Demonstrations involving plastic mulches show potential for conserving soil moisture and controlling weeds. Agricultural research and Extension continued joint efforts to find a control for broom snakeweed, locoweed and salt cedar. New demonstration-research trials for control of four invasive species of brush were initiated in five counties. Annual evaluation of existing demonstrations with the participation of county Extension agents and cooperating ranchers or agency personnel serves as an effective teaching tool to demonstrate the long-term effects of brush and weed control on range productivity. Thirty-seven existing trials were evaluated in 11 counties.
Demonstrations emphasize variety trials, fertility and irrigation conditions.
Intensive efforts were exerted to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies and provide educational information to growers and the public on the biology of the Karnal bunt fungus in wheat and the infestation in four New Mexico counties. Extension Plant Sciences now has a Karnal bunt detection laboratory for analysis of wheat samples. Cotton pest management strategies were the focus of grower meetings and demonstration-research plots due to a boll weevil infestation. Extensive crop monitoring was conducted in affected counties. The First New Mexico Cotton Conference was held in Las Cruces.