This is a listing for the Central New Mexico LandLink program. If you are not familiar with the program please visit the LandLink home page for more information.

Ref. #: 123

County: Socorro

Vision/Details: I am re-building my 420 SF greenhouse equipped with radiant floor heating for starting transplants next season. I could accommodate 1 or 2 young farmers (male or female) as long as they provide their own transportation (the farm is about an hour drive from ABQ) and lunches starting in the spring of 2012. I'll offer paid positions as employees once I've seen that they are genuinely interested in farming, honest and hard-working and don't mind getting their hands dirty and can endure the heat of the summer. If things work out, I might even consider a crop-share on part of the property. They must be US citizens with proof of a valid social security card and drivers license and can pass a background check. 

My marketing includes wholesale to local stores and at area farmers markets during the growing season. This could be part of their training, invaluable to a beginning farmer. .

Land-Use History: I am currently farming the land mostly in alfalfa and growing chile on one 1/2 acre field with plans to rotate to another organic certified field for next season.  In the past I was farming on a part-time basis while raising a family and working full-time using organic practices since 1981 and eventually certified organic in July of 2010 by the former New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission.

Soil & Water: My farm is certified organic through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture Organic Program.  Fields are rotated with alfalfa, wheatgrass, rye and dairy manure.The soil types on my farm are: sandy loam and clay loam with a PH of approximately 7.5. 

I irrigate from the Garcial Lateral Ditch through an underground PVC pipeline system with alfalfa valves to all fields.  I supplement with drip irrigation from our domestic well on two fields with plans to put in a new well to irrigate the entire 7 acres with drip irrigation in the near future.

Desired Farming Practices: Conventional tillage, sustainable, organic, and/or integrated pest management.

Housing: Not available.

Acreage: Less than 1 acre.

Equipment: I have a used large general purpose tractor that I use for plowing, disking, floating, planting and general heavy duty use.  It is very sensitive to overuse or abuse and breaks easily, so I'm the sole operator.  I have all of the necessary implements: 3 bottom plow, tandem disk, tandem fresno, grain drill, ditcher, sprayer, border disc, blade, cultivator, and row seeder.  I also have available a BCS 8 HP walk-behind tractor with tiller box and sprayer.  I'll teach a beginning farmer the proper use of these tools if they pay attention to detail and are prepared to work just as hard as these tools.

For more information on the listing, or to be connected with the land owner, please contact us at localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov or 505-724-3619.