April 3, 2020
Newsletter for April 3, 2020
This Issue:
  • Implementing The $2-Plus Trillion Assistance “CARES” Legislation 
  • Bi-State Sage Grouse Again Not Listed By U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  • Worker Safety An Important Matter For Attention
  • We’re Not Sleeping On Washoe County Lands Bill
  • To Stay In Touch With Farm Bureau During The Current Situation
  • Contact Information For Reaching The Nevada Department of Agriculture Operations

Implementing The $2-Plus Trillion Assistance “CARES” Legislation 
After the President’s signature on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stabilization (CARES) Act the next level of focus has transferred to implementing the authorizations that are included in the law.  Included in the law are provisions which deal with various elements of financial assistance through the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Based on request from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Nevada Farm Bureau sent an email request to Nevada’s Congressional members, Mark Amodei and Steven Horsford, both who have agricultural constituents, to join fellow Congressional colleagues to the SBA Administrator, Jovita Carranza to issue guidance to clarify that agricultural business are eligible to participate in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

In a bipartisan, bicameral letter effort, that included Nevada’s U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto as a co-leader in this project, another letter was sent encouraging Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to focus on assistance for cattlemen.  That letter opened this way… “ We write to request swift assistance for cattle producers with the resources provided in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stabilization (CARES) Act to facilitate the stabilization of farm and ranch income to producers who are facing market volatility in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout.”

The legislation included funding ($14 billion) to replenish funds that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been using over the past couple of years for the Market Facilitation program.  Another $9.5 billion was put in the bill, targeted for livestock producers and specialty crop producers.  It was the $9.5 billion given attention in the Senator’s letter for cattlemen.

Along with staying in touch with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to stay informed on opportunities for assistance, farmers and ranchers should also consider reaching out to SBA for programs that might meet your needs. This website ”) will give you the contact information to use, as well as more specifics on what is being made available.

Members of the AFBF staff have been doing an outstanding job of digging deep into the proposals as well as the outcomes of the assistance bill. AFBF Economist Veronica Nigh offers here background details on the assistance programs available from SBA.

Through on-going interaction within the Farm Bureau network as well as on-going outreach to “converse” with Farm Bureau members on the front-line, we’re able to stay updated and focused on on-going needs.  We strongly encourage Farm Bureau members to not hesitate in getting in touch with Nevada  Farm Bureau (775) 870-3349 or by email to  doug@nvfb.org .  We aren’t always able to resolve troubles, but by being away of needs or from ideas shared, we’re able to do what we can…
Bi-State Sage Grouse Again Not Listed By U.S. Fish and Wildlife
There’s not a lot of good news to celebrate these days, but one thing that should be on the list is the finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the Bi-State Sage Grouse is not needing to be listed under the Endangered Species Act.  This news came out March 30 with t his news release noting the contribution made by the Bi-State Local Working Group and the conservation efforts this team-effort by volunteers, state agencies from both California and Nevada and federal agencies connected on both sides of the state line.

The decision made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife came about in a review of the bird’s status, prompted by a federal magistrate in California a couple of years ago.  That magistrate’s ruling directed the agency to go back to rethink their 2015 ruling that the Bi-State sub-population warranted listing.
Worker Safety An Important Matter For Attention
While getting necessary agricultural labor to where they are needed is a big enough issue, keeping them safe is also a priority on the radar screen.  Media is getting interested in whether and how farm workers are being protected as “essential” workers go about carrying out their tasks and assigned jobs. This background information offers an overview of ways to provide employees of all classifications who are getting things done in production agriculture.  Not only providing necessary training and protection for your workers, but also providing long-term protection for agriculture in general.
We’re Not Sleeping On Washoe County Lands Bill
Lurking in the background is the likely Washoe County Lands Bill that Nevada Farm Bureau is working to address.  For those who haven’t read the most recent issue of the Nevada Farm Bureau Agriculture and Livestock Journal,  we are placing as much emphasis as possible on making changes to the way that federal land managers deal with livestock grazing on designated Wilderness.  Livestock grazing is “allowed” on Wilderness designated areas, but the promise has been hard-pressed to make sustainable grazing to be carried out, especially in dealing with maintaining or replacing necessary infrastructure.  This piece draws attention to the changes that Nevada Farm Bureau has been pressing for in whatever legislation comes out.  Just following the old “boiler plate” language that has been used is not sufficient and requires a new approach.  Farm Bureau has been in touch with members of the Nevada Congressional delegation, seeking their willingness to write the changes needed into possible next generations of land bills.
To Stay In Touch With Farm Bureau During The Current Situation
In response to the Governor’s directive, Nevada Farm Bureau has closed the Sparks office to public access.  We remain available for contacts by phone or by email -- (1-800-992-1106) or to the cell phone number of 775-870-3349 (this number can also be used to text messages, if that works best for you) …email contacts can be made with  doug@nvfb.org .
Contact Information For Reaching The Nevada Department of Agriculture Operations
In our last newsletter we provided the necessary contact ways to reach the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the services that are available, on a limited basis.  Please make use of these, as necessary… all Nevada Department of Agriculture offices are closed until further notice.

The following services are considered essential functions and will remain available in some capacity for matters that require  immediate attention

Animal Disease Lab 
Please call the  Animal Disease Lab at 775-353-3709  for any immediate animal disease concerns related to testing for:
  •  Rabies
  • Aerobic and Anaerobic Cultures
  •  Parasitology
  •   T. foetus Culture or RT-PCR
  •   Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
  •  Brucellosis Serology
  •    Necropsy

Livestock Inspections
You can  use this link   to reach your nearest brand inspector in the Northern section of Nevada.  This link  to reach your nearest brand inspector in the Southern section of the state.  You can also call the Nevada  Department of Agriculture Office in Elko 775-738-8076  to schedule brand inspections or request movement permits. 

Entry Permits and Pasture to Pasture Permits
Please call 775-778-0277, email  entrypermits@agri.nv.gov& nbsp; or fax 775-353-3659 for permits.

Federal School and Community Nutrition
Delivery will continue to partner and sponsor sites and we will coordinate feeding plans. If you have immediate questions or concerns about school or community nutrition interruptions, please call the  Community Nutrition group at 702-668-4582 or email  dhogan@agri.nv.gov.

Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Certification and distribution of food will continue at all sites. We ask that recipients not exit their vehicle at drop off location, just pull your car up to the back of the truck or behind the next car in line. For more information please  contact Devin Wilcox-McCombs at 775-353-3724 or  dwilcox@agri.nv.gov.

Food Safety
Food safety testing and meat and poultry inspections will continue. To schedule inspections or for immediate concerns, please  contact Anna Vickrey at 775-353-3605 or email  avickrey@agri.nv.gov.

Hemp Program
Hemp harvest inspections will continue, and the Chemistry Laboratory will be available for hemp compliance testing. For immediate concerns, please  contact Audrey Blondfield at  ablondfield@agri.nv.gov

Pesticides
Staff will be available for pesticide investigations, spill concerns and pesticide exposure testing. Please  contact Bret Allen at  bret.allen@agri.nv.gov  for concerns related to pesticides .

Crop inspections
Phytosanitary and shipping point export inspections will continue as needed.  Please contact Nick Bieser in southern Nevada at  nbieser@agri.nv.gov  and Sheryl Hunnewell in northern Nevada at  shunnewell@agri.nv.gov   to schedule an appointment.

Consumer Equitability
Please  contact 775-353-3783  for any concerns regarding accuracy of scales, gas pumps, etc. 

Price gouging should be reported to the Attorney General’s office at 702-486-3132.
Have a great weekend!
Have you seen our new website? 
Have you seen our new website? 
If you haven't already we encourage you to visit our new and improved Nevada Farm Bureau Website.