DEMING – A Columbus farmer and rancher is among five agricultural producers featured in a new statewide campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and how improved land management practices can benefit New Mexico’s agricultural communities.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has partnered with the New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group to launch the “Healthy Soil. Growing New Mexico’s Future.” campaign, which will feature billboards, radio advertisements and social media messages throughout rural New Mexico.
James Johnson, a farmer and rancher in Columbus near the United States-Mexico border, is one of five agricultural producers selected to share their experiences improving soil health.
The campaign highlights how farmers and ranchers are using practices such as applying compost, growing diverse plant species, rotating livestock grazing areas and other conservation methods to improve the land they manage.
In addition to Johnson, the campaign features Jim Armendariz, a cattle rancher near Santa Rosa; Don Bustos, a farmer along an acequia near Española; Ernest Diswood, a sheep and cattle rancher on tribal land near Farmington; and Jennifer Pierce, a rancher near Roswell.
Each producer will appear on billboards near their communities and will be featured in radio messages and social media content explaining how they apply soil health principles to their agricultural operations.
New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said the practices being promoted through the campaign can benefit agricultural producers as well as homeowners with backyard gardens.
“Soil health principles are simple, adaptable practices anyone can use to improve their soil, whether managing a large farm or ranch, a backyard garden or something in between,” Witte said.
He explained that these practices can include reducing tillage, planting cover crops and allowing grasslands additional time to recover between livestock grazing periods.
According to Witte, healthier soil can improve the land’s resilience to drought, flooding, invasive weeds and other environmental challenges while supporting healthier plants, animals and communities.
Robb Hirsch, co-founder of the New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group, said the campaign emphasizes the importance of farmers and ranchers learning from one another.
“At the end of the day, fellow farmers and ranchers influence and encourage one another to prioritize soil health,” Hirsch said. “Featuring agricultural producers is what this media campaign is all about.”
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture administers the state’s Healthy Soil Program, which offers annual competitive grants to farmers, ranchers and other eligible land managers interested in improving soil conditions.
The New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group is a nonprofit organization that helped advance the legislation establishing the program. The organization continues to provide educational opportunities, individual assistance and connections to resources for agricultural producers across the state.
The campaign also features photography and audio recordings captured by Santa Fe-based photographer Esha Chiocchio, whose work has appeared in publications including National Geographic.
For residents of Luna County, the inclusion of Columbus farmer and rancher James Johnson provides a local connection to the statewide effort to promote agricultural conservation and sustainable land management.
Residents interested in learning more about the campaign, soil health practices or available resources can visit NMsoil.com.
John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@bravomic.com
