Ads sent to or built by The Progressive Rancher become property of this magazine. Published 8 times a year. View all issues at www.progressiverancher.com Readership reaches more than 30,000. The views and opinions expressed by writers of articles appearing in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters of opinion are welcome; submit via email. Advertising rates available upon request. Advertising does not imply editorial endorsement. Liability for errors or omissions in advertisements shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error or omission. Leana Litten Carey, Owner/Editor 2040 Reno Hwy 432 • Fallon, Nevada 89406 (208) 358-2487 • progressiverancher@gmail.com Cover: Carl Norris 1/20/1935 ~ 2/16/2022 (Photographer Unknown) IN THIS ISSUE © The Progressive Rancher Magazine. All rights reserved. Owner/Editor/Publisher – Leana Litten Carey Graphicprogressiverancher@gmail.comDesign/Layout|athena@athenart.com 03 NCA - President's Perspective 04 NCA September Update 06 NBC - Checkoff News 07 NBC - Smoked Tri-Tip 08 Let's Talk Ag | Insurance 09 CA Cattle Council Update 10 Eye on the Outside | Rulings 11 Budd-Falen Law Offices OpEd: Private Property Access 12 Obituary | Norris & Greenway 13 Lux Lavender Submission 14 SRM | Riparian Habitat 18 NFB | Inflation Reduction Act 19 NFB | Annual Meeting Time! 19 NFB | Elevating Ag Education 21 USDA | Support for Farmers 22 UNR | Wildfire Modeling 23 UNR | Masaki Shimono; Working to Preserve Potatoes 23 UNR | Off-Season Cattle Grazing to Control Fire Danger 25 Alamogordo Daily News | Ranchers Protest Restrictions 26 Public Lands Council | The Daily Roundup 27 NPR | Moving Cattle into the Forest to Help Climate Change 27 NewsWise | Winter Grazing 28 Cowboy State Daily | Rewilding is like "Earth First" 29 The Colorado Sun | CORE Act Supporters Want Exec. Action 30 19th Annual Shelman Family Ranch Horse Sale Results 32 Sagebrush Ecosystem Program 33 Churchill Co Cowbelles Recipe 34 UNR Cooperative Extension: Placing Wyoming Sagebrush to Catch Snow and Provide Seed for Creating Sagebrush Islands FINAL PROJECT REPORT Read the magazine and more articles online WWW.PROGRESSIVERANCHER.COMat VIEW ADDITIONAL ARTICLES AT www.progressiverancher.comCLIMATELINKINFORMATION Nevada Drought fordroughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/MonitorStateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NVWalkerRiverBasinHydroMapperwebapps.usgs.gov/walkerbasinhydromapper/#homeNOAANationalCenterEnvironmentalInformationDroughtncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/drought/202007NOAANationalWeatherServicegraphical.weather.gov Follow us on Facebook! The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com2 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
When fire occurs, the NCA has partnered with fire managers to provide a Rancher Liaison to share knowledge during the event. Fire bosses gain critical information like access points to the fire, water locations, typical weather patterns and fire behaviors, and any threats to look out for such as structures or livestock in the way. Ranchers gain an understanding of what resources are on the fire and how it’s being fought, and can plan strategically to move cattle if they’re in the path of the blaze. This has proved to be a very successful program and has been modeled in some fashion all over the west.
I think Nevada is ahead of the West in managing around fire. It’s possible we may get back to a time when we don’t live in fear of the dreaded F-word and it becomes a natural and often welcome occurrence again.
Recent monsoonal showers have us not thinking about the F-word so much. I don’t like to talk about the F-word during F-word season. Of course, I’m referring to fire, wildland fire specifically. If you’re a rancher in Northern Nevada, you’re probably a volunteer firefighter almost by default, it’s become that prevalent on our rangelands. This year in Northeastern Nevada there’s been over 50 fires by the end of July. Our fire services have done an incredible job of keeping them small so far. Fire’s been thought of as a natural part of our ecosystem, but I don’t think it is anymore. Cheatgrass has made fires unmanageable and therefore bigger, and cheatgrass makes it more difficult for native plants to return post-fire. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has spent an awful lot of time working the issues around fire, and I’m happy to report there’s some positive developments. Before fire happens, our Agency partners are figuring out how to streamline the process for targeted and prescribed grazing to reduce fine-fuel loads. Historically the process involved in these kinds of grazing projects has taken so much time that they couldn’t be put to ground in a timely fashion, but we look for that to change in the coming months.
| President, NCA
Special Feeder Sales Sept 13, 2022 Oct 11, 2022 Nov 8, 2022 Dec 10, 2022 For info about our Team Roping, please visit FallonLivestock.com
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Jon Griggs
president ' s perspective
After a fire’s out, our Agency partners including the folks at the Nevada Department of Wildlife have made great strides in restoration work. There’s some exciting new herbicides that suppress cheatgrass while allowing desirable plants to grow. We’ve had good success in demonstrating first season rest isn’t always needed and a grazing regime can be beneficial post fire; this has led to a reduction in automatic, years-long closures of allotments we’ve seen in the past.
Last but not least, please mark your calendars for 87th Annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show to be held November 30 - December 2 at the Nugget Casino and Resort in Sparks, NV. We are planning to have a well-rounded agenda at the convention that should have something for any and everyone’s interests. Most of all, we hope to provide an enjoyable experience and a good Pleasetime!keep checking out our website at nevadacattlemen.org for more information and don’t hesitate to reach out to our office at 775-738-9214.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
NCA September Update by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214
At the conclusion of the Board meeting, NCA geared up for and was well represented at NCBA Summer Business Meeting. The atmosphere at both meetings was positive and productive. Some of the items discussed are listed below:
• Revisions to the Endangered Species Act- NCA recently submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on proposed changes to Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. The changes brought forward by USFW would allow the agency to introduce experimental populations outside a species’ historic range.
I hope things are going well for all of you as we work our way through what is left of what seems to be a short, fast summer. Things here at the Nevada Cattlemen's Association have been very active. We held our Board of Director’s meeting recently in conjunction with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Summer Business Meeting in Sparks, Nevada. At the NCA Board of Director’s meeting we received updates and had discussions with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Nevada Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• The BLM has expressed interest in revising their grazing regulations. NCA is standing by and ready to assist BLM in the formulation of new grazing regulations that focus on management flexibility.
By the time this article circulates, NCA will also have been well represented at the Public Lands Council Annual Meeting in Cody, Wyoming the last week of August.
• Traceability – NCBA is taking the lead on animal disease traceability discussions with USDA. These discussions are in their infancy, but the goal is to engage with USDA on potential solutions that work for our industry rather than wait for USDA to decide what works for us.
• Public Lands – While funding and holding capacity remain to be challenges regarding wild horses, Nevada BLM continues to make progress on their efforts to reach Appropriate Management Levels for the first time in decades.
• NCA had a chance to connect with the BLM’s new rancher liaison, Errol Rice, who reports directly to the BLM Director. We plan to keep an open line of communication with Errol and Interior leadership as we work through several different proposals.
The NCBA and PLC meetings present an excellent opportunity to not only set policy important to Nevada’s livestock producers, but also connect with livestock producers in other states as well as key agency personnel. We are looking forward to another productive meeting and plan to continue to make headway on several different fronts.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 5
“The ACF convention was a great opportunity for the Nevada Beef Council to meet and network with chefs and foodservice professionals from Nevada, the west coast, and throughout the country. The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. booth had great placement in the front row of the tradeshow, and the interest and excitement for educational beef resources was evident through how quickly our inventory of items—especially the foodservice beef cuts posters—were depleted,” said Christie Van Egmond, the NBC’s Director of Retail and Foodservice Marketing. “The pop-up tastings and welcome reception beef station were an incredible way to feature beef in different applications and day parts, and get small bites of beef into the mouths of those attending. We heard nothing but positive comments about the beef that we served.”
ABOUT THE NEVADA BEEF COUNCIL Our Mission: Engage Nevada beef producers and stakeholders with consumer outreach and education to increase beef demand. Our Values: We provide factual information to consumers and beef producers. We use checkoff dollars efficiently and effectively. We represent the entire Nevada beef industry.
Bill Dale Executive Director | bill@calbeef.org
How can I be involved Beef Checkoff?
By law, the checkoff is collected in each state by a Qualified State Beef Council (QSBC), and 44 states have QSBCs. In states without beef councils, the dollar is sent directly to Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). For many producers, this is the best place to get involved – by attending state board meetings or even becoming a member of the CBB. As for the CBB, all meetings are open to all producers. To become a member of the Board, a producer should work with a certified nominating organization in their specific state or region.
It’s What’s For Dinner. also had a booth on the tradeshow floor featuring beef educational resources, such as foodservice beef cuts charts posters, and information on the BEEFoodservice mobile app that the California Beef Council (CBC) launched in 2020 for foodservice professionals.
in the
Annette Kassis | annette@calbeef.org Director, Consumer & Brand Marketing
Christie Van Egmond | christie@calbeef.org Director, Retail & Foodservice Marketing
under the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand, these state beef councils provided an opportunity for chefs to enjoy a small taste of beef through pop-up tastings during three breaks throughout the convention, including a beef for breakfast concept during a morning session on the last day. Chef Robert Hale from the Texas Beef Council and his premier group of Beef Loving Chefs also plated some delicious Tenderloin samples during the opening night’s reception. In addition to the tasting opportunities, Beef.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com6 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
This convention gave a platform for the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand to showcase beef’s taste and versatility, and educate and network with chefs from throughout the country and in all culinary fields including restaurants, research, corporate, education and more.
Through the multi-state partnership of beef councils, the Nevada Beef Council was able to better leverage Nevada checkoff dollars. It was especially great to be in-person to network and connect with industry professionals local to Nevada, as well as give the Nevada Beef Council some national Forrecognition.moreinformation about the NBC, visit the following websites:
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Participateswww.mybeefcheckoff.orgwww.nevadabeef.orgNevadaBeefCouncilinNationalCulinaryEvent
One way the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) better utilizes state Beef Checkoff dollars is through national and state partnerships. Last month, state beef councils from Nevada, Nebraska, Texas, California, and Florida teamed up to be a supporting sponsor of the 2022 American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. from July 25-28. The ACF convention is the biggest annual gathering of chefs, culinary students, and foodservice professionals in the United States and had nearly 750 attendees this Collaboratively,year.
The Progressive Rancher
PreparationIngredients
4.
2. Add wood chunks, chips or pellets to smoker according to manufacturer's instructions. Preheat smoker to 225°F.
For the best eating experience, when cutting Tri-Tip be sure to watch for the grain change while you cut. The grain does change direction towards the thicker part of the roast. Be sure to cut the opposite direction of the grain.
2. In a medium size bowl combine, mayo, lime juice, seasoning, corn, cilantro, and cheese; let chill covered, for at least 30 minutes or over night.
Smoked Beef, grilled corn, delicious results. The outdoor cookout trifecta is complete with this smoked Tri-Tip recipe.
Preparation - Grilled Corn Elote
1. Combine oil, salt, pepper, garlic, Chile powder and paprika in small bowl to form a paste.
• 1 beef Tri-tip Roast (3 to 4-1/2 pounds) Spice Paste • 1/3 cup olive oil • 2 teaspoon granulated garlic • 1 teaspoon paprika • 1.5 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 2 teaspoon ancho chile powder Grilled Corn Elote • 3 ears fresh corn, husked • 3/4 cup mayonnaise • 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice • 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro • 1/2 cup Cotija cheese • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1. Place corn on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, 10 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 8 to 10 minutes) turning on all sides. Remove corn and let cool. Carefully cut corn kernels from cob and set aside.
SMOKED TRI-TIP with GRILLED CORN ELOTE
Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.
- TriTip TEST KITCHEN TIPS
Spread evenly onto all surfaces of beef Tri-Tip Roast.
Let rest for at least 10 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 145°F for medium rare, 160°F for medium. Carve roast across the grain into 1/2 inch thick slices. Serve along side grilled corn Elote.
www.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 7
3. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of roast, not resting in fat. Place roast in smoker, according to manufacturer's instructions. Set timer for 3 hours depending on desired smoke flavor. Smoke roast 2 to 3 hours for medium doneness. Carefully remove roast from smoker when meat thermometer registers 135°F.
Time just seems to fly by these days, but as I look back at what has happened in 2022, I am amazed by the resiliency of our Nevada producers. Producers have been hit by extreme heat, water shortages, lack of feed and/or feed resources, and wind. We also have lost some farmers and ranchers in the past couple of years due to illness.
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of the whole COVID situation, but I do recognize how it has impacted each and everyone one of us. How it has impacted how we do business? How it has impacted our access to supplies and parts? This situation, combined with inflation and increases in interest rates, makes for tough times. My life has certainly changed in 2022. My work life is more focused on recruiting and retaining staff, and providing direction to implement education programs.
The one thing I suggest as we enter fall, is to encourage producers to look at insurance programs for 2023 in their operations. There are some deadlines for insurance coming up quickly. For example, if you have not signed up for the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program, the deadline is November 15, 2002. This is a little over a month away, and there are other USDA, Risk Management Agency insurance programs, including the ability to insure your income in the WholeFarm insurance product. There are also insurance programs through Farm Service Agency (FSA) that are available. It is always a good idea to stop in your local FSA office or to pay attention to what programs are currently available or are going to be USDA,released.Risk Management Agency programs are a little more difficult to identify, but are available on their website. For these programs, you have to find an insurance agent that has the ability to sell you the insurance. I would suggest you work with an agent that can show you the historic data on how the insurance program has performed over the last several years. You want some agricultural experience when buying your Iinsurance.alsoencourage producers to look at ways to improve production or restructure if they can. Our production environments are so different now, especially with all this focus on water, or the lack of it. Sometimes, I feel that the industry is being boxed in from every direction. What I need to remember is that producers are resilient, they are smart, they know their business, and they will find ways to adapt to changing environments.
800 - 513 - 4963 • ww w.pinenutlivestocksupply.com Complete selection of animal health products, feed, and equipment for beef, dairy, equine, sheep, goat and small animal. Snyders LivestockPinenutSupply Fallon: 8 - 5:30 M-F Gardner ville: 8 - 5 M-F The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com8 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
|
Let’s Talk Ag INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR PRODUCERS
By Staci Emmn Editorial
Farming and ranching was not for the faint of heart in 2022 as we begin to prepare for 2023.
My home life has been a little more difficult with trying to keep the family cows and calves alive in heat, dry and windy conditions; growing enough hay to feed cows with limited irrigation; and hoping the markets My father’s life has been about his hay crops and to get everything he can in the stack before it gets rained on or blown away. When you merge the two of us together, it is always a discussion of hay prices, are the cows now costing too much money, and how are we going to move forward. Does the family continue to diversify between hay and cattle to remain solvent? I like the cows and my father is a hay guy, so you can imagine how this discussion are going this year. But, I don’t think we are alone in these discussions. It is tough out there right now, and if producers make it through this year, will they make it through next year? How long can we survive drought, dynamic prices in cattle, and high input costs? I say this every year and producers continue to survive.
The campaign wrapped up at the end of July and included social media, radio, and display banner ads. Overall, the campaign had 15 million impressions! Below are copies of the advertisements used online and radio. Did you hear the radio or digital ads and videos? We would love your feedback.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR "Your support and ongoing investment is the only reason why the Council exists." The Cattle Council Needs You.
Cattle Country, an exhibit at ImagineU Children’s Museum in Visalia, opened in 2021 and showcases the long history of cattle and cowboys in California.
Earlier this summer, we launched an updated phase of the Wildfire Resiliency campaign, which focused on urging our leaders to immediately implement actions to ensure our forest, range, and wildlands are fire resilient and healthy.
CURRENT INVESTMENT PREVIOUS
A MESSAGE FROM
CAP Radio Spot: Aircheck-june-22.mp3https://calcattlecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CA-Cattle-Council-KXJZ-
All board members are cattle producers who equally pay to the Cattle Council. As a cattle producer myself, I also proudly contribute. The Council does not need your investment to succeed. We require your participation. As an organization that prides itself on producer oversight, we need your input, feedback, and support. All Cattle Council meetings are open to the public.
Faces Behind California Cattle Council: JENNIFER BERETTA
It’s an understatement to say that the California Cattle Council would not exist without the support of California’s cattle producers. Your support and ongoing investment is the only reason why the Council exists. A dedicated team of board members and staff closely manages the disbursement of Council funds for priority projects.
The Cattle Council meets in person at least twice per year - once in the spring and once in the fall. A handful of other meetings also typically occur throughout the year. These include meetings of our Executive Committee and project sub-committees. All our open to you to attend, listen and participate. The Council is preparing to host our Fall 2022 meeting on September 19th and 20th in Rancho Murietta near Sacramento. If you can join us in person, please do. Not all our meetings are held in person, though. Some are also available to participate via Zoom. Agendas and log-in instructions are posted on our website at least ten days before each meeting if you can’t catch us in September. You are extremely busy and don’t always have time to attend meetings. We get that. If you cannot participate in our meetings, you can always support the Council and the industry we love by sharing our campaign advertisements on social media. Ranchers and dairy farmers are not our targeted audience, but if you happen to see our paid advertisements on wildfire, the environment, etc., please share them. The Cattle Council was formed by the grassroots, and you are equally important in the success of our campaigns. Support our campaigns by pushing out our advertisements to your friends, neighbors, local leaders, etc. If you don’t see them on social media, please visit our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to view and share our posts. The Cattle Council even recently funded a project to take our campaigns and messages to TikTok to reach Generation Z. Together we can strengthen the awareness of our campaigns and, ultimately, the success of what we hope and intend to achieve with those campaigns. INVESTMENT | Murietta, CA We will provide more details in the coming weeks. If
New Phase Of Wildfire Resiliency Campaign Launched This Summer
To learn more about Jennifer and why she’s passionate about advocating for agriculture, visit calcattlecouncil.org/board-member-spotlight-jennifer-beretta/
Radio Ad: https://calcattlecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CCC_GoodFire_60Radio.mp3
Rancho
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Save the Date Fall 2022 Meeting September 19 & 20
In July, season 1 of #StoriesFromCCC ended with a visit to the Koopmann’s, discussing recipes and cooking a steak au poivre. Podcast host Ryan caught up with Natalie Koopmann and talked about recipes. The Koopmann's sell beef directly to consumers, and their recipes prove beneficial. Get Natalie's recipe, listen to the episode and see more behind-the-scenes photos on our website here: Cattlemen’stheCalCattleCountry.Getcalcattlecouncil.org/season-2-episode-1-out-now/Ranch.BuckThecalcattlecouncil.org/season-1-finale-steak-au-poivre-with-natalie-koopmann/https://podcast'snewseasonkickedoffwithatriptoKernCounty,whereRyanvisitedOwen'sCrystalPalaceinBakersfield,theGlennvilleJr.Rodeo,andLaver'sTolistentoandseemorephotosfromS2E1,visitourwebsiteathttps://abehind-the-sceneslookatthepodcastbyfollowingourInstagrampage@Tolistenandlearnabouteachepisode,visitthehomepageofCaliforniaCattleCouncilwebsite.ThispodcastisproducedbytheCaliforniaFoundationwithsupportfromtheCaliforniaCattleCouncil.
Cattle Country Exhibit Open
Complete with two baby calves in need of love and care, the exhibit teaches kids the basics of cattle and cowboy culture. The exhibit is presented by Tulare County Cattle Women's Association and funded by the California Cattle Council and Tulare County Cattlemen.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 9
If you visit the exhibit, take a picture and tag us on social media!
you are interested in receiving meeting agendas via email, please sign up on our website: https://calcattlecouncil.org/meetings/
ennifer Beretta is a 4th generation dairy farmer in Santa Rosa, working alongside her father and brother at Beretta Dairy. Beretta is a Council board member and got involved to ensure that the investments made by California’s cattle producers are reinvested in programs that directly benefit them.
In Tulare County Children’s Museum
New Season Of Stories From California Cattle Country Is Out Now
ImagineU is located in downtown Visalia and is open to the public Friday through Monday. Visit www.imagineumuseum.org/visit for more information.
Speaking of the Beef Checkoff, close to 80% of producers still support this vital program, but it faces challenges. For instance, the dollar we paid when we sold a beef animal in 1989 only equals about $.40 today. Thus, the Beef Checkoff contractors must make the money they receive from the Beef Promotion Operating Committee to fund their projects stretch even further. Moreover, there are more media platforms the Checkoff must occupy nowadays to stay competitive against other protein sources.
In late June, the US Supreme Court denied R-Calf’s lawsuit against the Beef Checkoff. This ruling confirms the Checkoff and the contractors use of producer money to fund the Checkoff programs are following the law. As one of the contractors using Checkoff dollars NCBA was very involved in defending the Beef Checkoff against attacks from R- Calf and its lawyers from a group called Public Justice. In fact, NCBA was the only contractor spending significant amounts of non-checkoff money to defend the Checkoff.
I’ll see
Another important recent Supreme Court decision, West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will have precedential implications for anyone who must deal with a regulatory agency of the Federal Government. The question decided by the Court was whether the Clean Air Act gave the EPA the authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. It was argued that the EPA exceeded its statutory authority by enforcing a rule to shut down coal-fired plants and allow renewable energy generators to replace coal.
Another obvious question is why would a cattle industry group such as R-Calf align itself with antianimal agricultural groups? This is a question I cannot answer but one which should be asked of R-Calf.
The good news of course is the Checkoff has survived to continue its important work to maintain and increase demand for beef on the plate here and abroad.
The Supreme Court ruled “[a] decision of such magnitude and consequence rests with Congress itself, or an agency acting pursuant to clear delegation from that representative body.” What this means in the larger legal universe is an agency cannot create the policy and then promulgate rules they think are necessary if there is no enabling legislation giving the agency that authority. In other words, a Congressional mandate fully debated and passed by a majority giving an agency clear direction is required for the agency to act constitutionally. This holding should be helpful for any entity to analyze whether an action by an agency is authorized by the policies passed by Congress.
The beef industry recently enjoyed some very positive results that will be responsible for positive impacts to America’s farmers and ranchers and some indirect benefits from court decisions which have been pending for quite some time.
Many of you might have heard the term “agency creep.” My understanding of what this means is career employees of a government making decisions based upon what they think the law is, or ought to be, rather than the dictates of the legislative branch creating a policy to be conducted by the Executive Branch.
Of course, this means that people and organizations who want to implement a new policy favoring their agenda will have to work with Congress and pass a law instead of lobbying an agency to create a new onerous rule. For too long agency creep has taken over much of the regulation and implementation of new agency created policies without a lot of Legislative Branch oversight. This Supreme Court decision sends a signal to the Executive Branch to be careful and not wander outside of a law’s boundaries.
soon. Positive Rulings Nevada Water Solutions LLC Thomas K. Gallagher, PE 775 • 825 • 1653 / FAX 775 • 825 • 1683 333 Flint Street / Reno, NV 89501 Watertomg@nevadawatersolutions.comRights/ResourcePermittingExpertise The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com10 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
The system of laws this nation has created using the Constitution as the bedrock rarely sees things in black and white. We inherited the common law from our English ancestry. This means the law evolves through cases settled by judges and juries. Every case is different and although prior rulings create precedents in their rulings for future courts to follow, most times these cases are all different in small or large ways.
You might logically ask what resources did R-Calf use in the years long fight to declare the Checkoff unconstitutional? An organization called Public Justice provided the lawyers for the R-Calf attack on the Beef Checkoff. Public Justice lawyers are closely aligned with groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. As most of you know, these organizations would like to ultimately forbid animal agriculture from helping to provide the world a balanced food supply.
Executive branch agencies are created by statute and given guidelines by those statutes on what they can and cannot regulate. An agency is not the jury and judge of what can be properly regulated. That is why we have courts with the job of telling an agency when it has overstepped its bounds or followed the law. And, this is what the US Supreme Court did in both cases. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has followed the law relative to the Beef Checkoff and EPA has not followed the law. If the facts proved opposite in these two cases and the rulings were reversed, we would still have to respect the decision of the Court. you
Could Your Private Property Become a Thoroughfare for People Accessing Federal Land?
Opinion Editorial | by Rachael Buzanowski
The defendants argue that because the federal Unlawful Inclosures Act (UIA) prohibits anyone from enclosing or obstructing free passage or transit over or through federal lands, a private landowner cannot stop the public from accessing federal lands across private lands. This argument grossly enlarges both the scope and the purpose of the UIA. The UIA was created to prevent ranchers from strategically fencing lands in such a way that provided them exclusive livestock grazing on federal lands. The Act in no way gives permission to the public to trespass on private property. Thus, the UIA simply does not apply here since the issue in this case is keeping unwanted trespassers off private land, not preventing others from grazing cattle on federal land.
From Montana to New Mexico and all states west, federal lands make up a great deal of the landscape. These lands are often open for grazing, mineral development, and recreational activities to the public. However, not all these federal lands have legal public access. Sure, some have public roads going to them, but others are completely landlocked by privately owned lands. Still other federal lands are found in what is known as the “checkerboard.” Checkerboard lands trace back to the time when the U.S. Government granted thousands of acres to railroad companies by giving them the odd numbered sections (640 acres), for up to twenty miles, on either side of the tracks. The remaining sections were reserved to the federal government and are now generally managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The railroad companies eventually sold their lands to private landowners to finance the construction of the railroads. This resulted in the current configuration of one section being managed by the BLM and the next being privately owned.
For morepleaseinformation,call (530) 347-3793 or email us wvm@wvmcattle.comat Look for the catalog and video on ww w.w vmcat tle.com Market your cattle with the professionals! WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE on the Web at: U P C O MI N G S A L ES Tues • Sept 13, 2022 Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. • Ogallala, NE u • Oct 27, 2022 WVM Headquarters • Cottonwood, CA Consignment Deadline: Oct 19 Tues • Nov 29, 2022 Silver Legacy Casino • Reno, NV Consignment Deadline: Nov 10 The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 11
The public does not have the right to trespass on private property to get to federal lands. According to the U.S. Supreme Court, “Ownership of property implies the right of possession and control and includes the right to exclude others; that is, a true owner of land exercises full dominion and control over it and possesses the right to expel trespassers.” This should include stopping someone from using a “ladder” just to get across your property. While the scope of private property is defined by state law, this case will have west-wide implications for all private property owners in checkerboard lands. Depending on the outcome of this litigation, your private land could become a thoroughfare to the federal lands.
The common corners of four checkerboard sections consist of two private and two federal sections, with the private sections situated diagonally from each other. Federal lands in the checkerboard have generally been deemed inaccessible to the public unless serviced by a public road because there is no right to trespass across private land to access federal land. However, the scope of private property rights in the checkerboard are now being tested in a Wyoming federal court. In a case specifically designed to get a court’s ruling on the issue, four members of the public used a “ladder” to go from one corner of federal land to another. “Technically” these individuals did not touch the private surface, but they clearly entered the airspace above the private lands – it would be impossible not to. This airspace is as much part of the private property as the soil beneath it.
There is nothing in Congress’ creation of the checkerboard land pattern that indicates it intended to allow the public to access federal lands by crossing private property. Congress knows how to write bills that allow access across private property to federal lands, Congress did not do that here. Even the federal agencies do not believe that the public can corner cross to get to the federal checkerboard sections. Brochures developed by the BLM and Forest Service caution against corner crossing to get to federal lands. If access to federal checkerboard land is desirable, Congressional, and state statutes, provide a plan – purchase the access from the private landowner.
Carl was one of the greatest silversmiths and engravers of all time. He loved helping others learn the craft. If you are lucky enough to have a buckle, money clip, bracelet or cross made by Carl, you have a real treasure. His was the end of an era for crafting handmade silver work. A roping was enjoyed by Carl's friends the day his Celebration of Life was held at the Rafter C3 Steers (provided by Tommy Lee, managed by the Lees). Look for the story and photos of that Roping in the next issue of this magazine.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com12 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
November 13, 1934 ~ November 23, 2021
Marilynn was born in Wray, Colorado, on November 13, 1934 to Jesse and Myrtle Spellman, and later moved to a small acreage outside of Wilder, Idaho. Marilynn attended school in Wilder in the Wilder School District graduating in the Class of 1953.
Carl will be missed by his family and so many friends, especially his old partner, Joe Riggs, who counted Carl as his best friend for life.
Marilynn married Jim Richards after graduating from high school. She later divorced and married Edgel Roper in Wilder and was later widowed. On April 15, 2003 there was a chance meeting between mom and Alan Greenway. Alan held the door open for mom as they entered a country jam session in Adrian, Oregon. It was later learned that Mom timed her entry to coincide with Alan’s entry. This began a new relationship that lasted 19 years. They traveled through 3/4 of the states, visited Alaska annually, traveled to Canada, the Baja and Costa Rica. They pulled together during the tough times and enjoyed life during the good times. Alan said, “It was a very good run, and I couldn’t have lucked out with a better companion. And thus it was ever so!”
The team roping world has lost another legend. It is with sadness we share the news that Carl Norris, 87 years old, of Fallon, Nevada passed away Feb. 16, 2022. He died peacefully at home with his loving wife of 50 years, Lynda Lamb Norris by his side. He is also survived by his daughters, Mary Ellen Norris and Terri Campbell and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
January 20, 1935 ~ February 16, 2022
It was a perfect life... Carl Norris
Marilynn is survived by her husband Alan Greenway of Caldwell; her three children: Mick (Leigh) Richards of Caldwell, Nancy Stroebel of Joseph, Oregon and Sheri Richards of Caldwell. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Carl was a champion heeler, master silversmith, horse trailer manufacturer and an astute businessman. He won the IRA champion heeler award in 1962, being the first team roper to win the award. He won roping events for many years, competing mainly in the west. Carl always opted to rope close to home so he could concentrate on his business dealings.
Marilynn Joyce Roper Greenway, 87, of Caldwell, Idaho, wife of Alan Greenway of Greenway Seeds, died of a sudden illness on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell.
Carl had many friends in the roping world. He loved roping at Oakdale and playing pitch with the guys. Leo always said as he entered a pitch game with Carl and Joe, "I wonder if I should even be playing cards with you two!" Carl traveled with a lively group of ropers, Joe, Herb Ingersoll & Sonny Blevins. Things were never dull and the memories were treasured and rehashed over and over. Mike Beers still laughs when he tells the story of overhearing Joe say to Carl after backing in the box at Winnemucca, "Carl where do you want me to stand this steer while you coil up?" Carl had coiled up on the 1st steer and roped the 2nd clean to win the roping!
Marilynn was a very selfless person, always kind and loving, always thinking of her family. She was always there when one of us needed her and has always been an important part of our family; she was our rock, our center and she will be greatly missed by us all. Marilynn was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Myrtle Spellman of Wilder, Idaho; her three older sisters, Ruby Knight, Lois Hall and Olive Detweiler, and her grandson, Tracy Stoebel. Marilynn Joyce Roper Greenway
Marilynn’s three children were always her priority, she chose to stay home and raise her children and was the best Mother they could have ever hoped for. After her children were older Marilynn decided to seek work and got a job with the Wilder School District, later working for the Morfitts grocery store in Wilder then later worked for JC Watsons in Homedale, Idaho where she later retired. Marilynn loved to do the crossword puzzle daily from the local newspaper and religiously wrote in her diary daily for many years. She had a passion for interior decorating and became quite good at it. She also enjoyed playing the card game solitaire which she called “old Sol” and she kept a running tally of her scores for years. Marilynn enjoyed having her children and grandchildren visit. She would cook and bake for them; no one ever left her house hungry! We looked forward to the homemade Christmas candy she made for each of us at Christmas every year. Marilynn loved to shop at various thrift shops looking for a bargain and she almost always found one!
Carl successfully owned and operated Custom Trailers, selling horse and cattle trailers all over the country. Custom Trailers was the longest running trailer dealership in Nevada. He was instrumental in helping Bud Corwin start B & C Trailers in Manteca, CA and helping Joe Riggs start The Trailer Mart in Bakersfield, CA. Carl and Joe were not only roping partners but were also partners in many adventures in their sixty six year friendship. Their only losing business was their first endeavor, selling Christmas trees in Reno & Carson City in 1956. Both decided there must be a better way to make money, since they didn't break even and never tried that again.
Supplemental income is how it all started. Fourth Generation Rancher/Farmer Samantha Allison has spent the last four years applying all the knowledge handed down from her Grandparents Jane and Toby Sceirine and her Father David Sceirine into Lux Lavender. What started out as an idea has now turned into one of the Largest Lavender Farms on the West Coast. Samantha and her husband Erik Allison have continued with the Rancher/ Farmer foundation, then have added Lavender to the equation for sustainability purposes due to the difficult Cattle Market, drought issues and Governmental changes. Samantha and Erik have two Daughters that are also involved with the Ranching and Farming when not participating in Volleyball, Softball and RanchingRodeo.
Lux Lavender is in Yerington, Nevada. What started out as 2,200 Lavender plants, has now grown to over 10,000 planted plants. Utilizing modern technology has allowed for Lux Lavender to expand very quickly. From innovative irrigation technologies, GPS systems and as always custom onsite hand-built implements, Lux Lavender is setting the Farm up to be fully Lavendermechanized.plants
are known for their amazing aroma’s, health benefits, culinary options, pest control and weed control. Lux Lavender’s go to is Steam Distillation. The Lavender plants are hand harvested, placed into a 35-gallon pot and the Essential Oil is extracted. During the process, a biproduct is also created which is called Hydrosol, which also has some amazing benefits to it as well. Once the Distillation process is complete, the steamed stems and buds that were originally harvested are dried, mulched and placed back in the Lavender fields for erosion control. Lux Lavender is working very hard to have no waste from start to finish during their distillation process.
Lavender fields beginning to bloom It will be harvested mid summer The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 13
For one local business, the future is coming up LAVENDER
and Farming is still a large portion of business for Lux Lavender/ S.E.T.LLC. With a fully operational Feedlot and cattle to be fed daily, adding a Lavender Farm into the equation seemed fairly easy for Samantha and her Husband. With such a wide-open market and generous support from the United States Lavender Growers Association, it has made their endeavor very exciting and rewarding.
Owners Erik and Samantha Allison, along with Amanda Vincent and show off some of the products made on site with lavender, at Lux Lavender
At Lux Lavender you will find thousands of baby plants that have been Propagated on site. Plants are grown, potted and shipped all over the United States. Lux Lavender plants have been planted in Texas, Minnesota, Idaho, California and Utah this year alone. Lux Lavender has also supported other local Lavender growers with the establishing of their Lavender plots for wedding venues and Bee Keeping locations. The future is looking very Purple for Lux Lavender. With a goal of 25,000 planted plants by 2024, purchase of a commercial sized steam distillation unit and building more efficient harvesting equipment, we cant wait to check back in with them and see how sweet their business is smelling.
Collaborations with other local businesses has been one of the main goals for Samantha and Erik. Lux Lavender also has a culinary line of Lavender plants as well as numerous products that are manufactured on-site. Spices, Lotions, CBD creams and Beauty products are just a few of the items.
Jon explained that the 8-acre project cost about $1,500 to $3,000 for water, supplements and moving the animals at the site, which would be $180 to $375 per acre. He said many factors influence the cost, and each site is different. For instance, traditional use of herbicide (imazapic) to control dry cheatgrass fuels cost around $20 per acre. He added that having multiple options to control fuels and decrease fire threats is the best strategy to conserve rangelands.
The event took place July 12-13 at Maggie Creek, north of Carlin, Nevada. This riparian area is decades into recovery after the creek was channelized for irrigation. Maggie Creek now meanders and flows naturally, creating a diverse riparian ecosystem. The focus of the field tour this year was Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) monitoring, although is impossible not to discuss cheatgrass, fuels and fire on any field tour in WeNevada.started the day by observing a targeted grazing study area in an 8-acre exclosure along Interstate 80. Jon Griggs, who manages the Maggie Creek Ranch, explained how the project began. Pat Clark from USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Boise Idaho reached out to Jon about adding this site to their targeted grazing research program in Idaho and Nevada, the closest site being on the TS Ranch property just to the west. Jon explained some of last year’s grazing treatments, which involved about 100 cows stocked in either spring or fall/winter when the cheatgrass had senesced. Jon described the difficulty of hitting the window of cheatgrass greenness in spring which, coupled with the varying height of cheatgrass year to year, made spring grazing difficult. He found it easier to graze the dried cheatgrass fuel off the site in fall/winter because it can be done anytime during that period. Grazing during fall/winter helps remove dry carryover fuels. Hanes Holman, local Carlin rancher, began the TS Ranch targeted grazing project. Hanes, who is the 2022 NV Cattlemen’s Association presidentelect, gave a brief background on that project.
The next stop was a lower section of Maggie Creek, where Chris Jasmine discussed adaptive management in annually changing environments. Chris highlighted the importance of not only having adaptive management when something has worked poorly or failed, but also having options ready when things go better than expected. He explained that this site had been rested from grazing to support the plants’ recovery, but the plants were more productive than expected and he wondered if some grazing would be a good thing at this point. He stressed the importance of considering not only resting grazing but also increasing grazing to achieve conservation objectives.
For this year’s summer field tour the Nevada section of the Society for Range Management (NVSRM) had the pleasure of co-hosting the event with the ROGER (Results Orientated Grazing for Ecological Resilience) group. While there is a lot of shared membership between NVSRM and ROGER , this was their first joint meeting. Meghan Brown, 2022 president-elect of NVSRM, organized an amazing program that was attended by producers, resource agencies, researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and other interest groups.
Chris Jasmine, with Nevada Gold, currently oversees the TS Ranch project, pointed to recent fires that were stopped at the targeted grazing strip. He said the fires don’t stop on the grazed fire breaks but the decrease in fuel changes the fire’s behavior enough to buy time for the fire crew to stop them at the fuel breaks. Chris explained that the purpose of the targeted grazing is not to restore the perennial plant community, or rehab the site, but solely to remove or reduce fuels enough to change fire behavior and increase chances to stop them
Lessons From Maggie Creek
What Makes a Good Riparian Habitat?
This section of riparian corridor of Maggie Creek had recovered so well that the cattails had returned and water holding had drowned out the willows, so it resembled a wide (100 feet) marsh full of cattails and other wetland plants. Jon joked that “it is not a good day” when an animal wonders out in the marsh and has to be rescued.
By Dan Harmon and Meghan Brown
Figure 1. Maggie Creek in the early stages of it’s recovery (left 1980) and 30 years later (right). Photo credit: Elko BLM
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com14 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Jon showed a map with past fires in the area. The fires covered a significant part of the landscape and surrounded where we were standing. One fire burned right across the creek and spread to the foothills on the other side. T.J. Thompson from the Kings River Ranch explained that while the riparian areas in his allotments get a lot of attention and are critically important, they represent only maybe 5% of the landscape and we can’t focus on them alone. The other 95% of the landscape that is often at risk of fire and annual grass invasion is also critically important to the ecosystem function and if degraded can negatively affect the riparian areas. At this stop we began to notice the Mormon crickets that blanketed the vegetation along the creek, like an apocalyptic scene from a movie. In drought years the crickets can have population outbreaks in Northern Nevada and cause significant damage to plant communities. Before moving to the next site, we all did a quick cricket check to clear off any unwanted Wepassengers.finished the day at Maggie Creek Ranch’s Red House Unit, a few miles north from our last stop, discussing the topics of the day over an amazing dinner featuring Maggie Creek Ranch brisket. NVSRM presented Jon Griggs and the ROGER group with a stewardship award for their continued dedication to resource conservation and supporting rangeland ecology sciences. Kevin Ahearn, the manager at Red House, and his crew were amazing hosts for the evening as the sun set and we made for the campsite, a mile up the creek. The following morning we continued the tour at a site near camp, that had been seeded to crested wheatgrass
Further upstream we saw where a beaver dam had increased the depth of the creek. Beaver ponds that form upstream of each dam retain water during wetter parts of the year. During drier parts of the year, they gradually release that water into nearby soil where it is accessible to the roots of riparian vegetation. The creek meandered quite a bit in this area with some sections having deep incised sides on large downstream bends. Jon explained that the creek and riparian corridor was previously in poor condition, not so much because of the grazing regime but because the creek was channelized for irrigation purposes. That practice of creating straight irrigation channels, and removing the water from the natural flow of the creek, heavily degraded the riparian system. Once the creek was returned to its natural flow regime, the recovery process began. Willows returned and then beavers began to use the creek, which increased water holding capacity, and riparian plant communities began to develop and function.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 15
The upper terrace meadow we were standing in, above the cattail marsh and creek, was heavily invaded by Basin Big Sagebrush that was quite old with large trunks standing 6 feet tall. There was a brief discussion on methods of sagebrush control to release the meadow herbaceous understory plants. The group covered the pros and cons of using mowing, crushing or herbicides to control the sagebrush. It was thought the most effective and economical method would probably be a 2-4D treatment to control the sagebrush and the rabbitbrush; rabbitbrush can’t be controlled with mowing or crushing like sagebrush. We walked half a mile along the creek through a dense, sagebrush-invaded meadow. We saw understory areas dominated by creeping wildrye and juncus and drier areas where cheatgrass had invaded. Beaver dams along the creek had increased the water holding capacity. We even saw evidence of beaver chewing on large sagebrush trunks along the creek. Our next stop was a water gap area where livestock have access to Maggie Creek. Jon Griggs discussed the importance of having access to the creek for water and the benefits of water gaps to help address the challenges associated with managing livestock grazing to maintain or improve riparian habitats. Paul Meiman, associate professor with UNR Extension, discussed the differences between short-term and long-term monitoring and how both are required to ensure proper management decisions. This discussion focused on livestock grazing for riparian and LCT habitat. He reminded the group that when it comes to livestock grazing management, the problem of relying too heavily ,or entirely, on short-term indicators and not enough on long-term indicators has been an ongoing challenge. Paul summarized a 70-year history of problems, from attempting to manage livestock grazing based only on utilization (one form Figure 2. Chris Jasmine speaks to the group at stop #2. Notice the large dense sagebrush (right) that has invaded the meadow above the creek. of short-term monitoring) and explained that very similar problems would likely occur for other types of short-term targets (stubble height, woody plant utilization and streambank alteration) if too much, or all of the emphasis is placed on those. The intent was to brainstorm ways to avoid this problem and ensure that a mix of short-term and long-term indicators guides management.
At this stop we discussed the effect that fire and the subsequent cheatgrass dominance on the surrounding, more arid hill slopes can have on the riparian system.
The group discussed monitoring techniques and combinations of indicators that might be helpful to estimate animal use and its impact on the riparian area through time. For example, stubble height and streambank alteration (hoofprints) are 2 short-term indicators that could be combined with one or more long-term indicators such as measurements of stream width (greenline to greenline) to provide valuable information for managers. Dr. Tamzen Stringham, a riparian ecologist at UNR, said the effectiveness of current monitoring measurements used by the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could be improved by choosing monitoring methods appropriate for specific stream types instead of a standardized, one-size-fitsall approach. The USFWS challenged that notion and argued their appropriateness. Dr. Stringham clarified her comments noting that the short-term indicator of bank damage may be appropriate for low gradient, sedge dominated streams but is ineffective for high gradient, willow lined channels. The local BLM office stated there were concerns on what monitoring was best but overall the current methods seemed to be effective. Dr. Stringham voiced her concern that BLM does not have the manpower to monitor; therefore they contract out monitoring to individuals who may not have the skill set necessary to collect quality monitoring data. Laura Van Riper, with the BLM’s National Riparian Service Plan, suggested that Dr. Stringham and Dr. Meiman get together with USFWS and the BLM to determine the most effective monitoring methods to ensure the best management of riparian resources.
Figure 4. Hondo Brisban presents some preliminary data on his soil carbon storage research at Maggie Creek. after a fire in the late 1970s. Jon pointed out that this site was now dominated by sagebrush with a sparse crested wheatgrass understory and interspace. This led to a discussion about what promotes sagebrush return in crested wheatgrass or any perennial grass dominated plant community. Dr. Stringham explained that heavy spring grazing, for multiple years in a row, of perennial grass should decrease site competitiveness of the perennial grasses and promote faster sagebrush return as long as there is a sagebrush seed source (mother plants) present. Dan Harmon of the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Reno, explained that the literature describes how many plant communities in the arid regions of the Great Basin are shrub dominated, with perennial grass being subdominant, because the shrub’s deep tap root can help it survive, giving it an advantage over the shallower rooted perennial grasses. In the Columbia Plateau region, in areas like southern Idaho, with favorable soils and wetter conditions than the Great Basin, the perennial grasses dominate and shrubs are sub-dominant. These differences can be observed on the landscape with the hundreds of thousands of acres historically seeded to crested wheatgrass in Nevada that are now dominated by sagebrush with little crested wheatgrass remaining along U.S. 50 east of Austin, Nevada, as well as many areas in Northern Nevada. It was noted that in Idaho, areas dominated by crested wheatgrass or bluebunch wheatgrass have had very slow shrub return. Next we stopped near a section of Maggie Creek that had large culverts used as fish ladders to help Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) movement and to help with movement of water for irrigation of the meadows. Jon Griggs showed pictures of the last big flood that had washed the culverts out and the improvements made to them to hopefully avoid the damage with the next flood event.
Figure 3. Paul Meiman discusses the various monitoring options for this Water Gap section of Maggie Creek.
The final presentation occurred back at the Red House Ranch where we enjoyed some shade. Hondo Brisban, a UNR graduate student in Dr. Stringham’s lab, presented some of the research he and others from UNR are doing at Maggie Creek. Hondo is collecting data on soil carbon storage, a popular topic due to climate and carbon emissions concerns. He gave an overview of the research and some preliminary results that he is using to work toward creating a model to predict carbon storage in these systems. The general pattern with carbon storage is that the more plant roots in the soil, the more carbon makes its way into the soil to be stored. Based on Hondo’s study, as you go upstream along the creek and water increases along with plant community productiveness, so does soil carbon storage.
We finished the tour with everyone giving a brief statement of what was best about the meeting. A common thread was the appreciation for the participation of the attendees and a feeling of stewardship concern, cooperation and collaboration from all.
Melany Aten with the Nevada Association of Conservation Districts (NVACD) asked if USFWS had heard any concerns from producers that if LCT was introduced into a waterway they were using, it could lead to restricted use of that area. Sean Vogt, with USFWS, explained that LCT are released only into waterways that are appropriate for their survival, and properly managed livestock use that results in properly functioning riparian ecosystems shouldn’t create conflict with LCT management or result in restrictions to the livestock operation.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com16 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
A discussion ensued about the best indicators of a well functioning creek. The group thought that indicators that were more long term and less affected by the current year’s weather conditions were best. The group had a discussion of the appropriateness of using water temperature as an indicator that could restrict livestock use of the area, since it is so highly variable based on the time of year and seasonal weather conditions. Jason explained that staying below a specific temperature was critical to LCT survival, so it is a necessary monitoring measurement but shouldn’t be the main indicator for restricting riparian area use by animals. There was a small debate whether or not USFWS recommends the BLM include water temperature in their monitoring protocols. Sean believed it wasn’t typically included as a restricted use indicator. However, the local BLM thought that it was often recommended for use as an indicator and gave some examples when it was used. Both folks agreed that the agencies should further discuss their concerns in regard to riparian ecosystem health and function monitoring.
NVSRM would like to thank the ROGER group, the hosts and all the participants for a fun and informative field tour.
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Jason Barns with Trout Unlimited explained the importance of this section of the creek to spawning movement. He explained how they monitor the gene pool of the fish along the creek to ensure there is good fish movement and genetic diversity among all the populations along the creek. The group discussed what makes good habitat for the LCT and how to monitor or evaluate habitat condition.
THE PROGRESSIVE RANCHER Now Accepting Articles, Stories and Op Ed progressiverancher@gmail.combuildsOurbedigitalADVERTISESubmissions!WITHUSWehavealargephysicalanddistribution;youradwillseenbyover30,000readers!goalistoprintinformationthatabetterunderstandingofourindustrywhileincludinglocalandindustry-wideagriculturalarticlesofinteresttofarmersandranchers.(208)358-2487 The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 17
Chicken Ranch South of Wells 3796 + Deeded acres fenced an cross fenced with a stock water well and water from a permitted spring. The ranch has an approved irrigation permit for 130 acres and 3 phase power is readily available. There is a 100 acre parcel zoned Industrial with Rail access and access onto US. Hwy 93. Price: $2,277,559
If you’re looking to sell a farm or ranch, give me call! For additional information on these properties, go to: BOTTARIREALTY.COM Paul D. Bottari, Broker Nevada License No. B 015476 1222paul@bottarirealty.com6thSt.POBox368 Wells, NV 89835 Work: 775.752.3040Cell:775.752.0952Fax:775.752.3021
Winter and Summer Range plus 500+ acres of Irrigated lands Bar O Ranch is for sale and has been expanded to 909+ deeded acres. Winter and Summer Range to run approx. 300 pair year around plus sell hay off approx. 500 acres of irrigated lands. There are 5 pivots 3 of which are brand new. 5 irrigation wells service the pivots plus a stream at the home ranch. The home ranch has 3 homes with 3 shops and a horse barn. Good corrals, a hay barn and some equipment included in the sale. Give me a call for more information. This one has great income potential!
Agricultural credit programs for distressed farm borrowers and assistance for underserved farmers and ranchers will provide $3.1 billion for debt modifications, including debt forgiveness for “distressed borrowers of USDA’s Farmer Service Agency (FSA) direct or guaranteed farm loans “whose agricultural operations are at financial risk.”
General inflation, as noted by Cryan, is a long-term problem, regardless of what those who passed the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” call their next round of tax and spend legislation. We’re going to need to deal with extra burdens on our wallets for the next few years. Reduction Act” That Might
Renewable Energy is another area included in the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” There’s $13.3 billion for farm bill energy title programs… $1 billion for electric loans for renewable energy under the Rural Electrification Act
The U.S. House vote came on a 220 to 207 vote. As is frequently noted…”elections have consequences.”
The outline of the revenue side of the legislation
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When it came to voting, every member did what they were told, and the legislative process has been completed.
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Although we’re supposed to believe that the slight downtick in the inflation from June’s inflation rate of 9.1 percent to July’s 8.5 percent level Roger Cryan, the Chief Economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) believes that the inflation rate will bounce around in the 5 to 9 percent between now and early into 2024. Farmers and ranchers aren’t alone in facing a tough economy. Many agricultural producers however, are struggling to hang on in the face of skyrocketing input costs. Like consumers, who are having to deal with food price increases near the 11 percent rate over last year’s levels, farmers and ranchers are price takers – not price makers. They can’t pass increased costs of the products they produce on up the supply chain.
The U.S. Senate vote came down to a 50-50 tie and the Vice President settled the tie by voting for the passage.
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The Federal Reserve Bank’s activities got us into the current inflation situation we’re in. They increased the money supply by $6.4 trillion from 2020 through early 2022, an increase of 42 percent. Increased spending and increased money supply overstimulated the economy.
•includes:$313billion increases through the 15 percent Corporate minimum tax $288 billion through prescription drug pricing “reforms”
• $5 million goes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out the Renewable Fuel Standard program (to be used in part for data collection and analyses for lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuel)
• $124 billion by way of IRS tax enforcement (sort of gives you an idea what the 87,000 extra IRS people will be working on…) It wouldn’t be a true tax and spend bill without the spending side of the plan… $369 billion in the form of energy security and climate change spending $300 billion in “buying down” deficits
• $500 million for grants to increase the sale and use of agricultural commodity-based fuels through infrastructure improvements for blending, storing, supplying or distributing biofuels
• $9.7 billion for rural cooperatives for loans to eligible entities for the long-term resiliency, reliability and affordability of rural electric systems through purchasing renewable energy, renewable energy systems, zero-emission systems, carbon capture and storage systems
$8.46 billion for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) $4.95 billion for Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) $3.25 billion for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) $1.40 billion for Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) $1.0 billion for conservation technical assistance $300 million for a carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions quantification program $100 million for administrative expenses
The “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,”will provide $5 billion for forest management planning and restoration activities for federal and non-federal forest. The U.S. Forest Service gets $2.15 billion of this amount with the funding aimed at hazardous fuel reduction or vegetative management projects on national forest lands. Also included in areas where this funding is intended will be covering inventory and protecting old-growth and mature forest and for improving environmental reviews. Non-federal forest management will get $2.75 billion in the form of grants and other financial assistance. These dollars could include funding for urban and community forestry programs. The grant programs are envisioned to support climate mitigation activities and facilitate participation in forest carbon markets. Several of the grant programs would be specifically targeted to support the participation of “underserved forest landowners.”
It wasn’t going to happen until two members of the U.S. Senate worked out their deal in the basement of the U.S. Capital and one of the other members of the Senate agreed to go along with their deal, as long as she got what she wanted added too.
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Matter The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com18 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
As this is being written the U.S. House has completed the legislative process for passage of the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” It will become law without any votes for the legislation beyond the members of the political party controlling the two legislative bodies.
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The version of the legislation that eventually passed includes nearly $38 billion for agricultural conservation, credit, renewable energy and forestry. This funding would remain available only through fiscal year 2031. The numbers presented here are taken from the Congressional Research Service’s August 10th “Inflation Reduction Act: Agricultural Conservation and Credit, Renewable Energy and Forestry” briefing paper. Breaking down the Agricultural Conservation portion of the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” there’s over $18 billion in additional funding for existing farm bill conservation programs…
Beyond the political rationale to call this tax and spend legislation the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” it’s a little unusual for sound economic policy to involve taxing and government spending as a strategy for reducing inflation.
By Doug Busselman | NFB, Executive Vice President
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The final $740 billion dollar bill wasn’t as big as the version which passed the U.S. House the first time and also changed from the “Build Back Better” name to the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.”
Nevada Farm Bureau
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What’s In The “Inflation
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Along with the increases in taxes, embodied in the bill, there is also the breath-taking plans – and funding – to increase the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) workforce by 87,000 new IRS agents.
• $1.7 billion for eligible projects under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) $304 million for grants and loans for underutilized renewable energy technologies and technical assistance with REAP applications
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The same legislation also includes nearly $2.9 billion to help “underserved farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.” These categories are defined to include those living in high poverty areas and veterans. Limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers.
• $10 million for new grants to support investment in advanced biofuels
Elevating Ag Education In Nevada
The NFB Women’s Leadership Committee will be sponsoring a silent auction to raise money for agriculture promotion and education. County Farm Bureaus are encouraged to donate items for the silent auction. All proceeds go to the Women’s Leadership Committee, Young Farmers & Ranchers and the Heritage Foundation.
NFB hopes to do this with are new Director of Agriculture Education, Woody Worthington. He will focus on building a strong relationship with Ag in the Classroom volunteers and educators throughout the state. Woody has been a part of the Douglas-Carson Farm Bureau for the past 15 years and coordinated the Ag in the Classroom program for Douglas County and Carson City schools. Creating a variety of stations for the students to learn from, the success of Ag in the Classroom was evident by the increase in 4-H and FFA members and the excitement from the community members. Please feel free to reach out the Woody Worthington the Director of Agriculture Education with any questions at, woody@nvfb.org. With the start of the new school year underway NFB hopes to see more Ag in the Classroom events in local schools. As a reminder we have many great resources available for anybody interested in getting an Ag in the Classroom event started in their community.
With a new name for the trailer picked and the goal of incorporating agriculture found throughout the state in motion the trailer got a fresh new outside design and inside makeover as well.
The Nevada Farm Bureau (NFB) Annual meeting is an exciting time for members to come together and grow though educational breakout sessions. One of the other primary purposes of the annual meeting is working on Farm Bureau policy recommendations, deletions and or amendments.
The NFB Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee will be hosting the Annual Discussion Meet. It will be a great competition with one lucky winner taking home a belt buckle, cash prize and trip to the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting to compete in the National YF&R Discussion Meet.
By Brittney Money
MeetingAnnualTime!
Nevada Farm Bureau STAY UP-TO-DATE ON AG NEWS! Sign up at at nvfb.org for the weekly Grassroots Newsletter and have current AG topics delivered right to your inbox.
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The goal of the whole project is to promote Nevada agriculture not only through Ag in the Classroom events, but also at local county fairs and other events throughout the state. Our mission is to bridge the gap between agriculture and the community.
As the new year kicked off, the NFB set out to renovate the previously known World of Corn trailer and that started with a fun little competition for FFA students throughout the state to rename the trailer.
For more information about the silent auction, or to contribute, please contact Brittney Money at Webrittney@nvfb.orghavesecured a room block for attendees at the Carson City Courtyard Marriott. Conveniently located in the parking lot of the Casino Fandango. Room rates will only be $159 per night. To get this discounted room rate, you must book your hotel stay before October 12, 2022. To book and receive the discounted rate, use this link: www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservationlink.mi?id=1648143857740&key=GRP&app=resvlink
You can also book your room and find the most current information on the 103rd NFB Annual Meeting at the our website, nvfb.org. Registration will open in October and will be found on our website as well.
Keep a look out for the Nevada Ag Wagon coming to a community event near you.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 19
For any registration questions, please feel free to contact Brittney Money at brittney@nvfb.org.
Previously known as the World of Corn, the wagon has undergone a makeover and now features agriculture that can be found throughout the state.
Several strong name contenders were submitted, but the winning name was submitted by Oasis FFA. We can't thank Oasis FFA enough for coming up with such a catchy name, The Nevada Ag Wagon “We’re Growing Places”.
The Nevada Farm Bureau (NFB) is excited to announce the renovated Nevada Ag Wagon, the future of Ag education in the state of Nevada!
It’s time to start thinking about the 103rd Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Start planning your travels to Carson City, Nevada. That is where this year’s annual meeting will be happening at the Casino Fandango from November 10th through the 12th.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com20 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
• Address local natural resource concerns.
Common grazing land conservation practices include Brush Management, Pasture and Hay Planting, Fencing, Prescribed Grazing and Prescribed Burning, among others.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 21
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
“Privately owned grazing lands cover nearly 30 percent of the national landscape, which means we have a tremendous opportunity to address climate change and conserve natural resources through voluntary, private lands conservation,” said NRCS Nevada State Conservationist Ray Dotson. “NRCS enlists a wide variety of conservation practices to help livestock producers. These partnerships will also help us expand the footprint of conservation on grazing lands and could help better reach historically underserved producers.”
• Use climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices and principles.
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
For more information and to apply, visit the funding opportunity on grants.gov. Applications are being accepted now through September 22, 2022. GLCI was developed as a coordinated effort to identify priority issues, find solutions, and effect change on private grazing land, enhancing existing conservation programs. GLCI also provides support to the National Grazing Lands Coalition to help state grazing coalitions boost participation from historically underserved producers; host a Triennial National Grazing Lands Conference; and to act as navigators for grazers seeking additional resources.
USDA Boosts Conservation on Grazing Lands and Support for Farmers and Ranchers
• Agricultural Extension Services
Through GLCI, NRCS will leverage the partnerships to increase availability of technical assistance for farmers and ranchers engaged in grazing activities and act as navigators for grazers seeking additional resources. The opportunity encourages knowledge and expertise in working with historically underserved producers, with a desired outcome of strong participation by historically underserved producers in new and existing grazing coalitions. GLCI intends to expand and establish new peer-to-peer networks for grazers and direct financial support for grazing mentors working with new, beginning, or transitioning grazers.
• Land grant universities including 1890 or 1994 land grant institution (7 U.S.C. 3222 et seq.), Hispanic-serving institution (20 U.S.C. 1101a), or other minority-serving institution, such as a historically Black college or university (20 U.S.C. 1061), a tribally controlled college or university (25 U.S.C. 1801), or Asian American and Pacific Islander-serving institution (20 U.S.C. 1059g)
HeatherContact:
heather.emmons@usda.gov775-335-5146Emmons
For more information about NRCS’s grazing lands efforts, visit the NRCS website here: releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1948424usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/sc/newsroom/www.nrcs.
USDA is reviving and revitalizing GLCI to leverage partner capacity, expertise, and technical assistance to expand the footprint of well-managed grazing systems across the country. While some States have been able to use their annual funds to support similar agreements, this new structure and additional funding provides for a more strategic and comprehensive approach to support grazing systems, reach new and historically underserved producers, and address climate change.
• Encourage existing and new partnerships through emphasizing equity in advancing the resource needs of underserved communities.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $12 million in partnerships that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) until September 22, 2022.
Project proposals for GLCI Cooperative Agreements will identify and address barriers to accessing grazing assistance for producers. These partnerships are encouraged to include outreach and support for reaching historically underserved producers. Projects must address one or more of the following priorities:
• Farmer or rancher organizations
• State and local conservation governmental agencies
• Identify and implement strategies to quantify, monitor, report on and verify conservation benefits associated with grazing management systems.
Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types based in any of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands):•Nonprofit organizations having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (other than institutions of higher education)
“This is really just a start,” Hanan said. “And, the further out the predictions get, the less reliable they become, naturally. We are hoping to do more research on decomposition, and to expand the research we did up at Trail Creek to other watersheds, and improve the models, and scale them over larger areas. What we really hope is that all this stimulates more integrated research and modeling, and gets people talking. For a long time, the fire community and the biogeochemistry community weren’t necessarily talking. I think that’s starting to change. We’re seeing that it’s really important to think about, talk about, and quantify all these different factors as multidisciplinary teams.”
“Our two studies looked at how changes in temperature, rainfall, and atmospheric carbon dioxide may interact with and influence plant growth, turnover and decomposition, and how those processes in turn affect fuel loading and fuel moisture in different plant communities, which are two key factors driving wildfire regimes in the West.”
published in Earth’s Future for which Ren is the lead author, contains various detailed graphs modeling probable fire regime outcomes for various plant communities. Outcomes were highly influenced by these observations:
Contact: Claudene Wharton Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources University of Nevada, Reno / MS 0405 Reno, Nevada 775-784-707289557-0404|whartonc@unr.edu A photo taken of the Big Wood River Basin adjacent to the study site. Photo by Erin Hanan.
Complex modeling by researchers predicts wildfires may decline, eventually Researchers integrate multiple factors in search of ways to help calculate and mitigate wildfire hazard
Researchers attempting to help predict how the wildfire hazard will change due to various factors over the next several decades have some good news, and some bad news. Good news is, wildfire occurrence and intensity will likely decrease in several locations in the future. The bad news: decreases may not occur for another 50 years, and wildfire hazard will likely get worse before it gets better.
A case study for semi-arid watersheds in central Idaho leads to the good news-bad news forecast Armed with this information, Jianning Ren, a postdoctoral scholar in Hanan’s lab group, set out to examine different future climate scenarios for semiarid watersheds that more accurately account for the various ways that higher temperatures, changes in moisture and increasing atmospheric CO2 can influence fuel load, fuel moisture and wildfire regimes.
The article detailing the research (https://agupubs. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021EF002518)
Other members of the research team include Maureen C. Kennedy, University of Washington, Tacoma; John T. Abatzoglou and Crystal A. Kolden, U.C. Merced; Christina (Naomi) L. Tague, U.C. Santa Barbara; Mingliang Liu and Jennifer C. Adam, Washington State University; Morris C. Johnson, U.S. Forest Service; and Alistair M. S. Smith, University of Idaho.
Funding for these studies was provided by the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers DMS-1520873, DMS-1520847 and DEB-1916658.
• increased plant decomposition rates, which decrease fuel loading, also due to climatic warming (plant materials break down more quickly with heat) dryer fuels, or plants, due to increased temperatures
Using the data for the 2070s, climatic warming and drying becomes so intense that it outstrips the increased CO2 levels, in effect shutting down CO2’s ability to increase plant growth. So, burn area and probability decrease in the models for the 2070s. And, although there is an increase in fire weather for that period, decreases in fuel loading— caused by increases in decomposition and decreases in plant productivity— ultimately reduce wildfire for this period.” While decreasing wildfire hazard is potentially good news, this decrease results from ecological and hydrological degradation,” Hanan said.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com22 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
“There are so many factors that we need to consider and better understand if we want to predict how the frequency, size and intensity of wildfires will change over time,” said Erin Hanan, a University of Nevada, Reno researcher with the University’s Experiment Station and an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.
“We found that these effects can sometimes work together to create a synergistic effect, or they can counteract each other, based on different scenarios,” Ren said. “In a nutshell, our models project: In the 2040s, elevated CO2 promotes a net increase in plant growth despite possible decreases that can occur with warming and associated drought, so the result is increased fuel load, and increased fire hazard.
Ren, Hanan and other researchers integrated climate data from complex General Circulation Models, with data from a representative semi-arid watershed in central Idaho, Trail Creek, which is characterized by cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Elevations in the watershed range from 1,760 to 3,478 meters, creating several different plant communities – grasses, shrubs, forests, mixed vegetation, and areas with little vegetation at all.
Making the case for more detailed research needed on plant decomposition Hanan is coauthor on the two related journal articles about the research. She is the lead author of the first article (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ full/10.1029/2021MS002818) in the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, that focuses on how plants may decompose, or break down (think composting), under different climate scenarios, thus affecting the fuel load, or amount of litter on the ground that can “Manyburn. of the decomposition algorithms in models that have come from small experiments and specific locations just aren’t going to be accurate all the time,” Hanan said. “Accumulation of fine fuels and the rate at which those fuels or plant parts break down is highly sensitive to several factors, such as temperature and rainfall. That’s what this research verified. So, unless we get better at estimating fuel load, or accumulation, and decomposition of fine fuels under different climate scenarios, it is going to be very difficult to build accurate models predicting future wildfire regimes.”
Ren and Hanan noted that within each of the major plant communities – grasslands, shrubs, forests –results were quite consistent, adding validity to the
• decreased plant growth, or fuel loading, due to climatic warming (Plants struggle to grow when the environment becomes too arid.)
“Acrossfindings.the grasslands we modeled, the change in warming didn’t matter nearly as much as the fuel loading,” Ren said. “It’s was pretty much entirely dependent on fuel loading, which makes sense. The grasslands in this area will always die and dry out. That’s their cycle. For the grasslands, it’s all about how much fuel you have to burn.”
Conversely, Ren noted that changes in fuel aridity and fuel loading both heavily influenced the wildfire predictions for areas dominated by shrubs and areas dominated by trees. But, both Hanan and Ren stressed that much more research is needed to make the models even more reliable.
• increased plant growth, or fuel loading, resulting from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (Plants take in carbon dioxide and convert it to energy for growth.)
After receiving his doctoral degree at Tsukuba University in Japan, Shimono worked as a research associate at Michigan State University focusing on microbial interactions in the molecular pathways of certain plants.
Article edited for space. Read entire article at: www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2022/cheatgrass-fall-grazing The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 23
New University research scientist works to preserve potatoes for U.S. food supply Masaki Shimono conducts research to mitigate disease during potato storage
Cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass that has invaded Nevada rangelands, is responsible for much of the increasing wildfire danger in the Intermountain West.
Newly hired Research Scientist Masaki Shimono is conducting work with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources’ Santos Lab to treat potato diseases. Photo by Dean Trotta.
However, scientists at UNR discovered fire danger can be reduced through the application of targeted cattle grazing in the dormant growing season by attracting the cattle with stations containing protein feed supplements.
Shimono, working with Santos and her team, is treating these potatoes with different types of beneficial microbes, hoping to aid food manufacturers with efficient storage of potatoes for products such as chips in an effort to avoid waste of valuable produce and financial losses.
"Our work establishes that protein feed supplements in the fall and early winter can attract cattle to locations dominated by cheatgrass, significantly reducing the standing fine-fuel biomass by more than 50%, while making room for native grasses to grow," Barry Perryman, professor of rangeland sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno said. "This research builds and affirms other studies that show dormant season grazing helps control the dominance of cheatgrass," Strategic supplementation provides a valuable tool to target cattle grazing at specific locations within cheatgrass-invaded systems to reduce fuel buildup during the dormant season, according to the study published in Elsevier's journal Rangeland Ecology and Management.
"There was a major seeding effort on the study sight in 2018-19 by the operator (it was located on private land)," Perryman said. "In some instances areas may be seeded, while in other instances there are enough existing perennial grasses to respond. There are some published studies now showing increases in perennial grasses after about four to six years. Kirk Davies, a co-author of this study, has led that research."
The two are also collaborating with Associate Professor Dylan Kosma and his lab team, who are helping to administer the treatments. The Kosma Lab is looking into how suberin, a plant biopolymer found in potato skin, can help protect tubers from their environment.
"Every operation is different," Perryman said about ranchers adopting the idea. "It will benefit some and be of no utility for others. It has saved significant hay costs in our eastern Oregon demonstration projects."
In earlier studies, a highly controlled, small-scale targeted spring grazing research project found that 80% to 90% reduction of above ground biomass reduced flame length and rate of fire spread during the following October. On sagebrush and native perennial grass plant communities, it was reported in another study that 40% to 60% reductions in biomass through winter grazing reduced flame height, rate of spread and area burned compared with an ungrazed control area.
Off-season cattle grazing to help control fire danger from invasive cheatgrass
Shimono and the Santos lab are hoping to continue this research once the initial analyses are completed.
This one-year project, which began last October, aims to mimic the conditions that potatoes are stored in after being harvested, which includes being in humid environments with temperatures around 50 F. These average conditions are perfect for the development of diseases. Tuber water loss is an inevitable consequence of long-term storage periods, which causes potatoes to wrinkle and become damaged, making them unusable.
New UNR study utilizes supplemental feeding to attract cattle to infested pastures
"It is difficult to concentrate animals in one place during spring for long enough periods of time to be of any use," Perryman said. "However, cattle can be concentrated on cheatgrass during the fall, using supplementation as a tool. Reducing the amount of cheatgrass fuel carryover may effectively reduce the amount of total fuel available during the next year’s fire season.... While more research is needed to fully understand the extent of how far protein supplements can successfully attract cattle away from water in large pastures, our research indicates this distance can be up to two and a half miles on relatively flat cheatgrass-invaded areas during fall and early winter in northern Nevada," Perryman said.
“I decided to study in the United States because of the unique agricultural practices,” Shimono said. “I was excited about the opportunity to conduct research in Nevada, especially on a vital crop such as potatoes.”
Under a scenario of near monocultures of cheatgrass, fall cattle grazing is a logistically viable tool to reduce the amount of carryover fine fuels in large pastures.
Perryman and colleagues have two large demonstration projects underway in southeast Oregon and a similar study, without supplementation, in the Vale District, Oregon. The research operations also found benefits for cattle ranchers, and the rebounding of native grasses.
"With strategic placement of supplements, we can direct this grazing to effectively create a linear fuel break," Perryman said. "Cheatgrass can provide an important forage resource for cattle in much of the Great Basin and Intermountain West during the dormant season, and this can help during the fire season."
Perryman, who is also part of the University’s Experiment Station, said it appears native grasses are able to repopulate the areas where the cheatgrass has been reduced, whether from seeding or naturally.
Flexible grazing management options will facilitate the use of targeted grazing fuel reduction projects at strategic times, such as fall or winter, on rangelands of the Intermountain West and provide more opportunities to better match livestock production and vegetation management objectives in a “win-win” situation within annual grass−invaded systems, the authors conclude.
Masaki Shimono has joined the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources as a research scientist, studying beneficial microbes to improve and mitigate disease in potatoes during storage.
Shimono has joined Patricia Santos, assistant professor of plant-microbe interactions in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, in her lab to conduct research for the food industry. Shimono, an expert in resistance mechanisms of plants against bacteria, is looking into how long-term storage conditions affect potatoes in terms of water loss and disease decay due to plant pathogens. Soft and dry rot, caused by bacterium and fungus, respectively, are two important diseases being investigated.
Call 800.800.4865 today or visit AgLoan.com/get-started SMART REAL ESTATE FINANCING When it’s time to buy land, build new facilities or improve your operation, contact your local team at American AgCredit. We’re here to help you fi nd the right fi nancial solutions and grow your operation. Our deep roots in agriculture and unmatched expertise have made us a trusted partner to farmers and ranchers for more than 100 years. A Part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender. The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com24 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
The Goss family has grazed on that allotment for five generations, recently seeing the number of cattle allowed to graze there cut from 553 to 412.
Sacramento Grazing Allotment Rancher Protests Grazing Restrictions in Lincoln National Forest by Nicole Maxwell | nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com
Judy Holcom Medeiros, who was also at the rally, said the Forest Service has already used the ESA's protection of the meadow jumping mouse to endanger ranching operations in the region.
Kelly Goss organized a rally at the Otero County Fairgrounds on Aug. 15 to protest the U.S. Forest Service-Lincoln National Forest Service's actions within the the Lincoln National Forest.
"Thelands.out-of-control elk population, they're the ones that are damaging the forage and also what the Forest Service deems as critical habitat," Goss said.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 25
Ranchers who graze cattle in the Lincoln National Forest on the Sacramento Allotment have grown tired of what they see as governmental overreach, pointing to U.S. Forest Services' use of the Endangered Species Act to enact new policies on the allotment.
From May 2022:Forest Service responds to Otero County cease and desist letter about grazing "Today, we're here to protest the overreach of the federal government in all of our lives, but in particular the overreach that the Goss family has been experiencing for 30 years in arbitrary, capricious decisions they are making on our allotment," Goss said. "They're using the Endangered Species Act to systematically destroy our livelihood. We're here to protest that.”
"Last year (the Lincoln National Forest) cut is by 82 head, so we went to 330 and now they're attempting to reduce us to only 100 head of cattle," Goss said. "Historically, there have been over 1,300 head of cattle grazed on our allotment and we have 127,000 acres and we're only allowed 100 head of Whilecattle."the
U.S. Forest Service pointed to overgrazing of the public lands, Goss said wildlife like elk are mostly to blame for the condition of grazing
"We have a ranch in the Sacramento Mountains," Medeiros said. "I'm very concerned about my fellow ranchers and the abuses that are being enforced on them by the Forest Service about a mouse that the science is very weak and not justified and they're being abused because of that.”
The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse is "a rare subspecies found primarily near streams and wetlands in parts of New Mexico, eastern Arizona, and southern Colorado. Threats to the jumping mouse and its habitat include grazing pressure, water management and use, lack of water due to drought/climate change, wildfires, and certain recreation activities," according to the National Forest Service. Ranchers and the Forest Service have also clashed over protections for the Mexican Spotted Owl, a species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species LawsuitsAct.over
the owls habitat in the Lincoln National Forest resulted in the end of logging in certain parts of the Lincoln National Forest. The injunction that prevented logging was lifted on Oct. 28, 2020.
Game and Fish Glenrock Game
Grazing and Water Impact of new CO River Cuts, Capital Press - Farmers in central Arizona, among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, lost most of their Colorado River allocation this year when the government implemented its first shortage. Some farmers were compensated with water through deals with Phoenix and Tucson. More farmers will likely need to leave their land fallow (some in the region have been paid to do by state agencies and others) and rely even more on groundwater. Others will be forced to grow more water-efficient crops such as durum wheat and guayule and find other ways to use less water. Western water suppliers have planned for such shortages by diversifying and conserving their water sources. But intensifying drought depleting reservoirs faster than scientists predicted - and the resulting cuts - will make it harder for farms and cities to plan for the future.
Land value: Farm real estate value increases
Widespread moderate and severe drought conditions are affecting much of southern Iowa, where the available soil moisture for crops is dwindling.
American agriculturalists concerned about potential for extreme ‘climate’ policies, The Fence Post - Kim Stackhouse-Lawson PhD., the director of AgNext at Colorado State University, professor of animal science and former director of sustainability for JBS USA said that farmers and ranchers have been sustainable for a long time. She added that in the U.S., “there are farmers and ranchers today who are incredible stewards of our most valuable ecosystems, who utilize a vast area for food production that couldn’t otherwise be used for food production,” she said. However, she encourages all producers to consider establishing a “baseline,” for certain aspects of their operation so they can determine whether they are making improvements. 3 pillarssocial, economic and environmental - are the overarching concepts of sustainability, said Stackhouse-Lawson.
Arizona: New Conservation Areas Proposed Grijalva proposes new Ariz. conservation areas, wilderness, Politico House Natural Resources Chair Raúl Grijalva today announced a sweeping bill that would designate two new national conservation areas covering 376,963 acres and designate nearly 60,000 acres of wilderness in his home state of Arizona. The Democrat's bill aims to withdraw federal lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management from new mineral development and roads in southwest Arizona's Sonoran Desert. The bill would require new federal management plans to protect the natural and cultural resources of the 13 federally recognized tribes that Grijalva's office said have a cultural connection to the lands at issue.
THE DAILY ROUNDUP Wildfire Update Nationwide #
54 Nationwide
responses: 9 Nationwide
Public Lands Bill Puts Responsibility, Liability On The User, Gila Valley Central - New legislation by Governor Doug Ducey ensures that landowners and lessees of private or public land can avoid liability for injuries or damages sustained by recreational users for unknown conditions on their property or when the owner or lessee provides warning of a dangerous condition. The bill, HB 2130, provides that a recreational user accepts the risks created by his or her activities on the property and that the user must exercise reasonable care in those activities.
Wyoming: New public access area now open New hunting public access area opens in Converse County, Wyoming Game & Fish Department - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announces the opening of a new Public Access Area (PAA) in northwest Converse County. The Ogalalla Ranch PAA will provide antelope and deer hunting opportunities from August 15 – November 30 of each year. The PAA is approximately 4,000 acres of deeded land and provides legal access to over 5,100 acres of other public lands.
Interior imposes limited water cuts, but lets Colorado River negotiations go into overtime, Politico - The West could face a massive water and power crisis as soon as next year as drought and overuse send water levels plummeting along the Colorado River, but the Biden administration isn’t stepping in to stop it — at least for now. Instead of following through on its threat to intervene if states couldn’t agree on a way of saving massive quantities of water, the Interior Department is giving states more time and moving only to institute much smaller water delivery cuts to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico that were already agreed to under a 2019 deal.
Environmental groups push for air regulation of dairies; Ranchers concerned about extreme climate policies
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com26 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Montana: New incentives for MT landowners; Federal judge stops new coal leases Montana FWP developing habitat leasing program. Hopes to enroll 500,000 acres, Western Livestock Journal - The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is in the process of implementing a voluntary, incentive-based conservation lease program for private landowners to protect high-priority habitats. The program would support working lands, public hunting and recreation opportunities on up to 500,000 acres in the next five years for a 30-year or 40-year period. Judge halts coal leasing on federal lands, Grist - A federal judge in Montana has ordered the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, to halt new coal leases on all federal lands, reinstating an Obamaera moratorium...Taylor McKinnon, senior public lands campaigner for the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, cheered the decision. Subjecting the federal coal program to a science-based NEPA review, he told me, “will show that any further federal coal leasing is entirely incompatible with our country’s climate goals.” He called for existing coal extraction on federal lands to be phased out as well.
Drought conditions continue to worsen in Iowa Iowa Capital Dispatch - The percentage of Iowa’s corn and soybeans rated good or excellent declined at least 7 points last week, the largest such drop this year amid worsening drought conditions, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports.
Ag land values jumped 12 percent in 2022 Largest percentage increase since 2006, Western Livestock Journal - USDA’s latest Land Values 2022 Summary report, released in early August, shows that not only did the value of agricultural land in 2022 increase a whopping 12 percent, but it’s also the largest numerical increase since the survey first began in 1997.The farm real estate value— the value of all land and buildings on farms—averaged $3,800 an acre for 2022, up $420 an acre from 2021. Cropland value averaged $5,050 an acre (an increase of $630 an acre, 14 percent), and pasture value averaged $1,650 an acre (an increase of $170 an acre, 11.5 percent). The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said in a Market Intel report that price increases in farm real estate value can be attributed to the rise in commodity prices that have translated to a higher farming value for land in row crop-heavy states. Government incentives, such as Conservation Reserve Program incentives, have also increased competition for active cropland.
The latest USDA report on Monday said 66% of the state’s corn and 63% of soybeans were good or excellent, down from 73% and 71% a week ago. That’s a reduction of 7 and 8 percentage points, respectively.
New legislation ensures landowners and lessees avoid injury liability
In addition, the bill holds recreational users liable to an owner for any damage to the land, property, livestock or crops that the user may cause while on that land.
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Warden Cody Bish says, “Thanks to the Moore family for providing public access for antelope and deer hunting in an area with limited public access. This new access area provides the ‘do-it-yourself’ hunter with quality pedestrian hunting access to thousands of acres of private land and adjacent public lands.
Western ranching and political headlines brought to you by the Public Lands Council. of new large fires/emergency number of active large fires: acres from active fires: large fires contained: www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Groups petition Oregon to regulate dairy air emissions, Capital PressA coalition of 22 environmental, public health and animal welfare groups is petitioning Oregon regulators to adopt new rules targeting air pollution from large-scale dairies. The petition, filed Aug. 17 with the state Environmental Quality Commission, seeks to create a dairy air emissions program that would apply to farms with 700 or more mature cows, which the federal Environmental Protection Agency defines as a "large" operation. Under the program, proposed and existing dairies would be required to obtain an air quality permit and curb harmful emissions. They include ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, among others.
1,420,826 Nationwide
“While some producers are already incorporating winter grazing into their cropping system, they are not necessarily managing it in a way to improve soil health. This is what our study aimed to investigate.” Funding for this research was provided by the Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 27
AHL: Conway-Anderson says she wants to get the data and create an example to help farmers move their cattle from open fields into forests. She says it should be a short trip because so many want to and some already are.
BRUCE CARNEY: What I learned was that I needed trees. I needed windbreaks. I needed shade. I needed a living barn. To me, that's what trees do for you.
JONATHAN AHL, BYLINE: Ashley Conway-Anderson is driving a fourwheeler down a dirt road on one of the University of Missouri's research farms. On the left side of the road is a thick forest. On the right side is a big open pasture, where cows are huddled under the few trees that are along a creek bed. The professor of agroforestry says neither side is what should be there. Conway-Anderson says before Europeans arrived, all of this was a forest, but much less dense than what's on one side of the road.
Rather than eating the cash crop the farmer sells, the livestock eat the cover crop that was planted to grow over the Winterwinter.
“There is limited research on integrated crop-livestock systems that are designed to promote soil health,” she says.
LEILA FADEL, HOST: If you see a cow out grazing in the Midwest, most likely it's in an open pasture that used to be a forest. Clear-cutting trees made it easier to raise cattle. It also eliminated much of the landscape known as Midwestern Savannas. As Saint Louis Public Radio's Jonathan Ahl reports, an experimental farm in Missouri is trying to prove that moving grazing animals back to forests is better for the environment, for farmers and for cattle.
KAITIE ADAMS: By its very nature is - it's intentional and intensive, so it allows for us to do more on one piece of land.
ASHLEY CONWAY-ANDERSON: That habitat was created intentionally by a lot of Indigenous communities that lived here, intentionally managed with fire. And then once fire opened things up, what came next was grass. And then what followed the grass was large grazing herbivores.
AHL: Carney says silvopasture development is a success because trees make cows happier, healthier and bigger, so they bring in more money when they're sold. Kaitie Adams with the Wisconsinbased Savanna Institute says it can also make small farms more viable.
CONWAY-ANDERSON: When we do have floods, when we do have droughts and fires, it won't be wholesale destruction. It will be able to recover much more quickly.
“Finding the best management practices to improve soil health and maximize economic gains can improve the livelihoods of producers in the Southeast and all over the world,” she explains. “This is possible by using cropland year-round and potentially improving crop productivity through increased soil health.”
“Our data points to how farmers can use this style of management without seeing a big change in soil health in the first two years,” Crowell says. “The study was only based on data from two years. So, it’s not too surprising that our data didn’t point to significant changes in soil health between the different grazing treatments. With more time, we will hopefully be able to paint a clearer picture of how the length of winter grazing impacts soil health.”
Bruce Carney raises cattle on his family farm north of Des Moines. More than 10 years ago, he decided to convert 200 acres from corn and soybean fields to land for cattle to graze on.
This study was published in Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment Journal, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of TheyAmerica.performed a study for two years on a site in Alabama. The team started the experiment in October 2018 beginning with planting the cover crops. The grazing began and then the first cash crop of the experiment was planted in the spring. The cash crop was harvested in mid-October. Next, the cover crops were planted shortly after harvest. In mid-January after the cover crop was well-established, they allowed livestock to graze the fields until it was time to plant more cash crops in the spring and repeat the process. In their experiment, they let cattle graze the fields for different lengths of time and studied the soil carefully. “Soil chemical properties are very important to understanding and evaluating soil health,” Crowell says. “Various soil chemical indicators are related to basic soil functions. These include promoting microbial activity, controlling water flow, nutrient cycling, and physical stability.” They tested for soil organic carbon and active carbon to check for impacts on soil organic matter, which is viewed by most as very important for soil health. The team also analyzed what is called water stable aggregates and penetration resistance. These are qualities of soil that impact how it takes in water and how well plants grow in it. Lastly, they studied the microbes in the soil, many of which are beneficial to plants. After the first two years of their study, the scientists did not find that winter grazing impacted the soil very much. This means there were no positive effects. However, it also means there were no negative effects. This is useful information for farmers practicing winter grazing.
Moving cattle into the forest could help climate change, farmers and the livestock by NPR inJonathancorrespondentAhl(Host)Rolla,Missouri
www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-turn-their-gaze-to-impacts-of-winter-grazing
Crowell stresses that this is part of a long-term study, and will require further research collecting more data on the impacts of winter grazing on soil. It is possible cattle hooves stepping on the soil will compact it, or that their manure will provide benefits to the soil. These are just a couple of possibilities that will be examined in future work.
Researchers turn their gaze to impacts of winter grazing by American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
Most grazing animals spend their time in open pastures. But there is a movement to raise livestock in the forest to benefit animals and the environment.
Winter grazing is part of what is called an integrated crop-livestock system. It is a process where livestock, such as cattle or goats, are allowed to graze a crop field during the winter. It is more common in climates with mild winters.
AHL: Those herbivores were bison and elk. But Conway-Anderson says they could be cows today. She's leading a multi-year study at this farm to first thin out the forest areas, get native grasses growing and then bring in cows to graze. It's called silvopasture, and it's a very old way of raising animals. Conway-Anderson says her research is getting more attention because healthy forests can be a critical part of combating climate change. Trees are good at keeping carbon out of the atmosphere, and they're also resilient in the face of extreme weather caused by climate change.
AHL: Adams says silvopasture can combine raising cattle, growing food like apples or walnuts and a timber business all into one small piece of land. There are a lot of challenges to making a go of having cattle graze in forests, including the time it takes for trees to grow, the inefficiency of raising cattle that graze as opposed to a factory farm, and the time and effort to manage a forest properly. But advocates say it's worth it, and they're optimistic they can prove it.
grazing is a useful option for farmers who also raise livestock. They can feed them using cover crops they were going to plant anyway, a costefficient and sustainable practice. But how does winter grazing impact the soil underneath? Hayley Crowell, researcher at Auburn University, and her team worked to find out.
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2022/08/15/cat-urbigkit-rewilding-is-earth-first-with-lipstick/columnist
In their essay, Soulé and Noss dismissed concerns about human socioeconomics in the region with: “A conservation plan cannot give equal weight to biocentric and socioeconomic goals, or the former will never be realized. Biology has to be the ‘bottom line.’”
All That’s Missing What’s missing from these proposals? The needs of local human communities, and consideration of the human costs of rewilding in terms of local economic and social impacts. Also missing is a recognition that rewilding involves a high level of risk, including the cascading effects from eliminating public lands grazing, such as dire economic consequences to the private ranches associated with those grazing permits, which could cause a drastic escalation of development of private ranchlands, which are often situated on vital riparian corridors.
Such a designation would result in reduced opportunities for local production of food and fiber, and for the collection of firewood for warming our homes, and for building materials. For the ranches that would remain, increased livestock depredation and damage to crops and other private property would be expected.
Ten years prior to that, Noss was a writer in the journal for “No compromise in the defense of Mother Earth!” complaining in Earth First! about “welfare ranchers” blocking wolf reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park. In fact, the core platform of Earth First! was a national system of ecological preserves, according to the first EF! journal published in 1980. “Within each preserve the developments of man will be obliterated and the area will be retur ned to nature. Each preserve will be large enough to function as a complete ecosystem with all known components reintroduced where applicable (bison, wolf, grizzly, etc.).”
The “Rewilding the American West” piece was published in the journal BioScience, but there is no mistaking it for anything other than activism. While the primary author is Oregon State University’s William Ripple dime/)(nofrakkingconsensus.com/2019/11/13/william-ripple-eco-activist-on-the-public, ranchers in the American West should take note of his co-authors, including Mike Phillips. Phillips, of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, recently served on the Colorado wolf reintroduction technical working group. When at least one member of the technical advisory team wants livestock gone from public lands, why should ranchers have any faith that his recommendations on the technical team aren’t made in pursuance of that agenda? Another of the co-authors has been writing about his disdain for public lands livestock grazing for decades –since back in the days he penned essays in the journal published by the radical environmental group Earth First! Some 25 years ago, George Wuerthner wrote of his “dream of a West that is largely given over to native species and governed by natural forces to the greatest extent possible, where much of the landscape is truly That’sself-willed.”what rewilding is all about. “Re” plus “wild” – as in returning land to some imagined previous state or condition. Another one of those early Earth First! essayists, and indeed one of the founders of the rewilding movement, is another co-author on the new rewilding paper: Reed Noss. Rewilding the American West’s authors used data on current wolf range and distribution, as well as potential core wolf habitat mapping provided to them by the Center For Biological Diversity. The authors thanked a number of people for conducting reviews of the manuscript or providing information and support for the project, including by Josh Osher of the antigrazing group Western Watersheds Project and activist journalist Christopher Ketcham, author of “This Land: How Cowboys, Capitalism, and Corruption are Ruining the American West.”
To fully understand the history of this rewilding proposal, look to the acknowledgments, where it is dedicated to the lifetime work of the late Michael Soulé.
By Cat Urbigkit, Range Writing
If rewilding were to shift a multiple-use economy toward exclusive reliance on tourism, recreation, and eco-tourism, it may result in furthering economic difficulties for families in a region already experiencing a crisis in affordable housing for the working class. Local economies would be based on service to visitors.
Rather than shared ranges with multiple uses, fortress conservation proposes to sever our collective cultural heritage in the American West, to exclude us from the land, for the sake of someone’s version of “wild.”
Rewilding should be rejected for the radically unwise proposal that it is. There are other ways to achieve the goals of 30×30, and those focus on collaboration, keeping our human connection to the land, and working together to become better stewards. Now that’s a wild proposal.
Here’s how the two proposals look on a map Western Reserve Network and Sagebrush Sea comparison. The 11 potential reserves that comprise the proposed Western Rewilding network Network are shown in gray. The proposed network is shown in gold.Areasofoverlapareshowninpurple.Together,theymakeup683,000km2orapproximately22%oftheareaintheelevenwesternstates.WeobtainedtheSagebrushScamapfromHolmer(2022).
Both of these proposals are examples of “fortress conservation” in which lands are set aside as protected areas to function in isolation from human disturbance.
Soulé was one of the founders of the rewilding organization Wildlands Project (now known as the Wildlands Network) in the early 1990s. At the time Soulé and Noss published their rewilding essay in 1998, the Wildlands Project was already “drafting a blueprint/ or an interconnected, continental- scale system of protected wildlands, linked by habitat corridors.”
The Biden administration’s desire to conserve at least 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030 is advanced by a “bold and science-based rewilding of publicly owned federal lands” through the creation of a network of “11 large reserves spanning the American West” where “rewilding” would take place, according to an opinion piece published by a group of activist scientists.
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com28 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
This latest rewilding proposal is just one proposal being put forth by activists who want large swaths of public lands set aside as reserves, with other uses limited or restricted. Another proposal submitted to the Bureau of Land Management this spring would set aside the “sagebrush sea” for Greater Sage-Grouse, through the creation of “Sagebrush Sea Reserve Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.” This network of ACECs would be designed to ensure that sage grouse have priority over any other land uses. This proposal is probably a long shot, but this is the first time that the BLM has a national director, Tracy Stone-Manning, who has a history associated with Earth First! as well.
Rewilding is Earth First! With Lipstick
The first step in this Western Rewilding Network would be getting rid of livestock grazing on federal land in these reserves, followed by restoring fully federally protected gray wolf populations, and then reintroducing beaver populations.If it sounds like this proposal could have been written by the Center For Biological Diversity or another radical environmental group, there’s a reason for that. Stay with me.
In a 1998 essay, Soulé and Reed Noss (another coauthor in the new rewilding piece who was a prolific writer with Earth First! decades ago) wrote the pivotal “Rewilding and Biodiversity: Complementary Goals for Continental Conservation,” which proposed “restoring big wilderness based on the regulatory roles of large predators.” This rewilding would incorporate the 3Cs: Cores (large, strictly protected, core reserves), Connectivity, and Carnivores. All three components are now being promoted throughout American West.
The Sagebrush Sea
Vilsack, speaking Tuesday to a group gathered for a roundtable near Camp Hale, the former military base near Leadville where 10th Mountain Division soldiers trained before heading to battle in World War II and that would get further protections under the CORE Act, said he would encourage Biden to help. “Frankly,” Vilsack said, “I don’t want to disappoint.”
The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives presidents the power to declare areas a national monument, protecting them from oil and gas drilling and mining. But national monument designations can potentially be granted by one president and amended or rescinded by the next.
“I think it really is a model of what we should be doing in this country,” Vilsack said, nodding to how the bill was formed through conversations with groups and elected leaders across Colorado. “I’m gonna go back and make sure that the president and the White House are fully briefed on this and make sure that our team is moving as expeditiously as we possibly can to do whatever we can.”
Supporters of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act, after watching the bill fail to advance past the U.S. Senate for several years, are asking President Joe Biden to take executive action to protect the tens of thousands of acres of federal land in Colorado the measure aims to shield. And they appear to have Tom Vilsack, Biden’s secretary of agriculture, in their corner.
The decision to seek executive action from Biden on portions of the CORE Act is tacit acknowledgement that the legislation doesn’t currently have a path toward passage in the 50-50 U.S. Senate, where Republicans have been leery about expanding protections on federal lands. The Democrats who back the bill need the support of all of the members of their party in the Senate as well as at least 10 Republicans to overcome the filibuster and send the measure to Biden’s desk. That appears unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Gov. Jared Polis, a CORE Act supporter who attended the meeting Tuesday, said pursuing executive action from Biden doesn’t mean the bill is dead.
Hickenlooper said he thinks there’s a path toward passing the CORE Act in Congress. “We’re close,” he said, explaining he’s gotten verbal support from Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Kevin Kramer of N. Dakota.
“The two paths are not mutually exclusive,” he said. “Taking additional executive actions can help provide momentum for the future.”
Executive actions are also subject to lawsuits.
Asked why Biden hasn’t taken action already, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper exclaimed “he’s been busy.” Vilsack echoed that sentiment, but also acknowledged that conversations with the president about protecting lands targeted by the CORE Act should have happened “yesterday.”
But in the meantime, Bennet said, national monument designations and mineral withdrawals through executive action will be sought in an effort to speed up the “We’reprotections.justgoing to have to decide what’s going to be appropriate,” Bennet said. “We haven’t made those decisions yet.”
The measure offers permanent protections, including wilderness designations, for roughly 60,000 acres of land in the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado.
Murkowski and Cassidy sit on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where the CORE Act has been assigned.
photo:Leadville.HughCarey
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 29
The CORE Act has been unable to advance past the Senate for years because of Republican opposition to the measure
Portions of the CORE Act have been debated in Congress for many years, and supporters of the bill are frustrated with the lack of progress.
Bill Fales, a rancher near Carbondale, said protections for the Thompson Divide are urgently needed. “We really need to get the administrative withdrawal to protect this area,” he said, acknowledging the failure to get the CORE Act through the Senate.
“If we had three Republicans on the committee,” Hickenlooper said, “we’d get 10 in the Senate. That’s my feeling.” by Jesse Paul | jesse@coloradosun.com
With the CORE Act stalled, its supporters want Biden to protect Colorado’s public lands right now through executive action
It would also formally establish the boundary for the Curecanti National Recreation Area near the Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison and prevent mineral development on about 6,500 acres outside of Norwood at Naturita Canyon.
The bill has passed the U.S. House several times.
The CORE Act, in addition to protecting the land around Camp Hale by designating it the nation’s first National Historic Landscape, calls for creating roughly 100,000 acres of wilderness, recreation and conservation areas in the White River National Forest along the Continental Divide.
From left, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper answer questions during a visit at Camp Hale near
President Barack Obama, for instance, created the Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah in 2016. The monument designation area was reduced by President Donald Trump in 2017. Biden then restored the monument in 2021.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat who is among the sponsors of the CORE Act, organized the gathering Tuesday. “I think our preference, obviously, is to pass the CORE Act,” Bennet, who is facing election-year pressure to get the CORE Act done, told reporters. “We’re going to continue to fight for that.”
“There are perfect solutions and then there are good solutions that deserve consideration now just to get something over the finish line,” John Gale, who oversees policy and government relations for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said during Tuesday’s roundtable. “And I think that now’s the time not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Let’s get done what we can now while we can. There’s too much on the table.”
www.shelmanfamilyhorses.com
Held June 10 & 11, 2022 at the Shelman Ranch in Burns, OR
The Progressive Rancher
The 3rd high seller sold for $30,000 | Lot 49 was the reserve high seller
www.progressiverancher.com30 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
HIGH SELLER
Lot 2 Miss Merica, a 2015 sorrel mare consigned by Rolly & Becky Lisle sold to Brad Benson of North Powder, Oregon for $23,500. Lot 16 Bogien Nic, a 2018 blue roan gelding consigned by Joe and Emma Villagrana of Lakeview, OR; purchased by Tom Gifford of Alturas, CA for $27,000
Lot 10 Style Lovett, a 2014 sorrel gelding consigned by Jimmy VanBelle of Paisley Oregon, was the high seller at $36,000 purchased by Charlie Every of Redmond
Sale Horses and Riders lined up ready to compete in the branding contest
Lot 49 BR Color of Marada, a 2015 paint gelding consigned by Nick Hay of Tehachapi, CA and purchased by Kathy Boutilier of Powell Butte for $32,000.
Lot 43 KCC Rightkindapilot, a 2007 sorrel gelding consigned by Catlin and Monique Martin of Drewsey, OR shown in the team roping at the Shelman Family Horse Sale
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 31
The 3rd high seller at the Shelman Family Horse Sale was Lot 17 Super Little Woody a 2015 sorrel gelding consigned by Tom and Carmen Buckingham of Bruneau, ID and purchased by Mike and Angie Estes of Spring Creek, NV for $30,000
HIGH SELLING MARE
Lot 28 Dualin Sally, a 2011 blue roan mare consigned by Jason & Nichole Steffler of Firth, ID and purchased by Tom Gifford of Alturas, CA for $28,500
The tour aimed to showcase two ranches enrolled in its Conservation Credit System as well as the conservation efforts provided through the collaborative shared stewardship projects. More than 30 individuals attended representing the general public, federal and state agencies, and the Governor’s Office.
The group enjoyed lunch at the upper end of scenic Lamoille Canyon, where Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest staff spoke on the recent fire in the canyon and ensuing debris flows from a historic rain event. They discussed their efforts in restoring areas within the canyon that had been affected by either, or in some cases both, fire and debris flows. They explained in detail how the geology of the Ruby Mountains and Lamoille Canyon contributed to the debris flows.
On June 22, 2022 the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program held a field tour of various conservation projects, including projects from the Nevada Conservation Credit System around Elko, Nevada. A Sagebrush Ecosystem Council Meeting was held the following day in Elko. This marked what has become an annual event by the program to showcase some of the projects and landscapes relevant to its efforts in areas important to greater sage-grouse conservation.
Mike Sarman speaking about his family’s Owl Creek Ranch and its operations and involvement in the Conservation Credit System in the afternoon. (Photo credit: SETT)
The tour was a good time to highlight some successful conservation efforts and the partnership of agencies on multi-faceted projects. The focus of the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council meeting the following day was the introduction (by Dr. Peter Coates) of new USGS science related to greater sage-grouse impacts from anthropogenic disturbances and conservation success strategies that can be implemented using several Conservation Planning Tools developed by the USGS and funded through multiple agencies.
Sagebrush Ecosystem
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The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com32 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Daniel T. Huser Nevada Division of Forestry Staff Specialist Sagebrush Ecosytem Technical Team Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 201 S. Roop St., Ste 101 | Carson City, NV 89701 dhuser@sagebrusheco.nv.gov | (O) 775-687-2003 (C) 775-309-8655
Secret Pass Ranch, a credit project in Nevada’s Conservation Credit System committed long-term to managing and improving sage-grouse habitat, marked the 1st stop along the tour.
The ranches visited were Secret Pass Ranch and Owl Creek Ranch, each are enrolled in the Conservation Credit System (CCS). Each ranch has had their land assessed for its values to greater sage-grouse, committed to long-term management to maintain and improve habitat, and sold credits to those required to mitigate for disturbance to sage-grouse and their habitat. Both ranchers discussed their management strategies, their experience with the CCS, and answered questions.
LEARN MORE AT: sagebrusheco.nv.gov
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The tour concluded with dinner at the Star in Elko, an opportunity for people to meet and socialize and discuss further collaboration. These events are held annually, typically in the late spring or early summer. Anyone interested in attending these events in invited to keep an eye on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program website under the Meetings tab. Anyone interested in participating in the CCS is welcome to reach out to the staff at the contact information found on the SEP website at https://sagebrusheco.nv.gov
Program
Two additional project sites, Lamoille Grove and the Triple B Herd Management Area were also visited to highlight Nevada’s Shared Stewardship efforts and discuss how this effort to better collaborate across agencies has taken off in recent years. Discussion at Lamoille Grove was centered on Shared Stewardship efforts to reduce fuels, and subsequently fire, in the Wildland Urban Interface of the town of Lamoille, while the visit to the Triple B site focused on the success of pinyon-juniper removal for the goals of improving wildlife habitat, reducing fuels, and improving resistance and resilience to the landscape.
Jared Sorenson of Secret Pass Ranch telling the group about their operation and his family’s involvement in the Conservation Credit System on the morning of the tour. (Photo credit: SETT)
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6 green onions, white portions sliced, green portion chopped into 2-inch pieces
Cook veggies just to a tender crispness; they should still have some nice firmness. Soggy veggies are never good in stir-fry.
Set Preheataside.a 12-inch non-stick skillet over moderately high heat. Drizzle in 2 tsp vegetable oil and add half the steak quickly spreading apart into a single layer with space between pieces, lightly season with salt. Let sear just about 45 - 60 seconds on first side until nicely browned on the bottom, quickly turn and let brown on opposite side about 45 - 60 seconds longer. Transfer to a sheet of foil or plate. Repeat process with 2 more teaspoons vegetable oil and remaining half of the steak.
1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Asian-Inspired Skillet Pepper Steak
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 33
2 tsp cracked black pepper
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
A quick and easy Pepper Steak made with tender slices of protein rich sirloin steak and fresh, tender crisp bell pepper and onions. Everything is coated in a simple sauce with rich umami and peppery flavors.
1 green bell pepper, chopped into bite size pieces
INSTRUCTIONS
Be sure to sear steak in batches or it won’t brown, it will steam. Good tip when cooking any meat: do NOT overcrowd your pan.
Helpful Cooking Tips
1
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 lbs. top sirloin steak
INGREDIENTS
6 tsp vegetable oil, divided
By Leana L. Carey, President
3 Tbsp soy sauce*
Cook sauce just long enough to thicken. Also, do NOT boil the veggies in stir-fry sauce. This would end up really diluting the sauce from the juices of the veggies extracting as they cooked.
1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
Dab the steak dry for a better sear and cook over a moderately high heat for better browning.
Shaoxing Wine is a very inexpensive Asian pantry staple found at any Asian supermarket, or try World Market Amazon.comor
1Saltred bell pepper, chopped into bite size pieces
Place steaks on cutting board, cover with plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of meat mallet to help flatten slightly and tenderize. Cut steak into 1/3-inch thick strips about 2-inches long. Dab steak dry with paper towels, separate pieces sticking together. Set aside. In a mixing bowl whisk together chicken broth, shaoxhing wine, soy sauce, rice vinegar, granulated sugar, black pepper, sesame oil and cornstarch.
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
NOTES: If you need to to cut back on sodium, you can use low-sodium soy sauce and unsalted shaoxing wine. **Reminder: The USDA recommends cooking steak to 145 degrees in center for food safety.
1/4 cup shaoxing wine* (*substitue: dry sherry or white wine)
2 tsp dark sesame oil
Churchill County Cowbelles | Favorite Beef Recipes
1 Tbsp minced garlic
Only quick sear the beef. Overcooked steak won’t be tender and juicy. Of course it shouldn’t be red and raw, but it should have some pinkness to it in the interior.**
Add the last 2 teaspoons of oil to the empty skillet and leave over moderately high heat. Add bell peppers and saute, tossing occasionally, about 3 to 4 minutes until slightly tender. Add in green onions, garlic and ginger and saute 1 minute longer. Whisk sauce mixture again then pour into skillet. Let it cook until it thickens. Toss in the cooked steak and stir. Serve warm.
In recently burned areas, the cache seeding technique has the potential to rapidly es tablish sagebrush islands. The full range of conditions (precipitation, snow cover, soils, current herbaceous vegetation composition) for which this seeding approach can be suc cessful remains unknown, but warrants fur ther study.
Project Description
The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com34 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
the site. Rangeland mangers’ need alternative seeding approaches that ensure the use of local seed, that it can be placed in the area needed at an appropriate time, and that the seed has the greatest viability possible. These factors sug gest seeding success may improve with the use of seed from the immediate area to be seeded, and with harvest and seeding occurring the seed ripe. This study was novel in that it harvested seed from mature sagebrush adjacent to recently burned areas, and seeded plots in the burned area, less than one -quarter mile of their or igin. We immediately placed the harvested sagebrush plants in piles (caches) and secured them to the ground surface via two methods, with the specific method differing by year of establishment (details in methods section). The sagebrush caches acted as seed sources, nurse plants to seedlings that emerged, and as “snow fences” to catch and hold greater amounts of snow, intended to benefit seed germination and any seedlings that emerge.
At each site, we established fifteen, 15-m2 circular treatment plots in a grid design with approximately 20-m between each plot. Each plot was assigned one of three treatments: 1) sagebrush cache piles with plants harvested in November (seed ripe) and piled in their treat ment plot the same day, and staked in place; 2) commercially and seed zone adapted Wy oming big sagebrush broadcast seeded (BSB) to simulated traditional broadcast seeding;
2016 had at least one sagebrush seedling two years later. The study sites established in 2016 coincided with an exceptionally wet winter, region wide. For plots established in Novem ber 2017, seedling counts on cache treatment plots were much less than for plots established in November 2016. The winter of 2017-18 was much drier, but seedling numbers may have been substantially less due the change for how the sagebrush caches were established. Sage brush caches established in 2017 swung free ly in the plot, while those established in 2016 were immobile. Only about 2% of the BSB or control plots had a sagebrush seedling.
Highlights We investigated the use of harvested, whole sagebrush plants, laden with ripe or ripen ing seed, as a sagebrush seeding technique (hereafter called cache seeding treatment) on recently burned areas. Plants were har vested in November and immediately staked to a fixed location. The three study sites established in November 2016 used completely fixed cache treatments (n=5 per site), with the cut sagebrush staked in place with chicken wire and rebar. No lateral movement in any direction was possible. At each study site, we seeded another five plots with commercially available sagebrush for the seed zone, to simulate the traditional broadcast seeing approach (hereafter broad cast sagebrush seeding treatment or BSB). An additional five plots were untreated con trols. All treatments were assigned random ly to plots within sites. In 2017, we established three additional study sites. For each cache treatment, a single wire cable attached the cut sagebrush plants to a stake at the center of each plot. The sagebrush cache moved freely (lateral ly) with the wind across the treatment plot. The BSB and control plots were established the same as those in 2016. The first growing season (2017) followed an exceptionally wet winter. There were sub stantially more seedlings and greater seed ling survival in the cache treatments, than for the BSB and control plots. The mean October count of 86 seedlings per 15-m2 plot was two orders of magnitude greater than for the BSB and control treatments. In the second growing season (2018), al most all cache plots, across all sites (13 of 15), had at least one sagebrush seedling, with two plots having over 300 seedlings. Only one of the 30 BSB or control plots had any seedlings (n=2). The total num ber of seedlings in the spring of year two (n=1,496) exceeded the count in October 2017 (approximately 861), which suggests establishment of a seedbank beneath the sagebrush caches..
When sagebrush plants laden with seed are harvested at seed ripe (November in this study), staked to the ground so they can not move, and above average precipitation occurs, the density of sagebrush plants one year later is will probably be much great er than with traditional BSB seeding or not seeding at all. With time, seedling survival appears to be influenced more by site specif ic conditions and events than initial seeding treatment.
Introduction Sagebrush is an important mid- to late-succes sional shrub species that provides important to essential wildlife habitat for a suite of wildlife species (McAdoo et al. 1989; Crawford et al. 2004; Shipley et al. 2006; Davies et al. 2011), and influences numerous ecosystem process and properties. Wyoming sagebrush (Arte misia tridentata ssp wyomingensis and black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) inhabit some of the most arid regions in the western states, be ing the predominant shrub species in the 20 to 30-cm (8 to 12-in) precipitation zone. The large-scale establishment of sagebrush plants is episodic, with long periods possible between establishment events (Hourihan et al. 2018). Also, almost all establishment occurs within 1-m (3.3 ft) several feet of the mother plant (Wagstaff and Welch 1990; Young and Evans 1989) and seed viability is very short. These demographic constraints coincide with a dramatic increase in the acreage of sage brush landscapes burned by wildfire in the past 30 years. Furthermore, many areas now have a shortened fire return interval, compared to the pre-settlement era. The recovery of sagebrush across large burned areas is typically poor, even when post-fire broadcast seeding occurs. Many challenges must be overcome and include: low and errat ic precipitation, difficulty obtaining adequate supplies of seed, obtaining the correct sage brush subspecies or ecotype adapted to the sites where seeding must occur, the short shelflife of seed and limited cold storage facilities (Shaw et al. 2005), and inadequate seeding technology. The recent work by Hourihan et al. (2018) strongly suggests that certain cli matic conditions (more moisture) associated with the positive phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation benefit sagebrush establishment. Planting sagebrush seedlings can successfully establish young plants. This creates sagebrush islands that provide limited habitat and also supply seed for the immediate surrounding area (Davies et al. 2013; McAdoo et al 2013). Rearing, transporting, and planting seedlings, however, is expensive and does not ensure the plants established are those best adapted to
Placing Fall-Harvested Wyoming Big Sagebrush Plants to Catch Snow and Provide Seed for Creating Sagebrush Islands – Final Project Report (Project Agreement No. 17-JV-11221632-016)
Principal Investigators: Brad Schultz, Extension Educator, Professor & Kent McAdoo (deceased) Natural Resources Specialist, Professor | UNR Cooperative Extension
Following a dry winter (2017-18), seed ling counts on three additional (new) study sites were much less than in the first year of the plots established in November 2016. The sagebrush cache plots established in 2017 had 264 sagebrush seedlings in June 2018, with 258 of these located at one study site. We found no seedlings on any BSB or control plot, at any 2017 study site. Cut sagebrush on the cache plots swung freely with the wind and there were obvious scour marks. It is unclear whether the drier winter, the modified cache treatment, or a combina tion of the two resulted in fewer sagebrush seedlings.
PlotsMethodsestablished in 2016. In the fall of 2016, we established three study sites in North-cen tral Nevada: one each at Squaw Valley, Izzen hood, and Maggie Creek (Figure 1). All were in the 20 to30-cm precipitation zone. Fire had recently burned all sites, with sagebrush absent in the Squaw Valley and Izzenhood sites, and nearly absent at Maggie Creek. At Squaw Val ley and Izzenhood, cheatgrass was well-estab lished prior to the recent fires, and deep-rooted perennial herbaceous species were rare. At Maggie Creek, cheatgrass was common, but deep-rooted perennial herbaceous species had a much greater density than at the other two sites. The Squaw Valley site was a Droughty Loam 8-10 ecological site (024XY020NV – Humboldt MLRA); while the Izzenhood and Maggie Creek sites were Loamy 8-10 (024XY005NV - Humboldt MLRA) and Loamy 10-12 (025XY014NV – Owyhee High Plateau MLRA) ecological sites, respectively (NRCS 1987a, NRCS 1987b).
Most of the time, the establishment of mo bile cache plots results in more sagebrush seedlings than either BSB or not seeding, but only marginally so. This approach should be avoided.
The establishment of sagebrush on burned landscapes, particularly in the 20-30 cm (812 in) precipitation zone is difficult and can take decades or longer. The lack of sagebrush across large areas after large a wildfire can result in substantial population declines for wildlife that are sagebrush obligate or sage brush facultative species. Sagebrush seed has a short lifespan and no mechanisms for long distance dispersal. Viable seed in the soil after a fire – if any – may die before climatic condi tions that facilitate seed germination and seed ling survival can occur (Hourihan et al. 2018).
Objectives/Hypotheses The placement of sagebrush plants harvest ed in the fall at seed ripe will result in more initial seedlings the following spring and subsequent years, compared with broadcast seeding and no seeding at all.
Whole sagebrush plants harvested in Novem ber at seed ripe were placed in three recent ly burned areas in 2016, and three additional sites in 2017. In 2016, harvested sagebrush were staked to the ground so the plants could not move. In 2017, sagebrush plants were attached to a central stake and allowed to swing freely with the wind. In both years, at each site, broadcast seeded sagebrush plots (BSB) were hand seeded with commercially available sagebrush seed, and control plots re mained unseeded. There were 15, 15-m2 (161 ft2) treatment plots (including controls) at each study site, with five for each treatment. For plots established in November 2016, seedling counts occurred annually from 2017 through 2019. For plots established in November 2017, seedling counts occurred annually from 2018 through 2020. Counts were made in late spring, typically in early to mid-June. In all years, seedling counts were several or more orders of magnitude greater in the sage brush cache treatment plots. Eighty-seven per cent of the cache treatment plots established
To understand the possible influence of annual precipitation toward seedling counts we used precipitation data from the four NOAA sites (with adequate annual data) closest to the study sites. These are Winnemucca, Battle Moun tain, Beowawe, and Elko. Data reported in clude precipitation in the October-March, and April-June periods for each water year from 2015-16 through 2019-20. Precipitation in the October-March period largely influenced seed production of the harvested sagebrush plants because it recharges the deeper portions of the soil profile. Deep soil moisture supports sage brush growth and seed development in the late summer and fall. Precipitation across the en tire October-June period provides insight into seed germination, initial seedling density and potentially seedling density across years. The precipitation amount for each period was com pared with the long-term mean for that period, to calculate the percent of the mean and medi an precipitation by period, year, and weather station. The four stations provide perspective for precipitation across the region, not individ ual study sites.
Results and Discussion Plots Established in November 2016
Plots Established in 2017. Additional work not described in the original proposal started in November 2017, with the establishment of three additional study sites: Oil Well, Coal, and Delano. The Oil Well and Coal Sites were Loamy 8-10 (025XY019NV) and Loamy 10-12 (.025XY014NV) Wyoming sage brush ecological sites, respectively (NRCS 1987a, NRCS 1987b). The Delano site as a Shallow Calcareous Loam 8-10, black sage brush (024XY030NV) ecological site (NRCS Each1987a).study location had the same number and general layout of treatment plots as described for plots established in November 2016. The only difference in methodology was for the cache seeding treatment. For these 2017 cache seeding treatments, several cut sagebrush plants were strung together and attached to a single t-post (in the center of the plot), and al lowed to ‘swing’ back and forth with the wind. The November 2016 plots had sagebrush caches that were fixed to the ground with no movement possible. Seedling counts in each plot occurred from late May to mid-June from 2018 through 2020. Data analysis: For 2017, raw seedling count data for all plots are unavailable. Following PI. McAdoo’s passing the original data could not be located. All reported data below are summary the summary statistics presented by McAdoo and Davies (2018) at the annual meeting of the Society for Range Manage ment. In all years, in each treatment plot (five plots per treatment, 15 per site), we counted every sagebrush seedling in a 218-cm radius from the center stake (plot = 15-m2). Raw data were summarized as mean seedling density, by treatment plot within years and study loca tions. We also determined the percent of plots occupied by one or more sagebrush seedlings. We compared mean seedling density across treatments within years with a parametric one-way analysis of variance (AOV: Analyt ical Software 1985-2013). When the Levene’s test, Obrien’s Test or Brown and Forsythe Test suggested variance was not homogeneous, we subsequently analyzed the data with the non-parametric Kruskal -Wallis (KW) oneway AOV. Mean separation occurred with the Tukey’s test for the parametric AOV and the Dunn’s all ways comparison for the KW AOV. For both tests, the alpha levels for mean comparison were 0.05 or 0.10, when the AOV showed statistical significance at p≤0.05. For the most part, the parametric and non-paramet ric tests provided the same result. Differences are noted in the summary data table (Table 1).
In May 2017, there was a “carpet” of sage brush seedlings within 0.5-m of the sagebrush cache treatments, at each study site (McAdoo and Davies 2018; Figure 3). By October 2017, natural thinning had reduced survivors by about 50%. Across the cache treatment plots, sagebrush seedling survival was variable, but significantly greater (P≤0.05) seedling den sity occurred compared with BSB treatment (McAdoo and Davies 2018).
Cache plots were denoted by placing two re bar stakes at the center point, and the BSB and control plots had one center stake. Following the death of PI McAdoo, the origi nal field notes that identified which plots were hand broadcast seeded and which were un seeded controls could not be found. This prob lem became somewhat moot by 2018 (second growing season) as only one seedling occurred in any non-cache treatment plot. A census of all seedlings in each 15-m2 plot occurred in the late spring and fall of 2017, and in June of 2018 and 2019. Seedlings were not marked to determine individual survival, or to help differentiate year of germination.
At all three study sites, in the cache plots, seed ling density in June 2019 was substantially less than in 2018. At Squaw Valley there were no seedlings present in 2019, but almost 87 per 15-m2 in 2018. At Izzenhood, seedling density declined from slightly more than 31 per 15m2 in 2018, to less than one per cache plot in 2019, with all four seedlings found in the same plot. At Maggie Creek, the proportion of cache plots with seedlings declined from 100% to 60% (n=3 of 5), and seedling density declined over 50% to just more than 81 seedlings per 15-m2. The causes of these declines likely are many, but two observations are important. At the Squaw Valley site, pronghorn (Antilo capra americana), were observed throughout the spring of 2019 (winter presence is un known but likely as higher elevations to the north and east are typically covered with snow for several months or more). Forage Kochia (Kochia prostrata) occurs in and beyond the study site and all forage kochia plants in the study area had been intensively grazed, leav ing residual heights of about 2.5 to 5 cm. Pronghorn will readily consume sagebrush (Severson et al. 1968; Yoakum 1978), espe cially in the spring (Olsen and Hansen 1977; Ngugi et al. 1992), and relatively few bites are needed to kill small, one to two-year old sage brush. It is quite possible that many plants died from grazing by pronghorn between June 2018 and June 2019. Precipitation across this peri od, at the two closest sites (Battle Mountain and Winnemucca) was slightly below to well above average (Table 2).
and 3) unseeded controls. In each cache treat ment plot, the sagebrush was secured in place with an overlay of chicken wire staked to the ground with rebar stakes (Figures 2 and 3).
The aggregate mean seedling density in Oc tober 2017, in cache plots, across all three locations, was 5.7 seedlings/m2 (86 per 15-m2 plot). The October 2017 seedling density was about one-half that present in May 2017, but still more than two orders of magnitude great er than in either the BSB or control treatments. These data were summary values and statistics taken from Mr. McAdoo’s 2018 presentation at the Annual Conference of the Society for Range Management. In June 2018, seedling density in the cache plots ranged from 31.4 to 177.8 per 15-m2 (Ta ble 1). These amounts greatly exceeded those in the BSB and control treatments. Across all sites, only two seedlings were counted in the thirty non-cache treatment plots. For statistical analysis, these two seedlings were assigned to an SBS treatment. The rationale being that BSB plots had a much greater initial seed density than control plots; thus, were more likely to have a seedling, given the same pre cipitation and ecological site. Also, the small seedling density was found to have no appre ciable influence on a statistical test regardless of which non-cache treatment we assigned the two seedlings. The small p-values, strongly indicate that the substantially greater seed ling density in cache plots was likely due to the cache seeding treatment (Table 1). In June 2018, the cache treatment also had good dis persion of seedlings across all plots., with 60% to 100% of the cache plots having one or more sagebrush seedlings. Amongst sites, and within the cache treatment, Maggie Creek had a much greater seedling density than the Squaw Valley or Izzenhood sites. Maggie Creek also had the best seedling dispersion, with all five cache plots occupied by at least one seedling (Range 1 to 327). The ecological site at Maggie Creek is a Loamy 1012, which suggests this site is both wetter and probably slightly cooler than the Squaw Val ley and Izzenhood sites. Both locations were slightly drier ecological sites, situated at lower elevation and had an open westerly exposure. The Maggie Creek site has an east to northeast exposure, with a tall ridgeline immediately to the west of the study area.
The second observation was at Maggie Creek, where a cache treatment plot with over 100 sagebrush seedlings in 2018 had none in 2019. Sometime after June 218, this plot was entire ly obliterated by a new badger den. The other plot that no longer had sagebrush seedlings had only one in 2018. Across all three sites, for the non-cache treat ment plots, there was a slight increase in seed lings – from two to four - by 2019. A two-sam ple t-test comparison (Sattertwaite unequal variances method) was used to compare seed ling density from all cache plots across all three locations in 2019 (n=15 plots with 27.4 sagebrush seedlings per 15-m2), with seedling density from non-cache treatments in 2019 (n=30 and 0.13 seedlings per 15-m2). The re sulting p-value of 0.10 is moderately strong evidence that cache seeding resulted in more seedlings in the third growing season, than did the non-cache treatments. The benefit, howev er, did not occur at all sites, and within sites was highly variable across cache treatment plots (Table 1).
Plots established in November 2017 In 2018, the first growing season after plot es tablishment, sagebrush seedlings were abun dant at only one site, Oil Well, and only in the cache treatment (Table 1). All four cache treatment plots (field crews did not locate the fifth plot in 2018, but did in subsequent years) had seedlings, and counts ranged from 33 to 97 seedling per 15-m2. The cache seeding treatments in the Coal and Delano sites had seedling densities of 1.0 and 0.2 seedlings per 15-m2, respectively, and no more than 40% of each site’s cache plots had sagebrush seed lings. There were no sagebrush seedlings in either the BSB or control plots. The AOV indi cates provides strong evidence that the cache treatment at the Oil Well site increased seed ling density, but not so at the other locations (Table 1). Observation noted that most seed lings occurred within 1-m of the plot’s center stake, with the furthest being 2-m away. Seedling density in the cache treatment at the Oil Well site declined almost ten-fold from 2018 to 2019, and by one-half from 2019 to 2020. The fifth cache plot was located in 2019, and all five cache plots had at least one sage brush seedling in 2019. By 2020, two of the five cache plots had lost all sagebrush seed lings. Seedlings were never found in any of the BSB and control plots treatments at the Oil Well site. There was no statistical differ ence between mean seedling density amongst treatments in 2019 and 2020, at Oil Well (Ta ble 1); however, the cache treatment did av erage at least 3.2 seedlings per 15-m2 in both years. No sagebrush seedlings occurred in any non-cache treatment plot in either year. Despite a lack of statistical significance, the outcome strongly suggests that cache seeding treatments increase the potential for sagebrush presence compared to BSB and non-seeding treatments. The Delano site was the only location across of all six study sites, with an increase in sage brush seedling density in the cache treatment, each year of the study. In 2018, there was only one sagebrush seedling in one cache plot. That plot, however had five seedlings in 2019 and 15 plants in 2020. A second cache plot had six seedlings in 2020. Observation noted that these two plots had a spatial relationship to one-another, and a landform feature that funneled run-on water to them, but not other plots at the study site. The cache plot with 15
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There is strong evidence that cut sagebrush plants, laden with viable seed, that are perma nently staked in place (i.e., can’t move with the wind) can facilitate the presence of a large number of seedlings two years later, when total winter precipitation and snowfall are well above average. Under these conditions, sagebrush caches will result in many more seedlings than the standard broadcast seeding method for sagebrush, or no seeding at all. It is likely that the large number of young plants found in 2018, on sagebrush pile plots estab lished in November 2016 were yearling plants that germinated in 2017 and survived the first growing season. Because seedlings were not marked, a definitive conclusion is not possi ble. The lack of marked seedlings also makes it unknown for whether seedling survival was better directly under the cut shrubs, around their perimeter, or the same regardless of mi
Weather and Seedling Density:
We accept the hypothesis that the immediate placement of sagebrush plants, harvested at seed ripe, on recently burned areas and stak ing them in place so they cannot move lateral ly will result in more seedlings the following and subsequent years. Sagebrush has a greater probability of establishing in more locations, but across time numerous other factors exert a greater influence on long-term plant establish ment. The potential for these influences to oc cur at any location should be evaluated before implementing the cache seeding treatment.
An important unanswered question is what spacing of caches should occur to help over come herbivory issues. This study had sin gle plants staked an average of 20-m from the next closest cache, with only five caches per study area. On some sites many seed lings occurred at the cache, with substantial self-thinning the first two years after emer gence. Eventually the few seedlings left were easy targets for an herbivore. Should caches be spread further apart, with many of them across many acres? Or, should cach es be established at a greater cache density on smaller areas (patch size)? The answer is unknown and likely specific to each sit uation, but anyone implementing the tech nique should ask these questions.
If there are pronghorn or mule deer using the site for extended periods, seedlings tend to disappear (this study wasn’t designed to document whether these ungulates eat the seedlings, but it seems likely). A small green item in a sea of brown is tempting for any ungulate. Rabbits or ground squirrels were likely problems as well but were dif ficult to document.
Guidelines and Management Considerations for Application of the Cache Seeding Treatment.
Winter precipitation from October 2015 through March 2016 (hereafter winter) was well above the long-term average and median in all areas (Table 2). From April through June (hereafter spring period) 2016, precipitation was also well above the average and medi an at Bewowawe and Elko, near the average and median at Battle mountain, but almost 30% below average at Winnemucca (Table 2). Overall, the precipitation data suggest that seed production in November 2016 should have been very good. The seedling density in the cache treatment at all three study sites sup ports this outcome.
Seedlingcro-location.numbers on the three plots estab lished in 2017 and counted in 2018, were markedly less than on plots established in 2016 and counted in 2017. This may have been due to the drier winter that coincided with sites established in 2017. It seems likely the dif ferent methodology for creating seed caches also influenced the outcome. In essence, the change in methodology confounds the results. The obvious scour marks at cache locations suggest an increased probability that regular lateral movement by the dead sagebrush skel etons could have increased seedling mortality. Potential interactions of all of the aforemen tioned variables are unknown. Regardless, the scouring that occurred on the cut sagebrush treatment plots strongly suggests that applica tion of a cut sagebrush pile seeding technique should use cut sagebrush that are permanent ly staked to the soil surface to prevent their movement and disturbance to the seedbed.
There were few seedlings on the Coal site in 2019 and 2020, and all were in the cache treat ment (Table 1). Statistical support in 2019 for cache treatments having more seedlings than the BSB and control treatments was weak (p = 0.15), with stronger support in 2020 (p = 0.01).
There are two important periods of precip itation that may influence the reproduction dynamics of sagebrush. The production of abundant, viable seed in the fall, requires ad equate precipitation occurring during the pre vious wet season, and more specifically during the October-March period. Mature sagebrush plants extract deep soil moisture in the late summer and fall to produce seed, and deep soil moisture storage is a function of sufficient pre cipitation the previous winter when maximum infiltration is possible during the cool months, when evapotranspiration is minimal or absent. Dry winters will not provide enough moisture at depth to support growth all summer and fall, and abundant seed production in the Octo ber-November period. Seed germination, and more importantly seedling survival are more closely linked with precipitation in the spring months of April through June, when the devel oping roots of sagebrush seedlings are short and have not yet reached the large reservoir of stored soil moisture at deeper depths. Dry spring periods, or years where most moisture falls in a brief period, especially late in the spring period, are likely to reduce sagebrush seedling establishment.
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The total number sagebrush seedlings across all cache plots at the Coal site was the same in 2019 and 2020, but in 2020 seedling dis tribution was across three cache plots vs only two in 2019. Better (more even) distribution of the small number of seedlings influenced the result of the AOV test. An important observation across plots estab lished in November 2017 was that the abili ty for the sagebrush caches to move laterally across the 15-m2 plot, with the wind. Sage brush seedlings are fragile plants and it seems likely repeated lateral movement of large dead sagebrush plants and associated scouring of the soil surface could have resulted in sub stantial mortality. The Coal site, which sup ports a wetter more productive ecological site than either the Delano or Oil Well sites, was positioned on a west facing windward slope just below the ridgeline. The Delano site had a similar landform position but was lower on the slope and also had a catchment area with the potential to funnel surface flow into two of the cache treatments. The Oil Well site oc curs on a very slight backslope, facing east to northeast; thus, is in a leeward location of the landscape. This leeward location may have resulted in less scouring by the mobile seed caches; hence, why this site had more sage brush seedlings.
Plots Established in Fall 2017: Plots estab lished in November 2017 would have been in fluenced by weather in the 2016-17 water year and its influence for seed production for the seed caches established in November 2017. Also, the 2017-18 water year for initial seed ling germination and establishment. Across the region, the 2016-17 water year was wet, with well above average winter precipitation at all four weather stations, and slightly below to slightly above spring precipitation. These data suggest no precipitation constraints for seed production for the plants used in the cache seeding treatment. The seedling density at the Oil Well site confirms this conclusion, at least for this location. For the 2017-18 water year – the period of influence for seed germi nation and seedling emergence - precipitation across the region ranged from 81 to 91% per cent of average for the winter period, and 3 to 30% above average in the spring period. Hou rihan et al. (2018) demonstrated that largescale sagebrush recruitment is predominately a pulse event linked to wet periods. Winter pre cipitation in the 2017-18 water year was below average and probably insufficient to promote wide spread seedling emergence across the region. The one site with abundant seedlings in the cache treatment, Oil Well, had nearly a ten-fold decline in seedling density from 2018 to 2019, despite a generally wet spring in 2018, and a wet winter and spring across the 2018-19 water year. It is possible that the dry winter period in the 2017-18 resulted in insufficient deep infiltration to meet the water needs of most seedlings as their roots grew to greater soil depths, and /or spring precipitation was insufficient (amount or timing) to keep the shallow soil depths wet enough to meet the needs of recently emerged seedlings.
Some caches (sagebrush skeletons) were removed after the first year and some not. I would leave them in place so they provide some physical protection for as long as pos sible.
seedlings in 2020 was located in the northeast corner of the study area, on the upper portion of a small alluvial fan that merges into an ad jacent hillslope. Traversing the hillslope and broadening just above the cache plot was a small ephemeral flow path that in some, and perhaps most years, carries run-on moisture to the cache plot. This likely influenced seed germination and/or seedling survival. In addi tion to the cache seed, seed could also have been carried down-gradient from the unburned hillslope into the cache plot, with the dead sagebrush cache slowing flow enough for seed to drop out of the flow. The cache plot with six seedlings in 2020 is immediately downslope of the aforementioned plot and in the same flow path, although it broadens substantially as the gradient of the fan declines. None of the remaining treatment plots, regardless of treat ment, occurred in this flow-path. It is probable that run-on moisture on this site influenced the cache treatment response across time.
Regardless of whether or not statistical signif icance occurred, there were consistently more sagebrush seedlings in cache seeded plots, compared to BSB and control treatments.
Winter precipitation in the 2016-17 water year was well above average at all four weather stations, with spring precipitation ranging from 4% below average at Elko to 6 to 11% above average at the other three locations (Ta ble 2). These data suggest there was good soil moisture at shallow depths for initial seedling growth, and good soil moisture throughout the growing season as their tap roots elongat ed, reaching deeper soil moisture pools. The amount of moisture added to the cache seeding plots by the cluster of dead sagebrush is un known, but observation and seedling density data suggest the caches captured more snow than the broadcast seeding and control plots, and/or modified the microclimate sufficient to benefit seed germination and seedling emer gence, The influence of weather for long-term seed ling survival across time appears to decline, with seedling density influenced more by site specific factors (e.g., burrowing animals, mammalian herbivory). Evidence for this con clusion is a combination of the greater seed ling density at the Maggie Creek Site cache treatments, and their distribution across most cache plots three years after seeding, but few seedlings and poor distribution among cache plots at the two other sites. This occurred de spite precipitation being above average across the region, most of the study period (Tables 1 and 2).
Conclusions and Management Recommendations
Seedlings can be established in the 8 to 10inch precipitation zone, in dense cheatgrass in a good precipitation year. The probable outcome in an average to below average precipitation year remains unknown. An important question to address is: should one try to establish sagebrush in areas predomi nately inhabited with cheatgrass? Most like ly, the fire cycle is 5-10 years and the young sagebrush they will burn up before they pro vide much if any ecological benefit. The fire cycle needs to match the biological needs of the plants established, and the animals that potentially use the sagebrush.
Ungulate herbivory is likely to be exasperated when forage kochia is present amongst the caches. One site still had quite a few seedlings after 2-3 years, but the next spring, after a wet winter, there were none. Antelope were in the vicinity and all the forage kochia plants were heavily used. Establishing sagebrush caches amongst an attractant feed that may hold pronghorn or other herbivores on a site for a long period, may counter the benefit of the cache seeding approach, particularly when cache numbers are few. There has to be enough seedlings established to survive several years of herbivory, until the surviving plants are large enough to cope with that herbivory..
Publications None. A final manuscript will be submitted for publication either in Rangelands or as an Extension Special Publication, through the University of Nevada, Reno, Extension. Additional Products/Outcomes
TABLES
2008. Artemisia L. woody plant seed manual. USDA FS Agriculture Handbook, Washington, DC, USA, p. 727. Ngugi, K.R., Powell, J. Hinds, F.C., and Olson, R.A. 1992. Range animal diet composition in southcentral Wyoming. Journal of Range Management. 45:542545 NRCS. 1987. Ecological Site Descriptions. Major Land Resource Area 24. Humboldt Area. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Reno. NV. NRCS. 1987. Ecological Site Descriptions. Major Land Resource Area 25. Owyhee High Plateau. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Reno. NV. Olsen, F.W., and Hansen, R.M. 1977. Food relations of wild free-roaming horses to livestock and big game, Red Desert, Wyoming. Journal of Range Manage. 30:17-20 Severson, K., May, M., and Hepworth, W. 1968. Food preferences, carrying capacities, and forage competition between antelope and domestic sheep in Wyoming’s Red Desert. Wyoming. Agricultural Experiment Station. Science Monograph. 10. Laramie. Shaw, N. L.; DeBoldt, A. M.; Rosentreter, R. 2005. Reseeding big sagebrush: Techniques and issues. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, RMRS-P-38. Shipley, L. A.; Davila, T. B.; Thines, N. J.; and Elias B. A. 2006. Nutritional requirements and diet choices of the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis): a sagebrush specialist. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:2455-2474. Wagstaff, F. J.; Welch, B. L. 1990. Rejuvenation of mountain big sagebrush on mule deer winter ranges using onsite plants as a seed source. In: McArthur, E. D.; Romney, E. M.; Smith, S. D.; Tueller, P. T., comps. Proceedings-symposium on cheatgrass invasion, shrub die-off, and other aspects of shrub biology and management. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-276. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 171-174. Yoakum, J.D. 1978. Pronghorn. p. 103-121. In: J.L. Schmidt and D.L. Gilbert (eds.). Big game of North America. Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. Young, J. A.; Evans, R. A. 1989a. Dispersal and germination of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) seeds. Weed Science 37:201-206.
The cache seeding technique may prove most useful when applied to locations with a good perennial herbaceous component but not sagebrush. Such sites have the perennial herbaceous species, particularly forbs, that meet the needs of many wildlife but also are less likely to burn as frequently as sites infested with annual grasses. Establishing sagebrush on these sites, quicker rather than later, is likely to confer greater short and long-term benefits. On sites with very dense bunchgrass communities there may need to be some disturbance to the grasses at cache sites to reduce competition. Daubenmire (1970) in his publication, Steppe Vegetation of Washington noted that dense stands of Palouse Prairie grasslands required some disturbance by digging rodents to lessen grass competition so sagebrush could establish.
The cache seeding technique has potential but it’s not a silver bullet. It probably works best in conjunction with other treatments or land management approaches. Increasing seed germination and emergence with caches is the easy part of the process, especially in a wet year, but having plants alive after 3-4 years likely will take some thought and a long-term strategy. Numerous ecological processes and mechanisms factors can eliminate many plants from an area in that timeframe.
McAdoo, J. K. and K.W. Davies. 2018. Shrub Island Establishment Innovation: Sacrificing a Few Sagebrush to Plant Many. Presented by Gerry Miller, Nevada Division Conservation and Natural Resources, to the Northeast Nevada Stewardship Group. October 18, 2018. 50 attendees. Presented by Gerry Miller, Northeast Nevada Stewardship Group.
Gerry Miller, Nevada Conservation Districts, established a large-scale cache seeding (approximately 1,500 caches) in Elko County in the fall and early winter of 2020. Seedlings were present in many caches in the spring of 2021. Hyslop, L. 2018. Helping sagebrush return to burned lands. Elko Daily Free Press.
References Analytical Software. 1985-2013. Statistix 10. User’s Manual. Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL. Crawford, J. A.; Olsen, R. A.; West, N. E.; Mosley, J. C.; Schroeder, M.A.; Whitson, T.D.; Miller, R.F.; Gregg, M.A.; Boyd, C.S. 2004. Ecology and Management of sagegrouse and sage-grouse habitat. Journal of Range Management 57:2-19. Daubenmire, R. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington Agricultural Experiment Station. Technical Bulletin 62. Pullman, WA. 132 p Davies, K.W.; Boyd, C.S.; Beck, J.L.; Bates, J.D.: Svejcar, T.J.; Gregg, M.A. 2011. Saving the sagebrush sea: An ecosystem conservation plan for big sagebrush plant communities. Biological Conservation 144:2573-2584. Davies, K.W.; Boyd, C.S.; Nafus, A.M. 2013. Restoring the sagebrush component in crested wheatgrass dominated communities. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66:472Hourihan,478. E.; Schultz, B. W.; and B. L. Perryman. 2018. Climatic influences on establishment pulses of four Artemisia species in Nevada. Rangeland Ecology and Management 71:77-86. McAdoo, J. K.; Boyd, C. S.; Sheley, R. L. 2013. Site, competition, and plant stock influence transplant success of Wyoming big sagebrush. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66:305-312. McAdoo, J. K. and K.W. Davies. 2018. Shrub Island Establishment Innovation: Sacrificing a Few Sagebrush to Plant Many. Proceedings of the 71st SRM Annual Meeting, Empowerment through Applied Science. January 28, to Feb. 2, 2018, Sparks, NV. Published Abstract available at: A.McAdoo,uploads/2018/01/2018-Abstracts.pdfhttp://rangelands.org/wp-content/J.K.;Longland,W.S.;Evans,R.1989.Nongamebirdcommunityresponses to sagebrush invasion of crested wheatgrass seedings. Journal of Wildlife Management Meyer,53:494-502.S.E.
Abstract: Several studies have indicated unreliable or sporadic establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) using conventional seeding methods. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the fall placement of sacrificed sagebrush plants in recently burned areas. The harvested sagebrush could serve both as snow catchments and seed source as the seeds dehisce, with the accumulating dead leaves potentially providing litter/ mulch that could also enhance germination by increasing soil moisture. We established treatments within three newly burned sites in northern Nevada, 30 to 60 km apart and having variable elevation, topography, and soils. We used a randomized block study design, with five blocks at each site. Within each block, three 15-m2 plots were randomly selected for either cut-shrub placement, broadcast seeding, or no treatment. At each of the cut-shrub plots, we placed Wyoming big sagebrush stems (harvested just before seed-ripe in November 2016). Seeded plots were hand-broadcast with seed zone-adapted sagebrush seed to simulate conventional broadcast-seeding practice. First year results showed that sagebrush seedling survival in cut-shrub plots, though quite variable, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at each of the sites than in the broadcast-seeded plots. In May, some cut-shrub plots had a “carpet” of sagebrush within 0.5 m of the cut sagebrush, but by October, natural thinning had reduced survivors by approximately 50%. Although more natural thinning is anticipated, the October aggregate survival density mean for cut-shrub plots (5.7/m2) was still two orders of magnitude higher than that for broadcastseeded plots. Precipitation was higher than normal during this first year of study. For comparison, we will establish additional plots in at least three new wildfire sites during November 2017. Preliminary results indicate potential utility of this technique where establishing sagebrush islands could serve as a seed source for successional recovery of critical sites over time.
Consider topography when placing caches. Caches do catch and retain snow, but placement in areas where there is some additional run-on moisture, is likely to confer additional benefits to germination, seedling establishment and long-term seedling survival.
Implementation of the cache treatment should be applied to areas where the ecological sites are well known so the right sagebrush seed is placed in the correct location. Many areas have a heterogenous mixture of different sagebrush species across short distances. Without good knowledge about soils and ecological sites, the wrong harvested sagebrush cache can easily be placed on a mismatched soil, with a seeding failure the probable outcome.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 37
Members of the North Eastern Nevada Stewardship Group, Trout Unlimited and a Boy Scout Troop established three new plots in the fall of 2018, on two fires that burned in 2018. Two sites were in black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) community types and one in low sagebrush. The current PI on this project will continue collaboration with those groups to expand knowledge about the conditions under which the cutsagebrush seeding approach may work.
Presentations McAdoo, J. K. and K.W. Davies. 2018. Shrub Island Establishment Innovation: Sacrificing a Few Sagebrush to Plant Many. Proceedings of the 71st SRM Annual Meeting, Empowerment through Applied Science. January 28, to Feb. 2, 2018, Sparks, NV. Published Abstract available at: uploads/2018/01/2018-Abstracts.pdfhttp://rangelands.org/wp-content/
All & FIGURES Referenced in this article are shown on the next two pages
1 Figure 1. Study site locations in northern Nevada.Figure 1. Study site locations in northern Nevada. Figure 2. Example of a cache sagebrush plot established in November 2016. Figure 3a & Figure 3b Examples of the “carpet of seedlings” present in late May 2017 beneath (left) and immediately adjacent to (right) sagebrush cache’s established in November 2016. Placing Fall-Harvested Wyoming Big Sagebrush Plants to Catch Snow and Provide Seed for Creating Sagebrush Islands – Final Project Report –TABLES & FIGURES The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com38 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
f. Unequal variances. One-way AOV and KW one-way AOV had p-values of p ≤ 0.04 and 0.17, respectively, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p = 0.10 for the Tukey all pairwise comparison.
i. Equal variances for one-way AOV and non-significant p-value. Nonparametric KW one-way AOV had p-value of 0.017, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p = 0.05.
j. Equal variances and same large p-values for both the parametric one-way AOV, and KW non-parametric one-way AOV.
c. Insufficient sums of squares to calculate p-value.
Table 1, continued.
l. Unequal variances. Parametric one-way AOV and non-parametric KW one-way AOV both had p-values = 0.02, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control by parametric Tukey Dunn’s non-parametric allway comparisons at p= 0.05 and 0.10, respectively
Table 1. Mean seedling Density (#/15-m2) by study location, year and seeding treatment. Also shown are the number of plots by treatment sampled and number of plots occupied by at least one seedling each year. The p-value is for one-way analysis of variance. When variances were not equal among treatments, data analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis (KW) one-way nonparametric analysis of variance. Footnotes for p-values denote when variances were unequal and if KW test provided a different result. Mean separation was at p≤0.50, unless otherwise noted.
k. Unequal variances, but p-value ≥0.11 for both parametric one-way AOV and non-parametric KW one-way AOV.
h. Equal variances for one-way AOV and Non-significant p-value. Nonparametric KW one-way AOV had p-value ≤ 0.00, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p = 0.05.
e. Unequal variances. One-way AOV and KW one-way AOV had p-values of p ≤ 0.007 and 0.0001, respectively, with Cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p = 0.05 for the Tukey and Dunn’s all pairwise comparisons, respectively.
g. Unequal variances. One-way AOV and KW one-way AOV both had p-values less than 0.00, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p = 0.05 for both the Tukey (parametric)and Dunn’s (non-parametric) all pairwise comparisons.
The Progressive Rancherwww.progressiverancher.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 39
d. Unequal variances. One-way AOV and KW one-way AOV both had p-values ≤ 0.03 and 0.02, respectively, with cache seeding separated from BSB and control treatments at p ≤ 0.10, for both the Tukey and Dunn’s all pairwise comparisons.
Table 2. Weather data for four long-term stations across the study area, their period of record, and amount of precipitation for the October-March and April-June period of each water year, of seedling data collection.
a. Plot level data are unavailable for 2017. Across all sites and treatments, in October 2017, seedling density averaged 85.5 seedlings/15-m2, which was two orders of magnitude greater than for sites with broadcast seeding of sagebrush.
b. Unequal variances. Parametric one-way AOV and non-parametric KW one-way AOV both had p-values ≤ 0.01, with cache plots separated from BSB and control plots at p ≤ 0.05, for both parametric Tukey and nonparametric Dunn’s all pairwise comparisons.
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