News Flash

News Home

Posted on: May 26, 2021

Experiment Station Projects Serve Nevadans At Facilities Throughout The State

Sorghum growing in a field

At a ranch in Eureka, researchers are breeding a unique species of sheep well-adapted to the harsh Great Basin environment and that produces some of the finest wool in the nation. At the same time at a field in Fallon, researchers are using lasers and belowground radar to study how well sorghum grows with different levels of flood irrigation. And at a lab in Logandale, researchers just finished a study on how cactus pear can be grown as a commercial crop to fuel vehicles and feed both animals and people. These are just three of many projects happening at University of Nevada, Reno Experiment Station facilities across Nevada.

The Experiment Station is the research unit of the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. It maintains a network of field stations throughout the state, providing researchers different environments where they can experiment on a larger scale while supporting the needs of the nearby communities. 

“It’s really an exciting time for the Experiment Station, as our research is expanding throughout the state and our faculty are heavily engaged in projects that will serve to help our stakeholders in all areas of Nevada,” Chris Pritsos, director of the Experiment Station, said. “We’re really expanding our research capacity throughout the state. Our faculty have gone out and successfully competed for grants to support their work, and we are making significant impacts, whether it be in the area of water, agriculture production, environmental science or the cattle industry.”

Fallon Research Center

The Fallon Research Center houses the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Great Basin Plant Materials Center. This 160-acre farm is one of three stations involved with the sorghum and irrigation project, with researchers testing how flood irrigation impacts sorghum at the different irrigation levels.

The station is also home to several other sorghum projects, including a new project investigating herbicide-resistant sorghum hybrids, many of which were commercialized this spring. The team will assess the varieties for how well they tolerate the herbicides when being watered using flood irrigation.

 Another project is looking at how various sorghum varieties grow in different Nevada soils. Fallon has some sodium-rich soils with high salinity and alkalinity, characteristics that affect how much water is available for the plant. Staff and students are using the same remote-sensing technology to look at how sorghum’s roots interact with the soil and how these interactions impact whole-plant growth and development.

 

The work is aimed to help farmers make better decisions about what to plant, about which crops grow best on their specific soils, so they can have a more sustainable operation.

 

Additional research is being conducted on chickpeas, dry beans, soybeans, teff for forage and grain production, and forage soybeans, which are crops that have garnered interest from local producers. 

Juan Solomon, associate professor of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, and Barrios-Masias are beginning work with a local company to test the best growing conditions for several varieties of hemp for both fiber and seed production. Hemp production is rapidly expanding throughout the U.S. and may provide farmers with another alternative low-water crop. Initial results indicate Nevada has a climate well-suited for growing some hemp varieties.  

Solomon is also studying the use of silage sorghum to provide feed for dairy operations in Nevada. Silage is what’s left after the harvested crop, such as corn, alfalfa or soybeans, is fermented and stored. Dairy operations rely on silage to feed their cattle throughout the year, and if Nevada operations cannot get silage with enough protein and energy locally, then they buy from out of state. 

For producers growing alfalfa, the crop is harvested three to four times throughout the year, with the third or fourth cut being a valuable option for mixed silage. However, sorghum silage by itself has low levels of protein. Certain sorghum crops are ready to harvest when alfalfa is ready for its third cut, so when the two are mixed together, the alfalfa increases the protein in the resulting silage.

“The goal is to find alternative feed crops that use less water and fertilizer than more traditional silage crops, such as corn,” Solomon explained. “By incorporating the third-cut alfalfa into the sorghum, we boost the protein value of the silage to meet the demands of the dairy industry.”

Sorghum can be grown together with soybeans and cowpeas as well, and when the plants are ready to harvest for silage, the soybeans and cowpeas enhance the protein value.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in News Home

Old weir flow in mid-March 2023

High-Water Operations Continue

Posted on: April 6, 2023
Carson River flowing high at McLean Road.

High-Water Town Hall Takeaways

Posted on: March 29, 2023
High Water Call Center Number Established

High Water Call Center Established

Posted on: March 17, 2023
Pinwheels at base of Millennium Park's clock tower

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Posted on: March 16, 2023
Water in the V-line on Coleman

Ensure Insurance Policies Are Current

Posted on: March 10, 2023
Water through the V-line weir in 2017

High Water Operations Underway

Posted on: March 6, 2023
Myles with dog in forest_crop

Newest Commissioner Eager to Serve

Posted on: January 31, 2023
Pete Olsen portrait

‘It’s Been A Good Ride’

Posted on: January 4, 2023
ASL

ASL Anywhere Now Available For Nevadans

Posted on: December 27, 2022
Bus swearing in

Scharmann Sworn In As County Commissioner

Posted on: November 18, 2022
Mel Glover raises flags on the flagpole in front of the museum

Mel Glover Selected New Museum Director

Posted on: August 19, 2022
Hands in dirt

Virtual Classes Focusing on Soil Health

Posted on: August 12, 2022
Water in an irrigation  canal

Striking a Balance

Posted on: April 18, 2022
Person holding their head in their hands

Crisis Intervention Training Offered

Posted on: April 12, 2022
Fire truck cab on the assembly line

New Fire Engines Being Custom Built

Posted on: February 16, 2022
Older woman holds coffee mug

Powerful Tools For Caregivers Class

Posted on: October 25, 2021
Jack-o-lantern decor

County Departments Host Fall Events

Posted on: October 8, 2021
Flags on veteran head stones at cemetery

Members Needed For Cemetery Board

Posted on: October 5, 2021
Children surround a scarecrow they built

Scarecrow Factory Returns For Fall Fun

Posted on: October 4, 2021
Museum facade_travnev

Museum Offers Traditional Lifeways Classes

Posted on: September 30, 2021
Wishing tree distribution

Wishing Tree Applications Now Available

Posted on: September 21, 2021
1st county youth getting Pfizer vaccine

Need Folks Willing To Be Tested

Posted on: May 13, 2021
Three Easter eggs nestled together in grass

Great Easter Egg Hunt is April 3-11

Posted on: March 23, 2021
Commissioner Greg Koenig

Meet Commissioner Greg Koenig

Posted on: January 12, 2021
Dan Ingram

Churchill County Museum Director Dies

Posted on: December 15, 2020
Filling a gas tank at the pump

Relief for roads, bridges coming

Posted on: December 8, 2020
Shop safely_CISA infographic

Tips for Safe Holiday Online Shopping

Posted on: November 30, 2020
I Voted Sticker Spool on White Surface

General Election 2020 Information

Posted on: August 20, 2020
Churchill County Sheriff's Office shield

Two Deaths in Churchill County Today

Posted on: September 25, 2020
Churchill County Sheriff's Office shield

Fatal Traffic Accident on Indian Lakes Road

Posted on: September 21, 2020
Merry Christmas Tag On Christmas Tree

Wishing Tree Applications Now Available

Posted on: September 18, 2020
Laronda Atchison with Commissioners

County Honors Employees With Service Awards

Posted on: September 17, 2020
Blake Brandenburg

My Experience in Firefighting

Posted on: September 2, 2020
Person Holding A Vaccine

All-Day Drive-Up Shot Clinic on Aug. 24

Posted on: August 20, 2020
Gary Ridenour

Sheriff's Office Arrests Ridenour

Posted on: June 9, 2020
Pickup Truck on Highway

DMV To Reopen June 15

Posted on: June 9, 2020
Bookcase at library

Library Building Remains Closed

Posted on: May 29, 2020
Primary mail_in ballot

Reminding Churchill County Voters

Posted on: May 26, 2020
I Voted Sticker Spool on White Surface

Extended Voting Hours Start May 23

Posted on: May 20, 2020
County Administration building

County Offices Slowly Reopening

Posted on: May 15, 2020
Sheckler intersection during temporary light construction

Sheckler Light Project Status Update

Posted on: April 19, 2020
Golf Course septic-to-sewer connection project

SOS - Save Our Sewer

Posted on: March 19, 2020
Census proclamation by County Commissioners

Census Events in Churchill County

Posted on: March 10, 2020
Hwy 95 fixes

NDOT to Begin Construction on Hwy 95

Posted on: March 10, 2020
Baby Sleeping Beside Girl on Gray Floral Sheet

Census 2020: Counting the Children

Posted on: February 14, 2020
Sheriff Hickox

Sheriff looking forward to 2020

Posted on: January 9, 2020
Barbee gives State of County at CEDA

Looking Back at 2019; Ahead to 2020

Posted on: January 8, 2020
Key inserted into door lock

Home Ownership Small Discussion Group

Posted on: January 2, 2020
Jim Barbee

Holiday Greetings from County Manager

Posted on: December 19, 2019
Wild Goose Bridge sits elevated on blocks over the V-line canal.

Wild Goose Bridge to be Re-installed

Posted on: December 13, 2019
Road shoulder repairs

Road Department Works to Improve Testolin

Posted on: November 14, 2019
Fire officials sworn in

Fire Officials Ceremoniously Sworn In

Posted on: November 13, 2019
Mosquito vial

Staying Vigilant Against Mosquitoes

Posted on: September 3, 2019
Pens and coins stacked on a piece of paper

Property Taxes 2019-2020

Posted on: July 10, 2019
Wood carving of a house with coins stacked behind it

Property Tax Cap Claim Form

Posted on: July 1, 2019