ALCALDE, N.M. - Raising jujube fruit trees, irrigating chile, and developing organic blue corn are some of the new research projects being conducted at the New Mexico State University Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde.

Visitors to the center's free field day on Wednesday, Aug. 15, also will learn about the hoophouse designs being studied, the new strawberry variety test being conducted and integrated pest management in home gardens. Bindweed mites will be available to farmers who bring a small paper bag and a cooler with ice.

Registration for the free event begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the opening program. Lunch will be provided.

"Visitors will be able to participate in walking tours in the morning to view research and demonstrations on tree fruit, grapes, berries, lavender, chile and other vegetables, drought-tolerant turfgrass varieties, hoophouse crop production and acequia hydrology," said Steve Guldan, superintendent of the center. "Exhibits by various organizations and programs also will be on display during the day."

The NMSU agricultural science center is dedicated to research that will benefit small family farms in north-central New Mexico.

The Alcalde staff requests that visitors not bring dogs onto the farm property unless they are assistance dogs. For more information or directions to the Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Acalde, contact Guldan by email at sguldan@nmsu.edu, or by phone at 505-852-4241.