What does the Conservation Partnership actually do? We provide the technical support to improve efficiency, mostly regarding water, to keep farming and ranching profitable and reduce the impacts to our natural resources. Irrigation water is conserved by laser leveling of fields and cement lining of ditches. Water is piped to remote regions of ranches for livestock and wildlife. Large pastures are fenced to facilitate rest rotation grazing.

The Conservation Partnership provides the framework that can access financial support. Many of these practices are beyond the reach of individual producers. Food in the United States is abundant and relatively inexpensive. The Conservation Partnership can claim a small amount of credit for that fact. Grant SWCD teams with the Grant County Extension Service to provide applied agricultural research programs that enrich youth activities and promote occupations that can remain in rural areas.

Sixty-one percent of Grant County is State and Federal land. In fact, the financial viability of many Grant County ranches depends on federal leases. Agriculture and the health of our watersheds is interrelated. The Conservation Partnership coordinates with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, the NM State Land Office and agricultural producers on issues of natural resource management.