Dona Ana County Declared Drought Disaster Area

Wildfires, high winds and extreme drought are among factors that led the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to declare Dona Ana County as a natural disaster area. Dona Ana County is one of 15 counties in the state now under this designation. This also makes farmers now eligible for federal assistance to deal with the drought, but pecan farmers say it may not be enough to help.

The ground at Stuart’s Pecan Orchard in Mesilla is dry, cracked and feels powdery to the touch. Owner Stuart Meerscheidt says this is one of the worst signs for crops, especially pecans.

“No water,” Meerscheidt said, with a slight chuckle.

Meerscheidt says his 32-acre pecan orchard cannot seem to quench its thirst. He says last week’s rainfall was not enough to moisten anything.

“What worries me is the damage, the long-term damage this may do to the trees,” Meerscheidt said. “I mean, we can stand one year of poor production, but we can’t stand damage to the trees.”

Meerscheidt says his pecan trees require about four times the amount of water compared to his cotton fields.

“The wells are running all the time and about two weeks ago, one of them broke,” Meerscheidt said.

It is not just pecans in Mesilla that are at risk, it is crops all across the state.

“We’re in a very severe situation, and I say very severe.” Jeff Anderson, an agent with the Dona Ana County Extension Office, said.

According to the Department of Agriculture, last year, only 18% of New Mexico was considered to be suffering from abnormally dry to exceptionally dry conditions. Now, officials with the NMDA say, more than 99% of the state falls somewhere in this range. And the most recent data collected shows only 5% of New Mexico’s soil has adequate moisture levels, compared to 35% this time last year, according to NMDA officials.

“We’re going to have a hard time getting through the year without hurting the crop,” Meerscheidt said.

If his pecans don’t survive, federal funding, not rain, may be Meerscheidt’s only chance for some relief.

“The money that’s given out isn’t the money you would have earned had you been able to grow the crop and bring it to maturity, and sell it and make a living,” Anderson said.

All farmers in Dona Ana County are eligible for federal assistance to help deal with the drought, but Meerscheidt says this is only a temporary fix. He says the only sure way to save his pecan trees is if Mother Nature steps in to help.

“This past year with the pounds per acre we grew on these trees and the price we got, it was the best year we’ve ever had in Mesilla Valley for pecans,” Meerscheidt said. “Now, we may have the worst year coming up.”