Volume 2, No. 2, Winter 2011
“People of the Land� Wins National Award Hoop House Heroes 25th Anniversary of the Indian Agriculture Symposium Beginning Farmers and Ranchers www.unce.unr.edu
“People of the Land” Wins National Award Extension curriculum helps government, tribes close ‘knowledge gap’
Two University of Nevada Cooperative Extension educators have won the 2011 National Extension Diversity Award for their work on a curriculum that helps agricultural and natural resource professionals work more effectively with American Indian farmers and ranchers in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Staci Emm and Loretta Singletary, authors of the eight-chapter “People of the Land” curriculum, were presented with the award Sunday (Nov. 13) at the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities in San Francisco. The award is given by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, which held a reception in honor of Emm, the Extension Educator for Mineral County, and Singletary, the Extension Educator for Lyon County and also the Area Director for UNCE’s Central/Northeast Area.
“People of the Land” was previously the top winner in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents’ Communications Awards Program and won a gold medal from The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals. The curriculum created by Emm and Singletary examines the historical, social and economic attributes of Indian reservations within the four-state region of the West. It is the result of a three-year, quality-of-life assessment of American Indians and the U. S. Department of Agriculture professionals who work with them. Government officials said they have trouble helping Indian farmers and ranchers develop sustainable agriculture and natural resource management skills on reservation land. Meanwhile, tribal leaders expressed their desire to strengthen agriculture on Indian lands.
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The Cooperative Extension study by Emm and Singletary identified a “knowledge gap” that indicated the need to improve understanding and appreciation of individual tribal histories and cultures in order to work more effectively with tribes. “People of the Land” provides the training to close that gap. “American Indian farmers and ranchers help to economically support rural reservations,” Emm said, “so its critical that federal programs are effective in increasing the profitability of farms and ranches. ‘People of the Land’ is an effort to help make that happen.” Singletary called American Indian land tenure issues “profoundly complex,” and said the “People of the Land” curriculum increases the awareness and understanding of the obstacles Indian landowners face when managing their resources.
Cooperative Extension Dean and Director Karen Hinton praised Emm and Singletary for taking on a difficult job. “‘People of the Land’ shows how we try to bring real solutions to Nevadans to improve the economy and people’s lives,” she said. Singletary and Emm have taught the curriculum to hundreds of tribal agriculture producers and land managers within the four-state region. Impact measures show that agency officials completing “People of the Land” increased knowledge of key reservation issues, including land tenure, fractionated lands, Indian governance and Indian irrigation projects. This will help them provide programs on tribal lands that are more culturally accepted and more appealing to Indian agricultural producers, increasing participation and erasing perceptions that the programs are inaccessible. Demand for the 166-page textbook has been high. The book is already in its second printing, and Emm and Singletary – at the request of county officials and state educators – are working on two separate publications – one focused specifically on Nevada tribes and another written for Nevada students. The two Extension Educators received approximately $349,000 in new grant funds in 2011 from USDA Office of Advocacy Outreach to expand the program to include additional reservations in Washington, Idaho and Oregon as well as North and South Dakota. To date, they have conducted needs assessments with American Indian producers on two of the 12 reservations targeted in this expanded program. Emm and Singletary also received $70,051 in new grant funds from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, the agency which funded the original “People of the Land” proposal in 2005. This new grant award will fund expansion of People of the Land into the southwestern U.S., targeting the Navajo and Hopi reservations.
For more information contact: Staci Emm, Extension Educator, 775-9453444 or Loretta Singletary, Extension Educator, 775-463-6541. Or visit our website at www.unce.unr.edu.
Cooperative Extension is the college that extends knowledge from the University of Nevada to local communities to address important issues. Faculty and staff reached hundreds of thousands of Nevada citizens last year with research-based information on agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, health and nutrition, community development and children, youth and families.
Collaborate
Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s oldest landgrant university, the University of Nevada, Reno has more than 18,000 students and four campuses with Cooperative Extension educational programs in all Nevada counties. It is ranked as one of the country’s top 150 research institutions by the Carnegie Foundation, and is home to America’s sixthlargest study abroad program, as well as the state’s oldest and largest medical school.
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“The Largest Gathering of Indian Ag. Producers in America”
The Nevada delegation to the Federally Recognized Tribe Extension, Indian Agriculture Council, and Indian Nations Conservation Alliance. 25th Anniversary Indian Agriculture Symposium, 2011 Sponsored by: Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) and Women & Youth in Agriculture By, Leilani Hanchor (UNCE/FRTEP, Duck Valley Youth Project Coordinator) During the week of December 4th-9th students and chaperones from accross the country were able to attend the annual Intertribal Agriculture Council’s 25th Anniversary Symposium, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Those in attendance from Nevada were; Leilani Hanchor, Rhiannon Nino, and Justin Thorpe, (chaperones), Reggie Premo Victor Williams, Kathy Frazier, Staci Emm, Randy Emm and Frank Flavin (UNCE/FRTEP Reps.), Michael Harney, Skylon McKinney, and Alvina Thomas (students from the Duck Valley Reservation). The symposium is the largest gathering of Indian agriculture producers in America and the week was full of valuable information straight from university research, federal programs, private investors, and successful producers. Each year the IAC invites students and chaperones from around the US to attend the symposium. Scholarships are awarded to help pay for expenses including: lodging, meals, transportation, and other incidentals. Throughout the week participants were able to attend many different types of breakout sessions that focused on success stories of many Native American tribes and how agriculture has helped them in their everyday lives.
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The highlight for students participating was on Tuesday, where each tribe was represented by a student who marched their tribal flag into the main conference room. The Duck Valley Tribe was proud to have a strong student presence at the Symposium. A luncheon was sponsored by Women and Youth in Agriculture. It consisted of the youth essay contest winners reading their essays to the general audience and also a signing by some of the famous Native American/non-native bull riders, which included, Derrick Begay, Don Gay and Marty Hebb to name a few. Reggie Premo, Rhiannon Nino and I gave a presentation on the hoop houses in Duck Valley that included a power point presentation and speeches from each of us. We received a ton of feedback after our presentation and many in attendance were interested in gathering more information on our successful growing in the hoop houses. On Thursday the students were separated from the adults and attended a “Youth Conclave” where students listened to different speakers throughout the day and had activities where they were able to mix and mingle with the other students.
Skylon McKinnney won a 2011 Intell Gateway laptop through a raffle during the conclave, where each student had to write down their personal goals. Skylon’s personal goals were then randomly picked and read, which resulted in him winning a laptop. The laptop was donated by Gary Young, VP Young of the Farm Credit Council. We all walked away with vests and tons of information that will benefit us all throughout our lives and our jobs. In closing we would like express our gratitude and say a BIG THANK YOU to the following programs/individuals for helping us attend this conference, Great Basin Gold, for funding this trip on a last minute request, Human Development Center for the use of their GSA, Owyhee Combined Schools for allowing the students to attend and miss a week of school, also to the students parents for giving them permission to attend, Sho- Pai Tribes, to my chaperones; Rhiannon Nino and Justin Thorpe, to Ross Racine who also made sure we got into the conference last minute, Randy Emm and my co-worker Reggie Premo, who is always making sure we get to where we are going, without his help we would have never made it. Thank you all again!!
Enjoy fresh produce yearround using a hoop house
Vegetables from a hoop house in Walker River, NV.
With this winter’s mild weather in northern Nevada, some gardeners are wondering if they should have perhaps tried growing vegetables right through the cold season.
Of course even with warm mid-day temperatures we’ve experienced in December and January, vegetable gardening in the winter is usually out of the question – unless you have a hoop house. According to University of Nevada Cooperative Extension water quality specialist and horticulture expert Sue Donaldson, hoop houses are an unheated, plastic-covered version of a greenhouse that is big enough for you to walk through. Hoop houses, also often called a high tunnel, are becoming increasingly popular in northern Nevada, Donaldson says. “If you’ve ever lost a crop of vegetables to early or late-season frosts -- or like me, to an unexpected July freeze -- you might consider installing a hoop house,” she said. How Cooperative Extension helps farmers, tribes University of Nevada Cooperative Extension faculty have helped farmers throughout Nevada explore the benefits of hoop houses. In Lincoln County, a number of small farms have installed hoop houses with Cooperative Extension’s help, and the effort has helped expand a prospering market for specialty fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets and to high-end Las Vegas restaurants. “A lot of our farmers were struggling financially with traditional alfalfa production and cow-calf operations while at the same time nearby Las Vegas was craving locally grown fruits and vegetables,” said Holly Gatzke, the Cooperative Extension Educator for Lincoln County. (continued on page 6)
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“So we set up field research plots, workshops and seminars that helped these farmers go from growing alfalfa to producing very high-quality products for chefs in Las Vegas. Hoop houses were a big part of that.” Although some farmers resisted the transition from traditional alfalfa farming to “boutique” farming in hoop houses, other farmers happily embraced hoop houses, Gaztke said – particularly when they saw vegetables flourishing within the protected confines of a hoop house in the dead of winter. One of those growers was Shannon Simpson of Pioche, who built a hoop house with Gaztke’s help and now produces lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, beets, peppers and flowers despite the area’s “hellacious winters.” Gaztke said farmers and gardeners in other cold-climate states like Wisconsin have increased their growing season by up to two months, and her 2009 study, “Plant Season Extension in the Desert,” provides valuable design guidelines for gardeners and farmers considering planting in hoop houses.
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Students at Walker River help plant the vegetables inside of their hoop house Cooperative Extension Educator Carol Bishop in Logandale, conducted a study in 2010 of the costs and benefits of hoop houses and found that the structures can help pay for themselves if a commercial grower selects the right plants and successfully sells the produce at farmers markets or to chefs. Cooperative Extension’s Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program has also helped construct hoop houses with the Duck Valley, Yerington, Walker River, Duckwater and Ely tribes. Reggie Premo, a program facilitator with Cooperative Extension who works with socially disadvantaged Native American farmers and ranchers, said the goal is that the community-maintained hoop house crops will promote healthy living on the reservations. “If we can reduce the negative impacts of processed food, we can reduce obesity and sickness and provide for a sustainability for all in the years to come,” he said. The ins and outs of hoop houses Hoop houses can also make sense for amateur gardeners.
Donaldson said hoop house can be as small as 4 feet by 6 feet, or as large as you want. Most are made with a rigid frame made of piping and are covered with 6-mil, ultraviolet stabilized plastic greenhouse film. The plastic cover has a lifetime of a few years, depending on the amount of abuse from wind, snow and other sources like curious dogs or critters. A well-placed, carefully installed hoop house allows you to start growing crops and plant starts earlier in the spring, and can give you a month or two of freeze protection in the fall, Donaldson said. If you grow cold-tolerant crops like lettuce and spinach, you may be able to produce them year-round. You can also try new varieties that need the longer growing season provided by hoop houses. Donaldson said hoop houses also provide some protection from wind and pests or diseases. This past summer, gardeners who grew in hoop houses noticed thinner skins on their tomatoes and more tender, blemish-free vegetables.
Unlike a greenhouse, which may require building permits and foundation work and could affect your property tax rates, hoop houses are considered to be temporary structures. They’re much less expensive, but also less durable than greenhouses. “With planning, you can make your hoop house movable, and relocate it to different parts of your yard if desired,” Donaldson said. “You can design or build your own hoop house, or purchase a kit. Free plans are available online.” Considerations to make before installing a hoop house Before you install a hoop house, Donaldson advises that you consider how you’re going to grow your plants. Will you plant directly into the soil? In this case, it’s easier to amend the soil with organic matter before you start construction. To determine what the soil needs, have a sample analyzed. Call University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Horticulture
Department, 775-784-4848, or your local Cooperative Extension office for a list of commercial soil labs. While it’s most common to plant directly in the ground, some gardeners place their hoop houses directly over existing raised beds. Containers can also be used. Make sure they have adequate drainage, and consider the potential for heat loss from containers placed above the ground, Donaldson said. Since hoop houses rely on passive solar heat and ventilation, Donaldson noted that they’re much less expensive to operate, but don’t provide the same level of protection for tender crops that you can achieve with a greenhouse. “One of the most important accessories for your hoop house is a thermometer to monitor temperatures,” she said. “During colder months, you may want to add floating row covers for an extra layer of protection over your plants. In the heat of
Discover
summer, you’ll need to be able to open the structure to allow for natural cooling.” Donaldson added that now is the perfect time to start planning for a method of season extension for the coming growing season. Hoop House (High Tunnel) Information and Plans http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/ files/ag/2009/fs0939.pdf http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda. gov/pubs/mipmctn5923.pdf https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/ summaries/summary.php?pub=366 http://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/ publications-db/catalog/anr/HGA00028.pdf www.hightunnels.org/forgrowers.htm www.noble.org/ag/Horticulture/ HoopConstruct/Index.htm www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AMA/ hoop_data/HG_High_Tunnels_200801pr.pdf
Growth inside the Walker River Community Garden Hoop House
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Hoop House Heroes The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) office, with help from a group of local residents, erected a hoop house on the Logandale property in November. The UNCE hoop house, which gets its name from its shape, was engineered by Utah State University Cooperative Extension. It is a low-budget structure that functions like a costly greenhouse. It uses PVC pipe covered by heavy plastic sheeting and is an excellent alternative to more expensive engineered steel structures, though not as sturdy, according to Randy Emm, Indian Programs coordinator in the UNCE western area office, who
led the construction workshop in Logandale. Emm, with help from Victor Williams, UNCE Walker River Indian Reservation coordinator, who has built numerous hoop houses in Nevada, helped with the Moapa Valley construction. “We did this as a construction workshop so local residents could learn how easy it is to build their own hoop house and effectively extend the Southern Nevada growing season throughout the winter,” said Carol Bishop, educator in the UNCE office in Northeast Clark County which includes Moapa Valley.
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“It is really an outstanding, cost-effective project for anyone who gardens in Moapa Valley,” Bishop said. Locals who helped with the hoop house or attended part of the workshop were Bill and Linda Parson of Moapa; David Dewenter of Sandy Valley; Jeff and Andrea Meckley; Brian Grasmick who brought sons Elmer, 8, and Vance, 6; Denise Stoesser; Evonne Burris, and Ivan Erwin. Locals build a hoop house with the help of UNCE at the end of November
Ely, NV
Before (Outside Garden 2010)
5 Days after dropping seeds in the Hoop House May 23, 2011
The Ely Shoshone Tribal Conservation District/EPA began the Hoop House project on April 5, 2011 with the assistance of the Nevada Indian Country Extension Program and the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance. Two Hoop Houses were erected, one for the Community and one for the Elders. The purpose of the Hoop Houses were to become self sufficient in growing food, to teach younger generations the importance of growing their own food and preparation of those foods grown by canning, drying and cooking.
June 18, 2011
The Ely Shoshone Tribe would like to thank the Nevada Indian Country Extension Program, Randy Emm and staff and Brian Thomas, INCA for their assistance. Between July 20 & 28
August 2, 2011
After (Hoop House 2011)
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Duck Valley Hoop House & Garden Initiative By, Reggie Premo
Experimenting with raised beds inside one of the 7 hoop houses at Duck Valley
Many of you are well aware of
the hoop houses that are sitting at certain locations in our community such as the Head Start, or DVHA subdivisions, or at the Senior Center, etc., but some may not entirely understand the purpose of these structures. So for clarification, the hoop house concept is not new at all, as people have been practicing vegetable and fruit production in enclosed units for quite some time, it is however, new to us here in Duck Valley. That said, the main purpose is to extend the growing season of farm fresh produce greatly, where our growing season is usually around 90 days we can extend that to twice as long or even longer within the confines of the hoop house environment. Due to awaiting the funding process, we did get a late start on
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constructing the hoop houses this year, more specifically on July 13th and 14th and didn’t get seeds in the ground until late July and into August. As with all new projects, there were a few glitches along the way, such as the Seniors Center not having an outside water hook up which kept us from growing in their unit, and topsoil had to be hauled in for each of the six sites and tilled in with the soil for adequate seed bed preparation. The unit at the Thomas Loop subdivision also didn’t have a water supply, so the Wildlife & Parks Dept were gracious enough to lend us a 1200 gallon portable water tank where we hooked up to a garden hose and gravity fed to the plants inside the hoop house. Later on we were able to bury a water line off of the municipal water line system and install a hydrant near one end of the hoop
house, thanks to help from DVHA and Water & Sanitation departments. Despite the late start this year, some of the produce that did bear fruit from the hoop houses at the Thomas Loop, DVHA office, Head Start, Diabetes Prevention, and at the Presbyterian Church included: radishes, carrots, peppers, squash, pumpkins, onions, and sunflowers. In October when the first snow hit we experienced three units collapsing due to the weight, one was damaged to a point where we had to dismantle and the other two we simply brushed the snow off then braced the structure with boards inside each unit. And finally more recently, we experienced vandalism at the Thomas Loop subdivision unit where one or more persons caused numerous rips and tears
in the plastic covering allowed the wind to show us “no mercy” or maybe the wind was telling us to respect one another, be grateful for what we have, or else it will be taken away …. So again we were forced to dismantle another unit. All to no avail, what we didn’t know then, we know now how to better prepare for the coming season. In October of this year we formalized our “Duck Valley Hoop House and Garden Initiative” to oversee all community hoop houses and to eventually
include garden plots at each site. Some of our Initiative members have been attending workshop training seminars relevant to fruit and vegetable production, and business marketing strategies. I had attended the ITCN conference in Reno to present a power point on our community hoop house projects, and in December myself, Rhiannon Nino, and Leilani Hanchor presented at the Indian Agricultural Symposium in Las Vegas to share our story of how our people once subsisted off of the land, grew their own
food, and how we are re-introducing that same concept through the hoop house and gardens once again. We look forward to a successful growing season for 2012 and beyond, and are hopeful more community members will be a part of this ongoing process. Reggie Premo, UNCE/FRTEP, Duck Valley Tribal Outreach Rep. (775) 757-2120 premor@unce.unr.edu
Preserve A healthy sunflower crop
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Duck Valley Tribal Outreach update By, Reggie Premo
As a tribal outreach representative for our Duck Valley
reservation and an employee of the University of NV Cooperative Extension and the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Programs, I’d like to provide our community with some valuable information regarding USDA programs that several local farm/ ranch producers have accessed in 2010-11 and what expectations the coming new year holds. Specific USDA Programs include the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD), and the NV Division of Agriculture (NDOA). NRCS has funded several local farm/ranch producers with conservation practices in the past two years, which included: brush management; weed management; fencing; land leveling; buried irrigation pipeline; sprinkler irrigation; and the hi-tunnel/ hoop house. The 2008 Farm Bill provides Socially Disadvantaged
Develop Fitting pipes for irrigation in Duck Valley
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farmers and ranchers with a 90% cost share rate, for example, if it costs $2,500 to construct a fence, NRCS will pay 90% of the entire project or $2,250 and the remaining 10% or $250 will be the producer’s out of pocket expense, in addition 30% advance payment may be available to purchase materials for specific practices. Since Farm Bills usually last approximately 5 years, the next one which is scheduled for 2012 may or may not provide such a high cost share percentage, however, as an Extension representative for our tribal producers, I do encourage our NV State NRCS office to continue providing funding for conservation practices on our reservation and stress the need for continued collaboration, as well as ongoing outreach and education. UNCE/FRTEP has invited the NRCS Elko District staff to Duck Valley on three separate occasions in 2010-11 to provide presentations on the specifics of their numerous programs, including application, implementation, and management of conservation practices.
to Improve the Communities We Live In
Trenching irrigation ditches
FSA provides its Direct Loan Programs for Farm Ownership Loans (FO) to purchase farmland, construct or repair buildings and other fixtures, and promote soil and water conservation. Operating Loans (OL) may be used to purchase livestock, farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, and other operating expenses. Each fiscal year FSA targets a portion of its direct and guaranteed (FO) and (OL) funds to Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Loans. Youth loans target individual rural youth to establish and operate income producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4H clubs, Future Farmers of America, or similar organizations. Many youth on our reservation have started production with the Youth Loan program. Rural Development is yet another USDA program that has not been, to my knowledge accessed by any of our local farmers and ranchers in Duck Valley. One of their programs that local producers may qualify for is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This program targets those producers interested in installing solar, wind, bio-fuel or any other form of “green energy� on their farms, ranches, or small businesses may qualify for REAP. Examples may be the installation of a pumping station for livestock water trough(s), or providing electricity for a shop area used for agricultural production. Funding is through a combination of grants and loans.
The NV Division of Agriculture has also been a close collaborating partner with Cooperative Extension in the way of providing outreach and education on noxious and invasive weeds, the weed free forage program, grant opportunities, inspection standards, just to name a few. If any local Duck Valley farmers and/or ranchers are interested in applying for any of the above programs or just want additional information, resources, or contacts, please feel free to give me a call or send an email. If I cannot provide an immediate answer, I can surely point you in the right direction, or even set up a workshop seminar. If there are individuals or groups interested in specific topics, please inform me. 2012 is upon us and we at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension are looking forward to bringing all USDA Agencies to Duck Valley throughout the year to give presentations for the sustainability of our community. Thank You, and may you all prosper throughout this year. Reggie Premo, UNCE/FRTEP, Duck Valley Tribal Outreach Rep. (775) 757-2120 premor@unce.unr.edu
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UNCE Launches “Beginner Farmers & Ranchers” program University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will launch a Beginning Farmers & Rancher’s program early next year with a series of two-day workshops covering everything from field crops to producing locally grown meat. Program leaders Staci Emm, the Extension Educator for Mineral County, and Loretta Singletary, the Extension Educator for Lyon County and Area Director, said the workshops will start in March 2012 and be held periodically through September in locations all around Nevada. Emm said the program will be a combination of classroom instruction and field trips to show participants the practical applications of the in-class studies. A part of each workshop will be hands-on help in developing useful business practices that help farmers become more profitable.
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Workshops in 2012 will focus on three areas, including: • Field Crops: Old vs. New. Locations: Lovelock (March 15-16) and Fallon (Sept. 27-28) • Processing and Selling Locally Grown Meat Products. Locations: Logandale (April 26-27) and Gardnerville (Aug. 16-17) • So You Want to be a Produce Farmer? Locations: Las Vegas (June 7-8) and Reno (to be announced). For more information about the program, contact Mineral County Extension Educator Staci Emm at 775-9453444. Look for details about registering for the 2012 workshops in early 2012 at www.unce.unr.edu. 2012 workshops will focus on helping producers who are new to agriculture
Communicate
“USDA Awards Desert Research Institute $99,935 to Conduct Energy Audits” (CARSON CITY, NEV.-JAN. 9, 2012)
USDA Rural Development has awarded $99,935 to the Nevada System of Higher Education Desert Research Institute (DRI) to conduct energy audits for small rural businesses and agricultural producers in northwestern Nevada and northeastern California. The energy audits will provide businesses, ranchers and farmers a way to identify their baseline energy use, enabling them to develop a plan to reduce energy costs. The program will focus on rural dairies in northwestern Nevada and northeastern California within approximately 125 miles of Reno, Nevada. There are plans to expand the program to rural small businesses such as restaurants and motels in the same geographical area. USDA Rural Development State Director Sarah Adler applauded DRI’s
initiative in applying for the energy audit funding, the first of its kind in Nevada. “It is likely that the audits will show ways that energy efficient technology investments would result in reduced energy costs, and our agency has a guaranteed loan program to underwrite the cost of those investments. Those savings can then be redeployed toward business growth.” Although the target audience is dairy farmers, other agricultural producers and small rural businesses are also welcome to apply for the energy audits. The energy audit will cost $960 and the grant will cover 75 percent of the cost. Any dairy farmers, agricultural producers or small rural businesses interested can apply by contacting Curt Robbins at (775) 674-7129. Applications for the energy audits are available online at www.dri.edu/ energy-assessments .
“It is exciting to put DRI’s expertise to work on behalf of rural businesses and agricultural producers through these energy audits, which will reduce CO2 emissions” said Curt Robbins, DRI Research Engineer. The energy audit grant funds are made available by USDA Rural Development under the Rural Energy for America Program, which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Contacts: Kelly Clark/USDA RD Special Projects/Public Affairs Specialist Kelly.clark2@nv.usda.gov /(775) 8871222 x130 or Kelly Frank/Desert Research Institute Public Information Officer kfrank@dri.edu /(775) 673-7610/ (Cell) 702-480-6500
“Clean, Green and Healthy Tribal Schools” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 will host a Clean, Green and Healthy Schools webinar series every Wednesday for six weeks starting on January 18, 2012 at 3:30 MST with a focus on Tribal and Alaskan schools. School administrators, risk managers, educators, health and safety coordinators, school health professionals, environmental protection personnel, parents of school children, communities, and EPA personnel.
The goal of the webinar series is to provide information and tools for school personnel and EPA personnel to ensure that schools are clean, green and healthy for themselves, school children and their community. Please register to attend. You may attend one or more presentations in the webinar series and there is no cost to attend. The webinar series will include the following topics: School Chemical Cleanout & PCBs in Schools Matt Langenfeld, EPA 1/18/2012 3:30 PM MST Asbestos & Lead Repair, Renovation and Painting Rule in Schools Chris Maksimuk, EPA 1/25/2012 3:30 PM MST Integrated Pest Management & Green Cleaning in Schools Mike Daniels, Native Integrated Pest Management Consultant North Central Integrated Pesticide Management Marie Zanowick, EPA 2/1/2012 3:30 PM MST
Recycling, Composting & Gardening in Schools Virginia Till, EPA Diane Jourdan, Oneida and Stockbridge Tribe 2/8/2012 3:30 PM MST Indoor Air in Schools Mansel Nelson; Graylynn Jaysue Hudson, Northern Arizona University Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals 2/15/2012 3:30 PM Energy & Water Conservation in Schools Deenise Becenti, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority 2/22/2012 3:30 PM MST Register at: www.epa.gov/region8/tribalschools For additional information: Matthew M. Langenfeld U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street, 8P-P3T Denver, CO 80202 303-312-6284 Langenfeld.matthew@epa.gov
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Randy Emm
Frank Flavin
Reggie Premo
Kathy Frazier
Randy is the Indian Reservation Program Coordinator at UNCE. His programming focuses on providing farmers and ranchers with information and resources designed to improve organization and operation of tribal lands.
As the Director for the Western Area, Frank oversees five county offices in Northern Nevada. He is co-director of the Nevada Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP).
Reggie is the program facilitator for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program funded by CSREES to assist Native American farmers and ranchers to access the various USDA program offerings.
Kathy coordinates workshops in risk management workshops, tribal record keeping, and tax management. Kathy is also the coordinator for the Nevada Indian Agriculture Summit.
Walker River
Reno
Duck Valley
Pyramid Lake
Victor Williams
Leilani Hanchor
Jordan Lubek
Victor assists with youth development and is the coordinator for hoop house construction projects statewide.
Located on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation to implement the Veggies For Kids Program and other FRTEP programming.
Jordan educates on a variety of new practices for community sustainability and planning. His programming focuses on the use of geospatial data and technology to better improve productivity and communication in a changing global environment.
Walker River
Duck Valley
Reno
www.unce.unr.edu The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.