NMSU Receives Royalty Check for NuMex Sahara

Date: September 21,
Editor: D'Lyn Ford, (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University's College of Agriculture and Home Economics received an $85,000 royalty check from sales of NuMex Sahara, a seeded Bermuda grass variety. Since 1987, NuMex Sahara royalties to NMSU have totaled more than $500,000.

Arden Baltensperger, NMSU professor emeritus, represented Pennington/Seeds West-in presenting the royalty check to Jerry Schickedanz, dean of NMSU's College of Agriculture and Home Economics. NuMex Sahara is sold through a research and marketing partnership between NMSU and Pennington/Seeds West.

Royalties went to NMSU, the New Mexico Crop Improvement Association and the U.S. Golf Association. NMSU's share of the royalties will support the Cooperative Extension Service turfgrass program.

Baltensperger developed NuMex Sahara as an agronomy professor at NMSU, after more than 10 years of research. It has led to more interest and development in improved, seeded Bermuda grass varieties. Since 1980, the number of commercial, seeded Bermuda grass varieties has increased from one to more than 25.

Last year, major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot began selling NuMex Sahara.