Progressive Rancher January 2016

NCA 2009 President’s Award Recipient

IN THIS ISSUE

24

Rangeland Fire Protection

3

Riding for the NCA

26

BLM News

4

Nevada Cattlemen As.

28

Look up

8

Letter from Congress

29

NRRC

9

Talking about NCBA

30

American Lands Council

10

Eye on the Outside

32

Society Range Management

12

Horizons

36

Nevada Priority Ag Weeds

14

Fumes from the Farm

39

EJ Financial Focus

16

NV Farm Bureau

42

Ask USDA Farm Service

19

Mind of the Millenial

44

Humboldt HWCWMA

20

Beef Checkoff

46

Ramblings

23

Churchill FFA

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Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Officers and Executive Committee

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Looking to 2016

riends, as the new President of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association I want to first take a minute and thank Ron Torell for his dedicated and unselfish commitment to our industry. Ron has worked long and hard as the last NCA President to put a good face to the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the livestock industry.

I’d like to personally wish Ron and his wife Jackie the best!

One of Ron’s last duties as president was to preside over the 2015 convention held in Winnemucca, NV this last November. It was a complete success! Attendance was up with roughly 350 participants, the sessions were great especially the Public Lands Committee meeting and the BQA Certification Course offered by Zoetis Animal Health. Getting the word out is a key responsibility that the NCA takes seriously and we certainly achieved that during convention.

And now, for the next two years all I can say is wow!! What an exciting and difficult time we have ahead. I’m honored and humbled to be able to have the opportunity to represent all of you who are a part of the cattle industry here in Nevada.

As we do move forward, however, with whether it’s the Sage Grouse issue or the Wild Horse issue, there should be no more being put on the defensive side. It is crucial we stand up and take these issues head-on, while remaining careful on which battles we choose. Keeping our budget solvent is an important role and responsibility that I have agreed to oversee and carry out. The financial standing of NCA will always be considered first. As a whole we will of course consider all legal cases that we may need to engage.

The open door policy will continue to be maintained for all Board of Directors meetings and I encourage all to attend. Look next year for a series of one day workshops around the state to help educate our industry members on proper range monitoring to help all deal with the ever-changing rules on public lands. Also, a program is being looked at and sponsored by NCA to have a Range Quality Assurance or RQA certification like the BQA; all intended to show the cattle industry’s commitment to be the best stewards of the land.

Which leads me to our next subject, the bird. The Greater Sage Grouse will undoubtedly take up a large proportion of our time because it is being used to threaten our industry. The act of the bird being listed as “not-warranted” seems to be more worrisome than had it been listed as Endangered.

We are now looking at an un-substantiated and poorly scientifically based Land Use Plan Amendment to provide a net conservation to the Greater

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Sage-Grouse. This plan conveys that grazing has a negative impact on the bird, which we believe is not correct. As we move forward we need to tell all who will and won’t listen, “We are the only friend the Sage Grouse has”. We see all too many times the Federal Agencies promote plans that are doomed to fail. If this is the case again, then we foresee the bird being listed and our industry being the ones to blame. It has been proven that grazing is the KEY to saving the Sage Grouse not the cause of it being threatened. We need to never waiver from this scientifically based fact.

With respect, David Stix Jr.

The leadership gavel was passed in to the hands of Dave Stix Jr. of Fallon, Nevada.

Dave brings a lot of energy, passion and knowledge to the podium. NCA is confident Dave will serve the industry well as he leads our association over the next two years.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 3

2015 NCA Awards Recognition During the November 13, 2015 Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) Convention Awards Banquet held in Winnemucca, Nevada, President Ron Torell announced this year’s recipients for the 2015 Cattleman of the Year Award, Allied Industry Award, President’s Award and recognition for the 100,000 Mile Award. At the discretion of the organization’s president, these awards are given annually to individuals in recognition of significant contributions to the NCA, their community, the land and the beef industry.

Steve Boies, owner manager of Boies Ranches, was recognized as the recipient of the 2015 NCA/American AgCredit Cattleman of the Year. This award is the most prestigious award that NCA bestows upon one of its own. It was established to recognize NCA members who have made significant contributions to the livestock industry. Steve is a past president of NCA, chairman of the central grazing boards and livestock industry representative on the governor’s Sagebrush Ecosystem Council task force. Steve has devoted countless hours serving the livestock industry on committees while traveling to state, regional and national meetings on behalf of NCA. Steve has implemented an outside-of-the-box management approach to resource and ranch management utilizing a cooperative and collaborative team approach. In recognition as 2015 Cattleman of the Year, Steve was given a custommade western hat, compliments of American AgCredit.

The NCA Allied Industry Award was presented to Pinenut Livestock Supply of Gardnerville and Fallon, Nevada. Pinenut Livestock Supply, under the ownership and management of John and Rene Keithly, has a long-standing reputation for providing quality sales and service of pharmaceuticals and livestock supplies to the intermountain west. John and Rene provide the type of service and display the character and integrity we all search out to do business with. Customers have grown to expect the trademark lollypop suckers that accompany their UPS delivery of Pinenut Livestock Supply pharmaceuticals. Pinenut’s monetary support of the livestock industry over the past thirty plus years is nothing short of fantastic. Never has there been a convention or an educational event that Pinenut Livestock Supply not been a major sponsor of. In recognition of this NCA sponsored award, Pinenut Livestock Supply was presented a framed ranch landscape photo with inscriptions for display in their newly opened Fallon store.

Cattleman of the Year - Steve Boies

NCA Allied Industry Award

The 2015 President’s Award went to the Stewardship Alliance of Northeast Nevada (SANE), a group of individuals who have come together in a collaborative effort to sustain a healthy ecosystem for sage-grouse and other wildlife. Their proactive efforts to enhance habitat are done in concert with multiple use activities such as grazing and recreation sustainability.

The core of the SANE team includes eight neighboring ranches that own or manage 1.7 million acres of prime sage-grouse habitat. Participating ranches include the Y3 Ranch, Salmon River Cattlemen’s Association, Cottonwood Ranch, Boies Ranch, Home Ranch, Twin Meadows Ranch, Gibbs Ranch, and Winecup Gamble Ranch. Twenty-nine percent of the area encompassed is private land, 69% is BLM grazing allotments and 2% is USFS grazing allotments. The area includes most of the Salmon River drainage located in the northeast corner of Nevada. The collaborative SANE team also includes personnel representing the USFS, BLM, NRCS, NDOW, NDF, UNR, and USFWS. The 100,000 Miles recipient this year was given in memory to the late Horace Smith of O’Neil Basin. Horace was to receive this recognition during last year’s convention however, due to illness and his passing following the 2014 convention, presentation of that recognition was deferred until 2015. The Smith family was honored on Horace Smith’s behalf and presented the NCA sponsored recognition for riding over 100,000 miles on horseback during his lifetime.

4 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

The Presidents Award

100.000 mile award www.progressiverancher.com

NCA Teacher of the year award The NCA would like to congratulate the Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Davis from Desert Oasis High School. Davis will receive a $1,000 stipend to use on school supplies, donated by the Nevada Agriculture Foundation. Teachers must utilize agricultural information and/or materials within their classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Learning activities may include but are not limited to an understanding of its impact on the personal lives of the students, the environment, and the economy; and an understanding of how agriculture is part of national heritage.

Sharon Mcnight, Ron Torell and Kaley Sproul Sharon McKnight, Executive Secretary of NCA for the past 17 years, was presented with a custom-made walking stick as a token of appreciation for the steady pace she has kept throughout the years while taking in stride the many changes that have transpired.

Kaley Sproul, NCA Executive Director was recognized with an embroidered jacket and welcomed to NCA as a valued team member.

NCA executive committee: Back row Joe Guild, Craig Spratling, Ron Torell, Hanes Holeman, Ron Cerri, Front row Neil McQueary, Sam Mori, Steve Boise, Dave Stics Jr. not pictured is John Falen, JJ Goicoechea, John Griggs, Tom Barnes, Ken Conley and Boyd Spratling The NCA Executive Committee was recognized and each presented with a custom made Sagebrush 30-30 bolt action shell casing ink pen as appreciation for the tireless efforts put forth on behalf of the livestock industry.

JJ Goicoechea and Sally Goicoechea and childern with Ron Torell

Other individuals who have contributed to the livestock industry over the past year were also recognized during the awards ceremony. This included immediate past president, public lands co-chairman and Nevada Land Action Association (NLAA) president JJ Goicoechea. JJ was presented with a custom-made sorting stick in appreciation for his tireless efforts, expertise and skill sorting through and making sense of the never-ending political uprisings that face our industry. Sally Goicoechea was presented with a custom made Sagebrush ink pen in recognition for her total support of JJ during his time away from home dealing with the many NCA political issues.

Ron Torell and Jackie Torell

Dinner Prayer by Ron Torell Dear Lord as a Cattlemen’s Association we prepare to feast in celebration of our industry and the wonderful life style this land has provided to all of us.

We are thankful for those in our membership who have stepped forward to take on a leadership role. We ask that you bless this meal and guide future leadership in protecting and preserving the land, agriculture, and our industry, which are so good at feeding the world. - Ron Torell www.progressiverancher.com

At the conclusion of the program President Ron Torell thanked NCA membership and felt it was an honor to serve as the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) president for the last 2 years, as an officer for 8 years prior to that and as a committee and association member 20 years prior to that. Ron expressed utmost gratitude to his wife and best friend, Jackie, for the endless love, support, understanding, patience and assistance she’s unselfishly provided during his 30 plus years of service to NCA. Jackie was presented with a custom made Sagebrush ink pen in recognition of her total support.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 5

Successful Convention Held in Winnemucca

Kaley Sproul, NCA Executive Director nother convention has come and gone and I can assure you, it was not a disappointment! If you attended convention I am sure you would agree that it was a great way to be updated on current issues affecting our industry, attain new contacts and enjoy good company that shares similar views. On November 12-14, 2015 members and non-members from all across the state of Nevada participated in the 80th Annual Convention held at the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca, Nevada. This joint convention brought together Cattlemen, CattleWomen and Woolgrowers. There were a total of 347 attendees at this year’s convention. Next year’s convention will be held conjointly with the California Cattlemen’s Association in Reno, NV on December 1-3, 2016 be sure to mark your calendars!

Throughout the three days of convention committee meetings took place to discuss issues of importance and to establish policy. Various educational sessions were also held to benefit attendees, these sessions included: QuickBooks by Cassi Johnson, Habitat Restoration Success Stories by Carol Evans and Jon Griggs, Young Cattlemen Opportunities & Open Forum by Amber Miller and Sara Arp, Cattlemen’s College BQA Certification by Zoetis Animal Health, and Market Outlook & Red Angus Programs/Opportunities by Barrett Carlisle. According to the people whom attended these sessions, they felt it was successful, worthwhile and most of all beneficial.

The association tradeshow was filled this year with great businesses and agencies that support and enhance our industry. The association would like thank these trade show participants: Nevada State Bank, USDA-NASS, Pacific Intermountain Mortgage, American AgCredit, Moly Mfg., Inc./Silencer, UNCE Mineral County, North-West Livestock Supplements LLC, WSR Insurance/Silveus Insurance Rangeland, ImmuCell Corporation, Pinenut Livestock Supply, Total Scale Service Inc., Multimin USA, USDA APHIS Wildlife Service, Winn Inc./Key-Lix, Merck Animal Health, Greenway Industries, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, Simplot, Giant Rubber Water Tanks, Boss Tanks, Kirby Mfg. Inc., Y 2 Consultants LLC, Intermountain Waffle Crete, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, Natural Resources, MWI Veterinary Supply, USDA Farm Service Agency, Pro Group Management, Country Natural Beef, New Generation Supplements, Society for Range Management, Nevada Section, Scales Unlimited Inc., Nevada Department of Agriculture, and Zoetis Animal Health. Thank you again for your continued support of the association and industry.

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank the committee chairs for their dedication and hard work in putting on the committee meetings. Preparation not only consists of reviewing retiring policy resolutions but it also consists of presenting relevant information that pertains to the committee in which they are representing. Four committees held meetings at this year’s convention: Animal Health & Livestock Issues, Research & Education, Private Lands, Wildlife & Environmental Management, and Public Lands.

Along with reviewing and changing policy the lineup of speakers presenting at the committee meetings were very influential. These speakers were either NCA members or partners of the NCA working to achieve one goal, maintaining a successful Nevada Livestock Industry.

The following speakers presented at the Animal Health & Livestock Issues committee meeting. Jim Barbee, Director for Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), gave updates on brand inspections, pesticide application and job openings. Flint Wright, NDA Animal Industry Administrator, discussed state regulation changes due to the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act. And Dr. Mike Greenlee, NDA State Veterinarian spoke about the Veterinarian Feed Directive Law Implementation.

The following speakers presented at the Research & Education committee meeting.

Bill Payne, Dean and Director of CABNR/NAES and Mark Walker, Interim Director of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, both gave updates of efforts taking place at the University. Heather Steel, CTE Coordinator at GBC, could not be in attendance but submitted an update. The Great Basin College Agriculture Program is sadly in its last year, but the bachelor’s degree for Natural Resources will remain.

John F. Ruhs, State Director of Nevada Bureau of Land Management, spoke with attendees at the Public Lands Committee meeting. Ruhs gave a brief history of his background and also gave his visions for Nevada. He believes the state should go back to multiple use, which will be done by “integrity and trust”. The other two presenters were Haynes Holman, rancher, and Tom Turk, Battalion Chief of Nevada Division of Forestry. Holman

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6 January 2016

presented and proposed having a rancher based workshop. A majority of attendees were on board and this program will be coming soon. Turk spoke on behalf of the Rangeland Fire Protection Associations.

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank our generous sponsors for making this convention a success: PLATINUM SPONSORS: American AgCredit, Nevada Beef Council, Red Angus Association, and Zoetis Animal Health.

GOLD SPONSORS: Agri Beef Co., PerfoMix, Pinenut Livestock Supply, Inc., Utah Wool Marketing Association, WSR Insurance, Newmont Mining, Stockmen’s Insurance, and Western Video Market.

SILVER SPONSORS: McMullen McPhee, Merck Animal Health, Nevada Agriculture Foundation, Nevada State Bank, and Resource Concepts Inc. Door Prizes Contributed by: Range Magazines, American AgCredit, Merck Animal Health, and Greenway Industries.

We encourage you to visit these businesses and thank them for their continued support of NCA and our industry.

The Annual NCA Awards Banquet was the final event of convention. After three days of meetings and hard work the Awards dinner allowed the leadership of the Association to celebrate those individuals in our industry who represent what this industry is really about.

The final presentation of the evening was the passing of the gavel from outgoing President Ron Torell to incoming President Dave Stix Jr. The NCA appreciates the many years of commitment and dedication from Ron Torell. We also look forward to continuing to serve the beef industry of Nevada with Davey and are excited for the next two years to come.

With it being my first year with the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, the series of events and the outcomes of convention were very uncertain to me. With that said, I would like to personally thank Sharon McKnight, NCA Executive Secretary, and Ron Torell, NCA outgoing President, for all of their help and wisdom in convention preparation. I would also like to thank the officers, board members, and all members in general for all of their advice and support! Even though I was not sure of what to expect, I felt confident that it would be a successful convention only because I had the remarkable help of others. With the advice “Trial and Error” from one of the members, I consider my first convention to be a positive and great learning experience.

I am glad to have finally met a majority of the NCA members and I look forward to working with each and every one of you within the future.

Progressive Rancher Magazine 2015 "Person of Character"

Ron Torell Seventeen years ago when I got the idea to start a magazine as a mirror image of the then Cattlemen’s College and the Cattlemen’s Update, the one person I went to first to pitch the idea was Ron Torell, I received his blessing and the rest is sixteen years of the Progressive Rancher Magazine history. Without Ron’s support and his agreement to be part of the magazine, I would not have proceeded. So, thank you, Ron, for every word of support and years of typing your fingers to the bone for this magazine and for your life-long dedication to our industry. You have had a positive impact on so many through all that you do. Thank you! Leana

The Progressive Rancher

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Ship 'Em To

LLON A F

MARKET REPORT Dec 12, 2015

Head Sold this week: 1957 Weight

TOP OFFERINGS Steer

300-400 214.85-245.00 400-500 188.25-220.00 500-600 169.04-197.00 600-700 153.50-179.00 700-800 140.00-152.50 800-900 126.45-132.00 Lite Holstein (under 600Ibs) Heavy Holstein (over 600Ibs)

Heifer

175.75-210.00 153.90-190.00 135.00-159.00 132.60-147.00 116.10-122.00 115.90-120.00 85.00-105.00 88.00-96.00

*Single, Small Framed or Plainer Cattle 40.00 to 80.00 less than top offerings

BUTCHER COWS & BULLS

Livestock Exchange, Inc. www.fallonlivestock.com

Is Pleased to Announce the 12th Annual

NEW YEAR’S CLASSIC SPECIAL CALF & YEARLING SALE Saturday, January 16th, 2016 - 1:00 pm Please call us with your consignments before Wednesday so we can notify buyers. More buyers in the seats means more money in your pocket!

NOTE: We will not accept any cattle after 10:30 Saturday morning!

RANCHERS! Don’t forget the 50th Anniversary edition of the Fallon All-Breed Bull Sale on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 11:30 am.

Breakers (Fat Cows) Boners (Med Flesh) Cutters (Lean) Holstein Cows Butcher Bulls Shelly (Thin) Bulls Shelly Cutters (Thin) Young Feeder Cows Heiferettes Holstein Heiferettes Holstein Bulls Feeder Bulls Cutting Bulls Used Roping Steers Preg Tested Cows

70.00-75.00 75.00-82.75 55.00-65.00 20.00-70.00 80.00-100.00 50.00-70.00 20.00-40.00 80.00-85.00 97.00-105.00 75.00-85.00 NT 75.00-85.00 120.00-145.00 90.00-110.00 NT

(3, 4, 5 yr. old solid mouth)

NT NT NT

Bred Helfers -(6 to 7 months bred) Pairs (solid mouth) 3-6 yrs Pairs (older)

TODAY’S COWS Top Cow Top 10 Cows Top 50 Cows Top 100 Cows Top Butcher Bull Top Holstein Cows Top 10 Holstein Cows Top 5 Butcher Bulls

Avg. Wt 1015 1200 1320 1255 2065 1490 1416 NA

Avg. Cost 75.00 72.00 66.05 61.02 88.00 70.00 68.45 NA

CALVES-SHEEP-GOATS-PIGS-HORSES

Beef Calves (HD) Dairy Calves Feeder Lambs Fat Lambs Ewes (CWT) Bucks (CWT) Small Goats (under 65 lbs.) (HD) Large Goats (over 70 lbs.) (HD) Weaner Pigs Feeder Pigs Top Hogs Butcher Sows Horses (under 1100 lbs.)

Horses (over 1100 lbs.)

200.00-450.00 2.00-50.00 125.00-150.00 125.00-140.00 40.00-70.00 40.00-70.00 30.00-100.00 125.00-220.00 45.00-110.00 60.00-130.00 75.00-91.50 20.00-45.00 10.00-20.00 25.00-35.00

MARKET TREND:

Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. Sale Every Tuesday at 11:00 am

Selling All Classes of Livestock: • Cattle • Horses • Sheep • Goats • Pigs

2055 Trento Lane • Fallon, Nevada 89406 • 775-867-2020

Feeder cattle sold lower, due to features and fat markets taking big hits with lots of unrest seen in the market by the buyers, on same kind and quality depending on flesh and fill. Buyers said the best cattle are sold here at Fallon Livestock Exchange, all fresh from ranches and farms, no trader cattle, and very organized and ran safe! Fallon Livesotck is a key market for the industry, where buers and sellers meet each week with a professional staff with over 50 years of experience in marketing livestock.

PLEASE call us ahead with your consignments. It helps us market your cattle. We talk to buyers all the time - they want to know what’s coming in. We are seeing good demand on weigh up cows & bulls. It sure makes a big difference on how they are sorted. Let our crew sort and class your cows. This will help you receive full market value for your cows.

See you and your friends at ringside soon! www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 7

 8 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

TALKING ABOUT NCBA Joe Guild, 6th Region Vice President

O

ne of the great things that happened to me in the last three years has been my experience as the Region VI Vice-President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. As has been true throughout the years I have done volunteer work for my State Association and NCBA, the best part is working with old friends and making new friends along the way who are committed to the betterment of the beef industry. There are so many outstanding individuals who deserve recognition that if I started to name some I would inevitably leave some deserving person out. Suffice to say, I can assure you there are multitudes of people who do our industry great service every day. Some are paid employees and some are volunteers but all contribute a great deal to make sure we stay profitable and in business.

With that said, this will be my last NCBA column as the Region VI Vice-President. I wanted to talk about a very positive thing because long time readers will know that many times I have had to report on negative and unfortunate news or circumstances.

Many readers are familiar with the NCBA’s Environmental Stewardship Award program. In addition to prime sponsorship by the NCBA, other sponsors are DOW AgroSciences, NRCS, Tyson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. This is the 25th anniversary of this program’s existence. The nation is divided into seven regions for consideration of ranches within these regions being named regional winners.

From this select group a national winner is named.

This winner represents the program and serves as a spokesperson for the following year. They are called upon to answer questions about ranching and to publicize the good things being done by ranchers for the nation’s soils, waters, open space and livestock all the while producing food and other commodities for the nation and the world.

NCBA Regional Vice Presidents, among others, serve on the selection committee to choose regional winners and the national winner. There were thirteen applications for the 2015 selection year. The committee meets in person in May of the selection year. After that, there are several phone calls to choose the regional winners. These selections are announced at the NCBA Summer meeting usually

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held in Denver. Then in early December another round of conference calls is held if more than one call is needed and the National winner is selected.

The National winner is announced at the annual NCBA Convention. The winning ranch represents all ranchers for the next selection year.

I can tell you the selection process is thorough, rigorous and really tough. I have rarely been confronted with my own indecisiveness in my life. It was sort of like having to decide who your favorite child is. But, when you are forced to look carefully at what your peers are doing on their operations and judge them against each other it is quite humbling.

There are so many remarkable stories all across the country on what ranchers are doing to take care of all of the resources they are responsible for, when asked to make a decision on who is doing it the best; it is a difficult but rewarding task.

Four factors are considered by the judges in making their decision: 1) environmental stewardship practices, accomplishments and goals; 2) a ranches’ leadership activities that improve conservation, stewardship and perception of the cattle industry; 3) endorsements from cattle groups, conservation and government agencies, and; 4) the sustainability, size and profitability of the operation.

Why is a program like the Environmental Stewardship Award important? After all, I am sure many of you like me could point to operations that meet the criteria for such an award but choose to tell the story of their good practices by their actions and accomplishments instead of going out of their way to publicize what they do. They do not want to be singled out; they just want to quietly go about their business. Furthermore, I think there is a built in reluctance among people in agriculture to pat themselves on the back, so to speak, to be compared more favorably to their friends and neighbors.

Well this is understandable and an important consideration. However, I would offer this as a compelling reason for such a program to reward excellence. There are so many negative stories (some outright fabricated) about the problems with agriculture and its bad impacts on people and the environment and the animals, blah blah blah! I don’t know about you but I get sick of the criticism and negativity (and I have said this before) from people with full bellies.

So why shouldn’t we tell the good stories. In

The Progressive Rancher

fact, in my opinion, we tell them too often to ourselves and not often enough to the full bellied negativists and others who need to hear where the food comes from and how it is produced in a way that benefits land water and animals. I think programs like the Environmental Stewardship Award should be publicized far and wide in as many ways possible and to as large a populace as possible.

As I said above, 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the Environmental Stewardship Award. The 2015 National Award winner will be called upon to tell their story as widely as possible as other past award winners have done. This is a great opportunity for the cattle industry to bang its own bass drum. There is an audience out there that wants to hear this information. Today’s consumer of beef products is very concerned about how beef is raised. They would be interested to know that the steak they are eating comes from an animal that spends at least half of its life eating grass, in wide open spaces and which animal contributes to healthy soil, water and the overall environment in a positive beneficial way; that the mother of this animal will more than likely spend all of her life of ten or so years on the same pastures contributing the same benefits as her offspring to the environment. Further, the audience will want to know what we know about the vast majority of the cattle raised in this country- they were cared for in the most humane, safe and environmentally conscious manner they could have been.

So, I am a fan of this award and all it stands for.

The positive stories that can be told about this year’s regional winners are many and varied, but all are good stories the public would be interested in. From a 310 acre, 77 cow ranch in Virginia to a 200,000 acre 3500 animal ranch in Nevada; and 370 cows on 2700 acres in South Dakota to 7500 acres and 1200 cows in Florida, American ranchers have a lot to be proud of. The Regional winners in 2015 all display a commitment to stewardship, conservation , animal health and welfare and a concern the ranches under their care are as, or more productive and sustainable on into the future as they are today.

I urge you to look for the announcement of the national winner in late January 2016 and applaud their efforts and those of the regional winners because these folks are not only doing it for themselves; they are doing it for you.

I’ll see you soon.

January 2016 9

I

By Joseph Guild

wonder if any of you have been following the controversy which has brewed now for months about the U.S. Department of the Treasury attempt to remove Alexander Hamilton from the ten dollar bill and replace his image with that of a famous, historically important American woman.

Suggestions I have heard for the new bill are Rosa Parks, Sakakawea, Eleanor Roosevelt and others. Personally, I have no problem with adding the image of a famous American woman to our currency. However, as with most government initiatives, criticism is coming from many quarters. Traditionalists do not want any changes. And progressives do not think the Department of the Treasury is going far enough.

The best criticism I have heard is why change the ten dollar bill. After all, Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury, he virtually created our banking and financial system from whole cloth and like Washington and Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers. On the other hand, these critics say change the twenty dollar bill. President Jackson was a slave owner and a racist; he was the instigator of the Cherokee Nation trail of tears from Georgia and the Carolinas to Oklahoma and was generally known to be a pretty despicable character.

I find the whole controversy a bit comical but I also see a pattern related to this issue that permeates the current administration in Washington D.C. The Secretary of the Treasury, if I am reading this correctly, is only giving lip service to the legitimate concerns and issues raised by citizens commenting on this proposal.

In other words, despite the Department’s compliance with the law for public comment and input, the decision, in my opinion, appears to have already been made.

Does this sound familiar to you ranchers out there? How about the EPA and the Waters of the United States rule? (More on this below) What about the apparent USDA decision to let fresh meat and processed meat from countries like Brazil, Argentina and Namibia? What about USDA’s refusal to drop COOL implementation which resulted in about $1.3 billion in tariffs being imposed on American agricultural commodities by Mexico and Canada (As this is written, Congress just passed legislation which repealed COOL for pork and beef) . And, for resource users out here in the west, the decision by the Fish and Wildlife to not add the sage grouse to the endangered species list may have come with a hidden surprise package in the form of onerous amendments to the Land Use planning Rules (LUPA). These amendments could result in more restrictions on land use than are currently in place.

Remember, the western states spent years working on state specific plans to help protect the greater sage grouse while still allowing reasonable use of these lands for economic and other activities – the traditional multiple use which has worked so well on our public lands for 80 plus years. The Nevada plan was created by a local task force with input from all the stakeholder groups including government agencies and user groups. And yet, as I understand it, the LUPA ignores some critical elements of the Nevada plan which would have made it possible for continued resource use for mining exploration. Depending how LUPA is implemented at the field level it may make it very difficult for ranchers to operate without doing very much to help sage grouse.

Past readers of this publication will remember I have written extensively, as have others, on the EPA’s proposal to define in a new rule what constitutes a “water of the United States” (WOTUS). This is important because such waters are subject to the jurisdiction of the EPA under the authority of the Clean Water Act. The EPA so broadly defined a water of the US under its new rule that it would have given the agency jurisdiction to make land use decisions on a vast majority of the land and water in the United States. Land that only occasionally had water flowing over it would be subject to EPA jurisdiction. Despite millions of comments, many of them opposing the rule, the EPA went ahead and imposed the rule.

10 January 2016

There is a judicial hold on implementation of the rule currently and Congress is attempting to overturn the rule or withhold funding for its implementation. The EPA was stone deaf when it came to changing its collective mind on WOTUS. I believe from the Director on down there was an attitude of superiority in the agency that they knew what is best for us poor intellectually deprived slobs out here in the country so we should just pipe down and take the consequences of the EPA’s arbitrary action.

As I write this, the non- partisan Government Accounting Office has charged the EPA with violation of Federal Law on multiple occasions by using social media in a covert way to support its controversial WOTUS rule.

The law prohibits federal agencies from promoting or lobbying for support of its own actions.

And so we get to my point and the relationship to an obscure Department of the Treasury action to change faces on our currency to WOTUS which would give a federal agency supreme power over a significant portion of our nation’s land mass and potentially cause production agriculture many problems and increased complexity in doing business including increased costs. Agencies can be responsive to citizen concerns expressed from the people they are supposed to serve or they can ignore those citizens and adopt an attitude of they know what is best for us out there because they are the “experts”, more intelligent, better educated or informed, more powerful, etc. etc.

What I am referring to here is so-called Administrative Law. This is binding law. The interpretations by the governing agencies of the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act are prime contemporary examples of these phenomena. And the current controversy over the rules coming after not listing the Greater Sage Grouse and the WOTUS rule are just the latest in a long line of arbitrary and capricious actions by agencies with basically no oversight or checks and balances contemplated by our Founding fathers who clearly wanted a limited and constrained Federal Government.

All too often ranchers who operate on the public lands face what they believe to be arbitrary and capricious actions by the employees of the land management agencies. To be fair, the agency workers for the most part in my experience feel they are just following the rules created by the agency and do not see the arbitrariness of their actions. But, many times these workers have not read the laws from which the rules are derived. The rule might deviate slightly from the words of the law because the makers of the rule made decisions based on the interpretation of the drafters. This might even be in spite of a comment which points out the deviation but which was ignored by the drafters. I am not arguing there should never be any mistakes in life because we all know that is impossibility. However, when mistakes are made or there is an outright violation by an agency of the rule of law, the agency should concede the point and work to correct its mistaken action. They serve the public not their own interest or agency created agenda.

The other side of the same coin is when the agency does something right and is attacked for a correct decision by a special interest group with an agenda; the agency should not concede defeat but should vigorously defend its action.

Examples of this cave in mentality abound when radical environmental groups or wild horse advocates sue the agency making a correct decision they disagree with and the agency settles to avoid further litigation and the NGO gets its legal fees paid under the equal Access to Justice Act.

All of eh above is why working in concert with the industry organizations representing farmers and ranchers, those in production agriculture should continue to fight government over reach in every arena available. It is important to stay informed, vigilant and involved.

I’ll see you soon.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

OFFICE: 775-423-7760

JACK PAYNE

Cell: 775-217-9273 Alt: 775-225-8889

Email: nevadalm@yahoo.com t

Full-Service Cattle Sales & Marketing serving the Fallon, Nevada and Outlying Areas.

Sales Results from Dec 16th 2015 REGULAR BUTCHER COW AND BULL SALE Seller

City

#

Desc

Weight

Price CWT

Ron Lee & Travis Berg

R.Mnt

1

BLK

860

$78.50

333 Ranch

Elko

1

BLK

1060

$75.00

R & J Jensen

Tono

1

BLK

675

$74.00

Wayne Hage

Tono

1

BLK

790

$72.50

Randy Osterhoudt

R.Mnt

1

BLK

945

$65.00

Daniel Berg

R.Mnt

1

BRDL

920

$65.00

Tim Lawson

Fallon

1

BLK

1035

$63.00

Bartell Ranch

Orov.

1

BLK

1005

$61.00

Steve Biddinger

Fallon

1

WF

1820

$60.50

H & D Mcerquiaga

Orov.

1

BBF

1600

$58.00

Steven Felton

Fallon

1

BLK

1185

$56.50

Ken and Beverly Conley

Eureka

1

RBF

1035

$54.00

Henry Dreyer

Welling. 1

RBF

1045

$54.00

Desert Hills Dairy

Yering.

3

HOL

1125

$65.00

Desert Hills Dairy

Yering.

1

HOL

1665

$57.75

JM Gomes

Fallon

1

HOL

1930

$58.00

Lacas Vacas

Fallon

1

HOL

1035

$57.50

Joe Gomes

Fallon

1

HOL

1795

$57.75

Lance Gomes

Fallon

1

HOL

1835

$57.50

Mary Ann Gomes

Fallon

1

HOL

1305

$63.25

Hi Test Products

Fallon

1

HOL

1115

$60.50

Oasis Dairy

Fallon

1

HOL

1565

$58.75

Jeff Whitaker

Fallon

1

HOL

1990

$58.50

Nick Gomes

Fallon

1

HOL

1795

$56.25

Phil Regli

Fallon

1

HOL

1400

$55.00

Sagehill Dairy

Fallon

1

JER

850

$54.50

Scott Regli

Fallon

1

HOL

1730

$53.00

Pete Olsen

Fallon

1

JER

1290

$51.50

Pete & Kathi Marvel

P Valley

1

BLK

2090

$75.00

H & D Mcerquiaga

Orov.

1

BLK

2035

$70.00

NEXT Feeder SALE

in conjunction with our Regular Wednesday Sale

Jan 21st

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We can haul approx. 80,000# of cattle per load either to our sale or in the country. Give us a call for pricing.

TO ALL OF OUR CONSIGNORS & BUYERS www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

Sales Results from Dec 17th, 2015 Feeder Sale Seller

City

#

Desc

Weight

Price CWT

Robert Parlaska

Reno

10

BLK

384

$225.00

Ira & Montira Renner

S. Creek

4

BBF

340

$223.00

333 Ranch

Elko

5

BLK

352

$216.00

Cross L Ranch

Tonopah

7

MIX

335

$199.50 $175.00

Peter & Kathi Marvel

P. Valley

19

MIX

477

D Pearson & S Shaw

Tonopah

2

BLK

305

$170.00

George Manley

R Mtn

5

BLK

575

$148.00

D & S Brown

Winn.

5

MIX

647

$145.50

Toby Rollins

Tonopah

3

BLK

647

$144.50

Edwin Higbee

Tonopah

3

BLK

578

$140.25

Fidel Carricaburu

B. Mtn

3

MIX

652

$141.50

Ruben Ely

Sparks

1

RBF

600

$136.00

Kelly Hoekenga

Eureka

4

BLK

683

$135.00

Wayne Yeager

Tonopah

1

RED

340

$133.00

Christie Hicks

Schurz

1

BLK

675

$130.00

Leroy Hicks

Schurz

2

MIX

675

$130.00

Sheryl Hicks

Schurz

1

BLK

575

$130.00

Don Osterhoudt

R. Mtn

2

RBF

330

$130.00

Joseph Yardley

Logandale

2

BLK

478

$130.00

C & A Weaver

B. Mtn

2

MIX

543

$127.00

Donald Quintero

Schurz

1

BLK

450

$126.00

Karmen Quintero

Schurz

2

BLk

500

$126.00

Bartell Ranch

Orovada

4

MIX

516

$125.50

Cheryl Sanchez

Welling.

1

BLK

815

$122.00

J & CWelch

Winn.

1

RED

445

$115.00

Steve Biddinger

Fallon

1

WF

645

$114.00

Anthony Lara

Nixon

1

RBF

495

$97.50

Stix Cattle Co

Fernley

1

CHAR

409

$84.00

Don Matthern

Fallon

1

RBF

765

$82.00

Doyle Holden

Gardn.

3

BLK

538

$80.00

Levi Shoda

Eureka

1

BLK

1615

$72.00

Travis Agee

Alamo

2

BLK

453

$170.00

Cross L Ranch

Tonopah

13

BLK

389

$162.00

Toby Rollins

Tonopah

4

MIX

403

$160.00

Robert Parlaska

Reno

35

BLK

445

$160.00

Don Osterhoudt

R Mtn

2

BBF

370

$160.00

D & S Brown

Winn.

2

MIX

425

$154.00

Tomasa Lee

Fallon

4

MIX

418

$154.00

333 Ranch

Elko

9

BLK

468

$151.00

Peter & Kathi Marvel

P. Valley

41

MIX

495

$150.50

Randy Osterhoudt

R. Mtn

6

BLK

523

$145.00

D Pearson & S Shaw

Tonopah

1

BLK

230

$134.00

R Lee & T Berg

R. Mtn

2

BLK

490

$115.00

Daniel Berg

R. Mtn

2

MIX

688

$102.00

Craig Harry

Nixon

1

RBF

510

$100.00

Kelly Smith

Wadsworth

1

RBF

835

$95.00

January 2016 11

Amilton de Mello, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Meat Scienc and Food Safety amilton@cabnr.unr.edut

 12 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 13 

FUMES FROM THE FARM

By Hank Vogler

B

y the time you read this comment, the world will be a safer ism. Even though the original trial judge said it didn’t the federallies place to live. No the prison at Guantanamo will not be shut appealed to the ninth district court and got the issue remanded back to down, nor will the crimes in the Paris Carnage be recti- a liberal judge to punish the evil doers fied, nor will the issues at Any charges filed against the San Bernardino be solved. government when they set fire and it Our putting Ward Cleaver and his I cannot believe this is happening in the United gets away? Any charges filed against son Beaver Cleaver behind bars will States. The cruel and unusual punishment is glaring. the EPA when millions of gallons of puzzle radical terrorists throughout sludge runs into the rivers of Colorado? Any charges filed against folks in the World. The Jihadists thought they had a corner on the terrorist market The Hammonds of Diamond, Or- Ferguson Missouri who felt slighted and burned their own town down? egon will serve five more years for heinous crimes against the politburo. Any charges in Baltimore Maryland when folks thought they needed Yes, those Hammonds, and Steven Hammond will be behind bars for revenge for slavery one hundred fifty years ago? No by golly, but we got domestic terrorism. Rather than go to nearby Sheridan, Oregon where the Dwight and Steven. We can’t have people running around going to relatives could visit, they will be sent to “TER MINAL ISL AND”, near meetings questioning the way the federal government is running rough San Pedro, California, I guess Alcatraz is shut down. Even though these shod over ranchers, water right holders and private land owners and evil men called the BLM as a fire raced off a ridge heading for their especially families that own land in areas deemed by the fern fairies as winter-feed and their very livelihood. The question that they ask the way to pristine to be owned by private individuals. Yes they are lucky BLM and were given permission to do was to set a backfire, which ul- that they didn’t get the death penalty. timately put out the fire. The domestic terrorism charges came because The truth is, June Cleaver AK A Susan Hammond was the ringone hundred twenty seven acres of government controlled land, covered leader of these anarchists. Years ago I attended many a meeting when with Juniper and sagebrush and a little fence burned up in the process. Susie Hammond came in, well prepared to do battle with facts, figures, According to the government this rose to the level of domestic terror- and the rule of law on her side. She was a real swashbuckler, putting bureaucrats at bay, and humiliating them with the truth.

Besides, Susie is a good cook and would improve the diet at any Gulag.

I cannot believe this is happening in the United States.

The cruel and unusual punishment is glaring. They pled guilty and served time once just to shut down the clock on a bunch of inept law yers. Their life savings is gone and now the government has cancelled their BLM permits negating the value of their interspersed private land and the comrades have optioned the land that is too pristine for private ownership. Anybody want to sing a few bars of God Bless America?

These people are too proud to ask for help. Please write your congressman, your Senators, or any one that will read the constitution and have a working knowledge of the federalist papers. Also send money to Dwight and Susie Hammond 979 N. Court Ave. Burns, Oregon 97720. At this rate, any of us could be next. Hang and Rattle Hank Vogler

Photo by Stacy Butler

14 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

3 0 1 S I LV E R S T R E E T E L K O , N V 8 9 8 0 1

For a complete review of your insurance needs and details on coverage and credits available, contact our Farm & Ranch specialist:

775.777.9771 Farm ■ Ranch ■ Agribusiness

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 15

NNevada Farm Bureau evada Farm Bureau

96th Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Recap

By President James “Hank” Combs

I

am excited with the success of our 2015 annual meeting and want to use this month’s column to recap the event and to discuss our future plans for the coming year.

We were excited to partner with the California Farm Bureau to hold a joint annual meeting. Their conference offered great sessions, and I had the opportunity to address their membership during the first general session. Thank you to all who attended and to those who donated their time to provide an ag tour for California members.

Our convention was a great success thanks to the hard work of Clay McCauley and the rest of his staff. We had an attendance of nearly 150 Farm Bureau members, sponsors and guests and 15 sponsors at our trade show. I want to thank you all for attending and helping make the event enjoyable.

I was elected for my eleventh term as president and am excited to lead our organization next year. I am honored to serve Nevada’s farmers and ranchers and will continue to ensure that Nevada Farm Bureau is the voice of Nevada agriculture.

This year’s event included a welcome from Farm Bureau Bank President and CEO William Hileman and breakout sessions, addressing farmer and rancher assistance programs and advocacy in agriculture. We also received a keynote from farmer veteran Dan Hromas. Thank you to President Hileman, Dan Hromas, Debbie Goin from Farm Service Agency and Johnna Miller from American Farm Bureau for sharing your knowledge with all of us.

This year we worked hard to ensure we developed policy on the important issues. We addressed a wide range of topics, including the commerce tax, genetic modification, drones, gun control, medical and recreational marijuana and higher education funding. I want to thank our delegates for their hard work and diligence during the policy making process. Policy guides our organization, and the additional policy will help to lead us through the coming year.

I want to also thank our board for the work that they do throughout the year. During the meeting, Bevan Lister was reelected vice president. Along with Bevan, Carla Pomeroy held her position of District 3 director, Cindy Hardy

was reelected as Women’s Leadership chair and Marlene Shier was reelected as Women’s Leadership vice chair. Jim Hardy from Clark County was elected as the District 1 director. I also appointed Dann Mathews as the Young Farmers & Ranchers committee chair and Andy Miller of Lyon County, Ashley Bunker of Clark County and Kari Brough of Elko County as committee members.

The board of directors also consists of the presidents from each county Farm Bureau. County presidents were elected or reelected to their positions during county annual meetings. I would like to personally thank all board members for their continued support of our organization. Their leadership efforts ensure that our state Farm Bureau runs efficiently and effectively.

I am excited to announce that Nevada Farm Bureau reached its quota membership goal with 18,009 member families. Six counties also reached quota this year: Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Washoe and White Pine. Congratulations on your accomplishment.

Also crucial to our organization’s success are our volunteers. This year we honored three volunteers with the County Volunteer Award of Excellence.

Congratulations to Fred Stodieck from Douglas County, Jamie Frayne from Elko County and Darrell Pursel from Lyon County. In addition, I would like to congratulate Marie Lou Grumstrup for receiving the Ag in the Classroom Volunteer of the Year Award sponsored by the Nevada Agricultural Foundation.

We also awarded the Outstanding Service Award this year. This award was given to the Great Basin College Collegiate Farm Bureau for their outstanding service as a collegiate organization to the members of Nevada Farm Bureau.

Overall I am very pleased with the efforts of our members during this year’s convention. The development of this year’s policy will give us a solid base for our advocacy efforts and elections in the coming year. Nevada Farm Bureau is the voice of Nevada agriculture, and we will share our policy with elected officials and other individuals to ensure that interim session work in 2016 will help protect each of you as farmers and ranchers.

I wish you all a prosperous and happy new year!

Nevada Ag. Foundation awards Ag in the Classroom award during NVFB Annual Meeting

S

PARKS, Nev. – The Nevada Agricultural Foundation awarded Mary Lou Grumstrup with the Nevada Ag in the Classroom Volunteer of the Year Award during the Nevada Farm Bureau 96th Annual Meeting in Reno. The foundation executive director Sue Hoffman presented the award.

“Each year as part of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation’s Excellence in Education Program, we honor an Agriculture in the Classroom volunteer who is dedicated to educating Nevada youth about agriculture,” Hoffman said. “Mary Lou spent countless years educating children about agriculture as an elementary school teacher and now dedicates herself to volunteering at Ag in the Classroom events in Fallon and other communities.”

Grumstrup is a retired elementary school teacher and a member of the Churchill County Farm Bureau.

Her life’s goal has been to teach children of all ages not 16 January 2016

By Jessica Fagundes

only the 3 R’s but also about where their food and fiber comes from.

In more than 20 years as a Nevada teacher, she often used agriculture in her everyday lesson plans.

She has worked as a liaison between Churchill County Farm Bureau and school officials on various agriculture education efforts. Grumstrup also teaches children about corn at Ag Days held at elementary schools and fairs.

Grumstrup received an award and a $1,000 stipend to be used for her Ag in the Classroom efforts.

NAF Executive Director Sue Hoffman (left) with award winner Mary Lou Grumstrup.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee

appointed during NVFB Annual Convention

S

By Jessica Fagundes

PARKS, Nev. – Nevada Farm Bureau President Hank Combs appointed a new Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee during the 2015 Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

Dann Mathews of Pioche will serve as the YF&R Committee chair and will serve on the Nevada Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

“I am honored to serve Nevada Farm Bureau as the chairperson of the Young Farmers & Ranchers committee.” Mathews said. “Young agriculturists are critical to our organization’s future and the future of farming and ranching across the United States. I look forward to building this program and the resources for our younger membership in the coming year.”

Andy Miller of Yerington, Kari Lyn Brough of Elko and Ashley Bunker of Logandale were also appointed to serve on the state YF&R committee.

The YF&R Committee provides Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 the opportunity to network across all levels of the organization by promoting and preserving industry values, resolving challenges, growing through action and leading through service. For more information on Nevada’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, visit nvfb.org/yfr.

About Nevada Farm Bureau Federation

Nevada Farm Bureau Federation is Nevada’s largest, general agriculture organization. It is a member organization, which is guided by policy that has been created by and for Nevada farmer and rancher members. The organization works to promote, preserve and resolve challenges through advocacy, education and leadership. For more information about Nevada Farm Bureau, visit nvfb.org.

UPCOMING SALES

Thursday, January 7Th Cottonwood, CA

Bidding Line: 530-347-7830

Thursday, January Red Bluff, CA

28Th

In conjunction with Red Bluff Replacement Female Sale

Consignment Deadline: January 20th WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE on the Web at:

For details call (530) 347-3793 or the representative nearest you:

Gary Nolan

Mark Venturacci

(775) 934-5678

(775) 427-8713

Elko, NV

Fallon, NV

Steve Lucas

Paradise Valley, NV

(775) 761-7575

Brad Peek— (916) 802-7335 or email us at wvm@wvmcattle.com Look for the catalog and pictures on our website www.wvmcattle.com

Market your cattle with the professionals!

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 17

redbluffbullsale.com 530-527-2045

400 Bu l 100 Gel ls dings 20 Stoc k Dogs

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January 26-30, 2016

18 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

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In the Mind of a Millennial

By Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council

New Year's Resolutions for the Millennial It seems as though 2015 just began, and yet here we are, settling into 2016. For many people, with a new year comes a new resolve to improve everything from health to finances.

If you’re one of the 45 percent of Americans who usually make a New Year’s resolution, you might be well on your way to sticking to - or at least trying to stick to – your yearly goals.

Personally, I am not one to make resolutions. Self-improvement is always a great thing, but I think one should embark upon new goals when the inspiration strikes, regardless of time of year. (Plus, to be honest, I never had a great track record for keeping the few New Year’s resolutions I made in years past.)

However, for the purposes of this article, I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of the resolutions that could be particularly relevant to Millennials.

Resolution #1: Eat Healthier/Lose Weight The resolution to end all resolutions, our collective desire to maintain a healthier lifestyle can have its fits and starts. Interestingly, Millennials are more committed to a healthy lifestyle than to losing weight, per se. They are largely invested in eating healthier and living a more active lifestyle.

As a case in point, more protein-driven diets (much like the Paleo diet) are gaining interest among Millennials. And according to a recent study conducted by the International Food Information Council Foundation, this generation is less concerned with restriction in terms of diet and more concerned about consuming a well-balanced protein meal. The study also found that in a list of popular nutrients and ingredients, protein ranks at the top of what millennials are interested in consuming.

Tapping into this growing desire for health and increased protein intake continues to be a focus for organizations like the Nevada Beef Council. Just this last year, the NBC joined with other State Beef Councils and the Beef Checkoff Program in launching a “Protein Challenge,” designed to encourage consumers to incorporate more protein into their diets. Learn more at beefitswhatsfordinner.com/proteinchallenge.

Resolution #2: Take a Cooking Class As this column has touched on in the past, cooking with beef can be an area of frustration for Millennial consumers. Many are unsure of the best ways to choose cuts and cook with beef, and may have had disappointing outcomes in the past. The need to give them more confidence in beef preparation is key to growing beef consumption among this audience, especially when you consider that 75 percent of Millennials would like information about steaks and how to prepare them, and 55 percent would like more information on preparing and serving beef to children. Additionally, over half of Millennials say it’s hard to know what to choose at the meat case when it comes to beef, and approximately half would buy more beef if they knew more about the different cuts.

For the Millennial parent in particular, 83 percent express interest in easy beef recipes that take 20 minutes or less to make. Millennial parents often purchase beef and freeze it for later (83 percent), buy cuts that allow them to “cook once, dine twice” by cooking enough for leftovers (61 percent) and look for ways to turn a pound of beef into a full dinner (61 percent).

Resolution #3: Save Money/Get out of Debt The Millennials comprise the first generation to enter adulthood in worse www.progressiverancher.com

economic shape than their parents. Studies have revealed that, because of this, many Millennials are putting off big life changes such as marriage, home ownership and starting families.

Additionally, Millennials are the most educated generation, as more than 23 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with many of them still in school.

With that comes significant student loan debt. Young millennials are more than 2.4 times likely than average to have a student loan balance, while older millennials are more than 1.8 times more likely than average to have a student loan balance, adding significant financial burden.

However, these factors don’t mean Millennials won’t invest in things they think are important. According to Merrill Lynch, Millennials are three times more likely than other generations to justify a large expense if it generates lasting memories, suggesting that it’s not about ownership, but about the experience.

Additionally, Millennials outspend Baby Boomers in keeping their personal resolutions. In a 2015 study by market research firm Field Agent, a panel of Millennials anticipated spending an average of $294.15 every month on keeping their resolutions, as compared to the Boomers’ $152 every month. This generation’s spending will continue to climb as older Millennials approach their peak earning years. Already, the Millennials spend nearly 90 percent of what Boomers do per year on grocery shopping, and 75 percent of what Boomers do on warehouse clubs. What’s more, they make fewer trips, but have a higher total - $54 per trip versus $46 per trip.

Resolution #4: Step Away From the Smart Phone When you consider that Millennials are often dubbed “the social generation,” it’s no surprise that 85 percent own a smartphone – and are not afraid to use them. According to AdWeek, the typical Millennial checks his or her smartphone 43 times a day. And 87 percent use between two and three tech devices at least once on a daily basis.

Millennials continue to hold the monopoly as compared to older generations in terms of their social media use. According to the Pew Research Center, 1829 year olds exhibit the most social networking site use at 90 percent, followed closely by those within the 30-49 year-olds bracket at 77 percent. Facebook remains the number one network that influences their spending habits, followed

by Instagram, Pinterest and then LinkedIn and Twitter.

According to research done by Elite Daily, which is self-described as “Millennials’ preferred platform for today’s hot issues and trending topics,” this generation relies mostly on blogs; 1 in 3 selected them as a top media source before making a purchase. Less than 3 percent rank traditional media sources such as TV news, magazines and books as influencing their purchases and only 1 in 100 said that a compelling advertisement would make them trust a brand more.

Even if these resolutions aren’t on every Millennial’s goal list this year, you can see some of the insights used by the Nevada Beef Council and other beef industry organizations to guide our programs and campaigns.

Because our resolution, this year and every year, is to enhance the image of and promote the product you work so hard to produce. And that’s a resolution we’ll stick to.

Jill Scofield is Director of Producer Relations for the Nevada and California Beef Councils. You can reach her at jill@calbeef.org.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 19

CHECKOFF NEWS:

By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations

Beef Promotions Pair Flavor with Savings

E

ach year, the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) embarks on a number of beef promotion efforts throughout the state, partnering with retailers, foodservice companies and promotional partners to create and implement impactful campaigns designed to resonate with consumers and give them even more reason to purchase beef. To ensure producers’ checkoff investment continues to enhance beef demand, the NBC carefully reviews the effectiveness of each of these programs to determine what’s working, if there are areas for improvement in future campaigns, or other tactics or focus areas to explore for greater bang for the buck.

Here’s a glimpse at two recent promotional programs, and their results. .

Through a radio and online ad campaign, the NBC encouraged consumers to think about savory beef dishes that can be created in a Crock-Pot®, while giving them a chance to win one of the popular small cooking appliances.

Retail partner Raley’s offered a $3.00-off beef coupon, available through the “Extra Friendzy” section of the Raleys.com Website. The campaign, designed to address the millennial consumer’s desire for convenience in meal preparation, also incorporated an educational element, by providing shoppers with informational recipe cards at the meat case including tips for choosing the right cuts of beef when slow cooking.

Impressively, the retailer saw an increase of over 1,032 beef pounds sold during the promotional period, when compared with the four weeks immediately prior to the promotion.

Promotion elements at-a-glance: Fall 2015 was a busy one for the NBC team and its promotional partners, • Four weeks of broadcast radio in Northern Nevada as a number of campaigns were under way to drive shoppers to the meat case • Four-week social media campaign, including a Facebook contest with promofor their favorite beef cuts. From mid-August through tional give-away of Crock-Pot ® slow cookers late September, the NBC partnered with Reser’s Fine • E-blasts and digital outreach to radio listeners and Foods, Save Mart Supermarkets and Entercom Radio digital outreach to targeted millennials in the Reno market and Digital for a tailgating-themed promotion that • In-store recipe cards offering slow cooker tips combined one of America’s favorite past times with a • $3 savings offered through “Something Extra” coupon incentive to give consumers one more reason to purchase beef.

From August 17- September 27, shoppers at Nevada Save Mart stores who purchased a “Maxx Pak” of beef and a Reser’s 3-pound potato or macaroni deli salad could save $3.00 on their purchase. On-air radio advertisements in the greater Reno media market, signage in the meat case and a full-page ad in Save From Walt Barnhart, Federation of State Beef Councils Mart’s in-store magazine, In Good Taste, promoted If beef is what’s for dinner, what should be on the the beef case savings and drove consumers to an onplates for the other meals? If you said it’s still beef, you’d line contest for a chance to win a grilling package. be right.

The fact is, research shows that balancing proAn extensive digital and social media campaign also tein throughout the day makes good nutritional sense. brought attention to the promotion.

However, few Americans eat this way. The beef inPromotion elements at-a-glance: dustry, however, through its Beef Checkoff Program, is • Six weeks of broadcast radio working to educate consumers on the value of balance • Six-week digital and social media campaign and adequate protein intake.

• Online tailgating-themed contest to drive trafThe challenge has been formidable. Research shows fic to social media and increase engagement • In Good Taste full-page magazine ad (circuthat Americans eat about two-thirds of their total daily lation of 200,000) protein at the dinner meal. That doesn’t leave much room • $3 off tear pad instant redemption coupon. for protein in your breakfast and lunch meals or snacks – and that could be a problem, current researchers say.

Beef and Crock Pot: According to Heather Leidy, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition & Exercise PhysiolMade for Each Other ogy at the University of Missouri, not only is protein The NBC also completed its second year of a fallthemed promotion with Crock Pot® and Entercom Radio important, but the time of day protein is consumed could and Digital. From October 7 through November 3, the be significant. “Protein at breakfast appears to be a good NBC teamed up with Crock-Pot® slow cookers, along with target to increase protein intake,” Leidy says. “A highpromotional partners Entercom and Northern Nevada protein breakfast seems to reduce food craving-based Raley’s stores, on a popular fall-themed promotion. neural signals, and improve overall diet quality.”

Tailgating Done Right with Beef

Checkoff-funded Research Highlights the Importance of Protein Consumption

For more about the Nevada Beef Council, visit www.nevadabeef.org.

20 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Beef Sirloin Pasta Portobello

From James Winstead, RDN, Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for the Nevada Beef Council

You just celebrated the beginning of the New Year, now all of your diet resolutions need to actually start. Yikes! It’s okay, this recipe has got you covered to stay on track, feeling satisfied and nourished. Pasta? On a diet?? That’s right – the pathway to building a healthy lifestyle includes all foods in appropriate portions. If you have questions about portion sizing, feel free to reach out to me at james@calbeef.org, or find a registered dietitian nutritionist at eatright.org.

Total Recipe Time: 30 minutes Ingredients - Makes 4 servings

• 1-1/4 pounds beef Top Sirloin Steak boneless, cut 1 inch thick

• 8 ounces uncooked linguine or angel hair pasta

• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 large cloves garlic, crushed

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 8 ounces Portobello mushroom caps, cut in half, then cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices

• 1 medium red, yellow or green bell pepper, cut into 1/8 inch thick strips

• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

• 1/3 cup freshly grated Romano cheese

The Beef Checkoff Program has helped support research seeking to answer these kinds of questions. One checkoff-supported study, conducted by Leidy, found that daily consumption of a higher-protein breakfast that included two eggs and 1.5 ounces of beef was superior to both a normal-protein breakfast that featured milk and cereal or skipping breakfast altogether, in terms of improving appetite control, curbing food cravings and reducing unhealthy snacking in overweight or obese teenage girls who routinely skip their breakfast meal. The research was featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2013 and in the Nutrition Journal in 2014.

Research such as this provided impetus last spring for the beef industry’s 30 Day Protein Challenge, a step-by-step way to get the optimal amount of protein across all meals. The challenge encourages consumers to eat 30 grams of protein at every meal to help them maintain and/or build muscle, control food cravings and generally provide better overall health and wellness.

Consumers who sign up for the challenge receive daily inspirational e-mails, tools to help them succeed and delicious, nutritious beef recipes with plenty of protein. While the 30 Day Protein Challenge was officially kicked off last April, consumers can start anytime and receive the 30-day plan.

Thousands have since become active in the 30 Day Protein Challenge program, with a website landing page becoming the most visited page on www. beefitswhatsfordinner.com.

• Fresh basil sprigs and bell pepper rings

Instructions 1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Keep warm.

2. Meanwhile trim fat from beef. Cut steak or tri tip into strips about 1 inch wide, 2 inches long and 1/8 inch thick. In wok or large nonstick skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until hot. Split beef and garlic into two batches and stir-fry one at a time, cooking until outside surface is no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Remove from pan with slotted spoon; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

3. In same pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil until hot. Add mushrooms and bell pepper strips; stir-fry until mushrooms are tender. Return beef to pan; add sliced basil and toss.

4. Place pasta on large deep oval platter; arrange beef mixture on pasta. Sprinkle cheese over beef and pasta or pass separately, if desired. Garnish with basil sprigs and bell pepper rings.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION FOR BEEF SIRLOIN PASTA PORTOBELLO Nutrition information per serving: 520 calories; 16 g fat (5 g saturated fat; 7 g monounsaturated fat); 93 mg cholesterol; 518 mg sodium; 47 g carbohydrate; 3.3 g fiber; 44 g protein; 15.2 mg niacin; 0.9 mg vitamin B6; 1.9 mcg vitamin B12; 4.3 mg iron; 48.9 mcg selenium; 7.1 mg zinc; 137.9 mg choline.

This recipe is an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and choline; and a good source of fiber.

For more perfect winter beef recipes, visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 21

11t h A n n u a l

Winter Weed Conference

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ear Friend, You are invited to join Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) and Tri-County Weed Control for our Eleventh Annual Winter Weed Conference, January 13-14, 2016 at the Bristlecone Convention Center in Ely. We have invited presenters from throughout the West and their topics will range from the threat of Medusahead to changes in Nevada’s regulations. Continuing education credits (CEUs) will be available.

Some of the topics to be covered are: 1. Importance of landscape scale invasive grass control for fire and sagebrush ecosystem conservation 2. Introduction to Medusahead 3. Control of Medusahead 4. Nevada weed law changes 5. Perennial Pepperweed challenges 6. Updates from vendors In addition to offering CEU credits, the Nevada Department of Agriculture will administer the applicator’s test on the afternoon of the 14th for anyone who is not a certified applicator and wishes to become one. If you are interested in taking the applicator’s test or need to take the rodenticide test, please contact Bret Allen at the Nevada Department of Agriculture and he will sign you up for the test(s). Bret’s phone number is 775-353-3715. The applicator’s exam the fee is $50.00 payable by cash or check to the Nevada

NEWS RELEASE

JAN 13-14th 2016

Department of Agriculture the day of the exam. Study material for the exam is available from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices for $15.00 or online at www.nevadapesticideeducation.com.

We are fortunate enough to experience repeat attendance at this conference every year by members of the community. Those who have attended this event before will notice that, while Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), Weed Districts and ENLC members are offered a discounted rate, the cost of registration has increased. This increase is purely reflective of the lack of outside funding available to us this year. We believe strongly in the mission of this conference and as such are putting it on with no support other than funds provided by registration fees and the generosity of our sponsors.

The full schedule and pre-registration materials are posted on ENLC’s website: www.envlc.org.

Please feel free to contact the ENLC office and have a form e-mailed, mailed, or faxed directly to you. To qualify for the pre-registration rate you must be registered by January 8, 2016. On-site registration will be available at an increased rate. If you have any questions about the meeting, please feel free to call me at 775-289-7974 extension 1#.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely,

$1 Million

in funding available for Sage-grouse habitat protection projects

STATE OF NEVADA - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

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ARSON CITY, Nev. –Funds are currently available through the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program for projects that will enhance and restore high quality greater Sage-grouse habitat on private and public land in Nevada. The purpose of these funds is to not only improve habitat, but to also create a supply of “compensatory mitigation credits” to be used in the Nevada Conservation Credit System. Through the credit system, habitat projects generate credits that can be sold to parties to mitigate impacts to sage-grouse habitat as a result of development projects.

Funding is for projects that will start in 2016 and supports implementation of habitat improvements, the development of management plans, analyses of habitat 22 January 2016

By Kacey KC

quality and completion of all materials necessary to create available credits for the Nevada Conservation Credit System.

Private landowners, conservation and business organizations, mitigation bankers and state agencies are encouraged to apply for projects that enhance and protect habitat on private or public land. Interested parties are asked to submit a Letter of Interest by 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 8, 2016.

For more information about the Nevada Conservation Credit System and the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, including the necessary forms to complete a Letter of Interest, please visit https://www.enviroaccounting.com/ NVCreditSystem/Program/Home.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Churchill FFA

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By Allysen Olsen

n October Churchill County FFA’s winning state teams attended National Convention. At state our Milk Quality and Dairy Evaluation teams took first place. For Dairy Evaluation Allysen Olsen received first high individual followed by Melinda Fagundes in second, Kayce Mulder in fourth and Helen Albaugh in Fifth. As a team at Nationals they took silver. Individually Melinda Fagundes received gold, Helen Albaugh and Allysen Olsen taking silver, and Kayce Mulder receiving a bronze. At state our Milk Quality team received first high team for Nevada. Nationally Milk Quality received a Bronze. Individually Victoria Klein received Silver, and Jes Tews, Heather Hancock, and Madison Perazzo receiving a bronze.

Along with the two National teams the Cowbells and Churchill county FFA sponsored two scholarships for a trip to Nationals. The two Scholarship winners were Brandon Burgess and Myles Getto. Overall, Churchill County FFA was proud to support Nevada at the 2015 annual National FFA Convention. National Convention was held in Louisville Kentucky and when they were not in competition Nevada teams enjoyed touring and engaging in activities around the city.

www.progressiverancher.com

In recent months Churchill County FFA has been involved in many community service events. In October FFA teamed up with local National Honor Society members to put on the annual trick-or-treat for canned goods. Members dressed up and collected canned food to donate to the local Out Of Egypt food pantry. For the month of November FFA provided two home cooked Thanksgiving feasts. One meal was given to an elderly couple and the other an elderly women. We do this event to help share and support agriculture and provide a nice meal for those who have no family to share that experience with.

As always Churchill County FFA has also continued volunteering at Eagles Hall the first Sunday of every month. We plan to continue this project as it has been established for years. Along with Sunday breakfasts FFA has also helped serve numerous dinners and special events at Eagles Hall.

Churchill county FFA has big plans for the upcoming month of December. With the numbers of members on an ever growing incline, FFA officers have planned five community service events for the month of December.

One of our largest projects is our Gift of Green project. Gift of Green is where we reach out to the community by providing Christmas to two or possibly three families in need. Also FFA plans to provide presents to ten children off the Angel tree. Members hope to brighten the holidays by starting an Adopt a Grandparent program where a member would be assigned a grandparent in the local rest home to visit and bring a Christmas surprise. To spread the holiday cheer Churchill County FFA plans to go Christmas caroling and provide Christmas goodies to the local rest home. Lastly members are excited to help out with the pajama drive to help provide warm pajamas for children in need in our community.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 23

RANGELAND FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATIONS (RFPA) Nevada Assembly Bill 163

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS/CHECKLIST

HIGHLIGHTS

Provides legislation enabling stakeholders to form Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA) in order to: Improve rapid initial attack suppression capabilities in rural/unprotected areas Define the process for formation of a RFPA, a private, non-profit corporation or unincorporated association Difference between a RFPA and a Volunteer Fire Department Provide a checklist of requirements for the formation of the RFPA/compliance

Nonprofit unincorporated association or nonprofit corporation Established governance structure that includes appointment of a supervior/incident commander Defined boundary map for the RFPA area Financial viability Liability insurance proof/certificate Worker’s compensation proof/certificate

Guides a group of 2 or more parties (rancher/landowner, utility, etc.) in process

Roster of RFPA membership

Any county or NRS 474 local fire protection district may approve application Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) can function as administrator for a county or fire protection district NDF and cooperating partners can provide access to grants, personal protective equipment, communication equipment and firefighter training

A note from Ron Cerri

When it pertains to wildland fire, Humboldt County Commissioner rapid initial attack often is the key to stopping a fire of little consequence from becoming a large catastrophic event which destroys range, wildlife habitat and even private property. That is why counties like Humboldt supported AB163 which created Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA). Most counties have fire protection districts that are funded by a tax assessed on the private property of the residents within the district. The problem is that many counties, like Humboldt, have large sparsely populated areas without fire protection districts; therefore there are no funds for a rural fire department. This is precisely the void RFPA’s can fill.

AB163 clearly spells out what is needed by stakeholders to create an RFPA. One requirement that has created somewhat of a dilemma for counties is the need to provide for liability insurance and workmen’s compensation for the RFPA’s. Today many of the rural counties are struggling financially to meet their present obligations. Since there isn’t a revenue stream coming from the RFPA’s, that has created somewhat of a roadblock in getting them off the ground and running.

When you look at the amount of acreage that is burning across the west every year and the focus that has been put on protecting habitat, especially for the Sage Grouse, there has never been a greater need for RFPA’s.

This needs to be figured out sooner rather than later. I am confident that the counties working with the state can and will come up with a solution. Hopefully before the next fire season!

24 January 2016

Formed by business entity, cooperative, or two or more persons who own, lease, produce agriculture or occupy property

Inventory of vehicles & equipment with certification of safe operating condition Firefighter cert. for membership at the NWCG Wildland FF II level Signed acknowledgement of the defined “Rules of Engagement” Written approval from the NDF State Forester/Firewarden citing all requirements are met Petition to the respective County Commission or NRS 474 Fire District for final approval

The Progressive Rancher

August 2010 Pine Valley Fire Photo Credit Sabrina Reed

www.progressiverancher.com

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER II 40 hours of basic training provided by cooperating agencies or via on-line delivery I-100 Introduction to Basic Incident Command (ICS) S-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS)

2012 August Frenchie Fire Photo Credit Sabrina Reed

S-130 Nat’l Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Basic W/L Firefighter L-180 Leadership Basic Human Factors on the Fireline Included in S-130

LIST OF REQUIRED SAFETY (PPE) AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

S-190 NWCG Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior RT-130 NWCG Refresher Training

Hand held radio (AKA: walkie talkie, portable, or HT) Must meet Agency Standards for programming and frequency ranges

ADDITIONAL / OPTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: NWCG Firefighter I (Advanced Firefighter) NWCG Heavy Equipment Boss (Dozer Boss) NWCG Engine Boss Single Resource

Mobile or vehicle mounted radio. Must meet Agency Standards Personal Protective Equipment includes Nomex fire shirt, hard hat, gloves, goggles, fire shelter, Nomex pants and Nomex shroud

REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT Requires agency inspection for safety and operable condition All glass, lights, tires, drive-train, implements, ROPS if applicable, are in good condition Pumps, tanks, slip-in units are complete and in good condition

PRO’S OF FORMING AN RFPA AND BEING IN THE MEMBERSHIP Trained and recognized to be on the fire line providing rapid initial attack Positive change in cooperator relationships and common suppression goals Provide local knowledge and fire history to agency fire incident commanders Enhance the existing neighbor helping neighbor under the RFPA Coordinated move-up and pre-position of RFPA resources SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR MEMBERS Commitment to training, meetings, availability Completing required paperwork Fulfilling the role of an officer/IC/

2012 Frasier Fire Photo Credit Nv Div of Forestry

www.progressiverancher.com

The Nevada Division of Forestry Bob Roper, State Forester/Firewarden State Office Carson City 775-684-2500

The Progressive Rancher

Tom Turk, Battalion Chief/RFPA Contact Northern Region Headquarters-Elko 775-738-3454 Office 775-385-0805 Cell tturk@forestry.nv.gov

January 2016 25

BLM Nevada News - For the Rancher's File BLM extends comment period for the Nevada and California Greater Sage Grouse Bi-State Distinct Population Segment Land Use Plan Amendment

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By Lisa Ross

arson City, Nev. – The BLM has extended the comment period 30 days on potential changes to the Proposed Plan as set forth in the Greater Sage Grouse Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (BSSG) Forest Plan Amendment/Final Environmental Impact Statement. The United States Forest Service (USFS) was the lead agency for preparing the environmental impact statement (EIS) and land use plan amendment (LUPA). The BLM, a cooperating agency, is proposing to amend the Carson City District Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (RMP) and the Tonopah Field Office RMP based on the analysis in this EIS. Public comments will now be accepted through January 15, 2016.

Following release of the Final EIS and Proposed Plan, the BLM determined based on protests received and additional internal reviews that additional changes to and a clarification of the Proposed Plan was required. The clarification and changes include: (1) setting disturbance caps within BSSG habitat; (2) adjusting buffers for tall structures near active or pending leks, (3) adding a restriction for new high-voltage transmission lines, and (4) additional management direction for

habitat connectivity. The environmental consequences of the proposed changes and clarification have been analyzed as part of the EIS/LUPA process.

The BLM has determined, however, that these proposed changes must be released for additional public comment. After considering any public comments on these proposed changes, BLM will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Nevada and California BSSG amending the Carson City Field Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (RMP) and the Tonopah Field Office RMP. Comments must be limited to the changes and clarification proposed. BLM will consider the comments received prior to issuing a final ROD and RMP Amendment for public lands in the Carson City District and the Tonopah Field Office. To review the documents go to http://1.usa.gov/1fccdry.

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: • E-mail: blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.gov • Fax: (775) 885-6147 • Mail: BLM Carson City District, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., Carson City, NV 89701, Attn: Colleen Sievers, Project Manager.

Prison Trained Wild Horse Auction Ends Year on High Bid

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By Brenda Beasley

ENO, Nev. — Despite heavy rains causing a short delay in start time, the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections – Silver State Industries hosted this year’s final of four annual saddle-trained horse adoption events Oct. 17.

Eleven wild horses from ranges on BLM-administered public lands in Nevada and Utah were saddle-trained for four months by inmate trainers in the Northern Nevada Correctional Center program, and offered during a spirited competitive-bid adoption that raised $37,900.

All offered horses were adopted after starting bids of $150. The event’s top bid of $15,000 – a record high bid – went for a 4-year-old gelding named “Divit.” The average bidding price for each horse was $3,445.

The successful bidders officially adopted their new horse. After properly caring for their horse for one year, the adopter is eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the Federal government.

During 2015, 46 horses and 2 burros were gentled, trained, and adopted through the Inmate Training Program at the NNCC. The four quarterly, competitive-bid auctions raised a total of $86,725. These proceeds go into a WH&B program account that funds the transportation of these animals to the adoption events and to the BLM’s holding facilities across the Horse lovers braved rain and mud to attend the United States. saddle-trained wild horse adoption event at NNCC. The BLM uses its Adop- (BLM Photo by brenda Beasley) 26 January 2016

tion Program as the primary tool to place these iconic animals into private care. The horses or burros available for adoption come from overpopulated Herd Management Areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals, including wildlife and livestock, use the area.

Many people have found it personally challenging and rewarding to adopt a wild horse or burro. Additionally, it is a chance to care for, and then own, a part of America’s heritage. The BLM has placed more than 230,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971. Many of those animals have become excellent pleasure, show, or work horses.

The next saddletrained wild horse adoption and competitive-bid auction event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

For more information on how to adopt your own wild horse or burro, visit the BLM Wild Inmate trainer Mike Farley was proud of his part in Horse and Burro Protraining the high bid horse - Divit. gram webpage at http:// (BLM Photo by Brenda Beasley) on.doi.gov/1MgzuIq.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

John Ruhs reports as BLM Nevada State Director

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By Chris Rose

eno, Nev.— John Ruhs began his duties as the new State Director for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada today.

Ruhs previously served as the Director of BLM’s Eastern States and had been the acting State Director for Nevada from April through September. He has extensive experience in land management in the west, including previous assignments as the Ely District Manager and Winnemucca Fire Management Officer in Nevada, District Manager of the High Desert District in Wyoming and other work for the BLM in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon.

“I’m happy to be back in Nevada permanently and look forward to continuing BLM’s mission as stewards of the land,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to collaborating with the state, counties, communities, industry and other partners to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of public lands for the enjoyment of present and future generations.”

Wells FFA

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By Deseret Johnson

arly Monday morning, nineteen members of the Wells FFA Chapter left for the 87th Annual National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Five days later they came home as national gold winners in several events.

On Tuesday, Ben Ballard, Liberty Johnson, Ruth Gale, Cody Gibbs, Camberlin Uhlig, Victoria Young, and Marshal Botts competed in the Novice Parliamentary Procedure competition. Meanwhile, the rest of the chapter got to experience Louisville. Highlights included touring the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Thomas Edison’s home.

Wednesday, the Meats Evaluation and Environmental Natural Resources teams took their written tests. Tessa Hubert, Kenedy Craft, and Teigan Myers competed in Farm Business Management where they received a Bronze. When they weren’t competing, the rest of the chapter got to enjoy the Agriculture Career fair, tour Churchhill Downs, and attend the First General Session that night.

Wednesday night Deseret Johnson, Chelsea James, Zalie Peters and advisor Don Noorda left for Lexington where they would compete in the Meats Evaluation Career Development Event the following morning. After four long hours in a meats cooler, this team was ecstatic to find out that they had placed fifth in the nation as a team! All three girls received individual golds as well! James placed fourteenth and Johnson came in third. Johnson was also recognized for a perfect score in the identification portion of the contest. Their Advisor and coach, Don Noorda said, “I’m really proud of this team. Meats is one of most competitive national contests and Nevada has never had a team place this high.” Of course, all the girls agree that they couldn’t have done it without Mr. Noorda’s amazing coaching.

Thursday, sophomore, Liberty 5th Place Meats Evaluation National Johnson represented Nevada by com- Gold team (from left to right) Zalie Pepeting in the FFA Creed competition. ters, Deseret Johnson, Chelsea James.

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2nd Place Environmental Natural Resources National Gold team (from left to right) Wyatt Gibbs, Haley Swan, Patrick Wines, DeMar Gale.

She was awarded a bronze. That same day, DeMar Gale, Halie Swan, Wyatt Gibbs, and Patrick Wines participated in the Environmental Natural Resources Career Development Event. They impressed everyone with their outstanding performance and with a second place gold! Besides being runner up National Champions, they did great individually. Wines got a high Silver, and Gibbs, Swan, and Gale all received golds with Swan placing fifteenth and Gale getting fifth high individual! This team was the highest placing National Nevada team this year!

The Wells FFA Chapter finished their successful week at Nationals going Paintballing Friday afternoon and arrived back in Wells Saturday night. The Wells FFA Chapter would like to thank everyone who helped make their trip to Nationals possible. Next week, the Wells Rangeland Evaluation team that won the Nevada event is heading to Orderville, Utah, where they will compete in the Western Nationals Rangeland Career Development Event. Meanwhile, the rest of the chapter is excited for a break before they start studying for State Convention in the spring where they hope to keep their golden legacy alive.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 27

Federal Appropriations Bill Passes; Holds Key Provisions for Cattle Producers

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Acts of Unity

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by Pastor Diana Gonzalez

’ve been studying in the book of Acts since about the beginning of the year. Those folks in the early Church remind me somewhat of cow country folks. The book of Acts is believed to have been written by Luke and is kind of a continuation of the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke told us what Jesus began both to do and teach. The book of Acts tells us what the risen Christ continues to do and teach through the Church, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now why do these folks in the early Church remind me of the ranchers that live out in the open ranges, out in cow country? Well because the folks in the early Church were of the same mind and purpose (in agreement).

• These all continued with one accord in prayer. Acts 1:14 • They were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved. (Evangelism) Acts 2:46-47 Aren’t most ranchers of the same mind and purpose? Fighting to maintain a lifestyle worth fighting for. Fighting for our land, enduring dry years, cold years, years of low calf prices, high operating costs, and high taxes.

Don’t most neighbors pull together when someone needs help working on the ranch, or when trouble strikes?

So folks, let’s make sure that we don’t fight with each other. Let’s purpose in our hearts to be of one accord, one purpose. Then together we can do great things like the early Church. Folks, there’re things going on in our State and in our Country that are just not right. Together, if we’re devoted, we can stop them.

Also, there are many good and right things in our Country that we must fight for, but we need to pull together in one accord, one purpose. When we pull together, when right is on our side, and with the power of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, there’s NO THING that WE can’t accomplish.

So what can we learn from the early Church?

1.

Study the Word (read your Bible) 2.

Fellowship together 3.

Pray alone and together 4.

Share and care for one another 5.

Be a giver 6.

Praise, worship and evangelize Happy trails. May God richly bless you. We love you and would love to hear from you. If you would like someone to pray with, or just have a question, please give us a call at (775) 867-3100. ‘Til next time….

28 January 2016

By Chase Adams and Shawna Newsome ASHINGTON (Dec. 18, 2015) – With bipartisan support, Congress passed the $1.15 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill today, which funds much of the government through fiscal year 2016. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis said the bill contained several victories for cattlemen and women.

Coming within days of facing retaliation from two of our largest trading partners, the bill repeals mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling for beef; a significant victory for America’s cattle producers.

“COOL has plagued our industry for many years now, costing us millions and driving us to the brink of retaliation from two of our largest trading partners,” said Ellis. “Cattle producers have had to bear the cost of this failed program for far too long, and we commend the leadership of Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Representative Jim Costa (D-Cali.) for ensuring the United States is brought back into compliance with our trade obligations.”

The omnibus maintains Congressional oversight to ensure the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans remain within the scope of nutrition and health and are based on the latest nutritional evidence. Kristina Butts, senior executive director of government affairs, said the guidelines serve as the foundation for federal nutrition policy and that it is critical the recommendations are based on the latest science.

“Americans should enjoy a well-balanced diet with foods they enjoy,” said Butts. “Beef is an excellent source of several key nutrients like zinc, iron and protein, and numerous studies have shown positive benefits of lean beef in the diet. We’re pleased Congress continues to be engaged in the process. It is important the role of the Dietary Guidelines continues as Congress intended – to provide nutrition advice based on sound science.”

Additionally, Ellis said the bill requires a more stringent regulatory process for allowing beef imports from regions with a history of animal disease outbreaks.

“America’s cattle producers are strong supporters of trade,” said Ellis, “but we must have strong safeguards in place and do our due-diligence to ensure the health and well-being of our domestic herd is not sacrificed.”

Continued assurance on several environmental regulations is also maintained in the bill. Specifically, the bill keeps the overzealous Environmental Protection Agency in check by continuing to prohibit the agency from requiring livestock producers to obtain Clean Air Act permits or report greenhouse gas emissions on livestock operations. Unfortunately, EPA’s “Waters of the United States” rule is not addressed in the omnibus. However, the nation-wide stay is still in place currently, and NCBA will continue to push back on the rule through the courts.

Brenda Richards, Public Lands Council president, said the increase in wildfire management funds is critical as the recent drought and lack of federal forest management has ignited several massive fires this year.

“Wildfires are a significant threat to our forests and rangelands as well as our homes and lives,” said Richards. “When a fire does break out, however, we need the appropriate resources to put it out. Additionally, we appreciate the continued blocking of the Sage Grouse listing, which will give producers more flexibility to address prescriptive Resource Management Plans.

Livestock grazing is one of the best management tools we have to maintain healthy landscapes, reducing the risk of wildfire and allowing our natural resources to thrive.”

Richards added the bill also continues to block the Secretarial Order 3310, preventing the Department of Interior from designating de facto wilderness areas, which diminishes multiple-use on our nation’s public lands.

Also key for cattlemen and women is passage of tax extenders legislation, passed in the House on Thursday and the Senate today. Section 179 is permanently extended at $500,000, up from $25,000 previously. Bonus depreciation is set at 50 percent for property acquired during 2015, 2016 and 2017 and phases down, with 40 percent in 2018, and 30 percent in 2019.

Additionally, the conservation easement tax credit is made permanent.

“These provisions are vital to providing a stable environment for farmers and ranchers like myself to plan for the future,” said Ellis, a Wyoming rancher. “We have had to rely heavily on last-minute tax extender legislation over the past several years, but making these provisions permanent will allow businesses to invest in equipment and property with the financial certainty required.”

The comprehensive bill passed by both the House and Senate is positive news for the cattle industry. NCBA and PLC urge President Obama to sign the omnibus bill without delay.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

NEVADA RANGELAND

RESOURCE COMMISSION

I

By Rachel Buzzetti

n December the annual bills for public land grazing were mailed to the authorized or permitted livestock users for the 2014-2015 federal grazing year. The numbers reflected in the bills were provided by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. If these numbers are incorrect, please contact the NRRC, so that the correct amount may be assessed as set by Nevada state law at $0.10 per AUM. In January and February the NRRC will begin their budget and planning process.

The NRRC will be accepting proposals requesting funding for promotion, advertising and/or communication of the public lands.

The application for funding includes a brief description, a proposed budget, timeline, and who the targeted audience will be. The applications for funding are available on the NRRC’s website and are due by February 19th.

If you visit our website www.nevadarangelands.org in the next few months, we are undergoing some design changes and ask for your patience.

Nevada Ranchers Caretakers of our

Rangelands

Cowboys and sheepherders produce food and fiber for the nation. Growing food on Open range is a natural biological process.

Grazing actually benefits the land with hoof action and natural fertilization. Plants are healthier and regenerate faster after the herds move to a new range.

Antelope and other game animals and birds take advantage of the improvements

Grazing cattle and sheep coexist peacefully with native wildlife and, in fact, make a friendlier habitat for many species.

Sheep often graze on steep terrain and can control cheatgrass, a major fuel for wildfires.

Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission was created by the State of Nevada to promote responsible public land grazing.

Representatives come from Nevada state grazing boards, Nevada Woolgrowers, Nevada Farm Bureau, and Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

4780 East Idaho Steet, Elko, NV 89801 • 775-738-4082 WWW.NEVADARANGELANDS.ORG

This ad is funded through the NRRC’s assessment of 10 cents an AUM paid by public land ranchers.

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 29

A Big Step Forward For More Effective State Control of Public Lands

T

he nation just took a big step forward toward better outcomes environmentally and economically for 50% of all lands west of the Rockies, which are still under the thumb of distant federal bureaucrats and politicians.

After receiving an exhaustive legal and historical analysis concerning federal control over public lands, the Utah Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands voted yesterday to move forward with preparations for legal action against the federal government.

The analysis, produced by a team of renowned constitutional scholars and legal experts from across the nation, concluded the federal government has no authority to retain near permanent ownership of the public lands inside a state, noting, “legitimate legal theories exists to pursue litigation in an effort to gain ownership or control of the public lands.”

While presenting the legal report to the Utah legislative committee this week, preeminent constitutional scholar Ronald Rotunda likened Utah and other western states to “orphans” and “second class citizens” deprived of essential sovereign powers of statehood by unsanctioned federal dominion over their lands. This is critical to the nation, he said, because strong, self-governing states “are critical to the internal checks of the Constitution.”

At a time when the federal government seems widely out of control, the legal findings should encourage everyone who values these unique internal checks our system of federalism established “to protect the liberty of the individual,” as Professor Rotunda emphasized.

The overall conclusion of the legal analysis is that compelling legal bases exist for the State of Utah to challenge federal ownership of public lands in the state.

The findings identify three primary legal theories as having merit: 1. The Equal Sovereignty Principle, which mandates that the States in the U.S. federal system be equal in sovereignty with one another.

2. The Equal Footing Doctrine, which requires that States admitted to the U.S. subsequent to the original 13 Colonies should receive all sovereign rights enjoyed by previously existing states, including the right to control land within their borders.

3. The Compact Theory, which means that Utah’s acceptance of admission into the U.S. entailed explicit and implicit promises that the federal government would “timely dispose” of public lands in Utah’s borders, as it had done with the states admitted prior to Utah.

In Utah, the federal government still controls more than 66% of all of Utah lands, more than 50% of all lands west of the Rockies. By contrast, the federal government controls a less than 5% of lands east of the Rockies.

“This is a huge step forward in transitioning control of public lands to the States, and restoring balance so we can ensure locally-driven management practices that better provide for a healthy environment, abundant outdoor recreation, and safe vibrant communities,” noted Utah State Rep Ken Ivory.

In 2012, Ivory successfully carried legislation demanding the federal government relinquish title to most of the lands presently managed by the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. He has since been travelling the nation on a campaign to inform others of the issue which has attracted nationwide support from groups including the National Association of Counties and American Farm Bureau. Several states, both east and west of the Rockies have

30 January 2016

introduced legislation in favor of shifting control to the States.

Supporters of transitioning to state control over public lands note that onesize-fits-all federal bureaucratic management is not working. “Federal land management has been hijacked by foreign funded extremist groups, resulting in overgrown forests and record setting catastrophic wildfires that cause air pollution worse than Beijing, China, incinerate wildlife by the millions, and decimate water supplies and habitat for decades” said Montana State Senator Jennifer Fielder, chair of Montana’s study of federal land management.

An independent report by the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC) finds that the fiscally challenged federal government loses 27 cents for every dollar it spends “managing” public lands. States, on the other hand, generate on average a positive $14.51 for every dollar they spend for the millions of acres of public lands that they already control and manage effectively.

Kane County Utah Commissioner Doug Heaton noted that federal mismanagement of diverse western lands is harming the environment and costing taxpayers nationwide billions of dollars. “Federal land control deprives western communities of the ability to tax the lands or manage the resources in a beneficial manner to provide for essential government services” Heaton remarked. The

federal government subsidizes these communities with PILT payments, Payments In Lieu of the Taxes these communities would otherwise generate but for federal control. According to U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, “There is no guaranteed amount. Washington just sends what it feels like sending.” This federally imposed dependency creates a serious vulnerability, as Sen. Lee describes it, for Congress to “lord[] its power over western communities to extort political concessions from them, like some two-bit protection racket.” For the nation, this means Washington can manipulate western votes to extract hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and further metastasize federal power.

For the growing movement to #FreeTheLands for more effective local care, Wednesday’s news from Utah was truly historic. With the release of this key report, the State of Utah has taken a critical step towards finally wresting its lands out of federal hands, empowering other Western states to follow suit, and restoring much needed constitutional and fiscal balance for our nation as a whole.

If Utah’s attorney general Sean Reyes decides to litigate, we believe this case merits close attention from all freedom-loving Americans nationwide.

The American Lands Council and Federalism In Action are the leading organizations educating about the Free The Lands movement. For general information about how to #FreeTheLands for more effective locally-driven management, please have a look at this handbook and policy statement and share them with other concerned Americans searching for a real solution big enough for many of the pressing problems facing our nation.

American Lands Council http://www.americanlandscouncil.org/ American Lands Council · 859 W South Jordan Pkwy, 100, South Jordan, UT 84095, United States.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Shaw Cattle Co. Production Sale

February 17, 2016 - 12 p.m. (MST)

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SHF WONDER M326 W18 ET 25 Sons Sell

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The Bull Business The Progressive Rancher

Angus Hereford Red Angus Greg: (208) 459-3029 Sam: (208) 880-9044 Tucker: (208) 899-0455 Ron Shurtz: (208) 431-3311 January 2016 31

Society for Range Management 2015 Summer Workshop Roaring Springs Ranch, Frenchglen, Oregon

T

he Nevada Society for Range Management (NVSRM) offers an annual summer workshop and field tour to discuss topics important to managing Nevada’s rangelands. Mr. Stacy Davies, manager of Roaring Springs Ranch, led an exciting tour on strategies, discussions of practical applications to ranch management, and approaches when working with public land management agencies. The Steens Mountains, near the ranch, has provided perfect opportunities for graduate research. Dr. Tamzen Stringham, university professor, has collaborated with the ranch for 17 years, and completed eight thesis projects. Part one of this article showcases multiple ranch strategies; the benefits of juniper cutting, prescribed fire, improved grazing, and irrigation management. Part two offers insights observed during the cheatgrass grazing and white sage (winterfat) desert management tour.

Part One:

Strategies from Roaring Springs Ranch August 26-27th

By Amanda K. Wartgow, Rangeland Ecologist, University of Nevada, Reno Conservation and ranching go hand in hand. Land management, which benefits entire ecosystems, also benefits the ranching industry. The NVSRM 2015 tour was near Frenchglen, Oregon, but strategies learned from this area could benefit all rangelands. The tour focused on land management benefiting both wildlife and cattle while remaining profitable. Mr. Davies emphasized needs for adaptive management strategies as opposed to rigid grazing schedules allowing for grazing management to be “biologically driven.” This topic is part of the larger question that addresses many conservation and ranching concerns: how to work with current management strategies on public lands? At each tour stop, Mr. Davies explained how he works with the BLM, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and many conservation groups to understand their goals are all the same: a thriving, productive, and healthy ecosystem.

On August 26th, while enjoying a wonderful evening ranch meal, Andrew Shields, wildlife biologist and full-time Roaring Springs Ranch employee, discussed sage-grouse research conducted at the ranch. During the late 1990s, the ranch began several projects aimed at improving health and productivity of rangelands. Major treatments included juniper cutting, prescribed fire, and improved grazing management. These projects altered the successional stage of the landscape and improved habitat for sage-grouse, mule deer, redband trout, and many other species. In 2013, the ranch began a study to evaluate how sage-grouse use this landscape. Sage-grouse were captured, radio-collared, and monitored. Radio-collared birds used treated areas extensively, particularly prescribed burned areas. Sage-grouse either moved up in elevation or to wet areas during summer. One research bird was documented moving approximately 30 miles to wet areas on the ranch during summer. This information helps the ranch prioritize areas and implement conservation goals to maintain healthy populations of sage-grouse.

August 27th began by touring the ranch and several conservation projects implemented by Mr. Davies and Dr. Stringham. The first stop was the end waters of 3 Mile Creek, historical habitat for redband trout, a species that was considered for federal listing in 1999. In providing habitat for the fish, Mr. Davies designed and engineered a fish screen that was placed in the creek channel above a fish passage, welded to the irrigation culvert that runs perpendicular to the original water channel. Historically, the headgate could be closed to divert all water from the channel to the irrigation culvert. With the screen in place the headgate is only able to divert water that flows over the top, allowing fish to swim through the fish passage/channel underneath. The whole system was designed to ensure that fish get priority usage of channel water first; irrigation second.

32 January 2016

By Tye Morgan

Stop 2 examined a prescribed fire to control juniper encroachment, a strategy used by Roaring Springs. The goal was to eliminate 50% of juniper trees. The next canyon over is untreated which was used as a control to compare treatments. Post fire cheatgrass growth was managed by grazing.

Stop 3 was the site of a recent wildfire. Mr. Davies stopped here specifically to discuss seeding of natives versus non-natives. Mr. Davies’ belief is to seed native or introduced perennial plants that will best compete with annuals. This particular fire site displayed a successful rehabilitation of forage kochia and crested wheatgrass. Mr. Davies received positive feedback relating to the amount of perennial species present and began questioning; if non-native species were this successful, why is this, and why are other seedings not? He learned that it wasn’t the species, but how it is planted.

Mr. Davies takes into consideration public perception, knowing there is a strong preference towards a “natural” landscape. He searched for ways to revegetate burns without using drills and found many tools available. His seeding strategy for forage kochia is to first disturb the soil (so seeds remain in place), aerially apply kochia seeds to avoid drill row appearances, and plant at an appropriate depth. He seeds grasses in late October through December, trying to avoid planting too early so the seeds won’t sprout and freeze, while not planting too late into snow. Mr. Davies’ goal is to use the least expensive and invasive treatments. The use of tools such as the Lawson aerator, planes, rangeland drills, and imprinters can help the success of rehabilitation. Mr. Davies doesn’t chemically treat cheatgrass fearing the weed that will replace it is worse.

Dr. Stringham noted that tilling or more invasive practices can open the site up for invasions, and suggests a “do no harm” approach: help residual perennials, assess the severity of fire, and use the correct tools. Mr. Davies’ cattle gain about two pounds a day even in the late summer season. The perennials provide a decent amount of protein while dead cheatgrass gives just enough carbohydrates to avoid bloat. He figures if these species can do that for a cow, they can do that for wildlife.

Figure 1: Mr. Stacy Davies and tour participants

Figure 2: Forage Kochia and Crested Wheatgrass seeding

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Stop 4 was at the Steens Mountains. The tour followed Little Skull Creek, prime habitat for redband trout, to a stop at a water gap. The design doesn’t allow cows to cross the stream, but instead forces cattle to come down, drink their fill, and back out.

Not only does this avoid stream bank damage, but forces cattle out of the creek so their excrement doesn’t contaminate the stream. The water gap prevents that from happening, which reduces the amount of nitrogen in water, ensuring cleaner fish habitat.

Figure 3: Water gap Stop 5 was upstream from stop 4. This area was utilized more heavily than in a typical year to better manage the uplands earlier this spring. Mr. Davies explained they tried their best to keep the cattle off the riparian area, but it was a necessary management decision to improve the health of the upland pasture and reduce the fine fuels that had built up. He has plans to manage the recovery of this stream for the next 4-5 years.

During lunch, the conversation circled back to how to work with government agencies managing public rangelands. The starting point is a coordinated effort to include others beyond the ranch and BLM in the decision-making process. Follow through is essential; the sooner plans and projects are completed, the more trust is developed between partners. Discussions resolved with collaboration and trust management will benefit everyone.

Stop 6 was at the headwaters to Skull Creek to visit a site of western juniper encroachment. Dr. Stringham explained this watershed remains untouched due to possible future research opportunities. Mr. Shields brought his VHF locator and located a sage-grouse within one mile of our location. His research suggests birds in high country stay year round and use shorter wind-swept sagebrush areas, whereas in the low country they utilize big sagebrush for winter habitat. The burn areas in higher country typically yield an influx of forbs post-fire increasing insect populations and allowing higher chick survival. The ideal plant composition for these birds is diversity and a variety of habitats depending on the season and stage of life.

The final stop was at the headwaters of historical Home Creek which was diverted to irrigate the meadow to grow hay. In 2001, wildfire burned the willows and reduced shade for trout. Vegetation data collected post-fire found over 125 different plant species within the meadow, and researchers witnessed heavy use of sage-grouse just after fire. It was here that one of Dr. Stringham’s graduate students studied shading and stream temperature. They used cut juniper trees to shade portions of the stream, and monitor temperatures and use by redband trout. Shading moderated stream heating, but final temperatures remained the same. Fish did use shaded areas as cover from predators. Willows sprouted along stream banks where cut juniper was placed. In other areas, unprotected willows were heavily utilized by cattle and wildlife and unable to grow above a few feet in height.

At the end of the day, the tour returned to the ranch and received a warm welcome from Mrs. Elaine Davies. She shared delicious tri-tip, and participants were able to discuss their experiences.

Society for Range Management

Nevada Section Winter Meeting January 14-15

Elko, Nevada

2016

Sage-grouse on Nevada Rangelands; Positive Management Actions Moving Forward

Figure 4: Mr. Stacy Davies discussing Little Skull Creek management The tour followed the stream to the historical Skull Creek meadow. The stream has been moved, an irrigation ditch built, and ponds constructed to irrigate the meadow for hay. Not long before Mr. Davies assumed management, the ponds had been breached to force more water downstream. This created numerous ecological issues throughout the watershed. This is where Dr. Stringham’s research focused on the repair and health of the meadow. They were able to fix two headcuts in the stream and reduce the incision to allow redband trout to travel the stream. They monitored stream temperature and the influence of irrigation water. Irrigating the meadow reduced stream temperatures during hot summer months, making it more tolerable for the redband trout population. www.progressiverancher.com

SRM invites you to a day-long conference and social events that will bring you up to date with topics such as implementation of the Federal Land Use Plans, Nevada’s implementation of the sagebrush ecosystem Conservation Credit Strategy, Local Governments’ Actions and roles moving forward, the latest on sage-grouse habitat mapping and management needs, as well as NRCS’ Sage-Grouse Initiative 2.0. Presenters are leading experts and pro fessionals in their respective fields. An evening dinner will be enjoyed at the Star Basque Restaurant following the conference.

The Progressive Rancher

More information, agendas, and registration forms available at

www.rangelands.org/nevada/ January 2016 33

terfat site ecological dynamics and has established studies in cooperation with universities to implement study plots. They tried to collect and seed winterfat with little success as well as exclude livestock and small mammal grazing on plots, which have resulted in no statistical differences. They did find that livestock would travel up to 8 miles to graze winterfat in the Desert Management Tour, August 28th flat terrain environment. Also, they found that seed viability of winterfat on site was very low at 13%. For reference, viability

By Ryan Shane, Resource Management in northern and central Nevada plants tends to be 25-30%.

Officer for Nevada Division of Forestry Many different treatments were implemented in the experiStop #1: The ranch is trying alternative crops on irri- mental plots, though the double disking seemed to be the most gated pivots to increase effective production of feed. They effective for re-establishing winterfat at one plant per square are currently experimenting with earless silage corn, which meter. Winterfat re-establishment is certainly dependent on could produce 7 to 8 tons per acre. Experimental techniques spring rains and a natural environment seems to be occurring with swathing and baling winter-feed will be tested out on at a 40-year episodic frequency according to age studies from their mother cowherd. Pivot corners have been seeded with existing plants. crested wheatgrass and annual cereal rye. Seed collection and The site was burned 3 years ago and seeded with bottlere-application is constantly occurring throughout the ranch. brush squirreltail, while the ranch also took precautions to A commercial seed harvester uses a modified street sweeper avoid additional damage to winterfat and saltbush shrubs. brush attached to a trailer that is equipped with a blower and The perennial component (bottlebrush squirreltail, winterbagger system. The harvester compensates the rancher by fat, saltbush) is co-dominant with annual plants that range providing a cut of the seed collected. from mustard, lepidium, bur buttercup and others dependStop #2: The site was at the intersection of three veg- ing on annual climatic conditions. The ranch has changed etation types in an 8-10 inch precipitation zone; 1) crested grazing from long season, low intensity that allowed cattle wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, and forage kochia (2-4 to choose preferred forage plants to a high intensity system acres/AUM), 2) same as #1 with some Wyoming sagebrush forcing them to consume all species for a short period beinterspersed (2-4 acres/AUM), and 3) solid Wyoming tween November and March. sagebrush with little or no understory (40+ acres/AUM).

Stop #5: The site is a cheatgrass-invaded site where fall The difference between the seeded site with no sagebrush grazing is implemented to reduce the cheatgrass and favor peand the one with interspersed sagebrush was the treatment rennials. There is tangible evidence that strategies are working implementation. Both were double disked to incorporate and perennial grasses co-dominate at the least. For all experimaximum organic material into the soil and seeded with a ments, as well as management decisions, a greater network of rangeland drill. The difference was that seed drilling on the climate monitoring stations are needed to increase the spatial one with sagebrush occurred in firm, dry soils in the late fall, resolution of information. and the one without sagebrush occurred in the spring when The Roaring Springs Ranch is a working, thriving soils were soft and wet. That extra amount of disking by the ranch that provides ideal wildlife habitat and is an exceprangeland drill in the soft soil conditions was enough to re- tional model of ranching and conservation. Essentially, sult in mortality of all sagebrush on the site. The seeded sites the ranch is managed as a whole driven by the biological have been tested by fire and they consistently resist spread of functions of the ecosystem. Mr. Davies’ flexibility creates wildfires. The non-treated sagebrush site would generally be invaluable opportunities for conservation, resulting in considered winter habitat by most conventional habitat mod- sustainable and transferable demonstrations to public land els, though recent sage grouse GPS collar data indicates that management agencies. there is no grouse use on the non-treated areas and all use so far has been mapped in the treated areas.

Stop #3: The area was burned in a wildfire ignited 30 miles The Society for Range Management (SRM) away. Road graders are the most effective piece of wildfire is “the professional society dedicated to supportsuppression equipment, due to flat terrain and the speed at ing persons who work with rangelands and have a which the grader can construct a fire line. The area was seeded commitment to sustainable use.” SRM’s members with non-native wheatgrasses and forage kochia following the are ranchers, land managers, scientists, educators, fire, and is used for later summer grazing where cattle gains students, conservationists – a diverse membership average 1.5lbs/day/animal. Antelope from the Hart Mountain guided by a professional code of ethics and unified by USFWS Refuge winter in the same area, as well as sage-grouse. a strong land ethic. This series of articles is dedicated Some patches were unburned with dense sagebrush canopies, to connecting the science of range management with and others where seeding was ineffective were converted to the art, by applied science on the ground in Nevada. cheatgrass stands. Both seem to be equally ineffective for Articles are the opinion of the author and may not be sage grouse habitat; the successful seedings seem to be the an official position of SRM. Further information and most effective habitat for the grouse and livestock production a link to submit suggestions or questions are available objectives. at the Nevada Section website at http://nevada.rangeStop #4: The site was a strong winterfat stand according lands.org/ . SRM’s main webpage is www.rangelands. to historical documents from the late 1800’s, though grazing org. We welcome your comments. management was not implemented until possibly 100 years after initial contact. The ranch seeks to understand the win-

Part Two:

Cheatgrass Grazing and White Sage (Winterfat)

34 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

Allie Bear

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The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 35 

Nevada’s Priority Agricultural Weeds:

Brad Schultz, Extension Educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Winnemucca, Nevada

P

Poison Hemlock

oison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a non-native biennial forb that typically grows to 4 to 6 feet tall, but can reach heights of almost 10 feet tall. Poison hemlock typically takes two years to complete its lifecycle, remaining in the rosette growth stage in year one and producing elevated flowering stems in year two. On occasion, poison hemlock can follow the growth strategy of an annual plant and germinate, grow, flower and set seed before dying: all in one growing season. The annual growth strategy is more common for spring germinating plants.

Poison hemlock is native to northern Europe. Western Asia, and North Africa and has become established in all but two (Alabama and Florida) of the lower 48 states, and in most of the southern Canadian Provinces. The species was listed as a problematic weed by about 18 percent of agricultural producers in Elko County; 11 percent of agricultural producers in Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral Counties; and 7.6 percent of producers in Washoe and Storey Counties.

Elko agricultural producers rated poison hemlock the 10th most problematic weed in the county, and it was the 12th and 17th most problematic weed in Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral Counties and Washoe-Storey counties, respectively.

Agricultural producers in the remaining Nevada counties did not rate poison hemlock a problematic weed. Weed managers employed by government agencies did not consider poison hemlock a problematic species.

Poison hemlock typically inhabits areas with moist and fertile soil but can persist through long dry periods if winter and spring precipitation fill the soil profile prior to germination, and maintain a moist soil surface during seed germination and seedling emergence. Once the seedling emerges, poison hemlock rapidly develops a tap root, from which has numerous lateral roots develop. This deep and broad root system readily accesses stored soil moisture during long dry periods, facilitating abundant growth during the dry summer months.

The landscape settings typically inhabited by poison hemlock include pastures and meadows; riparian areas, stream and ditch banks, roadsides, orchards, cultivated fields, and abandoned or degraded fields and lots. Inhabited sites are often, but not always, subject to regular disturbance that has decreased the cover and density of desired perennial vegetation. Pasture and rangeland with degraded perennial vegetation and disturbed soils (including rodent and small mammal diggings) are readily susceptible to invasion, particularly following spring irrigation, late spring or early summer rains, or flood events. When the production from desired plants and vegetation is below the site’s potential there is ample soil moisture and nutrients available for poison hemlock, as well as other weeds.

Poison hemlock has been observed at elevations up to at least 7,000 feet in both central Nevada and central Arizona. The plant accumulates at least eight known alkaloids that contribute to its extreme toxicity. All classes of wildlife and livestock are susceptible to poisoning, with cattle, horses and goats being the least tolerant to poison hemlock. Once poison hemlock is established it is highly competitive and can prevent or reduce the establishment of native plants by over shading the soil surface and seedlings, reducing their germination and/or growth rate. In agricultural areas, poison hemlock interferes with crops and the production of feed for livestock. Consumption of as little as 0.25% of an animals body weight, of fresh poison hemlock (all plant parts are poisonous), can result in mortality. That equates to 2.5 pounds of fresh poison hemlock plant (i.e. not air dried) material for a 1,000 pound cow. In addition to being highly toxic, poison hemlock can host many common diseases of alfalfa, carrot and celery crops.

Plant Biology

Poison hemlock has a deep taproot with multiple lateral roots (Figure 1). There are no buds on the tap or lateral roots from which new plants can grow. Basal buds are located on the root crown at or near the attachment of the stems. Upon removal of the leaf and flowering stems the basal buds can grow into new stems, producing leaves and flower, provided sufficient soil moisture is present to facilitate additional growth.

36 January 2016

Poison hemlock typically blooms from late spring through the summer in the second year of growth, and produces many clusters (umbels) of small flowers at the end of flowering stalks, largely located directly above the leaves (Figure 2). The location of the flowers above the leaves allows them to intercept much of an herbicide treatment applied from above, which can reduce treatment success. There are no hairs or other features on the leaves and stems that can intercept an herbicide mixture and reduce uptake from the leaf surface. Poison hemlock typically dies shortly after it sets seed, leaving abundant dead stems that can persist long into the winter and often into the next growing season. Persistent standing dead material can also intercept an herbicide intended for deposition on poison hemlock’s green leaves and stems, potentially reducing success of the treatment.

Poison hemlock regenerates only from seed, and seed production per plant can vary from about 1,500 to 39,000 seeds. About 85 percent of the seed crop is viable at dispersal, and requires only a moist substrate for rapid germination to occur. Multiple germination events are possible every growing season and the production of new cohorts often corresponds with precipitation or irrigation events.

Most poison hemlock seed is dispersed from September through December but about 5 percent remains attached to the mother plant and is slowly released through February. This late dispersed seed reportedly has a greater degree of induced dormancy, with dormancy broken by high summer temperatures the following summer, and/ or low winter temperatures. Poison hemlock seed can germinate in dark conditions at a soil depth of at least two inches; however, the seed generally has a greater germination rate when it receives some sunlight due to shallower burial and/or decreased cover from perennial plants or crop species. Most of the dispersed seed has a two or three year viability, but a small percentage can remain alive for up to six years, which creates a persistent and potentially long-lived seedbank. Given that seed production per plant can be very large, even a small percentage of seed still viable after six years can equal a fairly large number of potential plants.

Most seed falls close to the mother plant but can be moved long distances by a variety of mechanisms, especially flowing water. Transport may occur in streamflow (perennial, seasonal, or ephemeral), canals and irrigation ditches, flood irrigation, or during floods that that result in widespread overland flow. The seed has no morphological features that facilitate attachment to an animal’s hide or feathers; thus, transport by animals only occurs under certain circumstances, particularly muddy conditions. Infested soil that becomes muddy can cling to the hooves or fur of wild and domestic animals and be moved tens to hundreds of miles (especially from trucking). Similar movement can occur from mud attached to clothing and shoes, vehicles, and farm equipment.

Control Approaches - Non-chemical

Like all biennial (and annual) weeds, the control of poison hemlock requires eliminating seed production of the existing plants and preventing movement of seed onto the site from off-site locations. Mechanical cultivation treatments can effectively control poison hemlock seedlings and young plants. On routinely cultivated cropland poison hemlock infestations seldom occur because repeated cultivation treatments kill the young plants before they can produce seed. For sites where poison hemlock has gone to seed at least once, physical disturbance of the soil from tillage may facilitate the germination of previously ungerminated seed, provided soil moisture is adequate or becomes so shortly after tillage occurs. Shallow tillage often improves contact between the soil and the seed, which improves moisture transfer to the seed, increasing germination potential. Repeated germination events followed by quick control of the seedlings can rapidly deplete viable seed from the soil. Deep tillage can bury poison hemlock seed too deep (> 3-4 inches) for successful germination and emergence; however, regular deep tillage may bring buried seeds back to the surface where germination and emergence are more likely. Infested areas that have been cultivated should always be regularly checked for new seedling cohorts. When seedlings appear they should be quickly controlled.

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Mowing or cutting treatments can prevent poison hemlock from producing seed but mowing usually does not kill the plant. If soil moisture is adequate, mowed plants can readily regrow from basal buds on the root crown. These buds typically reside below the height of the mower blades and removal of existing branches and stems activates these buds to develop into new stems. A mowing treatment should be implemented only if a follow up treatment by mechanical, chemical or other means can be used to control seed production that develops on the new growth. If follow up treatments is not possible, the best initial treatment is probably with an herbicide with a long soil residual, to control future seedlings that emerge from the seedbank.

Small infestations can be removed by pulling by hand. Anyone using this method should use gloves and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to prevent transfer of toxins to their skin and subsequent absorption into their body.

Burning live plants should be avoided because airborne toxins are released and can be inhaled. There is no direct research about the use of flooding to control poison hemlock; however, poison hemlock’s preference for moist soil suggests rapid recovery (via new plants) from flood events that can drown existing plants.

The best cultural control for poison hemlock is to maintain a dense and vigorous stand of desired perennial grasses that can out-compete the weed, and reduce its potential for establishment. On cropland, a dense vigorous stand of the crop has a similar effect. The maintenance of dense vegetation (wildland or crop) should be coupled with periodic scouting to find new plants and infestations where they are likely to occur. Even the best managed pasture, rangeland and cropland (particularly damp field boarders) has periodic disturbances (especially rodent and small mammal diggings) that create gaps in the vegetation. The bare soil associated with these disturbances has a greater probability of seed germination and seedling establishment of poison hemlock, compared to well-vegetated locations. Irrigation water drawn from sources that traverse areas inhabited by poison hemlock always has the potential to carry viable seed to recently created bare ground. Furthermore, irrigation also creates a moist soil surface needed for widespread germination and seedling emergence to occur.

Weed control and management programs for poison hemlock should focus on an integrated approach that applies two or more methods of weed control. Very seldom does a single approach work long-term. Furthermore, all approaches, except for the purposeful management of an area for bare-ground, must address how to establish and/or increase the desired species on an infested site. A dense vigorous stand of desired perennial grasses (or crop species) provides the best opportunity to prevent a rapid large scale establishment of poison hemlock, particularly when it is combined with periodic scouting that finds and eliminates the initial colonizers.

Once viable poison hemlock seed enters the soil, control programs will have to last at least three years and perhaps as long as six years, or more. Early detection of poison hemlock and a rapid response to control the first few plants provides the best opportunity to prevent the large scale establishment of a new infestation, and subsequent development of a large persistent seedbank. Both conditions will result in costly control treatments.

There are no known commercial biological controls for poison hemlock. The Figure 1. Tap root and root crown European Palearctic moth (Agonopterix alof poison hemlock at the rosette stroemeriana) has been introduced into the growth stage. Buds that facilitate United States but has had only marginal regrowth after mowing/cutting success controlling poison hemlock, where treatments are located at the top their respective populations overlap. Apof the root crown where the leaf parently, the moth’s population has seldom stalks are attached to the root become large enough to adequately control crown. Mechanical treatments the hemlock infestations. Many infestations must sever the root crown from have remained largely unaffected despite the the tap root to effectively kill the moth’s presence. plant. Photo from University of Grazing is not a viable control treatment Nebraska Crop Watch at: http:// due to the plants extreme toxicity for all cropwatch.unl.edu/archive/-/asclasses of livestock. set_publisher/VHeSpfv0Agju/ content/4760968.t www.progressiverancher.com

Chemical Control

There are at least 12 active ingredients that effectively control poison hemlock in wildland, non-crop, and agronomic settings in Nevada (Table 1). These active ingredients are packaged into at least 122 products labeled for use in Nevada. Most focus on range, pasture, and non-crop settings, and to a lesser degree small grain crops.

Many products are pre-mixed formulations with two or more active ingredients that are effective on many weeds besides poison hemlock. If poison hemlock grows with other weeds a pre-packaged mix may be the most appropriate herbicide treatment.

The active ingredient for poison hemlock may have little effect on the other weeds you want to control.

Most of the active ingredients shown in Table 1 are selective, although the degree of selectivity can vary by crop or environmental setting, soil type, growth stage of the non-target plants, and the rate at which the active ingredient is applied. Many chemicals also display some level of soil residual activity, ranging from a couple months to two or more years. For some active ingredients, their residual activity can vary considerably depending upon soil texture, soil moisture, soil pH, and/or the amount of soil organic matter. Most postemergence herbicides work best on small rapidly growing plants, but some may effectively control larger or more mature plants. The dose applied, however, usually is greater than for small plants and may result in an increased risk of adverse effects toward non-target plants, especially seedlings of desired species. Also, greater application rates may lengthen the period of strong soil residual activity. The decay rate of an active ingredient does not depend upon the amount of chemical applied; thus, the greater the amount of active ingredient in the soil at the start of the decay period the more present at the end of each subsequent time interval. This may limit the selection of species available for crop rotation following harvest or for reseeding rangeland and pasture.

No single active ingredient (Table 1) is the best herbicide to control poison hemlock. Every infestation is unique and herbicide selection should be based on site-specific conditions. Some factors you should consider are: 1) do you need a selective herbicide that will not adversely affect the residual desired plant species that occupy the site; 2) are your short- and mid-term management objectives compatible with an active ingredient that leaves a soil residual, especially a multi-year residual; 3) what will be the growth stage of both poison hemlock and associated non-target plants when you can fit the herbicide treatment into your overall production schedule; 4) is the control of poison hemlock (i.e., plant death before

Figure 2. Location of the flower clusters poison hemlock above the leaves. The flowers have the ability to intercept an herbicide treatment applied directly from above. This demonstrates why herbicide treatments should occur before the plant bolts and develops flowers. Photo from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_09/pn_090616.html

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 37

x

x

x

x

x

Aminocyclopyrachlor

Method 50 SG or 240 SL:

x

x

Yes

Yes

Chlorsulfuron

Telar

x

x

Yes

Yes

Dicamba

Banvel Diablo, Rifle

x

x

x

x

x

x

Yes

Yes, but highly variable

Glyphosate

Roundup and many others

x

x

x

x

x

x

No

No

Postemergence to actively growing plants through the rosette stage

Imazapic

NuFarm Plateau

x

x

Variable

Yes

Preemergence or postemergence to actively growing poison hemlock ≤ 6 inches tall

Imazapyr

Habitat Polaris

x

x

Generally No

Yes

Preemergence to early postemergence through the rosette stage

x

x

x

x

MCPA* Metsulfuronmethyl

MCP Amine MCP Ester Shredder Escort Patriot

Saflufenacil

Sharpen

Tebuthiuron

Spike

x

Triasulfuron

Amber

x

38 January 2016

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Selective

Soil Residual

Yes

No

Growth Stage

Postemergence to actively growing young plants from seedlings to rosette growth stage Preemergence or early postemergence (during active growth) when poison hemlock is germinating through the rosette stage Postemergence to young rapidly growing poison hemlock postemergence to young actively growing poison hemlock through the rosette stage

x

x

Yes

Days to 6 months

Postemergence to young (small) actively growing poison hemlock

x

x

Yes

Yes

Postemergence to young rapidly growing poison hemlock ≤ 4 inches tall

x

x

Yes

Rate dependent

Variable

Yes

Yes

Yes

x x

Potatoes

Corn

x

2,4-D

Representative Products

Mint

Smll Grains

Many

Active Ingredient

Alfalfa

Bare-ground

the appropriate products for their specif ic situation. Many of the active ingredients shown below are available in pre-mixed formulations with other active ingredients. Those pre-mixed products are not listed in this table. A complete list of all active ingredients and products labeled to control poison hemlock can be searched for at the CDMS (http://www. cdms.net/LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx?pd=7607&t=) and Greenbook (http://www.greenbook.net/) websites. The order of active ingredients below is alphabetical and does not ref lect any preference or eff icacy.

Fallow

Table 1. Active ingredients and many of the representative products labeled for the control of poison hemlock in the landscape settings and crops in Nevada. Postemergent applications should always be to actively growing weeds, unless specif ied. Additional active ingredients may be labeled for turf, ornamentals, or less common crops in Nevada.

Information in this table can be used to determine the potential active ingredients for your specif ic needs. Product selection should occur only after the applicator has read all current product labels and identif ied Non-Crop

hemlock does not reestablish and produce additional seed. Small seedlings are the easiest growth stage at which to control poison hemlock, and early identification of a new infestation (or a reinfested area) will reduce long-term treatment costs and effort. Periodic visits to treated sites should occur if the site is located along an invasion pathway/corridor for which the movement of poison hemlock seed cannot be prevented.

Poison hemlock is a biennial plant; therefore, it reproduces sexually for each new cohort of seed. Sexual reproduction results in rapid genetic exchange; thus, use of the same active ingredient or a suite of chemicals with the same mode of action, can result in the quick development of biotypes that are resistant to that mode of action.

For infestations that must be treated repeatedly across time, use herbicides with different modes of action to reduce the risk of developing herbicide resistant biotypes.

The next article in this series will address saltcdear (Tamarix ramosissima), a long-lived sprouting tree that commonly inhabits degraded riparian and wetland areas, or habitat types that are periodically flooded and have a shallow water table the plants roots can easily reach.

Range & Pasture

seed production) your primary goal or is complete or nearly complete suppression of seed production an acceptable outcome (this may be an acceptable goal if poison hemlock is only a secondary weed of concern); and 5) can you make the commitment for a follow-up treatment if one is warranted. Some herbicides, especially those that lack a soil residual to control the next germination cohort, provide less long-term control than the other active ingredients. Active ingredients that have a short residual activity probably will require more extensive follow-up treatments, compared to active ingredients with a long soil residual.

An important question of any herbicide treatment is, was I successful? Poison hemlock generally establishes from seed produced the previous growing and under typical field conditions most seed loses its viability after three years. An herbicide treatment of poison hemlock can be 100 percent effective the year it is applied, but successful control may require one or more follow up treatments for at least two or three additional growing seasons, and perhaps longer, if even a very small amount of seed continues to survive in the soil or is transported onto the site. Treated sites should always be revisited for at least three years post-treatment to ensure that poison

x

x

x

The Progressive Rancher

Postemergencet to poison hemlock ≤ 6inches tall/wide Soil surface application in the fall/dormant season so rainfall can incorporate active ingredient into the soil Preemergent with soil incorporation, or postemergence to young (small) actively growing weeds www.progressiverancher.com

Financial Focus P re sente d by Ja s o n L a n d , F in a n c ia l A d v is o r, E d wa rd J o n e s i n E l k o , N e v a d a 2 2 1 3 No rt h 5 t h S t re e t , S u it e A | 7 7 5 -7 3 8 -8 8 11

Time for Some New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions

T

For example ...

he countdown to 2016 has just about begun. If you’re like many people, you might be mulling over some New Year’s resolutions, such as hitting the gym more, learning a new language or taking a cook- ing class. All are worthy goals, but why not add some financial resolutions as well?

Pay yourself first. Even if you aren’t living “paycheck to paycheck,”

you probably don’t have much trouble spending your money – because there’s always something that you or a family member needs, always a repair required for your home or your car, always one more bill to pay. But if you are going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need to invest consistently. So before you pay everyone else, pay yourself first by having some money automatically moved from your checking or savings account each month into an investment.

Take advantage of your opportunities.

If you have a 401(k) or similar plan at work, take full advantage of it. Contribute as much as you can afford – or at least enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is offered – and choose the mix of investments that give you the potential to achieve the growth you need at a level of risk with which you are comfortable.

You are invited to COWBOY CHURCH!

You are invited to COWBOY CHURCH!

1st Saturday of every month Standish, CA @ 6:00 p.m.

Hwy. 395 /A3 — Standish 4-H Hall

3rd Saturday of every month Lovelock, NV @ 7:00 p.m.

1035 Cornell Ave. — Old Variety Store

Are you having a Rodeo or Livestock event? Give us a call.

We would love to come to your event or ranch and host Cowboy Church for you.

Harmony Ranch Ministry 3767 Keyes Way Fallon, NV 89406

Tom J. Gonzalez | Diana J. Gonzalez, Pastor threecrossls@cccomm.net

(775) 867-3100 Cell (775) 426-1107

Focus on the long term. In the short term, you might be excused for not wanting to invest. The headlines are typically scary, the financial markets are frequently volatile and the future often looks murky. Yet, if you can look past the uncertainties of today and keep your focus on tomorrow, you will find it easier to follow a disciplined investment strategy that gives you the opportunity to meet your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

Don’t be driven by fear. When the market is down, investors tend to react with fear. Specifically, they rush to sell their investments, afraid that if they don’t “cut their losses,” they might sustain even bigger ones. If you can get past this feeling, you may find that a down market can offer you the chance to buy quality investments at good prices.

Forget about the “hot stocks.”

You’ll hear friends, co-workers and talk- ing heads on television tout today’s “hot stocks.” But by the time you might hear about them, they may have cooled off – and, in any case, they might not be appropriate for your needs. Forget about “getting rich quick in the market” – it probably won’t happen. True investment success requires patience and persistence.

Cut down on your debts. It’s easy to pile up debts, but a lot harder getting rid of them. Yet, if you can reduce your debt load even moderately, you’ll free up money you could use to invest. So look for ways to conserve, cut back and consolidate – it will be worth the effort.

Making these resolutions – and stick- ing to them – can help you as you work toward achieving your financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 39

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40 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

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, 2016 Friday, Februar y 19 ng Sifting in the morni

n

elles Dinner/Dance Churchill Co. Cowb n S Awards Presentatio and FB b Dinner: 6:30 Socia l Hour: 5:30 pm Da nce: 8:00 pm nter Fa llon Convention Ce

pm

Saturday, February 20, 2016 Bull Sale 11:00 am Fallon Livestock Exchange Fallon, Nevada

FBS Invitational Stoc k Dog Trial February 19, 2016

To benefit the fight again st cancer Handlers Meeting at 7:30 a.m.

Tr ial at 8:00 a.m.

Cowdog Auctio

n after the Churchill Co . Cowbelles Dinner at the Fa llon Conventi on Center

For more information or a sale catalog, please call the Sale Office: Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 775-738-9214 ✸ www.nevadacattlemen.org ✸ nca@nevadabeef.org www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 41

Ask USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) A Question and Answer Session with FSA Administrator Val Dolcini

A

ccording to Administrator Dolcini, “The 2014 Farm Bill, signed into law in Feb. 2014, has significantly expanded the federal farm program opportunities and support available to U.S. ranchers and livestock producers affording many new risk management, safety-net, financing and conservation options.”

Q: What is the USDA Farm Service Agency, and why is it important to ranchers?

A: With a network of more than 2,100 offices in almost every rural county in the United States, FSA provides a financial safety-net to the farmers and ranchers who grow the most important resource in the country - - our food. The safety-net includes financial assistance when there are unexpected downturns in markets, help when natural disasters harm crops and livestock, loans to help new, underserved or longtime farmers and ranchers without access to commercial credit that can strengthen their operations, and funds to assist with soil and water quality improvements.

Q: Why would I need help from FSA? A: Every day, ranchers evaluate their operations from the perspective of weather and markets - it’s the fundamental foundation of what we do. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of household income, real estate taxes, loan payments on buildings and equipment and technology, saving for college, for health care, for retirement, in towns throughout the countryside, all rest on raising animals or crops exposed to weather, disease, and competition with operations throughout the national and global marketplace. Despite our best efforts, sometimes we need help to regain our footing due to circumstances beyond our control. FSA works to ensure that family farms and ranches remain strong so that they can continue pursuing their version of the America dream.

Q: Does FSA just work with row crop producers?

A: No, FSA also provides disaster and conservation assistance to livestock ranchers too, through our Livestock Indemnity Program (mortality), Livestock Forage Program (drought/fire), and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (includes feed/harvested forage losses).

More information on FSA disaster programs is available at disaster.fsa.usda.gov. These disaster programs were made permanent in the 2014 Farm Bill–meaning they no longer require Congressional approval on an ad hoc basis. Ranchers and livestock producers may also be eligible for low interest FSA loans.

On average, FSA administers more than 50 federal farm programs. There is literally something of interest to everyone regardless of the size or type of a particular agricultural operation. Whether you

42 January 2016

have a row crop, livestock, diversified, niche market, small or large operation, there are likely FSA programs for which you qualify.

Q: I have not previously participated in any FSA programs and would like to learn more about these programs. How do I get started?

A: The first step is to make an appointment with your local FSA office. If you decide to voluntarily enroll your farm in the USDA database, FSA will assign you a farm number which will be used to manage future program participation.

When you visit FSA for the first time, it will be helpful for you to bring the following information in order to expedite enrollment: • Proof of Identity – you will be required to show a valid state driver’s license, passport or other form of personal identification as well as provide your Social Security card or Internal Revenue Service paperwork that verifies an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Original documents are required for verification and photocopying.

• Proof of Ownership - Copy of the recorded deed or rental agreement as evidence of land ownership or control.

• Entity Identification and Status Copy of the articles of corporation; trust and estate documents; or partnership agreements.

• Financial and Productions Records If you apply for a farm ownership or operating loan from FSA, financial and production records must be furnished.

It takes time to process the paperwork and additional information may be needed for commodity, disaster and conservation program applications so pre-planning is encouraged.

Q: Are there eligibility or compliance requirements for FSA program participation?

A: Yes, for participation in FSA programs, producers may be subject to Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations, Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conversion, and Actively Engaged provisions. Local FSA staff will walk through all eligibility criteria when you visit the office to enroll.

Q: I currently carry Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Insurance coverage through USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Does FSA offer a similar risk management program?

A: Yes, producers who carry PRF insurance might also consider purchasing Noninsurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage through FSA. NAP provides natural disaster protection for crops ineligible for insurance that can protect against lower yields

The Progressive Rancher

or losses, or prevents planting. Eligible crops include

Val Dolcini crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, such as grain and forage crops, including native forage.

In a loss situation, ranchers could receive benefits under PRF, NAP and livestock disaster assistance programs.

In the event qualifying losses occur, eligible producers can receive benefits from PRF, NAP and the Livestock Forage Disaster Assistance Program.

Q: Cattle markets are currently experiencing a downward trend. Are there financing options available through FSA to assist ranchers in making ends meet?

A: FSA offers both guaranteed and direct loans: • Direct loans are issued by FSA directly to the farmer (borrower) and include farm operating and ownership options. The maximum direct loan limit is $300,000. Microloans are also available for lesser financing needs and have a loan limit of $50,000.

• Guaranteed loans are issued by commercial lenders to the farmer, but guaranteed by FSA against losses to the lender for up to 90 to 95 percent of the amount and include farm operating and ownership options. T he maximum guaranteed loan limit is $1,399,000.

Congress targets a percentage of farm ownership and operating loans to new or underserved farmers.

www.progressiverancher.com

Q: I’m interested in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands initiative, can you explain the program?

A: CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion. Contract duration is between 14 and 15 years. The first ranking period closed on Nov. 20, 2014, but the program is continuous, so interested landowners can offer acres that will be held in “pending” status until the next ranking period is open. Two million acres will be accepted nationwide.

Q: Are there any final notes or reminders for Progressive Rancher readers?

A: If you have a diversified row crop and livestock operation, please remember to visit our office to enroll (sign the contract) for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2016 crop year for covered commodities. If you did not make an ARC or PLC election in 2015, your operation defaulted to PLC but you still need to sign the contract for 2016 to ensure participation.

For more information about FSA programs, contact your local FSA office or visit us online at www.fsa.usda.gov. Producers can also subscribe to national, state and county-level news through our online electronic news service http://www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe.

www.progressiverancher.com

USDA Announces $50 Million to Help Nevada Ag Producers

Restore Wildlife Habitat

By Heather Emmons, Public Affairs Officer

Greater Sage-Grouse Part of Innovative Private Land Conservation to Benefit Agriculture and Wildlife

R

eno, Nev.– USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is making available about $50 million this year in financial assistance to partner with agricultural producers who want to restore and protect habitat for seven focus species, including greater sage-grouse. Conservation efforts for sage grouse are part of Working Lands for Wildlife, an innovative partnership that supports struggling landscapes and strengthens agricultural operations.

“The decisions of agricultural producers can have significant impacts on wildlife,” said Ray Dotson, NRCS state conservationist in Nevada. “By managing land with sage grouse and other wildlife in mind, producers can benefit entire populations while also strengthening their agricultural operations This year, NRCS will invest about $40 million on habitat restoration and protection for the sage grouse, the umbrella species of the sagebrush landscape.

Conservation efforts to restore and protect sagebrush led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to determine in September that protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) were not warranted. Since 2010, NRCS and conservation partners have worked with ranchers to make conservation improvements to 4.4 million acres of sagebrush habitat, benefitting sage grouse and 350 other kinds of wildlife, including mule deer, elk, pronghorn and golden eagles.

With the support of conservation partners and ranchers, NRCS launched the Sage Grouse Initiative in 2010. Those efforts became the model for WLFW, which began two years later.

“Working Lands for Wildlife helps land managers integrate wildlife-friendly measures into their working lands and also ensures they can keep those lands working,” Dotson said.

Technical and financial assistance is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and Conservation Stewardship Program.

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 43

HUMBOLDT WATERSHED COOPERATIVE Weed Management Area Providing land managers, owners and local weed control groups assistance through funding, agency and weed group coordination, communication and cooperation

H

appy Holidays from the Humboldt Watershed CWMA! The HWCWMA was developed to address the invasive weed problem and subsequent decline in water quality within the entire 16,843 square mile watershed, which covers most of Northern Nevada. The primary function of HWCWMA has been to provide land managers, owners and weed control groups assistance in the areas of funding, agency and weed group coordination and cooperation.

This month we would like to introduce you to a plant that is not currently listed as one of Nevada’s state listed noxious weeds, but has shown itself to be highly invasive in surrounding states. Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) commonly referred to as wiregrass, has become a serious problem for perennial forage producers in the Pacific Northwest. Ventenata is an introduced annual grass, native to central and southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. The first recorded sighting of Ventenata in North America is dated 1957; more specifically, in Kootenai County, Idaho. Since then, confirmed sightings have been made in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Wisconsin, New York, and Maine. Ventenata is a winter annual grass that germinates in the fall, a few weeks after downy brome (cheatgrass). Pastures and hayfields that become infested with Ventenata will have significant yield reductions of 50% or more within a few growing seasons. Ventenata is not palatable to livestock, in part, because it has nearly the same amount of silica as medusahead.

With loss of productivity, land condition and land value declines.

Identification of Ventenata in the fall after seedlings emerge and in the early spring can be difficult. Ventenata seedlings can often be found beneath litter created from the previous growing season in the fall and spring. Ventenata is a basally branched, tufted winter annual grass that has rolled or folded leaves and membranous ligules. Openly branched panicles are pyramidal in overall shape and have spikelets comprised of typically 3 florets. The awns of some of the florets are bent and twisted. The inflorescence is an open panicle, pyramidal in shape, and 2.8 to 8 inches and leaves mostly occur on the lower half of the stem and have open leaf sheaths. Key identification traits for Ventenata include: reddish-black nodes in late spring; the long, membranous leaf ligule; the inflorescence is an open panicle in June-July; upper floret awns that are twisted and bent.

Ventenata grows in a variety of dry, open and often disturbed habitats, tending to prefer sites that are inundated in early spring but dried out by late spring. It is commonly found on south-facing hillsides with shallow, rocky clay or clay-loam soils, though it can be found on other aspects and substrates.

In a survey of land managers throughout eastern Oregon, central and eastern Washington and northern Idaho, Ventenata was found growing in areas receiving 13.8 to 44.1 inches (35 to 112 cm) of annual precipitation and elevations of 33 to 5906. It grows in rangeland, dry meadows, pastures, roadsides, rocky swales, open forests, and sagebrush communities, including areas previously dominated by or having cheatgrass present.

As always, please notify the HWCWMA if you see Ventenata growing within the Humboldt River Watershed. We have an opportunity to stop invasive species from spreading if we act quickly and our staff can provide the property owner or appropriate public agency with site-specific treatment options for these

plants. The HWCWMA also maps and monitors heavily infested sites in the watershed which allows the HWCWMA the ability to provide educational and financial assistance to land owners and groups in their management efforts, ultimately improving all of the qualities of the land and water in our watershed.

The HWCWMA has also developed a website to serve as a clearinghouse for information on invasive weeds in the Humboldt Watershed. Our website (http://www.humboldtweedfree.org) contains fact sheets for state listed noxious weeds in Nevada, Board of Director’s information, funding partner’s links, and many more features including a detailed project proposal packet that you can print, fill out and mail back to us at your convenience. We are looking to expand our project area outside of the Humboldt River and always welcome new funding opportunities.

HWCWMA P.O. Box 570 Elko, NV 89803-0570 hwcwma@gmail.com www.HumboldtWeedFree.org aporreca@humboldtweedfree.org

44 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 45 

by Jennifer Whiteley

You know you are a ranch wife when...

There are lots of ways to tell if you are a Ranch Wife. These are a few of things that I have come across that pretty much clinched it for me. You can’t make this stuff up!

46 January 2016

• You’ve ever hauled a leppy calf to school for show and tell.

• You know your husband has no romantic intentions when he asks you to go for a drive with him. He’s putting out mineral and wants someone to open gates.

• You’ve ever had to scrub blue chalk stick off your kids because they just watched Braveheart and know where dad keeps the doctoring supplies.

• You keep penicillin in your fridge, between the butter and cream. (Frozen colostrum is in the freezer with the ground beef).

• You’ve ever found ¾” needles and ear tags in your dryer.

• You can drag a horse trailer up a two-track at dark to meet your CowBoss, and help him load the bull he has roped, but the WalMart parking lot scares you to death.

• You’ve ever had to explain to your children’s teacher that the reason they didn’t finish their homework last night was because you had to pull a calf and needed them to hold the flashlight.

• Little girls ask you if you are a “real” cowgirl when you drop your kids off at school because you have on a cowboy hat and are pulling a horse trailer, on your way to check cows.

• You’ve ever kept a leppy colt in a playpen in your dining room or leppy calf in your bathtub.

• Your first grader took OB chains to school for show and tell and properly demonstrated their use.

• Your seasons of the year are calving, branding, haying and shipping.

• You can whip out a meal to feed a crew in less than an hour and you don’t need electricity.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

January 2016 47 

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 3280 Salt Lake City, UT 48 January 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com