Cultivate JULY 2015
Virginia Farm Bureau
Casting for family fun–and dinner
Cultivate Volume 8, Number 3 July 2015 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year, February, April, July, November/December (combined issue). It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid in Richmond, VA. The annual subscription rate is $1.48 (included in membership dues).
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“We have a lot of repeat customers who
Stocked ponds yield family fishing experiences— and dinner
come out to catch
A diverse group of Virginians who like to fish do their casting at aquaculturists’ fee-fishing ponds.
their Sunday dinner.”
What, exactly, is a sustainable farm?
“Sustainable” is a term frequently applied to farms and farming practices for many reasons. Find out what it means to actual farmers.
— MARK HENDERSON, co-owner of Mill Creek Trout Farm in Montgomery County
Soon-to-be empty nest can raise insurance questions
When your child leaves your home, he or she might also be leaving behind coverage under your insurance policies.
Departments 5
Did You Know?
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For Your Benefit
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A Pie for All Seasons
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Heart of the Home
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Stewards of the Land
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Marketplace
Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-2901096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804290-1096. Email address is Cultivate@ vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised. Member: Virginia Press Association
EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/ Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Bill Altice Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Cathy Vanderhoff Advertising
VISIT US ONLINE VaFarmBureau.org
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Members — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
ON THE COVER
Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in November. The magazine is published four times a year.
Guests of all ages enjoy fishing in Virginia’s stocked ponds (Photo by Laura Neff-Henderson).
Save the Date!
State Fair of Virginia serves up more agriculture, food and fun Agriculture, food, rides, attractions and fun will be in full swing when the 2015 State Fair of Virginia opens Sept. 25 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. If a trip to the fair isn’t one of your family’s traditions, you’ll have 10 days to make it one this year. The event will run through Oct. 4. Last year’s fair drew about 238,000 guests. Details can be found on the fair’s newly redesigned website at StateFairVa.org and on Facebook (Facebook.com/StateFairVa) and Twitter (Twitter.com/StateFairVa). The State Fair of Virginia bus, Ginny, a customized school bus featured in fair television ads, will again be making stops to promote the event along the Interstate 95 corridor this summer and fall. Stops will be promoted on Facebook and Twitter. New for 2015 will be several attractions, including Agricadabra, a high-energy interactive show for children that mixes agriculture, education and magic; and The Birdman, the world’s largest traveling bird show, featuring giant trained cassowaries and condors. Tumbleweed Crossing, an Old West comedy and stunt show, also is new this year. New arts and crafts competitions include amateur basketry and pottery, gourd decorating and scrapbooking. New horticulture competitions include fairy gardens and special container gardening. The crowd-pleasing weighins for the annual giant pumpkin and watermelon contest will be held Sept. 26. Last year’s pumpkin and watermelon winners both broke State Fair records, weighing in at 1,203.2 and 218.5 pounds, respectively. All music for this year’s fair will be on the Festival Stage, and the performance schedule will feature local performers as well as national recording artists The Little River Band
This year’s State Fair of Virginia will feature new attractions and family favorites.
and The Tams, who have recorded and toured with Jimmy Buffett. The weekend of Sept. 26 and 27 will feature a special salute to bluegrass music, featuring the annual fiddle and banjo competitions. A local bluegrass band will perform Saturday night, and the weekend will culminate with a performance by the Steep Canyon Rangers. The progressive bluegrass band has performed on Austin City Limits and The Late Show with David Letterman and collaborated with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin. The fair’s demolition derby and rodeo will return this year for two
nights, and the fair will offer two nights of tractor pulls. Fairgoer favorites like Masters of the Chainsaw and Rosaire’s Royal Racers, presented by Call Federal Credit Union, will return as well.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit StateFairVa.org for ticket info, hours of operation, attractions, concerts and more. Save $3 when you buy tickets in advance online starting Aug. 3 and at Walgreen’s locations in Virginia starting Aug. 25.
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Secretariat’s birthplace at The Meadow named to National Register of Historic Places The birthplace of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat, located in The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, has been named to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Known as the Meadow Historic District, the designation includes the foaling shed where Secretariat was born on March 30, 1970; his training barn, where he wore his first saddle and bridle; the yearling barn where he stayed as a colt; and a yearling barn annex, stallion barn, horse cemetery, well house and pump house. The Meadow Historic District was named to the Virginia Landmarks Register on March 19. The property, which dates to 1805, is owned by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. Hoofprints of History Tours of Secretariat’s birthplace are available year-round by appointment. For tour information, visit MeadowEventPark.com.
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Secretariat's ranking among ESPN's top 100 North American athletes of the 20th century The Meadow Event Park’s historic barns are now nationally recognized landmarks.
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Did you know? July is National Ice Cream Month—as declared in 1984 by then-President Ronald Reagan. The average American eats 5.8 gallons of ice cream a year, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. Virginia and U.S. dairy farmers pay particular attention to their cows’ nutritional needs to provide healthy milk for everyone’s ice cream cravings. Dairy cows in Virginia produce an average of 5.6 gallons of milk daily. To produce that much milk, the average cow consumes 50 gallons of water, 20 pounds of grain and feed concentrates and 55 pounds of corn silage! Feed concentrates often contain vitamins and minerals, but a dairy cow’s normal diet contains no antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat sick cows, which are separated from their herds and have their milk discarded for as long as it contains even a trace of antibiotics. It takes an average of 1½ gallons of milk to make 1 gallon of ice cream. Interestingly, vanilla continues to be America’s flavor of choice and has beaten chocolate for the second time, according to the results of an annual survey of International Ice Cream Association member companies. The IDFA reports that vanilla is the most versatile flavor of ice cream because it mixes well with toppings, drinks and bakery desserts. Top flavors after vanilla are chocolate, cookies and cream, strawberry and mint chocolate chip.
Documentary highlights food deserts in Virginia, need for a solution Nearly one of every five Virginians has no easy access to affordable and nutritious food.
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reas in which fresh, healthy, affordable foods are not readily available are called food deserts, and a documentary film, Living in a Food Desert, was produced by Virginia State University to raise awareness of the problem. The film follows the release of a food desert study by VSU and Virginia Tech. Dr. Jewel E. Hairston, dean of VSU’s College of Agriculture, enlisted the help of Emmy Award-winning director and producer Jesse Vaughan. The documentary premiered March 1 at the Richmond International Film Festival. “The research and film ties into our university effort to assist small farmers in the production of nutritious, local foods, focus on urban food production and address health, nutrition and obesity in communities,” Hairston said. It was spearheaded by Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, who encouraged the Virginia General Assembly to focus on the issue. After the study, Hairston said, “we realized that food deserts were a huge health concern for a large number of citizens in the commonwealth, and we wanted to bring the issue to light for Virginians.” Food deserts are an issue in both rural and urban areas, due largely to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets or other healthy food providers. The study, which crossed 6
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Amidst abundance, food deserts are no mirage According to the results of a report commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly, more than 1.4 million Virginians, or 17.8 percent, live in “food deserts” where access to affordable, nutritious, fresh foods is limited. Virginia’s food deserts are usually found in impoverished areas without grocery stores, farmers’ markets or other providers of healthy foods. Food deserts contribute to food insecurity, which means people who live in those areas aren’t always sure where their meals will come from. “This used to be a problem that didn’t seem to involve the agricultural community at large; it was a city issue,” said Spencer Neale, commodity marketing director for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and chairman of the Virginia Food System Council. “But 83 percent of Americans currently live in urban or suburban areas, and that number is projected to increase to 90 percent in 2050. People are starting to look at food from a systemic approach—from production to distribution—and agriculture plays a critical role in getting healthy food to more of our population. The report was compiled by a task force made up of a diverse group of stakeholders from organizations that address agricultural, health, religious, retail and food distribution issues. Findings were released in early 2014. Some of the solutions for eradicating food deserts involve using mobile farmers’ markets and community kitchens, taking advantage of the Virginia Cooperative Extension network to expand Extension’s family nutrition program and encouraging investment in the production of local foods through expanded grant programs. The Virginia Food System Council was identified in the report’s recommendations as a key partner to facilitate and coordinate discussions and efforts to address the task force’s findings. The council represents 20 different sectors of the food community, including farmers, dietitians, school nutritionists, health care facilities, food banks, gleaners and others. It facilitates connections between food producers and consumers.
racial and economical boundaries, found that more than 300,000 children in Virginia are food-insecure. “Food deserts are indeed present all across Virginia,” Hairston said. “But sometimes when you see that
on a piece of paper in a study, it has a tendency to potentially be put on a shelf and put away. I think this is something that many people in the state of Virginia are passionate about, not just VSU, but there are so many
“I hope five years from now we will see changes occurring.” – DR. JEWEL E. HAIRSTON,
dean, VSU College of Agriculture
people who understand that this is an issue right in their community. So the documentary was really to put a face on the issue.” Hairston hopes Living in a Food Desert will help bring in focused resources to address the problem. “If we’re going to try to incentivize stores to carry healthier foods, we may need some policy changes and tax incentives to encourage people with an entrepreneurial mindset,” she said. “I hope five years from now we will see changes occurring. I hope to hear people say, ‘Hey, there was no new, big grocery store that opened in my community, but now my corner store carries fresh vegetables.’ That’s where the change occurs, at the very personal and local level.”
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Documentary screenings have been held by numerous groups across the state in recent months, along with panel discussions about food deserts. Living in a Food Desert is available on VSU’s YouTube Channel at YouTube. com/VSUOfficialChannel.
Virginia State University’s documentary on food deserts premiered at this year’s Richmond International Film Festival.
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Sustainable agriculture is both economical and ecological BY KATHY DIXON
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hen it comes to sustainable agriculture, there are no hard-and-fast rules. “Sustainable agriculture is all about economic and ecological sustainability,” said Kathy Holm, a Harrisonburg-based conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Farmers need to be able to support their families and have the ability to pass on the farm to the next generation.” Mike Phillips, a Rockingham County beef cattle farmer and NRCS field technician, said he doesn’t care for the term ‘sustainable’ because it implies maintaining one’s resources. He believes in improving natural resources, especially the soil. “If you take care of your soils first, it improves your quality of life, and profitability will take care of itself,” he said. Phillips has used conservation practices that have reduced his inputs and increased his profit. “People talk about feeding the growing population, and if we take care of our soils, we can be more productive,” he said. “Any civilization that’s depleted their soils, they’re a poor nation now.” Healthy soils, Holm said, “equal healthy food and healthy people.” Phillips plants a variety of cover crops on his 16 pasture areas, and the mix of flowers, grasses, grains and legumes keeps organic matter in the soil, prevents erosion and attracts pollinators to his farm. “I’m trying to
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Cover crops like this ryegrass prevent soil erosion.
never leave the ground uncovered,” he said. He exemplifies the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program’s definition of sustainability: profitability, stewardship and quality of life. Since 1988, SARE has invested more than $211 million in 5,300 sustainable agriculture research and education projects across the United States. Its grants support projects such as cover crops, rotational grazing, integrated pest management plans, marketing and more. Virginia farmers are among those incorporating best management practices like buffer strips, cover crops, no-till planting and rotational grazing, said Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Commodity Marketing Vice President Spencer Neale, who also serves on the SARE advisory
committee. “Sustainability is one of those words that means so many different things to different people,” Neale said. “But whether farmers use practices that are commonly associated with sustainability, Virginia farmers have long understood the inherent value of using production practices that promote long-term soil health with minimal impacts on the environment. “With technology, outreach and education, U.S. agriculture has made tremendous strides along these lines over the last couple of decades,” he added. “Farmers care deeply about their land, animals, the environment and their communities.” Holm agrees. “While every farmer is different, natural resources provide each farmer his or her livelihood. The size of the farm doesn’t matter, but a farmer’s conservation ethic does.”
KATHY DIXON
The Chesapeake Bay and other Virginia waterways benefit from farmers’ sustainable conservation practices.
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Field to Market: the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, believes farmers should get credit for reducing their environmental footprint. Field to Market is an independent, nonprofit organization that was formed in 2013 to help farmers measure the environmental impact of farming. The organization, which has more than 70 member organizations from across the food supply chain, tracks and promotes farmers’ improvement efforts and shares their progress with others in food and fiber supply chains. The American Farm Bureau Federation is a member organization. The Field to Market definition of sustainability is “to meet the needs of the present while giving future generations the tools to meet their own needs.” In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Field to Market developed a “fieldprint calculator” to help farmers assess the efficiency and environmental impacts of their management decisions. Corn, cotton, rice, wheat, potato and soybean farmers are using the calculator to track land use, soil conservation, soil carbon, irrigation use, water quality, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, more than 1 million acres of farmland are involved in the program. By 2020, Field to Market hopes to cover 50 million acres, or 20 percent of U.S. commodity field crops. Read more at fieldtomarket.org.
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KATHY DIXON
Field to Market measures farmers’ environmental footprint
Barley stalks that were left in this field after harvest will act as compost for the soybean crop that follows.
Sustainable agriculture practices Conservation tillage—Soil conservation practices like contour tillage, reduced tillage and no-till planting help prevent soil loss from wind and erosion, minimize soil compaction and conserve water. Cover crops—Growing plants such as rye, clover or vetch after harvesting a cash crop can provide benefits such as weed and insect suppression, erosion control and improved soil quality. Ecological insect and weed management—This term refers to using a combination of beneficial insects, trap crops, physical removal of weeds and only necessary applications of chemicals to control insects on crops and reduce the amount of chemicals used. Nutrient management—Properly applied on-farm nutrient sources such as manure build soil, protect water quality and reduce purchased fertilizer costs. Rotational grazing—This term refers to moving animals from pasture to pasture to reduce feed costs and distribute manure across the fields, which contributes to soil fertility and reduces the need for fertilizer. Learn more at sare.org.
Farm Bureau insurance agent Jerry Funkhouser, shown with his wife, Laura, has owned livestock since he was 12 and is an active 4-H volunteer in Shenandoah County.
Shenandoah County agent believes in agriculture, giving back
Shenandoah County Farm Bureau insurance agent Jerry Funkhouser didn’t grow up on a farm, but that didn’t stop his desire to work with animals. Funkhouser, who sells insurance and is a cattle farmer, recently was honored with the 2015 Ralph Stokes Award. The award is the top recognition given annually by the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. to an agent who has a high degree of integrity, offers Farm Bureau members excellent service, and has earned the respect of their peers. “I went to school in Arlington, but we spent weekends and summers in Shenandoah County with my family,” Funkhouser said. “I wasn’t raised on a farm, but it was in my blood and was important to me to farm. I can’t imagine not getting up in the morning and feeding my animals.” Funkhouser has owned livestock since he was 12, when he purchased his first hog. He purchased his first cow when he was 13. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Animal Science, and then became the store manager for the local Farmers Co-op, before starting his career with Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. 20 years ago. “I love my job at Farm Bureau,” Funkhouser said. “The best part is helping people and taking care of their needs and their family’s future.
SARA OWENS
BY SHERRI MCKINNEY AND SARA OWENS
“Recently I had a customer who had life insurance and an annuity with us. He passed away, and his wife had no idea about the policies. When she found out, she was beside herself. It was a dark time for her, financially and emotionally. I felt good knowing I had done my part as a Farm Bureau agent and had taken care of her needs too.” It is that drive to help others that Funkhouser said lead him to support his local 4-H. He has been an organizational leader and started the county’s 4-H livestock club. He also coaches the livestock judging team and the stockman’s team. “I believe 4-H develops young people to become future leaders in agriculture,” Funkhouser said. “More importantly, it teaches them to become leaders in their communities. Every child who grows up
in 4-H can use the skills they learn in their daily lives.” Funkhouser and his wife, Laura, have two children who grew up in 4-H. Their daughter helps her husband take care of the family farm. “It was important to me to pass my love of agriculture on to my kids. Being involved with them in 4-H really gave me the opportunity to spend time with them as we showed cattle.” Quality time is important to Funkhouser as an insurance agent too. “It always comes back to making sure that my job is to service my customers and help them meet their needs,” he said. “I have never sold a policy or made a change that benefited me. It is always what benefits the customer first. If you take care of your customers, they take care of you.”
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Collin Tucker fishes for trout in Graves’ Mountain Lodge’s fee-fishing pond while Dixie waits impatiently.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON
Stocked ponds yield family fishing experiences—and dinner If you’re angling to fish, casting into a stocked pond will virtually guarantee a keeper, and you might just get hooked. That’s why a diverse group of Virginians—families, novices, retirees and a wide variety of ethnic groups—do their casting at Virginia fee-fishing ponds. “We want to instill a love of fishing in kids, and since it’s almost a guaranteed catch, that’s easy to do,” said Mark Henderson, co-owner of Mill Creek Trout Farm in Montgomery County. The Blacksburg aquaculture business was run by his grandfather, Rudolph “Teet” Henderson, until the early 1980s. Henderson and his wife, Laura NeffHenderson, re-opened the business last year.
“You should’ve seen this kid that was here last week,” Neff-Henderson said. “When he caught his first fish, the look on his face was priceless.”
It’s all about the instant catch That’s the kind of family-friendly experience she and other fee-fishing operators hope will lead to a lifelong love of fishing. “People want their kids to actually be able to catch their first fish,” said Jimmy Graves, co-owner of Graves’ Mountain Lodge in Madison County, which has operated a fee fishing pond since the 1970s. The nearby Rose River offers trout fishing as well but requires a state
fishing license. Virginians who fish in private ponds don’t need a license. Lodge co-owner and Graves’ wife, Rachel Graves, said some people get frustrated when they don’t catch anything in the river. “Our ponds are well-stocked, and the fish bite.” At Skyline Trout Farm in Rappahannock County, co-owner Kaye Johnson noted that her grandchildren began fishing on the property “as soon as they were old enough to hold a rod.” In 2013, grandson Aaron, who’s 23, convinced Johnson and her husband, Tom, to re-open the trout farm, which he manages. “I love fishing and would do it every day if I could,” Aaron Johnson said.
Aaron Johnson shows a large-mouth bass that he caught in Skyline Trout Farm’s catch-and-release pond.
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Eating fresh fish lures visitors All three pond operators agreed that a good family experience and the opportunity for children to catch fish are major draws. The other is the opportunity to eat fresh trout. “We have a lot of repeat customers who come out to catch their Sunday dinner,” Henderson said. Tom Johnson cited one customer “who comes every two weeks, catches two trout and takes them home and smokes them.” People like fresh trout, Kaye Johnson added, “and if you find it in the store, it’s a lot more expensive.”
Fishing fees vary At Graves’ Mountain Lodge, guests pay $4.75 per pound to catch and keep brook, golden or rainbow trout. Staff clean and bag the fish for free. Guests should bring a cooler with ice, or they can buy ice at the Graves’ store. Rods and other supplies also are available. At Mill Creek, visitors are required to make a reservation and pay a deposit to reserve their time slots. By booking guests in two-hour shifts, the Hendersons ensure customers have the place to themselves
when they fish. Visitors pay $15 for a twohour access pass or $25 for a four-hour pass that grants unlimited fishing in the catch-and-release pond and the use of a picnic shelter, restrooms, horseshoe pits and a swing set. They also may pay to fish in the trout pond with a $25-per-person deposit for each two-hour time slot. The deposit is credited toward expenses incurred on the property, including the cost of the fish. Children 13 and younger fish for free with a paid adult. The Hendersons clean and bag the fish, but visitors are encouraged to bring a cooler with ice. At Skyline, visitors pay $5 per pound for trout they catch. There is no limit to how long they can fish. Cleaning is $1 per fish, and catches are bagged with ice. Visitors are encouraged to bring a cooler with extra ice. Skyline also has a catch-and-release pond stocked with bass and bluegill, for $5 per person or $10 per family. Visitors may bring rods or rent them for $2. Bait also is sold.
Visitors to Mill Creek Trout Farm (below) and other stocked ponds enjoy scenic views as they fish.
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Graves’ Mountain Lodge Open weekends in March through May, October and November Open by appointment only during the week. 540-923-4231 gravesmountain.com/activities/fishing
Mill Creek Trout Farm Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; reservations required. 540-315-1084 millcreektroutfarm.com
Skyline Trout Farm Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in March through May, October and November. 540-987-9438 skylinetroutfarm.homestead.com.
Aaron Johnson (left) manages Skyline Trout Farm for his grandparents, Kay and Tom Johnson.
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Trout farm owner caters to guests with special needs In June 2010, Mark Henderson was working as a commercial refrigeration mechanic when he fell 23 feet from a ladder and broke both heels. After spending a year in a wheelchair and undergoing numerous surgeries, he knew his career was over. Fortunately, in 2012 he and his wife, Laura NeffHenderson, had an opportunity to purchase 38 acres of family land adjacent to their Montgomery County home and resurrect the business his grandfather used to run, Mill Creek Trout Farm. It took a few years to clear the debris, get the proper permits and complete an aquaculture class to learn how to stock and operate a fishing pond. Mill Creek Trout Farm re-opened for business in April 2014. Now Henderson splits his time between staying home with his three children and meeting guests who come to fish. Because of his post-accident experience, he tries to cater to visitors with specific physical needs. One repeat customer is blind, and Henderson said there is another who has limited mobility “that I let drive right up to the pond and fish from his van.�
Owners Mark Henderson and Laura Neff-Henderson and their children, 3-year-old Grayson, 10-year-old Hayden and 6-year-old Addison, enjoy fishing at Mill Creek Trout Farm as much as their customers do.
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Insurance issues to consider when your children move out Your agent can help! When your child leaves the nest, he or she also may be leaving behind coverage under your insurance policies. “Most personal insurance policies define an insured as you, the named policyholder, and resident relatives, which include your spouse and children,” said Nancy Wilson, underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “So once a child moves out of your residence they are no longer automatically covered by your policy.” This does not include dependent students away at school.
When a child moves out, it is recommended that you contact your insurance agent to review your specific policies and identify any gaps in coverage.
Auto insurance
Life insurance
Children who no longer live in your home are still covered driving your insured vehicle—with your permission—but they could lose other coverage they previously held outside of your vehicle. “If your child, for example, is a passenger in a friend’s vehicle and is in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist who is at fault for the loss, your policy would no longer extend coverage for your child’s injuries, whereas it did in the past,” Wilson said. “Some people may not be aware that an auto policy covers more than just your vehicle and driver; it also extends protection to you and your family when in other people’s vehicles.” Another example would be the extension of liability coverage for damage, bodily injury or property, that children may do to others while driving a borrowed or rented vehicle.
If you purchased a term or whole life insurance policy for your child, there may be actions for When your child is living somewhere other than in your home, he or she might not have some your child to take coverages previously available under your auto once he or she is 18 and homeowner insurance. or older. “If it is a policy that builds cash value, your child may need to decide if they want to use some of the money for college or other life expenses, or if they want to update their plan to help them accomplish long-term objectives,” said Gerald Gardner, VFBMIC director of sales. It may also be a good idea for adult children to look into purchasing their own life insurance policies. “Typically rates are always going to go up as they age,” Gardner said. “Encourage your child to talk to an insurance agent about life insurance sooner, rather than later.”
Home insurance Similarly, your homeowner policy will no longer automatically provide coverage for your child’s personal property or liability. “While a young person moving out on their own may not have a large dollar volume of assets, they may have less financial resources to weather a loss should they experience a theft or fire,” Wilson said.
Not driving while distracted can help pick up a scholarship Eight out of 10 traffic crashes in Virginia are caused by distracted driving. Some Virginia organizations want to see that number reduced. Drive Smart Virginia and McGeorge Toyota have teamed up to offer a $15,000 scholarship to one college student. Applicants ages 16 to 25 must explain—in 140 characters or fewer—why they won’t drive distracted. The Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a founding member of Drive Smart Virginia, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce auto crashes and fatalities.
The scholarship contest is open to youth planning to attend or currently attending college. Entrants must live in one of the following counties: Amelia, Caroline, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George or Sussex; or in the city of Richmond. Finalists will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay. The entry deadline is Aug. 1, and details are available at drivesmartva.org.
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Health insurance information for parents with children on their policies The Affordable Care Act brought changes to the nation’s health care system for many families. Most notably, the ACA eliminated pre-existing coverage exclusions for children. It requires coverage of basic pediatric services under all new health plans, as well as oral and vision care. All plans that offer dependent care are required to cover prevention and wellness benefits. Those benefits are exempt from deductibles and other cost-sharing requirements, ensuring that all children have access to free preventive services. The ACA also expanded coverage by providing health insurance choices through state-based health insurance exchanges to families without job-based coverage, and it provides tax credits to those who cannot afford coverage. All lifetime limits on the amount insurance companies cover if beneficiaries get sick was eliminated, and insurance companies are banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. All new plans are required to have a cap on what insurance companies can require beneficiaries to pay
in out-of-pocket expenses, such as copays and deductibles. The ACA requires health care plans and issuers that offer dependent coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches the age of 26. Children can join or remain on a parent's plan even if they are: • married; • no longer living with their parents; • attending school; • not financially dependent on their parents; or • eligible to enroll in their employers’ plans. Those rules apply to both job-based plans and individual plans bought inside or outside the marketplace.
Want to know more? For information on this topic and other specifics of the Affordable Care Act, visit healthcare.gov
Call your county Farm Bureau for help understanding the new health care laws. HealthMarketPlaceVA.com 18
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Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
For Your Benefit
Got travel plans? Save on your next hotel stay
Members eligible for discounts on Polaris vehicles
Members save at least 10 percent on Grainger purchases
The Wyndham Hotel Group discount program for Farm Bureau members covers stays at more than 7,200 Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Hawthorne Suites, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel, Planet Hollywood, Ramada, Super 8 Motel, Travelodge, Wingate by Wyndham and Wyndham Hotels locations. The discounted rate of up to 20 percent less than the “Best Available Rate” publicly available online is subject to availability at participating locations. Contact your county Farm Bureau to get your Virginia Farm Bureau ID number and a toll-free phone number for making your reservation. Then be prepared to show your current Farm Bureau member card when you check in.
Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible for a manufacturer’s incentive discount of $200 to $300 on specific utility and sport vehicles and all-terrain vehicles from participating Polaris dealers. Members should negotiate their best deals with their preferred Polaris dealers and then present a membership verification certificate prior to delivery to apply the manufacturer’s incentive discount to the final sale price. Visit FBAdvantage.com/Deals/ Polaris, and enter your membership number and ZIP code to create and print a Farm Bureau membership verification certificate to take to your participating Polaris dealership.
Farm Bureau members in Virginia can use the Farm Bureau Member Grainger Savings Discount to order supplies and products from Grainger to save a minimum of 10 percent on their purchases. Grainger also offers Farm Bureau members free standard shipping on orders placed at grainger.com and shipped via ground transportation. To get your member savings, make your purchase using Virginia Farm Bureau’s unique account number, available from your county Farm Bureau. To ensure your membership discount is applied, always reference the Virginia Farm Bureau account number when visiting a local Grainger store or ordering at 800-GRAINGER (800-472-4642).
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877-201-4994 VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Summer and winter squash are well-suited to home gardens
Winter squash varieties (previous page) like acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash have thick skins and can be stored for fall and winter use. Summer squash varieties (above) are best harvested before they get too large.
Enjoying this summer’s produce and thinking about next summer’s garden? Both summer and winter varieties of squash grow well in Virginia home gardens. Summer squash includes yellow crookneck or straightneck squash, zucchini and other thin-skinned squashes. Winter squash includes acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash and, despite its name, is grown during the summer. “Squash is an easy and popular vegetable to grow in the home garden,” said Chris Mullins, a fruit and vegetable specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University. “Consumers are eating more winter squash, and they can grow it in their gardens and enjoy it fresh from their own backyards.” While winter squash is harvested in the summer, it has a thicker skin and will last into the winter months, which is how it gets its name.
The ideal squash-growing window is from mid-May until July. Squash varieties can be planted later, but gardeners will have to combat heat and insects, Mullins said. “Extreme heat is not a good growing condition for squash.” All squash varieties should be planted from seed after the last frost. “Gardeners will want to wait until temperatures are above 60 or 65,” Mullins said. Plant one to two seeds per hole when planting in mounds. If planting in a row, leave 18 to 24 inches between the plants, and keep the rows 3 feet apart. “When the squash come up, you will be able to get a lot of squash from one plant,” Mullins said. “For most summer varieties, in 50 days, you will be able to harvest squash. Winter squash will take a little longer.” Summer squash is harvested when the fruit is immature and on the smaller side,
about 4 to 6 inches long. “When you can push your fingernail through the skin, the summer squash is ready to be picked,” Mullins said. Winter squash is harvested when the fruit is mature and its skin is hard. Always harvest the stem along with the fruit. “If you leave squash on the vine too long, their quality is reduced, so be sure to pick regularly,” Mullins said. “Too many squash left on a plant will stifle the growth of the others on the plant.” Both types of squash will grow well in a raised bed as long as the soil is welldrained and the plants are watered well.
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Has MOSS moved in on your turf? Managing moss in your home landscape
Moss occurs in lawns when underlying conditions allow it to out-compete turfgrasses and other plants. Those conditions include poorly drained, persistently wet soils; acidic soil; medium to dense shade; repeated scalping of turf on uneven terrain; and compacted soils, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension publication Lawn Moss: Friend or Foe? Determining the factors that led to the occurrence of moss is the first step in removing it. “The first step to take is performing a soil test,” said Dr. Michael Goatley, an Extension turfgrass specialist. “Knowing the pH of the soil will give you information regarding lime and nutrient requirements.” If the lawn is poorly drained, install drainage or regrade the area to promote water removal. “Mosses thrive in these conditions, whereas all turfgrasses struggle,” Goatley said. Another factor that limits turf growth is a lack of sunlight. “Many species of moss are tolerant to dense shade and prefer moist soil in shaded areas,” Goatley said. “Removing trees from the lawn would fix the shade problem, but most homeowners do not want to remove trees. Pruning trees to remove lower limbs or thin the canopy greatly improves turfgrass growing conditions and helps trees.” If the moss is in a sunny spot, mower scalp may be the culprit. Wide mower decks reduce mowing time but may contribute to scalping on uneven slopes. Smooth the uneven places in the lawn by putting down soil, regrading the area and using a smaller mower in uneven areas. Core aerating the lawn will alleviate compaction and improve turfgrass growing conditions, decreasing the ability for moss to grow.
Removing the moss Raking up the moss is one way to remove it, but it is nearly impossible to get rid of every single piece using a rake, said Dr. Shawn Askew, an Extension turfgrass weed specialist. “After removing all vegetative material that you possibly can, scratch the soil, and reseed with a turfgrass that best fits the site,” Askew said. Ground limestone, hydrated limestone, ferrous sulfate, ferrous ammonium sulfate and copper sulfate can help suppress moss when used correctly. Those products will mention moss control specifically on the label. “If using iron- and copper-based materials on a new lawn, these items must be deactivated by putting down lime that counteracts the effects of the metals applied,” Askew said. “The best time to use these materials is in the winter through spring, when the chances for damaging the existing turf are reduced.” It’s important to remember that if the problems limiting turf growth are not solved, moss will bounce right back following treatment.
What if you like moss? Some homeowners opt to live with moss in their lawns or want to grow even more moss. Mosses are low-maintenance, grow year-round and thrive in the shade, unlike turfgrasses which need full sun. “For some lawns, if the conditions are right for moss to grow, significant renovation may be required to get turfgrass to thrive in that area, with no guarantee it will work,” Goatley said. If moss is already present, you’re off to a good start. For a weak lawn with moss present, remove any grass in the lawn by hand or chemically, and let the moss take over. Keep the area free of debris such as leaves, twigs and acorns. If you want to establish moss in a new area, more prep work is needed, along with a soil test done in advance. Weed to remove any existing plants, and rake to remove twigs, leaves and other debris. Rake the area smooth, and tamp the soil slightly. Mosses prefer a pH around 5.5. If the pH is higher, lower it with the addition of skimmed milk powder, powdered sulfur or rhododendron fertilizer.
While some homeowners want to remove moss from their landscapes, others enjoy its colors and textures.
Once the site is prepped, wait for the moss to appear or find suitable moss to transplant.
Transplanting moss Transplant mosses that come from an environment similar to where they will be planted. Use a spade or knife with a long, sturdy blade to dig out sods of moss. Make sure each sod piece is at least the size of an outstretched hand. Press the pieces of sod in place to make good
contact with the soil, and water the area thoroughly. To minimize erosion, cover the area where you removed the moss with leaf debris. New moss will move in and cover the area within a year or two. To learn more about moss in the lawn, visit pubs.ext. vt.edu/430/430-536/430-536/html.
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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A Pie for All Seasons
Peachy keen: Fresh fruit makes juicy summer pies More than 5,000 tons of peaches are grown annually in Virginia, and they are at their ripest in July. A peach pie is a fresh addition to any summer gathering. Here is one version of a peach pie from family-owned Chiles Peach Orchard in Albemarle County.
Creamy Peach Pie INGREDIENTS 4 c ups peeled, pitted and sliced fresh peaches
¾ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg 9-inch unbaked pie shell 1 cup heavy whipping cream DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400.˚ Peel and slice the peaches. Combine sugar, flour, salt and nutmeg; in a mixing bowl, add seasoning mix to the peaches and toss lightly. Turn the peaches into the pie shell. Pour whipping cream evenly over the top. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until firm and golden brown on top. Chill for several hours before serving.
You can ripen peaches by placing them in a brown paper bag for a day or two. Toss sliced fresh peaches in lemon or lime juice to keep them from browning.
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A Pie for All Seasons
Fresh Peach Pie Here’s a cool, non-baked alternative from Melinda Boyer in Grayson County as published in the Cooking Virginia Style With Farm Bureau Women cookbook. INGREDIENTS 1 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch 4 tablespoons peach gelatin 1½ cups sugar, divided 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 graham cracker crusts 6 large peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced 1 large container of whipped topping
DIRECTIONS In a saucepan, boil water, cornstarch, peach gelatin and 1 cup of the sugar, stirring to dissolve. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, blend cream cheese and remaining sugar. Spread the cream cheese mixture into the pie crusts. Place sliced peaches on top of the cream cheese mixture, and pour the saucepan mixture over the peaches. Allow pies to cool, and refrigerate until firm. Top with whipped topping before serving.
National Peach Month is not until August, but it’s never too early to enjoy this summer fruit.
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Heart of the Home
Hot days call for simpler meals Here’s a simple personal pizza and a versatile berry sherbet that can be adapted to ingredients on hand. Each week Caressa Jackson hosts the “Heart of the Home” cooking segments on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Jackson shares seasonal recipes from online grocer Relay Foods.
Artichoke Pesto Pizza with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Kale INGREDIENTS dough for 4 personal-size pizzas
1 jar lemon artichoke pesto
DIRECTIONS Thaw dough at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375˚ for whole-wheat dough and 425˚ for white dough. Roll out dough on a floured surface until it is ¼" thick. Spread pesto over pizzas, then evenly distribute shredded cheeses and add sun-dried tomatoes. Bake until crust begins to brown, usually 14-22 minutes. Check baking progress at least 5 minutes before prescribed baking times.
½ c up roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes 8 ounces mozzarella, shredded 4 ounces Parmesan, shredded ½ cup roughly chopped kale black pepper to taste
You can always make one family-size pizza instead of four personal ones, too!
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Add chopped kale, and bake for 4-6 minutes longer, until the cheese has melted and pizza crusts are crispy. Season with black pepper, and serve piping hot. Serves 4.
Heart of the Home
Mixed Berry Sherbet One cup of blueberries can be substituted for 1 cup of blackberries, if you want to try this cool treat before blackberry season. Note that this recipe requires an ice cream freezer. INGREDIENTS 1 cup blackberries
1 cup strawberries 2 cups raspberries 2 cups whole milk 1 cup sugar 1½ teaspoons lemon juice DIRECTIONS In a blender or food processor, puree the blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, milk and sugar until smooth. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the puree to remove all seeds. Stir in the lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 day. Freeze in ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's instructions.
Don’t wait for one particular berry to try this sherbet recipe; it can be adapted to what’s in season locally right now.
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Stewards of the Land
Meet Clem and Keith Horsley Holly Springs Farm Inc., Gloucester County
The family: Clem, Keith and Chase plant about 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat on farmland that they own and rent. They also grow about 500 acres of cover crops. Community involvement: Keith serves on the Gloucester-Mathews Farm Bureau board and also on the Tidewater Soil and Water Conservation District board. Clem is a past Gloucester-Mathews Farm Bureau board member and serves on the local Southern States advisory board. Stewardship practice: The Horsleys protect the nearby York River and other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay by planting cover crops like barley and rye and then drilling corn, soybeans or wheat directly into the cover crop stubble without tilling the soil. The combination of cover crops and no-till planting protects the soil from erosion, prevents nutrients from running into nearby waterways and adds organic matter to the soil. Holly Springs Farm was one of seven that the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation asked to participate in the state’s Resource Management Plan program, introduced last year. A representative of the U.S. 28
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Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services visited Holly Springs to see what conservation practices were needed to comply. “We were in compliance with all the regs and didn’t have to implement anything new,” Keith Horsley said. “We want to do the right thing, and it’s nice to know that we are,” Clem added. Last December, Gov. Terry McAuliffe recognized the Horsleys as the first Virginia farm operators to fully implement the RMP requirements. The Resource Management Plan program was introduced last July and documents farmers’ roles in keeping the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries healthy. Individual farms’ RMPs are effective for nine years, with
compliance inspections every three years. Farmers enroll voluntarily. The program encourages expanding conservation practices statewide and documents practices already in use. The RMP will provide data to illustrate the positive impact of farmers’ conservation efforts. It’s the first of its kind for any state in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Biggest source of pride: “Because of the cover crops and no-till planting, our soil is healthy, we use less fertilizer than we ever have and it’s ultimately cut our input costs,” Keith Horsley said. He and his dad are proud of their conservation practices and want the public to know that farmers are doing good things all the time to protect the environment.
Clem Horsley (next page, left) and his son, Keith, check the growth of soybeans they planted in a field of barley cover crop (below). When one crop is harvested and another is planted in the same field without tilling the soil, the plant residue holds in nutrients and prevents runoff from the Gloucester County farm into the nearby York River.
PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON
The farm: Clem Horsley’s dad, Mahlon Horsley, was born on the Gloucester County property in 1909, and the family has been raising grains there ever since. “I’ve been farming since I was a wee thing,” Clem said. His youngest son, Keith, began farming with him as a child and became a fulltime partner after he graduated from high school. Twelve-year-old Chase Horsley, son of Clem’s older son, Scott, has gotten involved with the farm as well. “He planted about 40 acres of soybeans last year,” Clem said.
Stewards of the Land
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Financing Country Living Since 1916 The Experts in Rural Finance Homes • Land • Construction • Livestock Barns • Outbuildings • Equipment
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4/30/15 3:15 PM
Marketplace
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HIGH QUALITY – Kiln dried screened wood shavings, sealed plastic bags, weather resistant wrapped pallets. 434-665-2361.
BLUEBERRIES U-PICK – Misty Meadows Farm, Franklin County. Starts in June through midJuly. 434-927-4251.
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28th ANNUAL CHINCOTEAGUE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL – July 24-26. www. ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com, Chincoteague Community Center. 757-894-2334.
FARM EQUIPMENT TRUCK BODY – 16-ft. flat bed, good condition, 1-1/2-in. treated deck, $500. 434-238-7229. FOR SALE – 2004 Hudson dual tandem 10 ton trailer, EC, $6,000. Triple bottom plow, GC $350. New Holland 256 hay rake, 273 square baler, 479 mower/conditioner $4,000. Lynchburg 443-928-4728. JOHN DEERE – Quick connect 6-ft. bucket. Call after 7 p.m. 434-577-2250.
AMERICAN CHINCHILLA RABBITS – Critically endangered, show lines. Breeding ready and adolescents, four generation pedigree. mail@themerrygoroundfarm.com. REGISTERED – Black Angus seed stock; fall born; bulls and heifers; AI sire. Sammy Smith 434-664-8767. ANGUS BULLS – Calving ease, semen tested, excellent bloodlines. Reasonably priced, good selection, delivery available. C-Stock Farm, Scottsville, day 434-286-2743, after 7 p.m. 434981-1397 or 434-286-2423. DAIRY GOATS – Lamancha, Toggenburg and Nigerian dwarf buck and doe kids plus milkers. Cathy 540-672-2538. TARPAN HORSES – Rare, 3 years to yearlings. 540-937-5186. POLLED – Shorthorn cattle, breeders since 1940s. Welsh Dartmoor and hunt pony breeding stock. 540-837-1733.
Blueberries, tobacco barns, featured on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Pick-your-own blueberries are more in demand than ever • Wooden tobacco barns are disappearing from Virginia’s landscape • Heirloom tomatoes remain popular with home gardeners
Real Virginia To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.
Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV. It airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on cable systems across the state. It’s available online at VaFarmBureau.org.
2015 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members, or in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members. Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20. Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice
for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted. Use the form in the February 2016 issue of Cultivate or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org/marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current. Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm Equipment;
• Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and • Livestock equipment. Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • May Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • July Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • August Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).
VaFarmBureau.org / JULY 2015
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Helping Virginia agriculture grow stronger each year Agricultural activity is at its peak in Virginia, but Farm Bureau members like you help the organization support agriculture year-round. County Farm Bureaus all over the state are supporting their county and regional fairs and sponsoring farm and home safety programs for their communities. Some also are sponsors of their local farmers’ markets. At the same time, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is making sure farmers know about Virginia’s new Resource Management Plan program and encouraging them to share with consumers the facts about how they produce foods and and fiber. Your Farm Bureau membership helps support those activities. For less than $4 a month, you’re helping to ensure that working farmland stays in production, that Virginia farmers get the information they need to be successful, and that their interests are represented to elected officials. You can make an even bigger difference by telling your family, friends and neighbors about Farm Bureau and encouraging them to become members as well. Because, just like on a farm, there is plenty of work to do, and the best time to get started is now.
VaFarmBureau.org