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Great Basin Plant Materials Center Dedicated
Great Basin Plant Materials Center service area |
About 80 Federal, State, and local officials recently gathered on the grounds of
the Newlands, Nevada, Experimental Farm to participate in a groundbreaking
ceremony for the new Great Basin NRCS Plant Materials Center (PMC) and to
observe the official transfer of the farm from the University of Nevada – Reno’s
(UNR) College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources to NRCS. Dean
David Thawley from UNR turned over the facility to Nevada NRCS State
Conservationist Richard Vigil. This newest facility is the 27th NRCS PMC in the
U.S.
The PMC will provide native plant species for rehabilitating and restoring lands
following fires and drought conditions characteristic of the Great Basin area of
Nevada. Previously, Nevada was serviced by a center in Aberdeen, Idaho, which
covered parts of Idaho, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Utah. The new Fallon
center will cover a majority of Nevada plus parts of Oregon and California and
small pockets of western Utah.
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, the keynote speaker at the event, emphasized that the PMC
will replenish vegetation, expand the economy, and help provide alternative
sources of energy for a Nevada that has changed in the face of drought, wildfires, and invasive plant species. "This is something we've
needed for a long time. We need to fight back against drought, invasive species, and
wildfires," he said.
(from left) Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment Mark Rey, U.S. Senator Harry Reid, UNR College of Agriculture
Dean David Thawley, U.S. Forest Service Acting Forest Supervisor Ed Monnig,
Nevada NRCS State Conservationist Richard Vigil, Bureau of Land Management
State Director Ron Wenker, and Churchill County Commissioner Norm Frey
plant wild rye grass at the PMC dedication ceremony |
The NRCS took over management of the farm in June 2006 and has already planted 67
varieties of poplar trees for a biofuel study. (from a Lahonton Valley News
story by Christy Lattin)
Your contact is Liz Warner,
NRCS public affairs specialist, at 775-857-8500 ext. 105.
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