The nevada agricultural experiment station (naes) reviews and updates programs to address nevada's highest-priority needs

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $1,517,387 to the Nevada System of Higher Education, operating as the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (NAES), on October 1, 2025, under the Hatch Act formula grant program (CFDA 10.203). The award funds research addressing five critical agricultural and natural resource priorities for Nevada: sustainable dryland agriculture, natural and environmental resources management, horticulture and food systems, health and nutrition and food safety, and community and economic development. Research activities focus on developing drought and heat-tolerant crop varieties and livestock breeds suited to Nevada's high-desert arid environment, advancing efficient irrigation and pest management practices, studying sustainable rangeland and riparian management, monitoring water quantity and quality throughout the state, investigating wildfire mitigation and invasive species control, and conducting wildlife habitat conservation research, particularly for sage grouse and forest ecosystems. The award covers the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, with place of performance in Reno, Nevada. NAES operates as an 1862 Land Grant College division of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and conducts research and extension programming serving Nevada's agricultural and natural resource needs. Up to 100 percent of obligated funds may be carried over for up to one year after the end of the fiscal year for which they were appropriated.

Naes fully subscribes to and supports the university's goal to achieve recognition as a 'fully engaged' institution. Our plan of work focuses on addressing five critical issues in the state: (1) sustainable dryland agriculture, (2) natural and environmental resources, (3) horticulture and food systems, (4) health, nutrition and food safety, and (5) community and economic development. Growing a strong agriculture economy in the driest state requires research addressing topics such as pest management, efficient irrigation, sustainable range management, risk management for producers and alternative crops for high-desert areas. Efforts will be made to identify crops and animal breeds best adapted to production in these hot and dry conditions as well as the development of new crop varieties and animal breeds better suited to tolerate and thrive under these conditions. The station will also study plant and animal production practices to increase yields under these conditions. Many issues impact nevada's natural and environmental resources that need to be addressed, including drought, floods, watershed and riparian management, wildfires, invasive species, and conservation of sage grouse and other wildlife habitats. Protection and management of these resources is critical to the economic and ecological well-being of the state. Competing interests present challenges to maintaining a healthy balance particularly when limited resources are available. Water presents an important but limited resource in nevada and the great basin in general. Naes researchers will conduct studies to monitor both water quantity and quality throughout the state. Additional studies to access water usage, storage, as well as water reclamation, will be supported. Nevada's rangelands and forest/woodlands are highly susceptible to wildfires that destroy millions of acres per year. Researchers will conduct studies to develop management practices to protect these natural resources from the devastating effects of these mega-fires and to better detect these fires, in order to provide a more rapid response and minimize their spread. Rangeland health is under attack by competition between livestock production, wildlife and feral horses/burros. Studies will be conducted to look at the various issues and to develop sustainable management practices to support a healthy balance. Nevada g reen-industry professionals, growers and food producers often contend with drought, pests and water use issues, and naes will help provide them with the latest research-based information to deal with these issues. Naes funding will support studies to improve the growing, harvesting, packaging, transporting, and marketing of fruits and vegetables grown in nevada. Studies will also look at the economics of food production and how this production affects the natural environment. Improving the health of all nevadans by making available a safe and nutritious source of food is a critical issue. Food security is important and naes projects to improve food security for various communities or segments of the population will be supported. Projects evaluating and improving the nutrition of food provided at schools or other institutional facilities will also be supported. Studies to evaluate the health benefits of various nutrients will also be conducted. Nevada is the seventh largest state in the country and one of the least densely populated with the vast majority of its population in clark and washoe counties. Improving the economic and community development of these rural areas is a critical issue for the state. Funding to evaluate and assist in the community and economic development of these rural areas will be provided. Support will also be provided for projects that support agricultural economic development in both rural and metropolitan areas.