The Progressive Rancher - APRIL 2023

NOW HIRING BRAND INSPECTORS

The Nevada Department of Agriculture is seeking candidates for part-time Brand Inspector 1 positions statewide. Salary: $15.19 per hour. Personal vehicle mileage reimbursed by state. For more information, submit resumes to: animalindustry@agri.nv.gov

NEVADA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Nevada Association of Conservation Districts (NvACD) is proud to support Nevada students pursuing an education in agriculture, renewable natural resources, or a related field at an accredited institution of higher learning, including vocational/ technical schools. The NvACD Scholarship Committee is always impressed with the high quality of the applicants that we receive; it makes the decision both rewarding and challenging to choose among the Nevada students. The application process is open now and closes April 15, 2023. The application and all information can be found at www.nvacd.org

Last year NvACD distributed $7,500 in scholarships. Much of this funding comes from the NvACD Sportsmen’s Raffle conducted each year with prizes from Gunworld and Archery in Elko drawn October 1-30. Only 500 tickets are sold and winning tickets go back in for another chance. All information is available at www.nvacd.org. Great prizes for a great cause! 30 chances for only $100!

Conservation Districts (CDs) have the responsibility to understand the resource concerns in their area and to find solutions to those concerns by working with landowners, producers, agencies and groups, building relationships with partners and providing the nexus to work across ownership boundaries. One of the greatest contributions of this little known but powerful resource in Nevada is the unrivaled authority and opportunity to meld funding for projects from multiple agencies and landowners. CDs are directed by locally elected volunteer residents and were founded, along with 3,000 CDs nationally, in 1937 on the philosophy that conservation decisions should be made at the local level with a focus on voluntary, incentive-based actions.

NvACD will continue to support youth who write to tell us, “I would like to truly thank you for your investment in my future. I sincerely appreciate your support of myself as well as other youth.” Please share this announcement with students and sportsmen far and wide and partner with NvACD and CDs to grow our future and put good resource management on the ground.

If you would like to donate to the NvACD Scholarship Fund, any amount is appreciated. There is a donation tab on the NvACD website, or you may contact Adriane Tibbitts at treasurer@nvacd.org.

Rangeland Grazing and Water - Modern Ranching Property Rights Documentary

Watch here: https://youtu.be/vjRFxtC-Sak

19 Farm Credit Supports YF&R Program & Future Leaders

22 White Gold | Capturing Value: Charolais-Influenced Cattle

23 UNR | Study finds high stress levels in agriculture producers

24 UNR | Extension provides 4-H after-school program

25 The NDA Needs Your Help! Report Winter Storm Problems

27 USDA | Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report for March 2023

27 Creeks & Communities Team: 2023 Trainings

28 UNR / USDA "Herds & Harvest" Program

29 Inaugural Western Ag & Environmental Law Conference

30 Ag Day Celebrated in Gardnerville

president ' s perspective

Yep, that’s me, yelling at the radio. Some of you may wonder why I’m yelling at an inanimate object, but I suspect most of you have been there. I happened to catch a news piece about the announcement of this year’s fee for an Animal Unit Month paid by Public Lands Ranchers. It was no doubt promulgated by a shop of lawyers - I mean environmentalists - litigating their way to a bigger bank account - I mean better environment. The piece was filled with the usual halftruths but the part that had me back-talking said inanimate object was the statement that cheap fees mean that ranchers can afford to graze more cattle, thereby increasing the damage caused.

It’s not hard to know the truth that the number of AUM’s a rancher has to work with is limited by the land management agencies and pretty much set in stone.  The total lack of any business sense to that

Your Association works hard to promote our industry and counter misconceptions, and we’re fortunate to have our Land Grant Universities providing us current science that proves the benefits of well-managed livestock grazing, thank you to CABNR at UNR for having our backs.  There’s also a well-researched paper showing the true costs of an AUM too, I might add.

In cheerier news, The Great Basin Bull Sale proved to be a huge success and a really fun weekend in Fallon. Thanks to Jim and Jesse and the Rafter 3C crew for the beautiful facility and to Charlie and crew for a well-run sale with a great set of bulls. I’d much rather hear the excited shout of a ringman than my own dog-scaring holler at the radio.

Jon Griggs President

by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214

Spring Update...

Happy Spring, Cattlemen and Cattlewomen!

What a winter we saw throughout Nevada this year. The weather experts have been saying we are in the middle of a shift from La Nina to El Nino. The neutral pattern we are in now in has been dubbed “La Nada” by some, but winter was anything but nada this year. I hope the early calvers got by without too much difficulty, but one thing I know is that consistent freezing temperatures with blizzards added in is not kind to newborn calves or those old trusty mother cows. Here’s to happy calving and a mild spring instead of more of that white stuff or flooding.

This month is going to be busy per usual. On the docket for April, NCA will be sending a contingent to Washington D.C. for the NCBA/PLC Annual Legislative Conference. This is a good opportunity for NCA to meet face to face with our Congressional representatives to discuss priority issues. The Farm Bill will be a major discussion point this year. There is a lot of uncertainty with the Farm Bill as inflation continues to hang around like the plague, especially for those of us in agriculture. This is all while spending coming out of our nation’s capital continues at a warp speed pace. It’s going to take some out of the box thinking to come up with a plan that supports livestock producers while being mindful of national deficit. While things are nowhere near fleshed out, the Congressional Budget Office is projecting a baseline of $709 billion dollars over five years and approximately $1.5 trillion over ten years. These estimates are based on required spending on mandatory farm bill programs if current law continues. Obviously, those are some big numbers, but NCA will be working hard to make sure key livestock programs remain in place. We also intend to discuss animal disease traceability, wild horses, federal land designations and much more during the trip.

On the state side of the equation, the Nevada Legislature also continues their work at warp speed pace. By my count there are 676 resolutions and bills up for consideration with more able to be added until March 20th deadline for legislation to be introduced. The pace at which legislation is heard and considered makes it tough to provide an accurate assessment of where things stand as they seem to change by the minute, but recently NCA’s Legislative Affairs Committee Chair, Davy Stix, expressed NCA’s support for Senate Bill 113, which would create

some sideboards for water basins that are designated as critical management areas. Most importantly, SB 113 would protect prior appropriation – also known as “first in time, first in right” by ensuring that any restrictions to groundwater withdrawals in basins designated as critical management areas conform to priority rights. Senior water right holders would also have the opportunity to participate in a groundwater management plan but would not be required to do so.

NCA also testified in support of Assembly Bill 109 which would establish a Soil Health Advisory Board and also create a Healthy Soils Initiative which would allow conservation districts to leverage funding for on the ground soil health projects.

We are also keeping a close eye on several bills that will have had hearings by the time you read this or will soon have hearings scheduled including the following: Senate Bill 90 which would designate wild horses as the “State Horse” of Nevada while also seemingly classifying the estray horses in the Virginia Range currently managed by the Nevada Department of Agriculture as wild horses as well. Assembly Bill 102 proposes to ban coyote hunting competitions in Nevada. Assembly Bill 70 aims to remove the current requirement that 80% of the $3 fee collected for a game tag be used to manage predators and would

instead direct the collected fees to be used to prioritize programs, activities, and research that will provide the greatest benefit to big game mammals.

Most recently, the NCA testified in opposition of Assembly Joint Resolution 3 which would add a new section to the Nevada Constitution with the opening section declaring that “Each person has an inherent, inalienable, indefeasible and self-executing right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and healthful qualities of the environment.” If passed the bill would have to be passed again in the 2025 Nevada State Legislative Session and then be put on the ballot for all Nevada voters to approve/disapprove. As written, the resolution would give special interests and activists groups undefined and potentially unlimited legal standing to sue based on perceived environmental wrongs.

All things considered, NCA remains in a great position to influence the policy impacting livestock producers on both the state and federal levels, but there’s still a ton of work to be done. Stay tuned as bills continue to be debated and work their way through the process. I’ll continue to do my best to try to make sense of the often times non-sensical.

Good News, Bad News

This will be a good news, bad news column. Some of the good news is the nation’s cow herd is at it smallest since 2015 and with the uptick in moisture so far this winter, calf market should be bullish across the country. Corn futures for September are favorable year to year for feeders, so we should see a vigorous auction season for calves.

More good news exists in the arena of plant-based protein and so-called fake meat products. I know most of you have some knowledge of these meat alternatives. Along with the good news (more about this below) is some bad news. The very fact huge investments are being made in creating a plant based alternative protein to meat from chickens, beef cows and pigs should give any farmer or rancher a great deal of pause about the future of animal agriculture. Couple the development of these protein replacements with a desire on the part of consumers to make sure animals are humanely raised and livestock growers have a sustainability ethic and the prospect for more growth in the alternative sector exists.

In fact, the producers of these alternative products attempt to separate themselves from real meat producers by claiming their products and production are better for the planet. Unfortunately, these claims resonate with some consumers. There's evidence the fake messages about fake meat have an impact on buying choices. This is some of the bad news. By the way, I don’t like to use the phrase “fake” meat because even though it is not real and the phrase is catchy this “meat” is not MEAT. Some of the evidence the proponents are using to sell the idea that cattle are a chief cause of climate change is simply dead wrong. An old debunked United Nations study claiming cattle are a big problem has been found to be wrong on every point for close to a decade.

About four years ago when Impossible Foods partnered with Burger King to market the Impossible Whopper and Beyond Meats launched an IPO that saw a stock price rise dramatically for a while, it seemed like real meat production was going to take a big hit. Then we all hunkered down and stayed at home. When we shopped for groceries we emptied meat cases, bought real meat, and weathered COVID.

In that time beef demand rose and the search for recipes to cook at home surged. Also, people tried some alternative protein products and found as I did the stuff tastes terrible. This is where the good news starts to show up. How many of you have ever made a salad out of your grass clippings? I would bet very few to none of you have ever experimented with trying to eat the forage utilized by cattle, pigs, and chickens.

Beef cattle are masters of upcycling. They turn sunshine, water and grasses into a healthy, tasty food product enjoyed by humans across the planet. For the most part, the forage cattle eat is grown on lands unsuitable for crop farming because of poor soils, steep terrain, insufficient rain, and other factors, but is otherwise suitable for grazing livestock. It is true crops such as corn are fed to cattle, but this is done for a short period of their life. Furthermore, all of the cropland devoted to producing this kind of feed is a small fraction of the arable land in the United States.

While beef demand and purchases of other real meats was rising Burger King and other restaurant companies discontinued or stopped promoting alternatives and the early highs seen in the share prices of these companies fell dramatically. Also, large layoffs of employees of some of these companies have recently been publicized. Not only were customers turned off by the taste but efforts to publicize how animals are humanely grown and processed were becoming more transparent.

I've written some of this before. Much of what's in this column comes from research and education materials produced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in its role as a contractor using beef checkoff funds from producers. To me this organization and other contractors play a vital role in telling the true story of beef production which in turn helps to drive demand for the product higher.

When you buy a pound of ground beef it contains one ingredient - beef. When you buy a pound of ground plant protein made to seem like beef or a pound of product grown in a factory lab from beef cells, you have a package in your hands containing many, many ingredients.

The process to grow that product takes much electricity, the transport of these ingredients or the components of those ingredients and flavor additives to create a real beef taste experience which always misses the mark. I know this because I have tried some of these composite products and with the addition of excessive amounts of sodium they still taste like hot cardboard.

Recently, I went to a local supermarket that has consistently quality meat and chicken. We were having family visiting from out of town and I wanted to speed up the grilling season start. I went to a middle aisle meat case and picked out a large roast to put in my smoker. The case was about ten or twelve feet long and four feet wide with a capability of accessing from both sides. In one side at the end of the case for a dimension of four by one foot was some alternative meat product made from plants. There were soybeans, chick peas, sweet potatoes and various spices, emulsifiers and chemicals listed on the ingredient label that were unfamiliar to me.

One might conclude, as an advocate for high quality real meat based upon the above problems I see with the alternative products, there is nothing for a person engaged in animal agriculture to worry about. Companies cannot compete on taste. The animals are raised in a healthy environment utilizing otherwise unpalatable forages humans cannot use for most of their lives. The environment is not suffering from grazing cattle. In fact, proper grazing helps to fix carbon storage into the soils of the earth so the net effect of grazing animals is positive.

The creation of plant-based meat alternatives or lab grown meat from similar genetic material as from real animals is labor and resource intensive with no particular benefit to the issue of climate change and is quite possibly a real harm to our environment. Be mindful, even with recent successes in this sector in favor of animal agriculture there are entities who want you to go out of business.

I’ll see you soon.

Beef Quality Assurance: Raising The Bar On Raising Cattle

The beef community has a long-standing commitment to caring for their animals and providing families with the safest, highest-quality beef possible. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program that trains farmers and ranchers on best practice cattle management techniques to ensure their animals and the environment are cared for within a standard set of guidelines across the U.S. beef industry.

Simply put, BQA helps beef farmers and ranchers raise better beef so consumers can feel even better about buying it. But it’s not always that simple, of course. Raising quality beef requires commitment and hard work. Certification is earned, not bought. For beef farmers and ranchers, that means using modern techniques to raise cattle under optimal environmental and economic conditions. For consumers, it means knowing the beef they buy is wholesome and delicious. In fact, more than 85% of U.S. beef comes from BQA-certified farmers and ranchers.

Beef Quality Assurance is better for cattle, better for ranchers, and better for people who appreciate beef’s place in a healthy, sustainable diet. To earn BQA certification, beef farmers and ranchers can take courses online or attend in-person trainings taught by a network of hundreds of state BQA coordinators and trainers. This voluntary program is an example of how the beef community is committed to raising cattle safely, humanely and sustainably. A BQA advisory group is made up of farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, cattle nutritionists, animal and meat scientists, animal welfare experts and industry stakeholders to evaluate and make recommended changes or updates to the program as needed. BQA certification should be renewed every three years.

To earn your BQA certificate, or to renew your certification, head to www.bqa.org.

Mason Jar Taco Salads

Shake up your lunch routine! Mason Jar Salads are a convenient way to meal prep a healthy lunch right in a portable to-go container. They're fun, delicious, and very customizable. Here's our take on this DIY "fast food" salad idea; a protein-packed tex-mex version that will keep you satisfied and energized until dinner.

1 Tbsp. olive oil

¾ cup red onion finely diced

1 lb. lean ground beef

Taco Seasoning Mix:

1 ½ Tbsp. cumin

1 ½ tsp. paprika

1 tsp. chili powder

¾ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Mason Jar Taco Salads:

¼ cup salsa medium

¼ cup ranch dressing*

1 cup whole kernel corn rinsed and drained

1 cup black beans rinsed and drained

1 cup tomatoes finely diced

½ cup cheddar cheese* shredded

1 large avocado cut into ½-inch cubes

4 cups mixed greens

20 corn tortilla chips crushed

In a large skillet over medium heat add olive oil and chopped red onion. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until almost cooked through. Push onions to the side and add lean ground beef. Saute for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through. While beef is cooking mix together cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.

Once ground beef is done cooking, turn off heat and add seasoning ingredients. Mix to combine. Using a potato masher or the back of your fork, crumble the ground beef to your desired consistency.

In a small bowl whisk together the salsa and ranch.

In four 24-oz. wide mouth mason jars add equal amounts of the salsa-ranch, ground beef mixture, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cheese. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

The morning before serving, add ¼ of the avocado, 1 cup of greens, and crushed corn tortilla chips.*

Shake mason jar well before pouring contents into a large salad bowl to enjoy.

*Use dairy-free Ranch dressing and cheese for a dairy-free taco salad recipe.

www.nevadabeef.org

www.mybeefcheckoff.org

**Bring the tortilla chips and avocado separately to maintain the most freshness.

***If you want to have warm ground beef on your salad simply empty out the contents on the top and then heat up the ground beef and taco salad dressing just before serving.

The Public Lands Council | IN THE NEWS:

Congress: Opinion - Sen. Boozman calls for bipartisan support of CRAs

Stepping up bipartisan opposition to bad policies, The Highland County Press - Sen. John Boozman says, "Congress has already provided multiple opportunities to roll back proposed or recently enacted rules, regulations and legislation that are bad for our country. Republicans have been leading CRA joint resolutions of disapproval to challenge several potentially damaging orders from taking effect. These initiatives provide Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency actions. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is also afforded special privileges that bypass normal Senate rules and allow for a vote on the Senate floor. When a CRA resolution is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the president – or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto – the rule is invalidated. I’m pleased we’ve already been able to draw bipartisan support for some CRA joint disapproval resolutions that are headed to the president’s desk. His administration has also put forward a burdensome Clean Water Act regulation discarding a commonsense rule that would protect our water systems and sources without eroding the rights of landowners. The Waters of the United States decree will expand federal regulatory authority over virtually every pond, puddle and ditch nationwide."

BLM: Comment period open for sagebrush plan in Nevada

BLM opens Elko County sage grouse habitat treatment plan for comment, Elko Daily Free PressThe Bureau of Land Management’s Wells Field Office invites public review and comment on a proposal to treat more than 200,000 acres of public land in northeastern Elko County over a 10-year period to improve habitat for the greater sage grouse. The project dates back to 2015 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that listing of the bird was not warranted, based on the public-private Sage Grouse Initiative’s commitment to improve and restore habitat. The BLM conducted assessments of sage grouse habitat and determined that wildfire, cheatgrass and expanding conifer forests were the main threats to be addressed in that effort. Restoration goals include removing stressed and diseased trees, reducing hazardous wildfire fuels, reducing invasive grasses and noxious weeds, and restoring land previously affected by wildfire. Methods could include mowing, herbicides, pile burning, mastication, and seeding. The comment period on the plan runs from March 13 to April 11.

Water: Supreme Court case could reshape indigenous water rights

Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Indigenous Water Rights in the Southwest, Civil EatsTucked away on the northern New Mexico portion of the 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation is a green oasis in an otherwise arid, often overgrazed landscape. The region, which received only 3.8 inches of rain in 2020, is home to one of the largest tracts of contiguous farmland in the continental United States. Alfalfa and corn are the top cash crops, however. Total sales have made NAPI profitable enough to contribute over $1 million to the Navajo Nation in 2020. “The rangeland is depleted,” says Delane Atcitty, the executive director of Indian Nations Conservation Alliance and a NAPI board member. “That’s why the alfalfa is selling.” But NAPI would make a lot more money if it sold all the alfalfa off the reservation. Instead, it balances tribal food security with economic development. Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a high-profile case in which the federal government has decided to push back on its responsibility to provide tribes with an adequate water supply. In 2003, the Navajo Nation sued the DOI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona arguing that the 1868 treaty established the Navajo Nation reservation as a permanent homeland and pledged support for agricultural settlement, and therefore required the federal government to provide water.

Sustainability: Sustainable practices can yield greater profitability

Sustainable cows can lead to greater profitability, Farm and Ranch Guide - When deciding what cows to keep, many ranchers look at the weaning weight of the calf to determine if the cow is worth keeping. Weaning weights translate to the price per pound a rancher will get at sale time, which makes it a persuasive number. But long-term profitability is more closely linked to a sustainable cow, according to Dr. Troy Rowan of the University of Tennessee. “A calf’s weaning weight is only half of the equation when it comes to which cows to keep. It’s what we get paid for in that year-end check, but we have to look at the cost traits of the cow to really know how we are doing. Costs like having open cows or poor foot and leg traits that cause the cow to leave the herd early are ultimately costing us.” Rowan said a cow needs to have five calves without missing a season in order to bring a return on investment. “We also need to look at important traits like fertility and udder structure – these are more than just convenience traits,” he said. By being willing to assess their cow herd on more than just weaning weights, Rowan said ranchers can make money by adopting new practices. “We are continually being asked to do more with less, which means we need to manage our forage resources in the best way possible,” he said. “A cow that weighs 1,250 pounds is harder to sustain than a smaller cow that could allow us to support more animals on a fixed amount of land. A mature, moderate-sized cow needs fewer nutritional inputs to function metabolically and raise that calf.”

3,796 deeded acres in 6 pastures watered by spring and stock water well. Irrigation permit on 130 acres. Well to be drilled this year. The well costs will be added to price of $2,277,559.

SHORT ON WATER ? Two Alfalfas in One

Plant On Dryland Plant If Your Pivot Only Pumps 400gal/

Greenway Alfalfa 360-D On the Market for 29 years (and still unbeatable)

We are a non-GMO seed house! Never a positive hit for GMO

When Planting Dryland

Alfalfa always use coated seed! (Let us prove it!)

This Alfalfa has been called a tetraploid anomaly by alfalfa breeders. On the market for 25 years, and being improved twice, It remains the highest yeilding, low water alfalfa on the market!

HERE’S WHAT GROWERS ARE SAYING:

"We plant 360-D every year, and we now have over 1000 acres. We took a second cutting when many other growers in our area only cut once."

Bruce Davenport - Goldendale, WA

"We planted 360-D in an irrigated eld that was very short on water. Side by side was eld with normal water. The 360-D yielded with the well irrigated adjacent eld! No di erence in yield!"

Alan Greenway Seedsman

Over 40 Years Experiance

Greenway Seeds Caldwell, ID

Alan Greenway 208-250-0159 (cell) 208-454-8342 (message)

Ryan Telford - Richfield, ID

√ Will produce AT LEAST 80% of crop with 50% of water

√ Will produce a subsequent cutting after water is gone

√ Plant on dryland/ guaranteed to out yield Ranger or Ladak

√ Plant under pivots that only pump 400 gal/

√ Plant on elds that have only early season creek water

√ Plant under end guns on pivots

√ Plant in the late fall with your dormant seeded grasses

www.greenwayseedandindustries.com We have sold out by March 1st each of the last 3 years. Order early!

Let’s Talk Ag

By Staci Emmn | Editorial

Hang on to your hats everyone as we survive interest rate hikes, more and more snow with resulting flooding in some areas, while other parts of Nevada are still extremely dry.

I want to start this month by discussing the impacts of rising interest rates. Producers need to monitor their credit scores, and be strategic in how and when they access credit. The best-case scenario would be to ride this current situational high out without accessing any credit, but if you do need to access credit, pay attention to interest rates. We all know that somehow, this will have an effect on agriculture; we just do not know how to anticipate the consequences right now.

The impending flooding is also something to keep an eye on, as it will affect the production of hay, and agriculture and the natural resources infrastructure. While different parts of the state are being hit with heavy snow, there are still signs that drought exists. For example, take into consideration the Humboldt River. There are parts of this river that are dry (35 miles of dry riverbed) as reported by the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service as of March 1, 2023. This river feeds the Lovelock area, which has thousands of acres of irrigated hay ground. The same report said Rye Patch reservoir has 185k acre-feet of storage space to fill, with promising storms on the way. There is diversity throughout Nevada, and each storm pattern is different on its impacts to each area. It seems this year that the Humboldt system is behind in its snowpack from the rest of the state. The full USDA, NRCS report can be found at www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/ states/NV/wsor/NV-WSOR-2023-3.pdf

The biggest issue with the snowpack is when it starts to melt and we see dramatic increases in run off. The weather patterns are causing different types of flooding. When I first saw the pictures of Smith Valley, NV flooding, I originally thought it was the river. After looking at gauges in the area, it was easy to see that the water was not from an overflowing river, but out of a creek area called “Desert Creek” that was not part of the river system at all. These types of events have the ability to cause huge infrastructure losses in systems that already need infrastructure repair. The first step is to get through March and April and see where the reservoir storage is at, and evaluate the infrastructure damage due to excess water. To the right are the Climate Prediction Center Forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for seasonal Temperatures and Precipitation. We seem to be mostly in the Equal Chance (EC) area, with the exception of temperatures in the Elko and Humboldt County areas.

The other thing to take into consideration, and the final point that I would like to make, is the tool that is most widely used today to determine agricultural support programs is the “Drought Monitor.” According to the Monitor, as of March 21, 2023, Nevada still is experiencing drought conditions. It is also important to note that there are several conditions that impact drought. While there may be significant surface water (snow pack) in some areas, this does not mean that the rangeland will not have a drought impact in 2023. It will depend on continuing weather patterns. In addition, too much water can have a negative impact on agricultural crops, especially vegetable crops. If there is too much moisture, it will damage plants and overall production. Livestock production is also impacted as producers have most likely had to feed more hay with this long winter. Calving was also an issue for some producers.

I am finishing writing this and I see the sun through my office window. The first day of spring was this week. I encourage everyone to stay strong and to let the agencies know the situations you are facing. It is important that all producers know the support programs out there for buying hay, flooding, and repairing or working on your infrastructure.

Antelope Bitterbrush and Mule Deer

By Charlie D. Clements, Rangeland Scientist, USDA-ARS Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit

Vast areas of foothills and mountain slopes are dominated by shrubs of the sunflower family, Asteraceae, especially sagebrush. Woody members of the Rosaceae family were never dominant in the Intermountain vegetation, but fossil records indicate that they were a significant understory in forests and woodlands. From these ancestor populations evolved a few species that play important roles in current temperate desert environments because of their nutritional value to domestic livestock and wildlife, especially antelope bitterbrush, desert bitterbrush and cliffrose. It took a long time for brush species and the browse they produce to be recognized as an important component of rangeland production.

Arthur W. Sampson, one of the founders of scientific range management, was among the first to describe and discuss native range shrubs as a component of the basic forage supply on ranges. Sampson particularly mentioned the importance of antelope bitterbrush as being high in the quality of browse and that this species is sought after by cattle, sheep, goats and numerous wildlife. Antelope bitterbrush, belonging to the genus Purshia, and often referred to as “buckbrush” has been written about more

than any other native shrub in North America (Fig. 1). For nearly a century antelope bitterbrush has been synonymous with deer management on ranges where big game animals seek food in winter. The continued decline of antelope bitterbrush productivity and lack of recruitment of seedlings throughout many antelope bitterbrush stands has prompted great concern among many resource managers. Antelope bitterbrush ranges from British Columbia to Montana, south to New Mexico and west to California. The concept of shrubs being an important part of the forage resources of western rangelands received vital stimulation in 1931 when William A. Dayton, early plant ecologist with the U. S. Forest Service, published Important Western Browse Plants, in which Dayton pointed out that despite the alluded bitter taste of antelope bitterbrush, this browse species is one of the most important browse species occurring on western rangelands, and some cases the most single browse species in the locality. Even though antelope bitterbrush is more widely known for its’ nutritional fall and winter forage assets, the shrub is palatable all seasons and is preferred by all classes of domestic large animals, except horse (Fig. 2)

Starting about 1920, bitterbrush and mule deer became synonymous, and for much of the range of bitterbrush species, mule deer are the most important native large herbivore. Several regional historical accounts describe the initial populations of mule deer that Europeans encountered, the decline of these herds following settlement and excessive harvesting through hunting, the regrowth of populations as the herds exceeded the carrying capacity of their habitats. In reviewing these historical accounts it is important to note how sparse the initial populations of mule deer apparently were in many areas, how rapidly the populations increased, and how huge the populations became before they crashed. It is also surprising to discover how little was known about the diet of mule deer. In fact, in 1928 J. S. Dixon published “What do deer eat?”, Dixon was a wildlife biologist in northeastern California. Shortly thereafter, following increases in mule deer populations, following hunting regulations and predator management, significant utilization of antelope bitterbrush and mountain mahogany were reported in those areas.

An example of mule deer response to improved hunting regulations and predator control was noted in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Wildlife researcher E. P. Cliff reported that in the early 1920s the mule deer herd of the Desolation Ranger District was estimated at 3,100 animals, by 1931 Cliff estimated that the mule deer population had increased to 19,500. Cliff attributed this annual increase of 23% in mule deer population to be a result of protection from hunting and reduced predator populations as mountain lion and coyote populations were severely hunted and trapped at this time to reduce predation on domestic sheep. Antelope bitterbrush made up and estimated 30% of the browsing habitat, and following the mule deer population explosion, the carrying capacity had been met by 1929 and significant utilization on antelope bitterbrush stands occurred with no antelope bitterbrush seedling recruitment being observed. During the hard winter of 1931-1932, considerable mortality of mule deer occurred despite managers providing hay to isolated populations. Based on a sample of carcasses counted in April 1932, as many as 10,000 mule deer died during the winter.

Figure 1. Antelope bitterbrush shrubs are a critical browse species for mule deer as well as numerous other wildlife species and domestic livestock.

Wildlife biologist, C. M. Aldous reported that before 1929, mule deer were not considered abundant anywhere in the Intermountain Area, but afterwards their populations exploded. Aldous noted that the Kaibab herd in northern Arizona, the Beaver Mountain and Middle Fork herds of the Salmon River area in Idaho were examples of such mule deer population explosions. Aldous also reported that buck-only hunting laws, establishment of refuges, reduction of predator populations by Government agencies, and reduced livestock grazing on National Forests were the main reasons for these significant

mule deer population increases. Aldous pointed out that the excessive grazing of rangelands had resulted in an increase in browse species, especially antelope bitterbrush. Later, Aldous conducted a study of mule deer herds in White Pine County of eastern Nevada, in which he had witnessed high winter mortality of mule deer in the 1940s.

As part of his research, Aldous conducted utilization studies on key winter browse species and determined the utilization of antelope bitterbrush average 51% of the current annual growth, while the closely

related shrub cliffrose averaged 38% utilization. This study was one of the first to report crude protein, crude fat, and fiber content of antelope bitterbrush. Following this research, Aldous reported that there were more deer than the habitat could support and suggested an increase in buck harvest and a very regulated harvest of does was necessary as to not cause harm to the habitat.

In eastern Oregon, wildlife researcher, O. T. Edwards reported similar results of mule deer population increases and winter mortality on the Murders Creek ranges of the Malheur National Forest. Edwards reported that antelope bitterbrush comprised roughly 33% of the mule deer winter diet, and that antelope bitterbrush was being severely damaged due to excessive utilization (Fig. 3). To further investigate range utilization questions, mule deer exclosures were constructed which also excluded cattle and sheep. It was not immediate, but after 4 years antelope bitterbrush shrubs inside the exclosures were showing good signs of vigor as they flowered and produced seed. Antelope bitterbrush outside of the deer exclosures did not flower and produce seed.

Renown wildlife ecologist, A. Starker Leopold presented another reason for the growth and crash of mule deer populations. Leopold voiced his opinion that the mule deer population increases were directly related to human activity. Leopold related how 19th century mountain men like John Work and his party of Hudson’s Bay Company trappers depended on eating their own horses for food while crossing the Pitt River Valley of northeastern California in 1832 because they could not find game to kill. Yet this same area became famous in the mid-20th century for its huge mule deer populations and stands of antelope bitterbrush. Leopold concluded that most mule deer ranges were created when pristine natural resources were logged, burned or grazed and that mule deer habitat was created at an exorbitant cost in natural resources.

Mule deer production in the first half of the 20th century was at the expense of nutrients accumulated for centuries in soils, old growth forests and rangelands. The key to maximum densities of mule deer was disturbance that resulted in the dominance of woody secondary succession species such as antelope bitterbrush. Not only did the shrubs increase in density on sites formerly dominated by trees, he also insisted that these shrubs became dominant on sites formerly dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, “On the east slope of the Sierra… such forage species as sagebrush and bitterbrush have invaded foothills formerly stocked with bunchgrasses.”

Leopold concluded that similar conversions had occurred in much of the Great Basin. Leopold also cautioned that fire and grazing were a two-edged

Figure 3. Heavy utilization of antelope bitterbrush stands significantly reduces seed production needed for any chance of recruitment, as well as causing heavy mortality.

Figure 2. Antelope bitterbrush provides excellent digestible protein throughout summer, fall and winter.

sword in regards to mule deer habitat and that even though these disturbances had created suitable mule deer habitat, but that these same disturbances also had the potential to destroy habitat they were instrumental in creating.

In 1952, renown pioneer wildlife ecologists, W. M. Longhurst, A. S. Leopold and R. E. Dasmann published their findings mule deer management titled, “A survey of California deer herds: Their ranges and Management Problems”. They reported in the section concerning Great Basin mule deer ranges that antelope bitterbrush was unquestionably the most important browse species on mule deer habitats. In contrast to the rest of California, where deer ranges were largely created by fire and logging, mule deer habitats in the Great Basin were created by excessive livestock grazing. This excessive grazing induced browse species that made the great expansion of mule deer populations possible. Logging and wildfire in the Sierra Nevada had increased summer habitat for mule deer, but excessive grazing of sagebrush/bunchgrass rangelands in the trans-Sierra foothills had created essential winter ranges for mule deer.

The authors noted, “…continued over-grazing of the invading browse plants by both livestock and mule deer has tended to reduce the density of more desirable species, like antelope bitterbrush, permitting a disproportionate increase in less palatable shrubs like big sagebrush and rabbitbrush. Thus, many if not most browse ranges in the Great Basin region carry fewer mule deer than they might with more conservative use. Nevertheless, it is well to remember that livestock played a part in creating these ranges, even though too many livestock, especially in combination with too many mule deer, subsequently may destroy the best elements of the brush stands”.

It should also be noted that these authors also considered the serious threat of invasive annual weeds, especially cheatgrass which significantly increases the chance of ignition and the rate and spread of wildfire, to mule deer habitats.

The significant loss of antelope bitterbrush on many mule deer ranges due wildfires is well noted. This in combination with aging antelope bitterbrush stands and lack of recruitment of new seedlings to sustain the antelope bitterbrush population continues to be of great concern as mule deer populations struggle to have adequate nutrition on transitional and winter ranges throughout the Great Basin.

Active restoration of antelope bitterbrush plants will need to be conducted to improve stand age, stand vigor and future recruitment of antelope bitterbrush (Fig. 4) needed to sustain antelope bitterbrush stands, improve much needed nutrition provided by this species and ultimately provide critical habitat for mule deer and other wildlife species dependent on the nutritional value of rangelands (Fig. 5).

stands to reduce over-utization, improve recruitment of new plants and restoration of stands will be essential in improving mule deer populations throughout the Intermountain west.

managing

Figure 4. Restoration of antelope bitterbrush throughout the Intermountain west is critical in providing much needed nutrition to mule deer herds throughout the Intermountain west.

Figure 5. Actively

antelope bitterbrush

Apply Now for NV Youth Range Camp

June 18-24 at Timber Creek Campground in East Central Nevada

Applications are now being accepted from high school students to attend the 62nd Annual Nevada Youth Range Camp to be held June 18-24 at Timber Creek Campground in East Central Nevada. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, April 30.

Nevada Youth Range Camp is a teenager’s best opportunity to learn about Nevada’s desert and mountain rangelands and diverse ecosystems, while experiencing them firsthand. The Society for Range Management operates the week-long camp for youth aged 14-18 from Nevada and Eastern California.  The Nevada Section of the Society for Range Management conducts the camp with assistance from various State and Federal agencies including Nevada State Parks, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada Conservation Districts, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Nevada Department of Wildlife. Financial sponsors include many Nevada Conservation Districts, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Nevada Society for Range Management.

offers an enjoyable, outdoor experience with activities such as swimming, fishing, hiking, volleyball, horseshoes, campfires and photography.

Nevada Youth Range Camp

June 18th – June 24th , 2023

Interested students must submit an application and letter of recommendation from an adult other than a parent, relative, or sibling. The cost to attend Range Camp is $250, which includes meals and camp activities. Applicants can be sponsored to attend Range Camp by contacting their local conservation district or other organizations. Forms and information can be found on the Nevada Youth Range Camp Website at http://nevada.rangelands.org/youth-range-camp/ or by contacting Ethan Mower by phone (775) 726-3564 or email emower@parks.nv.gov

Timber Creek Campground, NE. of McGill, NV

Scholarships available, information below

Campers will have the opportunity to learn from range management professionals who are knowledgeable in the ecology and management of the Great Basin’s desert and mountain rangelands. Students learn basic surveying and map reading, identification and importance of rangeland plants, evaluation of sagebrush and woodland ecosystems, wildlife surveying techniques, evaluation of stream health, and many other topics related to rangelands. While the camp is educational, it also

Timber Creek Campground, NE. of McGill, NV Scholarships available, information below

High school youth are invited to enjoy a week of fun, camping and learning about rangelands and natural resource management in Nevada. Camp will held at the Timber Creek Campground providing beautiful setting for learning. The purpose of this camp is to provide youth with the knowledge and understanding of how decisions are made about natural resources on Nevada’s rangelands

Completed applications with enclosures can e-mailed to emower@parks.nv.gov. Letters of recommendation must be on the adult’s official letterhead. Applications must be submitted by Sunday April 30th. Approved applicants will be notified within two weeks by email. We are trying to go paperless, but if email is not available to you application materials can be mailed to Nevada Youth Range Camp C/O Kershaw Ryan State Park PO Box 985 Caliente NV, 89008.

Camp is being held at the Timber Creek Campground Northwest of McGill, NV in the Schell Creek Range. June is an ideal time to be in the Schell Creek Range when numerous wildflowers are in bloom and the vegetation is green from the recent snowmelt.

This is a weeklong primitive camp, food is provided. Camping gear is required, see application for details!

This is a weeklong primitive camp, food is provided. Camping gear is required, see application for details!

Learning Modules Include:

• Soils

• Pinyon -Juniper Management

• Wildlife Management

• Riparian Interactions

• The Sagebrush Environment

• Coordinated Resource Management

• Orienteering

• Conservation project implementation

Society for Range Management. Registration is //nevada.rangelands.org/youth-range-camp/ for more details and

Bree and Russell Burton received the Outstanding Young Professional Award at the Society for Range Management’s 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho earlier this February. The Award is presented by the Society to an individual member or couple who have demonstrated extraordinary potential and promise as range management professionals. This award is presented as an encouragement for outstanding performance by young men and women entering the profession of range management.

The Burtons are both employed by Y2 Consultants, Bree as a Rangeland Scientist and Russell as a Rangeland Wildlife Specialist. Their multidisciplinary education and experience has been integral to the success of many projects designed to enhance working rangelands. As applied scientists, their work supports the needs of ranchers and land managers across the west, including Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming.

Burtons Honored by Society for Range Management with Outstanding Young Professional Award

From serving on the Young Professionals Conclave (YPC) officer team and leading SRM committees, to mentoring students and creating opportunities for young professionals to bridge the gap into parent society involvement, the Burton’s contributions to SRM are admirable. Specifically, YPC wouldn’t be the organization it is today without their involvement. Bree has served in several leadership roles for the YPC officer team, including Vice President, President, and Advisory Council member, and was also the 2022 Wyoming SRM Section President. Russell is currently the SRM Wildlife Habitat Committee Chair and has contributed his wildlife management expertise to several YPC educational events and activities.

Bree and Russell are well-trained, highly motivated, and passionate young professionals and rangeland users working to maintain and enhance productive and sustainable rangeland

Introducing... GOOD GRAZING MAKES CENT$

ecosystems for generations to come. For the tremendous contributions to the science and management of rangeland ecosystems they have made, it is with great honor the Society of Range Management recognized Bree and Russell Burton with the Outstanding Young Professional Award.

CONTACT:

Mary Jo Foley, Director of Outreach

srmoutreach@rangelands.org

303-986-3309 | info@rangelands.org

Society for Range Management

8918 W 21st St N STE 200, #286 Wichita, KS 67205 www.rangelands.org

Good Grazing Makes Cent$ aims to provide practical, applicable, and economically feasible range management solutions which can ultimately improve productivity of the land and the bottom dollar of the ranch through conversation and collaboration between range scientists and ranchers.

Practical management info for your operation

Monthly Newsletter

Members will receive monthly interactive newsletters full of management tips, tools, and techniques.

Expert Video Content

Members will receive premium educational videos from producers and experts from across the country sharing the success stories and proven techniques.

Society for Range Management Access

Membership provides access to additional Society for Range Management resources including access to their premier academic journals, Rangelands and Rangeland Ecology & Management and many additional benefits.

Collaborate with rangeland scientists

Range Science at your Fingertips

Members have direct access to our collection of experts and range scientists who will be contributing to blogs, videos, and other sciencebased resources on a monthly basis.

Facebook Group

Members will be invited to join a Facebook group for collaborative, live discussions that directly connect rangeland scientists and producers in an easy to access and friendly forum.

Member-Driven Content

Monthly content and information will be driven directly from members’ own questions and queries. Each newsletter will have “submit a question” options that will be answered by our team of experts and possibly even be covered in depth in future newsletter editions.

Good Grazing Makes Cent$ is a project of the Society for Range Management and was made possible thanks to the generous contribution from the estate of Gary and Jo Frasier, longtime SRM members.

Making sense of the science makes cents on the range. goodgrazing.org

presented by Society for Range Management

HIGH DESERT GRANGE SHOWS

April 8 | High Rollers Jackpot, Fallon

October 7 | Old Timers & PeeWee

Goat & Sheep Show, Fallon

*Adults & Youth Ages 3-8 only*

High Desert Grange Chapter #22

P.O. Box 5272 Fallon NV 89406

775.427.8210

highdesertgrange22@gmail.com

highdesertgrange22

www.grange.org/highdesertnv22

BATTLE BORN STOCKTON WELL GRANGE SHOWS

February 4 | Cavy Cuddles & Bunny Love Show

February 25 | Horse Contest

Horse Judging & Hippology Educational Contests

May 7 | Easy Peasy Horse Show

June 3 | Battle Born Dairy Goat Show

October 15 | Spooktacular Horse Show

Battle Born Stockton Well Grange #29

P.O. Box 302 Silver Springs NV 89429

battlebornstocktonwellgrange29@gmail.com

BattleBornStocktonWell www.grange.org/battlebornstocktonwellnv29

Harris

Consignment Deadline: April 19, 2023

Internet

WVM Headquarters • Cottonwood, CA

Consignment Deadline: May 17, 2023

Internet Sale

AJR 3: A Question Of Amending The Nevada Constitution

By Doug Busselman | NFB Executive Vice President

(Editor’s Note: From a historical perspective it is interesting to note that the Nevada Constitution was framed by a convention of delegates chosen by the people. This convention met in Carson City on July 4th, 1864 and adjourned on July 28, 1864. On the first Wednesday in September in 1864 the Constitution was approved by the vote of the people of the Territory of Nevada.)

Should each person have an “inherent, inalienable, indefeasible and selfexecuting right” to a clean, healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems and a stable climate, guaranteed by their State Constitution?

Beyond the quality of the environmental considerations listed above, Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR 3) also believes that each person (and all future generations) should have the “preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and healthful qualities of the environment.”

If passed in the 2023 and 2025 Nevada Legislature would then, if adopted by Nevada voters in the 2026 election (or whatever general election would take place after the 2025 Legislature), the concepts embodied in AJR 3 would become Section 25 of Article 1 of the Nevada Constitution. If passed and added to the Nevada State Constitution, the State of Nevada, including each branch, agency and political subdivision, would serve as “trustee of these resources.” The State would be responsible for conserving, protecting and maintaining these resources for the benefit of all people.

AJR 3 was presented to the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections by the primary sponsor of the proposal, Assemblywoman Sarah Peters of Reno.

During the hearing there were no opponents of the proposal expressing their opposition to a clean, healthy

environment. No one spoke against pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems or even against a “stable climate.”

There were full lists of those in support of AJR 3 and those in opposition to AJR 3. It should be noted that under the methods which now constitute public engagement in the Nevada Legislative process…those presenting the legislative proposal get all the time that they wish to make their case – then 30 minutes are provided for those speaking in support (with a limit per-person of two minutes to make their statement of persuasion); then 30 minutes are provided for those speaking in opposition (again with the two-minute cap); and then, 30 minutes for those who might be classified as neutral (usually a state agency who say they aren’t in support or opposition, but have information relative to the item being considered).

On a positive side, at least the Legislators in charge of the 82nd Legislative Session have granted Nevada Citizens the opportunity to be in the Legislative Building. People can weigh in with their two-minute time by being in person, by virtual testimony (normally from Las Vegas, but also sometimes from Elko) or by calling in with their phones and speaking when called on.

During the March 9th hearing on AJR 3, Assemblywoman Peters indicated that she had a conceptual amendment to remove Subsection 4 of the proposal. This deletion proposes to remove…

“The State shall take no action that would cause unreasonable degradation, diminution or depletion of the environment, through direct state action, or inaction, or through the actions of others.”

This move could be perceived to make what has been labelled as “the Green Amendment” slightly less impossible to carry out, but not necessarily a worthwhile addition to the Nevada Constitution.

One of the states, who have added the “Green Amendment” to their State Constitution, is Montana. It was originally made part of the Pennsylvania in 1971 and has since been added to the New York State Constitution

Following the hearing we checked in with our Montana Farm Bureau colleagues to find out how their “Green Amendment” has been working for them. It was added to their Constitution in 1972 when a Constitutional Convention was held to spruce up their State Constitution.

The response we got back in answer to inquiry was, “…avoid a similar provision at all costs.” She added that the implementation of the amendment has been especially hard on industries like logging, oil and gas. Based on newspaper accounts that were also provided the Green Amendment has been an effective tool for activists who specialize in using the court systems to advance their causes.

The March 24, 2022 article from the Montana Free Press, entitled “How the Montana Constitution shapes the state’s environmental landscape” shared a number of legal accounts including the Montana’s Supreme Court ruling in 1999 which established the precedent that the judicial branch need not wait for an environmental harm to occur before acting to prevent it. This was part of their ruling on the “Montana Environmental Law Center v. the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.”

The article also went into an in depth set of court rulings where the public’s right to gain access to streams and other water ways have disseminated property rights protections for landowners who have property which abuts the water courses that the public is entitled to access.

“We don’t believe this proposal belongs in the Constitution,” Nevada Farm Bureau’s testimony stated. “We can

handle what we need to through laws that are targeted to address problems, as well as regulations that are put forward.

The organization’s position on AJR 3 is also focused on the concerns that such a Constitutional Amendment would have on impacting private property rights and other rights the people have.

Give the experience and track record of how activist have used the courts to force their agenda of not allowing the use of renewable resources in productive ways, it is not a stretch of the imagination to understand how AJR 3 – “the Green Amendment” will become the weapon of choice for shutting down extractive industries and also those like agriculture who depend on renewable resource use.

As one contemplates all the ramifications of using the Nevada Constitution to require that every person’s (present and all future generations) inherent, inalienable, indefeasible and selfexecuting rights are guaranteed for a clean and healthy environment. That regardless of natural conditions every person’s inherent, inalienable, indefeasible and self-executing rights are to be provided with pure water, clean air and healthy ecosystems.

Given the emphasis already in place for government to command and control activities due to the obsession of revamping people’s lives for the purpose of restricting greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of costs or negative consequences…reflect on what AJR 3 – “the Green Amendment” will do when it comes to every person’s (present and for all future generations) inherent, inalienable, indefensible and self-executing right to a stable climate.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to contact the members of the Nevada Legislature and share your thoughts on whether AJR 3 fits in the Nevada Constitution or not.

Nevada Ag Wagon: We’re Growing Places

By Brittney Money | NFB Director of Communications

The Nevada Farm Bureau is excited to announce the renovated Nevada Ag Wagon! The future of Ag education in the state of Nevada. Previously known as the World of Corn has undergone a makeover and now features agriculture from around the state and fun VR headsets to learn more about ag industry.

As the new year kicked off, the Nevada Farm Bureau 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. Several strong name contenders were submitted, but the winning name was submitted by Oasis FFA. Nevada Farm Bureau can’t thank Oasis FFA enough for coming up with such a catchy name, The Nevada Ag Wagon “We’re Growing Places”.

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 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.

Nevada Farm Bureau 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. You can also find the full list of where the Nevada ag Wagon will be featured on the Nevada Farm Bureau website.

We hope to grow the Ag in the Classroom program with more 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.

Keep a look out for the Nevada Ag Wagon coming to a community event near you.

• Clark County - April 11 through the 17 Clark County Fair

• Churchill County - April 26 through the 29 Churchill County Ag Day

• Clark County - May 13 Helldorado Day

Farm Credit Contributed Nearly $1 Million to State’s Ag Organizations in 2022

Largest provider of credit also committed to long-term viability of California’s farms and ranches

CONTACTS: Linda Sadler, Farm Credit Alliance(775) 677-7876, sadlerassociates@sbcglobal.net

John Frith, Write Stuff Communications (916) 765-6533 john@twscommunications.com

Farm Credit is the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture, but its support goes much deeper than that. Farm Credit is also committed to the sustainability and long-term viability of agriculture and rural communities and strongly supports non-profits working to preserve and protect California agriculture.

In 2022, the Farm Credit Alliance –AgWest Farm Credit, American Ag Credit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit – contributed nearly $1 million to 100 agricultural organizations around the state.

The funding supports farming and ranching in four main areas – raising awareness of agriculture, preservation of agriculture, education and research, and support for young, beginning and small farmers.

“By providing funding to a wide range of non-profits working to promote farming and ranching in California, Farm Credit is making an investment in helping the industry thrive today and to ensure it can continue providing food for the nation and the world in the years to come,” said Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit.

The lion’s share – more than $480,000 – was directed to organizations that raise awareness through a variety of methods.

One beneficiary is Western United Dairies’ educational and advocacy program. (farmcreditalliance.com/ california-dairy-leaders-programhelps-build-the-industry-leadersof-tomorrow/) The organization’s Dairy Leaders program educates upand-coming dairy industry leaders about the state and federal legislative

and regulatory process, how milk products are marketed and ways they can communicate effective messages about the dairy industry.

Another is the Family Winemakers of California. (farmcreditalliance. com/want-to-explore-the-widevariety-of-california-wines-come-tooakland-on-august-21/) The group is a strong advocate for small familyowned wineries at the state Capitol, where it focuses on reforming postProhibition restrictions on selling directly to consumers. Farm Credit support also helps the group hold two large wine tastings a year to promote small family-owned wineries that can’t afford large advertising budgets.

Farm Credit is also a strong supporter of groups seeking to preserve agriculture in the Golden State, donating over $150,000 to organizations involved in that cause. One recipient, Cultivate California (farmcreditalliance.com/cultivatecalifornia-educates-residents-aboutfarms-need-for-water/) educates policymakers and residents about the crucial link between water and their food supply and counters misinformation about farming’s use of water. The Cultivate California program helps bolster the natural support people have for agriculture and farms and provides them with facts and information about the connection between their food and the water supply.

Education and research is another Farm Credit priority, receiving over $150,000 as well in 2022. The Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom has been educating students around the state for 36 years that the food they eat doesn’t just come from the supermarket. Its most recent program was highlighting the

“99% club” – 16 commodities grown almost exclusively in California. A total of 16,000 students participated in the interactive program during the previous school year.

In addition, for more than a decade Farm Credit has supported the California Cattlemen’s Association Livestock Memorial Research Fund, which played a major role in funding the development of a vaccine against a tick-borne disease – epizootic bovine abortion – that had wreaked havoc on the state’s cattle industry for decades. The Research Fund is now helping fund research against another tickborne disease – bovine anaplasmosis –that causes billions of dollars in losses worldwide. (https://farmcreditalliance. com/livestock-memorial-researchfund-helps-lead-the-way-towarderadicating-cattle-illnesses/)

Finally, Farm Credit continues to strongly support programs to nurture the next generation of farmers and ranchers to ensure the future of agriculture in California, donating over $125,000 to organizations such as FFA. By supporting FFA for more than 20 years, Farm Credit helped make numerous programs possible, including the new Change Makers Summit, which provides collegebound high school seniors with information about the many careers they can pursue in agriculture. https:// farmcreditalliance.com/new-ffaprogram-helps-students-make-theleap-into-college/

Farm Credit also supports aspiring farmers, such as by providing the Center for Land-Based Learning with funding to create a new six-week Explorer Course for people interested in farming but who don’t have the time to participate in its seven-month Beginning Farmer Training program.

A large percentage of participants aren’t ready for a lengthy program but do want to know what steps they would need to take to become successful farmers. This is especially important because the average farmer is nearly 60 years old, so encouraging people with an interest in farming is vital. (https://farmcreditalliance.com/ new-explorer-course-gives-aspiringfarmers-a-quick-introduction-towhat-they-can-expect/)

“We know the importance of continuing to support, young, beginning, and small producers as they take the step to learn the complex and dynamic business of agriculture,” said Jeana Hultquist, who runs the local community impact program for American AgCredit. “Farm Credit is committed to the prosperity of not only today’s rural families, farms, and businesses, but also the next generation of agriculture.”

ABOUT FARM CREDIT:

AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services… everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www. farmcreditalliance.com

Developing Future Leaders Is Why Farm Credit

Supports the YF&R Program

The California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program is designed to identify, grow and develop young Farm Bureau members and provide them with opportunities and experiences to help them become effective leaders in the agriculture community.

But when Jocelyn Anderson, a fourthgeneration almond and walnut grower from Willows joined the state YF&R Committee in 2018, little did she realize the opportunities that would be made available to her, the latest being the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where she told delegates from around the world about ways CA farmers are working to save water.

“I was able to meet people from around the world, farmers and people in policy. I didn’t know what to expect but came out excited. Attendees said we need to work with farmers, or climate policies won’t work,” she said about the meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November. “I think it opens the door for ag to continue to be at the table, make policymakers understand what we need to be successful and form better agreements together.”

Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit, said developing future leaders like Anderson is why

California’s Farm Credit organizations have been supporting the YF&R program for nearly 15 years.

“The Young Farmers and Ranchers program has a great track record of developing future leaders in agriculture, both nationally and here in California,” Littlefield said. “Farm Credit is proud to have provided over $145,000 over the years to support YF&R’s efforts to promote farming and build stronger and sustainable rural communities.”

Other Farm Credit organizations supporting the program are American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System –the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

CFB President Jamie Johansson agreed that the YF&R program helps develop farming leaders.

“The California Farm Bureau is proud to support the next generation of farmers and ranchers through the Young Farmers and Ranchers program,” Johansson said. “We see firsthand how participants in YF&R can make a difference locally, nationally and even internationally. The future of

agriculture is in good hands, thanks to the contributions and dedication of our YF&R community.”

Anderson’s great-grandparents began the family’s farming legacy, growing oranges in Anaheim on land now occupied by Disneyland. In 1950, her grandparents moved north to begin operations in Glenn County. The farm has grown to 1,000 acres and also includes a walnut hulling operation. Besides learning everything her father, Gary, knows about farming so she can eventually assume the reins, Anderson has spent several years in YF&R activities at the state and national levels. She served on the California YF&R Committee for several years before becoming vice chair and in 2022 the organization’s chair. During the last two years of her service, she was also an American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee member and helped organize state and national leadership conferences. The most recent California YF&R conference was held in early December in Monterey and attracted more than 120 members.

She said developing expertise in agricultural issues so she could become a strong advocate was an important outcome of her participation.

“It’s important that we have people fighting for ag in the future,” she said. “We have the fifth-largest agricultural economy in the world in California, with close to 400 different crops and livestock grown here. But it’s also one of the most regulated states and we face issues other states haven’t faced yet. Being an advocate for what small family farms need to be successful is doing what’s best for my family farm and everyone else’s.”

Through her YF&R involvement, she was introduced to Solutions from the Land (SfL), a nonprofit formed

in 2009 to put farmers, ranchers and foresters at the forefront of resolving food system, energy, environmental and climate challenges. SfL has brought farmers to the U.N. Climate Summits for a decade and participated in discussions during the past five years. This year, the summit featured its first ag-themed day.

She discussed how California farmers are using water more efficiently. For example, she said GSA Farms drains water used in hulling operations back into the fields so it can percolate into the ground and help recharge the aquifer. She also talked about how the farm reuses the shells and leaves from the hulling operations to fertilize the soil for planting winter wheat.

Anderson said she constantly encourages young people involved in agriculture to get involved in YF&R because it allows them to be advocates for the industry and to share their own stories with others.

“I think it’s extremely important to belong,” she said. “Not only does it create a network for you, it’s also important that we have people fighting for ag in the future.”

Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, agreed. “The state continues to impose increasingly stringent and expensive regulations on California’s farmers and ranchers,” Hesterberg said. “While many of these new requirements are well-intentioned, state officials need to understand how the cumulative impact is affecting farmers’ ability to keep their businesses going. The best voice for agriculture is family farmers who can share their experiences and provide alternative solutions that can ensure that California continues to feed the nation for generations to come.”

Last year’s Chair of the California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program took a California message to the United Nations Climate Change Conference

Former California YF&R Chair Jocelyn Anderson and her father, Gary, at the family’s walnut hulling facility at their farm in Willows, California.

Anderson and other panelists who spoke at the U.N. Climate Change Conference panel “Water Is the Face of Climate Change” in Egypt last November

The change in agriculture today is just a glimpse of what lies ahead. It’s why, more than ever, we are committed to being the partner you can trust, who understands your needs and delivers value to help you achieve your goals.

Wherever agriculture goes, we’ll be there, alongside you, as you lead the way.

GRASS UP TO YOUR SHOULDERS

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White Gold

Task force working to capture value for commercial producers of Charolaisinfluenced cattle.

By Sharla Ishmael

There aren’t too many scenes that’ll make a commercial cattle producer – and their banker – prouder than looking at a growthy, stout, smoky calf standing almost as tall as his black or baldie mama. The picture can change depending on the location of the ranch – he might be looking at the same scale-busting calf next to a good tiger-striped mama down south. Either way, producers have long known that capitalizing on the magic of heterosis compounded with the use of a terminal-breed sire is a profitable way to max out the scales at weaning, as yearlings or fat cattle. With the nation’s Jan. 1 beef cow inventory hitting one of the lowest numbers seen in recent history due to widespread drought, it is more important than ever for the commercial rancher to take advantage of a bullish market predicted for calves and feeders over the next few years.

With a much smaller herd and the need to go slow with restocking as the land recovers from drought –hopefully before the next one hits –every pound will count. Unfortunately, the market is set up today based on premiums for black-hided cattle and given that the cattle cycle has been in the heavy-supply stage, where every segment after the ranch has enjoyed the ability to be choosey, it has meant good cattle of all colors don’t always get sold for the value they bring to the industry at every stage.

It's a problem Charolais seedstock producers are no long willing to deal with, so much so that the AmericanInternational Charolais Assoc. has created a task force of progressive breeders and outside consultants to explore every opportunity to ensure commercial bull buyers get additional or new market access for their calves.

“Numerous closeout sheets from Charolais-influenced cattle harvested at Tyson plants in the past two years document these cattle produce carcasses that compete extremely well on the rail,” says AICA Executive Vice President Clint Rusk. “It is imperative this carcass value be reflected in the live market.”

Charolais breeders are not alone in their quest to fix the problem.

“Our task force is already working with another task force led by Tom Brink, chief executive officer of the Red Angus Association of America, to explore a change in the way feeder cattle are marketed,” Rusk explains.

“Our Charolais breeders agree with those who say feeder cattle should be marketed on their genetic merit rather than the color of their hide.”

Last year, Brink released an important white paper with results of a survey of feedlot managers that shows they also see a great need for change in the feeder cattle market. When asked if black-hided feeder cattle are superior to non-black cattle of equal weight, sex and health history, 75% disagreed with that statement.

In fact, 92% of the survey participants agreed or strongly agreed with this statement: “For the beef industry to continue improving its overall cattle quality and value, hide color should be replaced with more objective genetic criteria as a key price-determining factor(s) in the U.S. feeder cattle market.”

What will it take to make those changes so smoky or cream-colored calves can get premiums for their performance? For the Charolais task force, all options are on the table, from feeder cattle marketing programs, better utilization of existing grids for Charolais-influenced cattle, data gathering from private sources to solidify how these cattle excel in terms of feed efficiency, average daily gain and overall performance at the feedlot and packer in terms of both red meat yield and quality grade on the rail.

They are working on getting Charolais-influenced cattle into the latest sustainability research projects to study their efficiency advantages relative to other breeds. If carbon

capture and greenhouse emissions play a role in the future of beef, breeders on the task force believe the breed’s natural efficiency and performance will be a competitive advantage in that arena.

The task force has met with major packing company executives to determine how Charolais-influenced cattle are perceived on their end and what the association can do to help increase demand for the cattle at the retail level. They’ve also initiated discussions on private branding with meat marketing experts.

Basically, these breeders are reaching out to every segment of the industry to lay groundwork leading to a premium structure for Charolaisinfluenced cattle at the commercial level. Charolais-influenced cattle are already well-liked in the industry. Ranchers appreciate the cattle for their performance, feeders love them for their efficiency and packers value their cutability, ability to grade Choice or better, as well as putting more product in the box. The task for these seedstock folks is to find ways to capture the real-world value of Charolais-influenced calves.

Marcine Moldenhauer is one of the industry experts AICA has tapped to advise the task force.She has experience both as a breeder of Charolais, Red Angus and Maine-Anjou, 25 years in cattle procurement as a cattle buyer, strategic supply manager and leading the premium sales and marketing team for a major packer. For the last 15 years as owner of Meatlink Management, LLC, her livestock and meat business consulting firm, she has worked with multiple companies in multiple countries, breed associations, chefs and specialty fed cattle beef programs on the challenges and how to approach creating and supplying a branded beef program.

“Packers know the value of Charolaiscross cattle, they do cutting tests, they track performance, they know,” she explains. “They know Charolaiscross are going to yield from live to carcass and from carcass to the box; the packers know these cattle have very favorable quality grades with low yield grades. They know these cattle are a good value. However, because over the last 10 years or so there have

been plant closings and increased supply, the packers have simply not had to pay more for these types of cattle.”

For years, USDA has only recognized “Angus” as 51% black hided, those cattle that are percentage Angus (red or black), have not been accepted into “Angus” brands, such as black-nosed Charolais or the blonde-hided cattle. She believes in order to compete with that, it’s necessary to cultivate either a foodservice, retail or a small restaurant partner – better yet one of each – that understands the value and sees an opportunity for them.

“This is why Cargill, for one, created their Sterling Silver brand over 25 years ago,” she adds. “The other challenge is to create multi-tiered brands where Charolais-cross cattle that are USDA Select or higher all have a home in a branded beef program. You want multiple programs for the Charolais-influenced cattle to go into. The reality is the packer is not going to find your customer for you, that will be the breed’s job.”

One of the breeders on the task force is Brett DeBruycker of Montana, who says the Charolais association is up for the challenge.

“We’re being very aggressive in fleshing out the different opportunities,” he says. “I think the association is refocusing on what is most important to our business, and that is the commercial cattle producer. I’ll admit we fell behind in promoting what our breed can do.

“For instance, I have documentation that pink-nosed, straightbred Charolais cattle qualified for the following premiums in the summer of 2022. Steers received $80/head and heifers received $85/head on the U.S. Premium Beef grid. These cattle added value to the industry by grading and yielding well on the rail,” he adds.

“You’ve got to hand it to Angus, they were out helping packers sell meat, spending money as an association talking to retailers while we, as a breed, were focusing on breed improvement and adding value to our customers and the industry through increased performance, efficiency and carcass quality,” DeBruycker adds. “Hindsight being 2020, we

should have been helping packers sell Charolais beef. One of the things I have learned on this task force is how vitally important it is for our breed to talk to consumers.”

A few years ago, he took a phone call from a gentleman from France who recently moved to Washington state. The man was very excited to have found DeBruycker Charolais online because he had been looking for Charolais beef since moving to the U.S. The man told him in France, Charolais is considered a delicacy and everybody there wants to eat it. DeBruycker says more U.S. consumers would share that fondness for beef from the white breed if they got a chance to taste it and know where it came from.

Mark Nelson is also advising the Charolais task force, and he too has seen the other side of the business having ran the Angus America program for Cargill for seven years. He says part of what the breed needs to keep its eyes on is being ready for the future, when the cattle cycle turns and cattle numbers are on the rise.

“I think in the next five years, ranchers will benefit from high prices due to short supplies,” he says. “But we all know those high prices won’t last. So, the breed needs to have something up and running on all cylinders by then so folks with Charolais-cross calves will be able to use them when they really need them. There is so much potential with this breed. Charolais is the kingpin of what they do. The cattle have really been begging for their breeders to do something like this because the cattle merit it.”

So, from a commercial perspective what does this mean for their Charolais-influenced calves being born now? It means those white bulls in the pasture will bring home gold for you now by putting extra pounds on the scale when every pound is likely to be worth much more than it has been when cattle numbers were high. And, if the Charolais task force does the job it hopes to accomplish, you’ll have not just more pounds to sell in the future but also more premiums and demand for those high-performing calves. Stay tuned.

Study finds high stress levels in agriculture producers,

identifies paths to coping

UNR leads study as part of Ranch Stress Assistance Project

With rising production costs, increased workloads, family issues and livestock uncertainties, farmers and ranchers are facing stressrelated health issues at higher levels than seen in the general population, according to a study led by UNR.

"With everything going on in the world, the prices and stuff have affected me for the last three years,” a participant in the study said. "It’s been really a hardship with the fluctuation; I mean we have always had fluctuation on cattle prices and hay prices, but nothing as severe as we have had the past three years.”

The study is part of a larger effort to reach out to farmers and ranchers across the West through the Western Regional Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Project. The overall project is funded by a USDA NIFA grant with the goal of developing programs to assist farmers and ranchers in 13 Western states and four territories to manage the debilitating effects of stress. A separate survey is underway for farm and ranch workers.

While the ages of respondents range from 18 to 70 years old, the average age of respondents is 45 years old, the average number of years working in agriculture is 21, and it’s a welleducated audience.

“While it’s a normal condition for all of us to experience stress, the agricultural producers appear to experience higher levels of stress,” Brenda Freeman, one of the authors of the study and a professor of counseling in the College of Education and Human Development, said. “Extreme stress can be debilitating, it affects our minds and our health.”

In her more than 25 years as a licensed counselor, Freeman, who is also an Extension mental health specialist at the University, has seen how stress can affect individuals.

“People often think stress is a lightweight topic,” she said. “But, they are missing an understanding of the multiple ways chronic stress can impact

their work, their business, their health and their families. Chronic stress can seep into all aspects of their lives.”

The finding of higher than normal stress levels for farmers and ranchers is concerning because prior research shows chronic stress can be related to higher incidence of cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, mental health concerns such as depression, and other detrimental behaviors such as substance abuse and even suicide.

The top six issues identified as leading to stress for producers were: production costs (84%); legislative issues related to Ag (78%); workload (77.9 %); family (77.9 %); livestock (disease and injury) (75.7 %); and lack of time (75.3 %).

In addition to identifying the types of stressors that agriculture producers are facing, the survey also identified the types of stress management topics the respondents would be most interested in learning more about.

"This report captures the perspectives of the Nevada farmer/rancher producers who responded to our survey on issues of stress and coping," Freeman said. “This helps us to build appropriate resources and programs available for them to manage the debilitating effects of stress and the best ways to reach out to farmers and ranchers.”

The study identified that the best strategies for supporting Nevada farmers and ranchers were social media and online classes with information and webinars. Older people want written materials only, and most respondents preferred online resources.

“It’s a high-touch field, with neighborto-neighbor programs and telehealth for those who want it – using the College of Education & Human Development’s Downing Clinic,” Freeman said. “But because of the stigma of mental health, they don’t prefer high-touch solutions and would rather receive help anonymously.”

Freeman’s colleague in the study, Lindsay Chichester, UNR associate professor and Extension educator in Douglas County, is one of the

researchers who designed the survey. She said producers often don’t have good “help-seeking skills.”

“We tend to be stoic, and not want to admit we need help, not even to ourselves,” she said.

A comment from one of the study participants affirmed Chichester’s assessment.

“People in this industry tend to be more reserved and less likely to talk about their problems,” the participant shared through the survey.

UNR graduate students assisting with the research are Jessi Gutheil, Katy Breeding and Monty Minter. While the first survey was for producers, meaning farm or ranch owners or managers, a separate survey for farm and ranch workers is underway, and they are looking for participants.

“We are in the second round of data collection now, which is to gather survey data from frontline workers, including migrant workers,” Freeman said. “We’re looking at stressors the workers experience such as housing, working conditions and food insecurity. We are trying to better understand the stressors that agricultural workers face, as well as topics of interest for stress management.”

Workers in agriculture – either fulltime or part-time or as a seasonal or migrant worker – are invited to take the 12-minute survey, which is available in English and Spanish. For their time, participants will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as be given the opportunity to participate in a followup phone interview for an additional $75 gift card. Results will be used to create stress management resources for the farm worker population across the western U.S. The survey is open until March 31.

Contact Freeman at brendafreeman@unr.edu or 775-682-9353, or Chichester at lchichester@ unr.edu or 775-782-9960. Producers needing immediate help should call the Farm Aid hotline, 1-800-FARM-AID; or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255.

Extension provides 4-H after-school program at Ralph Cadwallader Middle School

Students receive free opportunities for enrichment when the school day ends

What do theater and filmmaking, ceramics, a desert tortoise habit, 3-D printing, gardening, and latch hook have in common? They are just some of the projects that students can participate in as part of the after-school club that University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s 4-H Program recently established at Ralph Cadwallader Middle School in Las Vegas. By joining their school’s 4-H club, students are finding the opportunity to be engaged when school ends and select the projects that speak to them.

Extension offers 4-H after-school programming in a variety of ways throughout the state, including at some community centers, housing sites, Title I schools and Safekey sites for elementary schoolchildren in Clark County, which are taught by Extension staff. Inspired by the model established at Valley High School, where Extension’s 4-H Program is already implementing afterschool programming as part of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, Extension 4-H decided to create a similar program at the middle school level, where they saw a need in Clark County.

“We liked the format that we were offering at Valley High School, but we wanted to reach a younger age group,” Nora Luna, Extension urban 4-H youth development coordinator, said. “So, we reached out to middle schools in the fall of 2022, and Cadwallader Middle School responded with their interest.”

Once the school expressed interest, Luna and Extension 4-H coordinator Yolys Carrera met with school leadership and teachers to introduce the 4-H Program. At its core, 4-H has eight essential elements of positive youth development that focus on belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. It also applies an experiential learning model that allows youth to “learn by doing.” Youth do, share, reflect and then apply.

“The 4-H model is different from what teachers are used to,” Carrera said. “It flips the traditional roles, and kids get to be in charge of their own learning while having fun. The ultimate goal is that they learn skills to be successful in

school and life. So, while they’re making ceramics or building a tortoise habitat, they’re learning things that have to do with communication, teamwork, time management and conflict resolution.” Together the 4-H team and the school began to explore the types of programming to offer. The school conducted an assessment that was comprised of both what students would be interested in, as well as what the teachers’ interests and skill sets are. From there, Extension 4-H worked with the school to coordinate the club and projects from start to finish. In addition to providing professional development and training teachers on 4-H, Extension provides funding for the teachers who become 4-H instructors and helps to obtain or develop curriculum necessary for each project. Extension also manages student registration and provides resources necessary for the club’s projects, as well as snacks for participating students. Carrera offers daily support for the instructors.

“The most important thing is to develop good relationships with the kids and make sure they’re doing experiential learning and that the projects are youth led,” Luna said. “We want kids to direct the projects and be sure that it’s inclusive and a safe environment where the kids feel a sense of belonging, and that the adults have a caring relationship with them, because that’s what 4-H is all about.”

Based on the school’s feedback, Luna and Carrera helped the school establish nine projects in which students could participate, which includes ceramics, creative explorations, gardening, engineering a tortoise habitat, latch hook, leadership, peer tutoring, and theater and filmmaking. Creative exploration consists of learning about art, writing, dance, knitting, bracelet making and more.

The 4-H after-school program at Cadwallader, which began its first sixweek session on Jan. 17, is offered four days a week, with projects varying by day. In its first session, the club consisted of 10 4-H instructors and 120 sixth to eighth grade students.

According to Carrera, several clubs vie for the title of most popular, but one that has seen high participation and has students working hard outside is the club constructing a tortoise habitat.

“I thought it would be cool to build a legacy project of sorts for the school,” Travis Wagley, Cadwallader math teacher and 4-H instructor, said. With the supervision of Wagley, students have gained experience reading landscape plans, cutting and drilling wood and pipes, installing irrigation, and even writing letters to request donations of materials from local businesses.

“I got to write a letter to Star Nursery and they actually brought some plants in for us,” Olivia Hageness, a sixth grader and 4-H participant, said. “And then I’ve been putting the habitat together.”

The engineering and construction of the habitat will continue in the next session of the 4-H after-school club and be completed in time for the rescue tortoise when it comes out of hibernation.

Another popular project is theater and filmmaking, where the 4-H instructor has seen students’ confidence increase since the club started.

“The 4-H theater club gives youth an opportunity to be creative and collaborate with others in a positive, safe environment,” Chrissy Scoville,

Cadwallader drama teacher and 4-H instructor said. “Student’s come out of their shells and build self-esteem and confidence.”

The next session begins on March 20 and will end on May 4. It will include the same projects as the previous session, with the exception of ceramics, which will be replaced with Explorers of the Deep, a project which will include hands-on activities and ocean robots.

Extension’s 4-H Program is planning to continue at Cadwallader Middle School in the 2023-2024 school year and is making plans to add a second middle school.

“The goal is to find another middle school that wants to participate and offer 4-H programming to their students,” Luna said.

4-H, the nation's largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. 4-H programs empower 6 million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. The researchbacked 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.

Left: Students work on clearing the tortoise habitat.

Right: A student works on his latch hook rug. Photos by Molly Malloy.

THE NDA NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Farmers & ranchers affected by storms encouraged to share issues & challenges

Info will be used to identify resources & assistance

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is seeking information on the needs of farmers and ranchers experiencing extreme winter weather conditions. Anyone who has been impacted is encouraged to submit photos and brief descriptions of the conditions and challenges to NDAEmergency@ agri.nv.gov and work with their local emergency manager.

The NDA will use these on-theground reports to work with federal partners to identify potential assistance and resources to support Nevada’s agriculture communities.

Reports can range from difficulty accessing livestock, limited feed supplies and resources, structure failure, pasture or field loss, etc.

“Thank you for your dedication to your livestock and operations during this challenging time,” said NDA Director JJ Goicoechea. “Please be safe and we hope to have assistance options and resources available soon.” Please email photos and descriptions to NDAEmergency@agri.nv.gov to share your experience and work with your local emergency manager.

Natural Resources Conservation Service | National Water and Climate Center

The March 2023 report and forecast tables are available on the Nevada Snow Survey Webpage: www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/ quicklinks/states/nevada/

If you are a new subscriber: Watch this overview video about how the Nevada NRCS snow program can serve you: youtu.be/gWm5TeASLY8

Creeks and Communities: A Continuing Strategy for Accelerating Cooperative Riparian Stewardship 2023 Trainings

Riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) assessment uses common terms, definitions, and methods to identify opportunities for positive change from reasonable investments, enhance local management, and solve problems by people most affected. Integrated Riparian Management uses PFC assessment to prioritize needs for adaptive management with monitoring for riparian objectives and strategies. Trainings are available to landowners, Federal, State, and local agency personnel, tribes, industry, conservation interests, and others. Instructors are from Nevada Creeks and Communities Team. There is no cost for classes.

PFC Assessment for Integrated Riparian Management

July 11-14, Rafter-7 Ranch, 92 East Walker Rd. Yerington, NV. Request a reservation

PFC Assessment for Integrated Riparian Management

July 18-21, Alturas, CA. Modoc National Forest, 225 West 8th St Request a reservation

PFC Assessment for Integrated Riparian Management

September 19-21, Elko, NV. Ramada/Stockman’s, 340 Commercial St Request a reservation

You are welcome for the parts of the class you need or want (1-4 days).

Day-1 | 8:00 Registration, 8:15 AM start

Inside or Zoom for PFC instruction

Day-2 | 8:00 AM start – Outside or Zoom for PFC Assessments

Day-3 | 8:00 AM start – Inside or Zoom for Integrated Riparian Mgmt

Day-3 | PM and Day 4 – Outside or Zoom for assessing additional riparian areas. Zoom class will feature optional participant-provided case studies - PFC assessments or integrated riparian management assessment, priorities, objectives, management, monitoring, or adapting management for specific locations

Cottonwood Ranch Riparian/Creek Workshop

How to See a Creek, Tools for Improving Creek Functions, and Creating Your Story (How to show the improvements made) June 6-8, Cottonwood Guest Ranch, HC 62 Box 1300, O'Neil Route, Wells, Nevada, www.cottonwoodguestranch.com (775) 472-0222

PFC Assessment and/or Integrated Riparian Management

Coaching field sessions are available for small groups such as ID or collaborative teams beginning in May.

For PFC class signup or questions, contact: Sherman Swanson, 775-233-622, swanson@unr.edu with name, affiliation, address, phone, email, interest, discipline, role or area of expertise. For reference materials go to:

www.tinyurl.com/NevadaBox AND www.blm.gov/learn/blm-library/ agency-publications/technical-references - Be sure to scroll down the page and expand the riparian area management section.

There will also be a Riparian Multiple Indicator Monitoring Class in Winnemucca, Nevada on June 26-30. Please contact Mark Gonzalez at mark_gonzalez@blm.gov or Steve Smith at sjsmith@blm.gov to register.

www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/ states/NV/wsor/NV-WSOR-2023-3.pdf

Riparian functions keep water on the land longer, reduce flood and drought effects, improve water quality, enhance forage and habitats, and focus monitoring objectives and strategies for integrated management.

Farm to Fork Certification Program provides information on livestock production and processing Program offers course for new or up-andcoming Nevada livestock producers

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Herds & Harvest Program is hosting a Farm to Fork Certification Program, 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesdays, April 19 – May 17. The courses in this program will offer information for beginning farmers and ranchers on the process of livestock and poultry production, from raising livestock to selling the products on the market.

The program’s courses will be conducted via Zoom and will draw upon the knowledge and experience of established Nevada livestock and poultry producers and University experts. There will also be an in-person field trip touring local farms and ranches. Participants who complete the course will receive their Farm to Fork Level 1 Certification. Course topics include:

• April 19: Overview of Farm to Fork for livestock production: focusing on jurisdictions and regulations existing in Nevada, livestock production for local consumption, developing a business plan, public and private land grazing, and identifying resources.

• April 26: Livestock nutrition and reproduction: focusing on the basics of livestock nutrition, feed management, reproduction and characteristics of meat based on nutritional management.

• May 3: Poultry nutrition and reproduction: focusing on the basics of poultry nutrition, feed management, reproduction and characteristics of meat based on nutritional management.

• May 10: Defining grow local and developing marketing plans: focusing on developing a grow-local product, creating a marketing plan and how to sell a local product.

• May 17: Farm financial management in the 21st century: focusing on financially building a farm, building business skills and assets, estate planning, and balance and cash flow basics. University students will provide financial analysis of different agricultural ventures.

• Field trip dates announced upon registration: Field trips to tour local farms and ranches. Participants can choose which one of the two tours they wish to take, according to their location and interests.

The cost for the program is $60 per person, and registration can be completed online at https://BFRfarmtofork1.eventbrite.com

For more information, contact Staci Emm, Extension educator for Mineral County, at emms@unr.edu or 775-475-4227; Kaley Chapin, outreach specialist, at kaleys@unr.edu or 702-467-2668; or Jamie Lee, program officer, at jamielee1@unr.edu or 775-426-8299.

Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at plessick@unr. edu or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

The Extension Herds & Harvest Program combines a series of workshops on different topics and provides educational business management and mentoring skill building to support Nevada agricultural producers. This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

H erds & H arvest About

The Nevada Herds & Harvest program combines a series of workshops on different topics, and provides educational business management and mentoring skill building to support Nevada agricultural producers. If you are interested in meeting with a mentor to build a specific enterprise budget for your agricultural operation, please contact the faculty member below to begin your mentoring experience.

How to Register...

Visit: https://BFRfarmtofork1.eventbrite.com

For additional information contact:

Kaley Chapin Outreach Specialist

Phone: (702) 467-2668 kaleys@unr.edu

Jamie Lee Program Officer Phone: (775) 426-8299 jamielee1@unr.edu

Mineral County Extension P.O. Box 810 Hawthorne, NV 89415

Cost: $60 per person, handouts and snacks provided.

Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance must call or notify Kaley Chapin at 702-467-2668. This program was funded by the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA Grant # 2020-49400-32321. To find more resources and programs for beginning farmers and ranchers please visit www.Start2Farm.gov, a component of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program.

mandatory in order to receive your Level 1 Certification. Each online course will be up to 2 hours long with breaks. The course outline is below:

Professor, CABNR, UNR; and other instructors to be determined.

The National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) is a non-partisan, objective institution that serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC serves stakeholders throughout the United States, including producers of all sizes and commodities, state and federal officials and policymakers, Congressional staffers, state legislators, trade associations, commodity groups, state agriculture departments, farm organizations, attorneys, students, and more.

May 10, 2023 6 to 8 p.m.

April 19, 2023 6 to 8 p.m.

A major initiative launched by the NALC is to dramatically expand its research and information activities directly relevant to stakeholders in the western United States. Additionally, the NALC seeks to expand and enhance its public and private sector collaborations and partnerships in the western United States.

Course 4 via Zoom: Defining Grow Local and Developing Marketing Plans will focus on developing a grow local product, how to create your marketing plan, and the opportunities of how to sell a local product.

non-attorney and attorney stakeholders in the western United States. Specifically, the Advisory Board input will directly improve the NALC’s short- and long-term capacity to provide a more comprehensive and relevant suite of agricultural and food law research and information activities for western state stakeholders, which will include a focus on funding projects done in collaboration with subject matter experts and students, specifically including students participating in the Western Resources Legal Center.

The funding will derive in large measure from the net proceeds (registrations plus sponsorships) annually generated by the Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference. The inaugural Western conference will be held May 4-5, 2023 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada. Agenda, registration, sponsorship, and all other info is here: nationalaglawcenter.org/western2023/

Instructors: Staci Emm, Mineral County Extension Educator, UNR; and other instructors to be determined.

The Western Ag Industry Advisory Board is a core component of this initiative. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to provide input and guidance on urgent and emerging issues that the NALC will then use to strategically engage with and serve

Course 1 via Zoom: Overview of Farm to Fork for livestock production including jurisdictions and regulations existing in Nevada. This course will not only introduce livestock production for local consumption, it will also provide the basics for beginning to develop your business plan for your own operations, understanding public and private land grazing, and identifying your resources.

Instructors: Kaley Chapin, Program Outreach Specialist, Mineral County Extension, UNR; Staci Emm, Mineral County Extension Educator, UNR; and Brad Schultz, Professor and Humboldt County Extension Educator, UNR.

April 26, 2023 6 to 8 p.m.

Course 2 via Zoom:

Reproduction will focus on the basics of livestock nutrition, feed management, reproduction, and characteristics of meat based on nutritional management.

Instructors:

Professor, CABNR, UNR; Luis Fernando Schutz, Assistant Professor, CABNR, UNR; and Amilton de’Mello, Associate Professor, CABNR, UNR.

May 17, 2023 6 to 8 p.m.

For any questions regarding the Advisory Board or the Western conference, please contact NALC Director Harrison Pittman at hmpittm@uark.edu.

Course 5 via Zoom: Farm Financial Management in the Twenty-First Century will focus on financially building your farm, building business skills and assets, estate planning, and balance and cash flow basics. UNR students will provide financial analysis of different agricultural ventures.

nationalaglawcenter. org/about-the-center/ advisory-board/western/

James Settelmeyer Director of NDCNR, provides a pretend ride for the students

Linda Huntsburger of Nevada Cattlewomen presents Della the Cow to the children. This cow, cut out from Churchill Co Nevada Museum, teaches all the additional products a carcass providesover one hundred items!

Woody Worthington | NVFB Director of Ag Education and Advocacy

GRAZING CORN

Graze Yearlings1500 on a 130 Acre Pivot for 30 Days

3.5 lbs. of Gain Per Day (69% TDN) 5-7 wt. Cattle*

Greenway Seeds Grazing Corn (GX80) is the No. 1 grazing corn in the nation because it is 5-6 days earlier than the competition. This allows the rancher to plant 5-6 days later and still reach peak sugar content (pre tassel) before the frost shuts you down!

OVERSEED ALFALFA with Grazing Corn

Plant with a grain drill following second cutting on an older field alfalfa. Ready to graze in early September.

“We planted GX80 following second cut alfalfa. If we had to do that over we would follow third cut. We grazed 400 head for two weeks on 20 acres” Cory Veterre - Greenriver, Utah

HERE’S WHAT RANCHERS ARE SAYING

Casey Calvin - Monte Vista, CO

We grazed lambs on GX80. They ate it all the way to the ground. Unbelievable! (See website for photos)

Crawford Cattle - Winnemucca, NV

Planted mid July, it was way over our heads. We were surprised as to how long we were able to graze. We also baled some of it. We’re buying again.

Roberti Ranches - Loyalton, CA

We grazed pairs. They ate it all to the ground. We also baled it. The cows like it. We plant GX80 every year.

Coffin Butte Farm and Ranch - New Leitzigg, ND

We planted 400 acres on dryland and fed out 800 pair. We grazed it from Oct 20 to Nov 24. The corn was 7-1/2 ft. tall. The program was a success!

Greenway Seedsman

* Jesse Norcutt, Currant, NV

28 Ton Silage Pasco, WA