Many of those involved in Nevada agriculture over the years are familiar with Ron Torell. His contributions to Nevada agriculture have taken many forms, including serving as a Cooperative Extension agent and as President of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

Ron recently reached out and shared an article with us that he asked to have published in our newsletter. His article, titled “Caution: Arc Welding, Chemicals and Parkinsonism,” provides information and perspective on this important topic.

Last week we shared the announcement of the Nevada Legislature’s Public Lands Committee and their holding a meeting at the Moapa Tribal Administration Building, Moapa, NV.

Along with hearing a number of presentations, the committee dealt with their work session document.  Most of their actions involved letters that they intend to send to various entities.  The Committee members agreed to send a letter to Nevada’s Congressional Delegation, seeking support for obtaining more money from the Santini Burton Modernization Act of 2026. 

A theme of the Public Lands four committee meetings – access to public lands – the final meeting approved a set of letters to promote and emphasize the priority to others.  One letter will be going to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) requesting them to update the records that NDOW has been keeping, pertaining to road closures on public lands.  Along the same lines the committee approved to sending a follow-up letter to the Elko County Commission, asking them to follow the state law on access to public lands.  Lastly, the State Director of the Bureau of Land Management will be receiving a letter from the committee, encouraging his support for public access to public lands.

The one “Legislative” matter the committee produced is a request for drafting a resolution which urges Congress to demand transparency from federal land managers during decision-making processes governing federal land sales and permitting activities.

Farm Bureau has been actively engaged following President Trump’s announcement to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef at a time when U.S. beef imports are already at record-high levels.

“Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with hundreds of millions of pounds of foreign-raised beef.” American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall said soon after the announcement was made.  “The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision would be an unprecedented move and would translate to nearly an additional 60 percent increase in imports over the next 90 days.

“We appreciate the president’s goal of reducing grocery costs, but short-term measures could have long-term negative effects for consumers and for ranchers who are making decisions on whether to retain or expand their herd.” Duvall continued, adding. “Growing dependence on foreign-grown food could ultimately lead to even higher grocery costs and reliance on other nations for our food security. We urge the president to strongly reconsider his plan.”

Dr. John Newton, AFBF’s Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis continued on that theme of how a short term approach to the issue of beef prices at the meat counter will lead to longer term problems.

To assist the general public to better understand the challenges in expanding beef production, AFBF Economist Bernt Nelson and Cameron Castillo, Associate Economist produced this primer on beef production.

Along with the efforts of the American Farm Bureau Federation and state Farm Bureaus to urge the Trump Administration to reconsider the Executive Order, individual Farm Bureau members can also make their voices heard. Members are encouraged to contact their elected representatives and reach out directly to the White House.

This Farm Bureau Action Request This Farm Bureau Action Request provides an opportunity for members to speak up and share how this decision could impact America’s farmers and ranchers.

This platform makes it easy for you to contact Nevada’s two U.S. Senators and your member of Congress, asking them to carry your concerns to the White House and urge the Administration to reconsider the proposed increase in beef imports. The Action Request also allows you to contact the White House directly and express your opposition to the Executive Order expanding beef import authority.

When sending your emails, we strongly encourage you to personalize your message, including the subject line. A base message has been provided to help you get started, but adding your own experiences and explaining how increased beef imports could affect you, your operation, or Nevada agriculture will make your message more meaningful and impactful.

In this week’s review of current Farm Bureau policy we are sharing the policy on Land Use Notable specific policies in this section of the 2026 Nevada Farm Bureau Policy Book are topic areas covering Data Centers and management related to federal land management.

Again, we’re asking you to consider whether what we have as our current policy matches up with your views on what you would like your organization to continue to advocate for?  Are there things that need to be added – are there things that need to be deleted?

As always we look forward to receiving your response…

You can find the details for this event by clicking here.

Churchill County Farm Bureau members, families, and supporters are invited to come together for the Churchill County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The annual meeting is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members of the agricultural community, hear updates on Farm Bureau and agriculture, and enjoy an afternoon together. Churchill County has a strong and diverse agricultural community, and the annual meeting provides a chance to celebrate local agriculture while staying connected with the work of Farm Bureau.

The meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Rambling River Ranch, 3975 Reno Hwy in Fallon.

Event Details

Saturday, September 19, 2026

3:00 p.m.

Rambling River Ranch

3975 Reno Hwy

Fallon, Nevada

Members are encouraged to bring the whole family and join them for great food, kids' games, door prizes, Farm Bureau updates, and an enjoyable afternoon with friends and neighbors.

Please RSVP to Sue Frey at 775-427-1055.

We hope to see you there!

Join Farm Bureau members from across the state for three days of engaging speakers, hands-on sessions, policy discussions, networking, and celebrating Nevada agriculture. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Tradition: Growing Nevada’s Future,” reflects where we’ve been and where we’re headed together.

Beyond the Farm Gate: Turning Community Engagement into Opportunity

Featuring Sydney Knott

Discover how farms and ranches can turn community engagement into new opportunities. Sydney Knott will share real-world experiences and practical ideas for using farm camps, field trips, family activities, educational programs, and special events to generate additional revenue while connecting the public with agriculture.

Attendees will leave with tips and inspiration for creating memorable agricultural experiences that strengthen their operation, diversify opportunities, and build advocates for agriculture.

Don’t miss this session and much more at the 107th Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Register today and join us in Las Vegas!