Cultivate Spring 2023

Cultivate

Flowering

Finery

Native wildflowers thrive in Virginia

Virginia Farm Bureau

— JOHN HAYDEN, Virginia Native Plant Society

Cultivate

Volume 15, Number 2

Spring 2023

Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year. February, May, August, October. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.13 (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 assumes no liability for products or services advertised. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM

Pam Wiley Vice President, Communications

Kathy Dixon Managing Editor

Nicole Zema Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer

Christina Amano Dolan Staff Writer/ Photographer

Maria La Lima Graphic Designer

Eleanor Stickley Graphic Designer

Alice Kemp Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator

VISIT US ONLINE vafb.com

WE’RE SOCIAL!

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.

“People love dogwoods.”

chair

Did you know?

Red, purple, white and gold beets will soon be ready to harvest.

These jewel-colored root vegetables grow in the ground and can be eaten raw, baked or boiled, or made into juice. They also are good additions to salads. And the stems and leaves can be eaten as greens—either raw or cooked.

Beets are a good source of folate, which leads to healthy cell growth, and manganese, which contributes to bone health. Beets also contain antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids,

which may prevent colon cancer and protect heart health.

When choosing beets at the store or farmers market, look for ones with firm, smooth skins and fresh leaves.

Here are a few fun facts about beets:

• Beets also are known as blood turnips.

• Beets are related to Swiss chard.

• Beet juice can be used as a red dye.

• Golden beets are sweeter than red ones.

REAL VIRGINIA TV PROGRAM

on Real Virginia

Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program:

• Learn how Halifax County’s NOVEC biomass facility is turning wood waste into renewable energy.

• Find out how to prune wisteria so it will provide colorful blooms.

• Meet a King William County farmer whose land dates to before the American Revolution, on this month’s County Agricultural Close-up.

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WBRA digital channel 15.2, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and third weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville, WSVF Harrisonburg, WRLH Richmond and WSLS Roanoke.

NATIVE WILDFLOWERS

2,500

That’s the number of Virginia wildflowers that are native to the state. The other 1,000 wildflower species listed in the Flora of Virginia have come from elsewhere and naturalized. See related article on page 16.

Biomass plant turning wood waste into energy,

Member discounts include hearing aids, travel

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To access your savings, visit vafb.com/ benefits, log in as a Virginia Farm Bureau member, and go to the Great Hearing Benefits tab to start saving.

Travel Services

Plan summer trips and save!

It offers more than 40 rides and attractions, including Wild Eagle, the country’s first winged coaster. Dollywood has won more awards than any other theme park for its live shows featuring country, bluegrass, Southern gospel and classic rock. Master craftsmen demonstrate the area’s rich artistry, from hand-blown glass to blacksmithing.

Members can purchase discount tickets by logging onto their vafb.com account or visit Dollywood.com

Experience the picturesque Biltmore Estate

Escape to the mountains and visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Built by George and Edith Vanderbilt, this 8,000-acre property offers beautiful gardens, biking, carriage rides, horseback riding, kayaking, paddle boarding and tours of Biltmore House—America’s largest home!

Farm Bureau members in Virginia will receive up to $13 off daytime admission to the historic Biltmore Estate. Members also are eligible for reduced rates at The Inn on Biltmore Estate, The Village Hotel and a variety of local accommodations.

addition, enjoy additional offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day.

Call 800-331-1212 or visit avis.com/vafb to make a reservation. Save up to 35% off Budget base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Budget Customer Discount number. Plus get other great offers like dollars off, a free upgrade or a free weekend day.

Call 800-218-7992 or visit budget. com/vafb to make a reservation.

Your Virginia Farm Bureau Avis Worldwide Discount number and Budget Customer Discount number are available from your county Farm Bureau and in the “Membership at Work” section of vafb.com. You will need to register as a member on the site, and log in.

Stay at a Wyndham property for up to 20% off

Whether you’re looking for an upscale hotel, an all-inclusive resort or something in between, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has the right hotel for you! As a Virginia Farm Bureau member, you will save up to 20% off the “best available rate” at over 8,000 participating hotels worldwide.

Get discounted

tickets

to top-rated Dollywood theme park

Virginia Farm Bureau members can save $10 on regular or children’s tickets to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Spanning 150 acres and located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dollywood is recognized as one of the world’s best theme parks.

While there, browse through unique estate shops for wine lovers, gardeners, bookworms and everyone in between. Savor complimentary tastings of more than 20 handcrafted wines; view rare treasures from the Biltmore collection; and learn about the estate’s barnyard animals.

Visit Biltmore.com/corporateperk for more information. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Secure a rental car, and save up to 35%

Save up to 35% off Avis base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number. In

To take advantage of this discount rate, call 877-670-7088 or visit wyndhamhotels.com/farm-bureau. When making a reservation, use the Virginia Farm Bureau identification number, available at vafb.com/ membersthip-at-work/membership/ benefits. You will need to register as a member on the site, and log in. You also may get the ID number from your county Farm Bureau. Present your membership card when you check in.

USDA predicts food prices will climb at slower rate this year

Consumers may find price tags ticking up at the grocery store in coming months, as a 2023 inflation report predicts food prices could rise as much as 10% this year.

Food prices are forecast to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above-historical average rates, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service March 2023 report.

The Consumer Price Index for all foods increased 0.4% from January to February 2023 and was 9.5% higher than in February 2022. All food prices are predicted to increase 7.5% this year, the report said.

ERS also forecasts food-away-from-home prices will increase 0.5% higher than food-at-home, or grocery store, purchases.

Prices increased for all food-at-home categories except fresh vegetables and eggs from January to February this year.

Retail prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are predicted to continue their relatively slow growth from 2022.

A series of cold weather snaps in early 2022 reduced fruit and vegetable production in the U.S. But without extreme

cold periods in early 2023, this year’s supply should increase, said Tony Banks, senior assistant director for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Department of Agriculture, Development and Innovation.

“So, barring an unforeseen cause, prices should remain steady or slightly lower for fresh fruits and vegetables,” Banks explained.

Following an outbreak of avian influenza, egg prices had a 32.2% price increase between 2021 and 2022—the largest increase in any category tracked by ERS, the report said.

Retail egg prices decreased 6.7% in February 2023 but remained 55.4% above February 2022 prices. Egg prices are predicted to increase another 29.6% in 2023.

“The volatility in egg prices is largely driven by continued incidence of HPAI in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s being exacerbated by the overall inflationary pressure,” Banks said. “So we’re not running out of eggs. Supply has tightened up, and markets are responding to fill temporary disruptions, which may have an effect on egg prices in the short run.”

To view the full report, visit ers.usda.gov

Paperless option offers instant access to policies

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. customers can enroll their policies in the company’s paperless option for quick, easy access to insurance documents and policy information.

Paperless enrollees have around-the-clock access to policy documents and statements. Additionally, they can pay their bills online, review important documents and receive email alerts when new documents become available.

Paperless services are available on most VFBMIC products across all lines of business.

Policyholders can enroll in the paperless option by logging in to their account on vafb.com. Customers who don’t have an online account may register at vafb.com/ register.

Once logged in, eligible policies for paperless will be listed, and customers can choose which policies to enroll. Customers also can enroll their policies by calling their county Farm Bureau office.

Update membership records to receive timely information

If you’ve dropped your landline, moved to a different residence or changed your email address, Virginia Farm Bureau wants to know.

Current contact information is the key to connecting Farm Bureau members with news and information about agriculture, insurance, membership and safety.

To check whether your contact information is up to date, log in to your account on vafb.com and click on “profile,” which is found in the red bar in the main menu. If you need to update your email address or phone number, click on the drop-down menu to do so.

Alternatively, members can call their local Farm Bureau office and share contact information with a staff member. Always contact your local office when a change of address occurs.

calling all competitors:

Don’t miss the chance to win a blue ribbon

BY KATHY DIXON

It was the summer of 2019 when Novelle Wilkerson decided to buy a beginner crochet kit to take on a long-distance road trip.

The Prince George County resident never dreamed her new hobby would lead to accolades in the 2022 State Fair of Virginia. “I just wanted to show my 12-year-old daughter that it’s never too late to learn something new.”

After teaching herself to crochet, Wilkerson joined crochet groups, watched YouTube videos and practiced her craft.

She had been a frequent State Fair visitor and always made a point to visit the arts and crafts areas. Last year, Wilkerson decided to challenge herself and enter a couple of crochet categories in the fair’s creative arts competitions.

A mosaic afghan that took her 8 months to crochet won a blue ribbon and a “Best of Section” award. “I was so shocked to find out I’d won,” exclaimed Wilkerson, who saw her ribbons when she visited the fair. “It blew my mind.”

In the “other crocheted item” category, a 5-foot-long worm that she crafted received 3rd place.

Wilkerson said it was a great experience, and she is considering what to enter this year. She encourages others to get out of their comfort zones and enter one of the competitions.

The fair’s creative arts, culinary and horticulture competitions have categories for bold bakers, green growers, knowledgeable knitters, weaving wizzes and more. And there are categories for both adults and youth.

Longtime competitor Lesley Russell said everyone has something they are good at, and she also encourages other Virginians to try their hand at entering at least one of the competitions.

“They don’t have to be crazy like me and bake for four days straight,” Russell quipped. “But everyone should try.”

Russell, who currently lives in the East End of Richmond, has been entering State Fair competitions for 20 years. She said the first year she “didn’t win a thing.” But by the third year, her coconut cake was awarded a “Best in Show” ribbon, which she framed.

Since then, she typically enters the maximum number of entries allowed, and averages about seven ribbons each

fair. She displays the ribbons she’s earned over the years on a wall in the self-storage facility she manages. Each year, hundreds of Virginians enter the competitions, and their entries are displayed during the fair. Adult entry fees are $1, and some categories come with small cash prizes in addition to bragging-right ribbons. Competition guides will be posted on the fair’s website, StateFairVa.org, by the end of May. Entry deadlines and descriptions of the categories are included in those guides.

Prince George County's Novelle Wilkerson shows off the crocheted afghan that earned her a blue ribbon and Best in Section award at last year's State Fair of Virginia.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOVELLE WILKERSON

Sept. 22 through Oct. 1

Countdown to the State Fair of Virginia

As of May 1, there are exactly 144 days until the 2023 State Fair of Virginia opens on Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 1.

Fair fact: The 2022 State Fair hosted more than 4,000 exhibitors and drew over 7,000 competition entries for livestock, vocational and technical education, visual and culinary arts, horticulture and more.

Showcasing the best of Virginia, this year’s fair will offer visitors more entertainment and attractions, one of the largest fair midways in the midAtlantic and, as always, that delicious fair food, said Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director.

There also will be gigantic pumpkins, squashes and watermelons and the unique, award-winning creations handmade by Virginia artisans.

The fair also provides an educational look at Virginia agriculture. With increased agricultural programming, fairgoers of all ages can see a host of livestock and equine exhibitions and competitions featuring beef and dairy cattle, goats, pigs, lambs and more. Visitors also can watch dairy calf births and dairy cow milking demonstrations and try their own hands at milking a cow.

The ever-popular Young MacDonald’s Farm exhibit will return with its baby duck slide, chicken egg incubator and goat mountain. Visitors can view the exhibit at its new location in the fair’s Livestock Loop area.

There’s no shortage of entertainment at the State Fair of Virginia! Make it an event to remember, and mark your calendars to come celebrate Virginia agriculture.

Stay tuned for fair details by visiting StateFairVa.org

FARM MUSEUMS

Bringing history, innovations and heirlooms to life

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

DESTINATION: Chippokes State Park, Surry County

Named one of the oldest continuously-farmed properties in the country, Chippokes State Park in Surry County keeps more than 400 years of American history alive.

From Native American techniques to present-day practices, the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum uses over 3,000

artifacts to interpret the evolution of rural Virginia life.

Visitors can stop at the historic Stoner Building at the start of their tour for an overview of the site’s rich history, including stories of its influential Native and African American cultivators.

The neighboring buildings boast a collection of antique timber framing and farming tools from the late 19th to mid-20th century. These include tractors, cotton gins, handmade hunting traps, grain binders, peanut shellers and more. Another display reveals life in a typical 1830s to 1940s farmhouse, including antique furniture and clothing.

Situated on the 1,947-acre historic Chippokes site, the museum offers a uniquely interactive setting, said Chippokes State Park Manager Ben Richard.

“Instead of just walking through a museum and looking at a bunch of items on display, visitors can get immersed in history by taking advantage of what else the park has to offer,” Richard said.

The park offers historical exhibits around every corner, including the 1854 Jones-Stewart Mansion, the circa-1830 River House and Walnut Valley Farm’s 18th century plantation house. The 500-acre farm and cultural garden produce popular Virginia cash crops historically grown on the site.

Visitors can dive into history by hiking or riding the trails, hunt fossils by the James River, or stay overnight in a historic cabin, in the Walnut Valley house or on the 50-site campground. Interactive programs include hearth cooking demonstrations in the mansion’s two-story brick kitchen, tours of the facilities and ranger-led interactions with on-site livestock.

Plan your visit

• 695 Chippokes Park Road, Surry, VA 23883

• Park open year-round, dawn to dusk

• Museum open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March through November

• Park admission: $7 per vehicle

Learn more at dcr.virginia.gov/stateparks/chippokes, or call 757-294-3728

Legacy of agricultural innovation lives on at McCormick Farm

BY NICOLE ZEMA

DESTINATION: McCormick Farm, Augusta County

Ahistoric blacksmith shop in Augusta County is ground zero for a mechanical ingenuity that forever changed global agriculture.

Visitors can stand in the spot where the first horse-drawn “Virginia Reaper” was designed and built around 1831 at McCormick Farm, now a small museum and National Historic Landmark within the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Cyrus McCormick is credited with inventing the mechanical reaper that helped farmers harvest grain at fivefold the speed with a fraction of the effort, accelerating westward expansion and creating new agricultural markets.

With the help of enslaved blacksmith Jo Anderson, McCormick’s innovations ultimately led to the development of the modern combine, now used globally for precision agriculture. McCormick’s operations moved to Chicago in 1847, later

becoming part of the International Harvester Co.

The original log workshop, blacksmith shop, gristmill, family home, picturesque green spaces and interpretive trail are open to visitors year-round. Located conveniently near Interstate 81 in Raphine, the workshop museum display includes 14 miniature models of the McCormick reaper similar to those carried by company salesmen in the late 1800s. It also includes a life-size prototype of the first design, archaeological artifacts and historic photos. An anvil and tools still sit in the blacksmith shop below the workshop’s historical exhibit.

Scythes and other primitive grainharvesting tools line museum walls, comparable to equipment used by ancient Egyptians 2,000 years ago.

“And then Cyrus invents this machine,” said Dr. Gabriel Pent, SVAREC superintendent. “I hope visitors gain an appreciation for how quickly the world has changed in 200 years, relative to the past 2,000 years. It’s neat to see how this little location transformed the world.”

That spirit of innovation continues today on 878 acres owned and farmed by the AREC, where faculty conduct agricultural research, improving the viability of the livestock, forage and forestry production systems in the region.

Plan your visit

• 128 McCormick Farm Circle, Raphine, VA 24472

• Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Free admission

Learn more at arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/ shenandoah-valley or call 540-377-2255

Museum highlights the Northern Neck’s rural heritage

BY ALICE KEMP

DESTINATION: Northern Neck Farm Museum, Northumberland County

Situated amongst Heathsville’s farm fields, the Northern Neck Farm Museum embodies the area’s rural heritage with two antique

McCormick Farm gristmill and workshop are the original log structures, and they are open to visitors year-round.

NICOLE ZEMA

tractors and a bright yellow LOVE sign shaped like an ear of corn.

Founded in 2008 by lifelong farmer Luther Welch, and featuring his collection of antique farm equipment, the museum “showcases the early days of farming here in the Northern Neck,” said Barbara Jean Jones, the museum’s chair.

Visitors can experience how crops in the area were cultivated, harvested and processed—from the mano and metate stones Native Americans used to grind corn, to early wheat threshers and grain cleaners. An exhibit featuring a clothesline with children’s garments and vintage household items gives visitors a glimpse into rural life’s domestic scenes.

“It’s amazing what the farm wife did,” Jones said. “Her days were long too. She had to cook, clean, sew everything. You didn’t just go to the store and buy things. She had to take care of the garden … she did the weeding, the canning, she was the family nurse. There was always something to be done.”

These and other farm tasks were often completed in the dark with only dim kerosene lamps before the Northern Neck received electricity in the 1940s—nearly 60 years after some urban areas. Electrification is a part of local history that closely parallels today’s push for rural broadband internet access, which also allows rural residents to keep pace with their urban counterparts.

“Virginia Electric and Power didn’t want to come out and bring electricity to the Northern Neck, so (farmers) formed a number of electric co-ops and put up their own money to get things done,” said the museum’s treasurer, Sam Johnson, about the rural electrification exhibit.

“It certainly changed rural life,” he added.

In addition to its exhibits, the museum is a source of agricultural education for area youth. A new classroom addition opening this spring will welcome school groups.

“There are a lot of kids in this area, but they’re not on the farm,” Johnson said. “They probably don’t realize they’re in a farming community.”

As for older visitors, a trip to the museum can be wrapped in nostalgia.

“Some of the older people will come through, and they’ll say, ‘Oh we’ve got one of these,’” Johnson said. “People get to remember things that they grew up with, or they’ll learn something new.”

Plan your visit

• 12705 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville, VA 22473

• Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays, 1-4 p.m., May through October

• Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for ages 6-18, under 6 is free Learn more at thefarmmuseum.org, or call 757-294-3439.

Chippokes State Park Surry County

Northern Neck Farm Museum Northumberland County

McCormick Farm Augusta County

NICOLE ZEMA

ALICE KEMP

CHRISTINA ARMANO DOLAN

OH, DEER! They got into the flowers again!

Learn how to minimize garden damage from hungry deer

BY ALICE KEMP

They’re known for being cute and gentle—and decimating gardens.

Hardly any plant is off limits to the voracious garden marauders. They eat 6% to 8% of their body weight every day, and they often set their sights on carefully tended spring sprouts.

“Deer are foragers and naturally cover an area of about a square mile,” said Kirsten Ann Conrad, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture natural resources agent in Arlington.

Conrad explained that a square mile of quality forage land in forested areas or greenspaces typically serves the needs of about 13-18 deer. When deer in the wild are overpopulated and can’t find enough food, they’ll move into residential and urban areas.

Keeping deer out

Deer are perceptive animals that are familiar with human activity and will observe behaviors to work around deterrents.

“The only thing we can point to and say is 100% deer-proof is a 10-foot-high woven wire fence,” said Jim Parkhurst, associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. “Anything else, even many of the less costly fences, are likely to allow some penetration by deer.”

While not everyone can invest in this type of fencing, and some localities may not allow it, angling a shorter fence 45 degrees will help give an illusion of a higher one. Additionally, installing two 5-foot-high fences 4 feet apart will confuse deer.

“Deer don’t have the ability to estimate distance correctly, so the fences will look closer and higher than

they actually are,” Conrad said. “They won’t risk getting caught between the two fences, so they’re less likely to jump.”

If fences aren’t feasible, gardeners can employ methods like non-toxic deer repellents.

“These sprays are generally effective if they’re applied early and frequently,” Conrad noted. “If deer learn to avoid your landscape because the treated plants don’t taste good, they’ll continue to avoid your property even after you’ve stopped spraying.”

However, deer can get accustomed to repellents so it’s best to rotate between different types. Ultimately, if a deer is desperate, a repellent may not keep it away.

Man’s best friend also can help, as neighborhoods with many dogs frequently exhibit fewer deer.

“If you have either a dog on a tether or within a fenced area, their presence and activity may reduce the likelihood of deer coming,” Parkhurst suggested.

Deer-resistant plants?

Deer are attracted to showy plants people like to keep in their gardens— Asiatic lilies, hostas, some azaleas and roses.

“We always refer to these as the Dove chocolates of the deer world,” Parkhurst said.

While no plant is truly deer-resistant, there are some they don’t prefer. Native plants like mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), a flowering evergreen shrub; shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticose); beautiful Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica); and wild bleeding hearts (Dicentra eximia) are less susceptible to deer damage and offer nice aesthetic to landscapes.

In her research, Conrad compiled a list of plants thought to be less prone to deer damage: bit.ly/3lmFNZ4.

Unpredictability is key

If deterrents like wind chimes, spinners and other objects are always kept in the same location, deer will quickly learn they aren’t a threat.

“But the more you keep them off guard, you move it, you change its location, you take it down for 2-3 days then put it back somewhere else, the more effective it’ll be,” Parkhurst said.

It’s a lot of work for the homeowner, he admitted, but that unpredictability will help keep a garden safe.

MOTHBALLS: A deer deterrent DON’T!

Some might be tempted to use mothballs as a deer repellent; however, this is a dangerous environmental hazard. Mothballs are a pesticide regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and any use that’s inconsisent with the product label is illegal. Mothballs contain chemicals that if used outside can leech into the ground, putting children, pets and other animals at risk while contaminating plants, soil and water.

Mothballs are strictly for indoor use in air-tight containers, and only intended for killing fabric pests like moths. They don’t deter garden pests or wildlife.

Beyond your wildest dreams

BY NICOLE ZEMA

When looking for Virginia’s native wildflowers, expect the unexpected.

“Wildflower” is not a formal botanical category, said John Hayden, who has chaired the Virginia Native Plant Society for almost 20 years and has taught botany at the University of Richmond since 1980.

“It’s more of a common-language designation,” Hayden said. “These are mostly herbaceous plants but sometimes include small shrubs that have showy flowers and occur spontaneously in the wild.”

Since 1989, a Wildflower of the Year is nominated by a VNPS member, and the board votes on candidates. Selections may surprise the public.

“There are lots of grasses, sedges and trees that have flowers, but may not be considered wildflowers,” Hayden said. “We don’t think of grasses as having beautiful flowers, but they do indeed have flowers. Beauty is within the eye

of the beholder, and one can learn to appreciate the subtleties that occur in plant form.”

The hollow Joe-Pye weed is 2023’s VNPS Wildflower of the Year. When in flower, Joe-Pye weed can be the star of the garden, said Helen Hamilton, past president of the VNPS, John Clayton Chapter.

“But a little rough for a formal garden,” she continued. “These tall, majestic plants are real butterfly magnets. They range from 3- to 10-feet tall with dense heads of fluffy pinkish flowers that are usually covered with butterflies, bees, beetles and wasps, all feeding and pollinating.”

Of the 3,500 wildflower species listed in the Flora of Virginia, including those not typically considered classic wildflowers, about 2,500 are native to the area. Others have come from elsewhere and naturalized.

“Some non-native plants are here because people brought them here, and we maintain the conditions in which

A closer look at Virginia’s native wildflowers

Wildflowers of the Year bloom throughout Virginia

they thrive,” Hayden explained. “They like lawns, gardens, roadsides—nonnatural habitats present in abundance these days, because people are in abundance. We’re largely responsible for their presence because they like what we do to the environment.”

Don’t remove wild plants

Gardeners should be certain that all native plants purchased for home gardens have been nursery-propagated, not wild-collected.

“Digging them up is not a sustainable way to conserve populations of native plants,” Hayden warned. “Reputable nurseries will get seeds or cuttings from wild plants without removing whole plants intact in their habitat. Picking it up by the roots is subtracting the entity from the environment.”

One stem cutting taken early in the growing season will likely have minimal impact, though not all species can be propagated by cutting.

2023 Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)

Flowers: Mid-summer into fall

Locations: Most Virginia counties

Where to spot them: Wet sand prairies, soggy thickets and shorelines

Notable attributes: “These are members of the Aster family,” Hamilton said. “Joe-Pye weeds have no rays (petals), only disk flowers, and they are tiny, allowing small insects easy access to nectar.”

In the garden: Full sun and somewhat moist soils. Its tall stems look best placed near the rear of a garden where its large flower clusters provide color and attract diverse pollinators.

2018 Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowers: April to May

Locations: Statewide

Where to spot them: Forest understory

Notable attributes: It’s both the Virginia state tree and flower. “People love dogwoods,” Hayden said. “They’re relatively small trees that won’t dwarf your house in a landscape setting.”

In the garden: Providing attractive spring flowers and brilliant fall color, the trees thrive in rich mesic soils but also tolerate drier, less-fertile sites.

2016 Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)

Flowers: July and August

Locations: Throughout Virginia, especially mountainous areas

Where to spot them: Dry forest floor, often under leaf litter

Notable attributes: It’s an orchid with evergreen leaves. “A lot of people don’t realize we have native orchids in Virginia,” Hayden said. “The flowers are quite small, but there are bunches of them in a spike. The green leaves with white netting pattern are strikingly beautiful year-round. You can find them in the forest in the middle of winter.”

In the garden: Requires dappled sunlight, acidic soils with organic matter and a layer of mulch to ensure consistent soil moisture.

VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

GLORIA SCHOENHOLTZ/VIRGINIAWILDFLOWERS.ORG

Flowering Dogwood

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Wildflowers

2008 Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

Flowers: April to July

Location: Widespread through half of Virginia counties

Where to spot them: Acidic soils of dry upland forests, rocky open woods and wood edges.

Notable attributes: “They’re strikingly pretty and easy to grow,” Hayden said. “The ones I have self-sow and pop up here and there. I’ve had them reflower late summer into the fall.”

In the garden: Grows best in fertile loam, and prefers somewhat acidic soils, but is adaptable. Cutting stems back after flowering stimulates re-blooming.

2004 Seashore Mallow (Kosteletzkya virginica)

Flowers: July to October

Location: Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay shores of Virginia

Where to spot them: Grasses, rushes and sedges along salt or brackish marsh

Notable attributes: Rosy-pink, 2”-3” blooms stand out among summer’s greenery, identifiable even from a speeding car.

In the garden: Plant in rich, moist to wet soil in full sun.

2000 Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)

Flowers: June and early July

Location: Mountainous counties of Central and Southwest Virginia

Where to spot them: Open woods, waysides, grassy balds and pastures

southward along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Notable attributes: “If you’re out in the woods while they’re in flower, and you spot one out of the corner of your eye, you might think there’s a fire,” Hayden said.

In the garden: Part shade or full sun; many propagated forms thrive in the cooler parts of Virginia.

1989 Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Flowers: Mid-to-late April

Location: Potomac River watershed and along the Shenandoah and Cacapon rivers. Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville claims the largest stand of bluebells on the East Coast. Where to spot them: Stream banks, low, moist woods and floodplains

Notable attributes: “The buds are pink, but by the time the flowers fully open, they have that nice sky-blue color,” Hayden said. “It’s a blue that’s a little bit unusual in flower color.”

In the garden: Grown with bulbs in partially shaded perennial borders.

NICOLE ZEMA

FLIKR/MRS.GEMSTONE

GLORIA SCHOENHOLTZ/VIRGINIAWILDFLOWERS.ORG

GLORIA SCHOENHOLTZ/VIRGINIAWILDFLOWERS.ORG

Virginia Spiderwort

Seashore Mallow

Flame Azalea

Virginia Bluebells

Discover why farmers are returning to their roots

New Kent County farmer Paul Davis has lived by a simple philosophy for many years: Always have something green and growing on every acre, every day of the year. His vibrant fields of crimson clover and hairy vetch offer more than visual beauty each winter, and they are just two of many cover crops that Virginia farmers use in their fields.

What is a cover crop?

A cover crop is a plant that is used to enrich the soil, cash crops and surrounding ecosystem by keeping living roots in the ground yearround. In Virginia, the four main

categories are grasses, legumes, brassicas and forbes.

“Before there were affordable commercial fertilizers, cover crops were one of the few sources of nutrients farmers had,” said Davis, who rediscovered the abandoned tradition in 2005 when cover crops were scarce.

“Ultimately, it’s all about ground protection,” said Mark Reiter, director at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Accomack County. “Living plants protect the ground against rain, wind or any adverse impact that can carry it away, while keeping nitrates out of the groundwater.”

With funding from U.S.

Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, Reiter launched an ongoing research project in 2014 to discover the soil health benefits of various cover crop species and mixes. The project was designed to include many rotations commonly utilized in Virginia.

To discover how quickly cover crops can change soil health, Reiter and graduate students established a baseline by growing just corn on “badly beaten-down soil” for nine years. “And then from that basic control and monoculture system, we started adding things to see what matters,” he said. “How do legumes change the crop system? How does cereal rye impact soil health?”

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

Paul Davis and his dog, Chase, inspect a field of hairy vetch and crimson clover on his New Kent County farm.

Farmers’ favorite cover crops

Grasses such as cereal rye are popular in Virginia for their ability to scavenge nutrients and grow later in the season. Brassicas like forage radish are useful for relieving soil compaction, scavenging excess nutrients and weed suppression. Legumes like hairy vetch and crimson clover are best for fixing atmospheric nitrogen and providing a nitrogen source for following cash crops.

“But they all have a place when you put them in combination,” said Davis, who found a mix of cereal rye, crimson clover and hairy vetch to produce the best outcome for his operation.

“When you mix cover crops, you get the benefits of all these different functional groups working together, and what mixes you plant really depends on the time of the year and farming conditions,” said Joseph Haymaker, a Ph.D. candidate in Reiter’s research program.

“And something always goes wrong in farming,” Reiter added. “One thing we found was some species outperformed others due to soil moisture, temperature, disease or some other issue.”

Beneficial for anyone

“You get out of it what you put into it,” Davis said. “It takes a little more time management, but the benefits you get from cover crops are much more valuable.”

Davis’ operation has transformed for the better since using cover crops. In just the first year, he could see the soil health benefits of his legume cover crops. Over time, he has increased yields; decreased fertilizer, phosphorous and potassium usage; and saved a significant amount on commercial nitrogen—valued at around $1 a pound.

“Between a home gardener or a big grain farmer, there’s opportunities for everyone in Virginia,” Davis said.

For home gardeners, cover crops can be used when the soil would

otherwise be bare, like in the winter. According to Virginia Cooperative Extension, any plant can serve as a cover crop, but often winter grains, daikon radishes or annual clovers are used.

Among the many advantages of

using cover crops is that they allow plant roots to supply nutrients to beneficial soil organisms in the ground.

For more information about soil health or cover crops, visit ext.vt.edu or southerncovercrops.org.

Above, a mixture of hairy vetch and crimson clover is planted in Davis’ field during the winter. Below, corn, soybean and wheat residue from four previous crop cycles can be seen in his fields since none of them are tilled. Right, Davis uses a John Deere grain drill to plant cover crops on his fields.

‘All the labels out there’

Abundance of poultry products presents inundation of consumer choices

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Access to safe, domestically grown poultry products like chicken and eggs is a privilege beset with options. These myriad choices often mystify consumers as they compare prices for products labeled free-range, pasture-raised, organic, natural and cage-free.

Some production labels fetch a premium price. But how are those claims verified, and do premium prices imply a superior poultry product?

“You walk into a grocery store, and you’re paying $7.19 for free-range eggs,” said Barbara Haines of Hidden Springs Family Farm in Fluvanna County. “The consumer thinks that chicken is happily wandering around the farm, but that’s not what the U.S. Department of Agriculture definition means.”

Production labels are expensive for small poultry producers like Barbara and Dewey Haines to

afford, especially as beginning farmers. Last year they raised their first 90 broilers in an on-pasture system, kept in mobile 12-by-8-foot enclosures rolled daily onto fresh grass. An electric fence protects their 94 egg-laying birds from wildlife predation.

Their organic farming principles and animal husbandry methods are shared with customers through conversation instead of stickers.

“Barbara went on the neighborhood app advertising extra eggs, and two or three people asked if they’re free-range,” Dewey recalled. “We had to explain to them what ‘free-range’ really means. Chickens ‘getting to go anywhere, anytime’ is not the USDA definition.”

Of all the labels out there, some claims are more closely verified than others, said assistant professor Leonie Jacobs of the Animal Behavior and Welfare Group at the Virginia Tech School of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

“It can be hard for consumers to make these choices, and they’re often in a hurry,” she said. “So it’s important to inform them clearly with short messages, but also honestly.”

The value of choice

Are “roaming outdoor” poultry products higher-quality and better-tasting?

“That can be very subjective,” Jacobs said. “There has been quantitative research using taste tests on outdoor and indoor-only birds, and some differences in meat quality characteristics were reported, preferring the birds that were raised on pasture.”

And perhaps consumers just feel better buying those labeled poultry products.

“Maybe that’s enough, if the quality difference is not identifiable,” Jacobs said. “Part of the subjective experience of choosing those products can be a value in itself.”

Consumers are often confounded by the myriad labels on eggs and chicken. It’s helpful to learn what they mean.

Interpret marketing terminology

Knowledge of production labels can empower consumers to make informed choices for their budgets.

CONVENTIONALLY RAISED:

Broilers, or meat birds, are raised cage-free in the U.S., mostly in large, environmentally controlled houses, keeping them safe from diseases and predation. Large production systems can house thousands of birds on litter shavings, with automated water and feeding systems, and socialization.

Most laying hens in the U.S. are housed in these conventional houses.

“If there’s no terminology on the packaging, it’s likely those eggs are from caged hens,” Jacobs explained.

CAGE FREE: Cage-free layers are housed in indoor-only, controlled environments that provide chickens the freedom to roam within the house. They’re not required to have outdoor access, and generally don’t. In 2020, 28% of all hens were reared in cage-free production. According to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, approximately 66% of U.S. hens must be in cage-free production by 2026 to meet projected demand. Cartons carry the USDA grade shield.

FREE RANGE: Producers must demonstrate to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service that the laying hens have been allowed outside access for 51% of their laying cycle, allotted about 2 square feet each. Bird-sized pop-holes in poultry housing allow them to access the outdoors—though not necessarily grassy turf.

“It’s a confusing term,” Jacobs said. “Access to a porch-style area is considered free-range, that’s closed off to wildlife.”

Packages carry the USDA grade shield.

PASTURE RAISED: Not defined by the USDA, poultry are raised in pastured or woodlot settings where they can roam freely outdoors, able to forage in vegetation. This can involve mobile outdoor structures that keep birds safe from predation. “Pasture raised” designations are granted from verifying bodies such as American Humane Certified or Certified Animal Welfare.

NATURAL: While no regulatory definition for “natural” currently exists, natural products typically contain no artificial ingredients or added color. All eggs meet these criteria.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC: These have a green USDA grade shield. There are three labeling categories that apply to free-range poultry and cage-free eggs, strictly regulated through the USDA’s National Organic Program: 100% ORGANIC must be produced using sustainable production practices without prohibited methods like genetic engineering. ORGANIC agricultural products must contain no less than 95% of certified organic ingredients. The remaining 5% must be organically produced in most cases. “MADE WITH” ORGANIC products are made with at least 70% certified organic ingredients.

NO ANTIBIOTICS: Poultry with this label have not been treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics may be used to prevent disease and increase efficiency in conventional farming. Before the bird can be slaughtered, a “withdrawal” period is required.

NO HORMONES: Hormones can’t be used in poultry. If that claim is made, the label must state that federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.

See more of Dewey and Barbara Haines’ pastured chicken system and egg operation on episode #379 of Real Virginia. This April episode explains egg prices and includes footage of their poultry housing.

View it here: youtube.com@ VirginiaFarmBureau

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Robert Moyer was miles from home when his alternator went kaput in January.

“I was in North Carolina visiting my son,” said the Prince William County resident. “We’d jump it, but it would only stay started for a couple minutes.”

Since the family’s Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. auto policy includes towing and labor coverage, he was automatically covered for roadside assistance, even out of state. Moyer made the call, and within an hour a tow truck took the car to a nearby service shop.

He’d called the 800 number in the past—like the time his SUV’s cooling system blew a gasket while returning from Myrtle Beach, or when his

daughter’s car was disabled at her apartment.

“No hassles,” he recalled. “I was satisfied with how it all worked out.”

VFBMIC auto insurance policyholders who opt for towing and labor coverage will automatically receive Roadside Assistance, powered by Quest®. Towing and labor coverage reimburses expenses incurred for automobile disablements such as towing, tire changes, jump-starts, lockouts, fuel deliveries and extractions.

The extra coverage also comes with peace of mind, said Barry Light, VFBMIC senior product development manager.

“They will bring the help to you wherever you are with no

out-of-pocket costs to you, as long as the expense is within the limit on your covered vehicle,” he explained.

Customers can simply call the Farm Bureau claims number on their auto ID card and select “Roadside Assistance” to be directed to VFBMIC’s roadside partner. Help is coordinated as a courtesy for the member, and costs are covered up to applicable limits.

If you do not have this coverage on your vehicles, or would like to select a higher benefit limit, call 888-236-7716, visit vafb.com/roadside or contact your county Farm Bureau office.

For 24/7 Roadside Assistance, call 800-452-7714.

‘Wherever you are’ Roadside assistance included with towing and labor coverage

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text now.

Protect your business from evolving cyber risks

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

No matter the size of your business, all businessowners are at risk in the ever-evolving cyber landscape. Get ahead of the curve by protecting your business and customers from exposure.

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.® has partnered with Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. to offer specialized cyber risk coverage to small- to mid-size businesses through a business owner’s policy endorsement.

Unlike most regional insurance carriers, VFBMIC goes “above and beyond identity theft” by offering multi-layered cyber liability coverage with HSB Cyber Suite, said Lisa Whitus, VFBMIC underwriting manager.

“Whether you think you have this exposure or not, you do,” Whitus said. “As technology evolves, there are more ways electronically to get somebody’s information than ever before.”

HSB Cyber Suite features a bundle of coverages designed to keep up with complex and evolving cyber risks:

Data compromise response: Pays insureds for forensic IT, breach notification, credit monitoring and case management services, legal counsel, PR services, reputational harm, reward payments, regulatory fines and more.

Identity recovery: Offers identity theft services for business owners, including case management and expense reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs, legal expenses, lost wages and child or elder care.

Computer attack: Pays for data restoration, data recreation and system restoration costs, including business interruption, PR services, reward payments and system improvements following an attack.

Privacy incident liability: Third-party coverage for lawsuits from affected individuals or for judgments brought by state or regulatory agencies.

Electronic media liability coverage: Covers an insured’s settlement and defense costs for lawsuits alleging copyright or trademark infringement, defamation of a person or organization, or violation of a person’s privacy.

Network security liability: Covers insured’s settlement and defense costs for lawsuits alleging computer security negligence.

Misdirected payment fraud: Pays for direct financial loss resulting from criminal deception using email, fax or telephone communications.

Computer fraud: Pays for direct financial loss resulting from unauthorized system access to transfer money.

Telecommunications fraud: Covers payments owed to a telephone service provider resulting from a fraudulent charge.

Cyber extortion: Covers expenses of a negotiator or investigator, and payments for eliminating ransomware or extortion threat.

HSB Cyber Suite doesn’t just respond. Client companies can utilize Cyber Safety, a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help prevent cyberattacks before they occur. The eRisk Hub offers clients a specialized website for accessing risk management tools, training modules, news and more.

“All businesses are at risk—large or small,” Whitus said. Despite popular misconceptions, smaller businesses with few or no safeguards often are targeted by hackers who want access to personal, customer or vendor information, she added.

“If the business owner is not concerned with their own exposures, then at the very least, they should get cyber liability coverage for the protection of their customers’ personally identifiable information.”

For more information on business owner’s policy options or to request a personalized quote, contact your local Farm Bureau office or visit vafb.com/insurance/business-owners.

Fire up the GRILL

May is National Barbecue Month, and with the weather turning warm, now is the perfect time to step outside and fire up a grill.

According to retail tracking data from The NPD Group, the grilling industry’s revenue grew 14% in 2021, reaching $6.1 billion in sales. Since July 2020, U.S. consumers have purchased more than 21 million grills and smokers, and now nearly 70% of Americans own one.

As tasty as the food is, grilling also provides an experience for the griller. Standing outside with family and friends, playing yard games or chatting beside the grill with a cool beverage in one hand and tongs in the other is a pastime many enjoy.

The following are some delicious recipes sure to earn you the title of grill master this spring.

Grilled Lamb Souvlaki

Ingredients

2 pounds lamb leg meat, cut into 1” cubes

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon Greek oregano

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

8 8” wooden skewers, soaked in water

3 golden bell peppers, cut into 1- by-2 inch pieces

2 lemons, quartered

Zesty Yogurt Spread

14 ounces plain Greek yogurt

juice from 1 lemon

A flavorful yogurt spread pairs nicely with the rich flavor of grilled lamb.

¾ teaspoon salt

4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons chili oil

EVA KOSMAS FLORES/THE AMERICAN LAMB BOARD

2 tablespoons capers

¼ cup fresh mint leaves

Directions

To make the lamb souvlaki, trim the excess fat from the meat, and cut it into 2” cubes. Place the lamb in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, oregano, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper, and mix until the meat is completely coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Place about 8-9 pieces of meat and 3-4 pieces of bell pepper onto each skewer, leaving about an inch at each end for gripping. Grill the souvlaki over medium heat until just cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Squeeze a lemon quarter over each skewer, and drizzle with the juice.

For the yogurt spread, whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice and salt until smooth. Add a dollop of the yogurt sauce to the serving plate, and top with souvlaki, then the feta, chili oil, capers and mint leaves.

You can do it all on one big serving dish or distribute the yogurt and toppings between individual plates of souvlaki.

—Recipe and photo courtesy of Eva Kosmas Flores, The American Lamb Board

Apricot-Glazed

Grilled Chicken Wings Ingredients

4 pounds chicken wings, tips removed and cut at the joint

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup apricot preserves

2 garlic cloves, mashed

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

¼ cup soy sauce

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

juice from one lime, about 2 tablespoons

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

½ teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons chopped chives

fresh lime wedges for garnish

Directions

Heat grill to medium high. Season wings with salt.

In a food processor, combine the preserves, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, lime juice, vinegar and cumin, and process until smooth. Add the chives.

Place the wings on the grill and cook for 8-10 minutes. Turn, and grill for another 5-6 minutes. Using a pastry brush or spoon, brush the sauce on the wings.

Cook for about 1 minute, and turn. Repeat on other side of the wings, and cook for another minute. The wings should register 170º when tested with an instantread thermometer.

Serve the wings garnished with lime wedges.

—Recipe adapted from Chicken Roost, the National Chicken Council

Grilled Portabella Burgers with Garlic

Mayo Ingredients

For the marinade

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dark or light brown sugar

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

For the burgers

4 portabella mushrooms, stems and gills removed

⅓ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chopped chives

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

1 small red onion, sliced (keep rings intact)

4 buns

4 lettuce leaves

olive oil for grilling

Directions

Preheat grill to high heat.

In a small bowl, mix all marinade ingredients together.

Place mushrooms on a baking sheet. Drizzle marinade over mushrooms, and rub liberally to coat all sides. Let sit for 15 minutes.

To make the garlic mayo, in a small bowl stir together mayonnaise, chives, garlic powder and salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Brush the grill grate with oive oil. Place mushrooms and onion rings on the grill, and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, until both are darkened and tender.

To serve, spread the bottom of each bun with garlic mayo, top with lettuce and a few onion rings. Add the mushroom and cover with the top bun.

—Recipe and photo courtesy of The Mushroom Council

Free Medicare seminars available

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Virginia Farm Bureau’s health insurance representatives can help clarify complexities of Medicare. And virtual Medicare seminars scheduled through summer will enable members to prepare for sign-up—from the comfort of their homes.

Seminars are open to anyone interested in learning more about Medicare and its timelines, and comparing Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplements plans, as well as Part D prescription drug coverage. All are welcome to tune in.

Turning 65 is not a prerequisite.

“Learn what your options are in

advance of turning age 65, before you retire or if you have become disabled,” said Tracy Cornatzer, Health Care Consultants sales manager. “You want to do your due diligence ahead of time, and a year is not too early!

“Start educating yourself now, because when it’s time to enroll, you want to make sure that you’re making the best choice for you, without feeling rushed or pressured to make a product decision.”

The virtual seminars are about an hour long. Materials are presented in a conversational style that simplifies dense information. Guests are encouraged to interact with presenters and ask questions on behalf of themselves or loved ones.

“We find that many adult children are coming alongside their parents, helping do the research of plan options and enrollment deadlines,” noted Brett

Denton, vice president of HCC and Custom Health Care Inc. “There’s a Medicare book that’s about 125 pages long, and it’s a great resource. But in the seminars, we break a lot of that information down so it’s easier to understand.”

Staff also want to debunk Medicare misconceptions in the seminars.

“Automatically ‘getting coverage when I want it’ is an assumption people make,” Cornatzer continued. “There are strict timelines in place. Our goal is for you to have the right information. Come to the seminar with questions. If you need more personalized help, we can help set that up.”

Many Farm Bureau offices are staffed with licensed agents who can discuss Medicare options. It’s all about personalized service, Denton concluded. “And, when a client is

ready to enroll, we can help with that too.”

Register for free virtual Medicare seminars by contacting your local Farm Bureau office, or register online at vafb.com/health/ medicare-seminars

Medicare Advantage offers additional savings for seniors

BY KATHY DIXON

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has topped 30 million, and for good reason.

In addition to traditional health, dental and vision insurance, the plans often include prescription drug programs, gym memberships and even grocery benefits, in some cases.

The additional options that are built into various Medicare Advantage plans make them attractive, noted Chuck Sowers, senior account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau Healthcare Consultants. “I’ve begun to see a huge shift in people enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans.”

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

The plans also are known as Medicare Part C and are managed by private health insurance carriers that are approved by Medicare. These plans include Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital stays, nursing home care, hospice care and home health care. They also include Part B, which covers preventive services and medically necessary services needed to diagnose or treat a medical condition. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D prescription coverage.

“The thing about Medicare Advantage plans is that some plans have a zero-dollar premium, and many of them have a built-in prescription drug plan,” Sowers noted. According to CMS, the average cost of a Medicare Advantage plan in 2022 was $19.52

per month.

Sowers explained that MA plans are similar to marketplace and group plans in that most people are accustomed to making co-payments and co-insurance to meet deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Medicare Advantage plans offer HMOs or PPOs, and participants are required to provide a co-pay when they go to the doctor.

A plan may provide benefits for a person’s overall well-being, like fitness programs, meal delivery services and medical transportation.

For example, some Medicare Advantage plans offer a SilverSneakers® health and fitness program designed for adults 65 and older. Through the program, adults can go to gyms, take online classes or download a digital app for free workouts on their phones. Studies show that physical activity helps keep people’s heart, brain, bones, muscles and joints healthy.

Healthy foods also contribute to overall well-being, and some Medicare Advantage plans offer the Grocery Plus Benefit, which offers a quarterly grocery allowance. This allows recipients to buy a variety of healthy foods at participating grocery stores. Additionally, some Medicare Advantage plans offer food delivery programs.

For more information, contact your local Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779. To learn about Medicare seminars offered by Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance division, see page 30.