San Juan County is Uniquely Suited for Agriculture

The Four Corners region and San Juan County, NM, offer some of the best agricultural advantages in the western U.S., with vast swaths of suitable land available for farmers.

Over 300 days of sunshine per year and an experienced workforce ready to optimize production of a wide variety of goods contribute to a vibrant crop and livestock industry. Approximately two-thirds of the entire surface water in New Mexico flows through San Juan County, providing easy access to a consistent supply of irrigation water.

San Juan County leads New Mexico in producing:

• Pumpkin, squash, cantaloupe, honey dew and sweet corn

Other significant products grown locally include:

• Hay, forage for livestock, sunflower, safflower, Pinto and Anasazi beans.
• Cattle, sheep and goat farming

San Juan County also has the largest number of farms and the second-highest farm acreage in New Mexico.

Growth Opportunities

Significant potential exists in San Juan County for the biofuel and food processing industries. Ample land, water, electricity and access to a knowledgeable workforce are the notable advantages capitalized on by:

Fruitland Opportunity Zone

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), one of the world’s largest irrigated farm at over 70,000 acres currently in development, is located in San Juan County, which ranks second in New Mexico for irrigated cropland with 150,000 acres, 10% of the state total. 

The Harvest Food Hub, borne out of a five-year, $564,000 grant provided to the Enterprise Center at San Juan College via the federal Economic Development Administration, facilitates the establishment of bulk purchasing and processing operations based on producer interest, logistics assistance and developing new markets.

New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center in Farmington offers expert research, demonstrations and educational programs.

Contact Four Corners Economic Development for more information on agriculture in San Juan County!