Why 2024 Is A ‘Bumper Crop’ Year For New Mexico Chile

DEMING, N.M. (KRQE) –  New Mexico’s Chile farmers are reporting a ‘bumper crop’ year for the state’s beloved crop as the aroma of green chile roasting season fills the air. This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, Ben Etcheverry, President of the New Mexico Chile Association, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss how nature played a vital part in this year’s harvest.

Etcheverry also addresses industry concerns like inflation, shrinking margins for local farmers, and the state’s legacy of Chile woven into New Mexico culture. “To paraphrase Kennedy, the farmer is the only one who pays retail and sells wholesale,” Etcheverry said.

How is technology helping the agriculture industry? “The things that we are capable of now would be inconceivable 20 years ago,” said Etcheverry. “For example, I have one grower who’s got all of his wells tied to his smartphone. He can be irrigating on one farm and be sitting in the tractor five miles away and be able to change the water with his phone.”

Listen to the full discussion above or check out the video version of the podcast on our KRQE YouTube channel .

Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Podcast every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Podbean among others. The podcast is also now available in a video version on KRQE’s YouTube page.

Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term “KRQE” or “New Mexico News Podcast” (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.

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