Progressive Rancher May/June 2016

NCA 2009 President’s Award Recipient

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Riding for the NCA

24

Nevada Farm Bureau

4

Nevada Cattlemen Assn.

27

Look Up

8

Society for Range Man.

28

Amodei Amendment

11

Eye on the Outside

32

Negative Impacts of Draftt

12

Nevada Cattlewomen

34

Water in Nevada

14

Fumes from the Farm

36

Nevada Department of Ag

15

Hunter’s Etiquette

42

NAF

16

BLM

44

Black Sagebrush

18

Mind of a Millennial

46

Ramblings of a Ranch Wife

20

Beef Checkoff

47

EJ Financial Focus

22

American Lands Council

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Do Nothing Attitude In DC

April 29th 2016

By David Stix Jr. President, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

H

ello fellow cattlemen and cattlewomen. This month’s message comes after a mostly successful trip to Washington D.C. The bottom line of the trip is that on an election year D.C. is tough because not many people want to do anything! With that said, here is my topic and it has not been immune to the “do nothing attitude” sweeping across D.C., that is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The TPP is an agreement between the United States and several foreign countries.

It is designed to level the playing field for trade to those countries that wish to join.

What I mean by “level the playing field” is for example with Japan. Japan is the largest importer of American beef, especially the byproduct portions such as the tongue and heart. Right now the tariff on Japanese exports to the U.S. is 38.5% however the Australia tariff with Japan is 28%. In other words, we are losing market share! With the top five export markets totaling 1,067,614 metric tons (mt) of U.S. beef equaling to $6.3 billion; this is significant in getting the price of our calves up and stabilized.

Over the next 16 years TPP will lower the tariff for the U.S. to 9% with a significant drop just in the first year. This action would create a fair and balanced opportunity for U.S. beef experts.

So here is the political rub, other than nothDavid Stix Jr. ing moves on Capitol Hill the closer you get to November, President Obama is in support of the TPP. The downsides to getting support for the TPP are as followed: One, certain republicans do not want to look like they are agreeing with the president. Two, Democrats are worried about organized labor because they think there will be more U.S. jobs going overseas (which is far from the truth!). As Joe guild and I discussed while back in D.C., we see the TPP as being a “win-win” for not only the Cattlemen but for the Labor Unions, the Butcher Unions processing the beef, the longshoremen loading the meat at the ports and the Maritime Unions shipping the beef all over the world! Never-the-less the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has made TPP a top priority and NCA agrees.

Lastly, don’t forget to mark your calendars for June 3rd. The NCA Board of Directors will be holding their summer meeting at the Nevada Department of Agriculture in Elko, NV. All members are welcome; we will be starting with lunch at noon and the meeting to follow at 1:00 p.m. There will be lots to talk about, see ya then!

-David Stix Jr. President, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

Table 2.2 Frustration

everything Sage Grouse, a comment was made that it would be discussed during grazing breakout sessions. During the breakout session, not once was Table 2.2 discussed in any detail. It is apparent that even the BLM understands that there are many unanswered questions about the table and how it will be implemented. To be fair to Nevada BLM, there is an attempt to work with State agencies and stakeholders to answer questions about table 2.2 and how it will be applied to livestock grazing. There is no desire at Nevada BLM to make the objectives contained in the table a hammer to reduce or eliminate livestock grazing.

The language in the land use plan makes it possible to make changes to livestock grazing rapidly without needing to wait for NEPA. While this sounds promising and no doubt will be used to shorten seasons of use or stocking rates, it is unclear if this process will work in the reverse when livestock grazing needs to increase. There are still no good answers differentiating between “a causal factor” and “the causal factor” when it is determined an allotment is not meeting standards for sage grouse.

Many producers who share allotments with other large grazers (horses and elk for example) will most likely experience reductions in grazing as a result of allotments not meeting objectives. This will occur if “grazing is a causal factor” in not meeting standards. While there are some allotments in Nevada that have rangeland health issues and they don’t list livestock grazing as a causal factor, the vast majority list grazing as a factor and as a result, there most likely will be reductions in AUMs in these areas. While permitted livestock continues to draw attention on grazing lands, the Washington Office is continuing to allow horse use to increase unchecked, regardless of sage grouse habitat.

It seems that while Nevada struggles to find ways to ensure healthy rangelands exist and that objectives such as those in Table 2.2 are met, they are only allowed to focus on livestock, mining, and other permitted uses. There is no relief for Nevada BLM on addressing horse over use and habitat destruction.

Look for continued dialogue and discussion throughout the summer on how objectives will be applied to livestock grazing allotments and what changes, can/should/and will be implemented in Nevada. Hopefully, these discussions will take place with state agency representatives and utilize specialists from Nevada. There shouldn’t be any drastic changes to livestock grazing this year as a result of the new plans, but by next spring there will undoubtedly be significant proposed changes in some grazing programs as a result of monitoring and continued pressure from the Department of Interior leadership in Washington to decrease livestock grazing in the west.

O

By Aaron Codman

n April 27th, the Nevada and California BLM hosted a meeting on implementation plans for managing the landscape and resources.

The meeting was one of several planned across the west this spring.

It should not surprise anyone to hear that there are many concerns related to the land use plan amendments put in place to appease the Fish and Wildlife Service. While reaching out to stakeholders is appreciated before sweeping changes are made by the BLM, the timing of this “coordination” leaves many cooperating agencies scratching their heads. It would seem that this may be an attempt to smooth over some ruffled feathers that resulted in nearly all comments from cooperating agencies being dismissed during the planning process.

While the purpose of the meeting was to demonstrate how the BLM will implement the new land use plan amendments, many participants left with as many, if not more, questions than they came with. A task as large as this requires a tremendous amount of planning and coordination. The unfortunate thing is that both of these should have taken place before now and weren’t. There was an air of frustration present among participants at the meeting.

Most in attendance were eager to learn how changes were going to affect them and the interests they represent. As one looked around the participants, it became apparent that this group of people had a vast amount of knowledge to share. They represented everything from conservationists to elected officials and miners to cowboys. One can’t help but ask, “Why are we engaging all these people now instead of during planning”?

There was significant discussion relating to mitigation and disturbance. In fact, the Nevada Conservation Credit System received a substantial amount of discussion during breakout sessions as a tool for mitigation that is being employed by the federal agencies.

Other significant areas of discussion were minerals and of course grazing. A representative from Secretary Jewell’s office was present throughout the day and sat in on breakout sessions and addressed the group at the end of day. She continued to cheerlead for the Department she represents and is selling the adopted land use plan amendments as the saving grace. Unfortunately, she was also unable to provide any detailed answers to most questions.

When a question was raised early in the morning regarding Table 2.2 and its role in www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 3

By Kaley Sproul, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director

Nevada Cattlemen's Association Leadership Visits Washington D.C.

T

his past April brought our Public Lands Council/National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (PLC/NCBA) Annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. This conference serves as an important part of the year for every State Cattlemen’s Association and affiliates to meet with state delegation and address the unique issues and circumstances that face the cattle industry around the nation.

This was my first time attending the conference and I found the theme “Boots on the Hill” invigorating. It brought together numerous representatives of the beef industry all impacted by the policy decisions made in Washington D.C. Before working with our legislators Nevada Cattlemen’s Association members Davey Stix Jr., Joe Guild, the Miller family, and myself attended briefings from our national affiliates. The topics discussed ranged from federal land and environmental issues, to trade and more.

The first day was the PLC Committee Meetings. Seeing how Nevada consists of more than 85% of public lands, a large portion of the meetings mirrored concerns of the NCA. Updates were given by members of Utah, California and Wyoming’s Land Councils on lawsuits regarding wild horses. With much of the shared apprehensions it was proposed from a policy perspective that the focus needs to be on removing certain language from the bill. This language imposes major restrictions to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for selling wild horses. We are in a dire situation that risks the health of our public rangelands, wildlife, wild horses, livestock, and all other multiple uses of the range. If the language is removed it could give more flexibility and fewer restrictions on handling the overpopulation of wild horses. The next meeting was for the Greater Sage Grouse Committee. There are concerns on the implementation of Table 2.2. It is not only critical for the permittees but also for the agency personnel to have a clear understanding of how it will be interpreted. In order to work towards Adaptive-Management and Multiple-Use it will require cooperation and compromise from all parties.

On Tuesday we received presentations from agency representatives. Speaker Scott Bedke, Idaho State House of Representatives, spoke about the Greater Sage Grouse Protection and Recovery Act that has been introduced into the House (H.R. 4739). This Act provides for conservation and preservation for the Sage Grouse as well as facilitates implementation of the State’s recovery plans. It requires that there shall be no appeal of the ESA before September 30, 2026. The next speaker we heard from was Director Neil Kornze, BLM. He started his speech by stating, “We are in a complicated organization [and] collaboration is the blood that runs through our hands”. He informed us that workshops are being held to help educate/inform permitees about the next steps being taken on the Sage Grouse issues. Next he spoke on the Wild Horse & Burro issues, explaining that housing for EACH horse costs $50,000. Currently they are reevaluating the financial consequences being faced and they are trying to find new/resourceful approaches to better manage the over population of the horses. He mentioned in order to support some of those dollars they raised grazing fees. Lastly, he explained why the BLM is reassessing and seeking input for the Planning 2.0. He believes the “planning process is broken” and the goal is to make the process more efficient.

Further into the week began meetings “on the Hill” with congressional representatives and agency leadership.

Our meetings proved to be productive and NCA was able to address a variety of legislative issues affecting Nevada producers. Current legislation that NCA discussed with leadership included the support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), H.R. 4739, funding and management of Wild Horses, and the Antiquities Act, specifically monument designations.

Kaley Sproul, NCA Executive Director 4 May-June 2016

Joe Guild Kaley Sproul, Congress Woman Titus, Travis and Amber Miller Family

Visit with Senator Amodei Joe Guild - David Stix -Senator Amodei and Kaley Sproul

Visit with Congressman Heck The Progressive Rancher

Visit with Senator Heller www.progressiverancher.com

Our Capitol Hill visits were productive and lengthy with Congressman Amodei, Congressman Heck, Congresswoman Titus, Congressman Hardy’s staff, Senator Heller, and Senator Reid’s staff. The receptiveness from our leadership was gratifying for most of our meetings. I have found that it is very important that we work closely and build relationships with our legislators in Washington D.C. to promote sound public policies that create a stable business environment for producers, and promote conservation for the natural resources and wildlife.

Before this conference and the meetings with congressional leaders, I was skeptical that my attendance there would make much of an impact. However now I have good news, I am no longer skeptical and I honestly believe we all have the chance to make an impact. Our voices and our time are valuable and can make a difference. After returning to Nevada I was informed that one of the congressmen we had met with will be cosponsoring a bill that we informed him on during our visit. Having “Boots on the Hill” proved to be beneficial in protecting the way of life we enjoy day in and day out.

If you are not currently a member of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, I encourage you to join. Become part of an Association that is working hard to protect and promote the future of ranching in Nevada. To learn more about the association or to become a member, please call the office at 775-738-9214 or visit our webpage at www.nevadacattlemen.org.

We look forward to hearing from you! If you are currently a member, we thank you for your continued support. Without your membership the voice of the Association wouldn’t be as strong as it is today.

Importance of Ecological Site Descriptions to Ranchers

Soils Ecological Sites & State and Transition Models

Workshop Schedule Wednesday, June 1 Topic Introductions, Purpose of the workshop, Safety Briefing 8:30 - 9:00 Development and Use of Soil Surveys • Identifying: landscape position, landform, parent material, and soil properties • Map unit design: describe what goes into a map unit (landform, soil components, vegetation, slope, elevation), what does a polygon represent 9:00-10:00 How Plants Grow and Respond to Grazing 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-11:00 Identifying Ecological Sites 11:00-12:00 State and Transition Models/ Disturbance Response Groups 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-1:45 Management using STM’s 8:00-8:30

Presenter Jeff White, Hanes Holman, Newmont Mining Soils Staff

Brad Schultz, UNCE

Fellow Ranchers, P.Novak-Echenique, NRCS We are all busy this time of year; the fact is we are busy ALL times of the year. So why T. Stringham, UNR take a couple of days out of our busy schedules to go to the Ecological Site Description (ESD) workshops on June 1-2 at the Western Folklife Center in Elko, NV? Let me try to convince you of the importance of ESD’s and the state and transition models (STM).

We know from being out on the landscape every day what it looks like, but do we T. Stringham, UNR really know what it should look like? Do we know what the plant species composition should be? Do we know what the forage production should be? Do we know what referInterpreting Indicators of Rangeland P. Novak-E ence state we are in? Really the main question we need to ask ourselves is: Do we know 1:45-2:15 Health how to manage livestock to manipulate ecological condition for improving rangeland health conditions?

2:15-3:00 Sage Grouse Habitats - Table 2-2 P. Novak-E, BLM A cheatgrass monoculture is managed dramatically different than a perennial grass- 3:00-3:15 Break shrub state. If we are locked in a 1978 allotment management plan (AMP), chances are Review of MLRA 25 State and TransiStringham/Novak-E that it is not written up to manage a cheatgrass monoculture. I would even bet that it doesn’t 3:15-5:00 tion Models have any management strategy to deal with cheatgrass at all. When that allotment starts to burn every four years because of an increase in cheatgrass we may just lose valuable habitat Thursday, June 2 for a sagebrush obligate species. Maybe, just maybe there could be an environmental group smart enough to see this and threaten to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if they do Field Exercise (Bring Lunch and Water) not list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Of course then there would be Land Use Plan Amendments (LUPA) and stubble height triggers according to what that 8:00 - Classroom – Open discussion and comments from participants; Safety species needed. Then come the lawsuits and what a mess we would have!

Briefing If we hadn’t been tied to the 1978 AMP and just used grazing in the proper time 8:30 – Drive to Field Sites and timing as the cheatgrass began to increase; we could have effectively managed the ecological condition. Maybe, just maybe we could have saved the habitat of this 9:30-3:30 Field Exercise (3 or 4 locations) unknown species.

As an industry, if we do not learn to understand and use ESDs and STMs in our At each field stop (3 or 4 locations): livestock management decisions we are only headed for more conflict. ➢ Stations 1 & 2: Soils –2 different locations: physiographic, climate, soil We CANNOT leave this to the land management agencies to understand and implefeatures and characterization ment alone. We need to be seated at the table with a firm understanding of how to use grazing ➢ Station 3 & 4: Team Exercises - Identification of ecological sites and management to improve or maintain habitat. states, analysis of rangeland health; determining forage production; moniIf I have not convinced you, your kids, your hired man, or your cowboy crew to come toring techniques to the workshop on June 1st and 2nd let me make a bold statement that will convince you: ➢ Group Discussion – Determination of the ecological sites/states, Using grazing management to improve ecological conditions more often than not thresholds; soil and vegetation responses to disturbances, restoration and TAKES MORE COWS. management To see a tentative schedule of the workshops please refer to the schedule listed here.

3:30-4:30 Return to Elko For any other questions you may have please contact the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Office at 775-738-9214.

Cheers, Hanes Holman Workshop Objective: Enhance foundational knowledge, skills, and underSecond Vice President, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association standing of soils, ecological sites, and state-and-transition models www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 5

State of Nevada and Federal Agencies signs Conservation Credit System Agreement

T

By Chris Rose Erica Hupp, JoAnn Kittrell

he Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the use of Nevada’s Conservation Credit System (CCS) to help improve sage-grouse habitat on U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands in the state.

“The ability to use the state’s CCS to mitigate disturbances to sage-grouse habitat throughout Nevada greatly increases our ability to protect not just sage-grouse, but the entire sagebrush ecosystem,” said Jim Lawrence, DCNR Deputy Director.

“We are very pleased to be working with the State of Nevada and BLM on the implementation of the CCS. This program enhances our ability to work together to conserve sagebrush ecosystems across all lands,” said Bill Dunkelberger, Forest Supervisor for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. “We applaud the State for developing and implementing this innovative credit system. We look forward to piloting the CCS on National Forest System lands.”

The State of Nevada developed the CCS to preserve and maintain greater sage-grouse habitats on private and public lands. It is an innovative science based tool developed to quantify and account for impacts to sage-grouse habitat and the conservation actions put in place to off-set these impacts.

“Working collaboratively with all stakeholders, especially the state of Nevada, is the key to implementing our plan to improve sage grouse habitat,” said John Ruhs, Director of the Nevada BLM. “This CCS is exactly in line with our number one priority to improve the health and productivity of the land to support BLM’s multiple-use mission.”

For more detailed information on the Credit System, please visit: https://www.enviroaccounting.com/NVCreditSystem/Program/Home

6 May-June 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Carey Hawkins

Jack Payne

Cell: 208-724-6712

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

OFFICE: 775-423-7760

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

Seller

City

#

Desc

Type

Weight

Price CWT

Kenni Brock

Win

1

BLK

STR

388

$203.00

Wilson Ranch

Win

5

MIX

STR

410

$184.50

Phillip Amos

Fallon

4

BLK

STR

414

$176.00

J & B Thompson

Win

5

MIX

STR

504

$173.00

I & M Renner

S.Creek

4

RED

STR

373

$170.00

Tracy Clark

Reno

3

MIX

STR

500

$170.00

Ninety Six Ranch

P Valley

4

MIX

STR

393

$170.00

Fish Creek Ranch

Eureka

17

MIX

STR

542

$167.00

Fish Creek Ranch

Eureka

30

MIX

STR

644

$147.25

Stone Cabin Ranch

Tonopah

26

CHAR

STR

421

$160.00

D & C Buckingham

P Valley

23

MIX

STR

567

$157.50

Deanna Porter

Orovada

4

RBF

STR

578

$153.00

Bert & Jill Paris

Battle Mtn

28

MIX

STR

541

$150.00

Patty Julian

Fallon

3

BLK

STR

610

$149.50

Sales Results from April 20th, 2016 Combined Cow and Feeder Sale

Seller

City

#

Desc

Type

Weight

Price CWT

Grass Valley Ranch

Austin

1

BLK

STR

615

$125.00

Mark Kolwyck

Fallon

1

BLK

STR

740

$125.00

Travis Agee

Alamo

6

BLK

STR

830

$125.00

NEXT Feeder

John & Paula Colby

Eureka

5

BLK

STR

602

$123.50

John David Guerrero

Wadsworth

5

MIX

STR

692

$122.00

Glorene Guerrero

Wadsworth

1

MIX

STR

693

$122.00

Five Fingers Grazing

P Valley

6

MIX

STR

983

$117.25

David Buckingham

P Valley

1

BLK

HFR

310

$184.00

Pete & Lynn Tomera

Battle Mtn

4

MIX

HFR

383

$173.00

Wilson Ranch

Win

8

BLK

HFR

391

$170.00

D & C Buckingham

P Valley

21

MIX

HFR

467

$162.50

Ninety Six Ranch

P Valley

16

MIX

HFR

419

$158.00

Matt Hoekenga

Fallon

3

MIX

HFR

368

$150.00

Harold Rother Farms

S Creek

6

RED

HFR

518

$150.00

Hendrix Ranch

Fallon

21

BLK

HFR

503

$149.00

Jerry & Nancy Harper

P Valley

1

BLK

HFR

370

$142.50

Ira & Montira Renner

S Creek

13

BBF

HFR

575

$142.00

Robert Gordon

Win

2

BLK

HFR

505

$139.00

Stone Cabin Ranch

Tonopah

23

CHAR

HFR

513

$136.00

Crawford Cattle LLC

Win

4

MIX

HFR

646

$132.00

S Dot Land & Cattle

Golconda

7

MIX

HFR

639

$130.00

Lindsey Northrup

Win

3

MIX

HFR

553

$129.00

SALE May 18th

Robert Gordon

Win

6

BLK

STR

572

$148.00

Michael & M O'daye

Reno

6

MIX

STR

411

$147.50

Jack Warn

Win

4

BLK

STR

625

$147.00

Randall Emm

Schurz

5

BLK

STR

639

$141.00

Jersey Valley Cattle

Win

4

MIX

STR

619

$138.00

Dale Johnson

Lovelock

2

BLK

HFR

640

$128.00

Seven Dot Catttle

Golconda

4

MIX

STR

683

$135.50

Fred Buckmaster

Fallon

3

MIX

HFR

573

$125.00

Joe Tibbals

Yerington

2

BLK

STR

675

$135.00

Stephen James

Wadsworth

2

CHAR

HFR

620

$125.00

Heise Ranch

Minden

5

BLK

STR

739

$132.00

Shanah Smith

Win

5

MIX

HFR

739

$121.00

Lester Debraga

Fallon

2

MIX

STR

765

$132.00

Sarah Smith

Win

3

MIX

HFR

739

$121.00

Emilio Duarte

Win

3

MIX

HFR

738

$121.00

Corkill Bors Inc

Fallon

4

BLK

HFR

836

$120.00

Tyler Agee

S Creek

1

CHAR

HFR

570

$120.00

Marissa Julian

Fallon

1

BLK

HFR

565

$120.00

Miller Ranch

Fallon

4

MIX

HFR

708

$116.00

C & Jay Guererro

Wadsworth

1

BLK

HFR

575

$102.00

Lyle Debraga

Fallon

2

BLK

HFR

615

$102.00

Sunset Ranch

Carson City

1

CHAR

HFR

565

$97.50

Ronald Lee & T Berg

Round Mtn

4

MIX

STR

403

$132.00

Randy Mills

Fallon

1

BLK

STR

720

$131.00

Jake Ward

Fallon

3

MIX

STR

540

$127.00

Starting at 11:30am in conjunction with our regular Wednesday sale

Now Open for Business NEVADA LIVESTOCK VET SUPPLY, LLC

“WHERE RANCHERS SHOP”

131 INDUSTRIAL WAY FALLON, NV (AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE SALE BARN)

Shop in store or we will ship/deliver to you!

Store 775-423-3038 or for personal service call

Julie Ikonen 775-624-4996

For transportation needs and marketing or consignment information call Jack or Carey. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 7

Phenology of Cheatgrass and Associated Exotic Weeds Charlie D. Clements, Dan N. Harmon, James A. Young and Robert Blank

Rangeland Scientist, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 920 Valley Road Reno, NV 89512 charlie.clements@ars.usda.gov Agricultural Research Science Technician, Rangeland Scientist (retired), and Soil Scientist US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

C

heatgrass is an exotic, highly invasive annual grass that has dramatically perennial grasses, let alone cheatgrass. Bare-ground species such as Barbwire Russian changed the aspect and ecological functions of vast areas of formerly big thistle and Halogeton are often problems on disturbed sites. Barbwire Russian thistle sagebrush/bunchgrass and salt desert rangelands in the Intermountain emerges in early February, yet seed ripening was not until July. Halogeton did not west. Cheatgrass increases the chance of ignition, rate of spread and ex- emerge until mid-March and did not reach seed ripening until October. Halogeton tends the season of wildfires. This in turn reduces the interval between is known to produce seeds that have the ability to lay dormant in the soil for more recurrent wildfires, eliminating most woody vegetation. Cheatgrass is such an efficient than 10 years, so at around 100 seeds per plant produced, a very small percentage of competitor for soil moisture that it closes communities to the recruitment of seedlings dormant seeds can ensure the existence of viable seeds in the community for decade of native perennial species, resulting in the truncation of succession and annual grass after decade. Both the exotic Tumble mustard and the native Tansy mustard have dominance. Rangelands repeatedly burned and currently dominated by cheatgrass near simultaneous emergence in early November, very similar to that of cheatgrass, have an appearance of annual grass dominance, even though numerous other exotic yet seed ripening was late-May to early-June. The salt desert shrub accession of cheatinvasive weeds are present (Figure 1). As early as the 1930s, research by R. L. Piemeisel grass, on the other hand, reached seed ripening in early-April while the upland acon the Snake River Plains of Idaho, suggested that there was succession among exotic cession of cheatgrass reached seed ripening in late-April to mid-May. It is important invasive species and that the species that to understand that cheatgrass genermatured first “won the site”. We have ally germinates and emerges throughout documented more than 30 exotic invasive fall, winter, and spring months and on species that play a role in what are often certain events even summer months, considered cheatgrass “mono-cultures”. which results in collection of ripe cheatThese species range from other annual grass seed from April through August. grasses such as medusahead, which has Mustard species play an important been known to successionally replace role in increasing safe-site germination cheatgrass on specific sites, to halogeton for cheatgrass as these mustard species which can invade bare areas before Rusprovide excellent litter and increase the sian thistle. To get a better idea of the role germination of cheatgrass seeds. Red of many of these exotic invasive species brome shares dominance with cheatplay in cheatgrass communities, we set up grass or is the dominant annual exotic a common garden study to compare the grass in the warm deserts of the southphenology of certain exotic invasive speern Great Basin. In the northern Great cies (including one native; tansy mustard) Basin it occurs in isolated small comthat occur in cheatgrass communities as munities intermixed with cheatgrass. a means of assessing the nature of seral Red brome, used in this experiment, is stage dominance and ecological amplisimilar to cheatgrass in emergence, but tude of this invasion (Table 1). A total of reached seed ripening by late-March Figure 1. Numerous exotic invasive annual weeds 20 species were used, including two acto early-April. There are potentially hidden in a landscape dominated by cheatgrass. cessions of cheatgrass; upland and salt desmany several biennial and perennial exotic ert. The upland and salt desert cheatgrass accession are the same species but are known invasive weed species that have the ability to replace cheatgrass (e.g. knapweed). The to differ in phenology, morphology and physiological characteristics. Timing of: 1) exotic annual grass species, medusahead, is known to replace cheatgrass on certain emergence, 2) flowering, and 3) seed ripening was recorded weekly for the whole year soil types and during certain precipitation years. In other common garden studies, it (Figure 2). Initial germination in some species can happen quite quickly but is hard has been pointed out that the majority of medusahead accessions matured later than to record in this experimental design as we would have had to dig up seeds to count cheatgrass, although a few accessions did mature earlier than cheatgrass. In this study, percent and timing of seed germination. It is not uncommon to have seed species that medusahead emerged later than cheatgrass, mid-November and reached seed ripening germinate under the soil, yet not emerge for quite some time. Bur buttercup, an early in early to mid-April, similar to the upland cheatgrass accession. On given years, one season ephemeral species, germinated and emerged in less than a week in some cases can observe this slight difference where the two species co-exist as cheatgrass is in the and also reached seed ripening as early as late-March, which was by far the shortest red-stage while medusahead seed heads exhibit a bright green color. life span of any of the exotic annuals we tested (Figure 3). In fact, this species has the The array of exotic weed species that occur and exhibit germination, emergence, ability to germinate, emerge, grow and reach seed ripening in cheatgrass communities growth/competition and maturity in cheatgrass communities help to assure the closwhich are closed to the recruitment of native and desirable introduced species. Some ing of the site to the recruitment of less competitive perennial species. The year-long researchers and resource managers believe bur buttercup can out-compete cheatgrass overlapping of phenologies ensure complete utilization of limited resources, and the as well as emerging native species. We originally had a similar view, but while record- succession of these exotic annuals greatly complicate effective weed control practices. ing seedling emergence and recruitment on our hands and knees in one of our plant When conducting rehabilitation/restoration efforts, rangeland managers and property material testing plots in northern Nevada, we learned that bur buttercup is so early and owners must be aware of and include the array of other exotic invasive weeds that can so quick that it does not limit available resources for emergence and establishment of ultimately negatively impact the success rates of such efforts.

8 May-June 2016

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Figure 2. Phenology timeline for selected exotic invasive annual weeds.

Table 1. Annual weed accessions used in the phenology common garden.

Common Name

Scientific Name

Halogeton Halogeton glomeratus Russian thistle Salsola targus Barbwire Russian thistle Salsola paulsenii Annual kochia Kochia scoparia Tumble mustard Sisymbrium altissimum Tansy mustard Descurainia pinnata Shieldcress Lepidium perfoliatum Hare’s ear mustard Conringia orientalis Blue mustard Chorispora tenella Desert alyssum Alyssum desertorum False flax Camelina microcarpa Cheatgrass (Upland and Salt Desert) Bromus tectorum Bur buttercup Ranunculus testiculatus Filaree Erodium cicutarium Annual wheatgrass Eremopyrum triticeum Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola Red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens Medusahead Taeniatherum caput-medusae Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis www.progressiverancher.com

Figure 3. Exotic invasive weeds bur buttercup, cheatgrass and blue mustard surrounding perennial grass seedling.

“The Nevada Rangeland Resource Commission (NRRC) acknowledges and endorses the worthwhile effort of the Nevada Section of the Society for Range Management in dealing with the annual grass fire fuels and grazing management challenges in Nevada and throug out the West.

The NRRC was created by the State of Nevada to promote responsible public land grazing. NRRC representatives come from Nevada state grazing boards, Nevada woolgrowers, Nevada farm bureau, and Nevada cattlemen’s association.”

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 9

Roots matter. Here’s why

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he West’s sagebrush sea is under increasing pressure from extended droughts, large wildfires, and exotic weed invasions that threaten both wildlife and rural ways of life. Luckily, promoting healthy and diverse native plant communities with strong root systems provides a buffer against these threats.

Healthy soil literally provides the foundation for all life in the sagebrush ecosystem. Diverse native plants put down roots that protect our precious soils, help the land retain water, and support critical ecological functions and resilient landscapes.

SGI works with ranchers to keep working rangelands intact and conserve plant diversity in order to promote healthy roots. These root systems sustain wildlife and rural economies, paying dividends for current and future generations.

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.

Diverse native plant communities protect against erosion, store more water, and foster healthy soil

Rangelands are like an upside-down forest

On the sage-steppe, most of the plant matter grows below your feet. A healthy sagebrush plant community includes shrubs (like sagebrush), grasses (like bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass) and forbs (like lupine, maiden blue-eyed Mary, and buckwheat). Scientists lump individual plant species into ‘functional/structural groups’ based on features they have in common, such as their shape above and below ground and how long they live.

Each type of plant uses a different strategy to take advantage of niches and resources on the sagebrush sea. For example, annual plants that live only one year ‘get rich quick’ by putting their energy into producing seeds instead of well-developed roots. Perennial plants that come up every year are ‘long-term investors’ that put down deeper roots, allowing them to ride out drought years.

Plants roots provide organic matter at a variety of depths, which helps feed billions of soil organisms and assists in essential water and nutrient cycling that drives land productivity. For instance, some species, like lupine, help fix nitrogen in the soil, which in turn nourishes other plants.

How’s the land faring?

SGI’s new poster and postcard are designed to rekindle conversations about the importance of taking care of plant health and diversity, above and below ground.

Other tools are available to help landowners and partners assess landscape health and determine what plants to expect on individual sites. >> Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) provide detailed information on the types and amounts of native vegetation that a site can support based on soils, climate, and other properties, as well as how those sites typically respond to management and disturbance. >> Rangeland Health Assessment is an inventory tool that can be used with ESDs to assess how well a particular site is functioning relative to site capacity.

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.

Read more on www.ProgressiveRancher.com

Article from http://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/roots

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.

10 May-June 2016

The Progressive Rancher

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Week in DC

here is a great deal going on right now in Washington D. C. affecting the ranching industry. I just returned from the NCBA annual Legislative Conference, and after a week in our nation’s capital it was nice to smell the clean Nevada mountain air. Two issues emerged from meetings I had that week which I believe are important. One is the effort by a large coalition to lobby Congress for the ratification of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement which the U.S. has already signed. This must be done by Congress in the next two years. The other is a recent initiative coming out of the Department of the Interior.

The TPP levels the trade playing field for U.S. beef and other affected products.

It would lower the tariff on our beef exported into Japan from 38.5% to 9% over the next 16 years. Japan is our most important Asian trading partner and our largest beef export market. Currently, there is a bi-partisan trading agreement between Australia and Japan which gives Australian beef an 11.5% advantage over American beef. Australia’s tariff is only 27%. This Japan / Australia agreement took effect in January 2015. It is estimated the U.S. has already lost $100 million in beef sales.

Without this agreement with 10 other Pacific Rim countries, America will lose market share to its largest competitors in this increasingly important growth area for U.S. beef. The emerging economies of the Asian and other Pacific Rim countries are creating a large middle class. It has been shown as people enter the middle class one of the first things they want to do is add a higher quality protein into their diet. American ranchers provide all the beef our citizens want under current demand levels. So, if we are to grow the American beef business it must be done through increased export markets. If TPP is ratified, U.S. ranchers will enjoy an immediate increase in the value of their cattle.

If TPP is not ratified, there will be a trade vacuum in the Pacific Rim which will be filled by China. The Chinese are already trying to enter the trade fray through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement they have with some of the same eleven countries who are signatories to the TPP. A major part of the TPP is higher labor standards and environmental protections similar to those in place in the United States. For instance, these standards protect against water polluting manufacturing methods and impose restrictions against the exploitation of workers, especially children. Without the TPP in place the Chinese will possibly operate in unlawful and immoral ways which could bring down the standards set by the U.S. in attempting to trade in this part of the world.

The TPP has its critics, of course. Big labor unions are opposed, as are some of the people running for President of the United States because they claim there will be a loss of American jobs if TPP is implemented. On the other hand, there are some Republicans who are saying the agreement should be rejected because they are politically opposed to giving President Obama a “victory” on the foreign policy front.

On the later point, it seems to me denying a Presidential victory at the expense of all the advantages described above would be a pyhiric victory for the President’s opponents. This would be a situation likened to one we have all heard before. The opponents would literally be cutting off America’s nose to spite its face.

It is ironic and remarkable that there is such a visceral opposition to this agreement from the labor unions of this country and those who are seeking political support from those unions. I say that because of the projections for increased shipment of American beef to the Far East and particularly, Japan, there will be a commensurate increase in labor union activity associated with the added beef exports.

Let me explain. Union butchers will process the meat for export. Union railroad employees and truck drivers will transport the meat to west coast ports or U.S. airports. Union labor will load the meat for overseas shipment whether by air or sea. In other words, all across the supply chain union workers will be involved to help www.progressiverancher.com

By Joseph Guild

move American agricultural products to the emerging middle class all around the Pacific Rim. The usual economic multipliers will then kick in and the public in general will benefit from the benefits American labor will enjoy.

As to the other issue, I think we should pay attention to the initiative announced the week I am writing this by the Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell. In a major speech that must have had the approval of the President, the Secretary announced a conservation and national parks program designed to create awareness among the American people about our rich natural resource heritage and the need to protect those resources for the use and enjoyment of future generations. She wants to publicize our natural wonders so minorities, young people and others who traditionally are not using our parks and public lands get out and see the great continent which we are privileged to occupy.

I have no criticism about any efforts to protect and preserve our National Parks and other natural resource treasures. I also do not have a problem with an overarching goal to conserve our other natural resources. But we should be mindful of the role multiple users of these resources have to play in their continued use for economic reasons given all we have learned in the last half century about how to sustainably use and protect the nation’s vast open spaces.

We should not lament that those spaces are under threat from encroaching population pressure and the potential for these resources, particularly the National parks and Monuments. Instead, we should acknowledge the role that natural resource users including ranchers and energy developers have played in their wise use and protection of these resources by their continued and regular presence. The land management agencies simply do not have the money, time or manpower to be out on the land as much as the typical public lands rancher. Nor does the typical recreationist have the time to be out on the land on a regular basis. Thus, we must recognize the important role the rancher has to play in protecting these resources. This part of the equation was largely missing from Sally Jewell’s speech.

To her credit though, she did single out the local efforts by stakeholders to create plans to protect the Greater Sage Grouse to keep it from being listed as an endangered species. This was important recognition, but in my opinion, it needs to go further. The Department of the Interior needs to actually use the plans created by the states, in those states, and not impose a one size fits all approach to land use planning and management.

This is the failure of all top down approaches. I do not want to make too fine a point of it, but the failure of communism is the modern example of how centralized planning doesn’t work. Unless the citizens at a local level are invested in implementation and outcomes these grand plans will never accomplish the goals the centralized planners wish to achieve.

Let local people decide, plan and act and amazing results will be achieved.

Rose Feed and Supply Under New Ownership/Management Custom gates and fencing Specialized feeds for 4-H show season All your calving, branding and weaning supplies Heating and bbq pellets Chicks, ducks, geese and turkeys ask us about our delivery options

Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 11

Disconnect

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By Bailey Kelton ello, I’m the 2015 Nevada Beef Ambassador, and it has been a together. But it takes the consumer to meet the producer more personally. pleasure serving our state and advocating for beef. Along my This is my new goal, I want to advocate and expose disconnect, and to use journey I’ve experienced all types of diverse people. People I my voice in being the spokesperson. Furthermore, I want the farmers and ranchers to would of never imagined meeting, and so glad that I have shared be inspired, to do their part in putting trust back into the consumer. Why go through my story and experiences with, and the impact that they made so much trouble and risk in production to have your product overlooked at the local with me and I made with them. market? When your product has every right to be there and equally judged.

Let’s start from the beginning. I’m the shy naive farmer’s daughter from I’ve met some people through my one year journey. People who have inspired Yerington Nevada. Being raised on a ranch has taught my siblings and I values that me with their voice and advocacy for what they love. But the biggest impacts were the are very unlike kids raised in cities. In this rural community, you could that say people I would extremely dislike prior to my position. On the other hand, their voice I’ve lived a sheltered life. Being honored with the title of Nevada Beef Ambassador mattered and the issues brought to my attention could have been easily changed when has given me an experience of a life time. Not only did I expand my knowledge presented the right tools. Only the farmers and ranchers own the right tools and can for beef, but the meeting of new, diverse, and sometimes outspoken people really be the agent of change. broadened my horizons.

The meeting of new people didn’t always bring the best experiences. This is where I learned consumer disconnect.

My first encounter with disconnect, was last May when it was National Livestock Day at the Aces ballgame in Reno. I met a thousand people and mainly kids who loved to pet and interact with my cow-calf pairs. This was my opportunity to advocate for beef consumption. On the other hand, things didn’t work out the way I imagined. Many consumers know that beef comes from cows, but a small percentage thought beef was beef and cow was cow. So this became my goal for the year, to make that disconnect disappear and form relationships. Farmers and ranchers sometimes don’t see this because we sell our product to a distributor most of the time, not directly to the consumer. We also have other people advocate for our product and this also widens the gap from pasture to plate.

With my goal for the year set, I had to make all my workshops to conform to various audiences. The younger generation proved to be the hardest. Teaching younger kids in rural areas about beef and where it comes from was like preaching to the choir. With urban areas, this proved to be a different story and I encountered my worst experience. During my presentation, I was unaware of potential vegetarians in my audience of 4-Hers. With the activities relating to my purpose of pasture to plate, one kid destroyed my props and pieces to my game. I had no idea what was happenSidney Wintermote with her heifer named Kitty. ing, I was being naive to the situation. I just assumed that she was being disrespectful.

When I found out she was vegetarian, we talked over some of the things she found ypical spring weather has sprung in Northeastern Nevada and I offensive and tried to work through them. It was this experience that even made me think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say “thank God realize how big of an issue this actually has become. for all of this moisture”! This last month we have gone from 75 I met various people with disconnect after my workshops were over and apdegree days to nearly 20” of snow in some places. I hope your proached the situation from their angle. The trust was completely gone, either demolgrass is growing and all of your calves are healthy thus far. ished by what they read on the internet, a dramatic personal experience or another This last year, Bailey Kelton of Yerington served as the Nevada Cattlewomen, advocator. In contrast, this advocator was not on the farmers and ranchers side. This advocator spoke out about their personal dislikes passing those beliefs onto the con- Inc. State Beef Ambassador. She has traveled far and wide sharing her passion for sumer. Where did farmers and ranchers go wrong? How did advocators turn against the beef industry to people of all ages. The National Beef Ambassador Program us, implemented unproven or falsely proven facts into the public’s belief and gained a works with youth in states across the country. These Beef Ambassadors educate following. I know the answer, it’s because farmers are involved in disconnect. consumers in their respective areas about beef and beef production. As most of Now that my Senior Beef Ambassador duties have come to an end, I plan to you are aware, today’s youth face negative comments toward the beef industry advocate through other ways and associations. And not only for beef, but for all farm- from individuals who have not done their research to tell the real beef story. It ers and ranchers. Letting consumers know what is going on behind the scenes of pro- takes strong individuals like Bailey to go into classrooms, daycares, after school duction working practices, gives consumers the opportunity to trust in the product. programs and attend youth organization activities where they make presentations Especially with the rise in the labeling of “natural” and “organic.” Some traditional about their personal experiences with beef and the beef industry, including inpractices are being run off the market due to this spike in natural and organic labeled dustry messages on nutrition, animal welfare, environment and other key topics. foods. Although there are some potential benefits with these products, consumers are Thank you Bailey for your hard work and dedication to this great program. We only buying it because the label looks safer. It is humorous in some way that most all wish you the absolute best in whatever you decide to next. operations are organic or natural they just might not be certified or labeled as such.

Sidney Wintermote Why get cheated out of a market when every farmer has the right to be there? Only Nevada Cattlewomen, Inc. Presidenth so much advertising and advocating can be done to bridge consumer and producer

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12 May-June 2016

The Progressive Rancher

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HORACE SMITH (1929-2014) 100,000 Miles on Horseback

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orace Smith had many talents and enjoyed every aspect of ranch life, but above all, he was a horseman. He loved horses and excelled at breaking and training race horses, ranch-cow horses, and work teams.

During his boyhood, Horace attended school in Wells in the winter and enjoyed his summers at the family ranches in O’Neil Basin where he spent happy hours riding horses and helping on the ranches. By the time he was 7 he was riding on roundup and “holding herd” for the brandings in O’Neil Basin. He loved horses and started breaking them at an early age.

He worked with Harold Rhone, cow boss for the Agee holdings, who demanded the best from his young cowboys. Under Harold’s guidance, Horace became an exceptional cowhand. Some of his happiest memories were of the spring round-ups where he as a ‘rep’ for the family ranches and would ride from Starr Valley in the south, then north to the Idaho border gathering and branding cattle for two months alongside cowboys representing all the ranches in the area. In his teens, because of his talent with horses, he became the cowboy that broke and rode the rough stock.

Horace’s grandfather, father, and uncles raised thoroughbred horses, many sired by the Remount Studs acquitted through the US Calvary. For many years his father, Emery, trained some of these horses to run in the races that took place at the Ely and Elko fairs each fall.

Early on, Horace would spend hours exercising these horses to prepare them for those races. He loved the race horses and for awhile dreamed of becoming a jockey, but soon grew too big. By 18, several of the horses he trained went on to win their races in both Ely and Elko. Years later, he again experienced the joy of horse racing when his thoroughbred stud, Mr. Fallbrook, set a track record in Elko.

He served in the Naval Air Corp during the Korean War and served on several aircraft carriers during his 4 years in the Navy. During the last year of the service, his grandfather did and left the Cottonwood Ranch to him and his brother. Soon after his discharge from the Navy in November of 1952, Horace and his wife drove down the hill to their new home, a 3-room log cabin, at Cottonwood Ranch.

They immediately went to work feeding the herd of cattle on the ranch. Early each morning after they had fed the cattle, Horace would saddle his horse, check the calves and then ride over to the Home Ranch, Twin Meadows Ranch, or Wilson Creek Ranch to work cattle or do whatever ranch work there was to be done. After work was done he rode back home. It was a 10-25 mile ride each way!

One of the things he had to do in those first months at Cottonwood was get himself a string of horses. While he was in the service, the horses that he and his dad owned had been running wild on the open range. Horace went to the ranch on Wilson Creek to get his dad’s retired race horse, Mr. Law, and began the legacy he leaves behind. His wife recalls in wonderment at this single-handed feat, as through that summer Horace ran hundreds of horses off the range into the corral at Cottonwood where he worked off those that belonged to him and his father and set to breaking them.

He always had several horses started and by the time his kids were big enough to ride, they had a great string from which to choose. He had no patience with ponies or spoiled horses for his kids. He wanted them well-mounted. Horace took great pride in the many outstanding horses he raised and broke. He developed a string of cross-bred horses especially for packing and hunting that excelled in the mountain terrain.

In 1953, Horace and his father-in-law established a successful deer hunting operation. They purchased a few horses and set up tents at the base of the Jarbidge Mountains at Camp Creek. Before long, they had a flourishing guiding business with people coming from all over to hunt the big bucks for which the area was famous. Every fall he spent 6 weeks guiding deer hunters from their spike camp just below Mary’s River Peak. All of the hunting was done on horseback so he rode miles each day as he guided his clients through the Wilderness in the Jarbidge Mountains.

For 40 years Horace was horseback, moving cattle, gathering horses and guiding hunters. He loved his horses, the country he knew so well and the ranch that he built.

When he had to give up riding because of the arthritis in his knees, he still maintained his great love of horses and made sure that there were always new horses being broke and trained for ranch and recreation use.

Horace traveled well over 100,000 miles riding horseback through the years the he was training race horses, breaking horses, representing the O’Neil ranches on their cattle drives and brandings, gathering and moving cattle on his own ranch, and years of guiding hunters through the Jarbidge Wilderness, ‘The Mountain”.

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 13

FUMES FROM THE FARM

By Hank Vogler egulation nation will not work anymore. If we are going to survive sistence and then preventing people who will do the work be hassled to enter the country to do the jobs that at no salary the Americans will do. Eighty percent of all as a trading nation we can no longer regulate ourselves out of the equation. There are countries that have millions of people that wish the people working in agriculture are Hispanic. A cage free chicken is for the nouveau rich. It makes them feel good. Farmers didn’t put the chickens in cages to be to raise their standard of living. They will do the same job as an cruel. The competition forced them to compete. The new higher price of eggs cost American for a tenth of the money. China has let the genie out of the poor folks first. The poor can’t eat pickled cumquats and peacock tongues, they the bottle. I was there for three weeks and never met a commie. Maybe we don’t have the exact flavor of capitalism they do but it’s hard to tell when you are there. eat what they can afford and our government in lock step with the eco-terrorists The Japanese in the eighties were to be feared. They hit the wall. The world could are forcing all these things on the poor. The environmental movement has killed more people than Hitler. only absorb so much steel and electronics and cars at the price that they could

The Hispanics can do math. Cross the Rio Grande without consequences build them at. They brought our money back and bought all kinds of stuff that by their standards looked cheap. Golf courses, hotels even ranches seemed cheap and you make more in an hour by four times as you can make all day South of the border. The further South you go the disparity gets worse. We have a program to to them. The fear mongers were everywhere. Laws were passed dealing with bring in labor. We force our standards down the peoples throat who bring these foreign owner ship of land and businesses. Next, the known world could absorb no more increase in goods. The Japanese protected their industry and for the last folks in. This is why only two percent of the folks in Ag. Use the program. People in four different agencies have no idea what goes on on the farm. It is easier to hire twenty-five years have stagnated and flat lined their economy.

Next came the Koreans. The same scenario came to pass. They worked wetbacks, as there is no hassle and no hundreds of pages of rules and regulations cheaper than the Japanese so the circle came around again. Now the Chinese are that no human can follow. You can go to El Paso and Paco will load your boat. Paco to be feared. They have a half trillion-dollar trade deficit with us. Face it, put on will tell you “he don’t need no stinking green card”. You could get a Greyhound your big boy pants. We let our bureaucrats and politicians do our trading for us bus full of these folks and you might get an award from Obummer as Democratic rather than businessmen and Yankee Trader Capitalists, and they out traded us vote recruiter of the year. I guess if you wanted you could get all the Syrians you for a half trillion dollars. They also have a huge army that is trained and disci- wanted with the caveat that they would get time off to make bombs, train for Jiplined. Yes, I believe their army can fight. We have Obummer for a president and had, and cut the heads off Christians. Right now one third of all the sheepherders they are going to push as hard as they can to gain what they can until we get a that are needed NOW!!!!! to help with spring lambing are hung up in Peru. The president with a pair. Their Army is impressive as they have a lot of folks to pick department of labor decided to change all the rules and this froze the system up from. The words of Dwight David Eisenhower as he left the presidency comes to and piled up men in Peru on vacation. Now with lambing and shearing starting no mind, and my paraphrasing is “Fear the relationship between the industrial and help is available. Then they must go through immigration and homeland security military complexes”. The Chinese were subjugated for a long time by the British for further scrutiny all at a snails pace as the bureaucrats have no sense of urgency and humiliated by the Japanese in the Second World War. My host family would and then onto the Peruvian consulate that is chocked full of Obummer political not enter a Japanese business in China. My uncle who survived the Bataan death appointees with no sense of sense and as the animals die and the sheep guys all go march shares the same sentiment at age ninety-seven. If you are grounded in broke, no long line of Americans are lining up to do the work. The dairies steel reality, you cannot discount that if push comes to shove the Chinese will fight. these men when they get here and we become the runaways’ travel agents and In the reasoned world, why would they fight with us, as it would destroy their ICE won’t pick them up. IN ALL FAIRNESS OUR CONGRESSMAN MARK economy? The hold on the Chinese people has become too fragile for the central AMODEI IS WORKING TO CLEAN THIS UP. The problem is there will be no planners and with electronics they can no longer hide things from the masses. consequences for the bureaucrats. The people will be hurt and the animals will die.

Anything that is labor intensive is their arena. They have out traded us and we You do this enough times and a lot of people that are on the low end of the food can’t figure out what to do. Chinas’ competition for the next cycle is the new purchasing group will not like their belly button banging into their backbone and kids on the block and that is Malaysia, Vietnam, and India for the next industrial as in the fall of European communism cut the heads off of the bureaucrats. Think giant. India’s’ population will exceed Chinas population soon and if anybody on it can’t happen. Read history!!!!! Hang and rattle Hank Vogler the worlds stage will take the Rupiah as currency the cycle will start again and An epilogue to the article, 4-28-2016 I am still trying to get my men here. In India will be the new boogeyman. fairness most are here. We are at critical mass for our production year. The one big

We still have the opportunity to compete. We, as a nation, still are the giants glitch is three men have not arrived. These three men have sixty five years accumulative when it comes to agriculture. We have gone from ninety eight percent of the signers experience working here. Two are held up because of someone saying that they have of the Constitution being involved in Agriculture to less than a percent actually mak- committed nefarious acts and with no due process the American embassy in Peru will ing a living on the farm. When you take the folks off the farms to work in industry, not even discuss the issue nor allow a facing with the accuser who worked on a ranch the workers need fed. All modern society is based on surplus agriculture production. one thousand miles from here and no one knows what his agenda is and the American Everything that we do revolves around being able to feed the masses.

Embassy won’t even discuss it. No due process. The Chilean with twenty- five years of

In good order, we are now working diligently to destroy agriculture. experience is merely lost in the bureaucratic maze. Anybody want to hum a few bars Whether it is free ranging chickens or letting the masses draw government sub- of God Bless America???????? Hang and Rattle Hank Vogler

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14 May-June 2016

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Hunter’s Etiquette in the Great Basin

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By Jennifer B.Whitley

ith the number of hunting tags released increasing annually, part of hunting anymore is that you will undoubtedly see lots of other hunters while you are in the field. There aren’t many secret places to hunt, and you may see a hunting party on every ridge and meet a hiker in every draw. Guide Mitch Buzzetti tells us “You just hope they don’t see what you see!” Here are a few rules that everyone should practice when hunting and enjoying both private and public lands.

1. Ask first! Private and public land boundaries aren’t always clearly defined. If you are unsure, ask first!

2. Leave no trace. If you pack it in, pack it out. It is our responsibility to leave the land in better shape than we found it. This includes shell casings, targets, and trash.

3. Close gates and leave them as you find them. If you think maybe a gate should be closed that is open, ask!

4. Be aware of what is behind your target. Watch for other hunters, other game, and livestock.

5. Don’t shoot at any game in a field full of livestock or at wildlife on private property you don’t have permission to hunt on.

6. Be aware of other hunters in your area, and try not to interfere with their hunts.

7. Structures like water troughs, storage tanks, and corrals are private property, even if they are on public land.

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Have respect for other people’s property.

8. If you come to a locked gate, turn around and go back. Do not cut the wire or drive through anyway.

9. Respect designated roadways. Roadless conservation decreases the environmental impact on designated areas of land. Staying on designated road ways decreases erosion, pollution, and species loss, not to mention protecting the beauty of the nature around us.

10. Sam Mori reminds us “Use the same etiquette in the field as if you are a guest in someone else’s home.”

2012 Bull Elk - Mitch’s tag. Ella, Jade and Lane Hunting is a great opportunity to enjoy family, friends, and the nature around us. Cooperation with farmers, ranchers, recreationists and other hunters only adds to the pleasure of time spent in the field. It is our responsibility to preserve this way of life for generations to come.

We appologize for the mixup in the captions for these two images in last months Progressive Rancher.

2015 Antelope Buck - Rachel’s tag

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May-June 2016 15

BLM Nevada News - For the Rancher's File

BLM Releases Final Programmatic EIS To Use Three Herbicides on Western Public Lands

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By Lissa Eng

s part of ongoing efforts to combat the spread of invasive and noxious weeds that threaten the health and productivity of millions of acres of public lands, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today released the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) that examines the use of three new herbicides that are safer for the environment and human health than those previously used. A notice for the Final PEIS for vegetation treatments using aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron on BLM lands in 17 western states, which was published today in the Federal Register, opens a 30-day review period on the document.

“One of the BLM’s highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands,” said Mike Pool, acting Deputy Director of the BLM. “The new vegetation treatments will give our public land managers a better set of tools to address wildfire protection, habitation restoration, and other resource issues more effectively.”

The Final PEIS assesses three alternative approaches to the use of aminopyralid (known by the trade name Milestone), fluroxypyr (Vista), and rimsulfuron (Matrix), as well as a “No Action” alternative that considers the continued use of 18 previously approved herbicides. The Final PEIS details the expected impacts and benefits from the BLM’s use of herbicides, and provides analysis to determine which herbicides

16 May-June 2016

should be approved for use. The Final PEIS addresses public comments on the draft PEIS by providing comment responses and changes to the analysis or supporting documentation, where appropriate.

The Final PEIS addresses a wide range of issues, including the effect of the herbicides on the health of humans, vegetation, fish and wildlife, livestock, and wild horses and burros. It also looks at water quality and Native American use of resources, and evaluates the cumulative impact of use of the new and other herbicides by the BLM and other landowners in the West.

The Notice of Availability of Final Vegetation Treatments Using Aminopyralid, Fluroxypyr, and Rimsulfuron on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is accessible at http://blm.gov/3vkd.

The Final PEIS, published in today’s Federal Register will be available for public review through May 6, 2016. A Record of Decision will be issued following the 30 day review period.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency.

This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands. -BLM--

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May-June 2016 17 

In the Mind of a Millennial

By Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council

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The Millennial Mom

ith Mother’s Day taking place early this month, I thought it would be timely to focus on one segment of the millennial generation that the beef industry works hard to engage and inform through its campaigns and communication strategies. The millennial mom is a growing demographic with increasingly more spending power, so it’s no surprise that retailers of all sorts are grappling for their attention. As “sort of ” a millennial mom myself, I appreciate when brands make it easy for me to make a purchasing decision. Apparently I am not alone.

According to data from the U.S. census, nearly half of millennial women are already mothers (with the average new mom being 25 years old), and 71 percent of them work outside of the home. And with spending power continuing to grow, it’s no wonder this is a lucrative market for any retailer. Millennials currently spend $170 billion a year, and by next year, that amount is expected to grow to $200 billion annually.

In terms of connectivity, millennial moms take the cake. This group spends about 17.4 hours a week on social media networks, and roughly 90 percent like to connect with friends about their purchases. Ninety percent of millennial moms own a smart phone, 57 percent own a tablet and 53 percent own both. They spend more time online – 8.3 hours a day versus 7.4 for Gen Xers – and are more likely to post to social media, retweeting 44 percent more than other moms. They also use their smart phones when interacting with other types of media – 55 percent of millennial moms use their smartphone while watching TV. Millennials are sometimes referred to as the “foodie generation.” Seventy-six percent say they like to cook, and 89 percent want to get better at cooking. When it comes to beef specifically, I’ve shared previously that many millennials have somewhat limited knowledge and 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.

What’s more, according to the Consumer Beef Index (July 2013), 54 percent of millennials say it’s hard to know what cuts to choose in the meat case, and 50 percent would buy more beef if they knew more about the different cuts.

For the Nevada Beef Council and other industry groups, addressing these trends through increasingly digital campaigns and enhance social media engagement helps ensure millennials – especially those moms in the group – have access to all things beef in the platforms and methods they prefer.

For me personally, I enjoy following the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner Facebook page and Pinterest site so I can find and save delicious, family-friendly recipes that my young kids will enjoy. My fellow millennial moms also tend to lean toward video for inspiration when cooking, with 68 percent watching videos while cooking and two-thirds of them purchasing food products that are featured in cooking videos.

When it comes to the type of food they are purchasing, millennials (especially those who are parents) are more conscious of food health, with healthy eating a priority for millennial moms no matter what their income level is. There is a strong interest among this group in cooking at home and seeking healthy recipes. Interestingly enough, despite a penchant for healthy foods and recipes, millennial moms are also interested in tradition, and have a greater likelihood to be interested in comfort foods that reflect their cultural heritage.

18 May-June 2016

And of course, mixed in with all of this is the convenience factor. I’ve shared before that convenience is a huge consideration for millennial parents when it comes to meal planning, and I am no exception to that rule. This desire for convenience and demand for healthy food has spurred the popularity of fast-casual dining establishments (think Panera), which are preferred by millennial moms over tradition fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s important that we as an industry provide the type of food and nutrition-related information that this important Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council market segment is looking for, across the right platforms.

Retailers Getting Creative to Attract Millennial Moms

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hose of us in the beef industry aren’t the only ones wanting to cater to millennial parents. These examples show some of the strategies being employed by major retailers in the fight to win over the millennial mother.

Starbucks has started stocking its UK-based stores with emergency diaper kits, and has trained its baristas to warm milk bottles and offer table service to parents with young children. Time will tell if this trend makes its way to the US. Whole Foods market is launching a new chain of stores to appeal to the need for convenience among these shoppers. The company’s 365 stores, announced in 2015, will start launching this month, with the first to open in Los Angeles in late May. According to the Whole Foods web site, ““365” in the name celebrates our belief that fresh healthy foods can be readily available to more people in an affordable way every day…365 days a year.”

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May-June 2016 19 

CHECKOFF NEWS:

By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations

Beef Nutrition on the Menu

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hen it comes to beef nutrition, the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) and Beef Checkoff Program continuously tout the benefits and crucial role of beef in a balanced diet with key health influencers – individuals who help guide and shape consumers’ health attitudes and decisions. As a case in point, this month the NBC is partnering with various dietetic groups to provide nutritious and delicious beef meals, and share important updates about beef nutrition. At the annual meetings of the Southern Nevada Dietetic Association, the Nevada Dietetic Association and the Northern Nevada District Dietetic Association, the NBC will be on-hand to represent Nevada beef.

At each of the events, a beef entrée will be served, providing the registered dietitians, nutrition experts and other health influencers in attendance with a perfect

example of a dish that is both savory and healthy. In addition, James Winstead, the NBC’s registered dietitian and nutritionist, will share educational information and key data on beef nutrition – along with some of his favorite healthy beef recipes – with the participants. What’s more, at the Northern Nevada District Dietetic Association specifically, attendees will get to participate in a delicious beef and beef pairing, and hear an insightful presentation on beef nutrition.

“Participating in events such as these allows the Nevada Beef Council to not only share important nutritional information with Nevada’s health and dietary inf luencers, but also bust myths and engage in meaningful conversations about their beef-related questions,” said Winstead. “These opportunities allow us to offer a reminder that beef does belong in a healthy diet, and that health inf luencers should feel good about recommending beef to their clients.”

Nutrition Outreach on a National and International Level

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n addition to nutrition-related events in Nevada, the checkoff is involved in numerous efforts to talk beef nutrition on a variety of platforms. For example, in January, the checkoff sponsored the FoodFluence event in London – a nutrition leadership conference that brought together top food and nutrition communicators to discuss hot topics. The checkoff-sponsored session, “From Human Health to the Planet’s Health: What Does the Science say about Animal Protein?”, included presentations by Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., and Shelley Johnson, R.D. and director of nutrition outreach for the checkoff.

The session used beef as a case study to examine top issues raised by consumers and the media and leveraged the latest checkoff research to help attendees develop evidence-based recommendations for beef in a healthy diet. Eighty-five percent of participants said the session exceeded expectations. After the session, 56 percent of participants said they feel very knowledgeable when fielding questions from the media or consumers about beef because of the session, compared to 38 percent pre-event.

As another example of an educational effort a bit closer to home, the checkoff hosted an informative webinar in late April entitled “Understanding the Science Behind Diet and Cancer Risk: Assessing the Meat Behind the Science.” The webinar featured a panel of experts discussing strategies for interpreting research findings regarding diet and cancer risk, including how to frame studies in the appropriate context of the overall body of scientific evidence, and providing guidance on translating the research into accurate, consumer-friendly messages for various audiences.

The webinar targeted registered dietitians and nutritionists, and featured panelists Join Roger Clemens, DrPH, an adjunct Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences within the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy; Kevin Maki, PhD, Chief Science Officer for several researched-based organizations, including the Midwest Center for Metabolic & Cardiovascular Research, Great Lakes Clinical Trials and MB Clinical Research; and Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE nationally recognized dietitian, speaker, blogger, podcaster and media trainer.

These are just a few examples of how your checkoff dollars are working both here at home and across the nation to provide accurate, helpful information about beef’s role in a healthy diet to those who have a role in guiding dietary decisions among consumers. To learn more about the checkoff’s work in this area, or to get more information about beef nutrition for yourself, visit www.beefnutrition.org.

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

20 May-June 2016

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Caribbean Beef Burgers with Mango Salsa

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

UPCOMING SALES

Thursday, May 26Th Cottonwood, CA Consignment Deadline: April 18th

Thursday, June 9 Th Consignment Deadline: June 1st

Kicking Off Burger Season With burger season upon us, add a little of sweetness along with some spice to your life!

This recipe is unique with its flavor profile, along with its nutrition. If you’re looking for a different burger than what you’re used to making, this recipe will have you covered.

Sweet meets heat with the Caribbean style burger, loaded with freshly diced mangos and jalapeño peppers, making it an excellent vitamin C boost. Substitute 93/7 lean ground beef to make the recipe lean if you’d like.Total Recitpe Time: 1.25 to 1.5 hours For more fabulous burger recipes to enjoy all summer long, visit www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.

Total Recipe Time: 30 Min

Mon - Wed July 11th-13th, Silver Legacy Reno, NV Catalog Deadline: June 23rd

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE on the Web at:

Ingredients - Makes 4 Servings

• 1-1/2 pounds Ground Beef

• 2 tablespoons Caribbean jerk seasoning

• Salt Mango Salsa:

• 1 large mango, peeled, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

• 1 tablespoon chopped green onion

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

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

Gary Nolan

Mark Venturacci

(775) 934-5678

(775) 427-8713

Elko, NV

Instructions

1. Combine Ground Beef and jerk seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 3/4-inch thick patties.

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Steve Lucas

Paradise Valley, NV

(775) 761-7575

Brad Peek— (916) 802-7335

2. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 15 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 13 to 14 minutes), until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally. Season with salt, as desired.

3. Meanwhile, combine salsa ingredients in medium bowl, mixing lightly. Serve burgers with salsa.

Fallon, NV

or email us at wvm@wvmcattle.com Look for the catalog and video on our website www.wvmcattle.com

Market your cattle with the professionals!

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May-June 2016 21

Eyes wide shut

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here is an old saying used to describe people who refuse to see the truth. When it comes to the Transfer of Public Lands, there are plenty of eyes “wide shut” to the facts that are clearly and easily understood, if only those eyes would open.

Although our support continues to grow rapidly, there are a number of stalwart groups opposed to the Transfer of Public Lands. They refuse to hear our side of the issue. Not surprisingly, many of our opponents receive substantial amounts of federal funding. Could this have anything to do with the extreme bias they express in favor of federal control over the lands in our states despite how bad federal mismanagement has become?

Groups such as The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Montana Wilderness Association, National Wildlife Federation, and recently the Back Country Horsemen of Montana, for example, came out in opposition to our efforts to free the lands from federal bureaucracy.

We at the American lands Council are working hard to effect major reform in public land management because we want a healthy environment, abundant recreation, and safe vibrant communities. Under federal control we are experiencing quite the opposite in many instances.

But before taking a stance against the Transfer of Public Lands, the opposition groups never allowed our leading experts to come to their membership meetings and share what the transfer of public lands movement is really about. In fact we have heard that those who spoke up in favor of TPL at some of these meetings were marginalized, shoved aside, or suppressed from participating.

Why is it that opposition groups are suppressing information and distorting the facts so aggressively? Why won’t they let us come present our view on the issue before they take a stand? Why do they repeatedly ignore the ALC Public Policy Statement which was ratified unanimously by elected officials from 14 states and clearly demonstrates the Transfer of Public Lands is about improving public access, improving environmental health, and restoring sustainable economic practices that WOULD NOT REQUIRE LANDS TO BE SOLD? Why do the organizations who claim to want to keep public lands public, actively oppose legislation that would have done so?

Is their opposition bought and paid for? Some groups are not only suppressing information, they are flagrantly using falsehoods and fear mongering tactics to raise money and influence elections in favor of the left. Sad they would stoop so low when

22 May-June 2016

our public lands and fellow citizens are in such need of real solutions.

Better land management translates to social, environmental, and economic benefits for the public. The fact is multiple independent studies have shown that states consistently manage lands more efficiently and cost-effectively than their federal counterparts. (See HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) And the nation’s top experts on the Constitution and Constitutional Law have concluded in their recent report that the states’ claim on their public lands is completely legitimate and constitutional.

If you are not a member of an opposition group, you are in the “99%”. For example, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation claims about 220,000 members nationwide, and that is a lot of people, but it is equivalent to only about 1% of all American hunters. So keep that in mind when you hear from these groups. They don’t represent the majority of sportsman, nature lovers, or other outdoor enthusiasts. And few of them have allowed their members to vote on the transfer of public lands issue, let alone hear both sides of the debate before they do.

If you are a supporter or member of any organization, insist that they allow all the facts about the Transfer of Public Lands to be presented. Insist they request a speaker from the American Lands Council and allow objective discussion. Frank Sonnenberg once said, “Honest people never fear the truth.” We invite all people to learn for themselves about the Transfer of Public Lands. Read, listen, discuss and learn.

Seek the truth, and you shall surely find it.

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“Where Reserve Champions become Champions” Mud Volleyball

★ Dog Races

★ Parade

★ Rifle/Trap Shoot

★ Teen Dances

Parade July 2nd

June 27th – July 3rd Practice and Jackpot

Winnemucca Events Complex Winnemucca, Nevada

Contact: Kathy Gonzalez: 775-217-2810 Fax: 775-867-4400

★ Horse Trailers for All-Arounds ★ Website: ssir.us

Funded in part by the : Winnemucca Convention & Visitors Authority www.progressiverancher.com

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May-June 2016 23

N Farm Bureau Nevada evada Farm Bureau

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP: HIGHLIGHTS OF NEVADA THE FOUNDATION OF AGRICULTURE

By Hank Combs | President, Nevada Farm Bureau Federation

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griculture in America is an industry that is finally being taken more seriously by the general population. Generations that are decades removed from their agricultural roots are once again interested in knowing where their food comes from. They are looking to us to teach them the answer to that question.

Consumers throughout the country are flooding farmers markets, tweeting their excitement about farm-to-table dinners, and are loudly sending the message that regardless of how the media has painted us, they want to meet us and they care to see what we do first-hand. We are uniquely positioned to educate consumers about what it is that we really do.

President Woodrow Wilson, who signed the first Federal Farm Loan Act into place back in 1916, offered this piece of advice that pertains to farmers and ranchers today, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

The Farmers and Ranchers of Nevada know that we are not here to merely make a living. We understand that in our industry, everything we do is about ‘enriching the world’ and ‘enabling [it] to live more amply’ and we are in a position to communicate that truth to the consumers who are knocking on our doors.

How can we ensure that we are taken seriously? Will they believe that we are really the most credible source when it comes to taking about agriculture, or is the media still trumping us? Counter-intuitive as it may seem, many of them don’t view agricultural professionals as agricultural experts. We can prove our knowledge and we will. We are an industry that is becoming increasingly more educated in both our young people and our seasoned agriculturalists.

According to a Georgetown University study, 60 percent of US jobs will require a college degree by 2018. (Projection of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018, 2010) This matters because the employers of our nation are sending a message that the most capable, and credible people are college educated people. The agriculture industry is already sending the message that we are among those credible and educated.Enrollment in university agriculture programs has grown by more than 20 percent in the last ten years. Our children here in Nevada are showing that, they too, have a growing interest in becoming educated about agriculture.

Members of our Nevada Farm Bureau staff had the opportunity to attend the Nevada State FFA Convention this past month. They saw our youth demonstrating their knowledge of a variety of topics pertaining to agriculture. In February, our Young Farmers & Ranchers attended a 3-day conference to educate themselves on best-practices in agriculture and grew their leadership skills. Nevada has an impressive Ag In the Classroom program that illustrates our dedication to education.

Farm Bureau encourages education beyond the classroom as we invite members to attend educational conferences all over the country. We support numerous scholarships promoting agriculture education in our state. We are here to offer every resource and tool we can to prepare you to stand as educated, credible, leaders when consumers come knocking on your door to find out what you do.

Hank Combs 24 May-June 2016

STATE FFA CONVENTION!

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By Mariesa Bergin | Nevada Farm Bureau Federation

he Nevada Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention brought more than 560 high school students together from throughout the state. The students, ranging from 9-12 grade, participated in numerous competitive events that required an extensive breadth of knowledge in STEM fields. The students filled their spring breaks with research, rehearsing, and professional-level presentations that were judged and ranked.

As these young students competed in Sales, Marketing, Public Speaking, Issues Forums, and more, they proved themselves to have a deep understanding of agricultural knowledge and skills.

Novice competitor Kelsea Cruson stood in front of a crowd of eager observers as

FFA Members at State Convention

she provided a public speech on the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass to meet energy demands, “With continued research, this energy opportunity of using organic matter could be a viable option for our future,” she said.

Impressively, Kelsea was one of hundreds of students who stood poised as they pulled reserached facts and statistics on rich topics from memory to answer questions regarding energy demands, marketing opportunities in ag, wildlife conservation and mitigation techniques, and agricultural practices throughout the state.

The FFA has historically been known for providing leadership development opportunities to young people looking to pursue a future in agriculture. The program is known for preparing young people to enter occupations in STEM-focused fields and succeed, a truth that became evident to audience members watching any of the FFA events during the last week of March.

At the close of the meeting, Nevada’s State FFA Team stepped down after a year of dedicated leadership, and six new officers were elected to represent the organization for the 20162017 school year. The new State Officer Team consists of Brieanna Wooden, Janel Meldrum, Bailey Kelton, Kaylie Machutta, Meghan Harrison, and Douglas VanNest.

FFA State Team

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JAMES LINNEY OF CALIFORNIA JOINS THE NEVADA FARM BUREAU STAFF

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evada Farm Bureau has taken on part-time staff member, James Linney to coordinate the YF&R Committee, the WLC, and work closely with members all over the state. He will also work on the Agriculture and Livestock Journal and keep the public updated through social media.

Linney, of Livermore, California, is excited to bring what he has to offer to Nevada Farm Bureau members. He is well connected with the Nevada Beef Industry and has worked on numerous ranches throughout the state.

As a student at University of Nevada, Reno, he has fallen in love with the state and Nevada Agriculture. In May, Linney will graduate with a degree in Agriculture Science with a minor in Communications and a minor in Economics. After five years at UNR, he admits that while he still respects his California roots, he is proud to call himself a Nevadan.

Linney’s passion lies within agriculture education and the beef industry. He comes from a ranching town but was never directly involved with the industry until he finallytuned-in to its importance in highschool. Now he has continued his education through college.

He remembers what it was like not knowing where his food came from. This drives his passion for ag literacy in the state especially for those residents living in urban areas Linney’s true goal is to find the most sustainable yet high profit way to maximize growth in agriculture whether it be for big or small operations. He believes that there is a niche market out there for everyone in the industry, they just have to find it. He is excited to work hands-on with Nevada Farm Bureau members as they succeed in growing their businesses.

He wants to see Nevada agriculture continue to be one of the state’s most profitable markets for many generations to come.

Linney is driven to incentivize members to stay active, to recruit non-active counties and encourage new members to jump aboard the Farm Bureau team.

The staff and members are excited to have him on board!

Wells FFA

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By Deseret Johnson Wells FFA Reporter

arly in the morning of March 22, thirty-six member of the Wells FFA Chapter headed to Reno where they would compete at the 87th Nevada FFA State Convention. After months of hard work and long hours in the Ag room, the Wells FFA Chapter kept up its “golden” legacy by winning 12 team golds and numerous individual state championships.

First, the state champion Rangeland Evaluation team was announced. Members of the team included Zalie Peters (second high individual), Ian Spratling (third high individual), Liberty Johnson, and Patrick Wines. This same team achieved an impressive seventh place finish at Western Range Nationals last fall.

Other first place teams included a prime first place finish for the Meats Evaluation and Technology team. Liberty Johnson was the first high individual and Camberlin Uhlig placed third. Ian Spratling and Shaylee Lattin were also on the team. Chelsea James, DeMar Gale, and Deseret Johnson made up the first place Marketing Plan team. Best Informed Greenhand, a contest where first year members are tested on FFA history and knowledge was won by a hardworking team of freshman from Wells: Jade Kelly (first high individual), Layla Jackson (second high individual), Ian Spratling (third high individual), Dallin Myers, and Zane Rodriguez. Novice Parliamentary Procedure moved into first place with Ruth Gale, Camberlin Uhlig, Victoria Young, Jade Kelly, Layla Jackson, and Ben Ballard. Ben Ballard was also honored as the High Chairperson. Senior Farm Business Management calculated a win with Mikayla Rodriguez (first high individual), DeMar Gale (second high individual), Patrick Wines, and Steven Wright. Junior Farm Business Management also had positive results and won with Ben Ballard (first high individual), Liberty Johnson (second high individual), Ruth Gale (third high individual), and Victoria Young. Wells’s Environmental and Natural Resources team also won by a landslide, conserving Wells’s golden legacy, with Zalie Peters as first high individual, Deseret Johnson second, Chelsea James third and Liberty Johnson fourth. DeMar Gale won the Extemporaneous Public Speaking competition where participants get thirty minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on an agricultural topic. Members of the Senior Floriculture team have been growing their skills since winning this competi-

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Bridgeport, California

Centennial Livestock Arena

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tion last year and came back for another first place finish. Chelsea James was the first high individual and Deseret Johnson placed second.

Mallorie Limardo and Mikayla Rodriguez were also on the team. The Novice Floriculture team arranged a first place finish as well with Krista James as first high individual, Ruth Gale as second high individual, and Aspen Foster as third high individual. Jessika Campbell was also on the team. Veterinary Medicine had a first place finish with Hailey Swan as first high individual State Champion Meats Evaluation and Crystal Lake as third. Layla Jackson and team (from left) Shaylee Lattin, Liberty Kenedy Craft were also on the team.

The chapter also had several second place Johnson, Camberlin Uhlig, Ian Spratling finishes. Patrick Wines received second in the State Star Farmer competition. Senior Parliamentary Procedure received a second as well.

Nursery Landscape received silver, but Aspen Foster mowed down all the competition with an impressive first place individual finish.

Crystal Lake was the third high individual and Matthew Morgan was also on the team.

Deseret Johnson placed second in Job Interview and Prepared Public Speaking.

State Champion Marketing team On top of competing in numerous Career (from left) DeMar Gale, DeDevelopment Events, the chapter had the opseret Johnson, Chelsea James portunity to attend a Reno Bighorns Basketball Game, several workshops, and numerous general sessions. Highlights of the sessions included hearing from Abbey Gretsch, a 2016 National FFA officer, Steven Brockshus, motivational speaker and advocate for agriculture and past national officer, and even Wells’s very own Tessa Hubert who served as a 2015/2016 Nevada state officer.

The Wells FFA chapter is excited to start preparing for a wonderful National Convention next fall and would like to send a special thank you to everyone who helped prepare its members for state.

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 25

 26 May-June 2016

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Family Planning

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by Pastor Diana Gonzalez

ell folks, 2016 is the year we get to vote in a new president along with some other elected officials. I sincerely hope you are not watching much of this election junk on T.V. One reason is you will get depressed at the state of our nation and another reason is you will get brain washed with man’s opinion. There are too many voice’s and opinion’s. Folks, there’s only one Voice that counts and it’s not ours or the idiots on T.V. Now, more than ever, we must be listening for the voice of God. We must be on our knees praying and interceding for the sins of our nation (II Chronicles 7:14); for we surely deserve judgment.

When man passes laws that go against God’s righteous laws, we are asking for it. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, 20:2-5, and Psalm 94:21). When we poke our fingers in Israel’s eyes, we are asking for it. (Exodus 23:7, Proverbs 6:17, Genesis 12:3, Zachariah 2:8). The Iran nuke deal was a poke in Israel’s eye; our friend. The enemy (satan) is trying to fracture our relations with Israel, fracture our nation and fracture our families with division. When we are divided, we are weak.

(Luke 11:17, 11:21-22).

The U.S. leadership has traded the Godly wisdom and principles that our founding fathers founded our country on for the foolish destruction of the world and sadly, so many American families. Do parents love their children less today? Heavens no! Then what happened to the moral fiber of our families? I doubt there’s been a more blessed generation than the Baby Boomers, nor has there been a generation more boom blasted by the enemy with drugs, alcohol, sex, trashy movies, music, magazines, distraction and preoccupation. There was no time or much desire to think about God and His Son. There’s no time for reading the Bible when you could watch T.V. instead.

Moral decline started when our nation took the Bible out of schools in the 1960’s. Was there a huge outrage from Christians? Sadly, the church was silent. In the 1970’s our nation legalized abortion. Was there a huge moral outrage? Again, the church was silent. If the Christian’s in this nation continue to be silent during this election, I believe our blessed nation, as we know it, will be lost.

Those of us who love God and country must watch and pray as never before.

We must not be totally distracted with day to day living and remember to intercede for our country and our leaders. The believers praying according to II Chronicles 7:14, I believe, are holding back the wrath of God, but we all should all be praying and seeking mercy.

The freedom the Baby Boomer’s enjoyed bred selfishness and self-centeredness. Little thought was given to how our actions affected our children. We had choices and many times we chose the worldly (cursed) way instead of God’s (blessed) way.

(Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV).

God said, “Choose life! Choose blessing that you may live; you AND your children”. Now that’s family planning, making the right choices that bless our families.

Remember – vote! And vote the Bible. Don’t silently let the enemy have our great country. Let’s pass down to our children a great and Godly nation.

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 30:14-20, Leviticus chapters 18, 19, & 20, John 10:9-11 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…. www.progressiverancher.com

Roots matter. Here’s why Farm Service Agency Overview

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May-June 2016 27

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Amodei HR 1484 Bill Draft Amendment

By Demar Dahl

. R. 1484 is a bill that has been introduced into Congress by Congressman Mark Amodei. H. R. 1484 calls for the transfer of the Public Land in Nevada from the Federal Government to the State of Nevada. Though there is some movement in a number of other western states toward the creation of similar legislation, Nevada is the only state so far with legislation calling for the transfer and with legislation designed specifically for Nevada.

The effort for the transfer started here in Elko County back in 2009 when the Forest Service put restrictions on forest access that we could not live with. The push back by the Elko County Commission resulted in a Congressional Field Hearing held here in Elko with Elko County being supported by sixty four counties from around the West, with letters, resolutions or testimony, who were also concerned about Forest access. After the Congressional hearing, which concluded with strong support for our position the Forest Service thumbed their nose at the Congressional Committee, the sixty four counties and us here in Elko County. The rejection of all our concerns by the Forest Service is what caused two Commissioners from Elko County and one Commissioner from Kane County Utah to form the American Lands Council.

It was the American Lands Council that brought about AB 227 in the Nevada State Legislature, carried by Assemblyman John Ellison and Senator Pete Goicoechea which created a Task Force to study the implications of a transfer of the public lands to the State of Nevada. The Task Force was made up of one Commissioner from each county in the State with the assigned task of meeting at least twelve times in the next year, and then providing the legislature with a recommendation. I was elected chairman at the first meeting and began by suggesting we not vote on anything until we had collected a lot of information concerning a possible transfer, except one thing, I said, “how many of you think it is a good idea to transfer the public land from the Federal Government to the State. More than half thought it was not a good idea.

We met thirteen times during the year and started by contracting for an economic analysis to tell us if the state indeed could both afford to make the transfer and then to manage the public lands within the state. The analysis told us that not only could the state afford it but could expect a net return from owning and managing it’s lands at a minimum of three hundred fifty million dollars per year. Next we had the State agency people come to discuss with us how to get from where we are, to where we need to be, in order to manage the lands. We had presentations from all the stakeholders on the public lands we could get, from the Sierra Club to the sportsmen and Farm Bureau. They came to give us their perspective on transferring the public lands. We invited legal scholars to debate the legalities of the transfer for us and acquired all the information available that we could cram into that year of meetings.

It was interesting to watch the lights go on as the year went by and at the end of the year every Commissioner was on board for the transfer and every Commissioner went back to their respective Commissions and got a vote of approval for the transfer. We then forwarded a resolution to the legislature, “you can have a look at it and the full Nevada Land Management Task Force Report at nvnaco.org under Resources tab”. That resolution became (Senate Joint Resolution #1) and subsequently passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by the Governor. SJR1 served as the template for H. R. 1484 introduced by Congressman Amodei in the House of Representatives.

The call for the transfer takes off the table the National Parks, National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Indian Lands, and military lands. It also specifies that all valid existing rights will transfer with the land. In other words whatever you can do on the public lands today you will be able to do after the land is transferred. If you can hunt, fish, graze, prospect or cut firewood, etc. now, you will be able to do it after the transfer. The land will transfer in two phases. Phase one of the transfer will include 7.2 million acres of the now about 60 million controlled by the Federal Government. Some of the land in phase one which includes land already designated for disposal by the federal agencies and some of the land in the Rail Road Corridor can be sold.

The legislation makes it clear the remaining public land in phase two, cannot be sold. The public land will remain public but will be owned and managed by the State. Use of the public land will be available to all but it will be up to us here in Nevada to be sure our natural resources are protected and used wisely. Generations 28 May-June 2016

to come can be assured of the opportunity to hunt, fish, camp, prospect, graze and do all those things on the public lands we have been able to do in the past as we make sure our future access is guaranteed. The industries Elko County most depends on, recreation, mining and ranching will continue to have a future as they wisely use the natural resources on the public lands.

Testimony of Demar Dahl

At the Nevada Cattlemen’s convention last fall a past president of the Association, when addressing the members said, “It hasn’t happened to me, but it will and if you think it won’t happen to you, you’re wrong”. He was talking about the management practices of BLM and FS on grazing that have been implemented in the last few years and the detrimental effect they have had on the ranching community. He was saying if you haven’t been hurt, yet, you will be.

It is a story that is hard to tell, partly because it is hard to believe we have come so far from when the livestock industry on the public lands was relatively stable. Especially in my state of Nevada where 87% of the State belongs to the Federal Government, a stable environment on the public lands is essential for a ranch family to survive, let alone prosper.

John McLain, a certified Range Management Consultant, founder and Principal of Resource Concepts Inc. which has been doing range science work for the livestock industry and the agencies for four decades, recently wrote, “The USFS and BLM, have continued with their ever-changing and often draconian guidelines and policies that prove damaging to an increasingly fragile livestock industry in Nevada.” These draconian guidelines and policies, many adopted in the Washington office and sent as directives to the field have taken a toll on Nevada Ranch families.

Whether by design due to the many law suits brought by those groups opposed to grazing which often get a favorable settlement by the administration or because of the natural bias of some in the agencies, in many instances the range practices of the past have gone out the window and questionable science is used to justify new policy and guidelines detrimental to the industry.

I realize that the intent of your committee is to address regulatory burdens placed on the industry by the federal government. Chances of having any meaningful impact on the agencies guidelines, policies or regulations will be, I suspect, slim to none.

I think it is too late. I think the gap is too wide and cannot be bridged. For us in the West, to have the activities on our natural resources be governed by those who are mostly unelected and almost three thousand miles away just doesn’t work anymore.

My state of Nevada sees things the same way. A year ago all seventeen counties voted to support a Task Force report that called for the transfer of the public lands from the federal government to the state. The Task Force sent a resolution to the State legislature that proposed the transfer and outlined a procedure by which it could be done. The resolution became SJR1 and was passed by both houses and signed by the Governor.

Congressman Mark Amodei turned the Resolution into HB1484 and introduced it in the House of Representatives.

It’s the only solution big enough. In our present management of the public lands we have departed too far from common sense and every facet of land management will benefit from having decisions made closer to home.

The idea of the transfer brings up many questions but in the state of Nevada we have diligently studied the implications of the transfer and believe we have the answers that definitely justify the transfer and make it a good idea. One of the issues addressed in the Amodei Bill is cost: The Intertech study determined the State can manage its own public lands at a considerable net profit. Another issue is whether the land will be sold: Only the lands now designated for disposal by the federal agencies and some of the land in the checkerboard area will be sold, the rest will remain public land. Will there be restrictions on the use of the public land after the transfer: All valid existing rights will transfer and anything you can do on the public land now you will be able to do after the transfer. What lands will transfer: National Parks, National Monuments, wilderness Areas, Indian and military lands are off the table, other lands will transfer.

I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to address grazing on the federal lands but I think anyone intimately familiar with what is happening on our ranges in Nevada, in particular, will reach the same conclusion. The livestock industry, dependent on the public lands will, as we know it, soon be a thing of the past. Only adopting the only solution big enough and transferring the public lands to the states will save it.

The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 29 

Reid Pushes for Further Abuse of Antiquities Act

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By Chase Adams and Shawna Newsome

ASHINGTON (April 8, 2016) – Yesterday morning, Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) boasted on the Senate floor that he is actively lobbying the White House to lock off yet another large western landscape using the Antiquities Act, stating that, “Congress created the Antiquities Act to empower the president to protect our culture, our historic and natural resources when and where Congress cannot or will not.”

Below is a statement by PLC President Brenda Richards regarding Sen. Harry Reid’s unapologetic demand for further Antiquities Act abuse.

“This is further illustration that the Antiquities Act – originally intended to protect artifacts and American Indian Ruins – has been weaponized by the administration to punish rural communities. Senator Reid is out of line; instead of engaging local communities and advocating for appropriate economic and environmental review, he is asking the President to make a unilateral, punitive decision in order to settle a political score. This is precisely why the Antiquities Act is in dire need of reform.”

30 May-June 2016

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Oldest Amateur Rodeo in Nevada – Since 1898 –

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• Ranch Rodear Style Cutting/Corraling/Doctoring & Branding • Cowdog Competition

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Contact Kathy Neal (775) 761-4933 for entries

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2016

Thursday – July 21

4-H Livestock Show and Sale

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July 23 & 24 — Team Roping: Lanes 318 Arena, 9:00 am

Top 10 Teams daily qualifiers go To rodeo

May-June 2016 31

ATTENTION PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS! NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF DRAFT BLM PLANNING 2.0 ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN BLM DECISIONS

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By KAREN BUDD-FALEN BUDD-FALEN LAW OFFICES, LLC

n February 11, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) introduced new draft planning regulations (“draft Planning 2.0”) to “enable the BLM to more readily address landscape-scale issues . . . and to respond more effectively to environmental and social change.” The statutory authority for the BLM to adopt these new planning regulations is the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (“FLPMA”). FLPMA was adopted in 1976; that Act (1) changed the BLM’s mission from the disposal of public land to retention of these lands, (2) required the BLM to prepare land and resource management plans (“RMP”) which govern all activities on the BLM-managed lands, and (3) required that BLM lands be managed for “multiple use and sustained yield.”

FLPMA itself, as well as the current BLM regulations, mandate the involvement of State and local governments and Indian Tribes (collectively “local governments”) in the BLM’s decision making process. However, although the BLM claims that the draft Planning 2.0 regulations do not change the BLM’s “practice” in developing RMPs, some areas in the draft rules are a significant departure or the language of the agency’s previous planning rules and in some cases a significant departure for the agency’s interpretation of FLPMA. In my view, these changes are detrimental and severely limit local governments’ involvement in the BLM planning process. The BLM’s rationale for these changes makes no sense. Words mean something; thus, if there is no change “in practice” as the BLM claims, why is there a change in the language being used to support that practice?

The comment period on the draft Planning 2.0 rules ends May 24, 2016. I recommend that you review the following sections as you prepare your comments to this draft. Note that this analysis ONLY pertains to the significant changes in local government influence in the BLM planning process. The BLM draft Planning 2.0 regulations cover many other issues as well that are not the subject of this opinion.

A. General Comments: 1. The draft Planning 2.0 regulations would eliminate the mandatory notification requirements from the BLM to impacted local governments and replace them with a requirement that the BLM only notify those local governments “that have requested to be notified or that the [BLM] responsible official has reason to believe would be interested in the resource management plan or plan amendment.” In other places, the new regulation replaces the required notification requirements with the requirement for notification to only those local governments the BLM believes would be “concerned with” or “interested in” the federal land use plan.

2. Throughout the draft Planning 2.0 regulations, the BLM proposes to replace the word “shall” and replace it with the word “will.” Although some courts have determined that the word “will” denotes a mandatory action, others have held that the word “will” must be read in context to determine its meaning. On the other hand, I found no court cases that held that the word “shall” can have any other meaning except a mandatory command. If this BLM change denotes “no change in practice,” it is hard to understand why this change is necessary.

3. FLPMA requires management of BLM lands for multiple use and sustained yield. Nowhere in FLPMA does Congress allow the management of BLM lands for “social changes.”

However, according to BLM draft Planning 2.0, “Goal 1” is to “improve the BLM’s ability to respond to social and environmental change in a timely manner.”

4. It is not clear how the draft Planning 2.0 rules intersect with the requirements for environmental, economic and “custom and culture” analysis pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. For example, the draft Planning 2.0 rules describe BLM’s planning as a two-step process with the first step being for the BLM and public to understand the current “baseline in regards to resource, environmental, ecological, social and economic conditions in the planning area.”

NEPA also requires that baseline information be gathered and additionally, that the status quo management be the “no action alternative.” I believe it is critical 32 May-June 2016

APRIL 14, 2016

to ensure that the “status quo” or “no action alternative” accurately reflect the current baseline and not be some departure from analysis that accurately describes exactly the conditions as they exist.

5. The comment period for review of draft land use plans is shortened from 90 days to 60 days and the comment period for review of land use plan amendments is shortened from 90 days to 45 days.

B. Local Government Involvement in BLM Land Management Plan Decisions.

The BLM draft Planning 2.0 regulations represent a significant departure in the way that local governments can become involved in the BLM decision making process.

Specifically the draft regulations provide less opportunity for local governments to have meaningful and significant input in violation of FLPMA. 1. Consistency Review With Local Land Use Plans, Policies and Programs a. The draft Planning 2.0 regulations strictly limits the types of local government plans that the BLM will consider as part of its consistency review. Existing BLM regulations state that: The BLM is obligated to take all practical measures to resolve conflicts between federal and local government land use plans. Additionally, the BLM must identify areas where the proposed [BLM] plan is inconsistent with local land use policies, plans or programs and provide reasons why inconsistencies exist and cannot be remedied.

43 C.F.R. §§ 1610.3-1(d)(1), (2), (3) (Emphasis added).

In contrast, the draft Planning 2.0 regulations would eliminate any consistency review for local land use “policies, programs and processes” and only consider inconsistencies with “an officially adopted land use plan.” This change would require a local government to have a “land use plan,” and not just a land use policy or program for consistency review. This type of language will limit many local governments’ ability to take advantage of the consistency review requirements if they do not have an “officially approved or adopted land use plan.” b. The draft Planning 2.0 regulations eliminates this entire section from the existing regulations: (d) In developing guidance to Field Manager, in compliance with section 1611 of this title, the State Director shall: (1) Ensure that it is as consistent as possible with existing officially adopted and approved resource related plans, policies or programs of other Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian tribes and local governments that may be affected, as prescribed by §1610.3–2 of this title; (2) Identify areas where the proposed guidance is inconsistent with such policies, plans or programs and provide reasons why the inconsistencies exist and cannot be remedied; and (3) Notify the other Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian tribes or local governments with whom consistency is not achieved and indicate any appropriate methods, procedures, actions and/or programs which the State Director believes may lead to resolution of such inconsistencies.

43 C.F.R. § 1610.3-1(d).

In other words, local government involvement would be limited to ONLY BLM land use plans and not the guidance provided from the BLM State Director to develop such land use plans. c. BLM is also proposing to weaken its consistency review requirements by adding that consistency with local land use plan will only be “to the maximum extent the BLM finds practical and consistent with the purposes of FLPMA and other Federal law and regulations applicable to public lands, and the purposes policies and programs of such laws and regulations.”

In contrast, the existing regulations require that: (a) Guidance and resource management plans and amendments to management framework plans shall be consistent with officially approved or adopted resource related plans, and the policies and programs contained therein, of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes, so long as the guidance

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and resource management plans are also consistent with the purposes, policies and programs of Federal laws and regulations applicable to public lands, including Federal and State pollution control laws as implemented by applicable Federal and State air, water, noise, and other pollution standards or implementation plans. (b) In the absence of officially approved or adopted resource-related plans of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes, guidance and resource management plans shall, to the maximum extent practical, be consistent with officially approved and adopted resource related policies and programs of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes. Such consistency will be accomplished so long as the guidance and resource management plans are consistent with the policies, programs and provisions of Federal laws and regulations applicable to public lands, including, but not limited to, Federal and State pollution control laws as implemented by applicable Federal and State air, water, noise and other pollution standards or implementation plans.

43 C.F.R. § 1610.3-2(a), (b).

In other words, under the existing regulations, so long as a local land use plan, policy or program was consistent with Federal statute, the local land use plan, policy or program would be included in the consistency review analysis by the BLM. Under draft Planning 2.0, the local land use plan is required to be (at least in the opinion of the BLM) consistent with Federal law, and “the purposes, policies and programs of such laws and regulations.” Requiring that local land use plans be consistent with BLM policies and programs significantly diminishes the ability of local governments to influence these same BLM policies and programs. For example, FLPMA mandates “multiple use and sustained yield.” Describing the policy for how such multiple use is to be achieved is exactly the type of information that can and should be included in a local land use plan. Under the draft Planning 2.0 regulations however, the local government would be prohibited from including a policy to achieve multiple use in a local land use plan that is different from the BLM’s policy for achieving multiple use. This draft rule significantly limits the scope of what can be included in a local land use plan. d. There is also a shift in the burden of showing that an inconsistency exists from the BLM to the local governments. Specifically, under the draft 2.0 Planning regulations, the BLM will only consider inconsistencies with a local land use plan if the BLM is specifically notified, in writing, about a specific inconsistency. e. The BLM is proposing to change the phrase “assist in resolving, to the extent practical and consistent with Federal law, inconsistencies between Federal and nonFederal government plans.” (Emphasis added). The original word used on this section was “practicable” rather than “practical.” Although the BLM claims that the change in wording is simply for readability, these two words have different meanings. Practicable is a more narrowly defined term meaning “capable of being put into practice.”

In contrast, “practical,” in this context, means capable of being put to use.” To understand the distinction, synonyms of “practicable” are possible, doable, and feasible; a synonym of “practical” is useful or sensible. In terms of the consistency review, the BLM then would propose to change the meaning of the requirements from, the agency must assist in resolving inconsistencies to the extent possible (practicable) to resolving inconsistences to the extent sensible or useful (practical).

2. Local Governments as Cooperating Agencies a. Although the BLM claims it is only trying to be consistent with existing practices and current BLM terminology, the BLM is eliminating the term “cooperating agency” as used in NEPA and replacing it with the term “eligible governmental entity” as described in the Department of the Interior regulations at 43 C.F.R. § 46.225(a). According to the BLM regulations, an “eligible governmental entity” can be considered as a “cooperating agency.” Although it appears that the definition of an “eligible governmental entity” is similar to a “cooperating agency,” I think this change in language is going to cause great confusion and may certainly exclude some local government participation if the local government does not understand that an “eligible governmental entity” is the same as the more familiar “cooperating agency.” b. Of greater concern is the BLM’s addition of the term “as feasible and appropriate” given the eligible governmental entities’ “scope of their expertise.” Although BLM states that it intends no change from current practice or policy, this language could certainly be used by the BLM to strictly define a local government’s special expertise or to determine that local government participation is not “feasible or appropriate” if adopted by the draft Planning 2.0 regulations. c. Additionally, the BLM authorized officer would no longer be required to notify the BLM State Director if a request for “cooperating agency” is denied. Under www.progressiverancher.com

the existing regulations, if a BLM authorized officer denies a request for cooperating agency, he shall notify the State Director who shall conduct an independent review to determine if the denial was appropriate. That State Director’s review would be eliminated under the draft planning 2.0 regulations.

3. Coordination FLPMA requires that the BLM “coordinate” its plans and programs with those of State and local governments, although the statute is silent on how such “coordination” is to occur. Under any definition however, “coordination” implies some measure of input and trying to work together. In contrast, under the draft Planning 2.0 regulations, “coordination” would only include the BLM providing to local governments “the opportunity for review, advice and suggestions on issues and topics which may affect or influence other agency or governmental programs.” Additionally, while currently “coordination” is to occur “consistent with Federal laws,” the draft Planning 2.0 regulations would also add that “Coordination” would occur consistent with “the purposes, policies and programs of use [Federal] laws and regulations.” The policies under the Federal statutes can change with the President, Secretary of the Interior and BLM Director in control at the time. That may limit the ability of local governments to coordinate in some circumstances.

4. Governor’s Consistency Review The new draft Planning 2.0 rules place more work on the Governor during the “Governor’s Consistency Review.” a. The Governor is required to identify inconsistencies between State and local government plans to bring to the attention of the Director of the BLM. The BLM will only consider “identified” inconsistencies between State and local plans and the proposed resource management plan if such inconsistencies are noted by the Governor. b. BLM will only accept the Governor’s recommendation if the BLM Director determines that the Governor’s recommendations “provide for a reasonable balance between the national interest and the State’s interest.”

In sum, I believe that these draft Planning 2.0 regulations detrimentally deprive local governments of the ability to influence BLM land use plans. By placing such significant constraints on local governments, the entire premise behind the “government-to-government” interaction is weakened. I strongly urge your participation in this rulemaking effort by providing comments to the BLM on draft Planning 2.0 regulations. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The Bureau of Land Management Announces Second Webinar on Initiative to Make Land-use Planning more Collaborative, Transparent, and Effective

By Adrienne DiCerbo ASHINGTON –The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will host a second informational webinar on its proposed planning rule, which is part of the ongoing Planning 2.0 initiative aimed at improving the planning process.

Continuing the BLM’s longstanding tradition of working with communities and local partners, the proposed rule would create increased opportunities for public involvement and transparency in the management of the 245 million acres of public lands that the BLM administers.

The rule would also establish an upfront assessment of baseline conditions in the planning area using the best available science and other relevant information, like traditional ecological knowledge and public views.

The webinar is being offered on April 13, 2016 from 3:00-5:00 pm EDT. Participants can register for the webinar by visiting www.blm.gov/plan2. This second webinar will give the public an additional opportunity to learn about the proposed rule before the comment period closes on April 25, 2016.

By implementing the improvements proposed in the rule, which was published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2016, the BLM is seeking to modernize its planning process, and enhance the way it involves the public in its planning efforts.

The rule includes measures to provide more meaningful public participation earlier in the planning process, and aims, among other improvements, to make it easier for stakeholders to see how their input influences planning decisions.

The proposed rule is available at www.blm.gov/plan2.

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 33

SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS ON WATER, DROUGHT AND A FEW OTHER MUNDANE THINGS

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By Tony Lespeance

f you travel around Nevada much you are bound to get the impression that once upon a time it must have rained here quite a bit, perhaps it even snowed some. Everywhere you look there are dry lakes that surely must have held water at some point in time. Drive south of Fallon on U.S. 95, and as you traverse Rawhide Flat, look back towards the north east, and you can see a well defined beach ridge, several hundred feet above the valley floor, compliments of Pleistocene Lake Lahonton. This lake was so vast that it once covered most of the Humboldt Basin, including present day Lakes Pyramid and Walker, as well as many, many dry lakes throughout western and northern Nevada.

Looking at all this might cause you, in a moment of weakness, to say, “maybe Al Gore is right”. Well, relax! About the only thing Big Al has been right on so far, is his ability to create wealth by the carbon tax scam. Forget Big Al and his buddies, but how do you explain those dry lakes? There has to be an explanation. Well there is, and amazingly enough we even know more than some folks might expect.

A few years back, about 1976 to be exact, there was a fortuitous find of some old, non-descript basalt rocks that with a bit of imagination might be construed to be aboriginal ax heads, or more correctly put in scientific terms, “Mastodon Points”. The find was in Grass Valley, some 75 miles south of Beowawe on the range allotment of the University of Nevada’s Gund Research and Demonstration Ranch. It didn’t take the scientific community long to show a vast amount of interest in this find. In fact, they came from all over. Part of the uproar was about the fact that this find set the time frame back, far back, of man’s first adventures in the Great Basin, from about 3,500 years ago to perhaps 10,000 years ago or even more.

As the dust settled, folks began to ask the inevitable, “What were these people doing here; how did they survive; what was the environment like in those distant times?” Soon, scientists from the DRI, the University of Nevada, the University of Utah, the American Museum of Natural History and the Nevada State Museum were crawling through pack rat nests, spring mounds and all sorts of other less than desirable environments. But it wasn’t long before a pretty interesting picture began to develop.

Early man lived in Grass Valley, or at least around the shores of Pleistocene Lake Gilbert (a pretty fancy name for the dry lake bed in Grass Valley). He may not have lived there year around, as the winter climate was bad to say the least. He likely migrated for the summer out of the Humboldt, or perhaps even the Snake. We soon learned that where Pinion and Juniper exist today, spruce forests dominated 10,000 years ago. Where sagebrush and related species exist today, fields of succulent grass and grass like plants existed then. It was much colder and much wetter, and that’s why dry lakes were full of water. Today, with our present day climate, the annual evaporation rate in northern Nevada is about 50 inches. Couple that with an annual precipitation rate of seven to nine inches, and dry lakes remain dry just about always. However, double or triple the precipitation rate, and cut the evaporation rate in half, because its was much colder, and dry lakes will become awfully full of water pretty fast!

So, 10,000 years ago it was much wetter and colder. Today, it’s much warmer and drier. A product of man’s unquenchable thirst for burning fossil fuel as Big Al claims? Hardly, statistically placed on a straight-line slope, the change from year to year, or century to century would hardly be detectable. Besides, it wasn’t a straight line, or anything remotely close to it. There were periods of time where the weather deviated greatly. For example, not so very many years ago, there was a phenomenon known as the “little ice age”. That lasted from the 1300’s until around 1870. That little environmental 34 May-June 2016

event featured two significant events. Around 1400, it got really cold, and some of us even might have known great grand parents that might recall their grandparents telling them about the two or three years around 1820, when most crops on the east coast failed because of the temperature and cloud cover. Then there is the little matter of standing pine tree remains several hundred feet under water in Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake.

That couldn’t have been that long ago. That had to be a period of really extreme drought.

Even after four years of the present drought, Tahoe just recently fell below the rim. How is Big Al going to explain that one?

The point is, with or without man’s interference, the weather changes. We are in a four-year drought, plain and simple. I would suggest we have actually been in about a nine-year drought. Studying most precipitation throughout Nevada indicates just about every year, starting with 2006, has been below average with the exception of 2010. And what about 2016. Well, on our place, we have a pretty sophisticated rain gauge, we have recorded 3 inches so far this year. Some places are a lot wetter, however, I am not sure we can tell this drought good-by just quite yet.

I have been studying NOAA a bit, as they have spent millions of our tax dollars predicting short term and long-term weather patterns. I know these folks must work hard, based on all the paper they turn out! But in comparing NOAA long-term predictions with the Farmers Almanac, I am not sure the record supports NOAA. Lately I have seen a new NOAA term starting to appear in some of their projections, the term, MEGADROUGHT. What’s a megadrought you might ask? Not sure they know, pretty sure I don’t, but the term is chilling at best. I guess a megadrought is the type of climatic change that results in population shifts. That’s one way to look at it. In other words, it’s a drought that causes watersheds like the Colorado to no longer produce the water for which politicians have long since divvied up. And of course the promoters don’t slow down until far past the end point either. NOAA says a megadrought may last for a hundred years or more!

Right now in Nevada we are in a drought. That much is clear. The legislature will be meeting one of these fine days again, and considering a great variety of legislation to deal with the drought. That may not be so very good, especially if they make further changes to our water laws. They made a giant change a few years back when they determined inter basin transfer of water is legal. Las Vegas was the driving force behind that change; and they have grabbed most of the water in eastern Nevada, at least on paper, so far. The recession cooled their thirst, but Vegas is starting to grow again.

But what is more interesting than Vegas is the Reno, Sparks and Fernley area.

The growth in western Nevada is starting to go off the charts. All you hear about is how great this growth is, jobs, houses, all things that drive the economy. Despite more smog, crowded freeways and just overall congestion, this has to be a good thing. At least that’s what the movers and shakers claim. But the one thing you don’t hear much about from the leaders is water, or where it is going to come from. Right now the area is basically out of water, even on a normal year. But when you build it the folks will come. I would speculate that given time the greater Reno area will get some much needed water, but it won’t come from the Sierra; and it won’t come from California.

Agriculturists need to worry about the weather, and all the trends, real or otherwise that go with weather. But right now, Nevada agriculturists, if they are to survive, had better pay attention to the relatively short term changes that can drastically impact our waters, and that’s the escalating socio-economic changes in areas like Reno. This could dry us up a lot quicker than all the weather changes that have ever occurred, with or without Big Al.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

NEVADA STALLION STAKES & Elko County NRCHA

August 26, 27, 28th, Elko, Nevada

Elko County NRCHA Judge: Zeph Schultz, NRCHA 2AA

Stallion Nomination Deadline: August 1st Nomination fee: $200.00

Nomination deadline for inclusion in advertising - May 24th Late Nominations will be accepted from Aug 2nd - 28th with an additional $100 late fee.

NEVADA STALLION STAKES

ALL NSS CLASSES WILL DO HERD, DRY, COW EVENTS

Futurity - Derby - Hackamore Two Reined / Green Bridle and Bridle Divisions NRCHA Rules Nevada Stallion Stakes Show Entry deadline: August 15th with late entries accepted to Aug 19th with additional penalties ECNRCHA Show Entry Deadline Aug 25th.

Entries forms available at www.elkocountyfair.com E-mail entries to elkocountyfair@hotmail.com

Mail entries and payments to: Elko County Fair Board, PO Box 2067, Elko, NV 89803 For More Information contact: JJ Roemmich 775-397-2769 or elkocountyfair@hotmail.com

www.elkocountyfair.com www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 35

Attention Readers Nevada Association of Counties

Counties, Farm Bureau, and Cattlemen Applaud Governor Sandoval’s Decision to Pursue Legal Options Regarding Management of Wild Horses

By Jeff Fontaine

(775) 443-7667 - jfontaine@nvnaco.org

arson City, NV – Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, Nevada Farm Bureau Federation and Nevada Association of Counties applaud Governor Sandoval’s April 25th announcement that he will pursue legal options regarding the BLM’s management of wild horses.

Wild horse populations in Nevada have skyrocketed to levels unsustainable for the ecology of Nevada’s rangelands and are also impacting sage grouse habitat, horse health and the livelihood of Nevada’s ranching operations, many of which have been in operation for generations. The horse populations continue to increase exponentially each year.

The BLM has established horse population levels (AMLs) that promote healthy conditions on the range and are in balance with other species and uses. Nevada as a whole contains horse and burro populations that are more than 200% above AMLs. In southeast Elko County, current horse populations are at 351% of (AMLs).1 In response to this situation, the BLM has indicated that there will potentially be further grazing reductions in Elko county.

Elko County Livestock producer Preston Wright currently owns an allotment upon which cattle have not been grazed for ten years - Wright reports that there is no forage due to the overpopulation of horses. “His story is reflective of the larger issue,” David Stix Jr., Nevada Cattlemen’s president, said. “Producers across Nevada have faced and will continue to face grazing reductions unless the Department of Interior prioritizes this issue.” Unfortunately, the removal of cattle from areas where horse populations are significantly over AML does not alleviate the impacts to native species, including sage grouse (see attached map).

“These horse numbers should not exceed the appropriate management levels set by the BLM,” Hank Combs, Nevada Farm Bureau president, said.

“According to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and

Burros Act of 1971 the federal government has a legal responsibility to manage these horse populations but even more importantly there is an environmental responsibility here as well. Grazing can and does coexist with native species, other uses, and horses.

If managed correctly the rangeland is healthy and species and producers can thrive.

Currently none of the above are healthy because of the dramatic overpopulation of these horses, and this includes the horses themselves!” The BLM has already conducted emergency gathers to rescue starving and dehydrated horses.

According to Nevada Association of Counties Executive Director Jeff Fontaine, “Overpopulation of horses not only affects livestock producers and wildlife habitat, but it also has a direct impact on local communities as well as county services.” “Damage from wild horses just in southeast Elko County alone could result in an economic loss of $1.8 million2. So, in addition to public safety issues, if horses are not managed as stated by federal law, the economic impact will be devastating to rural economies and the state as a whole.”

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The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 37 

Press Release

Hage Set to Appeal Ninth Circuit Ruling in Forage Right Case to U.S. Supreme Court; Western Water Law Hangs in the Balance

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n January, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Susan P. Graber, Kim McLane Wardlaw, and Mary H. Murguia, Circuit Judges, in an opinion by Judge Graber, handed down a decision reversing all of the findings of Nevada Federal District Court Chief Judge Robert C. Jones in his 103-page decision in U.S. v. Hage (2007). Judge Jones had found among other things that government officials had “entered into a literal, intentional conspiracy to deprive the Hages not only of their (grazing) permits but also of their vested water rights.” The Court added, “This behavior shocks the conscience of the Court and provides a sufficient basis for a finding of irreparable harm…”

During the 21-day trial in 2012, the lead Justice Department attorney assured Wayne Hage and the Estate’s attorney that the Ninth Circuit would almost certainly rule in favor of the BLM and USFS. He said the United States government was not concerned if Judge Jones ruled against them because the DOJ could get any decision they wanted out of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Consistent with the Justice Department’s prediction, the Ninth Circuit panel issued a scathing ruling reversing all of the trial court’s decisions, excoriating Judge Jones for supposed bias against the government Defendants. Wayne N. Hage and the Estate of E. Wayne Hage are appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ruling from the Ninth Circuit runs contrary to 150 years of western water law and precedent as well as the laws governing the infrastructure across federally administered lands in the West. It denies that there is right of access to vested livestock watering rights. The Ninth Circuit decision, as handed down by the three-judge panel, is also in direct conflict with the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in the related case, Hage v. U.S., (1991), (between the same parties regarding the same property). There the Court recognized access as an essential component of a water right. If a right to access to a vested water right can be subject to a government bureaucrats will, either in its use or its maintenance, then you have no water right. A person’s ownership of water becomes a mirage. State law no longer controls the time, place, or manner of use of water. A federal agency, and more particularly a federal bureaucrat, would now control the access to that water.

In addition to a conflict between rulings in two different federal courts, due to the appellate panel’s brazen violations of the appellate rules of procedure regarding findings of fact and other procedural errors, analysts believe there is an increased likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will review the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling. (Analysis of U.S. v. Hage and Court Decisions are available upon request.)

In order for the Ninth Circuit to overturn the findings of the trial court in U.S. v. Hage, they had no option but to assert Judge Jones had bias against the government Defendants. Under the rules of appellate procedure the Ninth Circuit was bound

by Judge Jones’ findings of fact, unless the justices went to the extraordinary measure of finding the judge had bias and had abused his discretion, which they did. Interestingly, Judge Jones was not the only trier of fact to make such findings.

Chief Judge Loren Smith, from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington D.C., after hearing similar testimony during two separate trials in the related case of Hage v. U.S. (1991), made virtually identical findings of fact. Two well respected, experienced jurists, both Chief Judges of their respective courts, separated by the width of the country, separated by decades of hearings, having nothing in common but considering the conduct of the U.S. Forest Service and BLM employees against the Hage family, both reached virtually identical conclusions.

Two generations of the Hage family, beginning during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, have spent nearly 40 years in courts defending their Constitutionally protected property interests in federally administered land and their right to be allowed to graze their livestock around their vested waters as Congress clearly sanctioned. They have prevailed in three administrative appeals. They have successfully litigated three 38 May-June 2016

substantial federal court cases at the trial level in two separate federal courts. They have successfully defended their vested water rights against competing claims by the United States in a state water adjudication. The courts in multiple published decisions have repeatedly recognized their vested water rights, easements, rights-of-ways, forage, and improvements on federally administered land. Those rights stand on appeal in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

It is only the Ninth Circuit three-judge panel, after a 45 minute hearing, which determined that they are better arbiters of the truth than the two judges from two separate federal courts who actually saw the evidence and heard witnesses testify over a combined period of 43 trial days. The Ninth Circuit panel, in reaching their desired outcome in U.S. v. Hage has managed to significantly diminish western water law and the laws governing rights of ways for roads, ditches and canals across federally administered lands, leaving the Hages no choice but to seek relief at the U.S. Supreme Court. (Analysis of U.S. v. Hage and Court Decisions are available upon request.)

For those who support the Hages and their efforts to protect western water rights and ranching, donations to help fund the Supreme Court appeal would be greatly appreciated. Tax-deductible donations are being accepted and earmarked for U.S. v.

Hage by:

Protect the Harvest 480 Southpoint Circle Brownsburg, IN 46112 Phone: (844) 360-8300; Email: info@protecttheharvest.com.

(Please identify as being for “U.S. v. Hage”)

Direct contributions can also be sent directly to: Wayne N. Hage P.O. Box 513 Tonopah, NV 89049

Analysis of U.S. v. Hage and Court Decisions available upon request. Also, for those interested in filing Amicus or Friend of the Court Briefs, contact:

Mark Pollot, Esq. Ramona Hage Morrison (208) 867-8389 (775) 722-2517 ConResCtr@cableone.net rhmorrison@sbcglobal.net

For a Summary of Hage saga: FOX NEWS SPECIAL, “Enemies of the State” https://youtu.be/67yR-Gj5u70

“Enemies of the State” (shorter version) https://youtu.be/wJpapKqv2mE

Range Magazine Article and Winner of the “Freedom of the Press Award” Click on article in red titled, “Eye of the Storm” http://www.rangemagazine.com/features/winter-13/range-wi13-contents.htm

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

CABNR named NDA director Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year

By Rebecca Allured

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he University of Nevada, Reno College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) named Jim Barbee, Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) director, 2016 Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year. Barbee was honored April 27 at CABNR’s annual awards ceremony and reception, along with outstanding students and accomplished faculty and staff.

“It is with great pleasure that we recognize Director Barbee as outstanding agriculturalist of the year. Jim has shown remarkable leadership in the state, which has benefited agricultural producers, manufacturers, and educators,” Bill Payne, dean and director of CABNR, said. “His vision and its implementation have strengthened the agency, increased the health and nutrition of children and served to expand the agency’s ability to promote and protect agriculture in Nevada.”

Barbee has served the agriculture industry his entire career, and has led the NDA as director since 2011, sharing his vision for service, leadership and innovative thinking department-wide.

“CABNR is responsible for developing future agriculturists in Nevada, and I am honored to receive this recognition on behalf of the truly dedicated team we have at the NDA,” Barbee said. “We are grateful to be a part of ‘Team Ag,’ working right along side the University, industry and citizens we serve.”

Initiated in 1967, the Outstanding Agriculturalist Award recognizes individuals who play a significant role in the advancement of agriculture in Nevada. Recent recipients include David Peri, president of Peri & Sons Farms, in 2015, and Dennis Hellwinkel, executive vice president of the Nevada Farm Bureau.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.

Nevada’s land-grant university founded in 1874, the University of Nevada, Reno ranks in the top tier of best national universities by U.S. News and World Report and is steadily growing in enrollment, excellence and reputation. The University serves nearly 21,000 students. Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, the University is home to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station and Wolf Pack Athletics. Through a commitment to worldimproving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world.

For more information, visit www.unr.edu.

Specialty crop grant funds available through the NDA

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By Rebecca Allured

PARKS, Nev.) – The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) officials are pleased to announce nearly $250,000 in funding available through its Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Through its solicitation process, the purpose of the program is to enhance the competiveness of specialty crops through projects that seek to improve the specialty crops industry.

Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, legumes, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Project proposals must have multiple beneficiaries and may not be used to solely benefit one individual or organization.

Grant funds through this program have been used to establish many community projects such as: NevadaGrown, Great Basin Community Food Coop’s Distributors of Regional & Organic Produce & Products (DROPP) Program, Chuchill County’s emerging Fallon Food Hub, and many others.

Individual agricultural producers, non-profits, tribal organizations, minority groups, disadvantaged farmers, agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations and academic institutions are encouraged to apply.

Letters of intent to apply for the funds are due Wednesday, April 13, 2016 and full applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. To view the request for proposals or past funded projects, visit agri.nv.gov/SCBGP.

Jim Barbee Receiving Award

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The Progressive Rancher

May-June 2016 39

NDA remains committed to supporting southern Nevada

By Jim Barbee, director of Nevada Department of Agriculture

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n the end of March, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) held an open house to celebrate the grand opening of our southern Nevada headquarters. During the event, attendees heard from NDA staff and area elected officials before touring the new facility.

The event brought together representatives from the agriculture community and local, state and federal government. We were excited for the attendance and support of Congresswoman Dina Titus, representatives from the offices of Governor Brian Sandoval, Congressman Cresent Hardy and the United States Department of Agriculture and Nevada Farm Bureau President Hank Combs.

The opening of the new building helps reinforce our commitment to the southern Nevada communities. The southern headquarters will help the NDA to better serve the public and agriculture industry needs in Clark County and surrounding areas.

The facility has more space than the previous building, allowing our divisions to develop more staffing and technology resources.

New to the headquarters will be a metrology lab, used to regulate weights and measures of all consumer goods. Staff in the metrology lab will calibrate standard weights and volume measuring devices that are used to test scales, gas pumps and other devices. Accurate measurement means that consumers will get an accurate gallon of gas or pound of beef that they purchase. All scales, pumps and meters in the Las Vegas area – and throughout the entire state – are NDA Board of Agriculture Chair Paul tested for accuracy yearly.

Anderson with Congresswoman Dina Titus.

Also new to the southern headquarters is a food safety lab, offering antibiotic testing of raw milk before processing and packaging for dairy producers. Members of our Las Vegas staff also collect samples for shipment to the main lab to test for the bacterial count in milk and dairy products at all stages of production and processing, to ensure it is safe for human consumption.

An enforcement officer is also stationed in this office to help facilitate brand inspections and public health and safety duties in southern Nevada. This officer will also monitor all animals entering the Las Vegas valley and surrounding areas to ensure potentially harmful diseases are not spread from other states to southern Nevada.

Promoting food and agriculture around the state is of great importance to our department and the industry. When we think agriculture, we often think production agriculture. Like the rest of our state, southern Nevada is home to a large production agriculture sector. In Clark County, the top three agriculture production industries are beef cattle ranching, other animal production and vegetable and melon farming.

And while these industries are a vital part of the sector, other industries also play an important role in the food and agriculture sector in southern Nevada.

Food manufacturing An important part of Nevada agriculture is food and agriculture manufacturing.

Businesses in these industries help to convert Nevada agriculture products into food items for the consumer. In Clark County, food manufacturing accounted for more than $691 million in sales in 2014. Clark County made up nearly 21 percent of total food manufacturing sales in the state ($3.3 billion). The top three industries in the 40 May-June 2016

county were bread and bakery product manufacturing, ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturing and other food manufacturing.

The NDA plays a role in regulating manufacturing specific to dairy foods like ice cream, cheese and yogurt here in the state. Our food safety lab in southern Nevada protects consumers and industry businesses.

Members of our staff conduct regular inspections of all dairy product manufacturers to ensure that dairy products are safe to sell and eat.

Director Jim Barbee Inspections check bacterial counts in dairy packing and for harmful bacteria like salmonella in cheeses.

We also work closely with Nevada dairies to promote the consumption of milk in schools. Milk is an important part of the healthy, balanced meal that students receive at schools. Our Food and Nutrition division oversees the Nevada School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Summer Food Service Program and other initiatives that ensure all students have access to nutritious food so they are ready to learn. We also connect local agriculturists with schools to expose students to local fruits and veggies.

For those who might be interested in turning their pickling projects into a craft food business, our staff offers testing and licensing services at the Las Vegas office.

Director Jim Barbee gives a tour of the new metrology lab at the southern Nevada headquarters.

The new southern Nevada headquarters, located at 2300 East Saint Louis Ave. in Las Vegas, offers resources to serve the Las Vegas public.

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Nursery Another industry important to Nevada agriculture is the nursery or green industry. This industry includes greenhouses, nurseries, floriculture operations, retails businesses and landscape and horticulture services. In 2014, the nursery production industry in Clark County generated more than $1 billion in sales and employed more than 14,000 people. And according to a 2008 survey, there were more than 1,000 green industry operators in Clark County, which made up 54 percent of Nevada green industry operations.

Our department inspects all nurseries in the state, and our role is two-fold: we monitor, intercept and prevent the spread of pests on nursery stock, protecting our nursery owners’ products, and we also ensure pest-free and viable plant materials are offered for sale to the public.

Our Role Pests can become a problem for nursery owners or any other home or business. The NDA Pest Control Program regulates the safe and proper use of pesticides throughout southern Nevada, ensuring public safety. Our staff encourage integrated pest management practices to limit the use of pesticides when possible.

And critters are not the only nuisances we help control. Our Noxious Weeds Program staff work with home owner associations, businesses and weed management cooperatives to keep invasive species out of the Las Vegas area.

We also provide identification, surveying and sometimes control of insects, like Mormon crickets, throughout southern Nevada. We share that information with producers and the public to help prevent pest outbreaks.

As you can see, southern Nevada agriculture is a thriving industry that involves much more than production agriculture. Our commitment to the southern part of the state will continue as we work to promote the industry around Nevada.

About Jim Barbee Jim Barbee has served as the director of the Department of Agriculture since June 2011. He previously worked for the Nevada Department of Education as a supervisor in Career and Technical Education and as a high school agriculture educator. Barbee has a Master of Science degree in Agriculture Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from California State University Chico. Barbee is a graduate of Douglas High School in Minden, Nev.

Nevada Approves Initial Funding of Conservation Credit System Projects

function based on proposed conservation actions 3) Credit Generation Readiness & Probability – Ability to complete project this year and commitment to participate in the CCS 4) Cost Effectiveness of State’s Investment – Estimated credits generated per dollar invested by the State 5) Other – Very meaningful characteristics of the project not captured by other criteria The five projects that were unanimously approved for funding by the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council (SEC) at their April 7, 2016 meeting include: Two projects located in Elko County representing approximately 2,200 acres of PHMA and potentially generating an estimated 1,529 sellable credits; one project in Eureka County representing approximately 1,607 acres of both PHMA and GHMA and generating an estimated 712 sellable credits; one project in Washoe County representing approximately 1,055 acres of PHMA and potentially generating an estimated 503 sellable credits; and one in White Pine and Elko Counties representing approximately 12,414 acres of PHMA and GHMA and generating an estimated 12,744 sellable credits.

In total the projects represent over 17,000 acres of greater sage-grouse habitat, across four counties (Elko, Eureka, Washoe, and White Pine) and all three WAFWA Management Zones, and are estimated to generate about 15,000 credits when enrolled in the CCS. If full state funding is implemented for these projects, it will represent over $1.1 million in funding. While match wasn’t required, it is anticipated that the proponents will generate at least a 1:1 match to the State funds.

The State intends to manage these funds in a way that allows for the program to continue offering financial assistance in the development of sage-grouse habitat conservation projects and their sellable credits. As such, contract terms are developed with project proponents for the State to recover the upfront funding provided.

The State anticipates making another round of funding available sometime after July 01, 2016 to allow for continued preservation and enhancements of sage-grouse habitats and the development of credits for potential sale. It is anticipated that another statewide announcement will be made to encourage interested parties to apply.

In the meantime, the SEP encourages those potentially interested in applying for future funding to work with their resource specialists and others to develop conceptual conservation projects that would meet the intent of the funding. If further guidance is needed, the SETT can assist potential applicants in the process.

Private ranch and farmlands often represent a high percentage of the lands associated with late brood rearing (an integral life stage for the species’ persistence) for sagegrouse. The SEP encourages private landowners to participate in the CCS and reap the potential benefits this new program may offer, with or without the assistance of State funding. Please contact the SETT staff for more information.

Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team (2 vacant positions currently): Chris Katopothis: ckatop@sagebrusheco.nv.gov Kelly McGowan: kmcgowan@sagebrusheco.nv.gov Melissa Faigeles: mfaigeles@sagebrusheco.nv.gov Telephone: 775-684-8600

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n December 2015, the State of Nevada announced $1,000,000 in funding through the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program (SEP) for projects that will enhance and restore high quality greater sage-grouse habitat on private and public land. The State of Nevada legislature also approved $1,000,000 of funding for habitat enhancement and protection in FY2017 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017).

The purpose of these funds is two-fold: (1) Improve greater sage-grouse habitat, and (2) Create a supply of “compensatory mitigation credits” to be used in the Nevada Conservation Credit System (CCS).

Private landowners, businesses, conservation organizations, mitigation bankers, and state agencies were encouraged to apply with potential projects to enhance and protect habitat on private and/or public land. Each interested project proponent was asked to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to the SEP to be considered for funding. The SEP received 21 LOI’s from potential project proponents.

From the initial 21 projects, three were determined to be ineligible, and the others were ranked on established criteria with seven projects being selected by the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team (SETT) and NDOW to develop full proposals. The SETT then worked with each project proponent to collect additional information necessary to further evaluate how the project meets the funding criteria, potential funding needs and amounts, and additional project site information. Through this process two projects decided to withdraw their application.

The remaining five priority projects were considered for funding to support implementation of habitat improvements, including enhancements and restoration, the development of management plans, analyses of habitat quality through the Habitat Quantification Tool (HQT), and completion of all materials necessary to make projects ready to sell credits through the CCS starting this fall. In addition, all projects committed to maintaining the post-project habitat function for at least five years and funding for maintenance was included in their requests. The full proposals were evaluated using the following criteria to ensure selected projects create meaningful benefits to sage-grouse and leverage the State’s funding: 1) Current Habitat Quality – Estimated landscape-scale and local-scale metrics in HQT 2) Habitat Improvement & Risk Reduction – Estimated increase in habitat www.progressiverancher.com

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Support Provided to High School Agriculture Projects Throughout Nevada

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n a unique opportunity the Nevada Agricultural Foundation received a $10,000 grant through the AT&T Aspire program which was dedicated to Nevada High School Career and Technical Education Programs. These programs provide academic areas of study, experiential learning and leadership opportunities in preparation for post-secondary education and careers.

The funds were available to supplement and enhance the educational opportunities available to youth enrolled in agricultural education programs.

Funding was distributed through an application process that allowed individual students and student groups to request up to $500 for specific projects. Ninety-five applications were received for projects that varied greatly.

The applications were reviewed and projects selected by a comtmittee of experienced agricultural educators. A large portion of this project was dedicated to materials and supplies which will enhance the educational opportunities available to students enrolled in Nevada Agricultural Education programs throughout the state. Projects funded includ areas such as: agricultural literacy, beekeeping, hydroponic systems, greenhouse supplies, rangeland monitoring materials, laboratory supplies, leadership training and livestock breeding projects. Students and instructors from Alamo to Wells and several locations in between received support for their projects. Follow up reports will be required from all receiving funding, so that the program success may be evaluated.

For further information, contact Sue Hoffman, Executive Director of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation at 775/673-2468.

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RANGE PLANTS FOR THE RANCHER

By Paul T. Tueller, Ph.D., CRMC

Black Sagebrush

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he Great Basin Desert Shrub Vegetation has more variability than you might think. For example, depending upon the taxonomist, there are about 16 or 17 members of the genus Artemisia, the sagebrushes. Here I briefly review one of these species namely Artemisia nova or Black Sagebrush. Identification is sometimes difficult, because this species is similar in appearance to Low sagebrush, Artemisia arbuscula, and it easily hybridizes with Big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata, when it grows in the same area, leading to intermediate forms. Also, Artemisia nova has two main morphological forms, a darker, easily recognized form, and a less common light gray-green colored variant which closely resembles other sagebrush species.

Artemisia nova is a small, erect shrub producing upright stems branched off a central trunk like base. It is usually no taller than 20 to 30 centimeters but it has been known to exceed 70 centimeters in height. The aromatic leaves are green, short, narrow, and sometimes toothed at the tip. This species can sometimes be distinguished from its similar-looking relatives by glandular hairs on its leaves. The inflorescence bears clusters of flower heads lined with shiny, oily, yellow-green phyllaries (flower bracts) with transparent tips. The fruit is a tiny achene up to a millimeter long. The plant reproduces primarily from seed. Leaves are darker than leaves of associated sagebrush (Artemisia spp.); hence, the common name “black sagebrush”. Leaves are bell-shaped, shallowly to deeply 3- to 5-lobed, and small, mostly 0.2 to 0.8 inch (0.5-2 cm) long. Persistent stem leaves are considered characteristic of sagebrush species, so they are nearly always those used in keys for identifying sagebrush taxa.

Black sagebrush is native to and widely distributed in the western United States.

It has the broadest geographical spread of all the dwarf sagebrushes, and its range is second only to basin big sagebrush among all North American sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) species. Black sagebrush dominates about 43,300 square miles (112,100 km²) of rangeland in the western United States, the majority of which is in Nevada and Utah. The black sagebrush cover types occupy about 5.1% of the Great Basin. Sagebrushes dominate the Great basins today except where extensive wild fires have left the acreages in cheat grass. Black sagebrush is more closely associated with salt-desert vegetation than any other sagebrush except budsage (Picrothamnus desertorum).

Black sagebrush and shadscale communities may form a mosaic, with black sagebrush dominating on lower elevation, less saline, or less alkaline sites than shadscale. The lower elevation communities commonly form nearly pure to pure shrub stands, with a sparse herbaceous understory. Plants grow in soils of all textures but most commonly on sandy or gravelly loams and on clays. Studies in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada found black sagebrush occurred on silty loams. Black sagebrush-dominated communities in northeastern Nevada occur on loamy-skeletal soils. Soils supporting black sagebrush communities in west-central Nevada are very fine and clayey-skeletal. Soils where black sagebrush dominates tend to have a higher percentage of rock than soils where big sagebrush dominates. Black sagebrush is found on gentle, rocky slopes and windswept ridges at elevations of 4,000 to 8,500 feet.

Black sagebrush provides good forage for livestock, but is poorly consumed in the summer. Cattle use of black sagebrush is greatest in fall and winter, with only trace amounts con-

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sumed in summer. Black sagebrush is best as livestock feed when it grows with other palatable forage. Possibly more important is the fact the black sagebrush provides excellent winter browse for sheep. Domestic sheep generally browse sagebrush species lightly from spring through fall. Utilization increases in winter or when domestic sheep are fed a protein. Moderate mid-winter or alternate years grazing systems are recommended for maintenance of black sagebrush. A long-term study of black sagebrush communities on the Desert Experimental Range showed season of grazing affected plant succession more than grazing intensity, although both were important.

Due to black sagebrush’s generally high palatability, succession in overgrazed black sagebrush communities is likely to proceed to unpalatable species. Over 53 years, spring grazing by domestic sheep resulted in greater increases in annuals, especially nonnative cheatgrass, halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus), and Russian-thistle (Salsola iberica), than fall grazing. Ungrazed plots had few to no nonnative annuals. Highintensity grazing in early spring (42 sheep days/ha from March-April) increased nonnative annuals the most. When livestock grazing was reduced palatable plant species increased relative to unpalatable species.

Black sagebrush provides important fall and winter forage and habitat for wildlife.

Black sagebrush forage and habitats are especially important to mule deer, pronghorn, and sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp. Among wildlife species, pronghorn and sagegrouse may be best adapted to diets high in black sagebrush and other sagebrush species. Pronghorn utilize black sagebrush heavily. Black sagebrush can be an important emergency food for wintering mule deer. Utilization of black sagebrush may be higher if other forage species are also available. Due to its importance as a browse species this range plant is one that should be management carefully by ranchers.

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by Jennifer Whiteley

W

The Best Mom Ever

henever I do something spectacular, like pack their favorite lunches or remember to pick up ice cream at the grocery store, I ask my boys “Who’s the best mom ever?!” They promptly reply “You are mom! You are the best mom ever!” This only works because my boys are young and they haven’t figured out that I am not the best mom ever. I can’t be the best mom ever because that title belongs to my mom. My mom is the best mom ever.

Who do I call when I’ve had a hard day?

My mom.

Who do I call when I’ve had a good day?

My mom.

Who do I text “What did I do wrong?” with a picture of my latest culinary fail?

My mom.

Who bakes the CowBoss carrot cake for his birthday?

My mom.

Who do I email when I have an article due yesterday and I can’t get it quite right?

My mom.

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Who do I call when my little darlings do something clever?

My mom.

Who do I can when my little monsters do something particularly un-clever?

My mom.

Who tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear?

My mom.

Who do I want to be like when I grow up?

My mom.

Who loves me even when I don’t deserve it?

My mom.

Who is the best mom ever?

My mom!

Truth be told, I am the mom I am today because of the great mom I have. Without her love, support, and advice, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My hope for my boys is that they feel the same love and respect for me that I have for my mom when they are all grown up. Then I will know that I have successfully raised two wonderful men.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of those moms out there who truly are the Best Moms Ever!

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Financial Focus P resented by Jaso n Land, Financial A d v is o r, E d wa rd Jo n e s in E lko , Neva d a 2213 Nor th 5th S treet, S u ite A | 7 7 5 -7 3 8 -8 8 11

Talk to Your Adult Children About Smart Financial Moves

You are invited to

You are invited to

COWBOY CHURCH!

COWBOY CHURCH!

Bible Study Fri @ 9 am

Sunday @ 11am services

4275 Solias Rd Fallon, NV

Bible Study Wed @ 6 pm

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) 240-8870 Cell (775) 867-3100

I

f you have children who are finishing college or embarking on their first full-time job, you obviously want them to get off to a good start in their adult and working lives. And by virtue of your years of experience, you probably have some good advice to offer – especially when it comes to making smart financial moves. pay down their mortgage quicker. While they might feel good about lowering that debt, you may want to point out that an argument could be made for putting money in assets that will likely be more liquid, such as stocks and bonds. For one thing, if your children were to lose their jobs, and they needed cash to tide them over until they were once again employed, they’d likely find it much harder to get money out of their homes than their investment accounts. Also, in terms of accumulating resources for retirement, they might better off building up their investment portfolios, rather than sinking every extra dollar into their homes.

Of course, you can find a broad array of financial topics to discuss. But if you want to concentrate on just a few, you might consider these for starters: • Investing for the future – When young people are paying off student loans, they may not think they can also afford to invest for the future. Indeed, this can be challenging – but it’s not impossible. So, if your children go to work for an employer that offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), you may want to point out that they can have money automatically invested – and since they never really “had” this money in the first place, they are less likely to miss it. They can start by deferring small amounts; when their earnings rise, they can increase their contributions.

• Using credit wisely – Urge your child- ren to avoid taking on excessive credit card debt and taking out non-essential loans. As you know, having a good credit score can pay off in several ways, including getting better rates on mortgages. You may want to risk sounding “old fashioned” by encouraging your children to live within their means. And consider pointing out that it’s often the people who are the most frugal today who may end up with the most money tomorrow.

• Buying a home and paying off a mortgage – With interest rates still low, now is not a bad time for prospective first-time homebuyers. Of course, if your children truly are starting out in the working world, it will likely take them a few years to save up enough for a down payment. But even after they reach that goal, you may want to warn them not to become “house poor” by spending a large portion of their total income on home ownership. If they do buy a house, though, and their incomes go up as their careers progress, they may wonder if they should It’s not always easy for young people to get off on the right foot, financially speaking. But as someone who knows a thing or two about saving, investing and controlling debt, you can help your children out by imparting a few words of wisdom.

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

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