FY26 mcintire stennis RFA abstract: new mexico state university college of agricultural, consumer, and environmental sciences (ACES) forestry researchers use mcintire stennis capacity funds to support…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded New Mexico State University $615,820 under the Cooperative Forestry Research (McIntire-Stennis) program on October 1, 2025.

NMSU's College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences will conduct forest-related research addressing reforestation challenges in New Mexico and the Southwest. Research objectives span the entire reforestation pipeline: seed and tree genetics development, nursery cultural practices, and outplanting strategies. Specific activities include applying drought conditioning and environmental stresses to seedlings to enhance vigor and survival in water-stressed environments; examining nucleation strategies matched with improved seedling stocktypes as a cost-effective method to establish vegetation on disturbed forest sites; advancing genetic sources from multiple ecotypes; and quantifying ecological effects of mixed silvicultural treatments on fuel loading and soil characteristics. The research directly supports wildfire recovery and forest health in communities affected by the millions of acres burned across New Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

Performance occurs at Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The McIntire-Stennis program distributes formula funding to eligible state-certified forestry research institutions to increase research in forest production, utilization, and protection while training future forestry scientists.

FY26 mcintire stennis RFA abstract: new mexico state university college of agricultural, consumer, and environmental sciences (ACES) forestry researchers use mcintire stennis capacity funds to support forest related research with a direct impact on the communities of new mexico. Wildfires have burned millions of acres in new mexico and throughout the southwestern united states. The effects of wildfires are devastating to forest stocking levels, wildlife habitats, and other critical resources. Reforestation of the severely burned forest lands is limited in the southwestern U.S. Due to insufficient knowledge of effective reforestation practices and inadequate resources. Nmsu forestry research is focused on addressing the challenges to the entire reforestation pipeline, from seeds and tree genetics to nursery systems to planting seedlings in the field. The specific research focus from forestry faculty at nmsu aligns with the 1) science of integration and 2) technological advancements, productivity, and forest applications, which are high priority issues connected with the mcintire stennis program. T in addition to wildfire and forest management research, these capacity funds will support research objectives that include nursery cultural practices to enhance outplanting success by applying D rought conditioning and environmental stresses to seedlings to promote vigor and survival in water stressed environments, and advancing outplanting strategies to improve survival and growth by examining the use of nucleation strategy matched with improved seedling stocktype as a viable and cost effective method to successfully establish vegetation on disturbed forest sites. Other research objectives include advancing genetic sources from a range of ecotypes and research that quantifies short and medium term ecological effects of mixed silvicultural treatments on core response variables, fuel loading, and soil characteristics. The challenges facing forest health in the southwest also provide opportunities for forestry and natural resource management students to gain hands on experience. Thus, mcintire stennis funds at nmsu are also used to help support student research opportunities at the john T. Harrington forestry research center in mora, new mexico. The forestry related research at nmsu will contribute to developing and improving management strategies for mixed conifer forests in new mexico and the broader southwestern region. The impacts of this research program on the general public will be seen through improvements to forest watersheds, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, recreation, forest industry, and overall forest health. As the southwestern U.S. Continues to lose its forests primarily due to fires, planting programs and the associated research will be a critical investment for the future forest landscape