Nevada State Library and Archives

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agency History:

The State Board of Stock Commissioners, predecessor agency of the Nevada Department of Agriculture was created by the 1915 Nevada Legislature. Chapter 268 of the 1915 Nevada Statutes (later changed to NRS 561) established the State Board of Stock Commissioners, consisting of three members, all experienced stockmen, appointed by the governor.  The Board had control of all matters pertaining to the cattle, horse, and hog industries.  Sheep were regulated by a newly established State Board of Sheep Commissioners.

The Commissioners, in conjunction with the State Veterinary Control Service department of the University of Nevada, adopted on behalf of the state, rules and regulations of the U.S. Bureau of Animal Industry related to control and suppression of diseases in stock.  They were given the power to inspect, quarantine, and condemn cattle, horses, and hogs affected by infections or contagious diseases.  To carry out this work, the Commission was empowered to appoint inspectors as needed who were paid from a Livestock Inspection Fund, created by assessments from county taxes.

In addition to disease control, the Commission was authorized to offer and pay bounties for killing livestock predators – coyotes, wildcats/lynxes, and mountain lions.

The State Department of Agriculture as it exists today was created in 1961.  The Board of Agricultural Commissioners consists of eleven members appointed by the governor, all from different aspects of Nevada’s agricultural industry.  The duties of the board members are to:

-Report to the Governor and Legislature on all relevant matters,
-Advise the Governor and Legislature of recommended policies concerning livestock and agriculture,
-Establish policies of the Department,
-Adopt regulations as necessary and carry out provisions of laws and programs administered by the Department.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture is organized into the divisions of Administration, Animal Husbandry, Livestock Identification, Measurement Standards, Plant Industry, and Resource Protection.  The responsibilities of each include:

-Administration:  provides oversight to the Department through the Director and also related services for budgeting, financial and internal controls, accounting, facility maintenance, personnel, purchasing, and inventory management.  Some activities include the Junior Livestock Show, Nevada High School Rodeo, Medical Marijuana, and Rangeland Resources.

-Animal Husbandry:  responsible for the diagnosis and eradication of quarantinable animal diseases in cooperation with federal agencies, private veterinarians, and livestock owners.  It is also responsible for the diagnosis and control of animal diseases that are of economic or public health significance.  Some programs include Animal Diseases, Avian Flu Reports, Food Safety Lab, and Veterinary Health.

-Livestock Identification:  protects against livestock theft through recording of brands used by livestock owners in Nevada and brand inspection procedures which are required when livestock change ownership, are shipped out of state or out of a brand inspection district, or prior to slaughter.

-Measurement Standards:  includes the Bureau of Weights and Measures and the Bureau of Petroleum Technology.  Two programs include Anti-Freeze and the Metrology Lab.

-Plant Industry:  conducts cooperative programs with many agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and state, county, and city agencies.  Examples of programs include the Chemistry and Entomology Labs, Farmer’s Markets, Noxious Weeds, and Plant Nursery Programs.

-Resource Protection:  formerly the Predatory Animal and Rodent Committee, Resource Protection’s mission is to protect Nevada’s agricultural, industrial, private and natural resources, and to safeguard public health and safety.  This is accomplished through cooperative assistance in the control and prevention of damages and diseases caused or vectored by wildlife.  This committee is responsible for resolving conflicts between wildlife and livestock and protected human health and safety.  Resource Protection and the federal Wildlife Services provides direct control and technical assistance to people sustaining damage from wildlife.  Examples of programs include Wildlife Services, the National Wildlife Research Center, and Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage.

RECORDS

Nevada Department of Agriculture Records  1888-1996    99 volumes and 4.5 cubic feet

Minutes
Included are accounts of proceedings of various boards.  Arranged chronologically.

Stock Commission Board Minutes, 1915-1963  13 vols.  AGRIC-0075 – AGRIC-0087
Included are minutes of the organizational meeting, bylaws, rules and regulations, duties of officials, and accounts of business transacted.  Arranged chronologically, each volume is indexed.  The Stock Commission was renamed the State Agricultural Board in 1963 and minutes are continued under that name.

State Agricultural Board Minutes, 1963-2001  19 vols. plus 2 cu. ft.  AGRIC-0088 – AGRIC-0106; AGRIC-0107 – AGRIC-0108
Successor to the Stock Commission Board. The minutes continue to provide a record of transactions of the board meetings.  Minutes from 2003 to the present can be found on the Department’s webpage at http://agri.nv.gov/AGRI_BoardofAgArchive.htm. 

State Apiary Commission Minutes, 1921-1958  4 vol.  AGRIC-0072 – AGRIC-0074

State Rabies Commission Minutes, 1917-1927  1 vol.  AGRIC-0071

Miscellaneous Minutes  1977-2000  .5 cu. ft.  AGRIC-0109
-Alfalfa Seed Advisory Board, 1978-1989
-Grazing Board, 1977-1984
-Junior Livestock Show Board, 1977-2000
-Nevada Beef Council, 1982-1993

Account Ledgers [Receivables]  1960-1980  5 vols.  AGRIC-0002 – AGRIC-0006
Record of expenses, divided into various funds:  Animal Disease Control, Stock Commission Laboratory Fund, Stock Inspection Fund, etc.  Entries are arranged chronologically by fund.

Taxes Receivable  1975-19077  4 vols.  AGRIC-0007 – AGRIC-0009
Ledgers listing funds due from individual counties according to tax rolls.  Divided into funds:  Apiary, Beef Promotion, Livestock Inspection Tax, etc.

Quarterly Budgets  1950-1962  5 vols.  AGRIC-0010 – AGRIC-0014
Show expenses and balances.  Divided into funds/function:  State Quarantine Officer, Insect Pest Control, Experimental Fertilizer Fund, Apiary Inspection Fund, etc.

Receipts  1950-1978  35 vols.  AGRIC-0017 – AGRIC-0051
Listings of income showing amounts, sources, and fund to which credited.  Arranged chronologically.

Estray Record  1977  1 vol.  AGRIC-0052
Record of disposition of estray animals; arranged chronologically.

Vegetable Books  1954-1978  8 vols.  AGRIC-0053 – AGRIC-0060
Records of inspections of vegetable growers’ fields include name of grower, certificate number, fees, and amount of production in tons.  Arranged by type:  Potatoes, Onions, and Noxious Weeds.

Employee Records
-Payroll Records  1919-1960  4 vols.  AGRIC-0062 – AGRIC-0065
Ledgers list names of employees, amount of salary, and deductions from salary.  Arranged chronologically overall and then by fund/department such as Disease Control, Administrative.
-Appointment cards, 1943-1976  ca 100 cards.  AGRIC-0066
Divided into two categories:  “current” and “discontinued.”  Both types include name of employee or appointed official, area/county, title, and date of appointment.  “Current” cards are arranged by county and then name of employee.  “Discontinued” cards include reason for leaving and name of replacement.

Regulation Files  1990-2001  1.5 cu. ft.  AGRIC-0106 – AGRIC-0107
Proposed and adopted additions to the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) related to the Department of Agriculture.  Included are proposed additions or amendments, temporary regulations, correspondence related to NACs and information about public hearings.  Arranged chronologically.

Annual Reports, 1888-1906  8 folders  AGRIC-0001
Reports of the Nevada Agricultural Society (organized in 1888) to the governor provide information about the Society’s activities; lists of officers; financial accounts; organization and administration of state agricultural fairs; events at those fairs including prize winners; and participation in the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894.  List of reports, correspondence, and research papers.

Miscellaneous  1891-1998    1 cu. ft.  AGRIC-0001
-Livestock Dealer Bonds and Animal Industry Division history, correspondence, and reports, 1891-1996.  .5 cu. ft.
-Nevada Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division vs H. Ray Morgan dba Morgan Pest Control, Inc., hearing transcripts, 1976.  4 folders
-Beekeeper registration rosters, 1988-1998.  9 folders
List of reports, correspondence, and research papers.