CORONA, NEW MEXICO (AP) -- CORONA, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico State University has broken ground on the Southwest Center for Rangeland Sustainability near the community of Corona.

University President Barbara Couture and the president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association were on hand for the ceremony earlier this week.

The $1.5 million center will be located on property belonging to the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center.

When the first phase is complete next spring, the center will consist of indoor and outdoor meeting and exhibit areas. It will also have a library and offices for the Corona research center.

Couture says she hopes the center will help ranchers learn more about how to continue sustaining the land so it remains prosperous.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)