Farmers can find ways to diversify at an irrigated pasture grazing school and field day Aug. 5 at New Mexico State University's Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari. Economically, producers in our area and throughout he southern Great Plains are having a difficult time because the traditional markets they've relied on have not done well.
Irrigated pastures are one way to diversify from irrigated wheat, corn and grain sorghum production.
The grazing school will continue a tradition of irrigated pasture research at Tucumcari that dates back to the early 1970s. But we also plan to bring in outside experts to provide additional information producers can use to improve pasture production. From 1 to 5 p.m., grazing school speakers will discuss how to select grasses and legumes, how forage crops respond to grazing, how to establish rotational grazing systems and how to manage cattle on irrigated pastures. The audience we'd like to attract is anybody in the community who's interested in the agricultural science center. Along with touring irrigated pastures, visitors can see cotton variety trials, cowpea production and warm-season grass research.