NAF News

DEDICATED TO NEV. AGRICULTURE

"My goal was to convince Nevada ranchers and farmers that the College of Agriculture was a part of their agricultural family," said Dr. Dale W. Bohmont, "and one way of doing this was to open the Ag. College doors to them. We welcomed them and asked 'what can we do to help you?' " Bohmont served as Dean and Director of the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Agriculture from 1963 to 1982, a period of increasing enrollments in the College and notable progress in both the research and Cooperative Extension areas. He also presided over and promoted the gifting and donations, mostly in properties, of millions of dollars to the University.

Bohmont began his career at UNR with the above goal in mind and a firm conviction that a College of Agriculture should make the agricutural industry its first priority, especially in the state where the college was located. He wanted to reach out to the food producers, educating their children, finding answers to their problems through research and communicating this knowledge via extension programs. This was his first job as an Ag. College Dean. Previously, he had taught in the Plant Science Department at the University of Wyoming advancing to head that Department, and was Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State University.

April of 2005, Bohmont was presented the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno. It honored his 42 years dedicated to Nevada Agriculture as Dean of the College and later as a long term supporter of the industry. He has achieved much of what he set out to do. Included in his support for Nevada agriculture is the role he played in creation of the Nevada Agricultural Foundation (NAF) and in its progress over the past 30 years. Bohmont teamed with alumni of the UNR Ag College back in 1976 to form NAF. He has served the Foundation in a number of ways from Board member to consultant and advisor. Currently he is the Organizational Advisor to NAF and Foundation patriarch.

When Bohmont arrived in Reno to assume leadership of the Ag. College, he ascertained three major areas in which to focus and which would advance his idea of becoming intregal to helping Nevada ranchers and farmers. These included encouraging participation by more producing agriculturists in College programs, increasing student enrollment in the College and accelerating research, particularly that termed "applied research" directly aimed at local agricultural problems. "There was a functioning Citizen's Advisory Board to the College when I arrived," Bohmont said, "but I felt it could be expanded to better represent the State geographically and by commodity. More voices from producers meant better information for us relative to the status of Nevada ranching and farming. It also would acquaint more with the College." Bohmont went further than increasing Citizen's Advisory Board members. He formed sub-committees of Board members and others to advise in specific areas and added regional advisory groups to provide input on each of the College's research stations or field laboratories. County Cooperative Extension citizen advisory groups were enhanced. "I realized, too," Bohmont said, "that as time went by the College Citizen Advisory Board members were getting older. I didn't want to lose their experience and wisdom but felt we needed representation from some of the younger ranchers and farmers. We then created a Senior Advisory Board thus retaining the older members. As they joined the Senior group it allowed us to fill their vacancies with younger people. Ultimately we involved a lot of ag. producers and associated persons, that is people in the general community interested in aspects of agriculture including natural resources, wildlife and the environment."

Providing additional recognition to producing agriculturists as well as others who supported the industry in one way or another, Bohmont inaugurated in 1967 the annual "Nevada's Outstanding Agriculturist" award. Winners included producers like Carl Dodge of Fallon and Bob Thomas of Paradise Valley along with supporters like John Ascuaga of Sparks and Arvin Boerlin of Reno. Indeed, it was this program that would lead later to the 2005 award to Bohmont.

"Programs eminating from the Ag. College then and through these citizen groups extended over the 110,000 square miles of the State and covered the areas of agriculture, resource management, home economics, family life, rural development and 4-H and youth," Bohmont noted. While much of the College's efforts related to agriculture, Cooperative Extension programs and associated research in areas of family life, youth, urban livestock and horticulture were conducted in the Reno and Las Vegas areas as well.

Enrollments in the College increased from 70 in 1963 to 700 in 1979. Bohmont initiated a variety of recruitment approaches to accomplish this. Alpha Zeta is an honorary agricultural fraternity and had a chapter on the UNR campus. Bohmont thought an ideal activity for the fraternity would be to send out teams each year to visit high schools throughout the State. Their goal was to create interest in the Ag College. It was felt the high schoolers would identify with the young college students. Bohmont, too, visited high schools each year meeting with faculty and advisors. He talked to students about the opportunities offered by the Ag. College. He also gave commencement addresses. Bohmont recognized the value of hosting at UNR statewide conventions or contests for such agricultural youth organizations as 4-H and FFA (Future farmers of America.) The College annually hosted the State FFA Convention and Contests, the State 4-H Competitons, and the Nevada Junior Livestock Show for both 4-H and FFA. Those participating were thus introduced to the College.

"Calves For College" was the inventive outcome of Bohmont pondering with his staff ways that funds could be generated for additional scholarship support to attract prospective enrollees. The idea of "Calves For College" was to solicit donations of a calf from individual farmers and ranchers in the State. The calves given the College would then be fed out to market weights at the University's Main Station Agricultural Experiment Station in Reno and sold. Sales profits went into a scholarship fund. "When we began the program," Bohmont said, "those who donated gave us whatever calf was available. However, part of the plan was to hold an annual barbeque to honor the donors. We also showed them the finished (sales ready) calves at that time. We didn't anticipate what happened. Donors began comparing their calves with others and, by golly, a competition arose and we were getting high quality animals." Bohmont continued, " much of the success of 'Calves for College' was due to Art Cerefoglio, our Main Station foreman, who knew many ranchers in the State and was able to generate lots of donations." Along with this scholarship fund, Fleischmann scholarships were increased and later the Nevada Agricultural Foundation was formed as another educational grant source.

A broad curriculum in the College that had been expanded by Bohmont also attracted students. This enabled them to meet required courses needed for employment both by private industry or for government jobs. If, for example, they wanted to be an agronomist, animal geneticist or a vocational agricultural teacher they were able to take courses to satisfy requirements. Also added were two year degree choices in Agricultural Mechanics, Ranch Management, and Turf Management. These served students who wanted training in these specific areas but were not interested in the four year degree programs. Four year curriculums leading to degrees or meeting employment criteria uncluded Plant, Soil and Water Science; Animal Sciences; Integrated Pest Management; Pre-veterinary; Biochemistry; Agricultural and Resource Economics; Renewable Natural Resources; Range, Wildlife and Forestry Management; and Vocational Education.

Basic research or that which could have application anywhere was underway when Bohmont was hired. He expanded such endeavers while significantly increasing "applied research." The College cooperating with the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, for example, developed both the Lahontan and Moapa varieties of alfalfa designed to adapt to arid, high desert (in the case of Moapa, hot desert) environments and were superior varieties for similar areas anywhere in the world. During Bohmont's tenure these varieties and others were bred with pest and disease resistance attributes. Such plants were resistant to spotted and pea aphid, root knot nematodes and other maladies. Among ways to naturally protect plants against pests and diseases, without use of pesticides or herbicides, is built in resistances. So far, this has been one of the best approaches. The general public would be amazed to know how many research efforts to avoid chemicals have been undertaken by Ag. Colleges and Biochemistry scientists across the country over the past 40 years. There has been little success. A major reason is cost effectiveness. If the price of corn, say is $3.00 per bushel but a "natural method" of pest control increases that price to $8.00 per bushel consumers will not buy it. There are also a variety of other reasons but space will not permit detailing.

Another example of UNR Ag. College Biochemical research that attracted worldwide attention was experimentation on creosote bush derivatives that inhibited cancer cell development. This study was initiated based on use of the creosote bush tea that exhibited healing power for native Americans. The cancer inhibitors of the bush were isolated in the UNR research and early studies with animals indicated success and speculation followed. Colorado based Chemex Corporation contracted for exclusive rights to study data. However, when humans were included in the studies results were inconclusive.

Other examples of research areas having local and regional importance were: Animal Ag.., - livestock nutrition, increasing milk production, Molybdenosis control, Monitoring radio active fallout (nuclear tests in Nevada), Grass Tetany control, and Anaplasmosis in Nevada; - Plant Sciences, - crop water requirements, soil fertility, invasive weed control; - Resource Management, - remote sensing, range rehabilitation, movement of water through soil strata, forest revegetation, deer food habits, desert bighorn health, and fish whirling disease control; - Agricultural and Resource Economics - rural economic development, Economics of Nevada ranching, and outdoor recreation contributions to the State's economy; - Biochemical, - (along with that already mentioned) Pesticide toxicity, and trace element inportance; - and Home Economics,- child development, family well being, food and nutrition, and clothing and textiles.

Experimentation and research in the applied category primarily involved crop variety testing, soils studies, irrigation or crop water needs, alternate crops for high desert environments, pest control especially where alfalfa was involved, crop cultural practices and animal management. The bulk of this work was done at the College's Agricultural Field Laboratories or Experiment Stations located at various locations throughout the State. It was in this area of acquiring such stations, mostly, where Bohmont explained that $18 million dollars worth of property, buildings etc. were accumulated without any costs to Nevada taxpayers. In his book, "Golden Years of Agriculture in Nevada" Bohmont details how this was done.

When Bohmont became Dean existing Field Laboratories included Valley Road, The Main Station and Ladino Dairy in Reno; the Newlands Experiment station in Fallon, and the Knoll Creek Station in northeastern Elko County. Field Labs added under his watch were the Southern Nevada in Logandale, Central Nevada near Austin, Gund Ranch in Grass Valley, S Bar S Ranch near Wadsworth, and the Holly Park in Pahrump. All of these were the results of donations.

Bohmont grew up in Wheatland, Wyoming, the son of a ranching family. He attended local school and saw World War II U.S. Army Air Force Service 1942-45. He attended the University of Wyoming receiving a BS degree in 1948 and an MS degee in 1950. Both were in agricultural curriculums. His Ph.D was earned at the University of Nebraska in 1952 and a M.P.A. at Harvard followed in 1959. He first worked as a public school teacher 1941-42 in Rock River, Wyoming and then as previously noted head of Plant Sciences, U. Of Wyoming and as Associate Director of the Colorado State Ag. College Experiment Station.

Taking a Leave of Absence from UNR 1968-69, Bohmont worked with the Resource Development Corporation as an agricultural consultant especially in areas of arid lands agriculture in Turkey, Iran and Australia. He passed on modern agricultural technology enabling these countries to improve their food production.

Bohmont is a member of a number of agricultural scientific organizations and honorary societies. He has written many articles for scientific journals and his book, "Golden Years of Agriculture in Nevada" is in its second printing.

His wife Marilyn passed away earlier this year. He has two sons Dennis and Craig.

FOOTNOTE - Dale W. Bohmont died March 5, 2006. He was 83 years old.

Dale W. Bohmont, former Dean and Director of the College Of Agriculture, University of Nevada, Reno. Bohmont is a strong supporter of Nevada Agriculture and has been recognized for his efforts.

Dale Bohmont (right) confers with financier George Gund III owner of the Gund Ranch in Grass Valley, Central Nevada. Gund donated the ranch, 1973, to the University. Dr. Tony Lesperance,(left) Ag. College faculty at the time, was named to manage the ranch.

Cattle involved in crossbreeding studies at the UNR Ag. College's Main Station Experimental Farm in Reno are checked by Bohmont. This was during a routine assessment of various Ag. College research efforts.

Well known Nevada agriculturists review research underway at the Central Nevada Agricultural Field Laboratory in Reese River Valley near Austin. This was during a field day at the facility in the late 1960's. Standing (left to right) Royal Crook, Fallon; Teleford Work, Los Angeles who donated the property to the University; Lee Renfro, Austin; and Norman Brown, Smith Valley. Kneeling (left to right)an unidentified Diamond Valley rancher and Bohmont.

Nevada Governor, Mike O'Callahan, (right) signs 1975 Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Day Proclamation. Bohmont (left) and an unindentified Ag. College student presented the Proclamation to the Governor.