New Mexico State University students will host a free plant diagnosis clinic for community members from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the Fabián García Science Center, 113 New Mexico State Road, near the Las Cruces campus.
The annual plant clinic is an outreach project organized by students from NMSU’s Diagnosing Plant Disorders class in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
“The clinic allows students to serve the community with the skills they have acquired in the classroom,” said Soum Sanogo, NMSU professor of fungal plant pathology who teaches the plant disorders class. “Community members may bring a specimen of any legal plant as well as their questions on plant health, growing and maintaining plants.”
Nine students will be on hand to assist community members with their plant questions during this year’s clinic, Sanogo said. Caroline Toth, co-instructor and Ph.D. student, Carol Sutherland, Extension entomologist, Leslie Beck, Extension weed specialist, Phillip Lujan of the NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, and Geno Picchioni, professor of horticulture and plant mineral nutrition, will assist the students during the clinic.
Sanogo started the free clinics several years ago to allow students to share their knowledge outside the classroom as a public service. The clinic takes place each fall semester to help community members seeking advice on a range of plant health topics
“This event is about giving students the chance to interact with people and develop their communication skills,” he said.
For more information about this year’s clinic, contact Sanogo at ssanogo@nmsu.edu or 575-640-6484.