Nevada Guard unit to teach ag practices in Afghanistan

Central Nevada's agriculture industry has become the new training ground for the National Guard's deployment to Afghanistan later this summer.

Instead of fighting the enemy with guns and bullets, a 64-member Agribusiness Development Team consisting of Nevada National Guard soldiers and airmen will assist Afghan farmers to become more proficient with the land.

"Our intent is to show them better techniques with agriculture and livestock production," said Lt. Col. Bart O'Toole, team leader for agriculture. "We'll supervise the implementation of programs and train."

O'Toole, a Fallon resident and longtime rancher who has been deployed 10 times since 9/11 to Iraq and Afghanistan, said his team has received much hands-on training since the unit formed several months ago.

Each one of the 11 agriculture specialists interviewed for a position on the ADT. The specialists were recruited based on their background in irrigation, pest management, animal husbandry, forestry and veterinary science. At least half the unit consists of a security force.

After completing its statewide training, the ADT flies to Afghanistan in August to begin its year-long mission.

Since the ADT's formation, teams of Nevada airmen and soldiers have traveled to Southern California and attended instruction in Reno and Churchill County to become more familiar with a plethora of agriculture-

related jobs.

UNCE, Guard team up

First, members visited the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension where they picked up tips on various aspects of agriculture. UNCE, an outreach of the university, brings information to those who need to solve problems and deal with critical issues in agriculture, community development, health and nutrition, horticulture and natural resources.

O'Toole said UNCE is providing experts back in Nevada, to include Sue Donaldson, a weed and water quality expert in Washoe County; Bob Morris, a horticulturist and irrigation expert in Las Vegas; and Wally Miller, a soils expert from the University of Nevada, Reno's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science.

Air Guard Staff Sgt. Eric Ritter once served as a mass communications specialist for Naval Air Station Fallon before leaving the Navy and joining the National Guard. Like the others, he has volunteered for the one-year tour.

"Our job is to help these farmers get back into production and in doing that, help legitimize the Afghan government," said Ritter. "After 30 years of war, many of these people need to regain the ability to grow the foods they were world famous for like almonds and pomegranates."

According to the UNCE, the Pentagon sees efforts like this by Cooperative Extension and the Nevada Air and Army National Guard as essential to stabilizing the Afghanistan economy and returning the country to self sufficiency.

"In 2007 we realized you can't win a war through guns alone; now it's time to turn toward the heart and minds of the people," Ritter said. "As Gen. Stanley McChrystal (recently ousted commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan) said, "We can't fight our way out of Afghanistan, we have to farm our way out.'"

O'Toole said guardsmen will spend most of their time in Logar Province, an area with a climate similar to Nevada's.

"The similarities between the two areas will help us apply what we've learned about irrigation and growing things here in Nevada to the farms there in Afghanistan," Donaldson said. "So when the team there runs into any questions or problems, they can contact us and we'll help them work through any obstacles they encounter."

UNCE said Morris has traveled to Afghanistan's northern neighbor, Tajikistan, where he assisted farmers with drip irrigation of fruit and vine crops and helped organize farmer cooperatives and water user associations.

"I enjoy being thrown a curve ball and having to figure out the best way to approach a particular problem," said Morris, who traveled to Tajikistan under the United States Agency for International Development's Farmer-to-Farmer Program. "It's a mind challenge."

Tapping into the dairy industry

Although the hilly terrain and dry climate of central Nevada mirrors most of Afghanistan, the sophistication of Nevada's dairy industry could become an integral part of the Nevada National Guard's success.

Dairy farmer Eric Olsen, whose spread consists of more than 2,000 cows, assisted in the training that dealt with many facets of the dairy operation.

"They're learning the system," Olsen said, "from how to best handle the cows to knowing more about sanitary issues."

On the farming side, Olsen said guardsmen are learning the importance of growing better feed for the cows, which, he said, will lead to better production. Olsen, who comes from a long line of milk producers, applauds the National Guard for its initiative to teach the Afghan farmers better techniques.

"I appreciate what the guard is doing for us," Olsen said.

Although Olsen operates one of the largest dairy ranches in the state, O'Toole said the concepts are similar to what the ADT will find in Afghanistan.

"This is a high-tech dairy, but we have broken down the training to a low-tech operation ... the little things," he said. "We'll take a system that works here, simplify it and take it there."

Olsen concurred.

"We've discussed the simple ways to increase production."

Spc. Christina Gonzales, a veterinarian technician from Las Vegas, soaked up as much learning as she could from Olsen and his dairymen. For example, he advised her to evaluate the livestock, establish a vaccination and deworming program for parasites once she arrives in Afghanistan and begin working with local farmers.

"You will soon learn what works and doesn't work in the ag environment in Afghanistan," he said.

That information was also disseminated when ADT members recently visited California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

Gonzales, though, is anxious to expand her knowledge in Afghanistan. The California State University Chico graduate has been a vet tech for seven years and a member of the Nevada Army National Guard for 18 months. She said she is happy to be a part of the ADT, but it was by accident Gonzales found out about the ADT.

"Colonel O'Toole asked me why I wasn't on his team," she said.

Now, she is certain her veterinarian experience helped her earn a spot.

Irrigation challenges in arid terrain

O'Toole said irrigation will also be challenge in Afghanistan. Approximately 80 percent of the people use 15 percent of the land for farming and livestock. He said water is a major issue with crops and animals. For example, O'Toole is very familiar with the various irrigation systems found in central Nevada, considering his family has owned a ranch in the Reese River area for many generations.

"This is the closest irrigation system we have to Afghanistan," O'Toole said.

O'Toole explained while much of the irrigation system has been modernized, he said certain areas still have primitive irrigation because of the land or availability of water.

According to Donaldson, Logar is a relatively flat river valley surrounded by rugged mountains and laced with underground irrigation and canal works known as karez. She said say the karez system in the valley has been heavily damaged over the years and needs to be cleaned out to restore the flow of groundwater to local fields.

Once the ADT arrives in country, O'Toole said they will have an aggressive training schedule ranging from goat and sheep breeding in the fall to orchard management in the winter to planting and growing crops in the spring.

"Robust training is needed for a growing system," O'Toole said, adding that a sustainable agriculture program will help the Afghans become more independent.

Knowing basic animal husbandry

Dr. David Faught, a large-animal veterinarian with Lahontan Valley Veterinary Clinic south of Fallon, gave five guardsmen an intensive two-day course on animal husbandry. His instruction centered on animal health and situations the ADT may encounter.

"Husbandry is pretty primitive over there," Faught said. "We need to keep it to simple husbandry."

During the two days Faught spent with the guardsmen, they visited the dairy in the morning and his clinic in the afternoon. He showed them how to examine horses and livestock, keep records and euthanize, something he said guardsmen could encounter frequently. During one afternoon session, Faught put an old horse down because it was emaciated and in poor health.

Once in Afghanistan, those assigned to monitor the health of the horses and livestock will still be able to tap into Faught's expertise. For example, Faught said if the Guard sends him information and photos, he will be able to offer advice on how to handle a certain situation.

"The main thing is they will be able to e-mail us with any problems," Faught said. "I also gave them access to online training videos that cover simple procedures."

Overall, Faught said Gonzales' experience as a vet tech is extensive and will be a plus for the National Guard.

"She will be the primary source on the front," Faught said.

First Sgt. Shane Jensen of Fallon has taken leave from Nevada Army National Guard's 609th Combat Engineer Co. He will serve as the ADT's pest specialist although he spent time shadowing Faught.

"They wanted someone with farming and a ranch background. I applied and was interviewed," said Jensen, who grew up on ranches in Wyoming and South Dakota.

Neverthless, he is also looking forward to this deployment because the mission will help the Afghan people become more productive with their land.

"This one is not based on fighting but based on agriculture, the development of the country," he said. "We'll farm the Taliban out of there and make these folks successful."