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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR

Moore

DATE TYPED

02/16/05

HB

603

SHORT TITLE

NMSU Tucumcari Agricultural Center Programs

SB

ANALYST

Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$414.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

No Responses Received From

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 603 – Making an Appropriation to Enhance the Research and Education Programs at

the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari – appropriates

$413,888 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for ex-

penditure in FY06 to enhance research and education programs relating to water conservation

and rangeland ecology at the Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari to be spent in the follow-

ing amounts by the following organizations:

•

$275,616 to the agricultural experiment station; and

•

$138,272 to the cooperative extension service.

House Bill No. 603 -- Page 2

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

Significant Issues

The NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari Center was originally part of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture Dryland Field Station network and has been in continuous operation

since 1912. Operation of the center was transferred to NMSU in 1949 and research on irrigated

agriculture was initiated in 1952 when surface water for irrigation became available from the

Arch Hurley Conservancy District.

An advisory committee of farmers, ranchers, and business people meets with center personnel on

an annual basis to review ongoing projects and to provide direction for future research. Irrigated

pasture grazing trials are a large portion of the center's research effort. A variety of small plot

studies are used to evaluate annual and perennial forages (grasses and legumes) for local

adaptation and performance. Cultivar performance evaluations are conducted on alfalfa, corn,

sorghums, cotton, and other crops. The center is actively involved in monitoring cotton boll

weevil populations in the local area. Center personnel are involved in the local introduction of

microscopic mites for biological control of field bindweed. Research projects are showcased at

an Annual Field Day that is held in early August.

The Tucumcari Bull Test, which encourages beef herd improvement by the use of performance

tested bulls, has been an integral part of the center's activities since 1961. Since its inception, this

annual testing program, has evaluated approximately 5,000 bulls for gainability and other

measures of production efficiency. A Performance Tested Bull Sale is held annually on the third

Friday in March.

This project is not included in CHE’s 2005-2006 Higher Education Funding Recommendation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $413,888 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMSU would retain administrative oversight of this program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

BFW/lg