USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Nevada and Eastern Sierra Normals Dashboard On October 1, 2021 the NRCS updated its 30-year normals period from 1981-2010 to 1991-2020. The NRCS uses normals in a variety of products to represent data as a percent of normal. Changing normals impacts percentages and requires users to re-calibrate themselves. Visit this link for a video presentation and presentation slides showing highlights of how the normals update impacts Nevada:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nv/snow/ products/?cid=NRCSEPRD1848428 Key Points about 1991-2020 Normals in Nevada:
• The median is the new default normal used in all NRCS products. • Most 1991-2020 medians for snow, precipitation and streamflow in Nevada are less than 1981-2010 normals (exceptions exist). • The main impact of a smaller normal is it produces a larger percentage. • The reason 1991-2020 medians are less than the 1981-2010 normals is due to a combination of shifting the climate periods (1981-2010 to 1991-2020) and the statistical change from average to median. • Streamflow forecasts have been re-calibrated with 1991-2020 data. • New medians do NOT change SNOTEL data collection methods.
Tips for Adjusting to New 1991-2020 Medians
• Pay attention to how percentages are reported – median vs. average. External sources may mis-label data. • Don’t expect as much water from a given percentage snowpack. • Think like a water manager. Concentrate on streamflow volumes not on percentages. • Investigate the new normals using the tools lower on the webpage. • Use tools comparing current data with historic years w/o percentages. View some New Normals Slides on page 19 ///
IN THIS ISSUE 2 USDA | Visit the Nevada New Normals Dashboard
3 NCA President’s Perspective
23 Public Lands Council The Daily Roundup
24 NFB - Grassroots Newsletter
4 NCA Roundup Year in Review 26 UNR - Immortal Trees
4 NCA 2021 Convention Awards 27 UNR - Critical Snow Cover 8 NBC Checkoff News Year in Review 9 NBC Beef Recipe
10 Eye on the Outside - Reprint 13 Budd-Falen Law Offices Editorial “The Government” 14 Nevada CattleWomen
15 Let’s Talk Ag - Editorial
16 Society for Range Management “Wildlife Habit Rehabilitation” 19 USDA - NRCS - New Normal 20 NFB - “Time to Plan for Sage Grouse Conservation...Again” 22 NFB - Annual NFB Meeting 22 NFB - YF&R Program
27 UNR - Andrew Hess Makes Genetic Herd Improvements
28 UNR - Cattlemen’s Update returns in 7 Nevada locations 28 Gelbvieh & Balancer Cattle 29 Wells FFA Wins Western National Rangeland CDE
31 In Memory: John David Secrist 32 American Hereford Assoc. “Understanding EPDS”
34 Fallon Ranch Rodeo Results
36 EPD and $Value Definitions How to Read the Report 38 Cowbelles | “Trisket” Recipe 39 HDGrange | Quilts of Valor
FIND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES AT
www.progressiverancher.com
Owner/Editor/Publisher – Leana Litten Carey
“What Happened: Dr. Bhattacharya on 19 Months of COVID”
Cover Credit: “Helping Hand” by Serene Stremler, Fallon Nevada
Public Lands Council Ranching & Political Headlines: • Wildfire Updates • Drought Assistance • Regulation Changes on Wolf Hunts • Grazing & Pasture Management • Prescribed Burns in California
FIND US ON FACEBOOK AT
/ TheProgressiveRancher
2 JANUARY 2022
progressiverancher@gmail.com Graphic Design/Layout – Visualize.Design
Published 8 times a year. View all issues at www.progressiverancher.com Readership reaches 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 welcome; submit via email. Advertising rates available upon request. Advertising does not imply editorial endorsement. Liability for errors or omissions in advertisements shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error or omission.
© The Progressive Rancher Magazine. All rights reserved.
Leana Litten Carey, Owner/Editor
1951 W Williams Ave # 432 • Fallon, Nevada 89406 (208) 358-2487 • progressiverancher@gmail.com Read the magazine and more articles online at
WWW.PROGRESSIVERANCHER.COM
The Progressive Rancher
Ads sent to or built by The Progressive Rancher become property of this magazine. www.progressiverancher.com
