Nevada Farm Bureau shared the public policy position on Elk Management with the Nevada Wildlife Commission when they met in Las Vegas, Friday, September 26^th.  The testimony provided by Executive Vice President Doug Busselman came as part of the agenda item where the Wildlife Commissioners deliberated on a draft plan for changes to the how Elk Management Planning takes place as well as the manner which population levels could change on an annual basis.

The proposed draft plan was presented to the Wildlife Commission for its “first reading” in Las Vegas.  When the Commission meets in Reno, November 7 and 8, they could approve what is brought before them and begin implementation in January of 2026.

The planning process, which would involve an Elk Management Committee of six members (Four from the Commission and two from the general public – with at least one of the two members of the public being either a rancher or farmer – and two of the Commission being the farmer representative and also the rancher representative), should bring a balance to the process as well as an enhanced transparency that is sorely missing now.  Wiring in up to 10 percent herd size swings (+ or -) is the main issue of contention, especially if there isn’t any definitive resource consideration being part of the defined proposal.

It will be a very hefty lift to reach Nevada Farm Bureau’s policy – “No increase in the existing elk populations can be tolerated until there is a documented increase in forage available, better overall rangeland health and all suspended livestock permits have been restored to their original capacity.”

Over the course of the past few months, Nevada Farm Bureau and other stakeholders have been meeting with Nevada OSHA officials and activist who worked with Senator Edgar Flores to gain passage of SB 260. The Senator’s purpose and those who worked with him to pass the bill was to have Nevada OSHA develop regulations with very specific requirements for employers with outdoor workers to comply with when air quality indexes hit marks of 150 and 200.

Nearly all of the state does not have monitoring data which would provide employers with the knowledge of where they might stand, relative to the air quality indexes, but OSHA rule makers maintain that since the law that passed does not provide for exemptions – their regulations won’t either.  

A proposal (Draft and for Discussion Purposes) by technical experts from the air quality section the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, sought to expand the reach of the regulation to include PM 2.5 into the definition section of the regulation and then tie monitoring equipment that employers, with more than 10 employees, would have to buy and properly use to measure PM 2.5 levels.  This Draft proposal was the subject of attention for the stakeholder meeting that was held on Monday, September 29^th.

Nevada Farm Bureau opposed SB 260 in the Legislative Session on the grounds that most of Nevada doesn’t have access to the air quality monitoring data necessary to meet the requirements.  This same theme has been our main points in pushing back against OSHA’s obsession with forcing every employer to adhere to the regulatory degree that they wish to impose. 

After the regulations are completed and a hearing is set for public involvement, whatever is the completed regulation will go before the Nevada Legislative Commission for a determination of whether the regulation meets the requirements for implementation.  Along the way it will be important for Farm Bureau members and other concerned rural Nevada citizens come prepared to weigh in with their input.

In the 2025 Nevada Legislative Session Nevada Farm Bureau joined with others interested in promoting opportunities for those involved in food production to have greater sustainability.  One of the key links in the comprehensive chain was AB 352 which dealt with cottage enterprises (cottage food and cosmetics).  The other major need was moving authority to regulate and permit to the Department of Agriculture, covered in SB 466.

The next phase of this program requires the Nevada Department of Agriculture, working with the Nevada Board of Agriculture and interested stakeholders to develop regulation changes for NAC 446 as well as also developing new regulations for cottage foods, cosmetics and craft food as well as farm to fork operations and mobile and on-farm meat processing.

Nevada Farm Bureau is teaming with Nevada’s Small Business Development Center, Grown in Nevada and Cooperative Extension to reach out to these small business owners or prospective owners to hear what they have to say about their needs on what goes into the rules.  Nevada Farm Bureau is hoping that these multiple listening sessions will not only provide insights to incorporate into the regulation mix, but also add to our organization’s policy book in order for our actions assist in enhancing the profitability and sustainability of food producers (small and urban farms as well as those in the chain of getting food from farms and ranches to the plates).  The kickoff will take place ) on October 16 at 6 p.m. in Fallon’s VFW Lawton Silva Post 1002, 405 S Maine Street, Fallon, Nevada.

For a number of years White Pine County Farm Bureau have been doing an annual tour with Farm Bureau members and other interested participants, exploring various locations in their county …and even traveling to Diamond Valley in Eureka County last year.  For the 2025 tour, complete with heavy rains in the morning, White Pine County Farm Bureau members made a visit to the Great Basin National Park, near Baker, NV.  The tour was built around seeing various projects that have been carried out inside and on the outer edges of the Park, attempting to restore habitat that was impacted by wildfires or encroachment of PJ trees.

Pickup conversations and idea exchanges with Farm Bureau members and Nevada Department of Wildlife habitat managers as well as representatives from the Park accomplished the objective of working to increase understanding as well as enhance working relationships.