This week the Nevada Department of Agriculture has held two workshops in Winnemucca and Elko to obtain feedback on amendments of regulations covering Nevada Administrative Code (NAC)) Chapter 571. Last week, based on the request made by persons in the Fallon area for an in-person workshop, the Department announced that they would also hold a workshop at the 3C Event Complex (325 Sheckler Rd) in Fallon, November 29.  This workshop is scheduled to begin a 1 p.m. The highlighted link above includes a link for those who wish to join remotely to join the meeting virtually.

Nevada Farm Bureau is pleased that the Department will be holding a workshop in Fallon and along with Farm Bureau members in the Fallon area, submitted a request for the Department to hold this workshop in Fallon. Farm Bureau’s request for the Fallon workshop also included the request for producers in the central portion of the state to also have the opportunity for in-person workshops to be available for their input. Farm Bureau believes that additional workshops need to be held in Tonopah and Ely in order for impacted cattle producers will be able to weigh in with their input from in-person workshops.

Nevada Farm Bureau’s thoughts on the proposed package of regulations, mostly focused on the proposals related to mandatory annual Trichomoniasis testing, were presented at the workshop held in Winnemucca on November 16^th. 

Should the Department agree to hold the additional workshops that Farm Bureau and others have requested, future steps would include consideration of public input by the Department officials and then a hearing would be scheduled to go through whatever amended language would be added to the proposed regulation. It seems likely, based on the current approach of the Department’s regulatory actions, the Director for the Department would make the agency’s final decision to move forward and send the proposal to the Nevada Legislative Commission for their consideration. There would be an opportunity for the public to have one last chance to share their perspectives during testimony before the Legislative Commission.

Nevada Farm Bureau Voting Delegates did a complete review of the organization’s current policy, determined changes and added new policy to get things set for 2023. 

Delegates also re-elected Bevan Lister of Lincoln County to a one-year term as President of Nevada Farm Bureau and re-elected Darrell Pursel of Lyon County as Vice President. Women’s Leadership Chairman Marlene Shier and Women’s Leadership Committee Vice Chair Wendelyn Muratore, both from Humboldt County, were re-elected to their posts for another one-year term. Craig Shier of Humboldt County was re-elected to a two-year term as District II Director and Paul Mathews of Lincoln County was elected to serve a one-year term for Director of District III. The one-year term that Mathews will be serving is to fill the un-expired term for the District Director slot.

The adopted 2023 Nevada Farm Bureau Policy is posted on the Nevada Farm Bureau website and is available using this link.

The Nevada Farm Bureau annual meeting provided a great forum for highlighting the relaunch of the Ag In The Classroom program within Nevada Farm Bureau operations. Woody Worthington, Nevada Farm Bureau Director of Education and Advocacy presented a workshop for those interested in Planning a Successful In The Classroom Program. 

During the Awards Dinner, Sue Hoffman, Executive Director for the Nevada Agricultural Foundation presented Sue Frey of Churchill County with the “Ag In The Classroom” Volunteer of the Year award, which also comes with a $1,000 award from the Nevada Agricultural Foundation.

Three legislators who represent a major portion of rural Nevada offered their thoughts on the upcoming 2023 Nevada Legislative Session during the Legislative Panel session at the Nevada Farm Bureau annual meeting in Carson City. Assemblywoman Alexis Hansen and Senators Robin Titus and Ira Hansen not only drew attention to the priorities that they anticipate for the 82^nd Nevada Legislative Session, but also offered tips on how they believe Farm Bureau members can best stay in touch with their elected representative.

Following the Legislative Panel, a Water Panel offered their views on the challenges facing Nevada’s water situation and possible ideas for addressing those challenges. The panel was made up of Senator Pete Goicoechea; Deputy Administrator Micheline Fairbank of the Nevada Division of Water Resources; Jeff Fontaine, Executive Director for the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority as well as the Humboldt River Basin Water Authority; and Kyle Roerink Executive Director of the Great Basin Water Network.