Cultivate Feb 2013

Cultivate february 2013

Virginia Farm Bureau

A run and a racehorse remembered

Event will mark Secretariat’s Triple Crown anniversary

Contents

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Volume 6, Number 1 February 2013 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).

POSTMASTER: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238.

Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096.

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.

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Member: Virginia Press Association

Departments

Features 12 Event will mark Secretariat’s Triple Crown win Forty years ago this spring, Virginia-born Secretariat blazed his way into Thoroughbred racing history.

18 Processor takes ‘respectful’ approach to animal handling A Highland County meat processing facility—and its community—are seeing the benefits of humane animal handling practices.

20 Periodic checks can dry up risk of water damage After a relaxing vacation, a house full of water—or water damage—is not something to which you want to come home.

6 Heart of the Home 8 Good for You!

EDITORIAL TEAM

Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer

20 Home Checkup Checklist

Bill Altice Graphic Designer

26 In the Garden

Cathy Vanderhoff Advertising

Maria La Lima Graphic Designer

28 From the Ground Up 30 Marketplace Publication schedule Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in April. The magazine is published quarterly.

VISIT US ONLINE

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Members – Address change?

On the Cover

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Secretariat won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by an astounding 31 lengths, with nary another horse near him when he crossed the finish line (Photo by AP Images).

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.

Food for Thought

The American farmer produces enough food annually for 155 people in the United States and abroad.

In 2000, he or she produced enough for 139. That number was 115 in 1980, 46 in 1960 and 19 in 1940.

That production has increased to the degree it has is impressive. It’s more impressive still, when you consider that the number of U.S. farms has decreased over the same 70 years.

At the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention last month in Nashville, Tenn., AFBF President Bob Stallman noted that today’s U.S. farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs—seed, feed, fertilizer, labor—than they did in 1950.

U.S. farm production will get the bigpicture treatment in the coming years.

It was also last month in Nashville that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History reached out to farmers and ranchers for help in building a collection that reflects modern agricultural practices.

In partnership with AFBF, the museum announced the initiative at the convention in hopes that producers will come forward with stories, photographs and other items.

“Agriculture has played a vital role in the development of America’s business sector, from innovation and enterprise to the entrepreneurial spirit that has always been a major focus of America’s farm and ranch families,” said Julie Anna Potts, AFBF executive vice president and treasurer. “As the nation’s largest farm and ranch organization, it made sense for Farm Bureau to partner with the museum.”

The NMAH is a venerable field trip and family travel destination. It’s where many people have seen Judy Garland’s

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kathy dixon

Even in the bigger picture, U.S. agriculture is a big deal

Modern American agriculture will be a focus of a new National Museum of American History exhibition called “American Enterprise.” These beef cattle were photographed on a farm in Highland County.

ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, and Apollo Ohno’s speed skates from the 2002 Winter Olympics. It’s also where you can see devices from the earliest generations of personal computers and a fragment of Plymouth Rock.

The story of American agriculture “is important and complex,” said John Gray, director of the museum. “In Jefferson’s time, 96 percent of Americans were farmers. … Despite this drop, productivity has skyrocketed, and agriculture has evolved into a technology-driven profession with the cab of a tractor akin to a traditional CEO’s office.”

The new agricultural collection will be part of an upcoming exhibition with the

working title “American Enterprise,” an 8,000-square-foot multimedia experience that will focus on the role of business and innovation in the United States from the mid-1700s to the present.

“American Enterprise” will tell the story of the nation’s business, centering on themes of opportunity, innovation, competition and common good with examples drawn from five areas: agriculture, consumer finance, information technology/communication, manufacturing and retail/service. It is scheduled to open in 2015.

For more information, visit americanhistory.si.edu.

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Three of every four Virginia voters said ‘Yes’ to Question 1 Virginia voters approved by 75 percent a proposed amendment to the state constitution designed to protect landowners from eminent domain abuse. The amendment took effect Jan. 1.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is a longtime supporter of the change.

“All farmers depend on their land for their livelihood, and the amendment to Virginia’s constitution that voters approved will help protect their property rights,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “We’re pleased the General Assembly and the governor worked with us to put this amendment to a popular vote, and we’re very pleased to see it go into effect.”

The amendment requires all government and private condemning authorities to assure that any eminent domain condemnation is for public purposes, not for private gain. It also requires that property owners be paid fair market value for their land, limits a taking to land necessary for the public purpose, and requires compensation to landowners for lost business and access.

“The Question 1 private property rights amendment tilts the scales back in favor of the landowner” in an eminent domain dispute, Pryor said. “For many years that hasn’t been the case. Landowners can always sue to dispute an eminent domain taking or the amount of compensation, but legal proceedings take time and lots of money. Those are two things most Virginians don’t have a lot of.”

Pryor said he also is grateful for support for the amendment from elected officials and Farm Bureau members.

“We have to include Attorney General VirginiaFarmBureau.com

‘The Question 1 private property rights amendment tilts the scales back in favor of the landowner.’ »

Wayne F. Pryor VFBF president

Ken Cuccinelli and the patrons of the amendment, and of course the General Assembly for passing this constitutional amendment not once but twice” in order for it to be on the ballot, he said.

“I also want to thank Farm Bureau members and our 88 county Farm Bureaus for the grassroots work they did over the past two years.”

County Farm Bureau members mailed more than 14,400 postcards to their state legislators last winter, distributed nearly 13,000 yard signs this past fall and ran local radio and newspaper ads.

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To find the station nearest you that airs Real Virginia, or to view the show online, visit VaFarmBureau.org. kathy dixon

Heart of the Home

SLOW COOKER STUFFED SQUASH IS SAVORY AND SATISFYING

Remove squash to a cutting board by lifting it up by the foil, and cut in halves or quarters.

Serve as a side dish, or as a main dish with a green salad and rolls.

This recipe combines Virginia-grown acorn squash with Southern sausage stuffing in a slow cooker for a no-fuss fall or winter meal.

The recipe can be halved if your slow cooker won’t accommodate two acorn squash.

Slow Cooker SausageStuffed Acorn Squash INGREDIENTS

2 medium acorn squash 1 teaspoon olive oil

EDAMAME MAKES A VEGGIE BURGER UNIQUE

1 pound sage breakfast sausage ½ cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup plain breadcrumbs ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1 large egg, beaten ¼ teaspoon salt ⁄ ¹ 8 teaspoon black pepper

¼ cup unsulfured molasses ½ cup apple cider or apple juice

While not your typical burger, this edamame and white bean burger is healthy, high in fiber, low in fat and tastes good.

Egg whites and steel-cut oats help hold the burgers together, but refrigerating them for at least 30 minutes ensures that the patties don’t fall apart when they are pan-fried.

Greek-Style Edamame and White Bean Burgers with Feta and Tzatziki Sauce BURGER INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Slice stems off the squash, and scoop out the seeds. Slice off a small piece from the bottom of each squash so it will sit level in your slow cooker. Brush the edges and insides of each squash with olive oil.

In a sauté pan crumble and brown the sausage. Drain the sausage, and place it in a large bowl. Remove half of the drippings from the pan, and then cook the onion and garlic in the remaining fat until softened. Add the onion and garlic to the sausage. Mix in breadcrumbs, nuts, egg, salt and pepper. Fill the squash with the sausage mixture.

Use cooking spray to coat a piece of heavyduty foil that’s large enough to cover the whole inside of your slow cooker. Place the squash cut-side-up on the foil, and brush the exposed flesh with the molasses. Pour the cider down the sides of the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

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1 cup frozen, shelled edamame 1 15½-ounce can cannellini beans, drained, thoroughly rinsed and dried ¼ cup minced onion 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic ¾ cup steel-cut, quick-cooking oats ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano 2 egg whites 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, for pan-frying

For serving: whole-grain hamburger buns, sliced tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce DIRECTIONS Cook the edamame in boiling water for 1 minute, then drain well. In a food processor, pulse drained edamame and cannellini, onion, garlic, oats, salt, pepper, basil and oregano until blended but not pureed, stopping periodically to scrape down the canister sides. Then add the egg whites, and continue pulsing until well-blended.

Wet your hands with water, and form the mixture into individual patties, placing finished patties on a sheet pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a skillet, heat the olive oil to mediumhigh, and cook burgers until they are wellbrowned on each side and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Drain burgers on paper towels.

To serve, lightly grill or toast the hamburger buns. Then layer on each bun: sliced red onions, burger, feta cheese, a dollop of tzatziki sauce and a tomato slice.

TZATZIKI INGREDIENTS ½ a medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely minced (about ½ cup) 1 cup whole-milk Greek yogurt ¼ teaspoon freshly minced garlic 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint ¼ teaspoon fresh lemon juice ⁄ ¹ 8 teaspoon cumin ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS Use a strainer to press out as much liquid as you can from the minced cucumber. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients; cover and chill until ready to serve.

Kendra Bailey Morris appears each month 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. Morris is an author and culinary instructor whose work appears in Better Homes and Gardens, Food Republic, Virginia Living, Chile Pepper and other publications and is a former food columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her blog is at fatbackandfoiegras.blogspot.com.

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Good for You!

Edible SOYBEAN is full of flavor and nutrition by kathy dixon

PATRICIA STANSBURY said that if she were stranded on a desert island and could have only one food, it would be edamame.

“Because it tastes good and has lots of nutritional value,” said Stansbury, an edamame grower and owner of Epic Gardens LLC in Chesterfield County.

She’s referring to the edible soybean that’s bred to be eaten as a vegetable. In Japanese, edamame means “beans on a branch.”

The soybeans could be called pods of nutrition, because they are high in fiber, low in fat, high in protein and vitamins C and A and contain 4 percent of the daily recommendation for calcium.

A cup of beans in the pod or a half-cup of shelled beans contains only 120 calories.

The 9 grams of fiber it contains is about the same amount you’d find in 4 slices of whole-wheat bread or 4 cups of steamed zucchini. It contains 10 percent of the daily value for iron, which is about as much as a 4-ounce roasted chicken breast—a high amount for plant food.

Studies show that soy protein lowers blood cholesterol, which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease. And soy isoflavones, which are antioxidants, decrease artery damage because they protect the cells of the arteries from oxidation.

Oh, and did we mention that edamame tastes good?

Stansbury said that when she offers samples of edamame at farmers’ markets, “people really like it, especially children.

They like squeezing it out of the pod.”

She started growing the protein source around six years ago after she had tried it at a party. “I ate some and really liked it, and everybody at the party really liked it too,” she said. She started growing it the following summer and has worked with researchers at Virginia State University on growing and marketing different varieties as part of their soybean breeding program. She sells the soybeans to area grocery stores and restaurants and at farmers’ markets.

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“I’m finding that retailers are looking for it now, because consumers are asking for it,” she said. Stansbury also sells edamame seeds to other growers to increase the state’s supply.

Edamame can be served in a variety of ways. “Most edamame is eaten straight from the pod as a hearty, healthy snack and it’s great finger food,” Stansbury said.

Simply boil or steam them unshelled for 5 to 10 minutes, and then sprinkle them with sea salt. Then squeeze the beans from the pods into your mouth.

Or you can shell them and add them to salads, soups and stir fries. The following recipe from Epic Gardens can be served hot or cold; as a side dish; or over rice as a main dish.

Edamame Medley ingredients

2 cups fresh edamame, cooked and shelled* 2 cups fresh sweet corn, steamed briefly and cut off cob OR 2 cups frozen corn kernels 1 sweet red pepper, chopped into small pieces 3 tablespoons of good quality vinaigrettestyle salad dressing fresh parsley, chopped, saving a sprig or two for garnish directions

Toss together all ingredients until coated.

Taste and correct seasoning. Garnish with fresh herbs and edible flowers if available. *To cook edamame, bring water to boil in a pot, with or without a steamer basket.

Wash and sort fresh edamame pods, sprinkle lightly with salt and cook for 7 or so minutes, then plunge into cold water.

Drain and shell the beans (The pods can be composted).

You can use frozen edamame as well; just follow the package instructions. Watch for Virginia-grown edamame in your market late this summer.

The translation from Japanese for edamame is “beans on a branch.”

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Good for You!

Green Edamame Salad with Asian-style Dressing ingredients

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 garlic clove, minced 1" piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon) 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 3 cup peanut oil 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 2 cups cooked, shelled edamame 2 scallions, chopped fine (about 2 tablespoons) directions

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegars, soy sauce, garlic, ginger root and sesame oil. Add peanut oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Season dressing with salt and pepper.

In a small, dry skillet, toast sesame seeds over moderate heat, stirring until fragrant and golden. Transfer to a small bowl.

In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, or in a steamer over boiling water, cook beans until crisptender, about 4 minutes. Transfer beans to a colander, and rinse under cold water. Drain beans well.

In a large bowl, combine beans, scallions, sesame seeds and dressing, and toss well. Let stand to blend flavors.

Source: Epic Gardens, adapted from Epicurious magazine

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Save the Dates

National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week to be celebrated in March To recognize the significance and contributions of U.S. agriculture, National Ag Day will be celebrated March 19 during National Ag Week, March 17-23.

The National Ag Day program encourages Americans to understand how food and fiber are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; and value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

In Virginia, county Farm Bureau women’s committees will mark the occasion by donating nonperishable food items and making monetary donations to regional food banks, food pantries and Ronald McDonald House charities across the state.

Women’s committees, Farm Bureau members and other members of Virginia’s agricultural community also will participate in the third annual Agriculture Literacy Week that same week.

This year’s Agriculture Literacy Week will feature the new children’s book Kelly’s Big Day, written by Tammy Maxey, senior education program coordinator for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. The book is the second in AITC’s Farmer Ben series. Volunteers will read Kelly’s Big Day and other agriculturerelated books to children in their communities’ elementary schools, preschools and day care facilities.

“We’re hoping to build on the success of the previous two years and to have even more volunteers participate,” said Lynn Black, AITC education program coordinator. “It’s a great opportunity for those within the agricultural community to make connections with their local schools and to share agriculture’s story.”

Foundation for Agriculture announces Book of the Year The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its sixth annual “Book of the Year” award last month to Cat Urbigkit for The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo. The book introduces young readers to a dog and burro team at work on the author’s sheep ranch in Wyoming. Urbigkit included real-life photographs in the book.

A firm believer in using the written word to educate the public about agriculture, Urbigkit has channeled her enthusiasm for farming into reaching school-age children.

“Living on a working ranch, I see beautiful things every day,” she said. “I enjoyed watching the relationship grow between the burro, the pup and the lambs, as these young animals got to know each other, and as they matured together. It was a joy to watch, and it is a joy to share their story. It’s a true story, of a life in agriculture.”

The Book of the Year award springs from the Foundation’s effort to identify books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. The Accurate Ag Books database is available at: agfoundation.org.

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Census process has begun for U.S. farmers American farmers and ranchers have begun taking part in the U.S. Census of Agriculture, which is conducted every five years.

Completed 2012 Census of Agriculture forms were due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture by Feb. 4. The USDA mailed the forms in late December to collect data for the 2012 calendar year.

Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the census and requires the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service to keep all individual information confidential.

Producers can return their forms by mail or participate in the census online via a secure website.

“The census remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation,” said Renee Picanso, director of the NASS Census and Survey Division. “It’s a critical tool that gives farmers a voice to influence decisions that will shape the future of their communities, industry and operations.”

In 2007, U.S. farmers reported more than 2 million farms on more than 922 million acres—nearly a 4 percent increase in the number of U.S. farms from 2002 census. The new farms tended to have more diversified production, fewer acres, lower sales and younger operators who also had off-farm income.

The 2012 census will ask farmers for the first time about Internet usage, land use and crops used for renewable energy.

The 2007 Census of Agriculture reported more than 2 million U.S. farms and ranches—nearly 4 percent more than were reported in 2002.

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Old MacDonald had a farm— and a tourist destination, and a side business A report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture late last year provides a detailed look at the varied business models being used by American farms.

In 2007, close to a third—or 686,600—of all U.S. farm households engaged in 791,000 income-generating activities other than farm commodity production, creating $26.7 billion in household income.

On-farm diversification activities and off-farm business ventures each accounted for about half of those incomegenerating activities.

The farms operated by households engaged in alternative (non-commodity) entrepreneurial activities produced almost 40 percent of the total value of U.S. agricultural production in 2007. That, the USDA Economic Research Service report notes, suggests that households associated with farms of all sizes engage in alternative entrepreneurial activities, not just those associated with part-time or “hobby” operations.

More than 290,000 farm households engaged exclusively in on-farm diversification activities in 2007, earning about $14,400 per farm from those activities. Custom work, directto-consumer sales and agritourism activities accounted for almost 90 percent of the total amount of income earned from on-farm diversification activities. Farm households engaged in that diversification devoted almost 50 percent more operator work time to the farm than farm households not engaged in such activities. They also tended to operate larger farms. “Farm households engaged in on-farm diversification appeared to use their larger physical asset base more intensively to support their on-farm business ventures,” the ERS said.

The agency also found that, in 2007, 395,600 U.S. farm households operated an off-farm business.

In 2007, off-farm businesses generated $21.6 billion in profits based on estimated sales of $111.6 billion, contributed an estimated $54.6 billion in value-added income to the gross regional products of their local economies, and paid out $24.5 billion in wages and salaries to 853,100 part-time and full-time employees.

In short, the ERS report concludes, “farm operators and their households have a choice in how their entrepreneurial and managerial skills are used to earn business income.”

The 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture found that slightly more than half of Virginia farmers said their primary occupation was work other than farming.

The ERS report’s findings speak to farmers’ tendency to be resourceful and to utilize their management skills in other activities, said Tony Banks, a commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“Many farm families have relied on off-farm income for decades,” Banks said. “Given the tremendous interest farmers have expressed in value-added enterprises, one would expect continued growth within that income category.”

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a 1973-2013 b

Celebration to mark Secretariat anniversary; tours set to resume at The Meadow Event Park Tours will be conducted by Leeanne Meadows Ladin, co-author of the pictorial history Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land, The Family, The Legend and the recently published Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion.

The tours feature the following stops: • the foaling shed where Secretariat was born; • The Meadow’s yearling and training barns and stalls that housed Riva Ridge and Secretariat; • “The Cove,” where the farm’s mares and foals grazed; • The Meadow’s horse cemetery; and

Some of the original Meadow Farm barns are still in place at The Meadow Event Park.

A March 29 and 30 celebration at The Meadow Event Park to mark the 40th anniversary of Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown win will coincide with the champion’s birthday.

Additionally, guided tours of Thoroughbred racing legend Secretariat’s birthplace are scheduled to resume this spring at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.

Previously known as The Meadow, home of numerous notable racing Thoroughbreds, the site is now home to the State Fair of Virginia and boasts an 80-acre multipurpose equine complex. The Meadow Heritage

• video of Secretariat’s 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes wins.

Group tours will be offered from April through November at $10 per person. They will involve an indoor presentation, a tram ride and light walking. Proceeds will benefit the future Museum of the Virginia Horse, which organizers hope to build at The Meadow Event Park.

Tours also will be part of the Secretariat birthday celebration, which will kick off on the evening of March 29 and continue through March 30, the day Secretariat was born. Invited guests include Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, and jockey Ron Turcotte.

Details about that event and ticket information will be posted at secretariatsmeadow.com as they become available. The site also includes tour information.

Secretariat wins spot on Virginia Legends Walk The most famous horse in Thoroughbred racing history has edged his way into the Virginia Legends Walk.

Triple Crown winner Secretariat received 50.4 percent of the ballots cast for the 2012 candidates of famous Virginians to be included in the history-based walking tour.

“As representatives of the birthplace of Secretariat, we’re pleased to learn of this recognition,” said Greg Hicks, vice president of communications for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. The federation is a partner in the State Fair of Virginia, held at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, where Secretariat was born.

“His story of family ties and overcoming obstacles to become perhaps the greatest

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racehorse of all time continues to inspire new generations who visit The Meadow or participate in a horse event at our facility,” Hicks said.

Secretariat was among 61 eligible Virginians qualified this year for inclusion on the Virginia Legends Walk. Ballots were sent to a statewide network of almost 1,300 judges, including university presidents, heads of historical societies and museums, history professors, librarians, news media representatives and Virginia Beach teachers.

The Virginia Legends Walk is located in the heart of the Virginia Beach resort area. Begun in 1999, it features 37 key historical figures from Virginia, from George Washington to tennis great Arthur Ashe.

Secretariat is the only individual, human or animal, to appear on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated magazines. He was depicted on a U.S. postage stamp in 1999.

Sports Illustrated ranked Secretariat third among its top 50 Virginia athletes of the 20th century, behind Ashe and Lawrence Taylor, and among its Top 100 athletes of the 20th century.

ESPN ranked Secretariat 35th among its 100 top athletes of the 20th century, the highest-ranked non-human of three on that list. His 1973 Belmont Stakes victory was ranked second on the ESPN list of “Greatest Sports Performances” behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962.

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a 1973-2013 b

— secretariat — in the years before his 1973 Triple Crown win

photos courtesy of leeanne meadows ladin

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Secretariat and Riva Ridge: The Stars of Meadow Stable by leeanne meadows ladin

O

ne was known as “Big Red,” the other as the “Golden Boy.” Together they won five of six Triple Crown races back to back in 1972 and 1973 for Virginia’s Meadow Stable.

Their historic accomplishments started with the dream of longtime horseman and self-made millionaire Christopher T. Chenery. In 1936, he purchased The Meadow, his ancestral homeplace which had been sold out of the family. The original farm, a working plantation, dated to 1805.

There in Caroline County, in the middle of the Depression, Chenery was determined to raise Thoroughbreds and win that race of all races, the Kentucky Derby.

He sent three top contenders to the Derby: Hill Prince in 1950, First Landing in 1959 and Sir Gaylord in 1962. Though they won many important races in their careers and put Meadow Stable on the map, the coveted Derby trophy eluded them. By the late 1960s, the fortunes of Meadow Stable began to decline, along with Chenery’s health. In 1967 he was hospitalized, and his daughter Penny took over the management of The Meadow.

Fighting pressure from her brother and sister to sell the farm and horses, Penny vowed to keep her father’s Derby dream alive. But she needed another big winner to keep Meadow Stable going.

‘Without Riva, I can’t guarantee we would have even had Secretariat’ No one would have picked Riva Ridge, a sickly, scrawny colt by First Landing, as the future savior of Meadow Stable.

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Born in Kentucky on April 13, 1969, he came to The Meadow that summer with his mother, Iberia, a great-granddaughter of Man O’ War. The Meadow staff nursed him back to health, and Riva grew into a lanky, plain bay with floppy ears. But the ungainly colt could run like a deer. In fact, the exercise riders at The Meadow who first rode Riva in his early training had trouble holding him back on the track.

Riva left The Meadow in early 1971 to begin his advanced training with Lucien Laurin in Florida. By the end of the year, the colt had won more than a half-million dollars and the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, an honor also earned by First Landing in 1958.

Riva’s success quelled the calls from Penny Chenery’s siblings to sell the farm and its horses. Penny called Riva her “Golden Boy” and has noted that he was her sentimental favorite because he saved the farm.

“Without Riva, I can’t guarantee we would have even had Secretariat,” she has said.

In 1972, Penny, Laurin and jockey Ron Turcotte “could smell the roses.” On May 6, Riva Ridge delivered Christopher Chenery’s Derby dream, winning the race wire to wire.

After this long-awaited victory, the elated team naturally set its sights on the Triple Crown. The second jewel was the Preakness at Pimlico, but torrential rains left the track a muddy mess and Riva struggled to finish in fourth place. Now the Derby winner had to prove himself all over again at the Belmont Stakes.

On a sunny June 10, Riva Ridge won the Belmont Stakes by seven lengths in the third-fastest time ever run on the track, 2:28. He won two jewels of the Triple Crown and the adulation of fans, who shouted, “Viva Riva!”

‘Now, there’s a whopper!’

Secretariat was born at The Meadow on March 30, 1970, the son of Bold Ruler, the nation’s top sire, and Somethingroyal, one of Christopher Chenery’s broodmares. Farm manager Howard Gentry said at his birth, “Now, there’s a whopper!”

He was such a handsome colt that Penny Chenery, when she first saw him, thought he was “too pretty to be any good.”

Like Riva Ridge before him, Secretariat first learned to gallop across The Meadow’s rolling fields, then on its loamy track. But unlike Riva, Secretariat was less interested in running, unless it was back to his feed bucket.

That lazy streak would disappear after he was shipped to Laurin’s training barn in January 1972. By the end of the year, with a slew of wins to his credit, Secretariat was voted Champion Two-Year-Old, just as Riva had been in 1971. He also captured the title of Horse of the Year, a rare honor for a “juvenile.”

Christopher Chenery died on Jan. 3, 1973.

In a cruel twist of fate, the man who set a phenomenon in motion never saw Secretariat race or saw his Derby winner, Riva, in person. But his daughter who would not give up on his dream would see it carried to unimaginable heights.

In 1973, Secretariat became the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the elusive Triple Crown. He stands alone as the only horse in racing history to break all three track records in the process.

First, he shattered the Derby record, changing “the most exciting two minutes in sports” to the most exciting 1:59 ²⁄5 minutes.

Next he won the Preakness, but the track‘s electronic timer malfunctioned, recording a sluggish time of 1:55. Daily Racing Form staff clocked him at 1:53 ²⁄5.

VaFarmBureau.org

a 1973-2013 b

Riva Ridge (left), shown with exercise rider Jim Gaffney, won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and eased pressure on owner Penny Chenery to sell The Meadow. He was the first Meadow Stable horse to win the Derby, and he set the stage for the record-busting 1973 Triple Crown win by Secretariat (below).

After much controversy, Secretariat’s time was set at 1:54 ²⁄5, not a record. Recently, using 21st-century video technology, Penny Chenery and her team proved that he actually ran the Preakness in a surprising 1:53. Today Secretariat’s Preakness time officially stands as the track record of that period.

But his electrifying Belmont victory on June 9 catapulted Secretariat into the realm of legend.

“Moving like a tremendous machine,” the powerful Meadow Stable stallion demolished the field by an astonishing 31 lengths.

Reveling in the sheer joy of his speed, with Turcotte simply holding on, Secretariat sailed under the wire in a sizzling 2:24, setting a new world record for the mile-and-a-half.

Pandemonium rocked the stands. Fans knew they had witnessed something spectacular, something that may never happen again.

And it hasn’t.

Horses won the Triple Crown in 1977 and 1978, but they did not break all three track records or become “America’s Super Horse.”

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

In those dark days of Vietnam and Watergate, Virginia’s great red stallion in the blue and white silks transcended his sport to become a symbol of athletic perfection and untarnished triumph.

Decades later, his fans’ devotion continues undiminished, and a new generation has embraced him, thanks to the 2010 Disney movie Secretariat.

Moreover, the blood of this immortal champion continues to flow through the pedigrees of some of the best racehorses on the track today.

Leeanne Meadows Ladin co-authored Secretariat’s Meadow–The Land, The Family, The Legend and Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion with Kate Chenery Tweedy.

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

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2012 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Farm family members, animals, scenic vistas and a variety of farming tasks and equipment were featured in the first-place entries in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2012 photo contest.

All winning photos can be viewed at VaFarmBureau.org.

Entries were judged in three age divisions: 6 to 10 years, 11 to 17 years, and 18 and older.

Top photo: “Take Me to the River” by Jerry Posenau, Hanover County Above: “Planting Time” by Matthew Funk, Shenandoah County Left: “Nothing Like a Home Grown Tomato” by Haden Parrish, Fluvanna County 16

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

VaFarmBureau.org

“Black Eyed Susans Peeking through a Fence”

by Amanda Carrow, Newport News

“My Barn, My Livelihood” by Jessica Vass, Carroll County

“Up Close and Personal” by Shannon Jones, Hanover County

“Golden Field” by Lillian Moon, Rockingham County VirginiaFarmBureau.com

“Helping Mom” by Amy Larson, Washington County

“Old Red” by Shannon Jones, Hanover County Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

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Highland processing plant prides itself on humane animal handling by kathy dixon

photos by kathy dixon

eople are concerned about where their meat comes from, and at processing plants such as the Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center LLC, operating as Alleghany Meats, animal welfare is a top priority.

“I think meat protein is a very important part of our diet, but if we’re going to process animals, we should do it respectfully,” said Chris Fuller, Alleghany Meats general manager.

Located in the small mountain town of Monterey in Highland County, the plant is a marketing, processing and sales center for livestock farmers in Highland and adjacent Bath County and in Pendleton and Pocahontas counties in West Virginia. It’s a “start-to-finish” operation that converts live animals into finished cuts of meat.

The center has more than 90 investors, and about 75 of them are farmers. Animals are slaughtered twice a week, and meat is cut three times a week.

“We try to stay calm and keep the animals calm,” said Fuller, a trained chef and former anthropology student who got interested in regional food systems while studying at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. He managed a small processing facility there before moving to Monterey to manage Alleghany Meats.

The 3,000-square-foot facility, which opened in April 2012, prides itself on humane handling of the animals—from the floor of the chute laid out in a pleasing diamond pattern to overhead lights— modeled after practices recommended by animal handling expert Dr. Temple Grandin.

“Livestock of all species are more frightened of the distractions … than they are of slaughter,” Grandin wrote in her book Humane Livestock Handling: Understanding Livestock Behavior and Building Facilities for Healthier Animals.

Chris Fuller, general manager of Alleghany Meats, said humane handling practices are a focus at the processing facility that opened last year.

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VaFarmBureau.org

When distractions are removed, “they will usually walk easily up the slaughter chute.”

That’s the case at Alleghany Meats. “We want them to go where they’re supposed to without having to force them,” Fuller said. It’s the humane thing to do, and lessstressed animals create more tender meat.

Grandin has taken people on tours of well-managed slaughter plants where “they are relieved to discover that the animals

remained calm, and that death was quick and painless,” she wrote.

When an animal arrives at the Highland County plant, it is weighed and then taken directly to the chute, where it will remain for a short time before processing occurs.

Caroline and Doug Smith, AHAC investors and co-owners of Healing Farm, appreciate the facility’s handling practices.

They expanded their farm in anticipation of

the center’s opening.

“We are deep animal lovers who believe that meat is an important part of our diet, but we want to be respectful,” Caroline Smith said. “It’s finally possible for me to love our cattle, to care for them every day of their lives and send them on one morning to a humane death.”

Animals are slaughtered twice a week and meat is cut three times a week at Alleghany Meats.

Value-added products add value to small town Monterey hopes to be the next town saved by a local foods movement.

Betty Mitchell, executive director of The Highland Center, a business incubator that helped the Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center LLC secure grant money, said she and some other investors are reading The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food.

The book examines a small, rural Vermont town with a struggling economy that saw a turnaround when agricultural VirginiaFarmBureau.com

entrepreneurs formed regionalized foodbased enterprises.

Mitchell said Alleghany Meats and its ability to produce value-added products can do something similar in Monterey. The center also could help increase agritourism and build on the strength of the local economy, which is livestock farming. ”We’re looking at a marketing plan that incorporates the assets we have here, including our scenery, our farms and our foods,” Mitchell said. “Our producers are trying to figure out how to switch from

selling a commodity to selling a valueadded product. Having this ag center gives them that ability.”

The plant now has a smokehouse to make jerky and sausage, another valueadded service. The Highland Center secured a grant for the smoking equipment and is leasing it back to Alleghany Meats.

“I feel like this is the tip of the iceberg that can help strengthen local foods in the community,” Mitchell said. “This is a regional project that crosses county and state lines, and it’s really been a community effort.”

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HO M E C H E C K UP C HE C K L I S T As the heating season continues, and the spring storm season gets closer, a little attention to items on this list could save you a lot of money and stress.

Hoses and water lines ■ Check hoses and water lines for leaks, and make sure they haven’t come loose—on the washing machine, refrigerator icemaker, toilets and dishwasher.

■ If you haven’t replaced old washer hoses with steel-braided lines, now is a good time to do that.

Roof ■ Use binoculars to check your roof for loose, damaged or missing shingles.

■ Check the underside of the roof from the attic for stains or other signs of water intrusion. Check the areas around eaves for water damage.

Gutters ■ If you can do so safely, clean out the gutters, and flush them with fresh water. If you are uncomfortable getting on a ladder or roof, hire someone for this task. Check the gutters for and repair cracks, corrosion, loose fasteners and joint separations.

■ Make sure downspouts have extensions that direct the water at least 5 feet away from the house.

Trees and brush ■ Look for trees that touch or reach over your home, as well as for broken branches hanging from trees. Safely remove them if you can; otherwise hire a licensed and insured contractor to take them down.

Decks and porches ■ Look for water-stained, loose, broken or rotting boards and structural members. If you are unsure whether something is safe, call a licensed and insured contractor. Clean off moss and mold. This can be done with a pressure washer if caution is used.

■ Treat the cleaned and inspected deck or porch with outdoorrated paint or stain.

Seal it up ■ Check around doors, windows and other breaks in the siding for areas that need caulk or expandable foam to seal them.

Vacuum them out before using outdoor-rated sealing products.

Safety and security ■ Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, using the test buttons. If your detectors are more than 10 years old, replace them. When the time changes to daylight saving time, replace the batteries in your detectors if they have them.

■ If you have a security system, give it a test run. Call your monitoring company first to let them know.

Dryer vents ■ Purchase a dryer vent cleaning kit, and clean out the vent system for your dryer. Vacuuming alone may not completely clean out the system.

■ Trim any shrubbery that touches your home or could provide a hiding place for criminals.

Heating, air conditioning and ventilation – Outside ■ Clear the outside unit of leaves and debris, being careful not to bend or damage the cooling fins. You can use a garden hose or leaf blower to remove most of the debris.

■ Check the condensation drain for blockages. Have a reputable company perform annual inspections and maintenance.

HVAC – Inside ■ Change your filters, and vacuum out the air return register and filter housing.

■ Make sure there are no items stored around the inside unit; we recommend a clearance of 3 feet on all sides.

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Late-winter and early-spring attention to gutters, roofing, ductwork and shrubberies can help prevent various types of seasonal home damage.

VaFarmBureau.org

Periodic checks can dry up risk of water damage by sara owens Ask anyone who’s experienced it: Coming home to a house full of water is not how you want to end a relaxing vacation.

“Water damage is one of the most common type of claims we handle,” said Larry Wills, field claims manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “It can be very expensive, especially with mold issues that may come up and the cost to remediate water losses.”

Water can cause damage to your home through leaks from the water heater; washing machine and its hoses; ice maker supply line; toilet and sink supply lines and valves; the dishwasher; and anywhere else water is used.

“The financial cost is certainly one concern, but the one thing we cannot eliminate for our customers is the inconvenience they incur with a loss like this,” Wills said. “We can expedite the claim and work it as completely and quickly as possible, but we can’t entirely eliminate the disruption in their lives.”

In cases of extreme damage, homeowners could be displaced from their home for weeks or even months. There even have been some total home losses due to water damage, Wills said.

Happily, periodic checks of water lines and fixtures can help dry up the risk of home water damage. Farm Bureau insurance professionals shared these recommendations: • Turn the main water supply off when you will be away for an extended period of time. At the same time, turn off the water heater to keep it from overheating. Water heaters can be turned off by using the breaker in the electrical panel.

• Check the ice maker supply line to make sure there are no kinks in the line. Be careful when moving the refrigerator for any reason, so you do not kink or displace the supply line.

• Check all supply lines to toilets, sinks, washing machines and other fixtures and appliances regularly, and replace those that are showing signs of age or wear. When replacing hoses and supply lines, consider using steel-braided hoses; they offer more protection than a plastic or rubber hose.

• Consider installing a “passive” alarm system on water heaters or other parts of the plumbing system that will sound an alarm if a leak is detected. There also are “active” alarm systems that will cut off the water supply if a leak is detected.

A leaking water line can result in damage to flooring (left and above center), drywall (above top) and plumbing fixtures and surrounding tilework (above bottom). Severe damage can result in homeowners being inconvenienced or temporarily displaced.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Rural Health Essay Contest entries due March 31

Smart Start can mean insurance savings for young drivers

High school and college students from Virginia Farm Bureau member-families who are interested in a health-related career in a rural area have an opportunity to earn cash toward their education.

Participants in Farm Bureau’s 2013 Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest have until March 31 to submit an essay on “My Future Career in Rural Health in Virginia.” First-place winners will receive $1,000, and second-place winners will receive $500.

Essays must be 400 words in length. Entries from high school students and college students will be judged separately, and two prizes will be awarded in each group.

Guidelines and entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices and at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

Teen drivers who participate in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Smart Start Program receive a 5 percent discount on applicable auto insurance premiums for bodily injury, property damage, medical expense and collision coverage.

“This discount is an immediate reward, and you can see it every time you renew your policy,” said Jimmy Maass, Farm Bureau’s safety manager. “It lasts until the driver is 25, which is typically when auto insurance rates drop.”

To be eligible, a driver must: > be a listed driver on a VFB personal auto policy; > possess a valid Virginia driver’s license; > be accident- and conviction-free; and > enroll in the program prior to his or her 18th birthday.

Teens encouraged to apply for Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award High school juniors and seniors with an interest in agriculture have until March 31 to enter Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award program.

The annual award recognizes teens for outstanding academic, community and agribusiness achievement.

District winners will compete for the state-level award at the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo in late July. The state winner will receive an award valued at $1,500, including $250 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, $500 from VFBF Service Corp. and $750 from the VFBF Young Farmers Committee and Women’s Committee. All prizes are subject to change based on sponsor availability.

Entry forms and details are available at county Farm Bureau offices and online at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

To enroll, parents and teens with Virginia Farm Bureau auto insurance coverage need to meet with their insurance agents. Teens will be asked to take a quiz about safe driving and sign a contract to promise to drive safely.

The initial enrollment meeting shouldn’t take more than an hour and gives parents a chance to review their insurance coverage at the same time.

10

%

OFF

PLUS—FREE SHIPPING/HANDLING ON ALL ON-LINE ORDERS AT www.grainger.com

Farm Bureau members save 10% and more on Grainger products • 10% off all Grainger catalog items (over 200,000) • 35% off Farm Duty Motors • 30% off select Safety Items • Up to 60% off Manufacturer’s List Price on Tools including: DeWalt, Stanley, Milwaukee, Proto, Blackhawk and Westward

Ordering is easy!

On-Line, by telephone or directly at your Grainger branch location. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for important information!

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Member Benefit

VaFarmBureau.org

Members can get 10 percent off at Farm Bureau warehouse open house

Get $500 off purchase or lease of selected GM vehicles

In need of parts for your car, truck or farm machinery? Farm Bureau members can save 10 percent on purchases from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division at its Feb. 22 open house.

Since 1965, the Products Division has provided members with a variety of supplies, through Farm Bureau-certified local dealers and the Farm Bureau warehouse in Henrico County.

The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the warehouse at 1541 Mary St. in Sandston. Refreshments will be available.

Members can save on a variety of parts, including tires, batteries and oil and grease products.

For information on specific products, call the warehouse at 800-476-8473.

Farm Bureau members in Virginia can receive a $500 discount on the purchase or lease of qualifying Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles at participating dealerships.

The Farm Bureau GM $500 Vehicle Discount Program is available for members who are at least 18 and have been Farm Bureau members for at least 60 days.

The discount is not a rebate and may not be stackable with some other incentives. It must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered.

To use this member benefit, visit fbverify.com/GM, enter your membership number and ZIP code, and print out a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your GM dealership.

Members without Internet access can get assistance in acquiring a certificate from their county Farm Bureau offices.

See participating GM dealers for full details.

Members can enjoy savings on prescription drugs Virginia Farm Bureau’s free Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program affords members an average savings of 25 percent on more than 12,000 name-brand and generic prescription drugs at more than 53, 000 pharmacies.

Members pay no fee to use the program, which is designed for individuals with no insurance coverage for prescription drugs.

The Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program is not insurance. Rather, it works via what’s known as a “consumer card” or “point of sale card” that can be used by your entire household.

There are no medical exams, no waiting periods, no claim forms to file and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Simply present your card at a participating pharmacy when you have your prescription filled, or use it when ordering medicines through the mail-order program of Agelity Inc. Your county Farm Bureau can provide a starter card and information on how to locate participating pharmacies near you and compare potential savings on generic and brand-name drugs.

E L I G I B L E

V E H I C L E S :

Chevrolet

Buick

Avalanche

Enclave

Aveo

LaCrosse

Camaro

Lucerne

Camaro C

Regal

Camaro ZL1

Verano

Colorado Corvette Cruze Equinox Express HHR Impala

ClearValue offers savings on Starkey hearing devices ClearValue Hearing, which offers Virginia Farm Bureau members savings on professional audiology services and hearing devices, partners with The Starkey Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of hearing aids.

The Starkey family of hearing instruments includes Audibel, AudioSync, Micro Tech and NuEar products.

If you or family members are experiencing ear disorders, hearing loss or have questions about the ClearValue program, contact your county Farm Bureau for information on how to activate your free ClearValue Hearing membership.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Malibu (including 2013)

GMC Acadia Canyon Savana Sierra Terrain Yukon

Suburban

Excluded from discount

Tahoe

Cadillac

Traverse

Chevrolet Volt

Silverado

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Real Virginia begins weekly programming Starting this month Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s formerly monthly television program, will begin broadcasting weekly across Virginia.

The show highlights the importance of agriculture to Virginia families and introduces some of the people producing their food.

Several components of the program will remain the same.

Cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris will continue her segment “The Heart of the Home,” which shares recipes using fresh Virginia products. “In the Garden” with Virginia horticulturalist Mark Viette will continue sharing ways to improve home landscaping with plants that thrive in the commonwealth.

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The program also will continue to feature home gardening with Virginia Cooperative Extension Specialist Chris Mullins in the segment “From the Ground Up.” Mullins, who took over after the November 2012 death of former host Andy Hankins, will give viewers tips on home vegetable gardening.

“The show will be co-produced with WVPT in Harrisonburg,” said Greg Hicks, vice president of VFBF communications. “By partnering with WVPT, we are able to offer viewers weekly information on how they can grow, find and enjoy Virginia agricultural products.”

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFD-TV, as well as on 43 cable systems and three broadcast stations in Virginia. It’s also available online at VaFarmBureau.org and on YouTube.

Check local cable listings for the show times in your area, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations.

VaFarmBureau.org

Magazine’s first six decades archived online Through a partnership with the Library of Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has been able to make back issues of its producer member publication, Virginia Farm Bureau News, available online as part of the Virginia Newspaper Project.

Issues of Farm Bureau News from February 1941 through January 2000 are available at no cost with all images and search capability at digitalvirginianewspapers.com and a link on the front of the VFBF website at VaFarmBureau.org.

“We had nearly every issue saved at our home office in Goochland County,” said Greg Hicks, VFBF vice president of communications. “We were proud of that, but it just wasn’t the best solution for preserving or sharing Virginia’s farm news publication of record.

“When we approached the Library of Virginia’s staff to see what other options we might have, we found that they too possessed nearly all of the issues. But nowhere in the state was there one complete set.”

The two institutions compared inventories to fill in the gaps.

Recent issues of Farm Bureau News and Cultivate magazine can be viewed online at issuu.com. Current-month issues also can be viewed via a link in the “News & Video” section of VaFarmBureau.org.

To browse archived issues 1. Go to digitalvirgnianewspapers.com, either directly or via a link on the front page of VaFarmBureau.org.

2. On the right side of the screen, under “Browse the Collection,” click on the link to “Browse by title.”

3. In the list of newspaper titles, click on “Virginia Farm Bureau News.”

4. Select a specific issue from the table in which they are organized by year.

5. Right-clicking on a specific newspaper page will give you the option of creating and saving a .pdf of that page, or of viewing only the text from that page.

Issues of Virginia Farm Bureau News from February 1941 through January 2000 have been made available online by the Library of Virginia as part of the Virginia Newspaper Project.

Confused by Health Reform?

We can help!

• Individual plans • Employer group plans • HSAs and HRAs • Medicare supplement • Dental and vision

FARM BUREAU offers NEW health care reform-compliant plans with increased benefits for Virginia Farm Bureau members.

Our trained staff will help you customize a health care plan to fit your needs and budget. We work with individuals, families and all types of businesses throughout the state of Virginia.

Get the Membership Advantage.

AU T H O R I Z E D I N D E P E N D E N T AG E N T

VFBHealthInsurance.com

For information on how the changes in health insurance can save you money, call us at 800-229-7779.

Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corporation is an independent authorized agent in Virginia for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 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. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated HMO HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For exclusions, limitations, terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued, costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company, whichever is applicable.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

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In the Garden

photos by sara owens

Mild winters can cause bug and disease problems

A mild winter can result in a garden full of hungry bugs and plant-stunting diseases.

Mild winters can have a lasting—though not always positive—effect on a garden, said horticulturalist Mark Viette.

“Milder winters can lead to more bugs and diseases in the garden,” he said. “It’s important to pay attention and be observant about the changes.”

Some pests, like the box elder bug, can really take over a plant, Viette said.

“These insects can really cause damage to the leaves of the plants. They suck the juices out of the plants. You will need to use a pesticide or shop vacuum to remove them,” he said.

Mild winters also allow for more diseases.

“On some plants it may look like slugs caused damage, but if you do not see a trail but notice browning spots that look like an insect ate the plant, it might actually be a disease,” Viette said.

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Daylilies are subject to thrips, which “suck the juices out of daylilies and also can affect a hosta or other plants,” Viette said.

“They’re very hard to see, because they are the size of a pen tip, but if you look closely and pull the flower apart, you will be able to see buds that are contorted or flowers that are warped or browning. A daylily can be filled with 10 to 20 thrips easily.”

Thrips can spread, and Viette recommended starting to treat plants for them on May 1, but remove old foliage in the winter or spring.

To help prevent diseases and bugs, he recommended keeping a gardening journal to document changes from season-toseason and year to year.

“Take photographs, note the day length, the temperature and how you treated diseases or bugs. See what differences you

note. A journal can really make a difference.”

Viette recommends keeping records in five-week intervals, and setting alerts and maintenance reminders on a phone or email calendar.

VaFarmBureau.org

In the Garden

Lush summer lawns get their start in the spring An attractive summer lawn doesn’t get that way overnight, said horticulturalist Mark Viette.

“Sediment and erosion in the lawn is the leading cause of (water) pollution, so it is important to have a well-established lawn,” he said. “We need to do all in our means to reduce sediment and pollution.”

Viette said applying fertilizer in the fall is the best way to prevent soil erosion and allow the lawn to establish a good root system.

“Make sure to go ahead and feed the lawn in the fall with lime and fertilizer to help roots grow during the winter. Always do a soil test before applying anything to your yard,” he said.

Some common lawn problems include trees and weeds that compete with a thriving lawn.

“A maple tree, for example, sucks up the water from the ground, and the roots often

appear at the surface of your lawn,” Viette said. “Plus trees provide shade for the lawn that may need more sun.”

He suggested allowing some weeds to fill in where grass won’t grow around trees, while cutting lawns to 3 inches to help choke out unwanted weeds.

Chickweed is common in the winter, and Bermuda grass is tough to control, Viette said. Using an herbicide that controls chickweed and Bermuda grass can help; you might need to reseed in the spring and fall to re-establish the lawn. Core aerating in the fall or winter also can help control weeds.

Grass seed can be put down in the spring or fall, Viette said, but it is important not to apply pre-emergence herbicides immediately after putting down seed.

Pre-emergence herbicides prevent weeds from germinating in the lawn, but they also can kill the grass seed.

Do not over-fertilize the lawn. Consider using a spreader with a guard that will protect fertilizer and seed from spreading to walkways and other areas. Walk back and forth with the spreader; do not criss-cross.

Use a tool to loosen the grass before seeding. Scratch at the ground, and if you have a small area to seed, mix the seed with organic matter and spread the mixture by hand or with a spreader. Use a top dress such as straw, pine bark or compost to help hold in the moisture while the seeds germinate.

For a new lawn, be sure to use a starter fertilizer. For lawns that have just been seeded, use organic fertilizer to help feed it for an extended period of time, Viette said.

“In four to 10 weeks you will have a nice, new germinated lawn.”

Chickweed (right top) and Bermuda grass (right bottom) are common in winter lawns and can be treated with herbicides. Core aeration in the fall or winter also can help control weeds.

To find the station nearest you that airs Real Virginia, or to view the show online, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Mark Viette appears on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program. Viette and his father operate the Andre Viette Farm and Nursery in Augusta County and have a live radio show broadcast by more than 60 mid-Atlantic stations each Saturday morning. They also are members of the Augusta County Farm Bureau. Andre Viette currently serves on the organization’s board of directors and on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee, and Mark Viette is a former Augusta Farm Bureau board member.

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

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From the Ground Up

‘Slam full’ backyard greenhouse means longer growing season, homegrown foods to share “I figured out the square feet of heat I needed for the greenhouse and purchased my heaters accordingly,” he said. “You can do electric or propane. I have both so that I have a backup should the electricity go out.”

The greenhouse has a louver that is connected to a thermostat and automatically opens if the inside temperature gets too high.

Hammond also installed a fan that turns on automatically to help with circulation and

reduce the risk of plant diseases. He placed a water spigot nearby for easy access.

Mullins recommended making sure to have a water source close by, as well as access to electricity.

Greenhouse kits can be purchased online and from garden centers. Additional information is available on the Extension website at ext.vt.edu.

sara owens

For home gardeners who want to start plants early or want more growing space, a backyard greenhouse could be the answer, said Virginia Cooperative Extension fruit and vegetable specialist Chris Mullins.

Rocky Hammond, who lives in Colonial Heights, purchased and built a 10-foot-by-12foot greenhouse for his suburban home.

“The greenhouse is slam full of plants during the peak of growing season,” Hammond said. “I have so many plants that I usually give them away to family and friends.”

Hammond’s greenhouse is made of polycarbonate sheeting with a layer of plastic in between for better insulation. He uses it to grow transplants for his garden and hanging baskets.

“I chose to build the greenhouse near my garden and built it so it has a slight slope from back to front so that water can run off,” he said. “I didn’t want to stand in water while watering the plants, so I built it so it wasn’t completely level and the water can drain out, which also reduces the humidity in the greenhouse.”

Hammond built his greenhouse in a sunny area of his yard, which is good, Mullins said, because you want to make sure there isn’t too much shade, especially in the late winter and early spring when sunlight is important for young plants.

Hammond placed benches on both sides of his greenhouse for plants that need full sun, and he grows shade-loving plants underneath the benches. He uses propane and an electric heater to heat the greenhouse during the colder months to ensure an optimum growing temperature.

Easy access to water and grading that allows for good drainage are things to consider when planning a backyard greenhouse like this one in Colonial Heights.

Andy Hankins, Extension specialist and ‘From the Ground Up’ host, passes

Andy Hankins 28

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

Anthony “Andy” Hankins, a retired Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist who was based at Virginia State University, died Nov. 15, 2012.

Mr. Hankins hosted the “From the Ground Up” segment on Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s television program Real Virginia.

“Andy never met a stranger. He was so down-to-earth and so laid-back, he made everyone feel comfortable,” said Greg Hicks, VFBF vice president of communications. “He always made everything sound so simple, whether it was or not; yet he was brilliant, just a master educator and a wonderful people person. He will be greatly missed. He touched so many lives and really left a huge thumbprint on agriculture in Virginia.”

VaFarmBureau.org

From the Ground Up

An aquaponic system combines traditional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment to grow crops, often greens or lettuce. Smaller-scale versions of a commercial aquaponic system can be used in small greenhouses, sunrooms or rooms with grow lights, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension fruit and vegetable specialist Chris Mullins.

“The fish provide fertilizer and water for the plants, and the fish have a nice, warm place to grow,” Mullins said. “These systems are becoming more common in the United States and even right here in Virginia.

They’re great for home or hobby gardeners.”

Lettuce that is sold in clamshells at the grocery store might have been grown in such a system, Mullins said.

It’s a fast, clean method for growing lettuce, he explained. Nutrients are circulated through the system 24 hours a day, and the fish live in tanks with small aquatic pumps, heaters and filters.

At VSU, “we use tilapia in our aquaponic systems,” Mullins said. “They’re really great for these systems, because they are hardy and can withstand the conditions they’re kept in and grow easily and quickly. They also taste good.”

The system has troughs or gutter channels through which water from the fish tank moves to oasis blocks that contain seeds. The seeds are constantly bathed in nutrients from water that is then filtered and recirculated to the fish tank. It takes 40 days to harvest lettuce in such a system.

“It is necessary to have adequate light for this system, so add grow lights to suspend above if your system needs more light,” Mullins said. “You only need a small tank with 15 to 20 tilapia in it. You could actually use a storage tub too (as pictured). You also want a cover for the tank so the fish do not escape.”

To find the station nearest you that airs Real Virginia, or to view the show online, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

photos by sara owens

Aquaponic systems help grow greenhouse greens and vegetables year-round

Aquaponic systems feed greenhouse plants with nutrients from water in fish tanks and then filter and return the water to the fish tanks. This system at Virginia State University features lettuce varieties and tilapia.

The water temperature should be kept at 85 degrees using the heater in the fish tank.

The filter attached to the aquatic pump will filter out solid material so it doesn’t get to the plants.

Aquaponic kits are available for about $350 in stores and online, or you can make your own system using PVC pipe for around $50 to $100, Mullins said.

Chris Mullins appears on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program. Mullins is an assistant professor and Virginia Cooperative Extension greenhouse specialist at Virginia State University and works with fruit and vegetable growers statewide. He is a member of the American Society of Horticulture Science.

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Marketplace

Find winter and spring farm products, with Farm Bureau Fresh If you’re looking for Virginia farmfresh meats, eggs, greenhouse- or high tunnel-grown produce or wool or other fibers, there’s a Farm Bureau member benefit that can make your search easier.

Farm Bureau Fresh, based on the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace, lets members who farm place free, searchable listings of up to 45 words.

Consumers can use Farm Bureau Fresh to search for products in any of 11 categories, or use a ZIP code to locate all producers in a specific area who sell to the public. In addition to addresses, phone numbers and farm websites, you’ll be able to access a map and Go0gle travel directions to each farm, stand or other venue.

Products currently are being listed in the following categories:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

agritourism; aquaculture; bees and honey; Christmas trees; CSAs; eggs; fiber; flowers; fruit; meat; mushrooms; pick-your-own; pumpkins; and vegetables.

Farm-fresh produce and eggs are among the products consumers can find with Farm Bureau Fresh.

2013 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive 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 2013 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.

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Cultivate FEBRUARY 2013

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

Marketplace

How to place your classified ad Step 1 Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad.

• Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only.

• Classified ads are not transferable.

• Please type or print.

• Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.

Step 2 Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.

Important:

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

Step 5 Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552

Step 3

Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/Marketplace.

Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).

Deadlines

Step 4 Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership.

Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear.

• Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau.

Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: Issue Deadline Mailed to producer members May April 4 August June 28 Mailed to associate members April March 1 July May 31

We are not responsible for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Cultivate and Virginia Farm Bureau News do not constitute an endorsement by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its affiliated companies and organizations.

We reserve the right to edit or reject ads, including ads that represent a business in competition with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company or any of our affiliated or affinity partners. We reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement that makes reference to any particular political party or group, religious belief or denomination, race, creed, color or national origin.

Moving?

If your address or phone number has changed—or is about to—don’t forget to contact your county Farm Bureau office to ensure that your membership and subscription information stays current!

One free 15-word ad per membership per year; dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Category in which ad should run (select only one): ❑ Crops

COUNTY: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

❑ Farm Equipment

ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________________________________________________

❑ Hay/Straw

CITY: _________________________________________________ STATE:____________________________

❑ Livestock

ZIP:__________________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: ___________________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: _________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above.

ADVERTISEMENT (one word per space; please type or print):

❑ Livestock Equipment No other categories available in magazines

1. ____________________________ 2.____________________________ 3. _______________________________ 4. ______________________________ 5. __________________________________ 6. ____________________________ 7. ____________________________ 8. _______________________________ 9. ______________________________ 10. _________________________________ ( ) 11. ___________________________ 12. ___________________________ 13. _______________________________ 14. _____________________________ 15. _________________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN:

❑ April (mailed to associate members) ❑ May (mailed to producer members)

* Ad placement available for these issues only VirginiaFarmBureau.com

❑ July (mailed to associate members) ❑ Payment enclosed: $_______________ ❑ August (mailed to producer members) ❑ This is my one free 15-word ad for 2013. ❑ Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me. ❑ Please place my ad online in the VFB Member Marketplace (Ads expire Dec. 31).

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Breaking new ground, all the time It won’t be long before farmers across Virginia begin spring planting, but Farm Bureau members like you help the organization break new ground year-round.

Last summer Farm Bureau entered a partnership that ultimately preserved the State Fair of Virginia. And last fall Farm Bureau members rallied to support a now-in-effect amendment to Virginia’s constitution that protects landowners against eminent domain abuse.

Your Farm Bureau membership helped 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 this year by telling your family, friends and neighbors about Farm Bureau and encouraging them to become members as well.

There’s never been a better year, and we’re just getting started.

VaFarmBureau.org