Final report for WSP19-030
Project Information
Nevada’s SARE-Professional Development Program (PDP) will support training for Cooperative Extension faculty and staff, faculty from the University of Nevada’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, and any other Government/Non-government agency or organizations that apply for support. Training will improve their knowledge and understanding of SARE principles related to sustainable agriculture. SARE-PDP funds will help professionals incorporate sustainability principles in education, technical assistance and outreach programs. SARE funding may also, support inter-agency teams (assembled by Extension) to hold training sessions in Nevada with national experts and from Nevada’s agricultural community, including state and federal agencies and farmers.
Nevada’s SARE-Professional Development Program (PDP) for 2020 will support training for Cooperative Extension faculty and staff, faculty from the University of Nevada’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, and any other Government/Non-government agency or organizations that apply for support. Due to the lack of sustainable agricultural resources available in Nevada, professionals need to seek outside training to improve their knowledge and understanding of SARE principles related to sustainable agriculture, which include profit over the long term, stewardship of our nation’s land, air and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers and their communities.
SARE-PDP funds will help professionals incorporate sustainability principles in education, technical assistance and outreach programs. SARE funding may also, support inter-agency teams (assembled by Extension) to hold training sessions in Nevada with national experts and from Nevada’s agricultural community, including state and federal agencies and farmers.
Advisors
- (Educator)
- - Producer
- - Technical Advisor
- (Researcher)
Education
Professional development approaches included conducting Workshops/Educational Events (funded through WSARE Mini-Grants) and providing travel scholarships for agricultural professionals to attend Sustainable Agriculture Conferences.
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Education & Outreach Initiatives
To provide professional development workshops and conferences to agricultural professionals, research scientists, agronomists, government agencies, Non-profit organizations, and farmer/producers. These opportunities will provide opportunities for agricultural professionals to provide education and outreach in sustainable agricultural practices in a variety of climes and locales.
Mobile Slaughter Unit Tour
Mobile slaughter units are self-contained slaughter facilities that travel to various locations for processing. Typically, the units provide slaughter services to small, regional producers at conveniently located host farms.
FSIS-inspected mobile slaughter units provide a feasible option for small livestock producers to provide safe, wholesome meat to local and interstate consumer markets. Livestock that can be slaughtered at these mobile units include cattle, hogs, goats, and sheep.
In their 2007 report Locally Produced Livestock Processing and Marketing Feasibility Assessment, research and extension faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno, analyzed the economic feasibility of a local meat production system using two mobile slaughter units and a non-mobile fabrication facility, in Northern Nevada.
In order to learn more about mobile slaughter units, Staci Emm, UNCE Professor and local processor, Lawrence Mori, traveled to Oregon and Washington State. They met with owners of a harvest mobile unit and processing businesses to gather information that would help them implement the Nevada mobile unit project.
2022 World Alfalfa Congress, San Diego, CA
The theme of the 2022 World Alfalfa Congress is “Profitable Alfalfa Production Sustains the Environment.” The topics covered during the workshops and sessions meet the first WSARE goal of promoting good stewardship of the nation’s natural resources by providing site-specific, regional, and profitable sustainable farming and ranching methods that strengthen agricultural competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs; maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of soil; conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat; and maintain and improve the quality of surface and ground water with a focus being on soil, water, and sustainable farming and ranching methods.
The PDP Grant funded travel to the Alfalfa Conference for Juan Solomon, Associate Professor of Forage Agronomy, CABNR, Brianna Randow, Extension Educator, UNCE and Reginald Remo, Tribal Extension Outreach Specialist at UNCE.
Sustainable Agricultural Summit, Phoenix, AZ
The goals of the Summit are to help in strengthening the U.S. Food and Agriculture’s Capacity to Drive Change, will unite leaders from across the full food and agriculture value chain to explore how bold collaborations and actionable strategies can scale and strengthen U.S. food and agriculture's capacity to drive change and build a more sustainable future.
A travel scholarship was provided to Holly Gatzke, Northern Area Director, UNCE to attend the Summit.
WSARE Annual State Coordinator's Meeting, Reno, NV
The Western SARE region comprises thirteen states and four U.S. Pacific island protectorates. A state coordinator represents each of the thirteen states and four U.S. Pacific island protectorates that are part of the Western region. The state coordinators assist in promoting sustainable agriculture locally through noncompetitive state grants operated through SARE's Professional Development Program and through promotion of SARE funded project results.
State Coordinators attend the annual meeting to receive updates/changes in the SARE funding/reporting and to learn more about the other SARE programs in the region.
This grant funded travel for Stephen Foster, WSARE Nevada State Coordinator to attend the meeting.
Mobile Slaughter Unit Tour
Mobile slaughter units (MSUs) are self-contained slaughter facilities that travel to various locations for processing. Typically, the units provide slaughter services to small, regional producers at conveniently located host farms.
In recent years, livestock producers have expressed an interest in obtaining additional updated financial information, including a sensitivity analysis based on differing meat pricing schemes and operating volume.
In order to learn more about mobile slaughter units, Staci Emm, UNCE Professor and local processor, Lawrence Mori, traveled to Oregon and Washington State. They consulted with TriVan Truck Body of Ferndale, Wash. for information about costs and specifications of a mobile slaughter unit due to its experience in constructing MSUs as well as their proximity to Nevada.
Currently, the MSU project has received additional funding and a MSU has been obtained. The project leaders are now in the process of getting a USDA Slaughter Permit and should begin operations this coming year.
2022 World Alfalfa Congress, San Diego, CA
The theme of the 2022 World Alfalfa Congress is “Profitable Alfalfa Production Sustains the Environment.” The topics covered during the workshops and sessions meet the first WSARE goal of promoting good stewardship of the nation’s natural resources by providing site-specific, regional, and profitable sustainable farming and ranching methods that strengthen agricultural competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs; maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of soil; conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat; and maintain and improve the quality of surface and ground water with a focus being on soil, water, and sustainable farming and ranching methods.
Attendees hope to increase their knowledge of western/intermountain production of alfalfa and forages, and to develop a collaborative partnership with other extension/industry professionals in the western region. In addition, to help local forage producers improve their management systems and increase their efficiency and profitability through Extension sponsored educational programs.
The goal is to develop programs that would first provide changes in knowledge and awareness, which would further lead to adoption of practices and behavior changes. Thus, improve profitability and efficiency of farming operations.
Anticipated changes in skills, behavior and decision-making include:
- Adaptation of IPM practices for forage pest
- Better understanding of Alfalfa markets and price trends
- Better understanding of forage quality testing
- How to improve flood irrigation management
Sustainable Agricultural Summit, Phoenix, AZ
The goals of the Summit are to help in strengthening the U.S. Food and Agriculture’s Capacity to Drive Change, will unite leaders from across the full food and agriculture value chain to explore how bold collaborations and actionable strategies can scale and strengthen U.S. food and agriculture's capacity to drive change and build a more sustainable future.
The attendee will learn the latest strategies for supporting farms and ranches to be sustainable in light of climate change, water shortages, and the carbon credits business.
The summit will help in administrative leadership in planning future programs and positions needed in Nevada Extension to support agriculture, and as the lead for the statewide Horticulture, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (HANRE) team, they will share the information gained with experts at University of Nevada, Reno. The information provided to the faculty, staff and administrative team provides exposure to data and ideas that show the changing environment that farmers and ranchers are facing and how experts are approaching those changes. There will also be discussion started on carbon credit opportunities for producers.
The information will start discussions on how to evolve education programming in Nevada to face the changes in weather, water, and carbon credit opportunities to increase the sustainability of farming and ranching for time to come. It is anticipated that these discussions will to lead to the planning of education programs that implement the use of the information.
The short-term measurement will be the number of programs adapted or started that will be taught to the agriculture industry in Nevada. Those programs will measure the knowledge gained by participants, anticipated use of the information and extrapolate impacts for improved practices and planning to function in the changes.
WSARE Annual State Coordinator's Meeting, Reno, NV
The Western SARE region comprises thirteen states and four U.S. Pacific island protectorates. A state coordinator represents each of the thirteen states and four U.S. Pacific island protectorates that are part of the Western region. The state coordinators assist in promoting sustainable agriculture locally through noncompetitive state grants operated through SARE's Professional Development Program and through promotion of SARE funded project results.
State Coordinators attend the annual meeting to receive updates/changes in the SARE funding/reporting and to learn more about the other SARE programs in the region.
This year the annual meeting was held in Reno, NV. It provide updates on the WSARE program and tour. The tour consisted of the following:
Desert Farming Initiative, UNR – The DFI is a diversified commercial farm at UNR which serves as a demonstration, education, outreach, and research farming program.
Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center – The Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center (PVC) is the largest BLM preparation and adoption facility in the country and serves as the primary preparation center for wild horses and burros gathered from the public lands in Nevada and other nearby states.
J.T. Basque Restaurant - Family-style Basque fare & cocktails served in a storied Victorian building with an old-timey bar. In addition, the family owned restaurant also raises beef right in the Carson Valley, producing natural grass-fed beef for our kitchen. The Genoa ranch's beef is all natural, free of antibiotics and growth stimulants. They also feature natural cuts of meat from our neighboring Carson Valley ranches. Their kitchen is committed to purchasing local products whenever possible, including Winnemucca potatoes and Smith Valley onions.
UNCE Beekeeping Program - n Douglas County, Lindsay Chichester, Extension educator with the College's Extension unit, began the process of creating the Douglas County Bee & Pollinator Club after a needs assessment survey showed community members had a high interest in learning beekeeping. Chichester worked with the Great Basin Beekeepers of Nevada and Wild Harmony Ranch to set up five hives for community members to have a location where hands-on learning and demonstration can occur.
Tour the Carson Valley - Discussion on Rural/Urban interaction and its effect on the Carson Valley.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Face of SARE
The face of SARE was directly promoted through this project as workshop participants were educated on the SARE programs, various SARE grant programs and presented results from regional projects. The state coordinator also interfaced directly with multiple producers throughout the state, informing of sustainable agriculture practices and the SARE program.