The Pecos River valley of southeastern New Mexico provides an ideal growing environment for alfalfa. The valley is in the Chihuahuan Desert and has a semi-arid climate. Annually, there is an average of 350 days of sunshine with an an average rainfall of only 11.85 inches. Thus, the probability is high that alfalfa can be cut and allowed to cure in the fields without being subjected to rain. Once the alfalfa is baled and removed from the fields, the fields are flood irrigated with water from the Pecos river. This results in rapid re-growth of the alfalfa permitting the fields to be cut every 28 days from the middle of May to the end of October.