Over 50 individuals attended the Second Annual Binational Livestock Meeting hosted by New Mexico Department of Agriculture April 13. Pictured here (left to right) are NMDA Deputy Director Anthony Parra, Sonora-New Mexico Commission Director Carlos Gutierrez, Undersecretary of Livestock for SAGARPHA Gustavo Camou, President of New Mexico Cattle Growers Association Tom Sidwell, Secretary of the Union Ganadera Regional de Sonora Ruben Molina, NMDA Marketing Specialist Juan Sanchez, Aurelio Ramos of SAGARPHA, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte and Secretary of Agriculture for SAGARPHA Julio Corona.
(NMDA photo by Pamela Sanchez)LAS CRUCES, NM – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture hosted the Second Annual Binational Livestock Meeting in Las Cruces April 13-14.

Over 50 individuals attended the Second Annual Binational Livestock Meeting hosted by New Mexico Department of Agriculture April 13. The event began with a meeting at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
(NMDA photo by Pamela Sanchez)New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte addressed attendees of the Second Annual Binational Livestock Meeting hosted by New Mexico Department of Agriculture April 13 at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. (NMDA photo by Pamela Sanchez)New Mexico State University Range Science graduate student Shelemia Nyamuryekung’e talked to the Binational Livestock Meeting attendees about the use of telemetry devices used to monitor cattle behavior on rangeland at the NMSU Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center.
(NMDA photo by Kristie Garcia)The purpose of the meeting is to improve and benefit the livestock industry by sharing experiences and strengthening relationships with New Mexico's counterparts in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Last year's inaugural meeting was held in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

"The binational meeting provided a great opportunity to showcase New Mexico livestock and dairy quality, and it allowed us to continue to build on an already strong partnership with our neighbors from Mexico," said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. "Our producers share many of the same challenges and opportunities and enjoy working together to benefit producers from New Mexico, Arizona and Sonora. As a region, we are stronger together."

The meeting began Friday morning at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum with speakers and a roundtable discussion. Witte spoke at the meeting, along with New Mexico Cattle Growers Association President Tom Sidwell, Sonora Department of Agriculture Secretary M.S. Julio Cesar Corona Valenzuela, Secretary of Unión Ganadera Regional de Sonora Lic. Rubén Molina Molina and Dr. Peter Mundschenk of Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Meeting attendees were then taken to the New Mexico State University Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center north of Las Cruces, where they learned about cattle nutrition, reproduction and the latest technology in rangeland management. The following NMSU faculty, staff and students spoke to attendees:

• Shanna Ivey, NMSU Animal and Range Sciences and Extension Animal Science and Natural Resources Interim Department Head
• Natalie Goldberg, NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station Interim Director and Associate Dean
• Andrew Cox, NMSU CDRRC Manager
• Shelemia Nyamuryekung'e, NMSU Range Science Graduate Student
• Matthew McIntosh, NMSU Range Science Graduate Student
• Derek Bailey, NMSU Animal and Range Sciences Professor and Rangeland Scientist
• Eric Scholljegerdes, NMSU Ruminant Nutritionist
• Craig Gifford, NMSU Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
• Dr. John Wenzel, NMSU Extension Veterinarian

The meeting concluded Saturday, April 14, when attendees learned about the dairy industry in New Mexico. Robert Hagevoort with NMSU Dairy Extension gave a presentation, the attendees toured F&A Dairy, and they visited a Big Sky Dairy Farm.

For more information about the Binational Livestock Meeting, please contact Juan Sanchez, NMDA Marketing Specialist, 575-646-7090, jsanchez@nmda.nmsu.edu