Agriculture
Field Trials & Research:
In February 2019, Maninder K. Walia, joined the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources as an Assistant Professor assigned to the role of Field Crop Specialist for Extension. Walia will provide statewide leadership for outreach, teaching, and applied research to improve the sustainability of irrigated arid land crop production systems. Her office is located in the Extension office in Churchill County.
Walia has a master’s degree in crop science and a doctorate in soil science. Her past work has included using cover crops to improve crop production and soil health.
During the spring of 2019, Walia planted trial plots of assorted varieties of chickpeas, soybeans, pearl millet, and field beans at the Experiment Farm in Fallon.
Children, Youth & Family
Churchill County 4-H:
Churchill County 4-H enrolled 236 youth, between the ages of 5 and 19, as members during the 2018-2019 year.
With the help of 48 volunteers/leaders, we offered 36 different 4-H clubs in Churchill County.
4-H participated in the Ag Day at the Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair in August 2018, by providing various animals and educating 5th graders in Churchill County about their projects.
The Churchill County Junior Livestock Show held in April 2019 marked the 80th year for this event. There were 104 exhibitors showing their 4-H projects along with 86 members selling their livestock projects.
Outreach & Education
Horticulture, Health, & Nutrition
Grow Your Own Classes:
September 2018, the Churchill County office provided access to 13 participants for four Grow Your Own, Nevada classes. The topics were Saving Seeds, Amending Your Soil, Cover Crops, and Tips on Fruit & Berry Varieties.
The spring series in April 2019 consisted of seven classes, with a total of 17 participants through out the series. This series included Edible Gardening, Nevada Soils, Composting, Fruit Tree Pruning, Nuisance Weeds, Growing Grapes, and Nevada Bugs.
The classes are free to participants in Churchill County and include fact sheets and special publications for each topic.
Identification & Research & Publications:
Throughout the year our staff help residents identify:
- weeds and weed control methods,
- plants, trees, shrubs, grasses or other items growing in their yard,
- common plant distresses and diseases,
- bugs or four-legged pests and the damage they cause.
Water Tests and Results:
Extension partners with the Nevada State Public Health Lab to offer water test kits for the general public. The Churchill County office has test kits and instructions available for four types of tests; routine domestic, presences of Coliform/E.Coli, arsenic level and nitrate levels. In the fiscal year 2018-2019, 240 water test kits were handed out. In addition, factsheets about arsenic, manganese, iron and reverse osmosis systems are provided to help answer questions our residents have about their water test results.
Radon Tests:
Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. A natural product rising from the ground, it can accumulate to a level that raises the risk of lung cancer. In January and February of 2019, the Churchill County office handed out 44 test kits as part of the University of Nevada, Reno Extension Radon Program.
Pesticide Classes:
University of Nevada, Reno provides study materials and workshops on safe pesticide application. By attending a workshop, a licensed applicator will receive Continuing Education Units to be used for recertification of their Nevada license. The Churchill County office hosted three different workshops between November and March with a total of 28 participants.
Soil Sample Analysis:
Soil testing is a reliable tool to learn about key characteristics of your soil and its fertility levels. To help growers determine how to treat their soil, Extension staff in Churchill County provide instructions on how to take a soil sample for analysis. In addition, we have available a list of some private testing labs that can provide soil analysis services.
Wood Cutting Permits and Christmas Tree Permits:
We assist the Bureau of Land Management, by providing woodcutting permits and Christmas tree tags for the public. This collaboration saves residents from having to drive to Carson City to obtain these permits.
The Extension office in Churchill County sold permits for 114 cords of firewood from July 2018 to June 2019, as well as 318 Christmas tree tags during the 2018 season. Maps of cutting areas and the cutting restrictions are provided with each permit.
Fiscal year 2018 - 2019
FISCAL SUMMARY
Revenues:
- State Funds $47,663 (16%)
- Federal Funds $33,656 (11%)
- County Funds $147,448 (48%)
- Grants Funds $76,296 (25%)
- Total Revenue $305,062
- Total Expense $320,744
- Fund Balance $125,138
