I would like to welcome Martin Paris as the new Executive Director for the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. Martin comes from a long-time Nevada ranching family. He most recently worked for Rep. Amodei and is familiar with legislative issues. We are very fortunate and look forward to working with him. He brings a lot of knowledge and experience and has already hit the ground running.
The first part of the year seems to be meeting season and your NCA leadership team has been meeting with different government agencies discussing a wide variety of topics with drought and grazing at the top of the list. It is more important now than ever that we work together to have flexibility in permits relating to time and timing and not being constrained to dates. We must be allowed to graze in a manner that benefits the resource the most.
We have a good story tell and have many successes in range management, but we must remember we have to be responsible grazers. We are constantly under the critical eye of those opposed to livestock grazing and they are waiting to document anything they see that can be construed as damaging to the range.
Nevada doesn’t need a lot of moisture to thrive, just the right amount at the right time. Let’s all pray for moisture and a good calving season.
Tom Barnes, President, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association