NEVADASmall Farm ConferenceWe’re growing things here!

February 2-3, 2018 Nugget Casino Resort 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, Nevada

NevadaFarmConference.com

Western Nevada College

SPECIALTY CROP INSTITUTE

Thank you, 2018 Conference Sponsors!PLATINUM SPONSORS

FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL MIXER SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORSAmerican AgCredit

Nevada Department of AgricultureNevadaGrown

Rail City Garden CenterRedfin

Silver State StainlessStanislaus Farm Supply

ToroUniversity of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Whole Foods Market

SUPPORTING SPONSORSAndelin Family Farm

Bently RanchLazy P Farm

Nevada Rancher MagazineRincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc.

SIERRA 2Building a BrandSpeaker: Jaclyn Coleman,Muse GroupThis session is meant to help small business owners grow your reach through social media and online marketing. You will learn the ins and outs of how to market your business on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And you’ll pick up tips and tricks of the trade on how to turn leads into customers. Finally, you will leave feeling comfortable in the ever-changing social media world.

SIERRA 3Farm to FlaskSpeakers: Ron Godin, Colorado State University; Matt Drew and Woody Worthington, Bently Heritage; Tom Adams, Seven Troughs DistillingThe number of craft breweries and distilleries in Nevada is on the rise, providing new opportunities for local farms. Join us to explore the challenges and opportunities of this industry. Hops expert Ron Godin shares a decade of experience working with hops growers in Colorado. The Bently Ranch team updates us on their new hops production enterprise including harvesting and malting. Tom Adams of Seven Troughs discusses the ups and downs of sourcing from local farms. The workshop will culminate with a sampling of local spirits and brews.

SIERRA 1Hoophouse ProductionSpeaker: Andrew Mefferd, One Drop Farm and Growing for Market magazineThis workshop explores best practices in hoop house production, including the eight most profitable crops to grow. Farmer, researcher and author Andrew Mefferd discusses basic and advanced practices and techniques including trellising and when it pays.

N O O N - 1 : 3 0 P M

I D E A S T H AT I N C R E A S E P R O F I T S O N S M A L L - S C A L E FA R M S

Keynote Speakers, Robert Morris, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Gigi Morris

Small-scale farms disappeared from our rural landscapes because of the industrialization of food. Since the advent of the organic movement and local production, small-scale farms have become revitalized and emerged because of a major paradigm shift in how we think about food and how we think about profitability. Join us as we discuss some of the trends and shifts in production that have occurred and how we think about food and profitability. You will leave this presentation thinking about farming in a totally different way and realizing that successful farming is limited only by your imagination.

I N T E N S I V E W O R K S H O P S 9 A M - N O O N

2018 CONFERENCE SCHEDULEFriday, February 2

7 : 3 0 A M - 5 : 0 0 P M R E G I S T R AT I O N / C H E C K - I N8 : 0 0 A M - 5 : 0 0 P M E X H I B I T O R B O O T H S O P E N

C O N F E R E N C E S E S S I O N S 1 : 3 0 t o 3 : 0 0 P M

C O N F E R E N C E S E S S I O N S 3 : 3 0 - 5 : 0 0 P M

SIERRA 2Updates in Nevada ResearchSpeakers: Patricia Ferreira dos Santos, Mitiku Mengistu, and Melinda Yerka, University of Nevada, RenoResearchers from the University of Nevada, Reno will discuss the ongoing and planned research taking place throughout the state. The topics include plant breeding, teff trials, potato storage issues and carrot enzymes. Meet the researchers behind these projects, and learn how the agriculture industry can collaborate on these and future projects.

SIERRA 3Poultry HarvestSpeakers: Jake Dick and Anna Vickrey, Nevada Department of Agriculture; Randy RobisonEver wondered if harvesting meat birds and collecting eggs was for you? Join in the discussion with representatives from the Department of Agriculture about how to safely harvest from your property and ensure that you are compliant with local regulations. Farmer Randy Robison will discuss how to make a profit on poultry through niche marketing in the community.

SIERRA 1Sell Before You SowSpeakers: Ray Johnson, Custom Gardens Organic Farm; Rodney Mehring, Blue Lizard FarmLearn from experienced farmers how to plan and find markets for your products. This session will give you some tips and tricks of the trade, all while making sure you can see how others have built strong sales markets, and you can do the same for your farm.

SIERRA 2Pasture RotationsSpeaker: Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, RenoResident forage expert Dr. Juan Solomon returns to cover the basics of pasture rotations. Join in to learn why you should move your animals (small and large) across your property and how to best manage your resources. Pasture rotations are critical to a sustainable and diversified farm or ranch.

SIERRA 3MicrogreensSpeakers: Andrew Mefferd, One Drop Farm and Growing for Market magazine; Ashley Jeppson, Nevada Department of AgricultureMicrogreens are sometimes called the “gateway drug” to farming since they need little space and are relatively easy to grow. Learn best practices for growing microgreens, including food safety and establishing a sales market, and the difference between sprouts and microgreens.

SIERRA 1Using Weather Data toDetermine Pest EmergenceSpeaker: Jeff Knight, Nevada Department of AgricultureState Entomologist Jeff Knight will walk you through a bug’s life and show you how to use weather data combined with simple math to improve integrated pest management on your farm.

Friday, February 2

Saturday, February 3

9 : 0 0 - 1 0 : 3 0 A M

SIERRA 1Acidified FoodsSpeaker: Holly Gatzke, University of Nevada Cooperative ExtensionLearn what is required to start a pickle, salsa, chutney or relish home-based business in Nevada. Holly Gatzke will walk you through the legal constraints and some of the basics of cooking at home.

SIERRA 2Nursery StartsSpeakers: Andrew Mefferd, One Drop Farm and Growing for Market magazine; Jennifer Ott, University of Nevada, RenoWhether you are growing for your farm or for other farmers, learn basic and best practices for growing nursery starts. This session will also help you learn about what can go wrong.

SIERRA 3CompostingSpeakers: Ron Godin, Colorado State University; Rodney Mehring, Blue Lizard Farm Compost can be an important component to healthy soils or a food safety nightmare. Join this session to hear from a southern Nevada farmer on his methods for on-farm composting and from a soil scientist on how compost, made properly, can boost yields from your soil.

7 : 3 0 A M - 9 : 0 0 A M R E G I S T R AT I O N / C H E C K - I NL U N C H 1 2 : 3 0 P M - 2 : 0 0 P M

F R I D AY N I G H T M I X E R , 6 : 0 0 - 8 : 3 0 P M - N o t h i n g To I t C u l i n a r y C e n t e r

Mix and mingle at Nothing To It Culinary Center, 225 Crummer Lane, and enjoy local food bites, local spirits and great company!

Proceeds from the mixer are used to underwrite conference costs.A big thank you to our Friday Night Mixer sponsor!

2 : 0 0 - 3 : 3 0 P M

SIERRA 1Wool and Fiber ProductionSpeakers: Lani Estill, Estill Ranches, LLC; Rebecca Burgess, Northern California Fibershed; Jeff Creque, Marin Carbon ProjectLearn about wool and fiber production and how fibershed communities are working to rebuild regional and regenerative fiber systems on behalf of independent producers.

SIERRA 2Berry Production Options for Diversified FarmersSpeakers: Bernadine Strik, Oregon State UniversityBernadine Strik, Berry Crops Specialist, Oregon State University, will explore various options for producers to diversify farms through berry production. She will discuss what berry varieties perform well and how to manage crops in cold climates and in varying soils.

SIERRA 3Digging into the Benefits of Soil Health and Cover CropsSpeakers: Chris Bernau and Jim Komar, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceJoin Jim in an informative, interactive tour through the living soil universe, discussing how to enhance our living soil habitat. One way to maintain and enhance soil health is by planting cover crops. Chris will discuss the benefits of cover crops and present his latest findings from a cover crop ad-aptation study that took place last summer in Smith Valley.

1 1 : 0 0 A M - 1 2 : 3 0 P M

SIERRA 1Overview of FSMA, PSR: Soil AmendmentsSpeaker: Ashley Jeppson, NevadaDepartment of AgricultureNew federal requirements involving large produce growers/packers were released in January 2016 through the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Produce Safety Rule (PSR). An overview will be provided on what the FSMA, PSR will cover, how the state will be providing education and compliance services, and new updates involving soil amendments of animal origin. The information provided will help both large and small growers identify best practices for minimizing microbial risks on the farm and the benefits of employing on-farm food safety practices.

SIERRA 2Fruit TreesSpeakers: Bob Morris, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (emeritus); Michael Janik, Michaels ApplesMichael Janik, Nevada fruit tree expert, will share his knowledge on the feasibility of Northern Nevada fruit tree production from pricing to varying yields, to its potential as a side business. Bob Morris will share his expertise on fruit tree production in warmer climates such as Southern Nevada.

SIERRA 3OrganicsSpeakers: Basin and Range Organics Certification Representatives; Catharine Anderson, USDA Risk Management AgencyJoin representatives from local certifier, Basin and Range Organics, for an in-depth look at organic certification for crops, livestock, and processing/handling. Obtain valuable information on the National Organic Program (NOP) about what distinguishes organic from conventional products, and how to successfully transition to becomecertified organic.

2018 NEVADA SMALL FARM CONFERENCE SPEAKERSTom Adams, Seven Troughs Distilling, Reno, NVBorn and raised in Reno, Tom attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he received bachelors and masters degrees in geological engineering. He worked in construction and mining for almost 20 years. In 2009, he wrote the first draft of what would become Nevada’s Craft Distillery Law, and in 2012 he founded Seven Troughs Distilling. Tom is still an active consultant to the construction and mining industries and stays active with the Nevada legislature. He is co-founder of the Nevada Craft Distillers Association.

Catharine Anderson, United States Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency, Davis, CACatharine has worked as a Risk Management Specialist for the USDA-RMA since 2005, after graduating from the University of California-Davis with a bachelors degree in Biotechnology and a masters degree in Geography/GIS. The regional programs that she maintains are Whole Farms Revenue, Mint, Forage Production, Small Grains, and Pecans and Forage Seeding. Besides working for RMA, Catharine is a professional seamstress. For the past 25 years, she has taught children and adults how to sew at her sewing school in Suisun City, California.

Chris Bernau, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fallon, NVChristopher Bernau is the Great Basin Plant Materials Center (PMC) Manager for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. He joined the NRCS in January 2016 as the Rangeland Management Specialist. Prior to joining the NRCS, Chris was a Research Specialist for Extension at the University of Arizona. As an Extension agent, he was primarily involved in monitoring vegetation response after an assortment of treatments such as mechanically removing trees, seedings, grazing strategies, and herbicide applications.

2018 CONFERENCE EXHIBITORSBe sure to visit our conference exhibitors, and enter the Exhibitor Raffles for a chance to win

fabulous prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the conference on Saturday. You must be present to win.

 A+ Services American AgCredit

ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service  Basin & Range Organics

 Fibershed Full Circle Soils & Compost  Gibson & Associates

Green Earth Agriculture USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Nevada Agricultural Foundation  Nevada Department of Agriculture Nevada FFA

NevadaGrown    Rail City Garden Center Stanislaus Farm Supply

Toro University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

 University of Nevada, Reno - College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR)

 USDA Rural Development   WNC Specialty Crop Institute

Rebecca Burgess, Northern California Fibershed, Bay Area, CaliforniaRebecca Burgess, M. Ed., is the Executive Director of Fibershed. A trained weaver, natural dye practitioner, and small-scale agrarian, she is a practitioner and life-long learner in the art and science of “growing our clothes” in a manner that enhances soil health. She practices and shares what she learns, and has taught at Westminster College, Harvard University, and has created workshops for a range of NGOs and corporations. She has built an extensive network of farmers and artisans within our region’s Northern California fibershed to pilot the fiber systems model at the community scale.

Jaclyn Coleman, Muse Group, Reno, NVJaclyn Coleman, public relations director at Muse Group, works with a variety of clients to help grow their business through public relations, online marketing, design and social media. The social media aspect involves managing her clients’ pages and providing consultations for their small business. She has a degree in journalism emphasizing in public relations from the University of Nevada, Reno. Jaclyn has been practicing public relations/marketing and social media for nine years.

Jerri Conrad, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Sparks, NVJerri Conrad has been with the Department of Agriculture since 2014 and has more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sector as a facilitator, communications professional and personnel manager. She received a bachelor of arts from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Reynolds School of Journalism and a masters of business administration from the University of Phoenix. In her role as Deputy Director, Conrad oversees agency operations and personnel.

Jeffrey Creque, Marin Carbon Project, Bay Area, CaliforniaJeffrey Creque is a co-founder of the Marin Carbon Project and Director of Rangeland and Agroecosystem Management at the Carbon Cycle Institute, where he is engaged in training ranchers, farmers, resource conservation districts and others in strategies for increasing carbon capture and sequestration on working lands within a whole-farm planning and implementation framework known as Carbon Farm Planning. Jeff has over 35 years of experience in bio-intensive agriculture, rangeland management and watershed restoration. He holds a Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecology and is a California State Board of Forestry Certified Rangeland Manager and USDA-NRCS Certified Conservation Planner.

Jake Dick, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Sparks, NVJake Dick is employed with the Nevada Department of Agriculture working with the NDA’s produce safety program coordinator to help prepare Nevada producers for upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements. He also works with the drought initiative project and issues producer and vendor certificates for produce, eggs and honey. He previously worked in the NDA’s noxious weed program working with landowners to identify and control noxious weeds. His background is in conservation working with the Nevada and Utah conservation corps and vegetation monitoring in northeastern Nevada.

Lani Estill, Lani’s Lana ~ Fine Rambouillet Wool, Cedarville, CALani and her family own and operate a vertically integrated diversified livestock operation producing cattle, sheep, alfalfa and grass hay. The ranch is in Northeastern California and Northwest Nevada. They practice regenerative agriculture and with the help of partners like Fibershed and Carbon Cycle Institute are now operating under a Carbon Farm Plan. Lani is also the founder of Lani’s Lana ~ Fine Rambouillet Wool, a commercial wool business and small yarn line. Lani graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelors of science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1987.

Holly Gatzke, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Caliente, NVHolly is Cooperative Extension educator for Lincoln County. Her areas of interest are developing programs for diversifying agriculture production in Lincoln County, servicing premium niche markets in Las Vegas, and working on economic and community development in Lincoln County. Holly has helped educate farmers on hoop house production and season extension practices. She is actively involved in expanding value-added processing for Nevada’s producers.

Ron Godin, Colorado State University, Hotchkiss, ColoradoRon is an Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Research Scientist at Western Colorado Research Center. He has research experience with organic tree fruit and vegetable crops, and has extensive experience in salinity management. He has 10 years’ experience in hops production research in conjunction with Colorado growers and has been instrumental in developing a commercial hops industry for Colorado producers. Other projects include native plant seed production and cover cropping.

Michael Janik, Michaels Apples, Reno, NVMichael has been growing and experimenting with orchard fruits and berries for more than a decade. He’s grown more than 100 apple varieties, as well as currants, grapes, berries and more. Michael is a certified arborist and is accomplished at grafting.

Ashley Jeppson, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Sparks, NVAshley Jeppson received a bachelors degree in Rangeland Management and Animal Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. She started with the NDA in 2010 as an Agriculture Inspector and is currently working as an Agriculturist that coordinates the following programs: Nevada Produce Safety Education and Regulatory Program, Good Agricultural Practices, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Farm to School Food Safety, and the Federal to State Marketing Improvement Program.

Ray Johnson, Custom Gardens, Silver Springs, NVRay established Custom Gardens, an organic produce farm, in Silver Springs in 1988. He worked with other growers to develop the National Organic Guidelines as a Nevada law that led to the establishment of the Organic Certification Program for Nevada. Custom Gardens was the first certified organic farm under the Organic Certification Program in 1998. Today, his farm produces a wide variety of organically grown vegetables and fruits, sold through CSA programs and to retailers and restaurants.

Jeff Knight, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Sparks, NVJeff received a bachelors degree from the University of Nevada in Pest Management followed by a masters degree in Entomology from Utah State University. He has worked at NDA since 1985 and is currently the State Entomologist. Through the NDA, Jeff identifies insects and provides recommendations for general insect and other pest issues. He conducts and coordinates surveys for pests of quarantine significance and native insects of Nevada. Jeff also coordinates the release of bio-control agents for weed and insect pests.

Jim Komar, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Reno, NVJim Komar has dedicated nearly 30 years to providing soils, wetlands and watershed assistance toprivate landholders and those who assist them in making our beautiful western lands more productive.Jim’s current position as State Soil Scientist for the USDA’s NRCS in Nevada allows him to practice his passion for soil-building and healthy soils. Jim has spoken on soil quality and soil health nationally and is a contributor to a NRCS national technical team, building a nation-wide strategy for cataloging soil properties that connect soil function to soil health.

Andrew Mefferd, One Drop Farm, Cornville, MEAndrew Mefferd farms at One Drop Farm in Cornville, Maine, with his wife, Ann, where they sell produce and transplants at farmers market, to a multiple farm CSA, and to local restaurants and food stores. Andrew is also the editor and publisher of Growing for Market, having taken over that business from Lynn Byczynski in 2016 – the magazine’s 25th year in publication.

Rodney Mehring, Blue Lizard Farm, Caliente, NVRodney Mehring, owner/operator of Blue Lizard Farm in Southern Nevada, has 25 years of beekeeping and small business experience. He has been farming greens and other vegetables using season extension and intensive rotation since 2010. He currently sells his produce through a distributor to high-end Las Vegas restaurants.

Mitiku Mengistu, University of Nevada, RenoMitiku Asfaw Mengistu obtained his bachelors of science in Plant Sciences and his masters in Applied Genetics from Alemaya and Addis Ababa Universities, respectively, in Ethiopia. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. His current project focuses on improving teff by using cutting-edge biotechnological approaches.

Robert Morris, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Las Vegas, NVRobert Morris is a Horticulturist and Associate Professor Emeritus from the University of Nevada who has been working with food and water issues in the arid West and around the world for the past 32 years. Robert spearheaded the University Orchard in North Las Vegas growing a wide range of fruits, vegetables and herbs and pioneered the marketing of locally grown food by small-scale producers in the Las Vegas Valley. He is co-author of two publications published by the University of California and CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology), authored over 35 research articles, over 1,000 trade journal articles, a regular columnist with the Las Vegas Review Journal and View newspapers, Consulting Editor for HortScience, a flagship publication for the American Society for Horticultural Science and a member of the International Society for Horticultural Science.

Jennifer Ott, Desert Farming Initiative, University of Nevada, RenoJennifer received a bachelors degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and her masters in Business from the University of Nevada, Reno. After working in the California wine industry for 10 years, she participated in the planning for the University’s Desert Farming Initiative and now manages the program.

Randy Robison, Reno, NVRandy Robison was the champion gardener many times at the Nevada State Fair and is a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener vegetable expert. Along with growing vegetables, he also raises chickens, turkeys and pheasants. He has been raising and selling poultry to Reno’s Muslim community for more than 30 years.

Juan Solomon, University of Nevada, RenoJuan received his masters and Ph.D. in Agronomy from Mississippi State University, focusing on forage crops utilization and management. He also has a minor in Animal Nutrition. His research focuses on understanding and unraveling the intricacies associated with grassland ecology, management, and utilization; developing and promoting sustainable pastoral-based feeding systems for ruminant livestock production with emphasis on grazing management, systems, and forage quality evaluations; and screening forage crops for key adaptive traits, namely drought tolerance and water use efficiency for both improved and native forages in semiarid conditions.

Patricia Ferreira dos Santos, University of Nevada, RenoPatricia Santos was born in Portugal. She received a B.S./M.S. degree in Applied Plant Biology from the University of Lisbon and a Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions from Madeira University. She did a postdoc in Sweden on Plant symbiosis and in Michigan State University, on Molecular Plant Defenses. She is currently interested in carrot diseases and antimicrobial compounds.

Bernadine Strik, Oregon State University, Salem, ORDr. Bernadine Strik is a professor of horticulture and an Extension Berry Crops Specialist at OSU and the Berry Crops Research Leader at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center, a branch experiment station of OSU. She has over 30 years of experience in research, teaching, and grower education at OSU and has a berry crops consulting business where she works with growers and companies internationally. Her research areas of focus include whole plant physiology, improving yield and quality, machine harvest efficiency, pruning, optimization of production systems, plant nutrition, and organic production systems in all berry crops.

Anna Vickrey, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Sparks, NVAnna is the Operations Manager of Food Safety for the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Anna received a BS degree in Environmental Resources with a focus in Rangeland Management from Arizona State University. She started working as a retail food inspector for Maricopa County in Arizona and then transferred to the Safe Drinking Water Program. Anna accepted a position with the Nevada Department of Health in 1997 as an Environmental Health Specialist. She has since managed the Interstate Milk Shippers program and currently manages the Food Safety section for the department.

Woody Worthington, Bently Ranch, Gardnerville, NVWoody served 15 years in the Marines, but he’s been involved in ranching the majority of his life. As operations manager for Bently Ranch, he oversees 5,000 acres dedicated to alfalfa, a cow-calf operation, a grass-fed beef operation, composting facility and a recently started distilling business for which the ranch is growing the grains that will go into the alcohols. Elected as Douglas County Farm Bureau President, Woody now applies his ranching knowledge to educating the local community about ranching and agriculture. Melinda Yerka, University of Nevada, RenoMelinda is a plant breeder and geneticist, working primarily with sorghum. Her interests focus on the early stages of plant breeding. She has a research background in both weed science and plant breeding. She is especially interested in characterizing reproductive barriers that can be used to prevent unintended gene flow from crops to weeds, and developing new crop varieties with specialty traits to increase farm sustainability and profitability. Melinda has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Thank you to the Planning Committee of the 2018 Nevada Small Farm Conference!

And a special thank you to Nevada Department of Agriculture and Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute for providing staff

support to make this conference possible.

Tammy Dial, USDA Farm Service Agency

Heather Emmons, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Carolyn Estrada, USDA Farm Service Agency

Holly Gatzke, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Rob & Loni Holley, Holley Family Farms

Ashley Jeppson, Nevada Department of Agriculture

Rick Lattin, Lattin Family Farms

Ann Louhela, Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute

Diego Lozada, Nevada Department of Agriculture

Jennifer Ott, Nevada Farming Initiative, University of Nevada, Reno

Mark Williams, USDA Rural Development

Western Nevada College

SPECIALTY CROP INSTITUTE