Winter - Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

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SERVING NORTHERN NEVADA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES FREE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 WINTER 2010 Inside This Issue… Rancher says 2010 has been more profitable Page 4 A look at this year’s Centennial Ranches Pages 9-11

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The winter issue of Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Transcript of Winter - Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Page 1: Winter - Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

SERVING NORTHERN NEVADA’SRURAL COMMUNITIES

FREE

Volume 1 • Issue 4 • WInter 2010

Inside This Issue…

rancher says 2010 has been more profitable

Page 4

A look at this year’s Centennial ranches

Pages 9-11

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� NevadaRaNch&FaRmexchaNge WiNteR�010

By Doug BusselmanNevada Farm Bureau

There’s a lot that has to happen before the Feb. 7 start of the 76th regular session of the Nevada Legislature. From the standpoint of the state as a whole, the results of the final vote tally after Nov. 2 will play a significant role in determining the landscape for the 2011 session. From the Nevada Farm Bureau perspective, the results of final voting delegate actions on organizational policy to be finalized at the 2010 Nevada Farm Bureau annual meeting in Winnemucca in November will determine the approach to be taken in representing Nevada farmers and ranchers in Carson City.

The key issues facing Nevada lawmakers are widely discussed and hotly debated, even if little is actually resolved with definitive proposals: Nevada’s mythical $3 billion budget hole is nearly universally accepted as justification for tax increases (although the numbers which are used to substantiate the myth might not warrant such blind fidelity to such a pre-conceived result).

The current Nevada General Fund Budget is roughly $6.5 billion. The expected revenue generated for the coming budget period is $5 billion. To get to the level of spending from the state’s General Fund, legislators would be increasing spending to $8 billion – an anticipation built into the projections which stimulate the belief that there is a $3 billion budget hole.

Proposed changes to how Nevada’s Budget System is created will likely surface from out-going Governor Jim Gibbons. Budget Director Andrew Clinger and his team have been assembling a new system approach which takes into account a priority system of activities performed by state agencies working to get at the fundamental questions of the proper role for state government and what

services should be provided. Changing from the current state budget system that is based on adding expected increases to what was spent last biennium will require reform of state law embodied in the State Budget Act (NRS 353.150-353.246).

Included in the legislative process of determining the state’s spending allocations for the coming biennium specific concerns relating to funding for program/service areas of importance to Nevada agriculture will draw Nevada Farm Bureau attention.

What types of services will be provided by the Department of Agriculture? How are those costs to be paid?

These are examples of the considerations which are connected to the budget nuances worked out in a very elaborate legislative deliberations procedure that embraces minutia and line-by-line evaluations with the overall big picture usually held to be worked out in the final throes of the legislative session.

Reapportionment, the process of drawing legislative district boundaries, will also be on the list of “things to be done” when lawmakers meet in 2011. Expected population numbers seem to suggest that unless something is done to add additional members to the Nevada Legislature – Las Vegas districts will increase in number and shrink in size while few legislative seats will be available for rural portions of the state. Most experts also believe a fourth Congressional seat will be added and how the dynamics of splitting the state to accomplish this arrangement promises to be an interesting, must-watch drama. During the last legislative session, activities to deal with bills that fit into the section of state law covering irrigation districts (NRS 539) prompted the idea by Assembly Government Affairs Committee chairwoman, Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, that this entire section of law

needed evaluation and remodeling.

Whether this plan continues to be in the cue for consideration will determine the mix of the agenda that Nevada Farm Bureau will be involved in. Given the change of persons who will be members of the 2011 Nevada Legislature (with term limits and election decisions) the institutional knowledge and experience in working on a variety of issues has disappeared, leaving a working environment for policy deliberations unlike anything that has been dealt with in the past. Getting to know legislators and having them to come to know Farm Bureau policy will be a work- in-progress, starting well-before the session begins in February.

Beyond the issues and the details of the Legislative process, Farm Bureau members are the key to determining how effective our efforts will be in 2011. That is the one constant we have to rely on going into what will certainly be something very uncertain. The communications system that is available for Farm Bureau members to be informed and involved has continued to evolve and allows for up-to-the-minute interaction with our grassroots base.

We’re certain that Farm Bureau members will continue to step forward in volunteering their time to make important contacts when called upon. As much as possible, we would request member contact information in the form of your e-mail address, allowing us to reach out and keep you posted in a timely manner. We will be providing a variety of methods for members to get connected to the Nevada Farm Bureau Legislative network and hope you will take advantage to join by whatever means best serves your convenience.

Doug Busselman

December, detangling decorative holiday lights stuffed in a box from the cellar is a little harder this year. My feed truck is broken down. The dog died this year. My younger sister passed away last January and then Dad in March,

short of his 80th birthday. This is about Dad’s gift. After serving four years in the Navy on Guam, Dad married Mom and started as a share farmer in Minnesota. He and mom raised pigs, chickens, a few cows and corn on another man’s land. To make extra money to buy the land, Dad traveled the Midwest building pole barns for other farmers. Mom raised us three kids and did a lot of farm chores.

One year the barn caught on fire and burned to the ground with all my folks’ farm equipment inside. Dad managed to get the cows out but the man who owned the property died soon afterwards. Since My parents had just a handshake agreement with the man they had to move to town after the man’s family settled the estate and sold all the property to someone else. So Dad became a carpenter and a plumber.

Being a plumber in Minnesota, Dad was on call a lot in winter. Driving at night through a blowing blizzard to get to a cold family to start up their stalled furnace or unplug frozen pipes, Dad worked hard. He and mom bought a house in town. Mom worked in the school cafeteria to be home when we girls came home from school. Dad, pretty good with numbers and people, I asked him why he never went to college. All he said was, “Somebody’s got to do the work.” Yet he supported two daughters through college.

Dad smoked since he was 14 years old. He gave up cigarettes, but his lungs were damaged by then. Before 70 years old he was on portable oxygen. Freezing cold plumber days and heavy carpentry work had worn out his knees and bad arthritis had set in his hands. As an older man his hands were too swollen to hold a sandwich. So he had both knees replaced and learned to hold a fork differently.

Dad got dentures around the same time he had cataract surgery. But his eyes were still so bad he fell on a concrete foundation during one grandson’s honor society induction so he got an artificial hip too. Dad, a kind, giving, clever man didn’t talk much. But he knew a few good stories. He saw all his grandchildren go to college. His only granddaughter marry. He cried when he lost his wife of 48 years, 10 years ago, and again this January when his youngest daughter

died unexpectedly at the age of 48.

Dad never lived beyond his means. Saved money, owned his own home, built a retirement account. But quickly medical expenses took most of the gold Dad had saved for his golden years. His family assured him he would always have a home and never have to eat dog food like some elderly poor without benefits or family. Dad never complained about his choices in life. He seemed pretty content making miniature hay-wagons in his retirement and various wooden holiday decorations to give to anyone, bank teller, oxygen delivery man, waitress, family, friend, foster children, anyone, kind to him.

In March when Dad died, the hospital said he was an organ donor. This was not a surprise, but what could Dad donate? His damaged lungs caused his heart failure. His kidney and liver, strained. His hips, knees and teeth, artificial. He wore hearing aids, had serious arthritis, bad eyes. What could he donate?

“Your Dad has beautiful skin,” said the organ donor coordinator. “It could be used on burn victims, in breast cancer reconstruction and on injured military member.”

Dad gave one more gift. Please consider being a donor. We all have so much to give.

Marie Johnson is a Carson Valley rancher.

Marie Johnson

ANOTHER VIEW

Preparing for 2011 Nevada Legislature

The Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange is a free publication printed quarterly by the Sierra Nevada Media Group.

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete Copeland

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Ranson

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Send submissions to:EditorThe Lahontan Valley NewsP. O. Box 1297Fallon, NV 89407

or e-mail: . . . . . . [email protected]: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .775-423-6041Fax: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .775-423-0474

Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. We advise anyone who submits material to the Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange that doing so constitutes a consent for the Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange to publish the material as it chooses without any further compensation to the author including but not limited to all print, electronic and archival versions. All rights reserved. © 2010 Swift Communications

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Cattlemen association prepares for annual bull saleBy Steve RansonNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

The 44th annual Fallon All-Breeds Bull Sale is soon approaching its Feb. 19 date when buyers and sellers will converge at the Fallon Livestock Exchange, nine miles west of the city.

“This annual tradition brings Nevada producers and producers from around the west together to sell and buy bulls,” said Meghan Brown, executive director of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, the sponsor of the bull sale. “We work hard each year to bring the best range ready bulls to the sale to provide our buyers with quality and selection.”

Every year Brown said the consignors who attend the yearly bring consistently excellent bulls. She said every bull is graded and sifted before the sale to ensure quality and consistency. “Each bull has been semen tested, BVD tested, and Trich tested,” Brown said, adding that individuals should contact

her office if they have questions regarding the health requirements for the Fallon All-Breeds Bull Sale.

Brown said last year’s sale brought in 108 bulls, down from 162 in 2009, a decrease from 162 a year ago.

“The demand for bulls is down,” Brown said, adding the demand for cows has also declined.

During previous years, the bull sale attracted about 300 consignors, buyers and board members. That number hovered somewhere between 200 to 250 at the 2010 sale.

Brown said most of the buyers and consignors come from California, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. She said bulls brought to the sale are pre-screened by veterinarians to ensure quality after arriving at the livestock yard; the animals will be sifted and graded again by veterinarians. Brown said bulls with a higher grading score are considered higher quality animals and are sold first.

“The quality of the bulls is high,” Brown said. “We try to make sure we have high

quality bulls for our buyers.”Rancher Clay Dalluge said

he considers the Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale one of the best in the region.

Dalluge, who brought only one bull in 2010 from the Sunset Ranch (Red Angus) in Washoe Valley, said he travels to three or four bull sales each year. His bull was one of the top animals sold by snaring the Top Range Bull Award. This award winning bull was 23 months old and sold for $2,500 to Stix Cattle Company of Fernley.

As for the entire bull sale, Brown said the overall sale average was $1,933 on 88 bulls.

While the sale draws mostly ranchers, members of the general public are welcome to watch the sale. Brown said the FFA students seem to enjoy the large sale as members help the NCA feed the animals, erect pens and help wherever needed.

The sale will be accompanied by a trade show featuring industry related products like chutes, gates and panels, along with animal health products. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association with headquarters in Elko was established in 1935 as an advocacy group to promote the beef industry in Nevada.

“We’re constantly combating different issues,” Brown said, adding that NCA has a lobbyist that works every legislative session.

“Uniting the industry in important.”Brown said events leading up to the actual

bull sale begin Friday with meetings and then conclude with a dinner and dance.

Sifting of the bulls and heifers begins Feb. 18 at 8 a.m., and the NCA’s board of directors meet at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Building at 1 p.m.

The Churchill County Cowbelles, a local group of women who work to promote beef and agriculture, will host a dinner and dance from 5:30-11:15 p.m. at the Fallon Convention Center. Awards for best of breeds and the champion bull will be presented.

Steve Ranson/Ranch & Farm file photoFFA student Trevor Detomasi hangs a Nevada Cattlemen’s Association sign at last year’s bull sale in Fallon. Looking on are Kristina Moore, left, and Courtney Dahl.

Steve Ranson/Ranch & Farm file photoRancher Clay Dalluge adjusts his consignor sign in preparation for the 2010 annual bull sale. His bull was one of the top animals sold by snaring the Top Range Bull Award. This award winning bull was 23 months old and sold for $2,500 to Stix Cattle Company of Fernley.

Fallon teacher receives NCA’s top education award

By Stephanie CarrollNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Fallon Logos Christian Academy kindergarten teacher Kim Jung was awarded the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association’s 2010 Teacher of the Year award in November during the 75th Joint Annual Convention and Trade Show in Elko.

“Mrs. Jung is an absolutely amazing teacher,” said Lisa Rigney, president of the Churchill County Cowbelles. “Mrs. Jung includes agriculture into her daily lessons to teach today’s children the importance of who feeds America, along with our history and the importance of preserving our heritage.”

Jung has been teaching for 14 years and said she has been able to incorporate agriculture in her curriculum because she works at a private school that allows for innovation.

“To me it fits – we’re in an agricultural community here,” Jung said adding many children don’t realize their food comes from agriculture and not just the grocery store. “That’s really important that they understand that – that eggs come from a chicken.” Cattlemen’s Association Director Meghan Brown said for this award, the association looks for non-agriculture teachers who still promote agriculture in their classrooms.

“The association appreciates teachers such as Kim that promote not only agriculture but the uniqueness of Nevada agriculture in

their classrooms, “Brown said.

Rigney said Jung promotes agriculture through themes like cowboys and farming, and she has events like a Cowboy Day and field trips to the Liberty Dairy and Lattin Farms. Plus, Rigney said Jung has a “Farm Show and Share” where students bring in farm related items to class, which can include animals.

“She welcomes any type of farm animal into her classroom, including pigs, goats, sheep, calves and donkeys.” Rigney said.

Jung said she was surprised when she won because what she does in her classroom is nothing in comparison to what the Cattleman’s association does for agriculture.

“If anything it was very humbling because you see what these people (Cattleman Association members) are doing, and you feel like they’re the ones that are the educators,” she said.

Sue Hoffman from Nevada Agriculture Foundation, left, presents the 2010 Teacher of the Year Award to Kim Jung

“We work hard each year to bring the best range ready bulls to the sale to provide our buyers with quality and selection.”

Meghan Brown, Executive Director Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

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� NevadaRaNch&FaRmexchaNge WiNteR�010

Cattle ranchers say 2010 has been profitableBy Rob SaboNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Faraway woes, severe flooding in the nation’s Corn Belt in June, a severe drought in Russia that’s greatly reduced that country’s wheat production could spell financial trouble for Nevada’s cattle ranchers, says an agricultural specialist at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Mike Helmar, a research associate with UNR’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, says both events will contribute to higher feed prices for the nation’s beef producers, who typically fatten feeder cattle to about 800 pounds before slaughter. As producers’ profit margins are squeezed by higher grain prices, Helmar says, they sell off cattle to packing and slaughterhouses, and an oversupply of beef will result in lower prices for suppliers of feeder cattle.

Silver State ranchers still are enjoying strong prices for calves headed to feeder lots, about $107 per hundred pounds through November. In November of 2009, Nevada ranchers received about $94 per hundredweight. Tom Harris, professor with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, says it’s a fallacy to think ranching operations in rural Nevada aren’t affected by world economics. “If large COWS are having price decreases, it will come back on us,” Harris says. “Right now prices are good, but they will be impacted by live cattle prices.”

Ron Cerri, a third-generation Nevada rancher who

runs about 450 head of cattle at his Rebel Creek Ranch in Orovada, says this year has been profitable and feeder prices have largely held up through the recession. The weakened U.S. dollar has allowed the country to be more competitive with other beef exporters, adds Cerri, who serves as president of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

“Now we almost are able to compete with Australia and other countries in exporting to China,” he says. “The cost of our beef is not much more than Australian beef.”

As of Jan. 1, there were 450,000 head of cattle and calves on Nevada ranches. Due to its lack of rainfall to produce natural forage, Nevada typically ranks about 35th or lower amongst the 50 states in overall beef production.

Little beef is butchered in Nevada due to the high costs of fattening steers; instead, Nevada is known as a cow-calf state, where cows are raised to birth calves, which are sold when they reach 450 to 600 pounds to markets in California or the Midwest for additional fattening.

Ron Torrell, a former agricultural specialist with UNR who now raises registered Angus cattle and sell bulls to commercial operators, says Nevada cattle ranchers also sell market-ready cows that are about 10 years old and have typically given birth to eight calves beginning at age 2. These cows are largely harvested for hamburger, and Nevada ranchers typically have a 10 to 20 percent replacement rate per year.

Lastly, there is a small market for yearlings that are held over for the winter and put on grass for fattening before being exported to feed lots. Torrell says today’s ranchers produce more consumable meat with smaller herds due to improved management practices, genetics, and pharmaceuticals. “Financially we are doing pretty good,” he says.

Cerri says Silver State ranchers are being squeezed by higher fuel, power and insurance

costs, as well as from anti-grazing groups that want

to remove cattle from public lands.

“We are not by

any

means getting rich, but we are keeping our heads above water,” he says. “In Nevada we rely so much for beef production on public lands; being able to continue to use public lands to keep a viable operation is a major issue.”

And Nevada’s open ranges are so vast, Cerri adds, that ranchers incur high costs for transportation of horses, riders and fuel to manage their free-grazing herds. Water rights also weigh on the mind of Nevada ranchers but reduced population counts in southern Nevada due to the lack of construction there has reduced the demand for water from other areas, he says.

“We work hard to try and at least maintain for agricultural uses the limited water that we have,” he says.

“Now we almost are able to compete with Australia and other countries in exporting to China. The cost of our beef is not much more than Australian beef.”

~ Ron Cerri, third-generation Nevada rancher

Photos courtesy of the Rebel Creek Ranch

Orvada rancher Ron Cerri, who recently served as president of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, said his ranch, along with others, was able to compete with those in foreign lands. Through November, Silver State ranchers were enjoying strong prices.

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By Scott NeufferNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

A Gardnerville family is turning a piece of Carson Valley history into a berry farm.

Jack and Diana Jacobs, who purchased the original Lampe homestead in 2001, are slowly converting a century-old alfalfa field into neat rows of blackberries and raspberries.

“Everybody loves berries,” Jack Jacobs said. “There is high-yield, high-income potential in it if it works. Everything so far is a test, and it has been a real success. Now, we finally know we can have berries. Now, it’s time to knock on doors and find specific markets.”

To date, the Jacobs Family Berry Farm consists of a third of an acre of rich river silt furrowed and planted into five varieties of raspberries and two varieties of

blackberries. Located directly behind St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville, the Lampe homestead as a whole consists of five acres of the original ranch, a turn-of-the-century barn, brick creamery, blacksmith shop, smokehouse, bunkhouse, outhouse, and 1869 vintage farm home, all hidden by towering trees.

“I always wanted to live in an old house, and Jack would say, literally, ‘Over my dead body; it’s too much maintenance,’” Diana recalled. “I’ve always pleased you,” Jack retorted. “I see all this stuff, and all I see is work, but it’s really turned into a joy. When you buy an old ranch, you don’t have a choice: there are just endless projects.”

Retired from a long career in civil engineering, Jack has more than enough experience with lengthy projects. He and Diana, herself a retired human resources executive, left the Bay Area in 2002 after falling in love with the Eastern Sierra. They already had family residing on this side of the divide.

The year before, they’d purchased the Lampe homestead. The property came with an acre of alfalfa, which the Jacobs let a local rancher harvest until recently deciding to try something different.

“We wanted to make it a more productive, interesting project,” Diana said. “One of the goals was to find a way for the property to produce an income and maintain itself,” Jack added.

A niche berry farm seemed like the perfect solution. Testing varieties on a portion of the land, from Triple Crown and Chester blackberries to Polana and Nova

raspberries, the Jacobs procured some promising fruit. They now plan to plant the entire acre into berries within the next year or so, and to eventually expand the operation to another plot on the edge of their property.

“There’s not a lot of formal berry growing around here, and so there’s an intriguing market opportunity,” Jack said. “The way society is moving, people want local produce, not imported produce. We have good land and good water here, and we can take care of ourselves, we don’t need California.” The key to local berries, however, is finding the right varieties that can flourish in Nevada’s unpredictable weather patterns, thus the Jacobs’ involvement with the North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association, USDA Rural Development, Nevada Department of Agriculture, and Western Nevada College’s Specialty Crop Institute.

“We want a set of varieties that can spread out production and extend the season,” Jack said. “It’s important to have different tastes, shapes and textures because people have different preferences, just like with wine.” One similarity between grapes and berries is the appeal of antioxidants and other health benefits. Although not formally certified, the Jacobs are growing their berries organically.

“One acre has the potential to produce 10,000 pounds,” Diana said. “It costs a lot of money up front to invest and produce, but with the right practices here, with the right varieties and markets, we’re hoping to leave an opportunity for our children to sustain something,” Jack said. With their current crop, the Jacobs are targeting local restaurants and other hospitality establishments. In the future, they want to target grocery stores. They also envision a unique employment opportunity on the farm. “Picking berries is careful and delicate work,” Diana explained. “They ripen in the summer months, so we would like to hire high school kids to harvest them.”

Providing small-scale, sustainable agriculture for future generations is a central part of the Jacobs’ mission. After all, the word “family” appears in the name of their business. Their son Jim Wheeler helps out with

the entire operation, and their three other

children already have visited to pitch in. The goal is to produce enough income to keep the berry farm going in perpetuity.

“We want the whole ranch and farm to

be motivation for our kids and grandkids to

visit,” Jack said. “They can come here and have fun doing this stuff.”

Ranch and Farm photos by Jim GrantJim Wheeler of Jacobs Family Berry Farm inspects one of the many varieties of raspberry plants growing on the farm. Below, Diana and Jack Jacobs in front of the blacksmith shop on the Lampe homestead. Bottom, a sample of one of five raspberry varieties the Jacobs family is testing.

A wide varietyof raspberries are grownon the Jacobs Family Berry Farm.

Turning alfalfa fields into a Berry Farm

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Northern Nevada 4-H NewsChurchill County Beef Club

The Churchill County Beef Club held its first meeting on Nov. 9, 2010. Our club invited Karla and Jamie from Kents Supply Center. Kent’s Supply Center is now offering feed and show supplies. They discussed the Farmers Best Program, which is a program that offers awards to the exhibitors if you purchase feed for your 4-H project and win at either the local or state level. Kent’s also mentioned if anyone needs a certain type of feed that they will get it for us.

Our club invited Donald Schank from Country Financial Insurance, and he discussed how to purchase insurance for our breeding and market animals. We discovered that the insurance was inexpensive and worth the cost. All of the members discussed their projects briefly.

The Churchill County Beef members present were Marissa Lucindo, Logan Service, Tucker Stritenburger, Jess Gantt, Madison Gantt, Conner McGowan, and Trey McGowan.

We thank Mrs. Tews beef club member who also joined us, Heather Hancock, Marie Lawson, Levi Taylor, Katy Ruth Taylor, and Garrett Clark.

Buckaroo Crew Beef Club

The first Beef Club meeting was on Oct. 27, 2010, at the Extension Office. Linda Tews, leader , called the meeting to order. Gracie Lawson led the Pledge of Allegiance and Clay Mulder led the 4-H Pledge. Under new business, we had election of officers. They are as follows: President: Jes Tews, Vice President: Clay Mulder, Secretary: Kayce Mulder, Reporter: Garrett Clark, Historian: Levi Taylor.

We talked about a name for our club and decided to ask Pat Hauch if we could use the “Buckaroo Crew Beef Club” since we were named that a few years ago. Linda will talk to Pat and see if she still has our banner and if that would be ok.

We discussed the upcoming weigh day and the date had not been set. We also discussed about us working at Fallon Daily Bread for our Community Service and possibly giving to Toys-For-Tots. We will be working at Fallon Daily Bread on Feb. 3, 2011.

4 Footed Crew 4-H Club

Churchill County 4-H Lamb and Goat Club the “4 Footed Crew” held its first meeting Nov. 10, 2010.

The 4 Footed crew participated in a community service project on Nov. 18. The club went to a disabled families

residence and stacked wood, raked leaves and cleaned the yard for this family in need. All club members and their family members joined in helping this family. Everyone did an excellent job and it was nice to see the 4-H families come together to help the members in the community who need a little help during the winter and especially around the holidays. The family was very appreciative of all the helpers and served them hot chocolate.

Goat, Sheep, Swine Weigh in & Tagging

Goat, Sheep & Swine weigh in & tagging will be held on Feb. 26, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon. For animals being shown at NJLS the cost is $20 per tag. For animals being shown at CCJLS, swine will be $2 per tag. Sheep & Goats will use their scrapie tag numbers at no cost. If you have any questions contact Amanda or Lisa at the 4-H Office 423-5121.

Time Travelers 4-H Club

We finally got our Time Travelers 4-H club going on Sept. 17 with six kids. We are planning to hold it every other Friday after school, but holidays make for a weird schedule so we will only have one meeting in November and one in December.

What is the Time Travelers 4-H Club? It is a club

designed to get kids into the museum so it has elements of both the Saturday Trip into the Past and the Junior Docent program. As always the idea is to turn

kids onto history by getting them involved with the use

of hands-on projects. We will try different projects working on each long enough to give the kids a basic knowledge of the skills involved until each has found one thing that they really want to know more about. As they go more in-depth on their

projects they will work toward setting up an exhibit on the subject

that most interests them. The goal will be to have an exhibit ready for the 4-H extravaganza at the end of July. To reach that goal they have started keeping a journal of their travels into the past and the skills they have learned.

All that they may have down at the moment is the 4-H pledge, but it is a start We started simply with candles: how are they made, what are they made of, and why should we want to know about them, after all today we just flip a switch? We

made dipped candles and we will be making ice candles, but where did people keep candles so that they would be handy and wouldn’t melt? The kids have been working on candle boxes. One final project will be how did people carry a candle to use in the barn without burning it down? In a lantern, of course,

so the final project will be a candle lantern.

What do the kids want to do next? After all it is there club. The loudest and quickest response was “Indians!” So in January we will start learning about the very necessary skills that the people in this area needed not only to survive but to thrive. Just think of all the things that the kids will be able to try their hand at. So wish them well on their journeys into the past and in making this an active, viable 4-H club.

Carcass Workshop & Quality Assurance

Remember there will not be as many Quality Assurance Workshops scheduled this year. No others have been set at this time. We are working on a Jan. 29, 2011, workshop to be held in Fallon with the topic being carcass evaluation and a Quality Assurance Workshop will be held then, tentatively 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Livestock Leaders Workshop

We will be holding a Livestock Leaders Educational Workshop on Jan. 18, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office during the regularly scheduled Livestock Leaders meeting. If you have any questions or would like to participate please contact Amanda at the 4-H Office 423-5121.

Douglas County 4-HThere were 300 youth from Nevada

who attended the 2010 4-H Expo held in conjunction with the Nevada State Fair in Reno. Douglas County 4-H youth who successfully completed an application, resume, and interview to become new state 4-H ambassadors were Kayla Boldrick and Melissa Stone. There are 16 Nevada ambassadors who serve for two years Douglas County 4-H competitors.

Shooting Sports project

Pen of Five-Carson Valley Shepherds first place shown by Cheyenne Bidart, Leah, Ethan and Lillie McKinney and Kimberly Russell.

Four members of the Douglas County 4-H Shooting Sports project competed at the Nevada State 4-H Shooting Match in Carson City on Sept. 18.

About 75 youth from across Nevada competed in the disciplines of archery, .22-caliber rifle, air rifle, shotgun, air pistol and muzzleloader.

Ethan Usher, 9, captured a gold medal and blue ribbon in both air rifle and .22-caliber rifle.

Ethan McKinney, 9, won red ribbons in air rifle and .22-caliber rifle.

Cody Lewis, 10, won red ribbons in air rifle and .22 rifle, and a blue ribbon in shotgun.

Leah McKinney, 11, won a bronze medal and blue ribbon in air rifle, and a red ribbon in .22 rifle.

Awards ceremony

Douglas County 4-H held its annual Awards Night Ceremony on Oct. 18 with

more than 225 in attendance. Members received Year Pins, Project Medals

and Portfolio/ Recordbook Awards based on their hard

work and commitment to their 4-H program.

Volunteers and community

supporters were on hand to be honored and to share in the festivities.

The evening started off with

food and socializing followed by the formal Awards Ceremony

which is planned and led by the 4-H Teen Leaders. A highlight of the night is the announcement of The Portfolio/Recordbook winners. A record total of 77 entries were received this year. Portfolios contain ongoing and current years record keeping, essays and photos combined into a specific format. The Carson Valley Kiwanis members spend two days judging the books and sponsor the cash awards for the winners.

The evening concluded with the Candle Lighting Ceremony and many door prizes followed by the end of year PowerPoint presentation with photos and music from the 4-H year (Oct.1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010). 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills, and is a youth development program of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

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Nevada Farm Bureau

Kelsea Krenka of Elko has been selected as the recipient of the 2010 Continuing Education Scholarship award provided by the Nevada Heritage Foundation.

Krenka is currently enrolled at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, and is in her senior year studying Animal Health Management. Her plans are to graduate in the spring of 2011 and possibly return to the Elko area working as a veterinary assistant.

She graduated from Wells High School in 2007, where she was a member of the Rodeo Team, Wells FFA Chapter and Ruby Mountain 4-H club. While maintaining a 3.0 GPA at Sul Ross, she is a member of the Collegiate Rodeo Team and Roping Club and involved in church activities. Krenka has also remained a member of the Ruby Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

The Heritage Foundation’s $1,000 Continuing Education Scholarship Award is available to students currently enrolled in either a traditional or non-traditional post secondary program pursuing goals in the agricultural or Ag-Business industry. Applications are due by July 1st of each year and the application is available on the Nevada Farm Bureau website.

According to Steve Achard, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nevada Heritage Foundation, this years’ scholarship committee had a difficult time selecting a recipient because of the high caliber of students submitting applications and added that Kelsea is certainly representative of that caliber and well deserving of this years’ award.

2010 Heritage Foundation scholarship

winner announcedBy Lani MartinFFA Reporter

Fifteen FFA students, two advisers and two chaperones traveled last month to Indianapolis for the 83rd National FFA convention where Churchill County students won multiple awards.

In the Agricultural Issues event Cheyanne Moore, Hailey Bunker, Macy Myers, Robyn Openshaw and Kadee Buckmaster received a bronze team award.

In Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Donald Moyle and Jessica Homma received

bronze medals, and Derek Whitten and Bobby Fagundes received

silver medals individually, and the team received a bronze

medal.

In Livestock Evaluation the bronze medal team

consisted of Sam T. Guazzini and Trevor Detomasi, and Tyler

Detomasi and Jake Olsen received silver medals. In

the Creed speaking event Lani Martin received a silver medal and placed eighth over all.

Other Nevada chapters also represented Nevada. Carson Valley sent 11 students,

whose Floriculture team received a silver medal

and Nursery and Landscape team received a bronze medal.

Amber Fiesen and Michelle Gibbons from Carson Valley received their American degrees.

Diamond Mountain FFA sent five students and received a bronze medal in the Dairy Foods competition. Brenna Wright from Diamond Mountain received her American Degree.

Ruby Mountain FFA received a silver medal in Horse Evaluation, a bronze in Agricultural Mechanics and a bronze in the Poultry Evaluation competition. From Ruby Mountain, Tayler Landa, Melissa Kern, Mallory Paoli,

and Jacob Nutting received their American degrees.

Silver Sage FFA students received a bronze medal in Agricultural Communications and a silver medal in the Parliamentary Procedure competition. They received two stars for their National Chapter Award. Casey Gallagher from Silver Sage received his American degree.

Wells FFA’s Meats Evaluation and Technology team received a silver medal and placed 15th over all. In Agricultural Sales, they received a silver medal and placed 16th over all, and in Farm Business Management they received a bronze medal. Mason Garrett, Shawn Pearson, Maggie Howell, Dillon Rose and Dustan Birrer from Wells FFA received their American Degrees, and in Proficiency Awards Emma Ballard received a gold medal for Specialty Animal. Winnemucca FFA’s Trenton Montero received a bronze medal in Prepared Public Speaking, and the Marketing Plan team received a bronze.

FFA coordinators said they are proud of the accomplishments made by the FFA students of Nevada and their phenomenal performances at both the state and national levels.

Note: Lani Martin placed eighth in the nation in the FFA Creed Recitation.

FFA 83rd National Convention awards

saddle horse adoption

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� NevadaRaNch&FaRmexchaNge WiNteR�010

By John SeelmeyerNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

So this story begins when Alan and Dawn Spinola bought land out in the country near Red Rock Road north of Reno so they could have a horse.

Which, in due course, brought them to the feed store where Dawn Spinola saw some chicks that were simply too cute to resist.

Which, in a classic chicken-and-egg story, resulted in eggs — a few eggs at first for the Spinolas’ friends, but now the flock has grown to 461 chickens and the couple finds that they’re busily developing a commercial egg business that serves grocers and restaurants.

RenoEgg.com, the couple’s business, looks to

catch the wave of interest in locally grown and healthier foods, delivering eggs produced by free-ranging chickens to Reno-area kitchens within a week. Dawn Spinola says that’s about four times faster than deliveries from big egg producers to traditional grocers.

And that, more than dreams of big profits, drives the couple as they finance the growth of RenoEgg.com through credit cards and knock on doors to line up new markets.

“I am more interested in putting healthy food on people’s tables,” says Dawn Spinola. But a start-up egg business presents a tricky challenge in balancing supply and demand.

Newly purchased chicks — the Spinolas mostly raise heritage breeds that are in danger of disappearance — need to be at least five months

old before they start producing eggs. That means that RenoEgg.com can’t simply sign up customers to begin deliveries tomorrow; the Spinola’s need to be marketing potential new production months in advance.

An additional challenge: As days grow shorter, hens produce fewer eggs.

“I’m developing my market as I go along,” says Dawn Spinola. “The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission is benefiting greatly from our learning.”

RenoEgg.com started selling 30 dozen at farmer’s markets, then added distribution through Great Basin Food Co-Op. Next up is distribution through Whole Foods Market, and the couple hopes to open doors at Walmart as well.

At the same time, the business distributes eggs to restaurants such as Dish Café, Back of the House, and Bistro 7.

Pricing — $3 a dozen at wholesale, $4 for direct retail sales — is intended mostly to keep the eggs price competitive with mass-produced alternatives, Dawn Spinola says.

But it’s not enough yet to generate a profit.

Along with the costs of chicks and feed, the biggest expense is housing the flock and protecting chickens from the cold and predators. “My birds live in little Taj Mahals,” says Dawn Spinola. “Unhappy birds won’t produce healthy eggs.”

Labor costs so far are minimal. The Spinolas, each of whom hold down full-time jobs in town, spend many of their free hours with chickens. A teen-aged worker helps out six hours a week. Another worker devotes four a week to the business in exchange for a steady supply of eggs.

While the growth of egg production is one step toward profitability, the owners of RenoEgg.com

someday hope to add meat production to the business. And they figure vertical integration

— growing their own feed — would add further to the company’s sustainability.

But the business considerations, important as they may be, take second place to the profound sense of satisfaction that Dawn Spinola finds among her birds. “It makes me happy every day,” she says.

Another successful story - eggxactly!

National Onion Labs tests Peri & Sons Farms sweet onions

Special to the Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Yerington’s Peri & Sons Farms, Inc. has selected National Onion Labs, Inc. (NOL) to test and certify their 2010 Sweetie Sweet® sweet onions.

David Peri, President/CEO of Peri & Sons, Farms, Inc. commented, “The National Onion Labs (NOL) program is extremely thorough. First, they collect samples from all areas of each field. After conducting the pungency test, they test for the compounds that cause eye tearing, then those that make the onion taste sweet. And lastly, but extremely important, they examine each lot for flavor including bitterness and other negative flavors.”

David Peri goes on to say, “In today’s world, you can find many onions in the grocery store that may be

labeled “sweet” but that would never pass NOL’s pungency test. NOL has raised the bar because even if an onion passes the pungency test, it still has to pass theses other measures of taste. If it doesn’t taste good, it doesn’t pass. At Peri & Sons

Farms, we are convinced that our Sweetie Sweet is up to the test!”

Peri & Sons Farms has invested 10 years developing the Sweetie Sweet genetics that consistently yield the flavors which sweet-onion consumers’ desire and which translate into increased category sales – something today’s retailers demand. Once consumers taste Sweetie Sweet onions, they come back for more.

David Peri goes on to comment that “Even though our Sweetie Sweet onion is great right now, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality and flavor. We appreciate that NOL will provide additional on-farm field-by-field analysis. This will enable Peri & Sons Farms to further customize its farming, harvest and storage operations. Peri believes, “Only through testing can we learn when, where and how to improve our farming and management practices so that we can be sure the onions we offer our customers and consumers will consistently exceed their expectations.”

David Burrell, President of National Onion Labs, Inc. reported his appreciation that Peri & Sons Farms selected NOL. “We believe ourselves to be on the cutting edge of onion flavor technology. It is refreshing

to find a grower who wants to use all these tools to insure that consumers receive the best possible product. Peri & Sons Farms has a long track record of innovation and we are excited to be working with them.”

National Onion Labs began testing the first Nevada Sweetie Sweet field in September and will continued until the final harvest in October. Only onions that pass all of NOL’s strict testing standards are allowed to be identified with NOL’s Certified Extra Sweet® or Certified Sweet® certifications. Fields that are able to meet NOL’s certification requirements will be listed on the National Onion Labs, Inc. web page at http://www.onionlabs.com. National Onion Labs, Inc., located in Collins, GA., is the acknowledged industry leader in onion flavor analysis and flavor certification of onions. Started in 1998, NOL has been continuously developing and utilizing the latest technology to identify and improve onion flavor for retail and institutional clients.

Peri & Sons Farms, Inc. currently grows, packages and ships over 4,000 acres of onions year round.

“The reason our sweet onions have their unique sweetness and onion flavor” remarked David Peri, “is because they’re grown in an environment that they love. They thrive on the warm days and cool nights in the high desert of Yerington, Nevada. These optimal growing conditions make for one truly unique sweet onion! And by using National Onion Labs’ Flavor Certification program, we can prove it.”

“I am more interested in putting healthy food on people’s tables.”

~ Dawn Spinola

Ranch and Farm photo

Alan and Dawn Spinola developed a commercial egg business that serves grocers and restaurants in the Reno area.

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Families recognized for their contributions to farming, ranching

Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Nevadan ranching families are especially proud of their heritage. To recognize their contributions to state agriculture, centennial status is given to those whose farms and ranches have been in the same family for at least 100 years.

This year ranches from Fallon, Lovelock and Dayton were honored at the Wild West Fair in Reno.

“These families have stuck to the land through thick and thin for a long time,” said Liz Warner, the program’s coordinator. “It’s an honor to recognize them for their achievements.

Since its inception in 2004, 41 families have been inducted into the Centennial Ranch Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Conservation Resource Service, Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada Agricultural Foundation, Nevada Heritage Foundation, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Lawrence Ranch

The Lawrence Ranch, which is located east of Fallon on Stillwater Road, was established in 1908 by Charles A. Lawrence, who worked as a surveyor for the Bureau of Reclamation. Originally 160 acres, the ranch initially belonged to I. H. Kent. The Dale Lawrence Ranch was purchased in November 1908 by Dale’s father, Charles A. Lawrence, for

$9,000. He built a one-bedroom home on his new

property and was soon busy growing alfalfa and had a small dairy. He also had turkeys, chickens and some prize’ mares. Soon after building the house in 1908, Charlie’s mother, Mary Ellen, and her new husband, J. W. Pierce, joined him in Stillwater.

Charles Lawrence paid off his loan for the ranch in 1915. In 1914, Albert and Addie Weishaupt arrived from Illinois and bought 80 acres of

the original 160 from Charlie. Albert Weishaupt helped Lawrence add a large back porch and another bedroom onto the original house. His mother’s new husband had died, and Mary Ellen moved in with him. The house was demolished in 1989, but a large barn still stands as does a small shop, a hay derrick and granary.

When Charles Lawrence died in 1929, Eva continued farming and barely got by financially. At one point she and Dale, their son, moved to Reno where she boarded and worked for a family but one day stated, “We can starve on the ranch as well as here.”

So they moved back to the ranch and at some time before 1941 she went into the egg business. She was a member of the Nevada Poultry Producers Inc, a co-operation that distributed Silver White Brand, Freshlaid Brand, and Ranch Brand Eggs. They were owned and sponsored entirely by Nevada poultry growers.

At least three of the chicken houses are still in use. Dale moved one across the road to use as an equipment shed.

Throughout the 1930s, Dale Lawrence and his mother were farming alfalfa, corn and grain. He bought a couple of bred sows and they each had eleven piglets. With this rate of return, he soon had eight sows and a boar that produced about 100 wiener pigs twice a year that he fattened and sold. He also ran a small dairy with as many as 18 cows.

In 1957 Dale sold all the sheep and got into the cattle business. Ron Lawrence now owns and farms the old place as well as the Peer place.

Photo by Steve RansonThe Lawrence Ranch, which is operated by the grandson of Charles Lawrence, is located on Stillwater Road east of Fallon.

“These families have stuck to the land through thick and thin for a long time. It’s an honor to recognize them for their achievements.”

Liz Warner, Program Coordinator Reno Wild West Fair

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10 NevadaRaNch&FaRmexchaNge summeR2010

Skip’s Place Skip’s Place in Fallon was

established in 1907 by Frances Harrigan, who was born in Gold Hill in 1873 and moved to Fallon when he was 11 years old to live with his grandparents after the deaths of his parents. He raised bees for honey, turkeys and cantaloupe, as well as

Durham cattle. Both his parents died when he was young, so

Harrigan lived with an aunt. As a young boy, he worked on the Allen Tranch in the St. Clair District, southwest of Fallon.

A 1911 article in the Fallon Eagle newspaper stated that Harrigan shipped 592 cases of honey, needing an eight horse team to bring it to town. His granddaughters Yvonne Prettyman and Sidney Ellen Imeson own the original ranch.

The home on the land was built in 1945, one year after the original homestead burned.

Harrigan was active in local politics and served as a county commissioner for 12 years and served on the school board. Harrigan married Martha Oats in 1902, and they had five sons and five daughters. When Harrigan died in 1948, he was survived by his wife, eight children and 10 grandchildren.

Quilici RanchAn account of the Quilici

Ranch was written several years ago in the Nevada Appeal by Ruby McFarland.

The Quilici Ranch has been in the same family since 1881. The ranch has been handed down from father to son and finally from father to daughter. The ranch is now known

as the Quilici-Selmi Ranch. The ranch is still family operated.

Luigi Quilici came to Nevada and was

here a while before

he bought the ranch. Luigi brought his three oldest sons, Victorio, Duilio, and Salvatore with him the first time he came to America. His younger sons, Smeraldo and Luggero, eventually followed. Luigi’s wife refused to move to the Dayton

Ranch because she had heard of the hardships some of the other Italian wives had endured on the Nevada ranches.

Around 1916, Victorio sold out his share and followed his other brother Salvatore back to Italy.

Victorio traveled back and forth to Italy and eventually settled in California. Smeraldo and Duilio stayed and ran the ranch and never returned to Italy. They are buried in the Dayton cemetery. Lugerro, the youngest of Luigi’s sons, came to Dayton in 1921

when he was 23. He stayed 10 years and went back to Italy. He married Rita Quilici Selmi’s mother in Italy. They had three children: Salvatore, Rita, and Ledo. Luggero inherited a share of the Dayton Ranch, so he came to Dayton and sent for his wife and children a

year later. Nunzia, Lugerro’s wife came in June 1948 with her little children. Sal was almost nine, Rita was seven and Ledo was five. The youngest of the family, Larry was born in America in 1954. It was a painful transition for the family as it was very primitive on the ranch. They had left comfortable surroundings in Italy.

Going to school was hard on the children who had just immigrated, as they didn’t speak English. Sal and Rita were put in the same grade “so we could console one another.” Rita says they were behind because they couldn’t speak English, but they were ahead in math. Rita says, “Boy, we could sure whip them in math.”

The entire family had to work and still work to keep the ranch going. The kids all had chores to do. They raised hogs, grew potatoes, hay and wheat. The potatoes were raised to sell in Reno. As children, Sal and Rita said the worst job was sorting potatoes in the cellar.

The one thing that was apparent in those days was that the ranches all depended on one another for help. They all

helped in getting in the crops at harvest time.

Anker Ranch Peter Hanson Anker established his

ranch west of Lovelock in 1877 on Reservation Road after immigrating from Denmark. He was a county commissioner, served as assemblyman in the 22nd Session of the Nevada Legislature, and was the grandfather of Cliff Young, former Chief Justice of the

Nevada Supreme Court.

Anker came to America in 1870 when was 18 years old and barely knew any English. He arrived in Nevda in 1871.

Four generations of Anker’s descendants, including 91-year-old granddaughter Phyllis Anker Bendure, were inducted for two portions of the original ranch they own.

The ranch at 1125 Reservation Road is currently owned by the Anker Family Trust and the Monroe Family Trust and currently includes 155 acres. The homesteaded ranch grew to 800 acres, and during the years, the family has raised corn, sugarbeets and other grains but primairy alfafa. Turkeys were also raised for sale.

In later generations the ranch became known as the Anker, Wiley, Young Ranch, and three of the original five parcels remain in the family today.

The 160-acre Anker-Bendure Ranch is located at 605

Reservation Road, a short distance from the other Anker Ranch.

The family acquired the ranch sometime during 1877-78, and

currently alfafa and grain are currently grown there. During the years, the ranch also produced corn and sugarbeats and also sold turkeys. Other animals were raised for the family.

Liz Warner, Ruby McFarland and the families contributed information to

this article.

“These families have stuck to the land through thick and thin for a long time. It’s an honor to recognize them for their achievements”

~ Liz Warner, program coordinator

Three generations of he Harrigan family

gathered in 1928.

When Ruggero Quilici inherited a piece of his father’s ranch, he moved his wife and three children to Dayton from Italy.

Peter Anker, left, his wife Julia Faas, right, and five children.

Photo by Shannon LitzThe saddle house has been around for generations at the Quilici Ranch near Dayton.

Photo by Steve Ranson

Skip’s Place, a ranch established by Frances Harrigan, is located six miles south of Fallon.

Photo by Steve Ranson

Peacocks strut their stuff at the Anker-Monroe ranch on an autumn afternoon.

Photo by Steve Ranson

The Anker-Bendure Ranch is located on Reservation Road west of Lovelock.

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By Robert MillsUniversity of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Family Storyteller—a family-literacy program that has helped bring lasting educational and economic benefits to more than 16,000 Nevada families by incorporating books and reading into their everyday lives—has received national recognition from the federal government.

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension program was selected for a 2010 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Partnership Award. Extension Specialist Sally Martin—who created the program with Extension Specialist Dan Weigel—will travel to Washington, D.C., to accept the award at the NIFA Day of Appreciation on Oct. 6, 2010.

UNCE’s Family Storyteller program was selected over scores of programs developed at more than 100 land-grant universities throughout the country eligible for the NIFA award. Parents in the Family Storyteller program learn that reading to their preschool-aged children builds a strong language foundation that helps children learn to read and allows them to progress through school with greater success, helping them to avoid falling behind or dropping out of school.

“Kids who struggle in school become the people likely to

end up unemployed or in low-paying jobs,” Martin said. “So it’s really exciting and positive when they gain these foundation skills.”

UNCE’s Family Storyteller program, designed especially for families with limited language skills and few children’s books at home, is available in English, Spanish, English Language Learner and Native American versions. UNCE collaborated with the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, KNPB-TV, Washoe County libraries, the Washoe County School District, Nevada’s College of Education, the Northern Nevada Literacy Council, State Library System, Children’s Cabinet, Head Start, Even Start, preschools and private donors to develop the program. The late Jo Anne Kock, an Extension Specialist in Clark County, was also involved in creating the program.

Local public television station KNPB joined the Family Storyteller project early in the process, producing short videos featuring parents reading to their children. Over the years, Family Storyteller resources and services have found a very special place in the Ready To Learn activities of the station.

“We teach parents to watch our children’s programs with their children, then turn off the set and read a book,” Vice President of Education Patricia Miller said. “What we have

learned through taping these families reading to their children is the power of the book. All the studio distractions of multiple cameras, bright lights and television crew fade away when the parent begins to read.”

The need for the program was made clear when studies ranked Nevada 47th in the nation for the percentage of parents who say they read to their children. Other studies found that 51 percent of third-grade and 47 percent of fourth-grade students in Nevada read below the basic reading level.

Weigel said national

recognition for Family Storyteller will help to illustrate the importance of reading to children at an early age.

“The early foundations—before children do what’s called conventional reading—start before formal school,” Weigel said. “These are things like learning to enjoy books, learning the sounds of words and learning that words have meanings.”

Many parents with low-literacy levels have benefited from the program and have improved their own reading comprehension and vocabulary, Martin said. The Family Storyteller program often incorporates the entire family.

“The parents in our program want what’s best for their children and work very hard, so we are very excited to see them come and participate with their children,” Martin said. “Sometimes children show up with their brothers and sisters, too.”

UNCE Dean and Director Karen Hinton said the program’s impacts were easily identifiable. “This is a program that has produced measurable outcomes for the families participating,” Hinton said. “It also produces long-term, positive outcomes for communities and the state as a whole.”

Through selected book-reading techniques, grammar lessons and practice-reading sessions, parents who have completed the Family Storyteller program show marked improvement in their vocabulary and reading comprehension.

“Parents feel much more certain that they can help their children learn,” Weigel said. “They’ve definitely increased their confidence.”

Family Storyteller program wins national awardUNCE program brings the pleasure and benefits of reading to thousands of Nevada families

Tonopah launches popular farmers marketBy University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Although recent studies have placed Nevada last in the nation for its rate of people who volunteer, a new University of Nevada Cooperative Extension study of volunteers in a rural part of the state finds that it’s possible to not only nurture strong volunteers but that the effort can have a lasting impact on a community.

The study by three UNR researchers focused on how volunteers in

Tonopah successfully launched a farmers market, despite the fact that Tonopah is hundreds of miles from Nevada’s metropolitan areas. Last summer, the weekly farmers market celebrated its sixth year and drew 34 vendors to the small, high-elevation desert town. And the volunteers have, well, themselves to thank.

“Our study found that volunteer-based community development programs in isolated rural communities produce positive impacts for both volunteers and the towns they live in,” said Amy Meier, an assistant professor with Cooperative Extension who authored the study with UNCE Central-Northeast Area Director Loretta Singletary and UNR Associate Professor George Hill.

The three researchers’ study is being published this month in the “International Journal of Volunteer Administration.”

Meier, the Extension educator for Tonopah, said a group of Tonopah residents came to her several years ago and asked for her help in launching a farmers market. The residents wanted access to fresh produce but also to encourage the local production of fresh fruit and vegetables.

But instead of taking on the project herself, Meier worked with volunteers to help them launch the market. She mentored volunteers, and helped them form a community action team that went on to spearhead the project. The group wrote a mission statement, applied for grants, learned government protocol and gained valuable understanding of project management and leadership.

“My goal was to teach them the leadership skills they needed to gain the self-confidence to do the job themselves,” Meier said.

A key lesson for the core group of farmers market founders was learning how to recruit, retain and manage additional volunteers. An initial group of six volunteers blossomed into more than 35 active volunteers, and many are still involved today.

“They have the confidence now to believe they can influence the design of future community development programs,” Meier said.

The success in Tonopah contradicts the finding of a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which concluded three years ago Nevadans don’t volunteer

very much and those who do often drop out quickly. That study ranked Nevada last in the nation for volunteerism and blamed the state’s rapid growth, relatively low number of nonprofit organizations and a lack of emphasis on volunteering.

But Singletary says the experience in Tonopah could become a model for other small communities.

“Our study shows that volunteers gain valuable skills in conflict resolution, planning and managing projects,” she said. “When we surveyed the volunteers in Tonopah, most of them said they plan on continuing to volunteer for at another five years.”

Cooperative Extension Dean and Director Karen Hinton said Meier’s success in Tonopah reflects Extension’s long-time practice of recruiting and retaining good volunteers.

“We had more than 1,600 volunteers from around the state helping us with our programs last year,” Hinton said. “From master gardeners to weed warriors to 4-H leaders, these volunteers put in many thousands of hours into helping other Nevadans every year.”

Photo by UNCEEvelyn Van Poperin helps put up a tent at a farmers market in Tonopah.

Photo by UNCEThe success of Tonopah’s Farmers Market was in the fruit and vegetables the volunteers sold.

Photo by UNCEParents in the Family Storyteller program learn that reading to their preschool-aged children builds a strong language foundation that helps children learn to read and allows them to progress through school with greater success

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75th annual NCA convention termed a successBy Meghan Brown, Executive DirectorNevada Cattlemen’s Association

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 75th joint annual convention in November concluded successfully, and for three days members joined together in educational forums, Cattlemen’s College sessions, policy meetings, social events and award banquet.

NCA members joined together to set policy and the direction of the association, and this year was no exception. This year 250 members traveled to Elko and participated in these important meetings. Issues such as wild horses, estate tax, youth education, water rights, wildlife and federal land management were discussed, and policy was set forth. Three new policies that were passed. The membership is the backbone of the association, and without the strength of the membership, the NCA cannot tackle the issues the industry faces.

The theme of this year’s convention was “Today’s Challenges, Tomorrows Opportunities.” It is no secret that cattlemen face obstacles every day but the more they stand together on the issues all of us face, the better chance of success they have.

The convention started with the NCA Board of Directors meeting. The budget was discussed and approved. Updates on membership, fundraising and legislative affairs were given along with updates from Nevada Beef Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Nevada CattleWomen’s.

Meetings and presentations

The first day of convention was filled with policy meetings. New and renewing policy was heard, along with updates from state and federal agencies. Issues such as water rights, wildlife, wild horses, grazing permits, brand department, animal health and litigation were discussed during the meetings.

The second day started with policy meeting and then transitioned into Pfizer Cattlemen’s College.

The first session was a jam-packed session starting with reproduction performance and weaning health. Dr. Richard Linhart spoke regarding the beef cattle reproduction and herd health to help improve reproductive efficiency. He gave a dynamic presentation that engaged producers regarding reproduction performance and health at weaning.

The next presentation was from John Lowhan, who spoke about what it means to be an advocate for the industry. He spoke about what we can do at home, on the ranch with our care and health standards with our animals. He went on to demonstrate how decisions on the ranch affect the outcomes on the dinner plate and the overall enjoyment and eating experience of our product. With humor and sincerity he told the story that we should all be proud to tell.

The last presentation was from Dr. Kynda Curtis. She presented on transition strategies for the next generation. She discussed estate tax planning and farm/ranch transition strategies to include business structures, trusts, new enterprise building and alternative marketing strategies.

Colin Woodall from NCBA and Dustin Van Liew from PLC also made presentations to the membership during our General Session. Woodall gave an update on the elections, what we can expect from the lame duck session and what the workup the House of Representatives might look like with new leadership.

Woodall also touched on some of the key victories that NCBA had during the past year and how some of the bigger challenges may go away with several members not being reelected. A priority for the 112th Congress is the 2012 Farm Bill. The discussions regarding the upcoming Farm Bill have already begun. NCBA is involved in that process and will continue to be.

Dustin Van Liew gave an update on federal land issues and litigation PLC is involved in. PLC is engaged in the wild horse issue, permit renewals, grazing fee litigation, EAJA reform, death tax reform, and communication with new leadership in the House. Dustin also gave an update on the El Paso PLC agreement. He stated that no formal agreement has been made and no money has been taken. When an agreement has been finalized it will come before the board of PLC to vote on the agreement. Many questions were raised regarding the agreement and Dustin was able to clarify.

Grazing issues

The second day of Cattlemen’s College was a forum on “Hot Season Grazing” and “Grazing for Fuel Reduction.” The objectives of the forum were to update definition of grazing in Nevada — put the focus on joint management by agencies and permittees, identify issues with hot season grazing, determine opportunities and obstacles for using grazing as a vegetation management tool and re-define Nevada grazing paradigm from growing beef to growing forage resources emphasizing need for joint management.

There were presentations relating to the history of grazing in Nevada by Gary McCuin, what is “Rangeland Readiness” by Barry Parryman and how research can be applied to everyday management and achieve results that are good for the land and good for the producer by Jake Tibbits.

The discussion then turned to grazing during the hot season. Tamzen Stringham gave a presentation on grazing the uplands and the different effects grazing can have on the habitat and on the grazing animal. She gave examples from different vegetation communities and different grazing techniques and their impacts.

Sherm Swanson’s presentation centered on riparian grazing management and the ability to have healthy streams and grazing. Active management is key to health rangelands. The final two presentations focused on active vegetation management and grazing as a tool for fuels reduction, weed control and habitat enhancement. Lee Turner presented one on Partners for Conservation and Development. This program is designed to have those work together to leverage resources and increase effectiveness of conservation measures.

The forum concluded with a panel discussion to identify opportunities and obstacles to addressing hot season grazing and implementing grazing as a tool for fuels reduction, weed control, habitat enhancement, etc. Panel members included individuals from the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife, NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Nevada and livestock producers. For over an hour audience members and panelists discussed the challenges they face, the ideas they have, and the solutions they hope will come of these discussions. Frustrations were vented regarding what has happened in the past and how we are going to get where we need to be as land managers.

Each year the NCA looks not only to its producer members to support the association but also turns to its associate members to help sponsor events, meals, and meetings during convention. Without the help, dedication and support of the NCA’s allied members events such as convention would not be possible.

NCA awards

The final event of convention each year is the awards banquet. This annual event honors individuals in the cattle industry that have gone above and beyond to represent for what the industry stands. This year the NCA recognized five award recipients.

The first presentation of the evening was to the members of the association who have served on boards and commissions in the state. Harvey Barnes served on the Nevada Board of Agriculture; Pete Mori served on the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners; and Dave Cassinelli served on the Nevada Board of Agriculture. President-elect J.J. Goicoechea presented these men with plaques and certificates from the Nevada congressional delegation and thanked them for their service and dedication.

An award was also given to Chris Collis for his 32 years of service to the Nevada Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Identification. He worked hard as an inspector, investigator, and administrator for the Division. Collis received a plaque and certificates from the congressional delegation.

Each year the NCA recognizes a member who has gone

above and beyond by recruiting members. This year Tracy Vigil was given this recognition as he has been working hard to grow the allied industry portion of Nevada Cattlemen’s membership. He was awarded a grilling basket.

Another milestone award is the 100,000 mile award. Each year this award is given to an individual who has spent a lifetime in the saddle. This year’s recipients are Betty Bear and Merilyn Sustacha. Paula Wright presented the award to her mother Betty Bear. She spoke of the cattle drives, the travels, and trips she made horseback, the many horses she owned and rode. She had many great memories and adventures with her horses. Bill McKnight presented Merilyn Sustacha with her award. He told stories of her past and the adventures they have had together. Both of these women lay claim to 100,000 miles horseback.

Sue Hoffman from Nevada Agriculture Foundation presented the 2010 Teacher of the Year Award to Fallon’s Kim Jung. She incorporates agriculture into her classroom in several exciting and educational ways. Jung’s units of study include but are not limited to cowboy theme, farm theme, how agriculture has played a large part in local and state history, seed and planting theme, along with fruit and vegetable theme. The Nevada Agriculture Foundation presented her with a $1,000 donation to be used toward future Ag in the Classroom activities.

Each year a Cattleman of the Year is presented to an outstanding individual who represents industry, Nevada, and the elements that make a great cattleman. This year the award was given to Ron Torrell.

Many members work hard to represent the association and advocate for the association and don’t receive any recognition. Without ever being asked Torrell steps up to the plate and does whatever he can. He is creative in fundraising techniques, membership recruitment, and is always there to lend a hand no matter what the event or time commitment. Members appreciate his investment into the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and into the industry, and we understand we would not be as successful without his support and dedication. Torrell was awarded a hat donated by American AgCredit. Each year American AgCredit donates a custom hat to the Cattleman of the Year recipient.

The final award of the evening was the President’s Award. This award is chosen by the president of the association and given to someone who they feel has impacted the industry in a positive way. This year Chris Gansberg was chosen for the award. Gansberg has put countless hours in every year to put on the Fallon Bull Sale. This event brings exposure and revenue into the association. Without his dedication and leadership this event would not be possible.

For over 25 years Chris Gansberg has dedicated himself to putting on a great Fallon Bull Sale. As times have changed so has the sale and with his leadership we continue to have a great sale. This year will be the 45th Annual sale. He received a custom pad folio engraved with his name and brand. Again we thank him for his service to the association, consignors and membership.

Meghan Brown

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A good time to test your home for radonBy Megan LongUniversity of Nevada Cooperative Extension

With winter creeping closer, it’s a good time to winterize your home, and it’s also a good time to test your home for radon.

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. But how does it get into your home? The radon gas, which emits tiny radioactive particles, can seep up through cracks in solid floors, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and many other conduits into your home. In the colder months when your home is sealed up tightly, radon levels can rise and become a danger to you and your family. It is estimated that radon causes about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year, which is more than drunken driving and home fires combined. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, and if you do smoke, your risk increases. But it is also a preventable risk, and one that your family can easily test for.

A short-term radon test kit will give you an accurate, easy snapshot of the radon level in your home. These screening kits are put out in your home for about three days, during which time they take an air sample that is sent to a lab for results. The kit includes detailed instructions, the test, a

postage-paid mailer and all of the lab fees.

If the short-term test reveals elevated levels of radon, then a second test is recommended to confirm the result. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set an “action level” of 4 picocuries per liter of air and recommends mitigating your home if you find levels in excess of this number. A certified mitigator can install a radon-reduction system, which is very effective in reducing radon levels in your home.

Radon can be a problem in any type of home, old or new, tightly sealed or drafty, as well as any type of foundation such as a basement, crawl space or slab on grade. Because radon is a gas, any building with contact to the soil (this includes your home, school, office building etc.) is at risk. Of course, not everyone exposed to radon will develop lung cancer, but the higher the level of radon and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk. By conducting a simple test, you can ensure that you and your family are not in jeopardy.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Radon Education Program encourages testing. Cooperative Extension offices statewide offer short-term radon test kits for a nominal fee and these kits are free in Washoe, Douglas, Carson City, Clark, Southern Nye and Lincoln counties. The program also offers educational programs and resources

available through their website at www.RadonNV.com or by calling Long at the NV Radon Hot Line, 1-888-RADON10 for more information or to schedule a presentation.

Since September 2007, UNCE, working with the Nevada State Health Division, has distributed more than 16,000 radon test kits. The results of these tests give us a good indication of radon potential throughout Nevada, with some counties showing a high rate of elevated radon – including Pershing County, where 60 percent of the tests conducted showed elevated levels, and Douglas County, where 40 percent of the homes had elevated levels – program officials are encouraging all homeowners have their homes tested.

The data from more than 7,484 tests show that homes in 14 of Nevada’s 17 counties have greater than 10 percent probability of having elevated levels of radon, and that 25.6 percent of all homes tested have levels higher than the action level established by the EPA. So what does this mean for you and your family? The only way to know is to test!

To find out how to use a simple radon test, go to UNCE’s YouTube Channel and watch the video.

Meghan Long is Radon Education Coordinator, Nevada Radon Education Program.

Pesticide applicator training sessions

scheduledUniversity of Nevada Cooperative Extension

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada Department of Agriculture will be holding certified pesticide applicator training sessions in Winnemucca and Yerington in early 2011.

The training provides six hours of continuing education credits for certified pesticide applicators. An applicators test will be given Nov. 10 for those who wish to recertify by exam rather than through continuing education units.

The training includes sessions on pesticide laws; label and Internet resources; worker protection and record keeping; insects, including spiders and scorpions; weed management; environmental safety and groundwater protection; and squirrels, gophers and other vertebrate pests.

The training sessions occur from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the first day and the $25 certification exam is given from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the second day. The $25 exam fee is collected at the door; credit cards and advanced payments are not accepted, and checks should be made out to the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Participants must have a current and valid Nevada Pesticide Applicators Certificate to get continuing education credits. You must bring your certification card as well as identification to the training. Those attending for continuing education credits don’t need to attend the second day or take the exam.

Pesticide control operators are not eligible for continuing education credits; only state-certified pesticide applicators will get education credits. Those taking the exam must study for it; material is available from Cooperative Extension at (775) 784-4848 or online at www.nevadapesticideeducation.com. For more information, contact Jon Carpenter at (775) 353-3715 or [email protected].

Here are the dates and locations for the training

Winnemucca • Jan. 19-20 Cooperative Extension Office

1085 Fairgrounds Road • Winnemucca, NV. 89445

Yerington • Feb. 3-4Lyon County Library

20 Nevin Way • Yerington, NV 89447

These goats were made for weed control

By Zach AllenNevada Farm Bureau

Fallon resident Gloria Montero owns and operates Weed Warriors. She and her goats travel throughout Nevada going to different job sites where there is an abundance of weeds. At this particular site outside of Gardnerville, the goats’ main duty was eating out-of-control whitetop.

Montero has owned Weed Warriors for over five years, and she has 20 plus years of experience with goats. She also has over 15 years of nursery experience and is a master gardener. So she can easily identify an invasive species and diagnose the best solution to the problem. The best solution is obviously goats, because they are an environmentally safe and more cost-effective solution.

This particular job was contracted through the Nevada Division of Forestry, near Mud Lake just outside of Gardnerville. The main problem was whitetop, but the goats were also eating Canadian Thistle and Desert Tamarik. Gloria utilizes precision grazing. Precision grazing means that the goats are confined to specific areas where the invasive weeds are most prominent. When the area is cleared, the goats are then moved to another area. Precision grazing eliminates the noxious weeds, but allows for other desirable plants to be left untouched.

Montero owns 90 goats, but will lease additional goats from other producers if the job requires more goats. There were over 100 goats on site for this job. Each goat unit employs 100 goats and each unit will eat their way through one acre per day.

Goats are perfect for noxious weed eradication. Goats are browsers, meaning they will not pick through the grasses to find their favorite brand of plant. They will eat just about anything. They are also extremely agile so they can reach areas where it would be difficult to apply herbicides or use heavy equipment.

Goats are step one in a three step process for total eradication of an invasive, noxious weed. After the goats have gone through and cleared an area, the next step would be to spray the area with Habitat. The final process would be to bring the goats back. This three step process usually takes care of the weed problem.

There are three other producers in Nevada who own businesses that go throughout Nevada and practice weed abatement. Weed Warriors is a little different. Montero is the only producer that stays with her goats on the job site for the entire duration that the goats are needed. Because the goats are out in the open, they could be an easy target for predators. The biggest threat to goats are coyotes. However, coyotes are no threat to Montero’s goats because of a Great Pyrenees that stays with the goats. The Great Pyrenees fiercely protects her goats.

All of the goats are tested and have to be CL and CAE free. They are also vaccinated twice per year and their hooves are done twice per year.

Montero only employs does on the job site. There are no males at the site. She also kids the goats in the

spring and the goats never kid while on a site. A pregnant goat at a site adds stress to the doe

and after birth causes a predator concern with the after birth and fresh blood. In

addition to raising goats to clear noxious weeds, Montero also raises the goats

for dairy and meat consumption at her ranch in Fallon.

Video was also taken of the goats. If you would like to view the video interview with Gloria and see the goats in

action log onto www.nvfb.org/video.

If you have a weed problem and would like to contact Monero, you can reach her at (775)427-8210.

Photo by Steve RansomGloria Montero owns and operates Weed Warriors. The Fallon resident and her goats travel throughout looking to take care an abundance of weeds.

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Economy forces Tahoe Creamery to shut down

By Scott NeufferNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

The merciless economy may have claimed its sweetest victim yet. Tahoe Creamery of Minden has shut down operations. Empty crates lay stacked in front of the manufacturing suite in the Meridian Business Park. Inside, the company’s famous filler machine, once used to fill large quantities of paper pints, stood defunct, motionless, half covered in wrapping.

Two Tahoe Creamery pickup trucks remained parked outside, but no employees were in sight. A phone call to the head office ended in a recorded message saying, “Tahoe Creamery is no longer producing ice cream due to the stressful economic climate.”

The news came as a shock to fans who have enjoyed the company’s 150 homemade recipes in restaurants and stores all over the region, from the most popular flavor, blueberry, to Batters Up, once the official ice cream of the Reno Aces.

The news was especially shocking given the optimistic report from owner Greg Hoch in February. At the time, Hoch said business had quadrupled in the preceding year and that production had increased from 12,000 pints of ice cream to 26,000 pints a month. The product, company executives maintained, was reaching about 50 chain stores throughout Nevada and California.

“We’ve been blessed,” Hoch said in a previous interview. “We’ve been growing kind of fast. We don’t even have time to sit down and analyze the numbers. They’re coming in fast and furious.”

Hoch grew up on Shady Glen Dairy Farm in Manchester, Conn. In 2000, he moved with his family to Nevada and opened the Sierra Glen restaurant in Carson City. In 2004, after starting Tahoe Creamery in the back room of the restaurant, Hoch closed the Sierra Glen and opened the production facility off Airport Road.

The company first sold 2.5-gallon boxes of ice cream to restaurants and hotels before developing the pint-sized product known today.

Photo by Scott NeufferA defunct filler machine inside Tahoe Creamery in Minden.

Honey business sweet for producers

By John SeelmeyerNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

Chris Foster figures he has a fairly decent handle on the behavior of consumers.

But bees? Not such much.

“They’re always doing things that you don’t understand,” says Foster, whose Hidden Valley Honey distributes through regional grocery chains and specialty retailers.

He’s a relatively rarity among honey producers, someone building a full-time business in a field that’s dominated by hobbyists and part-timers.

Hobbyists account for 95 percent of the beekeepers in the United States, estimates The National Honey Board, and another 4 percent of the nation’s beekeepers are folks who view it as a part-time job.

The approximately 1,600 commercial beekeeping operations in the United States — a number that

includes Hidden Valley Honey — account for about 60 percent of the nation’s honey

production.

Although bees handle much of the work — collecting nectar,

creating honey — there’s plenty left for the

beekeeper as well.

“As a beekeeper, you’re a co-keeper with the bees,” says part-timer Al Sindlinger of Reno. “It’s hard work. If you’re not into physically demanding work, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

The high-energy Sindlinger — he takes care of 90 hives when he’s not teaching math to Reno middle schoolers or working his summer job as a firefighter — says schlepping hive boxes that weigh 60 or 80 pounds from one field to another quickly loses its entertainment value.

Making that work all the more challenging, Foster says, is this: Movement of bee colonies is best done in the dark of night. Otherwise, bees that are in the fields working won’t find their way back to the hive. (In fact, he says, bees will get lost if the hive is moved as little as five feet while they’re out collecting nectar.)

Foster, who manages about 200 colonies from Gardnerville to Yerington to Wadsworth, works all the harder because he’s taking a financially conservative approach since launching Hidden Valley Honey as a full-time venture this year.

For a dozen years, Foster and his wife, Karen, joined with their two children to produce honey and related items such as candles, soap and lip balm that they sold at farmers markets as a sideline to the family’s income.

Now that he’s doing it full-time, Foster dreams of the day that he afford a forklift and a truck to move colonies. But he’d rather sweat than borrow money.

Nevada’s honey producers sweat a bit more than their peers in other parts of the nation to produce a profit.

The estimated 10,000 bee colonies in the state produced an average of 52 pounds of honey each last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. That’s a bit less than the national average of 58.5 pounds of honey per colony.

And the average price paid for Nevada honey in 2009 — $129 a pound — lagged the national average of $144.50 a pound.

The costs for Nevada producers, however, are the same as those across the country: About $300 for a wooden

hive box, $150 or so for four pounds of bees delivered by U.S. mail, another $20 or $25 for a queen bee. Producers usually pay in honey, rather than cash, to landowners whose property hosts hives.

But honey producers willing to take on the hassle of retail distribution rather than selling their product on wholesale markets can widen their margins.

Hidden Valley Honey, for instance, distributes through Scolari’s and Whole Foods Market locations. Foster and his wife also spend plenty of time in the car to make deliveries to other retailers such as Great Basin Community Food Co-op., Great Harvest Bread, Trimmer Outpost in Genoa, Hungry Mother Organics in Minden, Nothing To It! Culinary Center in Reno and New Moon Natural Foods in Truckee.

Consumers, Foster says, are willing to pay a premium for local honey rather than mass-market brands.

In some instances, Sindlinger says, consumers believe that local honey can help them overcome allergies. Some who suffer from allergies to rabbitbrush pollen, for instance, swear to the powers of rabbitbrush honey.

To keep those buyers happy, Sindlinger lately has been placing more his hives in creek drainages rather than farm fields where pesticides might be used.

On the other hand, the retail honey business brings its own hard work — development of labels, bottling operations and a constant round of visits to ensure that store shelves remain stocked.

Foster and his family, meanwhile, spend many of their summer nights and weekends at farmers markets,

talking about an observation hive that draws customers to their

stand and selling honey and other

products.

Another key revenue

stream for

northern Nevada honey producers comes from rental of their colonies to the California almond farmers who require at least colonies per acre to ensure their crop is fertilizer.

That rental, Sindlinger says, can account for as much as a third of the revenue generated by a single colony during a year — revenue that more than makes up for the work of hauling hives across the Sierra.

For all the details of watching costs, making sure bees are well-fed and disease free and finding markets for honey, Foster says the most-challenging part of honey production remains unchanged, even for people who have been in the business for decades.

“The hard part,” he says, “is managing bees.”

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By Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

Three days away from the ranch for two would serve anyone well as a “cabin fever reliever.”

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association in cooperation with Allied Industry Support is conducting a “Cabin Fever Reliever” California grass road trip March 14-16, 2011. Interested people are invited to participate in this three-day, two-night social, educational and industry supportive event. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with fellow cattlepersons as participants travel by bus to one of the most pristine winter grass areas of the West. Participants will have the opportunity to make new marketing contacts, learn about industry issues as well as products and services offered by beef producers and Allied Industries.

Fifty seats are available on the bus so make your reservations early. The bus will leave Elko from the NCA office on March 14 at 7 a.m. heading down I-80 west. NCA will pick up passengers as the bus travels toward Cottonwood, Calif., that evening.

Western Video Market will host a tri-tip meal and social event the first evening while Merial Animal Health will host the second evening meal and social event. Both events will be complete with potential California buyers of your cattle.

The entire trip will be laced with educational opportunities relative to agriculture resources in Northern California with visits to Rogue River Ranch, possibly Rich Rice, Sparrowk and Duane Martin ranches. Collectively these ranches annually purchase more than 15,000 stocker cattle, many from Northern Nevada ranches.

The tour will make a short stop in Carson City to make a “cowboy hat”

presence during the 2011 legislative session and view the Hope on the Range display, take in a Nevada Beef Council retail promotion display, visit with the California Cattlemen’s Association office staff relative to common issues and see a California winery and other agriculture enterprises unique to northern California. Additional information will be presented on the bus by sponsoring Allied Industry companies.

The bus is scheduled to return to Elko on March16. Cost of the event is $250 per seat which includes all meals and transportation. Motel costs for two nights are not included in registration. Producers and spouses, Allied Industry representatives, both NCA and potential NCA members from Nevada and surrounding states are all welcome to participate. Several Allied industries pitched in to sponsor the cost of transportation and meals making the proceeds of your $250 donation 100 percent in support of NCA’s mission which is promoting a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry which represents the interest of its producers and consistently meets consumer needs while increasing Nevada’s market share.

Sponsors of this first NCA Cabin Fever Reliever fund raising event include American AgCredit, Animal Profiling International, Boehringer Ingelheim, Destron Fearing, Intermountain Farmers Association, Merial, Nevada Beef Council, Novartis Animal Health, Pinenut Livestock, Schering Plough Animal Health, Simplot Land & Livestock, Sterling Solutions, Superior Livestock Auction and Western Video Market.

Sign up today by contacting the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association office at (775) 738-9214 or e-mailing [email protected].

NEvaDa CaTTLEmEN’S aSSOCiaTiON:

Cabin Fever Reliever California Grass Tour

Cattlemen’s Update begins tour in JanuaryBy Steve RansonNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

The annual Cattlemen’s Update, an annual program that informs ranchers on the latest information related to the industry, kicks off Jan. 3 with an interactive video feed from Washoe County’s extension office and an evening meeting in Fallon.

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension sponsors the program for beef cattle producers. According to the UNCE, the subject matter is determined on a needs assessment from cattle producers and current trends.

The Washoe County program begins at 10:30 a.m. with registration beginning one hour prior. The conference will also be offered to attendees at the extension offices in Eureka, Caliente, Tonopah, Lovelock, Logandale and Burns, Ore.

Registration for the Fallon event begins at 6 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m.

The week-long Cattlemen’s Update then heads to the Wellington Community Center on Jan. 4; the White Pine Convention Center on Jan. 5; the Stockman’s Hotel and Casino in Elko on Jan. 6; and the Winnemcca extension office on Jan. 7.

UNCE Dean Karen Hinton said it is important to receive feedback from local producers because of the tight economy. She said the last Legislature cut 17 percent from the UNCE budget in 2009.

“There have been a lot of changes in the industry, she said.

For example, Hinton said UNCE is bringing the most up-to-date research to the industry.

This year’s program includes a welcome and update on the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources by Dean Ron Pardini. The college was hurt in 2010 with emergency budget cuts at the university level to consolidate some programs and eliminate others.

Dr. Bryan Stegelmeier of the Poisonous Plant Research Lab in Logan, Utah, will give a presentation on poisonous plants and forage kochia.

Another discussion will center on the fall grazing of cheatgrass, presented by Dr. Barry Perryman of the CABNR. (See related article in this edition of the Ranch and Farm).

Dr. David Thain, the state extension veterinarian, traveled with the tour last year. This year’s topic will focus on current trends in beef quality assurance.

Dr. Tom Harris from CABNR will offer insight into the attitudes found on a trichomoniasis survey.

Photo by Steve RansonRon Torrell spoke at last year’s update in Fallon.

Sale Every

Tuesday

FALLON

Livestock Exchange, Inc.

See you and your friends ringside every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.

11:00am

Selling all classes ofSheep • Goats • Pigs • Cattle • Horses

Where we work for you, the consignor…

Monte Bruck • ManagerTel: 775.867.2020

Fax: 775.867.2021 • Cel: 775.426.8279

When: Monday, January 3rd Registration 10 a.m.

Program 10:30 a.m.Where: Washoe County Extension OfficeInteractive video sites: Eureka, Caliente, Tonopah,

Lovelock, Logandale, NV and Burns, Ore.

When: Monday, January 3rd Registration 6 p.m.

Program 6:30 p.m.Where: Fallon, NV (Multi-purpose

building at the Churchill County Fairgrounds)

When: Tuesday, January 4th Registration 5 p.m.

Dinner 5:30 p.m. Program 6:30 p.m.

Where: White Pine County Convention Center, Ely, NV

When: Thursday, January 6th Registration 12:30 p.m.

Program 1:00 p.m.Where: Stockman’s Hotel and Casino,

Elko, NV

When: Friday, January 7th Registration 10:30 a.m.

Program 11:00 a.m. Lunch 12:00 p.m.Where: UNCE Extension Office,

Winnemucca, NV

2011Cattlemen’s Update

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Home of:

Wild Willy’s Horse Camp* Year-round Programs* Week long & Weekend Camps; Day Programs* Kids ages 6 and up, including teens* Girl Scout & Boy Scout Troops, Special Events

KinderPonyPlay* Children ages 4, 5, & 6 learn beginning horsemanship skills with parent/guardian

KinderRanch* Kids ages 4, 5 and 6 learn about life on a ranch * Goats, Chickens, Sheep, Pigs and Cows

Group and Private Lessons for Kids, Teens,and Adults; Clinics; Special Interest Groups Chappell Morgan Horses

* Breeding & Sales - Foundation Lines* Standing Chappell’s Blue Blood Boy

Contact: Kim Chappell 775-265-6483www.chappellranchllc.com • [email protected] Centerville Lane • Gardnerville, NV

Safe, Fun, Educational Horsemanship

Officials optimistic about 2011 water outlookBy Steve PuterskiNevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

This winter season has been a solid start for water. A big storm over Thanksgiving and continual rain and snow throughout Northern Nevada has brought optimism to farmers for the most part.

In the Lahontan and Carson valleys, flows are up and storage at Lahontan Reservoir has increased as well. Storage at Lahontan was better than expected to begin the winter season Truckee-Carson Irrigation District office manager Kate Rutan said.

TCID Project Manager Rusty Jardine echoed Rutan’s comments and said he thinks the winter will bring a promising precipitation season.

According to Rutan snowpack has been estimated at 200 percent for early December, though she noted a lot can happen in the upcoming months.

“It really doesn’t matter because a lot can happen between now and when we irrigate,” Rutan said.

Levels were expected to hover around 64,000 acre/feet of storage at Lahontan; however, the strong storms back in

April and throughout the fall season increased the total to 76,900 acre/feet in early December.

With that storage brings carryover water for the spring irrigation season and eases the burden for TCID and farmers alike.

“We have, what we hope to be, a full supply,” Jardine said. “It is looking very promising on the Carson side. We had a solid carryover and are looking at (reaching) our target.”

Over in the Carson Valley, Chad Blanchard, chief deputy water master, said flows have increased dramatically in the past year. Carson River flow at East Fork at Gardnerville is up from 95 cubic feet per second in 2009 to 364 cfs this year. At West Fork, flows increased from 19 cfs to 110 cfs. Those flows were as of mid-December.

The problem for the Carson Valley is a lack of storage as the valley only has a few, small private reservoirs. Blanchard said the valley has to rely more on nature with strong snowpack and rain storms for its water supply. What has been helping so far, though, is the consistent drizzles keeping the ground saturated which has kept the river flows at a high level.

Also, the weather system La Nina has helped create some much needed weather. La Nina is wet weather to the north and dry to the south.

Blanchard said the problem with La Nina isn’t the system but the latitude of the area that needs the water. The Carson, Lahontan valleys even up to Winnemucca is located in an area that is stuck in the middle.

“We can be wet, dry or average,” Blanchard said.

“However, some of our biggest years have been La Nina years. It’s something, because of the way we started out, I have high hopes that this is going to be a really big year.”

The Humboldt District has been strained for years, according to Dan Greenlee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Drought has hit the region hard and storage at Rye Patch has whittled down to almost nothing, he said.

Storage and drought problems have forced area farmers to select the best fields for irrigation. They have also been limited to what areas and how much water they can use for irrigation.

This year, though, Greenlee said has been good to the Humboldt and Ruby Mountains, where the district collects its runoff. Greenlee added he thinks the region may see average to above average runoff, but said the NRCS would have to wait until its official forecast is released in early January.

“We’re sitting a lot better in the Sierras than in central Nevada,” Greenlee said. “They get most of their snow off the Ruby’s (Mountains). I think the forecast numbers should be about average to above average (for the Humboldt).”

Ben Hodges, secretary manager of the Pershing County Water Conservation District, said the Humboldt system is off to a good start. Snowpack is at 161 percent of average as of Dec. 15, but Hodges said the district can’t forecast because they lack carryover storage.

A major issue for the Humboldt has been Rye Patch Reservoir. The reservoir can hold up to 200,000 acre/feet of water storage but is currently holding just 12,000 acre/feet. Also, the water allotment the past two years has been 30 percent of a full allotment with three acre/feet per allotment. Last season, the allotment was 1.01 acre/feet.

However, Hodges said this season is looking strong with rain saturating the ground and good snow cover.

“The conditions are what is favorable,” Hodges said.

Photo by Steve Ranson

Water flow is up drastically in the Carson River as noted by the chief deputy water master.

New wildlife license plate to help fund wildlife programs

Nevada Department of Wildlife

An effort that started by collecting 1,400 wildlife enthusiast signatures over five years ago, achieved a major milestone on Oct. 13 when Nevada’s Commission on Special License Plates approved the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) license plate for production.

The plate’s design must still be finalized to meet Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety technical specifications, but it is hoped the plate will be available for sale sometime in early 2011.

Proceeds from the sale of the “Conserve Wildlife” plate, designed by Nevada wildlife artist Jani Ahlvers, will provide sorely needed funding for NDOW’s wildlife education and volunteer programs.

“The approval of the first ever NDOW license plate is the result of years of team effort by NDOW staff, volunteers, and the 1,400 public petitioners that initiated this process”, said Ken Mayer, director for NDOW. “The timing could not be better. With severe cutbacks to our wildlife education and volunteer programs, sales of the Conserve Wildlife plate will go directly to NDOW to support these important programs. This funding will provide critically needed state dollars to augment our very limited federal funding that is available for the education and volunteer programs.”

NDOW’s Preserving Our Wildlife Legacy (PrOWL) Volunteer Program was formed in 2000 to serve as a mechanism for citizen-volunteers to become more involved with wildlife projects, such as restoration programs, sage brush seed collection, and sage grouse surveys.

Each year, 600-700 PrOWL volunteers donate time working on projects worth a half million dollars annually. Their contributions benefit wildlife directly, and are also applied as match to federal grants in lieu of state funding for a variety of wildlife projects.

“Ever since the beginning of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, volunteers have provided incredibly valuable services for the citizens and wildlife of the state,” said Kim Toulouse, volunteer coordinator for NDOW. “This new license plate will help keep these vital programs up and running.”

The Wildlife Education program supports NDOW’s Trout in the Classroom program, and interpretive education programs in Reno, Verdi, Las Vegas and Elko. An estimated 18,000 school-aged children enjoy these programs each year.

“Nevada’s wildlife belongs to its citizens,” said Mayer. “This plate provides an opportunity for everyone in Nevada to contribute financially to wildlife education and assist in maintaining the opportunities provided our citizens through our volunteer program.”

Page 17: Winter - Nevada Ranch & Farm Exchange

1� NevadaRaNch&FaRmexchaNge WiNteR�010

Study: livestock will eat dry cheatgrassAssociated PressELKO – Federal land managers in Nevada are embracing new research that shows livestock will eat cheatgrass when the invasive plant dries out in the fall, not just when it’s green during the spring grazing season.

The study by researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno debunks the belief by some ranchers that dry cheatgrass has little or no nutritional value for cattle grazing on federal lands, officials for the U.S. Bureau of Management said.

It also suggests fall grazing on the invasive weeds could

help make a dent on cheatgrass-covered hillsides that fuel late summer wildfires across northern Nevada, the Great Basin and other parts of the interior West.

“The notion that animals don’t eat dry cheatgrass is incorrect,” said Barry Perryman, an associate professor of rangeland ecology and member of the BLM’s Northeastern Resource Advisory Council. “Our experiment showed that once the seeds fell off the plants, the cheatgrass became palatable,” he said.

Ben Bruce, a Nevada associate professor of rangeland animal nutrition who co-authored the study, said it provides ranchers with “another source of forage that previously was not considered nutritious.”

“The protein content and energy of cheatgrass in the fall is at least as good, if not better, than perennial grasses,” Perryman said. “And the results were consistent through

the four-year study.”

The two conducted the experiment from 2006 to 2008 at the Gund Ranch near Eureka about 200 miles east of Reno.

Schirete Zick, spokeswoman for the BLM’s Battle Mountain district, said UNR financed the study itself but agency officials “are excited about the findings and are helping publicize the results.”

“The results clearly demonstrate that cheatgrass can be significantly reduced with the aid of fall grazing,” she said.

Cheatgrass is believed to arrived in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in contaminated ship ballast and railroad packing materials from Europe and Asia.

It spread quickly, displacing native plants, and is now the dominant species on more than 100 million acres in the West, according to the BLM.

Jerry Smith, district manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Battle Mountain District, said cheatgrass was considered a contributing factor in 85 percent of the wildfires that burned nearly 4 million acres of Nevada rangeland over the past four years.

In addition to the fire hazard, cheatgrass grows earlier in the season than most perennial grasses, stealing water and nutrients they need to provide forage for wildlife, he said.

And to top it off, Smith said, cheatgrass is of the first plants to invade newly burned areas. He said BLM estimates cheatgrass invades 4,000 acres a day in the West.

“A single stalk of cheatgrass can produce 1,000 seeds, and a single acre may contain hundreds of thousands of these plants,” Smith said.

Meghan Brown, executive director of the Nevada Catttlemen’s Association, and Dan Gralian, general manager of Newmont Mining Corp.’s Elko Land and Livestock, said they welcome the news.

“It would be bonus feed,” Gralian said. “It’s going to help reduce cheatgrass and fires.”

Increased funding approved for sage-grouse initiativeU.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White today announced increased funding to protect sage-grouse populations and habitat in Nevada and 10 other western states.

“USDA will continue to provide significant resources to enhance and preserve sage-grouse habitat and sustain working ranches and farms in the western United States,” said White. “The sage-grouse Initiative (SGI) supports both sustainable ranching and healthy sage-grouse populations by focusing on improving rangeland conditions.”

According to White, Nevada will receive $6.5 million for the SGI this fiscal year. NRCS will also provide funding in the 10 other states where sage-grouse are found – California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Agricultural producers in these states can apply for financial assistance to improve sage-grouse habitat or to reduce threats, such as habitat fragmentation, to the birds.

“This is a significant program that meets a dual purpose: conservation of an iconic species and improved management of grazing lands.” said Bruce Petersen, NRCS Nevada state conservationist. “We

are finding that practices implemented to improve sage-grouse habitat are the same practices required to maintain healthy grazing land for livestock.”

Sign-ups for the initiative are continuous and producers can apply at any time. An application cut-off date for this fiscal year has not yet been determined.

NRCS launched SGI in 2010 making $18.5 million in financial assistance available to over 225 program participants in sage-grouse population centers. Significant progress toward sage-

grouse conservation was made including:

Producers marked or removed 180 miles of wire fencing near leks, areas where sage-grouse carry out display and courtship behavior. This prevented between 800-1,000 sage-grouse collisions, which is equal to all male sage-grouse counted on leks annually in California, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington in the U.S. and Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.

Producers managed 640,000 acres of grazing lands to improve sage-grouse hiding cover during nesting season. This additional grass cover is expected to increase sage-grouse populations between 8 – 10 percent.

Producers removed 40,000 acres of encroaching conifer from otherwise suitable sage-grouse habitat in key breeding, brood-rearing and wintering sites.

Additionally, NRCS worked successfully with the Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service to provide certainty to landowners who enroll in NRCS programs to benefit sage-grouse. This action protects landowners from increased regulation should the bird be listed under the Endangered Species Act in the future.

Sage-grouse is a ground-dwelling bird native to the sagebrush steppe ecosystem of the American West. The birds, found at elevations ranging from 4,000 to more than 9,000 feet, depend on sagebrush for cover and food. For several decades, sage-grouse populations and habitat have been declining. For application assistance or more information about the SGI, contact your local USDA Service Center. Nevada Service Center offices can be found online at http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov.

BEFORE

AFTER

“The protein content and energy of cheatgrass in the fall is at least good, if not better, than perennial grasses. And the results were consistent through the four-year study.”

~ Barry Perryman , Associate Professor

The experiment controlled cheatgrass with the use of fall grazing. Though the photos are from different angles, both are from the Gund Ranch, where the study took place. The experiment lasted four years, with significant results generated after the first year.

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Western governors debate water lawsBy Cristina SilvaAssociated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Should thirsty California be allowed to drink from Wyoming’s plentiful water bowl?

If so, how big of a sip should the Golden State get? And who decides how much needs to be set aside for future Wyomingites?

Governors from across the West sparred over water and how to make sure everyone is getting their fair share Tuesday during a policy conference designed to drive consensus.

Federal experts urged state leaders to weigh water needs over water wants, while state leaders pleaded for less federal oversight and new flexibility on water agreements that detail how much water states get from a limited pool of resources.

“Clearly for those of us in the West, water is a very significant issue,” said Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert, a Republican. “It’s an emotional topic and sometimes so emotional that reasonable thought goes out the window.”

The discussion opened the Western Governors Association’s two-day conference in Las Vegas. Governors from 19 states, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands were invited.

Water conservation and efficiency remained favorite solutions among government leaders eager to lap up the most use from fresh water sources. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter said Colorado is exploring agreements that allow farmers to lease excess water to governments.

“A little bit of conservation goes a really long way,” he said. James Horne, Australia’s deputy secretary for water, offered solutions from his homeland, where he said facilities in major cities help convert rain into usable

water and farming communities thrive around efficient irrigation systems.

“People have to stop thinking of it as a free good,” Horne said. “We must recognize it as a scarce commodity and price it accordingly.” But Anne Castle, assistant secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior, said protecting the world’s water supply from unnecessary growth could yield better results than simply urging people to turn off the sink. For example, she said government should weigh the projected water cost of any proposed development before approving construction.

“You know that when you are in a hole and you want to get out, the first thing you have to do is stop digging,” she said.

In the West, few issues are as important as taming natural water sources, which has allowed cities to flourish in dry, landlocked places.

Despite the common goals, the policy conference at times exposed tensions between federal water officials and state leaders.

“I look forward to your assistance, but not too much of it,” Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, deadpanned to Castle at one point.

Herbert said Utah is working toward reducing its water use by 20 percent by 2020 despite a growing population. But he said conservation won’t help in dry years if the federal government does not allow states to build new dams and reservoirs to control water.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter complained that plans to protect his state’s prized Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer by creating wells or other infrastructure to keep the water from leaking toward the Pacific Ocean requires wrestling for permits with federal land managers.

“We’ve got Lake Erie, only Lake Erie is actually the Eastern Snake River Aquifer,” the Republican governor said, referring to estimates that the aquifer contains as much water as the great lake. “Yet in order to maintain a healthy level of that, we have got to get across a lot of government ground. ... The question is, have we created a monster here?”

Some states also expressed frustration with each other. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons said changing consumers’ perception of water availability has helped moved policy in the right direction.

“There is nothing more difficult in any state, in any political arena, than talking about something that people feel is there constitutional right, and that’s water, that’s clean water,” he said. “They just think they turn the faucet on and they get more water.”

But Gibbons said water efficiency means little if water agreements between smaller governments and powerful interests such as Mexico, California and the federal government are not updated to reflect modern consumption needs. He highlighted the Colorado River, which provides water to California, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, with the fastest growing states demanding more than their sparely populated neighbors. “It seems we are nibbling away just at the edge of the antiquated laws that we created along the river that we always have to struggle around because we are so afraid to deal with the politics of the river,” said Gibbons, a Republican. “Why is it if we can change the culture of the people in how they use water, we cannot change the culture of how we think about the rational basis of how we allocate water? For example, if Wyoming doesn’t use all of its allocation ... can we not utilize that by wheeling it down the river for some other better use of that water?”

Editor’s note – The Pacific Legal Foundation is a legal watchdog based in Sacramento. This opinion column, which was sent to the RNF for publication, focuses on similar water problems which also affect Nevada.

Commentary by Brandon Middleton and Damien Schiff

“Water, water, everywhere ...,” begins a famous line by Coleridge.

Today, in the American West, assaults on water rights can be seen practically everywhere. Government regulators and environmental activists lead the attacks, and farmers and ranchers are the immediate targets. But the negative impact threatens to ripple throughout the economy.

After all, economic development in the West has always depended on respect for water rights. Water is scarce in much of the region, so certainty in water rights is a vital incentive to use this precious commodity productively, for the greatest good.

More and more, however, government officials are sowing uncertainty by reneging on long standing promises or taking a slippery approach to laws or contracts that water users have relied on for generations.

For example, is the Obama Administration suddenly downgrading how farms, ranches, and urban communities are treated by federal reclamation projects?

Water agencies throughout the West are worried, after the Bureau of Reclamation told an irrigation district in Grant County, Washington, that its water fees will no longer purchase any rights in the facilities that those fees help finance.

Historically, local water agencies that contract with federal projects (such as the Central Valley Project in California) have received ownership interest, over time, in the reservoirs, canals and other infrastructure built on their dime. By backing away from this principle, federal officials send a disturbing message: Water contractors will be relegated to the role of tenants instead of partners in reclamation programs. It’s the feds who will call the shots – unilaterally and arbitrarily – on who gets water and how much.

The danger in giving unchecked control to federal bureaucrats can be seen in California’s San Joaquin Valley in recent years. In a controversial strategy to rescue a tiny fish – the Delta smelt – that is on the Endangered Species Act protected list, water for farms and cities was cut dramatically, fallowing hundreds of thousands of acres in one of the nation’s agricultural heartlands.

These cutbacks, by federal officials, started even before the new threat to water contractors’ property interests. But they show how water flows could be turned on or off, unpredictably, if local agencies are squeezed out of any ownership role in federal reclamation projects.

State officials in California are also doing their part to dilute the rights of water users. Twisting the Fish and Game Code in a radical new way, the California Department of Fish and Game has begun to require a cumbersome permit process for people who seek to use their water rights in traditional ways. Civil and criminal penalties are threatened for farmers and ranchers if they don’t start asking the state’s leave before using water – even when they are drawing from rivers or streams that have been irrigating their acreage for a century or more in some cases.

Meanwhile, a legal campaign by environmentalist lawyers could end up sinking some ranches and farms, financially, by curtailing use of groundwater. The aim is to regulate groundwater under an archaic theory called public trust.

The effect would be to rob water users of their rights – declaring a public trust over their water – without compensation. This is a breathtaking stretch, legally,

because the public trust concept has always been associated with coastal waters and beaches, not inland areas and certainly not groundwater.

In a practical sense, it amounts to a scorched earth campaign against many agricultural operations. Siskiyou County rancher Tom Menne predicts that the public trust crusade could “devastate” his ranch’s profitability, throwing its 25 employees out of work.

All three of these threats to water rights – from the Bureau of Reclamation, the State of California, and overzealous environmentalists – are being challenged in court. We’re proud to say that our organization – Pacific Legal Foundation, a watchdog for property rights and limited government – is in the thick of all the litigation to defend water rights.

The cause should interest everyone concerned about returning our region, and our country, to economic health. The attack on the productive, job-creating use of water calls to mind the second half of Coleridge’s famous line: “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”

Brandon Middleton and Damien Schiff are attorneys with Pacific Legal Foundation . Headquartered in Sacramento, PLF is a legal watchdog organization that litigates nationwide for limited government, property rights and a balanced approach to environmental regulation .

Throughout the West, a flood of attacks on water rights

Photo by Department of InteriorDerby Diversion Dam is part of the network of water storage, diversion, and conveyance structures that provides water for irrigating about 73,000 acres of farmland in an area that receives less than 4.5 inches of annual precipitation.