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Drought, heat challenging the West’s forage producers

Experts try to help alfalfa and forage growers grapple with a number of issues

Claudene Wharton

Alfalfa grows in a lower-valley field in late May in Pershing County, Nevada. Photo by Steve Foster.

As wildfire smoke continues to fill the skies and drought grips the West, farmers are trying to cope with dwindling water supplies and do what they can to sustain profitable operations, this year and into the future. It’s a chess game, with Mother Nature proving a formidable opponent. Crop experts and researchers from our College are trying to give producers a fighting chance. 

Nevada researchers studying herbicides in hopes of reducing wildfire fuels

Aim is to reduce cheatgrass while promoting growth of sagebrush and other beneficial native plants

Hannah Alfaro

Paul Meiman and Brad Schultz are researching the effects of two herbicides for cheatgrass to determine their effects on other plant communities, in hopes of providing land managers with effective strategies for reducing wildfire fuels. Photo by Paul Meiman.

With wildfires raging in the West, two researchers in our College are doing further studies on two herbicides known to reduce cheatgrass, a fine fuel that ignites readily. The researchers are monitoring the effects of the herbicides on plant species that often grow with cheatgrass, to give the benefits and risks associated with its usage. Paul Meiman, associate professor and Extension specialist, is working with Brad Schultz, professor and Extension educator for Humboldt County, to test the use of the herbicides.

Extension educators focus on providing programs and resources to rural Nevada

Misha Allen and Lois Erquiaga are speaking with community members about county needs

Hannah Alfaro

New Extension educators Misha Allen and Lois Erquiaga are getting out into their communities to meet needs hands on.

Two new Extension educators are working with their communities to build strong programs, including additional 4-H Youth Development programming, and provide needed resources.

Extension Educator for Northern Nye County Misha Allen will rely on her past experience in serving rural areas to get the job done. Extension Educator for Lander County Lois Erquiaga is leveraging her past experience as a mental health counselor and social services worker to find the local resources to build requested programs.

Photo gallery | Kickoff to Kindergarten fair prepares young children for school readiness

Extension hosted the family event with community partners Aug. 21

Molly Malloy

Extension gave children and their parents a jumpstart on preparing for kindergarten this fall with its Kickoff to Kindergarten fair.

Extension partnered with Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to host the sixth annual Kickoff to Kindergarten fair in late August. The event featured hands-on and take-home activities and resources to provide children ages 3-5 and their parents with the knowledge and skills to help get the children ready for kindergarten.

 "We had a really good turnout," Program Officer Heidi Petermeier, said. "An amazing compliment was Senator Denis came early and chatted with vendors during set-up and then returned later with his family with a preschooler to participate in the event."