Jornada Experimental Range

The Jornada Experimental Range was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1912 with the mission of developing new knowledge of ecosystem processes for a basis in management and remediation of desert rangelands. The range, under the direction of the United State Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and New Mexico State University, has been the subject of continuous research activities on desert ecology, desert agriculture and management of desert rangelands since its foundation. The range is located at the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. The Jornada del Muerto (journey of the dead man) was an expanse of land along the Camino Real that the Spanish used on their way to and from northern New Mexico. Its name apparently derives from the lack of water along the route, that perhaps resulted in the death of more than one traveler. More information can be found on the Jornada Experimental Range website. Their office is located at 2995 Knox Street, on the New Mexico State University Campus, and the range headquarters is located at 17,000 Jornada Road, northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico.