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

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$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

Thousands

Federal GovernmentControls 79.8% of Land

B urea u of La nd Ma na gem ent

Forest Service

Fish a nd W ild life

Pa rk Service

Milita ry

Federa l G overnm entAdm inisters 56 of the 70 m illion a cres

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 37th 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 1963

• 300 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%

RANGELAND CROPLAND OTHER

Where water is available, crops are grown.

NEVADACROP 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 19th 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 AgricultureA. State Statistics

1. Nevada Agriculture ranks 47th in U.S. in Production Agriculture

2. 3000 Farms and Ranches in Nevada3. Economic Impact close to $1 billion

B. Production is Limited1. Arid Climate2. Water Limited3. Suitable Land Limited4. Short Growing Season5. 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