21 16 20 24 23 21 20 19 15 23 19 22 22 21 19 20 20 22 16 28 20 21 17 25 20.2

39.7 38.3 37.3 38.9 37.8 38.3 36.1 38.2 40.1 39.8 37.3 38.3 38.5 37.8 38.8 38.4 38.8 40.0 38.0 38.2 39.3 40.3 38.3 38.3 38.6 39.6 39.3 38.6 38.3 38.7 37.0 39.3 40.8 38.8 40.5 39.8 40.9 40.0 40.2 38.4 39.2 39.5 38.3 40.3 38.3 40.1 38.9

13

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 8.

Summary of highest temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Year

Jan

1969 57 1970 56 1971 60 1972 61 1973 47 1974 45 1975 61 1976 54 1977 46 1978 53 1979 46 1980 55 1981 60 1982 60 1983 53 1984 51 1985 50 1986 64 1987 56 1988 49 1989 50 1990 56 1991 44 1992 52 1993 54 1994 58 1995 53 1996 56 1997 58 1998 56 1999 62 66 2000 2001 51 2002 59 2003 57 2004 51 2005 57 2006 57 2007 56 2008 51 2009 53 2010 44 2011 50 2012 53 2013 54 60 2014 54.4 Mean Maximum 66 Year 2000

Feb

Mar

61 65 64 66 61 60 58 68 65 59 60 64 67 64 68 60 60 70 61 62 67 64 58 58 61 63 68 65 60 62 65 66 62 63 59 62 57 62 64 54 69 50 63 59 58 66 62.3 70 1986

74 65 77 76 63 72 65 71 69 79 62 67 71 64 68 68 70 75 69 77 81 74 67 67 72 74 74 71 75 77 75 70 70 74 74 82 68 71 76 70 73 75 72 73 74 69 71.7 82 2004

Apr

May

82 89 72 86 77 84 78 86 76 85 75 93 77 85 77 86 81 91 77 88 78 82 81 86 82 84 75 75 83 89 79 93 79 85 79 85 80 82 78 87 85 90 80 86 79 85 86 85 81 86 81 90 77 82 82 90 76 88 80 87 78 85 97 85 81 90 81 95 78 95 78 89 80 94 85 92 81 85 79 89 78 88 78 90 79 87 85 87 80 87 78 91 79.5 87.6 86 97 1992 2000

Jun

Jul

96 98 97 94 98 99 96 96 98 95 96 99 100 93 92 94 95 94 93 99 98 100 94 92 96 100 92 93 93 99 94 94 96 98 96 96 98 99 95 93 92 98 96 98 99 94 96.0 100 1981 1990 1994

96 98 101 100 99 95 95 100 97 95 97 97 97 97 96 95 100 96 98 96 103 103 97 95 96 98 101 96 98 100 99 97 99 100 103 99 103 100 98 94 96 98 97 97 97 97 98.0 103 1989 1990 2003 2005

14

Aug

Sep

99 95 99 90 91 90 98 89 97 88 94 93 95 89 93 94 98 93 94 90 96 94 97 88 96 85 95 91 99 93 93 89 95 93 96 88 93 89 93 93 92 91 94 93 93 91 95 89 96 88 97 89 97 97 96 90 92 91 95 90 91 89 97 93 94 93 99 90 98 92 97 91 95 89 92 87 96 89 97 87 96 88 94 89 95 89 95 90 93 91 92 91 95.2 90.5 99 97 1969 1995 1970 1983 2002

Oct

Nov

Dec

78 63 56 76 64 61 67 70 57 82 57 52 81 73 65 83 64 56 84 73 57 78 70 55 82 74 63 83 67 47 83 60 54 84 73 63 78 68 56 79 64 53 74 70 50 75 68 54 75 68 51 75 63 55 83 66 58 83 70 56 85 67 53 79 69 55 82 67 46 83 61 49 84 61 56 80 70 55 83 68 64 83 66 57 84 68 54 85 67 60 75 67 85 83 57 55 75 86 59 77 63 55 87 67 62 78 67 60 83 74 59 83 69 54 80 71 53 81 74 53 77 72 49 88 71 59 81 68 57 83 70 60 77 68 55 77 74 59 80.8 67.9 56.2 88 75 67 2010 1999 1999 2001

Mean 78.8 77.5 77.9 78.3 77.8 77.4 77.9 78.5 79.8 77.3 75.7 79.5 78.7 75.8 77.9 76.6 76.8 78.3 77.3 78.6 80.2 79.4 75.3 76.0 77.6 79.6 79.7 78.8 78.1 79.8 80.4 80.0 79.7 79.5 80.7 79.2 79.8 79.3 78.7 76.9 77.6 77.8 77.8 79.2 77.8 79.0 78.3

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 9.

Summary of lowest temperatures (ºF). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014.

Year

Jan

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean Minimum Years

9 12 13 27 0 15 11 20 -18 5 6 17 2 2 14 24 1 10 20 18 -11 1 20 18 -2 9 9 19 -4 12 11 23 -2 13 12 21 12 0 20 26 16 -8 5 17 14 18 13 18 10 11 21 19 -1 -3 19 22 9 20 22 20 2 11 14 18 6 -1 13 28 8 8 19 23 2 8 9 24 -2 16 9 21 -14 4 14 29 0 4 19 30 -3 12 17 24 10 17 20 30 10 18 18 24 7 4 12 26 12 21 18 24 6 12 16 20 -1 13 13 19 12 15 13 25 11 7 21 20 1 14 17 28 10 8 21 24 3 3 6 27 17 8 22 24 8 6 21 32 19 18 20 20 10 11 17 27 4 3 9 24 -7 4 17 21 15 12 21 19 5 12 18 21 -5 -6 19 21 7 16 13 25 -6 11 13 21 8 14 18 25 4.0 9.1 15.7 22.9 -18 -14 3 16 1971 1989 2002 1979

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Dec

Mean

43 37 44 52 46 26 14 7 27 39 53 54 34 21 18 14 28 31 38 54 54 18 17 4 30 47 56 54 37 22 15 2 28 41 52 49 37 26 14 9 28 38 53 52 33 30 14 1 23 38 55 49 40 20 7 6 1 34 38 54 52 42 22 9 33 51 57 54 46 32 20 10 31 45 51 46 32 31 18 -9 29 36 51 51 42 23 6 9 41 27 36 53 37 17 12 11 32 36 44 49 42 21 13 4 30 38 47 54 38 21 17 6 27 36 61 55 30 35 11 10 27 40 53 54 39 23 15 13 29 39 53 51 31 31 8 8 33 42 53 52 40 28 16 8 35 43 50 47 40 32 14 1 30 38 54 54 33 36 12 1 15 36 41 55 48 36 9 3 -16 39 47 55 52 45 26 16 30 39 53 54 39 20 11 3 40 41 47 48 37 28 7 -2 32 39 49 52 38 17 8 8 35 46 50 57 39 26 8 11 34 38 45 55 36 24 13 9 39 41 54 52 29 16 19 3 26 46 51 53 43 19 17 8 31 40 59 52 46 27 16 3 32 28 30 50 49 19 9 3 29 44 52 52 33 32 10 11 34 36 57 52 36 28 13 8 35 48 56 50 39 30 19 8 29 46 53 57 41 28 12 7 32 44 52 51 35 26 8 4 34 37 56 53 42 30 16 -2 35 48 56 49 31 24 4 5 32 38 56 56 33 19 14 2 27 40 54 53 41 22 13 7 43 44 56 48 31 22 12 1 26 44 49 53 44 24 6 3 26 46 51 57 44 27 19 4 37 45 57 55 45 24 16 5 28 40 57 52 33 27 15 3 27 46 58 48 41 35 12 3 31.5 41.3 52.9 51.8 37.7 25.0 12.7 4.9 23 32 43 41 28 15 1 -16 1975 1999 1969 1980 1971 1989 1976 1990 1999

27.5 25.5 21.2 25.4 25.4 23.1 22.8 24.5 28.9 25.3 23.1 24.8 25.2 24.0 28.0 25.8 24.7 27.5 25.4 25.2 23.0 26.4 24.9 26.9 26.1 26.8 27.4 25.6 25.6 28.3 23.3 26.9 27.3 27.0 28.7 26.6 28.6 26.4 24.2 24.3 27.0 25.4 25.3 28.8 24.5 27.9 25.8

15

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 10. Summary of number of days 32 ºF or below and 0 ºF or below in critical months. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. –––––––––––– Number of Days 32 ºF or Below –––––––––––––– Year Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

1969 22 26 25 7 1970 29 25 26 23 1971 29 27 22 13 1972 31 27 19 10 1973 31 26 25 17 1974 30 28 14 14 1975 29 27 24 15 1976 31 22 24 8 1977 31 28 26 8 1978 28 21 12 6 1979 29 27 25 11 1980 23 21 25 15 1981 29 26 24 3 1982 29 25 18 12 1983 31 25 18 15 1984 31 29 24 15 1985 31 25 16 5 1986 28 21 20 6 1987 28 25 24 10 1988 31 25 27 9 1989 31 24 13 5 1990 30 21 14 3 1991 31 22 20 11 1992 31 23 15 3 1993 28 22 24 11 1994 30 24 14 8 1995 28 18 15 15 1996 31 23 21 11 1997 29 27 23 16 1998 31 23 20 17 1999 30 26 19 12 2000 25 23 24 5 2001 31 23 13 6 2002 31 28 23 2 2003 30 22 21 9 2004 31 25 11 1 2005 27 17 21 8 2006 29 27 20 3 2007 31 22 14 4 2008 29 29 23 12 2009 30 25 20 14 2010 31 28 25 9 2011 31 25 18 9 2012 31 29 20 6 2013 27 28 18 9 2014 30 26 20 12 Mean 29.5 24.7 20.2 9.6 Total 1355 1136 927 443

0 2 1 2 1 2 3 0 0 2 3 2 1 1 6 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 5 3 0 2 2 1.3 61

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 1

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Total Jan

0 7 22 29 0 12 23 30 2 8 26 27 0 2 24 31 0 5 16 28 0 2 24 30 0 6 25 30 0 10 22 31 0 1 20 30 0 1 14 29 0 5 24 31 0 12 18 28 0 11 19 31 0 12 22 29 1 0 18 26 0 12 18 29 1 2 19 30 0 6 18 29 0 3 22 31 0 0 16 29 0 6 27 31 0 6 19 28 0 4 23 31 0 2 28 29 0 9 25 31 0 4 22 28 0 7 23 28 2 9 24 28 0 11 22 31 0 4 22 30 2 8 24 30 0 1 24 29 0 2 13 29 0 4 25 31 0 2 18 29 0 6 20 30 0 1 19 30 1 10 17 30 0 5 23 28 0 6 20 28 1 10 17 31 0 5 24 20 0 6 23 31 0 5 17 28 0 11 22 31 0 0 22 26 0.2 5.7 21.2 29.2 10 261 973 1344

16

–– Number of Days –– 0 ºF or Below

138 170 155 146 149 144 159 148 144 113 155 144 144 148 140 159 130 128 143 139 137 121 144 131 153 130 134 149 160 148 156 132 117 144 134 125 123 137 128 149 148 147 146 136 148 138 142 6511

0 1 4 0 0 2 2 2 3 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 2 0 0.7 32

Feb

Dec Total

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.3 10 14

0 1 4 0 0 2 2 2 3 6 4 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 9 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 2 0 1.2 56

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 11. Summary of number of days 100 ºF or above and number of days 95 ºF or above in critical months. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. –––––––––– Number of Days 95 ºF or Above –––––––––– Year 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean Total

May 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 3

Jun 1 5 5 0 5 17 1 3 3 1 1 6 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 2 8 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 14 2 3 2 11 3 0 0 1 3 5 5 0 3.0 136

Jul 3 13 11 13 6 1 1 11 6 2 9 11 5 4 3 3 12 2 2 7 16 3 3 2 3 11 12 6 4 16 2 5 10 13 26 6 22 11 12 0 7 6 4 2 1 8 7.4 339

Aug 5 5 0 4 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 5 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 6 4 0 1 0 7 0 5 7 2 1 0 3 3 1 0 2 1 0 0 2.0 91

Sep 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 2

17

Total 10 23 16 17 17 18 5 14 12 3 13 22 11 5 4 3 16 4 2 12 18 11 3 3 9 22 19 10 4 20 2 13 13 36 36 11 25 22 18 3 8 7 9 8 6 8 12.4 571

–––– Number of Days –––– 100 ºF or Above Jun Jul Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 9 0 9 0 0 0 7 0 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.7 0.8 3 33 36

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 12. Summary of mean daily evaporation (inches per day). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1972 – 2014. Year

Mar

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean Years

0.226 -

Apr

0.206 0.309 0.304 0.310 0.278 0.258 0.254 0.245 0.245 0.212 0.245 0.234 0.330 0.255 0.299 0.277 0.322 0.278 0.249 0.303 0.246 0.242 0.277 0.320 0.281 0.307 0.274 0.248 0.272 0.323 0.266 0.311 0.277 0.278 0.300 0.293 0.300 0.252 0.226 0.276 1 38

May 0.347 0.419 0.299 0.380 0.396 0.311 0.278 0.322 0.297 0.323 0.328 0.391 0.282 0.317 0.277 0.373 0.393 0.373 0.377 0.280 0.339 0.383 0.315 0.435 0.301 0.367 0.347 0.426 0.378 0.428 0.374 0.403 0.362 0.415 0.315 0.367 0.285 0.351 0.344 0.396 0.349 0.335 0.352 42

Jun 0.477 0.370 0.512 0.401 0.515 0.498 0.427 0.362 0.489 0.470 0.427 0.384 0.389 0.409 0.366 0.383 0.369 0.418 0.516 0.366 0.405 0.465 0.501 0.424 0.424 0.395 0.471 0.437 0.470 0.465 0.493 0.493 0.48 0.420 0.488 0.447 0.460 0.336 0.413 0.482 0.482 0.462 0.455 0.440 43

Jul 0.478 0.372 0.415 0.396 0.444 0.423 0.469 0.354 0.452 0.388 0.392 0.404 0.379 0.409 0.366 0.393 0.421 0.446 0.411 0.411 0.383 0.477 0.504 0.445 0.451 0.399 0.420 0.379 0.425 0.405 0.455 0.504 0.442 0.490 0.408 0.416 0.381 0.430 0.395 0.424 0.381 0.387 0.421 0.420 43

18

Aug

Sep

0.381 0.319 0.344 0.319 0.415 0.395 0.403 0.270 0.423 0.302 0.394 0.317 0.422 0.321 0.342 0.317 0.406 0.272 0.363 0.255 0.314 0.193 0.357 0.291 0.334 0.261 0.374 0.233 0.366 0.225 0.335 0.274 0.314 0.285 0.356 0.312 0.366 0.294 0.358 0.284 0.348 0.272 0.328 0.304 0.402 0.309 0.375 0.324 0.358 0.236 0.309 0.259 0.366 0.334 0.280 0.274 0.366 0.295 0.352 0.361 0.396 0.261 0.397 0.311 0.365 0.276 0.338 0.277 0.341 0.251 0.360 0.289 0.367 0.296 0.362 0.261 0.306 0.286 0.377 0.252 0.366 0.296 0.318 0.265 0.296 0.218 0.359 0.285 43 43

Oct 0.142 0.311 0.242 0.190 0.213 0.257 0.229 0.280 0.165 0.260 0.203 0.106 0.141 0.242 0.101 0.198 0.219 0.186 0.238 0.211 0.180 0.246 0.241 0.182 0.187 0.189 0.240 0.157 0.235 0.149 0.212 0.159 0.162 0.163 0.211 0.208 0.169 0.182 0.171 0.241 0.177 0.185 0.200 42

Nov 0.155 0.155 0.151 -

0.154 3

Mean 0.359 0.350 0.411 0.317 0.366 0.346 0.360 0.309 0.354 0.313 0.308 0.328 0.301 0.277 0.285 0.294 0.293 0.353 0.343 0.333 0.311 0.345 0.375 0.339 0.341 0.299 0.341 0.319 0.351 0.354 0.356 0.366 0.339 0.332 0.341 0.329 0.341 0.303 0.316 0.336 0.351 0.323 0.309 0.335 43

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 13. Summary of mean monthly evaporation (inches per month). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1972 – 2014. Year

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Total

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean Years

6.18 9.27 9.12 9.30 8.34 7.74 7.62 7.35 6.37 6.35 7.36 7.65 8.68 7.76 9.66 8.35 7.48 9.10 7.37 7.27 8.31 9.62 8.45 9.21 8.22 7.43 8.17 8.72 7.97 9.33 8.33 8.35 9.02 8.78 8.02 7.68 8.19 36

10.76 12.99 9.27 11.78 12.28 9.64 8.62 9.98 9.21 10.01 8.85 12.15 8.74 9.82 6.64 11.55 12.18 11.56 11.68 8.67 10.52 11.90 9.78 13.50 9.33 11.37 10.75 13.20 11.35 13.29 11.58 12.49 11.21 12.85 9.78 11.38 8.86 10.88 10.68 12.29 10.82 10.64 10.83 42

14.31 11.10 15.36 12.03 15.45 14.94 12.81 10.86 14.67 14.10 12.81 11.51 11.66 12.27 10.97 11.47 11.06 12.54 15.48 10.99 12.15 13.94 15.04 12.72 12.72 11.84 14.12 13.12 14.11 13.92 14.79 14.80 14.27 12.59 14.65 13.41 13.80 10.08 12.40 14.46 14.45 13.86 13.64 13.19 43

14.82 11.53 12.87 12.28 13.76 13.11 14.54 10.97 14.01 12.03 12.14 12.51 11.74 12.68 11.34 12.19 13.05 13.83 12.74 12.77 11.89 14.78 15.63 13.81 13.99 12.36 13.03 11.75 13.16 11.75 14.09 15.63 13.69 15.20 12.65 12.90 11.84 13.34 12.25 13.15 11.80 12.00 13.52 13.00 43

11.81 10.66 12.25 12.49 13.11 12.21 13.08 10.60 12.59 11.25 9.73 11.06 10.43 11.61 11.34 10.39 9.74 11.04 11.35 11.11 10.80 10.17 12.46 11.63 11.10 9.59 11.36 8.68 11.36 10.93 12.28 12.32 11.32 10.47 10.58 11.15 11.39 11.24 9.49 11.71 11.35 9.86 10.24 11.15 43

9.57 9.57 9.33 8.10 9.06 9.51 9.63 9.51 8.16 7.65 7.28 8.72 7.84 6.99 6.75 8.23 8.55 9.37 8.82 8.53 8.19 9.11 9.28 9.74 7.08 7.78 10.03 8.21 8.86 10.59 7.82 9.33 8.28 8.30 7.52 8.68 8.89 7.83 8.58 7.57 8.88 7.96 8.09 8.55 43

4.40 4.59 7.50 5.89 6.60 7.97 7.10 8.68 5.12 8.06 6.35 3.29 4.44 3.12 6.16 5.77 6.53 5.57 7.38 7.48 5.66 5.80 5.85 7.45 4.87 7.29 4.63 6.58 4.93 5.03 5.05 6.54 6.45 5.26 5.64 5.32 7.48 5.50 5.69 5.97 39

54.91 53.62 67.39 67.85 78.32 77.77 76.97 66.00 75.83 66.98 67.38 59.00 63.48 63.08 57.58 52.04 60.11 58.96 73.37 63.76 65.99 73.75 80.04 72.64 73.15 64.07 73.03 68.27 75.18 74.28 76.11 78.46 72.41 70.97 72.02 70.40 73.08 64.94 67.59 71.9 75.03 69.02 69.50 68.75 43

19

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 14. Summary of wind movement in miles per day (MPD) at 6 inch height above evaporation pan. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1980 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 6 inches above evaporation pan ––––––––––––––––––––––– 1980 64 66 1981 50 80 1982 69 36 1983 82 101 1984 63 101 1985 49 87 1986 53 61 1987 60 41 1988 76 73 1989 84 75 1990 78 97 1991 61 73 1992 64 66 1993 103 86 1994 81 96 1995 76 65 1996 92 79 1997 43 79 1998 59 75 1999 76 74 2000 83 88 2001 65 74 2002 74 90 2003 36 58 2004 36 56 2005 52 54 2006 52 51 2007 40 53 2008 48 69 2009 41 57 2010 33 59 2011 2012 65 78 2013 58 82 76 69 2014 Mean (MPD) 63.0 72.0 Mean (MPH) 2.6 3.0

100 94 63 107 104 128 72 50 99 96 90 106 80 105 83 83 88 78 83 83 93 72 104 60 61 72 61 47 81 77 79

97 85 89 101 114 98 95 50 88 86 91 98 76 107 94 81 93 73 81 109 93 91 83 68 65 71 66 62 92 80 82

80 71 78 108 78 76 78 31 99 69 91 99 72 91 71 80 72 70 66 95 85 83 59 70 53 50 57 50 82 52 73 77

57 64 42 98 94 66 64 22 81 73 84 75 74 81 61 61 73 62 72 70 80 77 64 70 54 50 61 65 44 74 62 65

44 58 59 76 66 70 52 25 75 78 82 79 66 71 72 63 72 55 70 63 66 64 69 56 54 49 53 50 48 60 50 62

41 60 75 70 61 76 66 19 71 72 82 67 70 75 72 59 60 48 66 63 64 67 55 60 46 43 47 41 35 43 57 52 49

27 20 77 62 70 70 60 21 75 73 76 72 62 74 63 52 44 50 62 61 62 74 62 56 48 44 43 51 31 47 58 46 54

30 55 86 73 71 72 45 48 64 68 72 57 58 65 58 64 51 48 78 65 63 74 50 50 44 44 44 62 60 54 61 63 65

84 94 90

84 103

23 56 77 94 99 148 50 71 82 68 71 59 68 82 84 58 53 39 66 73 60 65 56 56 52 46 37 38 65 49 72 60 61

14 52 89 98 67 55 45 79 82 59 83 47 66 79 59 49 71 35 59 78 57 75 49 62 29 39 48 54 69 66 51 64 64

53.6 62.1 70.0 89.2 82.3 82.9 61.8 43.1 80.4 75.1 83.1 74.4 68.5 84.9 74.5 65.9 70.7 56.8 69.5 75.8 74.5 73.4 67.9 58.5 49.8 51.2 51.7 41.5 62.3 54.8

64.5 61.0

84.3

86.2

73.9

66.9

61.8

58.5

56.0

59.5

64.8

60.4

67.3

3.5

3.6

3.1

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.5

2.8

20

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 15. Summary of wind movement in miles per day (MPD) at two meter height above ground. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1980 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 2 meters above ground –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean (MPD) Mean (MPH)

112 88 111 64 95 113 139 121 97 125 101 117 164 130 137 171 106 100 143 132 116 117 98 93 107 131 96 106 100 73 78 99 83 97

124 63 139 115 127 129 131 122 133 152 120 119 139 156 129 145 149 133 142 141 127 144 134 121 111 140 131 125 119 100 113 110 106 82

141 97 147 93 183 145 143 163 151 146 190 137 153 144 147 161 146 145 145 149 173 163 143 135 146 139 121 142 144 130 130 114 122 99

124 127 154 136 155 179 158 148 147 170 191 142 171 166 176 182 153 144 186 158 147 134 139 134 153 143 147 165 157 154 159 116 137 118

134 102 100 141 88 142 154 139 166 132 165 167 133 144 135 185 149 137 112 196 144 141 126 134 120 117 126 122 144 108 125 127 99 98 78

132 81 122 120 96 136 139 126 138 123 154 138 137 86 130 137 140 113 120 92 135 128 115 128 114 116 127 129 128 96 63 107 89 73 74

116 62 103 116 52 136 128 122 132 126 141 140 118 57 136 128 127 112 111 85 108 106 114 106 112 111 106 109 101 96 94 82 72 81 80

96 82 91 102 46 133 134 119 126 120 136 119 118 80 127 118 119 101 100 100 104 108 96 107 99 94 95 89 95 88 78 78 76 71 61

82 71 99 113 49 125 128 132 120 125 127 129 111 103 120 115 112 105 105 107 108 121 108 113 100 98 103 96 94 94 79 79 73 76 52

78 81 95 107 44 127 118 108 91 115 135 111 110 87 119 137 134 115 131 98 110 125 90 103 102 98 104 117 108 106 89 85 90 88 58

80 76 86 130 136 72 116 123 98 112 127 109 113 92 154 129 119 118 111 93 113 110 110 116 119 119 122 103 121 87 108 102 79 84 74

84 58 99 136 110 117 99 117 98 104 130 85 106 115 100 147 110 106 126 109 132 107 129 87 113 106 128 133 145 90 74 94 82 65

100.3 92.8 97.5 126.3 85.7 129.0 131.9 129.7 126.8 123.8 142.2 133.4 121.6 115.8 136.0 136.5 142.3 122.1 118.2 126.1 125.9 127.8 118.7 120.8 111.3 120.2 115.7 121.8 111.7 98.6 101.2 92.6 91.8 78.2

110.6 125.6 142.0 152.1 132.3 116.6 106.5 100.2 102.1 103.3 107.5 107.1 117.4 4.6

5.2

5.9

6.3

5.5

4.9

21

4.4

4.2

4.3

4.3

4.5

4.5

4.9

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 16. Summary of mean daily solar radiation (Langleys). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1977 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

204 157 166 141 190 129 188 250 242 243 229 220 224 222 212 189 160 223 189 240 215 236 263 251 241 251 249 186 206 258 228 287 262 232 264 260 269 265 222.1

305 168 261 192 296 207 294 345 304 289 305 280 282 309 268 230 262 288 309 314 260 363 305 322 383 315 264 272 362 284 341 352 293 354 333 360 313 296.9

386 334 302 300 292 369 345 486 505 506 474 419 316 356 358 374 371 358 463 516 443 458 399 424 492 452 418 402 375 396 514 431 451 465 458 468 413.2

552 459 423 429 473 536 518 540 499 584 566 496 550 479 554 509 514 439 438 580 513 563 527 581 508 593 596 451 526 539 539 617 541 553 562 544 571 523 525.9

438 490 445 459 499 594 654 688 618 837 551 626 628 593 651 530 532 482 481 651 613 661 624 689 672 710 640 656 624 644 562 673 608 677 668 656 636 614 607.2

530 586 527 529 607 707 734 494 816 736 665 623 633 662 556 616 599 564 552 609 657 725 702 696 766 742 719 703 639 616 676 729 589 695 712 706 688 698 652.7

501 641 489 595 550 651 793 736 843 1,028 638 621 619 620 613 560 614 555 520 676 640 604 584 673 633 663 692 646 664 533 535 641 637 624 652 601 599 634.7

464 491 477 501 489 565 725 744 801 1,223 542 555 570 541 537 501 464 496 459 604 567 565 515 579 580 601 604 531 539 472 455 587 581 547 570 551 547 539 570.5

396 401 459 436 422 470 583 595 557 918 483 486 498 462 450 451 456 411 373 458 491 506 505 479 541 479 510 468 442 426 407 504 473 501 465 491 464 474 484.0

360 292 267 342 314 393 332 317 410 513 352 470 361 361 340 324 331 300 324 357 390 331 438 325 396 372 401 346 347 308 406 405 358 375 374 415 425 376 364.4

185 165 280 248 227 230 226 256 282 246 251 277 234 249 238 240 225 212 250 267 266 320 255 286 294 200 214 277 249 310 286 276 286 260 303 260 253.6

166 155 145 200 208 176 188 184 205 197 216 219 203 146 167 187 178 157 226 220 244 241 213 248 219 203 201 232 188 220 223 200 175 202 244 221 204 200.6

2014 blank cells represents 3 or more days of missing data.

22

Total Mean 4,136 4,370 4,136 4,349 4,580 5,052 5,575 5,606 6,274 7,381 5,264 5,344 5,278 4,975 4,973 4,711 4,702 4,506 4,351 5,423 5,403 5,404 5,540 5,445 5,617 5,799 5,581 5,084 5,170 4,970 5,018 5,807 5,308 5,409 5,548 5,562 5,508 4,006 5,226

413.6 364.2 344.7 362.4 381.7 421.0 464.6 467.2 522.8 615.1 438.7 445.3 439.8 414.6 414.4 392.6 391.8 375.5 362.6 451.9 450.3 450.3 461.7 453.8 468.1 483.3 465.1 423.7 430.8 414.2 418.2 483.9 442.3 450.8 462.3 464.0 459.0 445.1 435.5

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 17. Summary of forty-six year total monthly Growing Degree Days* (May thru Sept. and first fall freeze). NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1969 – 2014. (Automatic weather station data from (http://weather.nmsu.edu/).

Year

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

434 434 372 434 372 465 326 403 372 310 341 341 372 341 341 465 397 377 366 396 468 378 409 385 416 426 330 477 441 417 364 479 465 446 453 456 428 477 388 370 450 373 352 459

510 555 600 615 640 645 525 585 675 570 510 570 600 525 495 555 600 574 592 607 565 635 557 536 538 628 516 612 563 499 554 640 591 625 586 588 555 631 581 570 515 584 584 650

729 744 729 744 713 729 713 744 744 729 682 698 682 682 682 729 710 661 674 722 731 729 704 630 652 729 676 730 685 746 710 665 751 739 763 688 745 743 711 720 738 728 729 729

744 744 713 713 713 698 667 698 729 667 667 682 651 698 729 713 692 693 646 697 670 673 701 639 615 746 729 695 670 716 655 663 691 674 730 667 683 674 720 691 660 662 722 722

570 420 450 495 435 450 435 495 540 450 555 450 450 450 525 480 416 395 473 476 540 532 471 484 454 495 494 410 568 560 451 536 578 486 485 452 542 395 509 501 515 519 476 514

23

May - Sep 2,987 2,897 2,864 3,001 2,873 2,987 2,666 2,925 3,060 2,726 2,755 2,741 2,755 2,696 2,772 2,942 2,815 2,700 2,751 2,898 2,974 2,947 2,842 2,674 2,675 3,024 2,745 2,924 2,927 2,938 2,734 2,983 3,076 2,973 3,018 2,851 2,953 2,920 2,909 2,852 2,878 2,866 2,863 3,074

Ist Freeze Date Oct 05 Oct 08 Sep 18 Oct 30 Oct 11 Oct 30 Oct 14 Oct 07 Oct 31 Sep 20 Oct 22 Oct 16 Oct 16 Oct 06 Sep 21 Oct 15 Sep 30 Oct 12 Oct 19 Nov 12 Oct 18 Oct 09 Oct 28 Oct 08 Oct 19 Oct 17 Oct 06 Sep 19 Oct 13 Oct 06 Sep 28 Oct 14 Oct 11 Oct 04 Oct 27 Oct 23 Oct 31 Sep 23 Oct 07 Oct 12 Sep 22 Oct 26 Oct 08 Oct 25

Total to 1st Frost (32 ºF) 3,017 2,949 2,684 3,201 2,990 3,227 2,806 2,978 3,386 2,576 2,986 2,869 2,875 2,741 2,615 3,017 2,926 2,790 2,873 2,981 3,131 3,029 3,153 2,763 2,854 3,169 2,782 2,785 3,081 2,984 2,702 3,117 3,214 3,004 3,329 3,057 3,228 2,826 2,981 2,980 2,753 3,139 2,929 3,343

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

Year 2013 2014 Mean Accummulation

May 396 390 403

Jun 627 596 580

Jul 758 757 716

Aug 690 658 691

Sep 528 565 488

403

983

1,699

2,390

2,878

2014 Annual Report

May - Sep 2,999 2,966 2,878

Ist Freeze Date Oct 05 Nov 03 Oct 12

Total to 1st Frost (32 ºF) 3,051 3,268 2,981

*Growing Degree Days = (Temp(max) + Temp(min))/2 - Temp(base) Temp(max) = 86 ºF at temperatures  86 ºF; Temp(min) = 50 ºF at temperatures 50 ºF; Temp(base) = 50 ºF There is very little growth at temperatures above 86 ºF and below 50 ºF,

Table 18. Summary of mean soil temperature (ºF) 4 inches below soil surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. September 1976 to December 2014. Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Mean

Mean High

Mean Low

Mean*

Extreme High

Extreme Low

34.4 41.5 54.1 65.9 77.8 88.7 95.2 92.4 83.1 66.3 48.6 36.2 65.4

30.4 34.0 40.6 49.4 59.6 70.5 76.2 73.9 65.7 51.6 39.0 31.5 51.9

32.4 37.8 47.4 57.7 68.7 79.6 85.7 83.2 74.4 59.0 43.8 33.9 58.6

40.7 51.8 64.2 76.8 87.5 95.9 100.6 98.4 92.9 78.5 59.3 45.3 74.3

24.6 29.1 33.9 39.5 48.7 62.5 69.2 66.4 55.9 41.2 31.5 25.4 44.0

*Mean between high and low.

24

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 19. Summary of mean high soil temperatures (ºF) four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

31.8 37.0 35.7 46.2 47.6 33.9 34.9 32.5 35.5 41.6 32.2 34.6 31.1 34.5 33.5 34.8 36.8 34.7 34.5 36.1 33.6 33.6 35.6 36.5 29.9 32.4 37.5 31.4 38.5 37.1 29.8 29.9 32.3 28.3 30.4 32.2 27.6 31.1 34.4

49.8 42.8 40.8 52.5 49.9 38.9 44.8 38.5 39.9 47.1 41.9 42.7 38.7 39.5 42.1 43.8 42.4 38.3 48.9 46.9 41.3 40.6 42.5 43.8 37.3 37.6 41.3 35.5 43.8 44.1 40.4 34.7 39.8 37.9 35.8 32.2 34.5 42.3 41.5

56.2 53.7 53.9 59.8 57.6 51.0 51.4 52.4 54.1 58.6 47.1 57.1 57.2 55.5 51.9 55.3 53.7 57.4 55.9 56.6 54.8 51.1 56.1 51.7 51.4 52.3 52.0 60.3 54.9 53.9 57.2 53.3 54.3 49.5 53.0 52.5 47.8 52.8 54.1

79.1 75.5 68.4 68.4 73.9 62.7 59.8 59.3 65.2 64.3 62.4 66.3 67.8 65.8 66.1 68.5 66.0 65.8 60.9 68.3 58.3 62.2 61.9 67.1 64.9 69.5 66.0 65.8 68.6 71.9 68.2 64.1 63.3 63.2 62.0 66.5 63.5 62.4 65.9

88.3 82.0 81.6 80.8 79.3 78.5 73.8 77.0 81.4 77.9 77.0 77.3 77.3 75.4 76.6 77.5 78.9 76.6 69.5 83.5 73.0 80.4 71.2 79.0 78.0 79.1 75.9 80.6 81.9 82.6 80.4 74.9 78.9 73.0 69.3 77.5 76.1 73.0 77.8

106.6 100.7 92.2 94.2 88.5 89.4 81.4 84.7 93.3 88.9 88.6 89.2 86.6 87.1 86.4 86.1 85.9 89.7 83.7 89.4 89.2 87.0 87.8 88.0 90.7 86.8 85.8 88.8 93.8 91.6 88.4 84.0 85.2 84.0 87.8 87.7 84.1 88.7

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

109.7 102.9 106.0 102.2 99.2 98.4 102.3 96.8 92.8 89.7 96.0 94.0 90.5 92.7 92.6 94.7 100.4 96.2 92.4 95.9 93.7 91.5 94.0 92.5 94.6 90.6 91.3 88.6 95.3 95.3 90.4 90.9 94.8 88.4 94.5 94.1 91.0 92.3 94.6 86.4 91.0 95.6 92.0 90.7 85.0 92.4 90.4 92.5 89.7 95.5 90.5 96.1 95.1 91.6 92.5 101.2 92.6 96.3 92.4 101.1 98.9 96.6 93.0 97.5 93.2 92.0 85.6 90.2 89.8 92.2 89.9 93.8 87.3 90.0 86.6 95.2 92.4

88.9 92.6 91.2 93.4 85.3 81.2 82.8 82.6 85.6 83.3 78.9 82.4 82.6 82.3 83.0 85.6 83.3 80.2 84.3 78.5 83.8 85.3 78.7 80.0 83.7 80.1 81.4 81.2 81.6 78.6 87.8 84.2 84.7 76.8 77.4 82.1 80.3 81.4 83.1

69.2 74.1 73.3 75.0 70.0 65.6 67.7 66.0 59.6 69.5 63.1 70.9 71.0 67.8 67.5 70.1 70.9 64.2 63.2 63.9 64.3 65.5 65.0 65.1 62.4 66.8 63.3 68.8 64.3 63.2 62.2 67.1 66.0 62.1 65.6 61.1 65.0 60.1 64.8 66.3

56.8 53.3 53.9 49.8 54.8 52.0 50.1 47.4 51.1 49.6 45.9 50.9 50.2 49.7 49.8 46.4 44.4 42.5 42.5 51.7 53.1 47.4 46.5 50.5 38.1 52.1 46.0 46.2 46.5 47.6 50.9 53.5 49.3 45.8 45.6 44.7 49.3 46.5 48.2 48.6

38.8 42.6 36.3 38.9 49.0 38.1 39.6 37.1 38.7 37.0 37.0 40.9 34.4 37.0 34.8 37.6 31.4 33.7 33.9 39.9 34.9 32.6 34.8 35.2 34.5 34.1 34.6 35.9 32.3 35.6 33.4 33.4 35.3 29.4 40.2 32.5 36.4 30.9 39.2 36.2

63.4 73.9 71.2 68.9 71.7 68.0 65.4 63.5 63.9 67.1 66.0 65.0 66.0 65.1 64.4 65.6 64.8 64.0 64.6 64.7 61.9 63.9 64.7 63.3 63.6 64.0 64.3 65.3 64.0 66.5 66.4 66.9 64.1 63.8 61.9 60.9 63.6 61.3 63.0 65.4

25

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 20. Summary of mean low soil temperature (ºF) four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

21.6 33.7 33.7 39.9 37.0 29.6 32.7 31.1 32.1 33.5 31.2 33.8 27.4 27.9 30.6 33.3 33.8 28.5 31.8 28.2 31.3 30.6 31.8 32.1 28.7 28.6 31.6 28.3 33.7 29.0 26.0 27.6 31.2 26.1 28.6 29.8 20.9 29.0 30.4

30.0 36.1 35.9 42.4 37.0 33.6 37.9 33.3 31.2 36.4 35.1 37.8 34.1 31.7 35.2 37.6 36.1 30.7 35.4 36.5 34.8 33.4 33.8 36.9 32.5 31.0 34.0 30.1 35.3 31.5 32.5 30.9 33.8 33.1 29.4 29.8 32.5 34.4 34.0

35.8 40.2 42.5 44.2 42.6 40.0 42.4 37.7 40.9 42.7 37.0 43.3 43.8 40.9 40.7 45.0 40.7 40.3 41.4 40.4 42.4 37.5 44.0 40.4 41.0 36.2 39.4 43.0 37.8 37.4 40.3 38.2 40.5 37.4 42.7 41.7 39.5 41.9 40.6

52.1 55.3 52.0 52.1 54.6 48.0 47.1 43.8 48.1 47.8 48.4 49.6 53.7 50.7 49.4 55.2 47.0 48.1 45.2 49.4 46.6 45.1 46.9 50.9 48.7 52.3 48.6 48.2 47.2 48.1 47.3 45.8 45.7 49.3 51.5 55.8 50.0 50.2 49.4

59.8 60.0 62.0 61.1 59.8 60.1 57.6 59.6 56.0 57.8 61.7 56.9 61.8 56.9 59.4 63.2 59.1 57.3 52.2 63.4 59.8 61.5 55.5 63.9 59.6 60.6 59.9 61.3 58.0 61.1 57.5 56.7 61.3 57.9 58.9 65.0 62.3 59.8 59.6

78.4 75.2 72.1 72.1 70.5 72.5 65.6 66.7 68.4 67.1 72.9 67.7 68.7 71.2 67.7 69.5 68.6 70.5 66.6 67.7 69.7 71.2 72.6 70.3 72.4 69.8 71.1 67.6 70.1 69.7 68.1 68.9 73.2 73.1 75.6 73.9 71.1 70.5

80.2 81.3 78.6 77.5 75.3 78.2 71.2 74.7 72.3 67.7 77.2 75.6 74.2 76.3 76.4 73.7 74.2 74.5 73.5 74.1 76.3 76.5 76.2 76.3 77.0 78.0 74.5 75.2 74.0 77.5 74.2 80.8 78.8 81.2 77.6 79.7 79.5 76.2

78.2 77.8 77.7 76.1 75.2 74.5 73.6 71.0 70.4 71.6 75.0 70.5 71.7 71.7 75.6 74.6 68.7 74.6 74.9 64.9 73.4 73.8 70.8 76.8 73.1 73.3 75.5 73.5 71.0 72.1 76.0 72.9 75.3 72.5 81.8 79.4 73.9 74.5 73.9

66.5 70.8 68.7 72.7 67.3 67.1 67.6 67.6 64.7 58.9 57.8 68.3 64.1 66.9 66.6 65.9 64.8 57.7 60.3 60.5 66.1 69.1 66.1 67.0 69.2 62.9 63.3 61.5 66.6 57.5 65.3 65.5 71.2 65.6 68.8 69.8 65.5 69.1 65.7

51.1 53.4 57.7 54.4 53.9 53.4 51.4 51.5 44.4 47.9 47.1 56.8 55.1 52.9 50.8 57.1 57.1 46.7 47.0 48.7 48.7 49.7 51.7 55.5 51.4 55.1 47.8 53.6 48.0 50.2 46.1 49.9 49.4 52.0 54.7 52.4 54.3 48.6 54.4 51.6

39.9 39.4 45.1 41.2 43.7 42.7 41.6 40.3 38.2 37.1 38.2 42.7 40.4 38.3 41.4 39.5 35.5 32.6 35.1 39.2 37.4 36.7 37.4 43.6 34.1 43.2 35.9 37.8 36.1 38.6 37.4 40.6 38.1 37.8 38.2 38.1 40.9 38.5 39.5 39.0

26

Dec 23.6 32.0 33.8 35.6 39.1 33.0 36.6 34.0 33.6 31.2 34.6 38.5 32.1 28.9 33.2 36.4 29.7 28.5 31.0 31.5 32.0 28.9 30.9 30.8 31.9 28.5 31.9 30.5 27.3 26.0 27.8 29.3 32.4 25.6 35.5 30.1 31.5 27.5 34.6 31.5

Mean 45.3 52.6 55.4 54.9 55.8 54.0 52.8 51.8 49.9 49.5 50.2 53.7 52.2 51.9 51.6 52.8 53.3 49.5 49.8 50.5 50.3 47.0 51.4 52.2 52.9 52.2 50.8 51.8 50.2 50.6 49.3 51.0 50.0 52.0 51.9 53.1 54.3 51.1 53.2 51.9

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 21. Summary of soil high temperature (ºF) extremes, four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

44 45 40 38 52 44 39 37 45 50 37 36 35 44 37 38 42 45 41 42 45 39 44 47 32 39 45 35 45 46 34 32 44 33 38 38 40 40 40.7

57 51 53 62 61 53 53 45 54 59 54 57 57 55 50 53 52 52 60 55 49 48 50 49 47 48 49 50 50 56 52 47 53 43 45 38 40 50 51.8

68 60 64 65 69 57 60 62 63 70 56 68 69 66 61 60 67 65 65 65 64 64 65 64 63 67 63 73 64 64 68 63 65 60 64 66 62 61 64.2

95 88 80 79 86 78 71 68 76 78 77 75 76 75 76 79 77 80 72 77 69 74 72 78 78 75 74 79 79 81 82 72 74 71 71 77 74 77 76.8

106 95 91 89 88 88 88 91 90 86 87 88 85 84 86 85 89 86 79 91 84 90 80 89 86 90 90 85 93 91 88 87 86 87 78 82 82 84 87.5

117 108 101 104 95 99 91 92 100 97 93 99 94 95 94 95 92 95 90 96 98 95 92 93 95 91 90 99 99 102 99 94 90 87 94 95 88 95.9

117 112 107 106 98 102 97 97 108 101 99 98 100 97 100 96 99 98 98 100 102 99 95 100 99 100 101 106 103 105 100 101 97 98 96 97 93 100.6

112 110 107 106 95 99 97 102 101 102 97 97 98 94 99 98 100 99 99 92 95 96 92 94 96 97 99 98 103 98 102 100 99 91 97 93 95 92 98.4

107 103 105 100 92 88 94 92 94 103 96 96 91 90 92 95 88 88 92 91 91 90 86 86 90 90 95 94 89 92 100 93 94 82 86 90 94 90 92.9

80 90 86 89 84 76 78 74 76 77 72 80 79 80 78 85 82 77 75 70 78 81 79 73 76 83 75 79 78 76 78 79 82 76 80 75 76 70 78 78.5

27

Nov 64 67 68 63 65 58 56 64 61 66 54 63 66 59 61 60 53 53 57 60 54 57 54 57 50 62 56 59 57 59 60 63 63 58 57 55 57 55 63 59.3

Dec 46 53 45 44 55 45 47 43 47 49 44 49 43 44 45 42 37 42 43 50 48 47 49 48 42 47 45 45 42 46 42 45 46 40 44 42 48 40 48 45.3

Mean 74.3 85.8 81.1 78.3 78.8 75.9 74.6 72.4 72.7 77.7 75.8 74.0 74.8 73.9 73.8 73.8 72.0 73.2 73.9 71.3 74.1 68.2 73.6 71.8 71.8 73.1 73.0 74.1 73.5 75.8 75.8 76.7 73.7 73.7 69.6 69.7 71.3 70.3 72.0 74.3

NMSU Agricultural Science Center – Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 22. Summary of soil low temperature (ºF) extremes, four inches below surface. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 1976 – 2014. Year 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Mean

Jan 6 31 19 36 33 22 26 23 29 29 28 32 20 23 23 28 30 24 28 22 27 22 30 25 24 23 27 22 31 24 19 16 29 20 25 24 9 25 24.6

Feb 22 34 30 38 31 29 34 32 22 29 32 34 33 26 25 35 34 20 29 26 33 31 29 32 25 25 30 24 31 28 28 29 29 31 18 31 31 25 29.1

Mar 24 37 38 40 39 35 38 32 35 35 31 38 35 33 37 40 36 33 34 32 34 31 37 35 35 28 33 32 35 31 30 33 31 29 34 32 31 35 33.9

Apr 32 49 39 40 40 43 39 38 37 37 36 44 45 43 43 46 39 38 38 41 38 37 40 40 41 41 40 41 35 39 36 37 35 38 35 46 32 44 39.5

May 52 44 49 54 52 47 47 42 45 49 41 45 53 47 50 54 45 51 45 54 46 54 42 57 46 51 50 49 44 52 44 48 51 42 47 58 55 48 48.7

Jun

Jul

73 68 62 63 56 63 60 56 60 62 65 53 65 59 56 62 63 64 59 58 64 63 64 62 69 65 63 60 63 61 58 64 66 68 69 65 61 62.5

28

70 75 70 72 67 72 64 69 66 60 75 68 63 71 71 66 71 70 62 58 68 72 71 69 72 73 69 69 63 71 65 73 73 77 68 70 76 69.2

Aug 73 70 69 68 71 68 65 65 64 62 71 66 65 63 68 62 57 65 66 57 68 65 67 68 66 66 70 69 64 67 64 70 71 61 78 71 60 64 66.4

Sep

Oct

53 62 52 68 61 62 57 58 53 47 48 61 56 60 55 58 59 49 53 44 57 63 56 58 63 51 54 48 56 42 50 58 62 59 61 60 50 59 55.9

39 43 44 44 41 43 40 49 34 41 37 50 49 38 42 40 50 34 37 42 37 35 41 48 44 46 39 45 37 44 35 40 40 35 38 41 38 37 48 41.2

Nov 36 31 38 32 37 36 37 33 30 31 31 38 31 30 35 35 27 26 26 31 35 32 33 32 30 27 32 26 26 27 31 30 31 32 30 34 32 29 30 31.5

Dec 6 31 19 36 33 22 26 23 29 29 28 32 20 23 23 28 30 24 28 22 27 22 30 25 24 30 24 16 12 21 19 29 16 26 26 19 20 29 25.4

Mean 36.5 42.3 47.4 45.9 48.8 46.5 45.3 45.3 42.0 41.8 42.7 47.1 45.2 44.3 43.8 45.0 46.3 42.2 42.3 41.3 41.3 39.2 44.4 45.1 46.0 44.0 43.9 44.8 41.3 42.3 41.3 41.0 42.8 44.0 42.8 45.3 45.7 40.8 45.3 44.0

NMSU Agricultural Science Center - Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Adaptive Field Crops Research in Northwestern New Mexico Field crop acreage in northwestern New Mexico is irrigated either by surface or sprinkler systems. Nearly all agricultural lands are irrigated because the average annual precipitation is approximately eight inches. Most farmland in northwestern New Mexico is located in San Juan County along three river valleys (Animas, La Plata, and San Juan) or part of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP), which is located on a high mesa south of Farmington. NIIP is irrigated by water from Navajo Lake located on the San Juan River. Approximately 30% of all lands in New Mexico, which are irrigated with surface water, lie within San Juan County. The irrigated 150,000 crop acreage in the county is surface irrigated. With the continued construction of NIIP, irrigated acreage in San Juan County is growing each year and should reach approximately 240,000 acres when the 110,000-acre Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) project is completed. San Juan County produces over 65% of the state’s potato crop and 75% of the state’s dry bean crop. It is one of the top four counties in winter wheat, alfalfa, and corn grain production (New Mexico Agricultural Statistics, 2002). Historically, it has been an apple producing area and remains one of the top five counties of apple production. The New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington and the Cooperative Extension Service, in San Juan County, have been and will continue to be the major field crop research and dissemination sources in northwestern New Mexico and the Four Corners region. The Agricultural Science Center at Farmington has furnished adaptive research information that has contributed to increased crop productivity and profitability, in the area. Extension agents, in all four states bordering the region, have used research results published by faculty and staff from the Agricultural Science Center, for dissemination and education. The agricultural industry in northwestern New Mexico is critical to San Juan County and the rest of the state. As newly irrigated cropland is developed for the area each year, the demand for information on the adaptation of new crops for the area will increase. The search for new varieties and hybrids, of currently important crops, will also be important. Adaptive crop research has made and will continue to make a significant contribution to the success of agriculture in the state, region, and nation. This project is designed to evaluate varieties and hybrids of field crops for production in northwestern New Mexico. This includes the evaluation of cultural practices, such as crop variety selection, planting dates, plant population and soil fertility.

29

NMSU Agricultural Science Center - Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Alfalfa – New Mexico 2012-Planted Alfalfa Variety Trial Michael K. O’Neill, Curtis K. Owen, Margaret M. West, and Dallen G. Begay Abstract The 2012 Alfalfa Variety Trial is part of a statewide testing program to help determine which entries will perform best in the area they are tested. This trial was coordinated through the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department at New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) main campus in Las Cruces, NM. The trial consisted of 22 varieties (Table 23) from public varieties and private seed companies. 2014 mean seasonal total yield for this trial was 9.24 ton/acre (Table 24). The highest yielding entry of 10.62 ton/acre was Gunner, an entry from Croplan. The lowest yielding entry of 7.04 ton/acre was Zia, an entry from Roswell Seed. There were no significant differences in yield at the 95% probability level between the top yielding entry and the next 11 highest entries within this trial. The first cut yielded the highest with a mean of 2.72 ton/acre, while the fourth cutting was the lowest yielding cut with a mean of 1.95 ton/acre (Table 24). The highest yielding entries over a three year period from 2012 through 2014 were Gunner an entry from Croplan with an average yield of 8.24 ton/acre. The lowest yielding entry over a three year period was Zia, from Roswell Seed, with an average of 5.74 ton/acre. The average yield over a three year period of all entries was 7.16 ton/acre (Table 25). Introduction The Alfalfa Variety Trial is a statewide testing program to help determine which entries will perform best in the area they are tested. This trial was coordinated through the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department at New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) main campus in Las Cruces. The results are compiled at NMSU and distributed to all cooperating growers and seed companies. Objectives 

Test alfalfa varieties for forage yield and yield components.



Relate alfalfa productivity at the Agricultural Science Center at Farmington with productivity at other sites in the state.

Materials and methods The 2012-Planted Alfalfa Variety Trial was planted at the Agriculture Science Center at Farmington on May 9, 2012. The trial consisted of 22 varieties (Table 23) from public varieties and private seed companies. The trial at Farmington was established in a randomized block design with four replications. Individual plots were six 8-inch rows by 16 foot long rows (64 ft2). Planting rate was 20 lb/acre. The planter used was a Kincaid 6-row cone seeder equipped with discs that closed the seed trench directly after the seeds were dropped in the small furrow opening at a depth of about 0.25 inches. 30

NMSU Agricultural Science Center - Farmington

2014 Annual Report

Table 23. Procedures for the 2012-planted Alfalfa Variety Trial. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. Operation Number of Entries: Check Entries: Planting Date: Planting Rate: Plot Design: Plot Size: Cutting Date: Fertilization:

Herbicide: Insecticide: Soil Type: Irrigation: Results and Discussion:

Procedure Twenty-Two Dona Ana, Archer llI, Wilson, NM Common, African Common, Ranger, Mountaineer 2.0, Lahontan, Zia and Malone May 9, 2012 20 lb/acre Complete randomized block with four replications Six 8-inch rows, 16 feet long Four cutting dates: June 3, July 8, August 11 and October 7,2014 Pre-plant Fertilizer applied on March 6, 2014 at 350 lb of 5-2233-1.4 zinc sulfate e.g. N 17 lb/acre, P2O5 77 lb/acre, K2O 115 lb/acre and zinc sulfate 5 lb/acre Raptor applied at 6 oz/acre on April 11, 2014 None Doak fine sandy loam Solid set pipe, watered as needed; generally 4 to 5 hours 3 times per week; 51 inches applied including precipitation Yield and other characteristics are presented in Table 24.

Dry fertilizer was applied pre-plant on March 6, 2014 at the rate of N 17 lb/acre, P2O5 77 lb/acre, K2O 115 lb/acre and zinc sulfate 5 lb/acre. The plot area was chemically treated with the herbicide Raptor at a rate of 6 ounces per acre on April 11, 2014 using a tractor mounted spray rig. During the 2014 growing season, there were four cutting dates; June 3, July 8, August 11, and October 7, 2014. The plots were cut with an Almaco forage harvester equipped with an electronic scale to weigh the green weight of each plot as it was cut. At cutting, samples were taken from select plots to determine dry matter percent. Results and discussion Yield results for the 2014 growing season of the 2012-Planted Alfalfa Variety Trial are presented in Table 24. Yield for each cut, along with the seasonal total yield, are shown for each entry as dry ton/acre. 2014 was the third year to obtain harvest data from this trial as it was planted in May of 2012. 2014 mean seasonal total yield for this trial was 9.24 ton/acre (Table 24). The highest yielding entry of 10.62 ton/acre was Gunner, an entry from Croplan. The lowest yielding entry of 7.04 ton/acre was Zia, an entry from Roswell Seed. There were no significant differences in yield at the 95% probability level between the top yielding entry and the next 11 highest entries within this trial. The first cut yielded the highest with a mean of 2.72 ton/acre, while the fourth cutting was the lowest yielding cut with a mean of 1.95 ton/acre (Table 24). 31

NMSU Agricultural Science Center - Farmington

2014 Annual Report

The highest yielding entries over a three year period from 2012 through 2014 were Gunner an entry from Croplan with an average yield of 8.24 ton/acre. The lowest yielding entry over a three year period was Zia, from Roswell Seed, with an average of 5.74 ton/acre. The average yield over a three year period of all entries was 7.16 ton/acre (Table 25).

Table 24. Forage yield of the 2012-planted Alfalfa Variety Trial. NMSU Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. 2014. Variety

––––––– Yield dry ton/acre a ––––––––

Company Cut-1

Gunner MagnaGraze DG4210 Arrowhead II HybriForce Mesa Mountaineer 2.0 Ranger Lahontan Archer III MagnaGraze II WL354HQ Creeping Crown, Exp GrandStand WL440HQ WL363HQ 54VR03 Wilson NM Common Dona Ana Malone African Common Zia Mean LSD (0.05) CV (%) P Value a

Croplan Dairyland Seed CPS Dairyland Seed Dairyland Seed Croplan Public Public America's Alfalfa Dairyland Seed W-L Research Dairyland Seed CPS W-L Research W-L Research Pioneer Hi-Bred Int. Roswell Seed Roswell Seed Roswell Seed Roswell Seed Roswell Seed Roswell Seed

Cut-2

3.34 2.69 3.40 2.37 3.37 2.44 3.32 2.22 3.37 2.40 3.11 2.40 3.20 2.25 3.06 2.35 2.92 2.45 3.07 2.17 3.03 2.34 3.12 2.24 2.86 2.27 2.54 2.36 2.71 2.02 2.47 2.11 2.05 1.94 2.10 2.03 1.61 1.90 1.94 1.81 1.80 1.84 1.45 1.80 2.72 2.20 0.53 0.43 13.70 13.90