Riggs, W., Owens, M. 2003, Economic Development 2002 White Pine County Agricultural Statistics, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-03-64

Currently the only economic sector of White Pine County that produces more than agriculture is the mining sector.  This fact sheet is designed to provide an overview of important statistics relating to White Pine County and its agricultural sector.  White Pine ranks tenth of seventeen Nevada counties in terms of population, currently estimated at 11,150.  The county encompasses 8,883 square miles or 5,699,696 acres of land, of which 94 percent is administered by the federal government (Table 1).  Several large parcels of land are designated part of Humboldt National Forest and Great Basin National Park which lies in the southeast.  The Goshute Indian Reservation straddles the Utah border near the northeast corner of the county.  Federal and Tribal administered lands, contribute significantly to the agricultural sector, as they provide seasonal grazing for resident livestock herds.  Privately owned land in farms comprises 4 percent of the land area in White Pine County.  The 1997 Census of Agriculture, the most recent census, reported that there were 115 farms and ranches within the county encompassing 247,446 acres for an average size of 2,152 acres. 
White Pine County is characteristic of the rugged high desert terrain of the Great Basin.  Several mountain ranges span from north to south across much of the County.  Fertile, tillable valleys lie between these mountain ranges. Key areas of agricultural production include Ely in the central region, Lund in the south central region, and Baker in the southeast region. 

Table 1. White Pine County Demographics, Area and Agricultural Data
Demographic Data
Population 11,150
Size 5,699 acres or 8,883 square miles
Number of Farms and Ranches 115
Land in Farms 247,446 acres 
Average Size 2,152 acres 
Cropland  34,181 acres 
Irrigated Farm Land  29,487 acres 

Figure 1 and Table 2 provide an overview of White Pine County’s agricultural sector for the 2002 production period. 

Cattle and calves are consistently the county’s largest contributor to agricultural sales, estimated at $6,939,264 or 49 percent of the total agricultural sales in 2002.  Current statistics show the January 1, 2002 cattle and calf inventory for White Pine County at 24,000 head. 

Alfalfa hay, Nevada’s leading crop, is White Pine’s second highest value agricultural commodity.  Alfalfa hay is produced on 17,000 acres in the County with an average per acre yield of 3.2 tons.  The 54,400 tons annually produced are marketed as high quality dairy, export grade hay or livestock feed.  During 2002, alfalfa hay accounted for $5,603,200 or 39 percent of the County’s total agricultural sales. 

Ranking third in commodity sales is other hay with a value of $1,332,000 or 9 percent of total sales.  This category of hay includes native hay, grain hay, improved grasses, and timothy.  Production covers approximately 4,000 acres with an average yield of 3.0 tons per acre.  

The last major agricultural enterprise reported is the sheep and lamb industry.  This enterprise makes up $390,240 or 3% of total agricultural sales. Current data report the January 1 inventory at 12,000 head.

Pie chart to show ratios of which agricultural commodities and the percentage they made up of total sales, with Cattle and Calves making up half the graph, and Alfalfa Hay having close to a third of the graph. The rest of the graph is Other Hay at 9% and Sheep and Lambs at 3% of the pie chart.
Figure 1. Agricultural Commodity Sales White Pine County, 2002

 

Table 2. Sales by Commodity (2002)
Commodity Sales
Alfalfa Hay  $5,603,200 
Other Hay  $1,332,000 
Total Hay  $6,935,200 
Cattle and Calves  $6,939,264 
Sheep and Labs  $390,240 
Total Livestock  $7,329,504 
All Hay and Livestock  $14,264,704 

Information to compile this fact sheet was attained from the 2002-2003 Nevada Agricultural Statistics Service’s Annual Report and the 1997 Census of Agriculture.  Data is collected in the spring and published in the fall following the production period thus the one year lag timeframe.  These agencies appreciate the support of White Pine County producers that provide survey information. 

Authors of this scholarly work are no longer available.

Please contact Extension's Communication Team for assistance.

 

Also of Interest:

 
Great Basin
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to Nevada Counties in 2021: White Pine County
This fact sheet outlines the procedures for calculating the level of federal payment from the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program.
T.R. Harris, R. Chicola 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-13
Man fishing from a boat at Ely State Park
Community Assets for White Pine County, Nevada
The project focuses on providing Nevada’s counties, state and federal agencies, and their partners with quantitative and qualitative baseline data and analyses to better understand the counties’ demographic, social, economic, fiscal, and environmental characteristics, trends, and...
M. Rebori, J. Lednicky, B. Borden 2022, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-02
Hotel Nevada Street
Results From the Community Asset Survey: White Pine County
The project focuses on providing Nevada’s counties, state and federal agencies, and their partners with quantitative and qualitative baseline data and analyses to better understand the counties’ demographic, social, economic, fiscal, and environmental characteristics, trends, and...
M. Rebori, J. Lednicky 2022, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Special Report
Fall Colors in the Great Basin
White Pine Community Assets Presentation
Community Assets are anything that improves a community. Assets are what we want to keep in our community, the things we want to build upon. Assets are what we want to sustain for future generations.
M. Rebori 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Meat Science Lexicon
The American Meat Science Association became aware of the need to develop a lexicon for the standardization of various terms used in meat sciences that have been adopted by researchers in allied fields, culinary arts, journalists, health professionals, nutritionists, regulatory a...
Seman, D.L., Boler, D.D., Carr, C.D., Dikeman, M.E., Owens, C.M., Keeton, J.T., Pringle, T.D., Sindelar, J.J., Woerner, D.R., de Mello, A.S., Powell, T. M. 2018, Meat and Muscle Biology 2(3)