NMC reorganizes CNMI CREES

The Northern Marianas College became a land grant institution in November 1986. In April 1999, the former NMC Agriculture and Life Sciences (ALS) Unit was reorganized and renamed the CNMI Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Service (CNMI-CREES).
The newly reorganized components of the division are agricultural research and extension, family and consumer sciences, and classroom teaching.

By combining the agricultural research and extension, NMC will: 1) promote multidisciplinary teams to overcome important problems faced by CNMI farmers; 2) improve the level of technical competence of the extension staff, and 3) better focus the efforts of the scientists on high priority research problems.

The mission of the CNMI-CREES is to develop, test, adapt, and provide appropriate technical information and assistance to residents in the fields of agricultural, animal and plant sciences, home economics, and community development that is locally sustainable, environmentally safe, and economically feasible.

Some of the programs and services of the CNMI-CREES include:

• Aquacultural Studies: Coordinator Anthony C. Benavente provides the CNMI with various methods and resources on how to build, operate, and maintain aquacultural facilities.
The program provides information on the proper methods and techniques of raising red hybrid talapia, fresh water shrimp, and prawns. In addition, the program provides information on the proper methods and techniques of operating and maintaining a hydroponics facility include reomaine lettuce, head cabbage, and pac choy.

• Ag Economics: Scott Miller, Ross Manglona and various case workers throughout the CNMI are working hard on gathering information for an economic assessment of both the local fishing industry and providing the federal agencies with the CNMI’s farm disaster information.

• Natural Resource Management: Steve Hill, the Tinian Crees Coordinator serves the CNMI with his soil testing experience. Ray Mcduff provides the CNMI with expertise in improving local cultivation practices, increasing betel nut production per tree, compact production, and water irrigation information. The program’s additional extension agents help provide information on air layering, fertilizers, mulching, and many other skills.

• Plant Protection Program: Dr. Lee Eavy, Entomologist, coordinates the CNMI-wide Integrated Pest Management (IPM)). IPM program leaders Isidoro Cabrera, Alejandro Badilles (Rota), and Arnold Route (Tinian) help educate CNMI farmers and businesses on the proper management and the reduction of pesticide use throughout the CNMI. Dr. Eavy conducts Insect Identification for all three islands and administers the Pesticide Applicator Training exams in collaboration with the D.E.Q. Dr. Chao Chiu, Entomologist, also assists in providing the CNMI with various methods of Biological control.

• Crop Improvement Program: Dr. Craig Smith, Vegetable Specialist, has been researching on which vegetable varieties are best grown in the CNMI. The tested vegetable varieties are eggplants, bell peppers, and cucumbers. Future projects include testing the effects of growing bell peppers and eggplants with compost. Program Coordinators and the IPM team also provide the CNMI with various methods of weed reduction.

Local farmers, fishermen, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to take advantage of the free services being provided by the CNMI-CREES at the Northern Marianas College. For more information, please contact David Attao at 234-5498, extension 1431 or visit our website at http://www.crees.org.