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Deb Haaland confirmed as Interior secretary Emma Dumain, E&E News | March 15, 2021
The Senate has confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland for Interior secretary, the historic culmination of a contentious confirmation process that became a proxy battle over President Biden’s energy agenda and ignited accusations of double standards for Cabinet nominees of color. The New Mexico Democrat won confirmation this evening, 51-40, making her poised to become the first Native American to ever run a federal agency and the first Indigenous person to run a department with a historically hostile relationship with tribal nations.
Four Republicans joined 47 Democrats in voting “yes” — Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Nine senators were not present for the vote.
Haaland faced tough questioning from Republicans over whether she would push Biden’s executive orders curbing oil and gas drilling on public lands further to the left, specifically whether she would advocate for a permanent ban beyond the current pause on new leases. The congresswoman has, in the past, expressed opposition to all fossil fuel extraction. Senate Republicans also pointed to Haaland’s record opposing pipelines, championing the Green New Deal and endorsing legislation keeping animals on endangered species registries in perpetuity as disqualifying characteristics.
IN THIS ISSUE 2 E&E News Update Deb Haaland Confirmed
16 Nevada Farm Bureau Book of the Year | Estate Tax
3 NCA President’s Perspective 4 NCA Roundup
17 ACLU | Guide to Becoming a Better Citizen Lobbyist
14 Nevada Farm Bureau Resolution | AB146 | AJR3
34 University of Arkansas DARE “Nitrate Poisoning In Cattle”
18 SRM | Improving Mule Deer 5 SDSU Extension Article Populations - Management “Be Concerned about Drought” 22 USGS | Excerpt from Report 6 NBC News “Sagebrush Conservation” 7 NBC Recipe 24 Desert Oasis Teff & Grain 8 In The Mind of A Millennial Needs Farmers “Happy Trails” 26 Snyder Livestock Co. Inc. 9 “Earth-Friendly Beef” 2021 Sale Report by Sasha Gennet 28 Churchill County Cowbelles 10 Eye On The Outside Update & Beef Recipe 11 UNR Extension Seeks 4-H 30 “Legends Never Die” Memorial Club Leaders for Stanley Eugene Ceresola 12 Nevada CattleWomen 32 Sublette Examiner | USFS 13 Let’s Talk Ag by Staci Emm Grazing Permit “Directives”
Democrats, however, accused Republicans of treating Haaland with a level of disrespect they would not, and have not, applied to white men nominated for Cabinet positions.
“We need to be honest with ourselves about what is going on here,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said in floor remarks shortly before Haaland’s confirmation vote. “Once again, a woman, and a woman of color, is being held to a different standard, and we need to name it.” Haaland was elected to Congress in 2018, becoming the first of two Native American women that year to ever win a seat in the House.
An enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna and former chairwoman of the New Mexico Democratic Party, Haaland served throughout 2019 and 2020 as the vice chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
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Cover Credit: “Lucy Rechel, Snyder Feedlot Owner/Manager” by Leana Carey Published 8 times a year. View all issues at www.progressiverancher.com Readership reaches more than 30,000. The views and opinions expressed by writers of articles appearing in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters of opinion are welcome; submit via email.
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2 APRIL 2021
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President's perspective Tom Barnes, President, Nevada Cattlemen's Association Happy Easter and Happy Spring! I always enjoy this time of year even though we are extremely busy. With the grass greening up, new calves and turning cows out, it is a time of renewed optimism – a reminder that the good Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to do what we all feel so passionate about. We start the grazing season eager to see what the rest of the year holds for us. In our recent meetings with the BLM and Forest Service, they seem to be committed to ensuring we can all get turned out. We all recognize that we could have another dry year and may have to make adjustments as we go, but they want to work with us. This Legislative session has been very interesting, particularly with the virtual format used to testify before legislative committees. Our legislative team of Dave
Stix Jr., Neena Laxalt and Martin Paris have done an outstanding job of keeping up with legislation that affects us. Hopefully we’ll know where everything shook out before too long. There seems to be a common trend right now with attacks on production agriculture. It is concerning that we are being attacked by those who we work to feed every day. This is nothing new, just something that seems to be occurring more frequently and something we all need to be aware of. This will be a topic for many future discussions. Keep praying for moisture.
Tom Barnes Tom Barnes President, NCA
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APRIL 2021 3
by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214
Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Springtime Update The Fallon Bull Sale that we held in February was a great success again this year. We have just finished wrapping up everything from the sale and would like to once again give thanks to all of our consignors, buyers, sponsors, and volunteers for your support this year. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2022! Aside from shiny new calves, rain (hopefully), and moving our clocks ahead one hour, springtime comes with a little extra in odd numbered years in Nevada. The 81st Nevada Legislative Session is in full swing. The Session began on February 1st and will end on May 31st, but not without a lot of action in between. This year’s Session looks quite a bit different than years past. Legislators, staff, and certain media are able to conduct business in the Legislative Building but everyone else is locked out, at least for the time being. If you are looking to provide testimony on a bill, expect to register to speak 24 hours prior to the hearing, read the rulebook on testifying remotely, listen to several different prompts during the hearing, hit *6 on your phone to mute and unmute yourself, and you are ready to go.
I recently had the opportunity to provide testimony in opposition of Senate Bill 54. SB 54 proposes to drastically change the current representation on the Nevada Board of Agriculture. At present time, the Board of Agriculture consists of 11 members, of which three members must be engaged in range or semi-range cattle production and one member must be engaged in range or semi-range sheep production. SB 54 proposes to change this structure by removing two of the positions currently represented by the cattle and sheep industries and lumping the remaining two positions into the category of “livestock”. The definition of livestock is large which means if this bill were to pass, it is possible there could be zero cattle producer representation on the Board. SB 54 intends to eliminate these two positions from the Board in an effort to add two entirely new positions consisting of food manufacturing/animal processing and supplemental nutrition distribution The loss of cattle production representation on the Board would be devastating, especially for an industry that continues to be the leading agricultural sector in the Nevada and one that has so many
diverse production practices. While the status of SB 54 remains up in the air, NCA will remain in steadfast opposition of any attempts that seek to reduce cattle representation on the Nevada Board of Agriculture. While the outcome of SB 54 is a top priority, there are also several other bills that NCA is keeping a close eye on. These bills include everything from public access to private property to changes in water quality standards. Due to the current rules at the State Legislature, NCA will not be hosting our usual Legislative Breakfast in Carson City. In past years, this breakfast has brought legislators, NCA members, and other agricultural friends together to get acquainted and discuss issues relevant to agriculture. Though we are not able to move forward with the breakfast this year, our phone and internet connections are strong and NCA is working hard through this Legislative Session to protect and promote the future of ranching in Nevada.
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Livestock producers should be concerned about drought By Ken Olson, Professor and Beef Specialist SDSU Extension
We have enjoyed the mild winter, and it would be great to have this nice weather last through calving season. However, we need it to eventually start raining. This week’s drought monitor map (http://droughtmonitor.unl. edu/) shows that the entire Northern Plains region is in drought, ranging from “abnormally dry” to “extreme drought” depending on specific location. This condition has gradually expanded through the winter and threatens to continue to worsen. The good news is that the winter months are the driest season in the Northern Plains, and spring is the wettest. If the weather pattern changes, we could quickly climb out of the moisture deficit. However, because we can’t count on that, it is important to consider appropriate steps if we continue to slip into worse drought conditions. Remember, cyclic variation from wet to dry conditions and back is normal, and we had several years of above-average precipitation in the recent past. I don’t want to be all doomsday, but the best management for drought is to be prepared before-hand rather than be dealing with an emergency in the heart of the drought. Range research and rancher experience both strongly indicate that early response can prevent rangeland damage and reduce forced liquidation of most or all of a cow herd. Past grazing research during droughts shows the best economic alternative is to reduce stocking so the remaining cows can consume enough forage to maintain performance. Reduced precipitation means less forage production, so stocking rates need to be adjusted downward to match livestock numbers with forage supply. We can manage when and how we use the forage to get the maximum value from it. Here are a few examples:
Many (maybe most) producers don’t have a scale and haven’t recorded individual cow weights and maybe not individual weaning weights. The cost of a scale could be a wise investment in improved cattle management. A second approach to determining which cows to sell would be to shorten the breeding season, pregnancy check early using ultrasound, and sell open cows. This will tighten up the calving season, which means that all calves will be born earlier next year, creating a more uniform, older and therefore heavier calf crop. This option depends upon being able to put off the culling decision until late summer. Even a very short breeding season of 21 days (1 estrus cycle) to allow every cow one chance to ovulate and get pregnant has to be followed by about 40 days to detect pregnancy by ultrasound. For example, for calving to start on April 1, 2022, breeding would start on about June 20. Adding 60 days to that means pregnancy would not be known until August 20. If drought becomes extreme, that may be too late for a timely decision. A small early reduction in cattle numbers can prevent the need for deep cuts under emergency conditions. Besides the forage savings, there is also a marketing consideration. If large-scale drought in the region leads to movement of lots of cows to the sale barn, local cow prices will probably be depressed. Moving a few cows early could improve their value and help to avoid moving many cows later in a falling market. I hope the weather doesn’t progress further into drought. On the other hand, preparedness can play a huge role in weathering the storm (pun intended) with the least damage.
If you have a cow-calf plus yearling operation, be prepared to sell the yearlings early. The cattle and feed markets suggest that this may be a good year to put as many pounds as possible on yearlings, so selling them early will be a hard decision to make. Start preparing for it now if that is a better alternative for you than having to sell cows later.
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Consider weaning calves early if it stays dry. Research conducted a few years ago by the range scientists at the SDSU West River Research and Extension Center indicated that weaning calves 60 days early (mid-August) reduced forage utilization during that 60-day window by 36% compared to cows with calves still at their side until mid-October. Be prepared to sell some cows. If you have individual cow performance records, rank your cows from the best to the worst. This prepares you to quickly identify the cows to send to market if drought worsens. If a slight drought continues that indicates a 10% herd reduction, then the bottom 10% of the cows can quickly be sorted to sell. If it becomes more severe, the percentage can be adjusted as appropriate, and you have a sorted list to know which cows are the next to go. What performance measures should you use to rank the cows from best to worst? That depends on your goals and what is important to you. You could use historical weaning weights, calving dates (eliminate late calvers), which cows have produced daughters that made good replacement heifers, etc. Another option would be to calculate weaning weight as a percentage of cow body weight. This would allow you to cull large cows that wean small calves. These cows have probably always been unprofitable because they are likely to be inefficient converters of feed to marketable product (i.e. she eats more and weans fewer pounds of calf to sell). An added benefit will be that eliminating the biggest cows will enhance the forage savings gained by herd reduction. www.progressiverancher.com
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By Nevada Beef Council Staff
Advanced Education Tools Available for Cattle Producers To further support cattle producers across the country the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has released the first in a series of Advanced Education Modules. This initial module on biosecurity details the basics of disease transmission and prevention.
Celebrating National Nutrition Month with Beef The month of March marked National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to share tips for making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. When it comes to healthy dietary patterns, there are a lot of benefits to incorporating protein- and nutrient-rich beef into a variety of lifestyles, and the Beef Checkoff has created a number of ways to share that with health and nutrition audiences. Now available on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, the Beef Nutrition Hub provides an educational portal tailed to support the needs of the health and nutrition community. On the hub, health and nutrition professionals are able to access on-demand courses and earn complimentary continuing professional educational credits, which are approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and the American College of Sports Medicine. There are also a variety of resources available for dietitians who work in the retail sector. Health and nutrition are top of mind for consumers and can be a barrier when deciding to purchase beef. With more dietitians working in retail grocery, there’s an opportunity for meat departments and dietitians to work together to help consumers understand the 6 APRIL 2021
meat case, the nutritional benefits of beef, enhance food safety and provide meal solutions. The Beef Checkoff provides ideas and resources for educating consumers about beef ’s positive health, nutrition and taste attributes. Here locally, the Nevada Beef Council’s own Kori Dover, Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach, participated in the annual meeting of the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NvAND) during National Nutrition Month, offering the group some exposure to the NBC and the resources it has available for this audience. “I think it’s important for beef producers to know just how many ways the Beef Checkoff and Nevada Beef Council are working to reach and engage those in the health and nutrition community,” notes Dover, who is also a Registered Dietitian. “Encouraging the incorporation of beef and its nutritional benefits into any well-balanced diet is something we want everyone in this community to feel comfortable doing.” To learn more about the nutrition resources available, visit: www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com/nutrition.
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These resources were developed so that anyone who is involved in raising cattle – from the operation manager to personnel to family members – has the opportunity to understand how biosecurity principles are integrated into their farm or ranch and plan for continuous improvement in the future. Learners will walk through sections that build on each other, starting with basic principles of biosecurity and understanding its importance on the cattle operation. Interactive and real-world best practice examples are provided for a variety of topics such as new bull or replacement purchases and manure management to reduce feed contamination, among others.
As a part of the training, producers are able to fill out the Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease prevention, another biosecurity tool recently released by BQA, and tailor the information to their specific operation. Producers are then introduced to the USDA supported Secure Beef Supply to better understand the necessary biosecurity measures in the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak and to prepare an enhanced biosecurity plan in preparation for such an event. Learners can compare details between the daily biosecurity plan and the enhanced biosecurity plan to view the changes they would need to address in the occurrence of an FAD outbreak. “Introducing these advanced education modules has been a major goal of the BQA team,” said Dr. Julia Herman, Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian at NCBA. “With this Beef Checkoff-funded tool, beef cattle producers can enhance their biosecurity education, help train their teams, and continue to keep their cattle safe and healthy.” For more information about BQA, to access the Advanced Education Biosecurity modules, or download the BQA Daily Biosecurity Plan, visit: BQA.org
www.progressiverancher.com
Mongolian Beef
Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.
By Nevada Beef Council Staff This dish is packed with flavor and nutrition, and takes just 20 minutes to make – a slam dunk for those busy spring evenings.
Ingredients (Serves 4) • 1 beef Top Sirloin Steak, cut 1 inch thick (about 1 pound) • 2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper • 1/2 cup chopped green onions • 1/4 cup oyster sauce • 2 tablespooons sugar • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger • 2 cups bamboo shoots, edamame, baby corn or water chestnuts • 2 cups hot cooked rice
Preparation • Cut beef Top Sirloin Steak in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/8-inch strips. Toss beef with 1 tablespoon garlic and red pepper. • Heat non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add half of beef; stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes or until outside surface of beef is no longer pink. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining beef. Remove from skillet.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon garlic, green onions, oyster sauce, sugar and ginger to same skillet; cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce is hot. Return beef to skillet. Add bamboo shoots; cook and stir until bamboo shoots are hot. Serve over rice.
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In the Mind of a Millennial Happy Trails By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations California & Nevada Beef Council Seasons of change in life can be hard, and as I write this final “In the Mind of a Millennial” column, I find myself right smack dab in the middle of one. In February, my family and I sadly said goodbye to our dad and grandpa, Stan Ceresola. I know many of you reading this knew him as a world-class cowboy. We knew him as that too, but more importantly, we knew him as an amazing father and grandfather who is deeply missed. Dad was a big part of the reason I came to the Nevada and California Beef Councils years ago. When I saw the job posting, it seemed like a fitting, full-circle opportunity to come back to the industry that raised me. Working with and on behalf of the west’s men and women who raise cattle and produce beef has been something that has brought me so much joy and fulfillment.
But alas, another change in life is happening for me in addition to losing my dad, and that is the start of a new chapter in my career. I am joining the North American Blueberry Council and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council as the Director of Communications and Industry Relations later this month. This decision was not easy, and the convergence of the events happening in both my personal and professional life do present challenges, but I know I had to follow my gut and embark on this new path. As I say goodbye to the wonderful people I’ve had the honor of working with in this role since 2013, I leave knowing that Nevada’s beef producers will remain in excellent hands. You still have a fabulous team of professionals working on your behalf, including our Executive Director Bill Dale, Director of Consumer and Brand Marketing
Annette Kassis, Director of Retail and Foodservice Marketing Christie Van Egmond, and Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach Kori Dover. And I know the board of directors who selflessly serve on your behalf as well will continue to offer the guidance and leadership to keep the Nevada Beef Council forward with innovative and effective programs.
you as often. But what I’ve also learned over the years is that the agricultural family is a small one, and I have a feeling our paths will cross again.
Thank you so much to Jay Dalton, John Jackson, Lucy Rechel, Ray Callahan, Ted Christoph, Bernard Peterson and Keri Pommerening, our current board of directors, as well as Steve Lucas and Gary Ward who served on the board and provided wonderful leadership during my time as well. I thoroughly enjoyed working with all of you.
I’ve often shared some of my family stories with you in these columns, and I have one more good one from my youngest son, Charlie. When we were talking about this transition, he looked at me with a VERY concerned look on his face and asked, “but wait, we’re still going to eat beef, right?!” You bet, Charlie – that will never change.
While excited for this next chapter, I leave with a lot of sadness knowing I won’t get to see or interact with many of
Because no matter where my path leads, I will always be a Nevada cowgirl in my heart.
The author in her native environment.
8 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
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EARTH-FRIENDLY BEEF How sustainable grazing practices can protect soil, water, and biodiversity by Sasha Gennet
I wasn’t one of the lucky kids who got to grow up on a ranch. No one back then would have expected me to work on livestock production and grazing lands. We lived in the suburbs; I come from a family that mostly worked in factories, not farming. I was even a vegetarian in my teenage years, on the grounds that I didn’t want to eat an animal if I didn’t know and feel good about how it was raised (which is still true). My love for the outdoors and need to be near nature led to my early career as a botanist and restoration ecologist. Through my early jobs and in my graduate school research in grasslands and on ranches, I learned two key things about land stewardship:
Livestock is one of the best tools available for managing land to benefit soil, water, and biodiversity. Essentially, good grazing management in the right places is good for native plants and wildlife; grazing animals can help manage fire risk, and strong rural economies rooted in ranching help slow urban and agricultural sprawl. Ranchers are deeply committed to protecting the natural resources that make their livelihoods possible. This is true of ranchers in California, the Great Basin, the Dakotas, Florida – all across our country. For example, Meredith Ellis, a second-generation rancher in Texas, uses soil health and sustainable grazing practices to help sequester carbon, withstand extreme weather events, safeguard water quality, and provide consumers with beef they can feel good about buying. You can check out her story here. Those early years spent studying grasslands and working on ranches instilled a deep appreciation in me for the people who dedicate their lives to producing food and the many—often overlooked—contributions they make to land management. Now, through my work with TNC (The Nature Conservancy), I luckily partner with local ranchers to promote the conservation value of grazing lands and advance sustainability goals across the complex beef supply chain. www.progressiverancher.com
By partnering with family-owned cattle operations to test new on-ranch practices and collaborating with food companies to source sustainable beef products, we’re working to mainstream livestock production practices that actively restore and regenerate nature— practices that are good for ranchers and the environment. To get there, we must first understand the value of what’s at stake, acknowledge the challenges that stand in our way and define a clear path forward.
The vast footprint of working wildlands More than 770,000 cattle operations span the United States, and 90% are family-operated. The ranches and grazing lands where beef cattle live most of their lives total about 775 million acres nationwide. That’s the size of AK, TX, CA and MT combined. These incredibly diverse lands include native grasslands—the least well protected habitat type on earth— like the iconic prairies of the Great Plains as well as the rangelands of the Great Basin and desert Southwest, savannah of California, and pastures in the SE.
This part of the U.S. agriculture system contributes $76 billion to our economy. But these private, public, and tribal grazing lands provide more than economic benefit and food. These “working wildlands” also provide wildlife habitat, secure freshwater, and help mitigate climate change by drawing more carbon into the soil. Farmers and soil health practices are a big part of the picture, too, since most beef cattle are finished on grain after spending a large part of their lives on grazing lands. In fact, as much as onethird of the 90 million acres of corn grown in the U.S. ends up as feed. There’s too much common ground between ranchers, farmers, and conservationists to not work together toward mutual goals. The people and families who care for these valuable lands are the backbone of rural economies and essential to a world where nature and people thrive.
Challenges and a path forward
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked for decades with farming and ranching communities to collaboratively advance conservation. We have supported numerous voluntary conservation easements, partnered with local organizations, supported federal
funding for ranch stewardship and protection, and used our own lands to research and demonstrate how livestock can help regenerate nature.
While successful in many ways, those efforts have yet to ensure long-term conservation across these vast and varied lands and communities. In fact, many grasslands and rural communities that depend on these lands are experiencing greater challenges and risks than ever before: land values that outpace profitability from livestock grazing, more droughts and floods, and market shocks like we saw in 2020 due to COVID-19. In recent years, TNC has expanded our work to engage more deeply with initiatives and companies in the beef supply chain, engaging and advancing robust sustainability programs.
Given its importance economically, and strong influence on natural resources, the beef industry, from farmers and ranchers to restaurants and retailers, is uniquely positioned to help safeguard and steward nature, while benefiting producers, rural communities, and consumers.
So, what can the beef industry do to ensure a healthy environment, while ensuring ranchers and farmers sustain their livelihoods and deliver quality food products? A seemingly simple but essential first step is for leading companies to recognize that healthy, functioning ecosystems and thriving agriculture operations are the foundation of a secure and equitable food system. That then needs to lead to committing to improving the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of their supply chains, setting robust goals, and investing in implementation, including tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also includes working diligently with civil society, producers, and other companies to define and identify a path to environmental and socio-economic sustainability, for example by actively participating in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
Collaboration is key Several companies are making significant commitments. Last year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. announced new aspirations to source fresh beef products more sustainably by 2025, with a focus on grazing management and soil health across an additional 12 million acres.
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This announcement came after TNC worked with Walmart to identify opportunities and actions to improve sustainability in its beef supply chain to help improve soil health and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
In collaboration with TNC and the University of Minnesota, McDonald’s analyzed their beef and chicken supply chains to identify climate mitigation opportunities. Based on this work, McDonald’s is now building programs with their suppliers to meet their company’s ambitious 31 percent greenhouse gas reduction goal. Our work with McDonald’s and Walmart led to the development of a Roadmap for a Sustainable Beef System, which is helping more companies identify opportunities and take action to make improvements within their supply chain while tracking progress toward their environmental goals. In essence, we’ve created a science-based approach that can help companies create solutions that are environmentally beneficial and economically favorable for producers while delivering a product that meets consumers’ expectations. Sustainability needs to be the businessas-usual approach in the U.S. beef industry in order to ensure long-term food supply, economic security for ranchers and their communities, and a healthy environment for us all. Taking that a bit further, the food production process needs to actively restore and regenerate nature, and there’s no time to waste. Seeing two of the world’s largest purchasers of beef take proactive steps to achieve sustainability within their supply chains signals tremendous momentum in that direction. But much more needs to be accomplished, quickly, and we can only get there by working together. Sasha Gennet, Ph.D., leads The Nature Conservancy’s Sustainable Grazing Lands strategy in North America, a role that relies heavily on her 20+ years of experience in natural resource management, research, planning and policy. She leads an interdisciplinary team of science, conservation, policy, and communications experts to achieve widespread adoption of conservation management practices on U.S. grazing lands, as well as protection and conservation of working lands. Find Sasha on Twitter @SashaGennet https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2021/03/08/earth-friendly-beef-howsustainable-grazing-practices-can-protect-soil-water-and-biodiversity/ APRIL 2021 9
“30 BY 2030” One of the first things President Biden did after his inauguration was to sign an Executive Order outlining the goal of protecting 30 percent of the nation’s land and water resources by 2030. On February 18, 2021, A.J.R. 3 was introduced into the Nevada Legislature expressing the same goal for Nevada’s land and water resources. The Nevada resolution states that only a small percentage of lands in the state are currently protected. Similarly, there are assertions by some groups that only 12 percent of the land in the U.S. and 26 percent of the oceans in our territorial waters are protected. What does “protected “mean? A common dictionary definition says something, or someone is shielded from harm, loss, or danger, in other words, protected. As parents or sons and daughters we protect our loved ones or were protected by them in return, or at least I hope we were. As homeowners or ranchers, we protect our private property, or we lose it. Humans naturally want to protect things and other people who have a special meaning to them. These are basic to our character. We are not alone in this trait. Animals protect their young from the danger which is ubiquitous in nature. There is evidence that some plants are protective of other plants. Tomato plants being protected from certain insects by marigold flowers is one example that comes to mind. In 1872, the United States of America established the first national park in the world, Yellowstone National Park. The stated reason for this “public park” in the creation legislation was to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources in Yellowstone. Later, in 1916, The National Park Service (NPS) was created by its Organic Act. The act set forth the mission of the NPS: “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the 10 APRIL 2021
same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations”. The NPS manages over 80 million acres in all 50 states, territories, and protectorates. These places are not just National Parks but historic sites like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and National Recreation Areas like Lake Mead. During the same time as the creation of Yellowstone the U.S. Congress established the office of Special Agent in the Department of Agriculture to analyze the quality of United States forests. This was followed in 1891 by the Forest Reserve Act and finally in 1905 by the creation of the United States Forest Service (USFS) within the United States Department of Agriculture. The USFS manages about 190 million acres of forest and grasslands. The top priority of this agency is to maintain and improve the health, diversity, and productivity of the lands in its portfolio. In 1946 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was created transferring all the land in the jurisdiction of the Federal Land Office to this new agency located within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The BLM oversees the multiple use function of about 245 million acres with the mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands. These are just three U.S. agencies charged with sustaining, maintaining, and preserving over 515,000,000 acres of land in the United States. Does what they do sound like protection to you? Note, I have not mentioned Indian Reservations for which the U.S. has a fiduciary trust responsibility. Nor have I mentioned state and national wildlife refuges or military reservations and bombing ranges which total another 159,000,000 acres of land. Thus, with all the entities I have written above, there is something in the neighborhood of 674,000,000 of land owned and thus theoretically protected by the United States.
In total, there are nearly 1.9 billion acres of land in the continental United States. About 41% of this land and the largest use is livestock grazing. The second highest use and another 14% is forest land not in state or national forests. Finally, the third highest use is in cropland. These three uses total about 1.6 billion acres. Obviously, some of this land is owned by the U.S. but I would suggest most, if not all the cropland and the number of forests, is private land. Going back to the total land area number for the continental US of 1.9 billion acres for an easy number to use in calculation. 30 percent of this total is a little less than 600,000,000 acres. I go back also to a calculation above of 674,000,000 acres owned and controlled by the United States, in other words, all of which depends on how “protection” is defined to determine whether we have already reached the Biden goal. Tellingly, neither the President nor the Nevada Legislature define protection which leaves open a great subjective debate. I believe the nation cannot afford another vicious disagreement on such a fundamental issue as to what needs protection and what has already been protected. For instance, despite the NPS mandate, some would say Yellowstone and other popular National Parks such as Great Smoky Mountains (the most visited of all our National Parks), have been protected to death while others might say they are doing just fine. What is it then; are we protecting or loving these places too much? As for Nevada, every school child in this state knows that over 80% of our land area is controlled and owned by the Federal Government. There are 110,000 square miles or around 70,000,000 acres within our borders. This means at least 56,000,000 acres is not in private hands. Again, assuming ownership and control equals a modicum of protection, the 30% goal has been reached almost three times over in Nevada.
The Progressive Rancher
Therefore, what about our private forests, farms and ranches producing commodities for our use and survival outside of the public domain? Are these acreages to be added to the protected 30 percent if it is determined that military reservation or Indian reservation are exempt from the calculation? Who makes the decision about the final calculation? The President’s order directs the federal agencies to designate land for protection, but it is unclear if this is additional land or includes land already under their management, control and thus subject to the agency’s protection. I have been to Yellowstone and I like it. I operate a cattle operation partially in a designated wilderness area. I like that too. I am very familiar with other Nevada ranch operations with permits utilizing hundreds of thousands of acres for livestock grazing. These ranches are utilizing the resource to produce desirable commodities it is true, but they are also doing so while protecting the resource. There has been a great deal of talk lately about the need for carbon sequestration to help combat global climate change. There is now scientific proof which supports the theory one of the best ways to sequester carbon more rapidly is to use well-managed grazing by herbivores. This grazing tool is also proven to reduce fine fuel loads which contributes greatly to the reduction of fire hazards on the public and private grazing ranges. I would ask is the 30 by 2030 a catchy political slogan or is it a real goal, and if so, how do you square the goal with the reality of land protection which I have outlined above that already exists in our country? Is this a not very well disguised plot to grab more private property for public use? Hmmmm. I’ll see you soon.
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Extension seeks 4-H Club Leaders to help teach youth life skills and leadership In anticipation of returning to in-person activities while following COVID-19 restrictions, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program is looking for volunteers to serve as 4-H club leaders. Clubs in Carson City and Douglas and Washoe Counties are offering community members the opportunity to encourage youth ages 5 to 18 to pursue interests and gain skills in communications, leadership, civic engagement and healthy living.
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“I grew up in our 4 Paws Dog Club and now have the pleasure of leading the club and watching our 4-H’ers become participating community members through their project area,” Annamarie Thompson, 4-H leader in Carson City, said. “I can’t imagine my life without my involvement in 4-H. The 4 Paws members play important roles in developing our 4-H Dog Show, participating in fundraising efforts and making decisions on the direction the club will take in each year’s community service outreach.”
Leaders will conduct weekly or monthly meetings either online or in-person as allowed. They teach from a curriculum and lead activities that relate to the club’s subject matter. Club leaders can either start a new club using pre-existing researchedbased 4-H curriculum, such as photography or robotics, or they can start clubs that focus on a hobby or skill without an existing 4-H curriculum, and Extension 4-H professionals will find new researched-based materials to help the leaders conduct the club’s activities.
• In Carson City, 4-H staff are interested in starting clubs focused on photography, cooking, filming making, crafts and woodworking. In addition, they are looking for new leaders for their cat, sewing and rabbit clubs. • In Douglas County, 4-H staff are recruiting leaders for poultry; rabbit; horse; dog; beekeeping; robotics; hiking and outdoor recreation; and gardening, horticulture and floriculture clubs.
• In Washoe County, 4-H staff are interested in starting clubs focused on home arts and sciences, including robotics, photography, culinary arts, fabric arts and sewing, beekeeping, gardening and fine arts. They are also looking for leaders for a small animals club specializing in dogs, and large animal clubs. In addition, they are seeking leaders for their Cloverbud clubs, which teach children ages 5-8. In 4-H clubs, youth learn skills beyond the subject matter, such as learning math when doubling a recipe, learning responsibility when caring for an animal, and learning business skills when serving as a club officer. 4-H clubs also provide youth with a chance to build positive relationships with peers and adults.
For more information, please call
(530) 347-3793 or email us at wvm@wvmcattle.com Look for the catalog and video on www.wvmcattle.com
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All 4-H programs engage youth in experiential, or “hands-on,” learning and are fueled by university-backed curriculum. According to the “4-H Study of Positive Youth Development,” a decade-long study completed by a team of researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University in Massachusetts, 4-H youth excel beyond their peers. 4-H members are four times more likely to contribute to their communities, five times more likely to graduate from college, two times more likely to make healthier choices, and two times more likely to participate in science, engineering and computer technology programs during out-of-school time.
Clubs working with animals usually run for the entire 4-H club year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Other clubs may run for about three to six months. Club leaders are encouraged to attend monthly project leader meetings and a quarterly Leaders’ Council meeting. For more information on becoming a 4-H club leader in Carson City, contact 4-H Professional Sandy Wallin at wallins@unr.edu or 775-887-2252. For Douglas County, contact Extension Educator Lindsay Chichester at lchichester@unr.edu or 775-782-9960. For Washoe County, email Sarah Chvilicek, Extension 4-H Program coordinator for northern Nevada, at sarahc@unr.edu. Or contact your local Extension office. For more information on Extension 4-H clubs, visit the Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program website. The Progressive Rancher
APRIL 2021 11
By Melinda Sarman, President The Region VI Meeting will be held April 15 via Zoom at 2 p.m. Pacific Time American National CattleWomen have the states arranged in different regions. Nevada is part of Region VI. The other states in Region VI are: Utah, New Mexico, California and Arizona The Region meetings are set up to have a smaller setting to work on subjects that impact CattleWomen in different zones across the U.S. The presidents from each state believe that with lockdowns still in place, a Zoom Meeting for Region VI is best. This meeting will have updates from ANCW and each state for the members. ANCW and each state are eager to get information out to CattleWomen. If you have any questions about the Region VI Meeting you can call me at 775-385-3619 or email me at Melindasarman@gmail.com and I will send you more information. Nevada Beef Ambassador Information and Application
The new Nevada Beef Ambassador application is now ready to send to members. This youth program is chaired by our Vice President, Ana Dagenhart. This is some information about this program: The person must be between at least a junior in high school by September of contest year and not older than a junior in college or age 25 of the same year.
Winners will be required to serve as Nevada Beef Ambassadors for a 1-year period promoting beef in the state of Nevada. The Ambassador will take a leadership role in Nevada CattleWomen Inc. and must attend all Board meetings. These activities will include but not limited to promotion, education, research, and being informed of beef industry information. Nevada Beef Ambassador will complete required training in the following areas: Master Beef Advocacy Program, Beef Quality Assurance Program and other team training. Other events required as a Beef Ambassador winner are Nevada Cattlewomen’s Winter Convention, Region VI Meeting, Reno Rodeo Booth, Clark County Fair Booth, and next year’s competition, Social media contributions will be made bi-monthly and comments as appropriate on required events. All scholarships will be awarded at the completion of the year term and at the Nevada Cattlemen’s Convention. Beef Ambassador Team members will be awarded $1000 for 1st place, $750 for 2nd place, and $500 for 3rd place. Failure to fulfill the obligations set forth by Nevada Beef Ambassador Program will result in forfeiture of all cash awards and/or scholarships.
Applications are due on or before April 30, 2021. If you have any questions you can give Ana a call at 775-790-5892 or email to cwnv.inc@gmail.com, an application can be emailed to you. One of our many goals is to prepare youth to apply for the ANCW- National Beef Advocacy Program. This is some information about this program from the ANCW website. “Developing beef advocates and leaders for the cattle industry is the goal of the Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program (CBAP). Hosted by ANCW, the program provides an outlet for students to use their unique strengths to connect with consumers and peers to promote beef. The collegiate advocacy program matches the vision and purpose of ANCW by ensuring the selected students strengthen their leadership and communication skills, establish career networks and enhance their knowledge of the industry. This experience will assist participants in furthering their passion for beef advocacy by providing top notch training, access to educational resources, and unique experiences.” For more information on the ANCW - National Beef Advocacy Program please go to the ANCW.ORG website.
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR 2021 FUNDRAISER
Nevada CattleWomen fundraiser for 2021 is underway. Thanks to our friends at Smith Valley Garage, NCW is able to raffle off a Kubota Four Wheel Drive Gasoline Utility Vehicle! A maximum of 200 tickets will be sold for the RTV-XG850 Sidekick at $100/ticket. The drawing will be held August 1, 2021. Need not be present to win. Must be 21 years of age to purchase a ticket. Get your tickets now before they are sold out – only 200 tickets sold! Contact your NVCW Executive Board for tickets: Melinda Sarman (775) 385-3619 Maddie Bowers (775) 388-3259 Ana Dagenhart (775) 790-5892 Staci Emm (775) 312-0424 Keri Pommerening (775) 721-4888 Erin Costa (775) 720-3760 12 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
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Let’s Talk Ag
By Staci Emm | Editorial
Managing Risk for 2021 Managing risks for the farm and ranch will be a little different from 2020 as the costs of doing business is increasing and markets are unknown. The first and biggest risk for Nevada producers will be the drought that is increasing across the state. There were more drought designations made recently based upon the drought monitor. (http://droughtmonitor. unl.edu/) USDA, Farm Service Agency is currently taking Livestock Feed Program (LFP) applications and is expecting to open their offices by the first of May. They are working virtually, so if you qualify for LFP, I encourage you to inquire about applying for the program. With drought, comes fire danger. This may be another hot summer as temperatures according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center are showing temperatures above normal. In fact, they are expecting we will be 60% to 70% above normal temperatures. This combined with a below average snowpack and lower reservoir
storage will have an impact on Nevada agriculture. Precipitation is in that Equal Chance (EC) range, so there is no telling what is going to happen. I encourage you to pay attention to the spring/summer storms, and that will determine what environment is out there on the range lands this summer with drought and fire. The drought situations are also combined with an increase in fuel costs, and other supply costs. When fuel goes up, so does everything else. Producers need to prepare for a higher cost of doing business in 2021. While it starts with fuel, it quickly leads into other areas. Hay prices for January were released on February 26, 2021 (USDA, NASS) and reported Nevada was right around $184/ton for all hay. Alfalfa was a dollar higher per ton at $185. For a livestock producer, these hay costs are high. When I look at our Extension “Enterprise Budgets,” we try to keep those hay costs as low as we can as it makes a difference in the producers’ bottom line. Then, we get to livestock prices. But what about prices? Prices are not super high, but they are not super low either. There is a lot that goes into how prices fluctuate. The storms that are hitting Oklahoma and Texas, performance of slaughter houses, the lower
value of the dollar, and that grass available next door to us. I don’t know where we are going to land on prices and they continue to fluctuate as usual. The rumor on the street is that Farm Service Agency will have some type of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) again. Hopefully, we will know in the next couple of months if this is true and what the program looks like for 2021. In addition, the American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March. There are still a lot of unknowns on USDA programs. There is money for states, local governments, tribes and agriculture; specific money for socially disadvantaged producers, USDA food programs, unemployment, education, and even money to expand broadband in rural areas. I am hoping by April we will know exactly what USDA programs are going to be implemented under this new legislation. This environment in 2021 is not new to our ranching and farming community. Producers continually have to make management decisions. Only time will tell what 2021 has to bring each and every one of us.
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The Progressive Rancher
APRIL 2021 13
Nevada Farm Bureau
Resolution Urging Congress To Fund Wild Horses and Burro Management By Doug Busselman | NFB, Executive Vice President One of the risks in writing on a proposed action in the Nevada Legislative process, at this point, things can change rather quickly while at the same time things can stay without changes for a long period of time. As this article is being drafted the Senate Natural Resources committee has not taken any action since Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 3 was introduced on February 25th. SJR 3 urges Congress to provide funding to reduce the wild horse and burro populations to appropriate levels.
Through the “Whereas” statements of SJR 3, points are made to offer a basis of background to present common understanding of Wild Horse and Burro management. As an example, the leading “Whereas” states that “the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended, ensured freeroaming horses and burros existing on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or U.S. Forest Service in 1971 would be protected and managed as valued components of our public lands.” The value in making this point is firming up the understanding that Wild Horse and Burro areas are actual locations – as opposed to the notion that they should be allowed to over-populate any and all federally managed lands.
Nevada’s populations of free-roaming horses and burros are identified as making up over 50 percent of all freeroaming horses and burros there are. It is also spelled out that Nevada’s established appropriate management has been set and that level is 12,800 horses and burros. The reality is covered on how Nevada’s Herd Management Areas are on average 300 percent over the appropriate management level with 50,000 on BLM lands and 2,500 on U.S. Forest Service lands. In addition, there are also approximately 5,500 other feral or estray horses and burros in areas outside of the jurisdiction of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. SJR 3 identifies that a national working group of various interests came to agreement for proposing a pathway to reduce the horse and burro populations to the appropriate level using nonlethal methods and that the BLM’s 2020 “Report to Congress: An Analysis of Achieving a Sustainable Wild Horse & Burro Program” is hinged on Congress providing sufficient short and longerterm funding for success. With the connection of funding – short and longer term – identified, the
purpose of SJR 3 is to put the 81st session of the Nevada Legislature on record of urging Congress to provide the commitment for sufficient funding to reduce the excess free-roaming horses and burros to achieve the appropriate management level. It is stated that the process of getting populations to appropriate management levels should be carried out within six years to protect and restore the health and viability of public lands and habitat for wildlife, free-roaming horses and burros and other uses into the future. This resolution came forward through the interim’s Committee on Public Lands, but even more important was originated by a working coalition of wildlife advocates and sportsmen groups. The support of these interests increases the emphasis on how overpopulation of Wild Horse and Burros is devastating wildlife habitat and rangeland conditions overall.
Although the inability to properly manage free-roaming horses and burros might have once been a problem with the federal land management agencies, the current situation rest within Congress. Foolish restrictions placed on use of the management tools available in the
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 dug a hole that the present over-population conditions can’t be addressed without significant sums of funding. SJR 3 notes in an important “Whereas” that “free-roaming horse and burro populations double every 3 to 5 years.” Timely and aggressive reductions of the wild horses and burros on the range is going to require a serious level of funding for not only the removal of excess animals, but the agreement for non-lethal methods is also going to require funding for housing animals in off-the-range facilities.
Without specifically using the words to say so, SJR 3 encourages Nevada’s members in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to take a leadership role in moving forward within the federal legislative branch to begin the long road to appropriate management levels of free-roaming horse and burro populations. There is plenty of reason to support passage of SJR 3 and appreciation for all who are advocating for the purpose of achieving appropriate management levels.
Further laying the groundwork for the established foundation for the program -- SJR 3 a “Whereas” statement covers sustaining herds “while ensuring a thriving natural ecological balance with wildlife, livestock and other public land uses in accordance with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960.”
“Appropriate management levels” (known more commonly as AML) is noted as well as the manner of how freeroaming horse and burros populations are set and once the populations go over the appropriate management level, the numbers of free-roaming horses and burros were defined as excess to the carrying capacity of the land. 14 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
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Thoughts/Questions For AB 146 Prepared by Doug Busselman, NFB Executive Vice President doug@nvfb.org | Cell: 775-870-3349 Section 2 calls on the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to establish a program to reduce, control and mitigate water pollution from diffuse sources… • I think we need to understand what the current program involves. This includes highlighting where problems exist that the current program/approach is not working. Where these specific unmet needs are not being met, what is the nature of the diffuse source contribution to create the problems that are taking place. • 2 (a) What do you envision for the results to be given that federal requirements for management and control of diffuse sources are based on voluntary programs and incentives for implementing best management practices?
• 2 (b) What extent do the plans and policies need to “dictate” end results/ requirements?
• 2 (c) What standards apply to meet expectations of “reasonably be expected to attain…?”
• 2 (d) Are the intentions to “identify the major categories of diffuse sources” supposed to be a statewide list of all “diffuse sources” or are there intentions to consider specific impaired waters and associate diffuse source issues on those specific circumstances? • 2 (e) Current use of best management practices are based on voluntary implementation, with incentives to assist in installing tools that connect to best management practices – This seems to imply more of a regulatory model? Also what extent does “control” mean?
Section 3 – requires approval for a permit (NRS 445A.475 or 445A.480) to have an applicant to file a bond or other surety in the amount fixed by the Commission… and (NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730) Section 4 (d) – Adopt regulations for controlling the infiltration of contaminants into underground water through contaminated fluids or soil… • What is considered to be “contaminated fluids” and “contaminated soil”? Are there already regulations or controls already in place which deal with “contaminated fluids” and/or “contaminated soil”? Sub (2) (II) {page 4 – line 35} speaks to “A danger to the health and safety of persons” – this seems like a fairly expansive scope…how will this be dealt with in regulatory specifics?
Sub (3) (a) includes historic irrigation and (b) “Any disproportionate impact on historically oppressed or marginalized communities in the respective river basins of this State.” -- this seems like a retribution for possible historic adjudication (Federal Court adjudication/court order) … What is the solution for accomplishing the intended recognition and consideration? How are “disproportionate impact,” “historically oppressed” and “marginalized communities” defined and linked? Section 7 – (NRS 445.490) deals with permits for injection of fluids through a well. What is the new subsection (6) supposed to cover? I’m struggling to understand what fluids are being injected into wells, in Nevada where the new subsection would apply?
Section 8 – This section again zeros in on injections of fluid into wells and proposes to intermix consideration of the injection of fluids through a well and disproportionate impact on historically oppressed or marginalized communities… As we have noted earlier we would like to have a better understanding of what injection of fluids are being targeted and the connection for populations that are identified. How are “disproportionate impact,” “historically oppressed” and “marginalized communities” defined and linked? www.progressiverancher.com
Section 10 – The proposed new language seems to over-ride beneficial use in relationship to water quality standards and make the default requirement that all water bodies would establish water quality standards to include propagation of wildlife and municipal or domestic water? Is that the intention – for all water bodies to be covered in this fashion?
New Sub (4) for Section 10… Quoting exactly – “The water quality standards established by the Commission must include, without limitation, numeric water quality criteria for the major categories of diffuse sources that contribute to water pollution in this State as identified by the Department pursuant to section 2 of this act.” We don’t understand how numeric water quality criteria is determined for diffuse sources? Our experience has been that the water quality numeric standards are applied to an impaired water body in question and not on every diffuse source (on a statewide basis) that have been identified by an agency… We also question there being a process to outline the science and process for establishing numeric water quality criteria that would be applied to specific water bodies that relate to impaired water designations. In the process, natural occurring water contaminants need to be identified and factored in with a clear background which deal with contaminants that might be related to diffuse sources in a site specific fashion. Section 11 – This section takes away the discretion for the Commission to determine whether controls for diffuse sources are prescribed (delete “may” and replace with “shall”).
Section 12 – this section requires the Department to produce “procedures for addressing the major categories of water pollution from diffuse sources…” We perceive this directive to push the Department into a mandatory prescription for diffuse source controls. This runs counter to voluntary implementation for best management practices and incentives to assist in implementing those voluntary actions.
NFB Testimony On AJR 3 For the record, my name is Doug Busselman. I am the Executive Vice President of Nevada Farm Bureau. We are testifying today in opposition to AJR 3. Our concerns over AJR 3 center on the meaning of the wording “protecting 50 percent of the world’s lands, oceans and waters by 2050” as well as the wording “protecting 30 percent of the lands and waters in this State by 2030”.
We appreciate the questions asked regarding what does “protecting” mean. We still are unclear over the calculations of 50 percent or 30 percent and how these levels are derived. These terms and how they translate into actions impacts economic consequences as well as people’s property. As conservation-minded people, farmers and ranchers have a different view of how using natural resources isn’t a bad thing and locking the ability for use of our federally-managed lands under designations of Wilderness, parks, National Monument Areas, etc. doesn’t automatically qualify those designated lands as being “protected” – in our view. In our view, protection should mean active management as opposed to designations for non-management. Nevada farmers and ranchers already provide a great deal of enhanced wildlife habitat and essential resources through the production activities they carry out while making a living.
Resolutions like AJR 3 in and of themselves serve as worthy aspirational concepts – how those aspirations translate into impacts on people who depend on their private property and the ability to use natural resources for their livelihoods also matter. These potential ramifications are the reason for our opposing AJR 3. Thank you for this opportunity to share our perspective.
APRIL 2021 15
Nevada Farm Bureau
Book of The Year
Estate Tax Repeal Bills Applauded
We are excited to announce the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture released the 2021 book of the year, “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish.” The book of the year was presented at the 2021 AFBF virtual convention.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on Congress to remove barriers to farm ownership. Bills aimed at eliminating the estate tax were introduced in the Senate and House on March 9. Both are supported by the AFBF.
“Tales of the Dairy Godmother” was written by Viola Butler. The story features a little boy named Chuck who wishes for all the ice cream he can eat prompting his “Dairy Godmother” to show up to grant his wish with a dairy farm. Chuck gets a firsthand look at all the hard work and care that goes into producing his favorite treat.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and 25 cosponsors introduced S. 617 and Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) introduced H.R. 1712, with 121 cosponsors. Both bills would allow for a complete repeal of the estate tax, which, according to AFBF analysis, threatens more than 74,000 family farms across the country and nearly half of all farmland.
Each year the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture picks a book that accurately covers agricultural topics. Book of the year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture and inspire readers to learn more.
“Farmers and ranchers already face unpredictable challenges beyond our control yet persevere to protect our nation’s supply of food, fiber and renewable fuel. The tax code should encourage farm business growth, not add to uncertainty,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Eliminating the estate tax removes another barrier to entry for sons and daughters or other beginning farmers to carry-on our agricultural legacy and make farming more accessible to all. We appreciate Senator Thune and Representatives Smith and Bishop for introducing their bills and look forward to working with them to get this important legislation passed.”
The Nevada Farm Bureau has purchased the Book of the year for Ag literacy events as well as the educational guide. These books would be a great addition for county Farm Bureau events. The educational guide is great resource to connect the book to where food comes from. The eight lessons featured in the educational guide cover literacy, science and math in a fun way. In addition to the book of the year we also have Ag mags available in beef, dairy, corn, bees, pigs, innovation, careers, energy, sheep, pork and specialty crops. Ag mags are a great resource for county Farm Bureau to use in Ag in the classroom, or other events held throughout the county. If you are interested in hosting an Ag literacy event in your county and would a copy of the book, or any Ag mags please contact Brittney Money at brittney@nvfb.org
If the estate tax is not eliminated, instead of spending money to improve their operations, farmers and ranchers, along with all small businesses, will be forced to continue to divert resources to pay for estate planning to account for a shifting and unpredictable tax code. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubles the estate tax exemption to $11 million per person indexed for inflation through 2025. However, without congressional action, the estate tax exemption will revert to $5.5 million per person in 2026, putting even more farms and ranches at risk.
By Brittney Money | NFB, Director of Communications 16 APRIL 2021
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A Guide to Being an Effective Citizen Lobbyist ACLU of Nevada, Reno | 1325 Airmotive Way, Suite 202 | Reno, Nevada 89502 | aclunv@aclunv.org | www.aclunv.org The decisions made during sessions of the Nevada State Legislature have a deep and lasting impact on our state’s communities. As new laws are created and others are repealed or rewritten, it is important to ensure that these changes preserve and strengthen our constitutional rights.
CITIZEN LOBBYISTS ARE KEY
The citizen lobbyist has existed nearly as long as democratic government itself. The term “lobbying” originates from the early practice of attempting to influence legislators in the lobby outside of the legislative chambers before a vote. The function of any lobbyist or lobbying campaign is basically the same: educate, advocate, and participate; it doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. People are often hesitant to get involved in the political process for several reasons. People believe legislators only listen to high-powered lobbyists and big donors, they don’t think legislation will affect their lives directly, or they don’t understand how the process works. But the single most important factor in influencing how a legislator votes on a bill is constituent support. And since very few people take the time to contact their legislators, one visit, one phone call, or one letter from a constituent speaks volumes. To find out about specific bills, hearing schedules, and how to contact your legislator, visit the state’s site: www.leg.state.nv.us
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS
Without a doubt, the most important tool for monitoring the legislature is to understand how it works. In Nevada, there are 63 legislators in two houses: 42 members of the Assembly, and 21 members of the Senate. In odd-numbered years, the legislature meets for 120 days beginning on the first Monday in February. During this time, potential laws, known as bills, are introduced in each house. There, committees hold public hearings, debate the bill language, make changes to its text, and vote whether to send the bill to the full chamber. If the bill passes out of committee, it is then sent to the Assembly or Senate floor to be read, debated and voted on. A bill usually requires a simple majority to pass – 22 www.progressiverancher.com
votes in the Assembly or 11 votes in the Senate. If a bill starts in and passes out of the Assembly, it then goes through the same process in the Senate, and vice versa. When both the Assembly and the Senate pass a bill, it is sent to the governor for his signature or veto. If the governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If the bill is vetoed, the legislature can override the governor’s veto with a twothirds vote in both houses. Committee hearings offer citizens the best opportunity to participate and voice their opinions through testimony, emails, telephone calls, and letters. If a citizen is interested in a particular bill, they may contact committee staff to schedule their testimony. They can also attend committee meetings and testify in person when the chair asks for comments from the public. A citizen lobbyist can and should make their opinions known to all members on the committee, even the committee member is not their representative. A great opportunity for a citizen to reach out to his or her own representative and make their voice heard is when a bill is approved by committee and heads to the Senate or Assembly floor. Finally, when a bill reaches the Governor’s desk, a citizen can contact him or her and ask that the bill be either signed or vetoed.
BEING A CITIZEN LOBBYIST
Nevada legislators have offices in the state legislative building in Carson City. Some officials are accessible to the community at their home or work and some prefer that their constituents contact them only at their legislative office. During the legislative session, state officials spend most of their time in the legislative building and are easily accessible by email or by phone. Elected officials spend a lot of time and money to measure public opinion in their districts. They count votes, count contributions to their campaigns, and also count phone calls, emails, letters, and personal visits. Most elected officials emphasize constituent contact because it helps direct their voting behavior. Even if your public official is supportive of your issues, you should still call, visit, or write, since they will hear the other
side too. Elected officials need to hear how important an issue is from their constituents.
ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO KNOW:
• Which constituents support or do not support an issue • How many constituents support or do not support an issue • Why their constituents support or do not support an issue • How an issue impacts the constituents in their district
CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR
The Nevada Legislature’s website lists each legislator’s contact information so you can call them at their legislative office or at home. Legislators pay attention to phone calls and consider support or opposition to bills. Phone calls are most useful when a vote has been scheduled and there isn’t time for a letter or visit. For advice on how to make an effective phone call, download & view Page 3 of this PDF: www.aclunv.org/en/becomeeffective-citizen-lobbyist
WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR
As constituents, it is important to stay in written contact with your elected officials. Elected officials use letters as one way to measure public opinion in their district. Their offices count the pieces of mail and email FOR and AGAINST every issue. For advice on how to write an effective letter or email, download and view Page 3 of this PDF: www.aclunv.org/ en/become-effective-citizen-lobbyist
PARTICIPATING IN HEARINGS
Committee meetings always include time for the public to express their views and are posted on line in advance of the meeting. Your participation in a committee hearing can make a big impact. Public testimony can influence the committee’s action and becomes part of the permanent record.
BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS
• Know the meeting time and location. These can be found on the committee meeting’s agenda. • Be flexible. Assume the meeting will take longer than the scheduled time. • Before arriving to the meeting, check
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to make sure that the issue you are following has not been removed from the agenda. • The bill or issue that you are interested in may not be heard first. Agenda items are also sometimes taken out of order. • Before you testify, try to attend another committee meeting so that you are familiar with the process and room layout.
KNOW THE ISSUES
• Know your allies in the room. Before you attend a public committee hearing, know the membership of the committee and find out their possible leanings on the issue you will be discussing. You can find out how legislators have voted on similar issues by visiting www.leg.state.nv.us. • If you are part of a group, plan your speeches so that you do not duplicate each other’s ideas. Strive to make one point without duplicating the testimony of other speakers. • Have knowledge about the “other side of the story.” You may be asked questions about the differences.
WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Writing letters to the editor is a great advocacy tool that can reach a large audience; often monitored by elected officials, they can bring up information not addressed in a news article, and create an impression of widespread support for or in opposition to an issue. Keep the letter short and on one subject. Many newspapers have limited space and set strict limits on the length, and brevity ensures important points won’t be cut out by the newspaper. Make it legible. Use a typewriter or computer if your handwriting is difficult to read. Send letters to weekly community newspapers - smaller circulations means your letter is more likely to be printed. Lastly be sure your letter makes reference the specific article you’re writing about. .................................. Editor’s Note: This article is not intended as support for any particular organization or agenda; its intent is to help Readers become more effective in advocating and supporting their own political concerns. APRIL 2021 17
Improving Mule Deer Populations: MANAGEMENT PART 3 OF 3
By Charlie D. Clements This is the final part of a three-part series addressing the importance of management in improving mule deer population densities and their habitat.
According to numerous researchers, habitat quality is the number one driving force behind increases and decreases in mule deer populations.
Mule deer are native to North America and are the primary big game species in Nevada and other western states. Mule deer are a valuable economic resource for State, County and local communities through their recreational opportunities.
The use of radio-collaring mule deer herds is critical in identifying summer, transitional and winter ranges. Following this identification, it is then possible to quantify the condition of these habitats and address limiting factors such as stand decadence (older less nutritious browse species), loss of habitat due to wildfires, Pinyonjuniper encroachments, and migratory issues.
Management of mule deer is critical to provide and continue recreational and hunting opportunities which requires the understanding of population dynamics driven by a complexity of biotic and abiotic factors such as climate, fire, habitat conditions, predation and highway vehicle collisions. Wildlife managers are tasked with the complexity of these factors that are continually changing and intermixing with each other.
The better quality and nutrition of the plant species the healthier condition the animals are to conceive, produce and recruit fawns back into the population (Figure 1) as well as reduce predation, disease and winter mortality.
Amount and periodicity of precipitation is the main driving force behind a plants ability to provide nutrition, flower, produce seed and recruit seedlings back into the environment. Being that Nevada is the driest State in the Union, the State receives more dry years that wet years, thus we have average precipitation zones that may only receive the average or above average precipitation about 40% of the time. The cold desert of the Great Basin receives the majority of its precipitation during the winter months in the form of snow which results in increased soil moisture for the coming spring, but periodicity of spring and summer precipitation are critical in continued nutritional value as well as recruitment of seedlings of desirable species.
Once habitat limitations are identified, the challenges begin. In the case of stand decadence, depending on the potential of the plant community, deliberate manipulation of habitats will need to be conducted to improve stand vigor (Figure 2). The higher elevations that receive more favorable precipitation respond very well to disturbances that set back succession, add edge effect and improve the stand age of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. One of the problems with these higher potential habitats, mountain brush communities, is that they account for a smaller percentage of the overall mule deer habitat. Wyoming big sagebrush/bunchgrass habitat types make up more than 50% of Great Basin rangelands followed by nearly 30% of very arid salt desert shrub communities.
Figure 1. The recruitment of mule deer fawns is critical in the sustainability and recovery of mule deer populations.
18 APRIL 2021
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Figure 2. Degraded big sagebrush habitat treated with the use of a Lawson Aerator which resulted in increased stand vigor, improved stand age and improved community diversity.
Wyoming big sagebrush/bunchgrass habitat types add significant risks when attempting plant manipulation due to the presence of cheatgrass in the environment and the seed bank. Cheatgrass has the ability to build persistent seed banks that can last 3-5 years, thus following the disturbance cheatgrass becomes the vacuum plant as seedlings of this invasive annual grass outcompete perennial seedlings for limited resources to survive and establish. Nonetheless, if you do nothing the odds are the site is going to burn sooner than later and most likely under uncontrollable situations. Not only is the old decadent browse species not providing quality nutrition and reproductive ability, these stands increase the intensity of wildfires. Antelope bitterbrush for example, has a very low percentage of resprout ability following wildfire, about 3%, and once the plant reaches around 60 years of age it starts to decline significantly in its overall condition. There are antelope bitterbrush stands that are near or over 100 years of age with no to minimal recruitment and provide little value other than cover and minimal nutrition. These older shrubs have a significant reduction in leader growth that results in less forage, decreased palatability and nutrition and an increase in volatile www.progressiverancher.com
oils that can be harmful to mule deer. Pinyon-juniper encroachment also requires deliberate manipulation as these pinyon-juniper stands crowd out grasses, forbs and shrubs and decrease the overall ability of these communities to support mule deer. More than 40% of the moisture these habitats receive never makes it to the ground due to the canopy cover and evaporation resulting in decreased spring flow that effects the entire watershed. Manipulation of these stands through chaining, lopping, cut and removal, mastication, etc. can result in a significant release of residual desirable vegetation with increased vigor and nutrition that are very beneficial to not just mule deer, but numerous other wildlife species. Wildfires have significantly impacted habitats throughout the Great Basin, especially browse communities that mule deer rely on for their very survival. Millions of acres of big sagebrush/ bunchgrass communities have been converted to annual grass dominance. The ability of resource managers to aggressively and effectively restore or rehabilitate rangelands burned in wildfires is a monumental task. Cheatgrass invasion and climate realities make it very difficult to successfully restore and/or rehabilitate
these degraded habitats, nonetheless, extensive efforts and measurable successes give light to future endeavors. Resource managers have become more aggressive in these efforts using proper seed mixes and methodologies as well as pre-emergent herbicides to control cheatgrass densities and aid in the establishment of desirable perennial species. The use of non-native plant materials such as crested wheatgrass and Siberian wheatgrass have provided resource managers with aggressive perennial grasses that are needed to suppress cheatgrass densities and associated fuels which decreases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfires. The use of forage kochia has provided mule deer with much needed nutrition when the seeding of native shrubs has experienced high failure rates. The use of forage kochia has minimized winter mortality significantly, although the percentage of the landscape treated with this species is less than 1%. Forage kochia seedings performed in the 1990s and thereafter are highly preferred by mule deer and provide critical nutrition to migrating and wintering mule deer herds today, all because of the recognition of this species as a beneficial browse species
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that could be successfully seeded on arid Great Basin rangelands. The continued efforts of researchers and resource managers to test weed control practices, plant materials, seeding methodologies, and transplanting opportunities are going to be very important in any attempt to restore and rehabilitate mule deer habitats (Figure 3). An important component of proper restoration/rehabilitation practices is the value of proper grazing management. Improper grazing management can lead to excessive grazing of seedlings of seeded species reducing the overall level of success of restoration/rehabilitation projects. It is hard enough to get survivability of seeded species in these arid Great Basin environments, let alone over graze following such extensive efforts. Understanding the level of success and health of seeded species will allow resource managers and livestock operators to monitor the site and achieve goals such as mule deer habitat restoration and sustainable grazing practices (Figure 4). The maturity of these successful seedings may be slower than anticipated, therefore management
... continued next page APRIL 2021 19
Figure 3. Proper weed control practices, seed bed preparation and seeding methodology resulting in the restoration of antelope bitterbrush following wildfire.
... continued from previous page decisions will have to be made to make an effort to allow these seedings to come to a maturity level that is more resistant to livestock grazing pressure. On the other hand, if a seeding effort fails, it is not a good idea to rest the site and hope some miracle happens, as all this will do is result in an increase in cheatgrass and associated fuels which increases the threat of wildfires which threatens adjacent unburned habitats. The better the habitat conditions, the less negative affect that predation will have on these already struggling mule deer herds. Predation can affect mule deer population if it is at least partially additive to mortality from other causes such as habitat loss, extreme winter conditions and urbanizations. Researchers have reported that predators do not cause declines in mule deer populations in undisturbed habitats, but may prevent or delay mule deer population recovery after a decline. This point should be well taken given the fact that much of the transitional and wintering mule deer habitats in the Great Basin are disturbed. Even though as little as a 6% predation rate on mule deer is reported to not significantly impact mule deer herds, the accumulative predator pressure over decades in association with other limiting factors can most certainly have a negative impact on mule deer populations and recovery. It is important to maintain mule deer migration corridors and pathways for future mule deer movements given the current benefits of migration to annual doe and fawn survival. Conservation easements, highway over and underpasses and highway signage can all significantly decrease mule deer mortality during migration periods. It is not uncommon to have more mule deer killed by highway accidents than the annual harvest of that specific herd. Highway road signs alone are reported to decrease highway mule deer mortality by more than 50%. Agricultural areas, such as alfalfa fields are quite the magnet to mule deer in certain habitats. Fawn mortality can be significant as a newer generation of swathers cut the crop at speeds that exceed 10mph versus the previous 3-4mph speeds. Bob Hoenck, of the Hoenck Ranch 20 APRIL 2021
in western Nevada, recognized this reality and therefore sends riders out through his fields before the swathers enter to reduce fawn mortality. These are just examples of a multi-prong approach to improving mule deer habitat, reduce mortality outside of responsible harvest limits, which combined can play an important role in increasing mule deer populations The management of mule deer and their habitat is complex as numerous factors play a role in the health, or
lack of, of mule deer herds throughout the Great Basin. Understanding that many factors are associated with the health of mule deer herds should be understood and addressed. Improving habitat conditions of summer, transitional and winter ranges can increase fawn production, decrease breeding female mortality, decrease winter mortality, decrease predation, and increase carrying capacity. The efforts put forth today are critical if our future mule deer herds are to have suitable habitat that will be in demand
in the near future as well as decades down the road. Habitat conditions though are not the only piece of the pie. Urbanization, agricultural practices, predation, and migratory constraints such as highways can all lead to added mortality of mule deer herds and their ability to produce healthy mule deer populations. Engaging in this important topic and addressing all the pieces of the pie will result in improved mule deer populations, which is good for wildlife and agricultural practices alike.
Figure 4. Successful seeding of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs resulting in enhanced mule deer habitat and improved sustainable grazing resources.
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APRIL 2021 21
SAGEBRUSH CONSERVATION STRATEGY Challenges to Sagebrush Conservation Excerpt from pages 239-241 of the Open-File Report 2020–1125
Full 364 page pdf can be viewed/ downloaded here: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2020/1125/ofr20201125.pdf Prepared in cooperation with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chapter T. Communication and Public Engagement By Jennifer Strickland,1 Bethann Garramon Merkle,2 Hannah Nikonow,3 Daly Edmunds,4 Suzanna C. Soileau,5 Terry A. Messmer,6 Chris Rose,7 Beth Kenna,8 and Mary E. McFadzen9
Executive Summary The natural resource management paradigm has evolved, and so has recognition that communication, outreach, and engagement are crucial components of successful conservation strategies. Effective, strategic communication can tap into popular culture and public discourse to create and enhance grassroots conservation movements, identify new generations of conservationists and communicators who care about the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem, and stimulate or sustain public participation in sagebrush conservation issues. The art and science of communication serves as more than a mechanism for sharing stories, more than a loudspeaker for the conservation community to announce its laments and achievements. Effective communication is a form of dialog that builds mutual understanding and serves as the foundation of trusting relationships. When planned strategically, funded appropriately, and executed mindfully, communication serves as a force multiplier. It tangibly advances on-the-ground conservation objectives, creates and nurtures the intergroup and interpersonal relationships necessary for success, tells stories that motivate existing collaborators to take action, inspires new partners to join a cause, increases the American public’s level of awareness and engagement, and builds public support for sustainable stewardship of the sagebrush biome. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2University of Wyoming. 3Intermountain West Joint Venture. 4 Audubon Rockies. 5U.S. Geological Survey. 6 Utah State University. 7U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 8Nevada Department of Wildlife. 9Montana State University. 1
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Integrating strategic communication, outreach, and engagement efforts into sagebrush conservation programs is essential to achieving success. The sagebrush biome is a vast geographic region with many stakeholders, values, land uses, and ecological threats. It is not easily accessible to most Americans and has held a low profile when compared to forests, wild and scenic rivers, and beaches. While scientific research on sensitive species within the sagebrush biome (most notably greater sagegrouse [Centrocercus urophasianus]) has proliferated over recent years, support for communication research and implementation remains a challenge. With over 50 percent of the sagebrush ecosystem managed by Federal and State agencies, public support is necessary to ensure a sustainable future for this ecosystem. Effective communication is essential to achieving this goal.
Introduction The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome has a branding problem—the public does not understand the diverse values and ecosystem services that the sagebrush ecosystem provides to American wildlife, western communities, and the Nation at large (Strickland and others, 2016). However, this challenge is a symptom of a larger truth: people have never been more disconnected from the landscapes that provide our fuel, food, and fiber (Cumming and others, 2014; Seto and others, 2014). People are not likely to conserve what they do not understand and value (Hunn, 2014). Thus, increasing the public’s perception of the value of sagebrush to humans and wildlife is ultimately a communications challenge. In this chapter, we review why communication is essential to sagebrush conservation, the current communication capacity within the sagebrush community, and key gaps in sagebrush brand identity that are hampering public perception of the importance and need for sagebrush conservation.
Why Communication is Essential to Sagebrush Conservation Success All of the sagebrush conservation needs outlined in this strategy, “Sagebrush Conservation Strategy—Challenges to Sagebrush Conservation,” have one thing in common: successfully and sustainably meeting sagebrush conservation needs requires a change in human behavior. This includes change by entities that engage in sagebrush ecosystem management efforts (for example, those contributing to this strategy), those deriving their income from sagebrush landscapes, extractive industries, outdoor recreationalists, as well as various sectors of the broader American public. Change, of the type and extent needed, is not likely to occur without an effective communication effort that conveys the need, nature, costs, benefits, and tradeoffs associated with that change. In order to affect behavioral change, our communication efforts must not only be strategic and measurable, they must be tailored to the various value systems of our target audience groups (see app. T1). Communication, outreach, and engagement efforts provide us an opportunity to shine a light on the rich culture, emotions, and values connected with sagebrush-associated wildlife, places, and people. Thus, to be successful in achieving sustainable conservation results and building broader awareness of and appreciation and support for sagebrush conservation, the sagebrush conservation community must understand, accept, respect, and reflect the cultural and economic realities of modern times. Management of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) highlights the conservation challenges faced by the sagebrush ecosystem (chap. D, this volume). Recent efforts to conserve this species required an unprecedented level of collaboration, compromise, and endurance from natural resource managers and stakeholders across
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the West. Success (as reflected by a not-warranted listing decision; U.S. Department of the Interior, 2015c) in this hard-earned effort was due in large part to improved lines of communication among disparate stakeholders. This consideration of communication paved the way for shared solutions that prioritized the interests of the many, not the few. The resulting partnerships cemented what has evolved into an ecosystem-wide conservation effort as a cornerstone for an American conservation model that is continually evolving to meet 21st century challenges. Long-term conservation and restoration of the sagebrush ecosystem will require sustained, concerted, and well-coordinated communication efforts across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, each with different goals and perspectives. To be effective, the growing suite of communication tools, tactics, and strategies must be used by diverse partners to amplify our collective conservation impact. Strategies must be designed with more attention paid to the perspectives of target audiences so that messages truly resonate with members of the sagebrush community, network, and eventually, a broader crosssection of the American public (see app. T1). Sagebrush country stories, and the means through which they are told, must capture and hold the imagination of the American people. Ultimately, our communications must convey a sense of shared heritage and a desire for stewardship because public support is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for this ecosystem.
Current Capacity for Communication There are a handful of sagebrush conservation initiatives within agencies and organizations that leverage communication capacity as a means for advancing sagebrush ecosystem conservation, some but not all of these are described in table T1. One of the challenges currently facing communication professionals www.progressiverancher.com
would be enhanced by access to a suite of technologies, such as customer relationship management, or CRM software, as well as by access to the research capacity of, and direct coordination with, social science experts. The latter is critical in order to accurately determine whether the messages we develop are not only reaching the intended audiences but also generating a change in opinion or behavior. Commitment of resources to this type of analysis will also help to build our collective body of knowledge that can be applied to future communication strategies targeting the same audience groups.
is a lack of capacity—no communicator focuses exclusively on sagebrush conservation communication, engagement, and outreach. Instead, collaborative sagebrush projects are often an additional duty that communicators join voluntarily. They juggle this with potentially competing priorities and projects within their respective roles. Additional support is needed from agencies and nongovernmental organizations to (1) include communication, outreach, and engagement as an essential component of all conservation strategies and (2) empower and support communicators to work on sagebrush conservation. For example, in 2016, leaders from various entities responsible for managing components (habitat, wildlife, and more) of the sagebrush ecosystem gathered and subsequently committed to improving internal and external communications around sagebrush management and conservation. They created the SageWest Communications Network (see table T1 for network description and link to website). The continued growth in number and diversity of participants reflects the value the group provides. Maintaining support from the leadership of participating entities will be necessary for collaborative communication efforts to www.progressiverancher.com
continue and thus, fully advance conservation across the sagebrush biome.
The skill sets and approaches used by communication professionals are often distinct from but complementary to those of researchers, biologists, and land managers. Indeed, funding is a universal problem across the sagebrush conservation community. Capacity constraints, as introduced above, include a lack of stable, adequate funding necessary to support communication priorities. For example, grant funders tend to place communication in direct competition with on-the-ground conservation actions, rather than treating it as an integral component of the broader conservation strategy’s success. Long-term success in landscape-scale conservation will require that robust, holistic, and durable communication strategies be incorporated as a central aspect of every step in the planning, funding, implementation, and analysis phases of sagebrush conservation and management actions. Sagebrush partnership organizations use a variety of communication technologies such as email (including listservs and newsletters), telephone, virtual meetings, websites, social media, and
cloud-based file management tools like Google Drive to build and strengthen collaboration.
Online surveys are periodically distributed to assess communication needs and advance individual or group efforts. To connect with other stakeholders and the public, most organizations have at least one social media account (for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram); a blog, magazine, or other storytelling medium; and printed flyers, fact sheets, or other handouts. Some entities also have video production or graphic design capacity in-house.
Current technologies will not meet the sagebrush community’s future needs for increased information sharing, communication, and collaboration. The sagebrush conservation community will need access to a range of complex communication technologies in order to build a communication infrastructure capable of supporting internal collaboration. Such infrastructure is needed at the scale we wish to operate and must be sustained for the duration of time required to achieve the conservation objectives outlined in this strategy. For example, the effectiveness of the sagebrush communications community
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Paid media and place-based marketing has shown promise in its ability to expand reach, raise public awareness, and activate public engagement on an issue. However, most sagebrush conservation communication currently operates within the realm of “earned media,” meaning coverage is “earned” through effective media pitching, relationships with newspapers and other outlets, social media, and compelling storytelling. Relying strictly on earned media is akin to relying strictly on one’s own personal vegetable garden to sustain a family through the year, but to get what is needed, most citizens must supplement what they raise with what they can buy. Similarly, to expand our outreach and activate public engagement, we need to supplement what we earn with strategic, paid media campaigns. Sagebrush conservation communications can also benefit from tapping into point-of-sale marketing techniques. These strategies leverage what we know about stakeholder lifestyles, behavior patterns, and values to deliver messages that literally meet them where they live. An example of point-of-sale marketing is when a milk company pays to design and place signs promoting its products near the milk aisle in a chain of grocery stores nationwide. These signs are intended to influence the decision-making process of customers who are not only present in the milk aisle but must make a purchase decision at that location. Analogous approaches exist within sagebrush communication, but this tactic has not been utilized as effectively as it could be and doing so would require additional behavioral research, media planning, graphic design, and financial resources. APRIL 2021 23
Desert Oasis Teff and Grain Needs FARMERS! The Desert Oasis Teff and Grain (DOTG) company is seeking western Nevada farmers interested in joining their teff grain production program. The demand for teff grain and flour has exploded in the United States and DOTG is a major supplier of this ancient grain. As such, they are currently enrolling farmers interested in producing teff grain for this rapidly expanding market. Teff grain is harvested from an annual lovegrass originally cultivated in Ethiopia thousands of years ago. Originally the major consumers of teff grain were Ethiopian migrants in the U.S. However, teff grain contains no gluten and individuals suffering from gluten intolerance or Celiac disease are clamoring for gluten free grain products. This demand has resulted in large bakeries and flour mills incorporating teff flour into their product lines. Teff was introduced to Nevada in 2005 by Jay Davison a retired crop Specialist for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Over the course of several years Jay Davison conducted numerous research projects and published several articles regarding teff production in Nevada. His research included variety trials, fertility and seeding rate experiments, and pest management needs for teff. He traveled to Ethiopia and worked closely with Ethiopian researchers in Ethiopia an in the U.S. He is nationally recognized as an expert in teff production in the United States and has consulted with individual teff producers throughout the U.S, Europe and South America. Jay Davison has been retained by DOTG to manage the teff field production monitoring program and consult with farmers growing teff grain. Fallon farmers, John Getto and Dave Eckert began growing teff in 2007 and formed Desert Oasis Teff LLC in 2009. The company has grown slowly and steadily over the intervening years to the point that they currently have an FDA registered, 3rd party audited processing plants in Fallon. In cooperation with participating farmers, they plant, harvest, clean and market teff grain and flour across the United States. Teff has several advantages to other rotational crops typically grown in an alfalfa rotation. It is cheap to produce and has the potential to net returns between $600-$700 per acre while using approximately one-half to two-thirds as much irrigation water as alfalfa or other crops such as corn silage. Teff is frost sensitive and is normally planted from May 15 to the first week of June in western Nevada. Later plantings are possible but greatly increase the danger of frost damage from early fall frosts. Teff seeds are tiny and average almost 1.3 million seeds per pound. It is seeded into a fine, firm seed bed like that required by alfalfa. It is dropped onto the soil surface followed by a ring cultipacker to press the seeds into the soil surface. Fertilizer requirements are low, with only 50-60 pounds of applied nitrogen required for a teff grain crop. Phosphorous may be needed and a soil sample result is useful to determine that need as well as any other nutrient that may be required. Normal pest management practices include spraying the teff crop with an herbicide to manage broad leaved weeds and an insecticide to control army worms.
Unlike other annual grains such as wheat or barley the stems will still be green when the crop is ready to be harvested. Therefore, it is not directly combined such as is common with these crops. A teff crop is first swathed and placed in wide windrows to dry before it is threshed using a combine. After about a week the windrows are fed into the combine equipped with a pick-up belt to facilitate threshing. The small size of the teff seeds makes efficient harvest difficult without a combine that has been modified to account for seed size. In addition to the grain, teff fodder is normally bailed and sold as a lower cost forage. It averages approximately 2.5 tons per acre Teff grain yields from good quality soils have averaged around 1500 pounds per acre. It is sold on a clean grain basis and the average clean out is from 12-20 percent, resulting in yields of 1200-1300 pounds per acre. In addition to the grain, teff fodder is normally bailed and sold as a lower cost forage. It averages approximately 2.5 tons per acre with recent fodder sales averaging $80-90 per ton. Farmers opting to participate in the DOTG grain production program are responsible for; 1) applying any needed fertilizer, 2) preparing the seed bed, 3) irrigating the crop and 4) applying the recommended herbicide and insect control as recommended by DOTG teff production specialists. The fodder is retained by the participating farmer and they are responsible for any harvesting practices applied. The DOTG teff production specialists are responsible for; 1) supplying and seeding the teff, 2) monitoring the fields on a regular basis and 3) coordinating with the participating farmer regarding all aspects of production. They will make recommendations concerning; 1) fertility management, 2) pest management requirements, 3) irrigation requirements of the crop, and 4) harvest timing. Personnel from DOTG will be responsible for all teff grain field harvest operations and transport to the cleaning facilities. Harvested grain will be cleaned and packaged for sale at DOTG facilities. Participating farmers will be paid 50 percent of the value of the grain yield at harvest and the remaining 50 percent when the harvested grain is cleaned and the clean grain percentage determined. For the 2021 production season, teff production costs to DOTG are as follows and are deducted from net grain sales (no out of pocket expense). Planting • Ongoing field growing monitoring Weed control (chemical only) • Insect Control (chemical only) Swathing • Combining • Poly bag (2000 lbs capacity) The 2021 estimated teff returns are based on an average yield of 1275 pounds per acre clean seed and fodder yields of 2.5 tons per acre being sold bringing your estimated income at $837.50 per acre. Call John Getto-Owner 775-427-0323, Jay Davison 775-427-5608 to join the Teff Grain production program.
Teff irrigation follows immediately after planting and continues until mid to late August depending on the planting date. The total amount applied depends on the soil texture and weather experienced during the growing period. It is successfully grown using either flood or sprinkler irrigation. Harvest begins approximately 90-100 days after planting. Because teff stems are very slender and the seeds heavy, a teff field will be almost 100 percent lodged or laying on the ground when the crop is ready to be harvested. 24 APRIL 2021
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A ROTATION CROP YOU CAN FINALLY MAKE MONEY AT
MEET TEFF 90 DAY CROP PLANT IN JUNE HARVEST SEPTEMBER REQUIRES LESS WATER PROFITABLE ROTATION CROP
Join the Teff grain production team CALL TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE JAY– CROP SPECIALIST 775-427-5608 DESERT OASIS TEFF & GRAIN WWW.DESERTOASISTEFF.COM www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
APRIL 2021 25
BU
E
21ST
H
S FOR T L L
CENTURY
2021 SALE REPORT 91 Bulls
$4907
Snyder’s Bulls for the 21st Century had an outstanding sale on March 14. The $4907 average was the highest average the sale has ever recorded.
25 Angus
$5017
To protect attendees from exposure to Covid19, Snyder’s chose to cancel the Bull Buyer’s Seminar and the Bull Sale Bash.
26 Calving Ease Angus
$6200
18 Charolais
$4164
2 Brangus
$3800
Consignors, sponsors and a few buyers joined with Snyder family and employees for an amazing prime rib dinner sponsored by Global Animal Products on Saturday evening. Doug and Loree Joses served the bull sale lunch featuring Doug’s incredible barrel smoked tri-tip. The high selling bull, the Champion Calving Ease Angus sired by LD Capitalist 316, consigned by Kris Gudel, went to Brian and Heather Kingdon for $11500. The High Point Bull, a late fall Red Angus sired by Trotters Fusion 432, consigned by Lana Trotter, sold to Dennis Jones for $7500. The Champion Charolais, a spring Charolais sired by FTJ Monticello 1806, consigned by Fred Jorgensen, sold to Bryson Masini for $4600. The Champion Continental, a spring SimAngus sired by KG Grandmaster D628, consigned by Kris Gudel, sold to Mori Ranches for $5250. The Champion Angus, a spring bull sired by Roadrunner Grit 2197, consigned by Cardey Ranches sold to Maureen Weishaupt for $6500. The Champion Hereford, a early fall calving ease Hereford sired by Genoa York Y02 17013, consigned by Genoa Herefords, sold to Kelley Hodges for $4250. Westwind Angus won the best consignment award. In a special presentation, the family of Lilla Bell received the Lucy’s Award in memory of Lilla, a long time Hereford breeder and consignor to Bulls for the 21st Century Sale. *Photos of winners taken with Lucy Rechel, Feedlot Owner/Manager 26 APRIL 2021
5 Gelbvieh and Balancer $3370 2 Herefords
$4375
2 Limflex
$3950
8 Red Angus
$4981
3 Simmental/Sim Angus $4750 Going once... going twice... SOLD! The Snyder Livestock Company, Inc. Annual Bulls for the 21st Century Test & Sale highlights the best bulls available anywhere on the West Coast. The bulls are sold in an auction after going through a rigorous 120 day evaluation period. The evaluation includes weight gain during the test, epd and lineage ranking, semen testing, ultrasound testing, and physical appearance ranking. Breeds sold at our bull sale include Herefords, Charolais, Angus, Red Angus, Gelbvieh and a few others. Snyder Livestock Company is a family owned corporation located in the high desert of western Nevada. The Snyder family has been ranching in the Mason Valley area since the mid 1800’s. The portion of the ranch between Bridge Street and Goldfield Avenue of Yerington has been farmed by the Snyder family for over 100 years. Learn more at: www.slcnv.com
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Gudel Family, Gudel Cattle Co. | Champion Calving Ease Angus & Champion Continental
The Bell Family | Lucy’s Award Recipient
Fred Jorgensen | Fred Jorgensen Charolais | Champion Charolais
Lana Trotter High Point Bull | Trotter Red Angus | Champion Red Angus
Don & Diana Cardey | Cardey Ranches | Champion Angus
David & Paula Holden | Westwind Angus | Top Consignor
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The Progressive Rancher
APRIL 2021 27
Churchill County Cowbelles Update Spring creeps across the plains lifting my spirit and renewing my soul as it bursts forth from the earth.
There are a couple of moments every year that I anticipate because they bring back that feeling of anticipation and joy. At the top of my list is a spring shower that cleanses the atmosphere and leaves a lingering freshness for all to enjoy. Another moment is watching the colts and calves frolicking in the field. Watching them run around the field with complete abandon is the ultimate expression of the joy in living. My Dad commented on it frequently; seeing a colt bolt across the prairie brings a picture of my Dad on Dempsey watching them with a smile on his face. Seeing the renewal of life every spring brings a smile to my face and a sense of wonder. I have always enjoyed watching the earth awaken from its winter’s rest and burst forth in brilliant greens capped in colors representing every band of a rainbow.
We held our regularly scheduled March meeting on March 1; it felt good to start moving forward again. Four main points of discussion during the meeting were: the status of the 501(c)(3/4/5) designation; legislative update on the makeup of the Nevada Board of Agriculture; the updating of the bylaws; and the Nevada Beef Council Cookbook for Cowbelles promotion. The 501(c) discussion was tabled until next month due to new information being presented and more research was deemed necessary before making a final decision. The members approved a letter written by the CCCowbelles Legislative Committee concerning SB54. The bill submitted by the NV Dept of AG Director Jennifer Ott attempts to change the structure of the 11 board member of the Dept of AG. The letter was sent to the Nevada Legislative Senate’s Natural Resource Committees asking them to kill the bill. The only action taken on the bylaws was to hold a special meeting on March 11 to review each section. The members in attendance were tasked with reviewing the committee’s work, editing it and coming to a consensus to present at the April meeting for adoption.
By Susan Van Patten, President The members approved spending a limited amount for labels for the Beef Council Cookbooks; then we will place them in businesses throughout Churchill County. Have a suggestion? Contact us at cccowbelles@gmail. com. The Beef Council Cookbook was a big hit at the Fallon Bull Sale in February. It’s very informative; not only are beef recipes featured, but nutritional information is also provided.
This past year has created numerous surprise changes. One for me was a renewed interest by many in cooking, a passion of mine. I recently read an article in the Epoch Times, February 28-March 2, 2021 edition by Joseph Mercola titled ”60 Percent of Americans Will Be Obese by 2030”. This article linked obesity to four factors. The factor that I found the most interesting was the link between obesity and ultra-processed foods. This includes items like cereal, pizza, chicken nuggets, frozen meals, instant soups, chips, etc., all which are high in sugar. With a renewed interest in cooking and a resource like the Beef Council Cookbook, now families have a source that is an alternative to ultra-processed foods.
Our Favorite Beef Recipes BEEF & SPRING VEGETABLE STEW
A fresh take on an old favorite, this dish celebrates the end of winter while welcoming spring. It’s warm and hearty, yet fresh and bright. Blanch the veggies and serve on top of the stew, almost as a garnish, so they’ll stay vibrant and crisp instead being mushy. If these veggies aren’t available, just use whatever varieties you can get. Don’t let the time concern you; most of it is hands-off. And since beef chuck becomes incredibly tender and mouthwatering when cooked so long, this recipe is worth every minute.
TOSS: • 2 ½ lb. beef chuck, cut into 1 ½” chunks • 1 tsp. kosher salt • 1 tsp. black pepper • 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour • 3 Tbsp. olive oil Toss together beef, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper, and 1 Tbsp. flour. Heat 3 Tbsp. oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high; add beef and brown 4–5 minutes. STIR IN: • 6 cloves garlic, minced • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste • ¼ cup all-purpose flour Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste; cook until paste darkens, 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup flour, stirring to coat; cook 1–2 minutes. DEGLAZE: • 1 cup dry white wine • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard • 1 Tbsp. minced fresh thyme • 1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary • 2 dried bay leaves • 1 ½ lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks Deglaze Dutch oven with wine and simmer 1 minute. Add broth, Worcestershire, Dijon, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add potatoes to stew, cover, and cook until both potatoes and beef are tender, 30–45 minutes more. BLANCH: • 8 oz. baby carrots • 4 oz. haricot verts or green beans, trimmed • 4 oz. baby squash, such as pattypan or zucchini, halved Blanch carrots 5–6 minutes, beans 4–5 minutes, and squash 3–4 minutes in boiling water. Transfer vegetables to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking; drain. MELT: • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter • 2 Tbsp. olive oil • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced Melt butter with 2 Tbsp. oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add sliced garlic and carefully cook until just barely golden, 1–2 minutes. Add blanched vegetables and sauté until warm, 2–3 minutes. STIR IN: • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed • 1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice • Salt and black pepper to taste Stir peas, pearl onions, parsley, and lemon juice into stew right before serving; season with salt and pepper. To serve, divide sautéed vegetables among bowls of stew. Great with crusty bread and soft butter.
28 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
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GREENWAY’S
GRAZING CORN Gra Yearl ze 1500 130 A ings on a c for 30re Pivot Days
Per n i a G s. of N) 3.5 lb (69% TD e* Day t. Cattl 5-7 w
28 Ton Silage Pasco, WA
* Jesse Norcutt, Currant, NV
Greenway Seeds Grazing Corn (GX80) is the No. 1 grazing corn in the nation because it is 5-6 days earlier than the competition. This allows the rancher to plant 5-6 days later and still reach peak sugar content (pre tassel) before the frost shuts you down!
OVERSEED ALFALFA with Grazing Corn
Plant with a grain drill following second cutting on an older field alfalfa. Ready to graze in early September. “We planted GX80 following second cut alfalfa. If we had to do that over we would follow third cut. We grazed 400 head for two weeks on 20 acres” Cory Veterre - Greenriver, Utah
HERE’S WHAT RANCHERS ARE SAYING Casey Calvin - Monte Vista, CO We grazed lambs on GX80. They ate it all the way to the ground. Unbelievable! (See website for photos)
Crawford Cattle - Winnemucca, NV
Planted mid July, it was way over our heads. We were surprised as to how long we were able to graze. We also baled some of it. We’re buying again.
Roberti Ranches - Loyalton, CA We grazed pairs. They ate it all to the ground. We also baled it. The cows like it. We plant GX80 every year.
Coffin Butte Farm and Ranch - New Leitzigg, ND We planted 400 acres on dryland and fed out 800 pair. We grazed it from Oct 20 to Nov 24. The corn was 7-1/2 ft. tall. The program was a success!
Greenway Seeds
Alan Greenway Seedsman
Caldwell, Idaho
www.greenwayseed.com Over 40 years Experience www.progressiverancher.com
Alan cell: 208-250-0159 Message: 208-454-8342 $
58 per Bag - Free Shipping on 2000 lbs. or more!
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APRIL 2021 29
Legends Never Die The Life and Times of a True American Cowboy by Jill Ceresola Scofield
I’m not sure how old I was the first time I thought my dad was immortal. Maybe it was one of the many times I saw him rope a mustang on a ridge throwing an impossible loop that would have resulted in a missed catch by anyone else. Or when he would rope and drag a cow or bull of any size just as if it were a 300-pound calf. Maybe it was how he was a champion in everything he did, including being a world champion team brander. Or how even into his 70s, he could rope and ride with the best of them, a prolific cowboy whose legend and reputation preceded him everywhere he went. So no, I’m not sure how old I was or what specific event in life that made my sisters and I believe it, but we thought dad would live forever. Sadly, it turns out he wasn’t immortal after all. Stanley Eugene Ceresola passed away unexpectedly on February 21, 2021. He leaves behind a legacy of cattle ranching and cowboying, and is greatly missed by both his family and his friends, most of whom considered him family. His are the kind of boots that can never be filled; his saddle one that will forever be empty. Dad’s life and legacy really centered around being a cowboy; it’s what defined him over everything else. Born about a century too late, he was more comfortable on a horse than on the ground, always eager to be “off in a cloud of heifer dust”. He was
perfectly at home at cow camp – no electricity, the only warmth coming from a camp fire, and a bedroll laid out on the ground. To him, this was a greater luxury than a five-star resort. Dad was born to Bill and Dorothy Ceresola of Wadsworth in 1946, and his brother Steve and sister Linda later joined the family. The Ceresola Brothers were a large family of ranchers who ran cattle in the Nevada high desert, and who provided a life for dad that he was made for. Ranching and cowboying permeated every part of his life. Even when he moved on from ranching himself, dad never hung up his cowboy hat and remained a top hand for many ranchers both friends and family, as well as for Cattoor Livestock wild horse gathers. They say you’re only as young as you feel, and if that’s true, dad was still a 25 year-old cowboy who could rope and ride with the best of them any day of the week. But dad had other talents as well, and basketball was one of them. He was an All-American basketball player in high school, and went on to be a starting player for the University of Nevada Reno basketball team. The cowboy life, however, always called to him, and he left college and basketball behind to follow his true passion. Aside from cowboying, family was his life. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Judith Lyon. From that December day began five decades of a loving marriage that resulted in four daughters – me and my sisters Sheila, Sandy and Jaci - six grandchildren, and enough laughter and memories to last a hundred years or more. If you knew my dad, you knew he was the life of the party, and that his stories were legendary. Holidays, family gatherings, or friends coming
Early years of Stan on the Ceresola Ranch with his dad, Billy.
together weren’t complete until he started story telling. Whether he was sharing his escapades of outsmarting the nuns in Catechism, telling one of many tales about a mustang or rangy cow that just about killed him or one of his hands, or him and mom living through near-death experiences in New Orleans, Barbados, and other vacation destinations, each story was uniquely Stan and left the lucky listener crying with laughter. Dad was loved by a wide circle of friends. One of his best friends for many years, and a man who my sisters and I consider family, was Dave Stix.
“I knew Stan since I was 13 or 14 years old, and thought he was probably the best cowman I ever worked with. I’ve never known anyone who could handle cattle outside on the open range like he could,” Dave recently told me. “But above that, he was just a great person. He was always so thoughtful and would give you the shirt off his back, and for all the years I knew him, he paid special care and attention to the older generations. I always admired that about him.”
The last weekend of February, on a bone-chilling, frigid day, we gathered to remember and honor the man we called dad and grandpa, who many others called a hero and friend. It was “Stan’s Last Branding.” Ranchers and cattlemen and women from Nevada and beyond gathered with us to celebrate the life of one of the west’s last great cowboys. As dad’s casket was lowered into the ground that cold, sad day, it was marked with nearly 100 brands of fellow ranchers, both family and friends. Those brands now rest easy with him, forever.
Two weeks after he was laid to rest, the Fernley High School rodeo honored dad with a tribute. His longtime friend and top hand Sid Kochamp led his horse, Buck, around the arena, riderless forever. Dad helped bring high school rodeo to Fernley, and paved the way for cowboys and cowgirls to continue competing in the venue today. I hope many of us think of him when we’re on those rodeo grounds. I know I will. Stan Ceresola was one of too many other heroes in the cattle industry and cowboy (and cowgirl) world who have passed in recent years. We know we are not alone in our grief, because too many other friends throughout Nevada have also experienced it recently. I think what brings us all comfort is that we know there’s a hell of a branding or roping going on in heaven. Dad, you were one of a kind and your loss will be felt by all of us for the rest of our lives. I hope you’ve felt the love for you that has been shared these last several weeks as we’ve mourned. You were larger than life, leaving a hole too big to fill. It was a good ride, cowboy.
30 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
Stan and his girls – from the top, clockwise: Sheila, Sandy, Jill, Jaci and Judy seated in front of him.
Stan bringing in a mare and her foal with Sid Kochamp and Gary Garaventa.
Photo: Cattoor Livestock
Photo: Victoria Jackson
Photo: Victoria Jackson
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The Progressive Rancher
Photo: Cattoor Livestock
APRIL 2021 31
USFS grazing permit ‘directives’ contain tiny details By Joy Ufford | jufford@subletteexaminer.com People have extra time to review and submit comments on the U.S. Forest Service’s new handbook of proposed nationwide “grazing directives”, until April 17. The original deadline to comment on the USFS’s “Grazing Permit Administration Handbook” was extended to give more people time to study the details.
The manuals and handbook are being updated after 30 years and rewritten to clarify rangeland management directives for its employees, according to USFS National Press Officer Babette Anderson. Any grazing permittee with questions should talk to his or her local Forest Service rangeland manager, she said. “The proposed updates to FSM 2240.3 add clarification to existing policies regarding rangeland improvements. No additional requirements are being added to permittees,” Anderson replied in an email in response to questions submitted by the Sublette Examiner. The portion referred to here is for “grazing agreements on national forests in the western regions” that some western legislators have called “lengthy and complex.”
Details in the proposed handbook might clarify permit processes for USFS employees but could be confusing to the permittees they will advise.
For example, the grazing directives explain how a ranching family or corporation can plan to divest half of its permits to a child – or newly included – a grandchild. Wyoming Stock Growers Association’s Jim Magana said he did not see “any major negatives at this time.” One of “the most significant improvements,” he said, is the path to pass up to 50 percent of an original rancher’s grazing permits on to younger generations – “facilitating the transfer of permits from one generation to the next in a family 32 APRIL 2021
by allowing grazing of livestock owned by children or even grandchildren for a period of time.”
The handbook’s summary says including grandchildren “helps families where the children left the ranch but their kids want back in.”
“For the most part, I feel that the changes are positive for FS permittees,” Magagna said. “There is a lot of emphasis on increasing communications.” Pinedale rancher and Wyoming House Rep. Albert Sommers agreed: “Most of the management directives that I have reviewed seem positive.” EASEMENTS Families and corporations with term grazing permits should consult with the USFS for estate planning. Only a “family” – not a corporation or a trust as many family ranches operate – can be eligible for conservation easements, for example. Question: The directives talk about a “conservation easement ranch family” – does this mean the ranches can’t have a corporation or trust, which is how many families set up their businesses?
Answer: “Conservation easements have become more common as a land conservation tool with more landowners entering into conservation easements. The Forest Service should not be engaged in the negotiation of conservation easement terms, but information was included in the proposed updates at section 12.21(a) to provide employees with a basic knowledge of conservation easements as we anticipate that it would be helpful relative to grazing permit administration and base property qualifications.” RANCH BUSINESSES More directives inform employees about how ranching businesses might be organized to best serve the families.
Question: Many have the basic president, vice president, secretary and treasurer – and don’t have other family members listed as parties, assuming they are because they are “family.” Do they have to add every person’s name to a corporation for the child or grandchild to be considered eligible for acquiring up to 50 percent of the permit?
NOT PEOPLE
Question: How do people with ranch corporations who want conservation easements have to maneuver through this?
“There are many variables involved and the District Office can inform prospective permittees on what flexibilities exist within Forest Service policies that may pair with their business decisions related to their base property.”
Answer: “There are many ways that individuals choose to organize their business. The Forest Service should not be engaged in those business decisions but instead communicate what requirements must be met to qualify for a term grazing permit. Section 12 discusses the types of entities that may be eligible to hold a term grazing permit and what requirements must be met to obtain a term grazing permit.”
Answer: “We assume you are referring to the opportunity for children and/or grandchildren to run up to 50 percent of the permit holder’s permitted animals. This is an expansion of the opportunity that has always been provided to children of a permit holder. To clarify, this provides an opportunity to place livestock on the permitted allotment under the existing permit and is not associated with the children or grandchildren ‘acquiring’ a portion of the permit. “In order for an individual to obtain a permit or portion of the permit, the permit holder waives the permit, or portion thereof, back to the Forest Service, who would then issue a new permit to the child or grandchild so long as that individual meets the eligibility and qualification requirements (e.g., owned livestock and qualified base property). That process has not changed with the proposed updates to the rangeland management directives.
“However, the updates also include the ability for the parent or grandparent to run up to 50 percent of the permit holder’s permitted animals. Meaning, once the child or grandchild decides that they would like to run greater than 50 percent of the permitted numbers, they could obtain ownership of the base property and work through the process to obtain the term grazing permit, after which the parent or grandparent could run under their permit. The intent of the proposed updates is to provide additional flexibilities to facilitate succession opportunities.”
The Progressive Rancher
Question: If corporations are “not people and thus cannot have children” – do they have to change to a non-business entity for a child or grandchild to pick up some of the operations? This could affect a lot of families’ businesses.
Answer: “Section 12.22 does not prohibit permittees from following the process described above. There may be additional opportunities for the children and/or grandchildren to become part of the corporation or other business entity. The best approach for permittees who are considering making changes to base property or livestock ownership is to contact their local Ranger District office to talk about what requirements must be met to continue to be qualified to hold a term grazing permit.
COW CAMPS Question: Why is there a new section on administration of cow camps?
Answer: “Forest Service employees are the primary audience of the rangeland management directives. It has been approximately 30 years since the directives have been updated and we have noticed questions about cow camps coming up several times over the years, especially cow camps that could be considered historic. The updates are intended to provide clarity and explain how cow camp maintenance requirements may or may not have to change after they reach 50 years of age as well as a discussion on the manner they can be authorized depending on the ownership of the facility.” Question: What new requirements specifically are being added to the permittees’ plate?
Answer: “The proposed updates to FSM 2240.3 add clarification to existing policies regarding rangeland improvements. No additional requirements are being added to permittees.” For more... The proposed Grazing Permit Administration Handbook and information to comment are at www.fs.fed.us/rangeland-management/ directives.shtml www.progressiverancher.com
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APRIL 2021 33
Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle By Shane Gadberry, Associate Professor - Animal Science & John Jennings, Professor - Forages University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating | www.uaex.edu
Nitrate poisoning in cattle is caused by the consumption of an excessive amount of nitrate or nitrite from grazing crops, hay, silage, weeds, drinking water, lubricating oil, fertilizer, etc. Nitrate Accumulation in Plants All plants contain some nitrate, but excessive amounts are likely to occur in forages which have been grown under conditions of excessive fertilization and/ or stress. The buildup of nitrates in soil brought on by excessive fertilization with poultry litter or animal manure is a common cause of nitrate accumulation in plants. Commercial fertilizers aren’t likely to cause excessive nitrate accumulation in plants when recom mended application rates and practices are followed. However, plant species and adverse environmental conditions before harvest affect the concentration of nitrates even more than available nitrogen in the soil. Direct ingestion of fertilizers that contain nitrates can be toxic to livestock.
Any stress condition which causes an abrupt decrease in plant growth may contribute to plant nitrate accumulation, even with a normal nitrogen supply. Some of these conditions are: 1. Lack of Sunlight: Shaded valleys, continued cloudy days and high plant populations may contribute to excess nitrates in plants.
2. Detrimental Weather: Drought and high temperatures or low humidity, cold temperatures, hail damage and frost may slow or stop plant growth and cause nitrates to accumulate. 3. Herbicides: Spraying with herbicides such as 2,4D may result in temporary high nitrate levels in plants. Herbicides disrupt the normal enzyme systems of plants, and this action interferes with the reduction of nitrates and their conversion into protein. Judicious, timely spraying of pastures to control young weeds will actually reduce the nitrate hazard because those weed species which are normally high in nitrates are 34 APRIL 2021
killed early in the year. This reduces the overall threat of nitrate toxicity through more of the season.
4. Diseases: Diseases may destroy photosynthetic and/or conductive tissue that could cause nitrates to accumulate in plants by interfering with nitrate reduction, protein synthesis or the manufacture and translocation of carbohydrates.
5. Imbalance of Soil Nutrients: A balance of soil nutrients is important in preventing nitrate accumulations. A lack of trace minerals, such as molybdenum, copper, iron, magnesium, sulfur or manganese that are involved in the enzyme system for using nitrates or potassium, may cause nitrates to accumulate in plants. Kinds of Plants Nitrate toxicity in cattle is primarily a problem associated with some annuals, certain perennial weeds and some cool season grasses (fescue, bromegrass, orchardgrass, small grains and ryegrass). Warm season grasses generally cause fewer problems. Corn and sorghum have occasionally caused problems. Sorghum sudan hybrids have probably caused more problems than any other summer annual forage. Accumulators of nitrates, ranked from highest to lowest, are as follows:
Weeds • Corn • Sorghums • Sudangrass Cereal grains • Tame forage grasses
stem. It is progressively diluted toward the top of the stem. Very little nitrate is found in the flowers or seed. Nitrates in Water The effects of nitrate levels of forage, feed and water are additive. So, both feed and water must be considered when evaluating a nitrate problem. Nitrates may reach dangerous levels in ponds, shallow wells or streams that collect drainage from manure, highly fertilized fields or industrial waste. Deep wells are usually safe sources of water. No safety standards have been set for livestock water, but it has been suggested that up to 100 ppm of nitrate nitrogen in water should be safe if cattle are consuming an adequate ration that is free of nitrates. This is ten times the safe level set for humans. Nitrate Detection Forage analysis is necessary to determine if nitrates are present at toxic levels. A field test can indicate if nitrates are present, but suggestions for diluting feeds are based upon a more precise laboratory analysis of the forage. When submitting a forage sample for laboratory analysis, be sure your sample accurately represents your feed. A good sample can be collected by taking 12
or more samples at various levels or locations within your silo or pasture. A hay probe is desirable for taking hay samples. Nitrate analysis of forage and water samples is available from the University of Arkansas Agri cultural Diagnostic Service Laboratory. Information on sampling, shipping and costs can be obtained from county Extension offices. (Ask specifically for a nitrate analysis.) Interpretation of Analysis Guidelines for uses of feeds with known nitrate contents are given in the table on page 3. Figure 1 shows the percentage of various hays tested at the UofA Diagnostic Lab that falls within different tolerance ranges. Less than 50 percent of the 708 sorghumsudan samples fall below 700 ppm nitrate nitrogen. Accurately categorizing the toxic dosage of nitrate is difficult because it depends on the tolerance of the animal, type and quantity of diet and the rate at which nitrate is consumed.
For example, about twice as much nitrate is necessary to kill cattle when nitrate is eaten in forage as opposed to when it is consumed quickly as in a protein supplement or a drench. Therefore, the toxic levels shown in the table are generally regarded as conservative but
FIGURE 1. Percentage of hay samples for various species that fell within four differenttolerance levels for nitratenitrogen in the diet of beef cattle
While these plants are the most common cause of nitrate poisoning, any grass or weed beyond the seedling stage with a high stemtoleaf ratio is more likely to be a problem than a less stemmy forage. Stage of Growth and Plant Parts – The nitrate content is usually highest in young plants and decreases as the plant matures. However, at high levels of soil nitrate or under conditions of growth stress, the plant nitrate content may be high at maturity. The highest levels of nitrates occur just before flowering and decline rapidly after pollination and seed formation. The highest concentration of nitrate accumulates in the lower third of the plant stalk or
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are the best recommendations available for a variety of circumstances. Causes and Symptoms of Nitrate Toxicity Most forages contain some nitrate. Nitrate is not particularly toxic to cattle. When feeds containing nitrate are eaten by ruminants, the nitrate is normally broken down to ammonia and converted by bacteria into microbial protein. Nitrite, one of the intermediate products involved in this process, is the cause of “nitrate poisoning.” Some of the nitrite is absorbed into the animal’s bloodstream where the nitrite is capable of changing the normal oxygen transporting substance, hemoglobin, into methemoglobin, a substance that cannot carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Nitrates also cause dilation of blood vessels, and further lack of oxygen is caused by peripheral circulatory failure. Lack of oxygen to the tissues may be the cause of abortions, which sometimes occur following nitrate poisoning. Abortions due to nitrate should be accompanied or preceded by some evidence of nitrate problems in the adult animal, including death or bluish discoloration of unpigmented areas of the skin or mucous membranes.
When this condition occurs, the animal suffers from magnesium deficiency even though the ration contains an adequate level of magnesium. Treatment of Nitrate Toxicity An injection of 1 percent solution of methylene blue (4 mg per pound of body weight) into the bloodstream is the preferred treatment to aid in the reduction of methemoglobin to hemoglobin. This dose may be repeated in 20 to 30 minutes if the initial response is not satisfactory. Prevention of Nitrate Toxicity Recommendations for preventing nitrate toxicity are as follows: 1. Follow recommendations for nitrogen fertilization, and be careful not to exceed 4 tons of poultry litter yearly per acre on coolseason grasses. The risk will be minimized by spreading litter uniformly and limiting application to 2 tons per acre per application.
2. When a crop is grown under conditions that cause nitrate accumulation, delay harvest of the crop until conditions improve to permit nitrate content to drop to a safe level. 3. Consider making silage of drought damaged forage. The ensiling process reduces the nitrate level 40 to 60 percent. 4. If high levels of nitrate have accumulated in plants, raise the cutter bar and leave more stem, the portion of the plant with the highest concentration of nitrate, in the field. 5. Have suspected forage tested before feeding to cattle. 6. Dilute toxic forage by mixing it with nontoxic forages and/or energy feeds such as molasses or corn. Use forage nitrate analysis to determine dilution rates. Energy feeds, such as shelled corn, when fed daily at a minimum of 2 pounds per head, will offset production losses as long as the average forage
NO3 N concentration does not exceed 1,500 ppm. 7. Feed a nutritionally balanced ration. Iodized salt and vitamin A or green feed supplementation lessen the toxicity of nitrates. 8. Adapt cattle slowly to elevated levels of nitrate. Don’t give hungry animals a full feed. Never exceed maximum recommended levels of nitrate intake. 9. Feed suspect forage in small amounts several times a day rather than all at one feeding. 10. If forages are high in nitrates, ask your county agent about an analysis of the drinking water. 11. Be aware that forage regrowth and volunteer plants are highly suspect following nitrate fertilization and drought. 12. Observe animals closely for signs of toxicity, and call a veterinarian immediately if symptoms are observed.
The most likely signs of nitrate poisoning are difficult and painful breathing, cyanotic membranes, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, weakness, low tolerance to exercise, incoordination, diarrhea, frequent urination, darkto chocolate colored blood and collapse. Milk production may also be reduced. Nitrate poisoning may cause death within onehalf hour to four hours after symptoms appear. Symptoms usually appear when methemoglobin reaches 30 to 40 percent, and death occurs when methemoglobin reaches 80 to 90 percent.
Another condition can occur that complicates the diagnosis of either nitrate or urea poisoning. Excess ammonia in the rumen, which occurs in urea toxicity and may occur in nitrate toxicity, may prevent the absorption of magnesium and cause grass tetany. A complex chemical salt is known to form at about pH 6.2 to 6.4 when magnesium is present with ammonia and phosphorus. This insoluble salt apparently cannot pass through the rumen and intestinal walls into the bloodstream. www.progressiverancher.com
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APRIL 2021 35
32
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