Agriculture in Las Cruces NM
The landscape of Doña Ana County is filled with endless acres of fertile farmland. These farmlands are irrigated by the Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir. Some of these farms have been in the same family for more than four generations.
The Mesilla Valley is rich in agriculture production in many areas. The New Mexico chile industry contributes about 400 million annually to the New Mexico economy; 66 percent of that industry is based in southern New Mexico and creates about 4,500 jobs annually. The New Mexico onion industry is a major supplier in the entire United States for onions that are consumed in the summer months.
New Mexico is the largest producing state of pecans, and Doña Ana County is the top producer of chile peppers and pecans in the entire United States. New Mexico is also the seventh-largest producing state in the nation for dairy products. Other major agriculture industries in Doña Ana County include pima cotton, corn, chile and hay.
Doña Ana County is among the leading state producers of cabbage, lettuce and watermelons, and leads the state in the production of onion and pima cotton.