The Progressive Rancher - FEBRUARY 2024 by The Progressive Rancher

IN THIS ISSUE 2 CCC | RFP Deadline Extended

Local Project RFP Deadline Extended to February 16, 2024 The California Cattle Council is seeking proposals from local or regional agricultural associations, researchers, and individuals to conduct projects that are in line with the Council’s strategic priorities but benefit beef and dairy cattle producers at a local level. Issues addressed should seek to promote live cattle production or provide solutions to policy challenges that impact ranching or dairy farming in California. A list of project examples has been included for prospective applicants. Applicants can submit proposals for projects that do not exceed $15,000. The total budget the Council has allocated to this round of projects is $100,000. Proposals are due no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16, 2024. Learn more here: https://calcattlecouncil.org/wp-content/ uploads/2024/01/Local-Project-RFP-1-4-2024.pdf

UPCOMING EVENTS AND HOLIDAYS Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Feb. 19 – President’s Day Feb. 26-Mar. 3 – National Invasive Species Awareness Week Mar. 1-7 – Weights & Measures Week Mar. 4-8 – National School Breakfast Week Mar. 10-16 – National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week Mar. 19 – National Agriculture Day Mar. 17-23 – National Agriculture Week

Did You Know?

9 NCA | 2 Scholarships Available & Teacher Nominations Needed

23 NFB | Please Support the NHF 24 NFB | 104th Annual Meeting

10 NBC Checkoff News

26 NDA | From the Director’s Desk

11 NBC Beef Recipe

28 PLC | The Roundup NL

12 Eye on the Outside | Op Ed

29 Cattlewomen’s Corral Corner

35 USDA | FAQ: Renewable Energy

21 NFB | Grassroots Newsletter

37 Budd-Falen Law | Op Ed

Now accepting Articles & Op Ed Submissions! (208) 358-2487 progressiverancher@gmail.com

Owner/Editor/Publisher – Leana Litten Carey progressiverancher@gmail.com Graphic Design/Layout | athena@athenart.com

Cover sponsored by Small Livestock. Photo “Charolais Bulls” by Cara Small

You can read this current issue of The Progressive Rancher as well as all past issues and view additional articles and information at our website:

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3 NCA | Steak is the Standard!

22 NFB | Keeping Land in Agricultural Production

Published 8 times a year. View all issues at www.progressiverancher.com Readership reaches more than 20,000. The views and opinions expressed by writers of articles appearing in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters of opinion are welcome; submit via email. Advertising rates available upon request. Advertising does not imply editorial endorsement. Liability for errors or omissions in advertisements shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error or omission.

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2 FEBRUARY 2024

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Steak is the Standard! As I sit around in the idle hours of evening darkness beginning about 3:30 PM this winter, I scan through Netflix trying to find something to watch. I stumbled across a mini-series called Suits. It’s moderately clean by today’s standards and engaging enough to stay hooked on (and it’s NOT woke). The plot is a highend corporate lawyer at a large law firm in New York City and he hires a very intelligent young man with a photographic memory that faked his way through law school. The high-end Lawyer (Harvey Specter) has nothing but the elite in his life, fancy sports cars, $12,000 custom tailored suits and billion-dollar deals. Hollywood’s idea of how to show class. Now how does this pertain to the cattle business, you may ask? Every time that the lawyers of the firm go out for dinner to celebrate or want to impress and “close” a high-end client they go have a steak. As Hollywood shows first class meals you see high end steakhouses, filets, t-bones, rib steaks, red wine and

them talking about how great the steak is. The thing that I catch myself thinking about while watching this is the fact that even Hollywood knows for the best dining experience you can get- you go have a STEAK. Steak is the standard of the best. Our industry has worked very hard to build the best dining experience you can have and accidentally or on purpose set the Standard! Even considering the liberal wokeness of the TV industry, they recognize the eating experience of a great steak. As I’m headed out this morning to feed my cows, grumbling about the cold, I find a sense of pride knowing where my product is headed and what it means - Steak is the Standard of great eating!

Hanes Holman

Hanes Holman President Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

Fallon: 8-5:30 M-F Gardnerville: 8-5 M-F Snyders Pinenut Livestock Supply

800-513-4963 • www.pinenutlivestocksupply.com www.progressiverancher.com

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FEBRUARY 2024

4 FEBRUARY 2024

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nd Annual o c e S

Saturday Fallon Nevada Rafter 3c Arena ,

February 17 3C Event Complex, 325 Sheckler Road Wed./Thur. 2/14-2/15/2024

Great Basin Cow Dog Trial: 8am*

Friday 2/16/2024

Fallon Ranch Hand Rodeo Team Branding, 9am*

Dinner & Dance from 4pm-10pm

Saturday 2/17/2024

great Basin Bull Sale: 1 pm* Sale Preview all day Friday & Saturday* Vendor trade show Wednesday-Saturday* Wednesday-Saturday* state brand dedication* *starred events are free to the public

For vendor, team Branding, Dog Trial, Dinner & Dance info:

Rafter3CArena.org

rafter3carena@gmail.com PHONE: 775-423-7733 For bull sale information:

greatbasinbullsale.com greatbasinbullsale@gmail.com www.progressiverancher.com

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FEBRUARY 2024

6 FEBRUARY 2024

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FEBRUARY 2024

by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214 Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Awarding Two Scholarship Opportunities The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) is pleased to announce our 2024 scholarship opportunities. NCA will again be offering two scholarships. The NCA Scholarship will be awarded to a first-year college student beginning to pursue an education within the agricultural industry. This scholarship is open to all Nevada High School graduating seniors planning to attend a community college or four-year college/university and majoring in an agriculture related field. The amount of this scholarship for 2024 will be $1,500! Eligibility & application requirements for the NCA Scholarship include: • Applicant must be a senior graduating from a Nevada High School.

• Applicant must plan to attend a Community College or a 4-year College/ University. • Applicant must be seeking a degree in an agricultural related field.

• Applicant must have at least a 2.5 GPA. A copy of the student’s official transcripts is required.

• Applicant must submit a cover letter describing themselves and how your future plans tie into the future of the cattle industry, background in the beef industry, and how this scholarship may benefit you, etc… NCA is also pleased to announce the Marvel/Andrae Scholarship, which is available to graduating high school seniors or students currently enrolled in college. To be eligible, students must be pursuing a degree in agricultural economics, agricultural business, or the animal/meat science fields. The 2024 Marvel/Andrae Scholarship award will be $2,500! The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank Agri Beef for their continued support of the Marvel/Andrae Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes the legacies of Tom & Rosita Marvel and Jim & Sharon Andrae and the many contributions these two Nevada ranching families have made to our industry.

Students and educators interested in these two great scholarship opportunities are encouraged to contact the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. Scholarship application forms can be downloaded from the Nevada Cattlemen’s website at www.nevadacattlemen.org. Applicants can call the NCA office at 775-738-9214 or send a request to nca@nevadabeef.org for a copy as well. Completed applications need to be postmarked by April 3rd, 2024 and can be mailed to: Attn: Research & Education Committee, c/o Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, P.O. Box 310, Elko, NV 89803; or submitted by email to nca@nevadabeef.org.

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Seeking Teacher of the Year Nominations The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has started their annual quest for “Teacher of the Year” candidates and are asking for your help in soliciting nominations. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 1st, 2024.

Nominees must be an elementary, junior high, or high school teacher who incorporates agriculture into their regular curriculum. For example, a teacher who teaches a one-week segment on agriculture and its importance to Nevada. Current Agricultural Education teachers are not eligible. Nominees may also include teachers considered in previous years but were not selected for the award. Nominations must include a completed NCA Teacher of the Year Application Form and an attached short essay describing why the teacher is being nominated. The winner of this award will receive a $1,000 school supply stipend courtesy of the Nevada Agriculture Foundation. The award recipient will also be recognized during the 2024 Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet.

Anyone may submit a nomination form which is available at www.nevadacattlemen. org. For any questions, please contact the NCA office at 775-738-9214. Nominations may be submitted by email to nca@nevadabeef.org with “2024 Teacher of the Year Nomination” in the subject line; faxed to 775-738-5208; or sent by mail to Attn: Research & Education Committee, c/o Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, P.O. Box 310, Elko, NV 89803.

Eligibility & application requirements for the Marvel/Andrae Scholarship include: • Applicant must plan to attend or be currently attending a Community College or a 4-year College/University.

• Applicant must be from Nevada and pursuing a degree in agricultural economics, agricultural business, or the animal/meat science fields. • Applicant must have at least a 2.8 GPA. A copy of the student’s official transcripts is required.

• Students that were previous recipients of the NCA Scholarship and meet the eligibility requirements of the Marvel-Andrae Scholarship are eligible to apply.

Offering 5 Range Bulls

at the GREAT BASIN BULL SALE February 17, 2024

• Applicant must submit a cover letter describing themselves, background, goals, future plans, and how this scholarship may benefit them, etc. 8 FEBRUARY 2024

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FEBRUARY 2024

Investing in Heart Health: The Beef Checkoff’s Crucial Role in Research By: Makenzie Neves | Manager, Producer Education & Engagement, NBC February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular health. As cattle producers, you play a pivotal role in supporting the Beef Checkoff, a program that channels your $1 investment into valuable research demonstrating the positive impact of beef in a hearthealthy diet. Your investment into the Beef Checkoff is a small but significant contribution to funding research projects that explore the nutritional benefits of beef consumption. Several studies funded by the Beef Checkoff aim to provide credible evidence and insights into how incorporating lean beef into a balanced diet can support a heart-healthy lifestyle. One such study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1, found that people who participated in the Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) Study maintained healthy blood cholesterol levels while consuming a dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and beans, with lean beef as the primary protein source. The BOLD diets contained 4-5.4 oz (weights before cooking) of lean beef daily, while providing less than 7% of calories from saturated fat, consistent with current fat intake targets. The BOLD study is one study of the body of evidence that supports including lean beef in a heart-healthy diet.

Additional research, also published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that following a Mediterranean-style healthy dietary pattern that incorporates fresh lean beef can reduce heart disease risk factors, including total and LDL cholesterol. By incorporating 7-18 ounces of cooked, lean red meat per week, individuals can improve their cardiometabolic disease risk factor including high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and diabetes risk.2 The Beef WISE study, conducted by the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, also demonstrates that eating lean beef four or more times a week, as part of a healthy, higher-protein diet, combined with physical activity, can help people lose weight and fat mass while maintaining lean muscle, and supporting heart health.3 This study shows that lean beef is just as effective as other protein choices to improve weight loss potential, body composition and support heart health, when included as part of a healthy, higher-protein diet. This research adds to the growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that lean beef can be part of various eating patterns that support improvements in cardiovascular health.1,2,4,5 In fact, over 20 studies of lean beef in healthy dietary patterns support a role for lean beef in a heart healthy diet and lifestyle.6

As cattle producers, your investment in the Beef Checkoff goes beyond supporting research; it empowers you to be ambassadors for the industry. By staying informed about the latest research findings and educational initiatives, you can play a crucial role in shaping positive perceptions that beef can be a part of a wholesome , and heart-healthy dietary pattern. As we celebrate American Heart Month this February, take pride in the knowledge that your investment into the Beef Checkoff is making a tangible difference. By supporting research and education, you are contributing to a broader understanding of the role beef can play in a heart-healthy lifestyle. 1. Roussell MA, et al. Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet study: effects on lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95:9-16. 2. O’Connor LE, et al. A Mediterranean-style eating pattern with lean, unprocessed red meat has cardiometabolic benefits for adults who are overweight or obese in a randomized, crossover, controlled feeding trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2018;108:33-40.ii 3. Sayer DR, et al. Equivalent reductions in body weight during the Beef WISE Study: Beef ’s Role in Weight Improvement, Satisfaction, and Energy. Obesity Science & Practice. 2017; 298-310. 4. Layman DK, et al. A moderate-protein diet produces sustained weight loss and long-term changes in body composition and blood lipids in obese adults. J Nutr 2009;139:514-21. 5. Maki KC, et al. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing lipid effects of beef with poultry and/or fish consumption. J Clin Lipidol 2012;6:352-61. 6. McNeill, SH. Inclusion of red meat in healthful dietary patterns. Meat Sci 2014;98:452-60.

10 FEBRUARY 2024

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Recipe and photo courtesy of

IRISH BEEF AND BEER STEW This warming winter dish will transport you to Ireland via the classic pairing of rich, tender beef and sweet, dark beer. INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs beef Chuck Roast, cut into 1” cubes 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 onion, diced 1/2 pound button mushrooms, sliced 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1-12 ounce can dark beer 1 parsnip, diced 1 turnip, diced 1 pound red-skinned potatoes, diced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 3 cups beef stock

COOKING:

Season beef Chuck Roast cubes with salt and black pepper to taste. Heat oil in a large stockpot over high heat. Sear cubes until brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove cubes from pan and set aside. Turn heat down to medium; add onions, mushrooms, and garlic to the pot and cook until lightly browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour beer into the pot and stir, scraping up and dissolving any browned bits of food into the liquid. Stir in tomato paste, thyme, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, salt and pepper. Add back in beef cubes and add enough beef broth to cover all ingredients, about 3 cups. Bring stew to a gentle simmer, stirring to combine; reduce heat to low and cover pot. Simmer stew until beef is fork-tender, about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Bring stew to a low boil and cook until stew has slightly thickened, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley, if desired. TIP: Use a tight-fitting lid and keep it on while stewing to prevent moisture and heat loss, which can impact cooking time. Nutrition information per serving: 1.5 cups: 469 Calories; 162 Calories from fat; 18g Total Fat (6.4 g Saturated Fat; 0.2 g Trans Fat; 1.4 g Polyunsaturated Fat; 7.6 g Monounsaturated Fat;) 125 mg Cholesterol; 833 mg Sodium; 29.5 g Total Carbohydrate; 4.6 g Dietary Fiber; 6.6 g Total Sugars; 43 g Protein; 63 mg Calcium; 6.4 mg Iron; 1110 mg Potassium; 0.3 mcg Vitamin D; 0.6 mg Riboflavin; 11 mg NE Niacin; 0.7 mg Vitamin B6; 2.9 mcg Vitamin B12; 413 mg Phosphorus; 13 mg Zinc; 37.4 mcg Selenium; 168.5 mg Choline. This recipe is an excellent source of Protein, Iron, Potassium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Phosphorus, Zinc, Selenium, and Choline; and a good source of Dietary Fiber.

www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com www.progressiverancher.com

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FEBRUARY 2024

More Agriculture & Ag Practices Needed One of my continuing wishes is the world will wake up soon and realize the absolute imperative of the need for more agriculture and more efficient agricultural practices. This realization is necessary now more than ever. We humans have a growing hungry populous to be fed. In addition, done right agriculture is also one of the solutions to the problem of putting a changing climate more into balance. How could this be done? I read an interesting fact a while ago. More food will be needed in the next fifty years than was consumed in the last seven thousand years. If you think about that, organized agriculture was just being developed in the last seven to ten thousand years. This means, in my opinion, humans developed means and methods for food production that accommodated the increase in human population which has occurred in the past seven thousand years. And, if we did that out of necessity in the past, we will have to do the same in the near future. Yet, there are many mis-informed people and organizations around the world who try to impede human progress and innovation, especially in agriculture. So-called preservationists think we need to stop using resources to “protect” the planet. We all know 12 FEBRUARY 2024

if you preserve a grassland by not putting it to use by grazing animals the resource will eventually degrade and atrophy to the point that root systems die and the possibility of carbon sequestration is lost, not to mention the protein production possibilities and watershed protection of the whole ecological system embodied by that grassland. Furthermore, there are folks who think modern agriculture is destructive to the planet and they would do away with “factory farms”. The science behind modern crop farming and animal agricultural practices is truly a miracle of human ingenuity. Many of you already know in the beef production area of agriculture in the United States we are producing more pounds of beef with fewer cattle and resources than we did twenty or thirty years ago. This is a result of applied animal and plant genetics and the hard work of farmers and ranchers across our country using tools discovered and provided by agricultural scientists in private companies and educational institutions. A recent example of a threat to our ability to feed a hungry world has recently come to my attention. This is an example of shortsightedness and hubris that is remarkable in its breadth and scope. Agricultural publications are just starting to pay attention to what are known as “Natural Asset

Some of the opinions I have read about NACs argue these are mere hidden efforts by the Biden Administration to support its 30 by 30 initiative, and foreign interests could invest in these companies whose ultimate purpose would be to destroy the food security of the United States. We should pay more attention to this governmentinitiated idea to put private property rights and productive A group called the Intrinsic land use practices in jeopardy. Exchange Group has put forth this idea to basically monetize the The ultimate premise of the creation value of land’s natural assets by not of this vehicle for “conservation” using the land for farming, mining purposes is so flawed as to be pure or grazing. In other words, as I nonsense. As stated above, the understand it, by not using the land management of land by humans for traditional land use practices for farming and animal agriculture there would be value to the has evolved to meet human needs company having title or leaseholds for at least 10,000 years. And, on that land. Apparently, this idea humans have had great success in would not only apply to private that regard. Non-use as a goal for property but also to public domain planetary health is a falsehood. land. Land needs to be used in managed A core purpose of an NAC sustainable ways to be healthy. To is to “maximize ecological create value in land’s non-use by performance”. In my humble adding a new category to the New opinion, that is exactly what York Stock Exchange is a flawed modern crop farming and animal proposal and it endangers land agricultural practices already do. So, health and property rights, public to create an ability to monetize the and private. Companies” (NAC). The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a rule to allow the New York Stock Exchange to add a new listing of the above-named companies whose purpose would be to “hold rights to the ecological performance producer [ie. land] by natural working areas, such as national reserves or large-scale farmlands”.

non-use of land and to convert the public domain to private property, if its purpose is non-use, is an antiprivate property exercise which would completely undermine the contribution private property rights add to our economic, social and political systems.

The Progressive Rancher

To learn more about this idea you could go to: sec.gov/comments/ sr-nyse 2023-09sr-nyse2023309. Let’s be observant and stay in touch on this mis-guided proposal. I’ll see you soon.

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UPCOMING SALES

Thurs • Feb 29, 2024

WVM Headquarters • Cottonwood, CA Consignment Deadline: February 21, 2024

Thurs • April 11, 2024 To Be Determined

Consignment Deadline: March 25, 2024

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE on the Web at:

For more information, please call

Nevada Water Solutions LLC

(530) 347-3793

Water Rights / Resource Permitting Expertise

Thomas K. Gallagher, PE 775•825•1653 / FAX 775•825•1683 333 Flint Street / Reno, NV 89501 tomg@nevadawatersolutions.com www.progressiverancher.com

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

Market your cattle with the professionals!

FEBRUARY 2024

14 FEBRUARY 2024

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The Source for Quality

Cattleman's Choice 45TH ANNUAL

BULL SALE W E D N E S D A Y,

LUNCH AT 12 NOON

MARCH 13 , 2024 |

SALE AT 1:00 PM

145 BULLS 45 YEARLING HEIFERS

BW WW YW MM

4.0 74 126 34

NJW 79Z Z311 ENDURE 173D

BW WW YW MM

-5.4 63 109 30

BIEBER CL ENERGIZE F121

HEREFORD SIRE: Boyd 31Z Blueprint 6153 Pyramid Candor 9139

RED ANGUS SIRE: Bieber CL Stockmarket E119 5L Wrangler 1974-166E BW

BLACK ANGUS SIRES:

WW YW

Tehama Tahoe B767 Baldridge Movin On G780

2.1 76 138 12

STERLING PACIFIC 904

Sale Location

Nine miles south of Rockland, Idaho

Sale Day Phones

208-221-1909 | 208-548-2277

George 208-226-7857, cell 208-221-2277 James 208-221-1909 | jamesudy@hotmail.com SALE BROADCAST ON

Information online at: Hereford.org

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udycattle.com The Progressive Rancher

5078 Rockland Hwy. Rockland, ID 83271

https://www.udycattle.com

January 2024 |

FEBRUARY 2024

If you’re looking to sell a farm or ranch, give us call! Nevada/Utah Ranch w/ Winter Range

The expanded Bar O Ranch is 909 deeded Acres with over 500 acres with underground Water rights and approx. 400 acres under 4 Center pivots all in perennial crop. 300 head year around without much if any hay plus hay to sell or use the pivots for pasture and run more cows! Three good homes plus other improvements, BLM winter permits out the gate and spring and Summer range not far away. Price Reduced to $4,500,000.

Battle Mountain Farm

369 Acres with 2 center pivots covering 250 acres now in Orchard Grass and Alfalfa/Grass mixture incl. a dash of corn. If you’re more into cattle, pasture some and raise hay on the rest. Nice home with 4 bedroom 2 bath plus big shop with concrete floor and a machine shed and other useful sheds. At the end of the road but not far out of town. Borders BLM. $1,800,000. Seller terms considered.

For additional information on these properties, visit BOTTARIREALTY.COM

Paul D. Bottari

Broker, Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) NV Lic.# B 015476

Bottari & Associates Realty | 775.752.3040 Cell: 775.752.0952 | paul@bottarirealty.com 530 S Shoshone Ave • PO Box 368 Wells, NV 89835

PROTECTING YOUR WATER RIGHTS The Central Nevada Regional Water Authority was established in 2005 to proactively address water issues in the Central Region, the largest of Nevada's 14 hydrographic regions. CNRWA formulates and presents a united position on water-related issues; monitors, assesses and responds to water projects that may adversely impact a member county; implements a groundwater monitoring program and encourages citizen participation in water-related issues. CNRWA’s nine member counties are: Churchill, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Nye, Pershing, and White Pine. MISSION STATEMENT | The mission of the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority is to prepare communities in central and eastern Nevada for sound water-resource decisions that promote prosperous economies and strong civic institutions in a healthy natural environment.

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Fontaine, CNRWA Executive Director 775-443-7667 / ccjfontaine@gmail.com / cnrwa.com

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Natural Resources Conservation Services US Dept of Agriculture

Application deadline for NRCS EQIP and AMA programs is March 29, 2024 The U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering financial and technical assistance to help agricultural producers apply conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA). Approximately $17 million is available to producers through EQIP and AMA. Applications for EQIP and AMA must be received by the local field office before 4 p.m. on March 29, 2024. Any applications received after the March 29 deadline will be considered for funding during the next funding cycle. Eligibility for applications will be determined by April 26, 2024, and money will be obligated by June 14, 2024. EQIP is a voluntary, financial and technical assistance program providing funding to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conservation of ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility. EQIP funding can be used on private and public land. To learn more, download the list of practices and a fact sheet. AMA program funds help producers use conservation to construct or improve watershed management structures or irrigation structures, install high tunnels, plant trees to form windbreaks or improve water quality. AMA funding can also mitigate financial risk through production or marketing diversification, or the implementation of resource conservation practices including soil erosion control, integrated pest management or the transition to organic farming. Historically underserved (HU) participants, including limited resource farmers and ranchers, beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and veteran farmers and ranchers are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services through EQIP. HU participants may elect to receive an advance of not less than 50 percent of the EQIP conservation practice payment amount. Participants who receive advance payment must expend the funds within 90 days of receiving the advance. Water management entities who assist private agricultural producers with managing water distribution or conservation systems can also apply for EQIP. These entities are defined as a State, irrigation district, ground water management district, acequia, land grant-merced, or similar entity that has jurisdiction or responsibilities related to water delivery or management to eligible lands. To learn more about EQIP and AMA, or for general information about NRCS programs, contact your local NRCS office. Office locations can be found by going to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/nevada and selecting the Nevada Service Center Map. Contact | Rachel Larue | (775) 870-0941 | Rachel.Larue-Uecke@usda.gov www.progressiverancher.com

Blue Lizard Farm named 2023 Nevada Agriculture, Food and Beverage Small Business of the Year The Lincoln County farm was recognized Jan. 4 The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), alongside Governor Lombardo and in partnership with Made in Nevada, presented the 2023 Nevada Agriculture, Food and Beverage Small Business of the Year Award to Blue Lizard Farm from Caliente, Nev. “Blue Lizard exemplifies excellence in Nevada agriculture,” said NDA Director J.J. Goicoechea. “Their dedication to providing fruits and vegetables to the community, coupled with their impactful participation in the Home Feeds Nevada program truly makes them deserving of this award.” The award recognizes the extraordinary work done by agriculture, food and beverage small businesses in Nevada, a $142 million industry. Blue Lizard Farm received multiple nominations, including one describing them as a “small business with a big heart,” and another highlighted their service to Lincoln County, offering fresh produce to the community. Blue Lizard Farm was one of the first participants in the Home Feeds Nevada program, through which the NDA purchases food from Nevada producers to be distributed to food insecure populations through local food banks. In 2023, Blue Lizard Farm provided nearly 20,000 pounds of fresh, seasonal vegetables to fellow Nevadans in need through this program. “If Home Feeds Nevada did not exist, we probably would be out of business,” said Rodney Mehring, owner of Blue Lizard Farm. “It provides a consistent market and bolsters our farm, allowing us to provide jobs in our community. The most important part, which is my favorite part, is that it allows me to provide fresh, healthy vegetables to people in need. I am very proud to be a part of that program, and I am grateful to have received this award today.” The award was presented to Blue Lizard Farm by Governor Lombardo and NDA Deputy Director Farris, with additional certificates presented by Lieutenant Governor Anthony, Secretary of State Aguilar, Assemblyman Watts, and University of Nevada, Reno, Extension Educator Staci Emm. Contact: Ciara Ressel Public Information Officer II | Division of Administrative Services Nevada Department of Agriculture 405 South 21st Street, Sparks, NV 89431 Office: 775-353-3603 | Mobile: 775-525-4160

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FEBRUARY 2024

USDA’s Critical Leadership Role in Advancing a Solar Buildout that Strengthens Rural Communities Our nation's electric power sector is decarbonizing, and solar energy deployment is expected to play a significant role in this transition both because it is increasingly cost-competitive, and due to local, state, and federal policies and investments to address climate change. According to a 2021 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study, solar energy may rise from 4% of our nation’s total energy production to 45% by 2050. This buildout is expected to accelerate quickly—a recent Solar Energy Industry Association report expects the solar industry to triple in cumulative deployment by 2028. This energy transition is expected to have significant impacts on rural working lands. According to the same DOE study, increasing solar generation to 45% could require nearly 10.4 million acres by 2050, with 90% expected to be sited in rural communities. Further studies reveal that, with current policies in place, most solar development will take place on farmland. Modeling done by American Farmland Trust (AFT), through its Farms Under Threat: 2040 analysis, projects that 83% of new solar development will take place on agricultural land if current trends continue, with almost half on our most productive land for producing food and crops.

Solar developers often select high-quality farmland since it is more likely to be flat, dry, clear, and close to existing infrastructure to interconnect to the grid—thus making it less costly to develop.

As a result, the growth of solar development is expected to reshape many rural communities. The federal government, along with state and local governments, farmers, ranchers, and their communities, all have an important role to play in navigating competing land use needs as solar development expands. Where conversion of agricultural land occurs, we must protect soils, maximize the benefits to farm communities, and minimize the potential negative impacts on farm viability and availability of productive farmland for farming. Solar Brings Opportunities and Challenges to Farm Communities Solar energy leases can generate new streams of income for farmland owners, helping to keep farms viable. Developers are often willing to pay much more than landowners can make renting to other farmers, with many offering the security of long-term leases lasting on average 25–40 years or more. This can be an important financial opportunity for landowners. But, it can also reduce land availability for farmer-renters and for the next generation seeking access to land. Large-scale solar development can threaten the viability of local economies dependent on agricultural production, and is not always pursued with adequate community involvement. Although solar development will be widely distributed across the country, large- or utility-scale solar projects will be concentrated in communities with favorable siting and interconnection opportunities. This is already playing out in farm communities across the country where large-scale solar projects are proposed that will take hundreds or thousands of acres of a community’s farmland out of production at once, often much of it prime farmland. This concentrated conversion may strain the viability of the farms that remain by decreasing land availability, increasing land prices, and reducing business for farm support services. 18 FEBRUARY 2024

The Progressive Rancher

Prime and unique farmland and soils of statewide and local importance have legal definitions established by NRCS, with corresponding maps. They often represent the most productive and/or profitable places to farm. Marginal land, on the other hand, is land that has little or no agricultural value and little potential for profit often with poor soil or other undesirable characteristics, like prohibitive distance from roads.

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These issues are already threatening the timely and successful achievement of U.S. climate goals. In a recent study analyzing why proposed utility-scale renewable energy projects were delayed or stopped entirely between 2008 and 2021, land concerns were the most frequent culprit, with concerns over ‘nonmonetary’ impacts including land use changes from agricultural to industrial use arising in 82% of cases. Many localities are passing moratoria to take time to study the impacts of solar, and to devise and develop policies governing permitting and siting in ways that will work for their communities. In reaction, some states are preempting local control, sometimes to advance this buildout and sometimes to slow it down. America needs both renewable energy and productive, resilient farms and ranches. Having both will take intentional federal, state, and local action. USDA’s Critical Role Given the expected scale and accelerated pace of solar development in rural communities, it is essential that USDA provide trusted guidance, resources, and information to farmers, state and local governments, and federal agencies that advances solar development that is good for farmers and ranchers, their communities, and the environment. Even though state and local governments and private actors lead on proposing and permitting solar projects, the federal government–and specifically USDA–has a critical role to play alongside Department of Energy (DOE) in: • Ensuring thoughtful Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation and transmission planning • Creating and compiling trusted resources and guidance for state and local governments • Investing in research • Protecting our most productive, versatile, and resilient farmland • Modeling best practices to advance solar development that maximizes benefits and minimizes harms through its own programs. Recommendations USDA already has a foundation of work to build upon. The Department has helped to permanently protect farmland and ranchland through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), invested in research around agrivoltaic projects, and has begun incorporating questions about soil types and prior land use into the most recent Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) notice of funding availability. We recommend USDA take further action to ensure a solar buildout that strengthens farm communities and reduces land use conflict. In the near term, our organizations recommend that USDA: 1. Hold a series of listening sessions with State Departments of Agriculture and farm and conservation groups to identify challenges and opportunities with solar buildout in farm communities, and then develop USDA educational materials and guidance for permitting authorities and state and local governments on how to ensure solar strengthens farm viability. 2. Produce and/or aggregate educational materials and guides to equip farmers, ranchers, and landowners with tools needed to evaluate whether solar leases are right for them. 3. Develop best practices to protect soil health and productivity during construction, operation, and decommissioning (including restoration and proper panel removal and disposal) for all solar projects 4. Collect data in REAP and RUS ground-mounted solar applications on the percentage of soils in the proposed facility area that are USDA prime, statewide important, and unique; whether the land was in active production within the last 10 years; and whether the project is agrivoltaic (integrating solar energy generation and agricultural production on the same land throughout the life of the project). 5. Continue investing in efforts to protect working farmland and ranchland through ACEP. 6. Seek further leadership roles in policymaking around IRA implementation and transmission planning alongside DOE, developers, and others. 7. Invest in research to study potential impacts from the solar buildout on prime farmland, farmland conversion, farmland access and transition, and farm viability; and the scalability of agrivoltaics. Our organizations, representing farmers and agricultural stakeholders across the country, stand ready to work with USDA to implement these recommendations that will help combat climate change while strengthening farm viability across the United States for decades to come. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

FEBRUARY 2024

GRASS UP TO YOUR SHOULDERS 5 1/2Ton/ 1st Cutting

(AND WE’RE SHORT ON WATER!) *Jerry Hoagland, Seven High Ranch, Reynolds Creek, Owyhee Co, Idaho

MACBETH MEADOW BROME We run out of creek water about June 1, and Macbeth still kicked out the tons. We had to raise the swather to get through it! Of the five meadow bromes on the market, Macbeth is the only one that excels on dryland or low water. A meadow brome will always be your highest yielding grass! Macbeth will have leaves about as wide as barley. NIAL TESTIMO ely well! We take , but it did extrem

rest eth The Macb tting and graze the cellent for cu ex e ich is only on 31/2 ton wh windrows always cuts We normally put 2 only bale v. 6200 ft-ele r bailing, but could eth. together fo indrow on the Macb one w Ranch lis: Willis James Wil eville, WY Cok

Some choose to add 360-D dryland alfalfa for it’s 10-12 year longevity.

FREE SWEET CORN SEED WITH ORDERS! Alan Greenway Seedsman

“Modern Forages Sold Nationwide And Canada”

Over 50 Years Experience

Greenway Seeds Caldwell, ID Alan Greenway 208-250-0159 (cell) 208-454-8342 (message)

20 FEBRUARY 2024

G R E E N WAY S E E D S w w w. g r e e n w a y s e e d . c o m

Warehouses in Caldwell, ID and Deerfield, WI

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Grassroots

Nevada Farm Bureau Interim Joint Natural Resources Committee To Meet Jan. 29 The Joint Interim Natural Resources Committee carried through with this meeting agenda: www.leg.state. nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/ Document/29490 Much of the matters that came before the committee were organizational, laying out groundwork for the process and plans that have been crafted to this point to gather information and possible ideas for legislative proposals for the 2025 Legislative session. One major point of business being watched is the agenda item on the appointment of the Public Lands Subcommittee. Where once this legislative working group was a major point of focus during interim sessions, the new structure of “Joint” committees has now somewhat reduced the attention given the Public Lands Subcommittee. On the other hand this smaller committee still has the ability to focus on specific topic areas and it also increases the overall attention given to natural resource issues because of the double-duty of two working groups dealing with the general subjects of the state’s natural resource landscape.

Thank You To Nevada Department of Agriculture

NFB Selected For New Horizon Award NFB was selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation as one of the six states in the country to receive the New Horizon Award, which honors the most innovative new state Farm Bureau programs. Nevada’s award was for Group 2, structuring the groupings of state Farm Bureaus of similar sizes. The award was for the “Nevada Ag Wagon.” This is for an educational mobile unit that utilizes virtual reality technology to teach urban consumers and Agricultural In The Classroom activities which cover general agriculture and specialty crops. NFB was also recognized for program and activities in three areas: Advocacy, Coalitions and Partnerships as well as Engagement and Outreach.

Market Intel Offers Insights Into The Rising Cost Of Interest Expenses Operating loans and other forms of financing cost farmers a whopping 43 percent more in 2023 than in 2022 and are forecast to remain elevated for much of 2024, causing working capital (cash) stocks to decline faster and forcing farmers to lean on expensive credit to provide liquidity.” According to American Farm Bureau Federation

(AFBF) Economist Bernt Nelson in his recently released Market Intel report entitled “Interest Expenses Threatening Farm Financial Health”’ www.fb.org/market-intel/interestexpenses-threatening-farm-financialhealth Nelson’s report offers a great overview of the forces coming together as well as a solid understanding of how liquidity relates to the concerns of present circumstances.

NFB Group Participates In AFBF 105th Annual Meeting

Thank you to the 30-plus group of Farm Bureau leaders, members and staff of the NFB for their participation in the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting in Salt Lake City. The proximity of the national convention made getting to the 105th annual session much easier than longer distance locations, but the commitment of time was still necessary Farm Bureau President to be part of the outing. Thank you for Notes Possible Future those who were part of the educational sessions and updates on pressing issues Improvements From as well as the important work of the Supreme Court voting delegates determining the policy The United States Supreme Court positions that are setting the course for heard oral testimony earlier this Farm Bureau advocacy. month on a couple of important cases pertaining to the legal concept We are especially proud of the Clark of deference. This application has County Farm Bureau and their been in place for a number of years success in highlighting the Urban and unfairly accepts the perspective Farm Conference that they hosted of government agencies on regulatory last August. As a result of their being matters which exceed or differ from selected as one of the two-dozen county Farm Bureaus from across the United what Congress passed. States for the County Farm Bureaus American Farm Bureau Federation Programs of Excellence, they had an (AFBF) President offered his exhibit booth in AFBF Trade Show. viewpoint in a recent “Zipline” This platform provided for those who column regarding the importance of came by their booth the opportunity the outcome (expected in June) on to learn more of the purpose for the these cases; read it here: www.fb.org/ Urban Ag Conference and the progress the-zipline/a-prime-opportunity-to- being made in building bridges within the ag community of So. Nevada. bring-balance-back

We greatly appreciate the advocacy effort that the NDA made recently through their work of submitting comments to the BLM on their proposed regulations for Temporary Closure and Restriction Orders. The comment letter from Director Goicoechea not only effectively communicated the everyday concerns of livestock grazing permit owners, but also the need for enhanced direction responding to when “temporary” might not have an ending point. NFB was able to use the Department’s comment letter as the framework for the comments that we submitted for the public input process. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

FEBRUARY 2024

Nevada Farm Bureau

Keeping Land In Agricultural Production By Doug Busselman | NFB Executive Vice President A recent virtual public input meeting was held, providing farmers and ranchers from across the country the opportunity to give input on siting solar energy developments in rural areas and particularly on agricultural lands. The session was a joint effort by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). When the agencies did get down to letting agricultural producers talk, nearly without exceptions the comments that farmers and ranchers shared was their concerns over taking prime agricultural lands out of production by placing massive solar panel arrays on the lands. An Arizona rancher was fortunate to be included in the group of participants who shared their input. His comments covered the projected plans of a major solar developer locating their project on State of Arizona state lands. The project would be right on top of the rangelands that the rancher’s operation depended on for his livestock grazing enterprise. From the Northeast to the West, and several Midwestern points in between, different producers weighed in with their problems of how the solar development scenario was playing out in their communities. Because of the huge amounts of government money being poured into industrial scale solar development through the oxymoron title of the “Inflation Reduction Act” there is little indication that reasonableness is anywhere on the horizon. One of the introductory speakers on the Zoom link shared that his organization estimates that solar power units could gobble up to 10 million acres of farmland by 2050, based on the trends that are now taking shape.

22 FEBRUARY 2024

The USDA spokesman who was leading the meeting noted that over the past 40 years, over 141 million acres have been lost from agricultural production for various reasons. Overall, there needs to be some degree of recognition that taking productive agricultural lands out of production has consequences. Several of the speakers offering their input were young or beginning farmers and their contention was that highdollar offers from solar developers were not something that they could compete with as far as rental prices are concerned. Not only are these beginning farmers needing to compete directly with the contracts that solar developers are offering, but also the reduction of available farmland drives prices up even higher. Although Nevada isn’t blessed with the same quantity of private property as other parts of the United States, the same issue of taking productive lands out of production for solar panels is occurring here as well. Large, industrial level solar complexes are being sited on federally-managed rangelands and prime livestock grazing areas are being impacted. The day after the input Zoom session with USDA and DOE a Biden-Harris Administration news release hit our email in-box celebrating even more of the same with the Department of Interior upgrading their plans for even more renewable energy projects to be placed on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Arizona, California and Nevada. These newly hatched projects could represent more than 1,700 megawatts of potential solar generation and 1,300 megawatts of potential battery storage capacity.

The self-aggrandizing news release shared that by BLM working closely with the DOE’s NREL to examine forecast for what they believe as national clean energy needs, 700,000 acres of public lands would be needed to meet those goals. With President Biden’s selfestablished goal of a 100 percent “clean electricity” grid by 2035 we’re supposed to be welcoming the better world to come. The news release went on to tell us that BLM in Nevada is advancing four more proposed projects: • A draft environmental impact statement is available for comments on the proposed Libra Solar Project in Mineral and Lyon Counties. If approved, the project will generate and store up to 700 megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy which will power 212,233 homes. • The BLM has also released a draft environmental impact statement for the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project. If approved, this projection will add 400 megawatts of solar photovoltaic power to the grid with enough power to meet the electrical requirements for 121,276 homes. On top of this, the proposed project would also include a 700-megawatt battery energy storage system. • An announced Notice of Intent was included in the Nevada BLM’s group of updates. This would cover the Dodge Flat II Solar project in Nevada. With a green light to go forward on this project 400 more megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy would come streaming onto the grid from the 700 acres of public lands in Washoe county where this project would be placed. This is estimated to provide the power for 60,638 homes.

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• Last (and we can easily guess not the final) Nevada BLM effort for siting solar energy includes the release of the draft environmental assessment for the Dry Lake East Energy Center Solar project. This project will build a 200 MW photovoltaic solar facility with 200 MW of batter energy storage and an additional 400 MW battery energy storage facility. Summarizing their all-out effort to meet the goals set by the Administration, we’re told that BLM is currently processing 67 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects that have been proposed on public lands in the western United States. “These projects have the combined potential to add more than 37 gigawatts of renewable energy to the Western grid,” the news release proclaims and let’s not stop there. We’re told that the BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of over 195 applications for solar and wind development as well as 95 applications for solar and wind energy site area testing. Replacing whatever other uses lands might have been used for, it’s clear that in the pursuit of replacing fossil fuels our government is committed to no shortage of funds or commitment to achieve their self-determined goals. By force, if necessary, we can anticipate that we’ll be required to adhere to those goals – at least as long as the people who are in charge, continue to be in charge. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with producing and using renewable energy. It would be preferable to have those choices made through marketdriven (as opposed to governmentdriven) forces and it wouldn’t hurt to have someplace in the mix for balance and reasonable approaches.

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Nevada Farm Bureau

Nevada Heritage Foundation: Supporting Agriculture Education in Nevada The Nevada Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to promote the understanding of agriculture and its importance in Nevada. The foundation provides financial support and encouragement for education, training and research that relates to or benefits agriculture. The foundation also recognizes the rich tradition of agriculture and its contribution to the economic, cultural and social development of the state. The mission of the Nevada Heritage Foundation is to support agriculture in the future through education. The foundation believes that educating its youth and the public about the value and challenges of agriculture is essential for its sustainability and growth. The foundation also envisions a future where Nevada’s agriculture industry is thriving and respected by the community. One of the main ways that the Nevada Heritage Foundation fulfills its mission is by offering scholarships and awards

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to students who are pursuing studies in agriculture and agribusiness. The foundation has 3 scholarship programs: David Fulstone Scholarship: Named after Dave Fulstone II, a past NFB president of the NFB who dedicated his life to the well-being of Nevada agriculture. He was passionate in his support of a sustainable agriculture industry in Nevada and was not afraid to tackle the tough issues or face strong opponents in defense of the agriculture industry and producers. The scholarship committee desires to provide financial assistance to Nevada graduating high school students who exemplify those characteristics. Heritage Foundation Continuing Education Scholarship: For students beyond their freshman year who are enrolled in either a traditional or a nontraditional course of study in agriculture and agribusiness. Studies may include two- or four-year degrees in universities, colleges or technical schools.

Heritage Foundation Trade School Scholarship: Available to any student graduating from a Nevada high school and going into a trade field to support agriculture or students already pursuing a trade field to support agriculture. The foundation also provides financial aid assistance to Nevada youth in seeking educational opportunities and promoting agriculture, such as Nevada’s Ag in the Classroom program. The Nevada Heritage Foundation is a 501c(3) organization; it is exempt from federal income tax and that donations to the foundation are tax-deductible. The foundation relies on the generosity of donors to fund its programs and activities. The foundation is governed by a board of directors and teams up with the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation, the largest general farm organization in the state. NHF receives funds from individuals, corporations, organizations and governmental entities wanting to make grants or contributions to foster and

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encourage educational opportunities and training for farmers and ranchers or persons interested in issues which relate to or benefit agriculture producers. Consider adding a donation to Nevada Heritage Foundation when setting up your estate plan. If you are interested in supporting the Nevada Heritage Foundation and its efforts to promote and preserve agriculture in Nevada, you can make a donation online through our website: www.nvfb.org You can also mail a check to the foundation at: Nevada Heritage Foundation 2165 Green Vista Drive, Suite 205, Sparks, NV 89431 Donations help the foundation provide scholarships and awards to deserving students, fund educational and research projects, and raise awareness and appreciation of agriculture among the public. By donating, you are investing in the future of Nevada’s agriculture and its family. Thank you for your support!

FEBRUARY 2024

Nevada Farm Bureau

104th NFB Annual Meeting By Brittney Money | NFB Director of Communications Mesquite came alive as the Casa Blanca Resort hosted the 104th Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, held November 9th through the 11th. This year’s theme, “Growing Together,” set the tone for the event, where farmers gathered to discuss the future of agriculture. Some of the highlights were an address by Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, offering insights into the agency’s goals and the industry’s path ahead. Also, featured were Southern Nevada’s Urban Ag roundtables and working groups. Adding a touch of community spirit, a pop-up food pantry by the Just-One Project and the Mesquite Salvation Army underscored the theme, showcasing not just agricultural growth but a shared commitment to compassion and unity within the agricultural community. On Thursday, after the long travel day, attendees were able to relax and unwind with a western themed carnival, complete with corn-hole, roping dummies, horseshoes, popcorn, and cotton candy.

Friday featured a unique pop-up food pantry at the Mesquite Salvation Army, held in partnership with the Just One Project. What made this pop-up pantry unique was that most of the donations were grown, raised, and produced in the state of Nevada. Hamburger and hotdogs were donated by Brough Ranch in Clover Valley, onions from Snyder Family Farms in Yerington, Potatoes from Lake Valley Farms in Pioche, and Anderson Dairy from Las Vegas donated milk. Nevada Farm Bureau members volunteered along with the Just On Project to pass out food donation boxes. Mesquite Salvation Army provided the venue and additional volunteers and assisted with advertising and contacting those in need.

Dann Mathews, President of Lincoln County Farm Bureau remarked that while originally it may not seem like urban agriculture has a lot in common with traditional ag, he noted that “they have a lot of same issues as us, like how to market and grow your business”. The conference also featured several breakout sessions, covering the Farm Bill, mental health, product labeling, planning successful county activities, engaging membership and updates on the state meat inspection program.

Haily Sand and her husband Ben Sand come from the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) committee to speak to Nevada YF&R members. From Wisconsin the Saturday’s General Session was spoke about member engagement and presented by Carolina Martinez, recently building a successful YF&R program. hired to coordinate the work being done In addition to the Sand’s coming to with urban agriculture in southern speak to the YF&R program they also Nevada. This session highlighted the hosted there annual YF&R Discussion several work groups; Farm Fest 2024, Meet. Competitors competed for a Food Coops, Nevada Farm Network cash prize and a trip to compete in the and Policy Development and captured American Farm Bureau national YF&R this year’s theme of by recognizing and Discussion Meet. Dionne Stanfill of including urban agriculture in this year’s Las Vegas won the first-place prize. Dionne has decided not to compete at Annual Convention.

the AFBF YF&R Discussion meet to better prepare for a chance in the future. On Saturday morning Regional Caucuses, the Voting Delegate Policy Session and elections were held. Much of the policy passed this year centered around urban agriculture, with policy proposals supporting additional funding and support for a proposed urban agriculture center in Southern Nevada. Another notable piece of policy came from Lincoln County to propose that electronic satellite fencing be considered a conservation practice and be eligible for NRCS funding. During elections Bevan Lister was reelected as president, Darrel Pursell as VP, Marlene Shier as Woman’s Leadership Chair and Wendy Muratore as Vice Chair. The Saturday evening meal was headlined by Dept of Ag Director J.J. Goicoechea. One of the points he made was that rural Nevada and the agricultural community would probably be a small voice in the next legislative session and that it would be important to begin to have sound policy and be willing to engage with state agencies. He also highlighted the importance of the budgeting process and the importance of taking advantage of funding available now, that may not be available in the future. He also affirmed his commitment to the Home Feeds Nevada program and its importance to food banks and to help small and medium size producers. Another goal he has is to increase trade domestically and internationally, starting with South Korea and Japan. To close his remarks, he asked, “that you all give me a commitment that for the next few years that you help us help you” and that if we did that we would “be in brighter place, because our brightest days are ahead of us.” Mark your calendars for the 105th Nevada Farm Bureau Annual meeting November 6th through the 9th in Fallon, Nevada.

24 FEBRUARY 2024

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Let’s Talk Ag Editorials by Staci Emmn will be returning in March 2023

THE PROGRESSIVE RANCHER is now accepting Articles, Stories & Op Ed Submissions!

ADVERTISE WITH US (208) 358-2487

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FEBRUARY 2024

Funding Opportunities • USDA Farm Service Agency adverse weather resources – Deadlines approaching:

° Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) – offering livestock and feed hauling cost assistance. 2023 calendar year losses application deadline: Jan. 30, 2024 ° Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) ° Emergency Farm Loans

° Emergency Relief Program (ERP)

° Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) – 2023 calendar year losses app. deadline: Jan. 30, 2024

• USDA Rural Development resource guide to help rural entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

• USDA launched a new website, www.usda.gov/ meat to communicate open and pending programs focused on expanding meat and poultry processing capacity. There is no better way to start off 2024 than by recognizing and highlighting Nevada’s small businesses. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) celebrated the launch of the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport earlier this month in Las Vegas at HUDL Brewing Company, with a satellite event at Slieve Brewing Company in northern Nevada alongside Governor Lombardo.

During the event, the NDA was excited to recognize Blue Lizard as the 2023 Nevada Agriculture Food and Beverage Business of the Year. Recognized for their exceptional service in Lincoln County and dedication to providing fresh produce to those Nevadans in need as a Home Feeds Nevada program participant. This award recognizes the extraordinary work done by Nevada’s agriculture, food, and beverage industries, a $142 million industry. Blue Lizard Farm received multiple nominations, including one describing them as a “small business with a big heart,” and another highlighted their service to Lincoln County, offering fresh produce to the community. Please join me in congratulating Blue Lizard on this achievement! Happy New Year,

- Director Goicoechea

Producers sought to grow native seeds The NDA has established a Foundation Seed Program to provide free native seeds to growers to cultivate for use in future restoration efforts. Spring seed applications are due March 29 by 5 p.m. For more details regarding the program, to receive an application, or learn more about the new NDA Foundation Seed Program, please visit our website or contact Stephen Kielius at skielius@agri.nv.gov. Apply Here: http://tinyurl.com/NDA-FSP-PDF 26 FEBRUARY 2024

• USDA Continuous Conservation Reserve Program encourages agricultural producers and landowners interested in conservation opportunities to reach out to their local FSA office. Deadline for applications is July 31, 2024.

2024 Livestock Movement Permit Applications are open All 2023 Livestock Movement Permits expired on Dec. 31, 2023. To receive a movement permit, livestock assessment fees must be current. Livestock owners may access the new application form for 2024 at agri.nv.gov. For any questions, please email livestockinspection@agri.nv.gov or call 775-753-1360. Apply Here: http://tinyurl.com/yck359ay

Animal Disease Lab open in Elko The NDA Animal Disease Laboratory is now open and offering testing for trichomoniasis and equine infectious anemia (Coggins) starting Feb. 5. This additional lab location will allow for increased processing capacity and decreased wait times. Talk to your local veterinarian about submitting testing to the NDA Animal Disease Lab in Elko.

Do you own a livestock scale? Make sure we have your contact information The NDA is updating contact information for all livestock scale owners to ensure proper and efficient communication. Livestock scale inspection schedules can be impacted by weather and mechanical failures. To ensure continuity of commerce, the NDA needs to confirm contact information to notify livestock scale owners of delays in inspections and to reschedule inspections to meet industry needs. Please fill out the form below to ensure we have up-to-date contact information, including an email address. Update here: http://tinyurl.com/NDA-ContactInfo The Progressive Rancher

Kick-off National Invasive Species Awareness Week Feb. 26-Mar. 3 Join us this National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) Feb. 26-Mar. 3. NISAW is an annual event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose and what we can do to prevent and slow their spread. “Invasive” species are non-native plants, insects, pathogens, and animals that displace native species due to their rapid growth and reproduction. Invasive species can cause irreversible harm to the environment and economy and can pose a threat to plant, animal and human health. What you can do: 1. WATCH FOR NOXIOUS WEEDS. Report noxious weeds, which can become destructive or difficult to control, to https://agri.nv.gov/ NoxiousWeeds/. 2. DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD. Buy it where you burn it or gather it on-site. Firewood can harbor pests and disease, which can hitch a ride back home if you transport it. Learn more at dontmovefirewood.org 3. WATCH OUT FOR THESE INSECT PESTS. The Spongy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer and Spotted Lantern Fly are the top three invasive pests to watch for in Nevada. These invasive species will wreak havoc on our trees, crops and plants.

HELP WANTED: Join the Nevada Board of Agriculture

The Nevada Board of Agriculture is looking for members to represent various industries. The Nevada Board of Agriculture establishes policy and adopts regulations under Board authority necessary for the operation of the NDA. Vacancies include: • A representative of petroleum • A representative of semi-range cattle production • A representative of food manufacturing or animal processing industries APPLY FOR A BOARD POSITION HERE: gov.nv.gov/Boards/Board-Vacancies

HELP WANTED: More Job Opportunities • Division of Plant Health and Compliance Administrator (Sparks) • Agricultural Police Officer 2 • Underfill: Agricultural Police Officer 1 (Las Vegas) • Brand Inspector I (Elko) • Weights and Measures Inspector 2 (Elko) • Underfill: Weights and Measures Inspector 1 (Elko)

Keep up to date with all job openings at nvapps.state. nv.us/NEATS/Recruiting/ViewJobsHome.aep.

Stay informed on important updates from the NDA

Ensure you are receiving important updates from the NDA pertaining to agriculture businesses, regulation changes and more. Visit tinyurl.com/NDA-NL-Sub to sign up for notifications and specify which topics are relevant to your business. www.progressiverancher.com

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The Progressive Rancher

FEBRUARY 2024

THE ROUNDUP An analysis of western ranching politics brought to you by the Public Lands Council

IN THE NEWS

Energy: solar energy project, spanning over 22 million acres of public land in 11 Western states Feds Unveil Plan for Solar Energy Projects on Millions Acres of Public Land in 11 Western States, Times of San Diego - The announcement is part of the Interior Department’s push to site more renewable energy facilities on federal lands, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s goal to decarbonize the U.S. electricity grid by 2035 and combat climate change. The draft plan published on Wednesday would update an Obama-era policy that established special zones for solar projects in just six states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Interior said changes to the Bureau of Land Management‘s 11-year-old Western Solar Plan were necessary due to advances in technology, soaring demand for renewable energy and increased interest in solar development in northern states. The new plan includes areas in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming and is focused on lands within 10 miles of existing or planned transmission lines because those areas are easier to develop, Interior said. It also excludes 126 million acres from development due to conflicts with things like critical wildlife habitats, recreation, historic places and old growth forests. While identifying 22 million acres of suitable land, the plan envisions development on only 700,000 acres over the next 20 years. Feds Unveil Plan for Solar Energy Projects on Millions of Acres of Public Land in 11 Western States the Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for solar energy projects on federal lands that identifies 22 million acres in 11 western states best suited for development.

Service will be whether to manually reintroduce bears into the ecosystem or manage conditions to allow grizzlies to naturally settle in the area themselves – something the service believes may happen within 15 to 20 years. No breeding grizzlies live in the Bitterroot, although individual bears have been seen in the ecosystem in recent years. In 2000, the agency published a plan to reintroduce bears to the region, but that plan was never acted on. Those 20 years of inaction led a district court last spring to order the service to develop a new plan. The service will hold three virtual public information sessions in February and accept comments on what should be considered in its restoration plan until March 18. The agency expects to have a draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating options by the end of 2025. The court ordered a final plan by fall 2026.

Wildlife: Oregon prohibits the taking of coyotes on public lands Oregon Bans Coyote Hunting Contests on Public, Grand View Outdoors- The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted five to one abstention to prohibit contests for the taking of coyotes and other unprotected mammals. The decision, in September, came after hearing testimony from more than 40 people at the Commission’s meeting in Bend. The decision affects state lands but does not prohibit the contests on private lands. The new rules are in line with the Commission’s regulatory authority. They establish a definition for contests and make it unlawful to organize, sponsor, conduct or participate in a contest that has the objective of killing unprotected mammal’s native to Oregon. The Commission has the authority to regulate the take of unprotected mammals. But state statutes adopted by the Oregon State Legislature classify coyotes and some other unprotected mammals as predatory animals when they are causing agricultural damage on private land. Predatory animals are defined in statute and do not include carnivores such as bears, cougars and wolves, which are classified as game mammals. Under state statute, the Fish and Wildlife Commission does not have the authority to regulate the take of predatory animals. Statutes state, “The Commission shall not prescribe limitations on the times, places or amounts for the taking of predatory animal” (ORS 496.162) and “nothing in the wildlife laws is intended to deny the right of any person to control predatory animals” (ORS 610.060). Another statute, ORS 610.105, also recognizes that landowners or their agents can control predatory animals on their property.

Grizzlies: USFWS restoring breeding program in Bitterroot ecosystem

Monuments: Biden admin proposes 245,000-acre monument in Luna County, limiting valuable grazing land for New Mexico ranchers

Feds announce plans to restore grizzly bears to the Bitterroot Ecosystem, Montana Public Radio - The federal government announced Wednesday it’s planning how it will restore a breeding population of grizzlies to the Bitterroot and it wants the public to weigh in. A key decision for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Ranchers concerned over 245k-acre N.M. monument proposal | AGDAILY, AgDaily — Groups and interests outside Luna County are leading the charge, notably state Sen. Carrie Hamblen, a Democrat from Las Cruces, who also heads the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce. Las Cruces itself is located

28 FEBRUARY 2024

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about 1.5 hours east of the proposed monument. If designated, Mimbres Peaks would be the second monument established in New Mexico. The first is the 500,000-acre Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in Doña Ana County, which conveniently butts up against the proposed boundary for parts of the MPNM. A campaign was held at the Rockhound State Park near hiking trails in the Florida Mountains on Dec. 6. But none of the area ranchers who hold public land leases in the areas were informed about the meeting.

Conservation: In the West, ranchers worry about potential harm from natural asset companies Natural Asset Companies “Disastrous for Our Nation’s Citizens,” Budd-Falen Says, Western Ag Reporter — On October 4, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a notice of a proposed rule (rule) which would allow the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to adopt a new listing called Natural Asset Companies (NACs). The rule, brought forth by the Intrinsic Exchange Group (IEG), explains that NACs “would be corporations that hold rights to the ecological performance producer {land} by natural working areas, such as national reserves or large-scale farmlands.” In simple terms, the IEG website states that NACs bring “nature’s value into the mainstream of our economy” by “forming and deploying capital to solve pressing environmental and social challenges.” Following the rule’s proposal, 21-days were initially granted for public comment. However, legislators and various state-level groups took immediate issue with the concept of NACs. The SEC granted a minor extension to the comment period, with a new deadline set for January 18, 2023. In the meantime, individuals in D.C. and organizations at both the state and national levels have voiced grave concerns with the concept of monetizing what the Garfield County (Colorado) Commissioners called “the unmonetizable” in a November letter to the SEC.

Drought: South Dakota hoping for increased snow fall this winter to help rebuild water supply South Dakota producer says snow is needed - Brownfield Ag News, Brownfield - A South Dakota cow-calf producer says she hopes the winter storm moving across the region rebuilds water supplies. Marcia Bunger tells Brownfield, “We do need that snow.” “We have stock ponds that need to be regenerated because, while we didn’t have to haul water for the first time in three years, we might have to if we don’t get that much needed snow,” she shares. Bunger says their crop yields this fall were unexpected given the fact eastern South Dakota has been in at least a moderate drought for more than a year. “We had a decent harvest, I think we were maybe surprised because in June it got terribly hot and windy and dry,” she shares. Bunger and her husband have a 200-head cow-calf operation and farm 1,200 acres in Spencer. She is also serving as USDA’s Risk Management Agency Administrator. www.progressiverancher.com

Cattlewomen’s Corner of the Corral Nevada Cattlewomen Beef & Wine Pairing Workshops By Keri Pommerening, President Nevada Cattlewomen started the year off with a bang as we met to plan our activities for the 2024 year. We are excited to start the groundwork toward hosting Beef & Wine Pairing Workshops. We will be looking to host one in the Minden area in the spring, one in Elko in the summer, and one in Southern Nevada in the fall/winter. What is a Beef & Wine Pairing Workshop? Our plan is to sell a limited number of tickets to attend the workshops. Each workshop will feature three or four stations where attendees can rotate through and experience and taste test various cuts of meat with a Charmi Mitchell and family

sample of wine that compliments the cut. Each station will have recipe cards. Nevada Cattlewomen want to involve producers by asking at least one producer to attend and be able to answer questions about their beef business. The producer can then have cuts of meat for sale. As each attendee leaves the workshop, he or she will have the opportunity to purchase cuts of meat and the paired wine, accompanied with free recipe cards. The goal is for attendees to leave prepared to cook the meal that night. Bringing producers and consumers together to enjoy the tasty benefits of beef

in a fun and interactive workshop, beef and wine, what else do you need? We will offer more information as we get the dates and locations booked. s I mentioned in my last article, I will share A a monthly highlight on one of our members so you can get to know some of the hardworking crew behind the scenes of Nevada Cattlewomen. This month’s spotlight is on Charmi Mitchell, our 2024 PresidentElect. Here is what Charmi had to share with us (see box below):

“I am a wife to a farrier, a mom to a little cowboy and a Master Teacher for Agriculture Science and Environmental Science Education at the University of Nevada, Reno for the NevadaTeach program. Before moving to the university level, I was a high school agriculture educator and FFA Advisor for 7 years. I have always had a passion for teaching agriculture and now get to share that passion with preservice teachers as they start their own journey in a high school classroom. My love for agriculture started when I was young, as I was telling the vet that I couldn’t see as he was trying to deliver a calf in a snow storm. From there it continued to grow as my grandpa gifted me my very own replacement heifer. She then went on to several livestock shows as a heifer, cow and home-grown cow/calf pair. That cow lived to be 18 years old and gave me a set of twins her last calving season. They say there’s always a special bond between a girl and her first horse but I think I was one that had a special bond with her first cow. I am excited to share my educational experience and my passion for agriculture and the beef industry, in my new position as president-elect for the Nevada Cattlewomen.” ank you, Charmi, for your commitment to Nevada Cattlewomen and the beef Th industry. Until next month, whether you are feeding cows, calving, watching the snow pile up, or enjoying the sunshine, stay safe and warm.

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FEBRUARY 2024

Cheatgrass Control and Seeding Prior to Herbicides By Charlie D. Clements, James A. Young and Dan Harmon By the late 1800s it was apparent that there was a need to restore overgrazed rangelands. The effort to restore overgrazed rangelands, especially Great Basin rangelands, did not receive much attention until the mid-1900s, so why did it take half a century to attempt rangeland seedings to restore Great Basin rangelands?

Four major problems hindered the development of seeding technology; 1) the leading conservation agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, believed that rangelands could be restored through management without seeding, 2) the equipment necessary to control competing woody vegetation and to seed degraded big sagebrush rangelands was not available, 3) early seeding efforts on rangelands, which largely had been conducted by the Forest Service, had almost entirely been perceived as failures, and 4) it took a long time for the majority of ranchers, and even longer for politicians, to conceive that something was wrong with the western range.

The Forest Service was created in 1905 to administer the nations existing forest reserves, formerly managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. These lands were generally higher quality rangelands in terms of environmental potential for plant growth. Prior to the passage of the Taylor Grazing Act in 1934 and the Presidential Decree closing the remaining vacant federal lands in the west to homesteading, no U.S. Government agency managed the desert nor the foothill ranges. Afterward,

the Grazing Service was charged with managing the arid and semi-arid winter and spring ranges. By this time, these rangelands had experienced 3-4 decades of grazing abuse after the National Forests were established and closed to unmanaged grazing. Also, these arid and semiarid rangelands had far less environmental potential to restore themselves. Certainly, some individual ranchers exercised high-quality stewardship over the grazing lands located on vacant federal lands that they considered their home range. They were handicapped in their efforts to pursue natural resource management because the vacant rangelands were legally open to anyone to graze, and several ranches actually shared most ranges. In the Great Basin, virtually the only fenced rangelands were areas where hay was produced. Those who practiced conservative grazing management were likely to see the forage eaten by their neighbors’ livestock. Combined with the growth of the tramp sheep industry on western rangelands during the early 1900s, this situation was the prelude to cheatgrass dominance on millions of acres of rangelands. In 1924, the National Wool Grower published an article authored by Utah State University researcher Glenn Bennion that blamed the Government indefensible freerange policy for the badly degraded rangelands and that “sagebrush came when the wasteful, destructive methods of range exploitation , developed as a result of the Government’s indefensible free-range policy destroying

Figure 1. The Rangeland Plow was very successful at removing woody competition on rangelands in preparation for seeding much needed perennial grass for forage.

the native grass and allowing sagebrush to become dominant, thus permitting those forms of vegetation that stock can not eat to take the place of grass.” Dr. Bennion also suggested the answer to restoring bunchgrasses on degraded rangelands was to burn the ranges during the hot summer months, rest the burned areas from all grazing until the grasses had a chance to recover, and then use moderate stocking rates with seasonal, managed grazing. He offered evidence that many sagebrushbunchgrass ranges still had enough remnant perennial grasses to restock the ranges, especially if the competing woody species were removed and grazing was managed.

The basic problem that stifled restoration of big sagebrush rangelands in the Great Basin was the overabundance of big sagebrush. Range managers faced the daunting task of removing tons of woody material from each acre to make room for restoration seedings, which was exacerbated by the thousands of acres that needed restoration. One of the major problems that faced range managers, was that these overgrazed rangelands, prior to cheatgrass explosions, simply did not have enough fine fuels to carry fire through these sagebrush rangelands as suggested by Bennion. Even if fire was an option, at that time the entire forest and range conservation movement in the western United States was based on the total exclusion of wildfires from wildlands. Another obstacle range managers faced was the lack of success in restoration trials by early Forest Service researchers which did not instill confidence since the recommendations were to control weedy species and protect perennial grass seedings, that they rarely were successful in establishing. This was an increasing problem in restoring big sagebrush/bunchgrass ranges due to the lack of an adaptable perennial grass to replace native perennials. Various scientists collected seeds of the dominant rangeland perennial grass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and seeded rangelands with this species, which usually ended in failure as seed germination of many collections was low and the seedling vigor was weak. There was no native plant seed industry at the time, and seeds of native perennial grasses were impossible to buy. The final impediment to restoring western rangelands was apathy, both public and political. Western rangelands were endless, bountiful, eternal, and most importantly, free, therefore, no valid reason to spend taxpayers’ money on rangelands. P.B. Kennedy, an early range investigator, shared or perhaps warned his insights in the early 1900’s; “Perhaps one group of men holding one portion of the public range by force of arms may decide also not to overstock their ranges and to improve it by sowing seed of valuable grasses and forage plants. This is not likely to occur, because the reseeding of a large tract is a costly undertaking, and one still so largely an experiment

30 FEBRUARY 2024

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whose results cannot clearly be foreseen that no stockman will likely undertake the reseeding of lands not his own. How, then, should the open ranges of the public lands be made fully productive again? A socialist has suggested that this should be undertaken by the general government as a public work to be paid for by taxation of the whole people; that seed should be collected, enormous grass farms planted, and that the seed raised on these farms should be sown far and wide on the ranges, and that the cost of all of this enormous undertaking should be borne by the general government.” The droughts and the economic upheaval of the 1930’s furnished the catalysts for change. The northern Great Plains were almost destroyed by these droughts, erosion was significant and had tremendous impact on public opinion concerning conservation of natural resources which resulted in the formation of the U.S Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (SCS) (now the Natural Resource Conservation Service). The conservation practice that the SCS introduced included plant material centers that produced plants and seeds for use in conservation plantings. This was followed up by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal which established agencies that provided manpower for conservation projects. The new Civilian Conservation Corps provided young men to fight wildfires, build check dams and access roads, and attempt restoration seedings. One of the first perennial grasses to be collected and developed by the SCS plant material centers was crested wheatgrass, a perennial grass imported from Russia. The first known range seedings of crested wheatgrass in the Intermountain Area occurred in 1932 near American Falls, Idaho, and on the USDA Sheep Experiment Station near Debois, Idaho. The stand of crested wheatgrass on the Sheep Experiment Station was moderately grazed for decades, and after 30 years was still producing more than one ton of air-dried forage per acre. The success of these early crested wheatgrass seedings increased the confidence of range managers to be successful in establishing perennial grasses on degraded rangelands. At the time crested wheatgrass was introduced into the Great Basin, the primary requirement was the potential to establish and persist through droughts and grazing. Improved seedbed preparation and planting techniques promoted the establishment of crested wheatgrass, which persisted under most circumstances other than extreme year around grazing. Most importantly, crested wheatgrass provided forage in the early spring when it was desperately needed, and native perennial grasses were most easily harmed by grazing. By the late 1930s and early 1940s researchers established nursery trials with native and introduced plant materials throughout the Intermountain Area and started the search for equipment that could be used to convert degraded big sagebrush sites to perennial grasses. These early scientists instigated the Interagency Range Seeding Equipment Committee to develop range weed control and seeding equipment. Initially, they tried to plow under big sagebrush using wheatland disk plows pulled by track laying tractors. The disk plow worked fairly well until ran into rocky sites or too large sagebrush trunk sizes, which experienced significant breakdowns. Early University Nevada Reno Researcher, Joe Robertson, was tired of this wheatland disk plow breaking down every day during his research in northeastern Nevada and therefor imported what was described as a “stump-jump plow” from Australia, redesigned it to meet the specific needs of western rangelands and was then manufactured by Interagency Rangeland Seeding Equipment Committee, now famously known as the ‘rangeland plow’ (Figure 1). The new success of this piece of equipment, in combination with the performance of crested wheatgrass on arid Great Basin rangelands resulted in more than 1 million acres of degraded big sagebrush-bunchgrass plant communities being disked, fallowed and seeded to crested wheatgrass (Figure 2).

Figure 2, above. The successful establishment and persistence of crested wheatgrass provided much needed forage for the livestock industry throughout the Great Basin.

Figure 3a (above) and Figure 3b (below) Former big sagebrush/ bunchgrass community converted to cheatgrass dominance, June 2000 (3a) transformed into a very productive perennial grass community providing forage, and reducing wildfire threats, May 2023 (3b) was possible only through lesson learned from past researchers and the ability of new researchers to build partnerships and improve the productivity of rangelands.

How much of that 1 million acres of seeded crested wheatgrass could be successfully seeded with perennial grasses today? Probably very little. Today, seed banks dominated with cheatgrass pose added difficulties in establishing perennial grasses in the face of cheatgrass competition. (Figure 3a and 3b). Although the disk and fallow method has experienced good woody species control, invasive annuals such as cheatgrass require added control methods. Our research has reported as much as 82% reduction of cheatgrass using the disk and fallow method, the remaining cheatgrass can cause significant competitive disadvantages for native and introduced perennial grasses at the seedling stage, especially the aridity experienced throughout the Great Basin. Cheatgrass infestations require new approaches and new research which will come through old and new scientist with the ability to build partnerships and swallow their scientific pride to improve degraded rangelands. Lessons of past researchers provide a trove of treasures to improve innovation and productivity on degraded rangelands. o www.progressiverancher.com

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FEBRUARY 2024

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Native Seed: Expanding Markets for Producers, Saving Ecosystems In Nevada, invasive annual grasses increase wildfire frequency and intensity. Grass-fueled fires threaten human safety, destroy infrastructure, decrease economic productivity, degrade wildlife habitat and reduce recreational opportunities. Best management practices suggest that restoring previously disturbed sites is the best way to combat this oppressive fire cycle, but restoration in the sagebrush ecosystem is challenging, especially when trying to restore native plant species that provide the highest habitat value. Millions of pounds of seed are used every year to restore ecosystems on burned or disturbed lands. However, the majority of seed used in Nevada originates and is genetically adapted to cooler, wetter growing conditions, rather than the drier climates and areas in which they are used. With Nevada’s distinction as the driest state in the country, seed developed in other environments have little hope of returning the landscape to its predisturbance conditions. As a result, the vicious cycle of burning and reseeding is rapidly eliminating biodiversity from Nevada’s ecosystems. While climate factors will always have a strong influence on restoration outcomes, efforts could improve if seed was genetically appropriate for the areas in which it was planted.

Reseeding efforts after the Martin Fire.

Currently, there are no large commercial native seed producers in Nevada. Through outreach efforts, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has received interest from producers throughout the state looking to diversify their traditional crops and incorporate native seed production in their operations. However, most prospective producers are not familiar with cultivation, cleaning or sale of native seed. The availability for native seed for production including wildland collected seed is difficult to access. To combat the lack of locally adapted native seed, the NDA has introduced the Foundation Seed Program. Producers are encouraged to apply for an award of native seed stock to be cultivated in Nevada. All applications will be reviewed by a committee and chosen participants will receive seed of the species of their choosing at no cost. Producers will then be responsible for cultivation, seed production, harvest and crop cleaning, with a portion of the seed yield to be returned to the Foundation Seed Program to establish a sustainable seed stock. The amount of seed returned to the program will be determined at the time of award on a case-by-case basis. The applicant is then free to use the remaining seed in continued or expanded production on their farm, or to sell the remainder of their yield in the native seed market to be used in restoration and rehabilitation efforts. This program supports growers new to cultivating native seed and those with experience. Resources are available through the NDA and partners to give producers the best chance at success in producing native seed, whether or not they are participating in the Foundation Seed Program. With access to technical guides and expert advice, the NDA can help producers begin their venture into the native seed market. To learn more about the Foundation Seed Program and apply for native seeds, visit agri.nv.gov/seed or contact the NDA at seed@agri.nv.gov or (775) 399-0284.

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FEBRUARY 2024

Slow Start to the New Year Snowpacks are below normal for Nevada Jeff Anderson | jeff.anderson@usda.gov | 775-224-3484 January 1 snowpacks for the Silver State are below normal in almost all areas. Snow is 9% of normal in the Spring Mountains, 38-46% of normal in the Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Carson and Walker basins, 51% in Eastern Nevada and 85% in the Upper Humboldt. The only watershed with a normal snowpack is the Owyhee basin. Below normal snowpacks also exist throughout much of the western United States. Many Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) weather stations in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest have record low snowpacks.

As a result of record setting snowpacks in 2023, reservoir storage in northern Nevada is better than this time last year. The April through July streamflow volumes in 2023 set new records for the Carson and Walker rivers. Across the state, strong river flows were enough to meet demand and allow water to be stored in reservoirs. Due to the low snowpack NRCS January 1 streamflow forecasts are far less than last year. If conditions continue to be dry, the water stored in reservoirs will offer a buffer against drought next summer for water users in basins with reservoir storage. There is still time for the snowpack to turn around, however with each dry week it becomes less likely snowpacks will reach their normal peak snow water amounts by spring.

Access the January 1, 2024, Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report with additional information at the Nevada Snow Survey homepage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/nevada/snow-survey Basin Snowpack and Reservoir Storage Conditions as of January 1, 2024

Lake Tahoe Basin - Snowpack is 42% of median, 6th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1981. Lake Tahoe is storing 507,600 acre-feet of water, which is 68% of capacity. On January 1, 2023, Lake Tahoe storage was 4% of capacity.

Truckee Basin – Snowpack is 46% of median, 6th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1981. Combined reservoir storage in the Truckee Basin is 324,000 acre-feet of water, which is 72% of capacity. On January 1, 2023, reservoir storage was 42% of capacity.

Carson Basin – Snowpack is 38% of median, 7th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1981. Lahontan Reservoir is storing 217,700 acre-feet of water, which is 70% of capacity. On January 1, 2023, Lahontan Reservoir storage was 10% of capacity. Walker Basin - Snowpack is 44% of median, 7th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1981. Bridgeport Reservoir is storing 35,800 acrefeet of water, which is 84% of capacity compared to 30% on January 1, 2023. Topaz Lake is storing 40,200 acre-feet of water, which is 68% of capacity compared to 24% on January 1, 2023. 34 FEBRUARY 2024

Humboldt Basin – The Upper Humboldt snowpack is 85% of median. January 1 snowpack ranks 18th lowest since 1981. Rye Patch Reservoir is storing 67,300 acre-feet of water, which is 35% of capacity. On January 1, 2023, Rye Patch Reservoir storage was 5% of capacity. Eastern Nevada (Route 50 corridor Austin, Eureka and Ely) - Snowpack is 51% of median. 7th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1981.

Spring Mountains – Snowpack is 9% of median. 4th lowest January 1 snowpack since 2009.

Upper Colorado Basin – Snowpack is 67% of median. 4th lowest January 1 snowpack since 1986. Combined reservoir storage in Lake Mead and Lake Powell is 17.5 million acre-feet of water, which is 35% of capacity. On January 1, 2023, combined reservoir storage was 25% of capacity.

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Renewable Energy in Rural America: Frequently Asked Questions Is it realistic to combine farming with renewable energy on the same farm? Yes. There are many ways to integrate farming and renewable energy on the same property. Marginal farmland can be used for solar panels. Agricultural producers can almost always co-locate their operations with wind generation. They also can often co-locate crops or grazing with solar generation (a practice called “agrivoltaics”). While agrivoltaics does not currently work for all farm operations, there are more than 150 agrivoltaics projects across the country, and research and interest is How much land and farmland will be needed growing rapidly. For example, USDA and DOE are currently conducting for renewable energy installation? research and development in agrivoltaics. More information about Estimates indicate that solar and wind installations could require up to dual use and connecting with collaborators can be found at the DOE0.5 percent of all U.S. land by 2035, including up to 1 percent of U.S. supported AgriSolar Clearinghouse: www.agrisolarclearinghouse.org cropland. This is comparable to U.S. land currently used for coal mining and is less than the acreage used today for railroads or ethanol production. How can farmers and rural America Most solar arrays cover fewer than 20 acres, but the largest solar arrays are benefit from renewable energy? increasing in size and can encompass thousands of acres. Although about half of all renewable energy development occurs on cultivated cropland, • Renewable energy is now the least-cost source of new electricity in the United States. in 95 percent of the counties that host solar arrays, these installations take up less than one quarter of one percent (0.25 percent) of the land. • Farmers and rural businesses that install on-site renewable energy as The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are hosting “American Farms, Rural Benefits” listening sessions in January 2024. We want to hear about ways to promote renewable energy development in your rural communities and understand how we can better support your efforts. This companion fact sheet is meant to provide background information to support these listening sessions. You’ll find additional information and references at this link: tinyurl.com/farmland-energy.

participants in USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program saved an Does renewable energy cause farmland losses average of $15,400 in annual electricity costs. and drive higher rental rates? Roughly 11 million acres of U.S. farmland was converted out of • Farmers who lease sections of land for renewable energy are seeing agricultural production between 2001 and 2016. Less than 1 percent of long-term, stable revenue streams. A recent survey of farmers who the loss was due to solar development: the remainder is driven mostly leased their land for wind installations found the average payment is by urban and suburban expansion. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. farmland is $8,300 a year. rented, and rental rates are rising – mostly due to suburban expansion. Rental cost increases generally are not driven by renewable energy • Increasingly, community benefit agreements are being incorporated into renewable energy projects. These can be used to support community development, though higher farmland rental costs do heighten concerns infrastructure needs such as schools and hospitals, or to develop local about land-use decisions in farming communities, and large, individual agricultural assets such as grain silos or processing plants. projects could impact the market in some areas. Are federal funds contributing to the conversion of farmland to renewable energy? All federally funded projects – including wind and solar projects – must be evaluated for significant impact on farmland. By law, to minimize the use of federal funds contributing to the unnecessary conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses, alternative sites must be considered. This falls under the Farmland Protection Policy Act and is guided by USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service as part of the environmental review process. In 2022, 32 federal agencies evaluated projects that – combined – could potentially reach roughly one hundredth of one percent (0.014 percent) of farmland, and approximately three thousandths of one percent (0.003 percent) of prime or unique farmland. That annual scale is comparable to findings from the last 15 years. www.progressiverancher.com

• Approximately 90 percent of renewable energy siting is projected to occur in rural communities by 2050. This could result in up to 1.5 million well-paying solar jobs by 2035 and 600,000 wind jobs by 2050.

Are there health risks associated with renewable energy? Health and safety risks of renewable energy to host communities are minimal and can generally be addressed with appropriate permitting, zoning guidelines, and project design. Concerns about health risks are often covered on social media, which can create a false perception of risk; however, the scientific evidence is clear that renewable energy is safe for host communities and reduces pollution. Renewables like solar and wind technologies dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions, and water pollution. Less pollution means healthier communities and fewer chronic deadly diseases for children.

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FEBRUARY 2024

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Warehouses in Caldwell, ID and Deerfield, WI 36 FEBRUARY 2024

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Is the Stock Market Trading on America’s Demise? I admit I do not know a lot about the stock market (lawyers don’t do math, or at least this one doesn’t) but I do understand that the point of the stock market is to bring investors and companies together, allowing the investors to provide financial backing for companies that investors believe are on solid financial footing. Investors then hope to receive a dividend or return on their investment. The first U.S. stock market was created in 1792. In 1817, that market was renamed the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). After the crash of the stock market in 1929, Congress created the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure transparency, fair prices for trading and a high degree of liquidity for traders. The SEC is a federal agency that works independently and without political pressure. Unfortunately, that mission is about to change. On September 29, 2023, the SEC announced a proposed rule that looks to be politically motivated, does not protect investors because they never get a monetary return on their investments and harms the American economy rather than supporting it. The proposed rule allows for the formation of private companies (called Natural Asset Companies (NACs)) to acquire private lands and eliminate most all economic use of those lands. While I believe in the Constitutional protection for the use of private property, I am sure the founding fathers did not envision a federal agency to allow foreign governments (including those whose interests are completely averse to America) to acquire and eliminate use of private and public lands, while being funded through the NYSE. This crazy trading scheme is based on several faulty premises. First, the ownership and use of private property is governed by state law, not federal law. As stated above, the SEC proposed rule specifically allows foreign ownership in NACs. According to research by the National Ag Law Center, in 2023 alone, 12 states passed laws restricting foreign ownership or investment in private lands located within their states. This is added to the 12 states that already have state laws limiting foreign ownership of private land within those states. Henry Kissinger famously said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” Do we really want countries that hate America owning and controlling American agricultural land, energy production, timber assets and American minerals? www.progressiverancher.com

by Karen Budd-Falen | Opinion Editorial

Second, the SEC equates “no use” to the conservation and sustainability of natural resources. This is a completely false premise. Often human management is what sensitive environments need to keep them healthy. Not allowing human management to be part of “conservation” will be both detrimental to the environment, and to the natural resource industries that are essential to local economies. The SEC proposed rule notes that destruction of federal lands can be caused by wildfire and climate change. However, the elimination of well managed livestock grazing and timber production by NACs will increase these destructive harms, not eliminate them. Both livestock grazing and the harvesting of timber reduce the risk of wildfires by reducing the fuel load needed for those fires. According to a June 22, 2022 article in Rangelands Magazine, “Moderate grazing decreases wildfire probability by decreasing fuel amount, continuity, and height and increasing fuel moisture content. Grazing, through its modification of fuels, can improve fire suppression efforts by decreasing flame lengths, rate of fire spread, and fire severity.” Also concerning is the SEC’s statement that NACs are required to manage their acquisitions for “ecological and socially equitable goals.” Is displacing a 5th generation rancher in rural America truly an ecological or socially equitable goal? It is certainly not for the rural communities, rural counties and the citizens who live in these areas. It is frightening that a federal agency who is supposed to be independent would feel the political pressure to implement a rule on climate change. Comments are due to the SEC by January 18, 2024. This proposed rule is not what the founding fathers would have envisioned.

Karen Budd-Falen

Budd-Falen Law Offices 300 E. 18th Street Cheyenne, WY 82001 307-632-5105 Karen@buddfalen.com

The Progressive Rancher

FEBRUARY 2024

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