Producers, researchers and community members will gather for New Mexico State University’s field day at the Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, New Mexico, Tuesday, Aug. 5. The event, which is free and open to the public, provides the community an opportunity to explore current agricultural research, network and enjoy a meal prepared by local youth leaders.
The event will begin with registration at 4:30 p.m. followed by a brief welcome from Leonard Lauriault, ASC research director emeritus. Lauriault, who officially retired July 1 after decades of service to the center, said the field day is a chance to highlight the broader value of local research.
“We’d like community members of all ages to understand the value of having locally based agricultural research, whether in rural or urban areas and the contribution of agriculture to their very life and lifestyle,” Lauriault said.
Following the welcome, attendees will hear from Brooke Boren, director of land and assets for NMSU’s Agricultural Experiment Station system, who will deliver the keynote address.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with catering provided by the Quay County Roadrunners 4-H Club. After dinner, NMSU researchers will present their latest findings in crop and livestock production during a hay wagon tour.
Presentations include trials with Roma tomatoes and red bell peppers for local production from Murali Darapuneni, associate professor; updates on beef cattle feed efficiency research from Marcy Ward, Extension livestock specialist; new insights into irrigation strategies for chickpea production from Saeid Salmasi, associate professor; findings from field and greenhouse trials using biochar and manure from Abdullahi Liman, graduate student; and data on winter and spring cover crops for improved soil health from Darapuneni. Lauriault will close the tour with a presentation on how cover crops impact forage sorghum production.
The evening will conclude with an ice cream social and final remarks at 8:30 p.m.
For more information, contact the center at 575-461-1620 or tucumcar@nmsu.edu.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University’s field day at the Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center in Tucumcari Aug. 5 will feature presentations on crop production, livestock research and soil health. (NMSU photo by Geraint Smith)