Cultivate spring 2017

Cultivate SPRING 2017

Land-grant universities and agriculture: A lasting partnership

Virginia Farm Bureau

Cultivate

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Features 12

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Land-grant universities have fueled agricultural evolution

opportunities in

Established by Congress in the late 19th century, land-grant universities have helped the nation’s farms transition into the 21st.

the job market

Industrial hemp: Could research lead to resurgence?

and engaging careers

It might not be the next miracle crop for Virginia farmers, but industrial hemp has the potential to provide numerous products.

19 Even without waterfront property, you might need flood insurance

“There are tremendous

It takes just a few inches of floodwater to cause extensive damage, and flooding outside of flood zones does happen.

for dynamic, exciting

in agriculture and natural resources.”

— DR. M. RAY McKINNIE, dean, Virginia State University College of Agriculture

ZEKE BARLOW, VT CALS

Volume 10, Number 2 Spring 2017 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 in Richmond, VA. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.48 (included in membership dues).

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-2901096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238.

Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email address is Cultivate@vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval.

Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising.

The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Assistant Editor Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Advertising

VISIT US ONLINE vafb.com

Departments 3

Did You Know?

24

For Your Benefit

26

Heart of the Home

30

Marketplace

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.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

ON THE COVER

Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in August. The magazine is published quarterly.

Dr. Alan Grant, dean of Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said CALS students have myriad educational and career goals (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

Did you know?

One of every three bites of food we eat is available thanks to honeybees.

One-third of our food depends directly or indirectly upon honeybee pollination, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Honeybees pollinate 80 percent of U.S.-grown crops—products valued at more than $14 billion.

Crops that benefit from honeybee pollination include fruits, nuts, vegetables, cotton and other small grains. They also include cover crops, which farmers plant between commercial crops to prevent runoff and erosion and boost soil nutrients.

Some farmers are also beekeepers, and others rent bee colonies for pollination on their farms.

It’s estimated that there are about 2.4 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. today. The American Beekeeping Federation estimates two-thirds of those travel the country pollinating crops or are part of commercial honey and beeswax operations.

In a single day, one honeybee makes 12 or more trips from its hive, visiting several thousand flowers at a time. On each trip, it confines its visit to one plant species, collecting one kind of pollen. This enables the colony to find and collect food with maximum efficiency, which makes honeybees the most valuable pollinators, according to the MidAtlantic Apicultural Research & Extension Consortium.

Honeybees pollinate 80 percent of U.S.-grown crops.

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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Copies of Virginia Farm Bureau history can be purchased online From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau, a history of Virginia Farm Bureau published last fall, is available for purchase at dementimilestonepublishing.com/ from-the-ground-up and at Amazon.com.

The book was written by Greg Hicks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation vice president of communications.

It covers events over the past three decades and is a companion volume to an earlier work by J. Hiram Zigler that was published in 1982.

Hicks called From the Ground Up “a hybrid history-celebration work” that follows the state organization’s meteoric growth and successes. It includes chapters on the five most recent state Farm Bureau presidents, numerous photos of staff and members at various Farm Bureau

Virginia Farm Bureau 1982–2016

million head

From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau Greg Hicks

events, listings of award winners, and many other highlights.

For more information, contact Hicks at greg.hicks@vafb.com.

PHONE SCAM:

Beware of demands for insurance payment by phone Virginia Farm Bureau members should be skeptical when receiving phone calls from anyone demanding payment for insurance coverage over the phone.

Recently, a Farm Bureau Insurance customer received a call from someone claiming to be a Farm Bureau representative. The caller asked for payment over the phone by credit card to keep an insurance policy in force.

“This was absolutely a scam phone call,” warned Darlene Wells, executive vice president and general manager of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “No one from Farm Bureau would ever call and demand an insurance payment over the phone. If you receive a phone call from someone asking for payment, and they say they are from Farm Bureau, please hang up and do not give out any information.

Then call your county Farm Bureau office directly to confirm the identity of the caller and the status of your policy.”

Wells added that members are always welcome to call or visit a county Farm Bureau office when they have insurance-related questions.

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1.52

State estimate of cattle and calves in Virginia as of Jan. 1, according to annual livestock inventory by the Virginia field office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

That’s 30,000 more than in January 2016. Other inventory findings include: • 80,000 sheep; and • 45,000 goats.

THE SHIPPING NEWS:

VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL TRADE UPDATE

Soybeans led Virginia’s top 12 farm and forest exports in 2016

Wood fuel

BY CLAIRE MILLS

V

irginia boasts an outstanding transportation infrastructure for moving farm and forestry exports to The Port of Virginia, a major hub on the East Coast, where products are shipped to markets worldwide.

Nearly one-third of the agricultural products grown in Virginia are exported; however, not all products exported from Virginia originated here.

“The top Virginia agriculture and forestry exports include items that are processed in Virginia but not necessarily grown here,” said Stephanie Agee, director of marketing and development for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“They also include products that simply pass through Virginia from another state but are exported out of The Port of Virginia. While not produced here, these products are still important to the Virginia economy, as they support jobs in the transportation, storage and logistics industries, as well as at the port, a vital economic driver in the commonwealth.”

The value of the exports depends on market prices at the time each order is placed, so the top markets for each commodity can change annually.

Here are Virginia’s top dozen farm and forestry exports in 2016.

Philip Morris International, was the top tobacco market in 2016.

Pork

Pork may be frozen or fresh when it is exported in the form of pork loins and other parts of the pig, including internal organs like brains, hearts and livers for food.

Soy meal

Most of the soy meal that is exported is first processed at Perdue Agribusiness Inc., which owns and operates a major deep-water export terminal in Chesapeake.

Processed food and beverages

Processed foods and beverages include soups, ice cream, condiments and soft drinks.

Poultry

Exports of poultry, especially dark meat, and poultry parts are shipped to other countries for use in food production.

Wood chips and wood pellets are exported as fuel for residential and industrial use. Rising demand for renewable energy in the United Kingdom is driving demand for wood pellets to produce heat and electricity.

Soybean oil

Soy oil, which is extracted from soybeans, is exported for use in cooking and in processing foods.

Animal feed

As the income level of populations in Southeast Asia rises, the demand for animal protein in people’s diets also increases. Virginia exports animal feed for the growing number of food animals raised in those countries.

Corn

Corn is exported as unprocessed kernels.

Raw peanuts

Virginia exports both shelled and unshelled peanuts. They may have been grown elsewhere, but most of the peanuts are cleaned, shelled, sized and prepared for shipping at Birdsong Peanuts in Suffolk.

TOP 12

2016 Agricultural Exports Via Virginia PRODUCTS

VALUE IN 2016

TOP MARKETS

1

Soybeans

China, Tunisia, Russia

2

Wood products

3

Leaf tobacco

4

Pork

5

Soy meal

6

Processed foods and beverages

Wood exports include logs and lumber, as well as products such as veneer and flooring.

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Poultry

8

Wood fuel

9

Soybean oil

Leaf tobacco

10 Animal feed

$701,677,734 $270,895,053 $264,159,138 $238,960,478 $176,266,358 $168,951,904 $151,811,501 $123,851,317 $112,757,620 $55,491,895 $51,553,524 $48,907,308

Soybeans

The No. 1 export from Virginia is whole soybeans.

Wood products

A good portion of leaf tobacco is exported to countries where it is used to make cigarettes. Switzerland, which is home to the operations center of

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Corn

12

Peanuts (raw)

China, Vietnam, UK Switzerland, Russia, Mexico China, Mexico, Japan Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam Canada, Taiwan, Brazil Angola, Hong Kong, Mexico UK, Belgium, Denmark Venezuela, Colombia, Morocco Indonesia, China, Saudi Arabia Colombia, Jamaica, Senegal Canada, China, Germany

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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SHIPP I NG N E WS

Secretary: International offices, trade missions lead to increased ag exports

Agricultural products reach The Port of Virginia by truck and rail for shipping overseas.

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irginia’s proactive approach to international trade has landed the state $4.5 million in new export sales of soybean products to Southeast Asian markets.

Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Basil Gooden told attendees at the ninth annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade that “Southeast Asia represents a significant emerging market for Virginia agriculture and forestry products.” He explained that the presence of a new international trade office in Singapore and a reverse trade mission during which Southeast Asian buyers visited Virginia soybean farms helped facilitate the recent export deal.

“Our international agricultural trade offices are a critical resource for Virginia producers, as is our ability to bring overseas buyers here to Virginia to meet our producers face to face.”

Gooden noted that other international trade offices helped Virginia producers sell $1 million in forest products to the United Kingdom last year and $2.5 million worth of apples to India over the past two years.

Farm and forestry exports from Virginia were valued at $2.7 billion in 6

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2016. The state’s exports to Southeast Asia last year reached $178.5 million, of which about $55.1 million were soybeans and soybean meal, the largest category of exports to the region.

Gooden said China remains the No. 1 destination for the state’s agricultural and forestry exports, followed by Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Tunisia in North Africa.

Tunisia was ranked in the 30s in 2015, but in 2016 it purchased 765 percent more soybeans from Virginia.

The trade conference was co-hosted in March by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Port Authority and Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

NAFTA trading partners recount gains since 1994

BY PAM WILEY

Agriculture officials from the Canadian and Mexican embassies detailed benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement for their countries’ respective industries at the ninth annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade.

Michael Hawkins, counsellor for agriculture at the Canadian Embassy, and Carlos Vazquez, minister of agricultural affairs for the Mexico

Embassy, were panelists for a presentation on “Partners’ View— Importance of NAFTA for North American Agriculture: Past Benefits, Future Opportunities.”

NAFTA is an agreement reached among Canada, Mexico and the U.S. in 1994, creating a trilateral trade bloc.

Its goal was to eliminate barriers to trade and investment among the three countries, and it eventually eliminated most tariffs on Mexico’s exports to the U.S. and U.S. exports to Mexico. Most U.S.-Canada trade was already duty-free.

Agriculture was a controversial topic during NAFTA negotiations, and agricultural trade was the only portion of the agreement not negotiated trilaterally. Instead, three separate agreements were signed between each pair of countries.

In the years since NAFTA was signed, Vazquez said, Mexico has become the world’s 12th-largest producer of food, and food products from Mexico can be found in 126 countries. Trade between Mexico and the U.S. in 2016 was valued at nearly $43 billion, which is 521 percent greater than in 1993.

More than 80 percent of Mexico’s agricultural exports go to the U.S., Vazquez explained, with many of them being transported between October and May. But the trade is truly bilateral, he noted. Beer is a major Mexican export, “but guess what? We buy the hops from Canada and the U.S.” and import barley as well.

And as far as Virginia agricultural exports, “we love your pork, and we love your peanuts.”

Hawkins said Canadian and U.S. products are entirely likely to cross the two countries’ border more than once.

He gave the hypothetical example of a Colorado cattle feed producer who exports feed to a farm in Alberta, which exports cattle to a feed lot in Nebraska, which then sells the cattle to a processor in Missouri. The resulting meat, he said, is sold in an Ontario supermarket.

“We don’t just trade things together, we really make things together,” he

The majority of agricultural exports that pass through The Port of Virginia in Norfolk are grains, soybeans, starches, animal feed and wood products.

elaborated, noting that traded goods include plant varieties, animal genetics and livestock and meats, as well as supply products like fertilizer and farm machinery.

“It’s this interaction that really drives our mutual competitiveness,” Hawkins said.

He noted that 70 percent of Canada’s exports and 50 percent of its agricultural exports go to America.

Bilateral trade was valued at $545 billion in 2016, and bilateral ag trade was valued at $47 billion.

TOP 10

Top trading partners of The Port of Virginia

EXPORTS

IMPORTS

1. China

1. China

2. Belgium

2. Germany

3. Netherlands

3. India

4. Germany

4. Vietnam

5. Indonesia

5. Italy

6. India

6. Brazil

7. Vietnam

7. Netherlands

8. Japan

8. Indonesia

9. Saudi Arabia

9. Spain

10. Brazil

10. Turkey

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This hemp crop was grown for research in Rockingham County last year.

INDUSTRIAL HEMP:

Could research lead to resurgence?

I

PHOTOS BY NORM HYDE

BY KATHY DIXON

ndustrial hemp may not be the next miracle crop for Virginia farmers, but it has potential for providing energy, feed and pharmaceutical ingredients.

“I think hemp has a lot of potential in the state, to be used for fiber or to be used for grain or even to be used for pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. John Fike, an associate professor of crop and soil environmental science who is conducting hemp research at several of Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Research and Extension Centers. “But it’s one thing to be able to grow it; it’s another thing to be able to sell this crop. We really don’t have well-developed markets that can take this crop.”

Virginia Tech, Virginia State University and James Madison University are conducting research on how to grow hemp, investigating what inputs are required to grow it and finding different uses for the crop.

Fike joked that industrial hemp has increased his professional stature.

“I’ve never been so popular. It’s interesting to have people calling you up and wanting to talk about hemp,” he said.

Dr. Michael Renfroe, a JMU biology professor, said the university’s research has focused on planting and harvesting hemp with conventional agricultural equipment. Additionally, the school has studied the effects of fertilizer on the crop. “We also want to know, ‘Can we take the oil from this?’”

Renfroe said.

Ten acres of industrial hemp were harvested last fall on the Rockingham County farm of Glenn Rodes. Seed from the crop was crushed to extract oil.

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Dr. John Fike of Virginia Tech said one challenge for commercialscale hemp production will be re-establishing infrastructure for harvesting and processing.

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Glenn Rodes, who co-owns and operates his family’s Riverhill Farms in Rockingham County, has found that the answer is ‘Yes’. He grew 10 acres of industrial hemp for JMU and, after harvesting a decent crop, was able to crush the seed for oil to convert into biodiesel to power his farm equipment.

“I’ve always had an interest in alternative crops,” said Rodes, who also grows canola and turns it into biodiesel. “Hemp is another crop that has a great potential as an energy crop.”

Fike said converting hemp to biodiesel seems to be the most widely accepted use right now. “The seed has a fairly high level of oil, and there are some that are interested in pressing that oil and turning it into biodiesel so you could have an on-farm energy supply. And then you could feed the residual material to your livestock.”

From a nutritional standpoint, hemp seeds have higher omega fatty acid content than other grains, so there “may be a number of uses for human nutrition where hemp could be applied,” Fike said.

Hemp is not new. It was grown in Virginia in the 1700s, according to Rodes. “It was grown here in the Valley.

So we’re just bringing back an old crop and trying new things with it.”

But because it’s a re-emerging crop, technology has changed, and growers need to adapt to the times.

“All the infrastructure that was used for hemp production … it’s pretty much gone away or is in a museum somewhere,” Fike said. “So we need to develop systems, whether it’s harvest or processing or logistics systems, that will allow us to get this crop to market.”

Other obstacles are a lack of available seed and state and federal restrictions governing hemp production.

“Because of restrictions on research by federal and state law, we can only use on site what we produce,” Renfroe said.

Differences between hemp and marijuana Industrial hemp and marijuana are both forms of the cannabis plant; they’ve just been developed for different uses.

Each contain cannabinoids, which are unique compounds found in the plant. Marijuana contains THC, a psychoactive chemical; hemp does not. “That is the distinction” between them, explained Dr. John Fike, an associate professor of crop and soil environmental science at Virginia Tech.

Hemp and marijuana plants contain another cannabinoid called CBD. Hemp produces more CBD than marijuana.

Ironically, CBD acts to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC.

Virginia law approves hemp research A section of the federal Agricultural Act of 2014 allowed an institute of higher education or a state department of agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp if the hemp didn’t have a THC concentration of more than .3 percent.

Subsequently, a section in the Code of Virginia was added in 2015 authorizing the commissioner of agriculture and consumer services to establish and oversee an industrial hemp research program. In early 2016, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law an industrial hemp rule that requires the ag commissioner to establish a licensing program for people who want to grow industrial hemp for a college’s research. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a proposal for colleges interested in conducting industrial hemp research, and agreements were signed with JMU, VSU and Virginia Tech.

Until federal law is amended, no one will be able to grow industrial hemp except for educational research. Rockingham County grower Glenn Rodes said further changes in the federal law “will open up a lot of opportunities for other farmers to grow hemp. I would love to plant hemp as a commercial crop.”

How big is hemp?

According to the Hemp Industries Association, a nonprofit trade association, U.S. retail sales in 2015 of products made with hemp grown overseas totaled $573 million. Those products included food, nutritional supplements, personal care products, textiles, auto parts and paper construction materials. vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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BY CLAIRE MILLS

The partnership of U.S. land-grant universities and agriculture has been the foundation for innovation on the nation’s farms for decades. But what exactly does being a land-grant university entail?

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Foundations for farming Today the United States and its territories are home to 105 landgrant universities. The mission of teaching, research and extension has been a hallmark of those institutions, and many are still known for their agricultural roots.

“Land-grant universities in association with agricultural research and cooperative extension are the foundation to everything done on the farm,” explained Robert Harper, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation grain manager, former Virginia Cooperative Extension agent and a Virginia Tech alumnus.

“More than 150 years of research has led to every development in agriculture.”

Prior to the Civil War, higher education was only for wealthy men to become doctors, lawyers and ministers.

Justin Smith Morrill, a high school dropout and U.S. representative and senator who was the author of both Morrill Acts, intended the land-grant colleges to educate working-class Americans in practical subjects.

The second Morrill Act in 1890 also prohibited racial discrimination in admissions policies for colleges receiving the federal funds. It led to the establishment of land grant institutions for African-Americans.

The colleges added a research function in 1887 through the Hatch Act, which recognized the need for original research to underpin the teaching of agriculture and help develop agricultural innovations.

A legacy of outreach In 1914, land-grant universities’ outreach mission was expanded by the Smith-Lever Act to include cooperative extension, the practice of sending agents into rural areas to share the results of agricultural research.

Harper said Extension research centers are like classrooms that, for more than 100 years, “have stretched the land-grant campus to communities all across the state.”

In 1994, land grants were given to colleges of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

When Virginia Tech President Dr. Timothy Sands spoke on landgrant universities at the VFBF Annual Convention in 2014, he said the partnership between U.S. agriculture and the nation’s land-grant schools has “never been stronger.”

In the coming years, Sands said, “we must continue to honor the history of our partnership with the agriculture industry” by seeking opportunities for new growth and by conducting research related to key issues such as nutrition, food safety and security and water usage.

“We want to develop a new generation of entrepreneurs who can contribute to their communities and to Virginia’s economy.”

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Nation’s land-grant colleges are source of education, agricultural evolution

L

and-grant schools were established by Congress via the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. The acts granted federally controlled land to states to sell to establish colleges that would teach agriculture, military science and engineering in addition to traditional classical studies. Most land-grant colleges, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University among them, became large public universities.

Ultimately, more than 17.4 million acres of public land was distributed through the Morrill Act of 1862 to establish land-grant institutions.

Botany students at Iowa State University, 1890

Land-Grant Universities

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Massachusetts MICHIGAN

Michigan State University MINNESOTA

University of Minnesota

Land-Grant Universities of 1862 and 1890

MISSISSIPPI

Alcorn State University* Mississippi State University MISSOURI

Lincoln University* University of Missouri

Agriculture students at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, 1928 *denotes 1890 land-grant institutions

ALABAMA

Alabama A&M University* Auburn University Tuskegee University* ALASKA

University of Alaska, Fairbanks ARIZONA

University of Arizona

MONTANA

IDAHO

Montana State University

University of Idaho

NEBRASKA

ILLINOIS

University of Nebraska

University of Illinois

NEVADA

INDIANA

University of Nevada, Reno

Purdue University Iowa State University

ARKANSAS

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

University of Arkansas University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff* CALIFORNIA

University of California COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

University of Connecticut

1891 surveying class at Iowa State University

DELAWARE

Delaware State University* University of Delaware DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

University of the District of Columbia FLORIDA

Florida A&M University* University of Florida GEORGIA

KANSAS

Kansas State University KENTUCKY

Kentucky State University* University of Kentucky LOUISIANA

Louisiana State University Southern University*

Fort Valley State University* University of Georgia

MAINE

GUAM

MARYLAND

University of Guam HAWAII

University of Hawaii

University of Maine University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, Eastern Shore*

SOUTH CAROLINA

Clemson University South Carolina State University* SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota State University TENNESSEE

Tennessee State University* University of Tennessee TEXAS

Prairie View A&M University* Texas A&M University

UTAH

Utah State University

VERMONT University of Vermont VIRGIN ISLANDS

University of the Virgin Islands

VIRGINIA

Virginia State University* Virginia Tech

NEW JERSEY

WASHINGTON

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Washington State University

WEST VIRGINIA

New Mexico State University

West Virginia State University* West Virginia University

NEW YORK

WISCONSIN

NORTH CAROLINA

WYOMING

NEW MEXICO

Cornell University

Colorado State University

University of Rhode Island

University of New Hampshire

NEW HAMPSHIRE

IOWA

RHODE ISLAND

North Carolina A&T State University* North Carolina State University

University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Wyoming

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

Agriculture

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota State University OHIO

Central State University* The Ohio State University OKLAHOMA

Langston University* Oklahoma State University OREGON

Oregon State University PENNSYLVANIA

Penn State

PUERTO RICO

University of Puerto Rico

Home economics students at Alcorn State, 1950

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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V VSU dean: Land-grant universities are much more than ‘cows, plows, and sows’

BY SARA OWENS

Tucked away in the Chesterfield County

SU was founded in 1882 and chartered as the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute.

According to university historians, the bill was sponsored by Del. Alfred W. Harris, a black attorney whose offices were in nearby Petersburg.

The college did not receive land-grant status until 1920, when Virginia’s land-grant program for black students was moved from the private Hampton Institute—now Hampton University—where it had been since 1872.

Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, dean of VSU’s College of Agriculture, said he believes the land-grant university is and always will be the “soul of the public higher education system in America.”

“Some of the most elite institutions” “Land-grant universities were born at a time when higher education was for the elite and the rich, not for ordinary people,” McKinnie explained. VSU and Virginia Tech, which was established in 1872, “really laid the framework for agriculture research and education.

“Land-grant universities today have evolved to so much more than the archaic perception of agriculture colleges. They’ve moved beyond

‘cows, plows and sows’ or a ‘Moo U,’” McKinnie added. “They are among some of the most elite institutions in America.”

VSU is a premier provider of educational opportunities in the classroom, lab and community.

McKinnie said the university’s agricultural strengths include its alternative, innovative crop research and small farmer outreach programs.

The College of Agriculture also has a large aquaculture program and is a Virginia leader in the fields of urban and sustainable agriculture and small ruminants like goats and sheep.

VSU’s agricultural research program uses cutting-edge scientific techniques and equipment to find solutions to diverse issues in agriculture and food production.

Current projects include hops and industrial hemp field trials, and a study of how to make animal feeds nutrient-dense yet less expensive.

VSU researchers also are investigating how to turn grape waste from Virginia wineries into an added revenue stream as an antimicrobial agent in deli meat packaging and as a new ingredient to aid in salt reduction in processed meat.

Randolph Farm, VSU’s 416-acre agricultural learning center, is utilized PHOTOS COURTESY OF VSU

village of Ettrick, about 20 minutes south of Richmond, Virginia State University is one of the nation’s 1890 land-grant institutions.

Field days at Virginia State University draw farmers, aspiring farmers and interested members of the surrounding community.

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Land-Grant Universities

Virginia State University

New dean grew up farming, aspired to stay in industry Dr. M. Ray McKinnie was appointed interim dean of the VSU College of Agriculture in August 2015, when the previous dean, Jewel Hairston, left for the Farm Service Agency.

He was named dean in December 2016.

McKinnie grew up on a farm in North Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree at North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree at The Ohio State University, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University.

“I grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina, and my goal was always to be a veterinarian,” McKinnie said. His career goals were shaped by two people who were helpful on his father’s farm: an extension agent named George McDaniel, and veterinarian Dr. Bill Plumber.

“Mr. Mac was the man. I always thought he was so cool,” McKinnie said. “He came out and helped us with our farm’s taxes or whatever else we needed help with, and he was always out helping people on farms.

“And then our veterinarian, I just thought what he did was so great. I was always around agriculture and just fascinated by medicine.”

Once McKinnie saw how much veterinary school would cost, he changed his mind and decided to attend graduate school for animal science and pursue a career in extension and research.

He worked as an agricultural extension agent in North Carolina and later went to work for North Carolina A&T, where he served a combined 15 years as an associate dean for ag research, cooperative extension and facilities and special initiatives.

“I had a lot of interaction with Virginia State University staff for many years prior to my position here,” McKinnie said, “so I had an interest in the university. I’m still excited to come to work every day and love what I do. I get to help people be the best they can be.”

PAM WILEY

for research and education in the areas of new and niche crops, alternative cropping methods, horticultural crops, nutrient management, water quality and animal production, as well as aquaculture and aquaponic and hydroponic production.

Field day programs also are held at Randolph Farm. The events focus on berries, field crops, aquaculture and small ruminants and are open to the public. McKinnie said the programs allow the community to see what the college is doing and provide an opportunity to ask questions.

“People say, ‘Tell me, I may forget.

Show me, I may remember. But engage me, and I’ll know forever.’ That’s what we are trying to accomplish through the field day programs.”

McKinnie said one of his goals moving forward is to help change the image of the agriculture industry.

“There are tremendous opportunities in the job market for dynamic, exciting and engaging careers in agriculture and natural resources,” he said.

“VSU has a long tradition of training students to be valuable contributors of that industry, as well as of developing solutions for better food security, safety and sustainability with its cutting-edge research.”

McKinnie said he believes that in order to stay relevant and to best serve students and meet the land-grant mission “we must continue to evolve so that we will not become a relic or obsolete.

“The future is bright,” but there is a need to interest students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he noted. “Agriculture is no longer a singular issue. It’s multi-disciplinary, and we need more students interested in these STEM subjects to succeed in the industry.”

Meat goats and other small ruminants like hair sheep and alpacas have been one focus at VSU’s Randolph Farm.

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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S Virginia Tech’s land-grant roots have enabled it to diversify and grow

BY KATHY DIXON

From entomology to plant pathology, and from classroom instruction to field research and everything in between, Virginia Tech embodies the mission of a landgrant university.

tudents in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have an opportunity to launch futures as animal scientists, crop geneticists, dietitians, entomologists, landscapers and more.

“That’s the advantage of a landgrant university,” said Dr. Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “I like to call it a comprehensive university.”

He noted that he’s trying to convince his teenage son to apply.

“It’s no longer just agriculture and engineering; Virginia Tech is composed of multiple colleges, including a strong liberal arts program.

When you consider the challenges in all industries, we need engineers and ag scientists and political scientists all working together to solve problems related to issues like land use and water quality.”

The school was formed as Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1872 and received funding under the 1862 Morrill Act. “The Morrill Act made it possible for anyone to go to college, not just the elite,” Grant explained. And while the focus started with agriculture and engineering, the breadth of offerings at Virginia Tech has grown considerably.

“Some people are surprised that our CALS program includes human nutrition and exercise; in a lot of landgrant universities it’s separate from their college of agriculture,” Grant explained. “But I think it makes sense for it to be part of CALS, because it’s about food and eating behavior, metabolism and physical activity. All of those are connected to agriculture.”

Traditional and nontraditional studies offered The CALS still offers traditional agriculture-related majors, like its two-year Agriculture Technology

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Land-Grant Universities Virginia Tech

Program and its dairy and animal and poultry science degrees, but the growth of programs outside of production agriculture “has helped us gain visibility and has increased our impact,” Grant noted. “We’ve seen a significant increase in enrollment, and I think it’s because a lot of students are attracted to issues like environmental sciences, food, health and energy. They may not understand production agriculture, but they’re interested in science and sustainable practices that will help feed the world, solve complex problems in society and ultimately improve the quality of lives around the world.”

In 2009, there were 2,600 undergraduate and 400 graduate students enrolled at the CALS. This year there were 3,400 undergraduates and 600 graduate students. The undergrads represent about 12 percent of the overall student population, and the graduate students in CALS and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine make up 10 percent of the total graduate students.

PHOTOS BY ZEKE BARLOW, VT CALS

Research key component at land-grant universities

Many students are attracted to participating in hands-on research at Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 11 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers or through internships at one of 107 Extension field offices.

“The land-grant system is effective because the experiment stations and Extension offices tie the research and Extension missions together with the teaching mission of the university,” Grant said.

Hands-on research enables students to work with industry partners in Virginia Tech’s Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building 1, or HABB1 (left photo). Dr. Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, met with students in the HABB1 about their multi-discipline studies (above).

Name changes reflected changing curriculum Between 1891 and 1907, Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College re-organized its academic programs into a traditional four-year college. That led to a name change in 1896 to Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute.

In 1944, the name was officially changed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In 1970, VPI became Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

In the early 1990s, university administration authorized the official use of “Virginia Tech” as equivalent to the full legal name.

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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How not to spend your holiday: July 4 ranks highest in average daily crash deaths

O

n average, more people die in motor vehicle crashes on Independence Day than any other day of the year, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analysis of the five most recent years of available fatal crash data.

Each July 4 in the United States an average of 118 lives are lost in crashes, making it the most consistently deadly day of the year across the five-year study period. This is 28 more deaths than the overall average daily toll during 2010-2014. The second-worst day for crash deaths during 2010-2014 was Jan. 1, with an average of 118 deaths.

IIHS research has found that motorcycles and alcohol are both big contributors to the Fourth of July toll.

Independence Day is by far the deadliest for motorcyclists, with an average of 26 deaths. This compares to the daily average of 12 motorcyclist deaths during the study period. New Year's Day is the deadliest for people in passenger vehicles, with 86 deaths on average during 2010-2014.

Alcohol is a factor in a greater proportion of crash deaths on both July 4 and Jan. 1. Forty-seven percent of the deaths on July 4 and 62 percent on Jan. 1 involved at least one driver, pedestrian or bicyclist with a blood alcohol concentration of at least .08.

The average across all days in these years was 35 percent for deaths in crashes involving alcohol.

"Traveling on a major holiday is risky for many reasons," said Chuck Farmer, IIHS vice president for research and statistical services. "In general, there are more people on the roads, and drivers may be navigating areas beyond their regular commuting routes.

There's a high incidence of alcohol use, which sharply raises the risk of crashing."

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He added that, for motorcyclists, wearing a regulation helmet is always a good choice, even in states that don’t require one.

On average, crashes claimed the lives of slightly more than 90 people each day during 2010-2014.

"While some holidays are associated with more highway deaths, motor vehicle crashes exact a huge toll every single day of the year," Farmer added.

Data used in the analysis are from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System, an annual census of fatal crashes on U.S. roads.

Don’t become a statistic!

This Fourth of July—and every day—make sure you and the people you care about: • buckle up; • wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle; • do not drink and drive; • obey the speed limit; and • do not text while driving.

Making changes to your home?

Q: I want to add on a garage. Can

I wait and notify my insurance company afterward, or should I do that before starting construction?

A: You should notify your insurance agent as soon as you know the approximate square footage of the garage you are attaching to your home, explained Lisa Whitus, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. underwriting manager.

The addition will increase the total value of your dwelling, which affects reconstruction costs, built-in coverage amounts for items such as related private structures and additional living expense, as well as policy pricing.

Q: I f I plan to gut large parts of my

home and do major renovations, do I need to notify my agent?

A: Yes, because the agent will need to confirm the intended occupancy of the home during renovation, the extent of the renovations and an anticipated completion date, Whitus said. He or she will use this information to confirm that your home is insured in the right program.

Q: H ow will you determine the

increase to my policy, and how much will my policy increase?

A: Your agent will be able to obtain a premium quote for the change based upon the revised construction cost of your home, including the addition.

Q: I’m going to add a stand-alone

garage or a new barn to my property. Should I notify my agent?

A: The homeowner insurance program automatically provides 10 percent of the residence value for related private structures such as garages, so this may necessitate adding an endorsement to ensure that there is an adequate value on it, Whitus explained. If you’re adding a barn to a homeowner location the agent will need to determine, in addition to the added value, whether there are any farming exposures and whether you are insured in the correct program.

Current weather patterns, changes in the environment and local development all contribute to a property’s risk of flooding.

The importance of flood insurance— even if you’re not in a flood zone

T

here have been more cases of flooding in recent years, especially in areas that are not in a flood zone. Some business and homeowners in those areas did not have flood insurance, which can become a problem when it comes to repairing or replacing damaged buildings.

It takes just a few inches of floodwater to cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. From 2011 to 2015, the average residential flood claim amounted to nearly $43,000, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. In 2015, the average policy premium was nearly $700.

Flood insurance is the best way to protect yourself from devastating financial loss, because without flood insurance you are left to assume repair and replacement costs yourself.

“Some people assume that FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) or some entity will step in and cover the cleanup and repairs,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “The reality is if you

don’t have flood insurance, you will be faced with making the repairs out of your own pocket.”

Causes and risks In general terms, a flood is a temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties—at least one of which is the policyholder’s property— are inundated by water or mudflow, explained Ted Joyce, director of Farm Bureau Insurance Agency Services. It could be caused by: • overflow of inland or tidal waters; • unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; • mudflow; or • collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or water currents exceeding anticipated cyclical levels.

“Your flood risk isn't just based on history. It’s based on many factors that include current weather patterns, natural changes in the environment and recent development in your community,” Joyce explained.

He said business and homeowners purchase flood insurance through an insurance agent; they cannot buy it directly from the NFIP, as it is an insurance policy and not an endorsement.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters, condominium dwellers and commercial owners and renters. “You can insure both your buildings and the contents of them for flood coverage. Your business or home does not have to be located in a flood plain to purchase flood insurance,” Joyce added.

There typically is a 30-day waiting period between the date of a flood insurance purchase and the date the policy goes into effect.

No nearby water? Consider insurance anyway If your home or business is within several miles of a large body of water, you may want to consider flood insurance.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve even seen people in the mountains who have had flooding and may not have been near any water,” Rooks said. “It’s really important to discuss with your insurance agent the risks that may be present within your property.”

Joyce added that most insurance policies exclude flood insurance. “There are a few exceptions, so you must read your policy to be sure; however, it is safe to say that a very high percentage of policies do not cover flood damage.

“None of the Virginia Farm Bureau policies cover flood insurance, so you are not able to purchase an endorsement and add flood coverage to any of your policies; you would have to purchase a separate flood policy.”

Want to know more?

For more information on flood risks and flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart and contact your county Farm Bureau insurance agent.

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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Wearing a seat belt is among safest things drivers can do— and it’s the law Wearing a seat belt is one of the safest things you can do while driving. It’s also one of the smartest. The following are research findings cited by Drive Smart Virginia: •M ost fatal crashes occur at speeds below 40 mph and within 25 miles of your home.

• I f you’re in a crash and are thrown from your vehicle you have a 75 percent chance of being killed. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.

•D eath rates are more than eight times higher among vehicle occupants who are not buckled up or otherwise restrained.

Adults who buckle up every time they get in the car set an example for young passengers.

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• I n 60 percent of fatal crashes, the victim isn’t buckled.

•W earing seat belts can reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent.

All of these numbers add up to safety; you are safer in your car when buckled in, and so are your passengers. A seat belt is the best defense against reckless, impaired or distracted drivers.

Also, adults who don’t buckle up are sending children the message that it is acceptable to not wear a seat belt.

Wearing a safety belt is the law in Virginia. State law requires that passengers 18 years or older occupying the front seat be buckled—though there are exceptions to this law for mail carriers, newspaper delivery persons, taxi drivers and passengers, waste collectors and certain others. Nonadherence is punishable by a $25 fine.

For more information on the merits of seat belt use, visit drivesmartva.org. Virginia Farm Bureau is a founding member of Drive Smart Virginia.

‘Click It or Ticket’ The 2017 National Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization will run May 22 through June 4. In 2015 the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives of occupants ages 5 and older. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws and law enforcement officers saving lives.

For more information, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

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21

Group, individual dental and vision insurance plans available through Farm Bureau

H

ealth insurance is a top priority for many individuals and families, but protecting your teeth and eyes is just as important in the prevention of health concerns.

“Dental insurance and vision insurance are separate types of insurance that are not covered under a standard health insurance policy, and are something that need be purchased separately to help give you the protection you need,” said Brett Denton, vice president of Experient Health, a subsidiary of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. Experient offers both individual and group vision and dental insurance plans.

Vision and dental insurance are similar to regular medical insurance

offer the plans, they can be purchased individually.

For employers, there are many benefits to adding such coverage for employees. Those who have vision and dental coverage often will schedule vision and dental checkups more often, which can help prevent other health problems.

Vision coverage

Regular vision and dental checkups can help identify and prevent a wide range of health problems.

and are among voluntary benefit options commonly offered through employers. If an employer does not

With vision insurance, you pay a premium and the insurance company will cover part or all of the cost for vision care. Vision coverage is available in two basic types of plans: •V ision benefits plan: This type of plan is regular insurance coverage.

Depending on the specific plan, coverage differs between in- and out-of-network eye doctors, and you typically pay a portion of your eye care cost through a deductible and coinsurance or copayments.

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• Discount vision plan: With this option you can choose to reduce vision costs without regular insurance coverage. You pay for all of your vision care, but at a reduced rate.

An appointment with an eye doctor can determine whether you need corrective lenses and, if so, the correct prescription. Other eye concerns addressed in an eye exam include conditions or diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, which can lead to vision loss.

Regular eye exams also can identify overall health concerns, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and risk of heart disease or stroke. Tracy Cornatzer, Experient sales manager, recalled a client who said getting a regular vision exam saved his life.

“He went in for an annual eye exam and discovered he had choroidal melanoma, which is a type of cancer in

the eye. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body,” Cornatzer explained. “Most choroidal melanoma patients have no symptoms, and the melanoma is found on routine eye examination.”

Dental coverage With dental insurance, you pay a premium and your insurance will cover part or all of the cost of many dental services. Dental coverage is offered in several types of plans: • Dental health maintenance organization: Coverage is provided only when you visit dentists who are in-network with the insurance plan.

• Dental preferred provider organization: Coverage is provided with in- or out-of-network care providers, but you will pay less with an in-network dentist.

• Dental indemnity plan: Coverage is provided for any dentist you

choose, with no difference in cost.

•D iscount dental plan: This is a common option for reducing dental costs without regular insurance coverage. You pay for all your dental care at an agreed-upon, discounted rate.

Professional dental care can diagnose or help prevent common problems including toothache, inflamed gums, tooth decay, bad breath and dry mouth.

If such conditions remain untreated, 0 According to the American Dental Association, more than 16 million children in the United States suffer from untreated tooth decay.

Regular dental exams not only treat dental problems but also can identify other serious health concerns, including some types of cancer.

For more information on dental and vision coverage, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

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23

For Your Benefit

MAKING TRAVEL PLANS? Save on lodging costs with Wyndham benefit

Member Deals Plus® now includes even more deals

Your Farm Bureau membership gives you access to two programs offering significant savings at thousands of hotels in North America.

Advance reservations are required, and blackout dates may apply.

The Wyndham Hotel Group discount program covers stays in over 7,200 Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8 Motel, Travelodge, Wingate

by Wyndham and Wyndham Hotels locations.

The discounted rate of up to 20 percent less than the “Best Available Rate” publicly available online is subject to availability at participating locations.

For reservations, call 877-670-7088, and give your Virginia Farm Bureau ID number—available from your county Farm Bureau and on your personal “Account” page on the Virginia Farm Bureau website at vafb.com (You will need to log in first, or register to use the site as a member if you have not done so already).

Be prepared to share your current Farm Bureau member card when you check in.

Farm Bureau members in Virginia now have access to hundreds of new discounts through the Member Deals Plus® benefit. New participating merchants have been added in the following categories:

Looking for a resort location?

If you’re starting to plan summer adventures, start at TripBeat.com/ vafb.

TripBeat℠ makes it easy, convenient and affordable to search and book resort vacations by providing access to more than 2,400 resort condo rental properties in desirable destinations in approximately 90 countries.* Once you register on the TripBeat℠ website, you’ll find details on $399 Weekly Getaways—seven-night vacation rentals at only $57 per night. There is no limit on how many $399 Weekly Getaways Farm Bureau members in Virginia can book.

Farm Bureau members also save 25 percent on Preferred Weekly and Short Stays.

To book by phone, call 844-367-6433, and mention that you are a Virginia Farm Bureau member. *Destinations and travel times are subject to availability and confirmed on a first come, first served basis. Offer includes only accommodations and specifically excludes travel cost and other expenses that may be incurred. Promotional discounts and offers may not apply to all properties. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion, discount, or coupon and may be discontinued at any time without notice. All-inclusive resorts may charge a mandatory all-inclusive fee. Other restrictions may apply. Offer void where prohibited by law.

Additional taxes may apply. All prices are in U.S. Dollars (USD).

TripBeat℠ and related marks are registered trademarks and/or service marks in the United States and internationally.©2017 Resort Rental, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

• Services; • Home and garden; • Health and beauty; and • Car rentals.

Member Deals Plus® uses the nation’s largest private discount network to offer savings on meals, clothing, vehicle care and other goods and services. It uses “show your phone” mobile deals that can be accessed anywhere and redeemed from a smartphone at the point of sale or printed from a home computer.

Members can register online using the Member Deals Plus® link at vafb.com (Have your membership number at hand when registering).

When shopping, dining out or traveling, you can search for participating merchants you frequent, or search for all participating merchants in a specific ZIP code.

Member Deals Plus® and Member deals plus® are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Save $500 on purchase or lease of selected GM vehicles Farm Bureau members in Virginia can receive a $500 incentive toward the purchase or lease of qualifying Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicles at participating dealerships.

The Farm Bureau GM $500 Vehicle Discount Program is available for members who are at least 18 and have been Farm Bureau members for at least 30 days. The offer can be combined with most other incentives.

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To use this member benefit, log in to the Virginia Farm Bureau website at vafb.com (or register to use the site as a member, if you have not done so already. This will give you access to exclusive benefit-related information).

On right side of your “Account” page is a box of links to access codes for your member benefits.

The GM discount link is under “Automotive & Vehicle.” By entering

your membership number and ZIP code, you can create and print a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your GM dealership. The $500 incentive must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered.

See participating GM dealers for full details.

Managing mushrooms in the lawn

M

ushrooms, puffballs or toadstools may become a nuisance in lawns at certain times of the year.

They usually occur during wet periods or during a warm or cold temperature stress period, explained Mark Viette, an Augusta County horticulturalist.

“The fleshy fungi usually grow on decomposing organic matter in the soil,” Viette explained. “Often the organic matter may be a buried stump, root or board. These fungi are good wood rotters. They may also be breaking down organic matter which is mixed with the soil.

“A radio listener brought me a large, giant white puffball that was about the size of a basketball. They can vary in size and be quite bothersome for some people,” Viette added.

Generally raking or breaking up with the lawn mower is a satisfactory, if repetitive, remedy in removing mushrooms from the yard or garden.

There is a specific fungus growth of toadstools known as a Fairy Ring.

Grass just inside or outside the circular band where the fungus grows often is stimulated to rapid growth with a dark green color.

Fairy Ring circles vary in size from 1 or 2 feet to 50 feet or more in diameter.

Sometimes there will be many mushrooms or toadstools appearing in an area of dead grass. There is no chemical remedy.

“If mushrooms or toadstools are a severe annoyance, removal and replacement of soil to eliminate the organic source may be necessary,” Viette said. “In some cases, like dense shade, site alteration may not be possible and consideration should be given to tolerant ground covers as an alternative to grass.”

Use caution if you have pets in the yard that might eat mushrooms. “I have heard stories that dogs sometimes run out in the yard and have played with poisonous mushrooms and

Decomposing organic matter in the landscape can foster mushroom growth.

become severely sick,” Viette said. It is important to use caution around yard mushrooms and never eat one unless you know it isn’t poisonous.

For more information and tips on

managing mushrooms in the yard, visit Virginia Cooperative Extension’s website at ext.vt.edu/lawn-garden/ turfandgardentips/tips/fairy-ring. html. vafb.com / SPRING 2017

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Heart of the Home

Summer months in Virginia yield ‘berry’ Pick plenty – some to eat right away, and some for these cool, colorful recipes

B

erry, berry delicious is one way to describe the luscious fruits that begin maturing at this time of year.

Virginia strawberries debut in May, followed by blackberries, blueberries and raspberries.

Strawberry season is usually over by the end of June, but the other berries continue growing throughout the summer.

Berries provide vitamin C and are great sources of fiber and potassium. “Berries are bursting with nutrition,” said Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Austin Brooks.

Summer berries, especially blueberries, are rich in He added that berries— antioxidants. blueberries in particular—also are known for their antioxidants, special compounds in plants that help Whether you pick your own or buy protect cells from damage. them at a market or grocery store, here Virginia berries also are an important are a few “berry” good recipes from crop. The state’s berry farmers sold an Virginia Cooperative Extension. estimated $1.68 million worth of the fruit in 2012. Virginia farmers most often grow blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

Many of the state’s berry farmers INGREDIENTS sell directly to consumers at farmers’ 12 ounces rotini pasta markets or on farms with pick-yourown fields or retail stands. Shopping 1 pint strawberries there means you’re more likely to be 1 cup seedless green grapes, washed and able to meet the person who grew halved the berries and to see their fields for yourself, Brooks added.

16 ounces pineapple chunks in juice

Strawberry Pasta Salad

¼ cantaloupe, cubed ½ cup pine nuts 6 ounces peach yogurt

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DIRECTIONS

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water.

While the pasta is cooking, wash the strawberries, and discard any overripe ones. Use a potato peeler or small sharp knife to cut out the strawberry stems, and cut the berries into small pieces. In a large salad bowl, mix the berries with the cooled pasta.

Add the grape halves and cantaloupe cubes to the pasta mixture, and stir in pineapple slices and juice and the pine nuts. Allow the mixture to chill for at least an hour. Before serving, mix in the peach yogurt.

Yogurt Berry Parfait INGREDIENTS

2 cups yogurt (lowfat or fat-free, plain or vanilla) 1 cup sliced banana ½ cup fresh blueberries ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries other optional fruit (raspberries, peaches, pineapple and/or mangos) 1 cup granola DIRECTIONS

Line up 4 parfait or other tall glasses.

Spoon about ¼ cup of the yogurt into each glass. Then add about ¼ cup of fruit, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of granola. Repeat the process until all ingredients are used.

Heart of the Home

delicious fruits

Chilled Blueberry Soup INGREDIENTS

2 cups fresh blueberries 1 cup 100 percent apple juice

DIRECTIONS

Rinse blueberries, and set aside a few as garnishes. Blend all other ingredients in a food processor or blender.

Serve immediately. Garnish with mint leaves and blueberries if desired.

Like other chilled fruit soups, this blueberry soup is a refreshing seasonal treat on a hot day.

½ cups plain lowfat yogurt 1 teaspoon cinnamon fresh mint leaves for garnish

vafb.com / SPRING 2017

27

Soil:

It’s the bedrock of our

nation’s food and fiber

There are more than 500 documented soil types in Virginia, grouped into five main regions. In this soil series, we will explore the “skin of the earth” in each of these regions and how the soil influences regional agriculture and forestry activities. In this second installment, we explore the Valley and Ridge region.

Forested ridges and agricultural valleys characterize the Valley and Ridge region.

Region named for its parallel ridges and lush valleys

L

The region’s nutrient-rich soil was prized by early settlers.

ong, long ago when continents collided, the rocks of Virginia’s Valley and Ridge region were folded like ripples deep underground and formed the parallel ridges and lush valleys that now make up this picturesque piece of the state.

The peaks are predominantly infertile sandstone, but the valleys were formed over limestone, which is naturally productive.

“If we had to, we could grow lots of food in this region, just not as inexpensively as in the Corn Belt,” said Dr. John Galbraith, a Virginia Cooperative Extension soil specialist.

Galbraith explained that the region was once the lower coastal plain near an ancient ocean. During the collision of Africa with North America, rocks on the continental shelf to the east were thrust westward over the top of the existing continent, folding the rocks deep underground. The

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carbonate rocks weathered away quickly, leaving the hills of sandstone, which are more resistant to weathering, as ridges high above the remaining carbonate rocks of the valley floors. The region is characterized by alternating forested ridges and agricultural valleys.

It also is marked by the New River, which cuts through it. Ironically, the river is one of the oldest in the U.S., noted J. David Harper, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services state soil scientist. Galbraith added that the river created level, fertile terraces in the Valley and Ridge region, but most of them have been turned into neighborhoods, which doesn’t leave much level land for farming.

The Valley and Ridge region was prized by early settlers because at that time no commercial sources of fertilizer were available, Galbraith noted. The lime-rich soil in the valley areas didn’t require inputs

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Valley and Ridge soils also are well-suited for grasses needed to raise cattle and sheep.

Soil Regions of Virginia ■■ Appalachian Plateau ■■ Valley and Ridge ■■ Blue Ridge ■■ Piedmont ■■ Coastal Plain

BY KATHY DIXON

like the sandstone soil on the hills.

“This area was once called the ‘Breadbasket of the East’,” Harper explained.

“The soil there is great for growing grains and silage; it’s very nutrient-rich soil.”

In the valleys, Galbraith said, corn and wheat are the predominant crops, and they are primarily used as feed for the poultry and livestock industries. There also is a thriving apple industry in the Winchester area, and wine grape and hops production is increasing in the area as well. “Grapes do really well in soils with lots of rock fragments, and there are lots of those on the side slopes.”

Galbraith predicted that more farmers will grow grapes, hops, fruits and vegetables in the Valley and Ridge region in the future.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Virginia provides a survey of the soils throughout the state. The Web Soil Survey site is used by civil engineers, educators, foresters, military personnel, real estate agents and more.

The surveys can help home builders estimate whether a house has limitations for a basement. They also can help farmers plan conservation methods to keep the land in high production while protecting land quality. The Virginia soil surveys include 5,500 map units.

Soil surveys include interpretive maps and reports that are available at no charge to the public. The NRCS began digitizing the maps in 2002. Visitors to the site can type in an address and get information about the soil in that area.

“We get about 7,000 hits a month,” noted J. David Harper, NRCS state soil scientist. The surveys are updated annually and can be accessed at websoilsurvey. sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm.

Dig into dirt facts Every living plant and animal depends on the condition of the soil.

Healthy soil produces our food, filters air and water, and provides foundation for homes, highway and schools. It also provides the building blocks for our state’s farms and forests.

Here are some soil facts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: • One teaspoon of a productive soil contains more microorganisms than there are people in Virginia.

• Natural processes can take 500 years to form one inch of topsoil.

• Soils are often named for the local area in which they were first found. Examples include Chilhowie, Frederick and Pamunkey soils.

Read more about Virginia’s regions, and see paintings depicting them on the Virginia Historical Society’s blog: http://bit.ly/2k8OwZv

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Ag exports, technology coming up on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: •V irginia farmers exported a record number of soybeans last year.

•S pring planting celebrates diversity of Virginia agriculture.

•J ust in time for picnic season, Chef John Maxwell shares a favorite recipe for potato salad.

Soybeans were a significant Virginia crop in 2016.

2017 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members, or in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members.

Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20.

Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted.

Use the form in this issue of Cultivate or the online form at vafb.com 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;

DEER AND RABBIT REPELLENT – $13.95 makes 10 gallons.

Safe, effective, long lasting, guaranteed. 540-464-1969.

U-PICK BLUEBERRIES – Misty Meadows Farm, Franklin County. Starting end of May through mid July. 434-9274251.

FARM EQUIPMENT REAR GRADER BLADE – For 3-pt. hitch, 5-ft., excellent condition. Countryline, $160, Stafford. 540-207-9624.

FOR SALE – Quality orchard grass square baled hay. 804432-2683.

• Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and

LIVESTOCK

• Livestock equipment.

Classified ads will be published in the following issues: · April Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); · May Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); · August Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and · September 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 on your membership card and above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Cultivate. All member numbers will be verified.

CULTIVATE

CROPS

HAY AND STRAW

• Farm equipment;

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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 WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk and is available online at vafb. com.

KIKO BUCKS – Purebred, full-blood, NZ. Bill Collins, Weathersfield Farm, Mineral. 540-894-3973.

CHAROLAIS BULLS – High quality and easy calving.

Veterinarian owned, $1,500 to $3,500. Abingdon. 276-6289543 REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS – Calving ease, semen tested, excellent bloodlines. Reasonably priced, good selection.

C-Stock Farm, Scottsville. 434-286-2743 or 434-981-1397.

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT SADDLE – New Wyntec jump saddle, black. Exercise/show quality. Paid more than $1,000. Pad included. 434-7243313.

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.

Important: We are not responsible

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

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

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.

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 vafb.com.

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members September August 4

Moving? If your address or phone

Mailed to associate members August July 5

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 This is my one free 15-word ad for 2017 q August (mailed to associate members) q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q S eptember (mailed to producer members) q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free.

(Ads expire with membership).

Ad placement available for these issues only

*

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Helping Virginia agriculture grow stronger each year Virginia agriculture and forestry are year-round industries—and Virginia Farm Bureau’s commitment to farmers is year-round as well.

Your Farm Bureau membership supports local educational and safety events and provides assistance for farmers developing new or more strategic business plans. Additionally, it helps farmers engage in important dialogues with their communities and elected officials.

As a Farm Bureau member, you’re a Friend of the Farm—a supporter of agriculture and the Virginia way of life. We hope you will encourage family and friends to become Friends of the Farm as well.

Because the work never completely stops. It just changes with the seasons.

vafb.com