Nevada Agriculture Does Matter
Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
When University of Nevada, Reno officials determined that agriculture was not a priority for their future it struck a nerve that our state’s farm and ranch families find rather disturbing. In spite of UNR wishing to continue to be considered the state’s Land Grant University, agriculture is being kicked to the curb, while a façade is established to give the impression that some level of attention is still being paid to the re-interpreted mission of what a Land Grant Mission might mean. Some components will be incorporated into non-agricultural areas to languish under the supervisory control of those who very possibly would like to see an anti-agricultural agenda pursued, using whatever credibility they might muster to advance their cause against agricultural use of renewable natural resources.
In spite of their evaluation of Nevada’s agriculture by disregard and abandonment of the University, Nevada farmers and ranchers do matter and so do their business enterprises, generating farm-gate sales annual of over one-half billion and when factoring in wealth-generating capacity producing over $2 billion of economic activity. This steady and reliable economic sector not only provides for the well-being of rural Nevada communities but also sustain community values and character.
Much of the state’s natural resource base is managed through effective uses made by Nevada farmers and ranchers. Productively employing natural assets that would not be maximized without their contributions in the form of investment, time, energy and know-how these hard-working citizens are not inclined to accept the lack of value attributed to them by elitists, ivory-tower dwellers who have a motivation mostly driven by how much more they can garner from taxpayer wallets.
Given the University’s choice in selecting the priorities they have determined to build their future on, the best option available for Nevada farm and ranch families is to make it very clear that their needs and interests do matter and that if UNR wants to turn its back on those needs, others will be selected to fill the void.
Nevada Agricultural Research facilities and assets (especially the Main Station Farm) need to be protected for the benefit of the state’s agricultural sector. Through the establishment of a trust fund, which should be established outside of the control of UNR officials or the Nevada Board of Regents, proceeds from the sale of assets or from the acquisition of revenue from conservation easements – future financial support for agricultural research/education can be maintained.
Although UNR officials believe that farm and ranch families are insignificant enough to be disregarded as part of their future, we refuse to accept their rejection as relevant. As we continue to pursue the alternatives that are required of us, they may wish they had selected differently the priorities they believed to be important. Their scorn and disregard for the present and future needs of Nevada agriculture will provide the leverage necessary to raise the capacity that others will be looked to in meeting obligations that UNR has determined no longer their responsibility.
When University of Nevada, Reno officials determined that agriculture was not a priority for their future it struck a nerve that our state’s farm and ranch families find rather disturbing. In spite of UNR wishing to continue to be considered the state’s Land Grant University, agriculture is being kicked to the curb, while a façade is established to give the impression that some level of attention is still being paid to the re-interpreted mission of what a Land Grant Mission might mean. Some components will be incorporated into non-agricultural areas to languish under the supervisory control of those who very possibly would like to see an anti-agricultural agenda pursued, using whatever credibility they might muster to advance their cause against agricultural use of renewable natural resources.
In spite of their evaluation of Nevada’s agriculture by disregard and abandonment of the University, Nevada farmers and ranchers do matter and so do their business enterprises, generating farm-gate sales annual of over one-half billion and when factoring in wealth-generating capacity producing over $2 billion of economic activity. This steady and reliable economic sector not only provides for the well-being of rural Nevada communities but also sustain community values and character.
Much of the state’s natural resource base is managed through effective uses made by Nevada farmers and ranchers. Productively employing natural assets that would not be maximized without their contributions in the form of investment, time, energy and know-how these hard-working citizens are not inclined to accept the lack of value attributed to them by elitists, ivory-tower dwellers who have a motivation mostly driven by how much more they can garner from taxpayer wallets.
Given the University’s choice in selecting the priorities they have determined to build their future on, the best option available for Nevada farm and ranch families is to make it very clear that their needs and interests do matter and that if UNR wants to turn its back on those needs, others will be selected to fill the void.
Nevada Agricultural Research facilities and assets (especially the Main Station Farm) need to be protected for the benefit of the state’s agricultural sector. Through the establishment of a trust fund, which should be established outside of the control of UNR officials or the Nevada Board of Regents, proceeds from the sale of assets or from the acquisition of revenue from conservation easements – future financial support for agricultural research/education can be maintained.
Although UNR officials believe that farm and ranch families are insignificant enough to be disregarded as part of their future, we refuse to accept their rejection as relevant. As we continue to pursue the alternatives that are required of us, they may wish they had selected differently the priorities they believed to be important. Their scorn and disregard for the present and future needs of Nevada agriculture will provide the leverage necessary to raise the capacity that others will be looked to in meeting obligations that UNR has determined no longer their responsibility.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 3/20/2010 9:26 AM 
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
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