As you may know, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has been impacted by the statewide network outage. This outage is impacting access to the NDA website and services.
Staff are working hard to ensure continuity of commerce for the agriculture industry and to protect public safety. The Animal Disease Labs in the Elko and Sparks offices remain open for submissions. Phone lines in the NDA Elko office, including for brand inspection (775-753-1360) are up and running. Staff across all programs are still accessing and responding to emails as well. If you are unable to contact someone or find the information you are looking for, please email nda@agri.nv.gov or message us on Facebook or Instagram.
We thank you for your patience. Please know we stay committed to our mission to preserve, protect and promote Nevada agriculture.
Director Goicoechea
Food and Nutrition staff jump in to fill the food gap
The NDA Division of Food and Nutrition team packaged boxes of food for distribution in Elko, which is currently experiencing a gap in food distribution partners. While the team works to onboard a new partner to provide distributions, staff are also spending hours in the warehouse packing up food distribution boxes, to ensure people who rely on this food, won’t experience a gap in service.
NDA Veterinary Diagnostician retires after 21 years
After 21 years of dedicated service to the NDA and the state of Nevada as Veterinary Diagnostician in the Animal Disease Lab, Keith Forbes, DVM, will be retiring on Sept. 5. Dr. Forbes joined the NDA in 2004, having previously worked in private veterinary medicine for 15 years. Dr. Forbes has played a critical role in identifying and managing animal disease across Nevada, safeguarding the state’s agriculture economy and food security. We thank him for his tireless dedication and wish him a happy retirement!
Schedule livestock inspections for the approaching livestock shipping season
As the livestock shipping season approaches, the NDA wants to remind livestock owners to schedule livestock inspections ahead of time. This is a busy time for inspectors, so booking early will help ensure a smoother process and continuity of commerce.
To find out who your regional brand inspector is, call the Elko office at 775-753-1360.
School’s back in session – Complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility Form through your school to access free meals
Access to nutritious meals shouldn’t be a concern for any child. The NDA encourages parents and guardians who may have students who need access to food to fill out the Application for Free or Reduced-Price School Meals. Students enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school should already have access to free school meals. To find out if your school is providing free meals to all students or to access an Application for Free or Reduced-Price School Meals, reach out to your school directly.
Looking for new establishments for the 2026 Nevada Craft Beverage Passport
Recruitment for the 2026 Nevada Craft Beverage Passport has begun! Do you have a favorite local beer, wine, spirit or mead maker? Encourage them to sign up for the special edition 5th year of the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport, a program promoting and driving business to local craft beverage makers. On average, each completed passport brings approximately $1,742 in revenue to Nevada’s craft beverage industry. Sign ups are available through Sept. 7 below.
Help provide data for backyard bird exposure to HPAI
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is interested in learning more about backyard poultry flocks and their owners. The results from this anonymous survey will be used to improved Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) prevention activities and resources. Visit https://redcap.link/backyardflock to complete the survey.
Funding Opportunities
- USDA Farm Service Agency adverse weather resources
- The USDA is offering assistance for producers in designated severe drought conditions (Clark, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye and White Pine). Producers in these counties can apply for 2025 Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) and Livestock Forage Program (LFP).
- In addition to severe drought conditions, those who suffer losses from other natural disasters, such as wildfires, should use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool to find assistance programs that can provide assistance.
- Stage 1 applications are now open for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) for producers who suffered revenue, quality or production losses to crops, trees, bushes, or vines due to qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. Click here for more information about applying for Stage 1 and Stage 2.
- Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
- Emergency Farm Loans
- USDA Rural Development resource guide to help rural entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
- USDA launched a new website, usda.gov/meat to communicate open and pending programs focused on expanding meat and poultry processing capacity.
- USDA updated the list of eligible conservation practices for Inflation Reduction Act funding.
- To learn more, view the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities List.
Upcoming Events and Holidays
Sept. 1 – Labor Day (NDA offices closed)
Sept. 9 – Nevada Board of Agriculture Meeting (NDA Elko Office)
Oct. 7-8 – Las Vegas Farm Fest
Oct. 31 – Nevada Day (NDA offices closed)