The Progressive Rancher - SEP-OCT 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

28 UNR | Wooly Wonders

29 UNR | Celebrating UNR’s Rich Agricultural History | The Journey of the Rafter 7 Sheep

31 Nevada Today | Larry Pedrett

32 UNR | New Extension County Coordinators Boost Impact

32 UNR | Research focuses on Using Cactus Pear for Biofuel

33 UNR | Uni Starts Enrolling from Tribal College Prep Camp

35 Budd-Falen Law Offices OpEd “Founding Fathers Win Again”

36 NRCHA Priefert Cowboy Clinic Brings Top Clinicians and Working Ranchers to Fallon

38 Battle Born Broncs | Junior Roughstock Challenge Results

40 2024 Churchill County Junior Livestock Show Results

44 Cattlewomen’s Corner

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In the first part of July, Martin and I had at the opportunity to travel to San Diego, California to attend the NCBA Summer Business Meeting on behalf of NCA. It was a business trip loaded with meetings and not much else. To be honest I’m always a little hum-bugish about going to California for anything. I love the actual state but there are way too many people, liberal views and bad politics for me. I wasn’t very enthused about going but duty calls.

When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised. San Diego was nothing like I thought it would be. Great weather, clean and safe, neat atmosphere, and very few people around. Petco Park was just across the street from our motel and the old Downtown was a short walk. If you need a little vacation, I would actually recommend going to San Diego, which is something I never thought I would say. The meetings were important but basically business as usual. The policy that guides NCBA is developed by those who go to the meetings and vote, so we do our best to represent NCA and the needs of its members. Nevada is small (with the vote count) but we are mighty. We went to the old Downtown a few nights for dinner. To my amazement and satisfaction, there are a bunch of really nice, clean restaurants there, including steakhouses! There were a lot of things like that which surprised me about San Diego, but two related to our industry are of important note.

The first one was dry aged steaks. EVERYWHERE we went had dry aged steaks. They love it in San Diego, and they even have glass aging stations showcasing the process. It seemed to be a localized, cultural fad but I was into it! The image in my mind of a huge city in California is homeless camps, liberal tree huggers, and granola tofu eating vegans. Not the case where we were at; bring on a 24-ounce rare dry aged steak!

The second thing was the people there were very friendly and inquisitive. Isolated in the vast expanses of the west, we don’t understand or appreciate the value of our culture to society as a whole. The one culture that is truly American is the Cowboy. Images and folklore of the American west are mythical and I would say magical to most Americans. Wearing a cowboy hat here at home is normal. If you showed up at the Elko Fair in anything but a well-shaped cowboy hat, you would be laughed out of town. Thats our culture and we don’t even know it, but if you show up in a place like San Diego with a cowboy hat on, they know it!

People stare at you in awe, ask you if you’re a real cowboy, want to know where you are from, want to know about ranching. “Do you still ride horses? Do you still rope and brand cattle?”

Even people who raise livestock in more populated states want to know how we still do the work we do.

As ranchers, we often don’t do a very good job of telling “our story” and believe it or not, we still have a pretty good story to tell! With all the negative publicity we get from environmental groups or animal rights groups, we had better take advantage of any opportunity we get to tell that story!

So that’s My President’s Perspective for this issue: Wear the hat and tell the story. And always remember: People still love Cowboys! Thats enough writing for now; I have a hat to shape.

Hanes Holman

Hanes Holman President, NCA

by Martin Paris | NCA Executive Director | O: 775-738-9214

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Announces 89th Joint Annual Convention and Tradeshow

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association is eager to announce this year’s convention. The 89th Annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show will be held November 20-22, 2024, at the Rafter 3C Arena in Fallon, Nevada. As NCA members around the state gather in Fallon, we will celebrate a lifetime of traditions, revise, and review policies, and take a chance to enjoy our friends and neighbors.

At convention members of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, guest speakers, and vendors that provide services to the beef cattle industry will join together to celebrate the Nevada livestock industry. NCA staff and officers are working hard to provide you with a memorable and educational experience.

Registration for convention will be on our website and will also be sent out by mail and email here shortly. If you are interested in attending and would like more information, please call the office at 1-775738-9214 or email convention@nevadacattlemen. org. The forms for exhibit booths and sponsorships have been sent out. If you did not receive one of these forms and wish to, please contact us, or check out our website at nevadacattlemen.org to obtain a copy. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank all of our convention sponsors and exhibitors; they help make our event a success.

NCA’s policy committees will meet prior to convention to discuss new issues or resolutions to be proposed at convention and will also review expiring

resolutions. These meetings are the initial step in setting the Association’s policies that help guide staff, officers, and members in responding to the various issues that impact Nevada’s cattle industry. Participation in the resolution process is a great way to get involved and have your voice heard. For more information on each committee or suggestions on any new or expiring resolutions, please contact the NCA office.

To see a tentative schedule of convention, please look online at our website. We are constantly updating it. We look forward to seeing you all at convention!

AFBF Podcast Debuts with Host President Zippy Duvall and Guest Agriculture Secretary Perdue

www.fb.org/farm-bureau-news/farmside-chat-new-podcast-explores-the-many-dimensions-of-agriculture

Hosted by American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, Farmside Chat, AFBF’s new podcast, will take a closer look at modern farming in America, explore the latest agricultural innovations and bring listeners right alongside the people who are growing our food, fuel and fiber. On this monthly podcast, AFBF President Duvall will chat with farmers, leaders, and lawmakers around the country about what goes into growing a safe and sustainable food supply.

In the inaugural episode, available now, Duvall chats with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue about his mission in serving America’s farmers and ranchers, the

challenges and opportunities of modern farming, and what they both see on the horizon for U.S. agriculture.

You can access Farmside Chat several ways. The podcast is available on the AFBF website, as well as through iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Most podcast services allow you to subscribe to or follow a podcast so that when there’s a new episode, it will automatically download to the podcast platform.

• • • Hear from world renowned stockmanship clinicians and other industry experts.

Session highlights include chute-side trainings, herd health planning, cattle handling, and a chance to get BQA certified!

Full registration includes all events and meals, student pricing and oneday registration options available!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH

• Breakout sessions covering biosecurity, nutrition, and industry hot topics, including an update from Certified Angus Beef

• Live cattle handling demonstrations

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

•

•

BQA Certification and industry updates Classroom demonstrations

The Truth is in the Science

by Nevada Beef Council | Courtesy of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board

As many cattlemen and women know, some individuals, organizations and brands spread misinformation about cattle’s role in the environment. The Beef Checkoff works tirelessly to combat this message through scientifically proven research because, ultimately, the truth is in the science. For years, the Beef Checkoff has invested producer dollars into the Beef Sustainability Research Program to learn, understand and strategically communicate beef’s place in a sustainable food system.

The Beef Sustainability Research program provides consumers worldwide with proof of beef producers’ commitment to responsibly raised beef. This Checkofffunded program assesses beef sustainability using an approach that balances environmental responsibility, economic opportunity and social diligence across the beef value chain.

This research is conducted to provide science-validated sustainability indicators that serve as industry benchmarks and provide a path forward to continuous improvement. The research encompasses the entirety of the beef industry, from the birth of a calf to beef on the consumer’s plate. This research program is a proactive and innovative scientific approach to creating a sustainable beef product for a growing world population while increasing consumer confidence in beef.

WASHINGTON CREEK RANCH LANDER CO.

640 +/- acre Reese River Valley farm, 6 pivots, water rights for 500 acres, 3 mountain streams and 3 ag wells. Currently producing quality horse hay, with strong repeat customer base. Pride of ownership throughout $2,950,000 MLS #3625205

CHICKEN RANCH ELKO COUNTY

Off grid, 718 acres, 325 irrigated, 2 artesian wells flowing 300+ gpm each of 68° water. 10 wheel lines, can run 5 simultaneously on gravity flow, more w/ diesel booster pumps, corrals w/loading chute. $2,500,000 PRICE REDUCED

$1,900,000 MLS #3623335

After in-depth research, here’s what we’ve proven to be true – U.S. beef producers are leaders in the area of sustainability, and they are committed to responsibly raised beef. But how do we use these facts to help drive demand for beef?

This research provides a basis for most Checkoff-funded advertising campaigns and other initiatives. Beef’s sustainability message is then communicated to many audiences, including consumers, nutritionists, registered dietitians, the scientific community, influencers, chefs and communities abroad through a fully integrated marketing approach.

Specifically, this information is used in advertising efforts like the Checkofffunded Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. “Nicely done, beef.” campaign and Checkoffsponsored articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other consumerfacing publications. Additionally, social media, video and digital marketing efforts integrate this research in one form or another.

All of this data, research and information is available for producers on the Checkofffunded website, BeefResearch.org. This website provides information on not just beef’s place in a sustainable food system, but also beef safety, human nutrition, product quality, sustainability and market research.

WEBER RANCH LINCOLN COUNTY

120 acre off grid oasis, 40 irrigated, year round live stream and pond, 100+ mature pecan trees, solar panels with back up diesel generators, two 30’ x 100’ greenhouses. $1,750,000 MLS #3623477

ANTELOPE VALLEY FARM LANDER COUNTY

Midway between Austin and Battle Mountain, this 640 farm has 4 Zimmatic pivots, 5 ag wells, 50 X 60 shop with concrete floor and a 1,620 sf 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom manufactured home.

$2,495,000 MLS # 3624921

Smoked Tri-Tip With Grilled Corn Elote

Smoked Beef, grilled corn, delicious results. The outdoor cookout trifecta is complete with this smoked Tri-Tip recipe.

Ingredients:

TRITIP

1 beef Tri-tip Roast (3 to 4-1/2 pounds)

Spice Paste

1/3 cup olive oil

2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1 teaspoon paprika

1.5 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoon ancho chile powder

Nutrition:

GRILLED CORN ELOTE

3 ears fresh corn, husked

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro

1/2 cup Cotija cheese

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ancho chile powder

Directions:

Combine oil, salt, pepper, garlic, Chile powder and paprika in small bowl to form a paste. Spread evenly onto all surfaces of Tri-Tip.

Add wood chunks, chips or pellets to smoker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Preheat smoker to 225°F.

Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of roast, not resting in fat. Place roast in smoker, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Set timer for 2 hours depending on desired smoke flavor. Smoke roast 2 to 3 hours for medium doneness. Carefully remove roast from smoker when meat thermometer registers 135°F. Let rest for at least 10 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 145°F for medium rare, 160°F for medium. Carve roast across the grain into 1/2 inch thick slices. Serve along side grilled corn Elote.

CARVING TIP: For the best eating experience, when cutting Tri-Tip be sure to watch for the grain change while you cut. The grain does change direction towards the thicker part of the roast. Be sure to cut the opposite direction of the grain.

Grilled Corn Elote

Place corn on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, 10 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 8 to 10 minutes) turning on all sides. Remove corn and let cool. Carefully cut corn kernels from cob and set aside.

In a bowl combine, mayo, lime juice, seasoning, corn, cilantro, and cheese; let chill covered, for at least 30 minutes or over night.

Wildfires

Here is what I don’t understand about wildfire. Humans have used fire as a tool for millennia. In our era, for the last 200 years we have tried to stop wildfires because they are destructive to property and life. As a result of this thinking, there is now a whole industry related to putting fires out. But we now know native Americans used fire to clear paths especially in the deciduous eastern forest for ease of travel and creation of trade and hunting routes. Thus, just as we have disputes now about how we should treat fire, those differences of opinion have been around for a long time. We also know a great deal about what to do to repair, remediate, and restore after a fire. In spite of all this information about fire, we may be entering a time when all we can do is learn to live with fire.

There are many opinions about what humans can do to lessen the possibility of wildfires starting and becoming catastrophic. To this end there are tools available that have been tested practically and been subject to scientific research that can be implemented now. Fine fuel loads can be reduced. Forests can be thinned. Lightning storms can’t be stopped by human intervention, but they can be predicted with increasing accuracy. There are herbicides that have been developed to aid in the reduction of fine fuel loads as well.

Wildfire is a subject on many minds currently. The next Farm Bill passed by Congress will likely have policy changes and some money to help implement those changes. The insurance industry has assessed risks associated with wild land urban interface and in some cases has canceled policies and decided not to write new business in fire prone areas. This decision has caught the attention of legislators so there will be more protection efforts by policy leaders in legislatures and other local government bodies.

Every rancher using private or public ranges for forage knows prescriptive grazing by livestock is one of the best methods to reduce fine fuel loads. Annuals which, for the most part,are invasive species are good forages when timed correctly to be consumed. However, the permits on public range allotments are inflexible for timing seasons of use and the land management agencies don’t stray very often from the permitted seasons of use even when it is obvious from a ground observation the fine fuel loads could be significantly reduced by a prescriptive grazing strategy.

This, of course begs a question. Why aren’t more preventive measures employed prior to fires even starting? It just seems to me more effort and resources are brought to bear after a wildfire starts than before. Spending a fraction of the money it would take to control a hundreds of thousands acre wildfire by using some of the methods mentioned above and other defensive strategies like timber thinning, brush clearing around structures and carbon fuel sources, and being more flexible in grazing seasons of use could go a long way in reducing the severity of wildfires and possibly even preventing the explosion from a few acres to thousands of acres.

I just attended a two-day meeting in Las Vegas sponsored by the Desert research Institute, part of the University of Nevada System. The title of the conference was “Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions”. Notable in this title is no reference to “prevention.” Even so, the conference was a wealth of information and opinion about the global problem we humans face in this new age of basically constant, not seasonal, wildfire threats.

Attendance was a valuable experience for me to broaden the way I think about the subject in general, but also to focus that thinking on the need for a new way to address this problem by elected governments, land management agencies and people about the way they need to adapt their minds to a different paradigm about ways to prevent, be more flexible in responding and better manage limited resources for post fire recovery and pre- fire defense and prevention.

One major thing I took away from this experience which was echoed by many other attendees and speakers was the need to be more inclusive by people who create good defenses, fight fires as quickly as possible after they start, use prescribed fire in a more effective way and bring local expertise into the discussion. There is wealth of information which could be useful for those decision makers by tapping into resource users such as ranchers, mining companies and logging companies, not to mention people who live in wildland areas.

Another thing that surprised me from the conference is the complexity of the whole subject of wildfire. My eyes were certainly opened to areas of inquiry

and discussion that I frankly never considered in my experience and thoughts about wildfires. I have worked on wildfire fighting as a heavy equipment operator and on the fire line using hand tools to prevent the spread of fires. Also, in my capacity as a leader in the livestock industry I have heard presentations and discussions about the subject for many years.

Now I have a more global perspective about the subject and an awareness that we as a people are not doing enough together to work on the problem of prevention, recovery and resilience in the wildfire arena. Let us hope there is an increasing awareness of the necessity to work together on all the aspects of fire and its impact on our world.

Finally, I want to make a comment on a subject in the arena of politics that I have rarely touched in the many years I have written this. Nothing you read next should lead you to guess what my political leanings are or that this publication endorses or agrees with my view. Recently, a major national public figure compared the Medal of Freedom that he gave to a political donor as being more important than the Congressional Medal of Honor. He said the Presidential Medal of Freedom was” equivalent” and “much better” than the Medal of Honor. I am compelled as a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War to respond.

The Medal of Honor is given to real heroes, people who gave their lives or endangered their lives in acts of bravery that usually saved or protected other lives. In no possible way is the Medal of Freedom equivalent to the Medal of Honor. In no possible way should a recipient of the Medal of Freedom be compared to a recipient of the Medal of Honor. I will acknowledge that past recipients of the Medal of Freedom have, for the most part, made significant contributions to our society in many important ways. But until you have been in a war zone and experienced the pressure and danger of life there, there is no way you could agree with the assertion that the Medal of Freedom is more important than the Medal of Honor.

I’ll see you soon.

Fighting wildfire with ‘good fire’: California must return to prescribed burns

In lieu of an Executive Director’s message, we are sharing an article written by California Cattle Council Board member Dave Daley. This article was originally published in CalMatters on July 22, 2024.

It has become second nature to scan the horizon for smoke as soon as you leave the house. All ranchers do that almost subconsciously. They fear fire. Uncontrolled fire with high winds. The acrid smell of smoke that begins to grip your nose as you search for the source.

There used to be such a thing as “good fire” on the land. Fire has always been part of nature’s regimen of regeneration and rejuvenation of the landscape. We have moved so far away from that model that fuel loads now make fire almost impossible to control. Now panic seems to be the theme of the general public for any and all fires.

Last month a neighbor to our north caused a fire that destroyed several structures during a high wind event. The fire rapidly spread to our ranch, burning 1,000 acres in a couple of hours. Luckily there were few large fires that day, and air and ground resources were onsite quickly, saving most of our rangeland.

Had the June fire not been suppressed by nightfall, it likely could have reached the foothill town of Loma Rica, and all the homes and small properties in between our ranch and that rural community.

Cal Fire had to hit it hard and fast. A quick amassing of resources — planes, choppers, bulldozers and hand crews, all at tremendous cost. That means crews cut lots of fences and dug deep fire lines with bulldozers; vegetation that protects the soil was destroyed which leads to erosion and a loss of forage for cattle and wildlife.

All of this comes at an enormous cost to taxpayers and landowners. Ranchers have seen this scenario play out over and over.

As a citizenry, we are so scared of fire that many people panic at the first whiff of smoke. It is hard to blame the public for their panic. There has been unbelievable destruction in recent years — Dixie, Camp, Bear, August Complex — and the list goes on, destroying millions of acres annually. Even now, there are active fires in California that have closed recreation areas and forced people to evacuate their homes. But in our fear of fire, we miss the opportunity to do important work for the ecosystem and the community.

Prescribed fire, under conditions that we determine, can have so many positive effects. If we build fire lines in advance and select a day with limited wind, we can actually control the fire and benefit the ecosystem.

Planned fire can reduce fuel loads and remove noxious weeds and dead or decadent material like brush and dead oak trees. It can fertilize the soil with ash, eliminate undesirable species and create a healthier ecosystem for wildlife and grazing. It also would be more cost effective because, rather than responding to an emergency, you would have a planned event.

Of course there is always a risk, but California has made strides conducting more prescribed burns. However, state leaders haven’t always been honest about prevention efforts, and we can certainly do much more.

We need to reintroduce “good fire” to the landscape on a regular basis. It won’t be easy, but if we establish protocols and work with the affected communities and landowners in planning, we can have a healthier ecosystem and hopefully mitigate risk to a point that people can once again get insurance for their rural homes. It’s a tall task. But if we don’t try, the conditions will only worsen, and catastrophic fire will continue to become the norm.

October 18

Consignment Deadline: October 9

WVM Headquarters | Cottonwood, CA

December 3

Consignment Deadline: November 14

Silver Legacy | Reno, NV

(530) 347-3793

wvm@wvmcattle.com

www.wvmcattle.com

Are Cattle Spreading Cheatgrass Through Excrement?

A brief discussion on evaluating the effects of ruminal incubation and abomasal enzymatic digestion on the germination potential of Bromus tectorum. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2024.05.001

The Great Basin of North America is home to a rich population of wildlife and also supports a ranching industry for rural communities, the foundation of which is supported by a mixture of important vegetative species.1,2 The disastrous introduction of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) to the Great Basin presents significant ecological and economic challenges.3 This invasive species has spread quickly across Western Rangelands, which has resulted in increased land management budgets as well as impacts to agricultural productivity.2,4,5

Because cheatgrass matures rapidly, it is highly competitive against native bunchgrass species.6,7 A significant hurdle for producers to overcome is that cheatgrass’s poor quality reduces its palatability as a forage for livestock.8 Considering this, the grass has led to an accumulation of fine fuel.3, 9 Cheatgrass stands create favorable conditions for fire, and in turn, the fire reduces competition against cheatgrass establishment.2,10,11 This cheatgrass-fire dynamic has created a shift in the Great Basin’s natural fire cycle, resulting in the intensification of the Great Basin’s fire cycle.2,6,12

Concerns regarding livestock grazing in cheatgrassinfested rangelands has often speculated on the spreading of cheatgrass seeds through cattle excrement. To better understand if cheatgrass seeds are still viable after ruminant digestion, our study used lab-based and field-based techniques to investigate the impact that the ruminant digestive tract has on the seeds of cheatgrass.

Materials and Methods

1.0 In vitro (in glass) ruminal and abomasum incubation

Cheatgrass seeds were harvested in the fall of 2022 and in the spring of 2023 from the Greater Reno, NV area. One gram of seed was weighed and sealed into filter bags and separated based on their season of harvest. Rumen fluid was collected from two rumencannulated crossbred Angus steers and placed into receptacles in an incubation chamber. The seeds were incubated in the rumen fluid for 0,6,12,24,36, 48 hours, at a constant temperature of 102.2ºF. After each incubation time, 4g of pepsin (a digestive enzyme) was added to the rumen fluid. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) was also added to make the fluid acidic (pH 3.2), this solution represented the abomasum chamber in the bovine digestive tract. The bags of seeds were incubated in this enzyme solution for 3 hours. Once this stage was complete, the bags were sorted by the season of seed collection and incubation time. Fifty seeds were counted into petri dishes in replicates of four. The seeds were counted for germination once a week for a period of five weeks. Water was added as needed.

1.2 In situ (in situation)

ruminal and abomasum incubation of seeds

Five grams of cheatgrass seeds were weighed into bags. The seeds were grouped by the season of harvest. The bags were inserted into the rumen of one of four cannulated steers for incubation times of 0,6,12,24,48, 96 hours. After the bags were removed, they were placed in an acidic enzyme solution for three hours as described in the previous section. The seeds were then placed into petri dishes in replicates of four and monitored for five weeks.

1.3 Germinating seeds in fecal material after digestion

Following the procedure for the in vitro incubation, the seeds were incubated for 48 hours, and then mixed into the feces collected from the Angus cross steers. The fecal and seed mixture had a ratio of 1:1, and was placed into tin pie dishes to form fecal pats at depths of 0.5”, 1.0”, and 1.5” in replicates of seven. The fecal pats were allowed to germinate for five weeks without water. After the first five weeks, water was added every three days for an additional five weeks.

Results

Our in vitro and in situ studies both found that the germination of cheatgrass seed decreased in association with increased ruminal incubation time. After 36 hours in the rumen, cheatgrass seed showed nearly no germination (Figure 1; Figure 2). The season in which the seeds were collected also had a significant effect, with fall harvested seeds degrading slightly slower than spring seeds (Figure 1; Figure 2). Further, our fecal germination study found that after a five-week period without water, no cheatgrass seeds germinated for any fecal depth level. Similarly, after five weeks with water allocation, no germination was exhibited amongst any fecal depth.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the negative effects that the ruminant digestive tract has on the seeds of cheatgrass and may assist in the development of targeted grazing management strategies for cheatgrass control. Results indicate that after the cheatgrass seeds are consumed by a ruminant, the seeds are sufficiently degraded by the microbes in the rumen, and are unlikely to germinate after 36 hours of being inside the rumen. While we found that there is a delay in the deterioration of seeds harvested in the fall, the consumption of these seeds will be associated with highly lignified, low quality forages which are common in the mature cheatgrass stands grazed in the fall, resulting in slower passage rates.8,13,14 Our findings offer a deeper insight into the detrimental effects ruminal conditions have on cheatgrass seeds and may ease concerns surrounding the misconception that cattle are spreading cheatgrass seeds through their excrement.

CITATION

1. Bailey DW, Mosley JC, Estell RE, Cibils AF, Horney M, Hendrickson JR. Synthesis Paper: Targeted Livestock Grazing: Prescription for Healthy Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology & Management. 2019; 72(6):865-877. doi:10.1016/j. rama.2019.06.003.

2. Clark PE, Porter BA, Pellant M, Dyer K, Norton TP. Evaluating the Efficacy of Targeted Cattle Grazing for Fuel Break Creation and Maintenance. Rangeland Ecology & Management. 2023; 89(7):69-86. doi:10.1016/j.rama.2023.02.005.

3. Clements CD, Harmon DN, Blank RR. Seed mix performance and cheatgrass suppression on arid rangelands. Rangelands. 2022; 44(2):129-135. doi:10.1016/j.rala.2022.02.003.

4. Reisner MD, Grace JB, Pyke DA, Doescher PS. Conditions favouring Bromus tectorum dominance of endangered sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2013; doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12097.

5. Sheley R, Sheley J, Smith B. Cost/Benefit analysis of managing invasive annual grasses in partially invaded sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Weed Science. 2014; 62(1):38-44. doi:10.1614/WSD-13-00056.1.

6. Davies KW, Nafus AM. Exotic annual grass invasion alters fuel amounts, continuity and moisture content. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 2021; 22(3):353-358. doi:10.1071/WF11161.

7. Ott, J.E., Kilkenny, F.F., Summers, D.D., & Thomson, T.W. (2019). Long-term vegetation recovery and invasive annual suppression in native and introduced postfire seeding treatments. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 72(4), 640653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.001.

8. P Perryman BL, Schultz BW, Burrows MC, Shenkoru T, Wilker J. Fall-Grazing and Grazing-Exclusion Effects on Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) Seed Bank Assays in Nevada, United States. Rangeland Ecology & Management. 2020;73(3):343-347. doi:10.1016/j.rama.2020.01.012.

9. Porensky LM, Baughman O, Williamson MA, Perryman BL, Madsen MD, Leger EA. Using native grass seeding and targeted spring grazing to reduce low-level Bromus tectorum invasion on the Colorado Plateau. Biological Invasions. 2021;23:705–722. doi:10.1007/s10530-020-02397-0.

10. Jones RO, Chambers JC, Board DI, Johnson DW, Blank RR. The role of resource limitation in restoration of sagebrush ecosystems dominated by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Ecosphere. 2015; 6(7):1-21. doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00185.

11. P Pilliod DS, Welty JL, Arkle RS. Refining the cheatgrass–fire cycle in the Great Basin: Precipitation timing and fine fuel composition predict wildfire trends. Ecology and Evolution. 2017; 7(19):8126–8151. doi:10.1002/ece3.3414.

12. Williamson MA, Fleishman E, Mac Nally RC, Chambers JC, Bradley BA, Dobkin DS, et al. Fire, livestock grazing, topography, and precipitation affect occurrence and prevalence of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in the central Great Basin, USA. Biol Invasions 22, 663–680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/ s10530-019-02120-8.

13. Schmelzer, L., B. Perryman, B. Bruce, B. Schultz, K. McAdoo, G. McCuin, S. et al. Case Study: Reducing cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) fuel loads using fall cattle grazing., The Professional Animal Scientist. 2014; 30:270-278. doi: 10.15232/ S1080-7446(15)30112-1.

14. Cook WC, Harris LE. Nutritive value of cheatgrass and crested wheatgrass on spring ranges of Utah. Journal of Range Management. 1952; 5:331–337.

FIGURE 1.

The evaluation of germination potential of Bromus tectorum (B. tectorum) seeds collected from the Greater Reno, NV area in October 2022 (Fall) and May 2023 (Spring) after exposure to in situ ruminal incubation (in hours) paired with 3 hours of in vitro abomasal digestion. Final germination expressed as a percentage of the total seeds examined.

FIGURE 2.

The evaluation of germination potential of Bromus tectorum (B. tectorum) seeds collected from the Greater Reno, NV area in October 2022 (Fall) and May 2023 (Spring) after exposure to in vitro incubation (in hours) paired with 3 hours of in vitro abomasal digestion. Final germination expressed as a percentage of the total seeds examined.

Rangeland Rules – Full Speed Ahead

By Doug Busselman | NFB Executive Vice President

On August 8, 2024 a Bureau of Land Management news release shared that the agency was planning to begin a Federal Advisory Committee to engage the public and to assist in informing BLM on their implementation of the Public Lands Rule that the agency created and authorized to change the federal laws which were oriented to multiple use (www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-announces-nextsteps-implement-public-lands-rule).

Their insertion of management practices which aren’t related to use and then making those non-use practices as equal to all other multiple uses that Congress spelled out seem quite Orwellian in nature.

The news release also outlined and provided links to connect official documents into the government-speak of calling something - something else and incorporating that into Memorandum Instructions, Information Bulletins and Manuals for implementation. These sets of initial documents are being issued to support clear and consistent implementation of the agency’s rule across the 12 state and 175 field offices, according to the news release.

One of the Instruction Memorandums of priority in our mind was labeled as the “Development and Revision of Land Health Standards.” Because of the nature of where this approach will fit into the overall structure and operations of management activities on lands currently under BLM’s authority will be key.

In explaining the purpose of the rule that the agency created and authorized, taking effect on June 10, 2024, the Instruction Memorandum for the development and revision of Land Health Standards stated:

“The Public Lands Rule will help safeguard the health of our public lands for current and future generations by ensuring we:

• Protect the most intact, functioning landscapes;

• Restore degraded habitats and ecosystems; and

• Use science and data, including Indigenous Knowledge, as the foundation for management decisions across all plans and programs.”

Until the new range health standards are established, there are currently only standards which were developed in the mid-1990ies for livestock grazing. These were established under the direction of Rangeland Reform ’94, regulations promoted by then Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt.

The existing standards were developed by local Resource Advisory Councils (RAC). Nevada had three RACs and these grassroots units brought forward unique standards which fit local conditions.

As envisioned by the current administration, creating this generation of Land Health Standards will be carried out through a national interdisciplinary group of government experts who are formed through the authority of the Directorate of Resources and Planning at the national headquarters. These responsible persons will be labeled as a steering committee and an interdisciplinary team. The national standards are also intended to be mostly a one-size fits all and be submitted to the BLM Director for approval within 18 months of the enactment of this provision.

A State BLM Director is afforded the opportunity to supplement the national land health standards with the minimum additional state or regional standards to address unique habitats, ecosystem dynamics, or unique resources of concern, such as permafrost.

There is also a notation covering the direction to the steering committee and interdisciplinary team. In their work they will coordinate with BLM subject matter experts in their assignment, especially for identifying additional nationally consistent “ecosystem indicators,” which are indicators that are appropriate for evaluating each standard in major ecosystem types and habitats managed by BLM.

We will need to see how it will be carried out, but the steering committee, in coordination with BLM leadership, are supposed to consult and coordinate with Federal, Tribal and State agencies, RACs, other partners, stakeholders and the public. Under the same provision we are promised that this entire process will be done so in a manner which ensures transparency for the public.

In projecting the intended results of these national land health standards and indicators, the hierarchy have directed though the Instruction Memorandum that the end results need to cover details “that consistently address land health fundamentals, habitat condition, connectivity, intactness and changing environmental conditions.”

The six national standards will be developed to address:

• Upland hydrologic function…

• Riparian, wetland and aquatic hydrologic function…

• Upland ecological processes and biotic communities, including connectivity and intactness of native plants and animal habitats…

• Riparian, wetland and aquatic ecological processes and biotic communities, including condition, connectivity and intactness of native plant and animal habitats…

• Water quality, including compliance with State water quality standards and BLM management objectives (e.g. wildlife needs)…

• Habitat condition, connectivity and intactness for Federally threatened and endangered species, Federally proposed or candidate threatened and endangered species and other special status species….

Beyond the Instruction Memorandum for Land Health Standards, there were other guidance documents which were part of the group covered in the August 8th news release. These additional topics cover:

• An Instruction Memorandum for Restoration Prioritization & Planning

• An Instruction Memorandum for Watershed Condition Assessment

• An Instruction Memorandum for Restoration and Mitigation Leasing

• A Manual for Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)

• A Manual for Inventory & Monitoring of Ecological Resources

• An Information Bulletin regarding Land Use Planning Requirements

While the agency is working to bring their Public Lands Rule into operation impacted ranchers, Farm Bureau and other interest organizations are involved with a lawsuit to challenge BLM’s Public Lands Rule. The states of Utah and Wyoming have also initiated a lawsuit to push back against the agency going forward with their rule. It is hoped that through this litigation, court action will derail the implementation process by BLM.

At the heart of the conflict over the BLM rule are the questions of the process used to bring forward their proposed rule as well as the authority for creating a new multiple use (conservation) and bureaucratically plugging this “use” into the list of multiple uses that were clearly spelled out by Congress with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).

Additional unresolved issues involve the potential of conflicts of actual uses that are covered as a Congressional direction in the “equal” treatment of non-use established by BLM either as a multiple use or through the practices like expanded designations of ACECs and conservation leases.

Grassroots News

County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Dates Set

At this point there are three county Farm Bureaus who have announced their 2024 annual meeting dates.

• Churchill County Farm Bureau

October 9 at the Golf Course in Fallon

• Lyon County Farm Bureau

October 16 at the Lions Club House in Yerington

• Clark County Farm Bureau

October 29

Interim Legislative Committee Agree To Proposed Set Of Bills for 2025

The Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Subcommittee on Public Lands completed their 2024 interim session by adopting these recommendations for actions and drafting bill drafts for consideration in the 2025 Nevada Legislature: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/ REL/Document/31134

The list of pending legislation (14 bills) fits into several categories: • Public Lands Water • Agriculture

• Outdoor Recreation • Wildfire • Wildlife There are also six additional items that include committee letters to various recipients seeking support for desired outcomes that the committee would like to see happen.

Farm Bureau Pushing For U.S. Senate To Move Forward With New Farm Bill

Based on the schedule that the Senate website has provided, the U.S. Senate will return to Washington, D.C. on September 9th and will then finish this portion of their in-session work on September 30th –not a lot of time to do what is needed for producing a new Farm Bill.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has not produced anything by way of a draft Farm Bill. There are two different outlines of what the Chair, Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and ranking member Senator John Boozman of Arkansas have put out, but nothing in any form for committee action.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) have made it clear that getting a new Farm Bill this year is a critical matter. Because of the dramatic changes in the world in general and specifically the national economy, updating the farm safety net to help farmers manage risk is necessary.

Because of this urgency, Farm Bureau is seeking to rally Farm Bureau members to contact their U.S. Senators and help them to understand the importance of the

U.S. Senate moving forward with a new Farm Bill. The following link will take you to AFBF’s Legislative Action page where you can complete the form and send your email message to Nevada’s U.S. Senators: www.fb.org/action-alert/farm-bill-last-chance-for-afarm-bill-before-the-election?

Meanwhile in the U.S. House of Representatives, the House Agriculture Committee has passed a bipartisan bill from Committee, and this is waiting for floor action, hopefully passing. Farm Bureau is in support of the bill that awaits full floor action.

Nevada Farm Bureau Urging A “NO” Vote On Question 3

The NFB Board of Directors, following presentations by both the supporters of passage of Ballot Question 3 and those who are opposed to passage, made the decision to support a vote against passage of this proposed change to Nevada’s Constitution.

Ballot Question 3, if adopted would amend the Nevada Constitution to establish a system of “Ranked-choice voting.” Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is an alternative voting method where voters rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.

If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of firstpreference votes, they win. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters’ next preferences. This process continues until a candidate secures a majority of the votes.

As the team working to persuade Nevada voters to vote “NO” on Ballot Question 3 have shared, this proposal would be bad for Nevada:

1. Complex and Confusing: RCV can be confusing for voters. The process of ranking candidates and understanding how votes are redistributed can lead to mistakes and spoiled ballots, disenfranchising voters.

2. Longer and Costlier Elections: Counting RCV ballots is more complicated and time-consuming, leading to longer waits for election results. This complexity also increases the cost of administering elections.

3. Reduced Voter Turnout: *Studies have shown that voter turnout can decrease under RCV due to its complexity. When people don’t understand the system, they are less likely to participate.

4. Potential for Unfair Outcomes: In some cases, RCV can result in the election of a candidate who did not receive the most first-preference votes, which can feel unfair to voters.

Please visit stoprcvnevada.com to learn more details and consider adding your name with those who are voting “NO” on Nevada Ballot Question 3.

Nevada Department of Agriculture Seeking Growers For Native Seed

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is requesting applications for their Foundation Seed Program. The purpose of this program is to assist growers who are interested in producing native plant species with the intent to sell seed that can be used in Nevada for restoration needs. The NDA will provide seed, expert advice, and technical resources for those selected growers. Requests for applications are sent out twice a year, once in the Fall and again in the Spring. The deadline for this application period is September 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. The species offered may vary, depending on availability. For more information, or if you have any questions, or if you would like to submit an application for seed, please contact Stephen Kielius at seed@agri.nv.gov

There is also a tour being planned to take a look at the restoration that is taking place in Lander County, connected with the native seed program. The Nevada Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to provide a tour of a few of their wildfire restoration sites.

The tour group will be meeting at the Lander County Courthouse (50 NV-305, Battle Mountain, NV 89820) at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 14.

To participate, you’ll need to bring your own vehicle or plan to carpool with other tour attendees before arriving. Transportation to and from the restoration sites will not be provided (4X4 vehicles are not required, but a vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended). From the gathering site at the Lander County Courthouse in Battle Mountain, the tour will travel north from Battle Mountain for about 45 minutes to visit several sites at the Hot Pot & Rooster’s Comb fires that showcase NDOW’s efforts in restoring the landscape to pre-wildfire conditions. The tour is expected to last roughly four hours (drive time included), so be sure to pack plenty of water and a lunch.

Nevada

Five Things We’ll Miss Without a New Farm Bill

Roger Cryan | Chief Economist | rogerc@fb.org

Betty Resnick | Economist | bettyr@fb.org

The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high and time is running out.

The law from which USDA takes its marching orders is supposed to be revised and renewed every five years. The last five-year farm bill expired with September 2023, so American agriculture has been working under a one-year extension of a six-yearold law. Though it was a good farm bill at the time, there are a lot of pieces of this 2018 law that are badly in need of an update. Six years of tumult – including the highest inflation in 40 years, geopolitical disruptions to markets for the things that farmers sell and the things they buy, and rising expectations for what farmers can and should do for the planet – have left key parts of the 2018 farm bill outdated. The world is undeniably different than when the last farm bill was written.

Here is a short list of things that farmers – and all of us – will miss out on if an update doesn’t happen this year:

1. Farmer Safety Net: The safety net for farmers includes support when prices fall to unsustainable levels. This helps farmers get through the bad years so they can continue producing the food, fuel and fiber that America – and the world – relies on. There are many multi-generational farms and many rural communities that have thrived through the years thanks to an occasional assist from USDA.

One part of this safety net is the crop insurance program, which is a permanent program that wouldn’t go away without a new farm bill, but which needs some improvements to make it more affordable to all farmers.

Unfortunately, a big part of the farmer safety net is tied to the renewal of the farm bill and, more unfortunately, depends on a set of relatively fixed “reference prices” for key crops.

The Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs provide so-called “shallow loss coverage” for farmers’ losses not covered by crop insurance. Reference prices are important in both programs, but are the key trigger for PLC.

Fundamentally, the fixed “statutory reference prices,” which were set in 2014, do not account for unforeseen market forces, such as the exceptional inflation in recent years. The inflation of the last few years has raised costs and market prices but left this safety net so close to the ground that it provides little or no protection for many farmers. Adjusting these prices, or the formulas that use them, is necessary just to make these programs do what they were intended to do a decade ago.

A price escalator was added in the 2018 farm bill based on recent years’ market prices; but the resulting effective reference prices (ERP’s) have not kept up with crop and input price increases, cannot be expected to keep up with long-term trends, and are ultimately capped at 115% of the statutory reference prices. In fact, by 2023 the escalator had only successfully raised the effective reference price for eight of the 23 eligible crops, the largest of which is temperate japonica rice, which only accounts for 343,227 acres in 2024 (0.1% of enrolled base acres). It is evident that the price escalator has not worked as intended, at least not quickly enough to keep up with the massive farm cost inflation of recent years.

The following table shows the percent change in the cost of production of the eight largest commodities by base acre enrollment between 2019, the first year the price escalator went into effect, and 2024, when the price escalator finally kicked in for three major crops (corn, soybeans and sorghum).

The graphs below illustrate the failure of the current outdated reference prices to address farmers’ financial pain in a down year. They show the ERP’s for 2024, USDA’s projected market year average price, and a break-even price derived from USDA’s cost-of-production forecasts. Of the eight largest covered commodities shown above, all are facing losses this year ranging from -$201.27 per acre for rice to -$3.31 for barley. At current ERP levels among the top eight crops, the PLC program will only trigger for peanuts and seed cotton, the crops facing the secondand third-largest losses per acre, respectively.

(ARC-County is triggered by county-level crop revenues calculated in formulas less tied to reference prices, and may be activated for various county-crop combinations across the country in 2024.)

This year is shaping up as a painful demonstration of the need for higher reference prices. While input prices have eased slightly since post-pandemic highs, commodity prices have been falling at a much faster rate. With sinking commodity prices and stubbornly high input prices, farmers are taking a hit while they wait for Congress to act.

2. Help for Dairy Farmers: When markets turn against them, dairy farmers also rely on occasional help through the Dairy Margin Coverage program, which they help pay for. Anticipated improvements in this program include opportunities to buy coverage for a higher nominal milk-over-feed-cost margin that would cover some (but not all) of the inflation of the last six years.

In 2018, the average farm produced about 5 million pounds of milk, while today the average farm produces over 8 million. So dairy farmers are also hoping to increase the amount of a farm’s annual production that gets extra risk coverage from 5 million to something closer to their average size today.

USDA recently proposed giving a large share of the value of milk priced in the federal milk marketing orders over to processors, based on a questionable voluntary processing cost survey. This would reduce farm milk prices by about 5%. Dairy farmers are counting on the farm bill to direct USDA to make an audited and mandatory survey of milk processing costs, to ensure the fairness of milk price formulas used to price most milk in the U.S.

By delaying the farm bill another year, Congress would be delaying help that could slow the rate of dairy farm consolidation.

3. Agricultural Sustainability: Most farmers and ranchers live and raise their families on the land that they work, often for many generations, so they naturally care for the land. But expectations have risen, and farmers are increasingly being asked to make up for the environmental impacts of the rest of us. The Inflation Reduction Act dedicated many new federal budget dollars to conservation programs aimed at helping farmers support their own land’s sustainability, as well as the sustainability of the global environment, but over a limited time period. There is an opportunity to incorporate those IRA conservation and climate dollars into a new farm bill and make it part of Congress’ permanent baseline for future farm bills.

This infusion of conservation funding is particularly important because the farm bill budget baseline without it is based on a fixed nominal amount of money being available. Like the safety net programs discussed above, conservation programs are defined by that fixed amount; and like those safety net programs, their value is eroded by inflation.

During the one-year farm bill extension that ends with the 2024 fiscal year in September, over $2.7 billion of this IRA money is projected to be spent outside the farm bill, and so won’t be available for future farm bills, by congressional budget rules. Even more is likely to be spent in fiscal year 2025. Getting a farm bill passed is the simplest, and maybe the only way, to convert the one-time limited spending for sustainable agriculture into a long-term commitment. Every year of delay means billions of dollars lost to future programs.

Boosting conservation funding for agriculture is critical to supporting agriculture’s contribution to the global environment.

4. Research: Even more critical to the sustainability of agriculture – and to its capacity to clean up the planet – is growing agricultural productivity. Farmers are being asked to do more with less, but this depends on having the technology to do that. A lot of good research is done in the private sector, but much critical work depends on publicly funded research by government agencies and universities. The most productive wheat varieties, for one example, were developed with public research funding and are freely available, because it has historically been difficult for seed companies to cash in on wheat improvement investments.

The US has been falling behind the rest of the world’s major agricultural producers in our public investment in agricultural research. In real terms, our public investment in agricultural research has fallen by more than a third since 2002. China, in particular, spends more than $10 billion a year on agricultural research, twice what the United States public sector is spending. In fact, China’s public research expenditures alone are almost as much as those of the U.S., India and Brazil combined.

(Read more here: www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2022/june/investment-in-u-spublic-agricultural-research-and-development-has-fallen-by-a-third-over-pasttwo-decades-lags-major-trade-competitors )

Commitment to agricultural research in a new farm bill could provide new investment in research facilities, a boost in the search for a solution to citrus greening – which has devastated Florida’s citrus industry and now threatens California’s –and additional investment in specialty crops research.

Supporting the productivity of U.S. agriculture is critical to our competitiveness in the larger world market; it is fundamental to building our capacity to contribute to environmental sustainability; and it is absolutely necessary to supporting the health and nutrition of the world’s population.

5. Food security is economic and national security: Let us count the ways that the farm bill contributes to our security, at home and around the world.

First, the investment in agricultural research is, as discussed above, absolutely critical to the growth of production on a limited amount of land. This is the arithmetic that reconciles the needs of a hungry world with the care of the planet.

Second, helping farmers get through bad years, with commodity programs and crop insurance, keeps agricultural production capacity in business and helps ensure supplies of food (and fiber and fuel) for the nation and the world. U.S. exports are expected to make up nearly 18% of world grain trade in the 2024/25 marketing year, and a well-fed world is a safer world for all of us.

Third, the economic success of American agriculture supports our national economy. When farms go out of business, rural and small town economies feel the pinch as the multiplied impact of the farm business is lost to hardware stores, feed stores, implement dealerships and all the businesses that serve the people who support the farmer. According to USDA, this nation lost more than 140,000 farms and 20 million acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022.

Finally, the farm bill supports those in need in our own country, through the permanent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and through programs that depend on farm bill reauthorization, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Agriculture is economic and national security. The farm bill ensures American production is available to provide families in America – and beyond – access to safe, affordable and nutritious food. This is good for all of us.

CONCLUSION

The farm bill is overdue. A second one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill would leave us working under a seven-year-old plan in the much-changed world of 2025. Reference prices for crop farmers and margin support for dairy farmers would be another year out of date and less effective after years of inflation. Research funding would be stagnant in amount and direction. Billions of dollars of conservation funding would be lost for farmers and the rest of us. And our security would be weakened by all of the above. These are the stakes. The House Agriculture Committee took the first step. Will the Senate Agriculture Committee follow?

Livestock Market Update for The Second Half of 2024

Bernt Nelson | Economist | berntn@fb.org

July 2024 marks the first time since 2016 that USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has not published its July Cattle Inventory report, which would typically come out this week and contain data about the size of the calf crop, which producers and analysts would use to gauge if the cattle inventory is expanding, contracting or holding steady. In an announcement in April, NASS cited budget constraints as the reason for cancelling this report along with county level production and yield data and the objective cotton yields survey.

The 2024 cattle inventory is the lowest it has been since 1951, which has sent beef prices soaring. The hog industry is looking profitable, too, but has a lot of ground to make up for with last year’s losses as well as supply chain complications caused by California’s Proposition 12. Poultry including eggs, broilers and turkeys are continuing to contend with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This Market Intel will use data from several USDA reports to assemble the market outlook for animal proteins for the second half of 2024.

Cattle: Supply

USDA estimated in its January Cattle Inventory report that all cattle and calves in the United States were 87.2 million, the lowest since 1951. The country’s cattle producers, facing stress from multiple years of drought and high supply costs, have been marketing a lot of cows and heifers since 2020 (Figure 1), so fewer of these female cattle are available to produce calves. USDA’s July Cattle Inventory previously provided a breakdown of the U.S. cattle inventory including the calf crop for the first half of the year. Without this report in 2024, it is much more difficult to estimate what cattle supplies look like for the remainder of the year. Farmers and stakeholders will have to wait until January to receive this data. In the meantime, analysts will be using what they do have available to piece together the overall market outlook.

Feedlot inventories are slowly reflecting the lower cattle inventory. In its July Cattle on Feed report, USDA estimated all cattle and calves on feed in the United States was 11.3 million on July 1, up 1% from a year ago. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.48 million head. While this is up only slightly, this is near the record-high number of heifers and heifer calves for the July 1 report and makes up about 40% of the overall cattle on feed. Historically, heifers make up around 32% of the overall cattle on feed. This is a strong indicator that farmers are still not withholding heifers to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd.

One particularly important metric the July Cattle Inventory would have provided is the size of the calf crop for the first half of the year. This is the time when most of the U.S. calf crop is born. It takes about a year for a heifer calf to reach maturity for breeding. These calves that could be replacements will not reach breeding age until 2025. The first opportunity for herd expansion will be possible if farmers begin to withhold heifers from this year’s calves for breeding in 2025. This means the arrival of the 2026 calf crop will be the first opportunity on the horizon to increase the cattle inventory. The 2023 July Cattle Inventory report estimated a Jan. 1 – June 30 calf crop of 24.7 million head (after later adjustments, see Figure 2). The record-low calf crop since the July Cattle Inventory survey began is 24.2 million in 2014. A drop of just 2% from last year’s calf crop would tie the record low. Addressed earlier, it is apparent that a high number of female cattle are still being placed on feed for slaughter rather than being withheld for breeding purposes. This means that a record-low calf crop for the first half of the year is possible.

Cattle: Demand/Prices

Summer demand has helped push prices up. Choice grade beef has worked its way above $300/cwt and was up $1.04 on July 29 at $314.81. On the same day select grade was up $4.06 at $301.52/cwt. Something that can be helpful in gauging the demand for beef is the difference between choice and select grade beef. A wider difference between choice and select beef often indicates a consumer is willing to pay more for premium cuts of beef where a narrowing difference may show that consumers are more willing to settle for a lower quality cut. The current spread sits at $13.11, which is just below the year-over-year average of $16.08. This spread has been widening since late March, which is typical when the grills come out for warmer spring and summer months. July average cash fed steer prices have ranged from $188/cwt to $192/cwt. As we approach fall, cattle available for placements on feed should slow down. This should bring higher cash prices at the sale barn, which will drive beef prices higher as well.

Hogs: Supply

USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, released on June 27, contained some important data relating to the U.S. hog inventory. According to this report, the inventory of all hogs and pigs was 74.5 million head, up 1% from June 2023. The breeding inventory was 6.01 million head, down 3% from last year. Market hogs were 68.5 million head, up 2% from last year.

Much like the calf crop supplies cattle for the next year, the pig crop in the first half of the year supplies hogs for the second half. The March through May pig crop was 34 million, up 2% from last year, bringing the average pigs saved per litter to 11.56, which is the third-highest average in survey history (Figure 3). When combined with the December through February pig crop and the slightly higher-thanexpected weights from lower feed costs, USDA estimates 2024 pork production at 28 billion pounds, about 3% more than 2023. Increased production is bearish news, especially for the cutout, and could bring lower hog prices for farmers in the second half of 2024.

Hogs: Demand/Prices

Hog farmers faced devastating average losses of about $31 per head in 2023. Elevated input costs, particularly from feeds and inflated fixed costs, were responsible for losses. Iowa State University’s June 2024 estimate for returns to farrow to finish operations shows a profit of $8.82 per hog, up 133% from -$26.18 in the same time period in 2023 (Figure 4). The majority of this difference comes from the 25%, or $31 per head, drop in the cost of feed from June 2023. Despite the much-needed boost from lower feed costs, the cost of fixed inputs such as fuel and utilities remain elevated from inflation. This will continue to be an obstacle to profitability while pork struggles to find demand.

In its July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, USDA estimates the annual U.S. per capita demand for pork is 51 pounds per person. This is up 0.4 pounds per person from June projections and up 0.8 pounds from last year’s per capita demand.

While current domestic demand is just not enough to bump prices up, export demand has been extremely supportive for hogs. As of July 18, total pork export sales were 967.2 thousand metric tons, up 6.7% from 2023. Mexico has been an essential trade partner, purchasing 369.1 thousand metric tons year to date, up just slightly from last year but 278% higher than the second-largest importer of U.S. pork, Japan. Hog slaughter for the week ending July 26 was 2.44 million head, the highest weekly slaughter since April. This means there is more product available in the short run as products like hams hit their highest prices of the year. Since Mexico has been such a big player in the U.S. ham market, these higher prices may slow export demand from Mexico, ultimately putting downward pressure on prices, especially in the short run.

The latest CME lean hog index has been in an upward trend since early July. The index was $91.85/cwt on July 29, while the national average cash price picked up $1.94, bringing the price to $84.07/cwt. Currently daily slaughter numbers are elevated. Slaughter hog supplies are expected to grow as we move closer to fall and winter months, which may lead to falling cash prices.

Poultry: Broilers

USDA adjusted 2024 broiler production and prices down in its July Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook. May 2024 broiler production is estimated to be 3.99 billion pounds, down a little over 1% from last year. Average weights are also down. USDA adjusted second quarter production to bring the total forecast for 2024 broiler production to 46.78 billion pounds, up about 0.8% from 2023.

Chicken has the highest consumer demand of any meat in the United States. According to USDA’s June WASDE report, per capita demand for broiler meat is 101.6 pounds per person, up 2.1 pounds per person, or 2.1%, from 2023. This increase may be due to higher prices for substitutes such as beef. Interestingly, per capita demand for broiler meat is just 9 pounds, or 8%, less than per capita demand for all red meat combined.

Poultry: Eggs

In its June Chickens and Eggs report, USDA estimates June egg production at 8.81 billion eggs, down 2% from last year. The breakdown includes 7.56 billion table eggs and 1.25 billion hatching eggs. Of these hatching eggs, 1.15 billion were broiler-type while 96.7 million were egg-type. The number of layers in June 2024 was 371 million, down 3%, while egg production per 100 layers was up 1%.

Egg sets (eggs placed in incubators) are important for ensuring a healthy supply of hatching eggs. When farmers are faced with a decrease in egg hatchability or an expected reduction in production, they begin setting more eggs to achieve the desired number of chicks for placement, which happens about three weeks after hatching. Egg sets peaked in April at 5.4% above the five-year average. Three weeks later in May, chicks placed were 4% above the five-year average. Egg sets in July were also 4% above the year-over-year average while chick placements were up only .7%.

Table egg layers have suffered from HPAI outbreaks, with the most recent detections occurring on July 24 in Colorado and affecting about 3.4 million birds. There were zero HPAI detections in table egg flocks in June. However, 5.6 million birds were lost in May. The egg laying flock inventory in June consisted of 305.9 million birds, a loss of less than half a million from May. This shows some resilience considering how many birds were lost in May from HPAI but is still only slightly above the 2022 inventory. Based on this data, second quarter USDA forecasts for production were adjusted up 10 million dozen to 1.9 billion dozen eggs. While this is down 2.6% from last year, when combined with third and fourth quarter adjustments, 2024 table egg production is adjusted up 10 million dozen, bringing the total just shy of 7.8 billion dozen eggs, about 0.9% below 2023.

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The average New York June wholesale price for large eggs was $2.58 per dozen (Figure 5). This brings the average second quarter price to $2.27 per dozen, about 7 cents, or 3%, above last month’s estimate and about 91 cents, or 70%, above the average second quarter price for 2023. Egg prices are relatively stable for now. However, with the table egg layer inventory as low as it is, any fall outbreaks of HPAI have the potential to drive up prices.

Turkey

USDA releases its annual Turkeys Raised report near the end of September, just ahead of Thanksgiving festivities when the majority of turkey is consumed in the United States. This report contains production data relating to turkey supplies for the current year. USDA published data on turkey production in two other monthly reports, The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook and Poultry Slaughter.

According to USDA’s July Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, May 2024 turkey production was 441.1 million pounds, down about 9.6% from May 2023, while slaughter was down 11.8% from last year. Average turkey weights were 2.7% higher year over year, leading USDA to increase production estimates by 15 million pounds, to 1.34 billion pounds for the first half of the year. This is 5.3% lower than last year. The turkey industry has proven susceptible to HPAI mostly due to farms’ geographic location along the central flyway, a migratory path for wild birds. In 2024, 1.2 million turkeys have been lost nationally to HPAI, including June outbreaks in Iowa and Minnesota affecting a combined total of 549,500 turkeys.

June is an important month for turkey production. Eggs in incubators during June typically hatch in July. These chicks are then placed on feed to grow in time for Thanksgiving in November. Just under 23 million eggs were in incubators on June 1, a record low. Due to low egg numbers and reduced production, the turkey sector is looking at greater risks from HPAI than in 2023. USDA estimates projected production for 2024 will be 4.215 billion pounds, down 4.5% from 2023. The 2024 average wholesale price estimate for turkey is 95.7 cents per pound, down 44 cents from 2023.

Summary and Conclusions

Livestock markets for the second half of 2024 are a mixed bag. Shrinking cattle supplies along with strong beef demand will keep cattle and beef prices strong through 2024 and likely through 2025. Hog producers have had some relief from last year’s losses but still face considerable obstacles to maintaining profitability as production is forecast to increase through the remainder of the year. The poultry industry is facing risks associated with HPAI, adding uncertainty as we soon transition to fall when migratory birds begin their annual trip south.

While profitability is holding, there are still obstacles on the horizon including rising costs of production and a down ag economy. All sectors of animal agriculture are relying on tools from an outdated farm bill that may not provide the safety net needed for long-term sustainability. This jeopardizes not only the continuity of many farms in the United States, but their ability to continue growing the affordable food, fiber and renewable fuel that people throughout the world rely on.

2024 Nevada Association of Conservation Districts announces awarded scholarships

The NvACD Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the results for the 2024 NvACD Scholarship awards. The money for these scholarships come from the NvACD Annual meeting auction and from proceeds of the NvACD Sportsmen’s Raffle. Many thanks to all who participate in those events.

NvACD would be grateful to receive any donation at any time that can go into the scholarship fund for future students to pursue their dreams and work in the agriculture or natural resources field. Please see our website to make a donation: www.nvacd.org

This year we had a maximum of $10,000 to present because of the raffle money; the Committee awarded $9400. We had excellent candidates intending to pursue careers important to us all such as large animal vets, agriculture education, rangeland management, and coming home to the Nevada ranch or farm with new skills and knowledge.

AWARDED $1000

Aimee Thompson – Tonopah, large animal vet for rural area

Isaiah Marshall – Eureka, Agriculture Systems

Technician to return to family ranch Ian Livingston –Ruby Valley, animal science, return to family ranch

Gabriella Minoletti – Eureka, Ag teacher and FFA

AWARDED $800

Amelia Lancaster – Austin, water rights law Paris Collins – Paradise Valley, large animal vet

William Delong – Winnemucca, animal science, return to family ranch

AWARDED $500

Cooper Hill – Winnemucca, feed lot manage or beef producer Kadynce Kratka – Fallon, agronomist

Hannah McCoy – Virginia City, wildlife conservation

Zoe Smith – Eureka, rangeland management

AWARDED $250

Edmund Cain – Las Vegas, natural resource management

Emma Lemaire – Battle Mountain, Ag communications and media Jenna Wines – Ely, return to Ely in veterinary field

Caitlyn Cummings – Yerington, veterinary nursing

Thank you to our NvACD treasurer, Adriane Tibbitts who organizes, advertises and notifies our scholarship awardees.

Thank you to the Scholarship Committee of Marlene Wallace, Melany Aten, Kevin Piper, Barbara PerlmanWhyman and Maggie Orr.

We encourage anyone who would like to get excited each year by the wonderful candidates who apply to let Maggie or Adriane know you would like to serve on the committee.

The NDA has confirmed the detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in two horses in Clark and Nye counties. Both horses were euthanized after their conditions did not improve with treatment.

“Two horses in southern Nevada have succumbed to symptoms from WNV,” said NDA State Veterinarian Peter Mundschenk, DVM. “These sad incidents emphasize the importance of vaccinating horses against the disease.”

Vaccines for WNV and Equine Encephalitis, another mosquito-borne illness, are available for equine species. Vaccines are not available for humans. The disease cannot be passed from horse to horse, but rather, is transmitted from birds through mosquitos. This is a curable illness but can lead to death if left untreated.

Horse owners are encouraged to remove standing water around horses to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and vaccinate their horses. Reach out to your veterinarian to get vaccinations and update vaccination schedules to protect animals.

Thomas K. Gallagher, PE

825

1653

Flint Street / Reno, NV

University Of Nevada, Reno holds Rafter 7 Ram and Ewe Sale in Eureka, Nevada, September 14

Sale also available virtually and features sheep recognized for their fine wool quality

Over two hundred Rafter 7 Merino sheep, internationally known for the quality of their wool and developed and raised by UNR will be sold as part of an annual event that attracts livestock producers from around the country.

The Rafter 7 Merino Ram and Ewe Sale begins at 1 p.m., Sept. 14, at the Eureka County Fairgrounds in Eureka, Nevada, off U.S. Highway 50, about 250 miles east of Reno. Animals will be available for inspection there beginning at 8 a.m., and there will be a welcome luncheon featuring lamb at noon. At 1 p.m., the Rafter 7 line of Merino X Rambouillet rams will be sold. Immediately after the ram sale, the purebred Rafter 7 Merino ewes will be auctioned. Those who can’t make the sale and auction in person this year will be able to participate virtually.

Eureka veterinarian Dr. Darla Baumann will be in attendance to provide health certificates if needed. Catalogs with the latest information on the animals for sale will be mailed and available online in late August. The information in the catalog will provide pertinent data to aid in selection choice for conception, mothering, weaning weights and wool.

The Rafter 7 are grown under range conditions in the high desert mountain ranges of Nevada and based out of the University’s Great Basin Research & Extension Center, a 644-acre ranch where research is conducted. The Rafter 7 were initially developed over 30 years ago by the University’s Experiment Station, which is a unit of the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, under the direction of Hudson Glimp, professor emeritus, and Tom Filbin, herd manager from which the original Rambouillet seed stock was purchased.

“Our goal is to provide high-quality rams for the sheep industry that are adapted to rangeland conditions,” said Scott Huber,” senior assistant director with the Experiment Station and leader of the Rafter 7 Merino Sheep Program. “With the Rafter 7 Program, we strive to constantly provide profit-building genetics for the sheep industry.”

Huber said that through research, artificial insemination, data analysis and constant focus, the modern-day dual purpose bloodlines have proven to enhance sheep industry profits. Emphasis is on quality wool production, lambing rates, hardiness, longevity and herding instinct, among others, as profitable production traits. Proceeds from the sale will benefit continuing research on the Rafter 7, as well as other research conducted at the Center focusing on sustainable grazing management of rangelands, livestock production, water-limited crop production and alternative irrigation strategies.

For more information, contact Huber at 775-682-9808 or shuber@unr.edu. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at plessick@unr.edu or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

THE ROUNDUP

WILDFIRE UPDATE

Number of new large fires or emergency response: 12

Number of active large fires: 56

Acres in active fires: 2,103,454

Fires contained: 3

www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf

Utah vs USA: Utah’s Case for State Ownership of Bureau of Land Management’s land

Earlier this week, the State of Utah filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of the United States challenging the federal government’s authority to retain “unappropriated” federal land within the state. Since the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) was enacted, the Bureau of Land Management has overseen more than 35% of Utah’s land resources. This arrangement allows the BLM to generate revenue from land development which reduces the state’s ability to collect property taxes and other direct revenues, leading to a complicated management scenario that has often resulted in significant conflict.

Utah’s legal action is a logical next step for a state that has advocated for years to transfer control of many federal lands to the states. The state argues that the federal retention of unappropriated lands infringes on its sovereignty and requests the court to clarify whether FLPMA allows the federal government to permanently hold these lands. Utah defines “unappropriated” lands as those not designated for specific uses, such as monuments, wilderness areas, national forests, Tribal lands, or military properties, but does include lands used for grazing allotments. The state has been actively promoting livestock grazing and securing grazing access on state and managed lands and is likely to pursue similar goals if the Supreme Court rules in its favor.

If Utah’s lawsuit succeeds, it could significantly alter the way public land is managed in other Western states. The Utah complaint highlights that the federal government controls less than 1% of the land in states like Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, and less than 3% in states such as Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Governor Spencer Cox used the opportunity to highlight Utah’s natural beauty, boasting about the state’s renowned landmarks including Zion

National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Bears Ears.

“It is not a secret that we live in the most beautiful state in the nation. But, when the federal government controls twothirds of Utah, we are extremely limited in what we can do to actively manage and protect our natural resources,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “We are committed to ensuring that Utahns of all ages and abilities have access to public lands. The BLM has increasingly failed to keep these lands accessible and appears to be pursuing a course of active closure and restriction. It is time for all Utahns to stand for our land.”

Without question, the ruling in this case will affect federal land management policy for years to come. PLC will keep you updated. In the meantime, contact us to be involved in the Multiple Use policy committee where policy around federal land management is developed.

Industry Assistance: Donate to ICA’s Wildfire Relief Fund

The Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) is currently accepting donations for its Wildfire Relief Fund, which supports beef cattle producers impacted by fires in Idaho this year. Established in 2022, the fund relies on annual contributions from AgWest Farm Credit, ICA fundraising efforts, and general donations. It is entirely funded through private contributions, with no public money involved.

Applications for relief funding are open until October 15, 2024. Eligible applicants include local associations, Idaho cattle producers, RFPAs, volunteer fire departments, and other organizations or individuals who assisted with the 2024 wildfires that affected livestock, property, or resources. Expenses covered may include emergency feed, transportation, fencing repairs, and more. ICA President Jerry Wroten says:

“Idaho’s beef industry is responsible for an estimated $2B annually into the state’s economy. Ranchers in Idaho are a vital component of our state’s history, culture and are the ultimate stewards of the land. Permitted producers graze cattle on our public lands that can’t be cultivated or utilized otherwise, while also contributing to a healthy ecosystem for soils, vegetation and wildlife and the end result is a nutritious & delicious source of protein – beef. The impact of these fires on cattle producers will be felt for many years and some producers may not ever financially recover if they don’t have access to relief funding assistance. The Idaho Cattle Association is here to support producers in a variety of ways, and this is just one of the most relevant during this fire season.”

For donations or to apply for relief, contact the ICA office at 208-343-1615 or visit their website at https:// www.idahocattle.org.

#SageGrouseSummer

PLC has launched a summer social media campaign called #SageGrouseSummer. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness, promote, and educate the public about the positive impact of cattle grazing on sage grouse populations through engaging and informative content across social media platforms. To find what PLC has to say about #SageGrouseSummer, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook! In sage grouse country? Share your photos with the #SageGrouseSummer hashtag!

Colorado “Stop the Ban Campaign” Needs Your Help

Looking for a way to help stop the Colorado ballot measure that seeks to ban slaughterhouses in Denver? The ballot initiative unfairly targets one employee-owned business in Denver and would be incredibly damaging for agriculture in the region.

The campaign is looking for volunteers to add a handwritten message to pre-addressed postcards to Denver voters. It’s easy to sign up – just email stoptheban@crlassociates.com and provide your mailing address. A packet of 50 postcards will be mailed to you with instructions and a return envelope. You’ll add the message to the cards (it takes about 2 hours on average) and mail them back to the campaign office (return postage is $4.01 – some post offices are charging up to $6.50) by September 20th. The campaign will then mail the postcards to voters in October. Studies have proven handwritten appeals to voters are extremely effective. Your help is critical to the campaign’s plan to defeat this ballot measure. PLEASE volunteer today.

Want to learn more about the initiative? Visit https:// stopthebanprotectjobs.com

Sheep Market Report

USDA/AMS Weekly National Lamb Market Summary provides data on sheep, lamb, meat, wool, pelt, and international markets. Please use this link to access the most up to date report: https://www.ams.usda.gov/ mnreports/lswlamb.pdf

Cattle Health: Industry groups release video on public lands movement criteria for FMD outbreak

ASI and NCBA Release Video on Public Lands Movement Criteria During FMD Outbreak | American Ag Network - The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) worked with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and other stakeholders to develop movement decision criteria guidance addressing unique scenarios that would arise for federal lands grazers in the event of a foot-andmouth disease (FMD) outbreak. A 5-minute video describes the project and resources and can be viewed on the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply (SSWS) and Secure Beef Supply (SBS) websites under the Public Land Grazing pages. This has resulted from a multiyear cooperative project funded by a grant from the USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).

Public Lands: UT releases map of public lands owned by BLM, demanding reallocation of unappropriated acreage; WY Governor criticizes BLM’s Rock Springs RMP proposal

Battle lines drawn in West over public lands, | Farm Progress - Utah has unleashed the latest salvo in an ongoing battle over federally managed Western lands, petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to end Bureau of Land Management control over about 18.5 million

acres in the state. he suit filed Aug. 20 asks the high court to address whether the federal government can simply hold unappropriated lands within a state indefinitely, which the state argues the BLM is doing under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The lawsuit would not affect the millions of “appropriated” acres already designated as national parks, monuments, wilderness areas, forests, tribal lands or military properties, state officials said.

Wyoming Gov. Gordon unhappy with BLM proposal | Tri-State Livestock News - The Bureau of Land Management publicly released their proposed Resource Management Plan and final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for their Rock Springs Field Office in Wyoming and the governor is not happy. The plan outlines how the BLM will manage 3.6 million acres of federal land in southwest Wyoming.

Gov. Mark Gordon said the FEIS for the proposed Rock Springs RMP does not meet Wyoming’s expectations of durable, multiple use of public lands with 25% of the acres — just under 1 million — still slated for area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) designation. Gordon said stakeholder comments and recommendations helped claw this document away from the BLM’s preferred, absolutely unworkable, Alternative B, which favored conservation over all other uses.

Gordon said there is evidence that BLM considered local and cooperative input in places but chose to force through national agendas in others. He said the document must be compared to the current status on the ground, and not by how much it has shifted away from the BLM’s worst-case scenario. He said much work is left to ensure the BLM is staying within the bounds of state and county policies, as well as federal law. Wyoming Republican U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis said the plan is akin to the Biden administration pushing Wyoming off a cliff.

Oregon Governor requests designation of 2.5M acre “Oregon Grand Canyon”

Gov. Tina Kotek asks Biden to designate ‘Oregon’s Grand Canyon’ a national monument if Congress doesn’t | The Oregonian - Following nearly five years of negotiations and three attempts by Oregon’s U.S. senators to get federal protection for southeast Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is throwing her hat into the fight.

This month, Kotek wrote to President Biden, asking that he designate a large share of the 2.5 millionacre canyonlands and a stretch of the Owyhee River, often called “Oregon’s Grand Canyon,” a national monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906 should Congress not pass legislation this year to protect it. Congress has repeatedly failed to vote on proposals to protect the canyonlands under the National Wilderness Preservation System and the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Antiquities Act allows the president to designate areas national monuments if they hold cultural, natural or historical significance.

Wild Horse & Burro:

BLM to gather horses in ID following wildfires

BLM to gather Idaho wild horses after Jump & Paddock fires | Idaho Capital Sun - Staff from the Bureau of Land Management Owyhee and Four Rivers field offices will perform an emergency gathering of wild horses from the Sands Basin and Four Mile Wild Horse Herd Management Areas next week. The areas were nearly completely burned by the Jump Fire, which resulted in 25,720 acres burned, and the Paddock Fire which resulted in 187,185 acres burned. There is no known loss of wild horses from the fires, but there is not enough vegetation to sustain the horses into the winter months, according to a BLM press release. The Sands Basin Herd Management Area is near Marsing, and there are about 40 wild horses that will be gathered, while the Four Mile Herd Management Area has about 52 wild horses that will be gathered, the BLM said in the press release. The wild horses will first be transported to the BLM Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals. Then, the horses will be cared for at the Bruneau Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals until they can be returned to the range. There are no public viewing opportunities for the emergency gathering of horses, but daily updates will be posted on the BLM website here.

Studies prove that cattle grazing protects Western lands from wildfires, PLC says to remain confident in their public lands ranchers.

Study Shows the Value of Livestock Grazing | Ag Information Network - A study out from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is now confirming the value of livestock grazing as a tool to protect western rangelands from wildfires. The PLC, which represents ranchers who hold federal grazing permits, hailed the research as more proof of the important role livestock grazing plays in protecting our natural resources. “In a year where wildfire has run rampant across the West, this study is a great reminder that livestock grazing must be an integral part of land management and wildfire mitigation,” says PLC President Mark Roeber. The study demonstrated that grazing supports the reduction of fire fuels that pose huge risks in sagebrush ecosystems that are prone to fire. By applying targeted grazing in these landscapes, managers can create effective fuel breaks to slow fire activity and improve suppression efforts. Kaitlynn Glover, PLC Executive Director, says officials should remain confident in their partnership with public lands ranchers.

Livestock grazing protects western lands from wildfires | Kentucky Ag Connection - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDAARS) has released a study confirming the critical role that livestock grazing plays in protecting western rangelands from the dangers of wildfire. The Public Lands Council (PLC), which represents ranchers with federal grazing permits, praised the study, noting that it adds to the growing body of evidence supporting livestock grazing as a key tool in land management and

conservation. In recent years, wildfires have become a significant threat across the western United States. The USDA-ARS study serves as a reminder that livestock grazing must be part of any comprehensive strategy to manage lands and mitigate wildfire risks. According to the study, managed grazing reduces the amount of fine fuels—such as grasses and shrubs—that can easily ignite and spread fire. By removing these fuels, grazing creates natural fire breaks, helping to slow the spread of wildfires and making suppression efforts more effective. Without grazing, rangelands often see an increase in invasive grasses that not only outcompete native species but also elevate fire risks. These invasive grasses can lead to a vicious cycle of frequent and severe wildfires, which further degrade the ecosystem. The study’s findings support the idea that partnerships between public lands ranchers and agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service are vital for maintaining healthy, resilient landscapes. Ranchers play a crucial role in carefully managing millions of acres of public land, contributing to the overall health and stability of these ecosystems. As more attention is given to wildfire prevention, it’s clear that livestock grazing will continue to be recognized as a valuable tool in land management. The study underscores the importance of incorporating grazing into long-term conservation and fire prevention strategies, ensuring that western rangelands remain protected for future generations.

OR Wildfire Relief brings in $160k+ for ranchers

Fundraisers Bring $163,000 for Oregon Fire Relief | Western Ag Reporter - As of August 19, there were 62 large, active wildfires across the United States, the likes of which have burned over 2.23 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Oregon and Idaho are at the top of the chart for volume of active fires at this point, with 15 and 12, respectively. In California, the Park Fire – alleged to have started by way of arson on July 24 – has burned nearly 430,000 acres with 55 percent containment, making it the fourth largest in California’s history as of press time. Ranchers, in numerous states across the West, have been left to assess livestock deaths and infrastructure losses, and in many cases, those losses have been significant. In Oregon specifically, wildfires have burned more acres in 2024 than ever before in recorded history, at over 1.4 million acres and growing, NIFC reported. As a result, Western Video Market (WVM) and Superior Livestock have both hosted Oregon Fire Relief portions of their latest auctions.

PLC’s 56th Annual Meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado

Join us on the Western slope at the DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction from September 17-19 for a few days of engagement and policy development. We have a packed schedule of session and workshops with an all-encompassing group of industry speakers. Academic professionals, federal agency officials, and industry experts. Our speaker lineup is one for the books!

Wildfires: ICA opens wildfire donation fund; OR requests grazing flexibility for ranchers affected by wildfires; Devastating wildfires in WY burn protected species habitat.

Idaho Cattle Association to offer relief to beef producers impacted by wildfire | Idaho Mountain Express - Cattle producers affected by wildfires this summer have until Oct. 24 to apply to the Idaho Cattle Association’s Wildfire Relief Fund. Qualifying groups or individuals include Idaho cattle producers, rangeland fire protection associations, volunteer fire departments or organizations, and individuals or others that provided assistance or resources to fight wildfires this summer that caused losses or threatened cattle producer’s livestock, property or resources, according to a press release from the cattle association. Examples of an incurred expense might include emergency feed, transport or pasturing or fencing loss. The beef industry is responsible for injecting about $2 billion annually into Idaho’s economy, and it is a vital part of Idaho’s history and culture, Idaho Cattle Association president Jerry Wroten said in the press release. “The impact of these fires on cattle producers will be felt for many years and some producers may not ever financially recover if they don’t have access to relief funding assistance,” Wroten said. “The Idaho Cattle Association is here to support producers in a variety of ways and this is just one of the most relevant during this fire season.” In addition to accepting applications, the Idaho Cattle Association is accepting donations to the fund. The fund receives annual contributions from AgWest Farm Credit and Idaho Cattle Association funds, according to a press release from the association. All funding is privately-sourced. To donate to the fund or receive an application, contact the Idaho Cattle Association’s office at 208-343-1615 or visit its website. According to the website, the Idaho Cattle Association works on behalf of the more than 8,000 cattle-producing families in the state of Idaho and has a membership of over 1,000 members. It is the only organization in the state that deals exclusively with the needs and interests of Idaho’s cattle industry.

Oregon leaders call on U.S. government for help, flexibility to help ranchers | Oregon Capital Chronicle - This summer’s historic wildfires in Oregon have taken a toll on ranchers and their more than a million cows and other livestock, prompting a unified plea by the state’s top leaders for federal help. Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency and invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act nine times to deploy state resources to help ranchers and local communities. And then at the end of July and again in early August she called on the U.S. government for help. She asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to designate 23 counties in central, southern and eastern Oregon

disaster areas and open up federal resources to help devastated communities, a plea that was backed by all eight members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans. “As climate chaos continues to worsen – turning fire seasons into fire years that see millions of acres scorched and countless lives forever changed – we must make sure communities can access the federal resources they need to equitably recover from these increasingly devastating fires,” the lawmakers wrote. The delegation and Kotek asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to work with the U.S. Forest Service, which falls under the USDA, to modify grazing permits. She and Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden made the same request to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM manages more than 245 million acres nationwide, including 16 million in Oregon and Washington. Oregon ranchers, who own more than 1.2 million heads of cattle and sheep, depend on that land to feed their livestock in the summer. But they submit their grazing plans in the winter, months before they know where the fires will burn. And this year the blazes were historic: A total of 1,650 fires scorched over 1.5 million acres in Oregon, setting a new record. Much of the land blackened was grazing allotments, said Matt McElligott, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.

Wildfires blacken key sage grouse, pronghorn habitat in northern Wyoming | WyoFile - Even some pronghorn, the fastest land mammals in North America, could not outrun the blazes burning across northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana. Wildlife biologists don’t have a final tally, but right now they’ve documented as many as 50 antelope died recently while trying to navigate fences to escape one of northern Wyoming’s four raging wildfires. “This was a really fast-moving fire that covered a lot of ground in one day,” Tim Thomas, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Sheridan regional wildlife coordinator, said about the House Draw Fire east of Buffalo that has burned more than 170,000 acres. The carnage raised enough alarms that the Game and Fish Department issued a press release on Aug. 22, the day after the fire began, telling people to report injured animals that may need to be euthanized. It was an unusual step taken in response to unusually destructive fires. The Flat Rock, Remington, Constitution and House Draw fires have burned almost half a million acres in slightly more than a week, taking with them untold acres of native sagebrush, grasses, fences and other infrastructure. Wildlife in the West have historically benefitted from fires burning across the landscape, with blazes creating opportunities for new growth. But in an era of climate change, on a rangeland fundamentally changed by invasive species, coal-bed methane development and other fragmentation, biologists worry the aftermath of these fires could be grim. With the four fires still burning, wildlife managers and researchers weigh the benefits and drawbacks of these kinds of blazes, highlighting that when the final embers die out, some species may win, and without human intervention, species like sage grouse and pronghorn may lose.

Industry: NCBA shares insights on beef industry policy insights with SDCA; USDA cattle inventory low, prices high; Ag Secretary Vilsack examines decline in farm income after years of success. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association discusses policy concerns for cattle producers at Dakotafest | Agweek - The new EID ruling and the Charles and Heather Maude indictment case were just some of the topics of discussion at a meeting hosted with members from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on Aug. 21 at Dakotafest. The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association welcomed members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association policy team to host a discussion panel during the second day of Dakotafest which ran Aug. 20-22 in Mitchell, South Dakota. Ethan Lane, the vice-president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said the discussion comes at an important time with the upcoming election and deadline approaching for the 2024 farm bill. “Producers have a lot of questions,” Lane said. “We want to make sure we’re getting the latest information from them as well, so that we’re making those connections between these conversations out here in the country and what’s going on in Washington, D.C.” Lane said the farm bill is filled with important tools and programs for farmers and ranchers to take advantage of whether that be through resources such as voluntary conservation or risk management programs. “This is the opportunity every five years for Congress to look at those programs, to talk with USDA, producers and stakeholders, and make sure that those programs are doing what producers need them to do,” Lane said. “What we learn year over year, is there’s always some tweaks. That five-year cycle of refreshing the farm bill is an opportunity to look under the hood, make sure we tighten all the bolts and make sure that the car is running properly.” A large part of what the NCBA policy team is working to do is to make sure the bill stays current and effective for cattle producers across the country.

US cattle inventory hits lowest since 1951 | The Beef Site - In its January Cattle Inventory report, USDA estimated that total cattle and calves in the United States were 87.2 million, the lowest since 1951, according to a recent market report from Bernt Nelson at the American Farm Bureau Federation. The country’s cattle producers, he said, facing stress from multiple years of drought and high supply costs, have been marketing a lot of cows and heifers since 2020, so fewer of these female cattle are available to produce calves. USDA’s July Cattle Inventory previously provided a breakdown of the US cattle inventory including the calf crop for the first half of the year. Without this report in 2024, it is much more difficult to estimate what cattle supplies look like for the remainder of the year. Farmers and stakeholders will have to wait until January to receive this data. In the meantime, analysts will be using what they do have available to piece together the overall market outlook. Feedlot inventories are slowly reflecting the lower

cattle inventory. In its July Cattle on Feed report, USDA estimated all cattle and calves on feed in the United States was 11.3 million on July 1, up 1% from a year ago. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.48 million head. While this is up only slightly, this is near the record-high number of heifers and heifer calves for the July 1 report and makes up about 40% of the overall cattle on feed. Historically, heifers make up around 32% of the overall cattle on feed. This is a strong indicator that farmers are still not withholding heifers to rebuild the US cattle herd. One particularly important metric the July Cattle Inventory would have provided is the size of the calf crop for the first half of the year. This is the time when most of the US calf crop is born. It takes about a year for a heifer calf to reach maturity for breeding. These calves that could be replacements will not reach breeding age until 2025. The first opportunity for herd expansion will be possible if farmers begin to withhold heifers from this year’s calves for breeding in 2025. This means the arrival of the 2026 calf crop will be the first opportunity on the horizon to increase the cattle inventory.

Vilsack addresses the current state of farm incomes | Agweek - Farm income from 2021-2023 was the best when compared to other three-year cycles in the past 50 years, said USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at Farm Progress in Boone, Iowa, on Aug. 28. However, 2024 is different. “This year, obviously, we are seeing much lower commodity prices and therefore, understandably, we are seeing a reduction in farm income,” Vilsack said. “In fact, it is about a 25% reduction.” It is difficult to determine between a good year and a great year in agriculture, he said. “Here’s why: because there has been a heavy concentration of the income that is generated within American agriculture,” Vilsack said. During the 2021 through 2023 period, Vilsack said roughly 85% of the income was received, generated and obtained by 7.5% of the 1.9 million farms in the country. That means around 150,000 farms received 85% of the income. “That is why it is so difficult. When we see farm income numbers, we have to understand that it doesn’t necessarily translate to every farmer receiving that level of support,” Vilsack said. This year, the USDA is projecting $116 billion in net cash farm income this year. That compares to $155 billion last year. “If you take that $116 billion and you basically multiply it by 85%, the 85% that those 150,000 farms will receive, and you essentially averaged it out over every farm in that 150,000, they would receive about $650,000 of income,” Vilsack explained. “They are big operations, certainly understandable that they would receive a significant amount but that would be $650,000. If you took the remaining 15% of that farm income, and you spread it out over the 1.7 million farms, each one of those farms would receive about $10,000, he said. “That is fundamentally the difference. Large, large farms receiving a significant amount. Smaller and midsize farms having a harder time,” Vilsack said. “I think it is important for us, policy makers for the department, to understand and appreciate that distinction because we need production agriculture.”

Gray Wolves: Cooper Creek wolf pack to be relocated after rancher’s voice concern. Copper Creek wolf pack relocation: Ranchers applaud decision, wildlife advocates question ‘risky operation’ | KOAA News 5 - Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced in a Tuesday night press release that it would capture and relocate the pack following a series of depredations in Grand County. Most recently, eight sheep were killed in a July 28 incident. The Copper Creek pack recently made headlines after producing the first wolf pups since the reintroduction in Colorado. The pups were recently captured in this video, which was released to the public. CPW said it would release more information after the relocation operation was complete. It’s a move that the Defenders of Wildlife questioned in an interview Wednesday.

“How does [CPW] intend to safely capture the entire pack when, as best we know, only the mother has a working collar,” asked Michael Saul, whose organization advocated for the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado. “It’s hard to catch wolves in the best of circumstances and it’s especially risky to attempt to capture pups under six months old.”

CPW had previously denied a request from a local rancher to take lethal action against the wolves in July. The rancher has been requesting help from CPW since April following multiple cases of depredation. In a letter, CPW said in part that the rancher had “delayed using or refused to use other nonlethal techniques that could have prevented or minimized depredations.” Additionally, the letter said the use of a “dead pit,” where the dead bodies of cattle were placed, was attracting the wolves to the property.

“Some tools were used, but the recommended correct tools, and tools offered at public expense were either not used or were not accepted,” said Saul. “It’s tragic to see that pack removed to an uncertain fate, in a risky operation, as a short-term solution to one ranch’s problems.”

However, Middle Park Stockgrowers president Tim Ritschard disputed Saul’s claim that ranchers aren’t using nonlethal deterrents. “We’ve used every single one of them,” he said. “Nonlethal has a shelf life.”

Water: ID water rights forfeiture laws stand as U.S. loses bid to block.

U.S. loses bid to block Idaho water rights forfeiture laws | Reuters - A U.S. judge has rejected the U.S. Department of Justice’s bid to block Idaho from enforcing laws that provides ranchers a path to take control of water rights the federal government holds for public land it makes available for livestock grazing. But Chief U.S. District Judge David Nye in Boise in Wednesday’s ruling, opens new tab said several other laws the state enacted in recent years

that restricted the federal government’s water rights violated the U.S. Constitution. A spokesperson for Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a Republican, in a statement welcomed the ruling, saying the state had prevailed in its defense of the forfeiture process, the “most important issue in the case, by far.” “The court thus upheld the constitutionality of Idaho’s forfeiture statutes as they apply to stockwater rights the United States acquires under Idaho law,” Dan Estes, the spokesperson, said. “Our office is reviewing the balance of the court decision to determine the best course of action forward.” “The Justice Department declined to comment. The complex ruling came in a 2022 lawsuit by the Justice Department challenging laws Idaho enacted from 2017 to 2022, that limited federal agencies’ ability to acquire and retain water rights on millions of acres of land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The case stems from a decades-long legal process Idaho initiated that culminated in 2014 to sort out water rights within one of the largest watersheds in North America, the Snake River Basin.

Sage Grouse: WY game authority approves pen-raised sage grouse to be released in the state for the first time. Game and Fish approve of plan to release pen-raised greater sage grouse into the wild | Powell Tribune - A plan to release pen-raised greater sage grouse into the wild by Upland Hills, LLC (formerly a division of Diamond Wings Upland Game Birds) has been approved by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; the first time the species raised and bred in captivity have been approved for release in the state. “The slated release plan is part of a collaborative research project with Utah State, the International Order of T. Roosevelt (IOTR) and Upland Hills (formerly known as Diamond Wings) to study the successes and failures of captive-raised birds that are released,” said department Public Information Officer Breanna Ball in an email exchange. Upland Hills, solely owned and operated by Park County resident Karl Bear, is the only state-certified sage grouse farm in Wyoming and the only private entity currently raising the species of concern in the U.S. Bear purchased the grouse breeding facility last year from oil entrepreneur Dennis Brabec, who bought the facility that also raises game birds for hunting from former state Sen. Diemer True. Bear has managed the business for years and is the only person certified by the state in the application process. Bear has extensive experience breeding and raising game birds, which the company will continue to do at a separate location under the Diamond Wings monicker. The company raises and sells tens of thousands of upland game birds across the West. Bear was previously an administrator at Northwest College before quitting to run the game bird farm full-time. He has been working on the sage grouse project since 2004, long attempting to convince state wildlife managers and legislators the bird could be raised in captivity and possibly be “a tool in the tool belt” in efforts to conserve the species, Bear said.

WANTED

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

Every Tuesday at noon mountain time on Cattle USA

Selling load lots of mentioned cattle off your ranch

For more information contact:

NEVADA: Robert Morales (435) 757-8145

OREGON: Jason Johnson (541) 212-1587

Stewart Severe (541) 589-0713

Katlen Schimmelpfenning (208) 859-0577

IDAHO: Steve Taylor (208) 324-4345

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

Fill out the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals for school meal access

As students begin the 2024-2025 school year, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) encourages the parents or guardians of any student who needs access to food to fill out the Application for Free and ReducedPrice School Meals.

Nevada students will only receive a free- or reduced-cost meal at a school participating in the NSLP or SBP if they are deemed eligible based on income guidelines after completing an Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals, if they are participating in other federal assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid, or if they are attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schoolRequest Document Remediation - Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school (listed below). 80% of Nevada students are qualified for free school meals through their school’s CEP designation.

“It is critical for parents and guardians to fill out the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals from their school,” said NDA Division of Food and Nutrition Administrator Patricia Hoppe. “Even if you don’t think you qualify, the NDA encourages families to fill out the form anyway, as eligibility requirements change every year.”

If your child’s school is not a CEP schoolRequest Document Remediation - CEP school (listed below), you must fill out the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals for the 2024-2025 school year to determine eligibility. The form can be found on your school or school district’s website. Learn more here: https://agri.nv.gov/ News/2024/Fill_out_the_Application_ for_Free_and_Reduced-Price_School_ Meals_to_get_students_access_to_ free_school_meals/

News from the desk of NDA DIRECTOR GOICOECHEA

Schedule livestock inspections for the approaching livestock shipping season

As the livestock shipping season approaches, the NDA wants to remind livestock owners to schedule livestock inspections ahead of time. This is a busy time for inspectors, so booking early will help ensure a smoother process and continuity of commerce. To find out who your regional brand inspector is, call the Elko office at 775-753-1360.

Livestock scales must be inspected and certified prior to shipping or sale

In order for livestock to be shipped for a sale, livestock scales must have been inspected within eight (8) months of the ship date, per the Packers and Stockyards Act. If your scales were not inspected and approved with an NDA seal, please contact the Division of Measurement Standards to schedule a recheck by emailing ce@agri.nv.gov.

Free native seeds available for production

The NDA is accepting applications to grow native seeds through the Foundation Seed Program. This program is an opportunity for producers to diversify their crops, help with local land restoration and access new markets. Applications are due Sept. 12, 2024. For questions, email seed@agri.nv.gov or visit agri.nv.gov/Administration/ Grant_Opportunities

Nevada Craft Beverage Passport wins Marketing Excellence Award

NDA’s Trade and Economic Development team presented the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport at the North American Agricultural Marketing Officials annual conference and won the 2024 Marketing Excellence Award! The program was recognized for offering an innovative and interactive way to promote Nevada’s craft beverage industry.

Keep

your family and pets rabies-free

this bat season

As we transition to fall, bats begin looking for places to hibernate. Bats are a carrier of rabies. If you find a bat in your home, do not touch it! Contact your local animal control agency immediately. Keep pets away from bats and ensure they are current on their rabies vaccinations. Any bats, dead or alive, that may have been in contact with people or domestic animals should be reported immediately.

Learn more about rabies and the proper steps to take in the case of a possible exposure here: www.cdc.gov/rabies

Join the 2024-2025 Women’s Farm2Food Accelerator Program info sessions

The Nevada Farm2Food Program supports small-scale women farmers and food entrepreneurs as they create or refine a food or beverage value-added product developed with a specialty crop to an end goal of exploring new markets. Ten selected women will join the virtual course at no cost to the participant for a 15-week program.

Participants can expect to:

• Be connected to a community of women farmers, entrepreneurs and food experts

• Have aunique opportunity to learn how to launch a new food/beverage product/enhance an existing product

• Participate in online live 75-minute lunchtime weekly discussions

• Get free lab testing and consultations with experts to explain your results

• Ask questions and get answers from experts through one-on-one consultations

• Gain new skill sets and knowledge related to food safety, packaging and pitching to buyers

• Attend an in-person educational networking event

If you are interested in the Women’s Accellerator Program Sessions, please RSVP to attend one of the following sessions by emailing Dillon Davidson at ddavidson@agri.nv.gov:

• Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

NDA welcomes Cathy Balcon as new Administrator for Division of Administrative Services

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has announced a new Division of Administrative Services administrator, Cathy Balcon. Administrator Balcon will be leading the division after previously serving as the Administrative Services Officer III.

“In her time here at the NDA she has proven herself to be a hard-working, dedicated and dynamic leader who is not afraid of a challenge,” said NDA Director J.J. Goicoechea. “We are confident in her ability to build and maintain a strong administrative team and look forward to seeing the Division of Administrative Services thrive under her guidance and leadership.”

Cathy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has eight years of service with the State of Nevada. She brings a wealth of knowledge with her from working as an Administrative Services Officer II at the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and a Management Analyst III at the Nevada Department of Education, along with over 13 years of comprehensive private sector management experience.

WOOLY WONDERS

Undergraduate researcher and PREP awardee Andrew Hsu discusses his ‘sheepish beginnings’ with research

By: Andrew Hsu

I did it for the sheep. Only at the beginning, of course.

While applying for the Pack Research Experience Program (PREP), I knew very little about what research was. My idea of research entailed working at a bench, micro pipetting liquid into a test tube. I didn’t know about the work leading up to playing mad scientist in the lab or the analysis required after it, but I applied anyway.

As I read through the available research projects, one immediately caught my eye: “The Genomic Basis of Sheep Wool.” Sheep! I didn’t even know I had such a strong infatuation for sheep until this moment. It must have been their cute little faces. I knew very little about them, but if I got to work with animals, then I was all in. Fortunately, I was able to get into the lab.

A constant thought ran through my mind during the initial weeks of working at the lab. ‘When will I be able to see the sheep?’ My wish would be granted later in the fall semester. In the meantime, I learned what research truly entailed.

I was mainly working with data by entering, organizing and analyzing results. I learned to use ChatGPT and ChatOCR to increase the speed I could enter data. I also learned to program in R – a programming language built for statistical computing and data visualization. While it wasn’t what I was expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed these tasks.

Sheep at the University’s Main Station Field Lab in southeast Reno.

My mentor, Andrew Hess, Ph.D., was an important figure in ensuring that my research experience went smoothly. I was fresh out of high school and knew very little about the topic. Professor

Hess would spend time with me and teach me the general concepts that were needed to succeed with my project. Anytime I was having problems with my code, he would steer me in the right direction and even personally help me with the code. The graduate students in the lab were welcoming as I made the transition into the lab. They helped me with code and invited me to work in the wet lab with them. One of the experiments that the lab was working on needed DNA to be extracted, as well as sheep wool. This finally led me to the sheep!

The day started early in the morning. The sheep were all still asleep, and we were getting ready for the long day ahead of us. Our task was to collect a tissue sample, wool sample, and fecal sample from each sheep…and there were more than 100 sheep!

First, we had to corral all of the sheep into a pen where we could take one or two sheep at a time for sampling. Once we had a sheep, a lab member – properly trained – held the sheep down for wool collection and tissue sampling. For the wool samples, we sheared a handful of wool from the midriff of the sheep; then we used a tissue sampling unit applicator to collect the sample from the sheep’s ear. The fecal sample is self-explanatory. That was the most uncomfortable part. I wasn’t allowed to perform any of the sampling. This was fine with me since all I wanted to do was look at the sheep, but I think it would have been fun to do some sampling. The day was over before I knew it, and I returned home tired and smelly.

Back in the wet lab, we began extracting DNA from the fecal samples. This involved putting everything into micro centrifugal tubes, grinding the contents and micro pipetting various solutions into the tubes, spinning them in a centrifuge to separate the precipitate from the supernatant, and repeating until we had the DNA we wanted. It was repetitive and tiring, but I was enjoying every second of it. We sent the test tubes to a company, and they sent the results for us to analyze. I used this data and the lambing records that I had worked on to complete my research project.

Overall, I loved my entire research experience. I learned so much about the animal breeding and science industries and I learned how to manage large amounts of data and lab skills. I would highly recommend other undergraduate students pursue research as a great way to build professional experience and skills in a low-stakes environment.

About the author

Andrew Hsu is an undergraduate researcher and Pack Research Experience Program (PREP) awardee at UNR.

Andrew is pursuing a dual degree in computer science and engineering through the College of Engineering, and mathematics with a specialization in statistics through the College of Science. He is a member of the Honors College.

UNR holds Rafter 7 Ram and Ewe Sale in Eureka, Nevada, September 14

Sale also virtual - features sheep recognized for fine wool quality

Over two hundred Rafter 7 Merino sheep, internationally known for the quality of their wool and developed and raised by the University of Nevada, Reno, will be sold as part of an annual event that attracts livestock producers from around the country.

The Rafter 7 Merino Ram and Ewe Sale begins at 1 p.m., Sept. 14, at the Eureka County Fairgrounds in Eureka, Nevada, off U.S. Highway 50, about 250 miles east of Reno. Animals will be available for inspection there beginning at 8 a.m., and there will be a welcome luncheon featuring lamb at noon. At 1 p.m., the Rafter 7 line of Merino X Rambouillet rams will be sold. Immediately after the ram sale, the purebred Rafter 7 Merino ewes will be auctioned. Those who can’t make the sale and auction in person this year will be able to participate virtually.

Eureka veterinarian Dr. Darla Baumann will be in attendance to provide health certificates if needed. Catalogs with the latest information on the animals for sale will be mailed and available online in late August. The information in the catalog will provide pertinent data to aid in selection choice for conception, mothering, weaning weights and wool.

The Rafter 7 are grown under range conditions in the high desert mountain ranges of Nevada and based out of the University’s Great Basin Research & Extension Center, a 644-acre ranch where research is conducted. The Rafter 7 were initially developed over 30 years ago by the University’s Experiment Station, which is a unit of the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, under the direction of Hudson Glimp, professor emeritus, and Tom Filbin, herd manager from which the original Rambouillet seed stock was purchased.

“Our goal is to provide high-quality rams for the sheep industry that are adapted to rangeland conditions,” said Scott Huber,” senior assistant director with the Experiment Station and leader of the Rafter 7 Merino Sheep Program.

“With the Rafter 7 Program, we strive to constantly provide profit-building genetics for the sheep industry.”

For more information, contact Huber at 775-682-9808 or persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at 702257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

Celebrating UNR’s rich agricultural history:

Journey of the Rafter 7 Merino sheep

From Nevada’s terrain to global recognition: Developing some of the world’s finest wool | by Emma Lande

Earlier this year, while the Rafter 7 Merino flock peacefully grazed in a feedlot at the Fish Creek Ranch, just 12 miles south of Eureka, a coyote stealthily approached the unsuspecting flock, plotting the perfect opportunity to attack. Unbeknownst to the predator, an army of white guard dogs camouflaged within the sheep was eyeing its every move, strategically positioning to attack in defense of the flock. As the coyote closed in on its target, the encircling guard dogs swiftly subdued and dispatched it as the herd dogs hurriedly guided the sheep to safety.

The Rafter 7 is a research flock developed by UNR over 30 years ago and is now globally recognized for its fine, soft wool and flavorful meat, holds a special place beyond its role in research and is beloved by all who encounter or care for them.

The flock’s sheepherders and manager Fabrizio Cartagena share an unwavering devotion to the sheep’s well-being, going to great lengths to care and nurture them. They have carried exhausted lambs for long distances through steep terrain to prevent fatalities, and with Cartagena, skillfully handled countless difficult births and a range of health problems and injuries, ensuring the survival of both ewes and their lambs.

The Rafter 7 Merino sheep have come to reflect the profound bond between the animals and people at the heart of

the Great Basin Research & Extension Center, a property of the University’s Experiment Station in Eureka, Nevada.

The story of the development of the Rafter 7 Merinos is an interesting one and illustrative of the University’s rich history of innovative contributions to the state’s agriculture and livestock industry.

The foundation: the Rambouillet

The Rambouillet sheep was developed by the French government in the late 18th century in Rambouillet, France, from a selection of Spain’s best Merino sheep. They were first imported to the U.S. in the mid-19th century and selectively bred to meet the needs of American sheep producers. Today, they are predominantly raised on the Western ranges of the U.S. and have been regarded as the cornerstone of profitability in the sheep industry due to their many attributes.

“Rambouillet sheep thrive in the harsh weather conditions of the Nevada desert,” said Scott Huber, the senior assistant director and research coordinator of the University’s Experiment Station, who also manages the Center’s operations. “They are gentle and easy to handle, and they require minimal feed and water. Their agility also allows them to navigate the mountainous terrains to forage.”

Rambouillet sheep are renowned for their high-quality wool and meat and have strong milking maternal instincts, leading to lower offspring mortality. They also breed out of season and are resistant to diseases, making them a financially rewarding choice for farmers.

Forming the partnership and acquiring the Rambouillet

The University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources has managed the Rafter 7 project since it developed it in 1990, except for a brief period during which the flock was sold before being reacquired. The flock is a crossbreed of the Rambouillet sheep, a large, hardy breed that thrives in extreme

climates and sparse forage conditions, and the Australian Merino, which is also reared in similar arid climates in Australia, and is renowned for its superfine, premium wool.

The project began with a partnership among the University, the E.L Wiegand Foundation and the Rafter 7 Ranch, located 21 miles south of Yerington, Nevada, along the East Walker River.

The new breed was aptly named after its initial home – the 3,000-acre Rafter 7 Ranch, which was purchased in 1988 by the Wiegand Foundation to develop the purebred Merino sheep and advance agricultural research and conservation efforts, according to Jim Carrico, then chief financial officer of the foundation.

The late Hudson Glimp, a newly appointed sheep specialist at the University’s Experiment Station and Raymond ‘Skip’ Avansino Jr., then chairperson of the Wiegand Foundation, embarked on a concept development project, with generous support from the foundation, to create a new Merino breed by crossbreeding Rambouillet sheep with Australian Merinos.

“The desire to develop a flock that produces both high-quality meat and extra fine, premium wool, while also retaining the Rambouillet’s hardiness and low-maintenance traits that enable it to thrive in extreme weather, was the impetus for this project,” said Gary McCuin, Eureka Co. Extension educator and a former director of the Center.

Glimp and Avansino spearheaded the purchase of the initial breeding stock of approximately 400 Rambouillet ewes from ranches in Montana and Dakota, considered to be among the best in the Western U.S., and had the ewes relocated to the Rafter 7 Ranch.

“It was the initiation and beginning of the Rafter 7 Merino herd,” McCuin said.

Rafter 7 Merino: Genetic development /selection /formation of breeding lines (1990 – 2006)

Over the next 16 years, Glimp and his team, including Tom Filbin, the first manager of the new flock, imported Australian Merino rams and semen from Australia, which they bred both naturally and artificially into the original breeding stock of Rambouillet ewes.

“During this period, around 16 rams and semen from 41 Australian rams were imported to enhance the Rambouillet’s genetic pool,” said Andrew Hess, an assistant professor of animal breeding

and genetics in the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences who has been assisting in developing the breeding program and conducting genetic research at the Center. “The ewe selection criteria included parameters such as wool fiber diameter, fleece weight, growth rate and reproductive performance traits.”

After successive phases of insemination, the project developed two distinct breeding lines. The Pure Merino line was developed by a grade-up program where the imported semen was progressively bred into the Rambouillet ewes until they became 100% Merino. During this process, breeders observed that the Rafter 7 line, which is approximately 60% Merino and 40% Rambouillet, exhibited favorable characteristics and was subsequently developed.

“The Rafter 7 Pure Merino line’s wool fiber diameter was reduced by an average of three microns, making its wool superior to the foundation flock,” Hess said. “It was bred for its high fleece weight, wool quality and reproductive traits, while the Rafter 7 line was developed for high fleece weight, consistent twin births and fast growth traits.”

By the 2005 breeding season, the Rafter 7 Merino flock had expanded to about 1,300 ewes, organized into groups of 30, each paired with a single ram for mating.

Selling the ranch and the flock

By 2013, the Wiegand Foundation decided to sell the ranch. In a press release published by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a private foundation chartered by Congress to conserve wildlife in riparian ecosystems, Carrico stated, “We recently completed our objectives and decided that it was time to sell the Ranch.”

The foundation sold the ranch to the conservation group’s Walker Basin Restoration Program. With the sale, the University sold the flock to Rick Powers, a wool buyer familiar with the value and quality of the Rafter 7 Merino line. Powers relocated the flock to Diamond Valley in Eureka County and continued to inseminate the Rafter 7 Pure Merino line with the Australian genetics.

Bill Payne appointed as dean, College reacquires the flock and commercializes the wool

In 2014, the University appointed Bill Payne as the dean of the College, and two years later, he and Glimp began

....continued next page

Saturnino “Chino” Silvestre, a herder from Peru, bottle-feeds a twin lamb whose mother was unable to nurse two lambs. PhotobyFabrizioCartagena

Scott Huber is the director of the Great Basin Research & Extension Center. Photo by Robert Moore.

discussions on reacquiring the Rafter 7 Merino flock from Powers. Their goal was to house the flock in a future agricultural research center, which is now the Great Basin Research & Extension Center, jointly operated by the College’s Experiment Station and Extension units.

Since then, the Center commercialized the wool and forged partnerships with several entities for its processing and sale. Through collaborations with Jimmy Beans Wool, Mountain Meadow Wool Mill in Wyoming and the campus Nevada Wolf Shop, Rafter 7 yarn and branded merchandise are sold to doit-yourself clients, students, faculty, alumni and the public. Due to the specialty niche of handling such fine wool, the wool processing, spinning and manufacturing is managed by Mountain Meadow Wool. The handdyeing process for Jimmy Bean’s yarn is overseen by Madelinetosh, a hand-dyed yarn company in Fort Worth, Texas. The Center also independently sells the wool to commercial wool buyers.

“The high-quality Merino and Rambouillet rams and ewes offer Nevada and Western range sheep producers an opportunity to improve the

wool quality of their flocks and increase their profitability with wool that rivals what one might find in New Zealand or Australia,” McCuin said. “The wool and its products are made possible by Nevada sheep, Nevada designers, Nevada breeders and Nevada scientists, all working together to give Nevada shoppers a better option.”

No down time at the Center

Since the reacquisition of the Rafter 7 flock, life at the Center has transformed into a whirlwind of operational activities. From meticulously documenting the flock’s reproductive phases and wool data to orchestrating key events such as the annual autumn ram sale, Huber, Cartagena, Hess, the sheepherders and veterinarians hardly find a moment of leisure amidst their responsibilities. With a herd of 2,000 sheep to manage, the pace at the Center remains relentless.

Shearing and lambing

The first yearly major undertaking is spring shearing which involves carefully removing the sheep’s fleece in one piece. Wool sales are the Center’s primary source of income, with the wool consistently fetching the highest price for U.S.-grown wool over seven consecutive years.

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

Humboldt River Property outside of Elko

650 deeded acres of which over 300 acres has older surface Water rights. We may consider selling some of the surface water rights off if downstream users need more. Borders I-80 with access onto the Ryndon Exit. Price: $1,200,000. Call Paul Bottari 775-752-0952

Elko County 8,000 + deeded with BLM

This range starts about 16 miles North of Elko and is well watered With spring seeps and several developed wells with solar pumps. Will run 400 pair for the Spring to Fall season. Working corrals and Loading chute on site. Add it to the Property Above to make a year around operation. Call Chad Steele 775-962-1356

RECENTLY

SOLD: Morning Star Ranch near Jackpot

Following shearing, Huber and his team shift their focus to lambing processes. Pregnant ewes are sorted into groups every two to three days as they near their due dates.

“When a ewe gives birth, the newborn lamb and mother are transported to a lambing barn, where they are placed into individual pens called jugs to bond for about 24 hours without interference from other animals,” Huber said. “This allows the lamb to safely nurse colostrum from its mother before they are transferred to a mixing pen with other new pairs, allowing time for the newborn lamb and ewe to bond and for the newborn lamb to safely nurse.”

This process continues throughout the lambing season, which typically spans around a month and a half each spring. Herders work around the clock, feeding and monitoring the sheep as they await the arrival of new lambs, making for an intensive yet rewarding process.

Turning out and back to the Center

Towards the end of May, Cartagena begins arrangements for sending the flock out to graze in the hillsides, a process known as turning out. This involves separating the rams, ewes and

lambs into five groups for each herder. The goal is to keep the rams separated from the ewes and lambs to prevent premature breeding and to allow the lambs to spend time with their mothers while grazing.

Cartagena coordinates the transportation of the hauling trucks and trailers that serve as living quarters for the herders during their time in the hillsides. He also ensures that the herders have an ample supply of food, water and other supplies. The turnout season continues until October, when the Center’s grazing permit expires. At that point, the herders bring the sheep down to the valleys to graze in open pastures or return them to the Center to be fed alfalfa grown on site or purchased from other growers.

During these months, Cartagena maintains daily phone contact with the herders and makes weekly visits to each of the herders, who typically oversee a herd of 500 to 800 sheep, along with five herd and guard dogs and a horse.

“When I visit the herders, I examine the health of the flock, replenish their food, and water, fuel for their generators, hay for their horses and food for the dogs,” he said.

The Center has 26 dogs serving as either herd or guard dogs. The former steer straying sheep back into the fold, while the latter, large white dogs, blend in with the flock to protect them from predators.

“You’d never know the guard dogs are among the sheep unless you are closely observing,” Cartagena said. “They position themselves in front of and circle the sheep when they sense a predator.”

Sheep selection and ram sale

Cartagena’s team starts selecting sheep for sale around July, while the flock is out grazing, culminating in the annual September ram and ewe sale. This sale features rams, ewes and 15-monthold yearling lambs, chosen based on traits crucial to buyers, such as body conformation, health, and reproductive and breeding potential to improve the quality of their herds.

Buyers come from all over the country, but primarily the West, seeking to replace old or deceased animals and improve their existing stock by breeding with the desirable Rafter 7 traits.

“We usually retain the top 8 to 10% of the highest quality sheep to continue breeding our own line,” Huber said. “The remaining sheep, not sold as part of the sale to buyers or selected for breeding purposes, are either sold to others to process for meat, or processed by our Wolf Pack Meats in Reno to be sold as local, Nevada-grown meat.”

Replacement development program

This year, the Center is launching a new initiative called the Replacement Development Program. The program will establish a systematic process for gathering meat yield and quality data from the Rafter 7 flock. Approximately 300 Rafter 7 Merinos will be transferred from the Center to the University’s Main Station Field Lab for extensive genetic studies and data collection.

This initiative, and the wider research at the Center, aims to enhance research and support for the U.S. sheep industry by using genomics to analyze the sheep’s DNA and improve their meat and wool traits. The program employs precision phenotyping to meticulously record measurements of the sheep’s physical characteristics to enhance selection of superior qualities and resilience. Hess, who will oversee the program, said that locating it at the Main Station Field Lab, which is closer to campus, will also give students the opportunity to gain practical experience with sheep

breeding practices and help them to foster an appreciation for and greater understanding of the sheep industry.

Touching & changing lives

Five herders tend to the daily needs of the flock: four from Junín, Peru and one from Zacatecas, Mexico. They were hired through the Western Range Association, a nonprofit agency operating across 13 Western states that facilitates, through a federal program, bringing in foreign nationals to help fill temporary agricultural jobs. Despite the extreme weather and desolation, they have been able to improve their families’ lives and provide higher education for their own children through the wages they earn working with the Rafter 7.

“I’ve gotten to know the guys a bit, and each one of them will tell you that the reason they’ve decided to move away from their countries and stay away for long periods of time in rural Nevada is to improve the livelihoods of their families,” Huber said. “Some of them have told me that they’ve put their kids through college doing this job as well, which I find pretty noble.”

Cartagena, a veterinarian from Peru with over two decades of experience, arrived in the U.S. with his wife and young daughter two years ago. He was introduced to McCuin and Filbin through family connections. Cartagena’s expertise in caring for alpacas and sheep, and his knowledge of wool production, quickly made him a valuable addition to the team.

“When my referrers learned that the Center was looking for a new sheep manager, they approached McCuin and Filbin, and told them that I was the right person for the job given my experiences,” Cartagena said. “They gave them my email address and the next thing I knew, I received an email inviting me to a Zoom interview.”

The process of hiring Cartagena was a university affair. The University’s legal counsel successfully petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Cartagena’s work permit, with references from McCuin and Filbin.

“I’m very happy for this opportunity to work with the Rafter 7 sheep,” he said. “It has changed my professional and personal life because I have the opportunity to work with such highquality animals alongside some of the most knowledgeable sheep experts in the U.S., or even the world.”

and colleague of the

College is saddened by passing of colleague and supporter

Larry Pedrett

Pedrett was

an ardent

advocate for support of our research, outreach and teaching missions by

Claudene Wharton

The College is saddened to hear of the passing of Larry Pedrett at age 92 this summer. Larry was a ranch manager in Carson City and the Carson Valley who, for 30 years, supported the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources in a variety of capacities.

Larry served as our Nevada Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) representative delegate for 19 years, from 1994 to 2013. CARET is a national grassroots organization of volunteers created in 1982 by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). As our CARET delegate, Larry communicated with government officials and others across the nation to educate and advocate on behalf of our College and on behalf of land-grant institutions, and our related national priorities for funding for research, Extension and teaching programs.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Larry also served stints on the College’s Advisory Board. He also did work at the Agricultural Experiment Station in the 1990s, and presented information to the State Senate representing the Experiment Station. In the 2000s, Larry served as a volunteer and board member for Extension, as well as was a Letter of Appointment and volunteer for the College. Larry volunteered for our 4-H Youth Development Program, and held leadership positions with the Nevada State Fair and the Nevada Junior Livestock Show.

As stated in Larry’s obituary in The Record-Courier, to Larry, “... kids and animals were always important, and many 4-Hers called him ‘Grandpa Larry.’” Our College joins our 4-H youth in paying tribute to our friend and colleague, whose work on our behalf was only matched by the joy he imparted with his ever-present smile and quick wit. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his wife, Joan, and his entire family.

Longtime friend

College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources Larry Pedrett passed away June 20.

New Extension county coordinators aim to boost operational efficiency and impact

Four coordinators will serve eight rural counties

University of Nevada, Reno Extension has hired four Extension county coordinators to expand the reach of its programs and streamline administrative processes across eight rural Nevada counties. Jessica Hendrickson, Keyna Vandervort, Kristen Burr and Heather Nield bring unique management skills that will deepen Extension outreach initiatives to serve communities in their counties.

The coordinators will collaborate with community members and Extension faculty and staff to identify and drive outreach initiatives that help the counties address needs related to horticulture and agriculture; children, youth and family; community development; natural resources; and health and nutrition.

Reporting to Holly Gatzke, Ext northern area director, the coordinators’ roles will enhance communications between the public and Extension, optimize resource allocation and boost program delivery to better serve the community.

“We are thrilled to welcome the new coordinators to our team,” Gatzke said. “They bring diverse experiences in government, higher education administration and community outreach, which will strengthen our ability to serve Nevada communities effectively and improve the delivery of programs that benefit our communities.”

Jessica Hendrickson

Hendrickson joins Extension as county coordinator for White Pine and Eureka counties. She was the chief animal control officer at the Kenai Animal Shelter in Alaska for almost a decade. In this role, she collaborated

with government officials, hospitals and nonprofit organizations to ensure that shelter operations complied with state and federal regulations. She also partnered with the local 4-H Youth Program, among other organizations, to develop, implement and host educational outreach programs and conduct animal safety demonstrations.

“One of the favorite aspects of my previous role was engaging with community members and finding ways to enhance the community I served,” Hendrickson said. “As the county coordinator for White Pine and Eureka counties, I look forward to reaching a broader audience and introducing valuable programs tailored to the unique needs of each community.”

Hendrickson holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and a master’s degree in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Nield is the new Extension county coordinator for Lander and Humboldt counties.

She previously developed agricultural programs and taught agricultural courses for a decade at high schools in Nye and Lander counties, Nevada. She was also instrumental in establishing Future Farmers of America chapters in both schools, helping students build a solid foundation in career and technical education.

“The time spent building an agriculture program allowed me to create relationships and opportunities for students, parents, community members and businesses,” Nield said. “It is my hope that, by working in Extension, I can provide resources within the communities for all ages and backgrounds and create positive community relationships through Extension services.”

Nield holds a master’s degree in agriculture education from North Carolina State University.

Keyna Vandervort

Vandervort brings extensive experience in government and higher education administration to her new role as the Extension county coordinator for Lyon County.

Before joining the University, she was the director of student success and advising for the Office of Graduate and Adult Education at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, where she worked for three years. Prior to that, she worked as a county assessor’s clerk and appraiser for Douglas County, Nevada, for about seven years.

“I look forward to collaborating directly with local communities and advancing my expertise in the field of Extension work,” Vandervort said. “My goal is to seek opportunities to contribute and work with communities and educators to expand and enhance the available programs in Lyon County.”

Vandervort received a master’s degree in education from Fort Hays State University in Kansas.

Burr will serve as the Extension county coordinator for Churchill, Mineral and Pershing counties.

Before joining Extension, she worked for five years with the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, a federal initiative hosted by Montana State University that provides grants to farmers, ranchers and educational institutions for agricultural research. She coordinated the logistics for grant review panels, promoted the program to potential applicants, and administered daily operations at the program’s office in Bozeman, Montana.

UNR research focuses on use of cactus pear in biofuel production

Spurred by climate change demands, three-year field trial identifies high-production varieties

As much of the world prepares for hotter and drier growing seasons due to climate change, a research team led by UNR researchers has identified several varieties of cactus pear that are particularly well-suited to producing biomass for fuels production.

The new findings build on earlier research...that identified the cactus pear as a climate-resilient, water-efficient and highly productive source of biomass for fuels production.

Now, research published in the Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science tracks the result of a three-year field trial of 14 varieties of cactus pear grown under semi-arid conditions at the National Arid Land Plant Genetics Resources Unit near Fresno, California. The test compared the amount of biomass produced by each of the 14 varieties. The 14 varieties were selected from the nearly 292 choices grown in greenhouses at the Experiment Station’s Valley Road Field Lab in Reno or in field conditions at the trial site near Fresno.

The research affirmed earlier findings that cactus pear is highly water-efficient, requiring much less water to produce the same amount of biomass produced by thirstier crops.

Already, cactus pear is used as animal fodder, fuel and human food. Now, Cushman said climate change is spurring even more interest in use of cactus pear as a crop in semi-arid and arid regions.

Read full article here: www.unr.edu/ nevada-today/news/2024/cactuspear-research-trials?

“My goal is to enhance community development with high-quality initiatives,” Burr said. “Extension provides a wealth of valuable resources, and I am eager to leverage and tailor them to drive meaningful improvements and support the growth and well-being of each of the counties.”

Burr earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Heather Nield

Kristen Burr

University enrolls first cohort from its Tribal College Prep Camp

Four students from the camp join the College

Soleil Burke has fond memories of her childhood on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in northwestern Nevada, a tight-knit community located 35 miles northeast of Reno.

“It is a safe and nurturing community with barely any light pollution,” she says. “I grew up watching clear, bright stars at night and beautiful sunsets from our backyard. You couldn’t get that anywhere else.”

But amid this idyllic existence, an empty chair at the dining table served as a quiet reminder of her father; a gregarious and warm man she now remembers only faintly. His life was tragically cut short, leaving her mother a young widow with three small children.

A decade or so later, thanks to the unwavering support and encouragement of her mother, and grandmother who helped raise her and her siblings, Burke graduated from high school near the top of her class, while also earning some dual college credits. After carefully evaluating what she refers to as “strong agriculture colleges,” she chose to attend the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources to pursue a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and conservation.

Thanks to the Native American Fee Waiver provided by the Nevada System of Higher Education and various scholarships, including financial support from the College’s Tribal Students Program at the University, Burke’s mother can rest easy knowing that tuition and housing at the University’s Indigenous Living Learning Community, are covered. This University housing option offers Tribal students opportunities for mentoring, tutoring, internships, graduate school options, networking and job placement.

Preparing Tribal high school students for college Burke first learned about the College at the Discover Your Path Tribal College Prep Camp in 2017, a weeklong summer camp established by the College’s Tribal Students Program where Tribal high school students

learn about how to apply to college and career options. Despite her initial reservations, her grandmother, who saw the camp’s advertisement on Facebook, encouraged her to attend. Since then, Burke participated each year in the annual late-July camp, held at the scenic Nevada State 4-H Camp in Lake Tahoe.

Kendal Navajo, whose father is Navajo and mother is Canadian Okanogan, also attended the camp each year from its inception. Now an undergraduate in the College, she is pursuing a degree in rangeland ecology and management.

Navajo says the isolation caused by the pandemic, coupled with her natural shyness, made her even more withdrawn after battling COVID-19. Concerned for her daughter’s well-being, Navajo’s mother, who also learned about the camp through social media and emails from the Clark County School District’s Indian Education Opportunities Program, encouraged her to attend the camp and even volunteered as a chaperone.

“The camp made me feel comfortable, as if I were with people who truly understood how I felt,” Navajo said. “Being around other Natives in an interactive setting helped me feel at ease and more open to sharing my experiences because we could relate to each other.”

Unlike Navajo who grew up in Las Vegas, many Tribal students have been raised in isolated reservations and often struggle to adjust to the bustling atmosphere of a large university.

“At the camp, we want to help students come out of their shells; build their confidence; and provide them with the social, financial and academic information they need to be more informed about college and to ease their transition,” said Kari Emm, a specialist with the College’s Tribal Students Program who also administers the camp. “We want them to appreciate the value of post-secondary education and be aware of all the university resources available to support their personal and academic success.”

To Burke, Navajo, Serenity Phelps and Isabella Smokey, all alumni of the camp and first-year students at the College, Emm is nothing short of a hero. They all agree on one thing: she and her team of coordinators at the Tribal College Prep Camp have been invaluable mentors, guiding them through the complexities of applying to colleges and offering

crucial information to which many firstgeneration students might not otherwise have access. Emm, who is a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and grew up on the Walker River Paiute Indian Reservation in Schurz, Nevada, knows firsthand how difficult it is for Native students to access higher education. Through her own experiences, she has developed a passion for underserved student populations.

Smokey, a Native Wašiw who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, says that she is exhilarated to be following in the footsteps of her mother, an uncle and an aunt by attending the University of Nevada, Reno. She is enrolled in the College and hopes to pursue a degree in environmental science.

Tribal Students Program: Specialized support for Tribal students

The four first-year students will now be part of the Tribal Students Program where they will benefit from scholarly and professional networking opportunities, professional development seminars, and financial and housing assistance at the University’s residential housing for the Indigenous Living Learning Community. The program also coordinates internships and job placements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other land-grant universities, and federal and local indigenous community development programs, among others.

The Tribal College Prep Camp has grown in popularity since its inception. Applications have surged nearly sevenfold, growing from 17 students in 2022 to more than 110 registered this year, and drawing students from other states, including Oklahoma, California and Arizona. The camp includes a series of breakout sessions where representatives from various academic programs from across the University present their degree programs. The camp’s itinerary features a blend of other activities, including polar bear plunges, cabin chores, beach time, cultural performances and games.

Phelps, whose father is a Native of the Duckwater and Yomba Shoshone tribes in Nevada, attended the camp for the first time this year. She will be joining the College to pursue a degree in veterinary science. Upon graduation, she intends to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather and uncle by joining the military, where she eventually hopes to train as a military veterinarian.

A pivotal moment at the camp for Phelps was meeting Daniel Coen, a 25-year military veteran. Coen, the American Indian student coordinator with the Tribal Students Program, leans on his military background to provide mentorship, counseling and guidance to the students at the camp. He and Staci Emm, Extension professor, co-founded the camp when they realized a significant disparity in college preparedness between Tribal and non-Tribal students. Coen said Tribal students often dont know what to expect from college and drop out due to being unprepaared, which is why the camp is crucial.

Future faculty training to bridge gaps for Tribal students

Kari and Staci understand these challenges well, having grown up on the Walker River Reservation. They are aware of the skepticism and extreme trust issues that pervade the students, holding them back from connecting with their new environment. Together with Coen, the Emm sisters with the College’s faculty have often assumed a parental role over the students.

Most of the University’s academic programs contribute annual funds to the Tribal Students Program, supporting initiatives such as the camp. A few years ago, with the backing of the College’s Dean, Bill Payne, the College donated a house previously reserved for offices to accommodate upper classmen Indigenous students. The College funded the remodeling, with the Tribal students dedicating countless hours to transforming the house into a home with free rent and utilities for the students. The house is conveniently located near the Experiment Station’s Desert Farming Initiative, which offers regular internships to Tribal students.

Additionally, the University’s Graduate School provides scholarships in the amount of $45,000 a year as matching funds toward federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which supports the Tribal Students Program.

The creation of the Tribal Students Program was also made possible by the Native American Agriculture Fund, which allowed their private funds to match the federal grant award for the creation of the College’s Tribal Students Program in 2020. The program has continually expanded with their support and collaboration of the University’s colleges and private donors.

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

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

The Founding Fathers Win Again

Looking at the Founding Fathers, I am more of a James Madison/Thomas Jefferson kind of person. Madison and Jefferson conceded that an executive branch was necessary in the American experiment, but they were extremely concerned that without a strong legislative branch, was critical to hold check on a strong executive branch. Alexander Hamilton saw it the other way. Hamilton valued order more than liberty so supported the idea of a strong executive branch. George Washington, to a lesser extent, leaned more toward Hamilton’s view, having just survived as head of the Continental Army and saw first-hand how chaotic the government had been at the time. That discussion played out in spades in the recent Supreme Court decision Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the long time precedent of Chevron v. Natural Resources Council. Under the new Court decision you had the majority of the Supreme Court opine that only the Congress should be making law and that the law from Congress should be clear )Madison and Jefferson) over the minority view

(Hamilton and Washington) that wanted to give the executive branch a much larger role in “interpreting” Congressional Acts.

Chevron, decided in 1984 by the US Supreme consisted of a two-part test resulting in deference and expansive power put in the hands of administrative agencies. The now overruled test created in Chevron required the court to determine whether Congress was silent or ambiguous about the precise issue at hand. If silence or ambiguity were displayed, the court then deferred to an agency’s interpretation of the law, if its interpretation could meet the low standard of permissibility and “reasonability.” The “reasonability” of an agency was often far from reasonable. Under this precedent, agencies possessed broad discretion and a broad ability to interpret the laws in their favor. Chevron heavily weighed the scales toward the agencies, at the expense of the people’s right to be fairly heard.

Chevron has had real-life detrimental implications on industries and landowners, who have challenged

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

By Karen Budd-Falen

agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Ser vice, Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency. Commonly industries and landowners were faced with a losing battle at the hands of Chevron deference. In cases such as these, those affected by these acts have had to put in overtime to show that the agency and the challenger should be put on an equal playing, only to be told the agency always wins.

Chief Justice Roberts provided that giving power back to the courts in how they viewed an agency regulation and taking it away from agencies is founded in the Administrative Procedures Act. Importantly, this does not mean that courts make laws; they do not. Rather, the Administrative Procedures Act, put in place in 1946, is the overarching legal structure which governs agency action and procedure. Section 706 of the APA cited by the court provides, “the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability of the terms of an agency action.” The Constitutional

role of courts as the judiciary branch of the government are tasked with the job of interpreting our laws. In the Courts opinion, Roberts cites the courts’ role to interpret the laws, means the best reading of a statute is “‘the reading the court would have reached’ if no agency were involved,” ie, no longer does the court have to “assume” the federal agency is right. Forcing courts to make that assumption under Chevron prevented judges from “judging.”

Under the Court’s groundbreaking decision in Loper Bright Enterprises, courts may no longer defer to an agencies’ interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous or silent. Loper Bright Enterprises has leveled the playing field for petitioners challenging an agency’s interpretation of the law and has given power back to the courts and the people. After 20 years of agency power, the power has been returned to its rightful place. Given that the Madison/Jefferson view won the day during the founding of this Nation, I think the Founders would be proud.

PROTECTING YOUR WATER RIGHTS

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

NRCHA Priefert Cowboy Clinic Brings Top Clinicians and Working Ranch Cowboys and Cowgirls to Fallon

By Keri Pommerening

It may have been hot in Fallon on August 2-4, but not too hot for 60 working ranch cowboys and cowgirls to join 9 of NRCHA’s top clinicians to learn the finer points of working cowhorses and the cowboy class offered at various NRCHA events. Thanks to Tara Carter from NRCHA and Flint Lee, the clinic was an absolute success and left attendees asking when to save the date for next year.

The event began Friday evening with a spaghetti dinner served by the Churchill County FFA and 4-H. Dinner was followed by a session with Bobby Ingersoll on the foundations of the working cowhorse, various bits used on these horses, and how such horses are scored in the working cowhorse classes.

Saturday was a full day of learning and practice. Breakfast and lunch were sponsored by Cari Norcutt of Berney Real Estate. Seven stations were set up in the various arenas and warm-up areas of the 3C Arena facilities. Participants were split into groups with a rotation schedule so everyone could be active. The cow work station was conducted by Shane Steffen and Jake Telford. Each participant had a chance to work on the fence work, or boxing, with one of the clinicians. The work was videoed on an iPad and then the alternating clinicians would review the work with the participant. There were two stations with a cutting flag where participants worked with Matt Frederick and Jimmy VanBelle on positioning and working a cow as would be done in the herd work. Participants with young colts and finished bridle horses all had a chance to take apart the process and work on the foundations.

Brady Weaver helped participants with their turn arounds and stops in one of the reining stations. He worked with the horse and rider to move to the next step whether it be learning to cross over in a spin or picking up speed for a quick turn around. Trevor Carter worked with participants on their circles and lead changes in the other reining station. He broke down the maneuvers to teach a horse to run fast or slow circles at a relaxed pace. He also showed them various exercises to work on lead changes without making the horse anticipate the change. All riders were galloping circles at the same time, which made the riders look where they were going, and not watch their own horse, a common mistake made by all. Darrel Norcutt worked with participants on the roping sled and taught horse positioning, and how the roping portion of the cowboy class is scored. Some participants were confident ropers while others hadn’t swung a rope on their horse yet. All levels picked up good information and practice. Flint Lee had participants break down the cow work by learning to rate and turn him and his horse on the fence. Moving at a slower, controlled pace, with coaching while doing the maneuvers was appreciated by all riders. The day of practice ended around 6:00.

Sunday started with breakfast prepared by Patty Julian and was followed with a mock show where each participant ran a given reining pattern and worked a cow either down the fence, or in the boxing division. Each run was scored and videoed. After the participant was finished, they reviewed their videoed run sitting with a clinician who looked at the scored sheet and explained how and why each maneuver was

scored as it was. Riders found this extremely helpful as this opportunity is rarely offered. Lunch was provided by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply. Awards were given to the high scores and best cow work runs in each section.

Everyone left the clinic with new ideas, new friends, and a plan to return next year. Thank you to the Rafter 3C Arena crew for keeping the dust down, the arena in great condition, and their hospitality. Keep your eye out for next year’s clinic. This one filled up fast, with a waiting list. You won’t want to miss it.

Thank you to the following sponsors for their time and donations:

Priefert (facility)

Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply (food and awards)

Ruby Rose (awards)

Integrity Feed (awards)

Churchill County 4-H and FFA (food)

Patty Julian (food)

American Ag Credit (water & ice)

Cari Norcutt, Berney Real Estate (food)

Fallon Livestock LLC (bar)

Flint Lee for all the organizing and planning

Bea Lee & Chelsea Frederic for keeping cattle supplied to the arena

Lee Stock Horses and Anthony McClimon for loading and unloading cattle trucks

The clinicians for all their valuable time and input And, finally, all the trainer’s assistants for keeping fresh horses supplied to the clinicians and helping wherever needed

The room was packed at Rafter 3C to listen to Bobbie Engersol discussing the snaffle bit among other traditional bits.

Photo credit: Leana Carey

Battle Born Junior Roughstock Challenge

The first ever Battle Born Junior Roughstock Challenge presented by CC Communications, the City of Fallon and Battle Born Handmade Boots, held in conjunction with the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair was held at the Rafter 3C Event Complex in the outdoor arena on August 23-24.

Contestants ages 10-18 from Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota and Canada came to Fallon to compete at this direct qualifier to the YETI Junior World Finals to be held in Las Vegas this December at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Battle Born Broncs producer, Darcie Spero was hired earlier this year by the Cantaloupe Festival to organize the inaugural event and work with stock contractors and sanctioning associations to bring the direct qualifier to Fallon. 406 Rodeo owners, Joe & Lacie DeMers of Aguila, Arizona traveled to the Oasis of Nevada bringing Barebacks, Saddle Broncs, Mini Bulls and Bulls along with their crew to put on the inaugural two day event.

Winners of each division were determined on a two go around average and advance to Las Vegas.

Rookie Bareback 10-11: Hagen Mcmullin, Wellsville UT

Junior Bareback 12-13: Pistol Tuff Weathers, Adams, OR

Senior Bareback 14-15: Rodee DeMers, Aguila, AZ

Novice Bareback 16-18: Tryan Hurley, King City, CA

Junior Mini Bulls 10-11: Lane Clarey, Klamath Falls, OR

Senior Mini Bulls 12-13: No qualified rides

Junior Bulls 14-15: Victor Ojeda Jr., Norco, CA

Senior Bulls 16-18: Hunter Maxwell, Los Malinos, CA

Rookie Saddle Bronc 10-11: Kindel Anderson, New Town, ND

Junior Saddle Bronc 12-13: Lincoln Arellano, Jamestown, CA

Senior Saddle Bronc 14-15: Kannan Rowdy Weathers, Adams, OR

Novice Saddle Bronc 16-18: Austin Cline, Arbuckle, CA

Details for future events can be found at battlebornbroncs.com or @battlebornbroncs on Facebook and Instagram. All photos courtesy of Josh Lado. Go to 52photographyinc.pixieset.com to purchase prints.

2024 Churchill County Junior Livestock Show

2024 Churchill County Junior Livestock Show Results

CLASSES Sponsored By Winner

BEST HOME GROWN

Best Home Grown Steer sponsored by Double H Livestock Lonnie Adams

Best Home Grown Lamb sponsored by Silver State Freight Allie Fait

Best Home Grown Hog sponsored by George & Peggy Hughes Jameson Barbee

Best Home Grown Goat sponsored by Wendy Bullock for School Board Kadence Wiessmer

Best Cross Bred Steer sponsored by In Memory of Bill and Gwen Washburn Lonnie Adams

BEST RATE OF GAIN

Best Rate of Gain steer sponsored by Winder Land and Cattle Co. Zac Lewis

Best Rate of Gain Lamb sponsored by Silver State Freight Caoilainn Bryne

Best Rate of Gain Goat sponsored by Dan and Anne Fagundes Maylee McKnight

Best Rate of Gain Hog sponsored by Edison Electric Rusten McKnight

EDUCATIONAL POSTER

1st place Junior Poster sponsored by Nevada Livestock Marketing Ellie Peixoto

1st place Intermediate Poster sponsored by Fallon Livestock Nora Elmore

1st place Senior Poster sponsored by Fallon Livestock Hannah Montalvo

BEST DRESSEED

1st place Junior best dressed sponsored by Laca’s Vaca’s Macady Bogdanowicz

1st place intermediate best dressed sponsored by Sage Hill Dairy Tyleigh Gardner

MASTER SHOWMAN

1st Place Junior Master Showman sponsored by Mick and Claudia Casey Macady Bogdanowicz

1st place Intermediate Master Showmen sponsored by Pizza Barn Gianna Salisbury

1st place Senior Master Showman sponsored by The Village Karlie Simper

BREEDING SHOW RESULTS

Champion Ram Lamb sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Allie Fait

Champion Junior Ewe sponsored by Cheek Construction Kortnie Simper

Champion Senior Ewe sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Allie Fait

Supreme Champion Sheep sponsored by Silver State Freight Kortnie Simper

Champion Buck Goat sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Riggin Stonebarger

2024 Churchill County Junior Livestock Show & Sale

The Churchill County Junior Livestock Show & Sale provides an opportunity for the National FFA Organization (FFA), 4-H, youth Grange and independent youth members to exhibit their livestock projects before the public; thus promoting and providing the incentive for achieving excellence in livestock production, skills and practices. The 2024 Churchill County Junior Livestock Show & Sale was held April 25-27 at the Rafter 3C Arena.

Photo: Top finishers of the 2024 CCJLS are recognized by County Commissioners with buckles, ribbons and swag bags

Champion Junior Meat Goat sponsored by New Millennium Kadence Wiessmer

Champion Senior Meat Goat sponsored by Great Basin Title Co. Carley Dock

Supreme Champion Meat Goat sponsored by Dan and Anne Fagundes Kadence Wiessmer

Champion Swine Sow sponsored by Memory of Skip & Joan Cann Jackson Barbee

Supreme Champion Swine sponsored by Hillside Dairy Jackson Barbee

Champion Bull sponsored by Sage Hill Dairy Lonnie Adams

Champion Junior Beef sponsored by Churchill County Lonnie Adams

Champion Senior Beef sponsored by City of Fallon Lonnie Adams

Supreme Champion Beef sponsored by Nevada Livestock Market Lonnie Adams

Champion Dairy Cow sponsored by Sage Hill Dairy Grace Laca

Champion Dairy Goat Buck sponsored by New Millennium Alyssa Gardner

Champion Junior Dairy Goat sponsored by Snyder's Pinenut Livestock Supply Reagan Farley

Champion Senior Dairy Goat sponsored by Les Schwab Alyssa Gardner

Champion Roster sponsored by Safeway Autumn Thomas

Champion Bantam Hen sponsored by Walker Lake Disposal Trace McKnight

Champion Standard Hen sponsored by Oasis Online Makenzie Mills

Supreme Champion Chicken sponsored by New Millennium Trace McKnight

Supreme Rabbit sponsored by Banner Churchill Hospital Macady Bogdanowicz

Champion Rabbit sponsored by Churchill County Federal Credit Union Macady Bogdanowicz

Reserve Champion Rabbit sponsored by Out West Buildings Sarabel Ofshefski

MARKET RESULTS

Champion Market Swine sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Carson Olsen

Reserve Champion Swine sponsored by Edison Electric Kaylee Montalvo

Champion Market Steer sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Lonnie Adams

Reserve Champion Steer sponsored by Edison Electric Hannah Montalvo

Champion Meat Goat sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Kadence Wiessmer

Reserve Champion Meat Goat sponsored by les Schwab Karlie Simper

Champion Lamb sponsored by Snyder’s Pinenut Livestock Supply Abby Bird

Reserve Champion Lamb sponsored by Les Schwab Macady Bogdanowicz

Champion Chicken Pen of 3 sponsored by Out West Buildings Bailey Peixoto

Reserve Champion Chicken Pen of 3 sponsored by Churchill County Federal Credit Union Autumn Thomas

Champion Rabbit Pen of 3 sponsored by Banner Churchill Hospital Grayling Thomas

Reserve Champion Rabbit Pen of 3

sponsored by Wilmerick Orthodontist Autumn Thomas

Champion Turkey sponsored by Churchill County Federal Credit Union Jaylyn Dement

Reserve Champion Turkey sponsored by Banner Churchill Hospital Jayden Green SHOWMANSHIP

Champion Senior Swine Showman sponsored by Lahontan Valley Vet Clinic Kylee Simper

Reserve Champion Senior Swine Showman sponsored by CC Communications Jackson Barbee

Champion Intermediate Swine Showman sponsored by City of Fallon Owen Olsen

Reserve Champion Intermediate Swine Showman sponsored by City of Fallon Claire Barbee

Champion Junior Swine Showman sponsored by Hancock Construction Ellie Peixoto

Reserve Champion Junior Swine Showman sponsored by Double H Livestock Kaylee Montalvo

Champion Senior Beef Showman sponsored by J Flag Horsemanship Caitlyn Dock

Reserve Champion Senior Beef Showman sponsored by John and Rene Hancock Hannah Montalvo

Champion Intermediate Beef Showman sponsored by C C Communications Addison Allegre

Reserve Champion Intermediate Beef Showman sponsored by Welmerick Orthodontics Zac Lewis

Champion Junior Beef Showman sponsored by J Flag Horsemanship Macady Bogdanowicz

Reserve Champion Junior Beef Showman sponsored by Rene Hancock Hayse Allegre

Champion Senior Sheep Showman sponsored by Hammond Homes Kortnie Simper

Reserve Champion Senior Sheep Showman sponsored by Rambling River Ranches Abby Bird

Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman sponsored by Oasis Online Gianna Salisbury

Reserve Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman sponsored by Ed Depaoli Tyleigh Gardner

Champion Junior Sheep Showman sponsored by Bassham Furniture Macady Bogdanowicz

Reserve Champion Junior Sheep Showman sponsored by Doty Farms Beau Kniestedt

Champion Senior Goat Showman sponsored by Dan and Anne Fagundes Karlie Simper

Reserve Champion Senior Goat Showman sponsored by City of Fallon Carley Dock

Champion Intermediate Goat Showman sponsored by Churchill County Kenslee Wiessmer

Reserve Champion Intermediate Goat Showman sponsored by Mick and Claudia Casey Drew Palanivelu

Champion Junior Goat Showman sponsored by Holiday Inn Blake McKnight

Reserve Champion Junior Goat Showman sponsored by Wilmerick Deaglan Byrne

Champion Senior Dairy Cow Showman sponsored by Sagehill Dairy Grace Laca

Reserve Champion Senior Dairy Showman sponsored by Pizza Barn Reese Laca

Champion Dairy Goat Showman sponsored by In Stitches Garrett Gardner

Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showman sponsored by Lahontan Valley Vet Clinic Alyssa Gardner

Reserve Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showman sponsored by Rambling River Ranches Bailey Peixoto

Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showman sponsored by The Village Raegan Farley

Reserve Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showman sponsored by Integrity Pest Management Grayling Thomas

Champion Senior Turkey Showman sponsored by Cheek Construction Jayden Green

Champion Intermediate Turkey Showman sponsored by New Millennium Jaylyn Dement

Champion Senior Poultry Showman sponsored by Great Basin Title Co. Kalaya Downs

Champion Intermediate Poultry Showman sponsored by Churchill County

Chloe Kent

Reserve Champion Intermediate Poultry Showman sponsored by City of Fallon Lucas Holcomb

Champion Junior Poultry Showman sponsored by New Millennium

Reserve Champion Junior Poultry Showman sponsored by Hammond Homes

Emma Elmore

Hannah Keyes

Champion Intermediate Rabbit Showman sponsored by Myles of Memories Autumn Thomas

Reserve Champion Intermediate Rabbit Showman sponsored by Doty Farm Sarabel Ofshefski

Champion Junior Rabbit Showman sponsored by Doty Farm Caoilainn Bryne RECORD BOOK

1st Place Senior Record Book

In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Allie Fait

2nd Place Senior Record Book In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Hannah Montalvo

1st Place Intermediate Record Book In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Bailey Peixoto

2nd Place Intermediate Record Book

In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Addison Allegre

1st Place Junior Record Book In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Ellie Peixoto

2nd Place Junior Record Book In Memory of Pete Olsen Dr. Macady Bogdanowicz Interview

1st Place Senior Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Taylor Sowersby

2nd Place Senior Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Allie Fait

1st Place Intermediate Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Bailey Peixoto

2nd Place Intermediate Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Claire Barbee

1st Place Junior Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Ellie Peixoto

2nd Place Junior Interview sponsored by Cindy Sullivan Macady Bogdanowicz

CARCASS CONTEST

Champion Beef Carcass sponsored by Walt Winder Hannah Monta

Reserve Champion Beef Carcass sponsored by Les Schwab Lonnie Adams

3rd Place Beef Carcass

Champion Swine Carcass sponsored by Les Schwab Claire Barbee

Reserve Champion Swine Carcass sponsored by Lahontan Valley Vet Clinic Ellie Peixoto

3rd Place Swine Carcass sponsored by Memory of Skip & Joan Cann Jason Lewis

4th Place Swine Carcass sponsored by George & Peggy Hughes Sarah Lewis

5th Place Carcass sponsored by Memory of Skip & Joan Cann Rusten McKnight

Champion Goat Carcass sponsored by Les Schwab Kadence Wiessmer

Reserve Champion Goat Carcass sponsored by Sage Hill Dairy Drew Palanevilu

Champion Lamb Carcass sponsored by Les Schwab Ava Bunyard

Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass sponsored by Laca's Vaca's Macady Bogdanowicz

3rd Place Lamb Carcass sponsored by Cheek Construction Richard Gomez

ALL AROUND

Champion All Around Senior sponsored by Brenda Ingram for Justice of the Peace Allie Fait

Reserve Champion All Around Senior sponsored by The Village Kadence Wiessmer

Champion All Around Intermediate sponsored by Mick and Claudia Casey Autumn Thomas

Reserve Champion All Around Intermediate sponsored by Cheek Construction Bailey Peixoto

Champion Junior All Around sponsored by Wendy Bullock for School Board Macady Bogdanowicz

Reserve Junior All Around sponsored by City of Fallon Ellie Peixoto

Cattlewomen’s Corner of the Corral Work to Involve the Next Generation

By Keri Pommerening, NVCW President

Nevada Cattlewomen chose three talented individuals to represent the cattle industry and cattlewomen as our Beef Ambassadors. It is our hope that they can work as a team at various events and through social media. The Beef Ambassador team will be advised by Charmi Mitchell, NVCW President-Elect. The applicants had to submit a prepared application as well as a video of themselves discussing Issues Impacting the Cattle Industry.

First place awards went to Gabriella Minoletti. She is a 6th generation rancher and farmer from Eureka, NV. She is currently a student at the University of Nevada, Reno where she is pursuing agriculture education. Second place awards went to Lander Smith. He is a 5th generation livestock producer from Washoe Valley, outside the Reno area. Lander was a past president for Nevada FFA and is also pursuing his agriculture education credentials at University of Nevada, Reno. Third place honors went to Xaraya Rain Fristed from Douglas County. Xaraya will be attending Idaho Horseshoeing School in the fall. You will learn more about them in our monthly newsletters, once they get acquainted with their roles. I am pleased to see the next generation take an interest in promoting the cattle industry.

Save the date for the Nevada Cattlemen’s Convention November 2022, immediately following the Governor’s Ag Conference November 19-20, at the Rafter 3C facilities in Fallon, Nevada. We will hold our Board of Director’s meeting Wednesday, November 20, 5:00-6:30 pm in the Dry Gulch meeting area. The annual general membership meeting for all Nevada Cattlewomen will be held Thursday, November 21, 7:30-8:45 am in the Dry Gulch meeting area. Ruth Coffey, ANCW President, will be joining us to present on her year as president and the accomplishments of ANCW. We will also be given a presentation by Charlie Holland and Seth Joel regarding their Ranch Raised Kids book series project. This project is to promote the next generation of cattlemen and cattlewomen. They have written a series of books with photos and stories from ranch kids. California, Arizona, and New Mexico have had these two amazing authors tour ranches in their states and work with the next generation to produce some beautiful books. We are hoping to produce a book for Nevada Ranch Raised Kids and are in the very early planning stages. For a look at the books that have been finished check out their website at https://ranchraisedkids.com/.

Until next month, whether you are weaning or calving, enjoy the fall temperatures!