New Mexico State University (NMSU) has unveiled the operations of the Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, which is situated on 254 acres of land leased from the Navajo Nation. The center is committed to conducting research-driven initiatives and projects that support the local community.
The center is an active participant in the Transformation Network, a project funded by the National Science Foundation and led by the University of New Mexico. This network involves over 50 faculty members and numerous graduate students across seven universities, backed by a $15 million grant. According to a press release by NMSU, their research focuses on cropping systems and various crops such as potatoes, corn, alfalfa, small grains, fruit trees, and grapes.
Kevin Lombard, the center’s research director, expressed his thoughts on working with the Navajo Nation and its surrounding community. "For us, the benefit of working with the Navajo Nation, and in the surrounding community, is we have the opportunity to do a lot of community-based research, and not a lot of researchers have that base," said Lombard. "We have the physical offices and faculty right there in the community, so we’re able to be responsive to community requests for assistance."
Lombard further elaborated on their approach towards assisting farmers. "We do hypothesis-based research for the farmers so that we can test these types of crop system trials, see what works well and disseminate the information to growers who are then able to make an informed decision," he stated.
Established in 1968, The New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington aims to conduct research programs tailored specifically for San Juan County's agricultural community, Navajo Nation residents as well as broader regions including New Mexico's Four Corners Region and across America. According to information provided by NMSU on their webpage for Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, they strive to foster agricultural resilience within communities through innovative science that respects regional cultural values, particularly in the Navajo Nation and surrounding areas.
