Author: amanda.wylie

Otero Soil and Water Conservation District

3501 Mesa Village Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310 (575) 437-3100 x 3

2024

NRCS Sign-up Deadline

Inside this issue:
FSA Elections / Servicer Center Fair Booth	2
LFP Program / ELAP Program	3

The Sign-up Deadline is January 15th.

EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.
Eligible program participants receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, or activities like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns on their land. Payments are made to participants after conservation practices and activities identified in an EQIP plan of operations are implemented. Contracts can last up to ten years.
Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands.
Socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian tribes and veterans are eligible for an increased payment rate and may receive advance payment of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract.
Applicants must: Control or own eligible land; Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI) provisions; Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements; and develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations.

“Helping People Help the Land”

We are online! Check us out on the web @ oteroswcd.org/

FSA Committee Election February 2nd

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The County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee election ballots will be counted on February 12, 2026. Farmers and ranchers will begin receiving their ballots January 5, 2026. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. Voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can pick one up at their local FSA offices. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than February 2, 2026.
The duties of County FSA Committee members include:
A. Administering farm program activities conducted by the County FSA Office.
B. Informing farmers of the purpose and provisions of the FSA programs.
C. Keeping the State FSA Committee informed of Local Administrative Area conditions.
D. Monitoring changes in farm programs.
E. Participating in county meetings as necessary.
F. Performing other duties as assigned by the State FSA Committee
Please take the time and vote for the candidate of your choice!

The 2026 New Mexico Noxious Weed Calendar is available. Please stop by the Alamogordo Field office at 3501 Mesa Village Drive to pick up your copy.

2025 Otero SWCD Fair Booth

The Otero County Fair in Alamogordo was held on September 20th-22nd. Joining us this year to “man” the booth as well as provide program information was FSA Program Analyst, Amanda Wylie-Largeteau.
Along with NRCS and FSA Program handouts, the Otero SWCD provided information on the value of pollinators, plants to help pollinators thrive, and several conservation focused coloring pages for the kids.
Hope to see you all again next year!

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Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing. The grazing losses must be due to a qualifying drought condition during the normal grazing period for the county. LFP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Application deadline for 2025 is March 1, 2026

DISASTER ASSISTANCE ELAP - LIVESTOCK ASSISTANCE
Eligible Transportation Losses
To be eligible for ELAP assistance, livestock must be intended for grazing in a county suffering an eligible drought and producers must have incurred feed or livestock transportation costs on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Although producers will self-certify losses and expenses to FSA, producers are encouraged to maintain good records and retain receipts and related documentation in the event these documents are requested for review by the local FSA County Committee.
Application deadline for 2025 is March 1, 2026

Otero SWCD 3501 Mesa Village Dr. Alamogordo, NM 88310. (575) 437-3100 x 3

District board meetings are generally, the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 am. The meetings are held at the District office on 3501 Mesa Village Dr. in Alamogordo.

Current SWCD board of supervisors:
Bob Nichols, Chairman
Rick Baish, Vice Chairman
Jeff Rabon, Secretary/Treasurer
Eddie Vigil, Supervisor
James Evrage, Supervisor
Colt Howland, Supervisor
Clifton Varbel, Supervisor

NRCS Staff:
Kristi Wright, District Conservationist
Erika Rodriguez, Range Specialist
Vanessa Hernandez, Soil Conservationist
Amalia Montoya, Area Range Conservationist
Morgan Smith, Area Civil Engineer Technician

The Otero SWCD is an equal opportunity employer.

District Employee:
Victoria Milne, District Manager

FSA Staff:
Deborah Beebe, County Executive Director
Amanda Wylie-Largeteau, Program Analyst

Fall Fall Fall Fall

The USDA Alamogordo Service Center will be closed:
November 11 - Veteran's Day; November 27 - Thanksgiving Holiday;
December 24-26 - Christmas; January 1 - New Year’s

Otero Soil and Water Conservation District
3501 Mesa Village Dr.
Alamogordo, NM 88310