FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jenny Green, Communications Specialist
jgreen@nmda.nmsu.edu, Office: 575-646-3060, Cell: 575-202-4249
May 20, 2025
Cover crop initiative launches in Lower Rio Grande
Collaboration protects soil while conserving groundwater
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) have partnered on a cover crop initiative in the Lower Rio Grande valley, advancing long-term efforts to conserve groundwater while improving soil health.
Starting summer 2024, NMDA and the NMISC partnered with Caballo Soil and Water Conservation District and Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to offer cover crop seeds to agricultural producers in the Lower Rio Grande.
With support from NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program, local farmers used cover crops to protect soil while fallowing land to conserve groundwater. Though fallowing has tradeoffs, this program demonstrated that cover crops can help restore nutrients, improve structure and retain moisture.
“I’m proud that producers throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley were given the opportunity to participate in this special collaboration to learn more about importance of cover crops and supporting healthy soil in our state,” said New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte.
Unlike cash crops like chile, onions and pecans, cover crops are planted to protect and improve soil. Cover crops prevent erosion, retain moisture suppress weeds, reduce compaction and boost fertility. Typically sown in the off-season, they can also be interseeded with growing cash crops.
Many participating farmers who planted a cover crop had previously enrolled in NMISC’s Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Program, which is paying them to temporarily take their farms out of production to save groundwater.
Participating Las Cruces-area farmer Deciderio Alvarez observed that the cover crop was effective, but its performance varied by soil type.
“The cover crop did very well in the heavier/silty soils located on our top field, but not as well on the lighter/silty sand soil located on our lower field,” Alvarez said. “Even though the lower field cover crop did not do as well as the top field, it was still very effective in keeping the topsoil from blowing away and also prevented weeds from growing,” Alvarez said.
SWCDs coordinate technical and financial assistance from all available sources — private and public at the local, state and federal levels — to develop locally driven solutions to natural resource concerns like soil erosion, flooding and noxious weeds. Forty-seven SWCDs encompass the majority of New Mexico’s land area.
“This grant is a wonderful opportunity for Dona Ana SWCD to work closely with its local producers, and create long-term relationships,” said Jennifer Kleitz, district manager for Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District. “The cover crop program assists by offering an introductory learning program.”
NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program aims to improve soil health on farms, ranches and other managed lands in New Mexico. To support the adoption of beneficial practices, the program awards grants to individual land managers and local entities, like SWCDs, to implement on-the-ground projects.
For more information about the soil and water conservation districts, visit the websites for Doña Ana SWCD and Caballo SWCD. Information on the NMISC’s Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Program can be found on the NMISC website.
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