1 / 22

Agriculture Diversification

Agriculture Diversification . Jay Davison, Area Specialist University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension Fallon, Nevada. Why Diversify into Alternative Crops?. Hays are 92% of all crops grown in Nevada High risks related to market and pests Water is more limiting (economics and political)

nysa
Download Presentation

Agriculture Diversification

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Agriculture Diversification Jay Davison, Area Specialist University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension Fallon, Nevada

  2. Why Diversify into Alternative Crops? • Hays are 92% of all crops grown in Nevada • High risks related to market and pests • Water is more limiting (economics and political) • Input costs are increasing while prices are static

  3. Feasibility Analysis Steps for Alternative Crops • Marketing analysis • Crop environmental requirements vs. site characteristics

  4. Examples of Alternative Crops Currently Grown in NV • Wine grapes • Poplar trees • Nursery stock (shrubs & trees) • Teff

  5. Wine Grapes • Reduced water use • Higher income potential

  6. Frey Vineyard Project • Assembled a team of interested people (Producers, Businessmen Researchers, Extension, Community Members) • Attended wine grape production class • Built community support with public presentations • Pursued outside funding

  7. July 1, 2001Planting

  8. 2005

  9. Hybrid Poplar Trees • Market is growing for various wood products and bio-fuels in US • Poplars successfully grown in Nevada for years (homeowners) • Cheap and easy to test/grow ($.20/cutting) • Real Diversification; forestry vs. farming

  10. 25’

  11. Nursery Stock • Nevada is the fastest growing state in U.S. • Nevada is one of the most urban states in U.S. • Every homeowner needs some planting stock • Almost all planting stock is grown outside Nevada

  12. Nursery Stock Trial 2001 • Planted 24 varieties (bareroot) March 2001 • Expanded trial to 4 acres in 2003 • First commercial harvests in 2005 and 2006 • Appears to be a commercially profitable venture

  13. Spring 2002

  14. Tef, A New Crop for Western Nevada

  15. Tef Facts • Eragrostis tef • Annual grass (not cold tolerant) from Ethiopia • Seeds (flour) used for injera (flat bread) in Ethiopia & major U.S. cities • Source of gluten free flour • Hay is palatable, digestible, w/high energy (horse hay)

  16. More Potential New Crops • Turfgrass (sod) • Sea buckthorn • Non-gluten flours • Bio-energy crops

  17. Alternative Crops Summary • Do your homework! Markets, Crop Needs, Site Evaluation • Start small to determine crop survivability and production potential • Keep complete records on production and total costs • Expect difficulties and be persistent • Be willing to market crop directly to consumers

More Related