1911 was a difficult year for the farmers and ranchers in Nevada. The sheep industry was just getting over a huge scabies epidemic. In 1907 it was estimated that 70% of all sheep in Nevada had scabies. In January of 1911 only 4 percent were affected. Still every Northern Nevada County was still under quarantine and strict inspections by the Nevada Sheep Commission. It might be noted that there where 361 sheep owners with 1,357,075 sheep that were sheared for nearly 8,000,000 pounds of wool annually. This amounted to approximately $2,500,000 in annual revenue making it one of the principal industries in the state.
Just when the ranchers and farmers thought they could breath easy, a new disaster was awaiting. The 1910 potato crop had been distributed to Nevadans and other westerners. 5,000 railroad cars had left the state. But the cars from one ranch were returned from Sacramento. They did not pass inspection! The potatoes from the Cordelli Ranch on the Carson River near Dayton were infected with eel worms!
Eel worms had worked their way over the ocean from Europe. Idaho had already been quarantined. When eggs are laid by the female only a small percentage hatch. It can take up to 20 years before the last batch of eggs will hatch. It seems that California did not want this problem in their state and were threatening to quarantine Nevada potatoes like they had already done with Idaho spuds.
Nevada ranchers warned the legislature to do something about this. They would be ruined if legislation wasn’t enacted to provide funding for some type of inspection system and preventative education.
That was in February. As far as I can tell the legislature did not act and by March all potatoes from Nevada were quarantined by the California government.
In steps the University. [Things must have been different in those days. University professors did their research on matters that would directly help the local populace. Even the President of the University would get involved.]
Just when the ranchers and farmers thought they could breath easy, a new disaster was awaiting. The 1910 potato crop had been distributed to Nevadans and other westerners. 5,000 railroad cars had left the state. But the cars from one ranch were returned from Sacramento. They did not pass inspection! The potatoes from the Cordelli Ranch on the Carson River near Dayton were infected with eel worms!
Eel worms had worked their way over the ocean from Europe. Idaho had already been quarantined. When eggs are laid by the female only a small percentage hatch. It can take up to 20 years before the last batch of eggs will hatch. It seems that California did not want this problem in their state and were threatening to quarantine Nevada potatoes like they had already done with Idaho spuds.
Nevada ranchers warned the legislature to do something about this. They would be ruined if legislation wasn’t enacted to provide funding for some type of inspection system and preventative education.
That was in February. As far as I can tell the legislature did not act and by March all potatoes from Nevada were quarantined by the California government.
In steps the University. [Things must have been different in those days. University professors did their research on matters that would directly help the local populace. Even the President of the University would get involved.]
On May 7, 1911 the University had four professors working on a solution to the problem. An article in the Nevada State Journal reports that what at one time may have been a serious outbreak will [their word] be repressed by the method being taught by the university.
This method starts with the importance of using clean seed in the infected areas. The university also released a journal that would help farmers recognize any signs of the eel worm. It was written by professors Doten and Frandsen. An Italian version of the journal was being prepared by Marie Trosi. Professors Dinsmore and Miles Kennedy travelled through the suspected infected areas informing the farmers of precautions to take. They reported that the farmers seem to be well aware of the dangers of this pest and are willing to do what it takes to protect their crop.
An article three days later expounds on the steps the university is taking. The experimental station is working on the origin of the much talked about worm. Professor Dinsmore surmises that the eel worm comes from ground where potatoes have been grown for many years. [Crop rotation is still a major way to fight this pest today.]
It also noted that Professor Dinsmore had just returned from a two week trip to Mason Valley where he could find no traces of the worm.
The article does go on to say that the infestation is relatively new in Nevada, but other states including California which - the quarantine on Nevada potatoes - have a much greater spread of the pest.
Still there was no help for the Nevada farmer. Their major market, California, was still cut off from them. Then on November 28, 1911 this headline splashed across the Nevada State Journal.
This method starts with the importance of using clean seed in the infected areas. The university also released a journal that would help farmers recognize any signs of the eel worm. It was written by professors Doten and Frandsen. An Italian version of the journal was being prepared by Marie Trosi. Professors Dinsmore and Miles Kennedy travelled through the suspected infected areas informing the farmers of precautions to take. They reported that the farmers seem to be well aware of the dangers of this pest and are willing to do what it takes to protect their crop.
An article three days later expounds on the steps the university is taking. The experimental station is working on the origin of the much talked about worm. Professor Dinsmore surmises that the eel worm comes from ground where potatoes have been grown for many years. [Crop rotation is still a major way to fight this pest today.]
It also noted that Professor Dinsmore had just returned from a two week trip to Mason Valley where he could find no traces of the worm.
The article does go on to say that the infestation is relatively new in Nevada, but other states including California which - the quarantine on Nevada potatoes - have a much greater spread of the pest.
Still there was no help for the Nevada farmer. Their major market, California, was still cut off from them. Then on November 28, 1911 this headline splashed across the Nevada State Journal.
Joseph Stubbs, University President and the California state commissioner of horticulture, A. J. Cook, had reached an agreement that would allow the Nevada potatoes to find a market. The agreement simply states:
1. Potatoes grown in the affected areas of Nevada are still quarantined
2. If the University authorizes the potatoes to be free of the eel worm, the state of California will accept those potatoes
3. California has the right to refuse any load of potatoes that are affected.
Now the paper on the second page finishes the story. A. J. Cook has authorized B. L. Crawford of Yerington to perform the inspections. [I will assume that Stubbs and the university had suggested this person.] Mason Valley growers have already placed $500 in the bank to guarantee his salary and President Stubbs is asking Fallon, Dayton, and Reno farmers to do the same. His signature will guarantee that any carload of potatoes will not be inspected upon arrival.
The signature line in the letter also gives us another answer. Why was President Stubbs particularly is involved. He is a commissioner for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
* Nevada State Journal
* Reno Evening Gazette
1. Potatoes grown in the affected areas of Nevada are still quarantined
2. If the University authorizes the potatoes to be free of the eel worm, the state of California will accept those potatoes
3. California has the right to refuse any load of potatoes that are affected.
Now the paper on the second page finishes the story. A. J. Cook has authorized B. L. Crawford of Yerington to perform the inspections. [I will assume that Stubbs and the university had suggested this person.] Mason Valley growers have already placed $500 in the bank to guarantee his salary and President Stubbs is asking Fallon, Dayton, and Reno farmers to do the same. His signature will guarantee that any carload of potatoes will not be inspected upon arrival.
The signature line in the letter also gives us another answer. Why was President Stubbs particularly is involved. He is a commissioner for the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
* Nevada State Journal
* Reno Evening Gazette