In his remarks during the Nevada Farm Bureau 2023 Annual Meeting in Mesquite, James Settelmeyer, Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources offered more background information on the program being launched to retire groundwater water rights in over-pumped and over-appropriated basins.  Bob Conrad, speaking on behalf of the Humboldt River Basin Authority and the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority also presented information on the details these two groups are building for voluntary retirement of water rights.  Conrad shared this information and background paper and also this paper providing Frequently Asked Questions.

Director Settelmeyer also provided an overview of the several divisions and programs within the Department.

Last week we shared the plans by the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Animal Industry Division to host in-person and virtual public workshops to solicit comments on proposed regulation changes for Chapter 583 of Nevada’s Administrative Code.    These regulations will be dealing with inspection of meat and poultry.  Links to virtual meetings will be available for each date. Workshops have been set for:

Monday, November 27, 2023 

Time: 8:30 a.m. PST 

In-Person Location: Nevada Department of Agriculture Office - Sparks 

405 S. 21st Street, Sparks, NV 89431 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82318600530pwd=NU8rSnhxYWF4K2JBeTEySlI4alRWdz09  

Meeting Number: 823 1860 0530 Access code: 652786

Monday, November 27, 2023 

Time: 2:30 p.m. PST 

In-Person Location: 3C Complex 325 Sheckler Road, Fallon, NV 89406 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83507527656?pwd=cnFoYjR5WFI0ZG9Sc1Y0RSt4U0tHUT09  

Meeting Number: 835 0752 7656 Access code: 112414

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 

Time: 9:30 a.m. PST 

In-Person Location: Nevada Department of Agriculture Office - Las Vegas 

2300 E. St. Louis Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89104 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86851037777?pwd=TVdBK0p2Z1c3b1k1dGJtN1pIcGlSdz09  

Meeting Number: 868 5103 7777 Access code: 351288

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 

Time: 9:30 a.m. PST 

In-Person Location: UNR Cooperative Extension Office 

1085 Fairgrounds Rd., Winnemucca, NV 89445 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83316417248?pwd=eTF6N3ltUU9jWjFXelplSnRWYk10Zz09  

Meeting Number: 833 1641 7248 Access code: 902518 

Thursday, November 30, 2023 

Time: 9:30 a.m. PST 

In-Person Location: Nevada Department of Agriculture Office - Elko 

 4780 E. Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801-4762 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85695821592?pwd=Vmt6K3U4Y0JKOU5MdVFrcG0vOSttdz09  

Meeting Number: 856 9582 1592 Access code: 674479 

Friday, December 1, 2023 

Time: 11:30 a.m. PST 

In-Person Location: The Lyon County Library 

 20 Nevin Way, Yerington, NV 89447 

Virtual Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84145388899?pwd=aG1rcFlFS2pqczFnK01PQ1RSaEtYQT09  

Meeting Number: 841 4538 8899 Access code: 633586 

On November 15^th Nevada Farm Bureau participated with Nevada Extension in a couple hour review session that covered the proposed regulations and interacted with representatives of the Nevada Department of Agriculture.  The proposed regulations are somewhat complicated and include various references to all types of legal materials including Nevada law as well as federal codes and other forms of documents.  

Perhaps one of the more uncertain areas of the proposed regulations are the predominant expansion of exempt custom slaughter regulatory burdens.  This also includes the lumping of custom slaughter facilities and mobile slaughter facilities into the same provisions as “official establishments” which aren’t even defined in the proposed regulations.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the passage of a stopgap spending bill by both the House of Representatives and Senate, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. Farm Bureau sent a letter to all members of Congress Tuesday urging passage of the continuing resolution that included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. 

“We are grateful Congress passed a farm bill extension to avoid serious program disruptions and we encourage President Biden to sign it. However, we urge both the House and Senate to stay focused on a new, modernized farm bill that recognizes the many changes and challenges of the past five years. 

“The current farm bill was written before the pandemic, before inflation spiked, and before global unrest sent shock waves through the food system. We need programs that reflect today’s realities. So much work has been done by the agriculture committees in both the House and Senate over the past 18 months to prepare to craft a smart and effective farm bill. Congress must keep that momentum going. 

“While an extension is necessary, they're running out of time to write a new bill. We need a new farm bill in early 2024. The farm bill affects every American by helping to ensure a safe, stable and affordable food supply. Let’s make sure we get it right in 2024.” 

In the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Annual Thanksgiving Survey it was discovered that across the nation the average cost for the traditional Thanksgiving meal was down slightly from last year’s record high.  On the other hand, this year’s totals are the second highest over the timeframe that Farm Bureau has been doing this survey for the past 38 years.  The survey work is carried out by volunteer shoppers from across the nation submitting their findings from prices available at their grocery stores.  This year there were 245 survey forms completed.

Going a bit deeper on the topic, this AFBF Market Intel AFBF economist Betty Resnick offered this observation on the findings, “Although survey prices have begun to come down, food price inflation remains a real issue and serves as a constraint on the budget of all U.S. consumers.”