This story is republished from Source NM as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque.
By Patrick Lohmann, Source NM
New Mexico is in the middle of the typical peak wildfire season, and national forecasters say risk could increase throughout the summer. So the state agriculture department is reminding residents, especially farmers and ranchers, to stay vigilant.
The highest wildfire risk in New Mexico is typically between early May and late June, according to the agriculture department, though prolonged drought and increasing temperatures mean fire poses a risk throughout the year.
Recent forecasts from the National Interagency Fire Center show the central mountain chain in New Mexico as the possible wildfire epicenter of the Southwest this July.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning across more than half of the state last week, warning of รขโฌลcritical fire weatherรขโฌย conditions this afternoon until at least 8 p.m. High winds from the northeast, including gusts near 50 mph, as well as single-digit humidity combine to create high fire risk across western New Mexico and the central mountain chain.
As part of National Wildfire Awareness Month, the agriculture department is encouraging farmers and ranchers รขโฌโ and everyone else รขโฌโ to learn about creating defensible space on their properties in the event of a wildfire.
New Mexico State Universityรขโฌโขs College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has a series of instructional videos for mitigating damage to properties and livelihoods from fire.
So far this year, there have been very few significant wildfires on state, federal or private land in New Mexico, but dry and windy conditions have increased the risk, state agriculture secretary Jeff Witte said in a news release.
รขโฌลWith much of this yearรขโฌโขs wildfire season still ahead of us, I encourage farmers and ranchers, and all New Mexicans, to learn about creating รขโฌหdefensible spaceรขโฌโข and following other fire safety protocols that can protect land, livestock and homes,รขโฌย he said.
The state has additional information here about wildfire preparedness.
Farmers and Ranchers Should Take Wildfire Preparedness Steps, State Says
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This story is republished from Source NM as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque.
By Patrick Lohmann, Source NM
New Mexico is in the middle of the typical peak wildfire season, and national forecasters say risk could increase throughout the summer. So the state agriculture department is reminding residents, especially farmers and ranchers, to stay vigilant.
The highest wildfire risk in New Mexico is typically between early May and late June, according to the agriculture department, though prolonged drought and increasing temperatures mean fire poses a risk throughout the year.
Recent forecasts from the National Interagency Fire Center show the central mountain chain in New Mexico as the possible wildfire epicenter of the Southwest this July.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning across more than half of the state last week, warning of รขโฌลcritical fire weatherรขโฌย conditions this afternoon until at least 8 p.m. High winds from the northeast, including gusts near 50 mph, as well as single-digit humidity combine to create high fire risk across western New Mexico and the central mountain chain.
As part of National Wildfire Awareness Month, the agriculture department is encouraging farmers and ranchers รขโฌโ and everyone else รขโฌโ to learn about creating defensible space on their properties in the event of a wildfire.
New Mexico State Universityรขโฌโขs College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has a series of instructional videos for mitigating damage to properties and livelihoods from fire.
One video is geared specifically for farmers and ranchers.
Farms operate on more than 39 million acres of land in New Mexico, according to the latest agricultural Census figures, and the state has nearly 21,000 farms and ranches.
So far this year, there have been very few significant wildfires on state, federal or private land in New Mexico, but dry and windy conditions have increased the risk, state agriculture secretary Jeff Witte said in a news release.
รขโฌลWith much of this yearรขโฌโขs wildfire season still ahead of us, I encourage farmers and ranchers, and all New Mexicans, to learn about creating รขโฌหdefensible spaceรขโฌโข and following other fire safety protocols that can protect land, livestock and homes,รขโฌย he said.
The state has additional information here about wildfire preparedness.
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