The Progressive Rancher - February 2016 by The Progressive Rancher

NCA 2009 Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award Recipient

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Riding for the NCA

Horizons

Nevada Cattlemen Assn.

Look Up

Conservation

American Lands Council

Nevada Cattlewomen

Water in Nevada

Eye on the Outside

USDA

Churchill FFA

BLM

Fumes from the Farm

EJ Financial Focus

Mind of the Millenial

Range Plants for Rancher

Beef Checkoff

Ramblings of a Ranch Wife

NRRC

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Published 9 times each year, The Progressive Rancher is mailed to more than 7,000 approved addresses, and has digital and print readership reaching more than 30,000. The Progressive Rancher is published monthly. The views and opinions expressed by writers of articles appearing in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters of opinion are welcomed by The Progressive Rancher.

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Positive/Negative By David Stix Jr.

appy New Year cattlemen and cattlewomen, I hope you all had a safe and joyful holiday! What a way to start 2016 with issues brewing in Oregon and the Bundy name popping back up and the question of “what is the cattle market going to do”, the year is definitely rolling. It may be easy to be drawn into these negative topics so how about we look at all the positive things we can be thankful for. Like all of the moisture we are receiving in almost every corner of the state of Nevada from the Ruby’s to the Sierras and from Reno to Ely. Although this last year we have seen record drops in cattle prices we have also seen a drop in the cost of feed. These changes in prices coupled with the large amounts of snow we are seeing it look as if there will be a lot of feed again. Percentage wise the cattle market has not seen a drop like this since the early 80s. Cattle prices appear to be close to what they were two years ago. I am writing this article on the heels of the Fallon Livestock Exchange’s first feeder special of the year. The feeder sale came one day after the stock market had a 13% loss and the cattle futures limited down. However the price of cattle were up at this sale from a nickel to a dime higher than the Silver State Classic held in December. Volume was ok at nearly 1400 hd. and plenty of buyers! With export markets opening up in South America I can foresee a good stable year in cattle prices… $3 to $4 calves? Nope!! Not

while a congressional hearing is looming on the cattle bubble. Another positive thing is increasing herd numbers. To answer the demands from cow calf operators, this year’s Fallon Bull Sale is promising to be a good one with nearly 140 bulls consigned and several new consigners who have not yet attended our sale before. The unknowns are troubling and we are watching them close. The question remains what and how the Feds will react to the strong potential of starting out of the drought and implementation of the Land Use Plan? As more funds are drawn off the general budget to pay for social programs will there be any gathers this year? For any statements regarding the Southeast Oregon Issue, the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has created a press release of which it was made available to the general membership and interested press agencies. The Hammond family attorney has asked to let their issue run the course of due process and they have made it clear that the Bundy’s are not speaking on behalf of the Hammond’s. My next message will be centered on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention and the 50th Annual Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale. Until then, take care friends and I hope to see you in Fallon on the 19th and 20th of this month at the bull sale and please feel free to join us at the Board of Directors meeting held on the 19th.

President Vetoes Resolution of Disapproval of WOTUS

By Chase Adams and Shawna Newsome

ASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2016) – After bi-partisan passage in both chambers of Congress, President Obama vetoed Senate Joint Resolution 22, disapproval of the EPA’s “waters of the United States” rule. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis said this is a clear indication the President does not understand the role America’s cattle producers, land owners and state governments play in preserving our natural resources. “We are extremely disappointed the President chose to side with the EPA, which has pulled out all the stops and shown an appalling disregard for the law throughout this rulemaking process,” said Ellis. “In siding with the EPA, the President has ignored the will of Congress, including members of his own party. Moreover, he has taken side against the 32 states, and countless stakeholders who have challenged the WOTUS rule. With Congress clearly showing their disapproval of this rule, the consequences of WOTUS implementation now rest solely with President Obama.” The Senate voted 53-44 on Nov. 4, 2015 and the House voted 253-166 on Jan. 6, 2016 in support of S.J.Res. 22. Public Lands Council President www.progressiverancher.com

Brenda Richards said that while the outcome remains certain, the path is now much longer. “Rather than ditch the rule, the President ignored the tidal wave of opposition to appease the EPA’s radical agenda,” said Richards. “Due to the President’s veto cattle producers, stakeholders, states and ultimately taxpayers are now going to have to spend millions of dollars on litigation to ultimately determine what we already know; the WOTUS rule extends beyond Congressional intent under the Clean Water Act and violates Supreme Court precedent. Once again the regulatory train wreck has landed squarely on America’s rural economy.” NCBA and PLC filed a lawsuit in the Southern District Court in Texas on July 2, 2015. That litigation will continue. While the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals considers jurisdiction, a temporary nationwide stay on implementation of the WOTUS rule remains in effect. “Cattle producers need regulatory certainty,” said Ellis. “While the WOTUS rule remains at the EPA, we will continue to pursue litigation and legislation to bring about that certainty. This is a top priority for our members and today’s action shows that we have only begun our fight.”

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 3

By Kaley Sproul, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director

A Look Back at 2015

Kaley Sproul, NCA Executive Director here did the year of 2015 go? The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has seen many changes within the past year from leadership to government policies. But change isn’t always bad, change is innovation. Innovation is working for a better tomorrow whether it is economical for furthering our operations or continuing to meet the needs and expectations of the consumers. Some of the challenges the cattle industry have faced this past year are the ongoing wild horse issues, the Greater Sage Grouse being listed as “notwarranted”, Waters of the United States (WOTUS), Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) and many other issues that threaten the livelihood of our industry. Even though we are constantly faced with battles and the prediction of the future is always a risk, I am proud to be a part of the Nevada livestock industry and believe in the future of ranching. With having met many producers around the state all having different situations, I know one thing remains; we as a whole are thriving. This has been achieved over the past year by having an influential and dedicated representation of the NCA, through officers, executive committee, board members and NCA members devoting a great deal of their time. Next to governmental policy changes there has also been a change in leadership within the NCA. The new officer line-up includes President David Stix Jr., President-Elect Sam Mori, First Vice-President Tom Barnes, and Second Vice-President Hanes Holman. I would like to thank Ron Torell, past NCA President, for all of his commitment in helping guarantee a successful Nevada livestock industry. Now that convention has passed, things to look forward to this winter include a white and cool weather (bringing much needed moisture) and the 50th Annual Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale. The Nevada Cattlemen’s office is hard at work with Chris Gansburg, FBS Committee chairman, and the entire FBS board to put on a memorable sale. It will be held in Fallon, NV on February 20th. If you would like to receive a Bull Sale Catalog please contact the NCA office. Over the years the membership of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has changed and now encompasses not only ranchers but interested individuals who care about the industry. Many of the new members of the association are people that care about the land and the people that cultivate the values they hold dear. Being a part of the NCA involves protecting, promoting and preserving the ranching way of life. We are thankful for all of those who devote their time and effort into our association. If you are interested in learning more about the NCA or about becoming a memKaley Sproul, ber please contact the office at 1-775-738-9214 or NCA Executive Director visit the web page at www.nevadacattlemen.org. 4 February 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Shaw Cattle Co. Production Sale

February 17, 2016 - 12 p.m. (MST)

450 Hereford, Angus & Red Angus Bulls

BASIN EXCITEMENT 28 Sons Sell

Other Angus AI sires include Cash, Substantial, Capitalist, Solution, Bullseye & Final Product.

SCHU-LAR RED BULL 18X 32 Sons Sell

CONNEALY CONSENSUS 7229 41 Sons Sell

Other AI sires include Redeem, Hometown, 755T, On Target 936, Peerless & Tested.

• •

First Season Breeding Guarantee All bulls are born and raised on our ranch. No Cooperators. • SIGHT UNSEEN PURCHASES FULLY GUARANTEED • Family Owned and Operated for over 65 years

Shaw Cattle Co.

22993 Howe Rd. Caldwell, ID 83607 www.shawcattle.com greg@shawcattle.com www.progressiverancher.com

SHF WONDER M326 W18 ET 25 Sons Sell

The Bull Business The Progressive Rancher

Angus Hereford Red Angus Greg: (208) 459-3029 Sam: (208) 880-9044 Tucker: (208) 899-0455 Ron Shurtz: (208) 431-3311 February 2016 5

What is the Nevada

Conservation Credit System?

he Nevada Conservation Credit System (CCS) has been created to preserve, and maintain greater sage-grouse habitats, while preserving and maintaining the multiple-use concept on public land, and to enhance habitats on private and public lands. The CCS is an innovative tool developed to quantify and account for impacts to sage-grouse habitat and the conservation actions put in place to off-set these impacts. This mitigation approach has been developed to ensure a net benefit to sage-grouse. Impacts to sage-grouse habitat are defined as new anthropogenic disturbances such as mines, geothermal facilities, energy development, transmission lines, and other temporary or permanent developments which occur on federally managed land. Ranching and farming activities are not considered impacts and can be beneficial to conservation actions. Conservation actions include activities that maintain high quality habitat, and enhancement or restoration activities that improve the value of habitat to sagegrouse and may occur on private or federally managed lands. Landowners will have an opportunity to participate in the CCS, by creating, preserving and maintaining habitat. This creates the credits for sale to those industries that are required to offset their disturbance of habitat. The CCS is one component of a proactive plan developed by the State of Nevada in conjunction with various stakeholders to conserve sage-grouse and their habitats while responsibly maintaining the economic viabilities of industry and protecting other responsible uses of the natural resources.

Why is the CCS necessary?

Industries that impact sage-grouse habitats have been paying mitigation fees or conducting mitigation activities in recent years to off-set their impacts. However, the ability to objectively quantify the increase or decrease in the quality of the habitats through mitigation efforts has been missing. Not all acres of sagebrush are equal and do not necessarily provide high quality habitat for sage-grouse. As such, mitigation discussions have been conducted on a case-by-case basis and often have been a subjective process that can result in long negotiations based on multiple sets of information at the table. The CCS brings in an objective process, based on best available sagegrouse science in Nevada, to quantify quality, or function, of sage-grouse habitats at several scales. On the credit side, using the concept of credit projects that have a requirement for maintaining habitat function over time is a step beyond the previous strategy that put the improvement on the landscape, but there was no long-term commitment to maintain the mitigation site. In addition, giving credit developers the incentive of profit to engage in conservation actions provides the opportunity for conservation actions on private lands. While many of Nevada’s most significant threats are something other than anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. fire, invasive plants, pinyon/juniper expansion, etc.), the need exists to sufficiently address fragmentation and other degradation caused by large scale human disturbances. This need was the impetus for the development of a robust tool that could adequately measure enhancement and protection activities (credits) that would offset anthropogenic disturbances (debits) in order to maintain a net benefit to sage-grouse and their habitats.

Who can develop credits?

Credits can be developed within sage-grouse habitat on private, tribal, and public lands. Private landowners, on a voluntary basis, are currently eligible to participate in the program. Guidance for public land enrollment in the CCS is being developed and may be eligible for enrollment in the near future.

How much is a credit (functional acre) worth?

Credit prices are market-driven and may be sold for any price that a credit developer sets to be financially viable for their needs. There is no set value for a credit. 6 February 2016

What is the contract period for credits or debits?

Credit project durations are a minimum of 30 years with 5 year term increments, up to perpetuity. Credit developers may set the contract period for their project. A credit buyer must purchase credits that are equal in duration to the life of the disturbance being offset.

Are there restrictions to participation if land is already under an easement or other types of conservation contracts?

Yes and no. If there are current contracts on land being considered for enrollment into the CCS, the source of the funding and terms of any contract agreements will influence any restrictions or limitations. This will need to be determined case-by-case, but does not necessarily preclude the property from being enrolled. Potential restrictions may include reducing the tamount of credits available for entry or eliminating those lands from inclusion until the current contract expires. This concept is discussed as “additionality” in the mitigation banking world. The intent behind it is to make sure that the conservation action that is off-setting impacts is above and beyond conservation that would have occurred anyway, outside this system. The intent is to ensure that credit projects are providing lift to sage-grouse habitats to off-set the impacts from habitat disturbance and loss.

How do I sign up to enroll in the CCS?

If a landowner (or other authorized agent) is interested in participating in the program, they can download and complete the validation checklist from the website http://www.enviroaccounting.com/NVCreditSystem/Program/Home and submit it to the CCS administrator. Once the CCS administrator has reviewed the validation checklist, and determined that it meets the initial criteria, a more formal dialogue will take place to establish the next steps needed to be taken to begin the credit development process.

THE STATE OF NEVADA THROUGH THE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING LETTERS OF INTEREST TO FUND PROJECTS THAT GENERATE SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT CREDITS Go to www.progressiverancher.com for the remaining information

LETTER OF INTEREST TO REQUEST CONSIDERATION FOR FUNDING

The Letter of Interest is organized into two sections: 1) Project Proponent and Partner Information, and 2) Property Information Interested parties should complete the letter of interest using the adobe fillable form. Please respond to all questions, as it may not be possible to evaluate project eligibility if questions are left blank. If you are unsure how best to answer a question or you need additional information before responding, you are encouraged to first review the Letter of Interest Instructions, and if questions still remain contact Kacey KC (kaceykc@sagebrusheco.nv.gov) and attend the Question and Answer conference call and webinar on January 15th at 10:00 am PST. Each question will allow only 300 words, but you are encouraged to submit additional supporting materials such as maps, management plans, and other materials along with your Letter of Interest. Complete the below questions and send to Kacey KC (kaceykc@sagebrusheco.nv.gov) with the SUBJECT: 2016 Habitat Letter of Interest, no later than February 8th at 5:00 P.M. PST.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Ship 'Em To

LLON A F

MARKET REPORT

Jan 12th and 16th, 2015 Head Sold this week: 1777 Weight

TOP OFFERINGS Steer

300-400 217.68-250.00 400-500 203.72-235.00 500-600 182.34-213.00 600-700 151.94.172.00 700-800 143.65-155.00 800-900 136.00-140.00 Lite Holstein (under 600Ibs) Heavy Holstein (over 600Ibs)

Heifer

186.27-225.00 165.43-205.00 154.21-171.00 144.11-157.00 133.13-140.00 133.13-140.00 85.00-95.00 75.00-85.00

*Single, Small Framed or Plainer Cattle 40.00 to 80.00 less than top offerings

BUTCHER COWS & BULLS

Livestock Exchange, Inc. www.fallonlivestock.com

The 12th Annual

MARCH MADNESS SPECIAL CALF & YEARLING SALE Saturday, March 19th, 2016 - 1:00 pm Please call us with your consignments before Wednesday so we can notify buyers. More buyers in the seats means more money in your pocket! NOTE: We will not accept any cattle after 10:30 Saturday morning! RANCHERS! Don’t forget the 50th Anniversary edition of the Fallon All-Breed Bull Sale on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 11:30 am.

Breakers (Fat Cows) Boners (Med Flesh) Cutters (Lean) Holstein Cows Butcher Bulls Shelly (Thin) Bulls Shelly Cutters (Thin) Young Feeder Cows Heiferettes Holstein Heiferettes Holstein Bulls Feeder Bulls Cutting Bulls Used Roping Steers Preg Tested Cows

60.00-63.00 61.00-86.00 45.00-55.00 20.00-59.00 65.00-77.00 50.00-80.00 20.00-40.00 80.00-85.00 97.00-105.00 75.00-85.00 NT 75.00-85.00 120.00-145.00 90.00-110.00 NT

(3, 4, 5 yr. old solid mouth)

NT NT NT

Bred Helfers -(6 to 7 months bred) Pairs (solid mouth) 3-6 yrs Pairs (older)

TODAY’S COWS Top Cow Top 10 Cows Top 50 Cows Top 100 Cows Top Butcher Bull Top Holstein Cows Top 10 Holstein Cows Top 5 Butcher Bulls

Avg. Wt 1270 1355 1235 1186 1760 1645 1362 NA

Avg. Cost 78.00 68.15 60.57 56.61 78.00 65.00 59.81 NA

CALVES-SHEEP-GOATS-PIGS-HORSES

Beef Calves (HD) Dairy Calves Feeder Lambs Fat Lambs Ewes (CWT) Bucks (CWT) Small Goats (under 65 lbs.) (HD) Large Goats (over 70 lbs.) (HD) Weaner Pigs Feeder Pigs Top Hogs Butcher Sows Horses (under 1100 lbs.) Horses (over 1100 lbs.)

200.00-400.00 2.00-60.00 125.00-150.00 125.00-140.00 40.00-70.00 40.00-70.00 30.00-100.00 125.00-220.00 45.00-80.00 60.00-130.00 75.00-91.50 20.00-45.00 10.00-20.00 25.00-35.00

MARKET TREND:

Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. Sale Every Tuesday at 11:00 AM

Selling All Classes of Livestock: • Cattle • Horses • Sheep • Goats • Pigs

2055 Trento Lane • Fallon, Nevada 89406 • 775-867-2020

Feeder cattle sold $10.00-$30.00 higher on grass type cattle, on same kind and quality depending on ﬂesh and ﬁll. Congratulations to all consigners; what a nice set of cattle consigned! Buyers said the best cattle are sold here at Fallon Livestock Exchange, all fresh from ranches and farms, no trader cattle, a very oganized sale. Fallon Livesotck is a key market for the industry, where buyers and sellers meet each week with a professional staff with over 50 years of experience in marketing livestock. PLEASE call us ahead with your consignments. It helps us market your cattle. We talk to buyers all the time - they want to know what’s coming in. We are seeing good demand on weigh up cows & bulls. It sure makes a big difference on how they are sorted. Let our crew sort and class your cows. This will help you receive full market value for your cows.

See you and your friends at ringside soon! www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 7

Meet Sidney Wintermote

By Sidney Wintermote would like to take this time to introduce myself to you as your new Presito those donating and to the technicians. We served approximately 100 people the dent for the Nevada Cattlewomen, Inc. I was raised in Jiggs, Nevada on mini hamburgers, provided beef recipes and nutritional beef information. This was my family’s cattle ranch. I attended elementary school in a one room a two day event and participants are always pleased to have a good tasting, iron rural schoolhouse and graduated from Spring Creek High School. From building hamburger after giving blood. that point I went to college and received a degree in Animal Science. I On January 8th we provided the luncheon for the Cattlemen’s Update and a few of have always had a very strong passion for the beef industry and icontinue to us met with Staci Emm. Andree Richards retired as secretary and Jodi Vesco volunteered find ways to stay involved. I would like to say thank you to all of the Cattleto serve as secretary. Special thanks to both of these dedicated CattleWomen. Business women in the state for finding me fit for this office. It is a very large responsibilmatters were discussed and we will have our next meeting in March. ity and I am very humbled and honored to be chosen for this position. I believe Elko County Cattlewomen reported: that promoting beef is imperative especially now as our industry faces so much In January 2015 our Herdsman Award Chairman attended the 4-H Banquet opposition from public misperception. I promise to work alongside all Cattleand presented the Herdsman Awards to the 3 deserving 4-H Clubs during the 2014 women to advocate for the industry we all feel so passionate about. I would like Elko County Fair. to introduce to you the 2015/2016 Nevada Cattlewomen officer team. Stacie The 2015Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko provided us with the opportunity to Emm is your President Elect from Shurz, NV. Tracy Shane will hold the ofonce again serve our famous Cowbells Meatballs at the Western Folklife Center Member fice of Secretary, she is from Carson City, NV. Lastly, Linda Huntsberger will Reception. continue to hold the office of Treasurer and she is from Smith, NV. We are all At our April meeting we hosted a banquet at the Western Folklife Center in celavailable at any time to answer any questions you have and are welcome to any ebration of our Mother of the Year/Beef Businessman of the Year annual event. Our suggestions to better advocate for the industry. longtime member, Lorey Eldridge and ranch manager for Maggie Creek Ranch, Jon In November, many women from around the state attended the 80th Annual Griggs, were the recipients of the awards. Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Winnemucca. We had the pleasure of In May the Chairperson and volunteers assisted with AG in the Classroom held at meeting our ANCW President, Melanie Fowle. Her passion and enthusiasm for the the Sarman Ranch in Pleasant Valley, NV. We provided cookies and served lunch to beef industry was easily recognized and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in the teachers and students. attendance when I say it was a pleasure meeting her. Our Scholarship committee sent out and gathered applications for three $500 During the meeting we received yearly updates from each county representative. I scholarships to our Elko County High School Seniors. The applications were recan assure you that your Nevada Cattlewomen are working day and night to positively viewed and chosen students were interviewed by our Chairperson and volunteers promote the beef industry throughout the state through events and special projects. from ECCW. The three nominees were then given the scholarship certificates at the 5k run/walks have become very popular, beef for senior citizens during the holidays, schools’ award banquets. awarding scholarships to eligible high school seniors and beef demos at select grocery Elko County CattleWomen hosted the Cattlewomen’s CrossFit/5K Run in October, stores are just a few events that keep us all very busy. Elko County President, Shelly held in Lamoille, NV. There was also a Beef Chili Feed following the Run, sponsored Satterthwaite and Humboldt County President, Beth Thompson have provided upby John Lemich of Machis in Elko, NV. dates on their events for the year. Our annual Holiday Tour of Homes was held on December 5, 2015. We had 4 beautiful homes showcased on the tour, with beef appetizers provided by our members. Humboldt Co. Cattlewomen have reported: Also in December is our Beef for Seniors donation. We fundraise to purchase beef In October, the Humboldt County CattleWomen celebrated our 50th Anniversary roasts, then deliver them to the Senior Centers throughout Elko County as a gift to our with a tri-tip luncheon. We had thirty members and friends attend. We were fortuarea Seniors during the Christmas Holiday. nate to have four charter members in attendance: Andree Richards, Diana Vesco, Liz We have an active Facebook page and Instagram account that are growing in folChabot, and Honorine Bengoa Pedroli. lowers, spreading education and awareness of the beef and ranching industries. November brought the Hospital Auxiliary Blood Drive where we served sliders The month of February is declared as “Beef Month” in the state of Nevada. Our job as Cattlewomen is to positively promote beef through consumer education and assure consumers of all ages that beef is safe and wholesome. During the month of February, we do just that but on a higher level. There is a very low percentage of our nation’s population directly involved in beef production and younger generations are slowly becoming less aware of where their food comes from. I think it is crucial to tell the story of how beef gets from producers pastures to consumers’ plates. The educational resources available are endless. With social media more popular than ever we can utilize networking channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to connect with people of all ages and lifestyles and educate them on the production of beef in the United States. Here are a few resources to you help you reach out to consumers: factsaboutbeef.com, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, beefnutrition.org and teachfree.com which is a resource for teachers to address beef nutrition with a focus on the classroom. I encourage you all to participate in “Beef Month” and help spread the word about our amazing industry. Sidney Wintermote. Nevada Cattlewomen President 8 February 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

OFFICE: 775-423-7760

JACK PAYNE

Cell: 775-217-9273 Alt: 775-225-8889

Email: nevadalm@yahoo.com t

Full-Service Cattle Sales & Marketing serving the Fallon, Nevada and Outlying Areas. Seller

Sales Results from January 21st, 2016 Feeder Sale City

Desc

Type

Weight

Price CWT

John Uhalde & Co

Ely

2/3 Y

PRS

1210

2,000 HD

John Colby

Eureka

BLK

B/C

248

$269.00

John Colby

Eureka

MIX

STR

342

$255.00

Little Park Ranches

Mitchell

BLK

STR

405

$255.00

LJ Livestock

Austin

MIX

STR

391

$242.00

LJ Livestock

Austin

MIX

STR

578

$187.00

Tyler Agee

S./Creek

STR

400

$240.00

B & D Lambert

Winn

BLK

STR

333

$232.50

Zach Lambert

Winn

BLK

STR

334

$232.50

K & M Johnson

Hiko

MIX

STR

423

$227.50

Grace Mcerquiaga

Orovada

MIX

STR

453

$227.00

Grace Mcerquiaga

Orovada

MIX

STR

528

$202.50

Wildhorse Cattle

Fernley

BLK

STR

443

$226.00

John & Shirley Fraser

Fernley

BLK

STR

444

$226.00

John Fraser

Hazen

BLK

STR

443

$226.00

Kelly Hoekenga

Eureka

BLK

STR

447

$225.00

Harold Rother Farms

S Creek

MIX

STR

442

$224.00

Harold Rother Farms

S Creek

156

RED

STR

605

$189.25

Stix Cattle Co

Fernley

BLK

STR

440

$223.00

Stix Cattle Co

Fernley

BLK

STR

545

$191.50

R & L Hummel

Winn

BLK

STR

378

$223.00

R & L Hummel

Winn

MIX

STR

399

$220.00

Ted Renfroe

Fallon

BLK

STR

418

$222.50

M & M Gottschalk

Lovelock

MIX

STR

427

$221.00

Young Bros

Austin

BLK

STR

464

$220.00

M & M O'daye

Reno

BLK

STR

361

$218.00

M & M O'daye

Reno

RED

STR

456

$205.00

Mathew Farms

Panaca

MIX

STR

463

$217.50

Mathew Farms

Panaca

MIX

STR

531

$196.50

Gandolfo Ranch

Austin

BLK

STR

461

$217.00

Sterling Lambert

Fallon

MIX

STR

400

$220.00

Sterling Lambert

Fallon

MIX

STR

570

$184.00

R & D Gordon

Winn

BLK

STR

536

$209.00

R & D Gordon

Winn

BLK

STR

591

$188.90

R & D Gordon

Winn

BLK

STR

683

$166.75

H & J Brackenbury

Yerington

MIX

STR

482

$207.00

Lazy D Livestock

Pioche

MIX

STR

494

$204.00

J & N Harper

P Valley

BLK

B/C

447

$203.00

Bartell Ranch

Orovada

MIX

STR

519

$198.50

J & B Thompson

Winn

MIX

STR

562

$188.50

J & R Nuttall

Fallon

BLK

STR

589

$187.75

Jesse & Rebecca Nuttall

Fallon

BLK

STR

707

$162.00

Steve Medlin

Alamo

BLK

STR

551

$186.50

Steve Medlin

Alamo

MIX

STR

667

$164.00

www.progressiverancher.com

NEXT Feeder SALE

February 18th Starting at 11:30am

February 17th in conjunction with our Regular Wednesday Sale there will be a

Bred Cow Sale at 6:30pm

Be sure to come join us that same evening at 5:00pm for a free

Seller

City

Desc

Type

Weight

Price CWT

Kayleen Blasingame

Alamo

BLK

STR

554

$186.50 $185.00

Kayleen Blasingame

Alamo

RED

STR

558

Branton Genco

Alamo

BLK

STR

551

$186.50

Sunrise Ranch

Yerington

MIX

STR

652

$180.00

Sunrise Ranch

Yerington

MIX

STR

770

$151.50

J & J Twitchell

McGill

RBF

STR

555

$165.00

Diamond Cattle Co

Eureka

MIX

STR

676

$160.00

Lester Debraga

Fallon

MIX

STR

725

$159.00

Bell Ranch

P Valley

BLK

STR

617

$185.50

Bell Ranch

PValley

BLK

STR

674

$166.75

L & C Linker

Cedarville

BLK

STR

527

$185.00

Elko Land & Livestock

Battle Mtn

MIX

STR

583

$182.50

Cross L Ranch

Tonopah

MIX

STR

613

$181.50

Cross L Ranch

Tonopah

MIX

STR

771

$150.00

M & C Casey

Fallon

MIX

STR

597

$178.00

David Lima

Fallon

CHAR

STR

652

$169.00

Gene Heckman

Winn

MIX

STR

663

$167.50

Joe Tibbals

Yerington

BLK

STR

608

$163.00

Giovanni Giordano

Winn

BLK

STR

708

$160.00

David & Susan Kern

P Valley

MIX

STR

706

$156.50

John & Jhona Bell

P Valley

CHAR

STR

738

$156.00

Boomer Ranches

Fallon

MIX

STR

629

$155.50

6J Livestock

McGill

BLK

STR

520

$151.00

Todd Weagant

Orovada

MIX

STR

640

$140.00

Myles Getto

Fallon

MIX

B/C

715

$127.50

Tyler Agee

S Creek

CHAR

HFR

374

$217.50

T & A Scerine

Wellington

BLK

HFR

353

$210.00

Wildhorse Cattle

Fernley

$206.00

MIX

HFR

429

John & Shirley Fraser Fernley

MIX

HFR

424

$206.00

John Fraser

Hazen

BLK

HFR

429

$206.00

Little Park Ranches

Mitchell

142

BLK

HFR

394

$205.00

R& J Collins

J Valley

MIX

HFR

407

$199.00

J Valley

BBF

HFR

575

$165.00

Tao Masterjuan

J Valley

BLK

HFR

407

$196.50

Tao Masterjuan

J Valley

BLK

HFR

537

$173.50 $196.00

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION R & J Collins

STEAK DINNER along with an open bar.

We have 4 cattle trains available for your cattle hauling needs.

We can haul approx. 80,000# of cattle per load either to our sale or in the country. Give us a call for pricing.

WE WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE HAD A PHENOMENAL TURN OUT WITH 4,259 HEAD BEING CONSIGNED TO THIS SALE WITH 50 DIFFERENT BUYERS. ABOUT 90% OF THE CATTLE WENT TO CALIFORNIA PASTURES. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS. The Progressive Rancher

Lazy D Livestock

Pioche

MIX

HFR

424

Gandolfo Ranch

Austin

BLK

HFR

403

$194.00

Young Bros

Austin

BLK

HFR

427

$192.50

J & N Harper

P Valley

MIX

HFR

429

$191.00

Steve Medlin

Alamo

MIX

HFR

455

$190.50

Parsnip Peak Cattle

J Valley

BLK

HFR

441

$190.00

M & M Gottschalk

Lovelock

MIX

HFR

419

$185.00

Irvin Plank Elko Land & Livestock

Eureka Battle Mtn

6 30

BLK MIX

HFR HFR

408 469

$184.00 $184.00 $178.50

Grace Mcerquiaga

Orovada

MIX

HFR

483

Jersey Valley Cattle CO

Winn

BLK

HFR

468

$177.00

Randy Osterhoudt

Rount Mtn

MIX

HFR

445

$174.00

Harold Rother Farms S Creek

RED

HFR

572

$173.75

J & B Thompson

Winn

MIX

HFR

550

$173.00

R & D Gordon

Win

MIX

HFR

523

$171.75

Parsnip Peak Cattle

J Valley

BLK

HFR

526

$170.00

Sunrise Ranch Kelly Hoekenga David Lima

Yerington

MIX

HFR

591

$169.00

Eureka

BLK

HFR

533

$165.00

Fallon

CHAR

HFR

580

$160.00

Lester Debraga

Fallon

MIX

HFR

682

$150.00

D & S Brown

Winn

MIX

HFR

691

$147.00

Joe Tibbals

Yerington

BLK

HFR

622

$146.00

February 2016 9

By Joseph Guild

cannot get the 2016 Presidential election out of my mind. You have all heard descriptions of our presidential elections such as this before: “this election is the most important in a generation”; “this election will be important to our future for the next 30 years, etc.” I will wait until this one is over to render an opinion on how important this year’s election will turn out to be, but without doubt it is already one of the most interesting in recent times. One would have thought that the Democratic nomination was sewed up immediately upon Hillary Clinton’s announcement of her candidacy. Then comes along a self-declared Socialist in Bernie Sanders; he draws crowds, raises money, and attracts younger voters, women and others alike who reject the idea of another Clinton presidency or who knows for what reason. Do people who have lived and worked in a capitalist society all their lives even know what a socialist is? The Republican field is no less mysterious. There is no question in my mind the reason there are so many people running for the Republican nomination is the frustration at the policies and activities of the current administration. I wrote a bit about this last month. Especially in the agricultural world there is more than a perception of government overreach. I have listed some examples before. WOTUS (everyone now knows what this stands for), beef importation from foot and mouth disease countries, the Antiquities Act, new land use rules in the wake of not listing the greater sage grouse as an endangered species and USDA dietary guidelines which strayed into areas which had nothing to do with nutrition are just a few of the problems agriculture has had with the current administration. So we have a problem with this administration in agriculture which translates into a great deal of frustration and therefore we can relate to frustration as one of the reasons for such a large republican field. We can also even understand why a socialist would have some appeal. And, we suspect other sectors of our society share the same frustration. But the appeal of some of these candidates in both parties begs the question in my mind- what do the American people really want? It appears candor and blunt talk is one thing people seem to crave. There is some receptivity to unconstitutional religious and ethnic tests for legal entry into our country. Such talk seems to be refreshing and not like the typical politician. However, I think people are being deceived. One thing I have observed is politicians discern the attitudes of their audiences and tailor their messages to those attitudes. So what is so apolitical about determining your audience wants blunt, rude comments and character assassinations of your opponents and delivering those messages? What is so apolitical about realizing your audience wants you to engage in class and economic envy and delivering on those desires? In my opinion, none of the candidates who seem to be outsiders from politics are anything but. They are all appealing to the lowest common denominator whether they are Republican or Democrat. So the logical answer to the question above, if my premise from the above paragraph is correct, is the American public wants a reality show political campaign for President of the United States in 2016. One thing I also know to be true. Polls are not great predictors of future outcomes. Remember Wallace, Perot, Huckabee, Santorum, Herman Cain, Michelle Bachman, and Dewey v. Harry Truman? A political poll is a snapshot of a moment in time. Frontrunners are often overtaken by surprise surges from their opponents, their own rhetoric, or events completely out of their control. It is also a political truth that a week is a long, long time in any campaign and months can seem like years. To which I say, for 2016, let’s see how this thing shakes out in March or April. We may just be as surprised as some of the candidates. Another thing about most modern political campaigns and political discourse 10 February 2016

in general is the failure by our leaders to recognize the importance and necessity of sound agricultural policy. An example is from the most recent State of the Union Address. The President went through a long list of admirable Americans at the end of his speech to make the point that he was optimistic about our future. In this list he admired people for their “voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love” who are “busy doing the work this country needs doing”. Farmers and ranchers were not on that list. Really? There was no recognition by the President for agricultural work? Something surely the country needs doing! I may have missed something but outside of the obvious things the candidates must be saying while campaigning in Iowa, I have not heard one word about the concern these folks have for agriculture. This is not new in recent American politics. But, I guess if you have a full belly and you did not have to grow the food yourself there is no reason to concern yourself with Agriculture. Maybe this exemplifies why farmers and ranchers are so frustrated by politicians and Washington politics more particularly. We are the victims of our own success. When 2% of the nation feeds the rest and part of the world to boot, it is easy to be obscured by the other 98%, to be forgotten and misunderstood. However, everyone I and you know, including yourselves, still gets up early and works from light to light doing the work this country needs doing. So next time a presidential candidate comes to a primary state like Nevada or your congressman shakes your hand and asks for a vote for re-election, remind them what you do for this country and ask for a little reciprocal support and recognition. I’ll see you soon.

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Churchill FFA By Allysen Olsen Churchill County Reporter

January is the calm before the storm as Churchill county FFA members prepare for the crazy month of February. The craziness begins on February 15th as members prepare to compete in their career development events (CDE’s). Members will also be competing in those CDE’s at the 2016 Nevada FFA State Convention at UNR during the third week of March. The next day on February 16th-18th numerous FFA members are excited to attend Winter Leadership training in Winnemucca. Winter leadership training is a conference where FFA members have the chance to interact and learn from guest speakers. As members arrive home on the 18th so do the bulls for Fallon’s annual bull sale. FFA members look forward to lending a helping hand in this huge community event.To round off the hectic month FFA members have numerous events planned to honor National FFA Week on February 21st-27th. FFA is proud to be the largest student lead organization with more

www.progressiverancher.com

than 500,000 members nationally. Aside from chapter bonding activities and events at school FFA members are happy to visit elementary schools and present them with the Farm Bureau book of the year and goodies to add to our Ag awareness barn bookshelves, and animal themed reading rugs previously donated. The book of the year is presented as part of our Ag Literacy project where we help educate and raise awareness to younger generation about how and where there food goes from the farm to the table. On behalf of Churchill County FFA members we thank you for your continuous support in our program.

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 11

140 Bulls Consigned

, 2016 Friday, Februar y 19

Saturday, February 20, 2016

ng Sifting in the morni

n s Dinner/Dance

Angus

◆

bruary 19, 2016

To benefit the fight again st cancer Handlers Meeting at 7:30 a.m. Tr ial at 8:00 a.m.

Bull Sale 11:00 am

elle Churchill Co. Cowb n S Awards Presentatio and FB b Dinner: 6:30 Socia l Hour: 5:30 pm Da nce: 8:00 pm nter Fa llon Convention Ce

FBS Invitational Stoc k Dog Trial Fe

Fallon Livestock Exchange Fallon, Nevada

Cowdog Auctio

CATALOG AVAILABLE NOW!

Charolais

◆

Hereford

◆

n after the Churchill Co . Cowbelles Dinner at the Fa llon Conventi on Center

Red Angus

◆

Balancer

For more information or a sale catalog, please call the Sale Office: Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 775-738-9214 ✸ www.nevadacattlemen.org ✸ nca@nevadabeef.org 12 February 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

The BRAND of “REAL WORLD” excellence in Hereford Genetics. Proven for 38 years on the High Deserts of Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and California foothills.

Free 50 lbs. of added weight with Bell Ranch Hereford Bulls on Angus cows

View bulls at Snyder’s www.SLCNV.com

Watch for our POWERFUL consignments in 2015: Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale — February 19th and 20th Snyder’s “Bulls for the 21st Century Sale” — March 13th Also selling Private Treaty Bulls & Females

Lilla and Woodie Bell Dan and Theresa Bell (775) 578-3536 • Cell (775) 304-2157 P.O. Box 48, Paradise Valley, NV 89426 • e-mail: bellranches@gmail. Visit us on Facebook: Bell Ranch Herefords

www.bellranchherefords.com

PERFORMANCE

•

CALVING EASE

•

EFFICIENT

• HIGH ALTITUDE

5 Two-Year-Old Calving Ease & Growth Bulls at Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale Sifting: Feb. 19th •

Sale: Feb. 20th

Yearling Bulls Available at the Ranch Cattle Available at the Ranch Developed at a base elevation of 6,400 ft. in Charleston, Nevada

Featuring sons of:

• Connealy Consensus 7229 •

0100

• Baldridge Waylon W34 • TC Aberdeen 759 • SAV 8180 Traveler 004 • Coleman Charlo 054 • Sinclair Entrepreneur 8R101

ELKO, NV • 775-560-7779 • BEITIALIVESTOCK@GMAIL.COM www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

• Sinclair Timeless 88A4 February 2016 13

HONE

RANCH 3 Bulls Fallon Bull Sale Feb. 19-20, 2016

Angus Best of Breed Lot #28 at Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale 2014

Fallon Bull Sale Sire: Granger Pioneer 052 For Sale Catalog: nevadacattlemen.org

14 Bulls Snyder’s

Bulls for the 21ST Century Sale March 13, 2016

4 Bulls Midland Bull Test

Son of Granger Pioneer 052

2014 Over all Champion Bull at Snyder’s Livestock Bulls for the 21st Century Bull Sale

Sires represent all Bulls Available AAR-10-X

Connealy Black Granite, Sedgwicks Outlaw

Granger Pioneer 052 GPAR Final Answer Z10

Leadore Retail Value A89 DPL Bismarck M08

For Snyder Bull Sale Catalog: www.slcnv.com

WWW.HONERANCH.COM •

(775) 691-1838 • Gardnerville, Nevada 14 February 2016

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Raising Top Quality Polled Hereford Cattle with the range rancher in mind

2 Polled Hereford & 2 Horned Hereford Bulls Consigned to the Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale, February 20th Bulls are sired by the top 5% for carcass indexes

HAWLEY HARRISON AND SONS Clay: 208-670-1429 Heyburn, Idaho 83336 Hawley: 208-678-7931

2-year-old Polled Hereford Bulls to Fallon Bull Sale Feb 19-20 2016 Fallon NV www.progressiverancher.com

8reford Bullsr

Rive d He Polle t at Snake s le on te ll Test Sa me, ID u ro B 016 Je Grounds 2 h t ir h4 Marc County Fa e Jerom

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;15â&#x20AC;&#x192;

FUMES FROM THE FARM

By Hank Vogler

grew up in Burns, Oregon. It had a railroad that hauled finished lumber to Chicago Illinois for Edward Hines Lumber Company. About a thousand people worked in the mill or the woods and the tree harvest was mainly on federal lands. The ranching community along with farming seemed to make up the bulk of the other renewable natural resource base industry in the surrounding area. There was very little federal, state, or county employment. Today I would guess that ninety percent of the money that is in Burns is generated from some form of government program. The make up of the area mimicked most of the Western towns in the same era. Whether mining, timber or agriculture, new wealth resource industry dominated the area. The federal government controlled most of the land; but people felt that they had a proprietary interest in the land. When Theodore Roosevelt set up the original Malheur and Harney Lake refuge in 1908, it was to protect the migratory birds in the Pacific f lyway from plume hunters. There was controversy from day one. The agreement was that the refuge was not to be formed beyond the “meander” line of the lakes. The ‘environmentalists” of the day said that the meander line was artificially low because water rights had been adjudicated upstream and this made the lake smaller than it would have been prior to settling of the area. After some court decisions the line was established. People who were squatting inside of that line had to leave and that was that. In the depression years of the nineteen thirties, throughout the West, real or contrived, the federal government purchased ranch properties to “stabilize” land values? If memory serves me the Gill Cattle Company owned most of the “P Valley”. It had been originally put together along the Donner Und Blitzen River by the infamous Pete French. When the federal government purchased this land they now controlled around sixty percent of the water that flowed into the Malheur Lake which when full enough would drain through Mud Lake and ultimately into Harney Lake. The man that was chosen to manage this refuge was a forest ranger by the name of John Scharf. He was given enough of a budget to pay his salary and the salary of a secretary. The secretary was Marcus Haines. Any extra revenue for development would have to come from other sources. Mr. Scharf went far and wide to find people to put their livestock on the refuge to generate revenue. He more than once told me that nearly every year he sent money to the federal treasury he generated from renting pasture and farm ground, which was in surplus of his operating costs. He had a heck of a time at first, as people were weary of the government and at first he went all the way to Lakeview Oregon to find cattle. He also allowed the sheep people that summered on the Steen’s Mountain to put their pack string horses and mules in the refuge for free to eat the old dead grass. Eventually sixty different families used the refuge for part of the year pasturing and haying the “P Valley” Or rake-bunching hay around the lake area to supplement their private land and federal grazing permits. The cake was not even eaten at Mr. Scharf ’s retirement party when the haters showed up to destroy the refuge and all it represented. In my youth the refuge was full of wildlife both in volume and variety. Mr. Scharf starved the lake for water so much that the Dunn family at Mud Lake used to have to get the water master after him to let water onto their adjudicated water rights.

16 February 2016

The “P Valley” was irrigated and hayed and then the water was turned out to provide new green fall feed for wildlife, oh yes, and those evil cows. Mr. Scharf I believe was in his seventies when he retired and would have stayed there forever. He seemed to know what was coming. In nineteen seventy seven, a few short years after Mr. Scharf had retired, Harney County experienced one of the worst drought years ever recorded. The Silvies River was so dry that the ground cracked open so wide that the cracks remained for a year after the water was flowing again. The amazing thing was the Malheur Lake rose in elevation during that dry period. The federal refuge mainlined the water to the lake. By nineteen seventy-nine the Malheur Lake was higher than most anyone had ever seen it in the fall and much of the rake-bunch was lost in the lake area. The folks at Lawen, Oregon were seeing the devastation the worst. Neil Miller had lived there his whole life and had never seen the lake that high in the fall. I helped Don Opie with the Island Ranch dozer, push hay stacks out on the ice to salvage a little bit of the hay that he had stacked for winter feed. It was apparent that the argument over where the meander line was was back in vogue. Even though the wildlife was voting with their wings and feet to move to private land. The fern fairies just said see, we should have this private land also as the whole area is habitat for wildlife. In the early nineteen eighties, Dwight Hammond, Larry Dunn and myself went to Boise, Idaho to visit with a water engineer and a water attorney and an Idaho Congressman man met with us. Mr. Hammond and many of the people using the refuge were being pushed out by policy changes that were destroying their operations. We wanted to see if we could force the refuge to use their water so the raising of the lake would stop. The conclusion was that there was no precedent of law forcing someone to use their adjudicated water. Abandonment of rights had remedy in the courts. Using water that you were not entitled to was well documented, but nothing forcing the use of water. I believe that there are about twenty folks left on the refuge from the sixty one of days gone by still using the pasture in a much different manner and I was one of the thirty ranchers put out of the lake area by the artificial raising of the lake. One day while I was trailing my sheep to the mountains, I stopped over night at the Hammond ranch and the next day we went fishing with his kids and mine. While the kids were fishing Dwight and I sat in the grass and visited about the plight of the area ranchers. I looked at the pass between the Davis Springs and Dry Krumbo. I mentioned to Dwight that I bet he could make a ditch that would empty the water into his reservoir from the springs to help supplement his water for irrigation. My thought was that the federal government would be under the same rules as any irrigator in the country as the water did not run out of Oregon. They had abandoned their rights by allowing Krumbo reservoir to wash out year’s prior and had never put the irrigation system back. Much to my chagrin, my suggestion proved to be correct. The state engineer made a ruling and Dwight was given the water even though the feds appealed and appealed the decision. And so that is when Mr. Hammond and his family was marked for destruction by the government and it only has gotten worse as you all now know. I blame myself for their troubles as a bureaucrat scorned has his entire career to get even. Hang and Rattle! Hank Vogler

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

cabul ta l ww ma w lo vidE rk .m3G o oS Et ca nli & in tt nE G.c l : om E

r ouhE n t y S otE rday u in da tu ar jo Ew t Sabru n S fE la in 2175 Bench Rd. Vale, OR 97918 baker.baker@fmtc.com

Jerry Baker • 208.739.3449 Samuel Mahler • 208.739.0475

Genetic Excellence Sale Saturday, February 27, 1 p.m. • Vale, Oregon

Selling 140 Long-Yearling Angus Bulls – All HD50K Tested

DOB: 9-26-2014

DOB: 9-13-2014

DOB: 9-21-2014

Wilson Total Value 722 x Sitz Upward 307R

S A V Resource 1441 x Thomas Total 7983

BAKER RESOURCE 3893

BAKER WilSOn TOTAl 3885

CED BW WW YW MilK MARB RE $W $F $B +1 2.4 +57 +105 +22 +.39 +.75 +45.48 +67.80 +139.81

CED BW WW YW MilK MARB RE $W $F $B +4 +2.2 +66 +119 +32 +.05 +.82 +67.04 +89.84 +147.39

CED BW WW YW MilK MARB RE $W $F $B +8 -.9 +65 +106 +22 +.49 +.64 +63.97 +63.97 +122.57

BAKER WilSOn TOTAl 3946

Bulls Sell by These Sires and More... • • • •

S A V Resource 1141 S A V Bruiser 9164 Wilson Total Value 722 S A V Final Answer 0035

• KCF Bennett Performer • OCC Unmistakable 946U • Thomas Ultimate 1891 • Raven Power Hitter 1341

www.progressiverancher.com

• • • •

Kessler Performance 0597 Carter Onward 104 Elkington Finale 0054 Baker Pioneer 2264

Wilson Total Value 722 x S A V Pioneer 7301

Sale Manager Matt Macfarlane 916.803.3113 530.633.4184

www.m3cattlemarketing.com

The Progressive Rancher

DOB 10-13-2014

BAKER POWER HiTTER 3990

Raven Power Hitter 1341 x Morgans Direction 111 9901 CED BW WW YW MilK MARB RE $W $F $B +2 +2.6 +68 +114 +33 +.44 +.59 +72.58 +73.85 +134.62

GUEST COnSiGnOR

Mahler Cattle Co., Vale, OR

Watch and Bid Live

THD ©

February 2016 17

In the Mind of a Millennial By Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council

February seems to be a month of refocus.

e had a strong start in January with our New Year’s resolutions, but might have slipped up a bit on our health goals as the initial enthusiasm waned, and we’re trying to get back into gear. Or is that just me? Add to this the fact that February is Heart Health Month, and the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were just released with a focus on healthy dietary patterns (see more about that in this month’s Nevada Beef Council update), there are many reasons February is a month to redouble our efforts to think about health. For the Nevada Beef Council and Beef Checkoff as a whole, helping consumers—especially the millennial consumers we have talked so much about—feel more confident about beef ’s role in a healthy dietary pattern is a focus year-round. This month, instead of talking about traits and tendencies of millennial consumers (we’ll get back to that, I promise), I wanted to offer a round-up of some of the interesting things being done on a national level to promote beef with millennial consumers, all year long.

Spotlighting Influencers

Recently, the well-known “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand launched an updated version of a website landing page that spotlights different inf luencers. The newest addition focuses on ‘entertaining made easy’ and features Chris Mohr – Registered Dietitian, PhD, dad and fitness enthusiast. Like previous spotlight advocate Toby Amidor, Mohr’s role in this campaign is to provide authentic, engaging beef content to consumers from someone they trust. These inf luencers and their families are relatable and serve as real-life examples of how a variety of meal options, including beef, can have a positive and lasting effect on families. The checkoff continues to promote these spotlight landing pages through paid search, banner ads and social media.

more often. The landing page, which is promoted through Facebook, Twitter and Google Search advertising, enables consumers to sample a “tasty” array of no-recipe beef recipe videos all in one location.

Talking Beef with Children's Authors, Schools

In early January, the checkoff held an immersion experience that targeted key opinion leaders with information focused on strengthening the image of beef and the beef industry. The Children’s Literature Author Training, held Jan. 7-10 in Orlando, Florida, was designed especially for children’s book authors, with selection priority on those authors from urban or non-farm backgrounds. This year’s focus was ‘exploring life on the cattle ranch’ and included farm and ranch tours, conversation and discussion panels with farmers and ranchers, connecting them with food-production folks nationwide at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention. Coming up in March, another opportunity to engage with key influencers will take place at the Science Curriculum Coordinator Training, slated for March 28-30 in Nashville as a pre-conference event of the National Science Teacher’s Association annual convention. Science Curriculum Coordinators, who typically work at a district level and oversee multiple science teachers, will be treated to an immersion experience that explores how science is applied in the beef industry. These are just a sampling of interesting things being done to keep healthy beef on everyone’s menu, no matter the time of year. To learn more, visit www.mybeefcheckoff.org, or www.nevadabeef.org. Jill Scofield is Director of Producer Relations for the Nevada and California Beef Councils. You Jill Scofield, Nevada Beef Council can reach her at jill@calbeef.org.

Connecting with Millennials Knowing just how much millennials want to get information and educational resources from people “like them”, the checkoff has not only added the inf luencer spotlight noted above, but the f lagship “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” social media pages are also connecting audiences with inf luencers like Mohr. Mohr has teamed up with the checkoff to provide inspiring and healthful recipes. He also helps the checkoff share the beef tips that he finds most helpful, like getting your little ones involved in meal preparations. The checkoff has grown its Facebook fan base to nearly 1 million likes and its Twitter fans to nearly 18,000 followers and will continue to reach these growing groups of consumers through social media by leveraging inf luencers to show their love for beef and how it fits into a healthy diet.

Showcasing 'No-Recipe Recipe' videos If you are connected on Facebook or other social media sites, you’ve probably seen those quick and easy recipe videos that make preparation of various foods look extremely easy, and extremely delicious. The checkoff has created own series of videos, showcasing things like how to prepare the perfect grilled steak, or how to make a kid-friendly pizza extra-nutritious. The Beef ItsWhatsforDinner.com website recently introduced a new landing page that helps consumers answer these and other frequently asked questions. These quick “no-recipe recipe” videos provide a simple and easy way for consumers to identify new and creative ways to prepare beef, inspiring them to cook with beef 18 February 2016

Thinking l r i g w o C Gun control is a good idea for those who would harm other people illegally... for me I'll keep my gun on my hip... it looks good... and protects me. With my gun and using my brains, I can protect my private property rights I acquired by the signing of “ The United States Constitution and all it includes.’’

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;19â&#x20AC;&#x192;

CHECKOFF NEWS: By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations

Dietary Guidelines Keep Meat on the Menu

n early January, the much-anticipated 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) were released by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA. Following years of planning, research and discussions with nutritionists and medical professionals, the final guidelines affirmed the role of lean beef in a healthy diet and confirmed that Americans are, on average, consuming meat, including beef, at levels consistent with the guidelines. Overall, the message is a good one for beef-lovers: Americans can feel good about balancing their diet with beef. The Dietary Guidelines, which can play a key role in helping people build healthier diets, emphasize the importance of choosing healthy dietary patterns. The Nevada Beef Council (NBC) and national Beef Checkoff program continue to focus on helping people understand that beef can play a very important role in a healthy diet, with the Dietary Guidelines being just one piece of that conversation. “The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have a lot of good news for our industry,” states James Winstead, RDN and Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for the NBC. “In addition to including lean beef as an optimal protein Americans should include in their diets, the guidelines also emphasize the importance of healthy eating as a whole. However, it’s important to remember that guidelines are just that – guidelines. They are not one-size-fits-all prescriptions. For the NBC, educating both consumers and nutrition experts about the role beef can play in a healthy dietary pattern continues to be a priority.” One thing the DGA acknowledge is that Americans have different dietary needs, and they can vary widely based on factors such as age, gender, and level of physical activity. They also note that healthy dietary patterns can be f lexible in terms of carbohydrate, protein and fat intake, and suggest that some people may benefit from consuming higher levels of protein because of its positive role in weight management, healthy aging and disease prevention.

What’s more, as stated in the Dietary Guidelines, lean beef is a nutrient-rich food, which is one reason why health professionals have recommended lean beef for decades. People who enjoy beef can easily add a variety of lean beef cuts to their diet. There are 38 cuts of beef that now meet government guidelines for lean, including some of America’s favorite cuts like sirloin steak and lean ground beef. It can also be helpful, and eye-opening, to point out the high-quality nutrients beef provides when compared with other foods. For example: • It would take 7.5 servings of skinless chicken breast (a total of 1,050 calories) to get the same amount of Vitamin B12 as is in a 3-ounce serving of lean beef with 154 calories. • It would also take 13.5 servings of salmon, with 2,363 calories, to get the zinc content that’s in 3 ounces of lean beef. • What’s more, it would take 6.5 cups of raw spinach to get the amount of vitamin B6 in 3 ounces of lean beef. That’s a lot of green! Learn More About Your Checkoff and Beef Nutrition There are a variety of helpful tools to keep you informed of both Checkoff and NBC-related activities, and offer insight on beef nutrition: • Visit us at www.nevadabeef.org or www.mybeefcheckoff.org. • Check out Beefitswhatsfordinner.com, which features a robust section on beef nutrition. • Visit www.beefnutrition.org which features additional nutrition information, including various studies and research.

Promoting Beef as Part of a Healthy, Balanced Diet

he NBC, along with the national Beef Checkoff, will continue to provide nutritional meal solutions, relevant health information, and tips for how beef supports a healthy diet. As you talk with neighbors, friends, or consumers about beef’s nutritional information, keep in mind there are a number of helpful resources to guide you in these conversations. First and foremost, the NBC has a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist on staff, and can answer your questions about specific beef nutrition issues. Simply e-mail him your nutrition questions at james@calbeef.org. Additionally, there are a few brief nutrition messages that are helpful for all of us to keep in mind. For example, help reassure people that the delicious beef they love is also a key component of a healthy, balanced diet by sharing that a 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides several essential nutrients in about 150 calories - including many nutrients like high-quality protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins that are critical for development and optimal health throughout life.

For more about the Nevada Beef Council, visit www.nevadabeef.org. 20 February 2016

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Farmer's Market Vegetable, Beef & Brown Rice Salad

From James Winstead, RDN, Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for the Nevada Beef Council

As they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This month, we’re featuring a heart- healthy recipe from the Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet study (BOLD), which confirms that old saying as a scientific fact! The BOLD study showed you can lower your bad blood cholesterol levels by consuming lean beef in a diet that is also rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Additionally, this recipe fits into the new 2015 Dietary Guidelines, making it an ideal healthy meal. For more information on the BOLD study, or other beef nutrition notes, visit www. beefnutrition.org Total Recipe Time: 50 minutes Total Marinade Time: 6 hours or overnight • 1 top round steak, cut 3/4 inch thick (about 1 pound) • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 2 cups asparagus pieces (2-inch pieces) • 1 medium yellow squash, cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices • 3 cups hot cooked brown rice • 1 cup diced, seeded tomatoes • 1 cup canned garbanzo beans, rinsed, drained • 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced • 1/2 teaspoon salt Marinade: • 1/4 cup olive oil • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • 1 tablespoon honey • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper Instructions 1. Combine marinade ingredients in small bowl. Place beef steak and 1/4 cup marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steak to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight. Reserve remaining marinade in refrigerator for dressing. 2. Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade. Place steak on rack in broiler pan so surface of beef is 2 to 3 inches from heat. Broil 12 to 13 minutes for medium rare (145°F) doneness, turning once. Remove; keep warm. 3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add asparagus and squash; cook and stir 7 to 8 minutes or until tender. Toss with rice, tomatoes, beans, basil, salt and reserved marinade in large bowl.

4. Carve steak into thin slices. Serve over rice salad.

Recipe and photo from The Healthy Beef Cookbook, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Nutrition information per serving: 514 calories; 15 g fat (3 g saturated fat; 8 g monounsaturated fat); 61 mg cholesterol; 593 mg sodium; 6 g carbohydrate; 7.3 g fiber; 36 g protein; 8.6 mg niacin; 1.1 mg vitamin B6; 1.5 mcg vitamin B12; 5.9 mg iron; 50.8 mcg selenium; 7 mg zinc. This recipe is an excellent source of fiber, protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc. For more great beef recipes, visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 21

NEVADANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR SECOND AMENDMENT LICENSE PLATE

By Don Turner

Nevadans Select Founding Fathers Themed Design in a 2nd Amendment License Plate Contest

AS VEGAS – The Nevada Firearms Coalition announced Thursday that Nevadans will soon be able to display their support for the 2nd Amendment with a specialty license plate honoring the Minutemen and militias that fought to defend our freedoms, including the right to bear arms, in the American Revolution. The design was one of four submitted in a contest hosted by the Nevada Firearms Coalition. The group intends to move forward with the selected design, and present it as a specialty license plate to the Nevada DMV. The winning license plate was submitted by Nevada State Senator Don Gustavson and created by his son, Don Gustavson II. Senator Gustavson introduced the law that allowed for this license plate in the 2015 Nevada Legislature. “I’m thrilled with the design choice,” said Don Turner, Nevada Firearms Coalition President. “We can’t wait to bring this proposal to the DMV to get the process started, and eventually see these license plates on roads across our great state.”

Deadline approaches for compliance with totalizing meter installation in the Humboldt River Basin

The winning design is pictured here. “I would like to thank everybody for their participation in the submission of the different designs and for those of you that voted in the contest,” said Senator Don Gustavson. “With your continued support, we will be able to train many Nevadans in the safe use of firearms.” The Nevada Firearms Coalition raised over $5,000 during the contest, which is the cost to propose a specialty license plate to the DMV. These specialty plates won’t immediately become available due to the DMV license plate waiting list and approval process. Those interested in receiving updates can sign up for the Nevada Firearms Coalition newsletter HERE. You can support this organization’s efforts to expand the Second Amendment in Nevada HERE. For more information about the license plate contest and the Nevada Firearms Coalition, contact Don Turner at don@ NVFAC.org or visit www.NVFAC.org.

STATE OF NEVADA NEWS RElease

Released by State of Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources By Jenny Ramella

ARSON CITY, NV – In response to the concerns of water users within the Humboldt River Basin Hydrographic Region, in 2015 the Nevada State Engineer issued orders requiring the installation of totalizing meters for all groundwater rights (with exceptions) within the Humboldt River Basin Hydrographic Region by February 1, 2016. The orders required that by no later than February 1, 2016, the water right holder must report on a form obtained from the Nevada Division of Water Resources’ website water.nv.gov, to the Nevada State Engineer that the totalizing meter has been installed. On September 1, 2015, the Nevada State Engineer mailed out to all groundwater right holders on record with his office an informational letter detailing the requirements of the totalizing meter orders (http://water. nv.gov/HumboldtRiver/Humboldt_Info_Letter.pdf ). The orders require that all groundwater right holders install meters, with the exception of domestic wells, stock water wells and any permitted water rights with an annual 22 February 2016

withdrawal of 5 acre-feet or less. If there are any questions on this matter, please contact the Nevada Division of Water Resources at (775) 684-2800. The purpose for requiring totalizing meters is to accurately determine the amount of groundwater pumped within the Humboldt River Basin Hydrographic Region. The information obtained from the reporting of the totalizing meter readings will assist the Nevada Division of Water Resources in evaluating claims of impacts to existing water rights within the subject area and to ensure the proper management of the Humboldt Region’s limited water resources. The mission of the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR) is to conserve, protect, manage and enhance the State’s water resources for Nevada’s citizens through the appropriation and reallocation of the public waters. Visit the Division of Water Resources’ website at water.nv.gov to review the orders, the informational letter and to retrieve the necessary form or call (775) 684-2800 to request the form by mail or for any other assistance and questions.

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February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;23â&#x20AC;&#x192;

â&#x20AC;&#x192;24â&#x20AC;&#x192;February 2016

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NRRC Accepting Proposals and Setting Priorities at

Upcoming Meeting

Nevada Ranchers Caretakers of our

Rangelands

By Rachel Buzzetti

Cowboys and sheepherders produce food and fiber for the nation. Growing food on Open range is a natural biological process.

ach year the Nevada Rangeland Resource Commission (NRRC) meets and sets their budget priorities for the upcoming year. This year the Commission will meet March 1, 2016 in Winnemucca and listen to proposals relating to projects on marketing, advertising, and/or communication of public land ranching. The application for funding includes a brief description, a proposed budget, timeline, and who the targeted audience will be. The applications for funding are available on the NRRC’s website and are due by February 19th. The NRRC is governed by a commission of nine voting members. These members are nominated through each of the grazing boards, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, Nevada Woolgrowers and the Farm Bureau; then appointed by the Governor. The NRRC has one part-time staff person. Please if you would like to make a proposal, e-mail us for an application for funding at NRRC08@yahoo.com. or get it from our website at www.nevadarangelands.org

Grazing actually benefits the land with hoof action and natural fertilization. Plants are healthier and regenerate faster after the herds move to a new range. Antelope and other game animals and birds take advantage of the improvements

Grazing cattle and sheep coexist peacefully with native wildlife and, in fact, make a friendlier habitat for many species.

Sheep often graze on steep terrain and can control cheatgrass, a major fuel for wildfires. Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission was created by the State of Nevada to promote responsible public land grazing. Representatives come from Nevada state grazing boards, Nevada Woolgrowers, Nevada Farm Bureau, and Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

4780 East Idaho Steet, Elko, NV 89801 • 775-738-4082 WWW.NEVADARANGELANDS.ORG

This ad is funded through the NRRC’s assessment of 10 cents an AUM paid by public land ranchers.

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February 2016 25

IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE UNR MEAT CENTER

ast December, the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, presented to the public the new Meat Science Laboratory in the ANVS department. The new lab will be used for teaching, research, and extension. Students will be able to learn technical procedures by using state of art equipment in a high research activity environment. Additionally, the new meat lab is the core of the UNR Meat Center (UNRMC), which also counts with three more collaborating laboratories located in the main UNR campus. Although the initial goal of the center is to help Nevada meat producers to improve their systems, all services will also be offered nationwide to meat processors, pharmaceutical companies, universities, animal feed producers, commercial feedlots, and other entities at competitive prices compared to other universities and research centers. Services provided by the UNRMC will include carcass data collection such as fat thickness, ribeye area, %KPH, hot carcass weight, post mortem pH, and estimated USDA Yield and Quality Grades, and laboratory services such as objective tenderness, color stability, palatability, fat melting point, and cooking loss. Other advanced tests such as lipid oxidation and fatty acid analysis will also be offered according to the collaborating labs schedules. For local producers who harvest their animals at Wolf Pack meats in Reno, NV, no additional transportation fees will be charged. Data and sample collection outside of Reno/Sparks area will incur additional fees. However, producers can also send samples directly to UNRMC by using courier delivery services companies such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Carcass data collection will be performed 24 h post-mortem at the harvest plant. For lab analysis, samples must be sent to the UNRMC, where they will be aged for 14 days prior to the tests. Data generated by the Meat Center will allow meat producers and private companies to understand how their feeding practices, animal health management, and genetics of their animals can directly influence carcass characteristics, meat composition, color stability, tenderness, and palatability. Through the data provided by UNRMC, producers and private companies will be able to monitor the performance of their herd. Consequently, it will be possible to improve their livestock by eliminating practices that did not achieve expected results or by replacing bulls or heifers (if using A.I.) to obtain a better source of genetics. Additional information will be available at the UNR meat science website: http://www.cabnr. unr.edu/meatscience/. The UNR Meat Center will start offering the services in February. Feel free to contact us at: horizons@cabnr. unr.edu.

26 February 2016

THE E.COLI STRIKES BACK CHIPOTLE, COSTCO, WHO IS NEXT?

Two recent E. coli outbreaks challenged the food safety programs of two wellknown companies in the U.S. A wide media coverage exposed Chipotle to a very delicate situation questioning its food safety standards and trustability of its suppliers. Public health officials were not able to identify a specific food item that led to the outbreak, however the strain linked to this event was identified as E. coli O26. The outbreak, began in October, infected 53 people in nine states, and made Chipotle closes 43 restaurants in Washington and Oregon for a deep cleaning. More recently, Costco faced the worst food safety episode in its history. An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to a chicken salad product sickened 19 people in seven states. In this case, differently than Chipotle, investigations showed that a mixture of diced celery and onions, from a California-based wholesaler (Taylor Farms Pacific Inc.), was the affected ingredient. Costco immediately pulled their chicken salad from shelves. Simultaneously, Taylor Farms recalled many products containing celery from stores across the country. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, released a list of other stores that were potentially affected by Taylor Farms products E. coli is commonly found in cattle, which serves as primary reservoir for serotypes considered high risk for public health. Contamination of vegetables in farms usually occurs by using contaminated manure or infected irrigation water captured from creeks, rivers, streams, lakes, or ground water adjacent to cattle production areas. However, in 2014, 55% of all E. coli outbreaks were associated to beef consumption. Carcasses can potentially be contaminated during slaughter and processing if bacteria is present on hides or digestive tract. When present in the gastrointestinal tract, bacteria may be widely disseminated in the environment and contaminate animal hides. Steps such as dehiding and evisceration play an important role in bacteria dissemination. Direct contact with hide, airborne dispersion of fecal particles, or accidental exposure to intestinal content during evisceration, can result in cross contamination and increased prevalence in meat products.

A NEVADA INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE FOOD SAFETY

The Nevada Food Safety Task Force (NFSTF) and the College of Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) combined forces to bring to the state an important workshop funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The workshop entitled “Managing the Risk of E. coli O157:H7 and Other Shiga ToxinProducing Escherichia coli (STECs) in Beef Products” was conceptualized by the University of Nebraska and addresses preventive measures that can be applied in small beef processing operations, retail, and food service. The workshop accurately approaches Nevada’s reality, a state where small custom beef plants and food service are predominant. The workshop is scheduled to happen with the NFSTF annual meeting in Las Vegas, from April 26th to 28th. The workshop will happen on 28th at the Southpoint Casino and will be conducted by professors from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of Georgia, and University of Nevada, Reno. Topics that will be discussed in the workshop will include E. coli characteristics and measures to eliminate and control cross contamination. For more information, access: www.nfstf.com.

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February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;27â&#x20AC;&#x192;

God traded His Son for the world so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Good trade for all of us! Thank you Father! Jesus gave His life for us so that we could be back in right standing with the Father; back in the blessing; back to the earthly dominion and using the authority of His name. We are more than conquerors through Christ our Lord! (Romans 8:37) The greatest exchange of all - He paid the price we couldn’t pay. He who knew no sin, took our sins to the cross. Thank you Jesus for the great exchange!!! ‘

Scripture reading: Romans chapter 8.

Happy trails. May God richly bless you. We love you and would love to hear from you. If you would like someone to pray with or just have a question, please give us a call at (775)867-3100. ‘Til next time….

The Great Exchange

by Pastor Diana Gonzalez

reat exchanges are a fun thing to think about as you drink your morning coffee. Horse trades come to mind. Bulls are traded for hay, cows for horses or horses for cash. It’s interesting how God made us with different talents and abilities that come down our family bloodlines. Man, until recently, always needed and used horses. From the very refined buggy horse to the feather legged draft horse. They were all very necessary to man’s life. There were war horses, chariot horses, pack horses and in latter days, very pleasurable cow horses. So, one can see that with the necessity of the horse that inevitably, the bloodlines for the “horse trader” developed. Those bloodlines ran strong down through the years until the last century when man started making nasty, smoking, greasy and smelly tractors and trucks. Hands that should be handling cinches and ropes, now have to handle grease guns and wrenches. Instead of cussing that hard to catch horse, ranch folks now kick and swear at balers, chain saws and ditch pumps. From rodeer to gears. But, just because the use for horses went down, it doesn’t’ mean we don’t feed a lot of useless ones that graze in their pastures as they watch the rancher run up and down his fields in the latest new fangled machine. So the horse came out better in this deal than the horse trader! So, what does a frustrated, line bred horse trader do now? There’s still a few around, but you’ll see them disguised as car or equipment dealers, cow traders, real estate agents, auctioneers, cowboys with war bags full of bits and spurs; breeders of purebred cows. If you were to ask, many of them would be feeding 2-5 nearly useless horses with 1 or 2 for sale at all times. Yes, the wonderful, all day horse trade is nearly gone. But I still have memories of many great horse trades. My favorite person to trade with was my aunt. You could be sure that the trade would take most of the day before we were both convinced we had cheated one another, but in the meantime, we had a good visit. I may get a free meal and she may get some free day labor. I always felt I had earned my horse trading badge when I got the best of my aunt in a deal. Looking back, I realize she always came out better because she got cattle and I got horses! So, what’s horse trading got to do with the church? Nothing really, but some of the most important great exchanges were in the Bible. The worst trade ever was made by Adam. Adam traded the dominion and the blessing that God gave him in Genesis 1:26-28 for the curse that came by his disobedience, thus handing man’s earthly authority over to the devil. See Genesis 3. In Judges chapter’s 13-16 we see Samson, a Nazerite (a person consecrated and separated unto the Lord; one who abstained from strong drink, who never cut his hair or went near a dead body) going about doing whatever he pleased, going after whoever he pleased. He was casual with his gift, his anointing. (Judges 13:25, 14:6, 14:19 and 16:28). He traded his strength for weakness, thus he lost his freedom and his eyes. Bad trade! His moral weakness led to his downfall. David, a man after God’s own heart, traded his right standing with God for a beautiful woman belonging to one of his faithful soldiers. (II Samuel chapter 11). Bad trade! 28 February 2016

Orders of possible curtailment of the use of supplemental irrigation water rights in Smith & Mason Valleys

By JoAnn Kittrell

ARSON CITY, Nev. – On October 28, 2015, the State Engineer issued Orders Nos. 1267 and 1268 establishing the predicted surface water conditions on the Walker River that will result in a required curtailment of the pumping of supplemental groundwater irrigation water rights for the 2016 irrigation season in Smith Valley and Mason Valley. The purpose of these prospective orders is to protect existing water rights and wells, protect the physical integrity of the aquifer, and protect the long-term water supply. The State Engineer will take into account April 2016 forecast predictions for surface water flows on the Walker River in determining the amount of curtailment for 2016, should curtailment prove to be needed. The State Engineer believes these orders are necessary as Nevada is currently experiencing a fourth year of serious drought conditions with extremely low flows in its major rivers, including the Walker River. This low flow on the Walker River has resulted in unprecedented groundwater pumping, reduced aquifer recharge, water level declines and unsustainable depletion of the groundwater aquifer in the basins. There have been reports of well failures, and there is a likelihood of basinwide well failures of shallow wells if the drought continues and no action is taken. In order to address the drought conditions and related groundwater pumping, the State Engineer held workshops in Smith Valley and in Yerington in both July and August to discuss the conditions of the basins, necessity for action and proposed draft orders curtailing groundwater pumping and hearings on those proposed orders. On October 5, 2015, and on October 7, 2015, hearings were held in Carson City on the proposed orders for curtailment of supplemental groundwater irrigation water rights in the basins. Information regarding these workshops and hearings is available at the Nevada Division of Water Resources website at water. nv.gov on the General News page under “Walker River Curtailment.” The direct link is http://water.nv.gov/walkerriver/walkerriver.cfm). Lists of affected water rights are also available on this webpage. Copies of Orders 1267 and 1268 may be obtained at water.nv.gov or by contacting the Nevada Division of Water Resources. The Nevada Division of Water Resources conserves, protects, manages and enhances the state’s water resources for Nevada’s citizens through the appropriation and reallocation of the public waters. Water Resources is a division within the Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

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Allie Bear

Real Estate

DC Meeting Sheds Light On Nation’s Equality Problem american lands

esterday’s meeting, sponsored by The Heritage Foundation, Federalism in Action and the American Lands Council, in Washington DC was a great success. Numerous organizations and media outlets participated and heard from some of the nation’s leading experts on how our public lands play into our states’ ability...or inability to have an equal footing with the other states. If you were not able to join us, you can watch the recorded meeting on Heritage.org. This short presentation by constitutional expert, Ronald Rotunda, explains how many Americans are unaware that the federal estate constitutes a majority of the land area in Western states. Over 90 percent of all federally controlled land is located in the West, with roughly one out of every two acres managed by federal bu-

Ronald Rotunda reaucrats. We are told that this is to preserve the environment, benefit local economies, and protect public recreation. Instead, the result has been polluted air, decimated wildlife and water supplies, depressed economies, unsafe communities, and blocked recreational opportunities. Utah’s Legislature commissioned a landmark legal study on the transfer of public lands to the state that concludes there is no constitutional authority for the federal government to permanently retain these lands. A recent study by the Property & Environment Research Center discloses that the federal government loses $0.27 per dollar spent managing public lands while states gain a positive $14.51 per dollar spent managing public lands. Yesterday’s discussion focused on a real solution big enough for an environmental, economic and constitutional renaissance in America – #FreeTheLands.

Spec ializing in hunting, ranching, and horse properties 17 D iamondback Place (Spring Creek, NV)

3.95 acres — Plenty of acreage for a horse pasture or 4H animals. 5 bed, 2 bath home with 3-car attached garage. Barn and large indoor arena with power and water to both. NEW PRICE $299,900

Recanzone Ranch (Paradise Valley, NV)

Great subdivision potential 9 parcels and can be divided into more. Neat 900+ acres, 300 AUMs, ranch right by town. Original Sandstone House. Easy access to Hinkey Summit & surrounding mountains. Includes Barn, Outbuildings and Corrals. $1,320,000

Starr Valley Pasture Unique fenced 1,104 acres on Boulder Creek bordering U.S. Forest Service in Starr Valley, Nevada. Water-righted with nice meadows. $1,400,000

Howell Ranch

Nevada Division of Water Resources measuring water levels in Nevada wells February through March

Nestled on the hillsides of the East Humboldts in Elko County. Water-righted meadows produce 1200 average ton of hay a year. 4 homes with mature landscape. Multiple barns, shops, storages, chutes & corrals. $5,000,000

Clear Creek Ranch South of Winnemucca, Nevada. Approx. 10,000 Deeded Acres & approx. 740 irrigated acres, Ranch Manager’s home & equipment yard. Log Cottage.

By Mark Beutner

701 Forest Tow Way

ARSON CITY, Nev. – Beginning the middle of February and continuing into March, staff from the Nevada Division of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer, will be measuring groundwater levels in wells throughout various hydrographic basins in the state. The data collection is part of an ongoing effort to assess hydrologic conditions throughout Nevada. Division staff will be measuring water levels primarily in irrigation and stock wells. Contact Mark Beutner at 775-6842821 for more information. Water level measurements may be reviewed at http://water.nv.gov/data/ waterlevel/.

(North of Elko, NV)

45+ Acres. 3 bed, 2 bath, large garage with shop, fenced yard with mature trees, shrubs. $265,000

60 Pete Hendri chs Road (Yerington, NV)

Beautiful farm with many amenities. 2 beautiful homes, 146 acres with water rights. Newer 5 stall MD horse barn, large shop, dog kennels, horse corrals, roping arena, round corral, cutting pen. $1,350,000

9320 Mountain City Hwy (North of Elko, NV)

157+ Acres with water rights 3 bed, 2 bath, 4 car garage, large barn, stalls, tack room, corrals, round pen, fenced/cross fenced. $399,000

View complete liﬆings at:

www.ARanchBroker.com

775-738-8535 Allie Bear, Broker/Realtor 775-777-6416

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The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 29

SELLING

10 Bulls March 13, 2016

Blue Grass

Sired b

LT Blue Grass 4017P • LT Blue Vlaue 7903 ET LT Unlimited Ease 9108 • VPI Free Lunch 708T

Andreas Fusion R236 AHL About Time 1134 Becton Epic R397K Trotters Stronghold 156 LJT Citadel 812 5 are calving ease

5 are growth and power

Well adapted to a variety of terrains - from rolling hills to a mountain elevation of 4000 feet.

See these sons of at

Received no creep feed. Only what Mom and range provided for them.

SNYDER’S BULLS FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY SALE Lot No. 6901 6902 6903 6904 6906 6907 6908 6909 6911 6913 6914

Reg. No. CE BW 1506 11.2 -4.9 1507 5.3 -1.4 1508 4.1 -1 1509 7. 4 0.3 1513 7.3 -2.5 1514 6.4 1.6 1517 6.1 0 1519 4.1 - 0.9 1528 7.8 -1 1530 7.1 0.4 1531 6.2 -0.2

WW 21 29 37 29 28 29 18 39 34 38 32

YW 34 45 61 54 47 39 28 65 60 64 53

MILK MCE 9 3.9 7 - 0.7 11 6.7 9 4.8 -2 6.6 9 -1.4 7 0.6 3 2.2 7 5.3 -1 5.8 -3 6.2

MTL MARB 20 0.2 22 0.09 30 .21 24 .24 12 .12 24 .03 16 0.8 0.21 23 24 0.16 18 0.18 13 0.12

Pure Breed

For the West’s Best in Charolais Genetics Call us today

JORGENSEN RANCH Fred & Toni Jorgensen

4 BULLS AT SNYDER LIVESTOCK 21st CENTURY BULL SALE

530-865-7102 • 209-602-8130 25884 Moller Ave. • Orland, CA 95963 30 February 2016

CALVING EASE AND MATERNAL BULLS

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MARCH 13, 2016

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February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;31â&#x20AC;&#x192;

2015 Dietary Guidelines Support Lean Beef in a Healthy Diet By Chase Adams and Shawna Newsome

ASHINGTON (January 7, 2016) – The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reaffirm the role of lean beef in a healthy diet and confirm that Americans are, on average, consuming lean meat in daily amounts that are consistent with the recommendations for protein foods. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis commended HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for ensuring the final recommendations were based on the latest nutrition evidence available. Dr. Richard Thorpe, a physician and Texas cattle producer, agreed, saying he is pleased the guidelines recognize all the strong science that supports the many Americans who are looking to build a healthful diet with lean beef. “As a physician, I appreciate the Secretaries making sure the dietary guidelines are based on the latest nutrition science,” said Thorpe. “Numerous studies have shown positive benefits of lean beef in the diet, and I commonly encourage my patients to include beef in their diet to help them maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients they need to be physically active. Lean beef is a wholesome, nutrient-rich food that helps us get back to the basics of healthy eating, providing many essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein and B vitamins, with fewer calories than many plant-based sources of protein.”

32 February 2016

Updated every five years, this report serves as the foundation for federal nutrition policy and shapes the recommendations found on USDA’s MyPlate. While there is no one-size-fits-all diet, Dr. Thorpe said consumers can feel confident about putting lean beef on their plate knowing the Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans choose lean meat. Thirty-eight cuts of beef now meet government guidelines for lean, including some of America’s favorite cuts like sirloin steak and 95 percent lean ground beef. “Over the last decade or so, a significant amount of research shows that many people can lose and maintain a healthy weight, support a healthy metabolism and age more vibrantly when they consume more high-quality protein, within calorie goals,” said Thorpe. “As a physician, I see an opportunity to improve the health of Americans in all age categories by choosing nutrient rich protein foods, like lean beef, more often and by pairing them with more vegetables, fruits and whole grains.” Ellis, a Wyoming rancher, noted the changes in today’s retail meat case and said cattlemen and women provide a healthful product consumers demand. “U.S. cattle producers work each and every day to provide safe, wholesome and nutritious beef for consumers around the world,” said Ellis. “Since the first Dietary Guidelines were released in 1980, external fat on beef has decreased 81 percent and 65 percent of the most popular beef cuts sold at retail are lean, a prime example of beef producers responding to consumers’ nutritional preferences.”

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NRCS SNOW SURVEYORS GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO GET US GOOD SNOWPACK DATA

f you think agent 007 has mastered all weather, all climates and all transportation modes, meet Jeff Anderson, NRCS Nevada hydrologist, who is among a network of snow surveyors whose work in remote areas and a variety of climates can certainly rival some of 007’s greatest moments. A day at work could involve transportation by foot on snow shoes, on a snowmobile or in a helicopter, and could involve sunny skies or blistery cold, windy days in the negative temps. As a snow surveyor, his job is a mix of science, adventure and creativity. He takes snowpack and climate data and puts it into a meaningful monthly Water Supply Outlook Report from January through May. The technology used to collect the data has become sophisticated enough to where anyone can readily access hour-by-hour information. Additionally, the Nevada Water Supply Reports are posted online and emailed to subscribers the first week of each month from January through May. Not only are the reports timely, but they’re also rich in data. “The data we collect comes from about 80 SNOTEL weather stations located in the mountains across Nevada and the Eastern Sierra in California. These data are useful for a wide variety of audiences, from a farmer making cropping decisions to the news media who want to report on the latest measurements, and from water managers who use the information to determine river flows and reservoir storage, to avalanche forecasters and recreationists who want to learn about snow conditions before venturing into the backcountry,” Anderson explained. The spread of the automated snow telemetry (SNOTEL) network accounts for the dramatic increase in data. However, Anderson and other snow surveyors around the state will manually take monthly measurements as well. Anderson combines his monthly outing to the Mt. Rose SNOTEL site near Reno with a Media Day, where local and area television, print and radio outlets come out to watch and learn about snow surveying and hear the latest measurement reports. “Manual measurements provide us with a monthly snapshot of the snowpack, and we compare that with the data collected by the SNOTEL sites to ensure it continues to be accurate by comparison,” said Anderson. “In addition to snow depth and water content, which we’ve always measured, SNOTEL also measures air temperature, annual precipitation, air temperature plus the moisture level and temperature of the soil at various depths and sends it hourly to our website.” 34 February 2016

For a scientist, these datasets are incredibly useful. For an adventurer, the thrill is in data collection on mountain tops in remote locations. Flying to work offers a unique perspective of Western snowpack for sure. Back at the office, Anderson weaves the information into the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report.

WHAT’S IN A WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK REPORT?

Each month the report includes a couple pages of summarizing snowpack, precipitation, soil moisture, and reservoir storage conditions, as well as the summer streamflow forecasts that are important for Nevadans. While the information is technical, the writing is geared towards the non-scientist. Anderson says, “I strive to provide accurate information in an approachable manner. It’s the kind of information I’d imagine a farmer sharing on the phone with their son or daughter who is away at college or that you might hear skiers talking about on a chairlift. ” In the report there are also colorful maps, charts and tables that track the same conditions for specific watersheds and areas across the region.

HOW DO THINGS LOOK SO FAR?

Here is an excerpt from the January 1, 2016 report The early winter outlook for Nevada is hopeful. Above normal precipitation combined with cold temperatures produced first-rate snow from the valleys to the mountaintops in time for Christmas. Now it appears the storm door is opening again for January. Historically January is the biggest month of winter, but in recent years January has been very disappointing. A good January could unlock the path to an above average winter; something not seen since 2011 and something desperately needed to begin Nevada’s climb out of the drought. The drought monitor comparison tool shows that Nevada’s status has improved somewhat from a year ago, however more than 30% of the state remains in the extreme or exceptional drought categories. An above average winter will help fill a portion of this water deficit, but it would take a record breaking water year to solve all drought impacts in 2016 alone, which is highly unlikely.

SNOWPACK

Compared to the last couple of pathetic winters, this year is off to a great start. Valley snowfall in Reno and Elko is ahead of normal. As of the printing of the

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January Monthly Water Supply Outlook Report on Jan.1, the snowpack in the mountains is above normal, ranging from 113% of median in the Truckee Basin to 203% in the Owyhee Basin. Snowpack comparison graphs reveal that January 1 snow water already tops the maximum amount measured last winter in all areas except the Spring Mountains in Southern Nevada. Many basins have also surpassed the 2014 peak and others are within a couple storms of this mark. Early winter has been especially generous near Elko where basin snowpacks are near 200% of median. A high percent of median on January 1 is exciting, but the real goal for water supply is to reach or surpass the normal peak snow water amount. These peaks typically occur between mid-March and late-April depending on the location. The Upper Humboldt, Clover Valley, Snake and Owyhee basins are already about 70% of the way to their normal peaks with three solid months of winter to go. Comparing January 1 snow water measurements this year to those for the past 35 years using the interactive map, ranks this year in the top two to five at a number of SNOTELs in these basins. In the Ruby Mountains, Green Mountain SNOTEL is already 91% of its normal peak with 13.1 inches of snow water on the ground compared to the median peak amount of 14.4 inches on March 15. Other winters, such as 2013, have also started off strong only to turn dry and end up below normal. There is no guarantee a strong start means a strong finish. Hopefully El Niño wins the fight with the ridge of high pressure that plagued Nevada the past few winters and the snow keeps falling.

PRECIPITATION

Water year to date precipitation is also above normal statewide and gets stronger the further east in Nevada you go. Water year totals since October 1 range from 106-121% of average in the Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Carson and Walker basins to 180% of average in Eastern Nevada. Much of central Nevada has had about 150% of average precipitation since October 1. Each month this water year has been a winner with near average or better amounts. December (or should it be called “De-storm-ber”?) was the strongest with monthly amounts of 150-200% of normal for Lake Tahoe, Upper and Lower Humboldt, Clover Valley, Snake, Owyhee, Northern Great Basin and Eastern Nevada. The climate outlook for January, February and March issued on December 17 by NOAA continues to show a pattern typical of El Niño favoring above normal precipitation probabilities for the southwestern United States. This outlook holds for much of western Nevada, however the signal is not as strong for north-eastern Nevada. The temperature outlook favors warmer than normal conditions which could result in rain and high snow elevation levels, although so far this winter, temperatures have been below normal. The relatively cold and dry snow currently on the ground has room

to store (absorb and freeze) a certain amount of rain. The February, March and April climate outlook will be released on January 21.

SOIL MOISTURE

Soil moisture has improved substantially from summer lows and is above average for all basins.

RESERVOIRS

The only good news in terms of reservoir storage is that there is plenty of room to store water. That could provide water managers flexibility if flooding was to occur. After four years of drought, water storage in our region’s lakes and reservoirs is minimal. End of December storage amounts rank as some of the lowest on record. Lake Tahoe is 1.39 feet below its natural rim, equaling a storage deficit of about 169 thousand acre-feet (KAF). That’s just what is needed to get the lake back to the point where it is storing useable water—full is 6 feet higher. In the Truckee Basin, Stampede Reservoir is storing 12% of its capacity, the lowest since 1969, which is the winter following the completion of the dam. In the Carson Basin, Lahontan Reservoir is storing 12 K AF (4% of capacity), the second lowest end of December reading in the 99 years since it was constructed. Only December 31, 1931 was lower with 7.2 K AF. In the Lower Humboldt Basin, Rye Patch Reservoir’s storage has been ~5% of capacity since June 2013. The last two years have produced almost no springtime rise in Rye Patch storage— something not seen since 1958 when the NRCS data collection records begin. Down south, Lake Mead is also at a historic low.

STREAMFLOW FORECASTS

Streamflow forecasts in the Truckee, Carson and Walker basins range from 85-115% of average for the March – July period. Similar near average forecasts dominate in the Northern Great Basin, as well as for points along the Humboldt River, Franklin River, Virgin River and for Lake Powell Inflow. Forecasts range from 115-127% of average in Eastern Nevada and for tributaries in the Humboldt Basin (Mary’s River, Lamoille Creek, NF Humboldt, SF Humboldt, Rock Creek and Martin Creek). The highest forecasts are for Salmon Falls Creek (159%) and the Owyhee River near Gold Creek (175%). Keep in mind, forecast skill in January is lower than in later months. This is indicated by the large range in water volumes between the 10% and 90% exceedance forecasts. Forecasts become more accurate as the winter progresses, primarily because a greater portion of the future weather conditions become known; this increase in skill is reflected by a narrowing of the range around the 50% exceedance probability forecast.

Photo: Jeff Anderson, NRCS Nevada Hydrologist, measures snowpack at the Mt. Rose SNOTEL site during Media Day, January 4, 2016. www.progressiverancher.com

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February 2016 35

United States Department of Agriculture

• •

Agricultural Marketing Service

Building a Stronger Rural

America through Partnership, Progress and Promise

ASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2015 – This year, millions of rural businesses and families were positively impacted by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in their communities. Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a list of USDA’s top achievements in 2015, demonstrating USDA’s efforts to help farmers and ranchers bring their products to tables domestically and abroad, build critical infrastructure in America’s rural areas, conserve our nation’s natural resources through long-lasting partnerships, and continuously work toward improving the lives of all Americans. “Since 2009, USDA has focused significant and targeted investments in America’s rural communities to bring transformative change. Last year, those investments blossomed across the United States with substantial results in the burgeoning bioeconomy, an exploding local and regional food system, unparalleled investments in renewable energy, improved nutrition interventions for young people, historic partnerships in conservation and greenhouse gas reduction, and major contributions in rural infrastructure, among some. Even with challenges in 2015, including an unprecedented animal disease outbreak and lower commodity prices, America’s rural communities have proven once again that we are a nation of makers, creators and innovators, and our economy and security are stronger because of it. As we look to 2016, USDA will continue to seek out new and innovative ways to expand opportunity for America’s farming families and rural communities,” said Vilsack. USDA invites all Americans to take a look back at 2015 through our archived In Case You Missed It series. Posted weekly, the In Case You Missed It report tells the stories of rural Americans who are working to meet ever-changing challenges, paving the way to empower future leaders to meet the world’s growing food, fuel and fiber needs, and continuously adapting and evolving to ensure American agriculture remains a leader throughout the world. Here is a list of USDA’s top outcomes in 2015:

Agriculture and Trade •

• •

Delivered nearly $200 million to help poultry producers recover, and spent nearly $1 billion total in response to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. Achieved $139.7 billion of agricultural exports, the third-best year on record. Ensured passage of Trade Promotion Authority, and helped to complete negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Enrolled 1.76 million farmers in the new Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs by conducting an unprecedented educational campaign. The program has provided $4.8 billion in financial help to more than 900,000 farms that experienced a $20 billion drop in revenues during 2015. Helped 6,600 small, underserved and new farmers obtain credit through popular microloan program (16,000 since 2013), with 70% issued to new farmers. The Value Added Producer Grant program, one of our most successful and effective drivers in helping agricultural producers grow their businesses, had another strong year, awarding $43.9 million for 363 grants that assisted 2,659 businesses and 2,548 farmers.

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• • •

Announced that Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Insurance will be available in every county in 2016. Supported nearly 10,000 farms and ranches, food entrepreneurs and communities through local food-related projects. Over 6,000 farmers markets and direct-marketing farmers are now authorized to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, more than five times the number in 2009. Between FY09 and FY14, USDA invested more than $800 million in more than 29,100 local and regional food businesses and infrastructure projects. As a result of our support, the market for local food has grown to an estimated $11.7 billion in 2014 from $5 billion in 2008. Reached a record 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States. Developed the first Process Verified Program claim for non-GMO/GE food products. Launched www.usda.gov/newfarmers, an interactive web tool designed to connect new farmers with programs and resources.

Anti-Poverty Efforts and Nutrition • • •

•

Launched 10 employment and training pilot projects to help SNAP participants find and keep gainful employment. Announced 97% of schools successfully meet the updated, science-based nutrition standards for school meals under Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act. Reached more than 8.1 million kids with healthy meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Total breakfast participation increased by more than 3 million students since 2008. CEP has been successfully implemented in over 14,000 schools and has led to a 9% increase in school breakfast participation and 5% increase in school lunch. USDA’s StrikeForce initiative has expanded to include 880 counties, parishes, boroughs, and census areas in 21 states and Puerto Rico. In 2015, in StrikeForce target areas, USDA partnered with more than 1,000 organizations to support 56,600 projects that directed more than $7.5 billion in investments to the poorest places in rural America. Named first 10 rural and tribal communities to participate in Rural IMPACT demonstration programs. Rural IMPACT helps communities adopt a two-generation approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable children and parents, with the goal of increasing parents’ employment and education and improving the health and well-being of children and families. In partnership with the University of Kentucky, announced establishment of the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington to reduce child food insecurity in states with the highest number of persistently poor rural counties. In 2015, USDA and our partners served 190.6 million meals to low-income children during the summer months when school meals are not available. Since the summer of 2009, USDA has increased the number of summer meals served by 16.1% . Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, USDA has served a total of 1.2 billion summer meals.

Cost Savings and Process Improvements •

Achieved $1.4 billion in savings, efficiencies, and cost avoidances since 2012 and saved more than 290,000 USDA staff hours through signature process improvements in the past year alone.

Climate Change • •

Announced 10 Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry, which, by 2025, will reduce net emissions and enhance carbon sequestration by the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road. USDA and EPA set the first-ever national food waste reduction goal of 50 percent by 2030 in an effort to reduce the amount of wasted food in landfills producing methane emissions that fuel climate change.

Global Food Security •

Feed the Future reached nearly 19 million households and helped nearly 7 million farmers gain access to new tools and technologies. New data demonstrate that, through Feed the Future and other U.S. Government efforts,

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•

childhood stunting rates have declined in Ethiopia, Ghana, and parts of Kenya by between 9 and 33 percent in recent years, while areas in Uganda have seen a 16 percent drop in poverty. In 2015, the McGovern-Dole Program benefitted 2.5 million children in Africa and Central America.

Conservation and Forestry •

•

• • • •

•

Through an unprecedented voluntary conservation effort with landowners, the greater sage-grouse no longer needs Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Increased the pace and scale of forest restoration by nine percent since 2011 and increased timber harvest by 18 percent since 2008, despite record droughts, longer wildfire seasons, and the increasing percentage of the budget spent fighting wildland fires. In 2015, 2.87 billion board feet were harvested and sold. USDA’s overall investment in drought disaster relief and long term conservation practices exceeded $1.2 billion in 2015. Provided $3 million in funding to support the development of tall wood demonstration projects in New York and Portland, Oregon. Leveraged $800 million to 115 high-impact conservation projects across the nation through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. As of September 2015, 24.2 million acres were enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP also is protecting more than 170,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, enough to go around the world 7 times. This year marks the 30th anniversary of CRP. Since 1985, the program has sequestered an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road; prevented 9 billion tons of soil from erosion, enough to fill 600 million dump trucks; and reduced nitrogen and phosphorous runoff by 95 and 85 percent, respectively. USDA invested $20.5 million through the Conservation Innovation Grants program for 45 projects, including efforts to increase habitat for pollinators, develop new ways to attract private investment in natural resource conservation, give agricultural producers greater access to greenhouse gas markets, and help farmers and ranchers make their operations more resilient to climate change. Independent study by Mississippi State University found efforts to create migratory bird habitat on more than 470,000 acres in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill provided significant benefits to ducks, geese and other birds. Following the spill, USDA worked with farmers and landowner to create wetlands and winter habitat for migratory birds. Invested $30 million this year in 33 new projects and 40 existing projects to improve water quality in high priority watersheds the Mississippi River Basin.

•

Food Safety • • •

•

• • • •

Made available $100 million in grant funds, with matching funds from state and private partners, which will provide $210 million to nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply American-made renewable fuels, such as E15 and E85. Issued a report that examines and quantifies the effect of America’s biobased products industry from an economics and jobs perspective. The report notes that in 2013 alone, that industry contributed four million jobs and $369 billion to the U.S. economy. The BioPreferred Program now has more than 14,000 biobased products listed in its online catalog and, to date, more than 2,400 products are certified to use the BioPreferred label. USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program provided 1,945 projects with a total of $82.9 million in grants and $161.2 million in loan guarantees, the largest funding level in the history of the program. Made one conditional commitment through the 9003 program to a biorefinery in New Orleans. Through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, USDA provided assistance to 890 growers on 49,000 acres for costs associated with harvesting

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Developed the first-ever Salmonella standard for chicken parts, which will reduce illnesses by about 50,000 annually. Unveiled a National Action Plan designed to advance the appropriate use of antibiotics in food animals and promote collaborations among partners in medicine, veterinary medicine, and public health. Launched the Foodkeeper App, which helps reduce food waste by showing users how to store foods properly and reminding them to use items before they are likely to spoil.

Rural Development •

• • •

Made the first investments through the $10 billion Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund and the first Rural Business Investment Company, both launched in 2014. Established two additional RBICs in 2015. Provided new or improved high-speed internet access to nearly 6 million rural Americans through investments made by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Announced $3.4 billion in funding to build or improve more than 15,277 miles of transmission and distribution lines for rural electric cooperatives and utilities, including $134 million in Smart Grid Technology. Funded $1.8 billion in Community Facilities projects over the course of fiscal year 2015. Since 2009, USDA has awarded $9.7 billion under its Community Facilities programs, including $4.9 billion for 1,052 health care projects; $266 million for improvements to 206 public schools; $133 million for 555 libraries; $39 million for 240 day care centers; and $791 million to support 4,876 public safety facilities in rural areas. Through investments made through its Community Facilities programs, over the past two years, USDA has provided more than $213 million to support 80 rural mental health facility projects in 34 states.

Research • •

Energy and Bioeconomy •

and transporting agriculture or forest residues to facilities that convert biomass crops into energy. Research projects funded through NIFA’s Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) is leading to the development of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass. Projects include a grant to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in Findlay, Ohio, which is working to use remaining plant residue from the guayule shrub for rubber production.

•

Supported the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research in its effort to provide awards to support the next generation of agricultural scientists. In 2015, USDA’s intramural researchers executed 35 licenses, issued 73 patents, filed 114 patent applications, and released 50 new cultivars and enhanced germplasm lines. USDA’s funding to extramural entities in 2015 led to 20 new issued patents, seven plant variety protections, 11 patent cooperation treaty applications, 36 non-provisional patent applications and 22 provisional applications. Transformative innovations that can be found in USDA’s 2014 Technology Transfer Report include: Procedures to remove up to 98-percent of the allergens from peanuts without affecting the flavor; A portable method for identifying harmful bacteria in food that could improve the response to foodborne illness outbreaks; A new soil nitrogen test that rapidly and inexpensively determines the total amount of nitrogen in the soil that is available to a plant, reducing costs for farmers while benefiting the environment.

Civil Rights •

To address long-standing allegations of past discrimination, we settled largescale class-action lawsuits with Native American and African American farmers and ranchers and established a voluntary claims process for women and Hispanic farmers and ranchers, providing payments of more than $2.5 billion combined and over $118 million in debt forgiveness.

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United States Department of Agriculture

Act Like A Separate & Independent Sovereign

hether the Property Clause grants the United States the power to permanently own over sixty-six percent of the State Agricultural Marketing Service of Utah is an open [question] under existing jurisprudence. There is an indication, however, that this Court might be open to the structural Constitutional arguments noted above. In Chief Justice Roberts’ analysis of the structure of government as envisioned by the Framers, we note this admonition: ‘The States are separate and independent sovereigns. Sometimes they have to act like it.’ “Perhaps this is an invitation by the Roberts Court to States like Utah, willing to reassert their sovereignty in an effort to restore balance to the federal State relationship.” Page 128, Utah TPL Legal Analysis. Over the coming days, tune into our UT TPL Legal Analysis Blog as we review section by section this groundbreaking Legal Analysis that is opening the door to By Craig A. Morris advance the only solution big enough for the environmental, economic and constituhe Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Livestock, Poultry, tional predicaments facing our nation -- Freeing Our Lands for more effective, locally and Seed Program’s Quality and Assessment Division (QAD) prodriven management of our lands! vides verification services to the meat, poultry, and egg industries. Be sure to share this blog with everyone you know (especially your local, state, and Today, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register to with- national representative and leaders) who desire to be part of unleashing a constitutional draw the United States Standards for Livestock and Meat Market- and economic renaissance in our nation. ing Claims. Specifically, AMS is withdrawing the Grass (Forage) Fed Claim Most importantly, Get Involved today! for Ruminant Livestock and the Meat Products Derived from Such Livestock In our unique system of government, WE are the Boss. But, if we want to be treated (Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard); and the Naturally Raised like the Boss, WE have to act like the Boss! There will be many in 2016 at the local, state Claim for Livestock and the Meat and Meat Products Derived From Such Live- and national levels who will be applying (campaigning) for a job to represent you. Make stock (Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard). These changes will be sure the have the Knowledge and Courage to be a modern-day Thomas Hart Benton, effective January 12, 2016. A copy of the standard will remain on the website relentlessly committed give their utmost to #FreeTheLands! for reference at http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/grass-fed-SVS. A conference call will be held for stakeholders as follows:

Notice of Withdrawal of Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims

Date: Thursday, January 14, 2016 Time: 11am, EST Conference Number: 888-844-9904 Passcode: 2887241 AMS continually reviews the services it provides. During the course of this review, AMS has determined that certain services do not fit within the Agency’s statutory authorities. Applicants often seek to market the USDA-verified marketing claim on a food product label. To do so for meat products, the company must receive pre-approval from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which regulates food labels. Without express authority from Congress, it is not AMS’ role to define standards; that responsibility lies with FSIS. Because AMS does not have express authority to define grass-fed or naturally raised, it is inappropriate for the agency to offer it as an AMS-defined marketing claim. Instead, companies can use voluntary USDA-Certified or USDAVerified programs to verify compliance with standards that they develop. In addition to the conference call, QAD will individually contact all applicants using the USDA Grass Fed Marketing Claim Standard to ensure their programs are adjusted to the new requirements within the established timeframes. The USDA’s Grass Fed Small and Very Small Producer Program (SVS) will remain intact with program requirements outlined in the QAD 1020 Procedure. QAD will issue revised certificates to the SVS producers and update the SVS Official Listings; approval dates will remain the same. No action is necessary from the SVS producers. QAD will work to ensure USDA Process Verified Program and USDA ISO Guide 65 applicants using the USDA Grass Fed Marketing Claim Standard establish their own grass-fed definition or reference an established grass-fed standard within the established timeframes. QAD will issue revised certificates and update SVS Official Listings to reflect the changes in their individual programs. If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Porter, QAD Director, at (202) 690-3147.

38 February 2016

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BLM Nevada News - For the Rancher's File ignificant Progress S Made in Landscape-Scale Management Efforts in 2015

Progress on Greater Sage-Grouse, Wildfire Prevention, and Responsible Energy Development

By Jeff Krauss

he Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 2015 made major strides toward addressing challenges that require action, analysis and planning across broad landscapes. The Bureau’s accomplishments over the past year include unprecedented efforts to conserve Greater SageGrouse; to devise new approaches to prevent and respond to wildfire; to make land- use planning efforts more timely, science-driven and adaptable; and to protect sensitive resources while enabling responsible energy development. These actions exemplify how the BLM is addressing broad challenges to more effectively meet national, state, and local needs on the national public lands. “The BLM’s work this year opened a new chapter in how the national public lands are managed on behalf of the American people,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said. “While maintaining our local focus, we are working on a landscape-scale to successfully address complex regional challenges.”

Greater Sage Grouse

The BLM’s update of nearly 70 land use plans across 10 different states served as the critical underpinning for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to keep the Greater Sage-Grouse off of the Endangered Species Act list. The Greater Sage-Grouse conservation effort marked one of the largest land conservation undertakings in U. S. history and resulted from strong and sustained collaboration with state and federal partners and other stakeholders. Completing and implementing the revised land use plans not only ensures that wildlife will continue to thrive but conserves the Western way of life that is intimately linked to these lands.

Wildfire and Restoration

In a parallel effort, the BLM in April began to use a new tool—the Fire and Invasive Assessment Tool (FIAT)—to prioritize efforts to prevent and suppress wildfires in sage-grouse habitat in the Great Basin, a region encompassing most of Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Using the FIAT, the agency distributed more than $4 million in funding for projects that will reduce the threat of rangeland fire in Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. In addition, the BLM unveiled the first-ever National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration in August. Developed in coordination with the Plant Conservation Alliance, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, western states, and many others, the strategy aims to ensure that the right seed gets to the right places at the right time. The strategy will also guide ecological restoration efforts and make treated lands more resilient to fires, invasive species and drought. The BLM put the FIAT and Seed Strategy to work in restoring lands affected by the Soda Fire in Idaho, which burned 280,000 acres in Idaho and Oregon in August. Thanks to close collaboration between federal and state agencies, more than 1.5 tons of seed has been made available to help restore adjacent private lands burned by the fire.

Protecting Critical Landscapes While Allowing Responsible Energy Development

The BLM also adopted a landscape-level perspective in the energy arena, releasing plans to support energy development and conservation. The release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the first phase of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan in November was a key part of the BLM’s long-term, collaborative effort with the State of California to streamline renewable energy development while conserving desert ecosystems and promoting outdoor recreation opportunities on 10 million acres of BLM-managed lands in 40 February 2016

the California desert. The project benefited from high levels of collaboration with partners and extensive public engagement. The Western Solar Plan, which takes into consideration the complete landscape of six different western states, allows for a more efficient and predictable permitting process by focusing development in solar energy zones with the highest resource potential and lowest conflicts. Thanks to this regional approach, three new projects in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone in Nevada were approved this year in a record-setting 10 months, less than half the amount of time needed to approve projects outside of solar zones. The success of the Dry Lake Solar Zone was due in part to a regional mitigation strategy developed prior to the leasing of the Dry Lake area. Similar Solar Regional Mitigation Strategies are being developed in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada to encourage further use of solar zones established through the Western Solar Plan and to provide for early public input on mitigation needs and requirements.

Improved Land Use Planning

The BLM began a review this year aimed at creating a more dynamic and durable way of developing the Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that guide its efforts. Public involvement early in the planning process is the key to this improved approach, called Planning 2.0. Through this effort the BLM hopes to improve its land-use planning process so that it can more effectively plan across landscapes and be more responsive to environmental and social change. This approach will create a more dynamic, durable and efficient planning process that can better honor the valuable contributions made by the public; non-government organizations; and our partners from state; tribal and local governments; as well as other federal agencies. Taking a broader look at land-use planning was put into practice this year in Western Oregon when the BLM released alternatives for the management of 2.5 million acres of BLM-administered lands spread across the western side of the state. The Draft RMP/EIS addresses a range of options to guide the management of BLM lands in western Oregon for the purposes of: producing a sustained yield of timber; contributing to the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species; providing clean water; restoring fire-adapted ecosystems; and coordinating the management of lands surrounding the Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe. The BLM will publish the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in spring 2016. Lastly, the BLM is committed to building on its strong foundation of using science as one of the critical inputs in its decision-making processes. In 2015, the BLM developed the Advancing Science Implementation Strategy. This initiative is closely connected to several other BLM priorities, including Planning 2.0, regional mitigation strategies, and the Greater Sage-Grouse planning effort. As we move into 2016, the BLM will continue engaging in partnerships that align science activities with BLM management needs to produce results that can be readily accessed and applied by BLM managers and staff.

Ongoing Successes

The BLM can count a number of ongoing successes as it continues to take a landscape-level approach and bring the best tools to meet the challenges it faces when managing the public lands in 2016. Cooperative, multi-partner wildlife conservation efforts were a major success in 2015. This work contributed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s determination in October that five additional species found on BLM lands were not warranted for listing under the ESA. These include the Sonoran desert tortoise in Arizona; the Goose Creek milkvetch in Idaho, Nevada and Utah; and the Great Basin population of the Columbia spotted frog in Idaho, Nevada and Oregon. Maps and data count among the BLM’s ongoing successes as well. The BLM continues to release Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs) and their underlying maps and data for public use. REAs help land managers and the public assess current resource conditions at large scales. The most recent assessment covers nearly 15.7 million acres of the Madrean Archipelago located mostly in southeastern Arizona. A newly revised data portal contains maps and other information associated with BLM’s REAs and other landscape-scale initiatives.

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BLM Marks Major Gains in 2015 Ensuring Safe and Responsible Energy Development on Public Lands Modernized Regulations and Moved Ahead on Renewable, Conventional Development

ASHINGTON – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made major progress in 2015 promoting responsible energy development on public lands while also managing for a wide range of uses on the agency’s 245 million acres. While BLM advanced modern safety and production-measurement regulations, the agency also made progress on the development of master leasing plans for oil and gas areas as well as new landscape-scale planning efforts to achieve both conservation and energy development goals. “Each accomplishment is significant on its own, but together, they’re a big stride forward in our management of the nation’s energy resources,” said BLM Director Neil Kornze.

Promoting Responsible Energy Development

The BLM is a national leader in forging a path toward more production of clean, American-made renewable energy. In 2015, the BLM approved five solar energy projects that will bring an additional 977 megawatts of power online once they are built that have the potential to create approximately 5,600 jobs. These approvals put the BLM 75 percent of the way to the President’s Climate Action Plan goal of approving projects that will generate 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020. In addition, the BLM approved six transmission projects to help unlock wind and solar resources that cannot be currently accessed due to lack of infrastructure to bring the energy produced from these sources to the grid. Among those are SunZia transmission project in Arizona and New Mexico, that, when built, will have the potential to add up to 3,000 megawatts of electrical capacity in the Southwest. Last month, the BLM partnered with the State of California and several other Federal and State agencies to finalize the first phase of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which heralds a new generation of landscape-scale land use planning to achieve both conservation and energy development goals. The plan will allow for timely permitting of solar projects in appropriate areas of the California desert.

Conventional Energy Plays Important Role

Over the past year, the BLM held 22 oil and gas lease sales, generating more than $159 million in bonus bids and rental fees in addition to royalties. Approximately half of this revenue went directly to the states in which the development is located, supporting local economies all across the country. The BLM’s coal program, meanwhile, took in about $1.29 billion in royalties, rents, and bonuses in 2015. Earlier this year, Secretary Jewell called for a public dialogue about how best to operate the Federal coal program and whether the American taxpayer is receiving a fair return for the mining of public resources. The BLM is reviewing the extensive comments received during five public meetings as it considers how best to move forward.

Modernizing Energy Regulations to Keep Pace with 21st-Century Practices

Years of work at the BLM to modernize its out-of-date oil and gas regulations began to take shape this year in the form of proposed and final regulations. Many of the oil and gas regulations at the BLM have never been updated since they were adopted in the 1980s, soon after onshore leasing became the BLM’s responsibility. In March, the BLM published its final rule on hydraulic fracturing, an oil and gas extraction technique that has opened up millions of acres to potential development. The rule protects water quality for communities by addressing the soundness of well construction and the handling of water after it is used in the well. It also increases the public’s access to information about chemicals used and other aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process. Implementation of the rule is on hold, pending litigation. This summer and fall, the BLM also published three proposed rules that deal with oil and gas development. These regulations establish the proper procedures for how producers should measure and account for the energy resources they extract from

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By Bev Winston

national public lands. Public comments on the proposed rules will be taken into account as the final rules are written in 2016.

Permits and Master Leasing

In October, the BLM approved a drilling permit and a right-of-way grant for the Greater Mooses Tooth One project that will open the way for the first production of oil and gas from federal land in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska. The permit implements a series of best management practices, lease stipulations, and mitigation measures to prepare for the potential impacts from the project, including establishment of a compensatory mitigation fund. The funds will go toward a landscape-level regional mitigation strategy, currently under development through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process that includes representatives from across Alaska. The past year also marks considerable progress for oil and gas leasing reform with the completion of six master leasing plans (MLPs) in Wyoming and Colorado, and the publication of a draft MLP for Moab, the first plan in Utah to reach that stage. MLPs are designed to guide mineral development in a defined area for the foreseeable future by identifying potential resource conflicts early in the planning process. By providing for more orderly development, MLPs will lend more certainty to industry while limiting the number of protests, which had drastically slowed leasing. As part of the BLM’s broader program of leasing reform, these plans and related initiatives such as more thorough review of lease parcels before a sale have greatly reduced the number of parcels protested. The number of protests has declined dramatically, from 1,475 protested parcels from original lease sale notices in 2009 to 321 in 2014.

BLM Seeks Public Comment on the Argenta Settlement Agreement Range Improvement Environmental Assessment.

By Andrea Dolbear

ATTLE MOUNTAIN, NV – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain District Office (BMDO), Mount Lewis Field Office (MLFO) is asking the public to review and provide input on the Argenta Settlement Agreement (Agreement) Range Improvement Environmental Assessment (EA). The proposed project is located within the Argenta Allotment, southeast of Battle Mountain, NV. The Agreement was a result of a collaborative effort between the permittees and BLM’s National Riparian Service Team (NRST) in the summer of 2015. The agreement was designed to implement measures to allow multiple uses for sustained yield by protecting fragile riparian resources. The NRST recommended three fence proposals on August 11, 2015. The Agreement EA analyzed plans to construct exclosures along segments of riparian areas within the Fire Creek, Maysville South, and North Fork Use Areas in the Argenta Allotment. The proposed activities would exclude livestock grazing from approximately 60.35 acres of BLM administered land. The 30-day comment period ends February 22, 2016. Written comments can be sent to BLM, 50 Bastian Road Battle Mountain, NV 89820 or emailed to: acochran@blm.gov. The EA may be viewed at: http://1.usa.gov/1IVZyHs. A printed copy can be picked up at the Battle Mountain District Office at 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised, that your entire comment -including your personal identifying information -- may be made publicly available at any time. If you ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you have any questions or require clarification on this EA, please call Adam Cochran, Lead Rangeland Management Specialist, or Andrea Dolbear, Planning and Environmental Coordinator at (775)-635-4000.

The Progressive Rancher

February 2016 41

BLM Nevada News - For the Rancher's File

Secretary Jewell Announces Nearly $40 Million for Conservation, Wildfire Prevention, Landscape Restoration and Recreation Projects in Nevada

By Lissa Eng

ASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the U.S. Department of the Interior will invest $39.1 million from the sale of public lands in Southern Nevada to fund more than 40 projects to improve recreation, reduce the risk of wildfires, conserve sensitive landscapes and restore important wildlife habitat throughout the state. Joining the Secretary for a signing ceremony to finalize the agreement were U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan López. “Thanks to productive partnerships at every level of government, these projects will restore and enhance Nevada’s natural beauty and unique landscapes while improving the quality of life for millions of people in the state,” Secretary Jewell said. “This year’s funding will make landscapes more resilient in the face of longer wildfire seasons, create economic opportunities through increased outdoor recreation, and enhance protections for environmentally and culturally sensitive areas.” The 43 projects announced today are funded under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act to encourage environmental sustainability, community collaboration and wildlife connectivity. The Act allows proceeds from sales of U.S. public land in the Greater Las Vegas area (Clark County) to fund a range of conservation, restoration, capital improvement, and public improvement projects throughout the state. The revenue derived from land sales is divided among the State of Nevada General Education Fund, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the remainder derives

42 February 2016

from a specific account available to the Secretary of the Interior for these recreation and conservation projects. Sitnce the law’s enactment in 1998, the program has raised $3.5 billion for more than 1,200 projects that benefit public places in Nevada. “Today’s announcement marks the latest chapter in a successful collaboration that invests in Nevada’s special areas,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said. “Thanks to this outstanding program, Nevada has benefited from more than 180,000 acres of wildlife habitat restored and 500 miles of popular trails constructed or improved. This program is an important legacy for Nevada and for our nation’s public lands.” The funding announced today includes $39.1 million for projects in the following categories: • Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Wildfire Prevention - $5,740,970 • Parks, Trails & Natural Areas - $4,753,487 • Capital Improvements - $5,193,251 • Conservation Initiatives - $5,737,540 • Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisitions - $12,230,400 • Eastern Nevada Landscape Restoration Project - $4,155,412 • Multi-Species Habitat Conservation - $1,291,523 The Round 15 package also includes $3 million in a special account reserve for emergency or unexpected project expenditures. More information on the Round 15 funding is online at www.blm.gov/snplma. The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.

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Financial Focus Pre sente d by Ja s o n L a n d , F in a n c ia l A d v is o r, E d wa rd J o n e s i n E l k o , N e v a d a 22 1 3 N o rt h 5 t h S t re e t , S u it e A | 7 7 5 -7 3 8 -8 8 11

Use “Tax Diversification” to Help Manage Retirement Income

ou need to save and invest as much as possible to pay for the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned. But your retirement income also depends, to a certain degree, on how your retirement funds are taxed. And that’s why you may be interested in tax diversification. To understand the concept of tax diversification, you’ll need to be familiar with how two of the most important retirement-savings vehicles — an IR A and a 401(k) — are taxed. Essentially, these accounts can be classified as either “traditional” or “Roth.” When you invest in a traditional IR A or 401(k), your contributions may be tax- deductible and your earnings can grow tax deferred. With a Roth IR A or 401(k), your contributions are not deductible, but your distributions can potentially be tax- free, provided you meet certain conditions. (Keep in mind, though, that to contribute to a Roth IR A, you can’t exceed designated income limits. Also, not all employers offer the Roth option for 401(k) plans.) Of course, “tax free” sounds better than “tax deferred,” so you might think that a Roth option is always going to be preferable. But that’s not necessarily the case. If you think your tax bracket will be lower in retirement than when you were working, a traditional IR A or 401(k) might be a better choice, due to the cumulative tax deductions you took at a higher tax rate. But if your tax bracket will be the same, or higher, during retirement, then the value of tax-free distributions from a Roth IR A or 401(k) may outweigh the benefits of the tax deductions you’d get from a traditional IR A or 401(k). So making the choice between “traditional” and “Roth” could be tricky. But here’s the good news: You don’t necessarily have to choose, at least not with your IR A. That’s because you may be able to contribute to both a traditional IR A and a Roth IR A, assuming you meet the Roth’s income guidelines. This allows you to benefit from both the tax deductions of the traditional IR A and the potential tax-free distributions of the Roth IR A. And once you retire, this “tax diversification” can be especially valuable. Why? Because when you have money in different types of accounts, you gain flexibility in how you structure your withdrawals — and this flexibility can help you potentially increase the amount of your after-tax disposable income. If you have a variety of accounts, with different tax treatments, you could decide to first make your required withdrawals (from a traditional IR A and 401(k) or other employersponsored plan), followed, in order, by withdrawals from your taxable investment accounts, your tax-deferred accounts and, finally, your tax-free accounts. Keep in mind, though, that you may need to vary your actual sequence of withdrawals from year to year, depending on your tax situation. For example, it might make sense to change the order of withdrawals, or take withdrawals from multiple accounts, to help reduce taxes and avoid moving into a different tax bracket. Clearly, tax diversification can be beneficial. So after consulting with your tax and financial advisors, consider ways of allocating your retirement plan contributions to provide the flexibility you need to maximize your income during your retirement years. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. www.progressiverancher.com

You are invited to COWBOY CHURCH!

1st Saturday of every month Standish, CA @ 6:00 p.m. Hwy. 395 /A3 — Standish 4-H Hall

3rd Saturday of every month Lovelock, NV @ 7:00 p.m. 1035 Cornell Ave. — Old Variety Store

Are you having a Rodeo or Livestock event? Give us a call. We would love to come to your event or ranch and host Cowboy Church for you.

Harmony Ranch Ministry 3767 Keyes Way Fallon, NV 89406

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Tom J. Gonzalez | Diana J. Gonzalez, Pastor threecrossls@cccomm.net

(775) 867-3100 Cell (775) 426-1107

February 2016 43

RANGE PLANTS FOR THE RANCHER By Paul T. Tueller, Ph.D., CRMC

Tailcup Lupine

s we move about the Great Basin we easily observe and relate to the shrub dominated plant communities. Less often do we appreciate showy herbaceous species. In the spring we may see a field of blue within the shrub matrix on some sites. One example of this is stands of Tailcup Lupine. This is a pleasant looking species but it belongs to a group of plants that we consider to be poisonous to livestock. The currently accepted scientific name of tailcup lupine is Lupinus caudatus Kellogg. Lupinus is a taxonomically complex genus and there is much confusion regarding nomenclature. Species within the genus are extremely variable and freely intergrade, making morphological characteristics used to separate taxa few and inconsistent. However, this species is a common, readily identified herbaceous species in Nevada. Tailcup lupine is a native, perennial, cool-season forb. Simple or branched stems arise from a woody caudex and are generally 8 to 16 inches (20-40 cm) tall. Leaves are basal and have 5 to 9 palmate leaflets. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme and flowers have a conspicuous spur. Flowering begins in May or June depending upon the elevation with maximum growth occurring in the spring.. All flower parts are hairless. Petal color ranges from deep blue to purple to almost white. Fruits are generally mature by July or August. Pods contain four to six seeds. Tailcup lupine has a stout, deep taproot. Leaflets are curved upwards along the long axis. Flowers are borne along the upper 6 to 10 inches of the stem, and have a typical pea-like structure, with the large banner petal curving upwards and the two wings underneath, enclosing the keel. Tailcup lupine is found in a variety of habitats including grassland, sagebrush, desert and mountain shrub, and coniferous forest. Tailcup lupine is a herbaceous plant often found in sagebrush (Artemisia ssp.) and singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) plant communities over much of the state. Plants are favored or relatively unaffected by fire in sagebrush or pinyon-juniper habitats. They persist under partial shade, but it’s cover increases with more sunlight and less competition. Tailcup lupine has been found to 10,400 feet (3,150 m) elevation in Colorado. They can occur in seral to climax sagebrush habitats. Palatability of tailcup lupine is rated as poor to fair for cattle and horses and fair for sheep. Lupine is poor forage for cattle and fair for sheep before the legume fruit develops. It provides fair to good forage for elk and deer. Cattle may be attracted to the legumes and graze them selectively.The early vegetative foliage and immature pods are more palatable to sheep than mature vegetation, probably corresponding to a relatively low alkaloid content early in the growing season. Unfortunately this species is highly toxic to livestock, especially to sheep. It is less toxic to cattle and horses, but causes calf deformities if ingested by cows between 40 to 70 days gestation. It produces specific alkaloids which affect the nervous system. The alkaloid content of aboveground vegetative parts peaks in mid-June at 0.9 percent and decreases to 0.2 percent in August, during the pod stage. Lupines (Lupinus spp.) in general are responsible for more losses of sheep in Montana, Idaho, and Utah than any other plant genus and tailcup lupine is one of the most poisonous of the lupine species. In the seed stage it is probably the most toxic member of the genus. Plants are toxic from at least the beginning of spring growth until they dry in late summer. Dry plants are probably poisonous as well. Sheep are poisoned by ingesting 0.13 to 0.25 pound (0.06-0.11 kg) daily for 3 to 4 days. Cattle usually graze tailcup lupine only when other forage is not vailable. Ingestion of 1 to 1.5 pounds of tailcup lupine (0.45-0.68 kg) daily will poison cattle. Poisoning in wildlife has not been reported. Plants are poisonous either green or dry, altough poisoning seldom occurs when other forage is adequate. Tailcup lupine increases under intensive grazing and is most abundant under poor to fair range conditions. It often forms nearly pure stands in overgrazed areas. Poisoning of livestock occurs when poor range management has resulted in overgraz 44 February 2016

ing and depletion of preferred rangeland species. Plants are unlikely to be dangerous under normal range conditions. Tailcup lupine is found on dry sites on gentle to steep slopes and in open woods. It grows best in dry, well-drained gravelly, sandy, sandy-loam, and clayey-loam soils. It does not grow well in clay or other organic, sodic-saline, or acid soils. Lupinus caudatus spreads readily, forming low clumps several feet wide, with the reddish purple flower stems held well above the palmate leaves. Like most lupines, the leaves and stem have a coating of fine, silvery hairs. This handsome and poisonous plant should be one that is easily identified by every rancher.

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The Progressive Rancher

February 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;45â&#x20AC;&#x192;

by Jennifer Whiteley

There is Nothing Romantic or Poetic About Being Married to a Cowboy There is Nothing Romantic or Poetic About Being Married to a Cowboy There’s nothing romantic or poetic about doctoring calves in a foot of snow. When it’s cold, and slick. And you have to keep the Resflor bottle in your bra so it stays warm enough you can actually draw the Resflor out of the bottle when you need it.

There’s nothing romantic or poetic about calving out 1500 heifers. In 4 weeks. Twelve hour days. Each black heifer looks exactly like the black heifer you just rode past. In January. By week 2 you won’t remember your own name.

46 February 2016

There’s nothing romantic or poetic (or even cool poems about....) processing yearlings in the rain. In mud up to your knees. With wet gloves. There’s nothing romantic or poetic about classing calves in the alley. In 6 inches of oozy, sticky, gummy mud. Buried under 8 inches of snow. One hour before the truck shows up. There’s nothing romantic or poetic about trailing cows down the highway in subzero temperatures. Leading your horse because you can’t feel your feet. When you can see your breath.t

But.... It is kind of cool to watch the sun come up over the canyon rim as you trot out of camp in the morning. There is definitely some poetry in a perfect heel loop that scoops up two feet, or a bridle horse working a cow in a gate. I’ll admit, it is romantic, holding hands with your CowBoss while driving home from the sale after selling a trailer load of your own calves. I guess drinking Carlo Rossi out of a tin coffee cup by gaslight after a long day doing cowboy stuff is rather romantic and poetic!

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Even with today’s technology, we beleive in doing business the old fashioned way... we earn it.

Blake Nuffer 406.533.5904 blake@nuffercattlecompany.com Cooper Nuffer 208.490.0573 cooper@nuffercattlecompany.com

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February 2016 47

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 3280 Salt Lake City, UT 48 February 2016

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