Reporter's notebook: Chile crop down

New Mexico’s chile pepper crop did not fare as well last year as the state’s chile pepper license plate.

While the chile license plate was awarded America’s Best License Plate for 2017 from the Automobile License Collector’s Association, new data from state and federal agriculture officials show about 10 percent fewer chile peppers were produced in New Mexico in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to The Associated Press.

The report shows last year 8,100 acres were planted producing 62,700 tons of chile peppers. That’s down from 9,200 acres and 69,600 tons respectively in 2016.

The value of the crop dropped from $50 million in 2016 to $44.6 million last year.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman