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New Mexico State University

Agriculture & Horticulture

Quay county's agriculture industry strives to be competitive within regional, statewide and national markets. This requires a continuous flow of appropriate technology addressing local needs within Eastern New Mexico. Our Extension program works to maintain and strengthen programs that address these needs. Water remains to be the most important limiting resource for our county's producers. All aspects of water use affect agricultural efficiency and profitability. Water management will become more critical as demands for urbanization and industrialization increase. The Tucumcari Project, in east-central New Mexico surrounds the city of Tucumcari and contains about 41,000 acres of irrigable land. Project features include the Conchas Dam and Reservoir (constructed by the Corps of Engineers), the Conchas and Hudson Canals, and a distribution and drainage system. Many crops grown in the project are used to sustain the area's livestock industry. Alfalfa hay, alfalfa seed, grain sorghum, cotton, and wheat are the leading crops produced. (Arch Hurley website)

Agriculture Hot Links

  • Arch Hurley Conservancy District
    This is an excellent website to find information on our local irrigation distict, lake levels, and a great source for topics concerning water rights in New Mexico.
  • New Mexico Dept. of Agriculture
    This website is the official site to New Mexico Department of Agriculture. The agency responsible for Pesticide Applicators license, regulations, weights & measures, and inspections.
  • Corona Range and Livestock Research Center
    The Corona Range and Livestock Research Center is a 27,886-acre working ranch laboratory located near the geographical center of the state of New Mexico, just east of the village of Corona.

Quay County Ag. Newsletter

Selected NMSU Publications

  • Cattle - Fax Beef Price Database & update procedures
    This database is compiled and updated for use by members of W1192, a western regional research project titled “Economic, Social, and Ecological Issues of Rangeland Fragmentation that Affect Rangeland Sustainability and Rural Communities.” Use restrictions apply to the copyrighted beef price data described in this database.
  • Circular 637 Preconditioning Beef Calves
    Producers preconditioning calves prior to shipping are challenged to identify practical preconditioning approaches that can be implemented within their management system and yield suffi cient price premiums to be cost-eff ective.

Yard & Garden/ Commerical Horticulture

  • Tree Pruning Techniques
    WHY SHOULD I PRUNE? Proper pruning creates more beautiful, healthy trees and can increase the life span and productivity of fruit and shade trees. Unpruned or poorly pruned trees can often be safety hazards that endanger people and property.