LAS CRUCES – Have you ever wondered how many acres of chile are grown in New Mexico? Are you curious about where New Mexico pecan production ranks nationally? Do you want to become more educated about New Mexico agriculture in general?

In cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service New Mexico Field Office released the 2019 New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Bulletin last week.

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said the publication includes updated statistics that reflect the industry’s significant economic impact on the state.

“The ag stats bulletin not only reveals the impact of crops, livestock, farms and commodities,” said Witte. “It also reflects the importance of the growing value-added agriculture industry in our state.

“When you see the numbers in this publication, you realize the impact of agriculture in New Mexico. The bottom line is that agriculturalists are resilient. They work through adversity to bring food to the plates of all New Mexicans, and they constantly seek new opportunities to connect directly to consumers.”

Highlights of the 2019 New Mexico bulletin include:

Total value of agriculture production was $3.44 billion.
Milk sales were $1.38 billion.
The state is No. 1 nationally in chile production.
The state is No. 1 nationally in pecan production.
Value of livestock production was $2.43 billion.
Value of hay production was $211 million.

Each year, a team of enumerators collect the data, and the USDA-NASS state and federal staff compiles the data to publish the New Mexico Agricultural Statistics bulletin.

El Defensor Chieftain