Forage Team

Specialists

Leonard Lauriault

Image of Leonard Lauriault

Leonard Lauriault has been a Forage Management Scientist at New Mexico State University's Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari since coming to NMSU in 1997. At NMSU, he has responsibilities for research in irrigated forages for pastures and hay including alfalfa. Leonard holds a B.S. in Agriculture from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, and an M.S. in Crop Science from the University of Kentucky and is an American Forage and Grassland Council Certified Grassland Professional. Prior to coming to NMSU, he had conducted research on forage crops for 16 years at the University of Kentucky.

Mark Marsalis

Image of Mark Marsalis

Mark Marsalis is Extension Forage Specialist at New Mexico State University and is located at the Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas. He received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Mississippi State University, an M.S. in Plant and Soil Sciences (Forage Ecology) from the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. in Agronomy (Forages) from Texas Tech University in 2004. His expertise is in forage and grain crops, with interests in both annual and perennial crops. His current interests and projects include hay and silage production with limited irrigation and sustainability in irrigated and dryland systems.

Abdullah Al Bari

  • More Information on Bari
    Alfalfa Breeder NMSU - Las Cruces

Md Abdullah Al Bari is an Assistant Professor of Plant Genetics and Crop Breeding at New Mexico State University, leading the Alfalfa Breeding and Genetics Program with the primary focus on cultivar development. He earned a Ph.D. from North Dakota State University specializing in maize genetics and breeding. Dr. Bari previously led maize and wheat breeding programs at Bangladesh Agricultural University. His research focuses on developing climate-resilient and high-yielding alfalfa and forage cultivars for arid and semi-arid regions of New Mexico and beyond. 

Cooperating Faculty

Insect, Disease, and Nematode Pests

  • Jane Pierce
    Extension Entomologist
    Agricultural Science Center at Artesia

Weeds

  • Leslie Beck
    Extension Weed Specialist
    NMSU - Las Cruces

Crops & Soils

  • John Idowu
    Extension Agronomist
    NMSU - Las Cruces

Livestock

  • Robert Hagevoort
    Extension Dairy Specialist
    Agricultural Science Center at Clovis
  • Marcy Ward
    Extension Livestock Specialist
    NMSU - Las Cruces