The Progressive Rancher - Sept/Oct 2015

NCA 2009 President’s Award Recipient

In this Issue

24

SRM

3

Riding for the NCA

26

BLM News

5

Nevada Cattlemen As.

27

NRRC - Q & A

6

Talking about NCBA

28

Elk Story

10

Eye on the Outside

32

Wildlife vs Wild Horses

12

NV Cattlewomen

34

Water of Nevada

14

Fumes from the Farm

36

Wild Horses

16

NV Farm Bureau

40

Weeds

19

Mind of the Millenial

44

Humboldt HWCWMA

20

Beef Checkoff

46

Ramblings

22

News

47

EJ Finanical Focus

The Progressive Rancher Owner/Editor/Publisher – Leana Stitzel progressiverancher@elko.net

ELKO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION • Share Draft Accounts • Timeshare Certificates • ATM Cards/Debit Cards • IRAs • Visas

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Graphic Design/Layout/Production – Joshua Rinard Josh@LifeSpringDesign.com

The Progressive Rancher once again teamed up with the 2015 Eureka County Fair to offer a photo contest in which the winning photo would be published on the cover of the magazine.

Unfortunately, no entries were hsubmitted to the contest this year. Staff at the Progressive Rancher asked the Eureka County Fair to provide the Grand Champion photo from the livestock category entry in the Photography division to be used as the cover photo. The Grand Champion photo in the Eureka County Fair Livestock Photography division was taken by Lynn Conley of Eureka, NV. The photo is of cattle being gathered before branding time in an old homestead orchard located in the mountains of Central Nevada.

Published 9 times each year, The Progressive Rancher is mailed to more than 7,000 approved addresses, and has digital and print readership reaching more than 30,000.

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A Tribute to the Great Generation Ron Torell, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Presidentt

otivation to write a monthly column dealing with the never ending federal lands grazing issues or the endless legislative bills looming in Washington D.C. vaporized with the recent passing of my mother. I chose instead to use this month’s column to honor those U.S. citizens who built this country from the ground up. Many immigrated to this country from Europe and endured the Great Depression and World War II. Not to take anything away from the efforts of today’s soldiers and citizens who fight for our freedom on a daily basis, the events of the 1930 and 1940’s are perhaps the most patriotic building events of our country’s history. This time period and that generation made this country into the bread basket it is today. Name another country where only 2% of the population feeds the other 98%? This hard working generation of people had heart, spirit, pride and patriotic values. Food and fiber production was held to the highest.

Like many of you reading this, my parents and possibly many of your grandparents, were raised in the 1930’s and 1940’s. I would like to share an experience my wife and I had with my mom once that truly shows the character of her generation and the times she lived through. Several years back we took her out to lunch. It wasn’t a fancy establishment, simply a family style restaurant that serves good home-style cooking and the kind she grew up on. We all ordered our meals with salads on the side. Not long into the meal my mom asked, “What is that crawling out of my salad?” I quickly identified the uninvited guest as a ladybug minus one wing. The good wing was drenched in salad dressing.

Laughing, while not fazed a bit, my mom, with her fork, moved the bug off her plate and continued to eat her salad.

Knowing that other patrons may not take the news well of an uninvited guest in their salad, I signaled the waiter. As an FYI we showed him the uninvited guest. The waiter, very apologetic and expecting a scene from us, quickly snapped the plate up from my mom. I can tell you from experience you do not want to take a good plate of food away from a Torell! My mom said, “Where are you going with my salad? I’m not done with that!” The waiter left and soon the manager showed up at our table. “I understand you found a bug in your salad and you are not upset at all?” Wishing all patrons were as understanding as my mom, the manager explained that even though we did not order organic salads, the lettuce used is what they purchased for their organic orders.

Organic! This explains the ladybug in the lettuce. During the growing phase of organic vegetables ladybugs are used as natural predators for aphids and other detrimental insects. The presence of the ladybug shows that the lettuce was actually grown under natural conditions with no pesticides used. Do you think the green generation customers of this restaurant would see it that way? Being raised during the depression, as my mom’s generation was, made her tough. The tough times they endured educated them about where food comes from and how to appreciate a salad, ladybug and all. As my late dad often pointed out to me “The only thing worse than finding a worm in your apple is finding half a worm.”

I feel we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the great generation of days gone by. They built a framework for a food supply system that today is enjoyed by so many people worldwide. It is up to our generation and those generations to come to honor, protect and build on those core values established by the great generation. To that end, this is why many in our industry have become involved in organizations such as the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association for NCA’s mission continues to be to promote, preserve and protect a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry that the great generation built. Should you like to

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visit with NCA staff or leadership feel free to contact NCA at 775-738-9214 or my NCA e-mail address ncapresident@nevadabeef.org

Habitat Restoration A Shared Vision

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By Kaley Sproul NCA Executive Director

he Elko office of the Bureau of Land Management in collaboration with the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and private land owners recently hosted a range tour for cooperating agencies highlighting successful habitat restoration projects in the Great Basin and Northeastern Nevada area.

“We hear a lot about the need for habitat restoration and preserving landscapes for the Greater Regional Sage-Grouse, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and other potentially threatened species such as the pygmy rabbit. We also hear of the negatives to our landscape such as fire, invasive plants and degraded watersheds and riparian areas. In actuality there are many positive projects taking place that need to be highlighted and this tour did just that,” states Ron Torell, President of Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

A number of the collaborative livestock management projects viewed over the two day tour focused on improving riparian areas and uplands on both public and private lands in Northeastern Nevada. Some of these projects such as the Maggie Creek Complex have been in place for more than 25 years. Tour participants were able to compare several before photos to present visual points of reference that clearly showed fascinating habitat restoration results over time.

The positive changes realized in these allotments have taken place through improved cattle grazing management rather than through an exclusion of grazing or through a reduction in cattle numbers. All visited projects share a common vision of restoring healthy functional streams as well as stable, Participants of the two day cooperative tour are well-vegetated uplands. In many pictured with restoration work on the Maggie cases, success has been achieved Creek Complex in the background. Photo in- through partnerships developed cludes representatives from Nevada Cattlemen’s among the ranching industry, the Association & Ranch permittees, Bureau of Bureau of Land Management, the Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Natu- U.S. Forest Service, the Natural ral Resources Conservation Service, Nevada Resources Conservation Service, Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Nevada Department of Wildlife, Service, mining industry, Nevada Department the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, of Agriculture, Trout Unlimited and the Nevada the mining industry, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Department of Agriculture and conservation organizations such as Trout Unlimited and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Representatives from most of these cooperating agencies as well as allotment permittees and private lands owners were participants on the tour (see accompanying photo).t Many of these projects along with an open discussion about habitat restoration will be highlighted during the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Annual convention to be held in Winnemucca on November 12 - 14. We invite the public and interested parties to participate in this event. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association office is located in rooms 208 and 209 of the Henderson Bank Building. The office can be reached by phone at 775-738-9214, e-mail nca@nevadabeef.org or by face-to-face office visit each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 3

Integrity and Beef Quality Assurance

Ron Torell, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association President Joe Glascock, NCA BQA Committee Chairman and Coordinator

I

ntegrity is “doing the right thing even when no one is watching”. Is it any wonder that those individuals with integrity are generally highly motivated, self-disciplined with good time management and organizational skills. People with integrity are usually the most productive and successful in their chosen field? These people have the heart and passion for what they do. They are usually self-starters who know how to prioritize and multi-task in order to get the job done. These are the people we search out to do business with and are satisfied with a hand shake to seal the deal. They can be counted on in every situation. They are dependable and good to their word. In every walk of life and profession there are those who have integrity and those who don’t.

Do you pass the integrity test? When shipping do you try to slip recently treated sick calves or a half Holstein all black animal in on the contract? How about feeding salt meal to your sale calves the night before so animals will fill up on water? The livestock industry prides itself in honesty and integrity. As an industry do we live up to these high moral standards? Consider the two scenarios below. What would your decision be?

Scenario one: You have three market ready (cull) cows that need to go to the sale yard, not a trailer load, just enough to be in the way around the ranch. Your neighbor is going to town and offers to haul these cows the 200 plus miles to the auction yard.

The problem is you treated one of the cows last week for foot rot and used LA-200, a long acting antibiotic with a 30 day withdrawal period. You always treat at above labeled recommendations figuring that if a little is good, a lot is better. To complicate matters, you cannot seem to remember which black cow you treated. There is no more sign of foot rot so why not send all three market ready cows to market?

Scenario two: How about forward contracting for fall delivery, a set of “all natural” spring-born steer calves? You barely have a truckload, however, if all goes well, you can honor the contract. You received a premium as “all natural”, signed on the dotted line, and received a large deposit. In mid-summer you had a foot rot, pink eye and pneumonia outbreak. You ended up treating twenty percent of the calves with a long-acting antibiotic. Based on your signed contract, your truckload of calves is reduced to 80 percent after you remove the treated calves from the mix. The market has since dropped by 20 percent of what it was when you sold the truck load. There are 90 days between when you treated these calves and when you ship. What do you do? Who and how will they know?

For the moment let’s forget the integrity issue and examine testing procedures at the harvest plant. Random testing is used at USDA inspected plants. Additionally, any animal originating from a list of producers who are on the residue violators list is tested.

Any red flag cattle are automatically tested. These include carcasses with inflamed or discolored lungs or other organs, fresh injection sites and unthrifty looking animals. Good inspectors get so they can anticipate animals that may have been recently treated. The needles and the product do leave their mark under the skin or in the muscle for quite some time. If a carcass looks suspicious it is side-railed and a quick test is performed at the plant. If the quick test is positive, the tissue is sent forward and an in-depth test is run that can detect residues at finer levels. Producers that get caught with positive animals are “punished” economically by the packer. This encourages them and others to better observe the withdrawal times.

Testing is also done at breaker plants, after the harvest plant and prior to retail.

For example, one gondola of hamburger may represent muscle tissue from over 250 animals. Once ground and mixed, one hamburger will represent this same number of cows identified to that gondola. A sample is tested from all these gondolas for ecoli and drug residues. If violations are found the entire batch must be disposed of.

The gondola is traced back to the plant of harvest and if the plant kept good records, they can trace it back to the owners of cattle that went into that harvest mix. You can imagine the economic loss to all segments of the industry because of one violation.

The short answer to all of this is that as producers we have to recognize that we are not just producing cows or critters but are producing a meat product for someone’s table.

We have to assure that the product meets the standards established, not just what we might get away with. Also, those market ready cows don’t all go to hamburger. Many 4 September/October 2015

of their cuts end up at the cheaper “steak houses” and at the sandwich shops with sliced roasts, etc. That is another critical reason for avoiding muscle injections even in cows.

The moral of the story is, do your part! Read and follow labeled directions and live up to the industry standards of integrity and honesty. Resist the temptation to take short cuts. Tell your neighbor you will have to wait on all three sale cows for thirty days. Contact your buyer and tell him about your dilemma with filling the contract with “natural” calves.

Every producer that is Beef Quality Assurance certified has agreed to follow drug withdrawal times on all antibiotics. Does your signature live up to the integrity and honesty of industry standards? After all we are to a large degree on the honor system.

Through this monthly column our hope is to update those involved in the Nevada Livestock industry about the issues NCA is working on for our mission continues to be to promote, preserve and protect a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry.

Should you like to visit with NCA staff or officers in person feel free to contact NCA at 775-738-9214 or my NCA e-mail address ncapresident@nevadabeef.org

Become Nevada Beef Quality Assurance Certified Joe Glascock, NCA BQA Committee Chairman and Coordinator

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ow-calf producers are the very first link in the production chain. You can take the first step in producing a wholesome and safe product by becoming Nevada BQA certified. By implementing BQA practices on your ranch you have made a commitment to the industry goals of providing a safe and wholesome product to today’s consumer. BQA certification is voluntary and easy. The incentive is the personal satisfaction that you, as a beef producer, are doing everything in your power to produce a wholesome product. By becoming certified, you are increasing consumer confidence in your product: “Beef.” By increasing consumer confidence through your actions you will in turn increase demand for beef.

You have the opportunity to become BQA certified during the 2015 NCA annual convention on November 14, 9:00 a.m. at the Winnemucca Convention Center. Zoetis animal health will be conducting a one hour BQA training at which time you will have the opportunity to take the open book NCA BQA test and become certified. You may also become Nevada Beef Quality Assurance certified by visiting the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association web site http://www.nevadacattlemen.org Click on the membership button then on the NCA policy/committee button. Nevada Beef Quality Assurance manuals as well as the printable test with certification instructions is easily accessible. You may also contact the NCA office at 775-738-9214 or nca@ nevadabeef.org and request a hard copy study manual and test.

COWBOY LOGIC

“Don’t go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”

The Progressive Rancher

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Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 80th Joint Annual Convention

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By Kaley Sproul

he Nevada Cattlemen’s Association is eager to announce this year’s convention. The 80th Annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show will be held November 12-14, 2015 at the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca, NV. At convention members of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, vendors that provide services to the beef cattle industry and guest speakers will join together to celebrate the Nevada Livestock Industry. NCA staff and officers are working hard to provide you with a memorable antd educational experience. This year’s theme is “Habitat Restoration”. Come to convention and learn more about successful Habitat Restoration projects presented by BLM, USFWS, NRCS, Permittees etc.

Registration for convention will be on our website and will also be sent out by mail and email near the end of September. If you are interested in attending and would like more information please call the office at 1-775-738-9214 or email nca@nevadabeef.org.

The forms for sponsorship and exhibit booths have already been sent out. The exhibit spaces are filling up fast for this year’s trade show. If you did not receive this form and want one please contact us, we Susie Spring, Blue Basin Allotment 8-13-15. would be happy to send one NCA officers and agency personnel on a recent to you. The Nevada Cattle- range tour of successful habitat restoration men’s Association would like projects. Come see and hear more at convention. to thank the sponsors and exhibitors; they help make our event a success.

During convention committee meetings take place to set policies. This is a chance for you to provide input to a committee chairman on any changes to a policy or a new policy that affects our industry and way of life. By participating it is a great way to get involved and have your voice be heard in the policy-making process.

On November 12, the first day of convention those not wishing to participate in committee meetings have the opportunity to sharpen their book keeping skills with QuickBooks. Cassi Johnson with Pacific Intermountain Mortgage will offer a free class from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees are recommended to bring their own laptops.

To encourage new membership NCA will provide a one-day waived registration fee to any Young Cattlemen between the ages of 18 and 35 attending convention for the first time on November 13. You also have the opportunity to become BQA certified during the 2015 NCA annual convention on November 14, 9:00 a.m. at the Winnemucca Convention Center. Zoetis animal health will be conducting a one hour BQA training at which time you will have the opportunity to take the open book NCA BQA test and become certified.

To see a tentative schedule of convention, please look online at our website. We are constantly updating it. We look forward to seeing you all at convention!

Kaley Sproul NCA Executive Director

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 5

TALKING ABOUT NCBA Joe Guild, 6th Region Vice President

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he policy business of NCBA is accomplished for the most part at the annual summer conference which is usually held in Denver, Colorado. Committees meet and discuss potential policy positions which if passed by the Board of Directors will guide the paid staff of NCBA as they attempt to persuade decision makers affecting the cattle industry around the country and in Washington D.C. This is truly a from the ground up, grass roots process which gives any producer out in the country the ability to affect the policies of the organization.

Three very important things happened at this year’s conference which will ultimately impact most producers in the country. The Board of Directors approved a new Long Range Plan, agreed with the Dues Increase Task force that NCBA’s dues needed to be increased and heard a report from the Executive Committee about the process to find a new CEO for NCBA because of the resignation of former CEO Forrest Roberts.

The long range plan was created after sixteen leaders from all sectors of the cattle industry met for more than a year to deliberate and create a series of guideposts to help the industry progress and meet the challenges for the next five years. The Plan’s strategic objective is to increase beef demand by two percent annually over the next five years. The task force identified four areas of inf luence they thought would be the main factors in achieving the goal of increasing demand for the product you produce. These are: 1) Drive growth in beef exports; 2) Grow consumer trust in beef and beef production; 3) Protect and enhance the business and political climate for beef; 4) Promote and strengthen beef ’s value proposition.

Some of these strategies are self- evident but I would like to point out the details of the last one. What does beef ’s value proposition mean to the rancher out in the country? This really boils down to making sure the consumer knows about the benefits the production of beef brings to each person. Beef is nutritious and healthful; it is produced in an environmentally sustainable fashion. It is safe, affordable, abundant and produced with the health, welfare and well-being of the animal foremost in mind. The average person knows nothing about the realities of producing animals for food. In fact, much of what they do know is misinformation and mischaracterizations by people who report what they think are the facts about animal agriculture but which, in the end, are not the truth.

Given this, it is up to the beef industry to communicate the truth and inform our consumers so they can be assured the product they are buying and consuming has values and benefits for them. More details about this Long Range Plan and the work of the task force can be seen by going to beefusa.org and linking to “beef industry long range plan”.

As many of you probably already know, NCBA’s Board of Directors also voted unanimously to increase the dues of the association. Two options were approved for state affiliate organizations to choose. States could impose a 50% increase effective October 1st, 2015 or a 25% increase starting October 1st, 2015 and a25% increase effective October 1st, 2017.

This is an across the board recommendation. Thus, all sized operations would be asked to increase their dues by 50%. The old “fair share” structure for extra dues would be eliminated.

The Revenue Task Force also recommended any revenue enhancement attributed to these increases should be expended according to priorities set by the task force and approved by the board. The highest priority is to fully fund the NCBA government relations efforts in Washington D.C. including opening up more international market access. Second, fund the non-government relations needs to open up international markets. And third, continue to add resources to beef industry sustainability efforts including reaching out to old and new customers to tell the good story about raising and eating beef.

6 September/October 2015

These actions are proof that NCBA is a pro-active organization devoted to fulfilling its mission on behalf of its membership and indeed all beef producers in America. The mission is very simply, “A beef community dedicated to growing beef demand by producing and marketing the safest, healthiest, most delicious beef that satisfies the desires of an increasing global population while responsibly managing our livestock and natural resources.”

I challenge any cattle raiser in the country to disagree with this mission statement. I also challenge any non-member of NCBA who reads this to join the association or send me a good reason why you do not belong. Strength and power come from numbers and common purpose. That is why NCBA needs to continue to grow so we may all prosper.

As mentioned above, the other important business at the last meeting was planning for the choosing of a successor to Forest Roberts, the resigned CEO of NCBA. The Executive Committee is reviewing the job description and association’s expectations of the kind of CEO desired as this is being written. The next task will be the appointment of a search committee consisting of people from all sectors of the industry. This group will not be comprised of the current officers of NCBA. The committee will make recommendations after a sixty day nation-wide request for applications period is over. The officers will then choose the new CEO. The search committee make up will be subject to nominations from the grass roots. Thus, I would welcome any thoughts any members might have as to who would be a good addition to membership on that committee.

There is never a lack of activity or issues to deal with in an organization representing an industry of this size and diversity, so I welcome any input you might think is relevant. I’ll see you soon

Garcia Bits & Spurs ’t be re-gifted!

The gift that won Bit #122 $475 NV. Sales tax 6.85% S&H $12

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Spur #273 $475 NV. Sales tax 6.85% S&H $12

500 Commercial St. Elko, NV 89801 Phone: (775) 738-5816 Fax: (775) 738-8980

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Silver Legacy

Sale

W

e had a barn burner of a sale at the Silver Legacy in Reno, July 13-15 with an offering of nearly 100,000 head. Yearlings were slightly lower than the 2014 record-high market, but almost all still brought more than $2 per pound. The Fall delivery calf market was even higher than 2014. Many of these calves were $10-$15 cents a pound higher than last year. A large percentage of these outstanding consignments originated from the Great Basin area.

This sale has become a premier event for the cattle industry in this region. More than 500 consignors, buyers, advertisers and friends showed up for the sale as well as the dinner, party and fundraiser that was held Monday evening. The outpouring of support is truly heartwarming. Thank you!

All of us at Western Video Market wish all of our buyers and consignors the best with their purchases and deliveries. For more information about marketing with Western Video Market, please visit www.wvmcattle. com or contact 530-347-3793.

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 7 

Central & Northeastern

Nevada 4-H Camp

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he first 4-H Camp was held in 1930; 85 years later, the tradition still carries strong. Lyon County 4-H joined Churchill, Mineral, Esmerelda, Nye, White Pine and Elko Counties at the 2015 Central Nevada 4-H Camp, located in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

This year’s camp theme was “4-Hers Dance to Their Own Beat,” and the campers took center stage as they gained leadership skills through the various workshops provided.

The week-long summer program not only included crafts and games, but also included leadership workshops that focus on character, teamwork, stewardship and communication. One unique workshop on music writing had the kids creating their own lyrics by writing about the experience they all had in common: 4-H camp. Major themes written into

2015

ship and life skills to nearly 50,000 Nevada youth ages 5 to 19 each year, through activities such as practicing robotics and raising animals, with an emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

2015 4-H camp group photo

For information on our state’s 4-H camps, please visit: www.unce.unr.edu/4H/programs/camps/.

The 4-H year starts in October, and we want you to join us. There are clubs to meet a variety of interests. If you would like to volunteer or know a youth who would like to learn by doing, contact your local Cooperative Extension office.

Michael Connell serves in the Nevada Army

LawnSpur performing as 4-Hers danced to the beat

the songs included the awesome food, fun with friends and “goin’ polarbearin’” (jumping in icy Lake Tahoe early in the morning). Lawnspur, an indie/punk rock band, performed for the kids that evening. Wednesday activities focused on learning about the United States, with activities teaching the campers about flag respect and handling, a bagpipe demonstration and a visit from U.S. Marines from Pickle Meadows.

All 4-H programming focuses on a learnby-doing approach, where youth actively engage in hands-on learning. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Education Program teaches leadership, citizen 8 September/October 2015

National Guard in domestic operations for emergency response to Nevada. Mike has served in the military for over 27 years with tours in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He also has worked part time as a farrier since 1993 and recently completed a bachelor’s degree in animal science K-State. For hobbies, Mike plays bagpipes, builds spurs, braids rawhide and teaches technical large animal rescue to Nevada first responders. He enjoys teaching and demonstrating his hobbies to groups like the 4-H. The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 9 

By Joseph Guild

S

trange juxtapositions can appear out of nowhere from the seemingly most unlikely places. Imagine millions of pastoral sheep and yak herders being moved off ranges used for thousands of years because Chinese social engineers and politicians fear the possible unrest these marginal citizens could cause. Then think about the agendas of the many groups who seek to remove all livestock grazing from America’s public lands because they think they know better than the families who have grazed these lands for over a hundred years and you have the makings of a very interesting comparative story.

The New York Times recently ran a story about the Chinese policy to move millions of pastoralists from their traditional grazing lands in the western provinces of that country to crowded concrete block neighborhoods in cities and suburbs. The former herders are given milk cows or small plots of land to farm or promised jobs in factories and mines that are not always there after the move from their ancestral homes.

The stated reason is these traditional grazing lands, consisting of about 40% of China’s land mass, are being destroyed by grazing animals. Dig a little deeper however, and one finds that these independent marginal ethnic groups of herders since the communist revolution in mid- twentieth century have been feared by the communist leadership. Given this mindset, the official policy for the last 60 years has been to do away with this range livestock way of life and economy in China. The article said the last million or so herders are about completely off the western Chinese ranges and now the government has to deal with the poverty, alcoholism and unemployment which is the result of the displacement policy.

The program is given the euphemistic name “Ecological Relocation” to be able to use reclamation of the region’s grasslands as the rationale for this massive Stalin-like social program. Recently, there has been some criticism, or what counts as criticism in tightly government controlled China, about this policy from social scientists and environmental scientists. For example Li Wenjun, a professor of environmental management at Peking University has said traditional grazing practices benefit the rangelands.

She said, “We argue that a system of food production such as the nomadic pastoralism that was sustainable for centuries using very little water is the best choice” [of systems to minimize water scarcity and quality].

So, here is how I see it. The Chinese Government, using the subterfuge of protecting the environment in the face of contrary evidence, is relocating an entire culture thousands of years old to the cities as a way to more closely keep an eye on folks who could give the politicians some heartburn in their attempt to control every aspect and sector of their society.

At the outset I will say the following relative to the American sheep industry is not exactly comparable to the above Chinese scenario. Nevertheless, the timing and the juxtaposition sure do invite comment and comparison.

Coincidental with this writing I attended a meeting in Reno called by Congressman Mark Amodei to discuss the guest sheep worker program administered by the US Department of Labor better known as the H2A program. Many readers, I am sure are familiar with this program and have even used it to hire workers to do jobs most Americans are either un-qualified to do or, if qualified, would not do. Fortunately, for the US sheep industry the program exists because if it did not the domestic range sheep industry would not last much longer. As in much of agriculture there is a labor shortage but it is more critical in the range livestock industry in general, and particularly true in the range sheep business.

The program is under the jurisdiction of the Wage and Hour Division of the US 10 September/October 2015

Department of labor. To say the program is confusing is being generous. These guest worker programs were instituted by Congress with the foundation principle to protect American workers. In other words, in the case of the range sheep industry, if the ranch advertises the job and does not have any American worker applicants who are ready, willing and able to do the work, only then can they hire a foreign worker to come to the United States for three years to do the job. If 50% or less of the contracted time has not elapsed and an American worker shows up at the ranch to do the job, the ranch has to send the foreign worker back to their home country and hire the native worker. By the way, this happens about as often as the Chicago Cubs win the World Series five years in a row.

Most of the sheepherders hired under the program come from Peru or Chile.

The workers make five times what they could earn in their home country and US sheep ranchers have a proven work force willing and capable of doing the hard work it requires to raise sheep on the western ranges. But, the program is complicated, cumbersome, convoluted and a cynic would say, designed to make it more rather than less difficult to raise sheep in large numbers on our public range lands. Remember the vast majority of these lands are only suitable for producing forage for herbivores.

Sticking with the sheep theme, there is also a controversy in the west between land management agencies and fish and wildlife agencies and sheep producers. The government agencies seem to be racing to see who can make it so difficult to raise sheep that ranchers will just throw up their hands, toss their sheep hooks into the nearest creek and walk away from a proven economically and environmentally sound use of public ranges.

This is the so-called conflict between domestic and wild bighorn sheep. The protectors of the big horns claim domestic sheep spread disease and destruction among the wild bands and these potential conflicts could endanger the big horns to the point of extinction. There is no credible scientific evidence to suggest that domestic sheep have this kind of impact on the wild bands. In fact, the US Agricultural Research Service has done some research which suggests there is no negative impact. This research is being ignored by the relevant agencies to the detriment of sheep ranchers.

In spite of this conflicting evidence, these agencies seem hell bent on restricting the domestic range sheep industry to the point it could no longer be viable to stay in the sheep business. And, to my mind this is where the juxtaposition between what is happening tto pastoral livestock raising in China and what is happening in this country is so fascinating.

Again, I am not suggesting there is a direct comparison. However, it is obvious there is a governmental agenda in China. Here, the agendas are not as transparent, but nonetheless they are evident from the actions and statements of groups who want to eliminate livestock grazing on the public lands. I would also allege these outside groups with the agendas have their sympathizers within some of these government agencies in our country. If anyone disagrees with me show me evidence to the contrary.

The difference between the two countries is obvious. It is not very safe to be a dissident in a country like China. Here, we have the freedom to fight our government and others who wish to destroy a way of life. I get to say exactly how I feel about these issues and you get to choose to read my opinion or not and write your own if you would like.

What I do not like is someone with no knowledge of my business telling me how to operate it. I also cannot figure out how these range livestock geniuses who want to do away with a perfectly good use of land that is otherwise not so useful suggest how the planet is going to support 9 or 10 billion people and their protein needs without the use of these rangelands by livestock. I’ll see you soon.

The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 11 

Change is in the Air

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f you’ve been waiting and wondering when the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) are going to improve, change, create more value for members, well the wait is up. I recently attended the ANCW summer meeting in Denver, CO and it was a meeting for the record books! This was my first time attending an ANCW summer meeting and I had a lot to learn about the methods and types of business conducted and in general how the summer meetings are organized. Once I got the hang of it, I had to hold onto my chair, because at times the ride was a little wild. ANCW is currently in a phase of rebranding, rebuilding, and restructuring. For starters, we have a new Executive Director in Kathyrn (Katie) Carruth, and with new leadership comes plenty of change. I’m quite excited about several of the changes ANCW is going through and I’m optimistic about what ANCW will look like as an organization when some of the biggest changes have come to fruition.

Let me get started in describing some of these proposed changes. I say proposed changes, because the executive board will be asking the membership to vote on the biggest proposed changes before anything becomes official. Some of the big proposals are to change the name and logo of the organization to remove the redundancy in the title of the organization. Start thinking about it now; would you like to be the American CattleWomen (ACW)? Start weighing the pros and cons of a name change in your local groups so that when it comes time to vote, you’ll be ready. Other big proposals are related to membership dues and during our regional caucus we discussed ways that our states can reach out to members that are 90 days past due on their dues.

Some of the new changes are not really voting items, but will make a big difference for members.

One of the great new changes is that ANCW is now contracting with the National Livestock Producers Association for them to keep track of our membership. They have already sent out the first overdue notices to state presidents and are keeping very close tabs, in addition to providing reporting information for all members and dues information. Secondly, a new website is being developed to totally replace the old website. The release date for the new site is tentatively the end of September. ANCW would appreciate family photos, photos of ranches and family stories to include on 12 September/October 2015

By Tracy Shane NV Cattlewoman’s President the webpage. There will be a membersonly portion that the general public won’t see, but it looks like things will be much easier to find and the site will be easier to navigate than the old one. Planned for the membersonly site will be a searchable member database, so that we can find the contact info for the member we’re trying to get in touch with! How handy! A committee is currently hard ANCW members touring the JBS packing plant in Greeley, CO. at work to roll out some new member benefits, including but not lim- cility, both in Greeley, CO. The staff handled the tours in a very professional manner and ited to retailer and restaurant discounts.

The National Beef Ambassador program is go- were very helpful in answering questions. The ing to undergo a major overhaul over the next six tour really started the whole summer meeting months. This program is no longer funded into off right and provided a valuable professional the future through the Beef Checkoff, so a com- development opportunity for our members. plete change is necessary. It looks as if the pro- Please mark your calendars for the next Region gram will focus on collegiate members more in the 6 meeting, which will be in Las Cruces, NM future, and be more of a training and mentoring April 29-May 1, 2016. Until the next time, have program for collegiate men and women. There are a great rest of your summer and I hope you enjoy more conference calls scheduled, so I’ll keep you all the upcoming fair activities with your family posted when the new program has been designed and friends. and scheduled.

As for now, our Nevada Beef Ambassador, Bailey Kelton of YeringYou are invited to You are invited to ton, will still compete COWBOY CHURCH! COWBOY CHURCH! in September 2015 in 1st Saturday of every month 3rd Saturday of every month Denver to be part of Standish, CA @ 6:00 p.m.

Lovelock, NV @ 7:00 p.m. the final National Beef Hwy. 395 /A3 — Standish 4-H Hall 1035 Cornell Ave. — Old Variety Store Ambassador team.

Lastly, I’d like to Are you having a Rodeo or Livestock event? Give us a call. thank JBS, Inc. and We would love to come to your event or ranch and host Cowboy Church for you.

Barbara Jacques for their work in putting on the tour of the JBS Tom J. Gonzalez | Diana J. Gonzalez, Pastor beef packing facility 3767 Keyes Way (775) 867-3100 Fallon, NV 89406 threecrossls@cccomm.net Cell (775) 426-1107 and the JBS Fiver R ivers Cattle Feeding fa-

Harmony Ranch Ministry

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Running for the Brand

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or the third year in a row, 12 lovely ladies and 24 pairs of feet ran 184-miles in a little over 31 hours to complete the Ruby Mountain Relay Race. This year’s race was held July 31-Aug 1st, during some of the warmest, driest weather of the summer. Reports of 103 degrees occurred during Friday afternoon creating a brutal force for runners to battle against, and making staying hydrated and staving off heat exhaustion difficult if not impossible for most runners. However, by working together, the team succeeded in winning the female division of the race for the second year. The ladies running on the team not only trained in the heat for many weeks leading up to the race, but also managed to juggle their summer responsibilities including irrigating, haying, roping, branding, helping 4-H kids get animals ready for fair, full-time jobs, caring for sick family, and nursing babies with running and staying in shape for the race.

This year the I Love Beef team expanded their efforts to get the word out to the roughly 500 runners and volunteers that beef can be a healthy part of a runner’s diet. The group (which includes several CattleWomen members), partnered with Elko County CattleWomen and Nevada CattleWomen who sponsored eight ounce bags of jerky for each van, holding six runners each. The labels on the jerky reminded runners of the importance of high quality protein for

By Tracy Shane NV Cattlewoman’s President

recovery after endurance exercise and listed the jerky sponsors. The team was also quite blessed to be able to work with the Nevada Junior Beef Ambassador, Kerstin Christiansen of Winnemucca. Kerstin came up to the race and set up an awesome display at one of the main exchange points on Friday. She made up a chart with the amount of protein and cost per serving of numerous types of recovery foods and drinks and compared them with beef jerky. Her display included jerky samples, beef brochures, Nevada Beef Council bumper stickers, beef nutrition information, and “I Love Beef” stickers and tattoos. Next year, we’re considering adding a tri-tip sampling station! Kerstin did a great job with the display and reached many people with her materials. Last, but not least, the Nevada Beef Council provided “Confident Cooking with Beef” brochures for each runner’s and volunteer’s SWAG (stuff we all get) bag.

Another new outreach effort the I Love Beef team took on this year was to “Run for the Brand” in support of the Northern Nevada Autism Network (NNAN) - the race charity. Ranchers around the Ruby Mountain Relay course and beyond were asked to help

the team in raising money for NNAN. For a donation of five dollars, the team put the brand of the ranch with the ranch or family name on both of the team vans using magnets. The brands looked beautiful and we think all the support from the community helped our runners move a little faster! The team was also given financial support or donated supplies from other generous companies and individuals, including Ruby Mountain Spring Water, Pole Line Contractors, Dr. Lind, Wines Peak Construction, and N.A. Degerstrom, Inc. We can’t thank our sponsors enough as race costs reach into the thousands of dollars each year for the team to participate in the relay. The race is about getting fit, spending time with amazing women, and promoting beef to a wide variety of health-conscious people of all ages. Overall it was a great experience!

Nevada Junior Beef Ambassador Kerstin Christiansen of Winnemucca gave runners jerky samples and passed out beef brochures, while talking to runners about their nutrition plans for the race.

Members of the team from left top row, Katie Dean, Salli McDermott, Kati Benson, Tracy Shane, Natalie Crooks, Ashley Wines, Kathi Wines, Kristi Tomera, Melissa Vise. Bottom row: Team Volunteer Stacie Richins and runners Lydia Herzog and Jerri Oppenshaw. www.progressiverancher.com

Ranches donated to the Northern Nevada Autism Network and their brand was proudly displayed on both vans.

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 13

FUMES FROM THE FARM

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By Hank Vogler

ntil you get slapped in the face by a Department of value in the sheep operation. If you make the standards so high and the Labor audit, you have no idea how far removed our owner goes broke, no one gets a job, foreign or domestic. Not sure that country is from agriculture. Every year the state of concept f lies at the labor department.

Nevada tests my water, checks my camps and basically A fine can be levied for not having a lid on a garbage can. So, where does a look around of how I am getting along with do you find a mule that will pack a f loppy, noisy, bulky garbage can my Peruvian and Chilean sheepherders/ livestock workers. Now, without someone getting his head kicked off ? Ten bucks the camp tenfor some reason the Department of labor has decided that they also der puts the garbage in a sack and uses the garbage can for his bedroll. need to look up my address!!!!! They said they were from the wage If you interpret the rules tight enough, the herder would only herd sheep and hour division. It was more like the department of redundancy and all corral work would then need another crew of men to work the sheep before returning them to the herder. A platoon of men would have department.

Sheepherding is a horrible job. You are isolated. You must get tired to switch around to feed the bucks, hospital and muttons, and another enough in the day that you can sleep at night without hearing your group would feed the bulls and the steers and cow infirmary and the heart beat. Your most profound conversations will be with your horse horses and mules used in the sheep to the exclusion of the cow ponies. and dogs. The camp tender and the trapper will come by on occasion Gets wild quickly doesn’t it?

After going to Reno to attend the sit down with the department but mostly you will be left to fend for yourself. The only solace in the job will be the beauty you will see in the mountains and deserts that of labor, thanks to Congressman Amodei, I am under staffed here on you occupy. If you are that special breed of person then you will do fine. the need more. I need a law yer, a bookkeeper, an accountant, a safety Now comes the department of labor. No matter what they are there director, a cadre of drivers with medical cards and CDL equivalent licenses, and no doubt a psychiatrist to analyze for it upsets the whole routine of everyone. They why I didn’t become a dentist or something. I scheduled four days with me. I guess after a couR EGUL ATIONS UPON ple of days on the need more sheep company; it am not sure old banker Tufernal could tuck all R EGULTIONS make us less competiwas all they could stand. All the men were interthese folks into the old budget. This could all tive in the global market. We compete viewed in private. Later I find out that the lovely be taken care of by ten dollar a pound lambs against countries that have no predaand talented Jaime Pena told the interviewer to and wool. tors, no herder expenses, fewer rules and hurry, as we had to take all the groceries back This brings us full circle to why all the regulations that are burdensome, and to the store!!!!!!! Ha Ha!!!!! What a comedian. small businesses are going out. R EGUL Agovernments that still respect agriculture.

TIONS UPON R EGUL ATIONS makes us less Chapo told the lady interviewer that we could competitive in the global market. We compete use a couple cooks and they were sure welcome against countries that have no predators, no to apply for the work. After hearing this, I told Chapo that he was worth four million dollars in Mexico. The pickups herder expenses, fewer rules and regulations that are burdensome, and were checked and the camps were checked. All these things were already governments that still respect agriculture. It is still puzzling to me that driving the cost of producing food always hurts the poor first, yet our done by the state.

The truth is since the fifties it has been nearly impossible to get politicians always claim to be advocates for the poor. If you add the Americans to work in the sheep. A sheep owner has a better chance of be- burden of onerous rules and regulation with little merit in the environing hit by a meteorite than finding a domestic sheepherder. There is no mental movement, you have a perfect storm to hurt the poor. such thing as an average sheepherder, they are either great or not worth The one bright light is Congressman Mark Amodei, he stepped up to having around. Basque herders were brought in; next came Spanish, Pe- calm the waters with the department of labor. He was a great help and ruvian, Chilean, Bolivian, and Mongolian just to name a few. Each one even though we are a very small industry, he was more that willing to of these groups had the incentive to take this job, as employment of any step up. If you get a chance thank him for being so kind as to the needs kind in there own country was difficult at best and the exchange rate of our industries here in Nevada. Remember a business that goes broke of the money, made them very highly paid. One day Percy Orihuela and by being over regulated hires very few people. Is that simple enough for I figured that he made more than a doctor did in Peru. The standards you????????????? we put on this program are based on American ideals and have little Hang and Rattle, Hank Vogler

14 September/October 2015

The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 15 

NNevada Farm Bureau evada Farm Bureau

Nevada Farm Bureau response to Basin and Range Monument designation

By Jessica Fagundes, Nevada Farm Bureau Director of Communications

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he Nevada Farm Bureau Federation (NVFB) issued the following statement today from NVFB President Hank Combs, regarding the announcement of the Basin and Range Monument designation.

“Nevada Farm Bureau is disappointed with the decision of President Obama to designate the 704,000 acre Basin and Range Monument as a national monument. Local government officials and stakeholders have worked persistently to protect and preserve the land and its natural resources in Lincoln and Nye County for generations. This designation will make those preservation efforts more difficult and will negatively affect local ranchers who diligently conserve the land while feeding our growing population.

“Nevada Farm Bureau policy calls for the collaboration of livestock production, agriculture advocacy and other impacted groups to coordinate strategy on Nevada federal land issues. This decision eliminated local input of those individuals who are directly affected by the designation and who possess the expertise to make decisions about lands in Nevada.”

Northern Nevada high school graduate awarded Dave Fulstone II Scholarship

By Jessica Fagundes, Nevada Farm Bureau Director of Communications

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PARKS, NV — The Dave Fulstone II Scholarship committee announced today the awarding of the 2015 Dave Fulstone II Scholarship to Josy Wortman. Wortman is a recent northern Nevada high school graduate who is active in the agriculture community.

The Dave Fulstone II Scholarship is awarded each year in honor of David Fulstone II. Fulstone was a past president of the Nevada Farm Bureau. He dedicated his life to the well-being of Nevada agriculture and was passionate in his support of a sustainable agriculture industry in Nevada. He never feared tackling the tough issues or facing strong opponents in defense of the agriculture industry and producers.

The scholarship committee provided financial assistance to Wortman because she exemplified those characteristics that Fulstone possessed.

Wortman is a recent graduate of Smith Valley High School. During high school, she was an active member of the FFA (formely known as Future Farmers of America), student council, rodeo team and basketball, volleyball and softball teams. Wortman plans to obtain her associate’s degree at Lassen Community College in agriculture education and then to transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno to obtain her bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. She wants to work as an agriculture teacher after graduation to help influence the younger generations as they learn about agricultural matters.

The Dave Fulstone II Scholarship is awarded to students graduating from accredited high schools in Nevada who plan to further their education in a course of study pertaining to agriculture. Successful applicants are students who best portray

By Jessica Fagundes, Nevada Farm Bureau Director of Communications PARKS, NV — The Nevada Heritage Foundation announced today the ability to be successful in their post secondary education and exhibit the potential that Leandra Marshall, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biolo- to give back to the agriculture industry by completing their studies.

The scholarship is paid for by generous donations to the scholarship account gy and chemistry, will receive a $1,000 agriculture scholarship this fall. managed by the Nevada Heritage Foundation. The Nevada Heritage Foundation is The foundation awarded Marshall the 2015 Continuing Education the non-profit associated with the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation through which Scholarship. Marshall is originally from Eureka, Nev. She athtends Westindividuals can donate to scholarships and programs such as Ag in the Classroom. mont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. Marshall plans to become a researcher in the For more information about the scholarship recipient and the Nevada Heritage field of plant pathology/immunology. She wants to work in the industrialized agriFoundation, visit nvfb.org/heritage-foundation. cultural industry to bioengineer a cost-effective and marketable strain of a crop plant.

“We are excited to assist Marshall as she pursues a degree and future profession in agriculture. We strive to promote agriculture, and supporting students is one of the best ways to reach this goal,” said Nevada Heritage Foundation President Jill Combs.

Each year, the scholarship is awarded to students currently enrolled in either traditional or non-traditional post-secondary programs. Students must be from a Farm Bureau member family and preference is given to students pursuing career goals in agriculture or the agri-business industry.

The scholarship is paid for by generous donations to the Nevada Heritage Foundation from COUNTRY Financial and individual donors. The Nevada Heritage Foundation is the non-profit associated with the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation through which individuals can donate to scholarships and programs such as Ag in the Classroom and the Young Farmers & Ranchers. Interested individuals can send donations to the Nevada Nevada native Leandra Marshall received the 2015 continuing Heritage Foundation at 2165 Green Vista Drive, education scholarship as she pursues a degree in agriculture.

Suite 205, Sparks, Nev. 89431 or online at http:// nvfb.org/donate.

Northern Nevada high school graduate

Heritage Foundation awards Nevada student with continuing education scholarship

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16 September/October 2015

Josy Wortman received the 2015 Dave Fulstone II Scholarship.

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WILDERNESS ACT What is “Wilderness”?

Wilderness is a legal designation designed to provide long-term protection and conservation of Federal public lands. Wilderness is defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964 as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain…Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.”

What was the basis of the Wilderness idea?

The wilderness idea — protection of the Nation’s most pristine undeveloped lands — was born in the United States. Early supporters of a wilderness system saw a fundamental need to sustain the unique American character shaped by our national encounter with the wild frontier. In 1925, conservatiionist Aldo Leopold first promoted a “definite national policy advocating a system of wilderness involving the National Parks and National Forests.” In a memo to Secretary Ickes in 1934, Bob Marshall, another 20th-century Wilderness advocate, suggested the need for protecting wilderness areas by law. After World War II, rapid development threatened the integrity of the remaining undeveloped tracts of public land. Based on early experiences in wilderness protection, conservationists looked for stronger ways to permanently protect wilderness and drafted the first wilderness bill in 1945.

What is the Wilderness Act of 1964?

The Wilderness Act of 1964 is the general legal authority for Congress to designate and for agencies to manage wilderness.

What did The Wilderness Act do?

The Wilderness Act did a variety of things including:

1 Established a national policy to preserve wilderness.

2 Established a definition of wilderness.

3 Established a National Wilderness Preservation System.

4 Designated the first 9.1 million acres of legally protected wilderness.

5 Established a single, consistent wilderness management direction.

6 Mandated a wilderness review process.

7 Asserted the exclusive power of the Congress to designate wilderness areas.

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Since Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1964, over 130 individual wilderness bills have designated more than 680 Wilderness Areas. These areas total over 106 million acres in 44 States. Of this acreage, more than 57 million acres are in Alaska and over 49 million in the coterminous United States and Hawaii. This represents about 2.5 percent of the land in the lower 48 states. To place this acreage in context, the Department of Agriculture estimates that there are approximately 110 million acres of intensively developed land in the coterminous United States (nearly 6 percent).

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT - WILDERNESS For how much Wilderness is the Bureau of Land Management responsible?

The BLM manages 221 Wilderness Areas with 8.7 million acres. These areas are located in all the Western States except Wyoming, Hawaii, and Alaska.

What uses occur in BLM-managed wilderness?

The uses of wilderness include protection of air and watersheds; maintenance of soil and water quality, ecological stability, plant and animal gene pools, protection of archaeological and historical sites, habitat for wildlife; and livestock grazing. Wilderness provides opportunities for outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Wilderness also provides for the exercise of valid existing rights such as water rights, mining claims, mineral leases, and rights-of-way.

No. Wilderness management is essentially the same from agency to agency, though each agency has its own specific laws and policies for resource management. All agencies respond to the same congressional direction from the Wilderness Act. Differences include the National Park Service prohibiting grazing in its Wilderness Areas, but this is because national parks normally do not allow these activities.

Are motor vehicles allowed in wilderness?

No. The Wilderness Act generally prohibits the use of motor vehicles in wilderness.

The law contains special provisions for motor vehicle use when required in emergencies or as necessary for the administration of the area. Motor vehicles may also be permitted for special uses such as access to a private inholding, to support grazing, or to exercise valid existing rights.

What are some of the other uses that occur in wilderness?

The Wilderness Act states that wilderness areas are established “to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition.” Today, wilderness is designated for a variety of benefits, including clean water and air, habitat for rare plants and animals as well as primitive recreation.

How is wilderness designated?

How much wilderness has been designated by Congress?

Does BLM manage wilderness differently from other agencies?

THE WILDERNESS ACT

Why are wilderness areas designated?

The Wilderness Act asserted the exclusive power of the Congress to designate Wilderness. Congress can also un-designate a Wilderness Area or change the boundaries of a Wilderness Area.

Air quality designations - The majority of BLM Wilderness Areas allow some degradation of air quality associated with moderate industrial and population growth. The Clean Air Act allows states to require that Wilderness Areas meet a more stringent air-quality standard using normal State processes.

Cultural and paleontological resources – Inventories, studies, and research that involve surface examination or limited subsurface sampling may be allowed. Salvage of archaeological and paleontological sites; stabilization, reconstruction, and restoration of historic structures; and excavations may also be permitted.

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 17

SAGE GROUSE INITITIVE Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching

Department of Defense Dedicates $2 Million to Protect Sage Grouse in Nevada

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he Department of Defense announced more than $2 million in funding from the Military Services’ Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program to protect prime greater sage-grouse habitat near Reno, Nevada.

This award will leverage an additional $2 million in partner funding to protect 7 square miles of the sagebrush ecosystem around the Fallon Range Training Complex’s naval training airspace. The money will fund projects on private and public land including conifer removal, wetland restoration, fencing improvement, sustainable grazing techniques, and conservation easements.

Partners include the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Naval Air Station Fallon, the Nevada Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, the Nevada Conservation Districts Program, the Bureau of Land Management, and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The project area in the Fallon Range Training Complex in Nevada includes large areas of prime sagebrush habitat The project area in the Fallon Range Training Complex in Nevada includes prime sagebrush habitat Several interested landowners within the Complex’s Military Influence Area are willing to participate in easements, projects, and research in the core and prior- Smith Creek Ranch is one of many private ity areas of the greater sage-grouse ranches located within the REPI Challenge habitat. The project partners hope project area to replicate the success of the Bi-State sage grouse efforts.

With the REPI funding, the project partners will work with landowners and land management agencies to remove threats and enhance sagebrush habitat. Potential projects in the include conifer removal, wetland restoration, fencing improvement, sustainable grazing techniques, and conservation easement protection.

This project in Nevada is part of the REPI program‘s unique cost-sharing partnerships with state and local governments and private conservation organizations to preserve compatible land uses around military installations and to conserve natural landscapes in support of military readiness. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will make its decision next month on whether to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. If a species is listed with habitat contained in military operating areas, it can introduce significant new encroachment restrictions for military installations. This sage lands conservation project will prevent the future encroachment of the Fallon Range Training Complex by: proactively reducing habitat loss and fragmentation via purchase of conservation easements restoring prime habitat area conducting research and monitoring to guide future conservation efforts 18 September/October 2015

News Report Sage Grouse Populations On the Rise

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reat news came this week in a report released by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies: the population of the greater sagegrouse has grown by nearly two-thirds since 2013.

The report was prepared to provide scientific information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in advance of the upcoming Endangered Species Act listing decision on greater sage-grouse, which is expected to be made by the end of September. The population trends were determined from surveys of leks (traditional spring mating grounds) compiled from databases in 11 western states.

Lek counts date back 50 years, with information collected by state wildlife agencies, partner groups, and hundreds of volunteers. The new report analyzes this wealth of data, but does not attempt to explain the causes of sage grouse population fluctuations.

4.4M graphicAccording to Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies sage grouse coordinator San Stiver, 85,674 male sage grouse were counted on 3,559 leks this spring, up from 49,397 males counted in 2013. The report also shows that sage grouse populations vary greatly over time.

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative works proactively to conserve sage grouse and the working rangelands that provide their habitat. Our recently released report summarizes the accomplishments achieved since 2010, and highlights the people and partners who have joined together to conserve more than 6,000 square miles of habitat.

“Through collaboration, our goal is to help ensure a bright future for sage grouse and the 350 other wildlife species that call this range their home, while ensuring the nation’s working lands remain productive,” said Tim Griffiths, who helps coordinate SGI’s efforts through the NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife partnership

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In the Mind of a Millennial

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By Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council

ver the last year or so, I’ve shared some key research on the Millennial generation that has been gathered through the consumer research efforts of the Beef Checkoff Program. Thanks to your checkoff investment, we have amassed a great deal of information about the purchasing preferences, social concerns, views of beef production, and other issues pertinent to our industry. All of this helps the industry as a whole make important decisions about where to focus checkoff resources to ensure continued growth in demand for your product.

What I haven’t gone into a lot of detail on thus far is how this information not only helps us on the industry side, but how it’s used to help our retail and foodservice partners who sell your product, too.

For example, in addition to partnering with Nevada retailers on specific promotions designed to increase beef sales locally, did you know that the NBC and Beef Checkoff also work to offer retail partners opportunities to learn more about effective ways to market and sell beef at the grocery store level?

As just one example of this, the NBC recently joined National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) staff for a gathering of over 250 meat case managers, store managers and corporate leaders from Save Mart Supermarkets. The attendees were from the retailers’ more than 100 Northern Nevada and Northern California store locations, and came together for a strategy session and roll-out of the retailer’s new Angus 43 beef line.

The program featured an in-depth presentation from Laura Hinton, Strategic Account Manager from the NCBA, that focused on the value that beef brings to their business, total cart ring, and value of targeted Millennial consumers shopping in their stores. Together with Hinton, the NBC’s Christie Van Egmond also offered beef checkoff retail resources to the grocery store and meat case managers in attendance.

As a result of this meeting, checkoff were asked by Save Mart’s Senior Director of Customer Experience to participate in a regional meeting in August to help raise the level of understanding regarding beef, beef marketing and Millennial consumer preferences for grocery store managers.

“It’s important that the NBC and Beef Checkoff are seen as valuable partners and resources for retailers throughout the state,” said Christie Van Egmond, Director of Retail and Foodservice Marketing for the NBC. “Thanks to your checkoff investment over the years, we as an industry have amassed valuable research and information about consumer preferences, effective beef merchandising strategies, and shopping habits. It only makes sense we work together to share these resources and help our retail partners successfully market beef to their shoppers.”

As another example on a national level, the Beef Checkoff was highlighted at the National Restaurant Association’s (NR A) 2015 Show, which hosted 65,000 attendees. Along with a variety of other presentations and discussions surrounding beef, one of the checkoff ’s roles during the show was sharing the latest foodservice market intelligence showing the value of beef to foodservice, as well as consumer market research that shows strong demand among Millennials for beef.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the specific findings shared with beef marketers to help them better sell your product when it comes to Millennial consumers.

Based on research conducted by the Beef Checkoff: • Transparency is important. 78 percent of consumers say it’s very or extremely important for grocery stores and restaurants to provide information about the way the food they sell was grown or raised. Only 2 percent of consumers don’t find it important at all.

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For Millennials in particular, top concerns include inhumane animal treatment, food borne illnesses, and hormone use.

As a whole, consumers generally think positively about beef production. Sixty-five percent of Americans agree that the positives of beef outweigh the negatives.

Millennials will not go out of their way to find out about beef production – it’s up to us to bring information to them.

A high-level overview resonates most with Millennials – avoid going into too much detail on a specific topic.

• • • •

Top Millennial concerns regarding beef: •

Foodborne illnesses

•

Hormone use

• • • •

Inhumane treatment of animals Use of chemicals at slaughter facilities GMOs

Antibiotic use

We strive to share the research and resources made available thanks to your Beef Checkoff. We hope to help our partners address questions

consumers, particularly the Millennials, may have about beef production.

With the customers’ desire for transparency and a better understanding of where food comes from, we aim to arm our retail and foodservice part-

ners with information that can help them better respond to their needs.

Offerings provided by your Beef Checkoff to key retail and foodservice partners:

Promoting Beef Demand • Fabrication techniques • Menu development • Menuing strategies • Culinary innovation • Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. resources Insightful Market Research • Market research & intelligence • Product development and new cuts • Nutrition research • Safety research Jill Scofield is Director of • Sustainability assessments Producer Relations for the Nevada and California Beef • Product quality research Councils. You can reach her Industry Information at jill@calbeef.org.

• Industry education, training and tools • Issues and crisis management • Beef production education and engagement

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September/October 2015 19

CHECKOFF NEWS: Looking Ahead, Planning for Our Future

By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations

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or the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) and other Qualified State Beef Councils throughout the country, drawing inspiration and guidance from efforts being done on a national level helps ensure we are all operating on the same page when it comes to accomplishing the goal of increasing beef demand.

That’s why it’s so important for all of us to review and understand planning efforts done on a national level. Recently, at the 2015 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, leaders of the Beef Checkoff Program adopted the 2016-2020 Beef Industry Long Range Plan (LRP). The plan, developed by a task force made up of 16 representatives from various segments of the beef industry, was created after months of careful consideration and research.

The LRP identifies increasing beef demand as the single most important strategic objective for the industry to pursue, and established the specific objective to “increase the beef demand index measure by 2 percent annually over the next five years.” To achieve this, focus will be on four core strategies:

1. Drive growth in beef exports 2. Protect and enhance the business and political climate for beef 3. Grow consumer trust in beef and beef production 4. Promote and strengthen beef ’s value proposition “The overall vision of the task force was straightforward,” said John Butler, CEO of Beef Marketing Group and task force co-chairman. “Recognizing the growing demand among the world’s middle class for high-quality protein, we want the U.S. beef industry to responsibly produce the most trusted and preferred protein in the world. At this pivotal point in the U.S. beef industry’s history we need to focus our energies and limited resources on those areas that can provide our industry the best results.”

Closer to home, the LRP meshes well with the long-range priorities the NBC established last fall. With a mission of “engaging Nevada beef producers and stakeholders with consumer outreach and education to increase beef demand,” the NBC established priorities that focus on convenience, health and nutrition, beef ’s image, and a focus on high population areas and inf luencers with the consumer target of millennials.

All of these efforts, both on a state and national level, are done with producer guidance, and to ensure your checkoff dollars are invested in the most effective manner possible, helping to strengthen your return on investment.

A Seasonal Tradition: Tailgating with the Nevada Wolf Pack For the past few football seasons, the NBC has had a strong presence at a number of Nevada Wolf Pack home football games, tailgating before the games with 92.1The Wolf and chatting with fans about beef. This year will be no different.

The NBC will once again partner with The Wolf for several Nevada home games. If you happen to be at any of these, come say hello and watch us in action as we share great beef recipes and cooking information with fellow tailgaters!

Game Day with the NBC • • • • • •

Sept. 3 (vs. UC Davis) Sept. 12 (vs. University of Arizona) Oct. 3 (vs. UNLV) Oct. 10 (vs. University of New Mexico) Oct. 24 (vs. University of Hawai’i) Nov. 14 (vs. San Jose State)

The tailgating will coincide with another year of exciting fall campaigns with our partners Reser’s Fine Foods and Save Mart Supermarkets. A tailgatingthemed promotion that touches on one of America’s favorite past times and offers coupon incentives for shoppers to purchase beef is already underway.

From August 19 through September 22, Save Mart customers in Northern Nevada who purchase a select package of beef and a Reser’s 3-pound potato or macaroni deli salad can save $3. An extensive radio broadcast and social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter will focus on football season, tailgating, football parties at home, and how easy it is to be a game-day hero by feeding everyone beef and Reser’s.

The promotion will also entice people to engage with the NBC’s Facebook page where they can enter to win a tailgate prize package that includes a portable propane gas grill, a Reser’s rolling cooler and stadium seat, “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” gear such as barbecue tools, an apron and a cutting board, and more.

By featuring a social media element in this contest, the NBC hopes to expand its digital reach, which will help increase the number of consumers it can engage with to share the Nevada beef community’s story moving forward.

An upcoming promotion with Raley’s Supermarkets and Crock-Pot SlowCookers slated for October 14 through November 3 will also coincide with this year’s UNR tailgating fun.

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

20 September/October 2015

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Beef, Mango and Barley Salad

The calendar is heading toward Fall, but the summer heat sure can linger. If you’re ready to cool things off a bit, try adding leftover Tri-Tip or steak to a cool summer salad.

Making a salad with leftovers can cut your next family meal cook time in half.

Plus, I’m a big fan of the motto “cook once, dine twice.” And this particular dish isn’t your ordinary salad. It has barley, which is a whole grain, making it unique compared to an ordinary lettuce salad. Whole grains are a great way to feel full from the fiber and help prevent heart disease. The mango and bell peppers provide plenty of Vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system strong. And as you probably already know, the leftover steak is providing 10 essential nutrients of deliciousness. Cool off and enjoy!

Ingredients Makes 6 to 8 servings 1 beef Tri-Tip Roast (1-1/2 to 2 pounds) - or leftovers from last night’s Tri-Tip! 2 medium red bell peppers, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/3 cup lime juice 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika 2 medium mangoes, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1/3 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 4 large Boston lettuce leaves (optional)

Instructions •

Heat oven to 425°F. Place bell peppers on metal baking sheet; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

•

Press 1 teaspoon paprika evenly onto all surfaces of beef roast. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 425°F oven 30 to 40 minutes for medium rare; 40 to 50 minutes for medium doneness. Roast bell peppers in oven with beef about 30 minutes or until tender. Set peppers aside to cool.

•

Remove roast when instant-read thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 20-25 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.)

•

Meanwhile, cook barley according to package directions. Set aside to cool slightly.

•

Cut beef into 1/2 inch pieces; season with salt and black pepper. Whisk lime juice, oil and 1/2

•

teaspoon paprika in small bowl until blended. Toss with beef, barley, roasted peppers, mangoes, green onions and cilantro in large bowl. Serve in Boston lettuce leaves, if desired.

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September/October 2015 21

NEWS West Nile Virus positive mosquito pool in Pershing County

by Rebecca Allured

(RENO, Nev.) – The Nevada Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) Animal Disease and Food Safety Laboratory reports a West Nile Virus positive mosquito pool in Pershing County. The mosquitos were collected south of Rye Patch Dam at the end of July.

To date, the lab has tested more than 2,400 mosquito pools statewide. West Nile Virus positive pools were previously identified in Washoe County (1) and Clark Co (65). Mosquitos infected with Saint Louis Encephalitis Virus were also identified in Clark County.

The statewide mosquito surveillance program is based on the work of vector control agencies in Washoe, Clark, Churchill, Douglas and Lyon Counties. Surveillance in rural counties is conducted through the State Entomologist’s office at the NDA. “All samples are submitted to us for testing for three endemic arbo-viral diseases, West Nile Virus, Saint Louis Encephalitis Virus and Western Equine Encephalitis Virus,” Dr. Anette Rink, DVM and Laboratory Supervisor at the NDA, said. “All of these viruses can cause severe disease and death in humans, so we take all virus testing in our lab very seriously.”

West Nile Virus has been endemic in Nevada since 2004. Mosquito season is expected to end with the first killing frost in October. However, while the current temperatures persist, all Nevada residents should take precautions such as eliminating mosquito-breeding sites around houses and barns, use insect repellents and keep horses vaccinated against West Nile Virus other equine viruses.

Nevada Farm Bureau response to Basin and Range Monument designation

by Jessica Fagundes The Nevada Farm Bureau Federation (NVFB) issued the following statement today from NVFB President Hank Combs, regarding the announcement of the Basin and Range Monument designation.

“Nevada Farm Bureau is disappointed with the decision of President Obama to designate the 704,000 acre Basin and Range Monument as a national monument. Local government officials and stakeholders have worked persistently to protect and preserve the land and its natural resources in Lincoln and Nye County for generations. This designation will make those preservation efforts more difficult and will negatively affect local ranchers who diligently conserve the land while feeding our growing population.

“Nevada Farm Bureau policy calls for the collaboration of livestock production, agriculture advocacy and other impacted groups to coordinate strategy on Nevada federal land issues. This decision eliminated local input of those individuals who are directly affected by the designation and who possess the expertise to make decisions about lands in Nevada.

22 September/October 2015

Western Governors respond as record-breaking wildfires burn through Forest Service budget, consume sage-grouse habitat Record-breaking wildfires continue to rage across the West, destroying homes, forcing evacuations, and exhausting federal firefighting budgets.

The Soda Fire in Idaho is by far the largest wildfire currently burning in the U.S. and has consumed 283,000 acres. The majority of the scorched acreage has been key sage-grouse habitat.

The latest report places total burn damage across the West at a record-breaking 7.1 million acres so far this season. The unprecedented size of this season’s wildfires is, in part, a product of the extreme drought in the region. Though the number of fires seen this season is roughly 80 percent of average at this time of year over the past decade, total acres burned is almost 45 percent higher than normal. Last week the National Fire Preparedness Level was raised to its highest point, PL-5, for the first time since 2013.

The U.S. Forest Service is spending $100 million a week on the fires, a pace that will burn through its annual budget by next month. Once that budget is exceeded, federal land management agencies will be forced to transfer funds from other programs, such as hazardous fuel reduction and restoration projects, to pay for wildfire suppression.

Western Governors repeatedly have reached out to Congress in support of efforts to end this so-called “fire-borrowing” practice. See past Western Governors’ outreach here.

As the wildfires continue to burn through the region, reactions from Western Governors have been swift: • Washington Gov. Jay Inslee requested a federal Emergency Declaration to secure additional wildfire resources following dangerous wildfires that killed three firefighters.

• Oregon Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act and activated the Oregon National Guard in response to wildfires that have consumed homes and forced evacuations.

• Montana Gov. Steve Bullock declared a fire emergency to bolster firefighting resources.

• California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency to help mobilize additional firefighting and disaster response resources.

• Learn more about this wildfire season in our previous update.

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Wells FFA

By Deseret Johnson, Wells FFA Chapter Reporter

A

s the 2015/2016 school year approaches, the new officers of the Wells FFA Chapter are excited for the experiences and challenges of a new year! The new officers were installed at the Chapter Banquet on May 5, after a selection process that included a written application and an interview before a nominating committee comprised of representatives from each grade at the high school.

This year’s Sentinel is Zalie Peters. Zalie, a first-time officer, is going to be a junior this fall. Deseret Johnson, upcoming senior and former Chapter President, will be Reporter.

Ben Ballard and Liberty Johnson are both first-time officers and sophomores. They fill the Treasurer and

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Secretary positions. Chelsea James, the newly elected Vice President is a senior. She served the Chapter as Historian last year. Finally, DeMar Gale, former Chapter Treasurer and upcoming senior, will be the Chapter President. Their Advisor, Mr. Don Noorda said, “I am really excited about this year’s officer team. They are going to do well.”

The officer team has already started the year off strong. On July 23, the Wells FFA Chapter picked up trash along the Angel Lake Road as part of their ongoing Adopt-A-Highway service project. On August 11, they participated in an officer retreat in Idaho where went white water rafting.

On their retreat they came together as a team and planned the upcoming year for the Wells FFA.

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September/October 2015 23

Grazing Management for Fine Fuels & Annual Grass Ranges The Importance of Seed Germination in Rangeland Research

By Dan N Harmon and Charlie D Clements

H

uman fascination with germination dates back thousands of years when agriculture was developed. The Egyptians viewed germination as a form of resurrection as the plant came back to life. Many bible scriptures reference the miraculous potential of a geminating seed.

At its most basic definition germination is the active growth of an embryo. In modern times the study of germination can focus on many aspects of this complex physiological process. In the field of rangeland research and management this seemingly small biological activity is at the heart of successful management. From weed suppression to fire rehabilitation seeding, understanding germination is key.

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS)/ Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Wildland Seed Laboratory, located in Reno, NV, has been studying seed germination for the past 40 years. The wildland seed laboratory has collected, processed, and quantified germination characteristics of hundreds of native and introduced rangeland plant populations. The research laboratory uses multiple large incubators to test seed germination at multiple temperatures representative of Great Basin seedbed temperatures. By mimicking the day and night fluctuations of seasonal temperature regimes we are able to determine optimal germination temperatures and seasons for a particular species. For each standardized test 5,500 seeds are used. Moving seeds in germination petri dishes from warm to colder incubators during the day and night allows us to test 55 separate constant and fluctuating 24 hour temperature regimes. For example, one set of seeds may be in 8 hours at 68F during the day and then 16 hours

Figure 1. The USDA/ARS/Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit Wildlands Seed Laboratory houses 15 large incubators for germination tests. Germination is measured in 255 petri dishes weekly for each germination test for four weeks. The final data is presented in a germination profile providing the germination percent for 55 different day (warm) and night (cold) temperature regimes.

24 September/October 2015

at 41F for the night. By testing all 55 different temperature combinations from 32F to 104F (9F increments) we can provide a standardized germination temperature profile (Figure 1). Generally, successful plants often have a wider range of germination temperatures. However, to germinate is not always in a seeds best interest. Germinating at non-optimal times (i.e. cold or dry seasons) can lead to seedling death. Nature in its wondrous ways though has provided mechanisms for a seed to avoid such a fate. Seeds can maintain a state of dormancy where germination only occurs after environmental cues initiate it. The constantly evolving relationship between a seed and its environment makes the study of germination mysterious and ever-changing. There has probably been no species studied more for germination in the Great Basin 2 01 2 f ter t he a d e e s than cheatgrass. This exotic ss r n ia Che at g r a r t he a s ter n Ca li fo g .

2 e r u invasive annual weed has con- F ig no v in k F ire in is f a s t mo tributed to the loss of millions R u sh Cre e te r n Ne v a d a . T h s d e e es mo s t s of acres of habitat, by providing a nd nor t hw le d w ild f ire lef t t he r e t f ue for t s a f fine-textured early maturing fuels c he at g r a s s a k in g s e e d in g ef m that increase the chance, rate, sea- u n h a r me d t iv e . c fe f e son and spread of wildfires. This f ir e in fuel is coupled with its strong competitive inherent ability to limit the recruitment of native plants. Like many annual plants it has a “bet hedging” seed strategy where seeds can be non-dormant and germinate after the first rain or they can be dormant, where even with moisture, the seed will not germinate. Seed dormancy insures that there will be seed carried over in the soil to the next year or longer, and in the case of cheatgrass, can lead to 100s of seeds per square foot in the soil seed bank (Figure 2). We tested cheatgrass seed bank densities on more than 100 separate locations across the Great Basin in which cheatgrass seed bank densities ranged from 0 to 1,272/ft², and averaged 252 cheatgrass seeds/ft². The ability of cheatgrass to build persistent seed banks allows this species to “mine the site” until the right opportunity comes along to dominate the site. Seed dormancy also mitigates the risks of seedling death in highly variable environments that can go from warm to cold and wet to dry quickly. And as many of us in the arid Great Basin know, “If you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes or walk a mile and it will change”. Cheatgrass is a clever plant that has developed increased “bet hedging” (seed dormancy) in populations from “riskier” habitats. Populations from drier hotter environments, like salt deserts, show greater seed dormancy, quicker time to flowering, and greater seed production, than populations from less risky, wetter, and cooler environments. Some annual plants like Russian thistle and tumble mustard take advantage of highly variable weather events. These plants do not express seed dormancy and will germinate rapidly after any summer rain. A fence buried in Russian thistle in the fall is often the result of this event, and an unfortunate common occurrence in the Great Basin. Even though summer months are hot and dry it is an advantage for poor competitors like Russian thistle and tumble mustard to germinate after summer rains, because most strong competing winter annuals like cheatgrass have completed their life cycle by this time. Unlike annuals, most native perennial grasses do not rely on seedling establishment every year nor do they build seed banks that persist for multiple years. However, like most things in nature there are exceptions to the rule. Indian ricegrass, a native perennial bunchgrass, has the inherent

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ability to produce a variety of phenotypic seeds from big and brown, to small and naked with no covering. The naked seeds are not dormant, but the dark brown seeds are strongly dormant in order to maintain a seed bank. In favorable years the dormant seeds can break dormancy, germinate and provide a flush of new seedlings. Many hard seeded native shrubs will exhibit strong seed dormancy and maintain seed banks too, unlike the small seeded sagebrush which has minimal seed banks. This makes sagebrush seeding efforts critical to restore plant populations after a fire. Sagebrush seedlings have a modified root with a barbed tip to anchor the small seedling to the soil (Figure 3). It is important to avoid seeding big sagebrush on top of snow, because it often does not allow the radicle to anchor to the soil. Good seed and soil contact is crucial for germination and seedling development. There are mechanisms that can decrease seed dormancy such as stratification, where seeds germinate after being exposed to cool moist conditions. From a plants standpoint, this insures seeds will germinate during cool wetter months. For example, antelope bitterbrush, an important shrub species, sets seed in July. We actively seed this species in September and October, and our research has shown that the vast majority of this seed is germinated by mid-December even though seedling emergence is not until early March. This is important information to know as many antelope bitterbrush land management seedings do not take place until late December to early March. Late winter/early spring seedings are insufficient for stratification requirements. Seeding efforts should occur in the fall prior to the onset of winter to allow adequate time for seeds to stratify in the soil, break dormancy and germinate.

Seeding later into winter/spring (Dec – Feb) often does not achieve this. Germination has important plant material development implications F ig u re 3. G er too.

When selecting plants m r a d ic l e i (embr y n at i n g bi g s a g for rangeland rehabilitation on ic r o a nc hor ot). T h e br u sh s e e d w th eh it h seeding, it is desirable for a p e ne t r a e s e e d l i n g to t he s oi l a i r s s e r v e to te t he s plant to exhibit cold germinaoi l to u pt a k e m s u r f a c e a nd tion to ensure early root develoi s t u r e . opment. Successful rehabilita-

Some seeds, often mustards, can produce a mucilage layer that promotes water uptake. The sticky mucilage can also aid in dispersal by sticking to animals or other objects (Figure 4). Seed hairs and root radicle modifications can also improve moisture retention, surface soil attachment and wind dispersal. Some seed dispersal appendages, such as the hairs on winterfat seed, make rehabilitation seeding efforts very difficult because the seed cannot readily pass through seed drills. Applying the knowledge of the physical seed and germination properties can improve management efforts in order to preserve a sustainable rangeland resource.

George Washington said “bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved”. This statement holds many truths for rangeland management. Poor seed choice and lack of understanding germination principles can lead to management failures in a time when rangelands are threatened more than ever. Making sound scientific decisions is the best way to preserve the natural rangeland a resource that is important to so y b d te la su ed encap shieldcress se inous layer. many. For to know the seed is Fig ure 4. A g mucilag y in b l rv se sa n er to know the future. p co dis moisture n a lso aid in ca e g la ci u m The Argicultural Research The stick y ima ls. an to ed se e Service, Great Basin Rangeadhering th lands Research Unit is currently working on an online germination data resource that will provide the germination profiles for all tests conducted by the lab. It can be found at www.ars.usda.gov/pwa/gbrr/seedlab

tion plants such as crested wheatgrass germinate at colder temperatures than native plants such as squirreltail, which are more difficult to establish. This earlier germination of crested wheatgrass results in 35x more root development than later germination species such as squirreltail, which is one of the reasons that crested wheatgrass experiences higher success in seeding efforts.

One of the most valuable tools for reducing cheatgrass densities, in an effort to more effectively manage plant communities, is the use of herbicides. Primarily, soil applied herbicides are used where all newly germinated seedlings will be killed over a one-year fallow period. This depletes the weed seed bank so that the following year desirable plants can be established with less competition from weeds. For the herbicide treatment to have an optimal effect it is necessary to have a high degree of germination during the herbicide activity period, which makes understanding and predicting germination important. Wildfires, if hot enough, can kill undesirable weed seed banks and provide rangeland seeding opportunities. Unfortunately, once a habitat has converted to cheatgrass dominance, the reoccurring fast moving wildfires are not hot enough to kill most cheatgrass seeds (Figure 2) and cheatgrass continues to dominate the site. A policy of resting these sites from grazing after fires without successful rehabilitation practices only further promotes cheatgrass. Immense unchecked seed production following such management decisions insures years of persistent cheatgrass seed banks.

Many physical properties of the seed can affect germination. Hard seed coats inhibit moisture uptake and require scarification, where the seed coat is partially broken to allow the seed to imbibe moisture.

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September/October 2015 25

BLM Nevada News - For the Rancher's File BLM Completes Yerington BLM Issues Decision Land Conveyance for Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth

By Lisa Ross arson City, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson Suppression Pilot Program

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City District, has completed the conveyance of public lands to the City of Yerington (City).

“The completion of the conveyance is an example of the effective coordination between the BLM and City of Yerington,” said Sierra Front Field Manager Leon Thomas.

On December 19, 2014, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 was signed into public law. Section 3009 titled the “Northern Nevada Land Conveyances” required the Carson City District to convey to the City approximately 10,055 acres of public lands. The Act also required the BLM to convey the lands to the City at fair market value and subject to valid existing rights. Today the Nevada State Office, BLM issued patents on 10,055 acres of public lands to the City.

For more information contact Brian Buttazoni, Project Manager at: 775-885-6000.

BLM to Begin the McGee Mountain Wild Burro Gather

W

By Terah Malsam

innemucca, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field Office will begin a Wild Burro water/bait trap gather on Monday, August 17, in the area of the McGee Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA). The gather site will be located in approximately 20 miles West of Denio, Nevada and will last approximately 30 days. The media/public tour is still scheduled for Tuesday, August 18.

The BLM will gather and remove approximately 125 wild burros from the private property in the McGee Mountain area. “Wild burros have moved onto the private property from the Herd Management Areas in search of forage and water,” said Acting Humboldt River Field Manager Aron King. “Due to the damage to private water sources the burros are causing, we are gathering and removing the burros from private property and public land.”

The gather area is comprised of 47,000 acres of both private and public lands.

Removing the excess wild burros will help prevent further damage to private property and water resources, as well as address overpopulation of wild burros in and around the McGee Mountain Herd Management Area.

A Wild Burro Gather Information Line has been established for this gather at (775) 861- 6700, option 2. A recorded message will be updated daily to provide the previous day’s information regarding daily gather numbers and weather observations at the gather site. The BLM will also post daily gather reports on its website at: http://on.doi. gov/1Jd8ahM. The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild burro gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors will use the best available science and handling practices for wild burros while meeting our overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with current BLM policy, standard operating procedures, and contract requirements. The BLM does not sell or send any burros to slaughter.

For more information contact Aron King, Acting Humboldt River Field Manager at 775- 623-1500 or at acking@blm.gov.

26 September/October 2015

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By Ben Noyes

LY -- The Bureau of Land Management, Ely District, Schell Field Office released a Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record based on the analysis provided in the final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program. Under the 10- year program, the BLM will gather and treat wild horse mares in the project area with a fertility control vaccine to reduce the herd’s population growth while minimizing the number of animals that need to be removed from the area.

The goal of the project is to maintain a healthy population of 25-30 wild horses in the Water Canyon portion of the Antelope Herd Management Area (HMA) in Eastern Nevada. The management number is based on range conditions, water availability and acreage comparisons, as well as seasonal movement of the animals during the summer and drier winter months. The current estimated population in the Water Canyon portion of the Antelope HMA is 66 wild horses.

Under the project plan, the BLM will start gathering the horses through a bait and water trap or with helicopter assistance in late September or early October and continue to gather until objectives are achieved in the project area. The BLM will treat up to 15 mares with a fertility-control vaccine GonaCon- B and release them back into the project area along with an equal number of male wild horses. The BLM will monitor the treated mares and apply a booster every 20-24 months to maintain the vaccine’s effectiveness. The BLM plans to remove 30-40 excess wild horses and offer them to the public for adoption through its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program.

The Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression final EA, Decision Record and Finding of No Significant Impacts can be accessed at http://on.doi.gov/1PKK0Jg. The BLM will release additional information regarding wild horse gather operations in the Water Canyon project area in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Ben Noyes, BLM Ely District wild horse and burro specialist, at (775) 289-1800.

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Most Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Rangeland Resource Commission What is the Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission?

The Nevada Legislature created the Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission (NRRC) in 1999 to advertise and distribute information and research about the uses and management of public rangeland resources and the livestock grazing industry. The Nevada Legislature mandated that the NRRC be funded by an annual assessment of ten cents an Animal Unit Month (AUM) on public rangelands.

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.

Who is the Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission?

The NRRC is governed by a nine member board. These members are nominated through each of the Grazing Boards, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, Nevada Woolgrowers and the Farm Bureau; then appointed by the Governor. The NRRC has one part-time staff person.

Why do I have to pay and then I can ask for a refund?

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.

The Commission under NRS 563.250 must invoice all permittees for their active AUMs annually and they must pay, however you are allowed to request a refund in writing for the amount paid on or before February 15th of that calendar year.

How is the money spent by the NRRC?

Each year the NRRC Commission meets in March to review all of the budget requests that have been submitted. The commission votes on the budget with the authority to research, advertise, make determinations, and take action to support and stabilize the livestock industry on grazing lands.

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

Where can I watch the “Stewards of the Rangelands” documentaries that NRRC has funded?

NRRC has worked with KNPB and Golden Productions for the last 6 years in producing a documentary on a different issue each time. They are each 60 minutes long and deliver a message which portrays the challenges of ranching in Nevada. The Stewards of the Rangeland documentary series can be watched on www.knpb.org or www.nevadarangelands.org .

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

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

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

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

4780 East Idaho Steet, Elko, NV 89801 • 775-738-4082

ProgressiveRancher.com www.progressiverancher.com

WWW.NEVADARANGELANDS.ORG

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

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 27

How Do We Effectively Manage Elk Numbers?

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he sagebrush is in full bloom, aspen leaves are changing from green to gold. Mornings are crisp and cool, calling for sweaters and wild rags, and back to shirt sleeves by lunch. Cows are coming home so calves can be weaned and shipped. Fall is in the air. Elk can be heard bugling in the early morning. Bulls are busy gathering their harems and jealously guarding them from other bulls as they go into their breeding season. Elk shade up during the long hot days, traveling to feeding areas at night or at the very end of shooting light when it is cooler. Hunters are out in full force, there is a pick up on every ridge glassing for elk, and a hunter on foot, hiking every draw. Everyone has their sights on that trophy bull.

Hunters are upset with agencies designed to manage elk for increasing the number of elk tags available each fall, claiming you can’t hunt the elk for all of the elk hunters. Meanwhile, cowboys and ranchers are fixing fences elk have run through, resorting cattle that have mixed due to down fences, and trying to keep elk out of hay stacks so they have winter feed for their livestock.

Elk numbers are very difficult to manage. They have no natural predators in northern Nevada and don’t winter kill. The current drought in the Great Basin isn’t helping decrease their numbers either. The most logical control method is hunting.

Unfortunately, the hunts currently in place for Area 6 (which includes Tuscarora), aren’t helping to decrease elk numbers.

Tuscarora rancher Sam Mori calls for a more aggressive approach to managing elk numbers, and advocates managing numbers before they get out of hand. “When you go to managing elk numbers, you need to be aggressive. The longer you wait to manage numbers, the less publically acceptable management will be.” When numbers get to where they currently are, you create congestion, elk move to other locations, but they come back. Mori states “The harder you hunt elk, the harder they are to hunt. They are a resilient species.”

Elk live in many of the western states. How do other states manage their numbers? Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming all have large elk herds. They also have harsh winters and wolves. Harsh winters and wolves do a lot to manage elk numbers.

Cowboy and stock contractor Jay Hoggan works for Wyoming State during the winter months feeding elk. “Feeding elk hay in the winter keeps them out of fences and out of ranchers hay stacks. When I first started here, the state sold trophy tags and about 500 cow tags a year. Now that wolves are once again protected, there are very few cow tags available.” The harsh winters, wolves, and tags help keep the numbers manageable. Idaho and Montana have hunts on wolves because they kill too many elk, sheep, deer, and livestock.

We don’t want wolves here to manage the exploding elk numbers. Aggressive hunting is the logical answer. Maybe we need to increase the number of tags released, and the length of the hunting season, and the size of the area the tag is for, and coordinate hunts to coincide with other states, so help decrease some of the elk herds that bounce back and forth between states. Hunters need to have every opportunity to fill tags, so that we can get the elk population to a manageable size.

Elk and cattle can coexist on our rangelands. Both State Agencies, ranchers, and hunters need to work together to resolve the elk issue in Tuscarora and all of Area 6. The only way to succeed is to work together.

By Jennifer Whiteley

Elk come in to eat with cows

28 September/October 2015

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

The Nevada Outdoor Experience for Youth

Elk Recipes Elk meat is a healthy food source for the health conscious. It is becoming more popular every year as it is very lean. Only 22% of the meat energy is derived from fat, compared to 35%-47% for lamb and 33% for beef. It is low in cholesterol, and the ratio of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids is higher than in conventional red meats. Elk has the best attributes of red meat.

Elk is light, lean, and tender. It is also rich in minerals, particularly iron and phosphorus which accounts for it’s rich, dark coloring.

More importantly, it is easy to prepare. You can substitute elk meat for beef in all of your favorite recipes.

Here are a couple of our favorites.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs Ingredients Meatballs: • 1 1/2 pounds ground Elk meat • 3/4 cup quick oats or old-fashioned oats that have been lightly pulsed in a blender • 2 eggs, slightly beaten • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion • 1/4 cup milk • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon pepper • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Sauce: • 1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar (depending on how sweet you want the sauce, I recommend the 1/4 cup) • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • Hot, cooked rice for serving Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. For the meatballs, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into about 12 meatballs (right around 2-inches each). Place in a lightly greased 9X13-inch pan.

3. For the sauce, whisk together the ingredients until well-combined.

4. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and bake for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened.

5. Serve over hot, cooked rice, if desired.

Mississippi Mud Roast • • • • •

3 lb elk roast 1 packet Ranch dressing mix 1 packet Au Jus mix 6 pepperoncini peppers 1 stick butter

In a 6-quart slow cooker, add all ingredients and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

www.progressiverancher.com

By Ryan Brock Ph.D.

Youth Education Coordinator for the Wild Sheep Foundation

N

evada is a precious and unique place. So much public land to behold for a variety of activities that it can make other states jealous. Yet, with so many wild places, we are also a very urbanized place. In fact, according to the 2010 Census, the urban population of Nevada numbered 94.2% of the total population. Many discussions of the consequences of having such an unbalance between rural and urban populations in our state, as well as our nation, could be had. I’d like to focus this particular conversation around three particular concepts: youth, urbanization, and hunting.

Youth today have much competing for their attention. There are the constants which have been around for a long time: sports, homework and study time, and of course hanging with their friends. New competitions have emerged over the past few decades: social media, video games, and simply being distanced more from the natural world. With 81% of our nation’s population living in urban areas (United Nations, 2014), our kids just simply don’t have the opportunity to explore and feel a connection with nature like in times past.

As we distance ourselves from rural surroundings, the fibers that have for millennia connected us the natural world slowly begin to dissolve. As this occurs, traditions such as hunting can fade away as well. This may not seem such a big deal for those who know little of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, but for healthy populations of wildlife to continue to thrive in Nevada and elsewhere, hunting too must exist.

This is where youth come into the scenario. As youth are dipping their toes into a variety of activities in elementary school through high school, testing out different interests they may take on as life-long hobbies, the shooting sports and hunting must be presented to them. For all too many, especially in urbanized areas, hunting is not something often introduced, and therefore, doesn’t even become a consideration later on in life.

This is where a vast array of youth events, focused on the shooting sports, conservation and hunting come into play. Often put on by a conservation group such as Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, or even the Wild Sheep Foundation, these events not only offer hands-on introduction to activities such as archery, trap, shooting a rifle, and wildlife conservation, but also stress the importance of firearm safety. Again, our nation has changed, and our youth, if not introduced to firearms in a positive way, only have the negative media they hear about firearms to determine their voice on such issues as they grow older.

One such event, which has gone above and beyond many such youth events, is the Nevada Outdoor Experience. Taking part in Carson City Nevada this past June marked the second year the Wild Sheep Foundation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have co-sponsored the event. The goal is simple, to excite and inspire the next generation of hunters, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Organizers reach out to all organizations involved in the outdoors to put on a “youth expo” in a sense to bring families out to try a variety of activities. This past year, twenty-size organizations came together. These included those such as: Ducks Unlimited, Backcountry Horsemen, US Forest Service, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, UNR Cooperative Extension, NV Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Nevada Outdoor School, 4H, Great Basin Herpetological Society, Nevada Trappers Association, Boy and Girl Scouts, Clear Creek Bowman, Wasting Arrows, Reno Prospecting and Detecting Club and many more. What made this event unique was that it had something for everyone. A family might have come out because of their interest in reptiles and then decide to try archery. Or, a family could have come out because an ad highlighted metal detecting caught their eye, but they found out that shooting trap was quite fun.

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 29

For each station a youth completed, a raffle ticket was earned. The more stations that were tried, the more chances of winning some of the $1000 in items donated by Sportsmen’s Warehouse. Even a live raffle for kids occurred where they used Kidz Bucks given in their goodie bags to bid. Parents were encouraged to try the activities as well, they just couldn’t partake in the prizes. After all, a kid can get excited about something, but if the parent isn’t on board it makes the execution of doing later on more difficult.

The entire event was free and included lunch. Stations could be repeated and families could hang out a few hours or the entire amount of time the event lasted.

Of those youth that attended the event:

22% had NEVER fished 21% had NEVER camped 27% had NEVER used a bow 31% had NO experience with firearms Why does this really matter? Those youth that attend youth events such as the annual Nevada Outdoor Experience walk away with positive experiences in outdoor activities that are important to many Nevadans. I personally saw two families after the event at Sportmen’s Warehouse in Carson City buying bow sets. This is just after one youth event. Think of what occurs as these families are invited back and partake in other similar events in the area. These events introduce many kids to activities they didn’t know existed or didn’t realize could be so fun.

Some of those kids will grow up, ones who didn’t have parents who hunted, and they may decide to get their hunter’s safety card and take on the passion of the shooting sports and hunting.

If trends in population continue as they have for the past four hundred years in North America, we will continue to become more urbanized. It is up to all of us to come together, no matter what organization you belong to and create opportunities for today’s youth to experience a variety of activities. In doing so, we may even be able to help reverse this nature deficit disorder that has crept into our urbanized lives.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/352).

30 September/October 2015

HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE FOREST CONTINUES PROTECTION WORK ON WARD MOUNTAIN

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NATIONAL WILDFIRE

By Erica Hupp

LY, Nevada; Aug. 13, 2015 - The Ely Ranger District on the HumboldtToiyabe National Forest is continuing to expand their vegetation treatments on Ward Mountain, near Ely, Nevada. The district will be conducting hazard fuels reduction with heavy equipment on 546 acres south of Iceplant Canyon from mid-August through the end of 2015.

“The goal of the Ward Mountain Restoration Project is to provide wildland fire protection to residents in and around Ward Mountain, and also continue the continuity between treatments performed by the Bureau of Land Management Ely District years ago on the lower parts of Ward Mountain,” said Martina Barnes, Ely District Ranger.

In the event of a catastrophic wildfire, the altered vegetation will provide a zone of protection for landowners, as well establish areas for fire suppression crews to work.

The work is being performed by heavy equipment specially designed to work in forested environments that mulch trees down to ground level.

Forest Service officials want to remind residents and public land users not to approach these machines as they perform their work, due to operator’s limited visibility and the force at which wood chips and debris are expelled. The U.S. Forest Service may also enact temporary road and trail closures in work areas to ensure additional public protection.

Other fuels reduction and wildlife habitat work is being performed on the west side of Ward Mountain by crews with chainsaws, as well as in other mountain ranges administered by the Ely Ranger District. The district first started implementing wildland urban interface projects on the northeast side of Ward Mountain in 2009.

If you have questions about fuels reduction work or would like to see a map of this project, please direct your inquiries to Ely Ranger District’s Fuels Specialists Carol Carlock or Jimmy Flanagan at 775-289-3031.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Allie Bear

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900+ acres, 300 AUMs, right by town. Original Sandstone House.

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Starr Valley Pasture Unique fenced 1,104 acres on Boulder Creek bordering U.S. Forest Service in Starr Valley, Nevada. Water-righted with nice meadows. $1,400,000

Howell Ranch Located in Elko County, nestled on the hillsides of the East Humboldts, north end of the Ruby Mtn. Range. Waterrighted meadows that produce 1200 average ton of hay a year. 4 homes with mature landscape. Multiple barns, shops, storages, chutes & corrals.

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10,000 Deeded Acres. Approx. 740 irrigated acres, Ranch Manager’s home & equipment yard. Log Cottage

View complete listings at:

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775-738-8535 Allie Bear, Broker/Realtor 775-777-6416 www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 31

Wildlife vs “Wild” Feral Horses

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By Becky Lisle

eminiscent of a spaghetti western, the tale of mustangs in the of bird conservation for Audubon Arizona, Tice Supplee, refers to the mustang West is all too often told with the thorses as underdogs engaged lobby’s Spanish-bloodline propaganda as “revisionist history promoted by horse in an epic battle with domestic stock grazing public lands. Pit- lovers to give mustangs historic status.” Williams once interviewed retired ting wild—or feral, depending upon whom you ask--horses 30-year BLM biologist, Erick Campbell, who offered his own definition of the against “greedy cattle barons” certainly garners sympathy and pure-mustang-blood platform: “pure, unadulterated BS.” What remains on the range today is what Williams refers to as “mondonations for horse advocacy groups, who are known in conservationist circles as the “horse mafia.” However, the typical spin conveniently omits grels—a genetic morass of breeds issuing mostly from recently escaped or discarded livestock.” Campbell stated, “We managed everything from workan elemental piece of the rangeland ecosystem puzzle: native wildlife.

In what has been referred to as a “wild horse apocalypse” looming over the horses to Shetland ponies. Your daughter’s horse gets old or she stops liking it. west, current on-range mustang populations are estimated to be 14,000 over So you turn it loose. Prior to World War II ranchers were basically managing established appropriate management levels (AML), according to the Bureau of these herds for sale to the Army. And to keep the quality up the Army would Land Management (BLM) figures. The true number of horses on the range will give the ranchers studs to release.” most likely never be known.

Semantics aside, the impact of the horses on native wildlife is undeniable.

In 2013, the National Academy of Sciences determined that the BLM does not utilize “scientifically valid methodologies to make their estimates, or make an actual, accurate inventory, errOne researcher compared blood samples from 975 free-roaming ing on the side of grossly undercounting horses.” This is not a horses in the Great Basin with samples from 16 domestic horse new or original finding. The same conclusion was reached by the breeds, and found no discernable differences, concluding that National Research Council in the early 1980s, and by the Govindeed the “wild” horses of the Great Basin originated from Ibeernment Accountability Office in 2008. Nevertheless, mustang rian, American saddle horse, and draft-horse breeds--hence the advocacy groups embrace the mantra that horses are being manscientific designation of the horses as feral and the consequent aged to extinction and are seeking protection for the animals as an stance of prominent wildlife and conservation groups toward them. endangered species.

Despite the multiple-use mandate for public lands, the number of cattle and sheep allowed on long-established grazing Of the “wild” horses, Campbell stated: “They’re worse than cows,” They do permits has been drastically reduced and in some cases eliminated due to the incredible damage. When the grass between the shrubs is gone a cow is out of West’s on-going drought. In one instance, cattle were completely removed luck, but a horse or burro will stomp that plant to death to get that one last while the mustang population remained at about 1200% of the AML. So what blade. When cows run out of forage the cowboys move them or take them does this mean for native wildlife? home, but horses and burros are out there all year. They’re not fenced; they Ted Williams is a longtime columnist for the renowned wildlife and con- can go anywhere. BLM exacerbates the problem by hauling water to them. servation magazine, Audubon. He received the National Wildlife Federation’s Instead of just letting them die, we keep them going. There are even horses in Conservation Achievement Award; he won the Federal Wildlife Officers Associa- Las Vegas, which is obscene. In the desert! The horse groups have tremendous tion Award; he was recognized by the Outdoor Writers Association with their power with Congress. They only care about horses; they couldn’t give a damn highest honor; and he was named Conservationist of the Year by the Coastal about all the wildlife that’s adversely affected.”

Conservation Association of New York. He contemptuously—and accurately— There is a great deal of difference between the interactions of horses refers to wild horses as “feral equids.” with native wildlife and the interactions of cattle and native wildlife.

Despite the determination of mustang advocacy groups to classify tthe Research suggests that the body size, speed, and strength of horses make horses as “wild and native” to further their cause, science supports Williams’ them socially dominant. In fact, the Nevada Department of Wildlife has terminology. Pre-historic horses did exist on the North American continent, received numerous complaints about feral horses running wildlife away before dying out completely and being absent for thousands of years until a much from water resources. further evolved equine was introduced by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. WilHorses’ digestive systems and movement patterns affect native wildlife liams stated: “The argument that equids are “native” to this continent because on a broader scale, as well. They are the only ungulate in North America their progenitors were present during the Pleistocene —a mantra from the wild- with solid hooves and meshing teeth. According to research, horses are one of horse lobby—makes as much sense as claiming that elephants are native because the least-selective grazers in North America, utilizing a larger range of plant woolly mammoths were here during the same period.” types and requiring 20 to 65% more forage than would a cow of comparable Further, researchers have found that descendants of the Spanish Andalusians size. Also, because of the shape of their heads, teeth, and lips, horses can only numbered in the hundreds and have long-since been removed. Director crop plants closer to the ground than cattle do, and impair plant recovery.

32 September/October 2015

The Progressive Rancher

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Horses utilize higher and steeper ground than cattle do, which directly competes with native deer and bighorn sheep. In Nevada’s Calico Complex ward movement of European Americans. Now we expect them to tolerate Herd Management Area, increasing numbers of horses have resulted in reduced our fragmentation of their ecosystem and the decimation of its plant life by numbers of bighorn sheep lambs. Horse gathers in the complex have been sup- a feral domestic animal. Sadly, we have become a culture that longs to make ported by wildlife groups such as the Sierra Club, which “recognizes that habitat decisions without information.” simplification, fragmentation, degradation, and elimination pose the greatest The 575,000 acre Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada was estabthreats to the continued well-being of healthy and diverse wildlife and plant lished in 1931 to preserve native wildlife, and is the largest remaining intact tract ecosystems and biodiversity.” The problem is so significantly affecting bighorn of the Great Basin ecosystem. It has endured great problems caused by “feral sheep that Nevada Bighorns Unlimited has joined the Nevada Association of equids” despite the past removal of over half the population. In the summer of Counties, Nevada Farm Bureau Federation, and Crawford Cattle in a lawsuit 2014, gathers began to eventually remove all feral horses and burros from the filed against the BLM by regarding the management of feral horses. refuge, with the goal being to have the area clean by 2017.

In an interview with Ted Williams, Nevada Department of Wildlife habiMegan Nagel is a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s tat bureau chief Dave Pulliam stated, “In desert country, seeps and springs Portland regional office. She stated, “The once-domestic feral horses and burare the most important habitats for a whole myriad of species…and they’re ros, which some people call wild horses and burros, cause significant damage to absolutely beat to mud holes. Riparian habitat has disappeared. Water tables the refuge’s fragile landscape. If feral horses and burros are not removed from have dropped. Horse use is excessive to the point of rendering this habitat Sheldon, the Service will be unable to restore and conserve habitat conditions for native, fish, wildlife and plants that depend on the refuge. Removing feral horses unavailable to wildlife.”

While the vast majority of feral horses and the associated issues are in and burros is critical to conserve and protect the native habitat and wildlife that Nevada, the problems are not limited to the Silver State, or to BLM managed, depend on the refuge.”

Nagel also said that studies indicate feral horses and burros have degraded publically “owned” horses.

The most recent wildlife surveys on the Yakama Indian Reservation in almost half of the streams and 80 percent of the refuge’s springs and other riparian areas, such as wet meadows, ephemeral Washington State, which has thousands of feral wetlands, and emergent marshes. horses, show vast swaths of land devoid of any “The horses are turning our riparian deer and elk; areas where they were plentiful Since feral horse populations increase areas and springs into mud holes…We have a decade ago. Yakama efforts at reintroducing by 20% every year, the environmental Lahontan cutthroats, a federally threatened native sage grouse and pronghorn have been and ecosystem damage on a growing species, and the horses silt up the creeks and stymied by the aggressive nature of feral horses, number of western Indian reservations cover up the spawning gravel. They eat the the lack of grasses and the total range degradais increasing in alarming numbers. tion caused by what is legitimately an invasive meadows down to dirt,“ said refuge manager, species. Since feral horse populations increase by Brian Day. 20% every year, the environmental and ecosysWhile the Sheldon’s designation as a tem damage on a growing number of western Indian reservations is increasing refuge makes it possible to protect resident native species by removing horses, in alarming numbers. Feral horses also trample stream beds and lands bereft of efforts by wild horse advocates ensure that no such consideration is made for vegetation silt in creeks further complicating tribal efforts at restoring salmon native wildlife in the greater high desert country of Nevada. runs. By ignoring the damage done to lands the US holds in trust for tribes, the On the Fish Creek HMA near Eureka, the ongoing, extreme drought has Federal government may well be setting itself up for yet another law suit by tribes resulted in ranchers’ grazing permits being cut by over 80%, and in February insisting that the Trustee act to protect its fiduciary responsibilities.

2015, 424 feral horses were gathered from the area. The gather’s contracted In the Arizona desert, many native animals are dependent upon desert trees helicopter pilots estimated that there were at least that many left on the range, for sustenance and shelter. Supplee saw firsthand the habitat destruction caused and 180 were turned back out after the more adoptable animals were sorted off. by feral horses and burros. “They broke off the branches, stripped the bark, and Then, despite an appeal filed by a rancher with the Interior Board of Land killed the trees,” she said.

Appeals to keep the rest of the gathered horses off of the already barren range, The Grand Canyon National Park has suffered an ongoing struggle with another 186 were re-released in April due to pressure from the horse mafia. Unferal burros. Former park biologist Elaine Leslie said to Williams, “You can find counted, on-range horses notwithstanding, the most recent release brought the burros or burro evidence in the vast majority of Grand Canyon springs or seeps. official, on-record count to more than double the legally established appropriate They spread exotic grasses, contaminate water, trample wetland species, remove management level of 170. vegetation, and eliminate small mammals, birds, and amphibians.”

As Brian Day stated: “There are a lot of sensible people who like these horsWyoming’s Audubon director Brian Rutledge has been greatly con- es. And then there are the other types who don’t let the truth stand in their way.” cerned about the feral horses’ impact on the sage grouse. He stated, “Sage This article also appeared as a Fly, Rod, & Reel blog, via Ted Williams. grouse fed the eastward movement of the Native Americans and the west http://www.flyrodreel.com/blogs/tedwilliams/2015/july/wildlife-wild-horses Originally published on a blog post in Fly, Rod & Reel. http://www.flyrodreel.com/blogs/tedwilliams/2015/july/wildlife-wild-horses

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 33

Southern Nevada’s Drought Response: A Multi-Faceted Approach

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n response to the four-year drought impacting the entire Western United States, Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval, recently established the Nevada Drought Forum aimed at bringing together Nevada’s diverse stakeholders to assess drought conditions, identify the best practices and policies for water conservation, and develop recommendations for moving the state’s drought response forward. Taking this critical step increases Nevada’s overall sustainability and helps keep the Silver State ahead of the curve as the entire desert Southwest adapts to a drier, more arid future.

Staying ahead of the curve has been critical in Southern Nevada’s drought response. The Colorado River Basin has experienced drought conditions for more than 15 years, and nowhere has the effects of that drought been felt more than in Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas area, which relies on the Colorado River to provide 90 percent of its drinking water supply, also has the smallest allocation of any of the seven Basin states that share the river—just 1.8 percent of the river is allocated to Nevada. Recognizing the potential impacts of the drought, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)—the regional entity responsible for managing water conservation, water quality and water resources for Southern Nevada—launched a series of droughtresponse initiatives, which include water conservation, infrastructure improvements, and long-range resource planning, to ensure a sustainable water supply for the

By David Johnson, SNWA Deputy General Manager Silver State’s most southern urban communities.

At the forefront of the SNWA’s efforts is a program of comprehensive conservation initiatives that have reduced water demands throughout every sector of the community, including the resort and gaming industry.

(As the largest employment sector in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas resorts and casinos are a vital element of our state economy, yet the industry only consumes three percent of the community’s water supply.) The conservation program utilizes a matrix of demand management tools such as incentives, pricing, education and regulation that coalesce to form a comprehensive approach to reducing water consumption and increasing efficiencies among water users.

Chief among the incentive programs is the Water Smart Landscapes (WSL) rebate program, which pays qualifying property owners to convert thirsty grass lawns to water-efficient landscaping. Since its inception in 1999, WSL has enabled the community to save more than 88 billion gallons of water by converting nearly 175 million square feet of grass to droughttolerant landscaping. Additional incentives and rebates for smart irrigation clocks, pool covers, and other water-efficient technologies have provided both commercial and residential customers with practical tools to conserve water.t In total, water conservation programs in Southern Nevada, including WSL, have contributed to a 43 percent reduction in net per capita water use since the drought began, despite a

population increase of more than a half-million people during that same time period. As a result, Nevada only consumed 75 percent of its Colorado River allocation in 2014.

The SNWA has also expanded its conservation efforts beyond just Clark County, forging cooperative relationships and critical affiliations with other water users in the Basin to enhance the Colorado River’s longterm sustainability. Working with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Central Arizona Project, Denver Water and the federal Bureau of Reclamation, the SNWA has partnered to develop the Colorado River Pilot System Conservation Program, which compensates water users for making voluntary reductions in water use through various conservation measures throughout the Colorado River Basin. With $11 million committed to the program, the goal is to provide incentives for river users to develop short-term water conservation projects that will reduce demands on the Colorado River, allowing any water saved to remain in Lake Powell and Lake Mead to bolster reservoir levels and increase the health of the river system. Unlike any previous multi-state efforts, the water saved through this program will remain in the river system and will not be reserved for future use by the partnering agencies.

This program has already received great response, and program administrators are evaluating the suitability of the various project proposals received.

Dawn breaks on Lake Mead as crews construct SNWA’s 100-foot tall intake structure and riser, which was secured to the bottom of Lake Mead with nearly 12,000 cubic yards of concrete.

34 September/October 2015

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More than 600 feet underground, the 24-foot diameter tunnel boring machine is moved into position to begin its threemile drive under Lake Mead. The new intake tunnel will draw water from deep within Lake Mead, helping ensure Southern Nevada maintains access it its primary water supply, even if drought conditions cause lake levels to fall lower.

The tunnel boring machine completed its 3-mile journey on December 10, 2014, when it “holed through” the intake structure on the bottom of Lake Mead. The dome-shaped cap at the top of the photo will be removed once the intake is ready to be put into service later this year.

Utilizing a series of barges and tugboats, crews position the new intake structure before lowering 200 feet below the surface of Lake Mead and securing it to the lake bottom.

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While conservation remains a central focus in Southern Nevada’s drought response, infrastructure improvements also play a crucial role in shaping the community’s water future; most notable of these is a third intake at Lake Mead.

Faced with unprecedented drought conditions and seeking a method to provide long-term protection of community’s water supply, the SNWA Board of Directors approved the construction of a third drinking water intake in 2005 to replace the capacity that would be lost if lake levels dip below the community’s current intake system. The new intake maintains SNWA’s ability to draw upon Colorado River water even if lake levels continue to decline due to the drought. Southern Nevada’s existing intake infrastructure can only access water from Lake Mead if the lake levels remain above elevation 1,000 feet (above sea level); however, with the new intake system, Southern Nevada will draw water approximately 125 feet below that critical elevation.

Additionally, as declining lake levels create potential water quality challenges, the new intake has the additional benefit of accessing cooler, higher quality water from the deeper parts of the lake, reducing the need for near-term water treatment modifications.

Initiated in 2008, the construction of Intake No. 3 consists of a 20-foot diameter concrete-lined tunnel excavated by a tunnel-boring machine (TBM); an interconnecting tunnel to link the new intake with existing water infrastructure; and a concrete intake structure, which was secured to the bottom of Lake Mead utilizing more than 1,000 truckloads of concrete.

While Intake No. 3 is slated for completion this fall, the project reached a major milestone late last year when the TBM “holed through” the concrete intake structure, signifying the completion of one of the most complex and challenging tunneling operations ever performed.

As a result, the tunneling project set a world-record performance when the tunnel-boring machine experienced 14 bars of hydrostatic water pressure while tunneling— the most pressure experienced by any TBM during a tunneling operation.

Most importantly, however, SNWA’s Intake No. 3 will be coupled with the new low lake level pumping station that will provide Southern Nevada the capability to

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SNWA’s 20-foot diameter, three-mile long Intake No.3 tunnel is nearly complete. The yellow pipe on top of the tunnel is part of the air flow system to support construction activities, and it will be removed before the new intake system is put into service in fall 2015. pump water from extremely low lake elevations. Projections by the Bureau of Reclamation indicate that Lake Mead’s water levels could dip low enough within the next decade to render SNWA’s existing water infrastructure at Lake Mead inoperable. Working in conjunction with Intake No. 3, the low lake level pumping station will allow Southern Nevada to continue drawing upon its primary water resources on Lake Mead should the drought continue. Even if the lake drops below its critical elevation of 895’ feet above sea level—the point at which no water can be delivered through Hoover Dam to downstream users in Arizona, California and Mexico—the new facilities will allow Southern Nevada continued access to its Colorado River water supplies.

Major engineering work for the low lake level pumping station was recently initiated, and preliminary construction activities are under way. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2020.

To further diversify its water resources and secure water supplies independent of the Colorado River, SNWA is coordinating the necessary permitting and approvals that will allow a portion of Nevada’s unused and unallocated water rights within the state to be put to beneficial use in Southern Nevada.

To ensure that the groundwater development project is ready for construction if it is needed at some point in the future, SNWA is working through the related environmental and regulatory permitting processes.

As part of the permitting, the Nevada State Engineer conducted the water rights hearings a few years ago—in accordance with Nevada’s water right adjudication process—which granted a portion of the state’s water rights to SNWA for use in Southern Nevada. The project is

September/October 2015 35

currently proceeding through various legal reviews; however, future decisions as to if—or when—the project is finally constructed will be determined by the SNWA Board of Directors.

As part of this groundwater development effort, SNWA acquired seven ranch Landscapers remove turf grass as part of properties that comprise the SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes more than 23,000 acres of Program, which pays residents and busi- land in the Spring Valley nesses $1.50 for every square foot of turf region of White Pine Coungrass that is removed and replaced with ty. Collectively known as drought-tolerant plants and shrubs. More the Great Basin Ranch, the than 174 million square feet of grass has properties allow SNWA to been removed under this program, saving build upon its understandmore than 88 billion gallons of water. ing of the hydrology of the region; introduce innovative agricultural water-conservation practices; help ensure that the water rights associated with the properties are maintained through beneficial use; and preserve productive output of the area’s land resources.

Maintaining its commitment to preserve the region’s rural and ranching lifestyle, SNWA’s ranching operations currently include more than 5,000 head of sheep and cattle and more than 2,000 acres of agricultural hay production.

In conjunction with the Great Basin Ranch, SNWA also acquired nearly 34,000 acre-feet of surface water rights; more than 7,000 acrefeet of groundwater rights; approximately 23,000 acre-feet of supplemental water rights; and various rights for livestock grazing to support the ongoing ranching operations. SNWA is committed to retaining the surface water rights within these groundwater basins—they will not be exported—as part of its strategic and sustainable management of water resources in the area.

The influence of drought on Nevada’s water resources reverberates throughout the state and impacts all water users and economic sectors—no one community, city, or region is immune. Ensuring a sustainable water supply for all Nevadans requires the concerted and cooperative effort of all stakeholders, and Governor Sandoval’s Drought Forum is the right step to bring these collective voices together.

While no single, silver bullet, drought solution exists, water conservation, infrastructure improvements and long-range water resource planning are just a few of the tools that we can all employ to weather the Water smart landscaping provides an alternative to drought and se- typical grass landscapes, and it saves approximately 55 cure the future gallons per square foot. Enough grass has been removed prosperity of our from the Las Vegas Valley to roll an 18-inch wide strip of great state. sod grass around 90 percent of the earth’s circumference.

36 September/October 2015

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September/October 2015 37

T

Feral

emple Grandin is quoted “Mother Nature is cruel, we don’t have to be.” This is a sentiment that many ranchers in Eureka County, Nevada take to heart. Despite public sentiment to the opposite, good ranchers aren’t in ranching to make money at the expense of the environment or wildlife. They are in ranching because they feel a strong urge to care for the livestock in their stead, and leave the land they run cattle on in better condition, while making a living, than when they inherited it. Ranchers value all forms of life, and understand that everything that is alive will at some point die. It is their responsibility to ensure that the animals in their care have dignity in death, and aren’t forced to suffer at the end of their lives.

What the Eureka County ranchers practice is a stark contrast to how the Battle Mountain BLM District is managing the horses in their care in regards to the Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA). The conditions horses are forced to endure on a daily basis are appalling.

Extreme overpopulation of the horses, overgrazing, and drought conditions have created a disaster area on the HMA. Horses are forced to travel outside the HMA in search of food and water daily, and the people who are forced to watch have their hands tied while waiting for the BLM to take action.

The wild horse issue is an issue dominated by emotion. People want to see horses running wild and free on the western rangelands, like they see in the movies. Unfortunately they don’t see the reality of the wild horses. Dr. Boyd Spratling, DVM in an interview on “Horses in Crisis” (www.horsesincrisis.com) explains “When Mother Nature takes

By Jennifer Whiteley - special assignment

a harvest, it’s very harsh, and people don’t want to see that. If that same situation were occurring with a privately owned horse down the road, someone would make a complaint to the county, and there would be actual criminal charges brought against that person for starving a horse.”

On August 12th, the Eureka County Natural Resources Advisory Commission (NRAC) facilitated a tour of the Fish Creek HMA and surrounding BLM allotments. NRAC members, area ranchers, general public, both Eureka and Elko County Commissioners, Nevada Department of Ag representatives, wild horse activists, Nevada Farm Bureau, an environmental group, and BLM representatives were in attendance.

The goal of the tour was to open dialog with the BLM, voice concerns, and seek solutions over the condition of the range and horses.

During the gather, removal, and return of horses to the Fish Creek HMA in February, wild horse activists selected a palomino stud horse they christened “Sarge” as their poster horse of the Fish Creek HMA. They plastered his picture all over social media, begging the public for their support and money to fund their involvement in litigation against their so called “welfare rancher” Kevin Borba and Eureka County. Sarge became the face of all of the wild horses they wanted to return to the HMA to run free.

Borba spends a lot of time on the Fish Creek HMA. He lives just outside of it and his grazing allotment includes a large portion of the HMA. Every day he drives past horses outside of the Fish Creek HMA, because the HMA boundary is a road. He isn’t the only person who often sees horses outside of the HMA, and has noted the deterioration in body condition of the horses.

Neighbor Vickie Buchanan stated to BLM Battle Mountain District Manager Doug Furtado “You guys are in charge of managing a resource. There is noth-

ing else worse to me than to have to drive past animals that are dying and starving. We are out here every day and not seeing anything changing,” This comment was addressed while discussing the condition of the horses, and lack of feed and water available to them on the HMA. These horses are in bad shape.

July 30th Borba noticed that Sarge’s health had declined drastically. He was severely dehydrated and in poor body condition. Two days later Sarge didn’t show up at his normal place. Borba, already concerned, made it a point to look for Sarge. When he found Sarge, off the HMA, he was in tough shape and looked to have been beaten up, likely by other more dominant studs. He was down and unable to get up. Borba and his two children gave him what little water they had with them, and haltered him. They were able to get him up and lead him to a place to load him in a horse trailer. They took him home and took care of him. The next morning, they called Shawna Richardson (BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist), a brand inspector, and sheriff. Richardson came to get him 2 days after the Borba’s found him down.

Many wanted to know how Borba was able to halter Sarge. The reason being that, allegedly, Sarge was removed from the HMA as a colt and green broke (not by Borba). He was returned to the HMA as a 2 or 3 year old, when he became “difficult” to handle, like a lot of young stud horses.

You would think the Borba’s would be applauded by the BLM and horse advocates for their stewardship and consideration of the horses on the Fish Creek HMA, but that isn’t the case. They are once again being drug through the mud by BLM and horse advocates alike. The truth of the matter is it is illegal for any “unauthorized person” to feed or water a wild horse, no matter how poor of condition they are in. The Borba’s’ are accused of luring horses off of the HMA with water and food, and

sh Creek ds Eureka, the Fi ar w to t as E ng ki Loo big sage, ily of white sage, ar im pr s ist ns co HMA e halogeton. noxious weeds lik rabbit br ush, and has become vasive species which in an is on et og al H ve been s, and areas that ha rt se A small band of de y dr in on comm horses trail out e ground A lone horse outside the Fish Creek HMA watchth re he w s ea ar in over a ridge afte watering at a trou rives d ha r ur to over grazed. It th r gh ou at g th on al e he op st ad es vehicles drive past as it heads for water. of the Davis Pip Every line (off of the H eM has been dist urbed.

A). The troughs along the Davis nearby.

Pipeline (which is fed by springs) halogeton growing ar e maintained by Kevin Borba.

38 September/October 2015

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breaking the law by giving thirsty horses water. Borba highlighted that he provided needed water to thirsty horses where they already were. “Nature is cruel.” Why do we have to be?

There are few natural water sources on the Fish Creek HMA. The few springs on the HMA are unreliable with improvements that must be actively maintained to keep them working, even in normal precipitation years. The large majority of water is hauled from outside sources or available from various springs, including the Davis Pipeline (fed by springs) at the far southern end of the HMA, when the associated springs are flowing. Before Borba’s purchased their ranch, they did their due diligence, determining AUM’s, water rights, and land boundaries. It wasn’t until a few months after they purchased the ranch that their AUM’s were cut significantly.

They maintain the fences on their leases from the BLM, and provide all maintenance on all troughs and water improvements. The BLM filed vested claims and Public Water Reserves on a couple of these springs, but Borba’s vested rights pre-date BLM’s claims. “We haul water to cows here all winter. We haul the water and break the ice for cows and horses alike, two times a day, which isn’t a problem, but if I haul water to a horse that needs it, I’m in trouble.” Stated Borba. The main water supply for horses in the area is the Bob Brown Well. However, it is about1/5 of a mile off of the HMA. It was questioned how it is ok for the BLM to lure horses off of the HMA with water, but concerned citizens cannot provide water to horses already outside of the HMA. Additionally, the BLM hauls water from a different basin, Diamond Valley, to the horses using ground water without an associated right for watering horses, and uses water traps to catch wild horses, so they can brand and administer fertility treatments to the horses.

The BLM is branding wild horses with a KB brand and a 12 brand, both currently registered to Kevin Borba and Kelly and Janie Burroughs, respectively. It is a violation of Nevada Revised Statute 564.020 which states “It shall be unlawful for any owner of such animals to brand or mark his or her animals with a brand not legally registered to them” and Nevada Revised Statute 564.050 which states “No brand may be recorded or

used which is identical with or similar to any brands According to John Ruhs, Nevada State Director for the previously recorded, that may cause confusion as to the BLM “We have all of the tools available to us to manage identity or ownership of the animals.” This issue is under wild horses. We need to work together and be a team current investigation. in solutions. It’s about building relationships.” Those in The BLM allows wild horse activists to go on ride attendance hoped that Battle Mountain BLM is up to alongs in BLM vehicles as “approved volunteers” and the task because past actions have been underwhelming gives them access to government equipment while tour- in finding mutual solutions or building relationships. ing HMA’s. Eureka County ranchers and commissioners are not being extended the same courtesies in these ride alongs and in policy decisions that activist groups are given. The BLM appears to be working with horse groups in an effort to squeeze the Borba’s off their ranch with hopes to turn it into a horse sanctuary. Mr. Borba has received many calls from some of these groups about their desire to buy the ranch with this end in mind. Mr. Borba wants to be a rancher and Eureka County does not want to lose the agricultural tax base.

The Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act calls for a thriving natural ecological balance, and is argued that pumping ground water and hauling water to horses A small band of horses leaving the Fish Creek HMA in on established HMAs is far from this “natural” bal- search of water and forage. The vehicle in the foreground is on the HMA boundary. ance. All creatures benefit from a healthy rangeland.

Cows, horses, and wildlife can all thrive on rangeland that is managed properly.

The BLM in their haste to cater to wild horse activists are neglecting the rangeland Eureka County Natural Resources Advisory Commission they are meant Manager Jake Tibbitts discusses grazing enclosures and to care for. This overgrazing on the Fish Creek HMA while local ranchers, A lone antelope leaves the Bob in addition to BLM employees, and Eureka Co. Commissioners listen. Wel l. The Bob Brow n Wel l is th Brow n em the damage to Even with drastic voluntary and mandatory cuts of cattle water source for horses on the Fiain C sh re ek H M A . It is locate rural economies numbers on the HMA, it was apparent that the range was m ile d about 1/5t h w es t of the H M A boun and livelihoods. hurting from the over population of horses on the HMA. da ry.

tour before t of the HM A ar p ch at w to of horses Horses stop several groups w sa e W . er at ith the they head to w e concerned w er w em th f o one this day, and n gs of people. oin g d comings an

Horses running to water. On our tour, we saw Horses watering at a trough ma intained by more horses off of the HMA than actually within Kevin Borba. its boundaries. Giving the impression there wasn’t much to eat or drink on the HMA.

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September/October 2015 39

Nevada’s Priority Agricultural Weeds:

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

R

Red Stem Filaree

edstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium – hereafter filaree) is also known as stork’s bill and is a cool season annual forb that originates from Eurasia. Filaree was well established in parts of the western United States in the 1700’s, and is now present in Nevada in all 17 counties, and in every state except Florida.

Filaree typically inhabits open disturbed sites and/or locations with short statured vegetation: conditions which permit a large amount of sunlight to reach the soil surface. These conditions typically occur on roadsides and railways, utility line corridors, abandoned fields and waste places, ditch banks, degraded rangeland or pasture that lacks deep rooted perennial grasses and forbs, many agronomic crops (especially during early growth), and vineyards and orchards.

Agronomic fields can also host dense infestations when cover from the crop is low by choice (e.g. orchards and vineyards); a management action (e.g., new seeding); harvest (e.g., small grain fields); or an infestation from disease, insects, or small mammals.

Filaree tends to prefer dry sandy soil, but readily inhabits loamy and clayey soils.

Plants can be found growing at elevations up to at least 6,500 feet. Redstem filaree can provide palatable and nutritious forage for cattle, sheep, pronghorn antelope, elk, mule deer, small mammals and many nongame birds when the plant is green. The low growing nature of filaree makes it more difficult for species with a large blunt mouth (e.g., cattle) to graze the plant. Livestock and wildlife with small and generally more pointed mouths (e.g., sheep, goats, and deer) can easily access the plants. The crude protein content of rapidly growing plants is about 17 percent.

Across Nevada, filaree was rated a problematic weed by 6.8 percent of respondents in a statewide survey. This placed filaree as the 20th most problematic agricultural weed in Nevada. At the county level, 10 percent or more of survey respondents rated the weed problematic in the following counties: Churchill (12.8 percent); Douglas and Carson City (combined data – 10.3 percent); Lyon (11.6 percent) and Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral Counties (combined data – 10.9 percent). Filaree was not considered a problematic weed by public land managers.

Plant Biology

Redstem filaree typically completes its lifecycle in one growing season, but may occasionally act as a biennial, remaining as a vegetative rosette the first growing season before producing seed and dying the second growing season. Each live filaree plant originated from a seed produced the previous growing season (or earlier if a seedbank exists). Seedlings develop a deep taproot but there are no buds on the root below the root crown; thus, regrowth from a root that is severed from the root crown is not possible. Plants may regrow from buds on the root crown or buds at the base of the stems when the flowering stems and leaves are removed, provided there is sufficient soil moisture for growth to occur. During vegetative growth the leaves and stems typically maintain a prostrate growth form which keeps much of the plant below the reach of many grazing animals, particularly cattle (Figure 1).

Seed germination may occur in the fall if soil moisture and temperatures are adequate, or from late winter through early spring, when temperatures are cool and soil moisture his high. Irrigation early in the growing season can promote high germination rates and filaree establishment before a crop becomes well established, which can dramatically reduce crop yield. Filaree plants typically form a basal rosette of leaves, with one or more erect flowering stems developing as the plant enters its’ reproductive phase. The length of the plant’s leaves may vary from one to several inches during drier years, and be up to two feet long in wet years. Flowering varies annually, based on soil moisture availability and temperatures, and may range from early spring (April) to early summer (June-July).

Seed germination occurs when the soil is moist and between 40°F and 70°F with the optimum temperature for germination between 41°F and 59°F. These conditions occur most often in the spring but fall germination is possible. Seed buried less than 40 September/October 2015

one-inch deep has the greatest germination rate, while seed buried greater than three-inches deep does not germinate. Seedlings that establish in the fall typically overwinter as small rosettes and resume growth in the spring. The leaves and stems develop many fine short hairs than can intercept herbicides applied to the plant.

Plants typically flower from mid-spring to mid-summer and develop abundant seed shortly thereafter: often from 2,000 to 10,000 viable seeds per plant. Some of the seed will remain viable for years facilitating development of a long-lived seedbank. Short and long-distance dispersal are common. The mericarps (small pod-like structures) literally explode when they dry, and the explosive force can help drill the coiled seed (Figure 2) into the soil up to one-inch deep (i.e., the optimal germination depth).

Distant dispersal can occur from movement of soil from one location to another; adherence of seed to the hide of mammals, the feathers of birds, the clothing and shoes of people; and mud stuck to vehicles and equipment. Seed movement also occurs by flowing water.

Light grass fires have no adverse effect on filaree seed located in the litter layer, and filaree on the soil surface just beneath the litter can easily withstand moderate intensity fires. Severe intensity fires can kill filaree seed located in the surface litter to one-half inch deep in the soil. Filaree seed buried deeper than one-half inch typically survives fire quite well. Moderate and severe fires typically kill mature plants, but very young seedlings that have not grown into or through the litter layer can survive moderate intensity fires.

Control Approaches Non-chemical

Filaree is an annual plant that reproduces only from seed, and some portion of every seed crop will remain viable in the soil for many years. For weed control and management programs targeting filaree to be successful they must focus on preventing seed production. For newly infested sites this prevents establishment of a long-lived seedbank. For sites which already have a long-lived seedbank filaree management programs should focus on preventing additional seed inputs to the seedbank and reducing the size of the existing seedbank. Once a seedbank is present weed management and control programs must be applied for many years, due to the seed’s long viability.

Mechanical removal of plants, whether done manually or mechanized cultivation, can effectively control filaree plants provided the treatment occurs before seed production. It is very effective at the seedling growth stage, unless soils are wet. After cultivation, wet soils often remain attached to the root system, which facilitates good seedling survival. For larger vegetative plants and plants beginning to flower cultivation should sever the taproot from the root crown. Mowing may be effective if it can be implemented after the plant has elevated its flowering stalks, but before seed production occurs. This can be a very short window of opportunity. Mowing should occur as close to the ground as possible and preferably when soil throughout the root zone is dry or drying, and will remain so after treatment. Dry soils dramatically reduce the potential for filaree to regrow from any buds on the root crown or at the base of the stems. If some of the seedstalks remain near the ground surface (below the cutting blades) the mowing treatment is likely to be ineffective because seed production will still occur.

Plowing may bury the seed too deep for large scale germination to occur. Likewise, it may bring long-lived seeds buried too deep to germinate back to the soil surface where germination is now possible. Enhanced germination after a plowing treatment can help deplete the seedbank provided a follow-up treatment of all seedlings occurs. Without a follow-up treatment large additional inputs to the seedbank are likely and the infestation will only be prolonged. .

The ability to use grazing animals to control filaree is variable. . The plant typically grows too low for cattle to be effective. Sheep or goats are better suited than cattle because their pointed snouts can reach closer to the ground and they have ah

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dietary preference for forbs. That said, effective control of filaree with any grazing surface where uptake occurs through the stomata. animal will require a very high stock density, and high stock densities have the poFor all herbicide applications, the applicator should ensure that there is enough tential to adversely affect any desired plants on the site. These desired plants typically soil moisture for filaree to have rapid growth for several weeks after the application. must increase in density and vigor after a weed treatment to competitively exclude This allows the active ingredient to be moved (translocated) from the leaf surface to the weed, otherwise the target weed or some other undesired species will occupy the the plant’s growing points (meristematic tissues) at the base of each leaf, nodes on the site. All treatments need to be analyzed for potential unintended consequences before stems, and buds near the root crown. Killing the plant requires killing the growing selecting the best approach for the specific situation. Grazing treatments typically points that ultimately give rise to flowers and seeds. Growing conditions that result work best when integrated with other control actions over several or more years. in little or no herbicide uptake and/or translocation to the growing points (i.e., excesPrescribed fire generally is not an effective control technique, especially at low sively cold, dry, wet or cloudy) are costly failures. to moderate fire intensity. Targeted flaming of individual plants may be effective if No single active ingredient listed in Table 1 is the best herbicide for all filaree the plants are new on the site and seed production has never infestations. Every infestation has some unique characteristic occurred. Once seed has been disseminated most of it will different from other sites. Herbicide selection should be based survive fire events. The bareground and high sunlight envion site-specific conditions. Some factors to consider are: 1) ronment created by fire events typically promotes the germido you need an herbicide that is selective and not going to nation of filaree seed and subsequent seedling establishment. adversely affect the residual desired vegetation; 2) are your Fire may be useful as one tool in an integrated weed control short- and mid-term management objectives compatible with program designed to promote germination with subsequent a soil persistent herbicide that can leave a significant amount control of the recent germinants via another control method of the active ingredient in the soil for months to years; 3) (e.g., herbicide, mechanical, etc.). what will be the growth stages redstem filaree when you have Like all weeds, long-term control and management of time to fit an herbicide treatment into your overall farming or filaree will require the establishment of desired competitive ranching operation; 4) can you make the commitment to any vegetation. On harvested cropland, this entails a dense stand follow-up treatments that are needed; and 5) when chemical of a crop species capable of capturing not only the soil’s Figure 1. Redstem filaree plant in the vegetative treatments are needed across time consider using herbicides moisture and nutrients, but also the sunlight needed for plant growth stage. Photo from: http://oregonstate.edu/ with different active ingredients (i.e., killing mechanisms). growth. Recently harvest or fallow fields which develop a dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/redstem_fila- The latter consideration reduces the risk of creating herbicide ree/rosette_750.jpg large infestation of redstem filaree should be disked, tilled, resistant biotypes of redstem filaree. Repeated use of the same flamed or treated with a burn-down herbicide before the filaree plants produce seed, active ingredient or other active ingredients with the same mode of action can lead to prevent establishment of a long-term seedbank. For rangeland and pasture, the key to herbicide resistance and loss of an effective management tool. to preventing a large infestation of filaree is to maintain a dense and vigorous stand An important question of any herbicide treatment is, was I successful? Redstem of desired perennial grasses and forbs, with deep and widespread root systems, which filaree establishes from seed each growing season, and seed buried ≥ 3 inches deep A tall dense stand of desired vegetation reduces the number of “safe sites” available can survive many years. An herbicide treatment of filaree can be 100 percent effecfor seed germination and seedling establishment. For a filaree infestation that has tive the year it is applied, but successful long-term control may require several more never produced seed, almost any control method that prevents all of the plants from years of completely successful treatment before all of the viable seed in the soil is going to seed will be successful. Select the treatment that inflicts the least amount eliminated. Always revisit treated sites for at least three or more years to ensure that of harm to the non-target desired plants you want to occupy the site post-treatment. new plants do not establish and produce seed. Remember, one large productive plant Established infestations (i.e., those that have gone to seed one or more times) will can produce up to 10,000 seeds. be successfully managed most often with an integrated management program that Weed control and management programs for filaree should use an integrated uses a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical approaches. No single approach that applies two or more methods of weed control. Very seldom does a treatment technique is likely to be successful over the long-term when the weed can single approach work long-term. Furthermore, all approaches, except for the purreappear for up to a decade or longer after treatment due to a long-lived seedbank. poseful management of an area for bare ground, must consider how to establish and/ There are no biological controls for redstem filaree. or increase the desired species on an infested site. A dense, vigorous stand of desired perennial grasses (or crop species) provides the best opportunity to prevent a rapid Chemical Control large scale establishment of filaree, particularly when it is combined with periodic There are at least 26 active ingredients (Table 1) that control redstem filaree scouting to find and eliminate the initial colonizers. Controlling the initial colonizers (Table 1). These ingredients are packaged in many more formulations (at least 217 of a site before they add seed to the soil typically results in a one season control proproducts), both as a single active ingredient and as prepackaged mixes with two or gram. Once viable seed enters the soil, a control program will have to last many years. more active ingredients. Collectively, these products are labeled for just about any Early detection of filaree and a rapid response to the first few plants provides the best landscape setting or crop found in Nevada, and include various levels of selectivity opportunity to prevent large scale establishment and costly, multi-year treatments. for non-target species, different degrees and duration of soil activity, and pre- and The next weed addressed in this series will be Halogeton (Hologeton glomerapost-emergent applications (Table 1). For most post-emergent applications the guide- tus) an annual forb that commonly grows on sodic/saline soils in many different line is that small actively growing plants (≤ 3or 4 inches wide/tall) are easier to control landscape settings. than large well established plants. Also, plants that are growing slowly due to cold weather, dry soil, and/or other stresses are less susceptible to an herbicide treatment Figure 2. Filaree seedpod than rapidly growing plants. Herbicides that lack residual soil activity are unlikely and coiled seed structure that facilitates burial into to control new seedlings that emerge after an initial treatment. Redstem filaree seed the soil upon dissemination. can respond rapidly to environmental cues that promote germination; thus, multiple From: http://i.kinja-img. germination events in a season are possible and each must be treated accordingly com/gawker-media/image/ (mechanical, chemical or other method) when the soil lacks an active ingredient upload/s--HEy3pQHM-/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w capable of killing new seedlings. _320/18ls7t0con7ixjpg.jpg The short hairs that form on the leaves and stems of filaree may intercept much of the applied herbicide, which prevents good contact between the active ingredient and leaf surface where uptake occurs. Higher application rates are needed to achieve the level of uptake which typically occurs before the hairs develop. Larger drop sizes may help penetrate these hairs and place more of the active ingredient on the leaf www.progressiverancher.com

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September/October 2015 41

Carfentrazone-ethyl Chlorsulfuron Dicamba Dichlbenil

x

x

x

x

AimEW Quicksilver

x

Telar XP

x

x

Banvel Clarity

x

x

Casoron CS

x

Dimethenamid-P

Commmit Optill Pro

x

Flumioxazin

Chateau Panther SC Tuscany

x

Glufosinate-ammonium

Cheetah Forfeit 280

x

Glyphosate

Roundup and many others

Hexazinone

Velossa Velpar

Imazamox

Beyond Raptor

Imazapic

Imazapic 2SL Plateau

x

x

Imazapyr

Alligare, Arsenal, Polaris

x

x

Imazethapyr Indaziflam Isoxaben Metribuzin Metsulfuron- methyl

x

x x

x

x

x

x

Collide Galigan GoalTender

Matrix Resolve Solida

x

x

Saflufenacil

Detail Sharpen

x

x

Simazine

Princep Simazine Portfolio Spartan 4F Oust XP Spyder

x x

x

42 September/October 2015

x

Yes, for labeled crops

No

Postemergence to actively growing filaree ≤ 4 inches tall/wide

Yes

For sensitive crops

Yes

Highly variable

Postemergence to rapidly growing plants before flowering. Small plants treated most effectively

No

Yes

Preemergence in the fall or postemergent with incorporation when filaree ≤ 2 inches tall/wide

x

No

No

Postemergence to rapidly growing filaree seedlings.

Smaller plants are more easily killed

x

Yes

Yes

Preemergence or early postemergence to small rapidly growing plants

x

Yes

Yes

Postemergence to actively growing filaree ≤ 3 inches tall/wide

Yes

Yes

Preemergence or or postemergence (most effective)

No

Yes

Preemergence or postemergence. Can be a soil sterilent

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with incorporation by water within 7 days to 2 inch depth, or postemergence (crop specific) to filaree ≤ 3 inches tall/wide

Yes

Yes, rate dependent

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with incorporation by water within 21 days

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with incorporation with water or postemergence to young actively growing filaree Pre or post application is crop specific

Yes

Yes

Postemergence to rapidly growing plants before flowering

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with soil incorporation with 0.5 to 1.0 inches of water

Yes

Moderate

x

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with incorporation to soil before weed seed germination

x

At lower rates

Yes

Preemergence with soil incorporation with water withing 5-7 days of application or very early postemergence

x

Yes

Yes

Postemergence to actively growing plants less ≤ 3 inches tall/wide or preemergence with ≥ 0.5 inches of water applied after application

x

Yes

Yes

Preemergence with incorporation with water

Yes

Yes

Preemergence followed by soil incorporation with irrigation/rainfall, within 10 to 14 days

Yes

Yes

Preemergence or early postemergence to rapidly growing seedlings

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Preemergence or very early postemergence with rapid incorporation by water

None to very short

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

Postemergence to rapidly growing plants before flowering

No

x

x

x

Short to moderate

x

Growth Stage

Yes

x x

Rimsulfuron

Postemergence to: small actively growing plants

x

x

x

No

x

x

Acumen Framework Prowl, Stealth

Yes

x

x x

x

x

Glory Metribuzin Tricor Ally XP, Escort, Patriot

Soil Residual

Rate dependent

x

x

Gallery SC or 75DF

Selective

x

x

x

Oxyfluorfen

Sulfometuron methyl

x

x

Allion Esplanade

Solicam DF

Sulfentrazone

x

Pursuit Thunder

Norflurazon

Pendimethalin

x

x

x

x

tion. For some crops the application may be limited to pre-planting of the crop or spot treatments only. Many of the active ingredients listed in Table 1 are available in premixed formulations with other products. These pre-mixed packages (products) are not listed in the table. A complete list of all active ingredients and products labeled to control annual mustards can be searched for at the CDMS (http://www.cdms.net/ LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx?pd=7607&t=) and Greenbook (http://www.greenbook. net/) websites. The order of chemicals below does not reflect any preference or efficacy.

Potatoes

Corn

x

Mint

Smll Grains

x

Alfalfa

Bare-ground

Many

Fallow

2,4-D

Representative Products

Non-Crop

Active Ingredient

Range & Pasture

Table 1. The list below identifies many (but not all) of the active ingredients and representative products known to control redstem filaree, and the general sites or crops in Nevada for which the active ingredient is labeled. Not all representative products, crops, or sites are listed. The information in this table should be used to determine potential active ingredients and products for use based upon a land owners specific circumstances. Product selection should occur only after the applicator has read all current product labels and identified the appropriate products for their specific situa-

x

The Progressive Rancher

Preemergence wilh soil incorporation with water, or postemergence to to actively growing filaree ≤ 4 inches tall/wide Postemergence to small rapidly growing filaree

Preemergence with soil incorporation by irrigation or rainfall

Preemergence with incorporation with 0.25 inches of water within 3-4 weeks of application or postemergence to small (≤ 4 inches tall or wide) rapidly growing weeds

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Superior Livestock

Market Report Video Royale XXIII

S

July 27-31, 2015

uperior Livestock had 137,000 head of stockers, feeders, and bred stock consigned to the video auction from cattle producers covering 30 states. The first day of the auction kicked off at Superior’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas and rounded out the week being broadcast from the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca, Nevada.

The City of Winnemucca rolled out the red carpet to hundreds of cattlemen and women from all over the Northwestern, United States, attending the annual auction. Superior Representative, Jim Davis, originally organized this event over 23 years ago with the goal of bringing buyers and sellers together to conduct business and build lasting relationships. The three day sale offered many events including a Cowboy Golf Tournament and Calf Fry, and Superior appreciating over a thousand guests with a steak dinner that featured entertainment from traditional country music artist Sonny Burgess and Louisiana’s Waylon Thibodeaux. Ranchers were given the opportunity to be informed with the latest information on genetics and ranch related services through the many booths set up by Breed Associations, Seedstock Producers, and Superior’s Cattle Industry Partners and Sponsors.

The Red Angus Association named their Grid Master Award winners on July 30th, prior to the special section of Red Angus cattle in the auction. The following recipients were recognized for outstanding carcass achievements produced with Red Angus Genetics: DeLong Ranches - Winnemucca, NV, Sitz Family Partnership - Drewsey, OR and Otley Brothers Cattle – Diamond, OR

Jim Davis Superior rep and Brent De Bruycker of De Bruycker Charolais Dutton, MT

Allie Bear and daughter keeping track of thier clients sales

View the rest of the report on the website at www.progressiverancher.com

Nelo Mori of Mori and Sons Ranch in Tusccarroa, NV www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 43

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

H

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

This month we would like to introduce you to one of Nevada’s state listed noxious weeds, houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale). Houndstongue is a toxic biennial plant introduced from Europe, likely as a contaminant in cereal seed. Houndstongue is found throughout the United States and Canada and is considered a noxious weed in many western states. In northern Nevada, houndstongue is only present in a few locations, so we are actively looking for it and working to eradicate it where we find it.

Like other members of the Borage family, houndstongue is rough in texture and produces flowers in long, coiled stalks.

In addition to poisoning animals who ingest it, houndstongue also produces prolific amounts of irritating bur-like seeds that cling to animals and clothing like Velcro. This invasive plant can usually be found in pastures, along roadsides, forest rangelands, abandoned fields and disturbed habitats. Houndstongue causes a loss of pasture and range for grazing animals, increases cattle marketing costs, and reduces fitness in livestock. In addition to being a nuisance to recreationists due to its bur-like seeds, houndstongue is toxic and has the potential to poison domestic animals and wildlife that might graze on this plant or eat it mixed in with hay. Plants become more palatable when dry or after herbicide treatment.

Houndstongue is a biennial to short-lived perennial that spreads by seed. First year plants do not produce flowers. Second year plants produce a flowering stalk in May to July, go to seed and then usually die. Some plants may persist for a few years.

Seeds are produced in 4-parted nutlets that break apart at maturity and disperse mostly by being carried on the fur of animals and other carriers such as clothing, machinery, and vehicles.

Houndstongue produces more than 600 burs per plant, and up to 2,000 seeds. Over-grazing and disturbance further encourages the spread and growth of houndstongue.

Control

Don’t let houndstongue go to seed. Hand pull or dig up isolated plants and small patches and remove as much of the root as possible. If the soil doesn’t allow for effective digging, spot treat with herbicide. Cutting second year plants, by conventional mowing if practical or with weed-eaters, reduces seed production

and spread. If plants are cut close to the ground, many plants will not re-grow, although some will and may flower and seed later in the season or the following year. Do not mow plants that are already in seed as this will likely disperse the seeds and possibly get moved on the mowing equipment to un-infested sites.

In infested areas, it is important to re-seed disturbed or bare soil with a competitive species as soon as possible after disturbance to stop that area from becoming re-infested with houndstongue, or other weedy species. Clean burs from animals, clothing, shoes and equipment before leaving infested areas.

Houndstongue does not withstand regular cultivation and is less competitive in areas with healthy grass cover.

For larger infestations, chemical control may be more cost-effective than manual removal. Adding a surfactant will improve results. Metsulfuron (Escort) at 1-2 ounces per acre is effective on houndstongue any time the plant is actively growing (but apply only to pasture, rangeland and non-crop sites). First year rosettes can be controlled with 2,4-D at 2 pints per acre in spring, but second year plants are not controlled well with 2,4D. Whenever using an herbicide, carefully follow all directions given on the label and follow any local or state requirements for herbicide use at that location.

As always, please notify the HWCWMA if you see houndstonge growing within the Humboldt River Watershed - it is not currently highly established ihn this region. We have an opportunity to stop this extremely invasive species from spreading if we act quickly. Our staff can provide the property owner or appropriate public agency with site-specific treatment options for these plants. The HWCWMA also maps and monitors heavily infested sites in the watershed which allows the HWCWMA the ability to provide educational and financial assistance to land owners and groups in their management efforts, ultimately improving all of the qualities of the land and water in our watershed.

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

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andi Porreca, HWCWMA Coordinator at (775) 762-2636 or email her at aporreca@humboldtweedfree.org. You may also speak with Rhonda Heguy, HWCWMA Administrator at (775) 7383085, email: hwcwma@gmail.com.

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

44 September/October 2015

The Progressive Rancher

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The Progressive Rancher

September/October 2015 45 

by Jennifer Whiteley

TR’s New Horse

I

’ve lost another horse. Seems like every time I get a horse that I kind of like, someone (particularly my boys) comes along and takes it from me. I’ve been pretty lucky, my parents have always made sure I had a good horse to ride. There were the babysitters like “Chief” and “Buster Brown” who were content to follow along whatever horse mom or dad were riding, or a cow if it happened to walk in front of them. Then came the more independent horses like “Sandy” and “Renegade” that went faster and did more than just follow along, that helped prepare me for riding my parent’s horse “Rounder.” I had a horrible habit of stealing my dad’s horses, once I could stay on them. They were always more fun to ride than my kid’s horses.

Rounder is the horse that taught me how to rope, ride, and pay attention to what was going on around me. Rounder didn’t have a mean bone in his body, but he challenged me. I learned that I couldn’t just sit on him, sometimes I needed to hang on, and that horses aren’t just tools used to get a job done.

He taught me that horses can be companions, partners, and just like any relationship, it’s give and take, and built on trust. He also taught me heart and going just a little farther when you want to be done, and how to be passionate about the things I enjoyed doing.

I’ve been on a search for another Rounder since my boys started riding with me. Everyone has a kid’s horse for sale, but you need deep pockets to afford the Rounders’ and they are worth their weight in gold. I thought maybe I had found one in my old sorrel horse. He was kind of enjoying being a kid’s horse. I knew he could teach TR a lot, while taking care of him, just like he had taken care of me. About the time I was ready to turn him over completely to TR, he died on me.

46 September/October 2015

In the year since, we have tried several different horses for TR, without much luck. Kids need good horses that make riding fun. If they have to struggle to get their horse up to a calf to heel it, or the horse won’t leave the barn, it takes a lot of the fun out of riding. The kind horse we found for him, was so sore after being rode, that we didn’t have the heart to let TR ride him. The horse that moved out and traveled, wouldn’t leave the other horses for TR to push cows on his own. I want both my boys to ride horses that work for them, and make riding fun.

After working on TR for a couple of months, I talked him into trying out my sorrel mare Natty. She has loved my boys from the day I brought her home as a 2 year old, and has packed both of them in front of me on more rides than I can count. She is arguably the nicest handling, most versatile horse I have ever owned. You can work cows, rope anything, at home or in town, turn her out for a week, and when you get on her again, it’s like you just rode her yesterday. Nothing rattles her, she doesn’t spook, and will go anywhere you ask her to. I really like her.

The morning TR was set to help us move some cows and try out Natty, I saddled her up and had him get on her in the corral. I wanted him to feel comfortable riding her around. I wanted him to be able to turn both directions, stop, and back up. After I was convinced he could handle her, we went to gather some cows. They got along great. I am convinced she is going to be a great fit for TR. The way he runs around chasing cows on her, and the confidence he is showing me has me thinking maybe I have found him his “Rounder.”

As we were riding back to the house after that first ride I asked TR what he thought about Natty. “Well mom….She doesn’t quite handle like I like my horses to, but I don’t think it will take me long to get her there!”

He’s lucky I love him because I wouldn’t tolerate that from just anyone!

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

Investors Can Learn Much from the American Workforce

W

e’re getting close to Labor Day, a celebration of the men and women who roll up their sleeves and go to work each day. If you’re in the workforce yourself, you can appreciate this recognition of your efforts. Antd as an investor, you can employ these attributes of the American worker:

some or all of your principal. But if you spread your dollars among a range of vehicles – including stocks, bonds, government securi- ties, certificates of deposit and real estate – you can reduce the impact of volatility on your holdings. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.)

• Organization – The most productive workers are those who organize their time and efforts to maximize their productivity. When you invest, organization is also important. You might have trouble gain- ing traction toward your goals, such as a comfortable retirement, if you own a bunch of scattered investments that aren’t really working together to help you. Instead, try to build a portfolio in which all your investments combine to provide the opportunities for growth and income you need to help reach your objectives.

Labor Day will come and go quickly. But by emulating some of the char- acteristics of the American workforce, you can continue making progress toward your goals – without even having to work overtime.

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

• Perseverance –As workers, all of us go through difficult times, whether with our bosses, co-workers or even the work itself – but we persevere.

As an investor, you, too, will experience bumps in the road, in the form of market downturns. Yet, if you avoid making hasty and ill-advised moves in response to potential short- term volatility, you can maintain your focus on your long-term needs and goals – and, as a result, you can help improve your chances of meeting those needs and attaining those goals.

• Vision – Workers put in their time, year after year, because they have a vision of what they hope their efforts will yield – a rewarding career, sufficient financial resources for their family, and so on. As an investor, you also can benefit from articulating a picture of what you hope to achieve. And that means you need to be specific about what you want. Instead of saying to yourself, ‘I’d like to retire comfortably someday,’pin yourself down as to what this really means. At what age would you like to retire? Will you want to travel the world or stay close to home to pursue your hobbies? How much money will you need to make these wishes come true? Where will this money come from? By answering these and other questions, you can define a vision for your financial future, leading you to the next step – creating a strategy to help turn this vision into reality.

• Diversity – The American workforce benefits from drawing on the experiences and viewpoints of people from all different backgrounds.

When you invest, you should also seek diversity. If you only owned one type of investment vehicle, such as growth stocks, and the market hit a downturn, your portfolio would likely take a big hit. It’s a given that the value of investments will f luctuate, which means, under some circumstances, you could lose

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September/October 2015 47

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 3280 Salt Lake City, UT 48 September/October 2015

The Progressive Rancher

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