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The University of Nevada, Reno has now done its part to make sure Fallon becomes a key site for extensive alternative crop research in northern Nevada by the summer of 2007. Now the U.S Natural Resources Conservation Service has to seal the deal.
According to UNR spokesman Bob Conrad, the University's Board of Regents approved the draft agreement for the plant materials center in June. UNR President John Lilley then signed the agreement July 19, and upon receipt by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, the agreement was sent July 25 to the NRCS.
NRCS spokeswoman Liz Warner said the signatures required for the plant materials center to open in Fallon are being handled at NRCS national headquarters.
She anticipates further developments toward the center's official approval next week.
Both parties have had plans in motion for a few years to construct the plant materials center in Fallon.
While more than 25 such centers are located across the United States, the proposed center at the Newlands research farm would be Nevada's first.
NRCS State Resource Specialist Gary Brackley said the plant materials center would allow an opportunity to research and develop native seeds that could prosper in the region - even in over-grazed, scorched or weed-plentiful lands.
With Newlands Project water rights becoming harder to acquire and pressures on the amount of water allocated for irrigation, native seed crops are becoming more attractive to farmers who want to use less water over more land.
According to Conrad, the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station has been working with NRCS State Conservationist Richard Vigil to achieve agricultural goals in the area, one of which is the plant materials center.
Besides waiting for national approval, NRCS officials at the local level will also be going through a hiring process for the plant materials center.
Brackley said the site would definitely need a farm manager and a professional horticulturist or agronomist to be the plant materials center manager.
According to Brackley, someone who is familiar to the native seeds of northern Nevada would be the best choice.
"It's kind of an unusual position, and they don't come along very often," Brackley said. "The idea there is if there's somebody local in the Fallon, Yerington and Lovelock area that is farming 80 acres on the weekend and could work for the plant materials center and do the same job, then their experience and background would qualify for them for the position. It would make a big difference."
Burke Wasson can be contacted at bwasson@lahontanvalleynews.com
According to UNR spokesman Bob Conrad, the University's Board of Regents approved the draft agreement for the plant materials center in June. UNR President John Lilley then signed the agreement July 19, and upon receipt by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, the agreement was sent July 25 to the NRCS.
NRCS spokeswoman Liz Warner said the signatures required for the plant materials center to open in Fallon are being handled at NRCS national headquarters.
She anticipates further developments toward the center's official approval next week.
Both parties have had plans in motion for a few years to construct the plant materials center in Fallon.
While more than 25 such centers are located across the United States, the proposed center at the Newlands research farm would be Nevada's first.
NRCS State Resource Specialist Gary Brackley said the plant materials center would allow an opportunity to research and develop native seeds that could prosper in the region - even in over-grazed, scorched or weed-plentiful lands.
With Newlands Project water rights becoming harder to acquire and pressures on the amount of water allocated for irrigation, native seed crops are becoming more attractive to farmers who want to use less water over more land.
According to Conrad, the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station has been working with NRCS State Conservationist Richard Vigil to achieve agricultural goals in the area, one of which is the plant materials center.
Besides waiting for national approval, NRCS officials at the local level will also be going through a hiring process for the plant materials center.
Brackley said the site would definitely need a farm manager and a professional horticulturist or agronomist to be the plant materials center manager.
According to Brackley, someone who is familiar to the native seeds of northern Nevada would be the best choice.
"It's kind of an unusual position, and they don't come along very often," Brackley said. "The idea there is if there's somebody local in the Fallon, Yerington and Lovelock area that is farming 80 acres on the weekend and could work for the plant materials center and do the same job, then their experience and background would qualify for them for the position. It would make a big difference."
Burke Wasson can be contacted at bwasson@lahontanvalleynews.com
