LAS CRUCES, NM – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture hosted the Second Annual Binational Livestock Meeting in Las Cruces April 13-14.
"The binational meeting provided a great opportunity to showcase New Mexico livestock and dairy quality, and it allowed us to continue to build on an already strong partnership with our neighbors from Mexico," said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. "Our producers share many of the same challenges and opportunities and enjoy working together to benefit producers from New Mexico, Arizona and Sonora. As a region, we are stronger together."
The meeting began Friday morning at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum with speakers and a roundtable discussion. Witte spoke at the meeting, along with New Mexico Cattle Growers Association President Tom Sidwell, Sonora Department of Agriculture Secretary M.S. Julio Cesar Corona Valenzuela, Secretary of Unión Ganadera Regional de Sonora Lic. Rubén Molina Molina and Dr. Peter Mundschenk of Arizona Department of Agriculture.
Meeting attendees were then taken to the New Mexico State University Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center north of Las Cruces, where they learned about cattle nutrition, reproduction and the latest technology in rangeland management. The following NMSU faculty, staff and students spoke to attendees:
- Shanna Ivey, NMSU Animal and Range Sciences and Extension Animal Science and Natural Resources Interim Department Head
- Natalie Goldberg, NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station Interim Director and Associate Dean
- Andrew Cox, NMSU CDRRC Manager
- Shelemia Nyamuryekung'e, NMSU Range Science Graduate Student
- Matthew McIntosh, NMSU Range Science Graduate Student
- Derek Bailey, NMSU Animal and Range Sciences Professor and Rangeland Scientist
- Eric Scholljegerdes, NMSU Ruminant Nutritionist
- Craig Gifford, NMSU Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
- Dr. John Wenzel, NMSU Extension Veterinarian
The meeting concluded Saturday, April 14, when attendees learned about the dairy industry in New Mexico. Robert Hagevoort with NMSU Dairy Extension gave a presentation, the attendees toured F&A Dairy, and they visited a Big Sky Dairy Farm.
For more information about the Binational Livestock Meeting, please contact Juan Sanchez, NMDA Marketing Specialist, 575-646-7090, jsanchez@nmda.nmsu.edu