About Nevada Agricultural Statistics
Nevada Agricultural Statistics located in Reno, Nevada is
the Nevada field office of USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS). NASS is the official statistical
agency of the United States Department of Agriculture with
the mission to serve the United States, its agriculture,
and its rural communities by providing meaningful, accurate,
and objective statistical information and services. Nevada
Agricultural Statistics operates with assistance and cooperation
from the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the College
of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology of University
About Nevada Agriculture
Agriculture often goes largely unnoticed behind the glare
of casinos and tourist attractions in Nevada, and most of
it cannot be seen from the interstate highways. Farming and
ranching, however, provide a cornerstone to the economies
of many of Nevada’s rural communities and greatly enhance
the aesthetics of life near the urban areas. Farming is concentrated
in valleys where water is available for irrigation, while
vast rangelands and mountains provide grazing for livestock.
Range livestock production is predominate in Nevada with
well over half of the farms raising cattle or sheep. The
highest concentrations of cattle are in the northern part
of the State. Cow-calf operations are most common type of
operation and Elko county ranks among the leading counties
in the Nation in number of beef cows. Northern Nevada is
also home to the vast majority of the sheep.
Dairying is a growing industry in the State, as is the manufacture
of dairy products. The dairies are concentrated in the vicinity
of the large market centers of Las Vegas and Reno. Horses
are big business in Nevada, both for work and pleasure. Swine
production is limited and most producers market locally.
Other livestock enterprises, including goats, emu, and llama,
are becoming more common.
Nevada’s high desert climate is very well suited to
the production of high quality alfalfa hay and alfalfa hay
accounts for over half of the total value of crops produced
in the State. Much of the alfalfa is marketed to dairies
in California and a significant quantity is exported overseas.
A variety of other high value crops are gaining in importance
to Nevada agriculture. Potatoes, onions, garlic, grain, and
seed crops contribute greatly to the total value of production.
Across Nevada lie valleys rich in agricultural resources:
most unseen from the interstate highways.