Vol2014_Issue02

College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources
CABNRN e w s l e t t e r n F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 4
SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE FOR LIFE
INSIDE
- College hires new faculty
- UNR hosts World Water Forum
- Hop trials underway
- CABNR alumnus Bill Helming

CABNR: SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE FOR LIFE.
page2
CABNR NEWSLETTER n VOLUME 2014, ISSUE 2
By Bill Payne
Dr. William "Bill" Payne
Message from the Dean
With the Holiday Season upon
us, it is time to reflect upon this
past year and all of the things we have
to celebrate and those things for which
we are thankful. For more than 100
years, CABNR has been on the cutting
edge of teaching, research and outreach
education in Nevada.
We are grateful for this legacy and,
despite some recent challenging times,
celebrate the prospect of moving
the college forward in its mission to
foster healthy food systems through
innovation and sustainable agricultural
production. Sustainable agricultural
production implies sound economics,
respect for the environment, and
conservation of natural resources, and
it absolutely depends upon continuous
new innovations in science and
technology.
We can also be grateful for continued
growth in the college. In the past year
we have added eleven faculty positions,
including four in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, three in Natural
Resources and Environmental Science,
and four in Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Veterinary Sciences. In addition, we are
currently recruiting four more faculty
positions.
We are excited to welcome these new
faculty to campus, where they will join
the many existing excellent faculty
within CABNR, who continue to excel
in their fields and receive state, national
and international recognition.
We can also be thankful for growth in
the quality and numbers of students.
With more than 1260 students, CABNR
undergraduate enrollment is now
the highest it has ever been. Several
program majors are witnessing growth.
Just one example is that the number
of students majoring in Agricultural
Science and Rangeland Ecology
has nearly doubled in the past year.
Although 1260 represents just 6%
of total UNR enrollment, the quality
of our students is much higher than
average. CABNR is home to 25% of
Nevada’s National Merit Scholars. And
our biochemistry program, one of
UNR’s most challenging majors, is now
the third largest major on campus.
I personally am thankful for the
upwelling of support for CABNR that
has been shown recently. Many have
stepped up to help us in our mission
with donations of time, expertise, and
gifts. These include those in the private
sector, who have offered facilities for
research and internship training; those
in state and federal government, who
have offered subject matter expertise
and facilitated grants; and those in a
position to donate, who have graciously
offered scholarships, endowments, and
funds to improve facilities.
One example of this is a generous
gift from Bently Ranch, with which
we can expand Wolf Pack Meats’
capacity to process livestock as well
as implementing a Grandin Livestock
Handling System design. Their
generosity will also allow us to rebuild a
program in meat science, and has been
leveraged to recruit a new joint position
in food safety between CABNR and
Cooperative Extension.
Other examples include a new
scholarship, the Bill Helming
Agribusiness & Entrepreneurial
Scholarship, and increased support of
the Randall Scholarship for students in
environmental sciences.
I have traveled these past few months
around the state meeting alumni,
friends and stakeholders. I have
listened to a great deal of constructive
criticisms, concerns, and advice, but
also heard a great deal of appreciation,
hope, and encouragement for the
college. I will continue my “listening
tour” in the months to come. In
January, I plan on attending the
Cattlemen’s Update to listen to our
many stakeholders concerns and views
regarding the college.
One message that I have tried to
convey is that, as a land grant university
and state experiment station, we have
a state mission. Even in urban centers,
our research and education expertise in
such subjects as nutrition, horticulture,
and biotechnology are highly relevant.
Every child should know how nutritious
food and safe water are produced and
delivered. We should all be thankful for
secure food and water supplies, and the
science and education that make them
possible.
Faculty and staff of CABNR join me in
wishing you and your family and friends
a very happy and safe holiday season.

ag.unr.edu/newsletter n FALL/WINTER 2014
Soils scientist, Benjamin W. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Agronomist, Juan K. Q. Solomon, Ph.D.
Agricultural Instructor, Tracy Shane, MS
Three new faculty members join CABNR
By Robert Moore
B
en Sullivan, Ph.D. came to Reno from the University of Montana
where he was a postdoctoral researcher studying tropical
ecosystems ability to fix nitrogen in forest soils. Having initially
secured a bachelor of science in forestry at Montana in 2002, Sullivan
was inspired to explore how soils affect our world. Seeing a great
opportunity to study carbon-water fluxes in and out of forest for a
master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, Sullivan was tasked with
measuring the soil’s contribution to ponderosa pine forests. From there,
Sullivan tackled questions that focused around the effect of primary
succession on soils and plants in Arizona’s volcanic fields and received
his PhD in 2011.
“I’m really excited about the research opportunities in Nevada,” said
Sullivan. “Soils research affects everything from bacterial processes, plant
development and community dynamics to atmospheric chemistry,” Sullivan states. One of the first things Sullivan wants to
look into is how well do Nevada’s arid soils trap things like methane and other greenhouse gases.
Sullivan will be teaching Forest and Range Soils, Soil Physics and is looking forward to filling his lab with graduate students.
J
uan Solomon, Ph.D. was born in the South American country of Guyana and received both his bachelor’s of science
degree in agriculture (2000) and graduate level teaching diploma (2005) from the University of Guyana. During that
time, Solomon worked for the National Agricultural Research Institute as a research assistant and part-time as a lecturer
for the Guyana School of Agriculture. In 2008, Solomon moved to Starkville, Mississippi to work on both his masters and
PhD in agronomy at Mississippi State University. His research interests
revolved around pasture management systems and cattle behavior-
performance effects. For a postdoctoral project at Louisiana State
University, Solomon evaluated mixed grass-legume systems for finishing
beef cattle.
Having completed his initial lab setup, Solomon plans on continuing
his research into improving market weights for cow-calf operations. He
is also looking forward to teaching both Forage Science and Principles
of Agronomy at the undergraduate level and a graduate course in Crop
Ecology. “It is my hope that students keen on advancing their training
in sustainable rangeland forage production come to UNR and join my
lab,” said Solomon. “This is a terrific opportunity to help build the
knowledge base for large scale sustainable grazing systems in Nevada.”
T
racy Shane is a third generation Northern Nevadan aggie. Growing
up in a local feed store, Shane knew from an early age that she
wanted to be involved with agriculture and life on the range. “I
am passionate about ag education and take great pride in my students
success,” said Shane.
Shane holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Science and a master's
degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, both from the
University of Nevada, Reno. Her research has primarily been directed
toward rangeland rehabilitation of pinyon-juniper encroachment into
sagebrush-grassland ecosystems. Shane is a certified professional in
rangeland management and has spent over seven years working for both
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and private consulting
companies.
With seven years of teaching higher-ed under her belt, Shane comes to us from Great Basin College in Elko Nevada,
where she was a tenured professor in agricultural science. Shane also is an active member of the National Association of
Agriculture Educators, Nevada Agriculture Teachers Association, and president of Nevada Cattlewomen’s Association. This
year Shane is teaching Livestock Production and Beef Cattle Management.

page4
Mike Holcomb (center) Wolf Pack Meat's
manager
As the owner of GirlFarm (aka)
Grow for Me Sustainable
Farm, north of Reno and a long-
time proponent of the farm-to-fork
experience, Wendy Baroli laments
the fact that few people know where
their food comes from. She offers an
experiential opportunity for people to
participate in the production of their
own food through her Grow for Me
Heritage Meat Program, which allows
participants to come and work at her
farm.
Baroli also believes people should
know what happens to food in between
the farm and the table.
"As a producer, I think it's very
important that the public knows how
their food is processed," she says.
She believes the meat-processing
certification programs that now are
offered at Wolf Pack Meats in Reno
go a long way in promoting the
understanding of food production.
"The classes allow the beginning
farmer or rancher to learn about
processing and meat cuts. They need
good skills," she says.
A cooperative effort between
governmental and educational
institutions, the certification classes
are part of the University of Nevada’s
Herds & Harvest Program.
"It's an extension outreach program
for the community," explains Ron
Pardini, associate director of the
Nevada Agricultural Experiment
Station. "It attracts a variety of people.
This will enable the small producer to
do the whole process at home. Also,
somebody just might want to know
about the process."
The program consists of harvesting
classes, which provide hands-on
training in slaughter and storage, as
well as processing classes, which offer
specialized training in the accuracy of
cutting, knife handling, portion control,
merchandising, and the utilization of
carcass products. All classes emphasize
food safety and sanitation guidelines.
With food poisoning cases on the
rise, according to a recent report
released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, more attention
is being paid to proper food handling
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the Food and Drug Administration.
Although Nevada has more than 20
meat-processing centers, only Wolf
Pack Meats, with its comprehensive
service, meets the highest USDA
standards from slaughter through
processing.
"Wolf Pack Meats is the gold
standard in the state," Pardini says.
Herds & Harvest: cultivating success for farmers & ranchers
By Roseann Keegan
2015
Cattlemen's Update
2015
Cattlemen's Update
Learn about UNR's programs & research impacting Nevada livestock industry
Reno
Mon, Jan 5th
Fallon
Mon, Jan 5th
Wellington
Tues, Jan 6th
Ely
Wed, Jan 7th
Elko
Thur, Jan 8th
Winnemucca
Fri, Jan 9th
10:00 am, Washoe County
Cooperative Extension Office
4955 Energy Way
9:30 am, Smith Valley
Community Center
2783 State Route 88
6:00 pm, White Pine
Convention Center
150 6th
Street
12:30 pm, Great Basin
College Solarium
1500 College Parkway
10:30 am, Winnemucca
Event Center
1098 Fairgrounds Road
6:00 pm, Fallon
Convention Center
100 Campus Way
Cost
$20
per
Ranch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner

Joseph Sapin, a hydrologic sciences program graduate student, presents his work to a packed house.
Student presenters and faculty at the 2013 Student World Water Forum. The 11th annual forum was held Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22, 2014
M
ore than 55 graduate and
undergraduate students from
all academic disciplines at the
University of Nevada, Reno presented
their research on local, regional,
national and international water issues
at the 11th
annual Student World Water
Forum.
The forum, hosted by CABNR, is
based on the international World Water
Forum, which is held every three years
in various locations around the world.
The two-day forum took place as part
of International Education Week this
past November.
"The students spoke about water issues
that occur all around the world," Erik
Cadaret, a graduate student studying
hydrogeology, said. "We have students
talking about water issues in the Middle
East, South America, Africa, Greenland
and many situations within the United
States. Some students even tackled
political and religious issues that affect
water."
The number of participants increased
this year due to the addition of
the International Water Issues for
Development class at the University.
Students in this class spend the
semester learning about water issues
by delving deep into subjects like
hydrology, environmental issues, and
water rights.
"This year, we had a wider range
of students outside of hydrology
students," Cadaret said. "We have
environmental science, journalism,
political science and a few students in
the atmospheric sciences."
All participants presented to the
public and local professionals from
15 different organizations such as the
Desert Research Institute, Nevada
Division of Water Resources and
the Federal Water Master Office.
These professionals gave the students
feedback on their presentation skills,
and provide students the opportunity to
network.
"The forum simulates what a scientific
conference would be like," Katherine
Clancy, a graduate hydrology student,
said. "For the undergraduates, it is
the first time they may be presenting
their work at a conference, and for the
graduate students, the forum provides
an opportunity to gain additional
experience."
Cadaret and Clancey, along with four
other graduate students, have taken the
lead in organizing the conference and
to spread word to the community under
the guidance of Kate Berry, professor
of geography, and Laurel Saito, director
of the graduate program of hydrologic
sciences. According to Cadaret, the
Reno community has been supportive
of the conference this year by donating
raffle prizes for the event. The event
was free and open to the public and
the organizers were delighted with
how many people from the community
attended the conference.
The second day of the forum end with
a keynote address presented by Dr.
John Shurts from the Northwest Power
and Conservation Council, giving a talk
titled "Rethinking the Columbia River
Treaty: will we get the future right this
time?"
“We were delighted to have Dr. Sturts,”
said Saito. “He is one of the leading
experts in Native American water rights
and brought a wealth of information to
the conference.”
Hydrology students host World Water Forum
By Annie Conway

page6
Hop cones ready for harvest at the Main Station Field Lab
M
any homebrewers know that growing hops in
Northern Nevada is pretty easy. Just stick the
rootstock in the ground, set up a 30-foot trellis on
the north side of the house, add some drip lines, prune a bit
and wait a few months. Certain varieties, such as Cascade
hops, make great beer and other varieties make great patio
shade. While this unscientific beer vs. shade proposal works
for homebrewers, it inspires little confidence in farmers and
professional brewers in the state.
In 2007-2008 the United States suffered a hops shortage due
to increasing demand and climate change, spurring many
homebrewers and craft breweries, such as Sierra Nevada and
Rogue Ales to start growing their own hops. These brewery-
owned farms usually account for a tiny percentage of the
hops required for yearly production and lead to special
batches instead. This year, another hops shortage caused by a
surge of new breweries across the country increased demand
and raised the price of hops even more.
In Nevada, the Northern Nevada Development Authority
and the Business Resource Innovation Center identified
hops as a potential commodity crop. In 20011, University
of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s initially tested hops in
both northern and southern Nevada, demonstrating that the
state’s climate and soil could support this new specialty crop.
Enter the CABNR/Nevada Ag Experiment Station.
UNR’s Main Station Field Lab now has over 1,000 hop vines,
representing 10 varieties, planted this past spring by a small
team of interested parties, under the direction of Urban
Roots director Jeff Bryant. The effort will prove the viability
of growing hops on Northern Nevada’s high desert, as most
American varieties come from Washington, Oregon, Idaho
and Colorado.
Funded by the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s
Specialty Crop Block Grant program, this collaboration
between CABNR, Urban Roots, & High Desert Farming
Initiative will provide Nevada farmers with reliable
production, maintenance, harvesting and selling data. The
hope is that it will encourage and guide producers to grow
hops successfully by decreasing the unknown risk of starting
a new crop from scratch and increase the economic impact
of specialty crops in Nevada.
“We know the brewing industry wants this,” said Bryant.
“You go to agriculture conferences, even the small ag one
in Nevada, and every time they do a session on hops, it’s
standing room only. People want to grow it.”
Using almost $40,000 of the Specialty Crop Block Grant this
year to start the program, “It’s surprisingly more difficult to
buy one acre of guaranteed disease-free hops than to buy
enough for 40 acres,” Bryant said.
“It’s a lot for a farmer to invest to take that risk,” he said.
“We want to take that risk away and take away stress and
pressure.”
Hops grow especially well in Nevada’s arid climate, require
little to no pest management, are water friendly and can
generate $18.99 to $20.99 in profit per pound, according to
the economic development report.
Before choosing the hops varieties, a needs assessment
was conducted of local breweries throughout the state and
Tahoe, asking them about the varieties they want, how much
they would pay for premium hops and if the prospect of
local hops interested them. The results showed that brewers
would prefer to buy locally grown hops and helped decide
which 10 varieties to grow.
“There’s a few varieties that don’t do well, which we ordered
on purpose,” Bryant said. “I haven’t met a homebrewer yet
who can grow Willamette.”
In the first two years, the field will not yield enough mature
hops for professional brewing and instead will go to the
owner of IMBĪB Custom Brews, to make single malt, single
hop test beers. Graduates from the Beer Judge Certificate
Program will provide feedback, on the flavor and aroma of
the hops.
By year three, the remaining viable hops should start to reach
maturity for use in small-scale experimental batches. By the
fifth year when the hops reach full maturity, the experimental
phase will give way to commercial sales and farm consulting.
Eventually, net sales should support the purchase of a hop
harvester ($15,000) and pelletizer to increase production
speed and, ultimately, shared with the local farming
community. But for now, volunteers will need to add mulch,
prune, control pests, setup cables and harvest the hops by
hand. At least they have a post driver to help build cable
trellises.
From farm to glass, Nevada-grown hops a reality in five years
By Mike Higdon (drinkablereno.com)

American Yorkshire is a potential variety available for testing.
I
n addition to his ranch manager duties, as Assistant
Director of the Agriculture Experiment Stations,
Bo Kindred is preparing for a research project, the
Alternative Production Systems in Growing Finishing Swine
Utilizing Pasture and Influence on Pig Growth. The Hog
Project, as it’s affectionately referred to, will look at the
economic feasibility of raising pigs in a pasture, free-range
setting.
Bo will act as primary investigator, Main Station Field Lab
Manager, Luke Thompson and Associate Professor and
veterinary microbiologist Mike Teglas will serve as Co-
PIs. The team also includes Associate Professor Antonio
Faciola an animal nutritionist, Wolf Pack Meats manager
Mike Holcomb and Cooperative Extension’s specialist for
alternative crops and forage, Jay Davidson.
Nevada is not a large pig producing state. One reason for
that is Nevada is not a much of a grain producer. Our
climate is not ideal for growing traditional ingredients in
commercial swine feed such as corn and soybean. So the
cost to feed pigs isn’t economical.
“What we would like to know, is can we grow pigs in a
pasture, free-range setting,” Kindred said, “in such a way
that the small to medium producer looking to diversify can
benefit.”
The small to medium size producer may benefit from the
study showing the cost effectiveness of raising pigs on
forage and in an outdoor finishing system. With interest in
animal welfare increasing, pasture and free-range raised pigs
may also be more appealing to consumers thus a worthy
investment for producers.
To study the alternative production system, the team will
consider swine feed costs, daily gain, days to market and
quality of the final product. The goal is to find different
forages for small to medium producers to use that are cost
efficient and that provide the best finish and taste.
When considering feed costs the team will look at what
forage the swine gravitate to, how well they consume the
forage, the amount of forage consumed and how much feed
will need to be supplemented in winter.
“We’d like to find different forages small and medium
producers could use to increase their net profits,” said
Kindred.
There are four different treatments that will be tested over
three phases. One treatment example is triticale, a small
grain component grown in Nevada that is already being
used to feed cattle as grain hey. Other examples include teff,
canola and alfalfa, all as part of a pasture mix. The team will
also look at things like how pigs gravitate toward alfalfa and
determine if it provides the best growth.
Nutritionally, Faciola will analyze the feed differences. He
will compare what combination of forage is providing
the most value to the pigs. Teglas will look at differences
in health. Specifically, he will compare the health of free-
range pigs with those commercially raised that traditionally
suffer from pneumonia and respiratory issues because of
ventilation. In the open-air, free-range situation Teglas
will also use annual deworming to prevent parasites, as is
currently practiced with cattle and sheep.
“With the outdoor finishing model the pigs health may also
benefit from earthworms and vitamin D,” Teglas said.
The 3-year study will start with pigs raised in a grow-finish
model and fed using three grazing styles and one traditional
confined finish (control group). For all treatments, the
average daily gain, days to market, feed cost, carcass quality,
taste, and labor costs. The second and third phases of the
study, animals will be used to validate the finishing model
that is the least costly and most useful to swine production
in Nevada. After the original animals are harvested, another
set of animals will replace them over fall and winter. The
team will determine how well the second set will fare
feeding on the standing forage remaining in the field and
how much commercial feed supplements are need over
winter.
On the educational side, student employees will be able
to prep, feed and look over live stock health. They will
play an integral role through mini-projects created for this
opportunity. Instructors will also be able to use the pigs for
some hands-on education through veterinarian medicine
and microbiology.
Ag Experiment Station takes a closer look at hogs
By Jerri Williams-Conrad

CABNR NEWSLETTER n VOLUME 2014, ISSUE 2 ag.unr.edu/newsletter n FALL/WINTER 2014
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
RENO NV
PERMIT NO. 26
Bill Helming is a highly respected agribusiness consultant and economist.
A
s a student at the University of Nevada, Reno,
Bill Helming ’64, ’66 M.S. (agriculture economics)
was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Professors
and mentors encouraged him to become a professor or
administrator. He listened graciously, thanked them, and then
did his own thing.
“When someone you admire and respect gives you advice, you
don’t take that lightly,” says Helming, the 2014 Distinguished
Alumnus for the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and
Natural Resources (CABNR). “But I really wanted to show
them the direction I was going would be successful.”
And it was. Helming has been self-employed since 1972 as
the owner of Bill Helming Consulting Services (formerly the
Helming Group), which became one of the most respected
agribusiness consulting firms in the country.
In gratitude to the university that helped lay the foundation
for his success, Helming has established the Bill Helming
Agribusiness and Entrepreneurial Scholarship to support
students with an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to
work in the private sector after graduation. The scholarship is
both merit and character based.
“This is my way of giving back to the University and
encouraging students to embrace the United States capitalistic
and free-enterprise system,” Helming says.
Helming is a nationally known economist, agribusiness
consultant, author and speaker with clients and subscribers
throughout the U.S. and Canada. From 1977-1991, Helming
produced the Helming Report, a syndicated radio broadcast
featuring economic and agriculture sector commodity market
outlook.
In 1988, the University of Nevada Board of Regents honored
Helming with the Centennial Alumnus Award. He also gave the
Commencement address that May.
“In many ways, he is a shining example of the type of student
who graduates from a land-grant university,” says CABNR
Dean Bill Payne.
After completing his bachelor’s and master’s at the University,
Helming became the first chief economist for the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the founder and general
manager of CattleFax. He has been self-employed as a
consultant since 1972.
Helming’s next venture is a large-scale, sustainable, vertically
integrated farming operation, which will produce forage-based
rations to grow cattle to increase the supply of ground beef to
U.S. consumers at more affordable prices. The company will
have seven operating divisions, including farming, feedlot, cattle
ownership, beef-packing, chicken production and processing,
hamburger and chicken restaurant food merchandising, and
solar, wind and renewable energy.
“This project, dream and vision represents a culmination of my
life’s work since graduating from the University,” Helming said.
CABNR alumnus Bill Helming encourages young entrepreneurs
By Roseann Keegan

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