PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Thanks for visiting the Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF) website. We are excited for your interest. NAF has accomplished some amazing things in the last 48 years. We have truly made a positive impact on Nevada agriculture. Over $2 million in scholarships and grants has been awarded to hundreds of Nevada students and researchers since NAF’s inception. Organizations such as NAF are rare and I’m proud to say I’m a part of this one. The support this organization gives strengthens my love for agriculture and I hope it does the same for each individual NAF touches. The Foundation looks forward to support from all of those who are committed to Nevada’s agriculture.

President,
Frank Bishop

AGRICULTURE IN NEVADA

Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy of the State of Nevada, ranking 3rd in total revenue generated. While still directed toward range livestock, with cattle and calves as the leading agriculture gross receipts enterprise, the face of agriculture has changed in recent years. This change has occurred as a result of concern for issues shared world-wide:

• Food Safety and Security – food borne pathogens.
• Continuous supply of quality foods in sufficient quantity, world-wide.
• Decreasing available farmland – erosion, pollution, and urban encroachment.
• Number of farms is declining and the average acreage was growing, until recent years.
• Average age of farmers is rising as youth from the rural areas are not staying on or returning to the farm.
• Diminishing financial resources for agriculture education in our land-grant universities.
• Costs of education continue to increase and education and communication now operate at high speed.
• Diminishing human and natural resources available to agriculture, world-wide, and competing uses are intensifying.
• Natural and Manmade Disasters increasing in frequency and intensity–fire, flood, etc.
• Global Climate Change is occurring now, although the causes are being debated.
• Agricultural enterprises are many and varied in Nevada. See table below, Facts – Nevada Agriculture.

The “locally grown, fresh food” production movement is increasing in Nevada as well as throughout the United States. Innovative Community Supported Agriculture marketing programs have evolved as many family’s primary food source, including “Farmers Markets”, “Roadside Stands”, and “Contract Production” as many family’s primary food source.

High Intensity production is developing in numerous Nevada locations, which may provide quantities of fresh fish, fruit, grains, vegetables, and other useful crops. For example, alternative field crops are being tested and grown for special markets such as Camelina, Mint, Soybeans, Teff, etc.

The Nevada Agricultural Foundation believes we must act now to assist Nevada agriculture in addressing the issues mentioned above and others, and to adapt to the changing industry. Our focus is and will be – building the human resources to provide the best educated, experienced, and informed people to guide our industry through the coming years. We plan to increase our financial support for college bound Nevada students; agricultural educators, agricultural research projects, and educator recognition for those teachers and volunteers who help make it happen. Our pledge is to serve our “Mission”.