Nevada Farm Bureau - Book of the Year | Estate Tax

Book of The Year

We are excited to announce the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture released the 2021 book of the year, “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish.” The book of the year was presented at the 2021 AFBF virtual convention.

“Tales of the Dairy Godmother” was written by Viola Butler. The story features a little boy named Chuck who wishes for all the ice cream he can eat prompting his “Dairy Godmother” to show up to grant his wish with a dairy farm. Chuck gets a firsthand look at all the hard work and care that goes into producing his favorite treat.

Each year the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture picks a book that accurately covers agricultural topics. Book of the year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture and inspire readers to learn more.

The Nevada Farm Bureau has purchased the Book of the year for Ag literacy events as well as the educational guide. These books would be a great addition for county Farm Bureau events. The educational guide is great resource to connect the book to where food comes from. The eight lessons featured in the educational guide cover literacy, science and math in a fun way. In addition to the book of the year we also have Ag mags available in beef, dairy, corn, bees, pigs, innovation, careers, energy, sheep, pork and specialty crops. Ag mags are a great resource for county Farm Bureau to use in Ag in the classroom, or other events held throughout the county. If you are interested in hosting an Ag literacy event in your county and would a copy of the book, or any Ag mags please contact Brittney Money at brittney@nvfb.org

Estate Tax Repeal Bills Applauded

The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on Congress to remove barriers to farm ownership.

Bills aimed at eliminating the estate tax were introduced in the Senate and House on March 9. Both are supported by the AFBF. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and 25 cosponsors introduced S. 617 and Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) introduced H.R. 1712, with 121 cosponsors. Both bills would allow for a complete repeal of the estate tax, which, according to AFBF analysis, threatens more than 74,000 family farms across the country and nearly half of all farmland.

“Farmers and ranchers already face unpredictable challenges beyond our control yet persevere to protect our nation’s supply of food, fiber and renewable fuel. The tax code should encourage farm business growth, not add to uncertainty,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Eliminating the estate tax removes another barrier to entry for sons and daughters or other beginning farmers to carry-on our agricultural legacy and make farming more accessible to all. We appreciate Senator Thune and Representatives Smith and Bishop for introducing their bills and look forward to working with them to get this important legislation passed.” If the estate tax is not eliminated, instead of spending money to improve their operations, farmers and ranchers, along with all small businesses, will be forced to continue to divert resources to pay for estate planning to account for a shifting and unpredictable tax code. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubles the estate tax exemption to $11 million per person indexed for inflation through 2025. However, without congressional action, the estate tax exemption will revert to $5.5 million per person in 2026, putting even more farms and ranches at risk.

By Brittney Money | NFB, Director of Communications

The decisions made during sessions of the Nevada State Legislature have a deep and lasting impact on our state’s communities. As new laws are created and others are repealed or rewritten, it is important to ensure that these changes preserve and strengthen our constitutional rights.

CITIZEN LOBBYISTS ARE KEY

The citizen lobbyist has existed nearly as long as democratic government itself. The term “lobbying” originates from the early practice of attempting to influence legislators in the lobby outside of the legislative chambers before a vote. The function of any lobbyist or lobbying campaign is basically the same: educate, advocate, and participate; it doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. People are often hesitant to get involved in the political process for several reasons. People believe legislators only listen to high-powered lobbyists and big donors, they don’t think legislation will affect their lives directly, or they don’t understand how the process works. But the single most important factor in influencing how a legislator votes on a bill is constituent support. And since very few people take the time to contact their legislators, one visit, one phone call, or one letter from a constituent speaks volumes.

To find out about specific bills, hearing schedules, and how to contact your legislator, visit the state’s site: www.leg.state.nv.us

UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS

Without a doubt, the most important tool for monitoring the legislature is to understand how it works. In Nevada, there are 63 legislators in two houses: 42 members of the Assembly, and 21 members of the Senate. In odd-numbered years, the legislature meets for 120 days beginning on the first Monday in February. During this time, potential laws, known as bills, are introduced in each house. There, committees hold public hearings, debate the bill language, make changes to its text, and vote whether to send the bill to the full chamber. If the bill passes out of committee, it is then sent to the Assembly or Senate floor to be read, debated and voted on. A bill usually requires a simple majority to pass – 22 votes in the Assembly or 11 votes in the Senate. If a bill starts in and passes out of the Assembly, it then goes through the same process in the Senate, and vice versa. When both the Assembly and the Senate pass a bill, it is sent to the governor for his signature or veto. If the governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If the bill is vetoed, the legislature can override the governor’s veto with a twothirds vote in both houses. Committee hearings offer citizens the best opportunity to participate and voice their opinions through testimony, emails, telephone calls, and letters. If a citizen is interested in a particular bill, they may contact committee staff to schedule their testimony. They can also attend committee meetings and testify in person when the chair asks for comments from the public. A citizen lobbyist can and should make their opinions known to all members on the committee, even the committee member is not their representative. A great opportunity for a citizen to reach out to his or her own representative and make their voice heard is when a bill is approved by committee and heads to the Senate or Assembly floor. Finally, when a bill reaches the Governor’s desk, a citizen can contact him or her and ask that the bill be either signed or vetoed.

ACLU of Nevada, Reno | 1325 Airmotive Way, Suite 202 | Reno, Nevada 89502 | aclunv@aclunv.org | www.aclunv.org

BEING A CITIZEN LOBBYIST

Nevada legislators have offices in the state legislative building in Carson City. Some officials are accessible to the community at their home or work and some prefer that their constituents contact them only at their legislative office. During the legislative session, state officials spend most of their time in the legislative building and are easily accessible by email or by phone. Elected officials spend a lot of time and money to measure public opinion in their districts. They count votes, count contributions to their campaigns, and also count phone calls, emails, letters, and personal visits. Most elected officials emphasize constituent contact because it helps direct their voting behavior. Even if your public official is supportive of your issues, you should still call, visit, or write, since they will hear the other side too. Elected officials need to hear how important an issue is from their constituents. ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO KNOW:

• Which constituents support or do not support an issue • How many constituents support or do not support an issue • Why their constituents support or do not support an issue • How an issue impacts the constituents in their district CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR

The Nevada Legislature’s website lists each legislator’s contact information so you can call them at their legislative office or at home. Legislators pay attention to phone calls and consider support or opposition to bills. Phone calls are most useful when a vote has been scheduled and there isn’t time for a letter or visit. For advice on how to make an effective phone call, download & view Page 3 of this PDF: www.aclunv.org/en/becomeeffective-citizen-lobbyist

WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR

As constituents, it is important to stay in written contact with your elected officials. Elected officials use letters as one way to measure public opinion in their district. Their offices count the pieces of mail and email FOR and AGAINST every issue. For advice on how to write an effective letter or email, download and view Page 3 of this PDF: www.aclunv.org/ en/become-effective-citizen-lobbyist

PARTICIPATING IN HEARINGS

Committee meetings always include time for the public to express their views and are posted on line in advance of the meeting. Your participation in a committee hearing can make a big impact. Public testimony can influence the committee’s action and becomes part of the permanent record.

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS

• Know the meeting time and location.

These can be found on the committee meeting’s agenda. • Be flexible. Assume the meeting will take longer than the scheduled time. • Before arriving to the meeting, check

to make sure that the issue you are following has not been removed from the agenda. • The bill or issue that you are interested in may not be heard first. Agenda items are also sometimes taken out of order. • Before you testify, try to attend another committee meeting so that you are familiar with the process and room layout. KNOW THE ISSUES

• Know your allies in the room. Before you attend a public committee hearing, know the membership of the committee and find out their possible leanings on the issue you will be discussing. You can find out how legislators have voted on similar issues by visiting www.leg.state.nv.us. • If you are part of a group, plan your speeches so that you do not duplicate each other’s ideas. Strive to make one point without duplicating the testimony of other speakers. • Have knowledge about the “other side of the story.” You may be asked questions about the differences.

WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Writing letters to the editor is a great advocacy tool that can reach a large audience; often monitored by elected officials, they can bring up information not addressed in a news article, and create an impression of widespread support for or in opposition to an issue. Keep the letter short and on one subject. Many newspapers have limited space and set strict limits on the length, and brevity ensures important points won’t be cut out by the newspaper. Make it legible. Use a typewriter or computer if your handwriting is difficult to read. Send letters to weekly community newspapers - smaller circulations means your letter is more likely to be printed. Lastly be sure your letter makes reference the specific article you’re writing about. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editor’s Note: This article is not intended as support for any particular organization or agenda; its intent is to help Readers become more effective in advocating and supporting their own political concerns.

Improving Mule Deer Populations: MANAGEMENT

By Charlie D. Clements

PART 3 OF 3

This is the final part of a three-part series addressing the importance of management in improving mule deer population densities and their habitat.

Mule deer are native to North America and are the primary big game species in Nevada and other western states. Mule deer are a valuable economic resource for State, County and local communities through their recreational opportunities. Management of mule deer is critical to provide and continue recreational and hunting opportunities which requires the understanding of population dynamics driven by a complexity of biotic and abiotic factors such as climate, fire, habitat conditions, predation and highway vehicle collisions. Wildlife managers are tasked with the complexity of these factors that are continually changing and intermixing with each other. According to numerous researchers, habitat quality is the number one driving force behind increases and decreases in mule deer populations. The use of radio-collaring mule deer herds is critical in identifying summer, transitional and winter ranges. Following this identification, it is then possible to quantify the condition of these habitats and address limiting factors such as stand decadence (older less nutritious browse species), loss of habitat due to wildfires, Pinyonjuniper encroachments, and migratory issues. The better quality and nutrition of the plant species the healthier condition the animals are to conceive, produce and recruit fawns back into the population (Figure 1) as well as reduce predation, disease and winter mortality. Amount and periodicity of precipitation is the main driving force behind a plants ability to provide nutrition, flower, produce seed and recruit seedlings back into the environment. Being that Nevada is the driest State in the Union, the State receives more dry years that wet years, thus we have average precipitation zones that may only receive the average or above average precipitation about 40% of the time. The cold desert of the Great Basin receives the majority of its precipitation during the winter months in the form of snow which results in increased soil moisture for the coming spring, but periodicity of spring and summer precipitation are critical in continued nutritional value as well as recruitment of seedlings of desirable species. Once habitat limitations are identified, the challenges begin. In the case of stand decadence, depending on the potential of the plant community, deliberate manipulation of habitats will need to be conducted to improve stand vigor (Figure 2). The higher elevations that receive more favorable precipitation respond very well to disturbances that set back succession, add edge effect and improve the stand age of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. One of the problems with these higher potential habitats, mountain brush communities, is that they account for a smaller percentage of the overall mule deer habitat. Wyoming big sagebrush/bunchgrass habitat types make up more than 50% of Great Basin rangelands followed by nearly 30% of very arid salt desert shrub communities.

Figure 1. The recruitment of mule deer fawns is critical in the sustainability and recovery of mule deer populations.

Wyoming big sagebrush/bunchgrass habitat types add significant risks when attempting plant manipulation due to the presence of cheatgrass in the environment and the seed bank. Cheatgrass has the ability to build persistent seed banks that can last 3-5 years, thus following the disturbance cheatgrass becomes the vacuum plant as seedlings of this invasive annual grass outcompete perennial seedlings for limited resources to survive and establish. Nonetheless, if you do nothing the odds are the site is going to burn sooner than later and most likely under uncontrollable situations. Not only is the old decadent browse species not providing quality nutrition and reproductive ability, these stands increase the intensity of wildfires. Antelope bitterbrush for example, has a very low percentage of resprout ability following wildfire, about 3%, and once the plant reaches around 60 years of age it starts to decline significantly in its overall condition. There are antelope bitterbrush stands that are near or over 100 years of age with no to minimal recruitment and provide little value other than cover and minimal nutrition. These older shrubs have a significant reduction in leader growth that results in less forage, decreased palatability and nutrition and an increase in volatile oils that can be harmful to mule deer. Pinyon-juniper encroachment also requires deliberate manipulation as these pinyon-juniper stands crowd out grasses, forbs and shrubs and decrease the overall ability of these communities to support mule deer. More than 40% of the moisture these habitats receive never makes it to the ground due to the canopy cover and evaporation resulting in decreased spring flow that effects the entire watershed. Manipulation of these stands through chaining, lopping, cut and removal, mastication, etc. can result in a significant release of residual desirable vegetation with increased vigor and nutrition that are very beneficial to not just mule deer, but numerous other wildlife species. Wildfires have significantly impacted habitats throughout the Great Basin, especially browse communities that mule deer rely on for their very survival. Millions of acres of big sagebrush/ bunchgrass communities have been converted to annual grass dominance. The ability of resource managers to aggressively and effectively restore or rehabilitate rangelands burned in wildfires is a monumental task. Cheatgrass invasion and climate realities make it very difficult to successfully restore and/or rehabilitate these degraded habitats, nonetheless, extensive efforts and measurable successes give light to future endeavors. Resource managers have become more aggressive in these efforts using proper seed mixes and methodologies as well as pre-emergent herbicides to control cheatgrass densities and aid in the establishment of desirable perennial species. The use of non-native plant materials such as crested wheatgrass and Siberian wheatgrass have provided resource managers with aggressive perennial grasses that are needed to suppress cheatgrass densities and associated fuels which decreases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfires. The use of forage kochia has provided mule deer with much needed nutrition when the seeding of native shrubs has experienced high failure rates. The use of forage kochia has minimized winter mortality significantly, although the percentage of the landscape treated with this species is less than 1%. Forage kochia seedings performed in the 1990s and thereafter are highly preferred by mule deer and provide critical nutrition to migrating and wintering mule deer herds today, all because of the recognition of this species as a beneficial browse species that could be successfully seeded on arid Great Basin rangelands. The continued efforts of researchers and resource managers to test weed control practices, plant materials, seeding methodologies, and transplanting opportunities are going to be very important in any attempt to restore and rehabilitate mule deer habitats (Figure 3). An important component of proper restoration/rehabilitation practices is the value of proper grazing management. Improper grazing management can lead to excessive grazing of seedlings of seeded species reducing the overall level of success of restoration/rehabilitation projects. It is hard enough to get survivability of seeded species in these arid Great Basin environments, let alone over graze following such extensive efforts. Understanding the level of success and health of seeded species will allow resource managers and livestock operators to monitor the site and achieve goals such as mule deer habitat restoration and sustainable grazing practices (Figure 4). The maturity of these successful seedings may be slower than anticipated, therefore management

decisions will have to be made to make an effort to allow these seedings to come to a maturity level that is more resistant to livestock grazing pressure. On the other hand, if a seeding effort fails, it is not a good idea to rest the site and hope some miracle happens, as all this will do is result in an increase in cheatgrass and associated fuels which increases the threat of wildfires which threatens adjacent unburned habitats. The better the habitat conditions, the less negative affect that predation will have on these already struggling mule deer herds. Predation can affect mule deer population if it is at least partially additive to mortality from other causes such as habitat loss, extreme winter conditions and urbanizations. Researchers have reported that predators do not cause declines in mule deer populations in undisturbed habitats, but may prevent or delay mule deer population recovery after a decline. This point should be well taken given the fact that much of the transitional and wintering mule deer habitats in the Great Basin are disturbed. Even though as little as a 6% predation rate on mule deer is reported to not significantly impact mule deer herds, the accumulative predator pressure over decades in association with other limiting factors can most certainly have a negative impact on mule deer populations and recovery. It is important to maintain mule deer migration corridors and pathways for future mule deer movements given the current benefits of migration to annual doe and fawn survival. Conservation easements, highway over and underpasses and highway signage can all significantly decrease mule deer mortality during migration periods. It is not uncommon to have more mule deer killed by highway accidents than the annual harvest of that specific herd. Highway road signs alone are reported to decrease highway mule deer mortality by more than 50%. Agricultural areas, such as alfalfa fields are quite the magnet to mule deer in certain habitats. Fawn mortality can be significant as a newer generation of swathers cut the crop at speeds that exceed 10mph versus the previous 3-4mph speeds. Bob Hoenck, of the Hoenck Ranch in western Nevada, recognized this reality and therefore sends riders out through his fields before the swathers enter to reduce fawn mortality. These are just examples of a multi-prong approach to improving mule deer habitat, reduce mortality outside of responsible harvest limits, which combined can play an important role in increasing mule deer populations The management of mule deer and their habitat is complex as numerous factors play a role in the health, or lack of, of mule deer herds throughout the Great Basin. Understanding that many factors are associated with the health of mule deer herds should be understood and addressed. Improving habitat conditions of summer, transitional and winter ranges can increase fawn production, decrease breeding female mortality, decrease winter mortality, decrease predation, and increase carrying capacity. The efforts put forth today are critical if our future mule deer herds are to have suitable habitat that will be in demand in the near future as well as decades down the road. Habitat conditions though are not the only piece of the pie. Urbanization, agricultural practices, predation, and migratory constraints such as highways can all lead to added mortality of mule deer herds and their ability to produce healthy mule deer populations. Engaging in this important topic and addressing all the pieces of the pie will result in improved mule deer populations, which is good for wildlife and agricultural practices alike.

Figure 3. Proper weed control practices, seed bed preparation and seeding methodology resulting in the restoration of antelope bitterbrush following wildfire.

Figure 4. Successful seeding of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs resulting in enhanced mule deer habitat and improved sustainable grazing resources.

SAGEBRUSH CONSERVATION STRATEGY Challenges to Sagebrush Conservation

Excerpt from pages 239-241 of the Open-File Report 2020–1125

Full 364 page pdf can be viewed/ downloaded here: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2020/1125/ofr20201125.pdf

Prepared in cooperation with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter T. Communication and Public Engagement

By Jennifer Strickland,1 Bethann Garramon Merkle,2 Hannah Nikonow,3 Daly Edmunds,4 Suzanna C. Soileau,5 Terry A. Messmer,6 Chris Rose,7 Beth Kenna,8 and Mary E. McFadzen9

Executive Summary The natural resource management paradigm has evolved, and so has recognition that communication, outreach, and engagement are crucial components of successful conservation strategies. Effective, strategic communication can tap into popular culture and public discourse to create and enhance grassroots conservation movements, identify new generations of conservationists and communicators who care about the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem, and stimulate or sustain public participation in sagebrush conservation issues. The art and science of communication serves as more than a mechanism for sharing stories, more than a loudspeaker for the conservation community to announce its laments and achievements. Effective communication is a form of dialog that builds mutual understanding and serves as the foundation of trusting relationships. When planned strategically, funded appropriately, and executed mindfully, communication serves as a force multiplier. It tangibly advances on-the-ground conservation objectives, creates and nurtures the intergroup and interpersonal relationships necessary for success, tells stories that motivate existing collaborators to take action, inspires new partners to join a cause, increases the American public’s level of awareness and engagement, and builds public support for sustainable stewardship of the sagebrush biome. Integrating strategic communication, outreach, and engagement efforts into sagebrush conservation programs is essential to achieving success. The sagebrush biome is a vast geographic region with many stakeholders, values, land uses, and ecological threats. It is not easily accessible to most Americans and has held a low profile when compared to forests, wild and scenic rivers, and beaches. While scientific research on sensitive species within the sagebrush biome (most notably greater sagegrouse [Centrocercus urophasianus]) has proliferated over recent years, support for communication research and implementation remains a challenge. With over 50 percent of the sagebrush ecosystem managed by Federal and State agencies, public support is necessary to ensure a sustainable future for this ecosystem. Effective communication is essential to achieving this goal.

1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2University of Wyoming. 3Intermountain West Joint Venture. 4Audubon Rockies. 5U.S. Geological Survey. 6Utah State University. 7U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 8Nevada Department of Wildlife. 9Montana State University.

Introduction

The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome has a branding problem—the public does not understand the diverse values and ecosystem services that the sagebrush ecosystem provides to American wildlife, western communities, and the Nation at large (Strickland and others, 2016). However, this challenge is a symptom of a larger truth: people have never been more disconnected from the landscapes that provide our fuel, food, and fiber (Cumming and others, 2014; Seto and others, 2014). People are not likely to conserve what they do not understand and value (Hunn, 2014). Thus, increasing the public’s perception of the value of sagebrush to humans and wildlife is ultimately a communications challenge. In this chapter, we review why communication is essential to sagebrush conservation, the current communication capacity within the sagebrush community, and key gaps in sagebrush brand identity that are hampering public perception of the importance and need for sagebrush conservation. Why Communication is

Essential to Sagebrush

Conservation Success All of the sagebrush conservation needs outlined in this strategy, “Sagebrush Conservation Strategy—Challenges to Sagebrush Conservation,” have one thing in common: successfully and sustainably meeting sagebrush conservation needs requires a change in human behavior. This includes change by entities that engage in sagebrush ecosystem management efforts (for example, those contributing to this strategy), those deriving their income from sagebrush landscapes, extractive industries, outdoor recreationalists, as well as various sectors of the broader American public. Change, of the type and extent needed, is not likely to occur without an effective communication effort that conveys the need, nature, costs, benefits, and tradeoffs associated with that change. In order to affect behavioral change, our communication efforts must not only be strategic and measurable, they must be tailored to the various value systems of our target audience groups (see app. T1). Communication, outreach, and engagement efforts provide us an opportunity to shine a light on the rich culture, emotions, and values connected with sagebrush-associated wildlife, places, and people. Thus, to be successful in achieving sustainable conservation results and building broader awareness of and appreciation and support for sagebrush conservation, the sagebrush conservation community must understand, accept, respect, and reflect the cultural and economic realities of modern times. Management of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) highlights the conservation challenges faced by the sagebrush ecosystem (chap. D, this volume). Recent efforts to conserve this species required an unprecedented level of collaboration, compromise, and endurance from natural resource managers and stakeholders across the West. Success (as reflected by a not-warranted listing decision; U.S. Department of the Interior, 2015c) in this hard-earned effort was due in large part to improved lines of communication among disparate stakeholders. This consideration of communication paved the way for shared solutions that prioritized the interests of the many, not the few. The resulting partnerships cemented what has evolved into an ecosystem-wide conservation effort as a cornerstone for an American conservation model that is continually evolving to meet 21st century challenges. Long-term conservation and restoration of the sagebrush ecosystem will require sustained, concerted, and well-coordinated communication efforts across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, each with different goals and perspectives. To be effective, the growing suite of communication tools, tactics, and strategies must be used by diverse partners to amplify our collective conservation impact. Strategies must be designed with more attention paid to the perspectives of target audiences so that messages truly resonate with members of the sagebrush community, network, and eventually, a broader crosssection of the American public (see app. T1). Sagebrush country stories, and the means through which they are told, must capture and hold the imagination of the American people. Ultimately, our communications must convey a sense of shared heritage and a desire for stewardship because public support is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for this ecosystem.

Current Capacity for Communication There are a handful of sagebrush conservation initiatives within agencies and organizations that leverage communication capacity as a means for advancing sagebrush ecosystem conservation, some but not all of these are described in table T1. One of the challenges currently facing communication professionals

is a lack of capacity—no communicator focuses exclusively on sagebrush conservation communication, engagement, and outreach. Instead, collaborative sagebrush projects are often an additional duty that communicators join voluntarily. They juggle this with potentially competing priorities and projects within their respective roles. Additional support is needed from agencies and nongovernmental organizations to (1) include communication, outreach, and engagement as an essential component of all conservation strategies and (2) empower and support communicators to work on sagebrush conservation. For example, in 2016, leaders from various entities responsible for managing components (habitat, wildlife, and more) of the sagebrush ecosystem gathered and subsequently committed to improving internal and external communications around sagebrush management and conservation. They created the SageWest Communications Network (see table T1 for network description and link to website). The continued growth in number and diversity of participants reflects the value the group provides. Maintaining support from the leadership of participating entities will be necessary for collaborative communication efforts to continue and thus, fully advance conservation across the sagebrush biome. The skill sets and approaches used by communication professionals are often distinct from but complementary to those of researchers, biologists, and land managers. Indeed, funding is a universal problem across the sagebrush conservation community. Capacity constraints, as introduced above, include a lack of stable, adequate funding necessary to support communication priorities. For example, grant funders tend to place communication in direct competition with on-the-ground conservation actions, rather than treating it as an integral component of the broader conservation strategy’s success. Long-term success in landscape-scale conservation will require that robust, holistic, and durable communication strategies be incorporated as a central aspect of every step in the planning, funding, implementation, and analysis phases of sagebrush conservation and management actions. Sagebrush partnership organizations use a variety of communication technologies such as email (including listservs and newsletters), telephone, virtual meetings, websites, social media, and cloud-based file management tools like Google Drive to build and strengthen collaboration. Online surveys are periodically distributed to assess communication needs and advance individual or group efforts. To connect with other stakeholders and the public, most organizations have at least one social media account (for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram); a blog, magazine, or other storytelling medium; and printed flyers, fact sheets, or other handouts. Some entities also have video production or graphic design capacity in-house. Current technologies will not meet the sagebrush community’s future needs for increased information sharing, communication, and collaboration. The sagebrush conservation community will need access to a range of complex communication technologies in order to build a communication infrastructure capable of supporting internal collaboration. Such infrastructure is needed at the scale we wish to operate and must be sustained for the duration of time required to achieve the conservation objectives outlined in this strategy. For example, the effectiveness of the sagebrush communications community would be enhanced by access to a suite of technologies, such as customer relationship management, or CRM software, as well as by access to the research capacity of, and direct coordination with, social science experts. The latter is critical in order to accurately determine whether the messages we develop are not only reaching the intended audiences but also generating a change in opinion or behavior. Commitment of resources to this type of analysis will also help to build our collective body of knowledge that can be applied to future communication strategies targeting the same audience groups. Paid media and place-based marketing has shown promise in its ability to expand reach, raise public awareness, and activate public engagement on an issue. However, most sagebrush conservation communication currently operates within the realm of “earned media,” meaning coverage is “earned” through effective media pitching, relationships with newspapers and other outlets, social media, and compelling storytelling. Relying strictly on earned media is akin to relying strictly on one’s own personal vegetable garden to sustain a family through the year, but to get what is needed, most citizens must supplement what they raise with what they can buy. Similarly, to expand our outreach and activate public engagement, we need to supplement what we earn with strategic, paid media campaigns. Sagebrush conservation communications can also benefit from tapping into point-of-sale marketing techniques. These strategies leverage what we know about stakeholder lifestyles, behavior patterns, and values to deliver messages that literally meet them where they live. An example of point-of-sale marketing is when a milk company pays to design and place signs promoting its products near the milk aisle in a chain of grocery stores nationwide. These signs are intended to influence the decision-making process of customers who are not only present in the milk aisle but must make a purchase decision at that location. Analogous approaches exist within sagebrush communication, but this tactic has not been utilized as effectively as it could be and doing so would require additional behavioral research, media planning, graphic design, and financial resources.

The Desert Oasis Teff and Grain (DOTG) company is seeking western Nevada farmers interested in joining their teff grain production program.

The demand for teff grain and flour has exploded in the United States and DOTG is a major supplier of this ancient grain. As such, they are currently enrolling farmers interested in producing teff grain for this rapidly expanding market.

Teff grain is harvested from an annual lovegrass originally cultivated in Ethiopia thousands of years ago. Originally the major consumers of teff grain were Ethiopian migrants in the U.S. However, teff grain contains no gluten and individuals suffering from gluten intolerance or Celiac disease are clamoring for gluten free grain products. This demand has resulted in large bakeries and flour mills incorporating teff flour into their product lines. Teff was introduced to Nevada in 2005 by Jay Davison a retired crop Specialist for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Over the course of several years Jay Davison conducted numerous research projects and published several articles regarding teff production in Nevada. His research included variety trials, fertility and seeding rate experiments, and pest management needs for teff. He traveled to Ethiopia and worked closely with Ethiopian researchers in Ethiopia an in the U.S. He is nationally recognized as an expert in teff production in the United States and has consulted with individual teff producers throughout the U.S, Europe and South America. Jay Davison has been retained by DOTG to manage the teff field production monitoring program and consult with farmers growing teff grain. Fallon farmers, John Getto and Dave Eckert began growing teff in 2007 and formed Desert Oasis Teff LLC in 2009. The company has grown slowly and steadily over the intervening years to the point that they currently have an FDA registered, 3rd party audited processing plants in Fallon. In cooperation with participating farmers, they plant, harvest, clean and market teff grain and flour across the United States.

Teff has several advantages to other rotational crops typically grown in an alfalfa rotation. It is cheap to produce and has the potential to net returns between $600-$700 per acre while using approximately one-half to two-thirds as much irrigation water as alfalfa or other crops such as corn silage. Teff is frost sensitive and is normally planted from May 15 to the first week of June in western Nevada. Later plantings are possible but greatly increase the danger of frost damage from early fall frosts. Teff seeds are tiny and average almost 1.3 million seeds per pound. It is seeded into a fine, firm seed bed like that required by alfalfa. It is dropped onto the soil surface followed by a ring cultipacker to press the seeds into the soil surface.

Fertilizer requirements are low, with only 50-60 pounds of applied nitrogen required for a teff grain crop. Phosphorous may be needed and a soil sample result is useful to determine that need as well as any other nutrient that may be required. Normal pest management practices include spraying the teff crop with an herbicide to manage broad leaved weeds and an insecticide to control army worms. Teff irrigation follows immediately after planting and continues until mid to late August depending on the planting date. The total amount applied depends on the soil texture and weather experienced during the growing period. It is successfully grown using either flood or sprinkler irrigation. Harvest begins approximately 90-100 days after planting. Because teff stems are very slender and the seeds heavy, a teff field will be almost 100 percent lodged or laying on the ground when the crop is ready to be harvested. Unlike other annual grains such as wheat or barley the stems will still be green when the crop is ready to be harvested. Therefore, it is not directly combined such as is common with these crops. A teff crop is first swathed and placed in wide windrows to dry before it is threshed using a combine. After about a week the windrows are fed into the combine equipped with a pick-up belt to facilitate threshing. The small size of the teff seeds makes efficient harvest difficult without a combine that has been modified to account for seed size. In addition to the grain, teff fodder is normally bailed and sold as a lower cost forage. It averages approximately 2.5 tons per acre Teff grain yields from good quality soils have averaged around 1500 pounds per acre. It is sold on a clean grain basis and the average clean out is from 12-20 percent, resulting in yields of 1200-1300 pounds per acre. In addition to the grain, teff fodder is normally bailed and sold as a lower cost forage. It averages approximately 2.5 tons per acre with recent fodder sales averaging $80-90 per ton.

Farmers opting to participate in the DOTG grain production program are responsible for; 1) applying any needed fertilizer, 2) preparing the seed bed, 3) irrigating the crop and 4) applying the recommended herbicide and insect control as recommended by DOTG teff production specialists. The fodder is retained by the participating farmer and they are responsible for any harvesting practices applied. The DOTG teff production specialists are responsible for; 1) supplying and seeding the teff, 2) monitoring the fields on a regular basis and 3) coordinating with the participating farmer regarding all aspects of production. They will make recommendations concerning; 1) fertility management, 2) pest management requirements, 3) irrigation requirements of the crop, and 4) harvest timing. Personnel from DOTG will be responsible for all teff grain field harvest operations and transport to the cleaning facilities. Harvested grain will be cleaned and packaged for sale at DOTG facilities. Participating farmers will be paid 50 percent of the value of the grain yield at harvest and the remaining 50 percent when the harvested grain is cleaned and the clean grain percentage determined.

For the 2021 production season, teff production costs to DOTG are as follows and are deducted from net grain sales (no out of pocket expense). Planting • Ongoing field growing monitoring Weed control (chemical only) • Insect Control (chemical only) Swathing • Combining • Poly bag (2000 lbs capacity) The 2021 estimated teff returns are based on an average yield of 1275 pounds per acre clean seed and fodder yields of 2.5 tons per acre being sold bringing your estimated income at $837.50 per acre. Call John Getto-Owner 775-427-0323, Jay Davison 775-427-5608 to join the Teff Grain production program.