Torrance County's Demonstration Gardeners Program
Torrance County's Demonstration Gardeners in cooperation with the Torrance County Cooperative Extension Service installed a demonstration garden at the Torrance County Courthouse to showcase some native New Mexico plants for water efficient landscapes. The plants were provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Material Center, Los Lunas, NM. Curtis Smith, NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist, and Gene Winn, torrance County Cooperative Extension Service Office, Agriculture Agent, are overseeing and assisting with this project. If anyone is interested in participating in future demonstrations, please call Gene at 246-4743, or attend the next meeting on October 22nd, 9:00 a.m., until noon, at the Estancia Public Library.
Livestock Production
In 1996, livestock and livestock products accounted for 70 percent of all New Mexico farm and ranch receipts and totaled nearly 2 billion dollars. In Torrance County beef cows (26,000) and sheep (8,000 head) are the primary farm and ranch livestock contributors to the economy. The stocker-yearling industry (16,000 steers over 500 lbs.) continues to be a major program, especially in Torrance County. There is a small group of goat producers including angora, meat and milk producers. Many management practices can increase output and return. Few producers use all proven practices. A major concern of producers and consumers is production of a safe and wholesome human food supply, dictating an increased need for quality assurance programs. Extension and the New Mexico cattle industry participated in phase I of the Beef Quality Assurance Program in recent years. Both cattle and sheep producers need to evaluate production costs and returns and incorporate production practices that will maximize dollar return. Torrance County has different cultural groups who have unique production problems, like Hispanic cultures of North-central New Mexico.