New Mexico has the third lowest annual average precipitation in the nation, yet its population has grown by over 20 percent since 1990 - a trend that is expected to continue. Increases in population and development, in the context of a lingering drought, will put great demand upon the state’s water and other natural resources. NMDA serves on boards, commissions, and task forces to ensure agricultural interests are considered in regulatory actions and state programs concerning water and other natural resources.