February 26, 2021
Newsletter For February 26, 2021
This Issue:
  • Senate Natural Resources Committee Holds Hearing On SB 54
  • Bill Submitted On Seeking Regulatory Diffuse Sources For Water Quality
  • Assembly Natural Resources Committee Set To Hear Water Bills On March 1
  • AFBF President Zippy Duvall Presents Organization’s Thoughts On Climate Change Activities
  • Registration is Now Open For the Virtual Fusion Conference
Senate Natural Resources Committee Holds Hearing On SB 54
The Senate Natural Resources Committee took up the bill from the Nevada Department of Agriculture to revamp the membership of Nevada Board of Agriculture.  Through SB 54 the Department of Agriculture wants to change delete two of the current seats for cattle and sheep producers and replacing those representatives with one seat for a representative “working in the field supplemental nutrition distribution” and a representative “actively engaged in food manufacturing or animal processing.”

During their special meeting in January, the Nevada Board of Agriculture adopted a motion to seek an amendment to the bill that the Department of Agriculture brought forward.  This amendment from the Board of Ag proposes to keep the current Board positions in place, with the existing qualifications that are in place in law now.  The amendment also calls for two additional seats to be added to the Board, following the proposal that the Department believed necessary by initiating SB 54.

Nevada Farm Bureau opposed the legislation as written and indicated support for the amendment that was offered by the Board of Agriculture.  Nevada Farm Bureau also offered an amendment, covering the authority and responsibility of the Board of Agriculture.  This proposal, if adopted, would require that ALL regulations related to programs and operations for the Nevada Department of Agriculture to go before the Board of Agriculture for consideration and possible approval.  Different sections of Nevada Statutes have various language regarding authorities.  In spite of the current state law spelling out the Board to “adopt regulations necessary for the operation of the Department and for carrying out the provisions of the laws and programs administered by the Department” there are differences of opinion on whether the Director is required to follow that section of law…  Nevada Farm Bureau’s amendment is intended to be more emphatic on insistence to require Board of Agriculture to have all regulations brought before them.
Bill Submitted On Seeking Regulatory Diffuse Sources For Water Quality
Farm Bureau has been spending some extra time in focusing on AB 146 ”), legislation with an expansive scope aimed at water quality and particularly geared to address “diffuse sources” (also known as non-point).  Through review of the proposed legislation and reaching out to others with special knowledge of non-point source contamination of waters, Nevada Farm Bureau has prepared this analysis and has been in touch with the bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Sarah Peters from Reno.

There is much in AB 146 to be of concern, but one of the major specific issues can be found in the language …“The water quality standards established by the Commission must include, without limitation, numeric water quality criteria for the major categories of diffuse sources that contribute to water pollution in this State as identified by the Department pursuant to section 2 of this act.” (This is the new language in Section 10 of the bill, sub. (4).  Assigning numeric water quality criteria is a problematic issue by itself, but the approach proposed in this bill to target “major categories of diffuse sources that contribute to water pollution” in the State is especially confusing.  Instead of site-specific attention to water bodies that have been identified with water problems and linking the criteria to contaminants – this approach is far different to normal ways of how this type of “assignment” is made.

At this point the bill has not been scheduled for a hearing.
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Set To Hear Water Bills On March 1
We’re not clear on whether March will be coming in like a lion or a lamb, but we do know that the Assembly Natural Resources Committee is going to start the new month (Monday, March 1) with hearings starting at 4 p.m. pertaining to two water bills.

AB 5 is seeking to limit the types of orders, rulings, etc. can be challenged in appeals for decisions by the State Engineer. The main concept is that “preliminary” actions would not be eligible for challenges through judicial action, focusing on more finalized levels of decisions by the State Engineer.

AB 6 is a proposal covering temporary changes of place of diversion, manner of use or place of use of water already appropriated.  The changes sought in the bill would give the State Engineer more flexibility in determining whether there would be a hearing held on an application for these types of changes of use.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall Presents Organization’s Thoughts On Climate Change Activities
The message that American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall took to the House Agriculture Committee – farmers are part of the solution for addressing climate change concerns. President Duvall’s testimony highlighted the contributions that American farmers and ranchers have been doing on an ongoing basis.

Duvall addressed the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on February 25.
“Over two generations, we’ve been able to increase productivity by 287 percent, while using the same resources.” Duvall noted, “To say we’re doing more with less is an understatement.”

“U.S. farmers and ranchers contribute significantly fewer GHG emissions than their counterparts around the world.” Duvall pointed out, adding, “EPA data shows agriculture’s global contribution to GHG emissions was 24% in 2010, more than double U.S. farmers’ and ranchers’ contributions to total U.S. emissions in 2019. This significant difference is largely driven by U.S. farmers’ enthusiastic adoption of technology. American farmers and ranchers are pioneers of sustainability, and any policy debate should recognize their contributions, efficiency gains, and the considerable impact of their carbon sequestration efforts.”

AFBF co-founded the “Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance” in order to provide recommendation to lawmakers considering new climate policies and legislation.  This coalition has adopted three main principles to guide their recommendations:

  • Support voluntary market incentive-based policies
  • Achieve science-based outcomes
  • Promote the resilience of rural communities and help their economies to better adapt to climate changes
Registration is Now Open For the Virtual Fusion Conference
Registration for the 2021 American Farm Bureau FUSION Reimagined Conference is now open! The conference is an opportunity to bring together members of the Young Farmers & Ranchers, Women’s Leadership and Promotion & Education member engagement programs for an opportunity to connect, learn and develop as leaders in Farm Bureau. The virtual event will be held March 11 through the 13th . For full conference schedule and to register please click here.
Have a great weekend!