The Congreso de las Acequias is the only meeting of its kind in New Mexico.  Acequia leaders from throughout New Mexico come together to visit and to share stories about history, community, and ongoing struggles.  For centuries, acequias been the caretakers of water to irrigate fields and crops.  In the last few decades, acequias have had to grow leaders to defend water rights, revitalize agriculture, and continue adapting to water scarcity.   

This year, the Congreso de las Acequias will be a time to honor the work of generations before us and to celebrate recent work in the movement to defend and protect water and to strengthen local agriculture.  As is customary, the Congreso de las Acequias will begin with the Bendicion de las Aguas followed by a roll call of delegates from around New Mexico.

The meeting will feature two presentations: Acequia Grown, a panel featuring USDA programs for agricultural revitalization, and the 2012 Acequia Funding Outlook, a panel featuring an update on state capital outlay funding for acequias.  

The gathering will also feature some current and new initiatives of the New Mexico Acequia Association:

•  Mayordomo Project - A seven minute preview of a video that is part of the Mayordomo Project.
•  Sembrando Semillas - A slide show featuring community and youth food projects.
•  Escuelita de las Acequias - An overview of the Escuelita de las Acequias, NMAA's project for affirming acequia community knowledge and learning to adapt to current challenges facing acequias.

Also, the Congreso de las Acequias will vote to approve a document to the newly appointed State Engineer: Statement of Water Policy Concerns of New Mexico Acequias.  This statement will be drafted by the leadership of the New Mexico Acequia Association and presented to the full Congreso for ratification. 

The Garcia-Love court case is a lawsuit filed against the USDA by Hispanic and female farmers, similar to those filed by African American and Native American farmers. These suits we filed to address the long term, systemic discrimination against minority and women producers by the USDA.

Doña Ana county farmer Lupe Garcia sued the USDA for the continued denial of operating loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm loan program. Garcia, his brother and his father owned and operated Garcia and Sons Farm where they grew onions, lettuce, wheat and corn. They were able to show profitability, had positive cash flow, and had the collateral required by the agency. But they were consistently denied operating loans. The systematic deprival of operating capital forced the foreclosure of the farm in 1999. The FSA was found to have been blatantly violating the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) which protects all Americans from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age when applying for credit.  

The facts brought to light by this case and the ones made by African American, Native American and Women farmers revealed that the USDA knew for decades that minorities and women were being systematically discriminated against by the USDA by not allowing access to programs designed to ensure that the American farmer has the help they need to make a living. It was further revealed that in the 1980's, the FSA secretly dismantled the civil rights enforcement apparatus. For approximately 15 years all complaints against the FSA of discrimination went nowhere.  

Because the long term, systematic discrimination was undeniable, the USDA is trying to settle the matter. They are doing this by opening a claims process, giving the opportunity for anyone who feels they were denied a loan based on race or gender to file a claim against the USDA. Depending on the circumstances of your case and what documentation you have, you may be eligible for a cash settlement, debt forgiveness, or both.

An independent claims administrator is now accepting claims by those who feel they were discriminated against the USDA because of their race or gender. Claims will be decided by an independent claims adjudicator. If your claim is determined to be valid, you may be eligible for up to $50,000 cash or debt relief.  

The NMAA would like to remind everyone the claim process is now open for those who want to file a claim feel they were denied a farm loan because of their race or gender between 1981 and 2000. Please go to www.farmerclaims.gov to register to receive a claims package from the claims adjustor.  

Below are the guidelines for qualification:

•  You are Hispanic or female
  •  If you are Hispanic, you farmed, or attempted to farm, between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1996, or between October 13, 1998, and October 13, 2000
  •  If you are female, you farmed, or attempted to farm, between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1996, or between October 19, 1998, and October 19, 2000
•  You were the owner-operator or a tenant-operator of farm property, or attempted to own or lease farm land, during the same time periods listed above
•  You applied for a farm loan or for farm-loan servicing at a USDA office during the same time periods listed above; or for those seeking a Tier 1 payment only, you made a bona fide effort to apply for a farm loan or for farm-loan servicing, and USDA actively discouraged the application during the same time periods
•  Your application for a farm loan from USDA was denied, provided late, approved for a lesser amount than requested, or restricted, or USDA failed to provide you an appropriate loan service
•  You believe USDA discriminated against you because you are Hispanic or female
•  USDA's treatment of your loan or loan application led to economic damage to you
•  You filed a discrimination complaint with USDA, either individually or through a representative, alleging that USDA discriminated against you based on your being Hispanic or female, in connection with a loan application or loan
•  You have not participated in, and will not participate later in, any other resolution or claims process with USDA involving the same claims.

by Paula Garcia 

John D'Antonio, State Engineer of the State of New Mexico, recently resigned his post to take a high level position with the Army Corp of Engineers. D'Antonio was appointed by former Governor Bill Richardson in 2002 and served over eight years in the position. Governor Susana Martinez did not indicate with certainty whether D'Antonio would be re-appointed or whether she would select a new person to fill the position.

According to state law, the State Engineer must be a licensed professional engineer.  Reportedly, over twenty individuals submitted resumes and letters of interest for the position.  In a press release following D'Antonio's resignation, Governor Martinez announced that her administration planned to appoint a new State Engineer within thirty days.

The new State Engineer will inherit the extremely challenging task of balancing water needs at a time when New Mexico is an extended drought, storage supplies have dwindled, and demands for water are increasing.  At the upcoming Congreso de las Acequias, acequia leaders will be asked to approve a Statement of Acequia Concerns to the State Engineer, which will be delivered to the incoming official as soon as possible after appointment by Governor Martinez. 

Albuquerque will be the site of a historic meeting of the USDA Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers on November 3rd and 4th, 2011, at Hotel Albuquerque (Old Town). The Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers and Ranchers (ACMF) was appointed by Secretary Tom Vilsack to develop policy recommendations on civil rights and involvement of minority producers.

USDA has a number of programs intended to improve conservation practices and to support the economic viability of agriculture.  The Obama administration is dedicating a major effort to make policy changes that will improve the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in these programs.  The ACMF has been directed to coordinate input through listening sessions around the country and to use that input to develop policy recommendations on USDA policy and the Farm Bill.  
The Albuquerque meeting is the second meeting of the ACMF.  The first day is dedicated to a public comment where people are invited to give brief presentations.  The most useful presentations to the committee will include stories from people who have encountered barriers to their participation in USDA programs and suggestions for how to improve those same programs.

Vilsack appointed Paula Garcia, Executive Director of the New Mexico Acequia Association as part of the 15-member committee. Questions about the ACMF and the upcoming meeting should be directed to Lauretta Miles at Lauretta.Miles@osec.usda.gov or 202-720-4679.  Comments and concerns specific to New Mexico should be sent to NMAA at info@lasacequias.org to the attention of Paula Garcia. 

The NMAA would like to remind all of you of some approaching USDA deadlines:

NRCS

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers who want to implement conservation practices on their land. Practices include land leveling, irrigation improvements, crop rotation, erosion control and many, many more. The application deadline is December 2, 2011.

FSA

Livestock Forage Program (LFP)

If you are a livestock producer and suffered losses to your herds this summer, had to sell, or had to buy feed. You may be eligible for assistance. The losses must occurred on or before September 3o, 2011. The deadline to file a claim is January 30, 2012. If you are Hispanic, Native American or African American, you do not have to have purchased NAP coverage.

Noninsured Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

The deadline to purchase NAP coverage for alfalfa, cucumbers, grass, mixed forage, pecans, and peppers (including chile) is January 31, 2012. NAP covers crop losses and planting prevented by natural disaster, including drought, flood, freeze, hail, excessive wind and excessive moisture.

For more information, please visit the USDA area office in your county or call Patrick Jaramillo at the New Mexico Acequia Association at 505.995.9644.

Thank You!!!  

Thanks to our foundation supporters including (in alphabetical order) Catholic Campaign for Human Development, The Christensen Fund, Marguerite Casey Foundation, New Mexico Community Foundation, McCune Foundation, Panta Rhea Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

We'd also greatly appreciate the financial support provided to us by state and federal sources: the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Advocacy and Outreach; and the State of New Mexico's Department of Finance Administration.

Become a Member!

Become a member of the New Mexico Acequia Association! Parciante and Supporter Memberships are $20/year and includes a quarterly newsletter subscription. Membership for an Acequia is $40/year including a newsletter subscription for all four officers.

NMAA Staff