The Progressive Rancher - JLUY-AUGUST 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

UNR | Desert Farming Initiative Accepting Applications

22 Nevada Independent | $350M in Federal Land Sales to benefit NV Public Lands & Wildlife

24 SRM | Managing Cheatgrass in Nevada: Past and Present

27 Churchill FFA | SLC: Growing Nevada’s Future Leaders

27 NV NRCS Water Supply Update

28 Turnout for FFA Leadership Conference Indicates Bright Future for California Ag

31 Oil City News | Gov. Gordon Unveils “Decarbonizing” Report

33 Cattlewomens’ Corner | Beef & Wine Paring Was A Success

34 Small Farm Conference Continues to Provide Education

35 NDA | News from the desk of Director Goicoechea

36 Nevada Today | UNR Develops Vegetation Mapping Tools

37 Nevada Today | Molly Flag Knudtsen: No Place for a Woman

38 Groundwater Conservation Easements

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Yes, I imagine the confusion as you read the title. Where am I headed with this? Bear with me as I tour down the self-help rabbit trail.

Inspiration is the mental stimulation of thought, usually positive. Pretty easy to come by and usually fleeting. It typically manifests itself as “I wish I had”. It can be physical, mental, spiritual, material, or a plethora of other things. Inspiration is typically a good thing as it motivates us to improve ourselves. Motivation comes next. It is typically the action associated with inspiration. Motivation is a harder step in the process of self-improvement. If you spend any time on social media platforms you will quickly get overwhelmed with motivational blurbs. From the beginning of Nike’s “just do it” campaign to Jordan Peterson’s “get some responsibility” speech, motivating reels will fill up your feeds. Being motivated is absolutely necessary for us as humans to be a positive and productive member of our society.

Discipline, yeah here we go! While inspiration and motivation come easy, discipline is very hard. Committing yourself to every day for an extended

period of time to a possible outcome is hard. The long-term GRIND of staying disciplined for however long it takes is something very few people can do.

As our society gets further and further removed from agriculture we are getting less and less disciplined. Instant gratification is the expectation now. If the internet doesn’t work in two seconds, we become impatient. For most young people to commit to anything longer than two seconds is almost unheard of. Job, college major, trade, relationship, take your pick, they upgrade faster than iPhones. Lots of inspiration but very little discipline - the exception to this rule is AG kids. The inspiration for this article comes from helping a few neighbors brand and watching the kids coming up in our industry. They give me hope for mankind. Growing up with livestock discipline is engrained in you. The cows tore the fence up and are out again, you go put them back in.

Sunday morning blizzard, you’re sick, but the cows still have to be fed. 4:00 AM getting up to go brand, you can take motivation completely

out of the equation. The job HAS to be done whether you “feel like” it or not. Why do you think companies seek out AG kids to hire? Teaching patience, commitment and discipline to our young people is one of the most important things we can do in my opinion.

So from my perspective, if you want to teach your kids discipline, get them a cow.

Hanes Holman

Hanes Holman President, NCA

by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Announces 2024 Scholarship Recipients

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Research and Education Committee is pleased to announce five scholarship recipients this year.

The NCA would like to congratulate Billy DeLong of Winnemucca, NV and Ian Livingstone of Ruby Valley, NV for being selected as the 2024 NCA Scholarship recipients. Cooper Hill from Winnemucca, NV and John Reed from Carlin, NV for being selected as the 2024 Marvel- Andrae Scholarship recipients. And last but not least, Amelia Lancaster of Austin, NV for being selected as the 2024 Walt Leberski Memorial Scholarship recipient.

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association annually awards the NCA scholarship to a first-year college student beginning to pursue an education within the agricultural industry. This award is open to all Nevada high school graduating seniors planning to attend a junior or four-year university and majoring in an agricultural related field. The Marvel/Andrae Scholarship is targeted toward students either going into their first year of college or already enrolled in college and working towards a degree in agriculture economics, agriculture business, or the animal/meat science fields. We would also like to recognize Agri Beef for their continued support of the Marvel-Andrae Scholarship program. The NCA greatly appreciates our partnership with Agri Beef and thanks them for their continued support of students pursuing careers in agriculture.

This year was also the first year of the Walt Leberski Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made eligible to graduating high school seniors, or students already enrolled in college or a trade school. Again, this scholarship is intended for students who are obtaining a degree to hone their skills for the betterment of agriculture.

All three scholarships are awarded to exceptional students who work hard, excel academically, and work to represent agriculture in a positive way. We thank all the students that applied for these scholarships and are confident that they will all be strong future advocates for our ranching and farming communities.

NCA Scholarship Recipients

Billy DeLong recently graduated from Lowry High School in Winnemucca, NV and will be attending New Mexico State University where he will be pursuing a degree in Animal Science. Billy is actively involved in his family’s cattle ranch as well as the NV High School Rodeo Association and Winnemucca FFA. He hopes to continue his rodeo success in college while learning beef genetics and how to improve cattle efficiency and quality. Billy plans to continue working in the cattle industry upon graduation.

Ian Livingstone recently graduated from Wells High School and will be attending Utah State University later this fall to pursue a degree in Animal Science and Ag Business. Ian has been actively engaged in several organizations throughout his high school career including FFA and Nevada High School Rodeo Association. While earning his degree, Ian also plans to rodeo for the Utah State Collegiate Rodeo Team. After earning his degree, he hopes to implement new and innovative methods back on the family ranch in Ruby Valley, NV.

Marvel-Andrae Scholarship Recipients

Cooper Hill also recently graduated from Lowry High School in Winnemucca, NV and will be attending the University of Idaho in Moscow later this fall. Cooper plans on majoring in Animal Veterinary Science with an Ag Commodity Minor. He has been an active member of 4-H, FFA, the Nevada High School Rodeo Association, and Skills USA. Cooper looks forward to using his degree in a variety of agricultural practices.

John Reed recently graduated from Carlin High School in Carlin, NV and is headed to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. John plans on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in animal science (prevet). John was actively involved in varsity football, Skills USA, the Weld-Fab Team, 4-H, and the Pine Valley Volunteer Fire Department throughout his high school career. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he plans on going to veterinary school in Washington and returning to Nevada to practice veterinary medicine.

The inaugural Walt Leberski Memorial Scholarship recipient this year is Amelia Lancaster. Amelia recently graduated from Ignite Christian Academy and hails from Austin, NV where her family operates a cattle ranch. She is the current NV High School Rodeo Association President and will be attending Montana State University where she plans on majoring in history and/or political science. Amelia hopes to attend law school after completing her bachelor’s degree and plans to focus on environmental and natural resource law with an emphasis in water rights and water quality.

Congratulations again to Billy, Ian, Cooper, John, and Amelia. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors! We’re very proud of them and are confident that they will continue to serve the industry well. We look forward to all that they will accomplish.

Walt Leberski Memorial Scholarship

Masters of Beef Advocacy Program Celebrates 25,000 Graduates

Two years ago, the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hit 20,000 graduates. This year, the program celebrates an additional 5,000 graduates – reaching a new milestone for advocacy in the beef industry.

“It feels like yesterday that we were celebrating 20,000 graduates,” said Paul Dybedahl, Associate Director of Communications for the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program. “Just two years later, it’s incredible to see an additional 5,000 graduates, all willing to dedicate their time to learn more about, and advocate for, the beef industry.”

Created in 2009, the MBA program is a free, self-guided online course that provides members of the beef community – from farmers and ranchers to students, supply chain members and consumers – with the tools and resources needed to become a strong advocate for the beef community.

In 2021, the MBA program launched MBA NextGen – which updated training modules, splitting the course into five online lessons:

• The Beef Community – Context of raising beef from pasture to plate with a focus on the community of people involved throughout the beef lifecycle.

• Raising Cattle on Grass – An introduction to the first step in the beef lifecycle and the many benefits of raising cattle on our country’s vast grass pasture resources.

• Life in the Feedyard – A discussion on the role of feedyards, including animal care, nutrition and environmental stewardship, at this important step in the beef lifecycle.

• From Cattle to Beef – An in-depth look at the slaughter process and the humane handling and safety measures in place at today’s beef processing facilities.

• Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. – A primer on choosing and cooking the right cuts of beef and the important role of beef in a healthful diet.

After completing NextGen, MBA graduates can enroll in MBA Continuing Education where graduates can continue their education with more lessons on beef’s nutrition, sustainability, and animal welfare among more. Graduates can also access monthly newsletters and join the program’s Facebook community where updates are given on the latest consumer trends.

Anyone interested in learning about beef’s journey from pasture to plate is invited to enroll today at https://mba.beeflearningcenter.org/

MEDITERRANEAN

GRILLED CHUCK STEAK with GRILLED VEGETABLES

Ingredients:

1 pound beef Blade Chuck Steak

2 tsp Mediterranean Spice Mix*

2 zucchini, cut lengthwise

8 baby sweet bell peppers

1 tsp olive oil

MARINADE

2/3 cup balsamic vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

1 Tbsp Mediterranean spice mix*

Directions:

* MEDITERRANEAN SPICE MIX

4 Tbsp garlic powder

4 Tbsp dried dill weed

2 Tbsp dried oregano leaves

2 Tbsp dried mint

4 Tbsp kosher salt

4 Tbsp dried lemon peel

4 Tbsp cracked black pepper

2 Tbsp ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Store any leftover in an air-tight container.

Combine marinade in a small bowl. Place beef chuck steaks & marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or as long as overnight, turning occasionally.

In a medium size bowl toss zucchini & mini bell peppers with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Place vegetables on grid over medium heat. Grill 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove from grill and set aside. Once slightly cooled slice zucchini into 1/4 inch slices and set aside. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Season each side of the steak with 1/2 Tablespoon of spice mix. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 3 to 4 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 3 to 4 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove from the grill and season with salt, as desired. Serve alongside grilled vegetables.

GRILLED SIRLOIN STEAK KABOBS WITH GARLIC ROSEMARY BUTTER

Ingredients:

1 pound beef Top Sirloin Steak boneless, cut 1 inch thick

1 Tablespoon steak seasoning blend

1 Tablespoon olive oil

8 ounces red-skinned potatoes

4 ounces cherry tomatoes

4 ounces portobello mushrooms

Directions:

BASTING SAUCE

4 Tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

2 teaspoon fresh parsley

1.5 teaspoon garlic, minced

GARNISH

1 teaspoon fresh parsley

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

Cut potatoes into 1-1/2 inch pieces. Place in microwave-safe dish; cover with vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high 6 to 8 minutes or until just tender, stirring once. Cool slightly.

Cut beef Top Sirloin Steak into 1-1/4 inch pieces. Combine beef, mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, olive oil and steak seasoning in a large bowl; toss. Alternately thread beef and vegetables onto metal skewers. Place kabobs on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill 9 to 12 minutes (or over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 8 to 10 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning once and brushing with sauce during last 5 minutes. Remove from grill and brush with remaining sauce. Garnish with remaining rosemary/parsley mixture.

BASTING SAUCE

In a small sauce pot combine the butter, parsley, garlic, and rosemary. Melt butter mixture over low heat either on the stove top or on your grill until melted. Stir occasionally.

THE ROUNDUP

WILDFIRE UPDATE

Number of new large fires or emergency response: 11

Number of active large fires: 42

Acres in active fires: 184,464

Fires contained: 0

As of June 26, National Interagency Fire Report www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf

PLC: Registration open for PLC’s 56th Annual Meeting in Grand Junction, CO Registration Opens for PLC’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Colorado, American Ag Network - Registration is now open for the Public Lands Council’s 56th Annual Meeting, taking place in Grand Junction, Colorado, from September 17–19. PLC President Mark Roeber emphasized the importance of this gathering amid increased government regulations affecting federal land ranchers. The meeting will focus on policy coordination and advocacy efforts to protect the industry. The event, held at the DoubleTree Hilton, costs $375 with discounts for family, students, and media. PLC advocates for cattle and sheep producers using federal lands, and the meeting aims to address key issues and influence policy.

TO REGISTER: https://americanagnetwork. com/2024/06/registration-opens-for-plcs-2024annual-meeting-in-colorado/

DOI: UT and WY sue over BLM public lands rule; Rep. McMorris Rodgers criticizes agency’s report on Columbia River Basin dams

Biden Public Lands Rule Draws Legal Challenge From Utah, Wyoming, Bloomberg Law - Utah and Wyoming have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, arguing that the recently finalized Public Lands Rule did not properly assess environmental harms as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The lawsuit claims the Interior Department improperly excluded the rule from necessary scrutiny. The rule, finalized by the Bureau of Land Management, designates conservation as a use of public land on par

with other activities and governs 245 million acres of federal land. While BLM officials argue the rule is necessary for ecosystem restoration, Western states and Republican politicians fear it will limit other land uses. The lawsuit highlights concerns about potential impacts on old-growth forests, landscape health, and wildlife habitats.

McMorris Rodgers Responds to Biden Administration’s Sham Report on Columbia River System, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers - Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers criticized the Department of the Interior’s report on the impacts of federal dams on Columbia River Basin Tribes, accusing the Biden administration of using a politically motivated, poorly sourced report to push for dam breaching. She argues that the report undermines necessary regional dialogue and overlooks the significant benefits of the dams to the region.

USFS: Agency makes $1M investment in ID to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health

$1M earmarked for North Idaho forests, Coeur d’Alene Press - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Northern Region is investing $1 million to collaborate with the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) under the Good Neighbor Authority to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. The funds will support 3,000 acres of fuels reduction, road repairs, and IDL staffing in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. This investment aims to enhance forest management capacity and meet Shared Stewardship goals, doubling the treated acres on National Forest System lands in Idaho by 2025. The initiative focuses on the Wildland Urban Interface to protect communities from catastrophic wildfires.

Congress: Western Senators introduce bipartisan bill to extend water conservation program amid Colorado River Basin drought

Romney, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend Colorado River Conservation Program, Sen. Mitt Romney - U.S. Senators Mitt Romney, John Hickenlooper, John Barrasso, Michael Bennet, and Cynthia Lummis have introduced the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act, a bipartisan bill to extend the System Conservation Pilot Program through 2026. This program, aimed at testing voluntary water conservation measures, has been successful in improving water efficiency and mitigating drought impacts in the Colorado River Basin. The extension will support continued efforts to manage water resources effectively amidst ongoing drought conditions and help develop long-term water management strategies for the Upper Basin.

Wildfires: CO prepares for heightened wildfire risks

Colorado’s Forest Service is trying to create more fireresistant forests after they burn, KKCO 11 News - As the summer solstice approaches, Colorado faces increasing wildfire risks, exacerbated by rising temperatures. Recent wildfires, including a significant brush fire near Loma, underscore the urgency of wildfire prevention efforts. With the state experiencing its 20 largest wildfires since 2001, the Colorado State Forest Service focuses on strategic tree replanting to enhance forest resilience. By adopting tactics such as tree cutting and prescribed burns, the agency aims to mitigate wildfire threats and create more resilient forest ecosystems.

Wildlife: BLM to partners with state in WY juniper removal project

BLM to Remove Junipers to Improve Wildlife Habitat, The Cheyenne Post - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is teaming up with the Little Snake River Conservation District (LSRCD) and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) for a collaborative juniper removal project. Juniper encroachment, facilitated by aggressive wildfire suppression, has become prevalent in Wyoming and other western states. This expansion threatens vital habitat for wildlife species like Mule Deer and Greater Sage Grouse, prompting the collaborative effort to address the issue.

USFS: Heithecker appointed new regional forester to Rocky Mountain Region

U.S. Forest Service appoints new regional forester for Rocky Mountain Region, Sky Hi News - The USDA Forest Service appointed Troy Heithecker as the new regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced the appointment Thursday, May 30. Heithecker will lead more than 2,000 permanent and seasonal employees while sharing stewardship of 22 million acres of national forests and grasslands with partners and 48 affiliated tribes in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. “Troy is a proven and compassionate leader who will bring experience to the Rocky Mountain Region essential to carrying out agency and regional goals. Through his guidance, we will continue our vital work with partners to improve ecological function, reduce the threat from wildfire to forests and grasslands and the surrounding communities, enhance the user experience, provide outstanding recreational opportunities and, internally, care for the physical, mental and psychological wellness of the workforce,” Moore said.

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Grazing: Adaptive grazing practices prove useful when protecting land from natural disasters

Regenerative ranching focuses on forages, FarmProgress - Adaptive grazing consists of prioritizing soil health, water availability and rotating cattle. By using these principles, McGinn has tripled his carrying capacity by paying close attention to soil health and the environment. At the 2024 Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference, hosted by the Nebraska Farm Bureau, McGinn shared his grazing experiences. With this new technique, he can keep his ranch resilient against natural disasters while still improving land and cattle performance.

Congress: Sen. Lee introduces 3 public lands bills

Lee Introduces Trio of Bills Defending Access to Public Lands, U.S. Senator Mike Lee - Sen. Mike Lee (RUT) introduced a trio of bills today to ensure access to federal lands and reaffirm the authority of state and local jurisdictions. “In each of these bills, we aim to return control to those who are closest to our public lands — the states and local communities,” said Sen. Lee. “By doing so, we can ensure that our conservation efforts are practical, effective, and tailored to the unique characteristics of each area, while expanding access for all Americans to enjoy our nation’s natural beauty.” The legislative package includes three key proposals: Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act. Since Congress passed The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibiting motorized vehicles in certain wilderness areas, the bill has been incorrectly interpreted to inhibit human-powered travel. Senator Lee’s bill reaffirms that human travel was never meant to be restricted by the Wilderness Act of 1964.

BLM: CA land acquisition targets public access under America the Beautiful initiative

BLM acquires lands to improve conservation and recreation opportunities, Bureau of Land Management - The Bureau of Land Management is acquiring more than 1,500 acres of land near Lake Clementine to enhance recreation opportunities, improve habitat conservation, and expand public access in the area. BLM, in collaboration with Placer Land Trust and Trust for Public Lands, is acquiring lands offered by willing sellers east of Highway 80 in Placer County along the North Fork American River. The acquisition, made possible through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and state grants, helps advance the America the Beautiful initiative, a locally led and voluntary nationwide effort to restore and conserve America’s lands, waters, and wildlife. These new public lands will provide access to the North Fork American River from the north side of the river.

USDA: FLSP program provides funding to farms and ranches

USDA Provides $50 Million to Farms, Ranches for Migrant Labor Program, Progressive Farmer - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Palisade, Colorado, a peach-growing area, on Friday to announce that USDA is awarding $50 million to 141 farms and businesses in 40 states and Puerto Rico, through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). The money will be used to improve the lives of more than 11,000 farmworkers, help improve the resiliency of the U.S. food supply chain by addressing agriculture labor challenges and instability, strengthen protections for farmworkers, and expand legal pathways for labor migration, USDA said in a news release. The grants to farms range from as small as $25,000 to as large as $1.72 million. Most of the grant awardees note the challenge of finding workers and labor shortages they face. While most of the farms are involved in fruit and vegetable production, others also are custom harvesters and livestock operations.

Wild Horse: BLM to begin Wyoming wild horse gather on July 1

BLM to begin North Lander Complex Wild Horse Gather in Wyoming, Bureau of Land ManagementThe Bureau of Land Management will begin a wild horse gather on or after July 1, 2024, in the North Lander Wild Horse Complex, located in Fremont County. The gather is being conducted to prevent further deterioration of land health due to wild horse overpopulation in the Complex. The Complex is made up of the Conant Creek, Dishpan Butte, Muskrat Basin, and Rock Creek Mountain herd management areas in central Wyoming. Based on August 2023 aerial surveys using infrared technology and methodology, the Complex’s wild horse population is approximately 3,035 wild horses, well above the scientifically determined appropriate management level (AML) of 320-536 wild horses. In accordance with the agency’s management plan, the Bureau plans to gather and remove approximately 2,715 wild horses over 10 years to achieve AML. The management plan was informed by substantial public input received during the 2022 scoping and environmental assessment comment periods.

Monument: DOI holds hearings on Chuckwalla and Dolores River monument proposals

One of Colorado’s least-visited canyonlands could become a national monument — but would that lead to overcrowding?, Union Bulletin- Those who love the Dolores River canyonlands agree — the swath of rugged land along Colorado’s western border is one of the state’s last, best wild places. The tract encompasses

staggering red rock cliffs, broad valleys and rolling hills that burst into green in the spring. Cutting through it all is the beloved river, which sometimes dwindles to a trickle. Nobody wants to see it overrun with tourists and trash, like so many of the West’s wild places. But disagreements about whether to designate some of the river and its canyonlands as a national monument have driven a caustic rift between the people who love the area. What those protections look like, and who gets to shape them, are at the center of a fiery debate that, in some instances, has sunk to name-calling and declarations of evildoing.

Interior holds hearing on possible California monument, E&E News - The Biden administration continues to signal that it’s seriously evaluating a potential new national monument proposal in Southern California. Senior officials with the Interior Department, including Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning, attended a community meeting Friday to gather feedback on the possible designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument. The hearing — also attended by Laura Daniel-Davis, Interior’s acting deputy secretary — was held at the Riverside County Fairgrounds and drew about 700 people, most of whom spoke in favor of the new monument, according to advocates who attended.

Wildfire: Sen. Wyden pushes bipartisan wildfire solutions with new legislation; Wildfires across west start fire season

Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Urges Support for His Bills to Use Prescribed Burns and Protect Water Sources, Sierra Sun Times - Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), recently urged bipartisan backing for his bills—the National Prescribed Fire Act and the River Democracy Act—to tackle devastating wildfires with prescribed burns and safeguard local water access. At a Senate subcommittee hearing, Wyden emphasized the urgent need for proactive wildfire management in Western states, highlighting the bills’ support from diverse stakeholders and their potential to enhance federal wildfire risk reduction efforts through significant funding provisions.

Wildfire season arrives in northwest Montana, The Western News - Wildfire season has commenced in northwest Montana, with high winds causing four wildfires on Kootenai National Forest land. Crews swiftly contained three fires under one-quarter acre each on Tuesday. The largest, the Pine Creek Fire, grew to 11.2 acres before containment. Additional fires included the Elk Haven Fire and two escaped debris burns on private land. Despite the current low fire danger, forest officials urge caution with campfires and debris burning. Weather forecasts predict gusty winds and a chance of showers, complicating fire conditions over the weekend.

.... continued page 11

BLM | RMPA

The BLM is at it again. As many readers know, the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) to create a framework to attempt to conserve the greater sage grouse (GRSG) and its habitat of which the BLM manages about half (121 million acres) has been circulating for comment since March of this year. Many resource users and groups representing those users have sent comments to the BLM. Groups such as the Nevada Mining Association, the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the Public Lands Council have submitted comments.

The document covers hundreds of pages and has six alternatives and dozens of tables, citations, and appendixes. The RMPA is dense and full of enough scientific and bureaucratic jargon to drive a regular citizen to alternative methods of creating more familiar realities. Moreover, this publication and certainly this column is not big enough to comment on the whole document, but I would like to discuss a few of the areas it addresses and add my two cents. I would encourage a read for anyone who has a permit to use resources in GRSG or who is a visitor to public lands where sage grouse habitat is located to at least glance at the RMPA to familiar themselves with the breadth and scope of federal government regulation. It is simply breath taking. [eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2016719/510]

From the Executive Summary we get this statement of purpose and need: “….Given continuing losses of habitat across all landownerships, and resulting population declines, the BLM’s purpose and need is to consider amending RMPs to update a sub-set of the GRSG goals, objectives, allocations, and management actions to ensure management on BLM-administered lands respond to changing land uses, improve efficiency and effectiveness of range wide GRSG conservation goals. The BLM is focusing [among other things] on the following range wide management actions:

• Mitigation for impacts to GRSG habitats

• Livestock grazing

• Minimizing threats from predation

• Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

The document acknowledges some management concerns are more effectively addressed at the local level. It is my hope the BLM will encourage local input from users who are on the resource every day and can be

effective partners if asked by the agency to be included in the management planning and implementation process. As many readers will agree, it is generally accepted now that properly managed grazing can be beneficial to the range in many ways. Grazing enhances growth of forage and helps root systems to store carbon in the soil. The systematic grazing of fine fuel loads helps to protect landscapes from rapid and over hot wildfire progression. Grazing irrigated private land pastures next to public land and private sage grouse steppe produces insect levels that enable a sage grouse hatch to have a thriving start to life in an otherwise harsh environment.

The BLM says there should be no net loss of habitat. To achieve this result the “mitigation hierarchy” will be implemented- avoidance first, then minimization, and finally compensation. An example of minimization is reducing the footprint and buffer zones around leks. Increasing habitat would be much easier if the BLM would speed up the permit process for water pipelines and not interfere with stock water development applications at the state water resource departments. In Nevada, for instance, it is against the law to prevent wildlife from accessing historic water sources. So, if we are really interested in rehabilitating and enhancing sage grouse and wildlife habitat and mitigating damage, encouraging stock water development by private interests would be a positive gesture by the BLM.

The BLM admits raven populations have exploded in the past fifty years to nearly double the numbers which existed then. Ravens, among other less harmful species, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These birds are especially adapted to human caused influences such as structure and power lines. They are also very intelligent and find areas of sage grouse habitat and leks that they exploit quite easily by eating sage grouse eggs and young hatchlings. There is an admission by the BLM that raven densities and increased numbers in certain areas might be a greater threat to sage grouse than wildfire, but there is no concrete suggestion of a solution to the raven predation problem. However, rather than suggest that the raven numbers be reduced by amending the Migratory Act limitations on take, the document talks about transmission line and structural development as factors of concern. This is an excuse. Is the BLM afraid of offending a sister agency such as the Fish and Wildlife Service by suggesting amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to allow more ravens to be eliminated to help save the Sage Grouse?

In the FLPMA, Section103(a), an ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) is defined as an area on BLM- administered lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to, among other things, wildlife resources. It is true an ACEC designation does not automatically prohibit or restrict other uses such as livestock grazing. However, there is a concern that the RMPA is paying a great deal of attention to creation of ACECs and there may be consequent restrictions on grazing. What is irksome if that becomes an eventuality is the science is now clear there is a symbiotic relationship between animal agriculture and sage grouse viability and the BLM seems to ignore this reality, in my opinion. These four examples taken from this massive document with a few personal comments doesn’t begin to illustrate the scope of the BLM effort.

To me the answer to the question of how to protect the sagebrush steppe and all the dependent species boils down to some science, some experience and some common sense. The scientific literature is well-settled that sage grouse do well in areas where there is an irrigated agriculture presence. It is also well-recognized that ravens are a major factor in the decline of the sage grouse populations west-wide. Common sense says observe the areas where there are larger numbers of the birds and ask what the relevant factors for success are. It is also worth the time to observe the areas where there are declining numbers and ask why. Develop more water resources for livestock and other animals will benefit.

Fire is clearly one of the biggest reasons for a loss of sage brush steppe. Properly managed livestock grazing is one of the best tools to reduce fine fuel loads which contribute to catastrophic fire conditions. There are proven methods of grazing as a positive tool by changing seasons of use and placing larger numbers of grazing livestock on the ranges in a more strategic way. The agencies need to become more creative and add some common sense thinking to their processes. I would suggest the minimized use of ACEC designations because all the habitat can be effectively managed without creating another bureaucratic layer to the analysis and implementation of solutions.

Also, stay informed and become even more active in your dealings with all the agencies impacting your operations.

I’ll see you soon.

USDA: ‘Harm to Competition’ rule seeks to prevent beef cattle producers from differentiation in the marketplace

USDA proposes new rule under Packers & Stockyards Act to clarify ‘unfair practices’, Brownfield Ag NewsThe USDA proposed a new rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act that Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says will better protect farmers, ranchers, and other market participants. Vilsack made the announcement during an event hosted by the Center for American Progress on Tuesday. “Today we provide an enforcement tool that I think will provide for greater balance in the relationship between farmers and the integrator,” he says. The Secretary says the proposed rule is designed to create the opportunity to develop new and better markets. “And that translates to an opportunity for more farmers to have an opportunity for their operation to remain successful and profitable,” he says. The rule would expand transparency, making it easier for farmers to understand the contracts they are making. Vilsack says the administration has worked to ensure that farmers couldn’t be discriminated against or retaliated against. “We made sure that the tournament system would operate fairly and that there would not be any specific deductions that caught the farmers by surprise,” he says. Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says it is a direct attack on producer profitability and creates criteria that would deem any innovation or differentiation in the marketplace improper. Lane says those practices are central to how cattle producers around the country differentiate their marketplace products, derive premiums, and attempt to be profitable. “USDA is attempting yet again to undermine that,” he says. “To get everybody back to some point where they are all receiving the same price for their cattle, regardless of quality in some sort of a misguided attempt to achieve fairness in the marketplace is disappointing, but not unexpected.”

Upcoming SCOTUS decision could overturn Chevron doctrine, limiting federal environmental regulations

Supreme Court may overturn major environmental precedent this week, E&E News - As the Supreme Court approaches the final opinion release dates of its term, environmental and administrative lawyers are waiting with bated breath to learn the fate of a legal doctrine that federal agencies have used since the Reagan administration to defend themselves in court. In two of the term’s most closely watched cases — Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Commerce — the justices have been asked to overturn the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, which says judges should generally defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations of their powers when Congress has been unclear. The justices could decide the cases by the end of this week. While Chevron is not inherently ideological, it has become a target for some members of

the high court’s conservative supermajority, who have called for the doctrine’s demise. The court has options to weaken Chevron short of overturning it, but Loper Bright and Relentless are part of a broader set of recent cases in which the justices have sought to diminish the power of expert agencies. Legal observers expect that whatever conclusion the justices reach in the cases, the Chevron doctrine is unlikely to emerge intact.

Environmental rulings to watch at the Supreme Court, E&E News - As the Supreme Court gears up for its final term rulings, several crucial cases loom large and are poised to reshape environmental policies and agency authority. Key decisions expected include challenges like Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Commerce, which may potentially strike down the Chevron doctrine, impacting federal regulatory powers. Additionally, cases such as Corner Post v. Federal Reserve and Ohio v. EPA could open up old federal rules to new legal challenges and hinder the EPA’s efforts to regulate cross-state pollution. These imminent rulings are anticipated to have profound implications for environmental regulations and legal precedents in the United States.

House Appropriations Committee releases FY2025 Interior spending bill, prioritizes conservation and energy independence; House NR Committee approves “Fix Our Forests Act”, focusing on wildfire prevention & forest thinning

The House Appropriations Committee unveiled the Fiscal Year 2025 bill for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which will be reviewed tomorrow. Chairman Mike Simpson emphasized full funding for PILT and tribal investments, while Chairman Tom Cole highlighted cuts to unnecessary spending and regulatory rollbacks. The bill allocates $38.478 billion, focuses on wildfire management, and supports domestic energy production, with contentious provisions on environmental regulations and public land access.

Republican wildfire, forest-thinning bill clears committee, E&E News - The House Natural Resources Committee passed the “Fix Our Forests Act” proposed by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), focusing on forest management to combat wildfires. The bill would establish federal “firesheds,” streamline environmental reviews, and create programs for community wildfire risk reduction. Despite bipartisan efforts and support from California Democrats, its prospects in the Democratic-led Senate remain uncertain due to opposition from environmental groups and disagreements over climate change’s role in wildfires.

Plumas National Forest issues orders amidst unauthorized group use incident Plumas Forest Supervisor Issues Forest Closure Order over Rainbow Gathering Incident, Sierra Daily NewsPlumas National Forest has implemented a Forest Order to address concerns arising from an unauthorized

group camping incident near Antelope Lake Recreation Area. With over 500 dispersed campers impacting the area, the order aims to safeguard public health, natural resources, and uphold permitted special uses. Forest Supervisor Chris Carlton emphasizes the Forest’s commitment to stewardship and public safety, indicating the order’s daily evaluation until conditions allow resumption of normal public access.

CO Cattlemen’s Assoc. meets to discuss wildlife resources at annual convention Wolverines, wolves, chickens and cougars: Oh, my, The Fence Post - It was standing room only meeting June 24, 2024, at the Marriott Hotel in Colorado Springs, as the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association kicked off their 157th Annual Convention with a special “Wildlife Resources” session, exclusively devoted to wildlife and its impact on Colorado livestock producers. This meeting was chaired by Lenny Klinglesmith, a wellknown rancher from Rio Blanco County, with guest speakers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Department of Agriculture and from the “Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better” coalition. A lot of information was packed into two hours, and there were multiple hardhitting questions from the audience. Klinglesmith set the ground rules early on — calling for a respectful exchange of ideas and information, and his lead was followed by all in attendance.

Wildfire Seasonal fire restrictions put in place for certain CA counties

BLM Bishop Field Office announces seasonal fire restrictions, BLM - The Bureau of Land Management is issuing fire restrictions for all public lands managed by the Bishop Field Office effective Monday, July 1, due to dry conditions and wildland fire danger. These seasonal restrictions are in addition to the year-round statewide fire prevention order. This seasonal fire order will remain in effect until further notice. The BLM-managed public lands affected by these fire restrictions extend from the southern Owens Valley in Inyo County, north to Topaz Lake, and the Nevada border in Mono County. These fire restrictions also apply to popular BLM-managed recreational areas in the region, including the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, Inyo Mountains Wilderness, Volcanic Tableland, Long Valley, Adobe Valley, Mono Basin, Bodie Hills, Bridgeport Valley and Slinkard Valley. “The warming temperatures and increasingly dry conditions in these areas have made it necessary to enter into fire restrictions for BLM managed lands within the Bishop Field Office,” advises Bishop Field Manager Sherri Lisius. “We ask that visitors follow these restrictions and do their part to help us minimize fire potential when visiting public land.”

Nevada Farm Bureau

A Push For A Change

By Doug Busselman | NFB Executive Vice President

Over the past several years, an effort has been underway to try to update boilerplate language that goes into proposed Wilderness designation legislation.

Whenever Wilderness designations are discussed and the conversation gets to livestock grazing on designated Wilderness, those who are promoting expanding Wilderness normally express that such a designation (whether the land was ever in a wilderness study area or just now was thought to have “wilderness characteristics”) won’t impact livestock grazing. We’re told that livestock grazing is allowed on Wilderness designated areas.

In Nevada U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen’s proposed Wilderness bill, S. 3593 (also nicknamed the “Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act”), the provisions regarding livestock in Wilderness states –

“(1) In General – The grazing of livestock in a wilderness area managed by the Secretary, if established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be allowed to continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies and practices as the Secretary considers to be necessary in accordance with –

(A) Section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4); and

(B) The guidelines set forth in Appendix A of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101-405)”

When the discussions first began (in 2016) on what would become “The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act,” research uncovered the actual language of the “Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990” – H.R. 2570, and in particular “House Report No. 101-405” that went with that legislation. On February 21, 1990 the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs agreed to the way that livestock grazing on the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 would be dealt with.

That language became the boilerplate wording that would go with the Wilderness Acts from that point to now. The 34-year-old boilerplate language notes that under the language of the Wilderness Act it is the clear intent that livestock grazing “and activities and the necessary facilities to support a livestock grazing program, will be permitted to continue…” In this case it applied to National Forest wilderness areas.

Continuing with their committee report, the language of the 96th Session of Congress, House Report N. 96-617, connected the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into the same guidelines that they were going to establish. The 96th Session of Congress covered the years 1979 to 1981.

The guidelines pointed out these key points:

• There shall be no curtailment of grazing in wilderness areas simply because an area, or has been designated as wilderness “nor should wilderness designations be used as an excuse by administration to slowly ‘phase out’ grazing.

• The maintenance of supporting facilities existing in an area prior to its classification as wilderness (including fences, line cabins, water wells and lines, stock tanks, etc.) is permissible in wilderness.

- “Where practical alternatives do not exist, maintenance or other activities may be accomplished through the occasional use of motorized equipment.”

- “The use of motorized equipment should be based on a rule of practical necessity and reasonableness.”

- “Moreover, under the rule of reasonableness, occasional use of motorized equipment should be permitted where practical alternatives are not available and such use would not have a significant adverse effect on the natural environment.

• The replacement or reconstruction of deteriorated facilities or improvements should be required to be accomplished using “natural materials”, unless the material and labor costs of using natural materials are such that their use would not impose unreasonable additional costs on grazing permittees.

• The construction or new improvements or replacement of deteriorated facilities in wilderness is permissible if in accordance with these guidelines and management plans governing the area involved.

- “However, the construction of new improvements should be primarily for the purpose of resource protection and the more effective management of these resources rather than to accommodate increased numbers of livestock.”

• The use of motorized equipment for emergency purposes such as rescuing sick animals or the placement of feed in emergency situations is also permissible.

- “This privilege is to be exercised only in true emergencies and should not be abused by the permittees.”

In order to make the requirements more transparent than being buried in references to a House Committee report that was adopted in 1990, the proposal that was made to Senator Rosen was to substitute the boilerplate language with this language…

Livestock Grazing Language

The Livestock Grazing guidelines and policies for designated Wilderness and National Conservation Areas under the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act are as follows:

1. There shall be no curtailments of grazing in wilderness areas or National Conservation Areas simply because an area is, or has been designated as wilderness or a National Conservation Area, nor should wilderness or National Conservation designations be used an excuse by administrators to slowly “phase out” grazing. Any adjustments in the numbers of livestock permitted to graze in wilderness areas should be made as a result of revisions in the normal grazing and land management planning and policy setting process, giving consideration to legal mandates, range condition, and the protection of the range resource from deterioration.

It is anticipated that the number of livestock permitted to graze in wilderness and National Conservation Areas would remain at the approximate levels at the time an area enters the wilderness system or is in a National Conservation Area. If land management plans reveal conclusively that increased livestock numbers or animal unit months (AUMs) could be made available with no adverse impact on wilderness or National Conservation values such as plant communities, primitive recreation, and wildlife populations or habitat, some increases in AUMs may be permissible. This is not to imply, however, that wilderness or National Conservation Areas lends itself to AUM or livestock increases and construction of substantial new facilities that might be appropriate for intensive grazing management.

SAVE THE DATE • NFB 105TH ANNUAL MEETING

We are excited to announce the 105th Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting will take place November 7th through the 9th in Fallon, Nevada, at the Rafter 3C Arena.

We invite you and your families out to a great event that will feature breakout sessions, information to benefit your future, policy development and a fun game night. We will have more information to come, but please mark your calendars for November 7th through the 9th.

Check the Nevada Farm Bureau website at nvfb.org for the most current information on the event and a registration link when it is available.

2. The maintenance of supporting facilities, existing in an area prior to its classification as wilderness or National Conservation Areas (including fences, line cabins, water wells and lines, stock tanks, etc.), is permissible in wilderness and in National Conservation Areas. Where motorized equipment was used to establish livestock facilities or has been used to maintain these facilities since being established, the use of motorized equipment will be continued to be allowed as necessary for maintenance. This may include, for example, the use of backhoes to maintain stock ponds, pickup trucks for major fence repairs, or specialized equipment to repair stock watering facilities.

3. The replacement or reconstruction of deteriorated facilities or improvements should not be required to be accomplished using “natural materials.”

4. The construction of new improvements should be primarily for the purpose of resource protection and the more effective management of these resources rather than to accommodate increased numbers of livestock.

5. The use of motorized equipment for emergency purposes such as rescuing sick animals or the placement of feed in emergency situations is also permissible.”

That language was not only not accepted, but it was simply ignored without any discussion or response.

Because the “Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act” also includes large swaths of National Conservation Area designations the thought was to include the protections for livestock grazing and assurances to be able to continue with livestock grazing. There are actually more acres established as National Conservation Areas than Wilderness.

There are also concerns whether land use planning processes for the specific National Conservation Areas might not be used as the means to administratively wipe out livestock grazing or force it into untenable options that prompt livestock allotment owners to throw in the towel.

The unwillingness to consider the proposal as a compromise were major reasons for Nevada Farm Bureau and other livestock grazing advocates to take a position of opposition to S. 3593.

These reasons were communicated with the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forest and Mining Committee on Energy and Natural Resources when the hearing on S. 3593 was held on June 12, 2024.

Another reason for the opposition to the legislation was the inclusion of language in the bill which provided for the “voluntary donation of grazing permits and leases.” In a separate section of the legislation, the bill granted authority to the Secretary of Interior to accept valid existing leases or permits for livestock grazing on public lands of the Mosquito Valley and Horse Lake allotments.

Existing laws don’t allow for retirement or “voluntary donations” of existing grazing permits. If a permittee doesn’t want to continue with their grazing allotment, they can sell their permit or give it up to be reissued to someone else who would like to own the allotment.

There is a bit of a contention that the provisions of the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act aren’t very accepting to changes which would clarify positive recognition for livestock grazing on designated Wilderness or National Conservation Areas, but oh by the way, provides for an antilivestock grazing owner to permanently delete livestock grazing on the allotments that they control.

Under ideal conditions the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will fail to gain adoption into law and perhaps future Wilderness bills will be able to provide for the transparent authorization for livestock grazing and assurance for being able to carry out necessary maintenance and improvements to protect and enhance rangelands.

BLM auctions wild horses rounded up across Nevada

By: Jarah Wright | www.ktnv.com

RENO (KTNV) — Wild horses now have new homes after being auctioned off by the Bureau of Land Management.

According to BLM officials, the auction was on Saturday at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.

The wild horses were rounded up from herd management areas on BLM land in Nevada, Oregon, and California. They were then trained for about four months by inmates prior to the auction.

“The weather was incredible and we were very excited for the turn-out by the public for this event,” said Jenny Lesieutre, BLM Nevada, Wild Horse and Burro Public Affairs Specialist. “To witness what the inmates and the animals accomplished ensures that the horses and burro will be going to fantastic homes where they will be able to use their training for any job they are asked to do.”

BLM Officials said the animals brought is $94,750 and the top big was $16,500 for “Queen Bee”, who was from the Diamond Hills North herd management area. After properly caring for their animals for one year, the bidders/adopters are eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the federal government.

The animals available for adoption typically come from overpopulated herds on public lands where available vegetation and water can become scarce as herd populations grow.

According to the BLM, over 313,000 wild horses and burros have been placed into private care since 1971.

Learn more about the auctioned horses here: www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/202405/Wildhorses_NNCC_15June2024_ AdoptionCatalog_508%20Compliant.pdf

Nevada Farm Bureau

Learn more about the wild horse and burro program here: www.blm.gov/whb

Ag Wagon Featured In AFBF News

Nevada Farm Bureau’s Ag Wagon was recently featured in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) News. To this point for 2024, the Ag Wagon has gotten across Nevada and brought its message of Nevada agriculture to just under 2,400 persons. In addition to exhibiting for Ag In The Classroom activities, the Ag Wagon is a frequent visitor at county Fairs and other local events.

Negative Ag Trade Gap Reaches New High Level

The American agricultural trade deficit continues to increase according to this latest American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Market Intel by economist Betty Resnick: https://www.fb.org/ market-intel/record-u-s-agricultural-trade-deficitforecasted-to-keep-growing For many years surplus U.S. agricultural trade was the norm, but as Resnick shares the last couple of years have not only been upside down, but the current year’s amount has almost doubled as a negative from last year’s record mark. In the last 50 years there has only been four years where the amounts of agricultural commodities imported to the U.S. have been higher than the American ag. exports.

Hats Off To Utah And Wyoming For Litigation Against The Biden BLM Public Lands Rule

We greatly appreciate the decision by Utah and Wyoming to challenge the recently adopted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands rule where the agency proclaimed that they had the ability to invent a new multiple use they call “conservation.”

“The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires agencies contemplating a major action to carefully consider possible environmental consequences before move forward with that action,” Utah’s complaint opens, adding, “The Bureau of land Management’s (BLM) new ‘Public Lands Rule’ qualifies as such an action and this case arises from the Bureau of Land Management’s failure to uphold that NEPA obligation.”

While Congress spelled out the specifics for multiple use of BLM land in the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act of 1976, BLM has given itself another “use” (which is actually non-use) that they are calling “conservation.” A number of other anti-use provisions have also been included in the package of rules they wrote for themselves while avoiding NEPA analysis.

July 26th Workshop Set For Regenerative Ag – Resiliency For The Future

Don’t forget the Regenerative Agriculture workshop that is scheduled for July 26th. Those who are interested need to get yourself registered to attend.

REGISTER HERE: www.eventbrite.com/e/regenerativeag-resiliency-for-the-future-tickets912381566827?aff=oddtdtcreator

The day-long session begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Smith Valley School (20 Day Lane, Smith Valley, NV) and will feature the first half day (around 9 to Noon) “in the field” and visiting the Fulstone Ranch in Smith Valley. Emily Fulstone will be covering her experiences in the operations of their family’s Vermicompost and Worm House operations.

The link above will provide an outline of the planned activities for this session and also gives you the opportunity to register for the event, which has a $40 registration fee.

Nevada Farm Bureau policy states:

“We support educational sessions and workshops for the purpose of helping in understanding regenerative agricultural practices and principles.”

Anyone interested in getting first-hand insights from those who are implementing regenerative agricultural concepts in their farming operations will want to take advantage of this program. Mark your calendars, get yourself registered and plan to be in Smith Valley on July 26th!

Nevada Farm Bureau

WANTED

Cull cows, bulls, feeders, and calves for weekly in-house video sale

Every Tuesday at noon mountain time on Cattle USA

Selling load lots of mentioned cattle off your ranch

For more information contact:

NEVADA: Robert Morales (435) 757-8145

OREGON: Jason Johnson (541) 212-1587

Stewart Severe (541) 589-0713

Katlen Schimmelpfenning (208) 859-0577

IDAHO: Steve Taylor (208) 324-4345

We look forward to working for you in marketing the most out of your cattle !

Public Lands Director Faces Republican Ire Over Agenda

• Tracy Stone-Manning defended rules on conservation, energy

• GOP senators said BLM actions out of touch with constituents by

Gabe Castro-Root, Reporter | BloombergLaw.com

Senators on Thursday pressed Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning over her agency’s actions on renewable energy, conservation, and mining.

Stone-Manning faced Republicans at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing who said the department was advancing President Joe Biden’s agenda without listening to people directly impacted by the agency’s work.

It was the first time Stone-Manning appeared in front of the committee since she was confirmed to her post on a party-line vote in 2021.

“The director’s decisions have a significant effect on people’s jobs, on their family budgets, on the quality of public education, and on our entire state’s economy,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the committee’s ranking member. “Ms. StoneManning has been busy making decisions which will crush Wyoming’s economy and lay waste to our local communities in the years ahead.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), the committee chair, gave opening remarks before leaving to participate in a separate markup of a key annual defense policy bill. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) chaired the rest of the session.

Heinrich praised the department for its work on the SunZia wind and transmission project in Arizona and New Mexico. The development, which is projected to provide clean power to 3 million Americans after it opens in 2026, is the largest renewable energy project in the US.

Climate Goals

In her remarks, Stone-Manning said she was committed to helping the nation achieve Biden’s goal of eliminating carbon emissions from the power sector by 2035.

“As the steward of one in 10 acres of land in the United States, the BLM has experienced firsthand the increasingly negative effects associated with climate change, including prolonged periods of extreme drought and aridification, elevated wildland fire risk, and greater disruption to sensitive species of wildlife and plants,” Stone-Manning said in her opening statement.

Few Democrats spent much time at the hearing. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) all asked questions but didn’t stay for the rest of Stone-Manning’s testimony, instead ceding much of the hearing to their GOP colleagues.

Republicans pressed Stone-Manning on the BLM’s recently finalized public lands rule, which redefines conservation as a “use” of public lands on par with other uses like energy development and mining.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) called conservation a “non-use” and said the BLM “manages these lands like a museum,” where visitors can look but not touch.

Stone-Manning pushed back, saying that conservation fit neatly into the agency’s mandate to balance multiple uses of public lands. Conservation must not always be an exclusive use, she said, giving the example of a transmission line built across conserved land or the restoration of grasses in grazing areas.

Senators also asked Stone-Manning about increases to minimum bonding requirements for oil and gas leases, which will go into effect later this month. While Republicans decried the huge jump in cost—minimum individual lease bonds will increase from $10,000 to $150,000—Stone-Manning noted that figure hadn’t been updated since 1960.

The rule, she said, “strengthens bonding standards to help ensure that taxpayers are not saddled with paying industry’s cleanup costs.”

Livestock Industry Fights Misguided Grazing Impacts from Greater-Sage Grouse Management Plan

By Jesse Allen | AmericanAgNetwork.com

WA (June 14, 2024) – Yesterday, the Public Lands Council (PLC) and other livestock groups filed comments* on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and draft Resource Management Plans (RMP) related to Greater Sage-Grouse habitat management. * Comments: https://publiclandscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024_6_13-BLMGRSG-Plan-Amendments.draft-EIS_with-appendices.pdf)

“The Greater Sage-Grouse has been a political football for decades and it needs to stop. The science clearly shows that livestock grazing on public lands helps sage grouse populations by protecting important habitat and increasing available forage,” said PLC President and Colorado rancher Mark Roeber. “Instead of fully embracing grazing as a management tool, BLM proposes huge restrictions on grazing and range improvements, and instead seems more willing to draw arbitrary ACEC lines on a map and call it a day. Ranchers have cared for America’s western landscapes and wildlife since the 1800s – we are a conservation solution, not an inconvenience to be removed from the landscape.”

Background: Over the last 90 days, BLM repeatedly denied requests for comment extensions, including one submitted by PLC and our partners, despite uncertainty in other rules that will have a direct impact on these sage grouse plans. As a result, PLC’s comments raise significant issues about the apparent burden BLM expects grazing to bear regarding habitat indicators and mitigation, potential land designations totally more than 11 million acres, and unclear language that would result in loss of grazing activity.

There is ample scientific evidence to support the fact that livestock grazing improves sagebrush habitat and helps to conserve the species. Grazing reduces the risk of wildfires that kill birds and destroy habitat, reduces the encroachment of invasive species that degrade sagebrush ecosystems, and increases the biomass and diversity of insects that the sage grouse eats. PLC will continue advocating for the positive role of cattle grazing in sage grouse conservation and will fight to protect access and ranchers’ permits on BLM lands.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) at a hearing February 2024. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg

Grills are Heating up Nationwide, and so is Demand for Beef

By Bernt Nelson Economist | berntn@fb.org | Farm Bureau

Memorial Day is first and foremost a time for Americans to honor military personnel who died serving their country. It’s also the unofficial kick-off to summer – and grilling season, stimulating demand for all types of animal proteins, including beef.

Though the July Cattle Inventory has been discontinued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, we can use other reports to piece together the cattle and beef market outlook. This Market Intel covers three beef reports to tell the story of where markets and grocery store prices are headed as we kick off grilling season.

Cattle on Feed

USDA’s monthly Cattle On Feed report, published on May 24, estimates that there were 11.6 million head of cattle on feed on May 1, up 1% from May 2023. Cattle placed on feed in April were estimated to be 1.66 million, down 6% from April 2023. Cattle marketed in April totaled 1.87 million head, up 172,000 head or 10% from 2023. Cattle on feed for 120-plus days was 4.72 million, down 4.5% from last month, but up about 5.5% from this time last year. This still leaves higher numbers of fed cattle available in the short run and should help keep beef prices from skyrocketing through the summer.

Substantial improvements in drought conditions over the last year, especially in parts of the country with high concentrations of cattle, could result in more cattle being retained for breeding purposes rather than being placed on feed. If this happens, placements could fall through the remainder of 2024 as cattle feeders continue to add weight to what they already have in feedlots rather than adding more cattle.

Regardless of the reason for fewer cattle on feed, the result is the same: fewer cattle available for beef production in the long run.

Livestock Slaughter

NASS’ monthly Livestock Slaughter report, released on May 23, shows April 2024 beef production was 2.3 billion pounds, up 234 million pounds, or 11%, from April 2023. Average live weight was 1,395 pounds, up 41 pounds from April 2023. This is just 6 pounds less than the record average live weight of 1,401 pounds set in December 2023. Cattle prices are up from last year, increasing the cost for packers to buy market-ready cattle. Increasing production during a time of high retail prices helps packers make up for paying more for cattle.

Cold Storage

Also released on May 24 was USDA’s monthly Cold Storage Report, a helpful tool in gauging the amount of nearly 150 different items kept in cold storage, including beef. USDA estimates beef in cold storage on April 30 was 413.95 pounds, down 1% from last month and down about 16.7 million pounds, or 5%, from last year. All red meat in freezers totaled 955.9 million pounds, which is about 9% below year-ago levels. Increased production addressed earlier in this article has helped keep beef in cold storage from dropping more rapidly. There have been some record prices set for beef products early in 2024, but increased production has kept most national average retail prices from hitting record levels so far this year.

Prices and Demand

USDA’s May Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook provides additional data useful in analyzing beef supply and demand. This report forecasts 2024 U.S. per capita disappearance of beef will be 58.3 pounds per person, an increase of 0.2 pounds from 2023. However, USDA is projecting this metric will fall by 5%, to 55.6 pounds per capita in 2025. Much of this decrease is due to expected consumer fatigue from inflation and expected record beef prices in late 2024 and 2025.

Summary and Conclusions

While there is no substitute for the data provided in NASS’ July Cattle Inventory survey report, especially for projecting the next 12 month supply, other USDA reports can be used to ascertain the overall direction of the market as we head into the summer grilling season and the peak beef demand that comes with it.

The May Cattle on Feed report estimated lower placements of cattle on feed (normal for this time of the year) and higher marketings. Also, much-needed moisture is improving pasture conditions across the country, giving farmers a reason to retain heifers for breeding purposes. While this would be the first step to expanding the U.S. beef herd again, a smaller 2024 calf crop projected by USDA means the first opportunity for expansion of the cattle inventory will not occur until 2025. Domestic demand for beef is still strong but tight supplies continue to drive up grocery store prices through 2025, which will drive down consumer demand for beef, according to USDA forecasts.

Fourth of July Cookout Survey

The results of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fourth of July cookout cost survey, which will be released on June 26, will provide a grassroots snapshot of the cost of beef and other traditional Fourth of July favorites.

Museum Educates Public About How Farmers Work Hard to Use Less Water

Cultivate California’s exhibits tell the story at Sacramento’s Museum of Science and Curiosity

Contact: Linda Sadler, Farm Credit Alliance (775) 677-7876, sadlerassociates@sbcglobal.net or John Frith, Write Stuff Communications (916) 765-6533 john@twscommunications.com

Since Sacramento’s acclaimed Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) opened in November 2021, more than 331,000 visitors have toured the facility, which features dozens of interactive exhibits on topics such as health care, nature, space exploration and water.

A popular MOSAC section is the Water Challenge Exhibit, which includes three interactive displays sponsored by Cultivate California and its nonprofit parent organization the California Farm Water Coalition that illustrate how farmers are working hard to use less water.

Two sisters who recently visited MOSAC said they enjoyed the exhibits and the older one said she’d learned something as well.

“I learned that water is very important and that we need water to grow food for people and to feed the animals we’re going to eat,” said 9-year-old Lyla Frith. Her sister, Kaylyn, 7, enjoyed the exhibits on her own level, saying, “I liked it a lot. The games were fun.”

Both girls worked hard on the interactive exhibits to properly irrigate the fields without running out of water and to create their menus for the day, learning how much water was needed to grow the foods and how much nutritional value they contained in the process. In both cases, the game suggested they eat more vegetables.

Making science fun is one of the ways Cultivate California strives to educate Californians about the vital link between farms and ranches and their water supplies, and how the ag community is working hard to grow even more food and fiber while using less water, said Farm Water Coalition Executive Director Mike Wade.

“Our water exhibits bring home the fact that water is essential to grow our food and that California farmers are leading the world in conserving it,” Wade said. “It’s important that everyone know that farmers are using water in an efficient manner and that as consumers, we all depend on farmers.”

Jacob DeBoer, with American AgCredit, said creating innovative ways to educate Californians about the importance of California agriculture is why Farm Credit organizations serving the state’s farmers and ranchers are contributing $100,000 to Cultivate California this year.

“Firmly rooted in American AgCredit’s core values is an unwavering commitment to the communities where we work and live,” DeBoer said. “The MOSAC exhibit does such a great job of educating California consumers on how vital water is in growing the food that feeds our families, and how farmers are always aiming to optimize their water usage to ensure they’re being good stewards of our land.”

Kevin Ralph, AgWest Farm Credit’s California President, agreed.

“Providing accurate information about California agriculture to our state’s mainly urban population is critically important, and every year Cultivate California finds new creative ways to reach people online and get them to engage with the content,” Ralph said. “Farm Credit looks forward to continuing to help them spread the good news about the state’s farms and ranches.”

Ag West Farm Credit, American AgCredit, and CoBank, Colusa Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit have sponsored Cultivate California since its inception in 2015. The three organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

Of course, the MOSAC exhibit is just one part of Cultivate California’s toolkit. The bigger part of their outreach is via paid advertising on social media channels.

“There are two facets to what we do. The first is to get their attention, and that’s with imagery and food facts, recipes, information about which regions grow different products, and what’s in season,” Wade said.

“That helps get their attention, then we tailor the rest of the message about the importance of water to bring food to consumers and the value of California production over imports where we have less control over how commodities are grown. We get their attention and then deliver the message about why California is such an important ag state.”

He said the digital campaign reached about 10 million people in 2023 and resulted in over 165,000 people engaging with the material through likes, comments and shares. To reach an even broader audience, the campaign is branching out into social media platforms that cater to younger audiences.

“None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of the Farm Credit system,” Wade said. “Farm Credit is among our most generous supporters, allowing us to drive our messaging the way we intended.”

About Farm Credit: AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

About Cultivate California: Cultivate California is an industry-supported program crafted to help consumers make the connection between farm water and their food supply. Cultivate California helps people see that California farms provide a healthy, safe, affordable and diverse food supply, that they are among the most water-efficient farms in the world, and that California farmers produce many food crops that cannot be commercially grown in other parts of the U.S.

Sisters Kaylyn (left) and Lyla Frith work hard to create their menus for the day at Sacramento’s Museum of Science and Curiosity, learning the amount of water needed to grow the day’s food.

If you’re looking to sell a farm or ranch, give us call!

CENTRAL NEVADA RANCH

Hanks Ranch, established in 1868 w/435 deeded acres and 122,080 acres of BLM ground w/4776 AUMS. The 435 deeded acres comes with 90% mineral rights! This cattle ranch runs 400 head of cattle year-round with an abundant supply of water! On the deeded ground there is a beautiful natural bottomless spring that produces 227.4 GPM. You will also find several natural springs throughout the entire ranch with 5 springs already developed on the East side from the mountain to the foothills, and on the West you will find springs that feed down the draws for ease of watering your cattle year-round. The water table is high so the valley floor has abundant lush meadow grass, which has previously been hayed or can be pastured. You will find a full set of working pipe corrals and a permanent loading chute located at the ranch headquarters. There are two houses on the property--the main house is 1352 sq ft 3 bed, 2 bath home and the bunk house is a 2 bed 2 bath home. This ranch has endless opportunities--This would be a perfect opportunity for anyone to run cattle yearround or to add to their existing operation. A must see! Call Chad Steele 775-962-1356

CENTRAL

NEVADA FARM

In Railroad Valley just North of the ranch above. 320 deeded acres with 250 acres of certified underground water rights for irrigation. Two wells are in and an irrigation system is needed. There is a custom home which is 55% complete of over 3000 sq ft plus a 3 car attached garage. Not far off Hwy 6. Good water in this valley and should be able to expect 3-4 cuttings per year. Price: $900,000. Call Paul Bottari 775-752-0952

SOLD Bar O Ranch on Utah Border | SOLD Topo Farm In Battle Mountain

The Bottari Realty Team

Paul Bottari, Broker ALC 775-752-0952

Chad Steele, Salesman 775-962-1356

NV Broker License No B015476 BottariRealty.com

THE PROGRESSIVE RANCHER

MISSION STATEMENT | The mission of the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority is to prepare communities in central and eastern Nevada for sound water-resource decisions that promote prosperous economies and strong civic institutions in a healthy natural environment. For more information, please contact: Jeff Fontaine, CNRWA Executive Director 775-443-7667 / ccjfontaine@gmail.com / cnrwa.com

WATER RIGHTS

The Central Nevada Regional Water Authority was established in 2005 to proactively address water issues in the Central Region, the largest of Nevada's 14 hydrographic regions. CNRWA formulates and presents a united position on water-related issues; monitors, assesses and responds to water projects that may adversely impact a member county; implements a groundwater monitoring program and encourages citizen participation in water-related issues. CNRWA’s nine member counties are: Churchill, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Nye, Pershing, and White Pine.

Desert Farming Initiative accepting applications for farm apprenticeship program

UNR program aims to help bolster local food system and support new growers

Those aspiring to start or expand their own small-scale farm operation can now apply for a one-year apprenticeship at the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. The Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program provides a $40,000 stipend to participants, based on an average of 32 hours a week, and is hosted at the University’s Desert Farming Initiative, which is part of the Experiment Station’s Valley Road Field Lab in Reno. The program is accepting applications through July 31, and those chosen for an interview will be interviewed Aug. 20 or 22. Two applicants will be chosen by Sept. 1 and will begin the apprenticeship Oct. 1. Successful applicants will have farming experience or a degree from an agricultural education program, or demonstrated experience with fruit or vegetable production with intention to scale up into farming. Further information about the program, application instructions and program updates are posted on the program’s website.

Apprentices are guided through a science-based curriculum taught by a team of specialists from the College and partners in the agricultural industry, as well as receive hands-on practical farm training at the Desert Farming Initiative and partner farms, including Holley Family Farms in Dayton, Custom Gardens in Silver Springs and Park Farm in Reno, among others. The program emphasis is on certified-organic and climate-smart practices for small-scale outdoor farming. The program is in its second year and is funded by a $256,000 three-year grant from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, as part of its Regional Food Systems Partnership Program, along with contributions from the College. The program was sponsored by the Nevada Agricultural Foundation in 2024, and is also supported by produce revenue generated by apprentices in the program. It is the first and only agricultural apprenticeship program in Nevada registered with the NV Department of Labor. Jill Moe, director of the Desert Farming Initiative, says that the first year of the program was successful, and very busy – with lessons learned on all sides.

“This is an intensive program for our first-year apprentices, and they have learned a lot,” she said. “Our team is adding refinements to the program, and we are excited to get two new apprentices on board for this fall.”

Moe says the first-year apprentices, Matt Catalano and Jax Hart, are finishing up their apprenticeship Sept. 30. Through the apprenticeship, Catalano has been able to expand his existing mushroom operation, Rooted Farm, to include other specialty Asian vegetables. With a brand-new farm concept, Purple Leaf Farm, Hart is growing and marketing colorful and highly nutritious varieties of greens, carrots, peas and other crops.

Nevada Water Solutions LLC

Water Rights / Resource Permitting Expertise

Thomas K. Gallagher, PE

775 • 825

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1683 333 Flint Street / Reno, NV 89501

tomg@nevadawatersolutions.com

Like Catalano and Hart, the new apprentices who will begin this fall will get hands-on experience in a variety of facets of the farm business. They will manage fruit and vegetable farming space at the Desert Farming Initiative, engage in the preparation and implementation of a crop and sales plan, market produce through wholesale and/ or retail channels, handle farm accounting, and be responsible for farm production practices. They will work within temperaturecontrolled greenhouse space for starting seedlings, hoop houses for year-round production, and open fields where they get tractor

Catalano (left) and Jax Hart have been apprentices in the Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program since last October.

experience. The whole experience will be managed under the Desert Farming Initiative’s organic certification and Nevada producer license, as well as rigorous food safety requirements.

After completing the one-year apprenticeship, the apprentices will be eligible to apply for a second-year incubator farming opportunity at the Desert Farming Initiative. Details on that opportunity will be available later in the year.

“This program is a springboard for people who are serious about pursuing a career in fruit and vegetable production,” Moe said, adding that it’s for those who intend to do small-scale farming, scale up their existing work in agriculture, or work in a farm leadership position. “There’s a lot to know. It’s not just understanding how to grow crops. It’s also creating a business plan, marketing, food safety, legal requirements, accounting, software, collaboration within the food system, managing people and more.”

The Nevada Small Business Development Center provides education in business principles and practices for the apprentices. The program also prioritizes underserved community members and is working with tribal communities and the College’s Extension unit to incorporate appropriate information and guest instructors.

Team members who are developing and implementing the program include Jordan Hosmer-Henner, the program’s food systems manager; Garrett Menghini, the program’s farm production manager; Felipe Barrios Masias, associate professor focusing on horticulture; and Kelli Kelly, agriculture and food systems business advisor with the Nevada Small Business Development Center.

“We want to provide practical information and hands-on training for those driven to be an agricultural producer in our state,” Moe said. “It’s about equipping them with the knowledge they need to have a successful, sustainable enterprise, while contributing to our state’s healthy local food supply and economy. It’s what a landgrant university should be doing, right?”

Contact: Claudene Wharton

Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist

College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources University of Nevada, Reno / MS 0405 Reno, Nevada 89557-0404

775-784-7072 | whartonc@unr.edu

Matt

Photo by Jill Moe.

$350M in Federal Land Sales likely to benefit NV Public Lands & Wildlife

See what projects are expected to get the funding |

Since the passage of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) in 1998, more than $4 billion in revenue generated from Las Vegas area land sales has been directed to conservation, park improvement and wildfire prevention projects across Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Now, another $348 million in federal dollars is set to be allocated for additional projects, and the federal government is seeking input on where that money should go.

Dozens of projects have been proposed statewide, from those that would help protect endangered Mojave Desert tortoises in rural Southern Nevada to those that would expand city parks in Northern Nevada, all funded by proceeds from SNPLMA sales.

In 1998, Congress passed SNPLMA, allowing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell public land within a specific boundary around Las Vegas for development. The federal agency manages 63% of the state’s land.

Revenue from the land sales is then divided, with the state’s general education fund receiving 5%, Southern Nevada Water Authority receiving 10% and the remaining 85% earmarked for projects across Nevada. The secretary of the Interior ensures the money stays within Nevada for environmental stewardship projects such as conservation, landscape restoration and hazardous fuels reduction rather than funneling the money into the U.S. Treasury, and county, state and federal agencies are then able to apply for the funds for targeted projects.

Since SNPLMA’s inception, 19 rounds of auctions have been held, and the act thus far has generated funding for more than 1,500 projects throughout the state.

Last fall, agencies submitted proposals for funds from the 20th SNPLMA round. Four dozen projects totaling $625 million were proposed, and those proposals underwent a multistep review to determine which would leave the largest legacy on the landscape while providing the best value. A total of $298 million in funding is being recommended, with $50 million being added to a special reserve account to cover any additional project costs.

The BLM is accepting comments on the proposed projects through June 6. A SNPLMA executive committee will meet following the comment period to draft a final recommendation to the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture.

By Amy Alonzo, Nevada Independent

Here are highlights of what’s likely to get approved: Southern Nevada parks, trails and natural areas

The bulk of the proposed projects involve increasing the quality of and access to parks, trails and natural areas.

In Southern Nevada, the City of Las Vegas is requesting $19.3 million to expand the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex. Although the fields serve 650,000 participants each year, 90,000 more people are turned away due to capacity limitations.

Clark County is requesting slightly less than $63 million for improvements to Wetlands Park and to construct a new phase of Mountain’s Edge Regional Park outside Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Improvements to Wetlands Park include pedestrian bridges and a designated area for bird and pond viewing; expansions to Mountain’s Edge include soccer and pickleball complexes and a community botanical garden.

Henderson is requesting more than $35 million to renovate the aging Morrell and Downtown parks by adding features such as communal active lawn areas, food truck-pullout parking areas, splash pads, dog parks and reconfigured ball fields.

The City of North Las Vegas is requesting $7.5 million to modernize Valley View Park, including adding a splash pad and dog parks and expanding its playground.

Lincoln County is requesting $27.3 million to construct a new multisport complex on 20 acres on the east side of the town of Panaca, including baseball, softball, football and soccer fields, a standard track and field layout and an indoor activity room.

Southern Nevada Water Authority is requesting $2.2 million to construct a wildlife and bird viewing tower at Warm Springs Natural Area and complete restoration projects on 7 acres in the Las Vegas Wash.

Northern Nevada parks, trails and natural areas

Carson City is requesting $14.9 million to renovate Mills Park, including its Vietnam Veterans Memorial, expanding its skatepark and adding shade structures and a splash park.

Churchill County is requesting $32.4 million to construct the 3C Recreational Complex in Fallon at the old Churchill County Fairgrounds, adding elements including a covered picnic area, playground, natural areas and a splash pad.

Campgrounds, trails and Hoover Dam

A campground destroyed after a 2016 wildfire at Great Basin National Park could be rebuilt, and access to portions of the park in eastern Nevada could be improved if the National Park Service’s $4.2 million request is approved.

The Strawberry Creek area was devastated by a wildfire that destroyed a newly built campground, bathrooms and horse corral; it also damaged bridges, trails and signs. That infrastructure, constructed with prior SNPLMA funding, was just 2 years old.

The park service wants to construct a new campground, including shade structures, bathrooms and sites accessible to people with disabilities, as well as fix trails and construct a new equestrian corral. The project will “increase recreational and camping opportunities while protecting the natural and cultural resources that make the canyon so spectacular,” the park service wrote in its proposal. Other requests include slightly less than $23 million from the Bureau of Reclamation to draft design documents for improving public restroom and drinking water systems at Hoover Dam, as well as refurbishing popular tourist stops. Improvements would include installing new, multilingual exhibits, adding shade covers and addressing accessibility issues.

The U.S. Forest Service is looking to reconstruct the popular 5.1-mile Bristlecone and the 1.5-mile Cathedral Rock trails in the Spring Mountains. The trails were damaged during Tropical Storm Hillary in August and the agency estimates it needs about $5.3 million to repair them.

And a $6.1 million proposed telecommunications modernization project is proposed by the BLM at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to improve Wi-Fi and cellphone service.

Sheep, trout and birds

Nevada’s plants and wildlife could be big winners under the 20th round of funding.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking $1.9 million to upgrade seven aging water guzzlers on the Desert National Wildlife Refuge to aid desert bighorn sheep conservation. The guzzlers are in areas where water is unreliable or not available, and many are aging or broken.

The agency is also seeking $5.4 million to establish a landscape-scale migratory bird monitoring and improvement program in Nevada, including tagging species and restoring critical migratory bird nesting and stopover habitat at areas from Mt. Charleston

in Clark County to Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln County and Great Basin National Park in White Pine County.

The agency is also looking for $5.1 million to increase the supply of native plants and seeds across the Mojave Desert for restoration projects and to help offset the effects of nonnative, invasive plants.

The National Park Service is seeking $1.9 million to renovate the only Bonneville cutthroat trout brood pond in Nevada, thereby creating a source of the fish to stock Nevada streams; conduct “fishing with a ranger” programs at Great Basin National Park, where visitors can borrow fishing gear and receive basic instructions on how to fish; and improve cutthroat trout habitat in Nevada. The brood pond “has suffered from years of neglect and is in desperate need of renovation,” according to the agency.

The park service is also seeking $8.7 million to address illegal roads in the Government Wash and Overton Arm of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The lake’s level has dropped more than 160 feet since 1983, and there are now hundreds of miles of documented illegal roads across the recreation area. Officials estimate there could be two to three times as many roads that they haven’t documented. The roads run through culturally significant sites as well as rare soil ecosystems.

Wildfire prevention

A half dozen projects totaling $25.7 million were proposed, including:

• creating wildfire and utility resilience corridors along the east and north shores of Lake Tahoe,

• performing fuel reduction and meadow restoration at Tahoe’s Baldwin, Freel, Hellhole and Meiss meadows,

• reducing fuels around Mt. Charleston,

• creating a defense zone around Carson City’s Clear Creek area,

• and performing fire mitigation and restoration around the Whittell Forest and Wildlife Area west of Washoe Valley.

Tortoise conservation

Clark County is seeking $4.1 million to protect resources, wildlife and desert tortoise habitat throughout the county.

Slightly less than $1 million would go toward wildlife crossings along U.S. Route 95, U.S. Route 93, State Route 163 and State Route 165 to aid the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise.

The county is also seeking to study the capacity of a desert tortoise rehoming site. Currently, the Clark County Desert Conservation Plan calls for desert tortoises found in construction zones to be relocated to a site near Boulder City to help slow the decline of the reptile. However, the site is near capacity for how many desert tortoises it can house.

The county is seeking to assess the health of existing tortoises and determine whether the area can house additional tortoises above the limits set out in the plan.

The county is also looking to add 4 miles of fencing along Corn Creek Road, the primary access point to Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, to cut down on off roading and illegal shooting. Five miles of fencing was installed last year.

Written by AMY ALONZO | She covers environment and energy for The Nevada Independent. Based in Reno, she most recently covered the outdoors, environment and wildfires for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Prior to her six years with the RGJ, she worked at papers across the West and back East, amassing more than two decades of experience as a reporter and photographer.

Managing Cheatgrass in Nevada: Past and Present

By: Dan Harmon and Charlie D. Clements

The management of exotic annual grasses and their associated fuels and wildfire risk is one of the greatest challenges facing land mangers in the arid western United States. While cheatgrass can provide a useful forage source during its green period, that window of opportunity can be unpredictable and very shortlived. Other exotic annual grasses like Medusahead or Ventenata, which both occur in Nevada, provide little to no grazing resources even when green due to the high silica content and low palatability. With many BLM grazing allotments utilizing cheatgrass during wet periods of the year, arguments have been made that cheatgrass is better than nothing, or that it is too difficult to control and maybe we should just mange the range as a cheatgrass landscape. However, it’s a gamble one may not want to take. As Platt and Jackman stated in 1946, “The Cheatgrass problem in Oregon” “perennials buy good bonds, cheatgrass speculates” and “the owner of a cheat range who depends on summer feed from it keeps an agonized clutch on a rabbit foot.” The permitee is just one fire away from losing valuable forage as well as possible range closures. Since cheatgrass yield varies so much from year to year and the fact that cheatgrass produces a fine-textured early maturing fuel that increases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfire, the best management practice is to minimize the negative effects associated with cheatgrass, by encouraging perennial plants to dominate the system.

From very early on researchers knew that perennial grasses were the best defense for sustained control of cheatgrass. In 1932 Pickford, “The Influence of Continued Heavy Grazing and of Promiscuous Burning of Spring-Fall Ranges in Utah” observed that once the perennial grasses were lost from the plant community, cheatgrass would dominate, but if good perennial grass stands were present, cheatgrass would only be a minor component of the plant community (Figure 1, below).

The challenge in Nevada is that a lot of the landscape has already lost its perennial grass component due to drought, wildfire or overutilization over-time. It is essential that perennial grasses be established back onto the landscape through seeding efforts. Nevada is the driest State in the Nation, with so many habitats being in arid regions of the Great Basin, where re-establishing perennial grasses is most critical and soil moisture is extremely limited for seeded grasses to establish. The limited soil resources makes the need for effective and efficient weed control highly important before any seeding effort, to minimize weed competition and maximize soil resources to seedlings of seeded perennial grasses for establishment (Figure 2). Pioneer USDA-Agriculture Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit researchers Richard Eckert and Raymond Evans (1970) determined that as little as 4 cheatgrass plants per square foot could severely limit perennial grass seedling survival and establishment. Cheatgrass-dominated habitats have on average more than 500 cheatgrass seeds per square foot in the soil seedbank. Reducing the cheatgrass seedbank and above-ground densities is essential to allow for desirable seeded perennial grass species to germinate, emerge, establish and persist on these degraded habitats. This was observed and written about by Robertson and Pearse in 1945 “Artificial Seeding and the Closed Community” and again by Hull and Pachanec,1947 “Cheatgrass – A Challenge to Range Research”.

1. USDA ARS Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit (GBRRU), research plot Bedell Flat Nevada. (Right) 3-year-old established perennial grass stand with very little cheatgrass present. (Left) Untreated cheatgrass dominated stand with ineffective low density of perennial grass. Perennial grass stand (right) resists cheatgrass invasion from the adjacent cheatgrass plants.

Presently, resource managers have pre-emergent herbicides available as a very effective tool to reduce cheatgrass seedbanks and competition. Pre-emergent herbicides are not a long-term control method though and should be used in combination with seeding of perennial grasses and other desirable perennial species. Cheatgrass is so ubiquitous in Nevada that it will return to a site once the herbicide activity has worn off, unless a dense stand of competitive perennial grass is established following initial pre-emergent herbicide cheatgrass control. The established perennial grasses can suppress cheatgrass through competition for limited soil resources like available soil moisture and nitrogen when cheatgrass is germinating, growing and producing seed. The good establishment of perennial grasses leads to very low densities as well as very small cheatgrass plants with very few seeds produced (Figure 3).

Pre-emergent herbicides work by killing newly germinated plants with shallow roots in contact with the active herbicide ingredient. Mortality occurs when the embryonic root uptakes the herbicide from the soil. This category of herbicides (pre-emergent) binds to the very top layer of soil and organics and do not move with water down deeper into the soil. By doing this any existing perennial plants with deeper roots are not affected by the herbicide (Figure 4). The activity period for new seedling control for each pre-emergent herbicide varies. Imazapic (Plateau), the most commonly used pre-emergent to control cheatgrass; Sulfometuron Methyl (SFM 75 or Oust XP), which has some rangeland use limitations like ground application only;

FIGURE

effective

FIGURE 3. Perennial grass out competing (suppressing) annual weeds. The perennial grass utilizes most of the soil resources like moisture and nitrogen in the root zone (~1ft off the plant) before any annul weeds like cheatgrass can, thus limiting weed presence in the “suppression zone” (left). If the density of perennial grass is high enough, then the suppression zones all connect and the plant community is resistant to cheatgrass invasion (right). USDA-ARS GBRRU research area, Izzenhood NV, with very little cheatgrass in the seeded established perennial grass stand interspace (right).

or Rimsulfuron (Matrix SG), often used for medusahead grass control in heavy clay soils, have active control for about 1 growing season (12-15months). These herbicides are applied during the fall (September), hopefully before any effective moisture events that can result in fall cheatgrass germination. These herbicides will control all newly germinated plants once the root radical uptakes the herbicide from the soil. Although these herbicides remain active throughout the growing season, some broadleaf weeds like mustard or Russian thistle can establish in summer (June-July) with any rain events because the pre-emergent herbicide “strength” has diminished for broadleaf weeds by then (9 months after September application). By having a large percent of the cheatgrass seeds germinate and die before a new crop of cheatgrass seed is produced, the cheatgrass seedbank is significantly reduced, so that during the next growing season seeded perennial grasses’ germination, emergence, survival and establishment will be improved in the near absence of cheatgrass. Fallowing the site for 1-year allows for the decrease in herbicide residue prior to seeding the treated habitats. It is important to use the proven best establishing perennial grasses for arid sites to maximize perennial grass establishment after herbicide use. If you miss this window of opportunity, cheatgrass will return in high densities by the third year after herbicide application and make seeding success unlikely. In arid environments, it may be necessary to utilize introduced perennial grasses that were developed for arid land establishment and to outcompete annual weeds to increase chances for some level of success. By utilizing this integrated approach, there is a higher probability of protecting the site from future annual weed invasion and associated wildfire fuels risks, and ultimately protect the desirable native plants in adjacent unburned habitats.

...continued next page

FIGURE 2. USDA-ARS GBRRU research site, Edwards Creek Valley. (left) failed seeding without weed control and (right) successful seeding after

pre-emergent weed control.

It is not uncommon to experience the return of cheatgrass while perennial grasses are still small and less competitive during the first year after seeding. Depending on the level of cheatgrass, this can limit the perennial grass’s ability to effectively control cheatgrass long-term. A newer (2020) pre-emergent herbicide, indaziflam (Rejuvra) has the potential to help with this situation. Indaziflam has yet to be approved for BLM land use, but is anticipated for 2024 approval. Indaziflam has some big differences to traditional cheatgrass pre-emergent herbicides like imazapic in that it has multi-year activity, with reports of up to 4-years annual grass control. The broadleaf weeds will escape the activity much quicker, usually by the second year as experienced with imazapic, but annual grass control can last multiple years.

A limitation with indazaflam is that seeded perennial grasses will also be negatively affected while the herbicide is still active, therefor Indaziflam is an excellent herbicide choice to be used on an existing perennial grass dominated plant community where cheatgrass has moved in and poses a wildfire risk. Indaziflam is not intended to be used to convert cheatgrass dominated landscapes without any perennial grass back to perennial grass dominance. Indaziflam can be used to help struggling young seeded perennial grass seedlings to develop into competitive larger plants in those first few years after seeding (Figure 5). In that situation it would be applied at least 1 year after the seeding effort (October seeding, 12 months later, September herbicide application). Indaziflam also has the potential to reduce annual grass fuels in decadent greenstrips that have lost the competitive ability to keep cheatgrass out. This use would significantly reduce annual grass fuels in those protective green strip areas. The application of indaziflam on green strips or big sagebrush/perennial grass communities at risk of further cheatgrass invasion can hold back the tide of this invasion for up to 4-years while allowing the added soil resources to be utilized by the existing perennial vegetation, which stay greener longer into the year (4-6 weeks) reducing wildfire risks and providing added nutritional value. A big challenge for Nevada resource management has been protecting sagebrush stands that have significantly lost their perennial grass interspace and understory. These sagebrush stands often have a dense understory of cheatgrass fuel and a higher wildfire risk. Seeding perennial grass into these stands is difficult, and establishment from broadcast seeding is often unsuccessful. Indaziflam applications on these important sagebrush habitats with high cheatgrass fuels would decrease wildfire risks and potentially protect these critical habitats from increased habitat loss.

FIGURE 4 (ABOVE) Pre-emergent herbicide effect. Established perennial plants with deep roots do not take the herbicide from the shallow soil layer where it stays. Newly germinated plants are killed as soon as the root emerges and comes in contact with the herbicide in the soil top layer (right). Pre-emergent herbicides do not kill ungerminated seeds, germination must occur to deplete the weed seedbank.

FIGURE 5 (BELOW ) USDA-ARS GBRRU Research site Izzenhood, NV. (left) Four-year-old Sandberg bluegrass seeded plants with dwarfed non-competitive plants. (right) The same four-year-old plants 1 year after indaziflam application. Decreased weed competition increases available soil resources resulting in much larger plants (10x) after indaziflam application (right).

Although we have known about so many critical concepts for managing cheatgrass since the 1940s, we continue to develop new tools to combat annual grass invasions, such as pre-emergent herbicides that are an effective and economical feasible means for conserving rangelands in Nevada (imazapic [Plateau] 6oz/acre rate $10/acre, sulfometuron methyl [SFM 75 or Oust XP 49g/acre rate $2.50/acre , rimsulfuron [Matrix SG] 113g/acre rate $33/acre, and indazaflam [Rejuvra] 5oz/acre rate $50 acre [current estimates, product cost only]).

Cheatgrass is here to stay. It will never be fully eradicated, but it can be managed to be only a small component of a perennial plant dominated community. By using an integrated method with effective weed control and the seeding of reliable, proven perennial grasses, ecosystem function can be restored. By doing so the range can return to a productive natural resource that is sustainable and increases in diversity for multiple uses through successional processes. This is ultimately the goal of land management in Nevada, and we feel hopeful that with all these tools, land managers can make a positive difference for the future.

SLC: Growing Nevada’s Future Leaders

By Laci Peterson | Churchill County Reporter

This year at the NV FFA Summer Leadership Conference (SLC) the Churchill County FFA had a blast! CC FFA participated in various workshops and activities like lip-sync, Chapter Officer Leadership Training, and Tahoe Extreme. Emily Weishaupt, Laci Peterson, Claire Barbee, and Alyssa Gardner worked hard and ended up taking home the win for lipsync, as well as Laci Peterson getting a shout-out from our 2024-2025 Nevada state secretary for being a happy camper. Madison Gregory, Emily Weishaupt, and Alyssa Gardner helped their team, the Belugas, win the Tug-a-War competition! During SLC members are given a wonderful opportunity to go through an interview process to run for a Zone Office. One of our members, Liam Few, took this opportunity, applied, interviewed and was selected as the 2024-2025 Western Zone President. Other members in attendance were Jackson Barbee, Garrett Gardner, Hannah Montalvo, and Ava Bunyard.

The NV FFA Summer Leadership Conference is an annual event that brings together young agricultural enthusiasts from across Nevada to develop leadership skills, socialize with peers, and celebrate their achievements. This conference is a highlight of the FFA experience, offering members a unique opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, all while they build friendships and make memories.

National Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

June 1, 2024 Nevada NRCS Water Supply Update

As previously reported, the 2024 water year produced an above normal snowpack statewide and near to above normal precipitation. Streamflow is expected to meet demands this summer and nearly all of Nevada is currently drought free. During the summer field season that begins next week, staff will be out in the mountains maintaining SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) sites to get them ready for next winter. One project we are very excited about is replacing snow depth sensors with a newer type of instrument. Field tests of the new sensor at Mt Rose Ski Area and Ward Creek #3 SNOTELs this past winter demonstrated excellent performance, especially during heavy snowfall when our previous sensors struggled to make readings. Expect very few missing measurements in these data next winter. The next Water Supply Outlook Report will be available in in early January 2025. Until then use the Current Conditions link on our website to access relevant data.

STREAMFLOW FORECASTS

The June 1 streamflow forecast can be accessed on our website: https://www.nrcs. usda.gov/nevada/snow-survey These are the last streamflow forecasts the NRCS will be making this season. April through July forecast volumes have decreased since forecasts made on April 1. This is due to April and May precipitation totals being drier than normal. Although volumes have decreased, Nevada can still expect an adequate water supply this season and the June 6th US Drought Monitor ranks 97% of the state free of drought concerns as we head into summer. https:// droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NV

SNOWPACK

The snowline continued its recession to higher elevations in May. As of June 1, most of the remaining snow is above the SNOTEL network. In the eastern Sierra only four SNOTELs still had snow at the beginning of the month. Leavitt Lake SNOTEL at 9,600ft in the Walker Basin had the most with 73 inches of snow depth and 34.8 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE). In the Humboldt Basin three SNOTELs still had snow including Lamoille Upper (33 inches snow depth 18 inches SWE), Jacks Peak (38 inches snow depth), and Robinson Lake (68 inches of snow depth). Elsewhere in the state, Berry Creek in the near Ely and Pole Creek R.S. in the Snake Basin had a couple inches of SWE and about half a foot of snow depth remaining. If you are getting into the mountains for summer adventures, be prepared to encounter snow at higher elevations for at least a few more weeks. At this time of year its common to have snow melt rates of 1 to 1.5 inches of SWE per day (2 to 4 inches of snow depth per day). Sites like Leavitt Lake in the Sierra or Robinson Lake in the Ruby Mountains won’t melt out until the third or fourth week of June. For backpackers getting into the High Sierra, you’ll likely encounter some snow from the previous record-breaking winter even after this year’s snow is all gone!

PRECIPITATION

Monthly precipitation during May was on the dry side ranging from 48-85% of median across the state. April was also below normal for precipitation. Water year precipitation totals continue to be near normal or above for this time of year ranging from 91-96% in the Sierra, to 106-122% across the rest of Nevada.

RESERVOIRS

June 1 reservoir storage amounts for can be found here: https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda. gov/ftpref/support/water/SummaryReports/NV/BRes_6_2024.pdf

Contact:

Jeff Anderson, Water Supply Specialist

Nevada NRCS Snow Survey

300 Booth Street, Room 2070, Reno, NV 89509

775-224-3484 | jeff.anderson@usda.gov

Back row L to R - Alyssa Gardener, Aspen Johnson, Liam Few, Jackson Barbee, Garret Gardener, Ryan Kulbeth, Madison Gregory Front row L to R- Emily Weishaup, Laci Peterson, Hannah Montalvo, Ava Bunyard, Claire Barbee

Turnout for FFA Leadership Conference Indicates Bright Future for California Agriculture

Nearly 7,500 students attended the event, while FFA membership is over 103,000

Contact: Linda Sadler, Farm Credit Alliance (775) 677-7876, sadlerassociates@sbcglobal.net or John Frith, Write Stuff Communications (916) 765-6533 john@twscommunications.com

If this year’s state FFA Leadership Conference is any indication, the future of farming in California looks bright.

A record 7,416 middle- and high school students attended this year’s conference in Sacramento, said Katie Otto, executive director of development for the California FFA Foundation. She said the FFA as a whole is growing as well.

“Membership grew to over 103,000 statewide this year, and the conference is keeping pace,” she said. “The FFA Leadership Conference is the largest youth conference in California and it’s one of the most affordable student conferences at just $165. Thanks in part to sponsors like Farm Credit, we can make sure that FFA has the ability to enhance opportunities for the students and to support our chapters.”

Jacob DeBoer, Senior Regional Marketing Manager with American AgCredit and California FFA Foundation Board Member, noted Farm Credit has been sponsoring FFA for years.

“In addition to supporting programming throughout the year, our sponsorship helped fund many scholarships and awards presented to FFA members at the conference this year in recognition of their achievements in 2023,” DeBoer said. “Farm Credit knows FFA members represent the future of ag in California, which is why we are currently committed to providing $250,000 over five years to help FFA fulfill its mission.”

Farm Credit organizations members AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are proud supporters of FFA. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

The four-day conference celebrates the success of FFA members through awards for a wide range of ag-related activities and work-based learning projects. Scholarships and distinguished service awards are also presented. Participants also could choose from seven live general sessions, educational leadership workshops, networking opportunities with alumni and industry professionals and a career and trade expo.

Otto said FFA is thriving in California for several reasons, but it all starts with high school ag teachers – something she knows from experience.

“I was shy and quiet as a high school freshman and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in FFA in the first place,” she recalled. “But an ag teacher encouraged me to participate in the FFA Creed competition, and I did well. I made it to sectional and then regional and was in the state finals and I was hooked. That ag teacher saw something in me and took the time to make me realize there are opportunities and ways to engage in agriculture.”

Among those opportunities are the ability for students to travel, to gain skills and to meet people who can make a difference.

“For each student who participates in a Field Day or a speaking contest, the judges and coaches are alumni or people who work in the industry. It’s likely they may approach you and ask what your plans after high school are. It becomes a selffeeding pipeline,” she said.

the

And the ag-related career paths are nearly endless, she added.

“We realize ag is broader than boots in the field. Few FFA members will work on a farm, but they might become a formulator at a feed company, an embryologist, a pest control advisor, or an accountant working for an ag-related company. These are all jobs that influence the food and fiber chain,” she said.

Kevin Ralph, California president of AgWest Farm Credit, praised the diverse educational opportunities FFA provides its members.

“FFA currently provides educational opportunities in seven pathways – agricultural business, agricultural mechanics, agriscience, animal science, forestry and natural resources, ornamental horticulture and plant and soil science,” Ralph said. “Like Farm Credit, FFA recognizes that the needs of California agriculture are always evolving, and we’re pleased to be able to help make these opportunities available to so many young people.”

Ag education consists of a three-pronged learning model designed to engage and educate all types of students. It includes classroom and laboratory instruction, work-based learning for students not planning on attending a four-year university and student leadership experience through FFA.

Otto said despite headwinds facing California agriculture, she expects FFA to continue to grow and evolve with students and industry. She cited drone technology and agriscience as two program areas expanding to meet demand.

“As FFA approaches our centennial in 2028, the future of the industry, ag education and FFA looks bright,” she said.

Next year’s conference will be held April 3-6 in Sacramento. Registration will open on December 1.

Some of

nearly 7,500 FFA members who attended this year’s FFA Leadership Conference filled the floor at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. Registration for next year’s conference will open on December 1.

The change in agriculture today is just a glimpse of what lies ahead. It’s why, more than ever, we are committed to being the partner you can trust, who understands your needs and delivers value to help you achieve your goals.

Wherever agriculture goes, we’ll be there, alongside you, as you lead the way.

By Dustin Bleizeffer | OilCity.News

Gordon unveils ‘Decarbonizing the West’ report, seeks climate flexibility

Federal agencies and the Biden administration must be more flexible and encourage technological innovations like carbon capture that can enable low-carbon energy while keeping coal and other fossil fuels in the nation’s energy mix, a new report by the Western Governors’ Association concludes.

The association released its Decarbonizing the West report Tuesday, an initiative spearheaded by Gov. Mark Gordon, who is wrapping up his 2023-34 tenure as the organization’s chairman. Among the report’s recommendations:

• The Department of Energy should fund pilot and commercial-scale industrial carbon capture projects.

• The Environmental Protection Agency should “promote, not impede” deployment of carbon capture technologies at electrical power plants, and streamline permitting for carbon dioxide injection wells.

• Congress should enact “technology neutral” tax policies and provide more research and development funding for carbon capture.

Gordon and his western gubernatorial cohorts found common ground on more than a dozen such strategies for combating climate change in ways that don’t threaten local economies throughout the region.

“It is important that we acknowledge that, if the concern is about CO2 emissions in our atmosphere, then our focus must be on CO2 more broadly, not just curtailing the use of fossil fuels,” Gordon wrote in the introduction of the 32-page document. “This report will show effective efforts to manage carbon in the West are already within our grasp and can proceed without compromising our standard of living or hopes for the future.”

Western communities both small and large face existential economic challenges, quickly transforming landscapes due to climate change, and market and policy responses that sometimes do more harm than good, according to Gordon.

In Wyoming, the Republican governor has championed an all-of-the-above energy and climate policy that he says encourages technological approaches to curbing greenhouse gas emissions instead of accepting the notion that the nation must jettison fossil fuels.

For example, rather than retiring aging coal plants — a major source of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions — Gordon, along with the Wyoming Legislature, required western utility giant PacifiCorp to explore adding carbon capture and sequestration to several coal units. At the same time, Gordon is embracing advances in hydrogen energy research as well as a growing wind energy industry, including the TransWest Express highvoltage transmission line connecting Wyoming wind to customers in the southwest.

On Monday, Gordon joined Microsoft billionaire and TerraPower founder Bill Gates in Kemmerer to mark the beginning of construction on the company’s Natrium nuclear power plant — part of a pilot nuclear energy development effort that’s essential to meeting growing

demand for low-carbon electricity around the world, he said.

One direct result of the Decarbonizing the West effort is a 2023 memorandum of understanding between Wyoming and Colorado to partner with the Department of Energy and private businesses to establish infrastructure necessary to launch commercialscale direct air capture facilities.

But Gordon’s efforts to “decarbonize” legacy fossil fuel operations rather than scrap them has often resulted in battles with the federal government. That’s why it’s essential that western states — despite political differences — must band together and convince federal regulators to allow for technology innovations to achieve common goals and address climate change, Gordon maintains.

“This report contains recommendations for Congress and for federal agencies to advance the development and implementation of a suite of carbon removal and reduction strategies across the West,” Gordon said in his opening remarks of the Western Governors’ Association’s annual meeting in Olympic Valley, California, this week. “Importantly, it’s about building, not so much tamping down. This report will serve as a foundation for future Western Governors policy and advocacy efforts.”

North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum echoed Gordon’s call for technology approaches and federal policies that don’t threaten communities that rely on fossil fuels.

“Innovation, not regulation, is the way we’re going to solve these big problems,” Burgum said during a panel discussion Tuesday.

Though western governors have found some common ground on “decarbonizing” strategies, others say portions of the initiative focus too heavily on maintaining the use of fossil fuels. Even if the U.S. manages to capture some carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, those industries will remain a major source of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to one conservation advocate.

“It’s an improvement over not capturing it, but it’s also an excuse to continue emitting [fossil fuel] carbon when we need to be figuring out how to stop doing that,” Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby told WyoFile.

Hamby has closely followed the Decarbonizing the West initiative since its inception last June. She commended Gordon and the Western Governors’ Association for taking on the difficult challenges of addressing climate change in the West in ways that benefit the region’s economy. She also noted that the report highlights the “need to protect more public land, so that it can continue to provide carbon capture and storage that it is already providing for free,” she said.

Investing public dollars in landscape preservation, as well as agricultural and forestry management practices that result in natural carbon storage, has the co-benefit of protecting sources of drinking water, maintaining

outdoor recreation opportunities and protecting habitat and connectivity for wildlife, according to Hamby.

“So we could get all of those benefits for a lot less money if we prioritized protecting public lands and restoring landscape health so it can continue to help us in capturing and storing carbon,” Hamby said.

States, universities and private businesses are benefiting from billions of federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including several grants administered by the Department of Energy here in Wyoming. But Gordon’s strategy in Wyoming isn’t all about cooperation.

Since 2019, the year Gordon became governor, the Wyoming Legislature has considered at least 14 bills intended to prevent the closure of coal-fired power plants in the state and force utilities to either retrofit the plants with carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies or potentially offload them to another party willing to do so. Seven of the bills have become law.

Coal-burning utilities subject to the state’s carbon capture mandate say the technology is far from economically viable today, despite their promises to continue studying its potential. The Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate has criticized the policy for what could amount to massive increases for ratepayers.

Lawmakers also gave Gordon a $1.2 million “coal litigation” fund to pay for lawsuits against proposed coal plant closures in other states. The controversial effort aims to buy time for Wyoming to advance its vision for coal carbon capture and demonstrate that Wyoming coal can be an integral part of combating climate change around the globe while maintaining reliable, affordable electricity.

Gordon has also pushed back on several Biden administration programs intended to help finance greenhouse gas emission reductions, including rejecting federal dollars for communities and for the oil and gas industry.

He has also railed against the administration and launched several lawsuits over environmental policies, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s coal pollution rules, the Bureau of Land Management’s “methane rule” and its proposal to end federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.

Gordon said such federal policy battles are one reason it’s important for western states to form a unified front — at least where they find common ground — on technology and policy strategies at home and in Washington D.C. “Western governors have a longstanding tradition of addressing complicated issues in thoughtful and bipartisan ways that often lead to national policy reform,” Gordon said in a prepared statement this week. “This topic is not simple. I chose it because it’s important to gain a comprehensive understanding of strategies and technologies that can be utilized in managing carbon.”

This article was originally published by WyoFile.com

Cattlewomen’s Corner of the Corral

Nevada Cattlewomen Host First Beef & Wine Pairing at the Park Home Ranch in Minden, Nevada

By Keri Pommerening, NVCW President

Nevada Cattlewomen have been busy on several projects to promote the beef industry. One of those projects was our first Beef & Wine Pairing held in Minden, Nevada at the Park Home Ranch Venue, on June 2, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

Twenty guests were present to learn about different cuts of meat, how to best prepare those cuts. Park Ranch Meats donated six different cuts of beef that were prepped by Park Ranch Meats’ employees and seasoned to perfection with Park Ranch Meats’ very own seasonings. Inside the beautiful old barn at the Park Home Ranch Venue was a great setting for guests to attend six different stations. Each station was hosted by a NVCW member and had deliciously cooked cuts to sample with a taste of the paired wine and a recipe card.

After all tasting was complete, Park Ranch Meats sold various cuts of meat and seasonings. A great time was had by all. Melt-in-your-mouth beef was shared with a complimentary taste of wine. It was good to see so many people excited about using the beef recipes and purchasing products. It was planned to continue this event in the coming years in Minden. We also plan to host pairings in Elko this summer and Southern Nevada in the late fall or winter.

Until next month, whether you are irrigating, branding calves, or moving cattle to summer pastures, enjoy the sunshine.

Cattlewomen

Small Farm Conference Continues to Provide Needed Education

Annual event,

sponsored in

part by Farm Credit, helps California’s small farms thrive

Since the beginning of production agriculture, the vast majority of farming operations have consisted of small family farms. That’s true today as well, as these farms comprise nearly 90% of all the farms in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Providing the education needed to help California’s small farms thrive is the top priority for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, a nonprofit that provides information and ideas that will allow small farmers to succeed, said Evan Wiig, CAFF’s director of membership and communications.

“By equipping small-farm operators with the tools and education they need, and by working to promote programs that really benefit small farms, such as more farmers markets and making direct-to-consumer sales easier, we can help them be successful,” Wiig said.

CAFF’s major initiative each year is its Small Farm Conference, sponsored in part by Farm Credit associations doing business in California. The 36th annual conference was held earlier this year and drew more than 1,200 small farmers from around the state to the hybrid event, consisting of 60 online workshops as well as 10 in-person gatherings from San Diego to Humboldt County where people could network and exchange ideas.

Wiig said sponsorships such as Farm Credit’s support are vital for nonprofits such as his.

“We could not put on the conference without sponsorships. That’s the short of it,” Wiig said. “We strive to make sure our education is accessible to all farmers, including new farmers, students and farmworkers. To make the conference accessible to those people, we have to keep our ticket prices down. We really appreciate everything Farm Credit does. They’re still our rainmaker sponsorship. They really do make it rain and we appreciate it.”

Kevin Ralph, California State President for AgWest Farm Credit, said providing ongoing education to farmers and ranchers is a top priority for California’s Farm Credit associations.

“Each year, Farm Credit supports nonprofits focusing on ag education because educational opportunities offered by nonprofits such as CAFF are vitally important to the success of agriculture,” Ralph said. “Helping small farmers is something we should all support and keeping them up to date on the latest tools and techniques is a great way to ensure that they continue to thrive.”

Farm Credit organizations members AgWest Farm Credit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are proud supporters of CAFF. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

The conference was abruptly transformed in 2021 into a virtual conference due to the pandemic, which turned out to be wildly popular since by definition small farmers often have a difficult time leaving their farms for four days and bearing the travel expenses to get to a central location.

“We’re hearing from the farmers that they really appreciate this format,” Wiig said. “Attendees were posting on Instagram pictures of themselves tuning into the conference while doing all sorts of things on their farms. It was cool to see that we’re meeting them where they’re at and glad to see that they’re getting a lot out of it.”

Anthony Blondin, center, the coordinator of farm operations at Santa Rosa Junior College, answers questions from participants during the Small Farm Conference in-person gathering earlier this year. Photo: Kelsey Joy Photography

Workshops this year ranged from marketing a small farm to business administration to crop-specific workshops for commodities including strawberries and wine grapes. It also included innovative ways to do sales, such as online sales and selling to schools and hospitals.

Wiig said programs are developed after a listening tour CAFF’s staff takes each fall to learn about what problems were keeping farmers up at night and where they should focus advocacy efforts in Sacramento.

“A lot of the things that we’ve been hearing about for a long time continue to rise to the top – access to water and land, adaptation to climate change, dealing with wildfires, floods and droughts – the continued craziness of farming in California,” Wiig said.

“But we also saw that because they are small operations, they struggle to access equipment and markets. We want to make sure smaller and new farmers have access to capital, processing equipment and infrastructure. We’re looking at things like helping start farm cooperatives and distribution collaboratives. We’re also cosponsoring a bill for tool-sharing programs so groups can get access to equipment they couldn’t otherwise afford on their own,” he said.

Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, said it’s encouraging to see nonprofits sponsored by Farm Credit continue to come up with new ideas to promote agriculture.

“CAFF does a great job of understanding the needs of small farmers and developing support systems to help them,” Hesterberg said. “We are proud that our support makes a difference and look forward to continuing to support CAFF and our state’s small farmers.”

Next year’s conference is tentatively scheduled for February 23-28, and Wiig said after reviewing feedback and evaluations from participants, one thing CAFF will try to do is expand the local gatherings.

“Clearly, there’s a desire to add more in-person workshops and field days. This year’s field days sold out within days and it’s clear that people want to get onto other farms and see how they do things. We want to make that a central focus of the conference going forward,” he said.

About Farm Credit: AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmerowned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. www.farmcreditalliance.com

About CAFF: The Community Alliance with Family Farmers builds sustainable food and farming systems through policy advocacy and on-theground programs that create more resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems. The California Small Farm Conference convenes farmers and ag advocates to share resources, trade best practices, learn and collectively advocate for family farms in their community. https://caff.org.

Contacts: Linda Sadler, Farm Credit Alliance (775) 677-7876, sadlerassociates@sbcglobal.net or John Frith, Write Stuff Communications (916) 765-6533 john@twscommunications.com

News from the desk of NDA DIRECTOR GOICOECHEA

Nevada Craft Beverage Passport

Join the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Travel Nevada and Made in Nevada in support of the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport at the Reno Aces on July 28 at 1 p.m. Director Goicoechea will be kicking off the game by throwing the first pitch! More information and tickets are available at the link below. A portion of the proceeds will go back to promoting craft beverage makers across Nevada.

Get your tickets here: https://fevoenterprise.com/event/Doacraft

Find a Summer Food Service Program meal site near you School is out for kids in Nevada, but the need for food never ends. Through the Summer Food Service Program, the NDA helps children 18 years and younger access food during summer break. Locate your nearest meal site at NVSummerMeals.com!

Prevent West Nile Virus this mosquito season Mosquito season is here! The NDA reminds horse owners of the importance of vaccinating against West Nile Virus (WNV). This mosquito-borne disease can cause serious illness targeting a horse’s brain, spinal cord, and nervous system and can also be transmitted to humans from infected mosquitoes.

The NDA monitors WNV and other diseases carried by mosquitos on an annual basis to ensure the protection of public health and the agriculture industry. Additional precautions, such as using insect repellents and eliminating mosquito-breeding sites including standing water, are strongly encouraged for all horse owners. Contact your veterinarian to set up a vaccination schedule for your animals.

Read more: agri.nv.gov/News/2024/ Prevent_West_Nile_Virus_in_horses_ before_mosquito_season/

Submit your agriculture-related photos to our 2024 annual photo contest

Our 2024 annual photo contest is back! The NDA wants to see how you picture Nevada food and agriculture. The winner will receive a Made in Nevada gift basket and a canvas print of their winning photo. We have a diverse range of food and agriculture in the state and the NDA wants to showcase it. The photo contest is open to anyone, regardless of skill level. Photos submitted must be of food, agriculture, agritourism or related subjects in Nevada. The deadline to submit your photo is August 30, 2024. Submit your photo here: https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024nda_ photocontest

Hemp producer application due July 1

The NDA is responsible for registering hemp growers, handlers and seed producers. Those interested in growing, handling, or producing hemp seed must submit their applications for the 2024 production year by July 1, 2024. For questions, call (775) 353-3677 or email Taylor Hollaway at THollaway@ agri.nv.gov

Apply here: https://agri.nv.gov/Plant/ Seed_Certification/Industrial_Hemp/ Industrial_Hemp_Forms/

Livestock scale inspections scheduled for Nevada

The NDA will be traveling across the state over the next few months to inspect livestock scales. Letters with inspection timelines will be sent out in advance close to the week of inspection. A reminder phone call will also be made by staff the week of the inspection. Notice should allow enough time for scale owners to prepare for the site visit and ensure clear access to livestock scales and that scales are clean and ready to be inspected.

Farmers’ market scales must have an NDA inspection sticker

The NDA would like to remind you as you head out to your local farmers’ market this season to check market scales for an NDA inspection sticker. This means that the scale has been inspected by an NDA weights and measures inspector, ensuring its accuracy for items charged by weight. Scales used to charge by weight without an NDA inspection sticker can be reported by visiting this link: https://agri.nv.gov/ Protection/Petroleum_Technology/ Petroleum_Complaint_Form/

Find a Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program market near you

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, and local honey from participating farmers’ markets. Participating markets are located conveniently throughout Nevada. To find a location near you, visit: https:// agri.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/agrinvgov/ Content/Food/Senior_Farmers_ Market_Nutrition_Program/2024_ nnv_locations%20(1).pdf

Job Opportunities

• Agricultural Police Officer 2 (Elko)

• Agriculturalist 3 (Las Vegas)

• Brand Inspector 1 (Elko)

• Brand Inspector 3 (Sparks or Elko)

• Division of Plant Health and Compliance Deputy Administrator (Sparks)

• Environmental Health Specialist 1 (Underfill) (Sparks)

• Environmental Health Specialist 2 (Underfill) (Sparks)

• Environmental Health Specialist 3 (Sparks)

• Field Assistant 2 – Predatory Animal and Rodent Control (Ely)

Keep up to date with all NDA job openings at https://nvapps.state.nv.us/ NEATS/Recruiting/ViewJobsHome.aep

Funding Opportunities

USDA Farm Service Agency adverse weather resources

https://agri.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/ agrinvgov/Content/Media/disaster_ assistance_flyer.pdf

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/ USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/ FactSheets/emergency-conservationprogram-ecp-fact_sheet.pdf

Emergency Farm Loans

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programsand-services/farm-loan-programs/ emergency-farm-loans/index

Emergency Relief Program (ERP)

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programsand-services/emergency-relief/index

• USDA Rural Development resource guide to help rural entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses: https:// www.rd.usda.gov/

• USDA launched a new website, www.usda.gov/meat to communicate open and pending programs focused on expanding meat and poultry processing capacity.

• USDA Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (https://www. fsa.usda.gov/news-room/newsreleases/2024/usda-to-reopen-signupfor-continuous-conservation-reserveprogram) encourages agricultural producers and landowners interested in conservation opportunities to reach out to their local FSA office. Deadline for applications is July 31, 2024.

To learn more / enroll, visit https:// www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDAFSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/ crp-continuous-enrollment-periodfactsheet.pdf

University of Nevada, Reno Team develops new vegetation mapping tools

Benefits: improved management of rangeland, better recovery from wildfires

by John Seelmeyer

Powerful new digital mapping tools developed by University of Nevada, Reno researchers hold promise to improve management of rangeland, particularly public lands in the far-flung Western United States.

The significant improvements in mapping of vegetation enabled by the University’s research provide managers of rangeland, ranchers as well as federal managers of public lands, with better information to make large-scale decisions to mitigate effects of grazing, wildfire and other potential disruptions.

The research was conducted by Lucas Phipps, a rangeland ecologist, and Professor Tamzen Stringham, both in the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. Stringham also conducts research as part of the College’s Experiment Station. The results were published this month in the journal Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Putting big data to work

Phipps explained that the new mapping process employs robust machine learning that crunches massive amounts of information gathered by satellite imagery as well as data gathered painstakingly by generations of scientists working on the ground. The result: Map grids that show vegetation patterns more accurately than previous methods.

Accurate information about vegetation is particularly important in Nevada, where the federal government owns more than 80% of the land. Many ranchers in the state want more flexibility in the management of the rangeland they lease from federal agencies. In fact, four ranches in the state have joined with the Bureau of Land Management to test management practices that provide ranchers with more ability to respond themselves to changing conditions.

But that sort of flexible management requires the best-possible information about vegetation and changes in vegetation patterns to ensure that rangeland is grazed appropriately, Phipps said.

Two of the Nevada ranches participating in the BLM’s Outcome-based Grazing Program — the Winecup-Gamble Ranch northeast of Wells and the Smith Creek Ranch west of Austin — became test sites for the mapping technology developed by University researchers.

The sprawling Winecup-Gamble Ranch would be particularly challenging for traditional vegetation-mapping techniques, Phipps said. The ranch encompasses about a million acres, an area larger than Rhode Island, along the Nevada-Utah state line. Many of the remote stretches of the ranch would be difficult for onthe-ground monitoring of vegetation.

High-quality mapping

In the past, vegetation maps were created from studies of soil types, along with data about factors such as rainfall, average temperatures and elevation. The advent of remote data from NASA’s Landsat satellite allowed researchers to create large-scale maps beginning in the mid-1980s, and researchers began to use satellite imagery to track large-scale changes from one year to the next.

The process developed by Phipps and Stringham uses machine-learning analysis of more than 40 environmental variables, to develop vegetation maps that have more information, and better-quality information, than existing mapping products. Maps generated by the new process were validated by on-the-ground observations at 450 sites.

Despite the accuracy and wide vision of the vegetation maps generated by machine learning and remote imaging, Phipps said the new technology still can’t replace the observations of skilled scientists working in the field.

“Boots-on-the-ground remains the gold standard,” he said. “But to create maps of large areas, or remote areas, it becomes a manpower problem.”

Impacting the West, the world

The mapping project, Phipps said, fits well with the University’s mission as a land-grant university, where much of the work focuses on improving the daily lives of people across Nevada and beyond. Efforts to help wildlands recover from the disruptions of fire, mining exploration and off-highway vehicles all will be strengthened by better understanding of vegetation patterns.

While the new vegetation mapping was developed on the two Nevada ranches, Phipps said a clear next step would involve its rollout across the remainder of Nevada and neighboring states.

And it’s not just Nevada and other Western states that will stand to benefit. Phipps said other countries that haven’t undertaken extensive soil surveys could use the new technology to develop high-quality vegetation maps that will allow them to make better decisions.

“The scientific community, ranchers and federal land managers all share an interest in good stewardship of rangelands,” Phipps said. “They’ve been really complimentary of the University’s work, as they have seen the possibilities of this important new tool for vegetation mapping.”

www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2024/avrs-mapping

Lucas Phipps and Tamzen Stringham take a break at Golden Gate Range, within the Basin and Range National Monument, while working on their project to improve mapping of vegetation in remote regions. Photo by Devon Snyder.

Molly Flagg Knudtsen: No Place for a Woman

Knudtsen was a cattle rancher, author and educator who served on the NSHE Board of Regents

As the University of Nevada, Reno celebrates its 150 years of education, research and service in our state, the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, as one of the first Colleges on campus, takes this opportunity to celebrate some of the state’s pioneers in agriculture and ranching. Here, we present the story of Molly Flagg Knudtsen, who, as you’ll read, never listened when people told her something or somewhere was “no place for a woman.” She didn’t let being a woman stop her from pursuing her passion for horses and ranching in the 1940s. She also didn’t let being a woman stop her from becoming one of our state’s Regents back in 1960. And as a Regent, she was instrumental in expanding the University’s College of Agriculture, which, in 1973, honored her as its Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year. The same year, Molly gave the University’s commencement address.

We think it’s only fitting we share the rest of Molly’s story here, as we celebrate our University’s history, and the people that made it, and our State, such a special place. Thanks to Lesley R. Morris, associate professor of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, for sharing Molly’s story with us:

“There is an American tradition, particularly cherished in the West, of a woman as a frail, fluttery flower, so dependent as to verge on imbecility.” – Molly Flagg Knudtsen (1985).

Molly Flagg grew up in a wealthy East Coast family, went to Miss Spaulding’s finishing school, was presented as a young lady in English Court in 1933, married in 1937, spent time travelling Europe and training to ride horses, received a diploma from the Royal Institute of Horse in London and even dined on occasion with the abdicated Duke of Windsor and his wife. A cattle ranch in the middle of Nevada was no place for a woman of her breeding. And yet, after visiting Reno to take advantage of the state’s quicky divorce laws, that is exactly where she found her place.

Molly married again in 1942, sharing an interest and talent for training racehorses with her second husband who owned the Grass Valley Ranch. She rode horseback across every slope, up every canyon and throughout every mile of Grass Valley. Often alone, originally on side saddle, and certainly no place for a woman, she took off riding across the sagebrush hills of central Nevada. One day, a very special wild colt, named Toomi, changed her mind about riding side saddle. Though gentle, the horses shape made her side saddle swing back and forth in a “sickening way.” The solution was to try a western saddle and, once she adapted, she never went back.

Molly loved living in central Nevada, even as remote and rugged as it was. She studied everything about her new home state, read its history and listened intently to the stories of the families in surrounding ranches. Thanks to her, there are now two books full of these priceless stories about the homesteaders and ranch owners in central Nevada.

In 1960, Molly decided to run for a seat on the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. Her friends told her not to; they warned there was no place for a woman on the historically all-male board. She won be a landslide. While Regent, she was instrumental in expanding the College of Agriculture and establishing both the University of Nevada Press and the Department of Anthropology, where she earned an honorary doctorate. In 1973, she was honored by the College as the Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year.

“Running that kind of an outfit is no job for a woman.” – Quote from a friend to Molly Flagg Knudtsen (1985)

“You don’t look like a _____.” How many times do women still hear this today? Molly Flagg Knudtsen probably heard, “You don’t look like a rancher.” Of course, it did not matter to Molly that people might think running a ranch was no place for a woman. In 1969, she bought the Grass Valley Ranch from her ex-husband and expanded it to 9,000 acres.

Though horses were always her first love, she grew fond of breeding cows on the Grass Valley Ranch. The University sold off its heard of purebred Herefords during the Great Depression to area ranches, and her ex-husband had purchased some cows from the University. She worked proudly on that herd, branding and doctoring them herself, even sneaking away from a Regents meeting in 1971 to buy a bull at the first Nugget Bull Sale in Sparks and slipping back in before anyone noticed she was gone. Proudly, she sold some of her purebred Herefords back to the University in 1974.

“None of these girls bear any resemblance to the long-suffering ladies in the Ace Reid cartoons, whose only function in life is to open gates for their husbands to drive through. But then fiction has a way of lagging behind fact.”

– Molly F. Knudtsen

(1985)

Molly was no “frail, fluttery flower.” However, in 1987, she was thrown from her horse while chasing a calf and was badly injured because the horse fell on top of her. This injury forced her to move to Reno and manage the Grass Valley Ranch from a distance until she sold it in 1995. She continued to work on her Nevada research, writing and public service until she died in 2001.

As someone who spent most of her life where there was no place for a woman, she was often acutely aware of how these beliefs generate limitations. When she gave the commencement address in 1973, she recalled never mentioning ranching. Yet, every letter and call she received afterwards was about how women could become more involved in running a cattle operation.

She made sure to include a chapter on “The changing role of women on ranches” in her 1985 book, “Here is Our Valley.” By highlighting the work of other women in agriculture and ranching, Molly opened the ranch gates for more females to follow. Passions that may have once been considered no place for a woman are now pursued through teaching and research in the College’s namesake building, the Knudtsen Resource Center, located on the edge of the University’s main campus. Because of her perseverance, now no one can say “it is no place for a woman”.

www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2024/molly-flagg-knudtsen

Molly bought the Grass Valley Ranch from her exhusband, Dick Magee, in the 1960s and successfully managed it until she sold it in 1995 following an equestrian injury. Molly in Grass Valley, 1985.

Photo courtesy of Molly Knudtsen Collection from University Libraries Special Collections.

Groundwater Conservation Easements

Evaluating an Innovative New Tool for Aquifer Sustainability

Katherine Wright, Travis Brammer, Shawn Regan |

Conservation easements have long been a popular market-based tool for protecting private lands in the United States. These voluntary agreements, negotiated between landowners and nonprofit land trusts or other qualified entities, restrict certain uses of a property to maintain its conservation values. Tailored to each individual parcel, conservation easements offer an alternative to traditional regulatory or government-led conservation approaches.1

With a traditional conservation easement, landowners agree to permanently restrict specific land uses in exchange for direct payments or tax benefits. These restrictions typically limit residential and commercial development, subdivision, road building, clear cutting, and other activities. The terms of these agreements are perpetual and bind all future landowners.2 Currently, more than 37 million acres across the United States are protected under such easements.3

The popularity of conservation easements has led to interest in applying the easement tool to a wider range of natural resources. This policy report focuses on one such innovation—the groundwater conservation easement— which has emerged as a novel approach to address groundwater depletion. In Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the creative use of a conservation easement to reduce groundwater pumping has attracted national attention as a more tailored alternative to traditional water-savings programs, as it allows farmers to choose how they achieve agreed-upon water reductions.4 Its recent implementation in Colorado is motivating efforts to apply similar approaches to other areas with overdrafted aquifers.5

attractive alternative to other water conservation programs, as they can be structured to enable landowners to continue agricultural production while changing mangement practices to reduce water use.

With a groundwater conservation easement, landowners overlying an aquifer not only conserve the land’s surface, as happens under a typical conservation easement, but they also voluntarily limit groundwater pumping in exchange for direct payment or

www.perc.org/2024/03/22/groundwater-conservation-easements/

tax benefits. By using conservation easements to motivate groundwater pumping reductions, land trusts can achieve permanent water savings through tailored agreements with individual farmers, who can then decide how to best reduce water use. Broader application of this tool, however, may require targeted, state-level policy changes. For example, reforms to the legal and policy frameworks governing water use and conservation easements may be necessary to ensure that groundwater conservation easements can be a feasible and effective tool for aquifer recovery.

This report explains how groundwater conservation easements work and describes the conditions necessary for their successful implementation. It then evaluates the legal frameworks of several western states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming, to identify potential opportunities and reforms to facilitate more widespread use of groundwater conservation easements.

An Innovative Tool to Conserve Groundwater

Conservation easements are legal agreements that permanently limit uses of a property to protect its conservation values.6 Under these agreements, landowners agree to certain restrictions on the use of their land in exchange for direct payments or tax benefits.7 Conservation easements are notoriously—and intentionally— inflexible to ensure that the conservation benefits of the land are permanently protected. In this way, conservation easements serve a dual purpose: They compensate landowners for maintaining the environmental benefits of their land and ensure the preservation of these benefits into the future.

The specific restrictions of a conservation easement are tailored to the particular property and the conservation objectives of the entity that holds the easement, often a land trust. During the easement acquisition process, the landowner and land trust negotiate to determine which terms

will apply to the land. Once the terms are set, they can be difficult to amend or update. Traditional conservation easements typically encumber surface land-use rights by restricting future residential or commercial development and subdivision. Many easements also require landowners to continue their use of water to avoid forfeiture or abandonment of the water rights. Groundwater easements add an additional term to traditional conservation easements, specifically designed to address groundwater depletion. This new application of the easement concept enables land trusts and landowners to work together to reduce groundwater pumping on a parcel for the purpose of recovering overdrafted aquifers.8 (See Box 1.)

Like traditional conservation easements, groundwater conservation easements are voluntary, permanent, and specifically tailored to each individual farm or ranch.9 In addition to the typical

restrictions on land use, landowners agree to retire some or all of their groundwater pumping rights. These agreements compensate landowners for the value of their pumping reductions through cash payments, tax credits, or a combination of both.10 As with other conservation easements, qualified land trusts monitor and enforce the terms of the agreements.

The emergence of groundwater conservation easements is timely, as aquifer depletion has become a growing concern throughout much of the American West.11 Groundwater overdraft can lead to land subsidence, surface water impacts, water quality degradation, loss of storage capacity, and increased pumping costs.12 Declining water tables can also reduce streamflow and result in the loss of riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat.13 Recent drought conditions have put additional pressures on aquifers, as surface water shortages cause irrigators to rely more

BOX 1: How Groundwater Conservation Easements Can Address Aquifer Depletion

Aquifer sustainability is achieved when groundwater withdrawals match an aquifer’s natural recharge rate from all sources, thereby preventing long-term depletion. However, in regions like Colorado’s San Luis Valley, excessive pumping has led to a reduction in aquifer levels, prompting the need for effective management strategies. Groundwater conservation easements can be one tool to promote aquifer sustainability. To understand how groundwater conservation easements can address overdrafted aquifers, it is important to understand the dynamics of groundwater.

Groundwater, stored in underground aquifers, is recharged through natural processes like rainfall and snowmelt percolating through the soil. This process is known as natural recharge. When water is pumped out faster than it is replenished, it leads to overdraft, where the aquifer levels drop consistently over time, it can eventually lead to depletion.

A groundwater conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that limits the amount of water that can be withdrawn from an aquifer on a particular parcel of land. This approach, as part of a suite of other water conservation tools, can help ensure that the amount of water being pumped from an aquifer does not exceed its natural recharge capacity, preventing aquifer overdraft. Importantly, not all pumping rights need to be retired for a basin to achieve aquifer sustainability, since some amount of groundwater can be withdrawn at a rate equal to or less than the recharge rate and avoid long-term aquifer depletion. Groundwater conservation easements can be an effective way to permanently relinquish a portion of pumping rights that exceed an aquifer’s sustainable rate of withdrawal.

on groundwater resources, which can take decades or longer to recharge.14 The severity of the situation underscores the need for new tools to encourage aquifer recovery.

Groundwater conservation easements offer several advantages to other common approaches to aquifer overdraft, such as fallowing programs. Fallowing agreements require farmers to stop agricultural production altogether, either permanently or on a field-byfield rotational basis. This approach, however, is often controversial among farming communities, as it can harm the economy, labor market, and overall community in an area.15 Moreover, such agreements are inflexible, as they prescribe a single method—fallowing— for water conservation. While fallowing can be feasible for short-term aquifer restoration, groundwater conservation easements provide farmers with greater flexibility in addressing long-term aquifer depletion by allowing them to decide the method by which they achieve that reduction. This flexibility can make groundwater easements an attractive alternative to other water conservation programs, as they can be structured to enable landowners to continue agricultural production while changing management practices to reduce water use.

The Case of Colorado’s San Luis Valley

One of the nation’s first groundwater conservation easements, recently developed in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, demonstrates how the easement concept can be applied to aquifer recovery.16 The example illustrates the potential of groundwater conservation easements to help communities address aquifer depletion while maintaining agricultural production and preserving ecological values.

Nestled between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges, San Luis Valley is known for potato, alfalfa, and other vegetable crop production. Half a million acres in the valley are irrigated, often by drawing groundwater from the valley’s two major aquifers. This irrigated farmland drives the majority of the region’s economic activity and creates food sources and habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife. In recent decades, increased groundwater pumping has exceeded the basin’s recharge capacity, causing aquifer levels to decline and impacting surface water. The community took steps to try to address this issue, including implementing a groundwater pumping

fee and using government funds to pay farmers to temporarily fallow fields.17 While these efforts made some progress, aquifer levels continued to decline, prompting the Colorado legislature to mandate a basin-wide reduction in pumping to reach sustainable levels. If this reduction was not achieved, individual irrigators could face mandatory restrictions on pumping.

In response, Colorado Open Lands, a nonprofit land trust, began to explore whether the concept of a voluntary conservation easement could be applied to address groundwater depletion in the San Luis Valley. The group recognized that key aspects of conservation easements could be used to help address the valley’s groundwater challenges.

In 2022, Colorado Open Lands completed a groundwater conservation easement on Peachwood Farms, a 1,800acre property in the San Luis Valley.18 The farm consists of 12 center pivots and accounts for about 10 percent of the pumping volume by irrigators in the area.19 Under the agreement, wells for seven of the center pivots will be fully retired, while wells for the other five will have their pumping rates cut in half. (See Box 2.) For the wells that are being retired, water can still be used for the next 10 years at a gradually decreasing rate to revegetate the property with native plants.

The Peachwood Farms groundwater conservation easement will reduce groundwater pumping by more than 1,700 acre-feet per year.20 This pumping reduction alone was enough to address the subdistrict’s over-pumping problem, thereby avoiding the need for mandatory cuts or other regulatory restrictions for farms in the area. In this way, by significantly reducing groundwater use on one property, the agreement enables the rest of the farmers in the valley to continue operating. Importantly, the water savings resulting from the agreement will not be available for pumping elsewhere, thus ensuring that the saved water remains in the aquifer.

The San Luis agreement is just one example of how groundwater conservation easements can work.21 In that case, the easement facilitated the full retirement of a farming operation, which helped maintain the sustainability of other farms and ranches in the region. In other cases, farmers could opt to put a portion of their groundwater rights under easement while continuing to use the rest for crop production. By implementing new, more efficient irrigation systems,

BOX 2: San Luis Valley Groundwater Conservation Easement

Full = 100% retirement (with 10 years of access to water to establish permanent native vegetation)

Partial = 50% pumping reduction

San Luis Valley Easement Annual Water Savings

2,160 acre-feet pre-easement pumping amount

- 450 acre-feet post-easement pumping amount

1,710 acre-feet in total water savings

In 2022, the nonprofit land trust Colorado Open Lands completed a pilot groundwater conservation easement on a 1,800-acre farm in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The easement will permanently retire pumping on seven of the farm’s 12 wells over the next decade and reduce pumping on the remaining five wells by half. The easement’s water savings—totaling more than 1,700 acre-feet per year—are enough to meet the sustainability needs of the surrounding subdistrict, enabling other farmers in the area to continue operating. “If by discontinuing irrigation on my farm, it means that my neighbors may be able to keep their multigenerational farms in their families,” says the farmer Ron Bowman, “then it feels like the right thing to do.”

some farms could produce the same yield while creating water savings. Most importantly, groundwater easements can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each community, at the discretion of each landowner. So long as certain conditions are met that allow these agreements to be successfully implemented, groundwater easement can serve as a powerful tool to address aquifer overdraft.

What Made Innovation Possible in San Luis Valley

In the case of the San Luis Valley groundwater conservation easement, several conditions ensured that the easement concept promoted aquifer sustainability. This section examines the conditions that increase the likelihood for successful implementation of groundwater easements and discusses how those were applied in Colorado.

Legal Authority to Apply Easement Concept to Groundwater

Foundationally, groundwater conservation easements rely on a state’s existing framework for conservation easements. Many states have a conservation easement enabling act or

statutes that allows for the creation of conservation easements. These statutes specify the requirements that easements must meet and describe what activities an easement can or cannot restrict. In many states, these enabling statutes do not explicitly allow easements to restrict groundwater use.

Colorado is one of the only states that authorizes the use of conservation easements specifically for water conservation. The state’s easement enabling statute allows landowners to enter into easements to protect “land or water area” as well as “water rights beneficially used upon that land or water area.”22 This statute gave landowners and land trusts reasonable confidence that permanently limiting groundwater pumping was a valid use of a conservation easement in Colorado.

Management of Groundwater Use to Avoid Open Access

For a groundwater conservation easement to effectively conserve water, it is essential that the underlying basin is not treated as an open-access resource. If some form of groundwater rights do not exist or limits on pumping are not enforced, irrigators have access to as much groundwater as they can withdraw. Groundwater conservation easements

aim to reduce groundwater pumping on specific fields to sustainable levels. This goal, however, can only be achieved if overall groundwater extraction from the basin is managed and limited. Moreover, if the basin is an open-access resource, individual efforts to conserve water through easements could be offset by increased use from others, making it impossible to maintain a sustainable balance between extraction and natural recharge.23

Colorado applies the prior appropriation doctrine to groundwater rights, which provides a means of defining rights to the resource based on the principle of “first in time, first in right.” Unlike an open-access system, the San Luis Valley had mechanisms in place to manage groundwater use. Groundwater rights in the valley were reasonably secure and well-defined, ensuring that the farmer had the ability to negotiate with a land trust on a conservation easement that could protect groundwater from future extraction. Other areas of the American West, however, lack well-defined groundwater rights.

Given the challenges associated with open-access groundwater resources, regions that have more complete and well-defined groundwater rights are more likely to succeed at implementing effective groundwater easements. On the other hand, areas that treat groundwater as an open-access resource, or have poorly defined groundwater rights, will be less likely to make productive use of this tool.

Legal Mechanisms to Protect Groundwater Savings

A related concern is the ability to protect the water savings resulting from a groundwater conservation easement. To address this, there must be a way to ensure that the water left in an aquifer as a result of the easement is not available to another irrigator or water user. Therefore, policies must be in place that allow pumping reductions to occur without the risk that those reductions will be offset by additional pumping elsewhere from the aquifer.

The prior appropriation doctrine requires that water be put to certain legally defined “beneficial” uses, which have historically been limited to agricultural, municipal, and industrial uses. Conservation, or aquifer recharge, has not traditionally been considered a beneficial use of a water right. If water is not put to beneficial use, it can be considered “abandoned” or “forfeited”

and therefore made available to other water users. This creates obvious barriers to groundwater conservation easements. If water conserved from an easement would be made available to other water users, then landowners and land trusts will have little incentive to negotiate groundwater easements, since there would be no guarantee it would result in overall water savings.

Abandonment occurs when a rightsholder intends to discontinue active use of a portion of their water right, which is then made available to other water users. Importantly, the abandoned amount of water is subtracted from the user’s original water allocation, thereby diminishing their overall water right. Colorado water law, however, provides certain provisions that protect from abandonment water enrolled in a conservation program or within a conservancy district.24 Due to this legal protection, any water right that is encumbered in a groundwater conservation easement and enrolled in a conservation program is legally protected from being considered abandoned.25 These provisions encouraged Colorado Open Lands to work with the local conservation district to create a formal conservation program in which water rights could be enrolled. In this way, the land trust could conserve land in the valley and limit groundwater usage in a flexible and compensated way without farmers fearing curtailment.

Measurement and Monitoring of Groundwater Pumping

Groundwater conservation easements also require the ability to measure and monitor groundwater pumping at the individual well or property level. If the amount of groundwater pumping is unknown or uncertain, land trusts or other entities will be unable to monitor and verify how much groundwater is saved from an easement. Moreover, if there is no baseline measurement of an irrigator’s past pumping levels, then land trusts will be unable to quantify and value the reductions achieved by an easement. This means it is crucial to be able to measure both current and historic groundwater pumping levels. These expectations require well monitoring technologies to accurately measure pumping behavior. In many areas of the American West, individual well meters track water use, providing both historic and current pumping data. In some cases, electronic monitoring sensors or meters are attached to wells to provide automated reporting of

pumping activity.26 The ability to access real-time pumping data in a basin can reduce the costs of monitoring and enforcing an easement’s terms. Accurate and precise measurement enhances the flexibility of groundwater easements, for both the grantor and grantee.

n the San Luis Valley, farmers faced a risk of state intervention and forced curtailment of groundwater use due to unsustainable groundwater extraction.27 In response, years ago irrigators formed several groundwater subdistricts to selfregulate groundwater use in an attempt to avoid curtailment. As a result, wells in the area have been monitored for decades. In particular, Subdistrict 4, the subdistrict that encompasses Peachwood Farms, prioritized groundwater reduction and a stable, healthy agricultural economy, which meant farmers there had already been monitoring and limiting groundwater use.28 Because groundwater measurement and monitoring were already occurring in the San Luis Valley, it was easier for Colorado Open Lands to pursue a groundwater conservation easement on Peachwood Farms without the upfront costs of establishing monitoring.

Groundwater Valuation Method

To qualify for compensation, groundwater conservation easements, like most traditional conservation easements, require an economic valuation of the foregone activity—in this case, reduced water use. Easements are valued using a before-and-after appraisal method, which compares the value of a property with an easement to the value of a similar property without an easement. For groundwater conservation easements to be feasible, there must be a sufficient number of comparable sales of land with and without connected groundwater rights. Because groundwater conservation easements are a relatively new innovation, however, finding comparable sales may be a challenge in many areas.

In the Peachwood Farms example, appraisers in the valley lacked comparable sales, which prevented them from using the before-andafter market valuation method. The value of the conserved groundwater, therefore, was benchmarked using a nearby fallow parcel. The appraiser estimated a value for the property with its current crop production and then again estimated its value as if there were no crop production. The difference in

the value was attributed to the applied water. Thus, if pumping was reduced by a certain percentage, the percent reduction multiplied by the difference in value yielded the easement value.29

Community Support and Public Benefit

As a novel tool for recovering aquifers, community support for groundwater easements is also important. The more water users who enroll in groundwater easements, the greater the potential for this tool to help stabilize aquifer levels, which generates broader economic and conservation benefits. By including communities in the development of the tool and process, practitioners increase the likelihood of adoption.

In the San Luis Valley, Colorado Open Lands worked with landowners early on to incorporate concerns regarding agricultural longevity and devised an approach that achieved groundwater conservation without compromising the needs of the agricultural community. The Peachwood Farms easement gained broad support because its pumping reductions allowed other farmers in the subdistrict to avoid mandatory pumping cutbacks threatened by the state. In this way, by permanently reducing groundwater pumping on one farm the easement allowed other farmers in the region to continue operating.

Growing the Market for Groundwater Conservation Easements

Beyond Colorado’s San Luis Valley, there is potential for groundwater conservation easements to be applied more broadly to address aquifer depletion. This section examines the relevant legal and policy frameworks of several other states—Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming—to assess the feasibility of implementing groundwater conservation easements in these states.30

This section is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all policies that may make a groundwater conservation easement feasible in a particular state; instead, it offers readers an overview of some key conditions that may make groundwater conservation easements more or less feasible. Moreover, even within states, individual basins and subbasins may be managed differently, which may have additional implications for groundwater conservation easements.

Legal Authority to Apply

Easement Concept to Groundwater

Nearly every state has adopted some type of conservation easement enabling act, and many have adopted the Uniform Conservation Easement Act. The act is a form of model legislation that has been adopted in full or in part by many states to create consistency in the establishment, enforcement, and interpretation of conservation easements.

Because the Uniform Conservation Easement Act predates the emergence of groundwater conservation easements, the statute does not specifically allow for their creation.32 The act requires that easements must “retain or protect natural, scenic, or open-space values of real property, assuring its availability for agricultural, forest, recreational, or open-space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality.” However, the rest of the statute does not mention water conservation.33 The language of the statute is unclear whether groundwater conservation easements would be allowed in the states that have adopted the Uniform Conservation Easement Act. Of the states included in this report, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming have each adopted the act or a modified version of it, while Colorado, Montana, and Nebraska have drafted their own enabling statutes.

As shown in Table 1, Colorado clearly allows water rights to be encumbered by a conservation easement, though it does not explicitly authorize restrictions on groundwater. Other states’ conservation easement enabling acts are less explicit about whether they allow for restrictions on water use. Montana’s statute, for example, allows conservation easements to restrict activities that are detrimental to “water conservation.”34 This term could be interpreted to include restrictions on groundwater use, but because the statute does not specify what is meant by “water conservation,” it remains uncertain whether a conservation easement can limit groundwater use in Montana. Updates to statutory language may be necessary in certain states to explicitly allow for a conservation easement to restrict groundwater pumping.

Groundwater Governance Factors that Influence Easement Success

Once the statutory authority exists to establish groundwater conservation easements, the success of these easements is significantly influenced by the quality of groundwater governance institutions, which are the rules that govern how groundwater is allocated, used, and managed. There is significant variation in these institutions across states, from open-access basins with no limits on pumping to closed basins with permit requirements, pumping limits, and restrictions on new entrants. The effectiveness of these institutions can influence the success of groundwater conservation easements.

As described above, groundwater conservation easements are more likely to succeed in basins with effective governance institutions that avoid openaccess conditions and clarify how groundwater is allocated and managed. In particular, groundwater conservation easements will be more successful if landowners have clear and enforceable property rights to the groundwater they are conserving. If

TABLE 1 Sources: This table is based on a review of the relevant state statutes and Alexander Bennett et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: A Preliminary Survey of Thirteen U.S. States,” Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 7 (2020); Abigail Adkins et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: Survey of Sixteen U.S. States,” Vol. 2, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 12 (2022); “Conservation Easement Act,” Uniform Law Commission. Note: Groundwater conservation easements may be possible in listed states with unclear authority, but the legal authority to implement them is not explicitly defined in statute.

landowners do not have secure groundwater rights, the effectiveness of a groundwater conservation easement will be limited.

Table 2 attempts to generalize how these groundwater governance factors vary across examined states. It uses a groundwater governance tier classification system, adapted from natural resource economists Eric Edwards and Todd Guilfoos, to characterize governance factors that are capable of supporting groundwater conservation easements.35 This classification system represents a progression of governance factors, in which higher tiers include the features of the lower tiers. States with higher tier numbers (e.g., Tier V) are more likely to have the institutional frameworks necessary to support effective groundwater easements, while states with lower tier numbers (e.g., Tier I) are less likely to support them. These classifications are made with the caveat that there is often basin-level variation in groundwater governance within states that can affect the feasibility of groundwater conservation easements.

The tiers in Table 2 describe a progression of governance factors that contribute to groundwater easement success, ranging from open-access basins (Tier I) to basins with active groundwater markets (Tier V). In basins that require well permits (Tier II), individual water users are permitted to use a certain amount of groundwater for specific purposes. Some basins also have area closure rules (Tier III), which ensure that an individual with an existing permit can pump a specified amount and that no new entrants can reduce that amount by drilling a new well. Basins can also enact binding pumping caps (Tier IV), which limit the amount of water pumped from specific wells. In addition to these factors, some basins also have functioning groundwater markets (Tier V) that allow for the transfer of pumping rights. These governance factors contribute to the effectiveness of groundwater conservation easements. If 1) irrigators have rights to specific quantities of water, 2) new wells cannot reduce those quantities, and 3) current users are capped from increasing their withdrawals, then easements will be more likely to generate durable groundwater savings.

Effective governance gives groundwater rights value, which is necessary for negotiating and structuring easement agreements with landowners. The completeness and security of these rights varies across states. In Kansas’s High Plains Aquifer region, for example, recent research has shown that groundwater rights, though incomplete, allow groundwater access to be capitalized into land values.37 This means that groundwater access has meaningful economic value, which is essential for groundwater easements. In other areas where groundwater rights are less secure, there may not be enough economic value to form the basis of an effective groundwater conservation easement.

Given the importance of groundwater rights, the level of adjudication within a basin is also critical. If a basin is not fully adjudicated, then water users cannot be certain of their right to a quantity or use of water over time. In the same way, land trusts will be hesitant to enter into easements with landowners who have not adjudicated their groundwater rights. Some states, such as Idaho and New Mexico, have fully adjudicated groundwater rights, while in other states the adjudication process is incomplete and ongoing.

Legal Mechanisms to Protect Groundwater Savings

For a groundwater conservation easement to be successful, state water law must provide a means of ensuring that the easement’s pumping reductions are not offset by another irrigator’s increased water use. There are several ways this can be done. For example, states could provide a legal mechanism by which conserved water can be protected from abandonment, similar to how Colorado protects water rights enrolled in a conservation program from being considered abandoned. Alternatively, states could allow conservation or aquifer recharge to be considered a beneficial use of groundwater, thereby enabling users to hold those rights for non-use and protect them from reallocation to other water users. Ultimately, these different paths can achieve the same result, but they may involve different considerations and implementation processes.

TABLE 2: Sources: Adapted from Eric C. Edwards and Todd Guilfoos, “The Economics of Groundwater Governance Institutions across the Globe,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 43, no. 4 (2021):1571-94; includes information from Alexander Bennett et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: A Preliminary Survey of Thirteen U.S. States,” Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 7 (2020); Abigail Adkins et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: Survey of Sixteen U.S. States,” Vol. 2, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 12 (2022).36

TABLE 3: Sources: This table is based on a review of the relevant state statutes and Alexander Bennett et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: A Preliminary Survey of Thirteen U.S. States,” Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 7 (2020); Abigail Adkins et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: Survey of Sixteen U.S. States,” Vol. 2, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 12 (2022). Note: In states that do have mechanisms to protect groundwater pumping reductions from reallocation, the protection of groundwater is not necessarily guaranteed. This table reports whether states have at least some existing legal or policy mechanism that could prevent groundwater from being reallocated once it is conserved by a groundwater conservation easement. If such a mechanism does not exist, then any water use that is reduced as a result of a groundwater conservation easement may be subject to reallocation following nonbeneficial use or abandonment proceedings.

table 4: Sources: This table is based on a review of the relevant state statutes and Alexander Bennett et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: A Preliminary Survey of Thirteen U.S. States,” Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 7 (2020); Abigail Adkins et al., “Groundwater Laws and Regulations: Survey of Sixteen U.S. States,” Vol. 2, 2nd Ed., EENRS Program Reports & Publications 12 (2022). Note: Some states, such as Idaho, require individual well metering but, due to time constraints, have not yet fully implemented well metering programs.

Table 3 reports whether states have abandonment or beneficial-use policies that allow for groundwater conservation easements to effectively conserve groundwater. There is significant variation in these policies across states. For example, while some states such as Wyoming have no legal mechanism to protect a groundwater easement’s water savings, other states such as Colorado and Kansas protect water rights that are enrolled in a conservation program from abandonment claims. Like in Colorado, Kansas law states that a water right will not be considered abandoned if the right is included in a conservation program established by the state’s chief engineer. However, the Kansas statute specifies that an approved conservation program shall not exceed 10 years, which might create conflict given that conservation easements create permanent restrictions.38

On the other hand, Idaho generally limits beneficial use to agriculture, domestic use, manufacturing, mining, and hydropower.39 Idaho water users, however, are not subject to forfeiture or abandonment for nonuse if they enter their water right in a conservation practice that results in the pumping or diversion of less water than originally authorized while maintaining beneficial use of water.40

Measurement and Monitoring of Groundwater Pumping

For a groundwater conservation easement to be successful, there must be a way to measure and monitor irrigators’ pumping levels. Measuring current

use ensures that water users are abiding by the terms of their agreements, while historical pumping data provides a baseline from which an easement’s water savings can be calculated and valued. Well-level measurement and monitoring requirements could be imposed as conditions of a landowner’s acceptance of an easement or may already be required by states or groundwater basins.

Table 4 summarizes the well-monitoring requirements across our states of interest. States have different levels of well-monitoring requirements and different types of historical data accessible. For example, Idaho requires well metering for all groundwater users in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and recently expanded the program statewide.41 In Wyoming, well owners can self-submit data to the state, but it is not a requirement, except in certain districts. In Montana, the state requires a groundwater permit, which specifies an amount, and requires a meter with well installation in certain basins.42 Several states offer incentives or rebate programs to encourage water users to meter their wells.

Conclusion

The recent implementation of a groundwater conservation easement in Colorado’s San Luis Valley demonstrates how easements can promote aquifer recovery when certain key conditions are met. By incentivizing voluntary reductions in pumping through tailored agreements between landowners and land trusts, groundwater easements offer a market-based

alternative to traditional water-saving methods or topdown regulatory approaches to address groundwater depletion. When applied under the appropriate legal frameworks and effective governance institutions, groundwater conservation easements show promise as an innovative tool to help recover aquifers in a flexible, community-supported manner.

Broader implementation of groundwater conservation easements, however, may require legal and policy reforms in many states. States must allow conservation easements to restrict groundwater use, or at least not prohibit them from doing so. Water users must have sufficiently well-defined and defensible groundwater rights to avoid open-access depletion. And policies must be in place that safeguard the groundwater conserved by a groundwater conservation easement, maintaining incentives for conservationists and landowners to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements.

Agricultural communities are rightly sensitive to “buy and dry” strategies that could undermine rural economies. Groundwater easements avoid this fate by enabling continued agricultural production while compensating voluntary conservation. To gain broader support for this tool, however, it is essential to engage with communities and stakeholders early and meaningfully. Practitioners should take care to understand the economic pressures and cultural norms that shape landowners’ perspectives in overdrafted basins and negotiate easement agreements that address those concerns.

Policymakers and practitioners should also explore the feasibility of nonpermanent options for groundwater conservation. Groundwater conservation easements create flexibility for water rights holders because they allow water users to decide how to reduce their water use. Yet, because groundwater conservation easements are built on the foundation of perpetual conservation easements, they create permanent restrictions on land use that some landowners might be hesitant about. Shorter-term conservation agreements, such as a conservation lease, could mimic the benefits of a groundwater conservation easement for landowners who may be hesitant about permanent commitments. This approach could address growing concerns about the permanency of traditional conservation easements and the need for more adaptable alternative structures.43 It might also provide a way to trial conservation efforts, adjust to changing environmental conditions, and respond to evolving community needs over time. Considering such alternatives could enhance the attractiveness and practicality of groundwater conservation efforts.

Water scarcity is a growing concern throughout much of the United States, exacerbated by a lack of adequate tools to conserve groundwater. Groundwater conservation easements offer a promising new tool to help address water scarcity challenges. Conservationists and policymakers should carefully consider the factors examined in this report when designing and implementing groundwater easements. By doing so, they can help create the conditions necessary for groundwater conservation easements to play a significant role in addressing groundwater challenges and promoting aquifer recovery.