Prepared by Jill Combs for the Agriculture in the Classroom Conference July 2002

Nevada has 3000 Farms & Ranches Economic impact of Agriculture is close to 1$ billion Nevada has 3000 Farms & Ranches Economic impact of Agriculture is close to 1$ billion

Two-thirds of Nevada’s population is in Clark County.

Production in Nevada Limited Arid climate Limited water resources Limited supply of land Short growing season Distance from major markets

CASH RECEIPTS FROM AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES Thousands

Federal Government Controls 79.8% of Land

Range cattle are the predominant agricultural commodity in Nevada.

 2/3 of Nevada farms raise cattle  520,000 head of cattle in Nevada  Nevada ranks 37 th in the nation

Branding enables ranchers to identify their cattle and helps prevent rustling.

Most ranches in Nevada are cow-calf operations.

Dairy cows produce 30 gallons of milk for each person in the state.

Holstein Cows Jersey Cows

Sheep are an alternative to cattle for converting range forage to consumer products.

The state’s equine population is estimated at 70,000 head.

On the range, horses are a very valuable form of travel. Ranching in Elko County is a balance between tradition and economics.

Alternative livestock in Nevada includes ostrich, emu… …and llama

R.C. FARMS, INC. R.C. Farms, Inc. is Nevada’s largest pig farm with 5,000 head of swine.

Family owned and operated since head of cattle Goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and eggs

R.C. FARMS, INC. Waste Management, Inc.  Recycles 30 tons of food scraps daily  Recycles aluminum, glass, paper, tin, cardboard, and plastic  Recycles yellow grease  Employs 90 people

UTILIZATION OF LAND IN FARMS AND RANCHES 13% 82% 5% RANGELANDCROPLANDOTHER

Where water is available, crops are grown.

NEVADA CROP PRODUCTION  Hay  Alfalfa  Grass & Meadow  Timothy  Grain  Potatoes  Garlic & Onions  Carrots, cantaloupe, tomatoes, watermelon  Fruit & nut orchards  Sod  Greenhouse

Hay is the number one crop.

High quality alfalfa hay is grown for the dairy industry and foreign market.

Cattle are supplemented with hay during the winter months.

25,000 acres of grain were grown in Nevada last year.

Humboldt County ranks 19 th in U.S. potato production.

Garlic production has steadily increased.

White, yellow and red onions grow in northern Nevada.

Mint planting operation in Humboldt Co.

Sod farms have become more common.

The greenhouse industry has also been increasing.

NEVADA AGRICULTURE I.Production Agriculture A. State Statistics 1.Nevada Agriculture ranks 47 th in U.S. in Production Agriculture Farms and Ranches in Nevada 3.Economic Impact close to $1 billion B. Production is Limited 1.Arid Climate 2.Water Limited 3.Suitable Land Limited 4.Short Growing Season 5.Distant from major markets

II.Commodities A. Livestock Production 1. Beef Cattle 2. Dairy Cattle 3. Sheep 4. Other B. Crop Production 1. Hay 2. Grain 3. Potatoes 4. Onions & Garlic 5. Mint 6. Other