Nevada Farm Bureau®
Volume 67, Number 5 May 2015
Agriculture & Livestock
Journal
Farmers & Ranchers of Nevada: Bringing a new industry to Nevada
Proposed Education Funding Plans • Ag Day the Legislature • GBC Farm Bureau Dinner
Nevada Farm Bureau Agriculture and Livestock Journal May 2015 3 4 6 8 11 12 13 14 15
Farm Bureau Perspectives - James “Hank” Combs Proposed Education Funding Plans Nevada Farm Bureau Update County Corner Farmers & Ranchers of Nevada Bringing a new industry to Nevada GBC Annual Dinner Recap/Western Nevada Cattlewomen’s Dinner 2015 Nevada Farm Bureau Photo Contest Contact Your Local COUNTRY Financial Agency The Ag Agenda - Bob Stallman Farmers and Ranchers Are Tired of EPA Doubletalk Classified Ads
“The Agriculture & Livestock Journal” (ISSN 0899-8434) (USPS 377-280) 2165 Green Vista Dr. Suite 205 Sparks, NV 89431 Phone: (775) 674-4000 Fax: (775) 674-4004 Publisher: Nevada Farm Bureau Federation Editor: Jessica Fagundes The Nevada Farm Bureau Agriculture & Livestock Journal is published monthly by the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation. Subscriptions are available to Nevada Farm Bureau members at an annual subscription price of $1, which is included in yearly dues. Periodical postage is paid at Reno, NV and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Nevada Farm Bureau Agriculture & Livestock Journal, 2165 Green Vista Drive, Suite 205, Sparks, NV 89431
Meeting & Event Calendar
Officers
May 8 Douglas County Ag Day, Minden Elementary School
May 9 Gardening in Small Places: Problem Solving, University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative May 9 Western Nevada CattleWomen’s Dinner Dance, 6 p.m. Smith Valley Community Hall Details: Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for kids 4-12, free for kids 3 and under, $10 for dance only. Contact Linda Huntsberger at (775) 720-3106 or Terri Chichester at (775) 901-6274. May 10 Pershing County Junior Livestock Show, 8 a.m. 4-H Building Details: malayb@unce.unr.edu May 11 Churchill County Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Cooperative Extension Office Details: Julie Wolf, wolfpack@cccomm.net May 12 Elko County Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Teleconference Details: Jonathan Dahl, dahlangusranch@gmail.com May 13 – 17 Nevada Junior Livestock Show and Sale, Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center May 18 Churchill County Ag Day, Oasis Charter School If you would like to include a meeting or event on the calendar, please contact Jessica at nvfarmbureau@nvfb.org.
Connect with Nevada Farm Bureau Federation nvfb.org
Nevada Farm Bureau Federation
@NVFarmBureau
/NevFarmBureau
President James “Hank” Combs, fbcombs@cox.net Vice President Bevan Lister, blister8@yahoo.com Women’s Leadership Chair Cindy Hardy, hardyc@comnett.net District 1 Director Jamie Perkins, panacaperkins@gmail.com District 2 Director Craig Shier, snoopyisa55@yahoo.com District 3 Director Carla Pomeroy, carlapomeroy14@gmail.com Executive Vice President Clay McCauley, cmccauley@nvfb.org
Board of Directors Central County Joyce Hartman, alfalfaqueen@gmail.com Churchill County Julie Wolf, wolfpack@cccomm.net Clark County Jim Hardy, hardyj@comnett.net Douglas County Woody Worthington, woody@bentlyranch.com Elko County Jonathan Dahl, dahlangusranch@gmail.com Humboldt County Martin Muratore, disasterfarms@live.com Lander County Paul Young, yoyoungs@yahoo.com Lincoln County Paul Mathews, pntmathews@gmail.com Lyon County Darrell Pursel, darrellpursel@gmail.com Washoe County Louis Damonte Jr., damonteranch@charter.net White Pine Tom Baker, tombaker125@hotmail.com YF&R Chair Anna-Lisa Laca, annalisa.giannini@gmail.com
May 2015 | Page 2 | www.nvfb.org
Farm Bureau Perspectives Proposed Education Funding Plans By James “Hank” Combs, Nevada Farm Bureau President
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s the 78th session of the Nevada Legislature continues, there has been much discussion regarding three proposed plans to raise money for education.
I’d like to take a look at these plans this month, examining what they entail, how our policy applies and how plans would affect farmers and ranchers in Nevada. Business License Fee Plan Senate Bill 252, also known as the Business License Fee Plan, is Governor Sandoval’s sponsored legislation. This bill proposes replacing the current $200 per year business license fee with a tax based on gross receipts. The tax rate would vary depending on industry, ranging from .056 percent on mining to .362 percent on rail transportation. Agriculture would face an estimated .06 to .07 percent tax on gross receipts. Also important to note is that no deductions would be allowed for labor or goods sold in this proposed legislation. Sandoval’s plan would raise about $437 million each year. License Fee-Payroll Tax Hybrid Assembly Bill 464, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Taxation, proposes legislation that would increase the business license fee and the payroll tax in Nevada. Under this hybrid, the business license fee would increase from $200 to $500 for corporations and $300 for other businesses. The payroll tax would also increase, affecting about 5,000 businesses. Currently, businesses that spend more than $85,000 per quarter on payroll are taxed at 1.17 percent. The proposed legislation would tax
businesses spending $50,000 or more per quarter and would increase the tax to 1.56 percent. Businesses would also no longer be able to deduct what they spend on health insurance for their employees from their tax bill and they would have to report their gross profits to the state for the next six years. This proposed legislation would raise $499 million. Balanced Plan for Growth The third plan to raise money for education is the Balanced Plan for Growth sponsored by Assemblyman Jim Wheeler and Controller Ron Knecht. This plan would not increase or introduce new taxes and it would eliminate the business license fee all together. It would save money by reevaluating spending in state and local government. The plan rejects proposed Public Employee Retirement System increases in premium. Employees would pay the additional premium and that income would be placed in the state Distributive School Account. In addition, nine cents of the property tax rate for local property taxes would move to the state General Fund for education. The restrictions on categorical funding for schools would also be lifted to allow districts to determine their own spending. Finally, the pre-payment of mining tax would still occur and non-essential government programs would close. In all, this would put the General Fund at $6.9 billion for two years. Nevada Farm Bureau Policy Our organization’s policy directly addresses additional taxes on business profit and gross income. Policy 263 – Business Profit Tax states “Nevada Farm Bureau opposes the adoption of tax on business profit.” In addition, May 2015 | Page 3 | www.nvfb.org
Policy 265 – Gross Income Business Tax states “We oppose the creation and implementation of a gross business tax, assessing a tax against business incomes.” Effect on Members Recent discussions with farmers and ranchers show that our membership is concerned with the proposed legislation. Take retired farmer Debbie Frey from Churchill County who believes the taxes would be detrimental to the agriculture industry and business in general. “We don’t like the tax on gross. As farmers, we barely make enough to pay our bills. This legislation will kill growth for business,” Frey says. Ted Christoph, a young dairyman in Churchill County, feels the same way. “Particularly in agriculture, mining and even grocery stores and whole sale retail, you’re turning a lot of dollars, but not making a big profit,” Christoph says. “Plus we’re already paying more than our fair share of taxes because we own a lot of property and a lot of that money goes back to education.” Tell Your Story We don’t take the concerns mentioned above or others lightly and will be closely monitoring all three plans to keep you informed. As members, be sure to use our Action Center to voice your concerns directly to your legislators. Nevada Farm Bureau is the voice of Nevada agriculture and each of us should play a role in protecting our industry.
Nevada Farm Bureau Update
NVFB hosts legislative workshop and Ag Day activities
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n honor of Ag Day at the Legislature, Nevada Farm Bureau (NVFB) hosted a legislative workshop and several networking opportunities on April 1 and 2, 2015.
The workshop, held on April 1 and hosted by Nevada Farm Bureau and the NVFB Young Farmers & Ranchers, educated members about the legislative process. Speakers included Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Deputy Director and former Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick and NDA Director Jim Barbee. Senator Don Gustavson then chaired a mock hearing and Lobbyist Paul Enos testified and helped members practice giving testimony. Senator Goicoechea (left) recognizes NVFB President Hank Combs and NCA President Ron Torell on the Senate floor.
Collegiate Farm Bureau member Lachlan McQueary practiced testifying with the help of Paul Enos (right) and Senator Gustavson (left) during a mock hearing.
On April 2, members and legislators attended the Nevada Cattlemen’s Breakfast. After the breakfast, members visited with Senator James Settelmeyer and Assemblymen John Ellison and Jim Wheeler.
President Combs (left), Governor Sandoval, Farm Bureau member Joe Sicking and Eureka County Commissioner J.J. Goicoechea at the NDA lunch.
On the evening of April 2, members joined legislators and other influential people in the Nevada agriculture community for a reception at Glen Eagles Restaurant sponsored by NVFB and Agricultural Council of Nevada. The event offered many opportunities for networking between legislators and our farmers and ranchers. Thank you to all the legislators, members and guests who joined us and made the workshop and Ag Day a big success.
Senator Settelmeyer (right) met with members during Ag Day at the Legislature.
Senator Pete Goicoechea then recognized President Hank Combs on the Senate floor after which members enjoyed a lunch hosted by the Nevada Department of Agriculture, featuring local ingredients. Governor Sandoval attended the lunch as well and visited with President Combs.
Farm Bureau member Joanne Dalton (left) with Assemblywoman Dickman, Vernon Dalton and Kaley Sproul during the Ag Day reception.
May 2015 | Page 4 | www.nvfb.org
WLC donates to Ronald McDonald House in northern Nevada
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evada Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) donated $500 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in northern Nevada on Tuesday, April 14 as part of their Our Food Link project. Nevada WLC member Audrey Damonte presented the check to Marty Ozer, RMHC Northern Nevada executive director. “For more than 10 years, we have partnered with the Ronald McDonald House,” WLC Chair Cindy Hardy said. “Helping those in need in both northern and southern Nevada is a great way for our committee and the Nevada Farm Bureau to give back to the community.” Our Food Link is a year-long program that provides consumers of all ages with information about current agriculture. Activities include outreach at local supermarkets, interactive booths, agriculture in the classroom, networking with lawmakers and donations. The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-awayfrom-home” for families who have seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in the northern Nevada area.
Jessica Fagundes of Nevada Farm Bureau (left) and Audrey Damonte of Washoe County Farm Bureau present a check to Marty Ozer, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Nevada.
Membership Advantages added to southern Nevada
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evada Farm Bureau members will receive 10 percent off all in-stores purchases at Bakeshop. Bakeshop offers quality desserts for the Las Vegas area. They are located at 2550 Anthem Village Drive, Suite 190, Henderson, NV 89052. For more information, please visit http://www.bakeshoplv.com/.
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IN YOUR POCKET American AgCredit members earned $39 million in cash dividends for 2014.
Call 800.800.4865 or visit AgLoan.com A part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender.
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May 2015 | Page 5 | www.nvfb.org
2/20/2015 9:36:24 AM
County Corner Check out what’s happening around the state!
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ounty Corner is a section of the Agriculture & Livestock Journal that gives counties an opportunity to share their activities. If you want to include a story in County Corner, please email us your story at nvfarmbureau@nvfb.org or call Jessica at 775-674-4000.
CLARK COUNTY
It also included a My American Farm kiosk made by Kaluna and Jenifer Aki, a game to learn about the commodities in Nevada and a milking station with Maggie the Cow. The Farm Bureau educated thousands of children and adults during the event. Great job on such a fun and educational booth!
Clark County Fair & Rodeo
Women’s Leadership State Chair Cindy Hardy helps children match counties and commodities on a large felt map.
Clark County Farm Bureau member Mica Leatham (right) helps children practice milking Maggie the Cow.
Clark County Root Beer Float Social
Clark County Farm Bureau held their annual booth in the Agriculture and Small Animal Barn at the 2015 Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale on April 8 to April 12. The booth provided information about Nevada Farm Bureau and Ag in the Classroom and a milking station for Maggie the Cow.
Members enjoy root beer floats outside of the Agriculture and Small Animal Barn.
Children play educational games on the My American Farm kiosk.
Clark County Farm Bureau held a social for members during the county fair and rodeo. Members visited at the fair and enjoyed root beer floats with local ice cream donated by Anderson Dairy before attending the rodeo as a group. The event kicked-off the fair and was a great time for all who attended.
May 2015 | Page 6 | www.nvfb.org
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Carson Valley FFA Donation
Douglas County President Woody Worthington presents a check to Carson Valley FFA to support their trip to Nevada FFA State Convention.
Douglas County Farm Bureau donated $1,350 to Carson Valley FFA last month to cover the registration cost for students who attended the Nevada FFA Convention in March. Five of the FFA members from Carson Valley will be competing at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October 2015. Thanks Douglas County for supporting our future farmers and ranchers!
Center. More than 200 third graders from around Humboldt County attended this educational event. Students and their teachers rotated through twelve different stations throughout the day. Presenters at each station taught students and teachers about various aspects of agriculture through hands-on presentations.
A student listens to a dog’s heartbeat at the Veterinary Medicine station.
The stations included beef and beef by-products, sheep, goats, wool, bees, veterinary science, plants, agricultural equipment, horses, rabbits and other non-food agricultural uses.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Winnemucca Ag in the Classroom Article and Photos by Susan Hawkins
Students get to feel sheep’s wool during the event.
Nevada FFA President Blake Duncan teaches children about beef by-products.
The Humboldt County Farm Bureau hosted their annual Ag in the Classroom in April at the Winnemucca Events
The Lowry High School FFA members volunteered to help presenters at the various stations and also helped the other volunteers serve lunch. The federal nutrition guidelines for school lunches were followed to ensure the students, presenters, volunteers and teachers enjoyed a healthy and tasty lunch. This successful event would not be possible without all the volunteers, presenters and generous donations from all our sponsors.
May 2015 | Page 7 | www.nvfb.org
Farmers & Ranchers of Nevada Bringing a new industry to Nevada By Austin Wright, Nevada Farm Bureau Intern
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cott and Anna-Lisa Laca met at Modesto Junior College after both growing up in the agriculture industry. From there, Anna-Lisa went to Oklahoma State University to study animal science marketing, and Scott went to Cornell University where he studied dairy science. They would later reunite and start Great Basin Shepherding in Churchill County. In the United States, the most common dairy operations are cow dairies, buffalo dairies and goat dairies; but most people aren’t familiar with, or have even heard of, sheep dairies. The sheep dairy industry in America is still in its infancy with only Scott and Anna-Lisa Laca run the only Grade A sheep dairy in Nevada. 100 operations across the country “Well a lot of times when you’re young, people don’t take and only 12,000 milking sheep within those operations. you seriously,” Anna-Lisa says. “And we’ve experienced Despite a small number of dairies across the U.S., this that several times, but what better way to deal with it than industry is closer to home than some might think. Great to prove them wrong.” Basin Shepherding is the first and only Grade A sheep dairy in Nevada. Scott originally thought he was going to work in the cow dairy industry, but a trip oversees introduced him to the idea of milking sheep.
“You say you’re going to make the milk. You make the milk. There are no excuses.” -Scott Laca, Churchill County Farmer
“I intended to milk cows, and I studied dairy cows in college,” Scott says. “My junior year I was in a dairy program where I went to school, and we ended up traveling to Italy. It really hit home when we went to Italy. We ended up stopping at a sheep dairy, and the sheep dairy was very simple. There was low capital cost, and for somebody like me with no equity, it presented an opportunity to start something on my own.”
“And they’re shocked that we actually did what we said and made the milk. And I think that all goes back to our age,” Scott says.
Once he returned home, Scott took a college class on sheep, went to work on a New York sheep dairy for six months and then came back to Nevada to start his own operation.
“Most of the young people that do come up into agriculture follow the generation before them, take over an operation or doing something like that,” Scott says. “Which is great, but I would tell the younger kids that want to do agriculture that they can really do anything they want to. I was told you can’t milk sheep several times, yet, I had seen it done and seen it work. So you just have to do some research, put your back into it and get it done.”
Being young and trying to start a farm has presented its own unique challenges for Scott and Anna-Lisa who are only 26 years old.
Scott was advised not to start a sheep dairy operation and was told it couldn’t be done, but he went ahead with his idea anyway and would recommend any young person considering farming to do the same.
May 2015 | Page 8 | www.nvfb.org
Naysayers didn’t discourage Anna-Lisa either, and when the idea of starting a sheep dairy was presented to her by Scott, she met it with enthusiasm. “Scott decided we’re going to this, and I said, ‘Okay, sounds fun.’ I’m interested in new things, and it’s been an adventure.” Running a sheep dairy isn’t a small task and ensuring everything runs smoothly keeps both Scott, Anna-Lisa and their full-time employee busy on a daily basis. Scott is involved with milking the sheep, bagging the milk, feeding, and all the day-to-day management of the farm including maintenance, quality and outside farming. Anna-Lisa maintains a full-time job outside of the farm, but she also helps oversee the lamb program, feeds the lambs in the morning, helps manage the health of the lambs and does some of the paperwork. Anna-Lisa and Scott are also active members in their community, and Anna Lisa is the chair of the Nevada Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. “It’s really great to be an active in YF&R,” says AnnaLisa. “Farm Bureau is an awesome chance for younger farmers like Scott and I to have a voice in our surrounding community and industry.”
of sheep cheese in Europe.” Frozen milk is great for creameries because it lasts longer, but fresh milk produces a higher quality cheese. Scott would like to get to a point where he can sell fresh milk instead of frozen because it is less labor intensive. “I would love to ship fresh milk at some point,” Scott says. “I don’t know if it’s the answer per say; I think the frozen milk will always have its place. However, I would like to get to the size to where we are able to ship fresh milk.” As the market grows, Great Basin Shepherding is also growing. Employees at Great Basin Shepherding milk every 12 hours January through October. Since being founded a year and two months ago, they have already increased their daily production by two to three times what it was starting out. “We just need more sheep so it pencils to be able to ship fresh milk every other day over to California. It’s a pencil game to make sure it all works financially,” Scott says. Although this growth is promising, whether or not they are able to sell all the milk is largely dependent on market demand at a consumer level. According to Anna-Lisa, Continued on Page 10
On the business side of things, now that Great Basin Shepherding is up and running, they are largely dependent on the market for production and growth. “It’s a hurry up and wait game,” Scott says. “We hurry up and grow, and then we wait for the market to catch up. Everybody says they want the milk, but we always have to wait for the lag in the market to catch up.” Currently, the dairy freezes its milk, allowing for longer wait time between shipments. Despite the challenges that the operation faces by freezing milk, Scott remains optimistic about where the market is going. “I think the market is just starting to take off,” Scott says. “Most of the market is made up of artisanal creameries. That is where we’re selling most of our milk, which is used to make high-end cheeses, mostly sold in the bay areas. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco those are the main markets. Most of our food trends follow Europe’s food trends, and they eat lots
Milk is bagged and frozen on palettes, which are then shipped to creameries in California. May 2015 | Page 9 | www.nvfb.org
Continued from Page 9 overall market demand comes down to the consumer, and most consumers aren’t familiar with sheep-related products yet. This issue is as challenging to creameries that sell the cheese as it is for the farmers that produce the milk. “The creameries are facing the same challenges we are,” Anna-Lisa says. “They are trying to grow their market too. Because consumers are not used to seeing sheep products on the shelves, so The sheep at Great Basin Shepherding are milked twice a day. when they do, and they find out that they like them, then lambs that might come into contact with an infected ewe’s they start purchasing them more. But it’s getting the dairy placental fluids during the birthing process. buyer to put them on the shelf in the first place.” The United States is trying to prevent this disease from Currently, sheep milk can be used to create a variety of becoming a serious problem in U.S. sheep flocks by cheeses, yogurts, butter, feta and aged hard cheeses, but limiting sheep importation to countries that have been as consumers are becoming more familiar with sheep deemed free of the disease. Currently, the United States products, producers are also working on developing new only views Australia and New Zealand as Scrapie-free products to create further demand. Besides milking their nations, which is extremely limiting. animals, Great Basin Shepherding also utilizes their sheep to produce meat and low-grade wool, which is mostly used With limited importation possibilities come less options for sheep farmers looking to breed their animals. A higher in carpet. chance of inbreeding results when there are fewer sheep Great Basin Shepherding raises mainly two different families to breed with. breeds, East Friesian sheep, which are from northern For farmers like Anna-Lisa and Scott, this dilemma is a Germany, and Lacaune, which are out of France. Both huge challenge against growth and could even eventually these breeds are dairy specific sheep. become fatal for businesses like their operation. The Lacas also recently purchased Icelandic rams to “Many other countries don’t have these rules,” says Annaexpand their genetic pool. A lack of variety in the sheep industry gene pool creates problems for sheep farmers and Lisa. “We’ll have to lobby against laws like these if we want could potentially be the largest threat to the survival of the to keep things going here in the U.S.” industry. In the meantime, Great Basin Shepherding is continuing “One of our biggest challenges, if not the biggest challenge to our industry, is genetics.” Anna-Lisa says.. “The border is often closed to sheep and sheep semen. For the families of dairy sheep in the United States, the pool is very small. At some point if we are not able to import genetics then we probably won’t have a sheep industry for dairy in the country.” Borders are closed to sheep and sheep semen due to a disease many sheep in other countries carry known as Scrapie. Scrapie is fatal for sheep. The disease is thought to be passed down from ewe to offspring and any other
to grow, the market is continuing to grow, and the sheep dairy industry is beginning to grow. And although the rest is uncertain, Anna-Lisa and Scott remain hopeful for the future.
“We have faced several obstacles the last few years, but we made it through those and will take the others as they come.” -Anna-Lisa Laca, Churchill County Farmer
May 2015 | Page 10 | www.nvfb.org
Collegiate Farm Bureau Hosts Annual Dinner GBC Aggies showcase Nevada agriculture By Jessica Fagundes, Director of Communications reat Basin College (GBC) Farm Bureau members, GBC faculty and guests attended the tenth annual Aggies dinner on May 18 in Elko. The event, which was a fundraiser for the collegiate Farm Bureau chapter, included a local meal with ingredients from Elko and Humboldt County.
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GBC Aggies alumni are now. Nevada Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Clay McCauley gave a keynote, discussing perceptions of agriculture and the future of the industry.
Executive Vice President Clay McCauley address attendees during the dinner.
From L-R, Executive VP Clay McCauley, GBC FB Advisor Heather Steel, Vice President Lachlan McQueary, President Jack Gibson and Jessica Johnston.
Guests enjoyed a welcome from President Mark Curtis, the presentation of the top agriculture student, Jessica Johnston, and a slide show showcasing where
Attendees also bid on a silent auction, and a half beef, donated by the McQueary family, was raffled off. The event was a great success. Special thanks goes to GBC Farm Bureau advisor Heather Steel, President Jack Gibson and Vice President Lachlin McQueary for putting together such a successful event!
Western Nevada CattleWomen’s Dinner Dance Support student scholarships on May 9
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estern Nevada CattleWomen, Inc. (WNCW) would like to invite you to join us at our 2015 Scholarship Dinner Dance. This year’s dinner, dance and auction will be a Mother’s Day Event on Saturday, May 9 at the Smith Valley Community Hall in Wellington, Nev. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and dancing will start around 8 p.m. Live music played by local ag teacher, Andy Miller and the Sierra Express Band. The dinner dance is open to everyone and is Western Nevada CattleWomen’s largest fundraiser. Those in attendance can expect an amazing dinner with all the fixings by A Catered Affair, a no-host bar by the Hey Day, a silent and live auction, door prizes and dancing. Western Nevada CattleWomen membership is open to anyone interested in promoting the cattle industry through numerous educational and promotional activities. Western Nevada CattleWomen activities include Farm City
Days in Reno and Carson City, member mixers, beef cooking demonstrations at Costco and Sams Club, and hosting an annual dinner, dance and auction to raise funds for scholarships. Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors from Alpine and Mono counties of California and Douglas, Lyon, Storey and Washoe counties plus Carson City who are interested in pursuing a career in agriculture. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 4-12, kids 3 and under are free, $10 for the dance only. Tickets are $5 more at the door! Please contact Linda Huntsberger at (775) 720-3106 or Terri Chichester at (775) 901-6274 to reserve your tickets.
May 2015 | Page 11 | www.nvfb.org
2015 Nevada Farm Bureau Photo Contest Sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Committee
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une 15, 2015 is the second deadline for photos in the 2015 Photo Contest. This year’s contest will consist of four categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. The photo contest is open to all Nevada Farm Bureau members and their families. It includes two divisions: Youth and Adult (18+). All photos will be judged after the final deadline and prizes will be awarded for each division. This year’s prizes are $100, $75 and $50 for first, second and third place photographs. In addition to overall winners, the top photo from each season category will receive a $10 cash prize. Winning photos will be printed as postcards available for sale to all Farm Bureau members. Deadline to Submit Photographs Spring pictures: June 15, 2015 Summer pictures: August 24, 2015 Fall pictures: October 26, 2015 General Rules: • Photographs need to represent Nevada agriculture, rural life or Nevada scenery. • Please give your photo a title and indicate either adult or youth entry. • Photographers may submit as many pictures as desired, however only one cash prize will be awarded per person. (Photos that win their category will be reentered for the grand prize.) • Submit photos to nvfarmbureau@nvfb.org.
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The Ag Agenda Farmers and Ranchers Are Tired of EPA Doubletalk By Bob Stallman President, American Farm Bureau Federation usiness owners around the country have joined with farmers and ranchers in speaking out on the Waters of the U.S. rule. More than 30 states also oppose the rule. Yet, even in the face of mounting opposition, the EPA still isn’t listening.
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EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has unveiled her latest, campaign-style WOTUS spin, calling the effort the “Clean Water Rule” – as though a bumper-sticker approach to a complex regulation would change anything for people so profoundly affected by her agency’s actions. Slogans may matter more than facts at the EPA, but the details still matter to farmers and ranchers who know full well the importance of clean water. We depend on it for our livelihoods, after all. Our biggest objection, in fact, is not about clean water. It’s about land. McCarthy insists that the rule will allow business as usual for agriculture. She has said farmers and ranchers won’t need special permits “to go about their business.” But what she’s saying just doesn’t match up with the language of the rule. Anyone who’s been out on farmland knows that water collects in spots that aren’t regular water sources for anything else, let alone major streams and rivers. Prairie potholes are a good example of the “waters” the EPA is targeting. These isolated wetlands are sprinkled across the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. By pooling these isolated features together, the Waters of the U.S. rule would let the agencies treat them as a “significant nexus” to streams and rivers – an idea that’s simply not supported by law or common sense.
Together, the prairie potholes in a region could be treated just like a large body of water, even though the end result would be more control over land, not water – something that Congress never intended. Rather than recognizing the careful stewardship that farmers and ranchers practice, EPA keeps forcing farmers and ranchers back on the defensive. McCarthy said farmers shouldn’t worry about the rule at all “unless you want to pollute or destroy jurisdictional water.” Statements like this hint that the agency is looking to broaden the rule by making it more ambiguous, not less. Farmers and ranchers can’t afford the steep fines that regulators could impose for normal farming practices. And farmers aren’t looking to sidestep regulations: We have the most to lose if one of our most valuable resources is compromised. EPA claims that it’s simplifying regulations and making them easier to follow, but the fine print tells another story. No matter what name the agency gives its rule, it can only lead to needless pain for agriculture and businesses across the country. If EPA won’t listen, perhaps Congress will. Please let your senators and representative know that farmers, small business owners and state and local governments are looking to them to stop the Waters of the U.S. rule.
May 2015 | Page 14 | www.nvfb.org
Classified Ads Animals
For Free
Domestic Geese for Free White, gray, mixed -- FREE TO A GOOD HOME. Call 775-786-1532 or 775-560-1532.
Property
For Lease
20 acres Horse/Cattle Pasture $5,000 annually, excellent location near Genoa and Minden. Surface water. Available now: 831-512-3225
For Sale
DEADLINE: Ads must be received by May 16 for next issue.
For Sale Equipment/ Vehicles
Drolet Classic EPA Wood Stove 3 years old. $400. Call 775-578-3536. Exis Gooseneck Trailer Very Good Condition. 2 axle middle divider - 20 ft. - 4 ft. tackroom. 4 saddle racks. Only pulled about 3,000 miles. $14,500. Call Elaine: 775-217-2148 Freeman 330 3 Twine Baler Gas Engine, $5,000. Call 775-4275056
Belted Galloway Yearling Heifers 5 heifers. $1,500 each. Call 775-8822027.
Freeman 330 Baler Parts and Case IH Windrower Parts New and Used. For parts list and prices, email Shabbor@aol.com. Call 775-265-3185
Bluetick, Redbone Cross Hounds Two male, one female Bluetick, Redbone cross Hounds for sale. One male has papers. Price negotiable. 775-293-4463 day only
New Holland 1112 Swather 16-foot header. Good backup machine. $3000 OBO at Washoe Valley. Call 775-888-9877 or e-mail jimgreil@clearwire.net.
Livestock Guardian Dogs Proven crosses, working parents. Puppies raised on sheep. Spanish Mastiffs, Pyrenean Mastiffs, Maremma/Anatolian crosses. Winnemucca. Brenda M. Negri 775-931-0038 www.lgdnevada.com
New Holland 116 Swather New Holland 116 pull type swather. $3000. 775-572-3337
Animals
Equipment/ Vehicles
New Holland 1431 Swathers 2 New Holland 1431 pull type swathers for parts. Call 775-5783536.
3 Point Cultivator 14 ft. wide, S-tine with gauge wheels, extra s-tines. Great shape. $1,300. 775-771-9612
New Pipe and Wood Stall Fronts 2 New, Never Installed Fronts. Paid $1,500. Sell both for $750. Ask for Jim - 775-720-4634, 775-465-2936.
8” Irrigation Discharge Head 1 1/2” shaft. Call 775-224-3283
Feed
125 HP Motors 1-US 125 hp motors, new re-wind: $8,200; 1-GE 125 hp motor, used: $5,500; Call 775-224-3283 2004 John Deere Swather 3520 hrs. 16’ header with steel conditioner. Header 2772 hrs, 182 hp AC Good Condition. $49,5000 Call 775-538-7336 2014 Maverick Steel 16 Ft. Trailer 16 Ft. Stk GN. 7 ft. wide. Center gate, combo rear gate, Mats and spare. LED lights. $9,300 Call 775-463-3430 Capri Camper Has hydraulic jacks, AC Unit, Shower and electric water heater. Asking $3,000. Call Clint: 775-225-4527 Caravan Campershell For Dodge Ram 2009 & up. Double door, slider window, silver. Like new - $3,000. Call 775-225-2431
Alfalfa Hay For Sale 3x4 bales. Several grades: nice green-rain damaged feeder, 53-47 TDN & 18-17 Proteins. No weeds. Triticale Grain Hay available. Stacks located 80 miles East of Tonopah. elar200@gmail.com 775-863-0321
Other
Certified Appraiser Wes Wilson: Certified Livestock and Equipment Appraiser for banking, insurance and other needs. Serving Nevada and surrounding states for over 14 years. Call 435-632-9941.
Property
5 acres Agritourism Opportunity Washoe Valley 2047 sq. ft. custom cedar home. USDA certified organic u-pick apple orchard. Water rights, barn, shop, chicken pens, playhouse, greenhouse, garden area, seasonal stream, RV hookup & fully stocked gift shop. $685,000. 775-720-2904
Property
For Sale
Wanted
6.4 Acres (Residence, 3 bd. 2 bath) Diamond Valley 1,600 sq. foot w/ hot tub room on 6.4 acres. 532 sq. ft. detached garage, 841 sq. ft. hay shed & 877 sq. ft. 3 bay carport w/ storage room & extensive corrals w/ heated Ritchie waterers. Includes fenced pasture. Call 775385-3334. 10 Acres (Commercial Building) – Diamond Valley 7500 sq. ft. w/ 2 loading docks and large automatic 14 ft. door in Diamond Valley, large office 1,440 sq. ft.. Pad & hook-up for doublewide residence, 10 acres, fenced on 3 sides. Call 775-385-0030 or email lisamarshall278@gmail.com.
Employee
Cow/Calf Manager Family Owned ranch in Smith Valley, NV & Bridgeport, CA; 1200hd cow/calf operation; skills needed: roping, doctoring, range feed evaluation, fencing, self starter, quiet cattle handling; salary w/ housing; Fax: 775-465-2156 or email recruiting@fulstoneranchers. com resume w/ references.
Equipment
3 Point Weed Hog Preferably 4 ft.. cutting. 813-512-3225
25 acres (Ranch w/ surface water) – Near Genoa $1.5 million, 25 acres with rich soil, surface water, 2 wells and 3 houses. Near Lake Tahoe, Genoa, Minden, Douglas High School and Wally’s Hot Springs. 831-512-3225.
Used Roterra Used Lely Roterra that is in working condition, or needs minimal work to be field ready. Cary 775-691-7655. cyamamoto@charter.net Windmill Working or easy fix windmill, with or without tower. And 20’/30’ nonleaker container. Call 775-557-2804.
Property
37 acres (House w/ water rights)Wellington 1846 sq. Ft., 2 bed 2 bath, recently remodeled w/ new windows/ flooring. Numerous out buildings, covered hay barn, corrals. In alfalfa production. $470,000. Call 775465-2252 or 775-720-1388 or e-mail caroleobanion@gmail.com.
Pasture Wanted Pasture Wanted for 20-40 pair in Northern Nevada. 775-287-6978
315 acres -Central NV Alfalfa Farm Approx 315ac/240ac under 2 Zimmatic pivots. 2 100KW wind generators. 1620 sqft 3bd/2 bath, 484 sqft detatched garage, 2650 sqft shop, 248 sqft greenhouse. $1.1 million. 775-867-2995 or 775-217-1999 www.CandeeFarms.com
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Non-commercial classified ads are free to Nevada Farm Bureau Federation members. Must include membership number for free ad. Forty (40) word maximum. Non-member cost is $0.50 per word. You may advertise your own crops, livestock, used machinery, household items, vehicles, etc. Please specify how long ads should run or they will run one time We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad. Please type or print clearly. Proofread your ad. Mail ad copy to: Attention: Jessica Fagundes Nevada Farm Bureau Federation 2165 Green Vista Drive, Suite 205, Sparks, NV 89431 or email ad copy to Jessica at nvfarmbureau@nvfb.org.
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May 2015 | Page 15 | www.nvfb.org
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Existing Farm Bureau Bank loans are excluded from this offer. *Rate disclosed as Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and based on exceptional credit. Some restrictions may apply based upon the make and model of equipment offered as collateral. Up to 90% financing for new and 85% for used equipment. Loans subject to credit approval. Rates are accurate as of 12/12/14. Rates and financing are limited to farm equipment model years 2005 or newer and are subject to change without notice. A down payment may be required for new or used equipment purchases. Financial information required for loan requests over $75,000. Commercial vehicles and trailers may be subject to an additional documentation fee. Farm Bureau Bank does not provide equity or cash-out financing on commercial vehicles and equipment. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation.