New Mexico State University will get more than $4.4 million in federal funding to support research related to pecan genetics and breeding that will help farmers select varieties of trees that can survive in different growing conditions.
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced the funding Monday. They say the work will help farmers improve the sustainability and profitability of their crops.
New Mexico is one of the top pecan-producing states in the nation.
The funding was awarded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture crop research initiative.
Researchers at NMSU, the University of Georgia, the University of Arizona and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation are among those working on the project. They're looking at traits that control things such as drought tolerance, yield and nut quality.
