Progressive Rancher April 2018 by The Progressive Rancher

IN THIS ISSUE

NEVADA YOUTH RANGE CAMP 2018 Applications are now being accepted from high school students to attend the 58th annual Nevada Youth Range Camp to be held June 17-23 at the Smith Creek Ranch in central Nevada. Come make new friends and learn new things about your state and environment while also enjoying a picturesque camping experience you'll never forget! Hurry, applications must be submitted by Friday, April 27. Forms and information can be found on the Nevada Youth Range Camp Web site at: nevada.rangelands.org/youth-range-camp/ or by contacting Kathryn Dyer (775) 861-6647 • kdyer@blm.gov

You are invited to

COWBOY CHURCH!

Bible Study Fri @ 9 am

Sunday @ 11am services

4275 Solias Rd Fallon, NV

Bible Study Wed @ 6 pm

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

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

(775) 240-8870 Cell (775) 867-3100

FIND MORE ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE www.progressiverancher.com Nevada State Water Plan Background & Resource Assessment WGA’s Top 10 policy accomplishments in 2017 Recognizing Sites for Effective Mitigation in Sage-Grouse Habitat

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Riding for the NCA Brand NCA President's Statement NCA Executive Column NCA Annual Scholarship Master Stockman Consulting "A Look at the Lamb Market" Nevada Cattlewomen Eye on the Outside "'Rangeland Technology" NDA "Cadence Matijevich" "State Vet Urges Caution" NBC Checkoff News In the Mind of a Millennial "Notes on Nutrition" NNRC "Upcoming Funding Priorities" NSRM "Evolving with Nevada Wildfires"

18 UNR Cooperative Extension "Overview of Water Use in Humboldt County, Nevada" 23 Shaw Cattle Co. "Sales Report" 24 NDCNR "Commemorations" 26 NV Farm Bureau News 27 USDA News Release 28 NV Farm Bureau Articles 30 Snyder Livestock "Sales Report" 32 Spring Cove Ranch "Sales Report" 34 Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Results 36 Winnemucca Convention & Visitors Authority "Ranch Hand of the Year"

The Progressive Rancher Owner/Editor/Publisher – Leana Litten Carey progressiverancher@elko.net Graphic Design/Layout – Allegra Print & Imaging www.AllegraReno.com

Cover Photo: " Pedigree Talk " taken at Snyder Sale 2018 by Leana L. Carey Published 8 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 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. Rates for advertising are available upon request. Advertising in The Progressive Rancher does not necessarily imply editorial endorsement. Liability for any errors or omissions in advertisements shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error or omission. The Progressive Rancher is free to people working and active in the livestock industry. The Progressive Rancher is donated to the agricultural industry. If you are not currently receiving this magazine on a regular basis and would like to be a part of The Progressive Rancher family, contact us by e-mail at progressiverancher@elko.net today, so we can include you on our mailing list. If you have moved or changed addresses, please notify us by e-mail so we can keep you informed. All requests for the magazine must be made by e-mail.

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2 April 2018

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From the desk of your NCA president By Sam Mori, NCA President Greetings from Cow Country! I hope spring is going well for you as we turn the corner into a new season. Spring in Nevada is certainly not boring as it can look like winter in the morning, summer by noon, and winter again by night fall. Some of the industry issues that we deal with on your behalf have that same feel.

One of the more important subjects that the Association has been diligently working on is the brand inspection issue. We have invested much time and effort into this mater as we know it was of much concern to so many of you. Our approach was to hear all sides of concern from the brand inspectors themselves to the producers delivering cattle and horses to the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) and their responsibilities. There have been many suggestions taken forward and it seems as though a workable solution will be implemented to address the needs of the industry and the policies of the NDA. It will take some trial and error, as well as time to work some of the glitches out of the system. We want a responsive and efficient brand department for our industry and the NDA has committed to providing it.

Stay connected with

Communication with them on the strengths and lack thereof are going to be very important as to what the final product will look like. The Association has dedicated a committee to Find us on Facebook! deal with this issue to make sure you are represented on any facebook.com/TheProgressiveRancher changes that will be made. It is the true intention of the NDA Half Page Program(5.5”x4.25”) to provide good service to our industry and we expect and respect that. There are a lot of other irons in the fire at this time. Some of the items we are engaged in include the Lands Bill coming out of Pershing and Washoe Counties, continuing Sage Grouse plan changes, comments on dormant season grazing, and many others that occur on a daily basis. Please get involved in the issues that are vital to our industry. Communicate with your legislators and agency personnel. Working together we can have some influence in shaping the way we do business in the future. In early April a group of us are going to Washington D.C. to carry the message for our Association and industry. Let us know your thoughts and needs as we are here to serve you.

Timing counts when it comes to your social security benefit Social Security can be one of your most valuable retirement assets. The decision of when you start taking your benefit impacts how much you’ll receive.

Call or visit today, and learn how your decision impacts your overall retirement income strategy. Final decisions about Social Security filing strategies always rest with you and should always be based on your specific needs and health considerations. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration website at www.socialsecurity.gov.

In closing I want to send our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the entire family of our Vice President Hanes Holman. We so much admire your strength over the past several years.

Sam

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Financial Advisor .

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Well folks, time to hit it. Talk to you soon!

Jason B Land, AAMS® 2213 North 5th Street Suite A Elko, NV 89801 775-738-8811 The Progressive Rancher

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April 2018 3

Nevada Cattlemen's Association Annual Scholarship

Kaley (Sproul) Chapin

t has been a very busy month at the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association office! The Fallon Bull Sale held in February was a great success this year. We have just finished closing up everything from the sale and we would like to once again give thanks to all of our consignors, buyers, sponsors and volunteers for your support this year. As I am writing this NCA update I am also getting ready to attend the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. for the week of April 9-12, 2018. Also attending this conference from Nevada will be Sam Mori, Joe Guild, Ron Cerri, and JJ Goicoechea. In DC we will have the opportunity to represent members of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association by meeting with key congressional and agency influencers to talk about certain industry policies that affect the state. I will provide a follow-up of this event within the next issue of this publication. In March, on behalf of NCA, I attended PLC meetings in Denver, CO along with Rachel Buzzetti representing the Central Grazing Committee and Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission. In

4 April 2018

By Kaley Sproul Chapin, NCA Executive Director

attendance were western state affiliates of the PLC and NCBA to discuss database options that could conduct business more efficiently. We also went over communication efforts and techniques that the PLC and surrounding states use. It is important to learn about what our surrounding states are doing to better reach out to membership. I found these meetings worthwhile by learning how to make our communication efforts stronger going forward. Lastly, the NCA is seeking graduating seniors interested in pursuing an education in an agricultural related field to apply for the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Annual Scholarship. The NCA will be giving this year’s outstanding graduating senior a $1,000 scholarship to attend any junior college or four-year University to study in any agriculture related field.

• Students must be seeking a degree in an agriculturally related field • Student must have at least a 2.5 GPA In addition to completing an application, candidates must also submit: • A typewritten essay of 1,000 to 1,500 words on any current issue involving the beef industry including references cited • A copy of the student’s official transcripts • Three letters of reference Scholarship application forms can be downloaded from the Nevada Cattlemen’s website at www.nevadacattlemen.org, or applicants can call the NCA office at 775-738-9214 or send a request to nca@ nevadabeef.org for a copy.

Completed application form and all Eligibility requirements for the Scholarship required information must be postmarked include: by Monday, April 30, 2018 and sent to: • Student must be a senior graduating Attn: Research & Education Committee, c/o Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, P.O. from a High School in Nevada Box 310, Elko, NV 89803; or submitted • Student must plan to attend a by email with subject line, “2018 NCA Community College or a 4-year College Scholarship Applicant (Your Name)” to nca@nevadabeef.org . or University

The Progressive Rancher

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A Look at the 2018 U.S. Lamb Market By Bridger Feuz The average person in the United States consumed just over one pound of lamb in 2017. I for one am doing my part to increase the average. I am certain that I consumed more than one pound of lamb in January alone. Lets take a look at the overall market outlook for lamb this year. We will look at supply, demand and trade in projecting the market outlook. In 1990 there were 7.6 million breeding ewes in the U.S. As of the January 1, 2018 the U.S.D.A. numbers indicated we are at 3.0 million breeding ewes. That represents a decline of 4.6 million ewes since 1990. A few years ago the American Sheep Industry started a “Let’s Grow” initiative to try and stem the tide of decline sheep numbers. Over the last few years it seems to be helping. While the overall U.S. number has not increased yet, it has leveled off since 2014. Here in Wyoming we actually saw a 6.7% decrease in breeding ewes from 2017 to 2018. Another important factor when looking at the supply side of the sheep equation is to determine if lambs in the feedlot are current. When supply starts to out strip demand in the sheep industry, lamb feedlots tend to feed lambs to heavier weights as they have no place to go with the finished product. In looking at the current slaughter data 2017 trended below the five-year average for slaughter weight, which is a good sign for the industry. Demand for Lamb can be captured by looking at both consumption and consumers willingness to pay. U.S. consumption per capita continued to decline through 2015. In 1992 per capita consumption was 1.34 pounds. Consumption for 2015 dipped below one pound at 0.99 pounds per capita. Since then we have seen a slight rebound in per capita consumption the January 2018 estimate was at 1.07 pounds. On the price side retail lamb prices were slightly higher in 2017 than the five-year average and are starting slightly higher than the average in 2018. Given that consumers are eating slightly more lamb per person, and paying slightly more for the lamb they consume, it would appear demand is currently relatively stable for lamb. Looking at the trade situation we primarily focus on Australia/New Zealand. These countries are responsible for the bulk of the U.S. imports of lamb. One of the major factors in this trade relationship is the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. As U.S. dollars become stronger we are able to buy more Australian/New Zealand lamb for the same amount of money. Currently the U.S. dollar is still relatively strong as compared to the Australian dollar, but has weakened some since 2016. This weakening will help the sheep industry. More good news for sheep producers is the amount of lamb in cold storage. Increasing amounts of lamb in cold storage can be an indicator of softening demand. Currently the trend is that lamb in cold storage is slightly below the five-year average. The average December inventory of cold storage is 29.5 million pounds. December 2017 inventory of cold storage was at 26.7 million pounds. Based on the factors listed above lamb prices are expected to increase slightly from 2017 prices. It is expected that we will see a 3.4 percent increase in price this year as compared to 2017. www.progressiverancher.com

The Progressive Rancher

April 2018 5

Introducing

Ruby Uhart was born to parents Ernie and Robin Paine who lived in Jordan Valley, OR at the time. She grew up on the Flying M Ranch, south of Yerington, Nevada attending Yerington High School. Ruby helped on the ranch and participated in volleyball and track. After high school she attended Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR graduating with a Bachelor of Science in AG Business Management. She returned to work on the Flying M while acquiring her teaching certification. Ruby taught at Smith Valley Schools for six years and went on to earn her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nevada. In 2007, she married Domingo Uhart in Minden. NV. They purchased the Home Ranch in Oneil Basin in 2010 and run a commercial cow calf operation with their son, Marcus. Ruby’s bonus daughters attend college and come home as often as possible to be a part of ranch activities. Ruby shares her ranch stories about living in Oneil Basin on her blog at rubyuhart.com. Ruby is also a certified personal trainer and is passionate about helping people find simple ways to stay healthy, mentally and physically with exercise that they enjoy. Ruby has been a member of Nevada Cattlemen’s, Nevada Cattlewomen, American National Cattlewomen and was appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in 2016. Her passion is to teach people about the role of beef in healthy diet. She is currently the Secretary of Nevada Cattlewomen, Inc. “Beef promotion and really the promotion of cattlemen and women is important to me because so many people are so far removed from where their food comes from. I feel it’s important for ranchers to share their stories of success and struggle in an effort to tell the truth about our passion for what we do. We are environmentalists, conservationists, nutritionists and we are passionate about the animals and resources we have taken under our care, “ said Uhart.

6 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

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Consumer Income and Beef Preferences

This month I would like to discuss the trends happening all around us that affect beef production and it is as simple as discussing consumer preference and consumer demand. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income in the United States increased $64.7 billion (0.4 percent) by January 2018. Disposable personal income increased $134.8 billion (0.9 percent) combined with personal consumption expenditures increasing 31.2 billion (0.2 percent). This all leads to having consumers with more disposable income. Where and when consumers decided to spend this income depends on their own unique preferences.

The consumer demand pyramid from Jean Kinsey, University of Minnesota, is based on income. The lowest income demands a nutritious, safe and affordable food product. The highest income level demands are based on status and causes. Somewhere in the middle income level is convenience. Consumers are going to make choices and most of the time there are intermediary messages from grocery stores, Facebook, Pinterest, and the internet that assist them in making their choices. I did a google search using my computer on what the best cut of beef was this afternoon. Below is what popped up. This just might be of interest to you. Bodybuilding.com - Porterhouse/T-Bone “Considered King of Steaks”

This particular steak is considered the "king" of steaks mainly because it's actually two steaks in one. On one side you have a New York strip, and on the other is a rather large filet mignon. The porterhouse is a thicker cut and has much more of the tenderloin relative to the loin portion. It comes best when grilled, but can also be sautéed, broiled, or pan-fried. Businessinsider.com - Ribeye “Steak-lover’s steak”

We know that consumers are spending disposable income on food, however, most US reports show that expenditures on food have not increased that much. So, then we must ask, which income class does spend more on their food, especially, their meat. They are our customers, but we must investigate further and decide how we target our customers. Do we want loyal returning customers as they will want a relationship with the producer? Do we want the value segments that are almost impossible to keep happy, but recognize quality? Do we want the convenience segment that is less price sensitive? Or, do we want the price segments that value price only?

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by Staci Emm

The ribeye is the ultimate steak-lover's steak. It's the most flavorful cut of the animal, and comes with very rich marbling, which provides superior taste when cooked. The cut itself comes from the rib section, where it gets its name. The bone from the rib is typically removed before sale, although some restaurants specifically sell "bone-in rib eye" preparations of the cut. Its abundance of marbling makes it a great cut for grilling and slow roasting. Topratedsteakhouses.com - Tenderloin Filet. “Known as filet mignon”

It’s also known as Filet Mignon. It is the most tender of steaks yet has very little fat marbling. Since it is both lean and tender it’s the best choice for those watching their fat intake. It has the mildest flavor compared to other cuts. Since it has little fat that renders into the steak as it cooks, it is not nearly as juicy as other steaks and can become dry if cooked beyond medium.

The Progressive Rancher

April 2018 7

By Joseph Guild

Rangeland & Technology

wo recent experiences prompt this month’s column. I ran across a picture of some champion bulls from the 1950’s. You remember the type I am sure. The bulls were short and compact. The bulls barely came up to the waist of their handlers many of whom were smaller women or youngsters. The genetic tragedy that resulted from this show ring preference was dwarfism in cattle and it took many generations of scientific selection to get rid of the problem.

The ingenuity, reliance on technologic and scientific principles and practically applying those principles has resulted in a model of agricultural production efficiency that is the envy of the world. High quality, safe and relatively inexpensive meat protein is being produced every day in this country. Another important thing to remember is cattle producers are continuing to improve their processes and product. The environment is being protected and improved and the animals are being treated in the most humane, sustainable ways possible. The motivation to produce a popular product is good for the consumer and the beef The other experience was a talk I was delighted farmer. Consumers will pay for quality. to hear by an internet tech executive whose vision and vocabulary about the future You may not have heard about 5G of knowledge and artificial intelligence was technology but very soon everycaptivating to say the least. His message was thing you do will somehow be basically you ain’t seen nothing yet. You may not have heard about 5G technology but very soon everything you do will somehow be impacted by the so-called Internet of Things. This will be based upon a seamless ecosystem of devices, applications, and platforms that will bring to you and the rest of our world automation, convenience and dynamism unlike anything we have ever seen. 5G will be speedier and be able to exponentially store and transmit more knowledge and information than has been done in the history of the world.

impacted by the so-called Internet of Things.

I cannot imagine a healthy, more populous human world without the benefits of animal protein. To use just one of many examples to argue in favor of a balanced nutritious diet; how would humans use the rocky, steep semi-arid and arid rangelands that cover a great portion of the earth’s surface if they weren’t grazed by livestock? These places are not suitable to farm food plants so I guess they would just go to waste. Range science These are two completely different experiences has come a long way in the last 100 years. Now, but they conjured up the same notion. In both of we are able to sustainably use these lands without them I see the solution to some of the problems harming the ecology of theses delicate systems facing our world- what does access to so much knowledge by anyone with a lap top or 5g smart Thus, I am confident in man’s ability to create phone mean for our future world and how is solutions to the food challenges which we will face humankind going to feed a population projected in coming years because have seen the solutions to to be close to 10 billion people by the middle of problems that farmers and ranchers have created in this country when aided by science, technology this century? and driven by a profit motive. They are both tied together in a strange sort of way. In the case of the bull example, cattle As far as the other challenges the world will raisers quickly realized that this show ring driven face during the rest of this century, I also popularity trend was not good for the industry. have confidence in man’s ability to create and They then applied scientific genetic principles to innovate solutions. Can we create a world-wide the situation and got the cattle industry turned transportation system which accounts for our away from a dangerous path. In the end, the influence on the environment? Can we produce industry has improved the cow herd and now the energy needed to produce goods, provide produces more beef protein with fewer animals heating, cooling and electricity to not only light the way actually and figuratively? than was 1950’s and 1960’s. 8 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

The discourse by the tech executive the other night gives me the confidence to say yes. If we already are creating the hardware, software and internet infrastructure to exponentially increase human access to and transmission of all of our collective knowledge, what would hold us back from using that knowledge to practically solve problems? Humans have always done this. We have used the knowledge available at the time to create, invent and move our species forward. The bull example above is but a small bit of progress cattle raisers made to solve a problem. The internet was created as a tool for the military to coordinate and transmit ideas and battle plans among the various branches of our services. It was quickly taken over by researchers and scientists to communicate their ideas and thoughts at think tanks and universities. Eventually, we know who found the internet to be useful to them for any number of reasons-everyone! I acknowledge and fully accept there are those who believe human occupation of this planet has limitations and indeed a probable lifespan. These folks do not believe the planet can support 10 billion people and resources will be depleted even before we reach that number. They also believe that human caused climate change is accelerating beyond our capacity to reverse or even deal with the effects of the change. This is the Malthusian view of the world. Thomas Malthus wrote this in 1798: “The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race…” I wrote a bit about this a few years ago when I talked about Norman Borlaug and the green revolution preventing famine in India and other countries that literally saved hundreds of millions lives. I did not mention Malthus in that column if I remember correctly. Borlaug and the post 1950’s bull breeders are the solution to the Malthusian cry of panic. And the tech CEO gave a small example of the human ability to create the technology we need to solve our problems just as we have always done. Humans’ ability to think, reason and create is the answer I bet on. Likewise, these high tech solutions which will help solve some of the world’s problems will be able to make sure that human civilization advances to accommodate our growing needs. I’ll see you soon. www.progressiverancher.com

NDA announces Cadence Matijevich as new administrator

Matijevich to oversee Consumer Equitability Division

By Rebecca Allured he Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) announced Cadence Matijevich as its new Consumer Equitability division administrator.

Matijevich will oversee agency programs that ensure a fair marketplace for consumers and businesses. NDA’s Consumer Equitability division includes the Weight and Measure program, Petroleum Technology program and Metrology Laboratory.

Cadence Matijevich

Consumer Equitability Division Administrator

“Cadence has more than a decade of experience in leading government operations and will make a great addition to our leadership team,” NDA Director Jim Barbee said. “Her background in strategic planning, fiscal management and public policy will help our Consumer Equitability staff serve Nevada consumers and businesses.”

Most recently, Matijevich served the Nevada Secretary of State for two years as deputy secretary for operations. Her previous experience includes serving Placer County as a management analyst and serving City of Reno in several roles, including assistant city manager. She has a bachelor of arts from Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego and a public management certificate from the University of Nevada, Reno. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and health and human safety through effective service and education. The NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.

State Veterinarian Urges Caution During Horse Event Season

February Las Vegas Event Attendees, Be Watchful

riday, March 2, the Arizona state veterinarian confirmed a positive diagnosis of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) with neurological signs. No positive EHV-1 cases have been reported in Nevada, and no quarantines have been issued in the state at this time. “Though the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has not received reports of any positive horses in Nevada, we are taking precaution and notifying anyone who attended the mid-February cutting horse event in Las Vegas,” Dr. JJ Goicoechea, NDA state veterinarian, said. There is minimal chance the Arizona horse was infected in Las Vegas, but the state veterinarian urges caution because EHV-1 can cause severe neurological signs and lifelong illness in infected animals. “Please monitor your horses for symptoms including a cough or runny nose,” Dr. Goicoechea said. “I recommend taking your horse’s temperature twice a day

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to monitor for a fever (over 102 degrees Fahrenheit) and following good biosecurity measures, doing everything you can to reduce risk of spreading disease.” Horse owners who attended the event in Las Vegas February 13 - 18 and see symptoms associated with EHV-1 should contact their veterinarians immediately. The average incubation period of EHV-1 is four to seven days. Most cases incubate in three to eight days but occasionally take up to 14 days. When neurological disease occurs, it is typically eight to 12 days after the primary infection and fever. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry. The Progressive Rancher

Dr. JJ Goicoechea

Arizona State Veterinarian

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. NDA includes the divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry. April 2018 9

CHECKOFF NEWS: • In addition, there were a total of 507,928 cumulative brand impressions, and 9,616 brand engagements, which is when a consumer engages with the featured brand (in this case, the NBC), to watch a video, answer a short poll question, share recipes, etc.

Latest Nevada Ibotta Promotion Wraps Up By Nevada Beef Council staff

n early March, the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) wrapped up another successful retail partnership with Ibotta – the popular mobile retail app that has over 22 million subscribers.

Starting in late November and going through March 2, the NBC partnered with Ibotta to provide a $3.00 rebate on any beef roast, 2 pounds or larger, at participating Nevada retailers. As a quick refresher on how our partnerships with this popular mobile app work, Ibotta teams with leading brands and retailers to offer rebates on groceries, electronics, clothing, dining, and more. Consumers unlock qualifying rebates through the app, purchase the items at the store, and verify the purchase for a rebate that comes in the form of cash or gift cards from Ibotta. As an added element, the brands featured on Ibotta can use their placed rebate as an opportunity to engage consumers, either by sharing a short video, asking a poll question, or sharing recipes or other key information. What’s more, when NBC beef rebates are featured on Ibotta, the reach is much broader than our traditional retail promotions in which we would partner with specific retailers or companies. Instead, Ibotta allows the NBC promotions to be accessible through almost every major grocery retailer in the state. To encourage consumers to take advantage of our latest offer, the NBC also produced and implemented advertising elements that included mentions about the offer featured on the Total Traffic and Weather Network in the Las Vegas media market, digital ads in Las Vegas and Reno, and location-based mobile advertising known as “geofencing”. Geofencing allows organizations to reach consumers when they are close to the point of purchase. Using this technology, the NBC was able to target key consumers based on a designated location radius – in this case, when they were within half a mile of a Nevada grocery retailer – pushing NBC advertising across a network of some 100,000 mobile apps used by consumers. By clicking the ad, users were then directed to a customized landing page to download the offer.

• In terms of who redeemed these rebates, 86.5% of the shoppers were female, and 35.9% of them between the ages of 25 and 34 – both key demographics for the NBC. • The top retailers at which the beef was purchased and rebates redeemed were Smith’s at 42.4%, Walmart at 18.1%, Albertsons at 11.1%, Winco at 5.7% and Costco at 5.4%.

Beef Checkoff ’s Instant Pot Partnership

If you’ve entered a home goods store or been on social media lately, you have probably heard about the Instant Pot ®. Maybe you’ve even purchase or received one yourself recently. The multi-use pressure cooker is one of the fastest selling home appliances right now, and is the number one selling pressure cooker on Amazon! In an effort to meet consumer demand for quick and easy recipes, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff, has established a relationship with Instant Pot®, resulting in a number of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. recipes being added to InstantPot.com. Having so many delicious beef recipes made available through this channel helps position beef as a top protein choice for Instant Pot users. Additionally, tips for cooking recipes with pressure cookers have been added to a number of recipes on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, helping keep the content inline with current consumer behavior.

BQA Transportation Training Now Available

Earlier this year, the national Beef Quality Assurance program rolled out its allnew Transportation Quality Assurance certification program. The program is available in two modules - one for producers, and one for professional livestock haulers. Transportation quality assurance plays a critical role in the health and welfare of cattle. The proper handling and transport of cattle can reduce sickness in calves, prevent bruises, and improve the quality of the meat from these animals. By using best practices, transporters can save the beef industry millions of dollars each year. When a transporter participates in the program they are showing consumers they are ready to take every step possible to keep cattle as healthy and safe as possible. The program covers many topics including:

Overall, the campaign was a success, and proved to surpass the NBC’s traditional retail promotions, just as our other campaigns involving Ibotta have. Here’s a quick synopsis of the impact:

• • • • • • •

• A total of 4,092 rebates were redeemed, which is a 42.6% redemption rate. (Ibotta’s industry average is 26%!)

The BQA Transportation program for cattle transporters is part of the BQA initiative. Online training is available at no charge, year round at www.bqa.org.

Given the launch timing of the holiday season, the promotion was geared toward consumers shopping for their holiday dinners, which is why roasts were the featured cuts. The offer obviously extended past the holiday season, but hey – any time of year is perfect for a delicious beef roast, right?

Cattle handling guidelines & diagrams Checklists for loading/unloading Checklists for hot/cold weather factors Checklists for fit/injured/weak cattle Checklist for traveling Loading suggestions and worksheets Bio-security & Emergency Action Plans

For more about the Nevada Beef Council or the Beef Checkoff, visit www.nevadabeef.org or www.mybeefcheckoff.org 10 April 2018

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“Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.”

Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce By Nevada Beef Council staff Spring is right around the corner which means vacations and sunny destinations. If you’re trying to lower your carbohydrate intake, this is an excellent meal choice. The tomato sauce provides a solid serving of lycopene which has demonstrated benefits for prostate health. Using spaghetti squash for the “noodles” provides a hefty serving of vegetables and a low-carbohydrate option for the starch portion of the meal. With the addition of lean beef to the sauce, there is a high amount of protein, zinc, and iron to keep your body fueled and strong. All of this for only 326 low carbohydrate, delicious calories per serving. Please consult your physician before beginning a low-carbohydrate diet. Makes 4 servings INGREDIENTS • 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • 1 can (15 ounces) no salt added or regular tomato sauce • 1 can (14.5 ounces) Italian-Style diced tomatoes, undrained • 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper lengthwise, seeds removed Toppings (optional): • Thinly sliced fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese INSTRUCTIONS • Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness. • Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes to develop flavors, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in basil, if desired. • Meanwhile, place squash in 8 x 8-inch microwave-safe baking dish, overlapping halves slightly. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 12 minutes or until squash is tender. Let stand 5 minutes. Scrape squash with fork to separate strands. • Serve sauce over squash. Serve with Toppings, if desired. Italian-Style Beef Sausage Variation: Prepare Italian-Style Beef Sausage by combining 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) with 1 teaspoon fennel seed, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Proceed as directed in step 1. To Roast Spaghetti Squash: Place squash halves, cut-side down, in 13 x 9-inch ovenproof baking dish. Bake in 350°F oven 45 to 55 minutes or until squash is tender. Nutrition information per serving: 326 Calories; 9g Total Fat; 4g Saturated Fat; 3g Monounsaturated Fat; 76mg Cholesterol; 514mg Sodium; 34g Total carbohydrate; 29g Protein; 6.3mg Iron; 8.5mg Niacin; 0.6mg Vitamin B6; 100.1mg Choline; 2.3mcg Vitamin B12; 6.4mg Zinc; 19mcg Selenium; 7.2g Fiber. Find more ideas for main dishes and leftovers at www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.

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The Progressive Rancher

April 2018 11

In the Mind of a Millennial By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations, California & Nevada Beef Council

Notes on Nutrition h, nutrition. That subject we all know we should pay more attention to or take more seriously, but often don’t. (Or, is that just me??)

Actually, I do take nutrition seriously, especially when it comes to feeding my family – I’m sure you feel the same. When I’m considering nutritious, healthful meals to fuel my kids’ strength and growth, you can be sure that beef and its high-quality protein and nutrients is a dietary cornerstone. So much so, that I have this quick aside for you. A couple of weeks ago, on a cold, rainy day, I made split pea soup for dinner. It was perfect soup weather. But when I placed a bowl of the steaming green stuff in front of my five-year-old son, he quickly dismissed it, saying, “Ew! I’m not eating this – there’s no meat in it!” Guess I should have opted for a beef chili instead. Anyway, I digress.

This month, I want to share with you how seriously nutrition is taken in the beef community as well, and particularly by your beef checkoff and the Nevada Beef Council. As I shared last month, nutrition remains a strong incentive for consumers to consume more beef. When it comes to perceptions of what the best sources of protein are, beef ranks number one among consumers. I also noted that, when older millennial consumers have children, their beef eatings increase by 11 percent, primarily through adding ground beef. (This information was shared during a consumer research session at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s convention in late January.)

Research has always played an important role in the checkoff ’s ability to respond to changing consumer demands, and the subject of beef nutrition is one area that has been heavily studied thanks to your checkoff investment. As stated by Joan Ruskamp, a Nebraska feedlot operator and member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, “it’s important for checkoff dollars to be using research money for nutrition because that is the reason we eat beef. Sure we like the taste, the flavor and the smell, but if it's not good for us, consumers aren't going to buy it.” Over the years, checkoff-funded research has contributed to a growing body of evidence that showcase beef ’s role in a healthy diet, at any age and for any lifestyle. For example, research studies such as BOLD – Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet – have paid dividends by proving that lean beef lowers bad cholesterol.

12 April 2018

More recently, research published in Obesity Science & Practice just last year showed that lean beef, as part of a healthy and higherprotein diet, can help people lose weight while maintaining muscle and a healthy heart. The Beef WISE Study: Beef ’s Role in Weight Improvement, Satisfaction, and Energy, was conducted at the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center with a research grant from the beef checkoff, and sought to understand the effectiveness of lean beef compared to other protein sources on measures of health — such as weight loss and muscle mass maintenance — in a higher-protein diet, as well as the impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors. When it comes to “eating right” in general, there’s something to be said for a protein source that packs a nutrient punch with relatively fewer calories than other alternatives. Beef supplies significantly fewer calories and more nutrients than many plant proteins. It often takes more than twice the calories to get the same amount of protein from beans, nuts and grains compared to beef. For example, a 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides 25 grams of protein in less than 160 calories, on average. It would take 6 tablespoons of peanut butter (564 calories) or 1¾ cups of black beans (382 calories) to provide the same amount of protein.

In terms of fat, the checkoff has invested in research to prove that beef ’s fatty acid profile is actually pretty impressive – and important in a healthy diet. A common misperception is that the majority of the fatty acids in beef are saturated. In reality, however, half of the fatty acids in beef are monounsaturated, the same heart-healthy type found in olive oil. In addition, nearly one-third of the saturated fat in beef is stearic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to have a neutral effect on LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). This is all the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the powerful nutrition story we can tell about beef. For more helpful information, be sure to check out the updated Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. web site, where you’ll find a variety of useful tools in proving the important role beef can play in a healthy diet.

The bottom line is that research increasingly supports that no matter what diet or lifestyle you want, beef can be included. And this is true no matter what your age – whether you’re a Boomer, a Millennial, or a fiveyear-old boy who would take a steak over split pea soup any day of the week.

For more, visit www. Fatty Acid Comparisons of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com Beef, Chicken, Fish and Olive Oil or www.mybeefcheckoff.com. A common misperception is that the majority of the fatty acids* in beef are saturated. In fact, half of the fatty acids in beef are monounsaturated, the same heart-healthy type found in olive oil.

Fatty Acid Comparisons of Beef, Chicken, Fish and Olive Oil

A common misperception is that the majority of the fatty acids* in beef are saturated. In fact, half of the fatty acids in beef are monounsaturated, the same heart-healthy type found in olive oil. 14 g 13.2 g Polyunsaturated Fat

What does 25 Grams of Protein Look Like?

fatty acids

Monounsaturated Fat

12 g

Jill Scofield is the Director of Producer Relations for the California and Nevada Beef Councils. She grew up on a cow-calf ranch in Northwestern Nevada.

1.4 g

Saturated Fat

10 g 8g

7.3 g fatty acids 6.5 g fatty acids 0.5 g

6g 4g 2g

6.3 g fatty acids 3.3 g

1.4 g

3.7 g fatty acids 0.3 g

3.2 g 2.9 g

2.7 g fatty acids

1.8 g

2.3 g fatty acids

0.7 g 2.8 g

1.1 g

2.0 g

0.9 g Beef Tenderloin Steak 3 oz.

Skinless Chicken Breast 3 oz.

2.7 g

0.9 g

1.6 g Beef Top Round Steak 3 oz.

9.9 g

0.7 g 0.7 g

Skinless Chicken Thigh 3 oz.

White Tuna Canned in Water 3 oz.

1.3 g Salmon 3 oz.

1.9 g Olive Oil 1 Tbsp

*Total Fatty acids include saturated fat , monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. Total fatty acids do not equal the total fat value because the fat value may include some non-fatty acid material, such as glycerol, phospholipids and sterols. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28. Version Current: September 2015. Internet: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/ndl. *Total Fatty acids include saturated fat , monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. Total fatty acids do not equal the total fat value because the fat Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association value may include some©2015 non-fatty Cattlemen’s acid material, such as glycerol, phospholipids and sterols. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28. Version Current: September 2015. Internet: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/ndl.

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Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission Sets Their Funding Priorities For The Upcoming Year By Rachel Buzzetti

What does the Nevada Rangeland Resource Commission (NRRC) do with the money they receive from Ranchers? This year they will be supporting the livestock and grazing industry by partnering and funding the following organization’s activities. These are consistent with the NRRC’s mission to reach out to the public and help them understand the value of public land grazing. GOLDEN PRODUCTIONS They are a video production company based in Reno, Nevada and San Diego, California. In 2018 they will expand and deliver a more detailed rangeland message by purchasing several 30 minute time slots to air the half hour documentaries. In the process they will increase the opportunities for our young people to learn more about agriculture, ranching, farming and where their food comes from with social media. To better identify with this younger market, they will introduce young people as the spokespersons. They will produce a 30 minute documentary validating public land ranchers’ ownership of grazing and water rights on the West’s federal rangelands. The documentary will then air in negotiated 30 minute time periods on various northern Nevada television channels. They will again produce six 1-3 minute educational videos, narrated by young hosts, to air on social media such as Facebook and YouTube, as well as add to the available video content on the NRRC website. THE PROGRESSIVE RANCHER Founded in 2001 to honor agricultural traditions, while embracing modern education. The money awarded to the magazine will promote Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission and its mission to promote public land ranching. The highlights will be included in the magazine as a tool to inform an audience which is affected financially by the health of Nevada Rangelands. NRRC and the magazine continue to educate readers as to how the livestock industry continues to progress and tell our story to both the urban and rural public. SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS They are located in Reno and operating as a non profit for the last 10 years. They have been committed to helping build the next generation of leaders, scientists and stewards through high quality outdoor and hands-on science education opportunities. With the funding awarded they will successfully combine industry-specific issues with engaging science lessons during family science night at the local schools. The project will build awareness and understanding of rangeland specific issues with the youth of northwest Nevada and their families.. NEVADA AG FOUNDATION Their mission is promoting agricultural education and research throughout the state. They award teachers annually who are active in educating Nevada’s children about agriculture as well as they have awarded $1.6 million in scholarships to students graduating from Nevada high schools. They have always been a supporter of the Ag in the Classroom Program (AITC), where recently they realized that the current AITC materials are not specific to water nor to how it relates to agricultural production in Nevada. A distinct education program with education materials on water and its role in agricultural production will give a new focus to AITC on this vital topic. They have recently also created a couple of videos that will be used to educate the classroom audience on the importance of water. GREAT BASIN WATER NETWORK Founded in 2005,the wide-ranging Network continues to work vigorously to oppose SNWA’s massive water exportation project. Their goal being to educate as many rural and urban people about the economic, environmental and social impacts of the proposed SNWA project as well as legally responding to court rulings. Most recently, they engaged a young filmmaker to make the Great Basin Water is Life video, which is the story of the water project in the voices of those affected. As a volunteer organization they reach rural Nevadans through travel, meetings, social media, printed materials (Water Grab),newspapers and signage. RANGE MAGAZINE Their charter is to provide and disseminate information about the use, care and maintenance of natural resources. RANGE reaches more than 170,000 readers. RANGE will renew 500 gift subscriptions for doctors’ and attorneys’ offices back East, which will say “Compliments of Nevada ranchers.” In addition, all four issues of RANGE will have a full color page ad on the back cover. Lastly, RANGE’S new book, “The good the bad and the bovine” will be mailed to all 652 Nevada libraries for art, literature and history classes. NEVADA RANCHER MAGAZINE The oldest independent livestock monthly magazine in Nevada, whose mission is to inform the reader about agricultural related news. The magazine is distributed in Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon. The funding will promote NRRC ‘s message by placing ads and a written column throughout the year regarding the Commissions efforts to educate the citizens about public land ranching. 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. Current commissioners include: Hank Vogler; Chairman, Rama Paris; Vice Chairman, Tim Delong, Joe Kircher, Mike Riordan, Richard Huntsburger and Mitch Heguy, and Hank Combs, the Farm Bureau representative on the commission will be replaced by Bevan Lister in 2018. For more information about the NRRC please visit our website at www.nevadarangelands.org or join us on facebook. www.progressiverancher.com

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April 2018 13

Evolving with Nevada Wildfires Nevada experienced four years of drought between 2012 and 2016, followed by record-breaking precipitation in the winter and spring of 2016-2017. The winter and spring of those years produced twice as much moisture than the long-term average. The excessive winter moisture promoted vigorous growth of all rangeland plants, but especially cheatgrass and other annual herbaceous species.

The abundant production of herbaceous fuels changed the wildfire fuel configuration considerably in most vegetation communities when compared to droughty years. Most notably, the degree of horizontal fuel continuity between native bunchgrasses, shrubs, and trees increased to the point that fire could be carried from native plant to native plant without the aid of wind and topography, which is not a normal condition for below average precipitation years (Figure 1). Additionally, for areas that are cheatgrass dominated, the amount of fuel produced was on the order of twice to three times the average. Realistically, an ecological site that produces 1,000 pounds of biomass per acre on a normal year may produce 2,000 pounds of biomass or more per acre on a precipitation year like 2017. Sites that are significantly invaded with introduced annual species, such as cheatgrass, have extremely high fuel continuity and fuel loads that can increase fire behavior and extend the wildfire potential to almost 10 months of the year. This has been reflected in recent analyses by the Nevada Division of Forestry showing that fires outside the traditional fire season (May-October) have nearly doubled in 13 years.

The combination of fire and cheatgrass facilitates more wildfire and increases cheatgrass dominance, also known and the fire-cheatgrass cycle. The cycle occurs because cheatgrass is more competitive than most species when burn scars are allowed to naturally re-vegetate. Also,

By the Nevada Division of Forestry

cheatgrass is extremely flammable, igniting and burning with relative ease compared to other fuels. Unfortunately, the current lack of moisture across the state, as of late February, also hinders rehabilitation efforts on the ground. Not only are wildfires burning in more months of the year, they are returning to sites more frequently. Normal fire return intervals for many Great Basin ecosystems with native vegetation are 30 to more than 200 years, but with the presence of cheatgrass, fire return intervals have decreased to five years or less in many areas. Of the wildfires burned in 2017, 36% or approximately 480,000 acres were re-burned wildfires occurring within the last 10 years.

The acreage burned in Nevada in the 2017 wildfire season was 1.33 million acres, which was the third largest season on record. The most recent high fire season was in 2007, when more than 1.36 million acres burned (Figure 2). Experts predicted that 2017 would have the potential for large-scale wildland fires across the western US because of the record amount of precipitation throughout the winter and resulting fuel conditions. Wildfires have also been trending larger in recent decades (Figure 3).

Among the largest fires in 2017 include the Roosters Comb (219,000 acres), Snowstorm (158,000 acres), and Truckee (103,000 acres). The 2017 season was one of large fires, which burned longer, larger, and faster. For example, extreme fire behavior warnings were sent to firefighters throughout the season from the Great Basin Coordination Center citing instances of individual fires traveling more than 10 miles across the landscape and burning more than 100,000 acres in a single day. The majority (74%) of acreage burned on BLM lands (Table 1). Out of the 768 wildfires that burned in Nevada, 46%Â of those were human-caused. Many of the early season fires

Figure 1. Continuity of fine fuels, such as cheatgrass, can change a sites fire potential.

were caused by range shooting in areas with cheatgrass buildup, which has been recognized as an increasing trend. In response, the BLM activated a prevention team that travelled across the state providing educational materials to all jurisdictions that identified risky behaviors and steps to avoid accidental fire starts. The largest number of acres burned in Nevada were a result of lightning caused fires (Table 1). Lightning caused fires tend to happen in more remote areas that end up growing the largest in many cases because they can go undetected for hours and when reported, suppression forces can take hours to respond because of rough terrain in remote areas far from fire stations. The total number of fires are on the rise since 2014 (Figure 4), and when coupled with the prevalence of human-caused fires, emphasizes the need for strong wildfire prevention education programs. It is clear that wildfires in Nevada have been and will continue to change, thus reinforcing the need for management toward resilient landscapes through pre-fire ecosystem management along with post-fire rehabilitation to ensure safe and effective wildfire response and management.

Wildfire response strategies and suppression tactics have evolved over many decades, adapting to changes in the landscape, climate and risks to firefighter safety. For example, the raising of fire-threatened sage grouse habitat on the priority for resource assignments has resulted in greater amounts of suppression forces being allocated by regional multi-agency coordination (MAC) groups. Additionally, aerial resources are often the most effective tool for suppression in remote, rough terrain and where more extreme fire behavior exists. These assets are being more readily assigned and used because of their superior effectiveness at reaching suppression objectives and longer term cost-efficiency.

Even with the additional resources, Nevada burned over 980,000 acres of greater sage-grouse habitat in 2017, more than all other western states combined. State, federal and local agencies are working together to create more critical fuel breaks in these critical habitat areas for protection. This winter, Nevada has had very low precipitation and has already seen many human caused fires since January. Historically, the largest wildfire seasons occur from the first summer of a single or series of above average water years through the first year of drought onset. Indications are aligning to make 2018 potentially one of these seasons, due to the below average snowpack and lack of precipitation in most areas across the state. Since traditional firefighting tactics and resources are challenged by the changes in fuels, extension of fire seasons, and fire behavior, scientists and land managers are adopting and implementing pre-suppression tactics to help increase suppression action effectiveness. Four of these pre-suppression tactics are fuel break installation and maintenance, targeted grazing, outcome-based grazing, and fire rehabilitation.

â&#x20AC;&#x192;14â&#x20AC;&#x192;April 2018

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Fuel breaks have been proven to be effective in most ecosystems plagued with wildfire. The Great Basin Factsheet “Fuel Breaks that Work” suggests that these need to be maintained by mowing them so vegetation is between 6 and 12” tall for effectiveness. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is beginning their Programmatic EIS for fuel break installations across much of the Great Basin, which will also dovetail with efforts proposed for other federal, state and private lands. Fuel breaks play an important role in controlling wildfires by breaking up the fuel models across the landscape, by providing access for firefighters, as well as by reducing fire behavior that is safe for ground-based suppression forces to safely and effectively engage and suppress the fires.

Figure 2. Recorded acres burned in Nevada from 1980-2017

Targeted grazing of fine fuels to reduce fuels and fire spread potential has been studied and proven effective for almost 20 years in Nevada, starting with the “Only Ewes Can Prevent Wildfire” study completed in Carson City in 1999. More recently, researchers have used cattle grazing to achieve successful results on larger scales, and have also documented the success of using fall grazing to alleviate the logistical challenges posed by grazing cheatgrass only during the spring. The BLM has initiated a Targeted Grazing National Pilot Project in the Elko District to study the use of cattle to create and maintain fuel breaks in cheatgrass stands in fire-prone areas that are located strategically to protect intact habitat from fire spread.

Figure 3. Average individual fire sizes per year from 1980-2017.

Landscape scale fuel reduction is a challenge to achieve in rangeland systems. Most of these ecosystems are fire-dependent and periodic wildfire was beneficial to maintaining the health, vigor and diversity of native vegetation communities. However, the presence of invasive species that take advantage of fire for their benefit has scientists and land managers looking for fire-surrogates that mimic the action of fire without enhancing the ability of invasive species to occupy more ground in the process.

In response to the need to improve relationships between land owners and federal agencies and the need to enhance land management by using local knowledge, the BLM has been working towards allowing a few ranches to test their ability and effectiveness at applying “Outcome Based Grazing”. This is a grazing management method that provides the maximum flexibility legally available to the livestock grazing permittees, allowing them to help achieve landscape-scale objectives including vegetation and fuels management objectives on BLM grazing allotments. These permits will include well defined objectives and monitoring plans to ensure that the flexibility applied is leading towards objective attainment.

Figure 4. Number of wildfires reported per year from 1999-2017.

Landscape scale rehabilitation of burned areas is necessary if the trend in increasing cheatgrass dominance and decreasing native vegetation across Nevada’s landscapes is to be curtailed. While not every acre of land following wildfire needs to be rehabilitated or seeded, it is clear that the lack of resources as well as effective methods and timing are limiting. Because normal precipitation trends in Nevada switch from above normal to below normal, and vice-versa from year to year, rehabilitation treatments following these fires are often times being implemented during severe to exceptional drought conditions. This droughty condition impedes the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments. The BLM, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and others have successfully applied millions of acres of rehabilitation treatments over the decades, along with many failed attempts. Between these and other agencies, more than 146,000 acres or 11% of the total land burned in the 2017 season will be seeded or have other treatments applied. To minimize unsuccessful rehabilitation outcomes, non-traditional approaches may be needed for drier areas, such as multiple years of seeding and co-located weedy species control. It is clear that we are in an unprecedented era of wildfires. The changes we see in vegetation communities, especially the conversion to weedy and invasive annual grasses and forbs, will continue to drive the need to evolve in our wildfire suppression and pre-suppression actions across the landscape. A coordinated response to wildfire, rehabilitation and mitigation will also be necessary not only by jurisdictional agencies but also homeowners, counties, cities, and interested stakeholders. Wildfire knows no timeframe or boundary, so our response before, during and after must not either. www.progressiverancher.com

Table 1. Total acres burned in 2017 and attributed causes. Human Caused

Land Ownership

Lightning Caused

WILDFIRE TOTALS

Fires

Acres

Fires

Acres

FIRES

ACRES

212

300,301

295

676,963

507

977,264

Department of Defense

10,007

10,015

Private and Local Government

54,122

732

54,854

U.S. Forest Service

2,421

4,838

7,259

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Park Service

State

116,971

162,628

279,599

Bureau of Land Management

Tribal

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292

293

355

473,828

413

855,461

768

1,329,289

April 2018 15

Jack Payne

OFFICE: 775-423-7760

16 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

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

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April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;17â&#x20AC;&#x192;

Adapted with permission of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension from its publication/materials, Special Publication 17-08

An Overview of Agricultural Production and Agricultural Water Use in Humboldt County, Nevada, and the Risk From Withdrawing Irrigation Water by Brad Schultz, Extension Educator, Humboldt County Summary: Agriculture is an important economic sector in Humboldt County, Nevada. There are over 350 farms and ranches in the county that operate on over 808,000 acres. Sales from agricultural products totaled just over $135 million in 2012 (last census of agriculture). Of this, $102 million was from crop products and almost $33 million was from livestock products. Humboldt County accounted for 17.7 percent of all agricultural product sales in Nevada, which ranks the county first in agricultural production. Alfalfa hay is the primary irrigated crop, but other crops include mint, alfalfa seed, small grains, potatoes and peas. Dairies located out of state buy the majority of the alfalfa crop. Irrigation for most crops comes from groundwater from deep wells. For native (i.e., wild) grass hay meadows, seasonal irrigation occurs in the spring with surface water drawn from streams, provided winter precipitation is sufficient for runoff to occur. Grass hay meadows are an important part of the county’s livestock production, meeting critical winter forage supplies. Beef cattle are the primary livestock, with cow-calf operations being the primary production program. The Jan. 1 census typically reports 58,000 to 65,000 cattle and calves on the ranch. The economic multipliers for both crop and livestock production are large, with each new on-farm position resulting in up to three additional jobs in the county. Agricultural water use from irrigation varies by crop and soil type, but the overall estimate is about 384,000 acre-feet per year. If water is withdrawn from irrigation, the likely result will be large areas of abandoned cropland, most of which will revert to weeds. These weeds could easily expand to adjacent private and public lands creating a suite of adverse management issues.

Humboldt County is an agricultural leader in Nevada, for both the size and breadth of its agricultural production (U.S. Department of Agriculture 2014). The crop and livestock sectors are both large. The 2012 Census of Agriculture (USDA 2014b) identified 359 farms and ranches that owned 808,872 acres (Table 1). Not all of the land on farms and ranches is managed cropland or used to produce marketable products. All agricultural operations have land dedicated to storing crops and equipment, providing housing, containing access roads, and hosting utility lines and other essential infrastructure needed for the farming/ranching operation. Some farms also have large areas that are not suitable for growing crops and remain undeveloped. Many ranches have hundreds to thousands of acres of rangeland that produce potential forage, but are ungrazed when the locations are too far from water or reside on terrain too steep or rough for livestock to access. The average size of a farm or ranch in Humboldt County is about 2,253 acres, with about one-half being at least 200 acres (Tables 1 and 2). More than 120 operations covered 500 or more acres, and 69 covered 1,000 or more acres (Table 2). Seventy-one operations owned nine or fewer acres; thus, small farms, tended by “part-time” farmers are common in Humboldt County. Agriculture’s direct economic contribution from the sale of crops and livestock in in Humboldt County, in 2012, was $135.3 million (Table 1). This ranks Humboldt County first for agricultural production among Nevada’s 17 counties, and accounted for 17.7 percent of all crop and livestock sales in the state ($764.1 million). At the scale of the United States, Humboldt County’s $135 million of agricultural sales ranked it among the top 29 percent of all U.S. counties. 18 April 2018

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Crop Production Of Humboldt County’s total income from agricultural sales, approximately $102.4 million was from the sale of crop products, and $32.9 million was from livestock and livestock products (Table 1). The gross receipt per ranch or farm averaged $377,000 (Table 1), with 136 operations reporting sales of $100,000 or more. There were 139 small operations reporting sales of $2,500 or less. The market value of land and buildings averaged $2.2 million per farm or ranch, equating to about $991 per acre (Table 1). The value of machinery and equipment averaged $271,000 per farm or ranch.

Alfalfa hay production near Orovada, Nevada. In 2012, Humboldt County reported 165,292 acres of total cropland, of which 137,470 acres were irrigated (Tables 1 and 3). About 74 percent of all irrigated acres were hay, with alfalfa hay being about 75 percent of all hay production (Table 4). From 2012 through 2015, tens of thousands of acres of native grass hay meadows along the Humboldt River and other small streams, which are important to livestock production, went without irrigation due to prolonged drought and low streamflow. Irrigation on these sites finally resumed in the spring of 2016. The 2014 crop survey (USDA 2016) reported alfalfa hay production on 67,000 acres and a harvest of 337,000 tons, for just over 5 tons per acre. Much of the alfalfa crop is dairy-quality alfalfa that can sell for well over $200 a ton in good years, but can fall to well under $200 a ton in fair or poor market years. Farmers largely export dairy-quality hay to California or Idaho, the first- and fourthlargest milk-producing states. In 2014, the average price of alfalfa hay was $241 per ton; thus, alfalfa production that year generated about $81.2 million of gross income for Humboldt County. Based upon the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the value of hay sold from Humboldt County was the 32nd largest in the United States (by county), ranking Humboldt County in the top 1 percent of hay-producing counties in the United States. Alfalfa farmers often grow wheat and other small grains as a rotation crop, every five to seven years. Farmers will often harvest the small grain crop early as hay, which allows for a quick plant back to alfalfa later that growing season. In 2012, the harvest of wheat for grain occurred on over 11,000 acres in Humboldt County (Table 4). Other important field crops in Humboldt County include alfalfa seed and mint. In the recent past, seed crops have also included wheat and other small grains and grass seed. The alfalfa seed and mint crops are high-value commodities that require specialized equipment for harvest and/or processing. Potatoes, until recently, were a high acreage crop (6,000 to 8,000 acres per year). In recent years, acres planted with potatoes have declined and been replaced by peas for snack foods. www.progressiverancher.com

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April 2018 19

Beef cattle do not require the high-protein, highly digestible diet required by lactating dairy cows. Hay production, therefore, often focuses on lower quality, low-input native (wild) grass-hay forages; not high-quality, high-input alfalfa hay. Grass hay contains less nitrogen than does alfalfa hay; hence, provides much less protein per pound of feed, while still meeting most of the nutrient needs of pregnant cows and bulls. Supplemental protein, often from a small amount of alfalfa as part of the daily ration, typically meets any protein deficiency from a grass hay diet. Grass hay is the primary diet for beef cattle because production costs per ton are much less than for alfalfa, which helps lower winter feed costs; hence, overall production costs. This occurs, in part, because grass hay production mostly occurs in flood-irrigated meadows, using seasonally available water from creeks and rivers during the spring runoff period. Alfalfa hay production largely uses groundwater pumped from deep wells and distributed through expensive center-pivot or other pipe-based systems.

Mint crop near Orovada, Nevada, nearing harvest. The design of this center-pivot irrigation system places water directly on the soil surface, largely to enhance the quality of the mint oil.

The use of surface water for grass hay production results in Humboldt County’s livestock sector being much more susceptible to drought than most farming operations. Humboldt County farms rely almost exclusively on groundwater for crop production; thus, their water supply fluctuates very little across years, especially compared to surface water sources.

Livestock Production Livestock production in Humboldt County is primarily beef cattle and their calves (Table 5). The county is home to only one large sheep operation. Almost all cattle ranches are in the cow-calf business, with calves being the primary product sold. Most of the calves leave the state in the fall and early winter, following weaning. Few calves are kept on the ranch and fed harvested forages all winter due to the high cost of providing adequate high quality feed to meet the calves’ nutrient and energy demands for both maintenance (staying alive) and growth (adding bone and muscle) during the cold winter months.

Flood-irrigated grass hay meadow in Paradise Valley, Nevada, used to grow hay for winter feed. Water for these production fields is from creeks with abundant spring runoff.

One primary destination for calves from Humboldt County is the annual grass rangelands of northern and central California. Calves weaned in the fall leave behind dry and dormant forages (i.e., low-quality feed) and arrive on California’s rangelands about the time the fall/winter rains begin. The rapidly greening annual grasses provide a nutritious forage, which is much better suited for continued growth than are the dry, harvested forages in Humboldt County. Warmer winter temperatures in California also result in greater weight grains. In essence, livestock production in Humboldt County is part of a regional production system that provides nutritious green forage throughout much of the first 12 months of each calf ’s life: the period when muscle and bone development are greatest. In the fall, ranchers also sell their low-value bulls, as well as cows (cull cows) that typically failed to produce a calf the past spring. An important component of all ranching operations is the production of hay in the spring and summer. Hay or similar harvested forages (e.g., straw, silage) provide much of the cattle feed from late fall through late winter for the base herd of mother cows, unsold calves, bulls and ranch horses. 20 April 2018

The 2012 census of Agriculture identified 133 ranches that produced beef cattle, with 58,490 cattle and calves on the ranch at the time of the January census (Table 5). This was about 3,500 fewer than counted during the 2007 census, and 2,500 fewer than the 2015 survey of producers. Among surveyed Humboldt County ranches, 37 reported 500 or more cattle and calves on the ranch, with an average of 1,359 head per operation. Another 18 ranches reported 200 to 499 head in their inventory, for an average of 332 head per ranch. These 55 ranches housed about 96.2 percent of all cattle in Humboldt County. At the National level, in 2012, Humboldt County ranked in the top 16 percent of all counties for the value of cattle and calves sold ($32.4 million). Access to federally administered rangeland is a critical component of large-scale livestock production in Humboldt County and much of the Intermountain West. Few ranches own enough land to maintain an economically viable unit without access to the federally administered rangelands. Cattle production involves somewhat complex private-public relationships between the ranch owner (and their help) and the two federal land management agencies that administer over 80 percent of the land in Humboldt County. For the lands they administer, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service allow grazing under a permit system. Ranchers, often called permittees, have access to their grazing allotments for specific timeframes each year. Only one ranch may use an allotment, or several who run in common with one another. The grazing permit typically has a 10-year duration and is renewable provided the livestock producer has met the terms and conditions of the permit.

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Agricultural Water Use The primary uses of agricultural water in Humboldt County are irrigation of crops and drinking water for cattle and calves. In 2012, the National Agricultural Census reported 137,470 irrigated acres in Humboldt County. Hay crops occupy most of the irrigated acres, with alfalfa hay occurring on over 75 percent of all acres producing hay (Table 4). Alfalfa hay typically uses more water than grass hay, whether it is tame hay (e.g., Timothy) or native (wild) grass hay meadows. Across all crop production in Humboldt County, the 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (USDA 2014a) reported that the average amount of water applied was 2.8 acre-feet, per irrigated acre. Multiplying 137,470 irrigated acres (in 2012) by 2.8 acre-feet per acre, suggests that crop irrigation uses about 384,916 acre-feet of water per year. Crops consume the majority of the applied irrigation water during crop growth, but an unknown percentage (probably small, especially for sprinkler systems) may percolate past the root zone and enter shallow or deep aquifers. Most of the native (wild) grass hay meadows are flood irrigated with water from a river or small stream. These fields typically reside in or adjacent to the floodplain of the source stream. Flood irrigation almost always delivers more water than is consumed by the crop; therefore, some of the irrigation water moves past the root zone and eventually returns to the stream or passes to the groundwater via sub-surface drainage. Typical spring (upper photo) and summer (lower photo) rangeland used for livestock production in Humboldt County, Nevada. Federal land management agencies administer most rangelands in the County

Almost all water consumed by livestock is from cattle and calves. All other livestock in combination represent a very small number compared to the number of cattle and calves (Table 5). The best estimate for potential livestock numbers is the Jan. 1 annual census. The 2012 agricultural census identified 58,490 head of cattle and calves on the ranch on Jan. 1 (USDA 2014b). This value includes bulls; cows without calves; calves recently sold but not shipped, and calves held over for another grazing season (i.e., yearlings) before their sale. The actual number throughout the year will vary around this value. Average water consumption by a mature cow, across an entire year is about 15 gallons per day (Heady and Child 1994; Rouda et al. 1994). Multiplying the Jan. 1 census of cattle and calves (58,490) by 15 gallons per head, by 365 days suggests that cattle consumption is about 320 million gallons or about 983 acre-feet (325,851 gallons per acre-foot of water). In recent years, cattle numbers have been as high as 65,000 on Jan. 1. A cattle population of this size would consume about 1,092 acre-feet of water. Water consumption by all other livestock combined (about 4,000 head: Table 5) ranges from well under 1 gallon per day per head (poultry) to about 12 gallons per day (horses). This suggests a collective water consumption of under 25 acrefeet of water per year (for these 4,000 head). The combined direct consumption of water by all livestock in Humboldt County typically ranges from about 1,000 acre-feet per year when cattle numbers are low to 1,117 acre-feet per year when cattle numbers are high.

All economic sectors, including agriculture, have economic multipliers for final demand, employment and household income. That is, a one dollar increase (or decrease) in sales for a particular sector increases other economic activity by some value. Research conducted by the Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno found that a $1 increase in livestock sales and alfalfa hay sales result in $2.32 and $2.08, respectively, of additional economic activity in Humboldt County. Of the 22 economic sectors studied, the final demand multipliers for livestock and alfalfa production were the second and third largest, after local government. Each new position added to the livestock and alfalfa hay sectors results in approximately 2.9 and 3.0 additional jobs in Humboldt County. The only nonagricultural sectors with larger employment multipliers were mining (3.0 to 3.2 additional jobs for each mining job) and construction (3.1 additional jobs). Economic multipliers also may work in reverse. A loss of dollars due to price declines, fewer sales, or a decline in jobs due to an economic contraction in a specific sector may result in less economic demand and fewer jobs across the community. This strong, diverse agricultural sector is important to the overall economy of Humboldt County. www.progressiverancher.com

Issues With Removing Water From Irrigated Cropland Around the globe, the permanent removal of water from arid cropland results in weeds and other unwanted vegetation establishing on the site (Bonet and Pausas 2004; Standish et al. 2006; Standish et al. 2007). The native vegetation does not re-establish on abandoned cropland in arid environments. This pattern of plant succession is likely in Humboldt County, where most cropland receives an average of 7 to 9 inches of precipitation per year. For the first year or two, perhaps longer if drought conditions occur, bare ground is very common. Windy conditions, a common phenomenon in Humboldt County, could easily cause large, widespread fugitive dust emissions from dewatered farmland that has little or no vegetative cover (Grantz et al. 1998). A wide variety of weeds may initially occupy abandoned farmland, and most can become well established within the first two growing seasons after irrigation ends. These weeds may be invasive annual grasses and forbs such as cheatgrass, Russian thistle, and winter annual mustards or state-listed noxious weeds, such as Russian knapweed. All can competitively exclude desired perennial plants if their populations become large. Russian knapweed and many of the

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other noxious species (e.g., hoary cress, perennial pepperweed, and field bindweed) that are common on abandoned or degraded cropland are deeprooted perennial herbaceous species. Their root systems may reach hundreds of linear feet (per plant), with each root having buds located every inch or so on the root. Each of these buds is capable of sprouting and producing a new plant. Most weeds that inhabit abandoned cropland are very difficult and costly to control once they become well established. It may take several, and often many consecutive years of treatment, to achieve large population declines and facilitate the establishment of desired vegetation.

Data Sources

Once weeds occupy abandoned cropland, the area inhabited becomes a seed source and facilitates the rapid spread of weeds to both near and distant locations. Adjacent pasture and cropland is at immediate risk of greater weed pressures, often resulting in increased weed control, hence, production costs.

USDA. 2016. National Agricultural Statistics. Quick Stata Database. Alfalfa Acres Harvested, Humboldt County, Nevada. Available at:

Seeds may spread rapidly by many mechanisms. These include attachment to the fur of animals; attachment of seed-infested mud to vehicles (ATVs, trucks, motorcycles, etc.), equipment or people (shoes, clothing), and its subsequent movement to another site; or seed consumed by birds and excreted at distant locations. In addition, seed may disperse long distances from strong winds, the movement of seed infested soil (often during construction) to new locations, and during periodic overland floods that occur after heavy rain or rapid snowmelt on saturated soil. The latter events also can erode the soil and break the roots of many sprouting perennial weeds into small segments that can easily be moved long distances during flood events. Weeds dispersing from abandoned cropland are a constant threat to establish on Humboldt County’s public lands. The extensive federal highway system (i.e., Interstate 80), in combination with state, county, private and two-track roads, connect literally every acre of cropland to millions of acres of public lands that support wildlife, livestock grazing, recreation and other resources that provide economic benefit to county residents. Abandoned cropland also provides excellent habitat for ground squirrels and other vertebrate pests (e.g., gophers, voles, etc.). Pest control is rarely, if ever, applied to areas after the withdrawal of irrigation water, largely because there is no longer an economic incentive to control the pest species. These areas, however, provide a refugia where populations may expand rapidly when excellent breeding conditions occur. Large populations of herbivorous rodents can feed on the adjacent cropland and dramatically reduce crop production. A complete crop failure is possible if rodent populations become too large. Summary Agriculture in Humboldt County is diverse, and irrigation supports crop production on well over 100,000 acres. In good price years, agriculture can result in over $100 million of income in the county. Agriculturalists in Humboldt County export many of the agricultural commodities produced in Humboldt out of state; thus, they bring significant dollars into the county (Harris et al. 2014). Past research has found that the production of many crops and commodities have economic multipliers of $2 to $3 for each dollar of agricultural income (Harris et al. 1993).

USDAa. 2014. 2012 Census of Agriculture. Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (2013). Volume 3. Special Studies. Part 1. AC-12-SS-1. 266 pages. Available at: https://www. agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Farm_and_Ranch_Irrigation_ Survey/fris13.pdf. Accessed on May 10, 2016. USDAb. 2014. 2012 Census of Agriculture. Nevada State and County Data. Volume 1, Geographic Area Series. Part 28. AC-12-A-28. Available at: https://www.agcensus.usda. gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Nevada/ nvv1.pdf. Accessed on May 10, 2016.

https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/#89F340DF-19FE-37BD-B24C-1E64A04AD781. Accessed on May 10, 2016. Literature Cited

Bonet, A. and J.F. Pausas. 2004. Species richness and cover along a 60-year chronosequence in old-fields of southeastern Spain. Plant Ecology. 174: 257–270.

Grantz, D.A., D.L. Vaughn, R. Farber, B. Kim, M. Zeldin, T. VanCuren, and R. Campbell. 1998. Seeding native plants to restore desert farmland and mitigate fugitive dust and PM10. Journal of Environmental Quality 27: 1209-1218. Harris, T.R., R. MacDiarmid, S.W. Stodard, W.O. Champney, and D.J. Torell. 1993. Economic linkages in the economy of Humboldt County. UNR Center for Economic Development Technical Report, UCED, 92-01. University of Nevada Reno. 67 p. Harris, T., J. Stroup, F. Salaghe, and M. Landis. 2014. Economic structure in Humboldt County: a socioeconomic and input-output Analysis. UNR Center for Economic Development Technical Report UCED 2013/14-10. 53 p.

Heady, H.H. and R.D. Child. 1994. Rangeland Ecology and Management. Westview Press. Boulder, CO. 519 p.

Rouda, R.R., D.M. Anderson, J.D. Wallace, and L.W. Murray. 1994. Free-ranging cattle water consumption in southcentral New Mexico. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 39:29-38. Standish, R.J. et al. 2006. Legacy of land-use evident in soils of Western Australia’s wheatbelt. Plant and Soil. 280: 189–207.

Standish, R.J. et al. 2007. Seed dispersal and recruitment limitation are barriers to native recolonization of old-fields in Western Australia. Journal Applied Ecology. 44: 435–445. Photo Credits: All photos are by Brad Schultz. The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Copyright© 2017 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

The production of crop and animal commodities in Humboldt County must occur in a highly variable climate that includes long and cold winters, a short frost-free growing season, cool summer nights and hot summer days (i.e., large daily temperature ranges), low humidity, high winds, and intense ultra-violet radiation. Agriculture uses a substantial amount of groundwater, but also surface water in years when it is readily available. Water use for crop production is orders of magnitude greater than for watering livestock. The permanent removal of water from cropland typically results in abandonment of those lands, which can result in substantial adverse effects from fugitive dust, weeds and vertebrate pests both near and distant from the areas affected. 22 April 2018

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Angus Bulls For Sale AI Sons of Comrade / Resource / Thunder

Potter’s Emmett Valley Ranch Emmett, ID 208/365-3621 cattleandsheep.com www.progressiverancher.com

Shaw Cattle Co Sale Report February 21, 2018 359 Bulls Ave

$4,215.00

158 Hereford Bulls Ave

$4,321.00

174 Black Angus Bulls Ave

$4,046.00

27 Red Angus Bull Ave

$4,685.00

HEREFORD Lot # Buyer

State

Amount

ST Genetics

$62,000.00

113 Wood River Ranch

$7,000.00

116 Sonoma Mtn Herefords CA

$7,000.00

145 CMR

$7,000.00

BLACK ANGUS Lot # Buyer

State

Amount

217 GJ Livestock

$8,000.00

219 Pollard Farms

$8,750.00

225 Desert View

$8,250.00

268 Desert View

$8,500.00

295 Desert View

$9,250.00

RED ANGUS Lot # Buyer

State

Amount

422 Baker Ranch

$6,500.00

423 Rector Farms

$7,250.00

425 Mark Mckenzie

$7,500.00

427 Mark Mckenzie

$7,000.00

445 Mark Mckenzie

$7,000.00

SHAW CATTLE CO. 22993 Howe Road, Caldwell, ID 83607 Greg Shaw (208) 459-3029 greg@shawcattle.com www.shawcattle.com HEREFORD | ANGUS | RED ANGUS

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April 2018 23

Commemorating

NATIONAL GROUNDWATER AWARENESS WEEK

NEVADA IS THE DRIEST STATE IN THE NATION

he Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) helped educate Nevada residents about the unique importance of groundwater in Nevada during National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-March 17, 2018.

Nevada is the driest state in the nation, with an average precipitation of only about 9.5 inches annually. With Nevada’s limited supply of groundwater and the seasonal nature of surface water, virtually all Nevada residents rely on groundwater – to some extent – for drinking, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, and/or thermoelectric power. In Nevada, approximately 490 to 540 billion gallons of groundwater are pumped every year, 70% of which is used for irrigation. As Nevada’s primary natural resource agency, the DCNR is focused on helping conserve and maximize Nevada’s precious water resources. In addition to managing the quantity of groundwater in Nevada, it is also essential to ensure the quality of our limited groundwater resources. Without proper management, groundwater can become contaminated with harmful germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites, as well as chemicals, like those used in fertilizers and pesticides. Within DCNR, the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR) and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) work together to actively monitor, protect, and secure the availability of clean, safe groundwater.

Scenic Black Rock

“Understanding the vital role of groundwater in our home state, the Nevada Division of Water Resources promotes best practices as they relate to water conservation through effective administration of our water laws, as well as through active monitoring of groundwater levels, groundwater withdrawals, precipitation measurement anticipating increased demand, and putting strategic measures in place to prevent critical shortages in the future,” said Jason King, State Engineer, Administrator of the NDWR. “Our agency is dedicated to being easily accessible to all Nevada residents, businesses, and stakeholders to assist with water-related matters, and we welcome and encourage our community members to contact us with any questions or concerns they may have. Together, we can protect Nevada’s precious water resources, ensuring it is available and plentiful today and for generations to come.” Greg Lovato, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, emphasizes, “Access to clean water is essential to public health and to Nevada’s economy. NDEP works closely with Nevada communities and businesses to restore, protect, and prevent the degradation of our water resources. We oversee the delivery of safe drinking water to the public, as well as provide funding and technical assistance for water quality improvement and protection projects and local planning initiatives focused on water quality restoration. Nevada’s Walker River citizens are better positioned to support groundwater protection activities when they understand the importance of this precious resource to public health, the The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources conserves, protects, environment, and ultimately a healthy and vibrant economy.” manages and enhances the state’s natural resources to provide the highest quality of life for the state’s citizens and visitors. Established in 1957, the Department includes ten divisions and

To learn more about the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural programs (Environmental Protection, Forestry, State Parks, State Lands, Water Resources, Resources, please visit http://dcnr.nv.gov/. To contact the Nevada Division of Historic Preservation, Conservation Districts, Natural Heritage, Sagebrush Ecosystem, and Off-Highway Vehicles) and 11 boards and commissions. Water Resources directly, call (775) 684-2861. 24 April 2018

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Commemorating

NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK

PLANTS, ANIMALS & MICROORGANISMS

he Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) was pleased to help educate Nevada residents about the threats posed by invasive plants, animals, and microorganisms in Nevada during National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 26-March 2, 2018.

Invasive species pose a threat statewide and can have devastating effects on native ecosystems, threaten agricultural food production, and harm public health without proper measures to keep them under control. Whether it be an invasive insect pest or a non-native invasive grass like cheatgrass, these species can increase the threat of wildfire, degrade water quality, and undermine recreational opportunities within the ecosystem. For example, invasive weeds can clog waterways, kill native trees, and shade out crops and native plants. In Nevada, some of the most significant invasive species include cheatgrass, whitetop, asian clams, zebra quagga mussels, tamarisk, and knapweed. Several divisions within DCNR, including State Parks, Forestry, the Natural Heritage Program, the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program and the Conservation District Program, work collaboratively with other state and local agencies to manage invasive species for the protection of Nevada’s natural resources and habitats. “The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is dedicated to ensuring Nevada residents can live, work, and play in healthy, thriving greenspaces,” said Bradley Crowell, Director of DCNR. “As part of this commitment, our divisions have fostered dynamic partnerships and model processes that aid in preserving native ecosystems, mitigating invasive species, and enhancing the natural beauty and vibrancy of communities throughout the state.”

Cheatgrass

Pine Beetle

A few examples of invasive species management projects performed by DCNR divisions and partnering agencies include:

• The Nevada Division of State Parks and the Nevada Division of Forestry collaborate on a variety of vegetative management projects, such as bringing in livestock to graze in weeded areas, which is known as the most environmentally-friendly abatement method. The divisions also partner with the Nevada Department of Corrections, as inmates build fencing to contain grazing livestock. • The Nevada Division of State Parks works with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to fund boat inspectors at main boat docks in Nevada, including Sand Harbor and Cave Rock, to help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe.

Sparks Forestry Health Project

• The Nevada Division of Forestry manages forest and rangeland and watershed health, fuel reduction, and protection and preservation of flora (including state listed endangered plant species). The Nevada Division of Forestry also has two nurseries and a seedbank facility for collection and propagation of species to compete with aggressive invasive species, and works with communities and other agencies to apply treatments at a landscape scale and across jurisdictional boundaries. • Nevada’s 28 Conservation Districts work in conjunction with local, state, and federal agencies to address invasive and noxious species, based on each of the unique ecosystems within the state. Nevada’s Conservation Districts also bring together available technical, financial, and educational resources, and coordinate these resources to meet the needs of landowners and land users.

• Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program staff helps coordinate projects to improve Sage-grouse habitat, including the control of invasive species such as cheatgrass. • Nevada Natural Heritage Program staff recently participated in an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program, an initiative through the Nevada Department of Wildlife, designed to prevent the spread/introduction of aquatic invasive species in Nevada’s waterways. www.progressiverancher.com

Forestry Division Washoe Nursery To learn more about the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or other invasive species initiatives, please visit http://dcnr.nv.gov/.

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April 2018 25

Nevada Farm BureauFarm Nevada

Bureau

Nevada Farm Bureau Engagements In On-Going Agricultural Issues

By: Doug Busselman, NVFB

he second week of March, four Nevada Farm Bureau leaders made the trip to Washington, D.C. to engage on a number of key national issues. Nevada Farm Bureau’s Vice President, Darrell Pursel of Yerington, NV is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Issue Advisory Committee, assigned the subject area of Water. Tom Baker of Baker, NV is a member of AFBF’s Issue Advisory Committee for Federal Lands. Nevada Farm Bureau President Bevan Lister of Pioche and Executive Vice President Doug Busselman were also part of the Nevada group.

As Congress searches to stitch together plans for the next version of the Farm Bill, Nevada Farm Bureau’s leaders shared general and Nevada-specific points of interests with the legislators who will be voting on the legislation to emerge. Based on Nevada Farm Bureau’s experience and member-engagement, our state’s primary focus in farm programs are found in the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill, specifically the importance and support of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). Federal Crop Insurance provisions are also important for various agricultural producers, protecting their operations from losses, out of the producers’ control.

Along with meetings with each of the offices of the Nevada Congressional delegation, the two AFBF committee members participated in all-day meetings to discuss developing and on-going issues in the respective areas within the advisory committee’s assigned portfolio.

Additional Issues Of Importance For Livestock Producers

Nevada Farm Bureau President Lister, participated with a delegation of Farm Bureau leaders from the West in meeting with the U.S. Department of Interior to learn more about the Department’s plan for reorganizing administrative boundaries and express concerns over the move away from state-based operational systems. Farm Bureau has been strong opponents for the proposed eco-region structure that is being promoted by the Department of Interior.

Legislation was introduced in the U.S. House (HR 5275) by chief sponsors Congressman Billy Long of Missouri and Jim Costa of California. Their bill is nicknamed the Agricultural Certainty for Reporting Emissions (ACRE) Act. It is the House companion for S. 2421, which is also aimed at providing legislated relief for livestock operations needing to submit on-going reports of “hazardous gas” emission reports for livestock manure.

During visits with our state’s elected representatives in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, Nevada Farm Bureau made the organization’s concerns known over the prospects of the Department of Interior’s reorganization. These frustrations and like-opposition was also expressed by Nevada’s Washington, D.C. delegation members. Ideally, input from those impacted and the need for higher priorities of addressing real problems on the ground will over-ride the continued wasted and misguided boondoggle of the Department of Interior’s reorganization project. Discussions with Nevada’s representatives also covered pressing problems of the crisis of uncontrolled and exploding Wild Horse and Burro populations, devastating the state’s rangelands and pushing all other multiple users off the land. The U.S. House has taken some positive action steps through the Appropriation’s bill that they passed to remove at least some of the Congressional roadblocks that have been put in place to prevent active Wild Horse and Burro management. The U.S. Senate has not been as helpful and has not done anything to resolve the problems that the Wild Horse and Burro massive over-population is causing. Nevada’s U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has indicated that she is in the process of formulating a plan with the opportunity for Nevada stakeholders to be involved in bringing forward action ideas. Nevada Farm Bureau’s leaders expressed appreciation for this leadership and welcomed the opportunity for being involved in the necessary conversations to formulate the solutions required for progress. 26 April 2018

Beyond the issues discussed in their Washington, D.C. trip by Nevada Farm Bureau’s group, on-going activities are taking shape on a couple of key livestock issues.

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempted livestock operations from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Anti-livestock organizations challenged that exemption and won in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and it was determined that livestock operations would be required to submit such reports and open themselves to not only regulatory over-sight, but also citizen harassment suits. After several court delays for moving forward the latest delay is set to expire May 1, 2018. Congressional action is the only route available for providing necessary protection from this requirement. Nevada Farm Bureau has requested support from Nevada’s delegation for passage of both the Senate (S. 2421) and House (HR 5275) bills. AFBF has also launched a nationwide Action Request appeal that Nevada Farm Bureau members are joining, sending emails to their national representatives to press for passage of the bills. Livestock transportation issues are also extremely important. On March 13, 2018 the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced an additional 90-day waiver from the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rule for haulers transporting agricultural commodities. Farm Bureau and other agricultural advocates have continued to press for consideration of the timely delivery of perishable agricultural products and the unique circumstances for livestock haulers. Beginning April 1, 2018 full enforcement of the ELD rule will begin. According to the FMCSA news release, carriers that do not have an ELD when required will be placed out of service. The driver will remain out-of-

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News Release Release No. 0015.18 Contact: Latawnya Dia 202-720-7962 Latawnya.Dia@wdc.usda.gov

USDA Designates 12 Counties in Arizona as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States WASHINGTON, March 14, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 12 counties in Arizona as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought. Those counties are: Apache • Gila • Maricopa • Pima • Cochise • Graham • Mohave • Pinal • Coconino • Greenlee • Navajo • Santa Cruz

Farmers and ranchers in the contiguous counties in La Paz, Yavapai and Yuma in Arizona also qualify for natural disaster assistance. Farmers and ranchers in the contiguous counties in California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah also qualify for natural disaster assistance. Those counties are: California: San Bernardino Colorado: Montezuma Nevada: Clark and Lincoln New Mexico: Catron, Cibola, Grant, Hidalgo, McKinley and San Juan Utah: Kane, San Juan and Washington

From right to left: Doug Busselman, Bevan Lister, Mark Amodei, Darrell Pursel and Tom Baker service for 10 hours in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance criteria. At that point, to facilitate compliance, the driver will be allowed to travel to the next scheduled stop and should not be dispatched again without an ELD. If the driver is dispatched again without an ELD, the motor carrier will be subject to further enforcement action. FMCSA is obviously interested in making certain that their command and control measures are adhered to and it is still uncertain how they will determine implementation of requirements for agricultural producers hauling their own commodities. A final guidance document will be issued, at some point, covering the agricultural 150 air-mile hours-of-service exemption and personal conveyance. Those involved in transporting their own products need to watch for those details when they become available.

Qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA’s) emergency (EM) loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration of March 8, 2018, to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include: Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA service centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

Lots Of Reasons For Being Engaged!

While Nevada Farm Bureau and other organizations, advocating for production agriculture, make regular trips to deliver input to elected representatives, the engagement of individual farmers and ranchers, presenting their stories and how they are affected by pending laws/regulations is critical. Experience has demonstrated that anti-agricultural interests crank up their letter/email machines at the drop of a tear-drop. Legislators need to hear from pro-agricultural supporters, balancing the decision process with reason and real-world insight. We welcome any and all who are interested in joining the ranks of “advocates for agriculture” and urge your contact to find out details you wish to learn in order to put your engagement into motion.

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The Progressive Rancher

April 2018 27

Nevada Farm BureauFarm Nevada

Bureau

By: Brittney Pericoli, Director of Communications, NVFB

Join Us! UNR YF&R Agriculture Club

Douglas/Carson City Farm Bureau Bar-B-Que Dinner & Mingle

The Nevada Farm Bureau has officially launched a Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). This is exciting news for college students interested in agriculture. The Collegiate YF&R is a great way for college students to learn about agriculture advocacy, while participating in this first agriculture club on the UNR campus.

Ag education is something the Douglas/Carson City Farm Bureau works hard to ensure students in the region know just how important agriculture is in their day-to-day lives.

“It’s exciting to finally have a club like this for agriculture students who want to be involved more in campus activities,” Said Lizzie Struble. “There is the range club, but the Collegiate Young Farmers & Ranchers provides different opportunities for agriculture majors.” Struble became a Collegiate YF&R member at the first meeting held March12, at the UNR Fleischmann Agriculture Building. The first meeting was a time for board members to be introduced and activities the club has planned, including participating in Harvest For All. Collegiate YF&R board members include President Blane Merkley, Vice President Connor Billman, and Treasure Anna Estill. Another hot topic was the Discussion meet. President Merkley recently competed in the YF&R Collegiate Discussion Meet at the YF&R Conference that was held in Reno this February. It was an excellent opportunity for Merkley to explain how the competition worked and get attendees excited for the big Nevada Farm Bureau Discussion meet this November. Collegiate YF&R is great opportunity to meet other students interested in agriculture outside the classroom setting. It offers a discussion meet opportunities, networking and most importantly helps develop young adults for their future in agriculture.

On February 23, the Douglas/Carson City Farm Bureau hosted their first Bar-B-Que Dinner & Mingle. People came together to have a delicious dinner provided by Minden Meat & Deli and music by Jakota Ray Wass. The money raised from the event is used to provide scholarships for graduating high school students pursuing a career in agriculture. In total, the event raised $1300. “For our first event it was a great success,” said Anna Lekumberry. “It’s awesome to see so many people helping us raise money to support students in continuing their education in agriculture.”

In addition to people purchasing tickets at the door there was both a silent and live auction. The Carson Valley Future Farms of America (FFA) provided the desserts, which were auctioned off to raise a combined total $1000. The money raised by the FFA students goes to their end of the year banquet. “It is exciting to see one person bid $300 for cake pops,” said Charlie Mann. “The FFA students truly appreciate it and we are thankful people are so generous in helping.” The over 90 attendees got the chance to win awesome door prizes donated by: Trimmer Outpost, JT Basque Bar & Dining Room, Fastenal, Jacobs Berry Family Farm, Carson Valley Community Theatre and gift cards donated by the Farm Bureau.

The Bureau was truly honored by how much the community came together to raise money for the scholarship funds. The Genoa Volunteer Fire Department alone donated $250.

So far, the Bureau has been able to provide $25,000 in scholarships. This year they plan to give a $1,000 scholarship to both a Douglas High and a Carson High senior. Scholarship information is given to students through the application packets provided through the high schools.

If interested in Collegiate YF&R you can become a member for $30. When you become a member of Collegiate YF&R you also become a member of the Nevada Farm Bureau. Nevada Farm Bureau members receive perks for being members including discounts at Office Depot, hotels, John Deere and many more. If interested meetings will be held the first Monday of the month at the UNR Fleischmann Agriculture Building. The time and room number will be announced the first Monday of the month on our Facebook/ Twitter pages to give people the most accurate information. Make sure to follow us on Facebook @ Nevada Farm Bureau Federation and on Twitter @ NVFarmBureau. This is a great opportunity to find and express your love for agriculture with others who are just as passionate. If you are interested Collegiate YF&R and would like more information before the next meeting feel free to contact Bailey Kelton at bailey@nvfb.org.

28 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Callao, UT

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The Progressive Rancher

April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;29â&#x20AC;&#x192;

2018 SALE REPORT On Sunday, March 10, 2018 in Yerington, Nevada, Bulls for the 21st Century had a very successful sale. The seminar and panel discussion about the stainability of cattle ranching was well attended and participants gained a greater understanding of the challenges facing ranchers when consumers want assurance that we use sustainable practices. Over 250 people attended the sale on Sunday. The High Selling Calving Ease Angus, GCC Impressive 772, sired by Mohnen Impressive 1093, and consigned by Gudel Cattle Company, sold to Bently Ranch for $7500. Fred Wilkinson purchased the next 2 high sellers, Westwind R Intent DJH 638, sired by AAR Ten X 7008 SA, and consigned by Westwind Angus for $6750, and the Champion Calving Ease Angus, ERRL Duke 1X74, sired by WR Journey – 1X74, and consigned by Easterly Romanov Ranch for $6250. The High Point Bull and Champion Red Angus was Trotters Oscar 626, sired by Feddes Oscar X28 and consigned by Trotter Red Angus.

Lucy's Award - Cardey Ranches

The Champion Composite was ERRL Dusty 1X74, a LimFlex sired by WR Journey – 1X74, and consigned by Easterly Romanov Ranch. The Champion Growth Angus was Roadrunner Grit 2280, sired by Westwind True Grit DJH 347, and consigned by Cardey Ranches. The Champion Hereford was BRL 501C 24A Fast Start 8E, sired by Churchill Kickstart 501C, and consigned by Bell Ranch. The Champion Charolais was FTJ Fresh Air 1738, sired by M6 Fresh Air 8165 P ET, and consigned by Fred Jorgensen. The Best Copnsignment Award went to Trotter Red Angus. The prestigious “Lucy’s Award,” went to Cardey Ranches. 30 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

www.progressiverancher.com

Champion Composite Bull

AVERAGES 41 Angus

$3908

26 Calving Ease Angus $4675 4 Balancer

$3725

9 Charolais

$3800

5 Hereford

$4310

2 Limflex

$4400

12 Red Angus

$3675

2 Sim Angus

$3700

Champion Calving Ease Angus

101 TOTAL $4080 Best of Breed - Bell Ranch Herford

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The Progressive Rancher

Best Consignor -Trotter Red Angus

April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;31â&#x20AC;&#x192;

We’ve been raising registered Angus cattle at Spring Cove Ranch for nearly 100 years. Our bulls are raised outside on dry range conditions, are genetically designed to provide meat, marbling and muscle and to perform in our western environment while enhancing the durability, fertility and longevity in your cowherd and in ours.

Spring Cove Ranch Annual Production Sale Monday, March 12, 2018 THE Pioneer Herd of the West

Selling 175 Angus bulls , 75 Angus females & 40 JBB/AL Hereford & Red Angus Bulls We’ve been raising registered Angus cattle at Spring Cove Ranch for nearly 100 years. Our bulls are raised outside on dry range conditions, are genetically designed to provide meat, marbling and muscle and to perform in our western environment while enhancing the durability, fertility and longevity in your cowherd and in ours.

SPRING COVE RANCH Sale & JBB/AL HEREFORDS SALE REPORT Annual Production Monday, March 12, 2018 March 12, 2018 • At Spring Cove Ranch in Bliss, Idaho

Selling 175 Angus bulls , 75 Angus females & 40 JBB/AL Hereford & Red Angus Bulls 150 yearling Angus bulls averaged $5742

Spring Cove Crossbow 4205 Reg 17924903 Spring Cove Reno 4021 Reg 17926446 Spring Cove Paygrade 5064 Reg 18251392 35 002 Yearling registered heifers Sired by :Angus KM Broken Bow 002averaged $3098 Sired by: KM Broken Bow Sired by: Basin Payweight 1682 MGS: CCA Emblazon 702 MGS: CCA Emblazon MGS: CCA Emblazon 702 19702 Yearling commercial Angus heifers averaged $1401 CED+17 BW -1.6 WW+61 YW+110 CED+11 BW-0.4 WW+78 YW+132 CED+12 BW-.6 WW+55 YW+92 50 Bred Commercial Angus heifers averaged $1700 SC+.99 Milk+26 SC+.17 Milk+17 SC+1.34 Milk+32 38 JBB/AL Hereford Bulls averaged CW+54 Marb+1.01 Rib+.53$2450 CW+53 Marb+.80 Rib+.63 CW+34 Marb+1.04 Rib+.23 $W+55.29 $F+73.16 $B+165.93 $W+88.33 $F+105.85 $B+171.68 $W+64.45 $F+50.38 $B+123.55 sons Reno and daughters selltoMarch 12, Angus, 2018 sonsCove and daughters sell#March 12, 2018 LotReno 1 Spring Reno 40E reg 18875953 sired byCrossbow Spring Cove 4021 sold Mahan Center Ridge, for $40,000. Paygrade sonsArkansas and daughters sell March 12, 2018

Lot 2 Spring Cove Crossbow 12E # 18875915 sired by Spring Cove Crossbow to Select Sires, Plain City, Ohio for $35,000. Lot 9 SC Paygrade 18E # 18876921 sired by Spring Cove Paygrade 5064 to E&J Livestock, Picabo, ID & Sawtooth Livestock, Stanley, ID for $22,000. Lot 20 Spring Cove Crossbow 4E reg # 18875960 sired by Spring Cove Crossbow to JR Ranch , Jeff Schmidt, Othello, WA for $22, 000. Spring Cove Crossbow 4205 Reg 17924903 Spring Cove Reno 4021 Reg 17926446 Spring Cove Paygrade 5064 Reg 18251392 Lot 16 Spring Cove Reno 22E reg # 18875942 sired by Spring Cove Reno 4021 to Grimmius Cattle Co, Hanford , CA. $21,500 Sired by : KM Broken Bow 002 Sired by: KM Broken Bow 002 Sired by:forBasin Payweight 1682 702 MGS: EmblazonE2702 MGS: CCA Lot 15 Spring CoveCCA TL Crossbow reg # 18864949 sired byMGS: SpringCCA CoveEmblazon Crossbow to Burgess Angus, Homedale, Idaho forEmblazon $20,000 702 CED+17 BW -1.6 WW+61 YW+110 CED+11 BW-0.4 WW+78 YW+132 CED+12 BW-.6 WW+55 YW+92 Lot 19 Spring Cove Crossbow 33E reg # 18876923 sired by SpringSC+.17 Cove Crossbow $20,000. Milk+17to E&J Livestock, Picabo, Idaho forSC+.99 SC+1.34 Milk+32 Milk+26 Marb+1.01 CW+53 Rib+.63 CW+34 Lot 35 Spring Cove Marb+.80 Crossbow 28E reg #188875947 sired byCW+54 Spring Cove CrossbowRib+.53 to Rabbit Creek Ranch, Elko, NV for Marb+1.04 $20,000. Rib+.23 S A V$W+64.45 Resource 1411$F+50.38 $B+123.55 Basin$W+55.29 Bonus 4345 $F+73.16 $B+165.93 Sitz$W+88.33 Longevity 556Z$F+105.85 $B+171.68 Lot 6 Spring Cove Payweight 20E reg #18875940 sired by Basin Payweight 1682 to Morgan Ranches, Jordan Valley Oregon for $17,000. Crossbow sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018 Reno sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018 Paygrade sons and daughters sell 18084910 March 12, 2018 Sitz Resource 525C Reg

Sitz Longevity 556Z Reg 17179073 Basin Bonus 4345 Reg 17904142 A V Resource Sire: Connealy Final Product Sire: Payweight 1682 High selling Angus female was lot 178 Spring Cove Violet 720 regBasin 18894477 sired by Spring Cove Reno 4021Sire: to BillSWyffels, Geneseo,1411 IL for $12,000. MGS: Sitz SLS Rainmaker 6914 MGS: Woodhill Foresight MGS: Connealy Consensus 7229 CED+9 BEPD+.9 WEPD+60 CED+6 WEPD+60 YEPD+108 High sellingBEPD+.2 Angus Embryo Lot was 206A. Sire: Spring Cove Reno 4021WEPD+75 x Dam: TL Ruby 4143 to Logan Sampson, Ruby Valley, NV forYEPD+113 $4000. CED+9 BEPD+1.0 YEPD+130 SC+1.48 MEPD+16 SC+.95 Milk+30 SC+.76 MEPD+38 High selling Hereford bulls were: CW+42 Marb+.50 Rib+.84 CW+38 Marb+.80 Rib+.34 CW+54 Marb+1.03 Rib+.54 $W+52.22 $F+69.19 $B+131.21 $W+67.63 $F+79.58 $B+130.71 $W+88.94 $F+98.06 $B+162.10 Lot 322 JBB/Al Boom Town 7046 sired by /S JBB/AL Boom Town 44608 to Salmon Falls Land & Livestock, Hagerman, Idaho for $5500 Longevity sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018

Bonus sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018

525C sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018

Lot 332 JBB/Al 2809 Thor 7086 sired by /S Thor 2809Z to Phillips Ranch, Baker City, ORE for $4000 Lot 312 JBB Boom Town 7019 sired by /S JBB/AL Boomtown 44608 to Shane Alders, Melba, Idaho for $3800. Sitz Longevity 556Z

Also Featuring 20 Sons of Basin Payweight 1682

Sitz Longevity 556Z Reg 17179073 Spring Ranch Sire: Cove Connealy Final Product

MGS: Woodhill Foresight CED+6 BEPD+.2 WEPD+60 YEPD+108 SC+.95 Milk+30 CW+38 Marb+.80 Rib+.34 $W+67.63 $F+79.58 $B+130.71 Longevity sonssince and daughters Angus 1919 sell March 12, 2018

Basin Bonus 4345

Sale Books BasinFor Bonus 4345 Reg 17904142

Sire: Basin Payweight 1682 MGS: Connealy Consensus 7229 CED+9 BEPD+1.0 WEPD+75 YEPD+130 SC+.76 MEPD+38 www.springcoveranch.com CW+54 Marb+1.03 Rib+.54 $W+88.94 $F+98.06 $B+162.10

Call: 208-352-4332

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Bonus sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018

S A V Resource 1411

Sitz Resource 525C Reg 18084910 ForSmore information Sire: A V Resource 1411 call: MGS: SitzArt SLSorRainmaker 6914 Stacy Butler CED+9 BEPD+.9 WEPD+60 YEPD+113 Josh Mavencamp SC+1.48 MEPD+16 Sarah Helmick CW+42 Marb+.50 Rib+.84 $W+52.22 $F+69.19 $B+131.21 Bliss, Idaho

525C sons and daughters sell March 12, 2018

208-352-4332

Also Featuring 20 Sons of Basin Payweight 1682

32 April 2018

The Progressive Rancher

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April 2018 33

2018 RANCH HAND RODEO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNING TEAM

TL RANCH – BRUNEAU, ID 2nd • Maher Ranch – McDermitt, NV 3rd • Eldridges – Elko, NV 4th • Nonella Livestock – Sprague River, OR 5th • Jim Ranch – Owyhee, OR

Winning Team- TL Ranch – Bruneau, ID Calcutta Winner- Shane Riley Pictured: Jr. Queen Leigh Johnson, Shane Riley (Calcutta Winner), Jason Stewart, Gus King, Bobby Jean Colyer, John Schutte, Ira Walker, Queen Kasey Marshall, and announcer Lee Dagget.

TOP HAND

Gus King - TL Ranch - Bruneau, ID

STEER STOP

Katie McFarlane Mackenzie Ranch - Jordan Valley, NV

SADDLE BRONC

Paul Padilla Gartiez Ranch - Winnemucca, NV

BRANDING

Mackenzie Ranch - Jordan Valley, NV

MUGGING

Mackenzie Ranch - Jordan Valley, NV

RANCH DOCTORING Jim Ranch - Owyhee, OR TEAM ROPING

Maher Ranch - McDermitt, NV

TRAILER LOADING Ride Em N Slide Em - Burley, ID

Ranch Hand Rodeo Top Hand - Gus King - TL Ranch - Bruneau, ID Presented with a Henry 45 Long Colt rifle in memory of Garley Amos and donated by Jim and Mary Sue Davis. Presented by Seth and Barbara Duncan

2018 RANCH, ROPE & PERFORMANCE HORSE SALE Overall average of 37 horses sold - $ 6,551 Top ten average - $11,175 HIGH SELLING HORSE Lot 16 - Hancocks Mr. Blue Boy - $17,250 Consignor: Brad Ford – Parma, ID Buyer: Shawn Mesenbrink – Nampa, ID

Ranch Hand Rodeo Top Bronc – 505 Ranch Child owned by Gene King Presented by Tom Brown, RHR Chairman

34 April 2018

2018 RHR Wild Horse Racing Results • Tie for First Place

CJ Harvey Team – Warm Springs, Oregon • David Gregory Team – St. Paul, Oregon

The Progressive Rancher

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2018 STOCK HORSE CHALLENGE

2018 WINNEMUCCA COW DOG TRIALS

OPEN RANCH HORSE CHAMPION

BRACE CLASS

OPEN SNAFFLE BIT/HACKAMORE CHAMPION

1st • Brian Abingdon with Wallie and Reika 2nd • Robin Brown with Reinee and Ox 3rd • Brian Jacobs with GS Levi and GS Romel

Handy N Gotta Gun • Owned and ridden by Flint Lee

OPEN CLASS

Handy N Gotta Gun • Owned and ridden by Flint Lee

1st • Chris Bennett with Chip 2nd • Chris Bennett with Coop 3rd • Brian Abingdon with Leah 4th • Haley Hunewill with Zac 5th • Andrew Schilke with Banks

OPEN TWO REIN/BRIDLE Nics Highbrow • Owned and ridden by Jymme Dominguez

NON-PRO SNAFFLE BIT/ HACKAMORE CHAMPION Peps High Brow • Owned and ridden by Dylan Heishman

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

1st • Alyssa Skinner with Callie 2nd • John Rose with Lucy 3rd • Scott Heiny with Piper

NON-PRO TWO-REIN/BRIDLE CHAMPION TI Smokum Plain Chic Owned and ridden by Andrea Otley

RANCH CLASS

LIMITED NON PRO BRIDLE

1st • Sarah Porter with Molly 2nd • Tom Richards with Solo 3rd • JR Bailey with CT

Hytime Cruiser – Owned and ridden by Cindy Cullen

NURSERY CLASS

1st • Pat Browning with Dolly 2nd • JR Bailey with June 3rd • Travis Jackson with Val

2018 High Selling Horse - Hancocks Mr. Blue Boy

Consignor: Brad Ford – Parma, ID • Buyer: Shawn Mesenbrink – Nampa, ID

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Ranch Champion- Sarah Porter with Molly

Brace Class Champion – Brian Abingdon with Wallie & Reika

Open Pro Champion- Chris Bennett with Chip

Intermediate Class Champion- Alyssa Skinner with Callie

Open Ranch Horse Champion Handy N Gotta Gun – Owned and ridden by Flint Lee

Nursery Champion- Pat Browning with Dolly

The Progressive Rancher

April 2018 35

Annual award bestowed during 29th Ranch Hand Rodeo competition by Kim Petersen, Director Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority This weekend, Clay Elwood “Buck” Tipton was honored as the 2018 “Ranch Hand of the Year.” It’s a fitting honor for the longtime northern Nevada resident and rancher, according to Agricultural District No. 3 President Kent Maher. “Buck has been a friend to northern Nevada, to ranching, to family values, to community values,” said Maher. “He has shared his skills from his earliest youth through his later years; his life has served to strengthen our local ranching heritage.” Clay Elwood “Buck” Tipton was born April 6, 1919, in Elkhart, Kansas, to Allie May Combs and Clay Hughes “Tip” Tipton. Buck had an older brother, Hugh; a younger brother, Glenn; and a sister, Dale Delong. In 1927 the family left Kansas in a Model T truck following the Oregon Trail west to Nampa, Idaho. After finishing the school year out in Nampa, they again continued their journey west. Instead of continuing to follow the dusty Oregon Trail, they headed south to Nevada. The family decided to settle in Humboldt County, and in June 1928 the family moved to Golconda. In 1936, after school let out, Buck went to work full time as a ranch hand. He worked at the North Fork Ranch, on the Little Humboldt River, and in 1937, when fellow cowboy Jack Fresetta’s horses came in without Jack, Buck was with the “posse” that set out to find him. Buck joined the local National Guard just before Pearl Harbor was attacked. His unit was activated and sent to Yuma, Arizona, for desert warfare training. After the Allies routed the Germans in North Africa, his anti-aircraft division was sent to the Aleutian Islands. He spent most of World War II there. He said the warmest temperature was 58 degrees. Following World War II, Buck came back to Nevada. He worked first at the CS Ranch, then headed to the Denio, Nevada/Fields, Oregon area. During this time, he was on the very last cattle drive from Southern Oregon to Winnemucca, Nevada. The trip took just over 2 weeks to complete.

36 April 2018

He was working at the Quinn River Crossing Ranch when he met Jean Harbin, a young woman from Wells, Nevada. Jean’s father was the head of the survey team for the State of Nevada highway crew and his crew was building what is now Highway 140. Jean worked in the kitchen at the Quinn River Crossing Ranch helping to feed not only the ranch crew and buckaroos but also the survey crew. Jean and Buck were married on June 18, 1950, in Wells, Nevada. They continued ranching and began to raise a family, including Frosty, Ken, Clayre and Julie. After leaving the Flying M Ranch at the end of 1959, Jean wanted to stay in one place for schooling, so the family bought a house in Golconda and Buck was able to get a job with the Nevada State Highway Department. The job offered decent insurance and retirement benefits. Buck retired from the State of Nevada shortly after purchasing the old Family Ranch in Pumpernickel Valley where the family continued ranching until 1989.

The “Ranch Hand of the Year” award is sponsored by the Agricultural District No. 3 as a way to recognize those men and women who make their living in the ranching industry. Past recipients include Frank Loveland, Loui Cerri, Harold Chapin, John and Tim DeLong, Buster Dufurrena, Jane Angus, Larry Hill, Louie and Frank Bidart, Sammye and Dan Ugalde, John Falen, Lilla and Woodie Bell, and Garley Amos. “We wish to recognize the outstanding people who have contributed so much, not only to the ranching community, but to cowboy heritage itself,” said Agricultural Director No. 3 Director Kim Petersen. Buck Tipton was presented the 2018 “Ranch Hand of the Year” award on Saturday, March 3, before the kickoff of the 29th Annual Ranch Hand Rodeo.

Jean passed away in 1993. After Jean’s passing, Buck began helping his sons, daughters, nieces and nephews with spring brandings. He often commented that with his immediate family’s ranches (Tiptons, Delongs, Fillippinis, Kings and Moiolas) he thought he’d had a small hand in helping brand nearly 10,000 calves annually. The last branding that Buck helped with was just after his 95th birthday. As age started to slow him down, he switched gears and began to braid fine leather bridle reins, which he banded around a small cable to add strength and weight. He also braided bracelets for his granddaughters and a leash or two for his daughters’ dogs. Buck is very proud of all his family and his extended family of cowboys and cowgirls, some of whom are past champions of the Ranch Hand Rodeo and some of whom are continuing to compete today. Not bad for a kid that drifted off the “High Plains” 90 years ago!

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The Progressive Rancher

April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;37â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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38 April 2018

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April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x192;39â&#x20AC;&#x192;

â&#x20AC;&#x192;40â&#x20AC;&#x192;April 2018

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