FY26 multistate research RFA abstract. The new mexico state university college of agricultural, consumer, and environmental sciences (aces) multistate research capacity program supports…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded New Mexico State University $1,222,238 under the Hatch Act formula grant program on October 1, 2025, for multistate collaborative agricultural research conducted through the university's College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.

The award funds research addressing critical agricultural challenges across New Mexico and western states, including biological pest control, soil health improvement, and water resource management. Research activities encompass identification and evaluation of natural enemies targeting specific pests and invasive weeds; development and testing of biorational strategies including microbial and botanical formulations to reduce soilborne disease impacts on field crops, forage, fruit, nut, and vegetable production; and participation in the Western Water Network multistate project to address water availability challenges. The work is performed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with performance extending through September 30, 2027.

Under the Hatch Act program structure, at least 25 percent of multistate research capacity funds must support projects involving multistate collaboration. The award is a formula allocation to an eligible state agricultural experiment station; funds are expected to be fully expended within the fiscal year of appropriation, with up to 100 percent carryover permitted for up to one year after the appropriation year without prior approval.

FY26 multistate research RFA abstract. The new mexico state university college of agricultural, consumer, and environmental sciences (aces) multistate research capacity program supports collaborative research across land-grant universities to address critical challenges facing agriculture. New mexico, along with many western states, continues to face struggles related to agricultural production management, soil health, and water availability t. Researchers are using multistate capacity funds to support various research objectives to identify solutions to these existing and emerging challenges. For example, biological pest control remains relevant for agricultural production management in new mexico and throughout the western U.S., as researchers search for effective natural enemies that target specific pests or invasive weeds. Farmers and those invested in rangeland and riparian zones benefit from this research to minimize loss of yield from pests and reduce negative impact on the environment. In addition to pest management, multistate researchers are also working on objectives to identify and evaluate biorational strategies to improve soil health, including microbial and botanical formulations for efficacy in reducing the impacts of soilborne diseases. Soilborne diseases, caused by a wide array of pathogenic microorganisms, represent a threat to the sustainable and profitable production of field, forage, fruit, nut, and vegetable crops in new mexico. These diseases disrupt the performance of crops by causing seed and root ROT, vascular dysfunction, defoliation, and damage to harvested products. This research will benefit new mexican producers and processors to help reduce soilborne diseases and increase knowledge on soil health. To help combat water challenges that are present throughout new mexico and the western united states, nmsu researchers have continued to be engaged in the western water network multistate project. This project supports collaborative, proactive, science-based decision-making that reconciles dynamic human and natural systems to address the complex water issues in the west. Multistate projects such as the examples provided here and others that nmsu is involved with provide nmsu researchers with valuable opportunities to engage with peers throughout the united states and continue to address key issues in new mexico, across the western region, and broadly throughout the united states