Researchers and staff at New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Farmington are promising another exciting field day to showcase the center July 24.
This year’s field day takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center, 300 County Road 4063 in Farmington, New Mexico. The center is situated on 254 acres leased from the Navajo Nation, and is the only science center in New Mexico west of the Continental Divide. It is also one of the only 1862 land-grant science center to work directly on sovereign First Nations land, at the invite of the Navajo Nation.
“As in previous years, this year’s field day will feature lots of research presentations as well as tours of our center and various activities,” said Kevin Lombard, the center’s research director.
Among the topics to be discussed at the field day are agricultural photovoltaics; controlled-environment agriculture, including hydroponic vegetable production; and studies on potatoes, chile peppers and cucurbits, garbanzo beans and corn, cover crops and medicinal herbs. There will also be informational booths and poster presentations. Lunch will be provided and there will be live music to create a festive atmosphere.
Agricultural photovoltaics, also known as agrivoltaics, involves the co-location of solar and agriculture on the same land. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, agrivoltaics is agriculture production, such as crop or livestock production or pollinator habitats, underneath or adjacent to solar panels.
For more information and directions on how to get to the center, visit https://farmingtonsc.nmsu.edu/. Some GPS apps may direct you to a closed road. For accurate directions, use the map on the NMSU ASC Farmington website, https://farmingtonsc.nmsu.edu/visit.html. Individuals with a disability, or those in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate, should contact Corey Benally at 505-960-7757.
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PHOTO CAPTION: New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Farmington will showcase several important research at its annual field day July 24. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A hand holding a plant growing out of the ground.