FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2025
New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers Call for Action in Statewide
Virtual Town Hall on Federal Cuts and Policy Shifts
Santa Fe, NM — Over 175 farmers, ranchers, and land
stewards from across New Mexico gathered on the evening of May 6 for a virtual
town hall to voice growing concern over stalled federal programs, delayed USDA
payments, and the erosion of vital conservation and infrastructure support in
the state. The event, hosted by the New Mexico Coalition to Enhance Working
Lands (NMCEWL) in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture,
featured comments from four of New Mexico’s congressional offices, the Governor’s
Office, and Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte.
Participants
from tribal lands, acequia systems, urban farms, large specialty crop farms,
and traditional ranches shared how USDA program freezes, tariffs, immigration
policy, federal office closures, and the loss of key agency staff are
threatening not only livelihoods but years of progress in land restoration,
water conservation, rural economic development, and local food access. Several
farmers and ranchers who spoke also serve in the New Mexico State
Legislature.
“This
is not about special treatment,” said Brett Lockmiller, a fourth-generation
farmer in Curry County and participant with the Ogallala Land and Water
Conservancy. “We made the commitment to transition to dryland farming to
protect the Ogallala aquifer and support the Cannon Air Force Base mission. But
without functioning conservation programs and timely funding, that
commitment—and our operation—are at risk.”
Mary
Ben, co-founder of Bidii Baby Foods, added,
“Our business depends on the New Mexico Grown program to feed our own
community. We also mentor young Indigenous farmers—but with USDA funding on
hold, we’re losing momentum at a time when this support is needed most.”
Producers
raised concerns about widespread disruptions caused by federal funding freezes,
delayed USDA payments, and terminated grants—leaving many without operating
capital and forcing some to halt conservation projects or suspend operations
altogether. Across agencies like NRCS, FEMA, and the Forest Service, staffing
reductions and early retirements have resulted in the loss of critical
technical assistance, institutional knowledge, and local capacity for
conservation planning, infrastructure repair, and grazing management.
Participants emphasized that failing water infrastructure—particularly acequias
and dams—requires immediate investment and coordination, not only for
irrigation but also for long-term ecosystem function and community resilience.
Farmers
also called attention to labor shortages driven by fear and instability near
the border, the mounting uncertainty caused by shifting international tariffs,
and the erosion of support for local food system programs like Double Up Food
Bucks and LFPA. Many warned that if producers cannot make a living, they will
be forced to sell their water rights—placing entire communities and watersheds
at risk. Others noted that the loss of research funding, including efforts to
breed improved chile varieties and protect pollinators, threatens the sector’s
ability to adapt to climate and market shifts. Finally, participants emphasized
that agricultural communities need mental health services, especially as stress
levels rise amid ongoing disruption. While solutions exist, producers agreed
that coordinated action from federal and state partners is essential.
Representatives
from New Mexico’s congressional delegation acknowledged the significance of the
challenges farms and ranches in the state are facing and pledged to take the
stories and solutions shared back to Washington. State officials echoed the
need for collaboration and emphasized that agriculture, food access, and
conservation are critical to the health of our economy, communities, and
watersheds.
A
full summary of the town hall, including key themes and policy recommendations,
and more quotes from participants is included below.
About NMCEWL
The New Mexico Coalition to Enhance Working Lands (NMCEWL, nmcewl.org) is a statewide network
of over 50 organizations and individuals working together to support resilient
farms, ranches, forests, and watersheds by empowering land stewards and
land-based communities.
Other quotes from farmers, ranchers, and those who support them.
For more direct quotes from the transcript of the conversation, please reach
out and request them.
Brett Lockmiller, fourth-generation farmer (Curry County) working
with the Ogallala Land and Water Conservancy:
“We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for a
partnership that works.”
“Without timely funding, this whole effort falls apart—and it
sends the wrong message to producers considering making the same commitment.”
Mary Ben, Bidii Baby Foods (Shiprock/Navajo Nation):
“We sell 80% of our products through the New Mexico Grown
program—when that was dismantled, it didn’t just impact our business, it
impacted how we feed our own community.”
“Some private foundations have stepped up with 0% interest loans
to help farmers cover USDA delays. That’s a model that needs support.”
Mark Torres, rancher and vice president of the Valle Vidal grazing
association (Northern NM):
“We’re lucky to have a good relationship with our range staff—but
the Forest Service told us this year: 'If you want something done, you’ll have
to do it yourself.’”
Ben Etcheverry, President of the New Mexico Chile Growers
Association (Deming):
“It’s not a lack of labor—it’s the instability. People are afraid
to come to work. That’s what’s disrupting our operations.”
“We need faster communication from agencies. We can’t make
decisions when we don’t know what’s coming next.”
Don Shriver, small rancher (Rio Arriba County):
“We had a restoration project ready to go with the BLM and
NRCS—then everything froze. Our young NRCS officer took a buyout. It’s
heartbreaking.”
Anna Morán, co-owner of Telesfor Farm & NYFC policy staff
(Albuquerque):
“I am a co-owner and a co-operator of Telesfor farm and I wear
many different hats. I'm a young and beginning farmer, and I just recently
transitioned onto this land. Farming doesn't always pay the bills, and so to
fund my farming operation and to make it possible to farm with other young
people I work with the National Young Farmers Coalition on our policy team. I’m
worried that a challenging environment to farm in has just gotten a lot harder.
Beginning farmers have already spent money that they're not being reimbursed
for from the USDA. I'm seeing farmers stopping their operations because the
funds that they were already granted and promised, or funds that they were
expecting are no longer coming in. This means farms are failing before they
even fully get off the ground.”
Zach Withers, Polk’s Folly Farm butcher shop and farm operator
(Bernalillo County):
“Near and dear to my heart right now is Double Up Food Bucks. We
run a local food store in a butcher shop where we do all of our processing. The
way that we get food to people in our community who can't afford to pay the
full price of local food is through programs like Double Up and EBT. The
attacks on the nutrition programs really pissed me off.
I’d also like to ask for support for more local meat processing.
So at the federal level there's a bill being run by Bernie Sanders to address
issues related to small, mobile, modular, inspected meat processing, which
would be a huge win for our business.”
Eugene Pickett, soil health advocate and Valencia Soil and Water
Conservation District supervisor (Valencia County):
“Funding freezes and additional executive actions have widespread
impacts on producers, conservation, delivery and local economies. NRCS
termination, staffing shortages and office closures will have long-term impacts
on the quality and timeliness of conservation programs, administration,
technical assistance, and overall service to our country, producers and
communities. We must act to protect partnerships for voluntary local, locally
led conservation.”
Pam Roy, Farm to Table & NM Food and Ag Policy Council:
“We were frozen in January. We’re just now being told to move
invoices forward—but everything still feels uncertain.”
“We’ll keep fighting to keep this work going at the state level.
We’re in this together.”
Cecilia Rosacker Baca, farmer and Executive Director at Rio Grande
Agricultural Land Trust (Socorro):
“If these NRCS conservation easements don’t go through, farmers in
the Middle Rio Grande will sell their water rights—and we’ll all feel the
consequences.”
Rick Martinez, Acequia Commissioner (Los Ojos): “FEMA told us our paperwork was complete—then said it wasn’t. We
need clear, consistent information to move forward.
Melanie Kirby, beekeeper and pollinator conservationist:
“Without pollination, you don’t have food for humans, livestock,
or wildlife. And we’re cutting pollinator research and conservation programs at
the exact moment we need them most.”
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