Synopsis: The Food Distribution Program provides US Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodity foods to schools, senior centers, Indian Reservations, food banks, and other eligible agencies and individuals in Nevada. The program also provides food packages to women, infants, and children. Low income senior citizens may also obtain food packages and coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers' markets. The food distribution program serves approximately 210 agencies and ten Indian Reservations throughout the state. Statutory Authority: NRS 333 and Federal Regulations 7CFR part 247, 249 and 250-253.

Synopsis: The National School Lunch Act of 1946 and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 allot federal funds to Nevada for the nutrition programs. The federal allotment for each program sponsor is based on a formula that may consider meal costs or budgets, the number of individuals served, and the income level of those individuals. Sponsors are reimbursed monthly at a unit cost for each meal/milk served. The state funding is used to meet the state maintenance of effort and match requirements. The required state match is included in the Distributive School Account, budget account 2610. This budget also provides the funding needed to administer these programs, including processing payments, monitoring services provided by the program sponsors, and providing technical assistance and professional development to the sponsors. Authority: P.L. 79-396; CFDA#'s: 10.553, School Breakfast Program; 10.555, National School Lunch Program; 10.556, Special Milk Program for Children; 10.558, Child and Adult Care Food Program; 10.559, Summer Food Service Program for Children; 10.560, State Administrative Expenses for Child Nutrition.

Synopsis: The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) regulates public companies engaged in: electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and sewer services; gas and electric master meter service at mobile home parks; and some propane systems. In addition, it monitors gas pipeline and railroad safety. Statutory Authority: NRS 703-705, 704A, 705B, 707-710.

Synopsis: To encourage and assist in the responsible exploration for and the production of minerals, oil, gas, and geothermal energy which are economically beneficial to the state. Statutory Authority: NRS 513, Commission on Mineral Resources, Division of Minerals; NRS 517, Mining Claims, Mill Sites, and Tunnel Rights; NRS 519A, Reclamation of Land Subject to Mining Operations or Exploration Projects; NRS 522, Oil and Gas; NRS 534A, Geothermal Resources.

Synopsis: The Dairy Commission is dedicated to assuring the availability of wholesome, nutritious dairy products and to promoting a business climate that is economically viable for those who produce, process, and market dairy products in the State of Nevada.

Synopsis: The Plant Health and Quarantine Services budget supports the plant pathology, entomology, and quarantine programs which prevent the entry and establishment of economically damaging pests and plant diseases in Nevada. Monitoring, surveillance, early detection, and rapid response activities are conducted. The agriculture representative on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team is also supported. Statutory Authority: NRS 561, 552, 554, 555.

Synopsis: The Agricultural Registration and Enforcement Account supports the registration, inspection, sampling and laboratory analysis of fertilizers and pesticides; inspection, certification, and licensing of: nursery stock dealers, organic producers and processors, export producers and processors, seed producers, pest control operators, restricted use pesticide applicators, and weed free forage producers. Under a US Environmental Protection Agency cooperative agreement the following are conducted: pesticide product inspection, monitoring pesticide application, ground water sampling, worker protection, and pesticide disposal. This budget also supports the rangeland health, noxious weed, and vertebrate pest control programs. Statutory Authority: NRS 561, 555, 556, 576, 586, 587, 588.

Synopsis: The Division of Livestock Inspection is responsible by statute for protecting livestock owners from theft or loss of livestock, introduction of diseased animals, and unfair business practices. This is accomplished by enforcing the mandated statutes of inspection and registration of brands; returning estrays; and the licensing of livestock and agricultural dealers, agents, buyers, and public sale yards. The division also investigates livestock thefts and enforces all livestock laws with a road interdiction program to prevent the ingress/egress of livestock that have not met the mandated requirements of both animal health and livestock identification. Ultimately, the division protects major food sources within the State of Nevada. Additionally, the division provides certified peace officers whose function is to enforce all livestock laws and animal health requirements with the road interdiction program in the absence of permanent ports of entry at Nevada border crossings. The division cooperates with other states to help with the enforcement of their livestock laws. Statutory Authority: NRS 561, 564, 565, 575, 571, 554, and 587.

Synopsis: The Veterinary Medical Services account is responsible for the implementation of regulatory veterinary programs and disease surveillance programs. The agency establishes protective health requirements for domestic and wild animals moving into and within the state; monitors regulatory compliance; tests specimens and animals for diseases of economic and public health significance; and conducts animal disease surveillance for known and emerging diseases in domestic and wild animals. Statutory Authority: NRS 561, 571, 576, and NAC 441A.

Synopsis: The powers and duties of the Consumer Equitability Program are mandated in NRS Chapters 581, 582, and 590. The state sealer of Consumer Equitability, the Department Director, is directed to license, test, and deem correct all commercially used weighing and measuring devices. The agency obtains samples of motor fuels and delivers them to the petroleum chemists for analysis. If any violations are noted in the device inspections, packaging, scanners, or motor fuel, the inspectors take regulatory action to obtain compliance. The agency also maintains the metrology lab which houses the state standards for mass, length, and volume. The meteorologist certifies the field standards used by Consumer Equitability inspectors and registered service agents. Public weigh masters certify weight information for a fee and require a license as specified by the agency. The agency inspects scales and audits weigh tickets for compliance per NRS Chapter 582. The inspection of the advertising and labeling of motor fuel dispensers, storage tanks, and quality of the fuels is covered in the petroleum act as cited in NRS Chapter 590. The responsibility of this agency also includes the inspection of packaged goods to determine whether the stated amounts, sizes, pricing, etc. are correct. Additionally, state law mandates the adoption of standards relating to fuel used in internal combustion engines and to test fuel against acceptable standards to ensure clean burning, high quality motor fuel. In order to enforce these standards, fuel sampling is conducted throughout the state. Inspectors then investigate any possible violations. Statutory Authority: NRS 590.010 through NRS 590.150.

Synopsis: The Pest, Plant Disease, and Weed Control Program provides for the survey and control of species that cause detrimental economic, environmental, and public health effects. Statutory Authority: NRS 554, 555, 561, and 587

Synopsis: This agency provides oversight and guidance to all programs and activities within the Department of Agriculture. The Board of Agriculture, consisting of eleven members representing various aspects of agricultural and related industries, sets policy for the department, and the Director of the Department administers the set policies. The account also provides accounting, payroll, personnel, fiscal, planning, and other support services to the department. Statutory Authority: NRS 561.

Synopsis: This account contains activities related to the survey, suppression, and control of Mormon Crickets and Rangeland Grasshoppers on public and private lands. Funding is provided by the US Department of Agriculture, and supports seasonal positions and related operations and equipment.

Synopsis: NRS 567.010-090 authorizes the State Predatory Animal and Rodent Committee (PARC) to cooperate with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the control of predatory animals, crop-destroying birds, and rodents within the State of Nevada. PARC and the USDA collectively form the Nevada Wildlife Services Program (WS). The WS also works cooperatively with the Nevada Department of Wildlife to conduct predation damage management projects to protect Nevada's natural resources such as mule deer, sage grouse, and bighorn sheep and helps protect the public from large predators such as mountain lions, black bears, and coyotes. The mission of the WS is to provide leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. WS recognizes that wildlife is an important public resource greatly valued by the people of Nevada. By its very nature, however, wildlife is a highly dynamic and mobile resource that can damage agricultural and industrial resources, pose risks to human health and safety, and affect other natural resources. The program carries out the state and federal responsibility for helping to solve problems that occur when human activity and wildlife are in conflict with one another. Statutory Authority: The Animal Damage Control Act of March 2, 1931, as amended (46 Stat. 1486; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b) and the Rural Development, Agriculture and related agencies Appropriation Act, 1988 (P.L. 100-202) authorizes the USDA's Wildlife Services program to form cooperative programs with state agencies.