Viramontes Farms Receives New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award

Viramontes Farms of Deming has been selected as the New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award^® recipient.

The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Ray and Cole Viramontes, who own and operate Viramontes Farms in Luna County, were presented with the award at the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau’s Annual Meeting.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 28 states. In New Mexico, the award is presented with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, and Quivira Coalition.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for what he called “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Earlier this year, New Mexico landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from New Mexico.

ABOUT VIRAMONTES FARMS

Father and son, Ray and Cole Viramontes, admit they stumbled upon the importance of soil health.

Verticillium wilt, a disease prevalent in chile pepper fields across southern New Mexico, was reducing their yields by 20 to 25 percent. Crop loss coupled with constantly rising input costs meant Viramontes Farms would need to stop growing green and red chiles.

Desperate for a solution, they began hosting research trials with New Mexico State University that examined their soil’s biology. While experimenting with bacteria and fungi products, they were introduced to applying brewed compost teas enriched by worms and molasses.

This holistic approach to feeding their soil’s biology cut crop losses by half the first year. Verticillium wilt now impacts just 1 to 2 percent of their chile peppers.

Ray and Cole gained an appreciation for how what happens beneath the ground impacts everything above it. They also began employing a more holistic approach to growing other crops of onions, wheat, cotton, pecans, alfalfa, milo, and pumpkins.

After the Viramonteses replaced acidic fertilizers with biological applications, they found their crops required fewer insecticides and fungicides. These changes, coupled with a regular crop rotation between 5- to 10-acre fields, have reduced their environmental impacts while improving their bottom line.

Cover crops grown between cash crops are beneficial to the soil’s biodiversity while their shade moderates the soil’s temperature. Cover crops also help suppress aphids and reduce wind and water erosion amid the 22 acres of pecan orchards at Viramontes Farms.

In a region that receives just 12 inches of rain annually, irrigation is mandatory to grow crops. Viramontes Farms has been at the forefront of efficient drip irrigation technology since the 1990s.

Ray, who began farming on rented land in 1983, sought to diversify his farm’s income by getting into the chile pepper business. After convincing a contractor and cannery to buy his product, he began by growing less cotton and more green and red peppers. Ray’s wife Courtney manages their Homegrown Market, which sells chiles and other locally grown produce and meats.

Cole says farmers practice growing crops much like surgeons practice medicine. He researched which of his crops could benefit from micro-nutrients. This prevents overapplying essential nutrients like phosphates and nitrogen. Excessive amounts are both costly and cause water pollution.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill,” said Cole, who began farming with his father in 2010. “I want to leave it in a better place.”

Cole follows in his father’s footsteps by helping his community and industry through serving on the New Mexico Chile Commission, and the Farm Service Agency’s State Technical Committee. Cole’s wife Jamie serves on the board of the New Mexico State Farm & Livestock Bureau. The couple advocates for mental health awareness in rural areas through the Here to Help NM campaign.

Cole freely shares his agricultural conservation successes and missteps with others. He agreed to speak at New Mexico’s first-ever soil health conference in 2024.

“I called him, and he agreed, though he said it would be his first such presentation to ever give,” said Katie Crayton of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Soil Program. “You’d never guess Cole was a newbie at the podium.”

Among the positive comments from conference attendees: “The chile farmer was by far the best presentation.”

It’s proof that Cole’s soil health journey has firmly taken root.

ACCOLADES

“The Viramontes are a great example of commitment to stewardship and sustainability, they not only are preserving the land for future generations but setting an example for all,” said Larry Reagan, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau President.

“What stood out to us about the Viramontes Farms is their journey, from rented land to healthy soil and local markets. Their process of discovery, partnership, and knowledge-sharing builds an ethic for land and community. We’re excited to honor the Viramontes Farms with this award and grateful that their work will ensure great New Mexican chile for generations to come,” said Xochitl Torres Small, Quivira Coalition Executive Director.

“On behalf of the Mexico Association of Conservation Districts along with all our member conservation districts I am proud to recognize the efforts of this exceptional family, stewards of the land and longtime friends, the Viramontes family,” said Josh Smith, NMACD President.

“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Among the outstanding New Mexico landowners nominated for the award were finalists Hibner Ranch of Rio Arriba County, and Philmont Scout Ranch and Training Center of Colfax County. Last year’s award recipient was Lanford Livestock of Sierra County.

The New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, Quivira Coalition, Sand County Foundation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services of New Mexico, Lanford Livestock, and American AgCredit.

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SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners to ethically care for the land to sustain water resources, build healthy soil, and enhance wildlife habitat. www.sandcountyfoundation.org