On April 24^th the United States Department of Agriculture issued a federal order pertaining to interstate lactating dairy cattle movement.  At this writing we are still waiting to receive the Guidance document which spells out the exact details for movement, but from what has been shared the federal order mandates testing of lactating dairy cows (with negative results for H5N1 Avian Influenza).

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak, in speaking to a group of industry interest, stressed that the main purpose for the testing requirements are to gather as much data as possible to better understand the emerging situation.  At this point a total of 33 dairies in Texas, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, North Carolina and South Dakota have had animals which tested positive for H5N1.

Throughout the discussions of the past month and stressed again in the announcement for the Federal Order, the milk supply and food supply remains safe.  Pasteurization of milk has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses like H5N1 in milk.  

We’ll keep you posted on on-going developments as they become available.

Since the April 18^th release of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule we have been spending some significant time going through the document and contemplating the regulation changes that BLM has decided as their final rule.  The rule will take effect 30-days after being published in the Federal Register.

For those who want to just read the actual regulations (minus the puff and self-justification that the agency has prepared to convince everyone that the are doing the right thing and have the authority to do what they have decided) – the last 46 pages of the 178-page document have the regulation language.

To describe the final rule as something multiple-use advocates might be willing to appreciate – would be totally wrong.  This rule has nothing of merit, despite those who suggest that it is positive that everyone will now have to live with rangeland health standards like livestock grazing has had to deal with since their adoption.  The rule calls for setting “national land health standards” (which will be brought from the top-down within BLM) and could easily clamp down harder on livestock grazing than what is now in place.

Whether it is designations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACES); managing for “intact landscapes;” restoration or mitigation leasing…or any of the other multitude of ecologically-correct aspirations liberally seasoned into the rule, the bottom line is that this rule promises to use “Conservation” as the tool to preclude multiple use from continuing to occur on BLM managed lands.  This will be accomplished all the while the agency is swearing that their intentions is not to have “Conservation” to be anything different (or more equal) than the multiple uses that Congress actually wrote into the Federal Land and Policy Management Act (FLPMA).

To quote directly from the documents used to announce their final rule…

“The Conservation and Landscape Health Rule establishes the policy for the BLM to build and maintain the resilience of ecosystems on public lands in three primary ways: (1) protecting the most intact, functioning landscapes1; (2) restoring degraded habitat and ecosystems; and (3) using science and data as the foundation for management decisions across all plans and programs.”

As we reported in last week’s newsletter, we hope that you’ll consider taking advantage of the  Farm to Fork Dinner, celebrating local foods on April 27^th at 5:00 p.m. at one of Chef Mark Estee’s Restaurants, the Overland Restaurant & Pub in Gardnerville, NV.  Those joining the fun will enjoy a three-course meal with locally sourced ingredients provided by farms and ranches in Northern Nevada. The meal will be prepared by Chef Tommy Linnett. If you would like to participate in this great event and learn more about it, please use the Eventbrite link below to purchase your ticket: 

Farm to Fork Dinner – Celebrating Local Foods: 

https://UNRfarmtofork.eventbrite.com

The Nevada Association of Conservation Districts have notified us of a May 9 and 10 “Low Tech Riparian Restoration” workshop to be held at the Cooperative Extension Office in Winnemucca, NV.  The May 9 session will be in a classroom setting from 8 to 5.  The May 10^th session will be in the field touring sites.  To Register, click here.  The registration cost is $30 and covers lunch and snacks on day one.  Day two, you’ll need to bring your own lunch.

For questions or to discuss the program, contact Connie Lee by email at connielee@nvacd.org or call 775-934-5376.  She will also be able to get you registered.

The Second Annual Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference is scheduled for June 13-14 at the University of Nevada, Reno. “We’re very excited about this year’s program and hope we’ll see you there,” Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Agricultural Law Center said.  He added that they hope that “you can help spread the word about the program with others you think may be interested.” 

The agricultural industry in the western U.S. is uniquely impacted by changes and developments in state, federal and international laws and policies.  Additionally, many of those unique issues – water rights, ag. labor and immigration, California Propositions and many more – often more broadly impact the agricultural industry throughout the country.

This conference focuses on legal and policy issues directly relevant to the ag industry in western states, and is designed for attorneys, students, and other ag professionals who work in the western ag industry. It’s a unique learning and networking opportunity.  Conference agenda, registration, and other information can be found by clicking this link.

Extension Director Jacob DeDecker has distributed through various channels, including Nevada Farm Bureau, a request for spreading the word about openings the University of Nevada, Reno Extension is recruiting for two positions to be located in Fallon, NV. 

He shared that they would appreciate any assistance you can provide for dissemination of information about this opportunity to your contacts, colleagues and graduates. 

Livestock Specialist- 

Extension Ag Educator-

Congratulations to Churchill County for their April 25^th Ag In The Classroom program.  The Nevada Farm Bureau Ag Wagon was part of the event.  Robin Futch (one the far right side of the photo), Nevada Farm Bureau’s Director of Agriculture Education brought the message of Nevada agriculture to the 350 fourth grade students who participated from Churchill.  We also want to express gratitude to the many volunteers and groups who worked together to make this year’s Churchill County Ag In The Classroom a success!