NENAHNEZAD, N.M. — With harvest season in full swing, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren met Friday, August 8, with the San Juan River Farm Board, chapter leaders, and local farmers to address urgent challenges — from broken infrastructure and safety risks to stalled water projects threatening crops.
One pressing issue is the Nation’s Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, which ban open pit burning — a key method for steaming corn. Navajo Nation EPA officials advised farmers to use cultural/traditional burn permits for steaming and agricultural burn permits for field clearing, but many urged quick action to avoid disrupting harvest schedules.
Farmers also called for clearing the irrigation canal from Upper Fruitland to Hogback, where debris blocks water flow, and for better coordination between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local chapters. Safety concerns included aggressive guard animals, “No Trespassing” signs, and property hostility, prompting recommendations to avoid certain areas without arrangements.
Other needs include trimming branches near power lines, clearing blocked drainages, and managing overgrown brush near bus routes. The long-delayed pumping station project — now pushed to fall 2026 due to lack of funding — remains a top priority, along with improved irrigation, more manpower, and insurance coverage for chapter crews.
Broader policy issues discussed included converting land use permits to leases, expediting probate cases, and ensuring timely fund delivery. President Nygren pledged a comprehensive follow-up report with DNR and Department of Agriculture leaders to complete pending projects and break through bureaucratic delays.
“This meeting showed how much our farmers care about their land, their water, and their future,” Nygren said. “It’s our job to break through the red tape and get them the resources they need, on time and in full.”
