Legislative Roundup: 44 Days Remaining In Session
SFNM
Weather report: Advocates say House Bill 48, which would appropriate $3.5 million a year for over 100 more weather stations in New Mexico State University’s ZiaMet Mesonet system, would do more than improve weather predictions.
Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis, who sponsored the bill, as well as climatologists and agricultural insurance experts, told lawmakers Tuesday the bill also could help the state’s farmers weather drought.
If the state can provide more and better data about rainfall, farmers hit hardest by drought conditions might be able to use the information to apply for some $30 million in federal drought relief funds. Members of the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee voted 7-0 to support the bill and advance it to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee for consideration.
New Mexico State University is partnering with Tri-State Generation and Transmission to join the Electric Power Research Institutes National Demonstration and Monitoring of Indoor Food Production Facilities research project to explore indoor agriculture concepts. New Mexico State University is partnering with Tri-State Generation and Transmission to join the Electric Power Research Institutes National Demonstration and Monitoring of Indoor Food Production Facilities research project to explore indoor agriculture concepts. The project will use a container-based farm to study the energy, water and sustainability impact of indoor farming, as well as explore opportunities to foster workforce and economic development in Cibola County, New Mexico. (Courtesy Tri-State Generation and Transmission)
ALBUQUERQUE - Storytelling runs through Gadi Schwartz s veins.
The seed was planted when Schwartz would head into the Univision newsroom with his father, Sergio, as a boy.
As he grew up, journalism became like a shadow, following him closely.
His time at New Mexico State University s TV station KRWG and the decade he spent at KOB helped cultivate his passion.
Schwartz is currently an NBC News and MSNBC correspondent, as well as co-host of the Snapchat series Stay Tuned.
On Jan. 16, the 37-year-old former Las Cruces resident took the next step in his journey when he became host of The Overview on NBC s streaming service, Peacock.
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Lewis Hisel’s cows graze on short, dry grass in Guadalupe County in October. A bill sponsored by Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis, would create more weather stations across the state to provide accurate rainfall data for farmers and ranchers. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
SANTA FE, N.M. New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers are eligible for federal assistance programs and crop insurance payouts during extreme drought.
But sparse rain gauges scattered across the state’s vast rangelands may not paint an accurate picture of local rainfall. Agricultural producers are then left without data that reflects the drought conditions on their land.
By News Editor And Partners
• Feb 2, 2021
Starting this week, New Mexico State University will commemorate Black History Month with a series of free virtual events sponsored by the NMSU Black Student Association, NMSU Black Programs and the NMSU Library.
The events kick off Wednesday, Feb. 3, and continue through Feb. 26. They are open to all NMSU students, staff, faculty and community members, and will take place on Zoom.
“There is no doubt that 2020 was a tumultuous year, but time and time again, we have proven that as a community, we are undeniably resilient. Considering the number of valuable pillars and icons we have lost due to the pandemic, this year’s Black History Month celebration is even more meaningful,” said Kimberly York, interim director of NMSU Black Programs. “It is a time of introspection about what is really important in life and the value of life.”