Serving Eastern New Mexico and West Texas
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Chet Chenault, left, and Colin Chandler check the depth of cotton seeds planted by machine last week in Chandler’s field northwest of Portales. Chandler said cotton seeds must be planted about three-fourths of an inch deep. Argen Duncan Despite the drought and wind, a cotton farmer says the crop is […]
Argen Duncan Roosevelt and Curry County farmers grew more dryland corn for grain this year and they expect the trend to continue. Also, corn silage, the biggest use of locally grown corn, had varied yields this year. Silage goes to feed dairy cattle, while grain corn may be used for ethanol production, livestock feed or […]
By Argen Duncan: PNT senior writer Recent rains have helped crops in Roosevelt and Curry counties, but farms and ranches still need more, producers said. Allen Deen, who dryland farms southeast of Floyd, said his family is planting hay grazer and milo. “We’re just marginal on our moisture, but we’re kind of running out of […]
By Sarah Meyer: CNJ Staff Writer The weekend’s rain brought some relief for a thirsty dryland wheat crop, but not enough to make a difference, officials said. The precipitation Saturday brought the year’s total to .24 inches, which is about half of the historical average of .49 inches for the first six weeks of the […]
By Casey Peacock: Freedom New Mexico Grain sorghum farmers are reporting an above average year with yields double and even triple the average, according to area producers and officials. “It is probably one of the better crops we’ve had in the past five years,” said Toby Bostwick, Curry County farmer and president-elect for the National […]
By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer The height of a wheat plant isn’t what most farmers look at for a good crop, experts said. Good wheat plants don’t have to be tall, said New Mexico State University crop physiologist Sangu Angadi. “When the plant grows, we want more grain not just the plant growing tall […]
A fungus called rust reported in some Curry County wheat fields reduces crop yield and nutrient value, costing farmers money, state agronomist Mark Marsalis says. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Leslie Radford: CNJ Staff writer Dryland wheat farmers in Curry County are cautiously optimistic about having one of their best years in a while. […]
By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent Wheat farmers in Curry County are feeling pretty good about their crops this year. Of course, had they been the recipient of one more timely rainfall, they would be feeling even better. Harvest on this season’s wheat crop began in earnest over the last week and dryland farmers, the majority […]
By Tony Farkas Since the High Plains’ economy is based on agriculture, and since water for crops and livestock may soon be in short supply, one solution seems obvious: Farmers should stop irrigating and raise dryland crops. But that won’t work, most agricultural experts agree. “I don’t see that happening, not in my lifetime,” said […]
