NMSU Part of Strategic Plan for Resiliency in New Mexico's Food and Ag Industries

LAS CRUCES, NM – The combination of agriculture and food processing is an important part of New Mexico’s economy. Together, the two broad industries accounted for $10.6 billion, roughly 12.3 percent of New Mexico’s $85 billion gross state product in 2012.

The future will bring opportunities to these industries that are important to the state’s economy, ranging from expanding sales to out-of-state markets to supplying New Mexico consumers with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. It will also bring the challenges of an aging agricultural workforce and the growing demand for water in a period of prolonged drought.

New Mexico State University (NMSU) and New Mexico First are joining forces to develop a strategic plan to help maintain a resilient New Mexico food and agricultural system. The Thornburg Foundation is coordinating the funding of the project.

“The Thornburg Foundation, along with other funders, have recognized that the threats facing the economic, social and environmental resilience of agriculture in our state are large, complex and immediate,” says Micaela Fischer, Thornburg Foundation policy officer for food and agriculture. “They are also likely too far-reaching for any group, business or government agency to handle independently.

“However, we’ve found that many of these threats, such as uncertain water and natural resource availability and paltry producer income, are not unique to New Mexico, and other states have bolstered their agricultural sector through common plans of action,” Fischer says. “We hope to see the same success in increased health and wealth of New Mexico’s producers, eaters and working lands through the implementation of a state-wide plan for agricultural resilience.”

A two-year timeframe has been set for developing the plan.

“The plan will foster a food and agricultural system capable of withstanding new challenges,” says Michael Patrick, NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service economic development specialist, “while advancing a strong and growing export-oriented commodity agriculture sector and a robust local food system of small to medium-sized family farms and ranches producing locally grown food to meet the growing consumer demand in the state.”

NMSU’s extension service will assist New Mexico First in gathering information from a broad range of stakeholders at the grassroots level.

“New Mexico First is very good at gathering grassroots recommendations,” Patrick says. “The extension service is good at getting people together to share their opinion on issues being faced by this sector.”

Regional meetings are scheduled beginning in December and running through March.

The information will be complied into a background report on the state of New Mexico agriculture, which will be used by a task force to develop the Resilience in New Mexico Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan.

Featured

  • Midland ISD Starts Construction on Two New High Schools

    The Midland Independent School District recently announced that it will break ground on two new high schools in Midland, Texas, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects, Lee Lewis Construction, and Satterfield & Pontikes to create a total of over 1.5 million square feet for 8,400 students in grades 9–12.

  • University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

    The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

  • K–12 Safety Trends Report Reveals Reliance on Training, Technology

    Wearable safety technology provider CENTEGIX recently released its 2025 School Safety Trends Report, according to a news release. The report is based on more than 265,000 incidents during the 2024–25 school year as reported through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, used by more than 800 school districts across the U.S.

  • Creating a First and Lasting Impression with Thoughtful, Sustainable Design

    Clemson University’s Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center serves as the new front door to campus, anchoring the Tiger experience through each step in the student journey.

Digital Edition