Professional & Technical Support
As you build your farm business you are helping build Albuquerque's local food system and economy. Explore one or more of the resources below to start building your connections!
- The New Mexico Farmer's Marketing Association provides information on launching businesses, licenses, food safety certification, and access outlets for selling products.
- The New Mexico Homemade Food Act allows production and selling of certain products from a home-based business.
- Information on filed fallowing can be found on Environmental Water Leasing Program the MRGCD's website.
- The regional Farm Service Agency branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides technical and funding information.
- The Bernalillo County Extension offices offers resources for soil and crop management, business training events, and educational resources for creating value-added foods with your products.
- Rio Grande Community Farm's micro-farmer program and the Indigenous urban grower micro-farm scholarship offers smallholder production farmers low-cost access to lands at Los Poblanos Fields Open Space.
- Grow the Growers is a farmer incubator program allowing farmers to learn the basics of owning and operating a production farm and includes opportunities to graduate to higher levels of the program and refine skills to be able to launch a business. [FIND A MENTOR]
- Many existing farms welcome volunteers, host workshops, and public events where new farmers can gain a wealth of knowledge. Please refer to the resource list or your local farmer's market to see if a specific site accepts volunteers.
Soil & Water Resources
One of the most important resources for gardeners and farmers is soil. Various organizations throughout the city host soil and composting workshops. View links to recommended mailing lists and organization's websites to stay up-to-date on these opportunities and look at our recommended mailing lists and organizations on the home page to find someone to follow
Albuquerque has local composting organizations and low-cost bio-solids compost available from Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
The NM Healthy Soil Program arose from the 2019 the New Mexico Healthy Soil Act to provide funding and conservation resources to gardeners and farmers to improve their soil health. This grant is administered every year and individuals, organizations, and government entities are eligible to apply.
Efficient watering of your garden or small farm can contribute to crop productivity, soil health, and cost savings. Drip irrigation is a common choice for gardeners and farmers throughout Albuquerque. Follow the Water Utility Authority's "Water by the Numbers" guidelines for water and cost-saving practices.
Acequia and ditch irrigation techniques have a long history of use in this region. To learn more about acequia or irrigation ditch access and services for home-growers and agricultural farmers, contact the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD). Organizations like the SVRAA (South Valley Regional Association of Acequias) or CESOSS (Center for Social Sustainable Systems) are committed to increasing education and providing resource for water rights.
Farm Infrastructure Support
The Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District provides resources for professional development, educational outreach programs, and irrigation, soil, and growing spaces infrastructure.
Natural Resource Conservation Service provides grants to build high tunnels (hoop houses).
NM Healthy Soil Working Group provides grant opportunities to improve your soil health using one or more of the Soil Health Principals.
Agri-Cultura Network is cooperative-based organization that supports members and allied farms to grow and distribute crops, acquire seeds, soil, and irrigation supplies, provides technical assistance and food safety trainings, and more.
Farm Service Agency Office
Albuquerque is host to a local Farm Service Agency office.
You can use the IDO Zoning website to investigate certain details about your land. If you do not have the exact address for your farm, then you can use this advanced map viewer to check what the lot UPC code is, to see if farming is allowed at your site. For more detailed information about the zoning classification of your lot and what it means, please contact the COA Planning and Code Enforcement Department. If your farm is located in the county, contact Bernalillo County Planning for more information.
- Go to the City of Albuquerque Advanced Map Viewer, locate your lot, and click on the map for specific details.
- Go to the Address Report page and enter the UPC number into the search bar.
- Go to the "Albuquerque Planning and Zoning Data" and download the form next to "IDO Zone District"
