County Farm Bureau representatives met with other members of the Nevada Farm Bureau Resolutions Committee on Thursday, October 30, 2025, to prepare their report to the Nevada Farm Bureau Voting Delegates. The Nevada Farm Bureau Voting Delegates will take this report and deliberate what Nevada Farm Bureau policy should be for 2026. A few of the discussion areas, covered in proposals for new policy, include Conjunctive Management of surface and groundwater; data centers, solar fields and protection of agricultural lands. What to do about growing elk herds and the damages caused to agricultural crops.

Nevada Farm Bureau Voting Delegates will meet as part of the 106^th Annual Meeting in Winnemucca on Friday, November 14^th. There will also be a number of timely information meetings scheduled for Thursday, November 13^th. If you haven’t already done so – Register Here and make arrangements to attend the 2025 Nevada Farm Bureau annual meeting!

 Nevada Farm Bureau has been in discussions with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) on a pilot program that they are working on. They are sending a grant request to the Nevada Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Commission. The pilot program they are working to establish would involve installation of several cattle guard units and a number of gate monitoring (Track Tags) which landowners who have to deal with gates that get left open (when they are supposed to stay closed) or gates that get closed (when they are supposed to be kept open).

There is a quick turnaround to meet the obligations of gaining commitments to participate before the deadline passes to submit the grant request.   The deadline is Friday, November 7^th.

The “Track Tags” are a monitoring system which monitor on a real-time basis whether a gate is open or closed and allows for the owner to be able to take whatever appropriate action that is necessary. NDOW has an application letter that needs to be completed in order to get plugged into whatever the grant proposal will entail:

THE LANDOWNER MUST PROVIDE A LETTER

• All projects must submit a landowner letter for the area the project will take place. If the applicant is the landowner, managing agency, or has jurisdiction over the location the project will take place, the applicant must still submit a landowner letter.
• The letter must be project specific and dated from the current application year.
• The letter must include:

a)Landowner has read the Request for Grant Application package.

b)Landowner agrees with the application and the terms of the grant.

c)Landowner holds an interest in the subject land that is sufficient in scope and authority to allow the applicant to complete the proposed project and operate and maintain the proposed project after its completion.

d)Landowner is legally committing to maintain the trail/facility and will allow public motorized access to such trail/facilities for 25 years or the normal life of the project; and

e)Landowner agrees to provide any match or other tasks in the application that are assigned to Landowner.

f)Landowner includes location of the installation (GPS coordinates, preferred).

If you are interested in learning more, contact Cody McKee at NDOW – (775) 688-1525 or email dmckee@ndow.org 

Last week’s newsletter covered the dust-up taking place as a result of a communications “tweet” that President Donald Trump sent out on bringing in some additional Argentina beef, lifting the current lower tariff rate of 20,000 metric tons to 80,000 metric tons at the same rate. We also shared the response that American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President communicated to the Trump Administration.

This week we have AFBF Economist, Bernt Nelson, sharing his insights on the “Economics of US Beef and Cattle Markets”

“On Oct. 23, the administration announced it would increase the tariff rate quota for beef from Argentina in an attempt to lower consumer beef prices.” Nelson wrote, continuing, “Since 2020, about 2 percent of U.S. beef and veal imports have come from Argentina. Under the current tariff rate quota, Argentina can sell 20,000 metric tons of beef per year to the U.S. at a lower tariff. After the quota is met, the tariff increases. So far in 2025, about 30,000 metric tons of beef have been imported from Argentina, about 10,000 metric tons above the tariff rate quota and over 40 percent higher than last year. An increase to 80,000 metric tons would account for about 3.5 percent of the total U.S. beef import volume to date and about 0.6 percent of USDA’s forecasted U.S. beef consumption for 2025. This amount will not have a measurable impact on prices consumers pay for beef, but the announcement has already caused future prices for feeder cattle to fall by 7 percent.”

This year’s Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is packed with breakout sessions designed to help farmers and ranchers stay informed and engaged on the issues that matter most.

One highlight includes a visit from

the State Water Engineer, who will discuss management plans and updates for the Humboldt River. A critical topic for producers across the region, but especially in Humboldt county. In addition, Shelby Hagenauer from the American Farm Bureau Federation will provide a legislative update and share insights on the importance of grassroots involvement in shaping

agricultural policy.

These sessions, along with others throughout the meeting, offer valuable information, networking and discussion opportunities to strengthen Nevada agriculture.

If you can’t attend the entire meeting, consider joining us for a day, Thursday or Friday. Join us to take part in the discussions that impact your operation and your community.

REGISTER HERE!

 Registration will close November 6^th

Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn and help guide the future of Nevada agriculture!