Cultivate April 2015

Cultivate APRIL 2015

Virginia Farm Bureau

Tractor museum ‘always adding something’

Cultivate Volume 8, Number 2 April 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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Features 16

“After he got his first tractor, he just kind of

“Work in progress” museum is full of history

Keystone Tractor Works has no shortage of vintage tractors.

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went from there.”

ABCs of egg labeling

Get the facts behind label language on conventionally farmed eggs, organic eggs, cage-free eggs, “natural” eggs and others.

24 Tried and true: Heirloom tomatoes deliver tradition, taste

got into collecting and

Every summer they deliver flavor that’s been savored by generations.

— ALAN “BONES” STONE, Keystone Tractor Works’ curator, on the museum owner’s passion for vintage tractors, trucks and other collectibles

Departments 4

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.

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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 July. The magazine is published four times a year.

Most of Keystone Tractor Works’ antique tractors still run (Photo by Sara Owens).

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Americans’ per capita egg consumption in 2014, according to the American Egg Board.

See related article on Page 8.

Heads up! April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Virginia and a good time to remember that when you are behind the wheel, driving should be the top priority—not conversing on the phone, texting, eating, talking to passengers or any other activity that diverts your attention from the road.

Virginia Farm Bureau has partnered with Drive Smart Virginia to bring awareness to the issue of distracted driving.

Distracted driving kills and injures thousands each year. To find practical driving tips and take a pledge to drive distraction-free and make Virginia’s roadways safer, visit drivesmartva.org.

Virginia has banned texting while driving since July 2013.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Did you know?

2015 has been designated the International Year of Soils by the United Nations to highlight the importance of healthy soils for food security, ecosystem functions and resilient farms and ranches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resource Conservation Service and the Soil Science Society of America have joined in that effort.

According to the NRCS, the world’s population is expected to increase from 7 billion in 2013 to 9 billion in 2050. Consequently, food production needs to rise by 70 percent.

The land best-suited to produce food and fiber continues to be lost to development. Between 1982 and 2007, 14 million acres of prime farmland was lost.

Improving soil health on surviving farmland is the key to long-term, sustainable agricultural production.

Healthy soil holds more water and decreases runoff. One percent of organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil would hold about 27,000 gallons of water per acre.

Most farmers can increase the soil’s organic matter in three to 10 years when they adopt conservation practices to do so.

Virginia farmers already engage in plenty of conservation practices to help protect and improve soil health. They utilize no-till planting and conservation tillage; plant cover crops; employ rotational grazing, stream exclusion fencing and responsible animal waste storage; and maintain nutrient management plans.

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Seed Survivor mobile display aims to educate children about agriculture Most American children do not live on farms.

A mobile exhibit has been bringing a taste of farming to their schools.

BY SARA OWENS

Hands-on presentation Students spent half of the onehour Seed Survivor presentation

PHOTOS BY SARA OWENS

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lementary school children got a taste of agriculture this winter—right in their schools’ parking lots—thanks to Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s partnership with Agrium Inc. Farm Bureau teamed up with Agrium to bring a mobile Seed Survivor exhibit to public and private schools across the commonwealth. Seed Survivor is a free, curriculum-based learning experience that encourages children to master the elements that plants need to grow.

“This program provides opportunities to get future generations excited about agriculture,” said Ron Saacke, VFBF director of the Women’s and Young Farmers programs and Agriculture in the Classroom. “It simply connects students to the science and technology behind all types of crop production practices while allowing Agrium and Farm Bureau to show we care about the environment and what we produce for them.”

The Seed Survivor exhibit visited more than 55 Virginia schools between last November and the end of March.

inside the mobile display playing multimedia and virtual reality video games related to soil, water, sunlight, nutrients and growth. The other half of the presentation was spent in a guided lesson on plant nutrients. After learning about the elements needed for plants to survive, students planted a sunflower seed to take home and grow.

The exhibit began traveling to Virginia schools on Nov. 17, 2014, and concluded April 1, having reached nearly 7,000 third-, fourth- and fifthgraders at more than 55 schools.

“This mobile display is one of only two that travel around the United States and Canada each year,” Saacke said. “We’re lucky to have it here in Virginia, and we tried to get it out to as many elementary students as possible

before it moves to another state in April.”

Mark Lilly, a contract educator for the program, said he was interested in helping with the program because he grew up in farming.

“We teach about agriculture and how farmers do what they do, and how they do it more efficiently,” Lilly said.

“The kids get really excited about the interactive trailer and planting the sunflower seed and watching it grow.

If I piqued one child’s interest, I’ve done my job.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more details about Seed Survivor, visit seedsurvivor.com.

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QUICK FACTS: Seed Survivor was developed in 2005 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada by Agrium Inc. • The display was featured at the State Fair of Virginia in 2013 and 2014.

• Teachers and industry experts worked together to develop the display’s activities, games and content.

• The display has five interactive learning stations that focus on water, light, soil, nutrients and growth.

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In January, students at South Elementary School in Prince George County played multimedia games, planted sunflowers and learned about plant nutrients in the Seed Survivor exhibit.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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What’s in a label: Defining egg carton language There are a lot of different labels for this simple and timeless product. What do they all mean?

Eggs are nutritional powerhouses, and consumers have taken an interest in how their eggs are produced.

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t’s still the “Incredible, Edible Egg.” But since the catchy jingle was introduced in 1977 by the American Egg Board, grocery store egg shelves have changed and expanded and now include cartons and cartons of eggs with different labels such as “organic,” “cage-free,” “hormone-free” and “natural.”

What does it all mean, and how do you know which ones to buy?

“The main take-home point is that an egg is an egg—the majority of labeling claims are marketing tactics by companies trying to get more market share,” explained Lindsay Reames, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s assistant director of governmental relations. “Eggs have the same nutritional value and are all antibioticfree, and all chickens are raised humanely; regardless of label claims.

The consumer has a choice between a myriad of eggs and labeling claims.”

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ABCs of egg carton labeling The Egg Nutrition Center employs health and nutrition experts to provide balanced, accurate information on the complex issues surrounding eggs, nutrition and health. The center shares the following points about egg carton labels: • Antibiotic-free: All eggs produced in the United States are antibioticfree, even if it’s not specified on the carton. If a hen has an illness and is treated with antibiotics, all of her eggs must be diverted from human consumption, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations.

• Cage-free/free-roaming eggs: These eggs are laid by hens that may roam in a building, room or open area, usually in a barn or poultry house. Cage-free systems vary and include barn-raised and free-range

hens, both of which have shelter that helps protect against predators.

• Gluten-free: All eggs are naturally gluten-free.

• Hormones: The egg industry does not use hormones in production of shell eggs. A “no hormone” statement may appear on a label for shell eggs, but the FDA requires that it be accompanied by a qualifying statement that “hormones are not used in the production of shell eggs” to prevent misleading consumers that some eggs have added hormones.

• Natural: The U.S. Department of Agriculture identifies all shell eggs as natural.

• Organic eggs: These are eggs that are laid by cage-free, free-roaming hens that are raised on certified organic feed and have access to the outdoors.

• Pasteurized eggs: These eggs have been heated to temperatures just below the coagulation point to destroy pathogens.

Eggs are growing in popularity Americans are eating nearly four more eggs per person per year than they did before 2011, and U.S. egg production at the end of last summer was 3 percent higher than it was a year before.

The American Egg Board reported late last year that U.S. per capita egg consumption rose from 247.9 eggs in 2011 to 251.3 eggs in 2013. It is expected to rise to 257.9 eggs this year.

For more information on eggs, egg labeling and nutrition visit the American Egg Board’s website at aeb. org or the Egg Nutrition Center’s website at eggnutritioncenter.org.

You get an AA, A or B Egg grades are labeled AA, A and B. There is no difference in nutritional value among the different grades.

All eggs sold at the retail level must meet the standards for Grade B or better.

Although Grade B eggs are just as wholesome to eat, they rate lower in appearance. Few Grade B eggs find their way to the retail supermarket. Most go to institutional egg users such as bakeries or food service operations.

The incredible, colorful egg

Did you know?

The egg carton was invented in 1911 by newspaper editor Joseph Coyle of Smithers, British Columbia, to solve a dispute between a local farmer and a hotel owner over the farmer’s eggs often being delivered broken. Before the carton’s invention, eggs were transported in egg baskets.

Brown eggs are laid by red-brown feathered chicken breeds like the Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire and Plymouth Rock.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, brown eggs’ nutritional content is the same as that of white eggs unless the hens’ feed is nutrient-enhanced.

Nutrient content has nothing to do with shell color. The same applies to eggs of other colors—pink, blue and green—and those colors are determined by a hen’s breed.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Dairy farmers respond to market demands to go rBST-free

BY KATHY DIXON

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hy are people still talking about rBST? That’s what Augusta County dairyman Kyle Leonard wanted to know when asked to comment on the use of the man-made hormone in dairy cows. “All fluid milk is rBST-free,” said Leonard, who milks about 120 cows on Colebelle Farm.

Bovine somatotropin, or BST, is a growth hormone naturally produced by cattle that enables them to produce milk. A man-made version of that is recombinant bovine somatotropin, or rBST, which was developed to help dairy farmers increase their cows’ milk production. It also is known as recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH. “A lot of retailers went to their milk suppliers and demanded rBGH-free milk,” said Tony Banks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation assistant director of commodity marketing. Dairy cooperatives said they could do that but would have to charge more for the milk to help offset production costs to their farmers.

Eventually, though, enough retailers demanded rBGH-free milk that cooperatives decided it was worthwhile to make that switch, Banks said.

Doug Mayhugh, a Culpeper County dairy producer, said that, although he’s never treated his cows with a synthetic growth hormone, he doesn’t believe they are harmful to consumers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved rBGH in 1993. Mayhugh said it hit the market in 1994, “about the 10

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Cows produce a growth hormone that enables them to produce milk when they have calves. There’s also a man-made version of that hormone that some dairy farmers have used to extend milk production.

first month my wife and I got into the dairy business.”

They started Mtn. Valley Farm from scratch and wanted to figure out the dairy business without using the extra growth hormone. But many neighboring farms began using it and it did increase their milk production, Mayhugh said.

After a cow gives birth to a calf, she produces milk for about 10 to 12 months. Milk production eventually tapers down, feed intake catches up and her body rebuilds, Banks said. A cow’s milk production increases daily at first until peaking at about 70 days.

By injecting rBGH, a producer can postpone that crossover point for another eight to 12 weeks and keep milk production at a higher level for a longer period of time. This results in about a 10 percent increase in milk production per cow.

The World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Dietetic Association all have concluded that milk and meat from rBGH-treated cows is safe for human consumption.

Another issue of concern to consumers is that research has shown levels of a hormone called insulin-like

growth factor1, or IFG-1, are elevated in dairy products from cows treated with rBGH. The thinking is that humans who eat these products will incur an elevated IFG-1 and therefore be more susceptible to cancer.

However, the American Cancer Society investigated the research and found that, while some studies indicate adults who drink milk have a 10 percent higher level of IGF-1 in their blood than those who drink little or no milk, the same level was found among those who drink soy milk. Thus, the increased level of IGF-1 had less to do with rBGH than with some other compound found in any kind of milk, regardless of how it was produced.

Meat MythCrushers SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

A Cornell study for the National Academy of Sciences found that dairy farmers who treat their cows with rBGH are good environmentalists.

Those farmers can produce more milk without requiring additional water, feed and land, the study found. It concluded that a 100-head dairy herd treated with rBGH would use 8 percent less land than a conventional 100-head herd that wasn’t treated with rBGH.

AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE

More milk with no additional resources

The American Meat Institute addresses common misconceptions about meat production in its Meat MythCrushers brochure and online at meatmythcrushers.com.

Hormone-free?

All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones, including meat animals, vegetables, eggs and people. So no food or living thing can be “hormone-free,” despite marketing claims.

According to the American Meat Institute, federal law prohibits the use of hormones in poultry and pig production.

Hormones like estrogen are used in beef production to increase the amount of meat that can be harvested from cattle. However, the hormones are the same as those naturally produced by cattle, the AMI said. The estrogen that is used in beef production, for example, is used at levels that are a fraction of what is found in soybean oil, soybeans and eggs and produced by the human body.

The AMSA is a professional society that provides a forum for all interests in meat—commercial, academic, government and consumer—to collaborate in a science-based atmosphere.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Food banks seeking partnerships with farmers Providing more fresh produce is a goal Virginia farmers who have extra and unsold fresh produce this year are being asked to consider partnering with their local food banks.

Members of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks distributed more than 142 million pounds of food and grocery products to 1.2 million Virginians last year. A high percentage of the products distributed was fresh produce sent out to 2,608 partner agencies that deliver directly to individuals in need.

In response to a national drive to eat healthier in recent years, many food banks have ramped up their supply of produce.

“Most food banks are looking to provide more fresh produce, and we would like the opportunity to buy local. Developing those relationships now is key to that happening,” said Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the food bank federation.

Van Horn said many Virginia farmers are most likely unaware that they could be paid for unsold produce that otherwise would be wasted. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is one of several farm organizations that has

Some food banks are buying farmers’ surplus produce.

promoted to their members the opportunity to sell to food banks.

“We’re looking for seconds or thirds, items that have been turned away by commercial buyers or are being tilled under at the end of a growing season. We would like the opportunity to discuss purchasing those products at a fair price,” Van Horn said.

Financing Country Living Since 1916 The Experts in Rural Finance Homes • Land • Construction • Livestock Barns • Outbuildings • Equipment

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FarmCredit.com

Farmers share production practices in video series

U.S. FARMERS AND RANCHERS ALLIANCE

Drone technology ‘could be an incredible tool’

Want to see inside a modern hog farming operation? Visit fooddialogues.com.

The Internet is a boundless source of videos on how things are done. Now some U.S. farmers are sharing videos about what they do every day, with the goal of reaching consumers who have questions.

Videos titled How to Milk 1,200 Cows, How to Care for 7,000 Pigs, How to Gather 50,000 Eggs a Day and How to Use Trash to Help Crops Grow have been released by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance on its website, fooddialogues.com.

The “trash” in the crops video title refers to residual cornstalks from a previous year’s crop.

“What we hope to do, specifically, with this project is to make sure the trust in food production is continuing to grow and … to respond to consumer demands that are coming from an informed consumer instead of a consumer who has unrealistic fears about how their food is produced,” said USFRA CEO Randy Krotz.

The USFRA consists of more than 80 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners working to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how food is grown and raised. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are members.

Farmers in Virginia and across the nation are closely monitoring new legislation dealing with the use of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation supported state legislation that opposes unauthorized surveillance of farms by drones but still allows the use of drones for agricultural research.

SB 1301 and HB 2125, both of which passed in this year’s Virginia General Assembly, state that no governmental agency or organization can use drones except during the execution of a search warrant or when an inspection warrant has been issued. But the bills don’t prohibit the use of drones for research and development conducted by institutions of higher education or other research organizations.

On the national level, the American Farm Bureau Federation said the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent proposal on the commercial use of drones is a good start to a long-overdue discussion on use of the technology. Farmers and ranchers are optimistic that the final rules will allow them to use drones as part of precision agriculture systems that have helped them produce more while protecting natural resources.

“Unmanned aircraft systems could be an incredible tool for farmers and ranchers, who can use them to scout their fields and ensure they’re using inputs like fertilizer and water only on the areas that need treatment,” explained R.J. Karney, AFBF technology specialist.

The draft rules would require unmanned aircraft operators to obtain an unmanned aircraft system operator certificate, stay away from bystanders and fly only during the day. They limit flying speed to 100 mph and altitude to 500 feet. In addition, the aircraft can weigh no more than 55 pounds, and it must remain within the operator’s line of sight.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Agriculture in the News

Virginia sets new record for farm exports Governor declares state will be East Coast’s No. 1 ag exporter

VIRGINIA’S TOP 10 EXPORT MARKETS The 10 countries importing the most Virginia agriculture and forestry products are:

1. China ($691 million) 2. Canada ($279 million) 3. Switzerland ($174 million) 4. Mexico ($150 million) 5. Russia ($124 million) 6. Japan ($114 million) 7. United Kingdom ($110 million) Virginia increased agricultural exports 14 percent last year.

Virginia agricultural and forestry exports in 2014 totaled $3.35 billion, setting a record and topping $3 billion for the first time ever.

That’s a 14 percent increase over 2013’s record-setting $2.9 billion, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced last month at the seventh annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade.

“This is a dynamite industry for the commonwealth of Virginia,” McAuliffe said.

“This impressive growth catapults us to the second-largest exporter on the East Coast.

But we need to be the No. 1 East Coast capitol for agriculture and forestry exports.”

The governor vowed to do anything he could to make that happen.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Virginia has seen record-level agricultural exports; those exports have increased in value by 49 percent since 2010, when the state launched a strategic plan for their growth.

“The marketplace for all goods will continue to be more global in nature and will only grow as the worldwide population increases dramatically,” said Spencer Neale, commodity marketing director for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “But it is a highly competitive marketplace, and it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, tough negotiating and feet on the ground in foreign countries to promote one’s goods.

Virginia’s ongoing commitment to those principles is why we continue to grow our forestry and ag exports.

“But just as important are the high-quality products our Virginia farmers produce that have earned them a longstanding reputation worldwide.”

The Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade was co-hosted by Farm Bureau, the Virginia Port Authority, Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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8. Venezuela ($103 million) 9. Morocco ($98 million) 10. Indonesia ($94 million)

Agriculture in the News

TOP VIRGINIA FARM AND FOREST EXPORTS

Overseas demand is robust for Virginia-grown soybeans and soybean meal and oil.

• Soybeans ($794 million) • Soybean meal and soil ($455 million) • Lumber and logs ($326 million) • Pork ($258 million) • Unmanufactured leaf tobacco ($204 million) • Poultry ($195 million) • Processed foods and beverages, including wine ($169 million) • Corn ($146 million) • Wheat ($123 million) • Animal feed ($118 million) • Wood pellets ($113 million) • Seafood and other marine products ($34 million) • Raw peanuts ($30 million) • Cotton ($24 million) • Animal fats and oils ($22 million)

Virginia has exported agricultural products to Cuba since 2003.

Farm Bureau, other groups support normalized relations with Cuba The American Farm Bureau Federation has voiced support for President Obama’s move toward normalized relations between the United States and Cuba. The process is expected to facilitate expanded U.S. farm exports to Cuba.

AFBF President Bob Stallman noted that U.S. farmers currently can export goods to Cuba, “but third-party banking requirements and limited credit financing make it harder to compete in the market than it should be. We look forward to a prompt lifting of those restrictions. Improving trade relations between the United States and Cuba will expand access to a market of 11 million consumers for U.S. agriculture. That’s good for Cuba and good for America too.”

In January, the AFBF was among more than 25 U.S. food and agriculture companies and organizations that announced creation of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba.

The coalition seeks the end of the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the advancement of trade relations.

Virginia has exported agricultural goods to Cuba since 2003, the first year in which U.S. exports to that nation were allowed since 1961. In 2013, the commonwealth exported $38 million in agricultural products to Cuba, among them apples, soybeans and soybean meal. Virginia is among the top four states that export to Cuba, the other three being Louisiana, Florida and Georgia.

On Jan. 7, Gov. Terry McAuliffe met with Dr. Jose Ramon Cabanas Rodriguez, chief of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington. Cabanas also met with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor and other VFBF representatives.

Cabanas noted that Virginia has actively pursued ag export opportunities in Cuba and consistently has sought relevant contacts and relationships. “You have been, in ways, pioneers,” he said.

Consequently, he explained, Virginia and its agricultural products are in a favorable position as the two countries begin to consider a post-embargo future. “If we are able to remove the obstacles, … I would say the limit is the sky.”

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Keystone Tractor Works exhibits feature vintage tractors, trucks and farm and transportation memorabilia.

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‘ Work in progress’ tractor museum is full of history

BY SARA OWENS

Walk into Keystone Tractor Works in Colonial Heights, and you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

The 70,000-square-foot museum has 160 antique tractors in its main showroom, along with an antique tobacco exhibit, antique gas pumps and displays of vintage tools, toy trucks and soda bottles.

Off the main room are two smaller rooms—one filled with antique trucks and the other housing antique cars and a meeting space.

“There’s a little something for everyone,” said Alan “Bones” Stone, the museum’s curator. “The museum is a work in progress, and we’re always adding something so there’s always something new to see.”

The museum opened in October 2010. In addition to the exhibit space, it has a gift shop, and a restaurant will be added this year.

Guests can take a self-guided tour of the museum, following informational signs at each tractor, truck or car. The rows of tractors are organized by make, model and year. Stone said all but four of the tractors were driven onto the

showroom floor, and most of them run.

“We have a lot of unique tractors,” he said. “We have the first electric-start tractor, first front-wheel drive tractor and several sought-after tractors.”

A bright orange-yellow 1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor sits near the front of one row. It’s a closed-cab farm tractor equipped with automotive features such as an electric starter, a dashboard with a speedometer, heat, windshield wipers, a cigarette lighter and a radio.

Stone said people would take it out on the town at night after using it in the fields. “It cost nearly twice as much as other tractors of that time, so it didn’t sell well,” he said. There are only about 30 completely restored UDLX Comfortractors in existence today.

A 1917 Waterloo Boy also is included in the display. Deere & Company purchased Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co. in 1918 and after the sale would become known as the John Deere Tractor Co. The company continued to sell tractors under the Waterloo Boy name until 1923, when the John Deere Model D was introduced.

Truck company owner ‘just kind of got into collecting’ Keith “Keystone” Jones, CEO of Abilene Motor Express in Chesterfield County, owns the museum. The tractors and trucks are from his private collection. The museum is one of the five largest exhibits of its kind on the East Coast.

Stone said the first tractor Jones purchased was his uncle’s 1950 John Deere Model M. “Keith liked old tractors and was involved in tractor pulling for many years,” he said. “After he got his first tractor, he just kind of got into collecting and went from there.”

Keystone Tractor Works has hundreds of tractor-pulling trophies on display in its main showroom. The museum hosts meetings and tour groups and also takes tractors to events like the State Fair of Virginia and Field Days of the Past in Goochland County.

“We really like to support local events,” Stone said. “We also attend the John Deere Expo in New York every other year.”

PHOTOS BY SARA OWENS

Nearly all of the museum’s tractors were driven into the building and still run.

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MUSEUM FACTS: • Keystone Tractor Works considers

machinery from 1959 or earlier to be antiques.

• Oldest tractor: 1917 Waterloo Boy • A black Cadillac in the collection was

used in the 2014 movie Get On Up, which starred Chadwick Boseman as singer James Brown.

• A gas pump and tractor from the

collection were used in the 2008 movie Lake City, which starred Sissy Spacek and was filmed in Virginia.

• The museum is heated with used oil from Abilene Motor Co. trucks.

• Abilene Motor Express participates in

the annual Trucker’s Parade Against Cancer each October. The parade of vintage trucks travels through four towns in Charlotte County, each vehicle bearing a banner in memory or honor of a loved one who has fought cancer.

“We’re always adding something,” curator Alan “ Bones” Stone said of the museum collection, which includes antique fire trucks and cars and tobacco collectibles.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit keystonetractorworks.com for museum hours, admission costs and photos of the antique tractors, road trucks and firefighting equipment in the collection.

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For Your Benefit

Save on brand-name and generic prescription drugs Farm Bureau’s free Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program affords members significant savings on more than 12,000 name-brand and generic prescription drugs at more than 57,000 pharmacies.

Members pay no fee to use the program, which is designed for individuals with no health coverage for prescription drugs. It also can be used in instances when a prescription is not covered by a health insurance plan.

The program works via 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. To get your card, visit your county Farm Bureau office or VaFarmBureau. org/memberprograms/memberbenefits.

You don’t have to wonder about health risks with Life Line Screenings Members can save on four noninvasive vascular health screenings— for carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease—and have a free osteoporosis screening to assess risk for stroke, heart attack and bone fractures.

Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventing screenings, provides these procedures to Farm Bureau members at the discounted rate of $145.

Watch for mailings about Life Line screenings in your area, or contact your county Farm Bureau for details.

Help is within reach with Member’s Medical Alert Virginia Farm Bureau’s Member’s Medical Alert system makes it easy for members or their loved ones to summon assistance to their homes in an emergency.

Powered by national provider LifeStation, the service features a stateof-the art, 24-hour call center with care specialists that can be contacted via a tabletop console or a help button that users can mount on a wall or wear around the neck or wrist or clipped to a belt.

• Members pay a special monthly rate of $25.95 for land line use.

• Cellular-based connection is available for an additional $14.95 per month.

• No long-term contract and 30-day money-back guarantee.

For details call 877-288-4958 or visit MembersMedicalAlert.com and use code FB102.

New Silverado, same great member benefits.

Farm Bureau memBers can get a $500 private offer toward the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD lineup.They get tough jobs done with a maximum payload of up to 6,635 lbs and a conventional towing capacity of up to 17,000 lbs.

Contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit fbverify.com for more details.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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The Apple Orchard Riddle Named Foundation for Agriculture’s Book of the Year The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its eighth annual Book of the Year award to author Margaret McNamara for The Apple Orchard Riddle earlier this year.

In the playful and humorous story, students on a field trip learn a lot about apple varieties, orchards and cider while trying to solve a riddle.

McNamara is a former children’s book editor who now works as a literary agent when she’s not writing.

“When I was growing up, there was a very crooked, very old apple tree in our backyard. It produced the most delicious green cooking apples,” she said. “I baked many a pie and cake and crumble with those apples.

“When I got older, my stepdaughter was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Her struggle with reading has always been coupled with an uncanny ability to see things differently and to solve problems in a very visual way. I wrote ‘The Apple Orchard Riddle’ in memory of that old apple tree, and to celebrate my stepdaughter, Emma.”

The Book of the Year award springs from the foundation’s efforts to identify books that accurately cover agricultural topics. The foundation maintains a list of more than 400 books for children, teenagers and adults at agfoundation.org.

Food bank and farmer partnerships, social media pioneers on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Young farmers are using social media to tell their stories about agriculture • Virginia food banks are seeking partnerships with produce farmers • Giles County High School and Ferrum College are ag education groundbreakers

Real Virginia To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

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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.

Review your insurance policies often Auto, home and life insurance policies are designed to provide individuals and families with the protection they need when filing a claim. It’s important to know policy details such as your deductible and what is covered.

Each time you receive a policy renewal notice, take a minute to review your declarations page and read through your policy.

“It’s important to review your policy limits and the vehicles, buildings or equipment insured, so you know what coverage you have and how much of a deductible you are going to have to pay if you need to file a claim,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “The best time to review your policy is before you have a loss. You don’t want to have any surprises when filing a claim.”

When making changes that will affect your insurance, such as buying or selling a vehicle, home or property, make sure you call your insurance agent.

“Often when you buy a new vehicle, the dealership may tell you they are going to notify your insurance company,” Rooks said.

“And while they may do that for you, it is best to check behind them and call your agent yourself. You don’t want to have an incident and realize your vehicle isn’t on your policy.”

Injured in an auto accident?

Multiple insurance policies could come into play Injuries are an unfortunate consequence of some car accidents.

Many people assume health insurance will cover all of their medical expenses no matter what happens, but that’s not always the case.

As a rule, medical insurance will pay for injuries when all other forms of payment are exhausted. This is true for most types of insurance. Your medical insurance company won’t pay for injuries that happen at work until it is established that worker’s compensation won’t pay, or until you reach the limit of payout for worker’s comp. The same is true with auto insurance and injuries

resulting from an auto accident.

If you don’t have auto insurance or your auto insurance policy doesn’t have medical coverage, your health insurance most likely will pay for your injuries if you are the only person involved in the accident. If another person was involved, then your health insurance company is likely to wait and see who was at fault and whether the other parties’ insurance will cover your medical expenses.

Most health insurance companies move forward with a claim after all other claims are denied. Most medical providers are familiar with that process and will treat auto accident injuries

up front and bill you for anything that isn’t covered, like deductibles and co-payments.

In the event of an auto accident in which you sustain an injury and file insurance claims, the deductible on your auto insurance and the deductible on your health insurance will both come into play. There is no deductible under auto insurance for medical coverage whether it comes from medical expense or uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage or a responsible third party’s bodily injury coverage.

Call your county Farm Bureau for help understanding the new health care laws.

HealthMarketPlaceVA.com

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.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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WISTERIA needs afternoon sun, pruning to bloom Some people have wisteria for six to seven years and see not the first cluster of white, pink or violet flowers, said horticulturalist Mark Viette. “The wisteria may have a lot of bright, green growths, but no blooms.”

If your wisteria won’t bloom, the plant could be getting too much shade and not enough afternoon sun. There also could be too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorus in your lawn’s fertilizer.

“You need to shock them back into growth,” Viette said.

“Pruning your wisteria will help direct the plant’s energy into producing flowers.”

He recommended thinning out older growth at the center of the main part of the vine. When you look at the growth, there will be mature, dark green growth that is probably 2 to 5 years old, and spindly, light green growth. The light green growth should be pruned back and can be done so in one of three ways.

1. For the best flowering, cut the growth in half in midAugust or September, again in two weeks and again in another two weeks, so that only one or two buds are present on the vine. “This helps force the buds to flower, because you are forcing the energy to the buds and are helping them break into flowering. It’s the most foolproof way to get your wisteria to flower,” Viette said.

2. A second way is to cut the growth back to one or two buds one time instead of three.

3. Or you can prune in late winter or early spring to one or two buds, as long as the wisteria is still dormant.

At the same time, thin out the growth from the main trunk so that more light can get in.

“Take out one of every five main stems, but don’t take out more than 20 percent of the total bush,” Viette said.

It may take more than one year to get the wisteria to bloom again, he said, but once it does, it should bloom each year.

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Wisteria in a home landscape requires vigilance; unmanaged growth can cause property damage.

A NOTE ON WISTERIA While well-established in many Southern landscapes, Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), which twines clockwise, and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), which twines counter-clockwise, are on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Invasive Plant Species List (See related article below).

Both twine tightly around host tree trunks and branches and have the potential to girdle and kill the trees while sprouting dense new growth on the ground that can impede native vegetation.

In a home landscape, both require aggressive pruning.

Their root systems can spread 40 feet and have the potential to damage underground plumbing and crack concrete slabs.

The vines can bring down a home’s gutters and siding.

American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), which twines clockwise, is native to the southeastern United States. It is considered less invasive than the Chinese and Japanese varieties and can be trained to grow over trellises, arbors and other structures. It still will require regular prunings.

New list identifies invasive plants in Virginia Virginians considering adding English ivy, golden bamboo or Japanese barberry to their yards might want to reconsider. Those plants and 87 others are on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s new list of non-native invasive plants at dcr.virginia.gov.

The list is for educational purposes only and has no regulatory authority.

Home gardeners can use it to make wise decisions about landscaping.

“Planting anything on this list could affect adjacent natural areas,” said Kevin Heffernan, DCR natural heritage stewardship biologist. “Gardeners

should think twice about planting anything that might be aggressive in their yard, especially if they live near a park or a forest.”

Invasive plants can displace native plant species, reduce wildlife habitat and alter ecosystems. They threaten natural areas, parks and forests. In the United States, they cost an estimated $34 billion annually in economic loss.

Invasive, non-native plant species typically grow and mature rapidly; produce seed prolifically; are highly successful at germination and colonization; outcompete native species; and are expensive to remove or control.

DCR Natural Heritage scientists used a risk-assessment protocol to determine an invasiveness rank for each species listed. Species were assigned a high, medium or low level of invasiveness in Virginia.

The list also includes species that may not be established in Virginia but are known to be invasive in habitats similar to those found here. Those are referred to as “early-detection” species.

If they are discovered in Virginia, the goal for those species is eradication to prevent their establishment and spread. People who spot the plants in Virginia should notify DCR.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Heirloom tomatoes deliver tradition, taste Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable in home gardens, and heirloom tomatoes are the most popular heirloom vegetable.

“Most heirloom tomatoes have great flavor, and they are something that home gardeners can have great success growing,” said Chris Mullins, a fruit and vegetable specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University.

Heirloom vegetables come from seeds that have been passed down from family member to family member or are hand-selected by gardeners for a special trait. They are open-pollinated, which means they’re pollinated by insects or wind without human intervention.

Heirlooms are typically at least 50 years old and are often pre-World War II varieties. They tend to remain stable in their characteristics from one year to the next.

“Hybrid varieties have been through traditional breeding programs where traits have been selected for them,” Mullins said. “Some varieties are bred for fruit color, ability to ship well, flavor characteristics and diseaseresistance, whereas heirloom varieties do not have that.”

Bill and India Cox of Casselmonte Farm in Powhatan County grow and sell vegetables, including heirloom tomatoes.

Each year they plant 600 to 800 tomato plants and sell their fruit at farmers’ markets and to restaurants. Over the years they’ve grown 150 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes; they plan to grow 20 varieties this year. Bill Cox said they grow heirlooms because they want the best-tasting tomato they can find and also grow for specific sizes, colors and shapes.

“It better be a good-tasting tomato,” Cox said. “We sell flavor by the pound.”

He said he and his wife grow some large varieties, nearly a pound a piece, that will cover a slice of bread and are perfect for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. They grow several colors of cherry tomatoes, plus 2-ounce tomatoes better suited for salads. They grow pink, red, yellow, bi-color and black (or purple) tomatoes.

“Thirteen of the varieties we are growing this year are from seeds I saved from tomatoes that have done very well in our soil,” Cox said. “It can take two or three years to tell if a variety will do well, and we have four varieties that are in this category.

We’re growing three varieties this year that are new to us.”

Growing heirloom tomatoes When growing heirloom tomatoes, Mullins said, consider putting in more plants.

“With heirloom tomatoes you may want to plant about 50 percent more plants, because they may have a lower yield. You may lose more to disease, and they generally have lower yields than you may be used to if you were planting hybrid varieties in the past.”

Using manure and compost creates a better-tasting tomato, Cox noted.

Seeds can be purchased from catalogs, and more greenhouses and garden centers now carry heirloom tomato plants. You also can get seeds or plants from friends and neighbors. Then save your seeds to use the next season.

You can start tomato seeds indoors and transplant the plants outside when the weather warms up. Before planting, be sure to do a soil test.

Heirloom tomato varieties typically are at least 50 years old.

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A Pie for All Seasons

Turn fresh, springtime veggies into quiche Springtime in Virginia means asparagus, onions and spinach are all in season. And what better way to enjoy them than in a quiche?

Quiche is an anytime food that can be enjoyed for breakafast, lunch or supper.

There are many varieties of this type of pie—from vegetarian to seafood, and everything in between. Seasonal asparagus, spinach and onions often are found in quiche recipes like the one that follows.

According to foodreference.com, quiche originated in Germany, in the medieval kingdom of Lothringen, which the French later renamed Lorraine. The word quiche is derived from the German word kuchen which means cake.

The original Quiche Lorraine was an open pie with an egg-and-cream custard filling and smoked bacon. It was only later that cheese was added. If you add onions, it’s called Quiche Alsacienne.

Quiche became popular in the United States during the 1950s. Because of its primarily vegetarian ingredients, it acquired the reputation of being an “unmanly” dish in the early 1980s, thanks to the satirical book Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche.

The Miscellaneous Quiche that follows is from Shelley Barlow of Suffolk in the Cooking Virginia Style With Farm Bureau Women cookbook.

It’s a versatile basic recipe with suggested ingredients that can be used alone or combined.

Barlow said the men in her family eat plenty of quiche, “especially since they raise chickens and have fresh eggs.”

Her husband, Joe, prefers his quiche with meat and anything else besides mushrooms. Shrimp or sausage are his favorite ingredients. Their son, Joey, likes sausage and spinach quiche.

Miscellaneous Quiche INGREDIENTS

3 eggs 1¼ cups milk 2 tablespoons flour ¼ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon dried basil 9" deep-dish pie crust, unbaked 1½ to 2 cups filling, such as: • grated cheese • bell pepper, diced and sautéed • broccoli, sliced and cooked • asparagus, chopped and cooked • onions and/or garlic, chopped and sautéed • fresh spinach, wilted • shrimp or chicken, cooked and chopped • zucchini, yellow squash or carrots, grated • mushrooms, sliced and sautéed DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°.

In a mixing bowl, with a whisk, mix eggs, milk, flour, salt, pepper and basil.

Place filling ingredients into the pie crust, and pour egg mixture over the filling. Bake for 45 minutes or until the pie has set.

Quiche recipes can be modified to include favorite or seasonal fillings—and leftovers!

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Heart of the Home

So many ways to serve up some soy April is National Soy Foods Month. Give it a try!

Never tried cooking soyfoods?

No worries; you have lots of options.

According to the Soyfoods Association of North America, soybased foods are low in saturated fat, cholesterol-free and high in protein, dietary fiber and other beneficial nutrients. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate notes that fortified soy milk and soy milk products are valid food choices in the dairy group; soy-based meat alternatives fit into the protein group; and soybeans and edamame fit into the vegetable group and are good sources of potassium.

Soybeans are available fresh, frozen, dried, canned and in processed foods such as dips, spreads, stuffed ravioli and soups. Soybeans grown for human consumption rather than animal feed can be prepared and eaten in similar ways as other legumes or beans. Fresh,

green soybeans, or edamame, are easily boiled and served with or without the pods. Dried soybeans, which may be white, tan or yellow, can be used in

any favorite dried bean recipe such as chili, baked beans, dip or soup. Roasted soy nuts can be added to foods such as salads or eaten as a snack.

A variety of processed soyfoods like tofu and textured soy protein are available and can be used in many different recipes.

Uses and preparation Dried soybeans

Tofu

Soy flour

A pound of soybeans cooks in 8 cups of water for 2-3 hours.

• Presoak by placing dry beans and 6 cups of lukewarm water in a pan; cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain the beans, rinse and cover with fresh cold water. Cook on low until beans are tender. Drain and serve.

• Short-soak the beans by placing 1 pound of beans and 6 cups of lukewarm water in a pan. Boil beans uncovered for 2 minutes, and remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour.

Drain the beans, rinse and cover with fresh cold water. Cook on low heat until beans are tender. Drain and serve.

Tofu is available in aseptic containers, vacuum packets or water-filled containers in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. Rinse before using, and store unused tofu in water in the refrigerator, changing the water daily. It should keep a week.

• Firm tofu is solid and holds its shape when cubed, slice and crumbled.

Marinated or seasoned tofu is sold in vacuum packets in the refrigerator section.

• Soft tofu is best used in soups and recipes that call for it to be blended with other ingredients.

• Silken tofu is creamy with a puddinglike consistency. It is best used in blended dishes like dips, desserts and drinks.

Soy flour is made from ground, roasted soybeans and will not rise. It cannot be substituted for regular flour, but adding two tablespoons of soy flour per each cup of regular flour in a recipe will add moisture and protein to baked products.

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Textured soy protein Textured soy protein, or TSP, is made from soy flour by compressing and changing its consistency. It is sold in whole bean, defatted, browned, dried and granulated varieties. TSP is used in place of ground meats in stews, meatloaf, chili, soups, casseroles and other recipes.

Heart of the Home

Soy Sloppy Joes

Chinese Tofu with Vegetables and Peanuts

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1 cup boiling water 1 tablespoon + ¼ cup bottled chili sauce 1 cup dry textured soy protein 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup finely chopped zucchini ½ cup chopped bell pepper 8-ounce can tomato sauce ½ teaspoon chili powder 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon cider vinegar 6 hamburger buns

16 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu, cut into ½" cubes 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons soy oil ¼ cup diced onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon finely diced fresh ginger 2 tablespoons miso 1 tablespoon hot red pepper sauce ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons sugar ½ cup roasted peanuts 1 carrot, diced into ½" cubes 2 tablespoons water ½ cup frozen sweet corn kernels, thawed ½ cup frozen green peas, thawed salt to taste cooked rice, white or brown

Marinate the diced tofu in soy sauce for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.

In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil.

Add the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry for approximately 1 minute.

Add the tofu cubes and soy sauce, then miso, red pepper, black pepper and sugar. Lower the heat, and stir fry for 2-3 minutes.

Add the roasted peanuts and carrot, and mix together. Add 2 tablespoons water, and cook about 2 more minutes.

Add sweet corn kernels and peas, and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Serve over rice. Serves 6

DIRECTIONS

Combine the boiling water and 1 tablespoon chili sauce, and pour them over the TSP to rehydrate it. Set aside.

Sauté the onion, zucchini and bell pepper in a non-stick pan until tender (Add a little water if necessary to prevent sticking). Add the re-hydrated TSP and cook, stirring, for another minute.

Stir in the tomato sauce, ¼ cup chili sauce, chili powder, Worcestershire and vinegar. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve on hamburger buns. Serves 6.

NOTE: Miso is a fermented soybean paste that can be found in the refrigerated section of many supermarkets.

Source: National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Source: Simply Soy, A Variety of Choices cookbook, Virginia Soybean Association

Rinse tofu before using it, and store the unused product in water in the refrigerator, changing the water daily.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Stewards of the Land

Meet Ronnie Nuckols Overhome Farm, Goochland County The farm: Ronnie Nuckols’ father, Mason Nuckols, began raising cattle on his farm in Crozier in 1960, and Ronnie has worked on the farm since he was a child. When his father died in 2008, Ronnie and his brother split the herd and the land. He currently raises about 85 head of cattle on 120 acres of managed pastureland.

The family:

COURTESY OF MONACAN SWCD

Ronnie grew up on the family farm, but his wife, Cheryl, was raised in Sandston. She quickly fell in love with rural life, however, and raises horses, goats, geese, rabbits, dogs and cats on the farm. They have two daughters and five grandchildren ranging in age from 1½ to 9 years old. The grandchildren spend lots of time on the farm, and Ronnie hopes that at least one of them will be the next-generation farmer.

Community involvement: The Nuckolses are Goochland County Farm Bureau members, and Ronnie serves as a director on the Monacan Soil & Water Conservation District board.

Stewardship practice: Ronnie manages his pastureland using a conservation method called rotational grazing. Using a cost-share grant from the Monacan SWCD, he split the fields into 14 pastures ranging in size from 4 to 13 acres. Each pasture has a watering tank that’s spring-fed from a pond or supplied with water from his well.

It’s difficult to manage cattle when they are not kept in small areas of pasture, he said. Before the land was divided into smaller lots, the cows grazed wherever they wanted,

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Cattle at Overhome Farm in Goochland County are moved from one pasture to another as they graze down the grass.

wandered all day long and drank water out of ponds in which they waded.

Additionally, “the manure pattern followed them, which meant the land wasn’t being fertilized evenly.”

Now that they are contained in smaller pastures, the animals are easier to manage and move around, and the pasture gets replenished in between periods when there are animals grazing on it. It’s good for the land, and it’s good for the cows’ diets, as well, Ronnie said. When they are done grazing in a section, he moves them to another field, and the land not being grazed has an opportunity to re-grow.

That greatly reduces erosion and runoff into neighboring streams and

the James River, which is just a mile from the farm.

Ronnie started the rotational grazing in 2010 and said he has seen a vast improvement. “There’s better grazing in my pastures now with 85 cows than there was when I started with 40,” he said.

Biggest source of pride: “The creeks are clean, the water is clear, I’m reducing erosion and my input costs are lower,” Ronnie said.

“My goal is to see lush grass growing everywhere while maintaining a healthy cattle herd. I want to leave the land better for the next generation.”

Stewards of the Land

KATHY DIXON

RONNIE NUCKOLS grew up on his family’s farm. He and his wife, Cheryl, hope one or more of their grandchildren will take an interest in farming.

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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Marketplace

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FOR ONLY – $4.50 per acre you will boost your corn population and yields with Amplify D easy-to-use seed treatment. Free shipping. 540-810-4560.

FARM EQUIPMENT BOOM – 3-pt. hitch lifting boom, heavy-duty, sell or trade, excellent condition, shed-kept. 540-672-2732.

274 INTERNATIONAL – Diesel tractor, 3-pt. hitch, 4-ft. rotavator. For more information call 434-447-3006.

HORSE-DRAWN MANURE SPREADER – And hay rake, excellent condition, $450 and $250. 434-525-0351.

TRANSMISSION – For 6.9-7.2 IH Ford diesel, low mileage since overhaul, guaranteed. 276-694-6211.

JOHN DEERE – 265 lawn tractor parts, only hood, fender, frame, snowplow, wheels, tires. Offer. 540-775-7101.

LIVESTOCK ANGUS BULLS – Calving ease, semen tested, excellent bloodlines. Reasonably priced, good selection, delivery available. C-Stock Farm, Scottsville, day 434-2862743, after 7 pm 434-981-1397 or 434-286-2423.

Farm Bureau needs your updated contact information, including email Are your membership records current?

If you’ve moved, acquired a new telephone number, or changed your name or email address, it’s important that your new information is reflected in your membership and insurance records.

Email addresses and cell phone numbers help your Farm Bureau agent reach you in instances where prompt communication is important.

If you need to update your records, email your current contact information to membership@vafb.com, and our staff will handle the update. You’re also welcome to call or visit your county Farm Bureau office to update your records.

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT SCALDING POT – Approximately 200 gallons, $800. 757-635-8376.

WESTERN SADDLE – Show set, saddle, bridle, breastplate, good condition, size 16-inch seat, $350. 804-633-0182.

2015 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 2015 issue of Cultivate or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org 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).

Finding your member number When placing your ad, be sure to include your Farm Bureau member number, which can be found above your name on the

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mailing label of your copy of Cultivate. All member numbers will be verified

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.

STEP 3 Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).

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

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members August July 1 Mailed to associate members July June 1

Important: 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.: _____________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: _________________________________________

STATE: _______________________

ZIP: _____________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: _________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above

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

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available

1._______________________ 2._____________________ 3. ________________________ 4. _______________________ 5. _____________________________ 6. ______________________ 7. _____________________ 8. ________________________ 9. _______________________ 10. _____________________________ ( ) 11. ______________________ 12. ____________________ 13. _______________________ 14. ______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN: q July (mailed to associate members) q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2015 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me. q August (mailed to producer members) Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free Ad placement available for these issues only (Ads expire with membership).

*

VaFarmBureau.org / APRIL 2015

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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.

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