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Seeds of Hope | An Edible Reno-Tahoe story

Featuring tribal-College partnerships to advance food security and sovereignty

Barbara Twitchell, Edible Reno-Tahoe

A hoop house and garden in Sutcliffe near Pyramid Lake. Photo by Asa Gilmore, Edible Reno-Tahoe.

Food insecurity is a serious and complex problem that’s rooted in our country’s history of forced colonization and exacerbated by the pandemic. Local tribes and community partners are making efforts to not only address the immediate problem of food insecurity, but also to devise long-term pathways toward tribal food sovereignty.

Four of five pinyon-juniper tree species declining in their ranges in the West

University study shows warmer, drier conditions taking toll on pinyon-juniper woodlands

Claudene Wharton

University doctoral student Elise Pletcher measures a single-leaf pinyon sapling as part of ongoing research to track the trends on pinyon-juniper woodlands. Photo by Robert Shriver.

Pinyon-juniper woodlands host unique wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as areas for hiking and outdoor recreation. They are also part of a web of healthy ecosystems that, together, help to balance water availability, storage and runoff; and prevent erosion. A new study by Assistant Professor in the College Robert Shriver sheds new light on what is happening in pinyon-juniper woodlands across the West. And, the news isn’t necessarily good.

“We found that four of the five species were declining,” Shriver said. “And, in the driest, warmest locations, up to about 50% of populations are declining.”

This could be significant, as:

• Pinyon-juniper woodlands provide recreational value
• Pinyons and pine nut harvesting are culturally important
• Pinion jay, mule deer and other wildlife could be affected
• Pinyon-juniper woodlands affect water and soil retention
• It could create an opportunity for native shrubs or for less beneficial vegetation, such as cheatgrass

Shriver said, “We are likely to see pretty big changes in where we find forests in the Great Basin and the Southwest over the next few decades.”

His research can help anticipate the vulnerability of woodlands and forecast coming range shifts, so that we might be able to sway the outcomes to be more positive ones.

Nevada hunters generate millions in economic impact for rural communities

New study reveals spending on big game and upland game hunting

Kristen Hackbarth

Mule deer are one of the big game animals that attract hunters to Nevada’s rural communities, generating millions of dollars in economic impact, according to a report by researchers at the University. Photo by Nevada Department of Wildlife.

A new study by researchers at the University documents that hunting generates millions of dollars in economic impact in Nevada, especially in rural communities where wildlife is plentiful, including Elko, White Pine and Lincoln counties.

The study, led by researchers in the University’s Department of Economics, Extension and Experiment Station, found that hunters spent about $380 million in 2020 on hunting in Nevada. Spending in 2020 was almost identical to spending in 2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers worked with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and produced two companion reports in partnership with Extension’s Nevada Economic Assessment Project (NEAP). NEAP aims to provide county, state and federal agencies and their partners with data and analyses to better understand trends in each county.

There wasn’t much information on the economic impacts of hunting in the state before this research, and there is a need for additional surveys.

“In comparison to this report, most national survey data severely underestimate hunter spending in Nevada,” Bobby Jones, outdoor connection coordinator for NDOW, said. “Knowing this, are fishing or wildlife viewing bigger economic drivers than we realize? We can’t know for sure without moving forward with a similar effort.”

University launches new agricultural communication minor

Students will learn how to communicate effectively about important agriculture-related issues

Claudene Wharton

University President Brian Sandoval meets Desert Farming Initiative student intern Noelle Tegano at the University’s Experiment Station Valley Road Field Lab. Looking on, left to right: Americorps service member Alison Bunyan, student intern Everett Cook and Desert Farming Initiative Director Jill Moe. Photo by Robert Moore.

With issues such as those concerning land use, food production and natural resource management becoming increasingly important to understand in today’s world, the College has launched a new minor in agricultural communication to help students effectively understand and communicate about issues related to agriculture, biotechnology, natural resources and environmental science. The program provides a minor degree for students interested in careers in the diverse agricultural and environmental science communication industry, including as journalists, multi-media producers, advocates or public relations professionals.

The minor is designed to help students tackle conveying accurate information and emerging research. The courses cover reporting and public relations fundamentals, as well as how students can leverage technology to become more effective communicators.

Working with communication professionals and scholars, four new courses were developed for the 18-credit program. Students can choose from more than 20 courses offered by the College, the School of Journalism and Department of Communication Studies to complete the minor, depending on their career goals.

Making desert ambrosia

An Atypical Crush

Benjamin Peters

Red wine grapes grow at the Research Center & Demonstration Orchard in North Las Vegas. Photo by Louise Ruskamp.

Wine grapes can grow in Nevada – trust me – I saw them.

I'm an intern at the College’s Desert Farming Initiative, and I've been working with Riesling grapes. My first wine crush started when Initiative Director Jill Moe asked if I wanted to drive to Extension’s vineyards in Las Vegas for some grapes to make a couple of wines for the University with Nevada Sunset Winery.

It was an atypical experience. Highlights include:

• 5 tons of grapes on dry ice
• 14 hours and 900 miles in a U-Haul
• 5 weeks, stripping down the berries, unlocking their hidden flavors
  • With a crusher the size and shape of a Shetland pony, metal and able to crush and destem you.
  • With a presser, which I accidentally turned into a hydraulic bomb against which we stood no chance.

Then, concentrating and manipulating the berries into a drink any Nevadan of age would be proud to stain their lips with: desert ambrosia, made from 100% Nevada grapes. I learned a lot, crafting an elegant expression of Nevada's unique terroir and agriculture.