New Mexico State University’s Fabián García Science Center will host a fruitful day of learning and fun during its field day Wednesday, Oct. 11.


 
The field day will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. at the science center, 113 University Ave. in Las Cruces. Research presentations will begin at 8:30 a.m.


 
Among the research topics to be presented are using cover crops in transitioning from traditional agriculture to climate-adaptive organic farming in the southwestern United States; planting a backyard vineyard; the influence of cover crop planning on vine nutrients and berry chemistry in a southern New Mexico Malbec vineyard; and guar as a potential alternative crop. There will also be a presentation by the Chile Pepper Institute on the Fowler Teaching Garden.


 
Dave Lowry, NMSU program operation director for the Fabián García Science Center, has referred to the center as a “living laboratory” for students, since several classes take place there. The center is located minutes away from the NMSU campus in Las Cruces.


 
Lowry said the Fabián García Science Center has a large variety of ongoing research projects, even though the center itself is one of the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station’s smaller centers.


 
“We are excited to showcase some of the projects currently ongoing at the Fabián García Science Center. Due to the event being a half-day, we can only present on a fraction of the research at the center, but this year provides a variety of topics that exhibit the breadth of agricultural issues being addressed at the center,” Lowry said. “Most of the projects being presented involve students at a high level, with the center being in such close proximity to campus. We strive to not only produce high quality research outcomes but also make it a priority to involve students at all levels, from undergraduate to Ph.D.”


 
Along with the Jose Fernandez Garden, which is established at the NMSU Heritage Farm, the Fabián García Science Center houses the Chile Pepper Institute and research plots and greenhouses supporting alfalfa breeding and genetics, viticulture, cotton, horticulture, nematology, micro-plot, turf grass water management and onion research.


 
Individuals with a disability who are in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate may contact Autumn Martinez at 575-636-3132 or purple@nmsu.edu .


 
For more information about the Fabián García Science Center, visit https://fabiangarciasc.nmsu.edu/index.html .

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/fabi-n-garc-a-science-center-field-day-to-feature-crop-research--teaching-garden/s/4a690523-ebec-4513-98c7-089e02fe97b4