Not a good alfalfa farming year for Nevada’s Sen. Heller
WASHINGTON — It was a down year for the alfalfa farm owned in Nevada by Sen. Dean Heller.
Heller reported $13,545 in hay sales off the family property in Smith Valley in 2012, a drop from $34,110 the year before.
A financial disclosure report the Nevada Republican filed with the U.S. Senate this month suggested in a notation the “Heller Hay Farm” had a loss for 2012. The senator’s office could not immediately explain.
Heller and his wife, Lynne, bought a home and land totaling 37.6 acres in 2010 in the Lyon County farm valley, and grow on 21.4 acres. The income supplements Heller’s annual $174,000 salary as a U.S. senator, and investment income from family partnerships.
The Senate on Wednesday made public annual financial reports for senators that include the general value of their assets and debts, and their financial transactions during the previous year.
Reports for House members are scheduled to be released on June 14.
Heller reported he and his wife have a money market savings account holding between $250,000 and $500,000. He also reported savings accounts and insurance policies in the name of their children.
A former Nevada legislator and secretary of state, Heller also has retirement accounts with the state of Nevada and the federal government valued at between $100,000 and $200,000.
Lynne Heller has a 13.82 percent stake in a maiden family partnership that holds California municipal bonds that were valued at $1.6 million at the end of 2012. The investments generated $62,162 income although it was not detailed much went to the Heller family.
Lynne Heller also had a 6.91 percent participation in a second family partnership that last year sold an industrial building it had owned in Los Angeles. The property valued at an estimated $552,800 sold for $656,353, and netted the partnership a gain of $489,796, according to the disclosure.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., released his financial disclosure report last week showing land, municipal bond and stock market investments valued at between $2.8 million and $6.2 million.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.
