It's been another challenging year for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers, who have experienced drought and, in some places, extreme precipitation events. New Mexico Department of Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte spoke with environment reporter Laura Paskus about conditions and what they mean for farmers, as well as consumers. Witte also talks about how what’s happening in the Colorado River Basin, cannabis, climate change, and the “highest and best” uses of water in the arid Southwest.

New Mexico’s premiere fall event is just days away, and we now know there will not be a vaccination requirement to attend this year’s International Balloon Fiesta. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration expressed disappointment over the lack of a vaccine requirement, but Fiesta officials say they are following all CDC guidelines, including social distancing and mask mandates indoors as well as outdoors in large crowds. The Line opinion panel reacts to the decision and discusses how it might set a precedent for other high-profile events in the coming weeks and months.

Plus, we catch up with the chairman of the Citizen Redistricting Committee (CRC), former Supreme Court Justice Edward Chavez, to find out how the once a decade process is going so far, and what comes next. Also joining host Gene Grant are Brian Sanderoff of Research and Polling Inc. and Lilly Irvin-Vitela, the Community Liaison for the CRC. 

Guests:

Jeff Witte, New Mexico Agriculture Department Secretary

Line Panel:

Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group

Martha Burk, political psychologist and author of “Your Voice, Your Vote”

Serge Martinez, UNM Law School