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Differences Between High-, Mediumand Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers Economic Contribution of Nevada Agriculture
IN THIS ISSUE 2 Nevada Governor's Office Jennifer Ott New NDA Director 3 Riding for the NCA Brand 4 NCA Roundup 5 Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale Results 6 NBC Checkoff News 7 NBC Beef Recipe 8 In The Mind of a Millennial 9 BLM News Release: Accepting Burning Man Permits
Governor Steve Sisolak Approves Jennifer Ott as Director of Nevada Department of Agriculture CARSON CITY, NV - February 19, 2019
Today, Governor Steve Sisolak announced that he has approved the appointment of Jennifer Ott to be director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Ott’s first day as director will be March 4, 2019. Jerri Williams-Conrad had previously been serving as acting director of the department. “I am proud to approve Jennifer Ott to lead our state’s Department of Agriculture, and I want to thank the Board of Agriculture for their work in identifying our next director,” Governor Sisolak said. “Jennifer brings many years of experience in the agriculture industry, in addition to an outstanding background in leadership and fiscal management. She will make a superb addition to my cabinet, and I look forward to working with her to promote Nevada’s agricultural industries.” Jennifer Ott has worked as the administrator of the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industry Division since January 2018, where she oversaw all plant programs in the state. Previously, she served as operations director for the Desert Farming Initiative at the University of Nevada, Reno. Ott has also served in marketing roles for various chemical and agricultural businesses and began her career as a chemist in multiple laboratories. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.
16 NDCNR - Water Measuring 16 NCBA - Vote To Repeal WOTUS 17 UC ANR - History of 4-H 20 Nevada Farm Bureau: 24 Marketing Industrial Hemp 26 Protect The Harvest: Mission 27 Smith Valley Dairy Prevails 28 SRM - Cheatgrass & Grazing 31 UofA - Trichomoniasis in Cattle
10 Eye on the Outside
32 UC Davis - CA Trichomoniasis
11 NDA - Agricultural Literacy
33 WSU - 10 Trichomoniasis Facts
12 Nevada Cattlewomen
35 BCI - Prevent/Manage Scours
12 NDW - Big Game Draw
35 NCBA - New DGAC Podcast
13 Uhart Interview of Lynn Conley
36 USDA - Horse Biosecurity
14 NACD - Locally Led Conservation
37 NDA - Strangles Reported
16 NWRA - Providing Education
40 Cowbelles - Update & Recipe
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Cover Credit: Lilla Bell, Bell Ranch, Paradise Nevada
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From the desk of your NCA president By Sam Mori, NCA President Hello Everyone, I hope winter has been good to all of you. A normal winter in the Great Basin can be a little unpleasant at times, but the prospect for a productive spring is what keeps us pushing through the snow and mud. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) has started 2019 with a very busy schedule that has taken us many miles. We recently returned from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Convention in New Orleans, LA where it was refreshing to see people from all across our country with very similar problems working together for common goals and sensible solutions. Nevada was very well represented as 38 attendees had our address. I was very proud of the fact we are very well respected and have several members in National leadership roles. Our interests and needs are being heard on the National level as we engaged on the issues that are important to our membership and the western ranching industry. There is much work being done on western range issues that include grazing regulation changes, Endangered Species Act (ESA), and an overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Trade, Fake Meat, Electronic Logging Devices (ELD), Water and Wild Horses are some but not all of the things we are engaging in on behalf of the industry.
The 2019 Nevada Legislative Session is off and running, and we are watching and contributing when and where needed. If something is of concern or interest to you, let us know, and we can address the issue. Water is certainly one that comes to mind, but many other things are being monitored as the session progresses. As of this writing, the Fallon Bull Sale is a few days away, but I want to thank the consignors, buyers, Fallon Livestock LLC. and our staff in advance for the contribution they have all made to allow this event to happen. It is an important income source for our Association, and your efforts and contribution are very appreciated. As we start looking toward spring, I want to remind everyone that the NCA is here for you as members and non-members. We will be busy turning cattle out and getting our crops in the ground and everything else that needs to be done yesterday. With that in mind, know full well that your concerns and wishes are being addressed in the best interest of industry each and every day. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you down the road. Till next time,
Sam
Sam Mori President, NCA
Nevada Water Solutions LLC Water Rights / Resource Permitting Expertise
Thomas K. Gallagher, PE 775•825•1653 / FAX 775•825•1683 333 Flint Street / Reno, NV 89501 tomg@nevadawatersolutions.com
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FEBRUARY 2019 3
Sam Mori at Fallon Bull Sale Awards Night
NCA HAPPENINGS By Kaley Chapin NCA Executive Director So far, 2019 the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and I have been nothing short of busy. In January I had the opportunity to be a part of the USDA Western Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) Grant Reviewal team. This opportunity consisted of a three-day process in Phoenix, AZ where we came together to review many different types of agricultural grants. They ranged from cattle production to Ag leadership/mentorship training. It was a great experience because we got to learn about many different sectors in ag all and to briefly talk about the NV cattle industry. We will be moving into the within the Western United States. If you are interested in learning more about new office at the beginning of March, so be sure to stop by as we welcome any grants available, please feel free to contact your local University Cooperative visitors! Extension offices or me. As I am writing this article, we are in the middle of putting on the 53rd Annual At the end of January, I attended the 2019 NCBA Cattle Convention in New Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale in Fallon, NV. We have a great line up of bulls, and Orleans, LA. Nevada was very well represented at this convention, with an we are hoping for another successful sale. I want to thank the Fallon Bull Sale estimate of 40 attendees. The first night we had a small reception for those Committee, Fallon Livestock LLC., Churchill County FFA Chapter, Churchill attending from NV and neighboring states. We want to thank both Jim Vann County Cowbelles, Sale Ringmen, Auctioneer and the NCA volunteer for all with WSR and Jonathon Beitia with Newport Labs of Boehringer Ingelheim the work they’ve put into the sale. I would also like to thank the consignors and for sponsoring this event. We hope to continue this in future years at the NCBA buyers. Without them, the bull sale would not be possible. Cattle Industry Convention so if you plan to attend in coming years; please be sure to check with the NCA office for reception details. Along with the The 2019 Nevada Legislative Session is in full swing, as our lobbyist, Neena impressive tradeshow, the convention consisted of committee meetings, regional Laxaalt, and Legislative Affairs chair, Neil McQueary, have been diligently meetings, and general sessions. The first general session we heard from Terry working on and monitoring issues that address and impact our industry. Be sure Bradshaw, legendary NFL quarterback and Fox Broadcaster. He talked about to mark your calendars for April 30th because we will be holding the Nevada his experiences and involvement in the cattle business both serious and comical. Cattlemen’s Association Legislative Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in room 3100 of the We also heard from CattleFax, the Cowboy Ninja from Idaho and many other Legislature Building in Carson City, NV. At this breakfast, NCA members great speakers. The experiences at these conventions are always educational and interact with our state representatives and talk to them about the NV cattle worthwhile. We get opportunities to be updated on issues relevant to our state’s industry. If you would like to attend this breakfast, RSVP by calling the NCA cattle industry and network with producers from other states. office at 775-738-9214 or by email to nca@nevadabeef.org. Following the NCBA Convention, we had a special visitor at our soon to be new office. Congressman Mark Amodei stopped by to tour the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum, and he also made an appearance at our new office upstairs! It was a pleasure and honor to show him around our soon to be new home
4 FEBRUARY 2019
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or anyone with the Association, as we work for you. I appreciate your hard work and contributions to the industry. I hope you have a great month in March and I look forward to continuing to work with you!
The Progressive Rancher
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2019 Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale Was a Success February 16, 2019, the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association held their 53rd Annual Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale. Consignments arrived on Thursday the 14th, and the festivities began early on Friday the 15th. Sifting and Grading of the bulls took place in the morning while the Outdoor Tradeshow Vendors This year’s sale featured bulls ranging from 14-25 months of age. Cattlemen from California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah attended the sale looking to buy their range-ready bulls for the year. The Sale Average for the top 69 bulls sold comes to $3,530. Breed Averages included: Angus for $3,570; and Herefords for $3,493. Each year, the consignors continue to bring high-quality bulls. Because of the high quality of bulls and dedicated support to the sale, the sale continues to be a success and reach out to many of the western states. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and Fallon Bull Sale Committee thank you for your participation and congratulate this year’s award recipients. The Top Range Bull and the Angus Best of Breed were awarded to Amador Angus for lot #49. It was sold to Kurt Hamann from Gardnerville, NV for $6,200. Thank you to both parties for your participation and support of the Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale. The Hereford Best of Breed was awarded to Phil Allen & Son for lot #86. It was sold to Louis Scatena from Yerington, NV for $6,250. This was also the highest selling bull. This year’s recipient of the volume buyer jacket is Espil Sheep Co. out of Gerlach, NV. A special thank you to our volume buyer and all our buyers. Whether you bought one bull or nine, your continued support of the Bull Sale is much appreciated.
Allen and Son Herefords awarded the Best of Breed for Hereford by Sam Mori Amada Angus Bulls Best of Range Bulls awarded by Sam Mori Along with the dedicated group of buyers and consignors that participate in the sale each year, there are several sponsors who help make the sale possible year after year and they include: Pinenut Livestock, (ear tags for the sale); Fallon Convention Center (grant for advertising); Progressive Rancher and Nevada Rancher (advertisement for the sale); Ott’s Farm Equipment (general sponsorship); Hoof Beats (for donating the panels for the FFA raffle); and Great Basin Ranch of Southern Nevada Water Authority (for donating the “Raffle Calf ”, proceeds go to benefit Churchill FFA and the NCA Scholarship Fund). Along with these dedicated sponsors, we would also like to thank Stix Cattle Company and Demar Dahl for contributing a donation calf. Without the support of these great sponsors, the Fallon Bull Sale would not be possible. Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the Fallon Bull Sale Committee would like to send a thank you to the Churchill County FFA, Churchill County Cowbelles, Sale Ringmen, Eric Duarte (Auctioneer) and the Fallon Bull Sale Committee members for helping with the Sale each year. Last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Tommy Lee and his Family along with the crew at the Fallon Livestock LLC., your support and hard work is much appreciated!
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 5
CHECKOFF NEWS Sharing Beef’s Role in a Sustainable Food System with Nevada Dietitians By Nevada Beef Council Staff When it comes to diet trends and advice on what a healthy diet consists of, there is a lot of conflicting advice on what is considered “healthy.” And when you throw in the fact that the conversation has expanded beyond just nutrition to include considerations of foods’ sustainability, it’s no wonder that consumers are often confused about just what is “good” and “bad” to eat. While there is a significant amount of data and evidence that shows livestock production has a multitude of environmental benefits, sometimes it’s difficult to know just where to look for the best information on the topic. To help cut through some of this confusion, beef producers have long funded research projects through the Beef Checkoff to build a solid foundation to inform all of us about what contributes to a healthy and sustainable diet. In January, the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) sought to share some of the insight and research on beef ’s role in a healthy, sustainable diet with registered dietitians in the state of Nevada. Sara Place, Ph.D., Senior Director of Sustainable Beef Production Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, joined the NBC for a meeting of the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NvAND). The meeting was held at the Cooperative Extension office in Las Vegas, with roughly 75 dietitians in attendance at that location. It was also webcast and available throughout the state, with another 10 dietitians gathered in Reno to view it as well. Dr. Place’s presentation offered research findings showing the unique role cattle play in a sustainable food system, noting that because of their unique stomach structure, they eat and digest what humans cannot. In addition to the grasses they graze on for most of their lives, they can eat numerous other byproducts from plantbased food production, such as brewers grains, pea pulp, beet tops, potato peelings and sunflower hulls, which are all byproducts of human activities or other products. Instead of going to a landfill, cattle eat these “waste” products and turn them into a high-quality protein edible for human consumption. Cattle also graze in areas where it’s impossible to grow crops – such as Nevada’s arid landscape – taking those grasses and turning them 6 FEBRUARY 2019
into high quality protein, in places that could otherwise never be used to feed a growing population.
The topic of productivity was also covered by Dr. Place, who noted that we produce the same amount of beef in the U.S. today with 33% fewer cattle compared to 1977, and 18% of the world’s beef with only 8% of the world’s cattle. This is a result of better animal health and welfare, better animal nutrition and better animal genetics. Dr. Place also shared that limiting beef consumption wouldn’t be quite as impactful as some people think. Research has demonstrated that removing all livestock and poultry from the U.S. food system would only reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 0.36 percent. And further, if all Americans participated in Meatless Monday, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would perhaps be reduced by 0.37 percent. What removing beef WOULD do is remove a high-quality protein from diets, both in the U.S. and globally. “More and more, people are considering the environmental footprint of the food they’re eating when making dietary choices,” says Damon McCune, Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for the California and Nevada beef councils. “We thought it was imperative to connect Nevada dietitians and nutrition influencers with Dr. Place and her research, and provide science-based information about the realities of beef ’s sustainability. Feedback from this session was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees noting that their own perceptions of beef production were altered thanks to this presentation.” In addition to those attending and viewing the presentation, all members of NvAND received a fact sheet on beef sustainability whether they tuned in or not. Any registered dietitian who is a member of the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and identifies themselves as a resident of the state of Nevada is automatically a member of NvAND as well, so it is estimated that roughly 500 members received the fact sheet on sustainability. For more on beef sustainability, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and click on “newsroom.”
The Progressive Rancher
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By Nevada Beef Council Staff
Hassle-free, delicious beef stew – it’s the perfect meal for a busy day. With this recipe, you can modify for either a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. But no matter which cooking method you use, both the prep time and list of ingredients are minimal, making for an easy meal that is sure to be a home run with the family.
Italian Beef and Bean Stew Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker Options
INGREDIENTS • 2 pounds beef Stew Meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 package (12 to 14 ounces) dried bean soup mix with seasoning packet • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth • 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato pesto sauce or spread
“Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.”
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: • Cover beans with water in large bowl. Cover and soak overnight in refrigerator. Reserve seasoning packet. • Drain beans; rinse and pick over to remove any grit or shriveled and broken beans. SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS: • Place beans, beef, broth, water and contents of seasoning packet in 4-1/2 to 5-1/2-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 5 to 6 hours or on LOW 6 to 7 hours or until beans are tender and beef is fork-tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.) • Stir in pesto; mix well. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve topped with additional pesto, if desired. PRESSURE COOKER INSTRUCTIONS: • This recipe can be made in a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Place beans and water in pressure cooker. Close and lock pressure cooker lid. • Use beef, stew or high-pressure setting on pressure cooker; program 10 minutes on pressure cooker timer. • Use quick-release feature to release pressure; carefully remove lid. Add beef, seasoning, and broth. Close and lock pressure cooker lid. • Use beef, stew or high-pressure setting on pressure cooker; program 25 minutes on pressure cooker timer. Release pressure and carefully remove lid. • Stir in pesto; mix well. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve topped with additional pesto, if desired. Nutrition information per serving: 427 Calories; 11g Total Fat; 4g Saturated Fat; 4g Monounsaturated Fat; 112mg Cholesterol; 568mg Sodium; 33g Total carbohydrate; 50g Protein; 7.1mg Iron; 5.2mg Niacin; 0.6mg Vitamin B6; 118.5mg Choline; 3.2mcg Vitamin B12; 9.4mg Zinc; 39.7mcg Selenium; 3.6g Fiber.
www.nevadabeef.org or www.mybeefcheckoff.org www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 7
In the Mind of a Millennial By Jill Scofield, Director of Producer Relations, California & Nevada Beef Council
Fueling Strength With Beef It’s hard to believe we’re already in the third month of 2019! For a lot of people, that means one thing – those New Year’s resolutions to get in shape were thrown to the wayside long ago.
But if you’re a beef producer, you likely don’t need such a resolution. Raising cattle is no easy task, after all. Bucking bales, digging post holes, riding and roping – all require a certain level of strength and stamina fueled by high-quality protein.
The notion that beef builds strength – not just physically but mentally too – is nothing new to ranchers. But making the direct connection between beef ’s protein and nutrients and how it fuels strength has been a great way to communicate the importance of beef in a healthy, active lifestyle with consumers.
Over the last year, the Beef Checkoff also partnered with Lance Pekus, a contestant on the popular network television series, American Ninja Warrior. Pekus, a rancher from Salmon, Idaho, began competing on the program a couple of years ago, sporting his cowboy hat while he made his way through the challenging obstacle course competition. For this past season, the Beef Checkoff began working with Lance as a brand ambassador, having him wear custom “Beef. It’s What’s For Ninjas.” shirts when he competed and in his interviews.
FARM TO GYM 20-MINUTE WORKOUT Raising beef is no easy task. That's why farmers and ranchers utilize beef's nutrients as fuel to power through each day's tough workload. Here's a workout that mimics the physically demanding tasks that they do each and every day.
HAY THROW
Lance has been an obvious choice to not only characterize the strength beef provides, but also represent the ranching community. In addition to his popularity on the American Ninja Warrior program, Lance’s position as a beef brand ambassador was further amplified through a series of videos available on www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com In recent months, the Beef Checkoff has worked to and streaming on a variety of other web sites. Lance’s position beef as the top protein, namely by story and a series of photos of him and his family on their Idaho ranch are also available on the BIWFD Web site. capitalizing on beef ’s greatest strengths: • The people—the farmers and ranchers who raise beef; As ranchers and beef producers, you probably already know the importance of the essential nutrients found in • The protein that beef provides—the unique blend of beef – like protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins – and the essential nutrients is one of the most high-quality role they play in providing our bodies and minds with the proteins; and fuel we need at all stages of life. Finding innovative ways to continue amplifying that message to consumers is one • The pleasure of eating of beef—the great taste and way we can work toward the goal of positioning beef as pleasurable experience it provides. As one example of how it has focused on the strength of the top protein. protein, the checkoff created a “Farm to Gym” workout plan that mimics the physically demanding tasks that farmers and ranchers do every day. For the average person, doing a few “tailgate step-ups” or “fence post slams” would be a pretty good workout. For many of you reading this, though, it’s just another day on the ranch.
5-10 Per Side
FARMER CARRIES 40 - 50 Steps
TAILGATE STEP UPS 10 - 15 Each Leg
FENCE STRETCH 15 - 20 Reps
Courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com
DODGE THE BULL 10 - 15 Each Leg
FEED SACK CARRY
OR
The Farm to Gym workout not only presents a fun way to connect consumers with ranch life in a unique way, but it really showcases the hard work that goes into farming and ranching – and hopefully helps demonstrate just how important a high-quality protein like beef is in fueling that lifestyle.
20 - 30 Steps
PULL STARTS 10 - 15 Each Arm
FENCE POST SLAMS 10 - 20 Reps
REST 1 MINUTE • REPEAT 3 TIMES
Suggested Equipment: kettle bells or dumb bells, box or bench, medicine ball, resistance band For reference — on average a bale of hay weighs between 45-75lbs., and a feed sack 30-50lbs.
Jill Scofield is the Director of Produce Relations for the California and Nevada Beef Councils. She grew up on a cow-calf ranch in Northwestern Nevada
8 FEBRUARY 2019
"It's not always about your physical abilities. A lot of this stuff is mental, being able to hold on and push through those moments where everyone else gives up or fails. Living on a ranch has really taught me how to push through. There's a lot of moments where you just don't want to work throughout the day, or you're physically tired, but you have to push through.” – Lance Pekus
The Progressive Rancher
For more information on beef and wellness, visit
BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com/FarmtoGym
©2018 Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 102518-02
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NEWS RELEASE
WINNEMUCCA DISTRICT OFFICE CONTACT: Chelsea McKinney (775) 623-1500 • cmmckinney@blm.gov
BLM Now Accepting Applications for Commercial Activity Permits at the 2019 Burning Man Event The Bureau of Land Management, Black Rock Field Office, is requesting all new persons or businesses wishing to conduct commercial activities at the 2019 Burning Man Event, submit their application by the close of business (4:30 PM PST) on March 28, 2019. Returning persons or businesses that held a permit at the 2018 Burning Man Event may apply by April 26, 2019. Returning applicants must be in good standing with the Bureau of Land Management to be considered for the 2019 renewal process. Returning businesses’ standings were provided in their 2018 evaluations and should be reviewed before applying. Persons or businesses that wish to provide commercial aviation services to the event must apply with Dusty Charters Inc. You may apply at markresch@dustycharter.com. New or returning applicants may apply by filling out and returning a 2930-1 form (Application) to Chelsea McKinney, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the Black Rock Field Office. A commercial use is defined as, “recreation use of the public lands and related waters for business or financial gain.” The activity, services, or use is commercial if – “(i) Any person, group, or organization makes or attempts to make a profit, receive money, amortize equipment, or obtain goods or services, as compensation from participants in recreational activities occurring on
public lands led, sponsored, or organized by that person, group or organization; (ii) Anyone collects a fee or receives other compensation that is not strictly a sharing or actual expenses, or exceeds actual expenses, incurred for the purposes of the activity, service or use. (iii) There is paid public advertising to seek participants; or (iv) Participants pay for a duty of care or an expectation of safety.”
Applications submitted after their due date will be denied. The BLM recommends that applicants sending physical applications do so with certified mail to insure the application is received by the due date. Dates for submitting applications are:
New Applicants: March 28, 2019 | Returning Applicants: April 26, 2019 Completed applications may be emailed to Ms. Chelsea McKinney at cmmckinney@blm.gov or a hard copy may be sent via certified mail to the following address: Black Rock Field Office | Attn: Chelsea McKinney 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445
For further information or questions please contact Ms. McKinney via cmmckinney@blm.gov or at (775) 623-1771.
Special Feeder Sales
March 12 April 9
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 9
By Joseph Guild
The Good Life of a Rancher Once this pasture is full of young calves one of my favorite views will arrive. The pasture will be in the shadow of the snow-filled mountains indicating plenty of irrigation water for the fields and hay ground. The calves will be in playful bunches running around in no particular direction just for the sheer joy of moving fast in the warm sun. It always brings The key to having small numbers be successful in a smile to my face. overcoming adversaries and convincing others of the rightness of a cause is participation by members For now the early morning chill stabs through in the substantive issues facing the industry. I the layers of clothing like so many needles rehave written before about the importance of this invading the fabric. It is 12 degrees on my pickup participation. But it seems to me a reminder once in thermometer, but it is supposed to be 43 degrees this afternoon. That, of course is not unusual in a while is not a bad idea. the mountain west. Whether it is a 60 degree June There is no secret about my role in the National morning with a 03 degree afternoon or 12 to 43 in Cattlemen’s Beef Association or my enthusiastic the winter, 30 degree swings or more are not unusual support of NCBA when I talk with a neighbor or for us. A ranch in Missouri might wake up to 28 another industry organization. That is why I write degrees and cloudy and rejoice in the above freezing about NCBA, its involvement in issues important 34 in the afternoon, but for us this is not the norm. to you and your ranches and its successes. But as I I like our variety. look out my window I realized I am weary of these policy discussions. There are intangibles that drive me to work harder for the ranches I am associated with and, as Sam Mori, the current President of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association recently wrote, “… to work with and for the greatest people on earth”. Each time I return home from a livestock industry meeting I always have the same thought. This industry is small in number but powerful for a couple of reasons. There is strength in organized like-minded numbers and the truth has a way of winning out.
. . . many people seem envious of the lifestyle ranchers live . . .
The view from my upstairs office at home looks west toward the snow-covered mountains; the Nevada mountains well named by the early explorers and priests who were the first Europeans to travel through this part of the world. Maybe some of you have thought these same things that However, cold is still cold but at least this morning the winds are calm so there is no wind chill to also I am writing about. contend with. The cows are content and I am eager It is just before dawn and the highest peaks are a to see their calves, but for now it is nice to just watch slight pink and orange foretelling the sunny day them be cows. I have always liked cattle. There are so ahead. This sun even on such a cold day will be many other things I like about ranching. welcome after over a week of storms and mostly We have a mare in foal in our barn. I started her and cloudy days. trained her dam. Both of these mares were great cow Because of the many storms this past month there is horses and I spent many hours through the years snow everywhere. We are forecasted to have a slight enjoying the privilege of riding such fine horses. I warming trend for a week or so, but right now there am looking forward to a successful birth and then isn’t a lot of dry ground anywhere. We are due to working through the years with the foal to help start calving in earnest this coming week but for create another fine cow horse. I feel blessed to work with such magnificent creatures. now there are animals to fed. 10 FEBRUARY 2019
The Progressive Rancher
Something an industry leader in California recently wrote resonated with me. He said it amazes him how many people seem envious of the lifestyle ranchers live. Think about how many city dwellers plan vacations and weekends around outdoor activities or even just sightseeing. They snow ski in the winter and water ski in the summer. They fish and hunt, hike and backpack. They drive from Chicago to Yellowstone just to see a bear or a canyon or a mountain forested in pine trees. The cowboy or girl on a horse trailing a dusty herd of cattle is still an iconic part of our national consciousness. People in Europe or Asia travel here to the American west and are thrilled to see a cowboy. Many years ago Steve Boies and I were attending a meeting in Denver. We were walking down a street to go to lunch. We were wearing our hats and on our feet were some worn boots. We were stopped by a group of Japanese tourists who spoke almost no English. But through sign language and other gestures they asked if we could take our pictures. They took on of us together and then gathered around us for a group photo. They reminded me of one of my kids at Disney land when Mickey Mouse walked by. There are these days in every season which astonish. It could be a sunset or sunrise; it could be the sun's rays breaking through rain clouds high on the peaks above showing the way to to a good place to day dream; or, it could be that perfect day horseback-not too hot or cold with views of the glorious land you care for in all directions and with no wind to break the silence when just over there a jack rabbit scratches in the dirt unaware of your amazed presence. There is my family - the amazing children we have raised and the wonderful grandkids with such fresh eyes to see their new world with me watching like a thief of thought as I think how blessed I am and I become most thankful and grateful I have been a part of something so much greater than me. All of these times on the ranch not worrying about commodity prices or the weather on the horizon are the things that mean the most to me. I’ll see you soon. www.progressiverancher.com
Agricultural Literacy: A Shared Responsibility By Amber Smyer, agriculture literacy coordinator According to the National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model, an agricultureliterate person is someone who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life. Agriculture literacy helps create informed consumers As an industry, agriculture has a vested interest in helping others understand the source and value of agriculture as it affects quality of life. Frequently, agriculturalists look at agricultural literacy activities – such as having a station in an elementary school ag day – as fun outreach events once a year. Yet, it’s probably more important than ever to consider agricultural literacy efforts an important part of a business plan. Below are some easy things ANYONE can do to help increase agricultural literacy among Nevada’s youth and educators through your network of contacts. Participate in local school, career and educational events Many schools have events for students and families, where members of the community can volunteer to host a station at the local school’s: • Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) night • Literacy night, or • Career Exploration Fair
Ag in the Classroom (www.agclassroom.com) has many free and paid resources available for educators, all of which are aligned to the National Education Standards--Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, Social Studies, Health & Nutrition and Career & Technical Education:
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Free lesson plans and resources for teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade Link to e-store to purchase kits and tools to help teach matrix lessons Robust search tool to choose grade level, subject or educational standard area Ag accurate fiction and non-fiction books Quick hands-on activities Material kits to help execute activities
Purple Plow (www.purpleplow.org), a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, is a free STEM education platform that engages students in creating solutions for real-world, complex issues related to agriculture. The free resources provided for facilitators, students and volunteers are written by teachers, aligned to national learning standards and reviewed by industry experts. Twice a year, a challenge is released for individuals, groups and classes in grades 5 through 12 to learn, compete and potentially win prizes. The Purple Plow also offers puzzlers, which are short, hands-on, ag-related activities designed to sharpen critical and creative thinking. Generally requiring only 1-2 hours to complete, these Puzzlers are great tools for teachers to incorporate as extensions of their lessons without committing a large amount of time. Appropriate for use with students grades 5 through 12.
Ask teachers or school administrators when these events are happening. Schools are Visit www.purpleplow.org/puzzlers and check out the Puzzlers, including: generally looking for community partners for these events and would love for you to set up a table with a hands-on activity to educate youth and their families about food, • Ruminant Digestion • Bud Box agriculture and natural resources. • Soil Erosion • Roots Rule Tip: Visit National Agriculture in the Classroom Curriculum Matrix and e-store (www. agclassroom.org) or the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture e-store (www. Tip: Let a teacher in your life know about this great educational resource they can leave with agfoundation.org) for ideas and tools to help you have the coolest station at the event. their substitute teacher the next time they’re away from the classroom. Share resources with educators in the community Leverage social media Know someone who teaches or works with youth in grades 3-5? Request a classroom set of the Healthy Eating, Smart Learning – Nevada School Meal Pattern Activity Use social media to follow organizations whose mission is to increase agricultural Booklet Series (available for free at agri.nv.gov/aglit). Each activity booklet addresses literacy and SHARE their posts when applicable to expose your network to resources one of the food groups on a student's breakfast or lunch tray. Students learn about and opportunities. Some suggested pages to follow include: healthy eating, food and agriculture, the connection of a food group to Nevada, career • National Agriculture in the Classroom opportunities and more. There are five activity books, covering: fruits, grains, meat & • American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture meat alternates, milk and vegetables. • Journey 2050 – How will we sustainably feed 10 billion people by the 2050? • National 4-H Tip: Peak inside the Meats & Meat Alternates booklet and you’ll find a feature on the history • Purple Plow of sheepherding and the Basque in Nevada with Spring Creek rancher Pete Paris.
HELP PROMOTE UPCOMING AGRICULTURAL LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES March 14 National Ag Day Check out tools to educate and advocate at www.agday.org March 15 – 16 Elko Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Training open to K-12 teachers in Elko County. Contact: Dave Voth at dvoth@agri.nv.gov April 11-12 Capital City Farm Days, Fuji Park in Carson City. Open to the public 8 am – 2 pm. April 13 School Garden Conference hosted by Nevada Department of Agriculture at Mountain View Montessori in Reno. Open to all educators, administrators, food service staff and volunteers interested in school gardens and school garden education. Visit http://agri.nv.gov/school_garden_conference/ June 18-21 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas. Visit www.agclassroom.org. Save the Date! The National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference is headed west in 2020. This event is great for volunteers and educators so put June 23-26, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah on your calendars and spread the word. Visit www.agclassroom.org. www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 11
Agriculture Jobs and Technology
By Staci Emm
Business Management, Marketing, Production, and Working with People are Important Agricultural Skill Sets Education of the beef industry to youth and adults is the focus for Nevada Cattlewomen, Inc. this spring in hopes to raise agricultural literacy awareness.
I am here writing on this Sunday afternoon while the snow is falling outside thinking of everything that we are planning to do this spring. Spring, while I can’t wait for it to get warm, I know we need the moisture. Personally, I would rather have snow than rain. Snow just makes everything look so great. I saw some pictures of the snow, and storms are lined up according to the news. We should have water this year! Well, enough about our weather, and onto what we have planned.
For those of you that don’t know, we have Ruby Uhart as our Secretary of Nevada CattleWomen, Inc. She may not admit this, but I think she made some resolutions this year as to how to educate others about the beef industry. Ruby’s efforts combined with other executive board member efforts make me believe we will get a lot done this year.
First, we will be at the Clark County Fair providing education in the small animal barn and hope to see anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 people in 2019. Our president elect Melinda Sarman is taking on this task, and we are so grateful to beef checkoff in providing information and materials for the booth. I also thank the Sarmon family for taking on this task in Logandale, Nevada. We are also helping Nevada CattleWomen, Inc. affiliates with agriculture literacy in the schools upon request. The executive committee is also working directly with schools to discuss agricultural literacy. One school in particular wants to discuss the importance and sustainability of agriculture, and more
importantly, why we want ag to survive. It concerned me when this high school teacher reported that they are having trouble with the state supporting CTE programs because agriculture jobs are not in demand.
While we still need the cowboys and cowgirls working the herds, there is so much more to agriculture and agriculture jobs than we know. There is the business, technology, production and marketing sides to agriculture. I think the most important part of agriculture entrepreneurship is dealing with people and how to get along with family members, investors, range managers, or other partnerships while managing the business/ production side. Just his morning, I was talking to my father because we have to haul into a feeder sale this next week. I am a planner and always have a plan A, B and C. He says he is planner, but I just don’t see it, or should I say his way of planning doesn’t match mine. He was grouchy and not very cooperative as I was telling him my plan. I told him he was grouchy and he admitted that he was. He said he was getting tired of women bossing him around. I had no idea that my plan was bossing him around. I had to laugh and take a step back, and said, “I guess we will just handle what comes up on sale day. I hope you have a plan.” See…I am trying to work on person to person relationships…how to deal with people.
I think those of us that grew up in agriculture take it for granted the knowledge that we have, and how we are able to deal with people. When I was in college, I never had trouble finding a job. My agriculture background and agriculture job skills always came in handy. For example, my sisters and I grew up driving heavy equipment. So, driving a fork lift in a warehouse was a piece of cake, compared to the harrow bed,
tractors, swather and everything else on the place that we had to drive for farming and ranching. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I got to the place where I want to make executive decisions in the family operation, which is what makes my father grouchy. But, overall, my agriculture skill set has always been there when I needed it. This is what I believe we need to promote to our youth. Today’s agriculture skill set involves a lot of technology. When I was a newspaper reporter right out of college, we had just got the internet, and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. At that time, I could not even comprehend drones, irrigation efficiency technology, and the smart phones that are available today. The youth embrace technology. We need to utilize their technologic skills to enhance agriculture, and show them the role that technology plays in our agricultural future. I hope over the next year that we can work on this. I also hope that we have individuals out there that can support having great agriculture programs in our schools. Remember, agriculture skill sets meet many of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) requirements.
As I close, I am thinking of what I need to accomplish at work on Monday. I have edits to make to a journal article I have been writing about food access in Nevada rural communities. Agriculture is directly related to food access, and how many jobs are out there related to food access. I can think of so many.
IT'S TIME TO START PREPARING! Let your friends and family know Nevada's Big Game Draw is quickly approaching! Here are some important points for all of you to keep in mind. Important Dates: The tag application period opens on March 18 and closes on April 29. Draw results will be available on May 24. You can apply at ndowlicensing.com. Once the application period opens, be sure to get in early! If you haven't already, take a Hunter Education class: Anyone born after January 1, 1960 is required to provide proof of Hunter Education in order to purchase a Nevada hunting license. Find a class near you. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is here to help you through the process. Call 855-542-6369 with questions.
GOOD LUCK!
12 FEBRUARY 2019
The Progressive Rancher
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Interview: Lynn Conley by Ruby Uhart
My name is Lynn Conley and I have been married to my husband, Russell, for coming on 12 years. Together we have 3 children – Trent (10), Avery (4), and Chett (3). Our story is a little bit different from most I think because we aren’t living on a long-time family ranch. Shortly after we were married, we teamed up with my husband’s parents to buy a hay farm in Diamond Valley, near Eureka, NV which is where my husband went to high school. We both grew up in ranching and agriculture – him on a ranch his dad managed for 30 years, and me as the 5th generation on my family’s place that is more like a really large homestead. I grew up raising sheep and cattle for mostly 4-H and FFA projects. My parents place was big enough for us to raise lots of animals and always have work to do, but not big enough for them to make a full-time income in traditional agriculture. We live about 15 miles from Eureka where there is a little grocery store that can get you by, but we are about 110 miles from the nearest big sized grocery store and 4.5 hours away from a Costco. Thank goodness for UPS and Amazon!
My roles and responsibilities are constantly changing depending on the seasons, so my days are usually always different. I always start my mornings with coffee and a little bit of self-time before I am bombarded with the joys of motherhood that come with raising 3 wild little monkeys! After feeding my crew and getting the oldest off to school, I always try to make sure my kitchen is clean and I start 1 load of laundry before I head out to do morning chores. By doing those 2 things – it always makes my days run a little bit smoother, because as you know, when you have animals you never know what you might find when you go outside that could end up changing your plans for the day. My morning chores usually consist of taking care of my small animal conglomeration that I have acquired, as well as feeding any calves or butcher animals in the corral, the horses, and also taking care of my milk cow. I got a milk cow to put leppy calves on because I think that bottle feeding calves is one of the absolute worst chores ever! But – who am I kidding – I also like to drink and use fresh milk so I usually milk my cow 3-4 times a week, and the calves get extra on days I don’t have time or don’t want to milk. After those things are done, I move onto whatever tasks I am needed for that day. My roles include wife and mother, bookkeeper, cook, tractor driver, cow work, general “go for” anything, as well as being an avid gardener and photographer. I know my roles aren’t different from most ranch wives. I just try to fill in wherever and however I can based upon what needs done, usually with my kids in tow. In this season of my life I don’t get to do a whole lot of riding, which I miss, however before too long all my kids will be big enough to ride on their own and we will be able to do those kinds of things as a family. For now, I just try to enjoy them being little. The focus of our ranching industry is a cow/calf operation. Typically, we wean our calves around mid-September and haul them into our farm where they are fed and pastured on the pivot aftermath for at least 45 days before they ship. We are also currently pursuing what it would be like to add a retail/wholesale meat aspect to our cow/calf operation. I truly believe that diversity in some form is always a benefit, so that you basically don’t have all your eggs in one basket. When we started out 12 years ago, we had some haying equipment and about 60 cows between the 4 of us. After 2 years of working full time town jobs, Russell was able to quit to come home and work, and I followed 3 years after that. Over the course of the last 12 years we have grown our cow herd 8-fold and increased our haying operation – we are very proud that all of our growth has been paid for in cash. We currently have a good lease on a ranch about 75 miles away from our hay farm, ironically in the same valley my husband grew up in. My in-laws stay at the ranch with the main cow herd, while we live in at the farm, which is nearer to the school for our children. We all travel back and forth all the time to do the work that needs to be done. While we aren’t living at the ranch, we ALWAYS have cattle at the farm. We use the farm to wean and background calves, develop and breed replacement heifers, calve out first calf heifers, and keep bulls. Out at the ranch our main cow herd www.progressiverancher.com
spends 10 months out of the year grazing on our BLM permit, only coming home for 2 months in the late winter where we can keep an eye on them during calving.
One of the most unexpected things that has ever happened to us, happened after our first year at the ranch we are leasing. We brought our first calf heifers’ home to calve and just 1 month before calving, we started having abortions of full-term fetuses. You always expect some, but this was like an epidemic. I think we ended up with 20 abortions or weak calves that died within hours of birth that year just in the heifers alone. I don’t remember our exact losses in the cows but it was also bad. It was probably one of the most depressing and scary times we have ever experienced. We sent off countless blood and fluid samples and numerous fetuses to different labs, and spent hours talking to different vets and our vaccine company. We finally received a positive identification that the abortions were caused from the tick that carries Foothill Abortion. Something that we had NO idea was even in our area. We were worried that this tick was going to be the end of our cattle raising business. We found out that California had an experimental vaccine study going on, and we were able to apply and be admitted to the Foothill Abortion Vaccine trial. This vaccine alone has made a huge difference in our operation. We still experience a few abortions, as no vaccine is ever 100% effective, but nothing like the staggering losses we experienced that first year on the ranch.
I don’t know if there is really anyway to prepare for complications that change your plans. I think that mostly you just have to learn to roll with the punches, be flexible, and trust that God has other plans. I think this gets easier for us the older and maybe “wiser” we become. It was definitely a huge struggle for my husband and me in our early twenties. That being said, I also always try to make sure that there are lots of leftovers in the fridge or some easy freezer or home canned meals that can be prepared quickly. Around my crew, everyone gets “hangry” easily and as long as I have something good to feed them with, it seems to help keep spirits up more. The ranching lifestyle I think is definitely less stressful than those who live the fast-paced urban life. They are constantly beholden to other people and surrounded by the drama that comes with living in close proximities with lots of people every day. Ranching is not without its serious stresses, but it is a different kind of stress.
I have several favorite things about ranch life. I love that every day we get to experience animals, fresh air, and wide-open spaces. Even on days that I have to drag myself out to do chores, once I am out, there is something so peaceful and refreshing about being out in that every single day. I also love that there are seasons and the jobs change. Just about the time I think that I can’t stand checking heifers anymore, or if I have to spend one more day on a tractor, then it turns into a different season and the jobs change. That was one thing I hated about working in town behind a desk – it was the same thing every day, all year long. I am not sure if I could pick just one season that is my favorite. They all have their pluses and minuses. I think if I had to choose though it would be a combination of calving and branding season. Spring has always been my absolute favorite season. The weather is starting to warm up and in Nevada, it’s about the only time it is really green. I love calving because of the gift of seeing new life brought to us. I also do love the stories that come from those hormone crazed cows that chased you or someone else up the fence. It makes me laugh later and provides hours of storytelling! I also love branding season too because it is one of the few times during the year that we end up getting to spend time with some of our closest friends. We all have an excuse to carve out time to help each other get everyone’s calves branded and get time around camp fires and back porches, making memories and strengthening friendships.
work in. One morning we had 3 new pairs to let out and when we opened the gate, instead of going around the gooey pile, they all ran straight into it. The heifers managed to muddle their way out of it and 2 of the calves stopped a few steps in and we were able to get them out. One calf though just wouldn’t stop until he was in the very center, buried up to his ribs and stuck. Russell got a rope and threw it around him and when we started pulling on the calf his head went straight down into the mud and stuck. I panicked and said – “he is going to suffocate!” so Russell stopped pulling and started trudging out to grab him by the ears and pull his head out. Looking back, we probably should have just pulled really fast the last 6 feet and gotten him out… but Russell waded out and grabbed the calf to get his face out of the mud. As he started to pull him though, Russell’s legs got kind of stuck and crossed at the same time and he ended up face planting with his wool coat and warm clothes in this gooey pile of mud and poo. He was pretty disgusted and I may or may not have fallen over laughing! Sometimes, even when it should be simple, cow work can take a weird turn and there’s a chance someone will end up discouraged. I don’t know why? Cows will be cows and sure enough one of them is not going to do what they are supposed to, or they won’t live up to our expectations in some way – typically in a way out of our control… the older I get I notice that I just try to ignore it when someone gets their drawers in a wad. But – bring beer! Beer always helps ease the stress of cow work!
I definitely think it is important for ranchers to share their story! In today’s society – especially with the “gift” of social media I believe there are so many negative thoughts and misconceptions about agriculture in general! Even some that pit agriculturists against each other, such as the smaller family operation digging on the larger family operations. Most everyone in agriculture is here because they have a love for land and animals and hard work. Nearly all are working hard to feed the world and leave behind a place for their children to grow up and work hard on as well. There is never a one size fits all method for anything in life and agriculture is no different. Everyone finds what works for them with their specific situations and beliefs, with the end goal all being the same: To be good stewards of the land and animals, and to raise good quality and healthy food for the world. Before Russell and I were married I had several people, who I very much respect in the cattle industry, tell me that if I wanted a ranch someday, I should probably marry someone who already had a ranch. While we don’t yet own our own ranch, we still feel that this goal is definitely closer to our grasp than ever before! I attribute that to not only hard work and sacrifice, but our dedication (very hard at times) to living a frugal and debt free lifestyle and only paying cash for our growth. I think it would be so hard to try and make a living with both a land and a cattle payment.
If ranching or agriculture is the lifestyle or career you want to pursue – make sure you are passionate about it. The hours stink and the pay is usually pretty lousy but if it is your passion – none of that will really matter. I encourage everyone to follow your dreams. I still believe that hard work, passion, and sacrifice will get you just about anywhere you want to go!
One memorable event that stands out to me is when we were calving heifers last year. The weather turned horribly snowy and cold as soon as calving started so Russell and I were constantly out checking. We kind of felt like walking zombies for 2 months. Anyway – this particular day we had cleaned out the corrals because the mud just kept getting deeper. It was so soupy that you couldn’t even scoop it with the backhoe, you had to just kind of push and roll it out of the corrals into a pile. The consistency reminded me of slow-moving lava. It was awful to
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 13
LOCALLY LED CONSERVATION FOR NEVADA; CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AT WORK Locally Led Conservation – it’s what we all know works the best! by Maggie Orr, past president, NvACD & Gary McCuin, 1st VP, NvACD Locally Led Conservation is based on the principles that community stakeholders are best suited to identify and resolve local natural resource problems, and, if you want the government to help; it will work much better if local people guide it. Nevada Association of Conservation Districts (NvACD) organized a process that Nevada’s 28 conservation districts (CDs) can employ to help increase their role as leaders of locally led conservation by bringing together local producers, local groups, agencies and general public to identify resource concerns and possible solutions to those resource concerns using Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) farm planning tools and other sources in a Local Work Group situation. The information acquired in the Resource Needs Assessment process will be used to write conservation action plans (CAP) that address the most important local resource needs in a manner acceptable to your community. The CAP directs programs and funding from any source to resolve a CD’s resource concerns. Resource needs will drive the conservation actions and funding will be spent on the priority resource concerns as determined locally. Note the repetition of the words, “resource concerns or needs;” the RNA process is effective because it is driven by resource concerns (existing condition and ecological trajectory), not national conservation programs (Farm Bill and other legislation). When the resource concerns are identified first, ecological functionality becomes the focus providing a common basis for people to work together. If the focus is based on national programs, Nevada often struggles to find direct links to Farm Bill priorities. More commonly, historic and current public lands management controversies devolve the dialogue into a “blame game.” Emotions and posturing dominate the discussion rather than practicable resource conservation. Think of any contentious issue you deal with in your area – this method can get you past the battle lines and on the way to actually solving the problem with “buy-in” of people focused on the problem, not their biases.
How does the Resource Needs Assessment work for Nevada? Nevada is different; we all recognize that. The large amount of federal land; the small amount of private land; the many partners involved; the distances, past history of mistrust and controversy, and often limited staff and funding; all of these factors and more make natural resource work in Nevada a complicated puzzle. The Resource Needs Assessment (RNA) process is organized by the NRCS conservation planning manual which outlines a conservation district – local work group – state technical advisory committee, or STAC, system. A Resource Needs Assessment identifies resource concerns and potential solutions to those concerns utilizing the NRCS Resource Concerns Checklist and Conservation Practices Physical Effects (CPPE) matrix. These two NRCS farm planning tools form the foundation of the RNA and they identify soil, air, water, plant and animal (SWAPA) resource needs with human and energy concerns added and evaluated toward the end of the planning process. The CPPE is a detailed tool developed over years of research, testing, and implementation by NRCS that links NRCS conservation practices to identified resource concerns. A “practice” is an NRCS term for such things as a head gate for an irrigation diversion, a pasture improvement, or a grazing rotation system depending upon the resource concern. Currently, there are about 180 practices identified and described by NRCS. Here is the part of the definition of a Practice that gives the RNA/CPPE equal footing with other federal planning processes: “for which standards and specification have been developed and are found in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide.” They are rooted in all the knowledge recorded in the National Ag Library in Maryland and the process can be scaled up or down depending on the detail needed. Hold this thought. The RNA analysis provides the CD a thoughtful foundation for their conservation efforts coupled with scientifically based and ranked conservation practices as potential solutions. The CD uses the information gained to analyze, prioritize, develop, and document a conservation action plan. Human and energy considerations, obtained 14 FEBRUARY 2019
What is a Conservation District? They were founded in 1937 during the Dust Bowl with the philosophy that conservation decisions should be made at the local level and based on voluntary, incentive-based actions. They are governmental entities, much like school boards, directed by locally elected Supervisors that derive their authority from NRS 548. They are a vital link to connect private and public land interests in Nevada and they started nationwide because in the 1930s people understood if you want the government to help; it will work much better if local people guide it. CDs are not a land use planning agency, but a CD is responsible for knowing the resource concerns in their area, identifying possible solutions and initiating programs, positions or policy to address them at a local level. The Nevada Association of Conservation Districts (NvACD) is the non-profit, nongovernmental organization of the 28 CDs in Nevada. NvACD serves as a state voice for conservation districts on state policy, legislation, communication, and funding for conservation activities and offers opportunities to Nevada’s CDs. http://www.nvacd.org/. Contact Gary at mccuing@unce.unr.edu or Maggie at maggieorr@nvacd.org for more information on RNAs. from as many local stakeholders as possible, are added into the analysis to ensure that conservation programs address the most important local resource needs in a manner acceptable to the local community. This provide a roadmap or guide for coordination amongst all stakeholders to obtain funding and implement mutually beneficial and practicable conservation projects. Every square inch of Nevada is within the jurisdiction of a conservation district, so wherever you are; a CD can work with you. CDs and RNAs work across ownership/jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore, this is not a NRCS plan, BLM plan, NDF plan, USFS plan, or an NDOW plan. It is the one place all those plans can bring their elements together and work synergistically. The approach emphasizes voluntary, non-regulatory, incentive-based actions before use of regulatory measures. It is not driven or controlled by any single agency or interest group, piece of legislation, any one fiscal year or any individual program; it is an ongoing, timeless approach that is not tied to any particular year. As such, it is able to be evaluated regularly over time to ensure it is effectively meeting the long-term needs of the local community. It is based on relationships and information sharing to solve resource concerns for everyone.
Local Work Groups are much more than NRCS Local residents, producers, local groups and natural resource agencies in an area form the Local Work Group, led by the conservation district. Local Work Groups (LWG) were established by the Farm Bill to provide recommendations to NRCS but they also support the locally led conservation effort by coordinating USDA programs with other federal, state, tribal, and local conservation programs to provide an integrated solution to addressing natural resource concerns. You must always keep in mind, this is a process larger than just NRCS, every agency, group, and individual will benefit by their participation. Traditionally, NRCS worked on NRCS projects (private lands), BLM worked on BLM lands, USFS worked on USFS lands, NDF did NDF, CDs did CDs and so on. The Sage grouse saga has taught us that partnerships and coordination provide the most benefit to all concerned. Nevada being different than anywhere else; programs designed elsewhere don’t always work well here so we have to labor together locally to make them mutually beneficial and productive in resolution of our many resource challenges. This answers the oft-asked question, how can efforts be coordinated and synchronized in Nevada to prevent duplication of effort and accomplish the best effect for the resource?
The Progressive Rancher
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Whatever the need, no one can affordably or effectively work alone any more. NRCS can’t address every issue, but a LWG with a completed Resource Needs Assessment and CAP identifying resource concerns and solutions, can integrate the resources of other agencies and entities to solve a problem. This makes the ways and means of the LWG far greater than what NRCS or any other agency or single entity can provide. Say a wildfire occurs after NRCS funding cycles are over and rehabilitation needs to happen across ownership boundaries and it needs to happen now. BLM and NDOW funds are immediately available. A LWG/CD can be the forum to respond immediately; if an RNA and conservation action plan are in place it is even more powerful and effective. The LWG forum is an advantageous place for other partners to integrate their resources to assist with a local need. Some may be concerned about their own authorities being compromised in this process. A LWG and STAC are advisory only; it is there to assist, not to take over anyone else’s territory or authority or allow any one entity to exert undue influence. LWG authority comes from the willingness of partners to work together but each partner maintains its own roles and responsibilities. It is a place to create trust and build relationships that will prove fruitful for all.
LAWGs vs. LWGs We need to distinguish LAWGs from LWGs. The Local Area Work Groups are stateinitiated and have done great work to bring people together to accomplish projects for sage grouse. Relationships have already been built and LAWGs can bring the expertise they have acquired to the LWG to help them identify resource concerns and possible solutions. A LWG in no way lessens or interferes with the working of a LAWG; they may perform the work of a LAWG if there is no existing LAWG, or they can enhance the work a LAWG is doing through a broader function, additional partners, or pursuing solutions to concerns that will also benefit sage grouse.
Conservation Districts hold the key (Remember the thought held from above?) CDs are important to Nevada because they hold the key to solving resource concerns in Nevada. This is because Nevada Revised Statutes 548 gives CDs wide ranging, useful authorities. Remember, CDs have a manualized role in a federal planning system – this state-federal crossover is the perfect combination to work for Nevada. CDs can meld funding, work across ownership/authority boundaries, and be a safe place for local people to connect with agencies and groups. NRCS and other agencies are looking for local input, others have problems to be solved or resources to offer to solve problems; the CD-led LWG can be one-stop shopping to solve resource concerns in your area.
Is this Nevada? We are the Battle Born State and seem to like to do things the hard way. This horse is like Nevada is now, lots of good things are happening in the natural resource world, but they aren’t linked yet for best effect so we are kind of stuck. When we can get them connected and move them all forward together, then we will really start to see some action. CDs and Resource Needs Assessments can be catalysts in that movement. Getting this horse out will require work and commitment of everyone involved. This horse’s problem needs to be solved right there in that corral; it needs a locally led solution!
Your Choice It is a matter of choice for a property owner to participate in the Resource Needs Assessment. If you have resource concerns on your property, you seek solutions. This process may broaden the sources of assistance available, whether it be financial or informational. You, of course, would choose on matters concerning your property. Within the NRCS funding process privacy protections are built in; other sources might have different rules. A CD is subject to the Open Meeting Law; but remember that the RNA step is to identify generalized concerns. The specifics come in the conservation action plans. At that step in the process, you would want to be involved in the action items planned; it would be your choice how things proceed. You know what your needs are, you know what you want to do, and this is a perfect forum to find other assistance, in addition to NRCS. We hope you will partner with us.
Business in Nevada We need to make coordination the way we do business in Nevada. The more we do it, the more we recognize it, the more we fund it, the more practical it becomes to do. It is the only way past current gridlock to find lasting success. It is also the means for local individuals, businesses, producers, interest groups and governmental entities to build relationships and trust in order to achieve mutual benefits that are difficult or impossible to achieve individually. The CD – LWG – STAC connection is a means already developed and of good design. It can leverage funding and cooperation to achieve cross-jurisdictional work and is based on recognized relationships. This is a frame work that we believe in and know will work! We each know someone that is struggling to hang on to a farm or ranch or wants their children to enjoy the land and resources where they live or play. We want to be a tool in the tool box that local leaders use to keep people doing what they love and ensure they can give the next generations a bright future. Please get involved with your CD; make it stronger, give it your insight; help it do its job. www.progressiverancher.com
It is all about having the information in place to make the best decisions, at the local level, about how best to spend any program dollars available from any source to solve natural resource concerns, and how to locally lead planning for the future. Much more information is available on the NvACD website under the Resource Needs Assessment tab at www.nvacd.org.
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 15
The Nevada Water Resources Association: Providing Education and a Forum for Dialogue For over 70 the Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA), which originated as a focus group for the Nevada State Engineer’s office, has provided a collaborative approach to addressing current and emerging water issues within the state. NWRA’s membership of over 300 individuals and 26 corporate partners represents a diverse cross section of water users, federal and state regulators, and scientists. This membership, which volunteers their time, is committed to providing education, training, and networking opportunities that pools collective knowledge and resources to increase stewardship of Nevada’s water resources.
A primary focus of NWRA has been the concept of uniting the individuals, organizations, agencies, and industries that rely on the state’s water resources. Nevada’s geography shapes perspectives on water resources. In the south, the primary focus is the Colorado River and groundwater resources to serve a populous area, while the northern portion of the state focuses more on agricultural activity. Agriculture is an important industry in the state, not only for the food and fodder it produces, but also for the green vistas and environmental benefits agriculture brings to many areas throughout the state.
By Jeff Johnson and Jay Fischer
related issues and disciplines. Taught by experts, the courses provide a solid foundation for anybody wanting to understand the history and complexity of water rights in the state of Nevada. In addition to courses on water rights, NWRA has been expanding its symposiums and panels to include the latest issues in water resources, such as best practices in well maintenance, artificial recharge and groundwater management plans. As mining has been a mainstay in Nevada since the 1860s, NWRA expanded its educational programming and now hosts a Mine Water Management Symposium every other year, at which professionals discuss the complexities of water management for mining operations. Considering the Silver State’s rich mining history, this issue is of great importance to not only water professionals, but to all Nevadans who benefit from this industry. At the same time, NWRA is expanding its education efforts, partnering with other groups who have aligned goals. Recently, NWRA partnered with the Nevada Water Environment Association (NWEA) to produce The Water Spot, a publication dedicated to water resource issues in Nevada. Bringing water and wastewater professionals together, NWRA and NWEA are fostering collaboration between our discrete, but related disciplines.
Looking to the future, we are motivating and preparing the next generation of water stewards. As part of our efforts to encourage participation and peak interest in water resources, the NWRA allows college students from the northern and southern parts Drought, energy, climate change, supply and demand are just some of the topics we of Nevada to sit as active members on our board. We believe that this experience gets addressed in past NWRA offerings. We continue these important conversations as we college students involved at a younger age to network and develop expertise. While most work to better understand and adapt to our changing environment. New research, tools, participants are studying geology, engineering, or water resource management, NWRA technology and resource-management solutions are a few of the topics we regularly does not want this to be a limiting factor. We encourage students in chemistry, geology, or incorporate into our programs. public policy to participate—all of them can bring value to the table. With a focus on education rather than advocacy, NWRA fosters free and open dialogue for all of Nevada’s water users to learn and discuss current and emerging issues related to water resources, scientific research, and public policy. This concerted effort to set aside differences and emphasis on dialogue and education provides a constructive path forward and is one of NWRA’s greatest strengths. NWRA invites all sectors across Nevada to participate equally in conversations about water issues, fostering an environment where all opinions are heard and where everyone can walk away with more knowledge about water. The concept that Nevada’s water resources serve many uses drives the NWRA’s training and conferences. NWRA has provided basic and advanced training in a variety of water-
As we plan for our water future in the driest state in the country, it’s clear that cooperation is the best way to discuss best practices and technology that could help Nevada stay ahead of emerging issues. Cooperation is what the NWRA was founded on, and it is what we strive to continue in the future. Jay Fischer is the current president and Jeff Johnson is the former president of the NWRA. Jay is a hydrogeologist with Lumos & Associates and Jeff is a Water Resource Special Projects manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). For more information about NWRA please visit us at www.NVWRA.org
Nevada Division of Water Resources measuring water levels in Nevada wells throughout March During the month of March, staff from the Nevada Division of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer, will be measuring groundwater levels in wells throughout various hydrographic basins in the state. The data collection is part of an ongoing effort to assess hydrologic conditions throughout Nevada. Division staff will be measuring water levels primarily in irrigation and stock wells. Water level measurements may be reviewed at:
http://water.nv.gov/WaterLevelData.aspx Contact Jake Echeverria at 775-684-2813 for more information. 16 FEBRUARY 2019
Tell the EPA and the Trump Administration it's time to fully Repeal and Replace the 2015 WOTUS Rule! It is time to dive in to the campaign to fully repeal and replace the disastrous 2015 WOTUS rule. Submit your comments today, then keep reading for the rest of the policy run-down.
http://tinyurl.com/NCBA-NO-WOTUS
The Progressive Rancher
or visit: http://cqrcengage.com/beefusa www.progressiverancher.com
under the direction of the University of California. Contest winners received prizes, usually a trip to Berkeley or the University Farm in Davis. In the summer of 1914, 142 boys enjoyed three days of camping in militia tents at the University Farm in Davis, establishing the start of the annual summer 4-H conference. 4-H History The 4-H program began around the start of the 20th century with the work of several people throughout the United States who were concerned about the positive growth of young people. The seed of the 4-H idea of practical and "handson" learning came from the desire to make public school education more connected to country life. Early programs tied both public and private resources together for the purpose of helping rural youth. During this time, researchers at experiment stations of the land-grant college system and USDA saw that adults in the farming community did not readily accept new agricultural discoveries. However, educators found that youth could "experiment" with these new ideas and then share their experiences and successes with the adults. As a result, rural youth programs became a way to introduce new agricultural technology to adults. A.B. Graham started one such youth program in Ohio in 1902, considered the birth of the 4-H program in the U.S. When Congress created the Cooperative Extension Service in the USDA in 1914, it included boys' and girls' club work. These soon became known as 4-H clubs - head, heart, hands, and health. 1930s 4-H Uniforms Nearing its 50th anniversary, 4-H began to undergo several changes. In 1948, a group of American youth traveled to Europe, and a group of Europeans came to the United States on the first International Farm Youth Exchange. Since then, thousands of young people have participated in the 4-H out-of-state and international exchange programs.
In 1928, the title "4-H" appeared in California reports of youth work. In the 1930s, over 10,000 youth in California 4-H clubs were developing skills through individual projects and learning leadership and civic responsibility through community improvement projects. As totalitarianism threatened Europe toward the end of the decade, 4-H leaders placed a new emphasis on citizenship training, the history of democracy, government processes, political parties, and voting. In 1953, a state 4-H club leader was assigned by the University Extension. 4-H programs were reorganized with a widened project base aimed to reach a broader audience than just rural boys and girls. Projects were offered in rural electricity, tractor maintenance, entomology, and home economics. Projects were no longer required to show an economic return, and many 4-H clubs were used to extend research. During the late 1960s, the traditional 4-H program received new stimulus. Congress appropriated funds for programs in low income urban areas and state funds were allocated for urban youth work. Some counties developed experimental 4-H programs, adopting projects and methods for new groups with special needs. In 1964, there were 37,000 4-H members in 1,000 clubs. By 1969, 4-H had grown to 50,000 members, with 20 percent of members coming from low income areas. In the 1970s and 1980s, federal legislation focused on women, the handicapped, and minorities with respect to equal opportunity. The 4-H program attracted minorities with short-term projects, after-school programs, and special urban and migrant outreach efforts. Since not all programs effectively incorporated inner-city youth, 4-H specialists expanded the program by seeking grant funding and private support for special projects such as the summer outdoor education project in the San Joaquin Valley. During the 1980s, dramatic demographic and social changes spanning the dimensions of race, ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic positions arose in California. Many immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Russia, and the Caribbean settled in California. Family patterns that included single-parent households and working mothers had an impact on youth needs. As a result, 4-H fostered new ideas to revitalize existing programs and started new ones. In Los Angeles, 4-H pioneered programs in lowincome housing projects such as drama, arts and crafts, cooking, math, and reading. Due to urban areas having large and heterogeneous populations, many urban programs were operated collaboratively with community organizations. In doing so, 4-H became a partner in federally funded programs that help children catch up in school, obtain health care, and adapt to new communities.
In the 1950s, 4-H began to extend into urban areas as well. Soon, the focus of 4-H became centered around the personal growth of the member. Life skills development was built into 4-H projects, activities and events to help youth become contributing, productive, self-directed members of society. The organization changed in the 1960s, combining 4-H groups divided by gender or race into a single integrated program. History of the 4-H Pledge • Written by Otis Hall of the Kansas State College of Agriculture
• June 1927 - Officially adopted by the 4-H program at the first National 4-H Camp
• 1973 - At the request of several states and on the recommendation of 4-H members attending the National 4-H Conference, the pledge was changed in 1973 to include "my world." Their addition is the only change ever made to the 4-H pledge. California 4-H History As early as 1912, the University of California had encouraged the formation of boys' and girls' agricultural clubs in rural areas and collaborated with school districts to organize them. In 1913, the forerunner of 4-H was founded - an agricultural club at the college of agriculture in Davis. By 1914, eighty-four high school agricultural clubs were reported in California. The goal of these clubs was not only to train youth in agricultural skills, but to influence the practices of adult farmers and homemakers through their ongoing projects. University Extension staff outlined project work and ultimately concentrated the twenty-four original projects into six. Although girls were not specifically excluded, membership in the earliest clubs consisted only of boys. Each club sponsored contests in animal or crop production, with members keeping detailed records and competing to make the largest profit. In 1915, thirty-seven clubs had at least six boys each and were competing against each other in local contests. By 1917, 2,716 participants in 208 high school agricultural clubs were engaged in projects www.progressiverancher.com
During the 1920s, agricultural club work continued to grow. More than 5,000 youth were enrolled by mid-decade, and more than 400 volunteer leaders contributed their time to club work. The ever popular club summer camps continued at the University Farm, bringing youth together from throughout California.
Today, after more than 100 years, 4-H offers opportunities in communications, leadership, career development, livestock, home improvement, and computer technology to 7 million American youth. Programs are found in rural and urban areas throughout the country and similar programs around the world. 4-H continues to grow and develop with the head, heart, hands, and health of our youth. Collegiate 4-H History In California, collegiate 4-H clubs were founded at UC Davis and UC Berkeley in 1932. Both clubs were inactive during WWII. UC Davis was re-activated in 1952, while the club at UC Berkeley remained inactive. There have been other collegiate 4-H clubs in California, including Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Stanford, Fresno State, and Humboldt State. Nationally, collegiate 4-H clubs were formed as early as 1921. However, often they were not referred to as collegiate 4-H clubs. As an example, the North Carolina State University collegiate 4-H club began as the 4-H Supper Club. Growth of collegiate 4-H through the years has been demonstrated through a gradual movement toward objectives and goals as a collegiate 4-H "service oriented" organization. Founded in 1925 at Washington State College, Pullman, Mu Beta Beta 4-H Club Fraternity was established as a national 4-H honor fraternity to promote interest in college 4-H clubs. The motto was "Seek to Improve the Best." The fraternity is no longer active.
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 17
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Nevada Agricultural Foundation supports the Future! Founded in 1976, the NAF is one of the most stable and enduring non-profit organizations in Nevada, and one of a very small number devoted to agriculture in our state. Highlights of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation programs:
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• Over 600 college students concentrating in agricultural and health considerations. For more information, visit the Social fields have received financial support from NAF, totaling and health For information, visit the Social and healthconsiderations. considerations. Formore more information, visit the Social Social Security can be one of your most valuable Security Administration website at www.socialsecurity.gov. more than $1,500,000 in scholarships since 1977 decision Security Administration website at t Social Security fiassets. ling strategies always rest Security Administration website atwww.socialsecurity.gov. www.socialsecurity.gov. retirement The decision of when you start always be based on your specifi c needs taking your benefi t impacts how much you’ll receive. strategy. • No other scholarship program targeted to agriculture in ations. For more information, visit the Social Nevada allows recipients to pursue their degrees at the ion website at visit www.socialsecurity.gov. Call or today, and learn how your decision www.edwardjones.com institutions best suited to meet their program needs Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com impacts your overall retirement income strategy. Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com Financial Advisor . Member SIPC ies always rest . Member SIPC • Many of our recipients now work in support of agriculture . Member SIPC cific needs 2213 North 5th Street 2213 North 5th Street Final decisions about Social Security fi ling strategies always rest in Nevada, whether in teaching, research, other ag-related 2213 North 5th Street visit the Social with you and should always be based on your specifi c needs Suite A www.edwardjones.com al Advisor positions, or directly farming and ranching. Suite urity.gov. and health considerations. For A more Suite A information, visit the Social
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• NAF is coordinating the development of educational materials on water for a new focus area for Agriculture in the Classroom, which will introduce the important topic to thousands of Nevada school children • NAF has provided over $250,000 to supported research and development projects beneficial to Nevada Agriculture
Suite A Elko, NV 89801 775-738-8811
Ranch properties now available Jiggs, Nevada Smith Creek Property 200 deeded acres with approx. 126 with surface water rights out of Smith Creek. Great homesite already carved out of the hill above the meadows with well and trees planted. On county-maintained road approx. 30 miles out of Elko. Price: $650,000.
We hope you will want to be part of our efforts by making a tax-deductible gift to the Nevada Agricultural Foundation. Gifts received through March 2019 will be added to the 2018/2019 Annual Fund awards and those received after March will be included in the 2019/2020 funding awards.
Flatnose Ranch East Side 700+ acre property in Lincoln County just 7 miles E of Pioche. 211+acres in production, Alfalfa hay. 346 water righted acres irrigated out of 3 underground wells and Flatnose Spring. 4 pivots some handline. Ranch got 6 landowner Mule Deer tags in 2018. Next to Echo Reservoir. Priced at appraisal of $2,700,000. Antelope Peak Ranch 5,300 deeded w/ BLM permit attached. 5 center pivots irrigating approx. 583 acres plus another 28 acres with surface water rights out of large spring. Three homes plus shop and other outbuildings. 1 land owner Elk Tag. Offered at $3,900,000. PENDING Will continue to show and take back up offers!
Need more Ranch Listings! Have buyers looking. Let me sell your ranch or farm! For additional information on these properties, go to: BOTTARIREALTY.COM
Paul D. Bottari, Broker
paul@bottarirealty.com 1222 6th St. PO Box 368 Wells, NV 89835
18 FEBRUARY 2019
Work: 775.752.3040
Home: 775.752.3809 Fax: 775.752.3021
The Progressive Rancher
If you would like to join this effort to support Agriculture in Nevada, please contact Sue Hoffman
Nevada Agricultural Foundation 775.673.2468 | sue@nvagfoundation.org P.O. Box 8089 Reno, NV 89507 2165 Green Vista Dr. Ste 204 Sparks, NV 89431
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UPCOMING SALES
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Brad Peek— (916) 802-7335 or email us at wvm@wvmcattle.com Look for the catalog and video on our website www.wvmcattle.com
Market your cattle with the professionals!
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 19
Nevada Farm BureauFarm Nevada
Bureau
The Priority Of Preserving Our State Water Law’s Foundation By: Doug Busselman, NVFB Over the past several weeks there has been an ongoing review of Farm Bureau’s Several legislative proposals, connected to potential changes to Nevada water law, have been brought forward for consideration in the 2019 Nevada Legislature. Two of the specific measures which have been introduced by the State Engineer’s office are of particular interests, AB 30 and AB 51.
It seems risky for existing water right owners to accept the protection that current law provides. If the assurance of a senior water right owner is subject to whether a state authority believes an impact is corrected, regardless of whether it negatively affects the quantity or use of their established beneficial water use – hasn’t their property placed in jeopardy?
It would be very helpful for Nevada water right owners to use the Nevada Along the same lines of concern, AB 51 attempts to bring about the Legislature’s website (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/) to review these two ability of the State Engineer to implement conjunctive management legislative bills and also to take advantage of the ability to connect with of water sources by possible regulations that could require payments legislators who will be working this session on these and other water bills. or replacement water to satisfy the water rights of senior water right AB 30 would authorize the State Engineer to consider and accept owners. The proposal mirrors the concepts of regulatory ideas that mitigation plans to work around water conflicts. If passed and signed were proposed for the conflicts of surface water right owners and into law, potential outcomes would be based on determining whether ground water right owners in the reach of the Humboldt River. such plans avoid or eliminate conflicts between an applicant who is AB 51 seeks to set aside the present requirement for curtailment of seeking to acquire a water right and existing water right owners. groundwater pumping if the groundwater right owner is in conflict This is the second consecutive Nevada legislative session which has with surface water owners who are senior in priority, if the State explored changes to current state law, regarding protection of current Engineer finds that curtailment will not be effective to provide water water right owners from conflicts caused by the granting of a water for the beneficial use of the surface water users. In such instances the application that might otherwise interfere with an existing water right. view is that regulations would kick in and require payment from the AB 30 offers an alternative to the rejection of an appropriation that junior water right or replacement water that is of sufficient quality. would conflict with an existing water right if there was an agreement between the applicant and each holder of water rights and owner(s) of a Providing direction for the adoption of the regulations, AB 51 insist domestic well that would experience a conflict. that in adopting regulations, the State Engineer must recognize The legislation also opens additional options that involve a monitoring, existing uses of water while protecting water rights that are senior in management and mitigation plan or any other plan to avoid or eliminate priority. Whether senior water right owners are willing to be required the conflict or replenish the source of the supply impacted or depleted to accept compensation or the degree to which current law is impacted on a statewide basis remains a question. Whether all groundwater by the conflict. pumping (including domestic or urban wells) are brought into the If the State Engineer would determine that a proposal submitted would mix – or whether only agricultural water right owners are required to avoid or eliminate the conflict, the State Engineer would be able to approve bear the burden is another question for pause. an application that would otherwise impact an existing water right. In considering the stated desire of establishing flexibility beyond Agreements on a private basis is one thing, but the State Engineer having current law and authority for the State Engineer to come to the ability to decide on whether the impacts on an existing right has decisions that are now not legally accepted, the question needs been corrected could be something completely different. to be weighed on what becomes of the foundational principles Nevada’s prior appropriation that is based on a first-in-time-first-in- when they are so adjusted that they no longer apply? Put more right is a foundation of Nevada water law and avoids the issue of conflicts directly – while seeking to work around prior appropriation and by requiring that applications to be denied when they are determined to the consequences that come with following the law – where do we interfere with existing rights. wind up when that no longer applies?
20 FEBRUARY 2019
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
Nevada Farm BureauFarm Nevada
Bureau
Celebrating 100 Years by Brittney Pericoli | Director of Communications The American Farm Bureau Federation celebrated their 100th Annual Meeting in New Orleans on January 11th through the 16th. The centennial celebration was one for the books, which included educational workshops, policy discussions, Tradeshow, Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet and the President of the United States speaking for the second year in a row. Each year the AFBF Annual meeting is a time for Farm Bureau members from every state to come together. At each convention the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) provides attendees with a variety of educational workshops that are of interest to all attendees. This year attendees were able to choose from workshops that included: Ag literacy toolbox, commodity market directions, evaluating farm policy and financial risk, recruiting farm bureau members and volunteers, the future of Ag innovation and many more.
Bevan carrying the flag
Policy development is equally as important for Nevada Farm Bureau as it is for AFBF. Delegates from each state are selected to participate in the policy development discussions, which form the American Farm Bureau policy book. Nevada Farm Bureau President Bevan Lister and Vice President Darrell Pursel participated in the policy development process. The 2019 policy book for both the American Farm Bureau and Nevada Farm Bureau can both be found by visiting www.nvfb/org/policy Each year Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) holds the national discussion meet at the AFBF Annual Meeting. Participants who won their states YF&R discussion meet our eligible to compete. “The discussion meet was a great learning experience and an excellent opportunity to meet Farm Bureau members from other states,” said Blane Merkley. “It was an experience I will never forget.” Blane Merkley was the winner of the Nevada Farm Bureau discussion meet and also competed in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Blane was unable to advance in the competition, but showed great knowledge and talent as he competed. It was a tough competition and we are proud of all Blane was able to accomplish. Another great highlight from this year’s convention was President Donald Trump speaking at the closing session for the second year in a row. At the 99th Annual American Farm Bureau meeting President Trump made a promise to return for the 100th year celebration.
Blane competing
The United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue opened for the President. Trump’s speech included agriculture highlights over the last year including virtually eliminating the Death Tax, the Farm Bill, an update on trade and border security.
"The Farm Bill delivers for our farmers on a wide range of key priorities. On critical farm programs, such as crop insurance, you will have the support you need to plan for the future. It increases the amount farmers can borrow so you can expand and improve your businesses. It also secures the $600 million commitment we made to build a modern, effective, rural broadband across America’s heartland. You’re not well serviced. (Applause.) That’s something the great, great middle part of our country has been complaining about for a long time. You’re not properly serviced. You will be now. You will be now. That bill is a great bill for the farmer." - President Donald Trump It was an honor to have the President speak for the second year in a row and was a great way to end the 100th American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. We look forward to Nevada Farm Bureau’s 100-year celebration and we hope you all join us for this special event later this year.
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 21
90
th
Nevada FFA
State Convention & Competitive Events March 19-22, 2019, Reno
Industry Skills | Speakers | Service Projects | Recognition | Networking | Leadership Development
Get Involved • Judges & Volunteers Needed: Contact Amber Smyer, Phone 775.353.3769, asmyer@agri.nv.gov • Sponsors Needed: Contact Heather Dye, 775.684.7296, hdye@agri.nv.gov • Event Details: Visit www.nvaged.com • Social Media: Share FFA’s Pictures & Updates Via Social Media
Thank you to Progressive Rancher for the advertisement space.
22 FEBRUARY 2019
The Progressive Rancher
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 23
Western States Hemp Marketing Industrial Hemp For centuries, the hemp plant has been a source for food, fiber, medicine, and industrial practicality. Militaries have relied on it for ropes, lines and sails to sail and anchor naval ships. There is over 12,000 pounds of hemp rope, sails and caulking on the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor. Governments once relied on it as a paper source (the Constitution was drafted on hemp paper). Individuals relied on the medicinal properties of the plant prior to the era of big pharma and subsequent federal ban. Very few plants on the planet offer such a wide spectrum of uses, and with the recent legalization comes a plethora of interest from would be farmers looking for ways to increase their bottom line.
that can assist them post harvest. Western States Hemp has the ability to dry and hammermill raw product on a large scale, which is something that is attractive to potential processors. Snow advises small producers to make a plan for harvest and drying before planting. The window to properly harvest hemp for CBD is short, and poor planning could result in huge financial loss. For those growing and harvesting hemp for reasons aside from CBD, such as fiber and oil varietals, the harvest window is certainly more lenient.
The cost to plant fiber and seed varietals is also much lower when compared to the costs associated with planting high CBD hemp. Those interested in growing for Seasoned hemp farmer Joe Frey has quickly become a hemp resource for those fiber or seed need to conduct due diligence regarding what types of hemp nearby interested in getting in on what many are calling the “hemp gold rush”. When he and farmers are planting. High CBD hemp (which is 100% female traditionally), can his business partner, Adrienne Snow, first founded Western States Hemp, there were be pollinated by a male up to 5 miles away. Some states are seeing lawsuits between roughly 20 industrial hemp permit holders in the state that were licensed to grow. farmers where high dollar female crops have been compromised by nearby industrial Nevada closed out the 2018 growing season with having cultivated 1800 acres, and grows with male plants present. “Female plants carry the highest levels of CBD, 179 permits issued to conduct business within the guidelines of the state program. so male pollination is something you avoid at all costs because it will cause your 2019 applications have already totalled 5,300 potential acres, with applications still CBD to decrease drastically, which means your profits decrease drastically”, says Frey. arriving at the Nevada Department of Agriculture with regularity. With all the “Essentially, you need to know what you are growing, as well as what your neighbor is interest in growing, one thing remains very elusive. Where does one sell the crop growing so everyone has the best chances of harvesting a top quality crop. they’ve put so much time and money into at the end of the season? Seasoned farmers will tell you that growing hemp takes hard work and capital Open any magazine on the shelf, and odds are you may see an article about the latest investment. As infrastructure begins to take shape to handle various types of hemp derived miracle product. With the growing pile of evidence about the beneficial processing (CBD extraction, fiber decortication, pulp milling, oil pressing), the market effects of cannabinoids, it’s safe to say there is a market for hemp derivatives, which to sell will also grow. For farmers looking for a new challenge, this just might be their is why so many people want to farm it. What “would be” farmers aren’t aware of, are cup of tea. As the old adage goes, with big risk, comes big reward, and hemp pioneers the costs associated with planting hemp and the subsequent processing that needs to need to know there is still a bit of a gamble in the hemp game. While pricing and take place for the hemp to become a marketable commodity that equates a paycheck. markets are still uncertain, it is clear that the hemp industry is growing like a weed. In the beginning, Frey and Snow weren’t privy to how hard it would be to find a trustworthy processing partner that could handle the scale of what they produced. “Many of these processors want to structure deals where they take your crop, process it, and pay you on the back end”, says Snow. “In almost every contract I’ve seen to date, there are a number of concerning issues that ultimately leave the farmer with little recourse if these fly by night companies disappear, or fail to extract your crop properly”. Snow further points out, “Not only do farmers take the risk of growing a crop (for which there is no insurance available beyond catastrophic fire), up to this point, they take a risk in processing.” Current market pricing is another issue for potential farmers, and there are a lot of ambiguous figures being reported. Some who planted in 2018, planted under the guise that their product would be worth hundreds of dollars per pound, which does not reflect the actual prices farmers received for the 2018 harvest on average. Snow said she received a call in December from a farmer looking to sell her 2018 harvest, and needed assistance finding a buyer. “The woman was in tears, and disclosed that if she couldn’t find a buyer, she was done for”, said Snow. When Snow inquired about the available quantity and CBD content, she determined that her product would probably sell for $5,000-$10,000 on the open market. The woman had planted her crop after being told by a “hemp farming consultant” it would be worth ten times more than the actual current market value. “She planted her 2018 crop under the guise that she would be able to make $40,000-$50,000. Leading people to think they’ll be overnight millionaires by touting unrealistic prices is bad business”, remarked Snow. She further advised, “you need to be as diligent in your research of potential buyers and suppliers as you are in your farming practices. Not everyone is who they say they are, and not everyone can do what they say they can do.” Generally, biomass is purchased on CBD content per percentage point, which currently ranges from $3.50-$5 per point. If hemp contained 10% CBD and yielded $4/point per pound, a farmer would be paid $40/pound. Most processors require a minimum of 8% CBD in the crop to be interested in striking a deal, so choosing a varietal that maximizes CBD output without busting the legal THC ceiling is critical. More often than not, processors want to work with producers that can provide large quantities, often in excess of 50,000 pounds. Building a cooperative among farmers could be a way to better navigate the turbulent buy/sell waters of an industry grappling to take shape. Smaller producers without access to commercial equipment to prepare their commodity might seek long term partnerships with bigger firms 24 FEBRUARY 2019
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Why All Americans Should Be Concerned About Animal Rights Organizations Animal Rights extremist groups believe in the ideology that there is no distinction between animals and humans. Therefore, they view animal ownership as exploitation and slavery. The true goal of Animal Rights Groups is to work for legislation and humane care only until all animals are no longer owned or utilized by human beings. The NCRAOA (North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance) has described what Animal Rights Groups are all about and their activities:
“Animal Rights Groups exploit our love of animals to work for various types of restrictive legislation (limit laws, breed specific legislation, mandatory spay/neuter) as well as laws that are steps toward changing the legal status of animals as property”, and “The animal rights movement is about control not animal welfare. Supporting legislation based on emotion and philosophical interpretation provides a platform in our legal system for incremental increases toward animal status changes.”
Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights Our Mission: Inform. Protect. Respond. • INFORM and EDUCATE Americans about the activities of animal rights groups, anti-agriculture groups and other nongovernmental organizations that threaten agriculture, animal welfare, our traditions, and way of life. • PROTECT our freedoms and way of life by supporting agriculture, land use, hunting and fishing, animal ownership, and animal welfare. • RESPOND to laws, regulations, or misinformation that would negatively impact animal welfare, animal ownership, restrict our rights, and limit our freedoms.
Why Protect The Harvest was Founded Protect The Harvest was created to defend and preserve American freedoms and to support farmers, ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, and animal owners.
Most Americans are unaware that there are special interest groups in America that have evolved into a wealthy and well-organized movement that is determined to change our way of life. These groups are aiming to control agriculture, land and water use, and eliminate human-animal interaction as well as hunting and fishing. Their approach is to reach their goal incrementally via influencing public opinion with misinformation and writing, funding and marketing legislation and regulations to suit their agenda. The end result is an America that is less free and less prosperous, the elimination of animal ownership and human animal interaction, the elimination of our ability to provide affordable food for our families and the ability to enjoy traditional past times.
Why All Americans Should Be Concerned with the Activities of Special Interest NGO’s The global population is skyrocketing, by 2050 there will be over 9 billion people on the planet. Experts estimate that in order to feed all those people, we will need to double our food production, using the same amount (if not less) of land and resources that we do today. However, the very techniques and technologies that have allowed food producers to keep up with current demand are under constant attacks from misguided activists and uninformed government bureaucrats. Their tactics range from producing misinformation to scare and manipulate the public, to pushing for legislation and regulations that have undisclosed, far-reaching consequences. At the same time, the rights of individuals to hunt and fish, and even to own animals for entertainment or food, are being threatened. The result is an America that is increasingly hungrier, less free, and less secure. At Protect The Harvest, we work diligently to inform the public about their activities and to fight for these basic rights. For more information follow this link to “What You Need To Know” http://protecttheharvest.com/news/# 26 FEBRUARY 2019
The difference between animal rights and animal welfare are striking but might be confusing to some. The American Veterinary Medical Association has taken a formal position defining the difference between the two labels, Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare. In their detailed Policy on Animal Welfare and Animal Rights, they state that they cannot endorse the views of Animal Rights Groups. Here’s a quote from their policy: “Animal rights is a philosophical view and personal value characterized by statements by various animal rights groups. Animal welfare and animal rights are not synonymous terms. The AVMA wholeheartedly endorses and adopts promotion of animal welfare as official policy; however, the AVMA cannot endorse the philosophical views and personal values of animal rights advocates when they are incompatible with the responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as food, fiber, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals.” Let’s take a closer look at the fundamental differences between Animal Welfare and the Animal Rights philosophy:
Animal Welfare:
Animal Welfare includes all animals, whether used for food, companionship, or sport. It is based on a principle of ownership of animals. It reflects a common-sense approach that animals should be treated well and that animal cruelty is wrong. Animal welfare standards and guidelines for animal use and management are based on sound veterinary and animal husbandry experience, research, and practices. The AVMA views Animal Welfare as a, “…human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal wellbeing, including proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane euthanasia”. It also means animals that provide for human needs experience no unnecessary suffering.
Animal Rights:
Animal Rights advocates and their groups believe in the ideology that there is no distinction between animals and humans. They view animal ownership as exploitation and slavery. The true goal of Animal Rights Groups is to work for legislation and humane care only until all animals are no longer owned or utilized by human beings. We support Animal Welfare, but we are against Animal Rights. Taking a stand against Animal Rights in no way means that we do not care about animals or their welfare. We do care or we would not be investing time, money and a whole lot of effort in educating the public about protecting our rights, animal ownership, agriculture, and our heritage. Listed below is a list of major animal rights organizations and their profiles on Activist Facts: • Humane Society of the United States www.activistfacts.com/organizations/136-humane-society-of-the-united-states/ • People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals www.activistfacts.com/organizations/21-people-for-the-ethical-treatment-of-animals/ • ASPCA www.activistfacts.com/organizations/american-society-for-the-preventionof-cruelty-to-animals-aspca/ • Direct Action Everywhere www.activistfacts.com/organizations/direct-action-everywhere/ Follow this link to more information about: http://protecttheharvest. com/what-you-need-to-know/overview-of-animal-rights-organizations/
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Contact: Karen Gerfen, Protect The Harvest Director of Communications 805-835-5985 • karen@protecttheharvest.com Part 1: Turning the Community Against the Dairy Supported by SRAP, a small group of residents started a campaign called “Save Our Smith Valley” which meant to stop the building of the dairy and spread anti-animal agriculture messages to their community. In 2014, the group held a town hall meeting in the local high school gym that pushed an anti-dairy and anti-animal agriculture agenda to those who attended. One resident explained that it has “done damage to the community by making people pick sides.” Part 2: Filing Lawsuits to Shut Down the Dairy
A WIN FOR AGRICULTURE ACROSS AMERICA
SMITH VALLEY DAIRY PREVAILS
A Day of Celebration for an American Dairy Family after a Two-Year Struggle Ends with a 8-0 Jury Verdict in Their Favor Smith Valley Dairy in Nevada has a lot to celebrate today as a Lyon County jury handed down a 8-0 verdict in its favor. Over the last two plus years the Vlot family has had to stand strong against a nuisance lawsuit filed against them by an animal rights backed group of property owners. A concerned citizen and supporter of the dairy said, “It is truly a triumph of good over evil”. Dairyman, Dirk Vlot told us today, “This has been hell on our family. We are thankful for the people of Nevada. The fact that not one jury member ruled in favor of the plaintiffs is a lot to celebrate.”
SRAP and “Save Our Smith Valley” Group Fight to Shut Down Dairy in Nevada American Agriculture is a Family Affair The Vlot family has been a part of the dairy industry since the early 1800’s – even before immigrating to the United States. In the early 1990’s the family put down roots in central California, starting Vlot Brothers Dairy and Calf Ranch. In 2014, Dirk Vlot broke ground in Smith Valley, Nevada as part of an expansion project that would include another state of the art facility. The building of the dairy took until May 2015 when they started milking a few thousand head. Smith Valley – A Rural Agricultural Community with a History of Dairies in the Area The Vlot’s new dairy is located in Smith Valley, Nevada, 6 miles away from a small town. This valley is a rural and agricultural region with a long history of dairies. The location for the new dairy was chosen because of its remoteness and the fact that the region is classified as “high desert”, which means they receive less than 6” of rainfall a year. Little rainfall means there is little chance of runoff. The 140 acre property can hold up to 7,280 cows (calves included) according the dairy’s permit but is currently only housing about 5,000. Doing Everything Right – A State-of-the-Art Dairy Dirk Vlot built this new facility with innovation and sustainability in mind. It utilizes several water recycling systems, a state-of-the-art manure separating system and energyefficient lighting with individual operating switches on each corral. Mike Compston, former Executive Director of the Nevada State Dairy Commission, said it is “one of the nicest, cleanest dairies” he’s ever been to. The dairy employs about 30 families from the area and contributes to the region’s economy by providing a convenient local market for the hay growers in the area. SRAP’s Efforts to Block the Dairy When the Vlot family intended to build a new dairy in northern Smith Valley, Nevada, the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP) was made aware of the facility and intended to help block its arrival. Since then via the break-out SRAP group, “Save Our Smith Valley” the Vlot family has met with criticism, resistance and harassment from some of the residents of the area. Note: We have previously published an article about SRAP and their connections to animal rights and other non-governmental organizations. To learn more, follow this link: http:// protecttheharvest.com/news/socially-responsible-agricultural-project-threatens-agriculture/ www.progressiverancher.com
In 2015, a lawyer associated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) did pro bono work (in conjunction with SRAP) for the group. Save Our Smith Valley and its members filed an appeal with the Nevada State Environmental Commission over the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s approval of a groundwater discharge permit for the Smith Valley Dairy.
Since the original permit was awarded in 2015, the 140-acre dairy has undergone 11 inspections and was in compliance each time. In a report compiled by the division and reported in the Reno Gazette Journal, Bonnie Hartley, an Environmental Scientist, said “Groundwater monitoring data indicates that the facility's operations has not degraded groundwater”. Despite the clean track record and state of the art facility, 14 individuals sued the Smith Valley Dairy in 2016 seeking money damages for alleged nuisance conditions. Part 3: Ridiculous Complaints Like many rural and agricultural communities, Smith Valley has attracted retirees from urban areas over the last number of years. They choose rural and agricultural areas for the lower cost of living and the wide-open spaces that many agricultural communities provide. However, once they move in, they object to the very practices that help provide for small-town life; for example less congestion and beautiful views of hay fields and livestock. They neglect to realize that the hay fields and to put it into their own words, “the viewshed”, they appreciate also means animals, farming, and truck and tractor traffic on rural roads. According to concerned Smith Valley Dairy supporters, the complaints made against the dairy had nothing to do with health and everything to do with the fact that new residents were simply against dairies in principle or were unhappy about the “inconvenience” of agricultural traffic. For example, complaints were made by residents that are recreational bike riders about the milk, feed and cattle trucks that serviced the dairy and provided jobs for people in the community. “Save Our Smith Valley” Members Heckle Employees Smith Valley has a small population of only 1600 people so most folks in the area know one another. Via inciting discord in the community Save Our Smith Valley’s attack against Smith Valley Dairy escalated. Over the last number of years Smith Valley Dairy employees have been subject to repeated harassment by opponents. Harassment has occurred both on and off the dairy property. It is reported that employees and their families have been confronted in public for example, at restaurants in town. Dairy Today, Your Industry Tomorrow Unfortunately, animal agriculture, working animals, performing animals, or even companion animals are all at risk. One by one animal rights and other non-governmental organizations are doing their best to spread false information and villainize our heritage and way of life. Throughout many of our previous articles we have urged the public to not only stay informed when it comes to the agenda of these groups, but also to stand together against them. The result of this jury trial today shows that standing strong, and supporting your neighbors can make a difference. Good can prevail over evil. God Bless the Vlot family and Smith Valley Dairy employees for their stewardship and their perseverance.
Brad Johnston, lead counsel for Dirk Vlot and the Smith Valley Dairy, said “I am so very happy for the Vlot family and Nevada agriculture. I want to thank the jurors who dutifully served over the course of this long, three-week trial, returning a unanimous verdict for the dairy today based on the evidence that was presented to them. I am blessed to live here in Lyon County alongside farmers and ranchers and could not be happier with the outcome. It was a great victory for the Vlot family and local agriculture.”
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 27
Cheatgrass & Grazing Rangelands By: James A. Young, Charlie D. Clements and Dan N. Harmon
More than a decade ago we attempted to write on this subject and to cover some very important questions concerning the grazing of Nevada rangelands and the increase in the exotic and invasive annual grass, cheatgrass. This is a rewrite of that attempt that is still a major controversy on Nevada rangelands. In 1916 Charles Fleming joined the staff of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station as Chief of the Department of Range Management and later became Director of the Experiment Station in 1946. In 1942 Fleming published “Bronco Grass (Bromus tectorum) on Nevada Ranges” with co-authors M. A. Shipley and M. R. Miller. The opening statement of this publication, “Bronco grass (sic Bromus tectorum) has become a permanent source of feed on many of our most important rangelands and it will necessarily have to be taken into consideration in the determination of seasonal use and in making grazing capacity estimates.” In the Experiment Station 1945-1946 Annual Report, Fleming wrote “The presence of annual grasses creates a controversy between livestock men and grazing administrators involving the following question: Do annual grasses indicate overgrazing? Would the annual grasses be largely absent from Nevada ranges if there had been no grazing? Should the carrying capacity of a range predominantly annual be based upon the perennials? Has anyone a practical method by which annuals can be replaced and perennials reestablished in a density which would permit saying that the range had been brought back to its pioneer carrying capacity? Is it reasonable to look at a range and if annuals predominate say the range is overstocked and a reduction in livestock numbers should be made? ... And if the answers are largely negative, will we not then have to live with the annuals and learn to make the most profitable use of them?” FIGURE 1 Fleming was truly a pioneer in range management. Well over a half century Rest rotational grazing increases cheatgrass seed banks and after Fleming posed his questions about grazing cheatgrass, the controversy associated fuels which leads to cheatgrass dominance. continues. The profession of range management has been deeply involved in an imitation of the Roman Emperor Nero, but in this case they “fiddle” while the ranges of the Intermountain Area of North America burn. Let’s examine the point that there was no vegetation the next year except Russian thistle. The Fleming’s contentions concerning cheatgrass as a forage species with the aid of point where range professionals in the public land management and academic sectors often erred, was to assume that grazing management that was proper hindsight and with some foresight. for ranges dominated by native perennial grasses would automatically lead Do Annual Grasses Indicate Overgrazing? To interpret this question, we to a return of such grasses on sites almost exclusively occupied by cheatgrass. must consider both time and the dominance of annual grasses in relation to This applies across the board in grazing management practices, from reduced native perennial grasses. By the time Fleming wrote his contentious article, part stocking numbers, delayed grazing until after seed ripe, to complete rest from of this issue was already answered. R. F. Daubenmire published in his classic grazing. There is a point in the relative abundance of native perennial grasses and paper "Plant Succession Due to Overgrazing in the Agropyron Bunchgrass cheatgrass where native perennial grasses cannot ascend successionally across Prairie of Southeastern Washington," strong evidence that cheatgrass could the cheatgrass threshold. This is especially significant with the application of invade native perennial grass communities that never had been grazed and were rest-rotation grazing where cheatgrass benefits from deferred, no grazing until in excellent ecological condition. Therefore, this contention depends on the after seed ripe, and complete rest from grazing (Figure 1). relative dominance of cheatgrass. Abundance of native perennial grasses and the increasing presence cheatgrass does not mean the site is in poor range condition Would Annual Grasses Largely Be Absent From Nevada Ranges Had There nor is the site being improperly grazed. Conversely, complete cheatgrass Been No Grazing? Once cheatgrass was introduced, it was only a matter of dominance with no native perennial grasses, as a result of past improper grazing, time until virtually all plant communities in the pinyon/ juniper, big and dwarf does not mean the site is currently being improperly grazed. Leave enough litter sagebrush/bunchgrass, and salt desert rangelands of Nevada were invaded by to minimize accelerated erosion and to provide a seedbed suitable for cheatgrass this species. This was an inevitable conclusion, even in the absence of prior germination results in a conditional sustainable grazing resource of cheatgrass. excessive grazing by domestic livestock. The widespread occurrence of excessive, You must be aware that sustainability of grazing cheatgrass stands is always improperly timed, and repeated grazing on Nevada rangelands heightened at risk from invasion of the stands by plants that do not support grazing. This the rate of dispersal and greatly enhanced the post-dispersal dominance of does not mean you cannot excessively over graze cheatgrass. A. C. Hull, Jr., cheatgrass. It is very important to make this distinction, because otherwise it clearly showed in the 1940s it was possible to excessively graze cheatgrass to leads to the false assumption that removing grazing by domestic livestock would 28 FEBRUARY 2019
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automatically mean the disappearance of cheatgrass. Once cheatgrass becomes established on a site, eventually it will cross a threshold where the abundance of the herbage of this annual will increase the chance of ignition and the rate of spread of wildfires. This sets into motion successional dynamics that lead to a reduction in the length of the interval between the reoccurrence of wildfires, which assures cheatgrass dominance. A parallel dynamic is set in motion where increased cheatgrass abundance progressively depletes soil moisture to the point where seedlings of native perennials cannot be recruited into the community. This dynamic was illustrated by Robertson and Pearse in their landmark paper "Artificial Reseeding and the Closed Community” published in 1945. Should the Carrying Capacity of the Predominantly Annual Range Be Based Upon the Perennials? In our recent experience, most new graduates of natural resource or biology curriculums are certain that "cows do not eat cheatgrass" or “only eat cheatgrass in the short period when it is green.” In range management literature, cheatgrass as a grazing resource is roundly damned as a forage because of 1) a lack of digestible protein, 2) a short green feed period, 3) mature seeds that are extremely injurious to livestock, 4) herbage production that is extremely variable among years, 5) being such an extreme fire hazard that it cannot be counted on as a forage, and 6) not being eaten by domestic livestock once it is mature. Fleming addressed many of these issues in the 1930s and 1940s. Cows and sheep prefer cheatgrass in the spring. Cheatgrass does not provide abundant forage in the very early spring unless there is significant fall germination. A mixture of dry cheatgrass from the previous growing season and green cheatgrass in the spring makes a highly desirable spring forage. The protein content of cheatgrass is similar to or higher than native perennial grasses at the same stages of maturity. Native perennial grasses mature 2 to 6 weeks later in the summer than cheatgrass, depending on the perennial grass species, the site, and the periodicity of moisture events in a given year. Once the native perennials are mature, they also provide a protein-deficient diet for livestock. Livestock turn to shrubs as a source of protein in the late summer and early fall, no matter if it is a cheatgrass or perennial grass range. This is a point often missed in discussions of the consequences of repeated wildfires fueled by cheatgrass. Shrubs are eliminated by such a fire pattern and with their loss, the late summer, fall, and winter digestible protein sources are lost for livestock and browsing wildlife. The argument that cheatgrass cannot be a grazing resource because it is such a fire hazard has a basic flaw. It is a fire hazard when mature and dry. It is not a fire hazard when green and a preferred forage species. With the proper timing and intensity of grazing, there is virtually no cheatgrass herbage to burn after maturity. Yes, the abundant herbage of cheatgrass is an extreme fire hazard. Is this a reason for not grazing for fuel reduction? Another related aspect of spring grazing was first reported by Platt and Jackman in the 1940s for eastern Oregon. Properly timed grazing of cheatgrass in the spring increases the harvestable forage from the species through stimulation of tillering. This means that grazing management to reduce cheatgrass as a fuel for wildfires has to include late spring grazing in years with enough soil moisture for abundant tiller growth. Frosty Tipton, a rancher at Winnemucca, Nevada, made the observation that the form of cheatgrass that invaded the salt desert ranges of Nevada in the last quarter of the 20th century tends to hold mature seeds in the seed heads rather than immediately dispersing them, which is the case with the traditional cheatgrass of sagebrush rangelands. Frosty observed cows turned out on winter ranges licking these dry seeds from the cheatgrass plants. Indian ricegrass has a form of seeds that do not dehisce from the seed heads and cows on salt desert ranges consistently favor consuming the inflorescence of Indian ricegrass. Cows on salt desert winter ranges lick the seeds of chenopod shrubs from the soil surface that are too spiny to graze in the fall. This well-known behavior on arid ranges illustrates a deliberate act of seeking high-protein content seeds when protein is deficient in available grass herbage. Yes, the seeds of cheatgrass with their awn and sharply pointed tip of the caryopsis can be injurious to the eyes and mouths of grazing animals, and www.progressiverancher.com
FIGURE 2
The establishment of perennial grasses successfully suppresses cheatgrass which decreases wildfire frequencies and allows for the return of secondary successional browse species that benefits numerous wildlife.
such injuries can lead to secondary infections. However, the danger of grazing mature cheatgrass is blown well out of proportion to the frequency of such injuries. The seeds of cheatgrass plants found in sagebrush environments dehisce so rapidly at maturity that the period of potential injury is transitory. Fleming and his associates never directly addressed the issue of variability among years in the herbage production of cheatgrass as a detriment to grazing cheatgrass. This is the most significant issue facing livestock managers on cheatgrass ranges. The primary livestock production system in Nevada and the entire Intermountain Area is cow-calf operations. Obviously, it is hard to instantaneously increase livestock numbers with such a system versus buying stocker cattle annually. It is not only the amount of precipitation received, but also the periodicity of these moisture events that determines the herbage production of cheatgrass. If you have to wait until May 1 to be sure you are going to have a banner cheatgrass production year, it is too late to change cow and calf numbers. The naysayers for grazing cheatgrass have for 75 years used the variation among years in herbage production as a primary reason for not giving the annual grass any credit in forage production to determine stocking rates. They have smugly pointed out that in contrast to cheatgrass, in very dry years there is some production by native perennial grasses. If the native perennial grasses only have 10% of average forage production in very dry years and the same number of livestock are permitted to graze, perhaps some forage production in dry years has a bearing in the demise of the native perennials. This is in contrast to cheatgrass, which can sit out extreme droughts as viable, dormant seeds in seedbanks. This is especially true if cheatgrass constitutes 90% of the harvestable forage on good years. Why do intelligent, dedicated individuals in public land management agencies and academia refuse to recognize cheatgrass as a major forage species? Cheatgrass is an invasive, exotic species that is an affront to classical Clementsian plant community ecology. This ecological theory was "range science" for much of the 20th century. It was applied by Arthur W. Sampson in his classic paper on assessing the quality of rangeland plant communities by comparing existing species composition with potential species composition. Manage grazing properly and succession will proceed to assemblages of plants in balance with the potential of the site. Cheatgrass refused to play by these rules and truncates succession to maintain its own dominance. To accept this as a fact of life on former big sagebrush/bunchgrass range lands has been equated with accepting a lower standard of environmental quality. ... continued next page
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 29
Has Anyone a Practical Method by Which Annuals Can Be Replaced and Perennials Reestablished in a Density That Would Permit Saying the Range Has Been Brought Back To Its Pioneer Carrying Capacity? This question, asked by Fleming 70 years ago, is just as pertinent today. No one has been consistently successful with large-scale artificial seedings of native perennial grasses in the face of competition from cheatgrass. Dick Eckert, Raymond Evans, and Burgess Kay developed herbicide and tillage techniques that were successful in establishing crested wheatgrass seedings in the face of cheatgrass competition during the 1950s and 1960s. They were successful because they understood the nature and magnitude of competition from cheatgrass. The USDA, Agriculture Research Service Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit continues this work on cheatgrass control and seeding in partnerships with cooperators such as Bayer Crop Science and Newmont Mining and the improvement of seeding success is leading to larger scaled seeding efforts following aggressive weed control practices. The history though has been a roller coaster with very few high points. The first successful seeding of crested wheatgrass on Nevada rangelands was carried out by Joe Robertson in 1942 at Arthur in Elko County, Nevada. There is no mention of crested wheatgrass in the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Reports during the 1940s. During the 1950s about a million acres of Nevada's degraded big sagebrush rangeland was seeded to crested wheatgrass. Much of the seeding was done to suppress the poisonous exotic species halogeton. Most of these successful seedings were carried out on degraded big sagebrush sites where competition from cheatgrass was minimal. Grazing management of cheatgrass on former perennial grass ranges in the Intermountain Area always comes back to the critical period in the very early spring that corresponds to the traditional date for turn-out of cattle on the ranges. This is when the native perennial grasses are most susceptible to damage by excessive grazing, and cheatgrass often lacks sufficient herbage production to contribute to the potential forage supply. Native perennial grasses can be grazed in the spring, but not repeatedly every year, or excessively in any one year, and the grasses must be given a chance to recover while there is still soil moisture available. What the mid-20th century Intermountain Area livestock industry needed was a grass that tolerated grazing abuse in the early spring. We had an answer to this problem in crested wheatgrass stands before this introduced perennial became a political liability. Research clearly presented experimental evidence that crested wheatgrass had the potential to withstand moderate grazing in the very early spring and this resistance to grazing was totally lacking in bluebunch wheatgrass. You have to have a perennial grass that overlaps in growth requirements in order to biologically suppress cheatgrass and allow succession to occur (Figure 2). You have to have an alternative to grazing native perennial grasses in the very early spring. Crested wheatgrass is an ecological band aid that fulfills both requirements. Is It Reasonable to Look at a Range, and If Annuals Predominate, Say That the Range Is Overstocked and Livestock Numbers Should Be Reduced? We have previously stressed that traditional grazing systems designed to favor native perennial grasses (such as providing a complete rest or defer grazing until after seed ripe) favor cheatgrass just as much as or more than they favor the perennial grasses. The critical time in cheatgrass grazing management is the period between the maturity of cheatgrass and the maturity of the native perennial grasses. Once the cheatgrass is mature, native perennial grasses that are still green are selectively overgrazed by cattle. If the density of native perennials is low, even low levels of trespass grazing are sufficient to selectively over-utilize the native perennial grasses. Trespass grazing following a wildfire makes a mockery of the 2-year grazing exclusion policy, which already is a scientific mockery if the sites are already dominated by cheatgrass (Figure 3). If on the first of August you look across a former big sagebrush/bunchgrass landscape and it is an apparent solid stand of cheatgrass waving in the breeze,  30 FEBRUARY 2019
FIGURE 3
Landscape dominated by cheatgrass that is in its second year of rest following a wildfire. This type of management ensures further fuel buildups and increased wildfire frequencies detrimental to adjacent grazing and wildlife habitats.
it is not a symptom of excessive grazing, but a symptom of gross, near-criminal negligence in management. Criminal, because management has permitted a fuel load that endangers human life and property as well as exposing an entire landscape to the continued cycle of cheatgrass-fueled wildfires and environmental degradation. If ranchers and land managers are going to graze cheatgrass, they must have the flexibility to adjust existing grazing systems to fit the actual forage production on a given year without the expensive and timeconsuming preparation of a new Environmental Assessment. Alternatively, the original assessment should be prepared to take into account both years when there is no cheatgrass and years when it is super abundant. Failing to break a rest-rotation grazing system to completely rest a unit with a predominance of native perennial grasses on a year when a cheatgrass-dominated pasture has sufficient forage production to sustain the livestock is poor management. What Would Fleming Say About Nevada Rangelands Today? It is safe to say Fleming would be appalled. Appalled because the questions he asked in 1946 are still in the debate-no action stage. Appalled because the scale and magnitude of the conversion of big and low sagebrush and salt desert plant communities from native species to exotic annual dominance is so overwhelming. In the mid-1960s, the brilliant and flamboyant plant physiologist Fritz Went stated that the problem with cheatgrass dominance of Nevada rangelands was that the communities are so open to invasion. At the time of his statement, Joe Robertson had already shown through analysis in field experiments that cheatgrass closed communities to the recruitment of seedlings of perennial species. Fritz Went envisioned that other exotic annual species could successfully invade cheatgrass communities. Bur buttercup, medusahead, a second species of Russian thistle, numerous species of mustard, annual kochia, annual wheatgrass, and halogeton have shown the validity of Went's prediction. He carried it a step farther by predicting that cheatgrass, for all its landscape-level dominance, was a transitory issue and its replacement species would make cheatgrass appear as a highly desirable forage species. The question for 21st century range scientists, managers, and any citizen concerned with environmental quality, is how we manage cheatgrass-dominated ranges to maintain cheatgrass dominance if society is not willing to spend the necessary funds for research and development and implementation to convert the ranges back to a perennial grasses.
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Agriculture and Natural Resources Livestock Health Series
Trichomoniasis in Cattle
by Jeremy Powell Associate Professor and Veterinarian by Tom Troxel Professor and Associate Department Head Animal Science
Introduction Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as “trich,” is a venereal disease of cattle caused by a protozoa organism, Tritrichomonas foetus. This small, motile organism is found only in the reproductive tract of infected bulls and cows. Infected cattle can lead to major economic losses due to infertility, low pregnancy rates, an extended calving season, diminished calf crops and occasional abortions in pregnant cows and heifers. It can also be very costly to eradicate from a herd. Trich is not a human health issue, but it is currently a reportable disease in Arkansas.
Transmission and Clinical Signs Trich is transmitted from an infected bull to the cow’s reproductive tract during breeding and then migrates to the uterus. Infected cows will experience infertility and early embryonic death, causing the cow to return to estrus (heat) and subsequently leading to poor pregnancy rates and an extended breeding season. This disease causes very few outward signs in infected cows or bulls. An infected cow may show a very subtle, mild vaginal discharge 1 to 3 weeks after becoming infected, but in many cases no outward signs are apparent. Obviously, these signs can easily go unnoticed; therefore, trich can be present in a herd for a considerable time before it is suspected and diagnosed. Repeat breeding or infertility of individual cows can last up to 5 months. The reason for the open or late cows is that the organism causes the loss of the calf a few weeks into the pregnancy. The majority of infected cows will clear the infection if given 120 to 150 days of sexual rest. Most cows will eventually settle, if given enough time, but their immunity to the disease is weak; therefore, they can be reinfected the next season.
Figure 2. Growth media packet and sampling pipette used to collect sample from bullʼs sheath.
Treatment and Prevention Currently, there is no approved treatment for cattle infected with trichomoniasis. However, cattle producers can do a lot to protect their herds from a trichomoniasis outbreak. • When purchasing bulls, purchase virgin bulls if possible. • If purchasing a bull that has prior breeding experience, or if you are renting or borrowing a bull for breeding, then isolate the bull and have it tested for trich before turning the bull out with the cows. • If you suspect a problem in your herd, test your current bull battery. Any positive bulls should be culled and sold for slaughter only. • Keep the neighbor’s bull out of your cow pasture. You don’t know if he may be a carrier of the disease.
Figure 1. Trichomoniasis typically affects older, experienced bulls.
An infected bull has virtually no outward signs of infection, but the bull is the main source of transmission for the herd. In bulls, the organism lives on the tissue lining of the penis and preputial sheath. Once infected, bulls (especially bulls over 4 years of age) often stay infected for life. Trich typically gets introduced into a herd by the introduction of one infected animal, an infected bull.
Diagnosis In spite of the fact that bulls do not show clinical signs of infection, the organism is easier to find in bulls than in cows. This is because bulls become long-term “carriers” of the disease while cows eventually shed the infection. Two weeks of sexual rest is recommended before a bull is tested. This allows the organisms time to build up to a detectable level. A wash and scrapings from inside the preputial sheath are collected and placed into special growth media. This sample can be used for two types of test: a culture test or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Confirmation of infection can be identified by three separate culture tests (weekly intervals) or one PCR test. For more information about testing, contact your local veterinarian.
• Pregnancy check cows in a timely manner after the breeding season to identify a potential problem early. • When purchasing females, purchase virgin heifers and/or cows from a reputable source. • Keep fences in good repair to prevent accidental contact with potentially infected cattle. Monitor traffic in and out of the herd. • Keep good records of a herd’s reproductive efficiency. The records can help identify a possible problem. • Maintain a defined breeding season, perform pregnancy exams and cull open cows. A vaccine is available to aid the control and prevention of this disease. The vaccine can be useful in cows but does not protect bulls from becoming infected. Vaccination requires two injections, typically administered 2 to 4 weeks apart. Consult with your veterinarian when starting a trichomoniasis vaccination program for your herd.
Breeding Bull Shipment Regulations Cattle producers should be aware of trichomoniasis testing requirements prior to mov ing cattle. The Arkan sas Livestock and Poultry Commission is the governing body that sets and enforces such requirements. For the current trichomoniasis testing movement requirements, contact the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission (www.arlpc.org) or your local veterinarian.
JEREMY POWELL, DVM, Ph.D., is associate professor and veterinarian with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Fayetteville. TOM TROXEL, Ph.D., is professor and associate department head - animal science with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Little Rock. Originally printed by the University of ArkansansCooperative Extention Service Printing Services FSA3132-PD-6-11N www.progressiverancher.com
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FEBRUARY 2019 31
UCD VET VIEWS THE CALIFORNIA TRICHOMONIASIS CONTROL PROGRAM by John Maas, DVM, MS Diplomate, ACVN & ACVIM, Extension Veterinarian July 5, 2012 - The local cattlemen’s association has been mailed a draft trichomoniasis control program for California. This draft program is the product of over four years of work by the CCA’s Trichomoniasis Working Group. The state legislation necessary to enable this program was passed last year and signed in law (AB 1782). This legislation was sponsored by CCA and not only included the provisions for a Trichomoniasis control program, it also established a cattle health advisory board that will directly advise the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on matters of importance to cattlemen and their livestock. Please take the opportunity to review the draft program and make comments to your local association, the CCA, or through other appropriate channels. The draft document has the following general features: 1. The routine testing of California bulls will continue to be on a voluntary basis. 2. Education of veterinarians and producers will be an important feature of the program. 3. Veterinarians will be certified for purposes of taking samples from bulls. This will help standardize this procedure on a statewide basis. 4. All laboratories processing the samples and reading the tests will be certified. 5. All positive samples will be confirmed at the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory (CAHFS). The confirmatory test costs will be funded by the CDFA. 6. Confirmed positive herds will be notified and the CDFA Animal Health Branch will also be notified. Additionally, CDFA veterinarians will notify owners of neighboring herds. Test positive bulls will be individually identified. 7. The disposition of test positive bulls will be standardized and the working group has identified two possible options. Only one option will eventually be part of the rule.
2. Bulls should be sexually rested before testing; otherwise, false negative tests (test is negative when the bull is a positive carrier) are likely. Breeding removes most of the organisms from the bull’s reproductive tract and the test is negative. It is recommended that bulls be sexually rested at least 10 days before testing. 3. False positive test results do occur, particularly important in young bulls or virgin bulls. Therefore, confirmation of positive test results is necessary. Prevention of Trichomoniasis
1. The current Trichomoniasis vaccines do not prevent infection of the bull, the cows, or the herd. The vaccines cause the cow to clear the infection much faster after they have become infected with the Trichomoniasis organism. The vaccine is helpful in reducing economic losses in infected herds or at-risk herds. 2. Prevention requires a coordinated program to be successful. There is no one easy answer. A large number of options for Trichomoniasis control programs were discussed at the workgroup meetings. There was not a large amount of support for mandatory testing of all bulls in the state on a yearly basis, as is done in the Idaho control program. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the draft program are listed below.
• Education
An educational effort aimed at cow-calf producers, purebred producers, veterinarians, and bull sales organizations will be initiated. This program will be patterned after the CCA Quality Assurance Program. Current factual information will be organized into a standardized educational program. When a local association wishes to put on a Trichomoniasis educational program, this material will be available. Advantages: relatively inexpensive, voluntary program, no regulations involved.
A. Bulls sold at public auction must have an official negative test report or must be sold for slaughter only.
Disadvantages: the people whose cattle may be spreading the disease may not show up for the educational programs.
B. Bulls sold at public auction must have an official negative test report or must be sold as "Maximum Potential Risk" of having Trichomoniasis.
1. Bulls imported into California must be tested negative for Trichomoniasis prior to entering the state. There will be a few exemptions for this rule (commuter bulls in pasture-to-pasture permit herds, bulls for AI studs, rodeo or exhibition bulls). 2. The cattle industry will review the entire program on a yearly basis and make recommendations for revising or eliminating the program. The workgroup focused on developing coordinated options for the control of Trichomoniasis that are based on sound scientific information, that will have the possibility for widespread producer support, will have identifiable benefits, and when implemented, will reduce Trichomoniasis in beef cattle in California. Several interesting facts were brought out during the discussions that are listed below. Transmission of Trichomoniasis
1. In a 1990 survey of beef herds in California, approximately 16% of the herds were found to be infected and larger herds were more likely to be infected than smaller herds. Current levels of Trichomoniasis in California herds are not known. 2. Bulls can become infected within as little as 24 hours of breeding an infected cow. 3. Leasing, buying, and/or borrowing mature bulls of unknown Trichomoniasis history is very risky in terms of introducing Trichomoniasis into a herd. Diagnosis of Trichomoniasis
1. Current methods of sampling and culturing bulls for Trichomoniasis identify about 90% of the positive bulls on the first test. 32 FEBRUARY 2019
• Voluntary Testing/Reportable Disease
Confirmed positive test results would be reported to the owner, the veterinarian, the CDFA, and neighboring herds. Advantages: relatively inexpensive, voluntary program with the exception of reporting and notification of neighbors, data could be used to prioritize Trichomoniasis disease research, data could be used to track the progress of preventive programs on a statewide or local basis, neighbors would be notified of positive results so they could consider testing to identify Trichomoniasis in their herds at a much earlier time than would occur normally. This would be an economic advantage for neighboring herds. Disadvantages: Veterinarians or laboratories would have to report positive results, CDFA would take action to notify neighbors of positive herds and this could have a negative impact on herds with Trichomoniasis.
• Mandatory Testing of Imported Bulls
Bulls coming into California would have to be tested for Trichomoniasis. There would be some exemptions to the testing requirements, i.e., young bulls (< 18 months old), rodeo bulls, bulls for studs, commuter bulls, etc. Advantages: Keep positive bulls from coming into state. Disadvantages: Mandatory testing of bulls, possible problems with certification of testing methods and laboratories in other states. Please take the time to review the proposal sent to your local association. Your comments and suggestions are very important. Contact Susan LaGrande at CCA headquarters, your local association officers, or me ( John Maas) with your ideas, comments and suggestions for improvement.
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ag animal health spotlight VETERINARY MEDICINE EXTENSION
Ten Facts about Trichomoniasis in Cattle
by Ram Kasimanickam, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. Theriogenology, Dept. Veterinary Clinical Sciences
1. Trichomoniasis is an economically important venereal disease of cattle that is characterized by reduced calf crop and weaning weight due to a large number of open cows and a prolonged breeding season. 2. Trichomoniasis is caused by Tritrichomonas fetus, a microscopic flagellated protozoan parasite, confined to the reproductive tract of the infected animal. It is transmitted from infected bulls to heifers or cows at the time of breeding [1,2]. 3. The parasite transmission rate from male to female at breeding may be as high as 42% [3,4], which means there can be a 42% loss of the calf crop. Affected bulls carry the protozoa in their preputial sheath and penis. The affected cows harbor the organism in the vagina and uterus. 4. The affected bull shows no clinical signs. The parasite does not affect semen quality or sexual behavior. The infected bull breeds cows as normal bulls do and transmits the infection during breeding. 5. In cows, the “Trich” problem presents in two forms. In the first, the affected cow may become pregnant, undergoes early embryonic death and cycles regularly without showing any signs. In this scenario the “Trich” problem is realized only at pregnancy diagnosis with the higher number of open cows than normal. In the other form, the affected cow cycles regularly and builds immunity after 3 cycles. The immunity is short lived and cows can get reinfected and abort during 1/3rd to mid-gestation if they become pregnant [5]. In both forms cows may develop pyometra (a pus-filled uterus with no signs of cycling), another sign that can be observed at pregnancy diagnosis. 6. Due to the fact that the affected bulls show no clinical signs, it is very hard to say if a bull is free of “Trich” without testing. A definitive diagnosis requires the identification of parasites in infected bulls [3,6]. To diagnose the disease, a preputial secretion sample is taken from the bull. The preputial sample is stored in a special media and sent to a veterinary diagnostic lab for a culture or a PCR test [6]. In the state of Washington, only certified veterinarians may take and submit “official” trichomoniasis test samples. 7 It is very important that all producers need to test their bulls to keep this disease away from the herd and away from the area. Neighbor’s non tested bulls, addition of new bulls without testing, commingling of cows with no known history, and retaining open cows for next breeding season were the reasons blamed for “Trich” problem [7]. 8 No treatment is available for bovine trichomoniasis which makes identifying bulls with trichomoniasis well before breeding season vital. Remember by the time the clinical signs observed in cows the disease is already well spread in the herd. So it is crucial to test the bull before breeding season. 9 Given lack of legal treatment and lifelong nature of most bull infections, test and slaughter of infected bulls is recommended. Other recommendations include but are not limited to: • • • • •
Test incoming bulls, heifers and cows Cull open cows Maintain good fence Comingle cows with known history Replace old bulls with young bulls
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10. Cost benefit: According to the 2008 survey from Colorado for a producer with 100 cow herd, uses 5 bulls (1:20 bull:cow ratio), and lives 75 miles from a veterinary clinic will pay $2.93/cow to test all 5 herd bulls for “Trich” [7]. He will pay an additional $1.50/cow for a bull Breeding Soundness Exam on the herd bulls (The bull breeding soundness exam help identify bulls with satisfactory breeding potential). The total cost is $4.43/ cow for “Trich”testing and Breeding Sound Exams. Considering the risk of reduced calf crop and weaning weight at the end of breeding season, the cost per cow for bull “Trich” testing during breeding soundness exams of the bulls is a “good investment”. Make an appointment with a veterinarian and test your bull for “Trich” and have fewer worries and a more profitable breeding season.
Key Points • Trichomoniasis is a parasite spread during breeding from infected bull to cow and infected cow to bull • Cows can lose their pregnancies resulting in a varied breeding season and low calf crop • The only way to prevent entry into a herd is through testing of bulls before breeding • In WA, only certified veterinarians can take official “trich” samples
Trich testing make economic sense
References:
1 Kimsey, P.B. Bovine trichomoniasis. In: Morrow, D.A. (Ed.): Current Therapy in Theriogenology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders 1986, pp. 275:9.
2 Bartlett DE. Trichomonas foetus infection and bovine reproduction. Am J Vet Res. 1947;8(29):343:52. 3. BonDurant RH. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of trichomoniasis in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 1997;13(2):345:61. 4. http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2000/spring/bv.shtml
5 Corbeil LB, Anderson ML, Corbeil RR, Eddow JM, BonDurant RH. Female reproductive tract immunity in bovine trichomoniasis. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1998;39(3):189:98.
6. BonDurant RH, Campero CM, Anderson ML, Van Hoosear KA. Detection of Tritrichomonas foetus by polymerase chain reaction in cultured isolates, cervicovaginal mucus, and formalin-fixed tissues from infected heifers and fetuses. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2003;15(6):579:84. 7 Striegel N, Ellis R, Deering J. Trichomoniasis Prevention: The Cost per Cow to Prevent. Fact sheet, CSU Extension, 2008;1.628
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FEBRUARY 2019 33
GREENWAY’S
GRAZING CORN Gra Yearl ze 1500 130 A ings on a c for 30re Pivot Days
Per n i a G s. of N) 3.5 lb (69% TD e* Day t. Cattl 5-7 w * Jesse Norcutt, Currant, NV
Greenway Seeds Grazing Corn (GX80) is the No. 1 grazing corn in the nation because it is 5-6 days earlier than the competition. This allows the rancher to plant 5-6 days later and still reach peak sugar content (pre tassel) before the frost shuts you down!
OVERSEED ALFALFA with Grazing Corn
Plant with a grain drill following second cutting on an older field of alfalfa. Ready to graze in early September. “We planted GX80 following second cut alfalfa. If we had to do that over we would follow third cut. We grazed 400 head for two weeks on 20 acres” Cory Veterre - Greenriver, Utah
HERE’S WHAT RANCHERS ARE SAYING Coffin Butte Farm and Ranch - New Leitzigg, ND We planted 400 acres on dryland and turned out 800 pair. We grazed it from Oct. 20 to Nov. 24. The cows ate the corn almost to the ground. The corn was 7-1/2 ft. tall. The program was a success!
Garry Hess - McBride Cattle Co. - Alderville, WA We planted two pivots and grazed mother cows. Their body index rose from 5 to 6. It was incredible feed! My recommendation is to graze calves on this product. The weight gain would be tremendous!
Bob Strahley - McCook, NE We planted 105 acres on dryland and divided it into three 35 acre parcels. Two hundred head of bred cows were grazed on each parcel for about two weeks each. The corn was about 5 ft tall on the dryland acreage.
Winecup-Gamble Ranch - Montello, NV We planted GX80 on July 4 at 4900 ft. elevation. Corn made it by the second week of September. Very successful. We’re planting more.
Alan Greenway Seedsman
Greenway Seeds Caldwell, Idaho
www.greenwayseedandindustries.com Over 40 years Experience
Alan cell: 208-250-0159 Message: 208-454-8342
$58 per Bag - Free Shipping on 2000 lbs. or more! 34 FEBRUARY 2019
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By Dr. Bob Larson, Professor of Production Medicine Beltway Beef Podcast: Danielle Beck Discusses the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Top 5 Ways To Prevent & Manage Calf Scours 5. Identify sick calves as soon as possible so that you can remove them from contact with other calves and to treat them appropriately with fluids as directed by your veterinarian.
In this week's podcast, NCBA's Danielle Beck discusses the new Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that was announced on Thursday, and why the upcoming update of the federal government's Dietary Guidelines is important for cattle producers. Visit: http://www.beefusa.org/audionews.aspx?NewsID=6887 to listen to or download this podcast.
4. Make sure that cows calve in adequate body condition (Body Condition Score of 5 or 6) to ensure that each cow has a sufficient quantity of good quality colostrum.
3. Make sure that cows don’t congregate in one area of the pasture and create an extremely muddy environment for calves. Even if placed in a large pasture, cows will congregate near the feed and water and calves won’t spend time in the parts of the pasture that are clean. As much as possible, separate water sources and feed source and move bale rings frequently or unroll hay in a different part of the calving or nursery pasture each day so that cows and their calves spend time in the cleanest parts of the pasture. 2. Separate older calves from younger calves. Calves are at greatest risk for scours during the first three weeks of life and become fairly resistant by six to eight weeks of age. Even though older calves are not as likely to become sick with scours, they still shed a lot of the germs that cause scours and are a major source of germs to the susceptible young calves. Using several nursery pastures so that each pasture only contains calves of similar age greatly decreases the risk of calf scours.
1. Make every week like the first week of the calving season for as many cows as possible. The Sandhills Calving System recommends that enough calving pastures are available so that once a week all of the cows that calved that week are left in the pasture with their calves and all the cows that have not calved yet are moved to a new, clean pasture. In this system, calves born every week of the calving season are protected from exposed to older calves and are born on clean ground. Although starting new calving pastures each week is ideal, if you don’t have enough pastures to implement the full Sandhills System, starting new calving pastures by moving pregnant cows away from cow-calf pairs every two, or three, or even every four weeks will result in as many calves being born in the first week of their calving pasture as possible. www.progressiverancher.com
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FEBRUARY 2019 35
Showing Your Horse • Use your own trailer. Don’t ship your horses with horses from other farms. • Ship only in a trailer that has been cleaned and disinfected. If you can “smell horse” in the empty trailer, it has not been cleaned and disinfected properly. United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
BIOSECURITY The Key to Keeping Your Horses Healthy Biosecurity means doing everything you can to reduce the chances of an infectious disease being carried onto your farm by people, animals, equipment, or vehicles, either accidentally or on purpose.
• Don’t let your horse touch other horses, especially nose to nose. • Don’t share equipment (e.g., water, feed buckets, brushes, or sponges). • Wash your hands, especially after helping other people with their horses. • Don’t let strangers pet your horse, especially those with horses at home or people who have been out of the country in the past 2 weeks. • Before leaving the show grounds, clean and disinfect tack, boots, equipment, and grooming supplies. Brush off dirt or manure; then disinfect (spray or wipes are easy to take with you).
• It is best to have only one way into your farm. Mark this as the main entrance. • Park away from the horses. Doing that will help keep disease-carrying organisms from being tracked from car floors or tires to your horses. • If the farrier or veterinarian needs to park closer, be sure their tires and shoes have been disinfected. • Ask all visitors to wear clean clothes and shoes. Give visitors plastic shoe covers, or brush dirt off their shoes and spray them with disinfectant. • If you have many visitors, such as at a farm tour or open house, make a footbath for them to walk through. (See following page for instructions on how to make a footbath)
• When you get home, shower, blow your nose, and put on clean clothes and shoes before going near other horses.
Visiting Other Farms, Horse Shows, or Auctions • Have a pair of shoes or boots that you save for visiting and don’t wear around your own horse. • Wear plastic shoe covers. Plastic bags from newspapers work well. • If you are going to be working with horses on another farm, wear coveralls or plan to change clothes before returning to your horse. • If there are farms you visit all the time and you can’t change clothes and shoes, be sure their vaccination program and biosecurity practices are as good as your own.
Bringing Horses Back From a Show
Bringing in New Horses NOTE: This is the most likely way for infectious diseases to come in to your ranch.
• Keep every new horse isolated for 30 days. Don’t use pitchforks, grooming tools, or feed and water buckets on any horse but the new one. Mark these with red tape, or use red brushes, etc., only for the isolation area.
• If one horse has been shown, all your horses need to be vaccinated. Horses that show can bring home germs. Discuss what vaccinations the horses need, and how often, with your veterinarian.
• Work with the isolated horse last each day. Alternatively, wear boots and coveralls when working with the isolated horse and remove them before working or going near other horses. You can keep these in a plastic-covered tub near the horse.
• If possible, keep horses which were off the farm isolated for at least 2 weeks. Make sure there is no nose-to-nose contact.
• Always wash your hands and blow your nose after working with the new horse. You could carry germs to your other horses in your nose.
YOU Are the Best
APHIS photos by Norman Watkins and R. Anson Eaglin.
36 FEBRUARY 2019
For Visitors to Your Farm or Horse
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State veterinarian urges horse owners to travel with caution Two cases of equine infection known as “strangles” reported in Clark County After two positive confirmations of streptococcus equi bacterial infection (aka strangles or equine distemper) and several likely positives on one property in Clark County, Dr. JJ Goicoechea, state veterinarian for the NDA, stresses the importance of best biosecurity practices to minimize the risk of spreading disease.
veterinarians and associations when we have new cases,” Dr. Goicoechea said. “We haven’t issued any quarantine orders, but our primary focus is stopping the spread of disease, especially as we approach horse show and event season in the west.”
Biosecurity means doing everything possible to reduce “To date, only one facility is affected, and I have chances of an infectious disease being transferred by recommended a 21-day hold – no horses in or out of that people, animals, equipment or vehicles. The bacteria facility, beginning Feb. 20, to slow the spread of disease,” that causes strangles is easily transferred on boots, coats, Dr. Goicoechea said. gloves and equipment. Some basic practices include: Per Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) Chapter 571.160, • Never share equipment between horses; always wear details regarding animal disease reports must be kept clean clothes when going from ill horses to others. confidential unless there is a public health risk. Because strangles cannot be transferred from horses to humans, • Always start chores at healthy horses and end with sick or recovering (within 30 days) horses. there is no such risk at this time. “It is not uncommon to see cases of upper respiratory diseases in horses this time of year, and we notify local
• Avoid common areas such as hitching rails, wash racks, etc. during an outbreak.
Using Disinfectants
“Please monitor your horses for symptoms including a cough or runny nose and consult with your veterinarian to ensure vaccinations are current,” Dr. Goicoechea said. “If you suspect your horse may be exhibiting signs of illness, contact your veterinarian and do not allow contact with other horses.” Per NRS Chapter 571.160, any animal owner or practicing veterinarian who has knowledge of a confirmed case of a reportable disease, shall immediately notify the NDA Animal Disease Laboratory. A list of reportable diseases can be found at agri.nv.gov.
You will need:
Surfaces must be clean for disinfectants to work. Brush off loose dirt and manure. If possible, wash the item with detergent first (laundry or dish soap works well) and then use a disinfectant. Most grooming tools can be dipped in disinfectant. Tack can be wiped with a disinfectant wipe or a disinfectant-dampened cloth. Shoes can be brushed or scrubbed off and then sprayed with disinfectant. Household Bleach: Mix ¾ cup of bleach per gallon of water (ie, mix 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.) This formula works for shoes, grooming equipment, buckets, shovels, and pitchforks. When you use bleach, make sure all dirt and manure have been cleaned off first.
Nevada State Veterinarian
Making an Easy Footbath
How To Disinfect
Examples of Disinfectants
Dr. JJ Goicoechea, DVM
1. A low plastic pan or bin, wide enough to fit an adult’s foot, shallow enough to step into easily 2. A plastic doormat (the “fake grass” mats work well)
Waterless Hand Sanitizers: They come in gels or hand wipes. These are good for use at a show or after visiting other horses. Be sure to work the cleaner all through your fingers and under the nails.
Other Disinfectants: Always mix and use according to the label. Two examples are One Stroke Environ® (available from Steris Corporation) and Tek-trol® Spray Disinfectant: Be sure the label says it kills (from Bio-Tek Industries). These work well even if bacteria and viruses. Sprays can work well on shoes, there is a little manure or dirt left on the surface. grooming equipment, and tack. Try to remove all These are good choices for disinfecting trailers and manure and dirt before spraying. car tires, and they also work well in footbaths. Note: Trade names used in this publication do not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty of these products. USDA bears no responsibility resulting from the use of the described products. These procedures are not guaranteed to prevent highly contagious diseases from affecting your horses; however, they will reduce the risks.
3. A disinfectant that works when manure or dirt is present, such as Tek-trol or One Stroke Environ 4. Water
Mix the disinfectant with water following label instructions. Put the doormat in the plastic pan. Add disinfectant so that the bottom of the “grass” is wet.
Ask visitors to walk through the footbath, wiping their feet on the mat. The “grass” scrubs their shoes a bit as they wipe them, and applies the disinfectant. When the liquid starts to get dirty, empty it and put in new disinfectant.
Protection Your Horses Have www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 37
Smooth Bellingrath
2016 NRCHA DERBY OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION 2018 RENO SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY OPEN TWO REIN CHAMPION
LTE: $101,780+ SMOOTH BELLINGRATH Smooth As A Cat x Very Special Peppy (by Peppy San Badger)
Standing at Triple D Ranches LLC Dyer, Nevada
NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finalist NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Finalist NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Hackamore Champion NSHA Futurity Open Hackamore Champion NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Hackamore Reserve Champion NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Reserve Champion NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Two Rein Reserve Champion
Trained & Shown by Nick Dowers Owned by Triple D Ranches LLC
38 FEBRUARY 2019
The Progressive Rancher
Colt 76 Company
Nick & Jackie Dowers (775) 813-0241 DowersColt76@gmail.com
PHOTO BY: ROSS HECOX
Pasture Breeding Fee $2500
2011 AQHA Stallion
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It matters who you work sun-up to sun-down with.
IT MATTERS WHO YOU BANK WITH.
The load is lightened when you work with someone you trust. That’s why Nevada State Bank works alongside you on everything from equipment financing and operating lines to livestock purchases and real estate.* Our agriculture specialist, John Hays, is here for you—and he’s already got his sleeves rolled up. *Subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply. A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
John Hays
Agricultural Banking Specialist
®
nsbank.com | 775.393.2376 www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 39
Churchill County Cowbelles Update By Pegi Witte Thanks to all who supported the 2019 Fallon Bull Sale Dinner and Dance.
Special thanks to Ted Guazzini for donating the fee for the barbeque, and his crew for cooking the delicious tri-tip! As usual thanks to the FFA students who pitch in each year to help serve and clean up, making the evening for the Cowbelle ladies more enjoyable. It goes without saying that we appreciate each and every one who attends the dinner/dance, consignors, buyers, and locals. As President of Churchill County Cowbelles I’d like to thank each and every member of our group for their enthusiastic participation in making this event a huge success year after year. It is our pleasure and purpose to support the Nevada Cattlemens Association, as well as other aspects of agriculture. The monies from this event will soon be in the hands of local highschool students in the form of scholarships to assist them as they further their education on a path towards an agricultural career.
Looking forward, we wish all a Spring of healthy young livestock, water to grow the feed that livestock, and time to appreciate the change of seasons. Blue skies and wild flowers are definitely on the way!
Photo 1) Left to right: Carla Pomeroy, Sue Frey, Peg Witte Sue Frey was awarded the Churchill County Cowbelle of the year award. Photos 2 & 3 ) The Churchill County Cowbelles put on a Tri-Tip feast for the 2019 Fallon Bull Sale
Our Favorite Beef Recipes This Mongolian beef tastes like something you’d order at your favorite Chinese restaurant, with all the convenience of making it yourself at home. If you love Chinese food, this is a must try. TIP: Cook a pot of rice at the same time you start the stir fry so that everything is done at the same time! This is a perfect dinner for super busy nights. 40 FEBRUARY 2019
30 Minute Mongolian Beef INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 lbs flank steak thinly sliced 1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons cornstarch divided use 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/3 cup water 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup green onions cut into 1 inch pieces salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS Place the flank steak and 1/4 cup cornstarch in a resealable plastic bag, shake to coat evenly. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the meat in a single layer and season to taste with salt and pepper (keeping in mind the sauce has plenty of salt in it!). Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Cook in multiple batches if needed. Remove the meat from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 30 seconds. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, water and brown sugar to the pan and bring to a simmer. Mix the 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water. Add the cornstarch to the sauce and bring to a boil; boil for 30-60 seconds until just thickened. Add the meat and green onions to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Serve over rice if desired. Nutrition Facts Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1400mg | Potassium: 615mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 2.5% | Vitamin C: 2.8% | Calcium: 6.7% | Iron: 18.5%
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This year American AgCredit increased our cash patronage distribution to a full 1%, resulting in a record $86 million cash back to our loyal members — $26 million more than 2017.
IT PAYS TO BE A MEMBER.
Find out how it works at AgLoan.com/patronage or call us at 800.800.4865 A part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender.
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The Progressive Rancher
FEBRUARY 2019 41
Carey Hawkins
Jack Payne
208-724-6712
Archie Osborne 775-397-3645
OFFICE: 775-423-7760
Full-Service Cattle Sales & Marketing - serving Fallon, Nevada and the Outlying Areas.
NEXT FEEDER SALE March 21 • 11:30am
The Feeder sale in April will be held April 17 in conjunction with the regular Wednesday sale.
SPECIAL
COW-CALF PAIR SALE May 16, 2019 “Where the Ranchers Shop” NEVADA LIVESTOCK VET SUPPLY, LLC Store Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm 131 Industrial Way • Fallon, NV 89406 • 775-624-4996
FEBRUARY FEEDER SALE RESULTS Type # Head Desc Weight Price CWT
Location
STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR
Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Round Mountain, NV Round Mountain, NV Spring Creek, NV Spring Creek, NV Orovada, NV Orovada, NV Jordan Valley, OR Jordan Valley, OR Elko, NV Elko, NV Elko, NV Dammeron Valley, UT Dammeron Valley, UT Winnemucca, NV Pioche, NV Ely, NV Ely, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV
1 36 11 14 3 4 13 26 24 11 6 8 7 74 24 14 17 5 23 11 11 4 9
CHAR MIX BLK MIX BLK MIX MIX MIX BLK BLK CHAR CHAR BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK MIX BLK BLK
328 328 403 440 302 419 276 383 389 635 333 466 346 446 571 385 581 318 448 377 389 440 390
Cell: 775-217-9273 Alt: 775-225-8889
222.5 222.5 190 178.5 216 202 216 187 212 160.5 212 193 210.5 204 171 210.5 157 206 205 204.5 197 204 203
42 FEBRUARY 2019
Name Emily Payne Juniper Mountain Cattle Juniper Mountain Cattle Juniper Mountain Cattle Puggy Puggy Harold Rother Farms Harold Rother Farms Kirk Mader Kirk Mader Williams Charlois Ranch Williams Charlois Ranch Devils Gate Ranch Devils Gate Ranch Devils Gate Ranch Colvin & Son Colvin & Son James Thompson Geyser Cattle John Uhalde John Uhalde Nevada Livestock Marketing Nevada Livestock Marketing
At Nevada Livestock Marketing We want to say THANK YOU to the 125 consignors who sold 3550 head at the February 21st sale. Out of state buyer participation was excellent. Most of the cattle went to California as expected but several loads went to Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Nebraska. As you can see by the market report 450 pound feeders net back nearly the same $’s per head as 7 & 8 weights. We all know how much it costs to put 300 pounds on a 450 pound feeder so it’s difficult to understand why this happens. Timing is everything on the fat cattle market and cattle that currently weigh 700 to 900 pounds are finished out at a less than opportune time when trying to hit the annual peak price for fats. Everyone tries to target April/May fats and it makes me think that this will flood the market but that’s rarely the case. Another major factor holding the big cattle down is the weather in the Midwest. Feedlots continue to ship fats as they are ready but are not replacing them with 650 to 900 pounders because their pen conditions are so bad. As the weather begins to straighten up look for big cattle prices to jump considerably. Grass cattle continue to be in high demand and finally the gap between heifers and steers has closed. Heifers were as much as $20 higher this month than in January. Butcher cow and bull prices are creeping up slowly. Hopefully supplies will shorten up soon and slaughter cow and bull prices will increase from the 1970s’s price range. Another feeder sale is shaping up for March 21st. Early consignment totals around 1500 so we should have another great sale. Also, if you need bred cows and pairs we have a big sale lined up in May with at least two large herd dispersals. Thank you and hope to see you soon. Type # Head Desc Weight Price CWT
Location
STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR
Fallon, NV Diamond, OR Diamond, OR Burns, OR Gerlach, NV Gerlach, NV Tonopah, NV Round Mountain, NV Eureka, NV Eureka, NV Austin, NV Austin, NV Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Eureka, NV Eureka, NV Panaca, NV Panaca, NV Round Mountain, NV Austin, NV Tuscarora, NV Fields, OR Fallon, NV
10 12 20 3 11 5 1 9 16 83 41 14 9 21 4 1 26 14 5 1 18 16 3
BLK MIX MIX MIX BLK BLK MIX BLK MIX MIX BLK BLK BLK MIX MIX BLK BLK BBF MIX BLK BLK BLK MIX
The Progressive Rancher
642 439 598 439 428 560 419 350 378 470 442 525 411 596 470 635 461 549 439 442 477 485 328
158.5 204 164.75 204 203 168 202 200 200 195.5 195 160 197 162 195.5 154 195 166 195 195 193 192.5 191
Name Nevada Livestock Marketing Dan & Gretchen Nichols Dan & Gretchen Nichols Erik Steen John Espil John Espil Ray & Lynn Kretschmer Jonathan Young Sadler Ranch Sadler Ranch William Gandolfo William Gandolfo Robert & Daniel Gordon Robert & Daniel Gordon Levi Shoda Levi Shoda Mathews Farms Mathews Farms Randy Osterhoudt Jeannie Gandolfo Mori Ranches Nolan Edwards Robert Baker
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Type # Head Desc Weight Price CWT
Location
STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR STR HFR HFR HFR HFR HFR HFR
Orovada, NV Carlin, NV Carlin, NV Paradise Valley, NV Paradise Valley, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Silver Springs, NV McDermitt, NV Orovada, NV Alamo, NV Alamo, NV Orovada, NV Schurz, NV Winnemucca, NV Schurz, NV Paradise Valley, NV Paradise Valley, NV Paradise Valley, NV Paradise Valley, NV Carlin, NV Carlin, NV Schurz, NV Fallon, NV McDermitt, NV Lovelock, NV Austin, NV Diamond, OR Yerington, NV Fields, OR Litchfield, CA Malin, OR Jerome, ID Paradise Valley, NV Orovada, NV Fallon, NV Round Mountain, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Jiggs, NV Fallon, NV Bunkerville, NV Bunkerville, NV Bunkerville, NV Bunkerville, NV Bunkerville, NV Bunkerville, NV Yerington, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Yerington, NV Winnemucca, NV Battle Mountain, NV Lovelock, NV Fallon, NV Lake Oswego, OR Lake Oswego, OR Fallon, NV Lovelock, NV Winnemucca, NV Fallon, NV Ely, NV Ely, NV Ely, NV Fallon, NV Orovada, NV Orovada, NV
2 2 5 20 46 16 14 8 9 9 2 5 4 13 3 6 4 9 1 2 3 22 3 9 3 3 1 4 1 4 2 6 1 1 4 2 1 13 4 1 2 1 1 24 27 2 3 3 4 1 5 14 7 1 1 8 3 27 10 2 2 3 12 1 10 12 1 15 18
BLK BLK BLK MIX BLK MIX MIX MIX BLK RD MIX MIX BLK BLK BLK BLK RD BLK RD BLK BLK BLK BLK MIX MIX MIX BLK CHAR BBF BLK BBF MIX RD MIX MIX CHAR BLK MIX BLK RD MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX RD MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX BLK MIX BLK MIX BLK RBF MIX HOL BLK MIX MIX CHAR BLK MIX
363 483 483 449 575 513 686 465 487 472 489 488 504 477 458 472 545 638 545 638 549 549 487 509 352 472 420 474 515 576 595 595 570 585 633 583 535 587 668 630 633 371 534 371 534 371 534 625 690 676 676 856 706 770 770 913 860 874 945 843 645 362 394 377 425 616 317 315 459
190 189 189 188 160 187.5 137.5 185 184.5 183.5 178 178 176.5 176.5 176 175 174 145 174 145 172.5 172.5 172 171.5 171 170 170 169 167 158 156 155 154 153.5 150 150 148.5 143 143 143 142 141 140 141 140 141 140 140 138.5 137 137 131.75 135.5 130 130 129 128.5 126.5 119 123 121 102.5 71 204.5 180 152.5 201 201 168
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Name
Type # Head Desc Weight Price CWT
Henry & Deann McErquiaga Casey & Marty Jones Sestanovich Ranch Ninety Six Ranch Ninety Six Ranch Alan & Mimi Mendes Alan & Mimi Mendes James Talbot Steve Maher Todd Weagant Jake Wade Trever & Jake Wade Todd Weagant Donald Quintero Clayton Stremler Shannon Williams Robert Buckingham Robert Buckingham Ashley Buckingham Ashley Buckingham Casey & Marty Jones Sestanovich Ranch Randall Emm Timothy Lawson David Hinkey Michael & Marian Gottschalk Brady Ranch Joe Kingen Ernie Angeles Pete Casey Clyde Schrock Les Northcutt William & Laura Lickley Fredrick Stewart Judy Pichoff Janell Edgemon Daniel Berg Aaron & Donnell Williams Timothy Lawson Ira Renner Patty Daniels Arden Bundy Arden Bundy Cliven Bundy Cliven Bundy Duke & Stetsy Bundy Cox Duke & Stetsy Bundy Cox Kyle Kilby Bruce & Becky Humphrey Tanner Humphrey Michael Laca Michael Laca Alex & Rita Clark Matthew & Mary Marvel Michael & Theresa Marvel Robert & Debra Depaoli Wesley Viera Great West Capital Great West Capital Trini Guillen Jim & Suzy Estill Tim Owen Jeff Whitaker John Uhalde John Uhalde John Uhalde Michael & Claudia Casey Kirk Mader Kirk Mader
HFR 18 HFR 30 HFR 10 HFR 11 HFR 33 HFR 42 HFR 32 HFR 10 HFR 12 HFR 26 HFR 15 HFR 3 HFR 4 HFR 2 HFR 5 HFR 25 HFR 1 HFR 12 HFR 30 HFR 62 HFR 9 HFR 5 HFR 2 HFR 19 HFR 2 HFR 2 HFR 10 HFR 1 HFR 19 HFR 5 HFR 27 HFR 64 HFR 13 HFR 14 HFR 13 HFR 38 HFR 1 HFR 9 HFR 34 HFR 4 HFR 14 HFR 20 HFR 3 HFR 21 HFR 10 HFR 10 HFR 19 HFR 11 HFR 11 HFR 5 HFR 2 HFR 2 HFR 6 HFR 5 HFR 3 HFR 3 HFR 5 HFR 12 HFR 31 HFR 5 HFR 1 HFR 4 HFR 1 HFR 2 HFR 6 HFR 3 HFR 19 PRS 11/11 BRD-C 9
MIX MIX BLK MIX BLK BLK BLK RD BLK MIX MIX BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK CHAR MIX BLK BLK CHAR BLK MIX BLK BLK BLK CHAR MIX MIX BLK MIX BLK MIX CHAR RD BLK BLK BLK BLK MIX MIX MIX BLK MIX BLK BBF BLK MIX MIX BLK BLK BLK BLK MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX BLK MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX MIX CHAR BLK 3-6 YO 3&4 YO
The Progressive Rancher
408 458 487 331 511 520 399 429 423 311 421 335 344 323 465 464 310 374 467 515 403 452 441 431 400 506 413 466 466 477 481 494 513 583 608 621 515 475 494 320 518 455 506 495 572 605 597 608 554 547 630 608 564 519 650 517 574 650 706 636 302 651 645 645 487 785 920 1243 1081
188.5 181 167 187 173.25 160 186.5 186 174.5 185 167 183 180 180 160 179.5 178 177 175.25 164.75 170 170 169.5 169 169 157 168.5 168 168 167 167 165.5 165 165 154.5 149.25 164.75 164 163 161 161 160 157 157 155 149.25 147 146 143.5 142.5 142 142 141 140 140 139 137 136.25 134.75 135 135 132.5 130 130 122 120 111.5 1370 1260
Location Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Panaca, NV Panaca, NV Panaca, NV Austin, NV Fields, OR Fields, OR Spring Creek, NV Spring Creek, NV Golconda, NV Round Mountain, NV Silver Springs, NV Silver Springs, NV Tuscarora, NV Midas, NV Winnemucca, NV Juntura, OR Juntura, OR Jordan Valley, OR Schurz, NV Burns, OR Ely, NV Alamo, NV Alamo, NV Fallon, NV Gerlach, NV Gerlach, NV McDermitt, NV Carlin, NV Pioche, NV Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Winnemucca, NV Juntura, OR Round Mountain, NV Reno, NV McDermitt, NV Fallon, NV Winnemucca, NV Alamo, NV Reno, NV Fields, OR Paradise Valley, NV Diamond, OR Dyer, NV Yerington, NV Orovada, NV Fallon, NV Litchfield, CA Lovelock, NV Fallon, NV Malin, OR Jiggs, NV Winnemucca, NV Lovelock, NV Lovelock, NV Fallon, NV Bunkerville, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Fallon, NV Round Mountain, NV Fallon, NV Lake Oswego, OR Austin, NV Austin, NV
Name James Thompson James Thompson James Thompson Mathews Farms Mathews Farms Mathews Farms William Gandolfo Nolan Edwards Nolan Edwards Harold Rother Farms Harold Rother Farms FTZ Cattle Jonathan Young James Talbot James Talbot Mori Ranches Richard & Mary Bradbury Clayton Stremler Joe McKay Joe McKay Williams Charlois Ranch Randall Emm Erik Steen Cave Valley Horse & Cattle Trever & Jake Wade Trever & Jake Wade Richard Sanford Robert Barlow John Espil Steve Maher Sestanovich Ranch Geyser Cattle Robert & Daniel Gordon Battle Creek Ranch Battle Creek Ranch Battle Creek Ranch Charles Perry Randy Osterhoudt Robert Parlasca David Hinkey Timothy Lawson Gene Heckman Jake Wade Alan & Mimi Mendes Pete Casey Robert Buckingham Dan & Gretchen Nichols Rod Dowers Kyle Kilby Judy Pichoff Patty Daniels Clyde Schrock Michael & Marian Gottschalk Dennis Lee Les Northcutt Ira Renner Joe Aquiso Calvin & Billie Sample Calvin & Billie Sample David Lima Mel Bundy Bruce & Becky Humphrey Jesse Gantt James Gantt Russell Berg Boomer Ranches Great West Capital James Champie James Champie
FEBRUARY 2019 43
The same cowherd, raised on the same ranch by the same family for 100 years. March Selling
Angus Bulls and
in Bliss, Idaho Angus Females.
Spring Cove bulls are raised outside on dry range conditions, are genetically designed to provide meat, marbling and muscle and to perform in our western environment while enhancing the durability, fertility and longevity in your cowherd and in ours.
Spring Cove Crossbow 4205 Reg 17924903
Spring Cove Reno 4021 Reg 17926446
Sired by: KM Broken Bow 002 MGS: CCA Emblazon 702
CED+10 BW-.3 WW+83 YW+137 SC+1.24 Milk+32 CW+54 Marb+.80 Rib+.63 $W+97.56 $F+105.75 $B+176.70 Reno sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
Sired by : KM Broken Bow 002 MGS: CCA Emblazon 702
CED+17 BW -1.6 WW+56 YW+106 SC+.39 Milk+20 CW+53 Marb+1.00 Rib+.56 $W+48.03 $F+69.66 $B+161.59 Crossbow sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
Spring Cove Paygrade 5064 Reg 18251392 Sired by: Basin Payweight 1682 MGS: CCA Emblazon 702
CED+11 BW-.6 WW+53 YW+91 SC+.99 Milk+26 CW+36 Marb+1.07 Rib+.23 $W+62.84 $F+48.44 $B+130.55 Paygrade sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
S A V Resource 1411
Basin Bonus 4345 Reg 17904142
Sitz Longevity 556Z Reg 17179073
Sire: Connealy Final Product MGS: Woodhill Foresight
Sire: Basin Payweight 1682 MGS: Connealy Consensus 7229
Longevity sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
Bonus sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
CED+6 BEPD+.2 WEPD+60 YEPD+108 SC+1.00 Milk+30 CW+40 Marb+.80 Rib+.37 $W+67.63 $F+79.58 $B+142.71
For sale catalogs : Call: 208-352-4332 Email: info@springcoveranch.com www.springcoveranch.com
44 FEBRUARY 2019
CED+7 BEPD+1.2 WEPD+72 YEPD+125 SC+.83 MEPD+36 CW+53 Marb+1.15 Rib+.54 $W+87.94 $F+98.06 $B+160.10
Spring Cove Ranch 269 Spring Cove Rd Bliss, Idaho 83314
The Progressive Rancher
Spring Cove TL Cat D13 Reg 18582235
Sire: Basin Bonus 4345 MGS: B/R Complete 4U75-257
CED+9 BEPD+.4 WEPD+58 YEPD+103 SC+1.00 MEPD+27 CW+29 Marb+.70 Rib+.81 $W+58.45 $F+64.14 $B+119.21 D13 sons and daughters sell March 11, 2019
For more information call:
Spring Cove Ranch office: 208-352-4332 Stacy Butler’s cell & text: 208-320-8803 Find us on Facebook
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