The New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD) has announced that Patricia E. Hunt of Mangas Springs has been hired as a Farm Bill Program Specialist. This position works for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the Grant and San Francisco Soil and Water Conservation Districts located in Silver City and Glenwood. The Districts are local governmental subdivisions established under state law to carry out programs for the conservation, use and development of soil, water and related natural resources. The NRCS provides conservation planning and technical assistance to individuals and groups to develop and implement plans to accomplish these programs.

Pat Hunt is assigned to the Silver City NRCS Field Office located at 3082 32nd Street By-Pass Road, Suite C and will perform support duties for USDA Farm Bill contracts. The recently passedFarm Bill,known as the "Agricultural Act of 2014", is important legislation that provides authorization for services and programs that impact every American and millions of people around the world. Under the authority of the Farm Bill, NRCS offers financial and technical assistance to help agricultural producers make and maintain conservation improvements on their land and offers easement programs to eligible landowners to conserve working agricultural lands, wetlands, grasslands and forestlands. The office phone number is 575-388-1569 and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.