Cultivate summer 2017 by Virginia Farm Bureau

Cultivate SUMMER 2017

Virginia Farm Bureau

Beef plays big role in Virginia agriculture

Cultivate Volume 10, Number 3 Summer 2017

Features 10

You’ve savored the beef. Have you seen the farms?

Research makes homes, businesses more durable

Beef cattle are raised all over Virginia, and beef is a major component of Virginia agriculture.

A research facility in South Carolina is simulating hurricanes, wildfires and hailstorms to help your home stand up to Mother Nature.

Farm Bureau Insurance rolling out new auto features

The new enhancements provide new vehicle replacement coverage and accident forgiveness protection.

“You can’t drive 15 minutes in Virginia without seeing fences with cattle behind them.” — JASON CARTER, executive director, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and Virginia Beef Industry Council

ELIZABETH NIXON

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?

For Your Benefit

Heart of the Home

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 October. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/ virginiafarmbureau.

Grilling season’s not over yet, and Virginia farms help satisfy consumers’ taste for beef.

Did you know? Corn grown in the United States is used mainly for biofuels and animal feed, but it provides ingredients for much, much more. Components of corn are used to make many common household products and industrial goods that have an impact on everyday lives. Some varieties of corn are used to feed livestock and poultry, while others are processed into canned and frozen goods and snack foods for human consumption. Wet-milled corn, which is broken into oils, proteins, starches and fiberâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is used in antibiotics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Flour from dry-milled corn is used for bakery products, gravies, pie fillings and salad dressings. Dry-milled corn also is used in fermented beverages, hand soaps and pet foods. Starch from corn is used in crayons, paper products, shoe polish and textiles. Modified corn starch is used in chewing gum, fireworks, puddings and sandpaper. Corn oil, which has high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, is bottled for consumer use. About 40 percent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corn is grown in the U.S. Virginia farmers harvested 490,000 acres in 2016, and the state is ranked 24th nationwide for corn production.

Most U.S.-grown corn is used to feed livestock and make biofuels.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Farm Bureau website helps you maximize your membership

Virginia Farm Bureau 1982–2016

When you register as a member on vafb.com, Virginia Farm Bureau’s recently re-designed and mobile-friendly website, you’ll have quick and easy access to your membership information and details of your Farm Bureau insurance policies. Once registered, all members can:

Virginia Farm Bureau insurance policyholders can:

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

• Get access codes and other information related to member benefits and savings programs;

• View policy information 24/7, and contact your agent;

• renew memberships online; and

• request policy changes and pay premiums online; and

• update contact information to ensure you receive newsletters.

• download auto insurance ID cards.

The Farm Bureau website also features articles about farm and food trends and a farmers’ market directory.

FOLLOW FARM BUREAU—WE’RE NOT HARD TO FIND! You’ll find back issues of Cultivate at issuu.com/virginiafarmbureau. Watch episodes of Real Virginia at va.fbvideos.org/real-virginia.

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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. 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 events, listings of award winners, and many other highlights. For more information, contact Hicks at greg.hicks@vafb.com.

Save the Date!

raised the foods being served will be on hand. Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery of Goochland County will release its latest Secretariat-themed craft beer just in time for Barn Appetit. A portion of Barn Appetit proceeds will benefit The Meadow’s historic barn restoration fund. Admission is $50 per person; ticketholders must be 21 or older. Buy tickets at StateFairVa.org.

State Fair’s new beer fest to toast craft breweries

State Fair of Virginia to feature Virginia music, new events The State Fair will be held Sept. 29 through Oct. 8 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The fair will feature a distinctive mix of fun, food and Virginia agriculture and forestry. New attractions include a craft beer festival, a farm-to-table dinner, a Palomino horse show and a recipe contest for competitive cooks, The Great American SPAM® Championship. Musical acts will all spotlight Virginia-based performers. Celebrate the varied sounds of the commonwealth with artists such as Phil Vassar, Love Canon, Nick Smith and Firehouse. Concerts will begin at 7 p.m. on all 10 days of the fair. All are free with a paid fair admission. The Crooked Road series on Sept. 30 will feature musicians from Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail in Southwest Virginia. The New Ballard Branch Bogtrotters, Five Mile Mountain Road and Adam McPeak and Mountain Thunder will bring their talents to the Main Stage. Returning are family favorites such as agriculture-themed puppet performances, the racing pigs of Rosaire’s Royal Racers, chain saw artist Ben Risney and the World Championship Blacksmith

Competition. Also performing will be a pogo stunt team, costumed stilt walkers and Hula Hoop performers whose evening shows will feature flaming hoops. As always, the fair will host numerous livestock competitions and a variety of equine events, including professional and youth rodeo. The annual Giant Pumpkin Contest and Giant Watermelon Contest will be held in a new special-event space for enhanced viewing. For details and ticket information, visit StateFairVa.org.

The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and State Fair of Virginia will partner to celebrate Virginia’s booming independent craft beer industry at the fair’s first Blue Ribbon Craft Beer Fest. Nearly 40 breweries will participate in the ticketed event, which will take place from 2-7 p.m. on Oct. 6-8. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with craft brewery owners, brewers and representatives from throughout the commonwealth and enjoy tastings of their products. For fair and festival ticket information, visit StateFairVa.org.

MEMBER SAVINGS Barn Appetit dinner will take place during fair The Barn Appetit event on Oct. 6 has all the ingredients for a perfect date night at the State Fair of Virginia. Participants can enjoy a delicious farm-to-fork dinner in Meadow Hall featuring locally sourced foods and craft libations at the historic birthplace of Secretariat. A paid Barn Appetit admission includes access to the fair and a ride on the giant Ferris wheel. Wendy Yohman, co-owner of Jake’s Place in Ashland, will kick off the evening with “Southern Comfortable” specialties. Local farmers who

Members receive exclusive savings on fair tickets Between Aug. 7 and Sept. 22, members of county Farm Bureaus in Virginia can pick up coupons good for $4 off a $15 regular-price adult admission to the State Fair of Virginia at their county Farm Bureau offices. The coupons can be used Monday, Oct. 2, through Thursday, Oct. 5, and must be presented at the fair’s Ticket Plaza at the time of ticket purchase. The $4 discount represents a savings of $1 more than advance-price adult tickets available to the general public.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

REAL VIRGINIA, WATCH US!

>> VFB WEEKLY TV PROGRAM

This month on Real Virginia: Pollinator plan, agriculture school Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Virginia farmers helped draft a new state plan to protect honeybees. • Northern Virginia is a training ground for new farmers. • Accomack and Northampton counties are agricultural powerhouses. 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. Watch Real Virginia anytime online at vafb.com.

LAWN CARE

" 46 If you’re prepping soil to plant grass in bare spots on your lawn this fall, that’s the ideal tilling depth, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. For more fall lawn care recommendations, see Page 26.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF IBHS

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety conducts research on building materials and systems at its testing facility in South Carolina.

INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS & HOME SAFETY

Institute’s work dedicated to reducing property losses for policyholders, carriers

Simulated hurricanes, wildfires and hailstorms foster real benefits for communities

research facility in Chester County, S.C, raises a unique crop—roofs. The roofs are part of the world-class, unique work conducted at the state-of-the-art Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Research Center. IBHS’ mission is to conduct objective, scientific research to identify and promote the most effective ways to strengthen homes, businesses and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. The independent, nonprofit, scientific

research and communications organization is supported solely by property insurers and reinsurers. It works to advance building science by enabling researchers to more fully and accurately evaluate residential and commercial construction materials and systems. The facility is a tangible, public demonstration of the property insurance industry’s commitment to reducing and preventing losses that disrupt the lives of home and business owners. Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a founding member of IBHS. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

The IBHS research center features a wind tunnel that can be used to replicate high winds, wind-driven rain, hailstorms and wildfires.

“At IBHS, we are focused on conducting research that makes homes and businesses more durable and able to stand up to Mother Nature.” — JULIE ROCHMAN, CEO and president, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

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“We care about the resilience of our insureds’ homes and businesses, and that’s why we feel it is so important to be part of IBHS,” said Darlene Wells, VFBMIC executive vice president and general manager. At IBHS, “we are focused on conducting research that makes homes and businesses more durable and able to stand up to Mother Nature,” said Julie Rochman, the institute’s CEO and president. “We know that more resilient communities suffer less financial loss, community disruption, and the human toll that often result from natural and man-made disasters.” The research center, which opened in 2010, allows for testing of full-scale oneand two-story homes and commercial buildings and systems during realistic replications of real-world, potentially catastrophic events, including high winds, wind-driven rain, hail and wildfire. “IBHS’ scientific research will

INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS & HOME SAFETY

IBHS

IBHS uses a turntable to rotate test structures so that all sides are fully exposed to weather conditions.

influence residential and commercial structural design and construction for decades to come,” Rochman said. “Natural disaster-related losses totaled more than $21 billion across the United States in 2013 alone and are expected to double every decade. The work we are doing will reduce those substantial losses for insurers.” IBHS is the world’s only lab that can test in a controlled, repeatable fashion for highly realistic storms. The testing is performed in a specifically designed wind tunnel six stories tall and 145 feet wide by 145 feet long. It’s more than 21,000 square feet under the roof—the equivalent of 4½ basketball courts. A prominent feature of the chamber is a wall with 105 fans—each nearly 6 feet in diameter and equipped with a 350 HP engine. Together the fans can replicate realistic weather conditions, including Category 1, 2 and 3 hurricanes, extra-tropical windstorms, winddriven rain conditions and straight-line windstorms.

IBHS uses a 55-foot-diameter turntable to completely rotate test structures, ensuring that all sides are fully exposed to weather conditions for the most realistic results. Ember generators are used during wildfire-related testing, which blows burning wood embers into the large test chamber. This allows researchers to determine how and where embers enter test structures and spread fire under realistic circumstances. The rain system is an array of mounted sprinklers that create accurate, appropriate patterns of various sized rain droplets equivalent to a rainfall rate of up to 8 inches per hour. There also is a small laboratory where IBHS evaluates individual components of construction materials through highly controlled experiments. It’s there that researchers can create and store artificial hailstones—which resemble the size and density of real hailstones collected from storms—and fire them at roof shingles using a hail-firing cannon. They also conduct research on solar panels in high wind; wind loads on small roof-mounted air-conditioning units;

and compare wind loads on vinyl siding. According to IBHS, much of today’s building science focuses on brand new materials and systems, not taking into account decay and deterioration caused by severe weather, UV exposure and temperature fluctuations. To address this research gap, part of the research center’s campus is dedicated to its roof farm project made of residential and commercial roof sections subjected to natural aging. “This allows us to conduct long-term testing and analysis of the roofs at specified time intervals, such as five, 10, 15 or 20 years, and check for wind, hail and wildfire performance,” Rochman explained.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? To take advantage of Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety disaster reduction resources, visit disastersafety.org.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

You’ve savored the beef.

Have you seen the farms? Even the shortest drive outside of urban and suburban locations in Virginia is likely to take travelers past a pasture of beef cattle. They’re raised all over the state and are a major segment of Virginia agriculture. A sound land-use option Between 3 million and 4 million acres of Virginia farmland are not well-suited to crop production. But they suit 1.5 million head of cattle just fine. Cattle have a digestive system that allows them to eat large amounts of grass, hay and other plant matter that humans and some other animals cannot digest. They also can eat corn stalks and other remnants of crop production that are left after harvest.

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Inventory finds one bovine for every five human Virginians Just as a census is taken to count Virginia’s human population, inventories are conducted each year on the state’s livestock. There were 1.52 million cattle and calves in Virginia as of Jan. 1, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For comparison’s sake, the U.S. Census Bureau found Virginia’s population was about 8.4 million people in July 2016.

KATHY DIXON

Beef cattle can be found on about 23,000 farms statewide.

beef cattle

Virginia’s ‘an ideal location’ for raising beef cattle BY CLAIRE MILLS

Virginia is consistently counted among the nation’s top 20 beef cattleproducing states.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

eef cattle comprise the second-largest sector of Virginia’s agriculture industry and can be found on about 23,000 farms statewide. Beef production begins with a cow-calf producer who maintains a breeding herd of cows that have calves every year.

Quality grasses nurture beef development “Virginia is an ideal location for cowcalf operations, because the climate and terrain are diverse,” explained Robert Mills, a Pittsylvania County cow-calf producer, member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors and president of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “In the eastern part of the state row crops grow well. In the central to western parts of the state there are rolling hills where cool-season grasses such as fescue grow well. Those areas are not suitable for row-crop production, but they are attractive for cow-calf operations,” Mills said. Virginia’s climate lends another advantage over cattle producing areas in the U.S. that endure longer, more severe winters. “Virginia’s climate allows us to split calving between spring and fall. Grazing opportunities allow us to operate nearly year-round,” said Jason Carter, executive director of the

Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and Virginia Beef Industry Council. Virginia produces quality forage grasses for grazing cattle, Mills noted, “and we do a great job of raising calves on grass; however, Virginia doesn’t have many feedlots for finishing cattle. The majority of feedlots are in the Northeast and Midwestern U.S.”

Cattle get a good start on Virginia pastures Most beef cattle spend the majority of their lives in pastures eating grass and other forage plants before being moved to a feedlot for grain finishing. From the time calves are born, they stay in the pasture with their mothers until they are weaned at 6 to 9 months. At that point, producers usually make a decision about when to sell them.

“There are two ways calves are marketed,” Mills pointed out. “Some are sold directly through livestock auction markets when they weigh 350 to 500 pounds. There are small local livestock markets all over Virginia. So if this is the option producers choose, most sell locally.” If producers choose the second marketing option, Mills said they sell directly to backgrounding or stocker operations—grass-based operations where calves graze until they reach a weight of 650 to 750 pounds. Carter said more than 90 percent of calves born every year in Virginia that don’t become breeding cows are sent to feedlots in the Eastern Corn Belt. “Even though the percentage of calves that remain in Virginia is small, there is a strong niche market for them,” he added. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Good no matter how you dress it! Whether it’s dressed up or dressed down, beef makes a good meal. Try these entrees from the Virginia Beef Industry Council DIRECTIONS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA BEEF INDUSTRY COUNCIL

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with the onion, bell pepper and garlic for 8-10 minutes, breaking the beef into ½˝ crumbles. Pour off drippings if necessary. Stir in water, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, chili powder and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add spinach, beans and carrots; continue simmering 3-4 minutes or until heated through. Spoon the filling evenly in a row across the center of each tortilla, leaving a 1½˝ border on the right and left sides. Fold the right and left sides of each tortilla over the filling. Fold the bottom edge up over the filling, and roll up. Serves 4.

Saucy Beef Wraps

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

INGREDIENTS

½ teaspoon chili powder

1 pound lean ground beef

¼ teaspoon salt

⅓ cup chopped onion

1 cup fresh baby spinach

¼ cup chopped green bell pepper

⅓ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon white vinegar

¼ cup shredded carrots

¾ cup water

4 medium flour tortillas (8-9˝ in diameter), warmed

⅓ cup tomato paste

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beef cattle

Beef labeling terms

Olympian Burgers INGREDIENTS

¼ cup lowfat or regular plain Greek-style yogurt ½ cup olive tapenade, divided 1 pound lean ground beef ground black pepper to taste 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced salt to taste ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese 4 whole-grain toasted hamburger buns fresh spinach leaves DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, combine yogurt and ¼ cup of the tapenade. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and remaining ¼ cup tapenade,

mixing thoroughly. Lightly shape into four ½˝-thick patties. Heat a grill pan over medium heat until hot. Place the patties in the pan, and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into the center registers 160°. Season with pepper. Remove from pan, and keep warm. Add the onion and zucchini to the pan, cooking over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp-tender. Place 1 tablespoon of feta on the bottom of each bun; top evenly with spinach leaves, onion, burger and zucchini. Spread 2 tablespoons of the yogurt mixture on the inside of each bun top. Close sandwiches. Serves 4.

Grain-finished indicates beef that comes from cattle that spend the majority of their lives eating grass or forage; spend four to six months eating a diet of grains, hay or forage and other local ingredients; and may or may not have been given U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved antibiotics to treat, prevent or control disease, and/or growthpromoting hormones. Most U.S. beef cattle are raised this way. Grass-finished or grass-fed indicates beef from cattle that spend their whole lives eating grass or forage; may also eat grass, forage, hay or silage at a feedlot; and may or may not be given FDA-approved antibiotics to treat, prevent or control disease, and/or growthpromoting hormones. Certified organic indicates beef from cattle that never receive any antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones; may be either grain- or grassfinished, as long as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service certifies the feed is 100 percent organically grown; and may spend time at a feedlot. Naturally raised indicates beef from cattle that never receive any antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones; may be either grain- or grassfinished; and may spend time at a feedlot. SOURCE: VIRGINIA BEEF COUNCIL

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

hiny black Angus cattle lead the herd when it comes to Virginia’s predominant commercial breeds, with Hereford, Simmental and Charolais following close behind. Angus cattle are “easy-keeping and a good all-around breed that consistently deliver a high-quality product,” explained Jason Carter, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and Virginia Beef Industry Council. He added that consumers recognize the Angus brand of beef because Angus breeders have done a good job of marketing the meat. Some consumers seek out Kobe or Wagyu beef “but, practically speaking, we get the same quality of meat from our choice or prime cuts,” Carter explained. Kobe isn’t a breed; it’s a Japanese production method during which farmers coddle special Wagyu cattle to ensure a tender, highly marbled, fatty beef product. Wagyu is a Japanese breed. But Virginia beef can compete with any other in the U.S. and abroad, Carter asserted, noting that Virginia has consistently been one of the top 20 cattle-producing states in the nation. “You can’t drive 15 minutes in Virginia without seeing fences with cattle behind them.” Virginia is mainly a commercial cattle state, which means farmers raise beef cattle to a certain weight and then sell them to feedlots in the Midwest or Northeast. Most beef cattle in the commonwealth are crossbred rather than purebred. 14

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Some herds raised for genetics rather than meat An estimated 10 percent of Virginia cattle operations are purebred herds, and the animals are sold for their breeding genetics, Carter said. Most of those operations raise and sell bulls, but there are some heifers, or mature females, that are sold for their genetics as well. There also are Virginia farms raising heritage cattle breeds like Belted Galloways, Highlands and Red Polls. Carter said farmers who raise heritage breeds often sell meat directly to customers at farmers’ markets. PHOTO BY MOLLY M. PETERSON

BY KATHY DIXON

Ever seen ‘Oreo cattle’? Belted Galloway cattle, informally known as “Belties,” are a heritage breed of beef cattle with a distinctive broad, white band around their middles. Originally from the rocky side of southern Scotland, the breed adapted to the windswept moors of the district known as Galloway. Their double coats provide protection against both hot and cold temperatures. The first recorded Belted Galloway stock were imported to North America in 1939.

KATHY DIXON

Angus is well-known breed, but there are many others

Breed known for impressive horns and heritage Longhorn cattle have been part of North America’s history since 1493, when Spanish settlers accompanying Christopher Columbus brought long-horned Iberian cattle with them. According to the International Texas Longhorn Association, descendants of those animals were the first cattle to populate the Americas. Over the centuries, survivors of those cattle evolved into the Texas Longhorn. Hard hooves and lethal horns equipped them for survival, and color variations provide ultraviolet protection on the open range. Some landowners like to raise longhorn cattle because “people love them,” Jason Carter, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and Virginia Beef Industry Council, explained. Clay Jackson, a commercial cattle producer in Madison County, recently bought three longhorns just for amusement. “They make me laugh every time I look at them,” he said with a grin.

beef cattle

Cattle-farming families committed to a lasting legacy ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON

irginia’s beef cattle farms are as diverse as they are plentiful. But despite the differences, three cattle operations we visited have one thing in common—a family connection and the desire to create a sustainable business to pass on to the next generation. All of these farms use the conservation practice of rotational grazing to allow their animals to graze on pastureland, keep them out of waterways and allow the pastures to replenish themselves. They also supply unlimited drinking water for the herds.

Knoll Crest Farm CAMPBELL COUNTY

polled Hereford bull was purchased. Seedstock are cattle typically registered with a breed association and considered genetic suppliers for other herds. “That started our purebred beef cattle business,” Brian noted. In the early ’80s, the family bought Gelbvieh cattle—the first of that breed located east of the Mississippi River. In the early ’90s they added Angus cattle. Today they sell about 400 performance bulls through direct sales and two annual auctions at which Dalton serves as auctioneer. “When the auctions are going on, all the cousins are around to help out,” Dalton noted. Brian said he considers it a blessing that so many family members are involved in the business. And he said family cooperation has helped with the farm’s success. “The average life of a purebred cattle breeder (business) is seven years, and we’ve been doing it since 1944.” The lion’s share of Knoll Crest bulls are sold locally, but the animals also have been shipped to 22 states and Canada. “Our job is to make good commercial bulls for this area,” Dalton Bennett explained. “We hope each calf crop is better than the one before because of the breeding genetics.”

Knoll Crest Farm in Campbell County began selling purebred cattle for breeding in 1944.

Family has been raising quality bulls for more than 70 years On a sweltering June day, 10-yearold Audrey Bennett was busy in Knoll Crest Farm’s air-conditioned office. She answered phones and ran errands and would later help move rocks. “She’s our intern,” kidded her 26-year-old cousin, Dalton Bennett, who is the youngest partner in the Campbell County family farm. He

works with his dad, Jim Bennett; uncles Brian and Paul Bennett; and his grandfather, James Bennett. James’ father, Paul D. Bennett, started the farm in 1929. It was primarily a tobacco farm, but cattle were always present, Brian Bennett explained. The farm became a seedstock operation in 1944 when the first

Dalton Bennett, 26, is Knoll Crest’s auctioneer and the youngest partner in the family business. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Grass-fed farm increases niche offerings with new facility Grayson Natural Farms GRAYSON COUNTY

Grayson Natural Farms was established in 2008 to sell directly to consumers.

rass-fed beef sticks are the newest niche for Grayson Natural Farms in Grayson County. The sticks—and eventually other value-added meat products—will be created in the company’s brandnew, 7,000-square-foot facility and marketed under the name Landcrafted Food. “We’re expanding because we loved growing up on farms and living a rural lifestyle, and we want future generations to have the ability to farm,” said managing partner Gary Mitchell. “The fresh meat market is limited, but the new facility will give us lots more opportunities to make 16

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value-added products that will help us increase our income.” The driving force behind Grayson Natural has always been sustainability, explained Brantley Ivey, another of the farm’s partners. “We have to generate enough revenue to pass the farm on to the next generation while still taking care of the land.” Mitchell started the business in 2008 to raise cattle and sell beef directly to consumers. Originally five farms were involved, but now it’s Mitchell’s farm and River Ridge Land and Cattle Co., which Ivey manages for Charlotte Hanes, their other partner. They buy calves from nearby farms and feed them on grass. When the

cows are about 1,100 pounds, they are transported to a North Carolina processing facility. Large cuts of boneless meat will return to Grayson Natural for further processing and packaging. “We want to bring the fresh meat products in-house as much as possible,” Ivey said. They also plan to make other products like jerky and smoked meats. While most beef cattle in Virginia are grass-fed, not all of them are “finished” on grass before processing. “We found a market for grass-fed beef, so that’s what we developed,” Ivey explained. Grayson Natural sells to universities and grocery stores in and around Washington and Baltimore. The flavor profile for grass-fed beef is different from that of grain-finished animals, and it has a consumer following. “We get rave reviews of our ground beef,” Mitchell said proudly. Ivey noted that one of the biggest misunderstandings about grass-fed beef is that the cattle receive no vaccinations or antibiotics. Grayson Natural vaccinates all of its calves for common illnesses like pinkeye. Antibiotics are used only to treat sick animals, which are later sold on the commercial market and are not part of the company’s grass-fed beef supply.

Grayson Natural partners (from left) Gary Mitchell, Charlotte Hanes and Brantley Ivey buy calves from local farms.

beef cattle

Large cattle operation credits success to teamwork Senterfitt Farm & Senterfitt Cattle Co. MADISON COUNTY

Senterfitt Farm has about 180 cow-calf pairs, and Senterfitt Cattle Co. buys and sells additional cattle.

lay Jackson likes to describe his beef cattle operation as a large family farm. “There’s a place for all agriculture, but I’m ‘Big Ag,’” Jackson explained proudly. “Big Ag in the U.S. feeds people—safely and affordably.” Jackson manages Senterfitt Farm and Senterfitt Cattle Co. in Madison County. The operation may be large, but it’s family-owned and family-operated. The farm consists of a traditional cow-calf operation with about 180 pairs and a backgrounding operation, in which Jackson buys young calves, weans them, vaccinates them and feeds them for two to nine months before selling them to Midwest or northern feedlots. The cattle company accepts cows from farmers in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina on Sundays and Mondays and auctions them on Tuesdays. Jackson bought the company a year ago and conducts

He and his father, Scott, are partners in the third-generation farm, but family cattle farming goes back seven generations. Jackson handles the day-to-day operation of the farm and cattle company and has help from two full-time employees. “Having the right people makes a world of difference,” he proclaimed. And so does providing good animal care. Jackson said he believes in lowstress cattle handling. “No matter the size of the operation, animal health is of the utmost importance. We try not to mess with them any more than we have to.” He keeps 30 to 100 head of cattle in each field so they are easy to manage for sorting or vaccinating. “The sooner we can get them back out on grass, the less stress they have,” Jackson explained. He also said he and employees check the cattle every day of the week—including Saturdays and Sundays. Beef from Jackson’s herd is sold in Wegmans grocery stores under the label “Natural Beef.” Wegmans requires antibiotic- and hormonefree meat, and that’s what Senterfitt provides. Jackson said he values a good relationship with his veterinarian and with residents of Madison. Senterfitt has sponsored local sports teams, a hops festival and 4-H and FFA events. “I just believe in supporting the community where I live and work.”

“Animal health is of the utmost importance,” on cattle farms, Clay Jackson noted.

the cattle collection and auctions in partnership with the Virginia Cattle Co. “It’s all about teamwork,” he explained. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Washington County agent ‘honored, shocked, surprised’ to be Ralph Stokes Award recipient

Virginia Farm Bureau insurance agent Mike Mullins enjoys spending time on his family’s Washington County farm.

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hen Mike Mullins graduated from school, he didn’t set out to become an insurance agent. But once he got a taste for the industry, there was only one place he wanted to work—and that was Farm Bureau. In 1980 there wasn’t a position available at the Washington County

PHOTOS BY SARA OWENS

BY SARA OWENS

Farm Bureau office in Abingdon— where Mullins was born and raised—so he moved to Sarasota County, Fla., and began his career with Farm Bureau insurance there. “I had always heard great things about Farm Bureau, and since there were no job openings at my local Farm Bureau office, I took the job with Florida Farm Bureau,” Mullins

explained. “I lived in Florida for a short time as a teenager, so I was familiar with the area.” Five years later, a job opened in the Washington County Farm Bureau office, so Mullins applied for it and was able to come home. He’s now worked for Farm Bureau for more than three decades, yet his office looks like he’s been working there for only three months. His desk is neat and tidy, and the walls hold only a few framed prints. An award-winning agent, Mullins keeps all but one professional recognition in another room, because when he’s meeting with a customer “it’s not about me, it’s about the customer. And when they walk into my office I want them to feel that way.” When seated in front of his desk, it’s easy to miss the cabinet by the door that holds family photos and one special award—Virginia Farm Bureau’s highest for its insurance agents. The Ralph Stokes Award is the top recognition given by the sales management team to an agent who supports company policies; has a high degree of integrity; is highly respected by peers; supports the agency force; and creates a high degree of client loyalty. Mullins was presented with the annual award earlier this year at the Virginia Farm Bureau Sales Conference. “When they called my name, I felt so honored, shocked and surprised to hear that I was the honoree,” he said. Mullins is one of the few Ralph Stokes honorees who worked with the award’s namesake. Ralph Stokes was an insurance agent in Southwest Virginia who was known for his motivation and high level of mobility, despite the fact that he used a wheelchair while serving policyholders in remote areas. “We worked in the same district and Ralph was always at the meetings, encouraging the agents and sharing words of wisdom with us,” Mullins recalled. Like Stokes, Mullins also has a passion for helping others. He has consistently assisted other agents over the years by sharing ideas and

“I’ve learned to be knowledgeable, kind and compassionate to people through my life experiences, and that has enabled me to be successful, and I’m very appreciative to everyone who contributes to that.” MIKE MULLINS

Mullins said there has “never been a finer group to work with” than Washington County Farm Bureau member service specialists (from left) Sonja Ditto, Patricia Fullen, Marissa Bostic and Glenda Tate.

Mullins and his wife, Beverly, have three children and two grandchildren.

suggestions that have helped them grow their books of business. He’s also active in his church and its mentor program and works with children in local elementary schools. “I’ve learned to be knowledgeable, kind and compassionate to people through my life experiences, and that has enabled me to be successful, and I’m very appreciative to everyone who

contributes to that,” Mullins said. He thinks highly of his coworkers and credits them with helping him be a successful agent. “We really have a good office staff here,” he added of the Farm Bureau office in Abingdon. “There’s never been a finer group to work with.” Mullins said he also owes a lot of his success to God and to the love and support of his wife, Beverly. “You can’t do this job and be successful without a supportive spouse,” he said. “I can’t imagine being successful in a sales role without the support of my wife.” He called Washington County residents “the finest people you’ll ever meet. We wouldn’t be here without them. I’m so appreciative of the people in this county who trust us with their business.” When he isn’t involved in community or church activities or helping his customers, Mullins can be found on his small farm in Meadowview, which belonged to his family. He also enjoys spending time with his three children and two grandchildren.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

PHONE SCAM: Beware of demands for insurance payment by phone 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.”

Insurance Q&A

Q: A:

If someone is injured on my property, am I covered?

Personal liability and medical payments to others coverages are components of homeowner insurance policies and generally provide protection if a third party is injured on the covered property, according to Scott DeNoon, an underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. However, coverage is not provided for injuries to the property owners

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or their relatives who live on the premises. In addition, if the injury is the result of business activities of the owner or policyholder, no coverage is provided under homeowner policies. For business operations, either a separate liability policy must be purchased or, in some instances, the home policy may be endorsed to provide necessary coverage. Your Farm Bureau insurance agent can review your specific situation and recommend appropriate coverage.

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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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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

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Farm Bureau Insurance rolling out new auto features Coverage can include new vehicle replacement, accident forgiveness Virginia Farm Bureau personal auto insurance customers may be able to take advantage of two new features depending on the type of auto policy they have. The new enhancements provide new vehicle replacement coverage and accident forgiveness protection. “We are always looking for ways to improve our insurance policy programs and felt that these two new benefits were of great value to our customers,” explained Darlene Wells, executive vice president and general manager of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Both enhancements can be added to policies by contacting your Virginia Farm Bureau insurance agent, and both come with an added cost to policies.

New vehicle replacement coverage For policies with an effective date of Sept. 1 and after, customers with a new vehicle that is two model years or less in age and has not been previously owned can have it replaced when a covered total loss occurs. Only vehicles

with comprehensive and collision coverage will be eligible for the benefit. “When new vehicle replacement coverage applies to a new vehicle on the policy, Virginia Farm Bureau will pay the difference between the purchase price of a new vehicle and the actual cash value of the covered vehicle at the time of the covered loss. This will be in addition to the actual cash value amount—less any applicable deductible—paid by the company on the underlying covered loss,” explained Barry Light, VFBMIC product development manager. Coverage is available on any owned, new private passenger, farm and utility-type vehicle on a policy, not including antique vehicles, unlicensed “farm use” vehicles and vehicles having stated amount of coverage. The amount paid to replace the covered vehicle will not exceed the cost of a new vehicle of the same make and model with the same equipment.

Accident forgiveness protection Virginia Farm Bureau Fire &

Casualty personal auto policies with an effective date of Nov. 1 and after will be eligible for one at-fault accident to be forgiven on a policy at any one time when Accident Forgiveness Protection is added to that policy. It applies to all private passenger, farm and utility vehicles on a policy and excludes antique automobiles and unlicensed farm use vehicles. “When Accident Forgiveness Protection has been selected for a policy, Virginia Farm Bureau will forgive the first at-fault accident that occurs on that policy after this protection has been purchased and put into effect,” Light explained. “This means the forgiven at-fault accident will not cause any change to existing premium adjustments that otherwise would be affected by the accident.” While subsequent at-fault accidents may become eligible for forgiveness, only one at-fault accident will be forgiven at any point in time on the policy. For more information, contact your Farm Bureau agent. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

For Your Benefit

Caterpillar offers savings of up to $2,500 on select equipment, plus $250 credit on work tool attachments Caterpillar Inc. offers Farm Bureau members in Virginia savings of up to $2,500 on select Cat machines. Members also can receive a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Cat machine. Get the following savings on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers: • hydraulic excavators (Cat 336F and 349F) – $2,500 • small wheel loaders – $1,000 - $2,000 • dozers – $1,000 - $2,500 • backhoe loaders – $500-$1,000 • compact track loaders – $500-$1,000

Virginia Farm Bureau 1982–2016

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From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau

the success story that is

Virginia Farm Bureau”

Greg Hicks

Wayne F. Pryor,

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Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau If you are a Farm Bureau member, you’ve seen history in the making! Commemorate it with a copy of this colorful, hardbound history and celebration of Virginia Farm Bureau’s past 34 years! Available for $30 at DementiMilestonePublishing.com/from-the-ground-up. Or contact author Greg Hicks, greg.hicks@vafb.com.

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• multi terrain loaders – $500-$1,000 • skid steer loaders – $500-$1,000 • telehandlers – $500-$1,000 • mini hydraulic excavators – $250-$500 Visit vafb.com/benefits to obtain a membership verification certificate to present to your dealer at the time of purchase or lease quote. Your discount can be combined with any current retail discounts, promotions, rebates or offers available through Caterpillar or Cat dealers, with the exception of other membership purchase incentives. Discounts cannot be applied to past purchases. Find a Cat dealer near you at cat.com.

Get deep discounts and free shipping on all Grainger orders Farm Bureau members in Virginia get deep discounts on all equipment and supplies from Grainger, plus free standard ground shipping on all standard Grainger products*. Get started with your price savings using three easy methods: 1. Present the Virginia Farm Bureau account number— available from your county Farm Bureau and at vafb.com/benefits—at the time of purchase. 2. Visit grainger.com/content/farmbureau to establish a new Grainger account using that Farm Bureau account number. 3. Call Grainger customer service at 877-620-2852 to update your existing Grainger account with the Farm Bureau account number. To be sure you get your Farm Bureau discount, always reference Virginia Farm Bureau's account number when visiting your local branch or making a telephone order or when setting up your personal account online. *FREE standard shipping on all orders shipped ground transportation. Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States.

For Your Benefit

Save wherever you go, with Member Deals Plus® New streamlined registration process! Member Deals Plus® uses the nation’s largest private discount network to save you money 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 from a home computer. Members can enjoy these discounts at more than 100,000 locations • amusement parks • apparel • automotive parts and services • car rentals • concerts and events • dining and food • entertainment and recreation • flowers • furniture • gifts • health and beauty items • home and garden purchases • hotel stays • jewelry • movies • museums, zoos and tours • office supplies • outdoor equipment • golf • services • travel—and more.

How to get started

To register as a Member Deals Plus user, visit vafb.com/benefits, and scroll down to the Member Deals Plus link. Then, on the Member Deals Plus website, 1. Click “Register” in the top right corner, and use your Farm Bureau

membership number. 2. Once you’re registered, you can start saving immediately. To save with a mobile device, 1. Download the “Member Deals Plus” app from the AppStore or Google Play.

2. Click “Setup Account,” and follow the prompts to register. For assistance, contact Member Deals Plus customer service at 888275-9136. Member Deals plus and Member Deals Plus are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Members have access to hotel-stay discounts 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.

Wyndham Hotel Group savings and TripBeat℠ The Wyndham Hotel Group discount program covers stays at more than 8,000 Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inn & Suites, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, TRYP, Wingate by Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts locations. The discounted rate of up to 20 percent less than the “Best Available Rate” publicly available on the Internet is subject to availability at participating locations. Simply call 877-670-7088 to make your reservation, and give your Virginia Farm Bureau ID number—available from your county Farm Bureau and at vafb.com/benefits. Then, be prepared to show your current Farm Bureau member card when you check in. Additionally, Wyndham’s TripBeat℠ makes it easy, convenient and affordable to search and book resort vacations by providing access to more than 2,400 rental properties in desirable destinations in approximately 90 countries.* For details, visit TripBeat.com/vafb.

Choice Hotels savings The Choice Hotels discount program offers savings of 20 percent at over 6,500 Ascend, Cambria Suites, Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Econo Lodge, MainStay Suites, Quality Inn, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn and Suburban locations. Simply call Choice Hotels International at 800-258-2847, and give your Virginia Farm Bureau ID number—available from your county Farm Bureau and at vafb. com/benefits—when you make your reservation. Be prepared to show your Farm Bureau member card when you check in. You also can visit choicehotels.com for reservations and other information. *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.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Take control, save money with a high-deductible health plan and health savings account Many Americans are on health plans with a higher premium but lower deductibles and copays. These are typically HMO or PPO plans. Gaining in popularity are high-deductible health plans, or HDHPs, which use a health savings account to pay for medical expenses. You and/or your employer can put money into your HSA to help pay for your medical expenses. There are typically no copays, and you may pay a larger portion of your medical care costs. “A health savings account can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses tax free,” said Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for Experient Health. “An HSA must be paired with a qualified

high-deductible health plan. You can use funds from your HSA to pay for expenses covered under your insurance plan, and to pay for qualified medical expenses not covered by your insurance, such as dental or vision expenses.” Unlike a flexible spending account, or FSA, the funds in an HSA roll over each year, allowing you to save for unforeseen medical expenses. “These plans can be hard for people who have had an HMO to get used to. There is a learning curve. My family and I actually switched this year to a high-deductible health plan from an HMO,” Cornatzer added. “We are saving money on premium, and we’re banking the difference into our health

savings account and have become more conscious about health care spending. It allows us to take more control of our health insurance costs.” There are annual limits to how much you may contribute to an HSA. For 2017, self-only plans are limited to $3,400, and family plans are limited to $6,750. When you reach age 55, the IRS allows you to add an extra $1,000. “When considering a high-deductible plan, you need to look at your overall health status and your health care spending patterns to determine if it is a good fit for you,” Cornatzer noted. To speak with a qualified health insurance agent in your community, visit vafb.com/quote.

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Bicyclists, like motorists, travel on the right side of the road.

Department of Motor Vehicles. In that same year, 661 bicyclists and 1,718 pedestrians were injured. Drive Smart Virginia’s “See and Be Seen” campaign reminds all road users that they have a responsibility to look out for other road users. Pedestrians and bicyclists are reminded to wear bright or reflective clothing and to use lights as appropriate. Virginia law requires that, when passing, motorists stay at least 3 feet away from pedestrians and bicyclists. • Bicyclists and motorists use the right side of the road and yield to pedestrians.

It’s all about seeing and being seen September is Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Month in Virginia, and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is among organizations partnering with Drive

Smart Virginia to promote safety for everyone on the road. In 2015, 78 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists were killed on Virginia roadways, according to the Virginia

• Pedestrians use crosswalks and sidewalks. • If no sidewalk is available, walk or run on the left side of the road.

Virginia is less hail-prone than some states This year has not been without hailstorms, but Virginia is not among the country’s top states for hail damage to vehicles. Spring and summer thunderstorms sometimes are accompanied by hail, which can leave marks on a vehicle body and break its windows. “We’ve seen our share of hail claims this year,” said Rick Mattox, vice president of claims for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Vehicles are exposed to the weather, and much of this type of damage is hard to avoid in a storm.” VFBMIC handled nearly 450 automotive hails claims between Jan. 1 and May 30. When hail damages vehicles, a filed insurance claim would fall under the

comprehensive coverage provision of an auto insurance policy. This type of coverage insures against theft or physical damage to insured parties’ own vehicles that occurs for reasons other than crashes. The Highway Loss Data Institute has been studying the frequency, severity and cost of such claims for several years. Insurers in the HLDI’s database paid $5.37 billion in total hail claims from 2008 to 2014. The biggest payouts were in 2014 at $968.9 million and in 2011 at $948.3 million. The actual payout by all insurers is likely higher and estimated to be $7.26 billion. For the analysis period in HLDI’s study, the states with the highest claims were South Dakota, Oklahoma and Kansas. Other states in the top

Farm Bureau received nearly 450 auto insurance claims related to hail damage between January and June.

10 are Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa and Texas. The HLDI is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization wholly supported by auto insurers and insurance associations. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Fall maintenance can pay off with a lush spring lawn Take advantage of warm days and cool nights

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all is the best time to grow or manage a cool-season lawn to ensure a beautiful yard in the spring. “Late summer to midfall is the best time to establish coolseason turfgrass,” said Michael Goatley, a Virginia Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist at Virginia Tech. “Warm days and cool nights provide ideal conditions for seed germination and establishment of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fine-leaf fescues and perennial ryegrass.”

Soil testing The first step to a healthy lawn is testing the soil. A cost-effective diagnosis of the soil’s fertility and pH status is often the answer to why turfgrass that was planted may have failed previously, Goatley explained. “Many of Virginia’s soils are very acidic and probably require a supplemental lime application,” he said. “The fall and winter months are ideal times to make lime applications, because it takes weeks to months to

fully realize the benefit of standard lime treatments.” It is best to test your soil at least once every three years to determine whether supplemental lime or nutrients other than nitrogen are required. Contact your local Extension office for soil sample boxes and information sheets, or visit soiltest.vt.edu.

Selecting the best turfgrass Selecting the best cool-season grass is important for a successful lawn. Extension guides for selecting appropriate grasses are available at pubs.ext.vt.edu under the “Lawn & Garden” resources list. Choose the link for “Lawns.” “Very specified grass cultivars may not be available at your local garden center or a large retailer,” Goatley cautioned. “If you want the best varieties available, you will need to go to a specialty nursery or turf and landscape supply store to obtain more superior cultivars.”

is complete. “Avoid excessive amounts of water, because this may wash away or drown seed,” Goatley said. “As establishment progresses, gradually cut back on the amount of water you apply in order to start promoting a deep root system.” Mow turf when it needs to be clipped according to its recommended cutting height, and follow the one-third mowing rule that says you should never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade during any mowing. If you need to make supplemental nitrogen applications later in the fall after establishment to boost growth or color, remember the acronym “SON,” which represents September, October and November. “This can help you make a smart decision on when to apply nitrogen to cool-season grasses,” Goatley said. “Never apply fertilizer to frozen soil.”

Soil preparation For new plantings, tilling bare spots to a 4- to 6-inch depth is ideal. “This gives you an opportunity to put the information from the soil test to work and incorporate any recommended lime or starter fertilizer that will aid turf establishment,” Goatley explained. A starter fertilizer will emphasize phosphorus levels as compared to nitrogen and potassium. Typical nutrient rations in these sources are 1:2:1 or 1:2:2 of nitrogen to phosphorus and potassium. A few passes with an aerator or vertical mower can be used to prepare the soil prior to planting to encourage seed-to-soil contact. “Simply applying seed over the top of existing turf without soil prep usually does nothing more than feed birds and wildlife,” Goatley warned.

Irrigation, mowing strategies After planting the seed, irrigate lightly and frequently until seed germination and initial establishment

Master Gardeners Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners are trained volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape education and training. For help with your lawn or other gardening inquiries, contact your local Extension office. To find your local office, visit ext. vt.edu/offices.html.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

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 third installment, we explore the Blue Ridge region.

Blue Ridge soils offer a rich dichotomy of dirt

rom the state’s tallest peak to areas of abundant pastureland, Virginia’s Blue Ridge region contains a dichotomy of soils. The Blue Ridge Mountains, which got their name because they appear blue from a distance, consist of a narrow spine of steep slopes, narrow ridge tops and confined valleys. In Virginia’s section of the Blue Ridge, which runs from southern Pennsylvania to the northern tips of South Carolina and Georgia, the rocks that form its core are more than a billion years old. “The very steep areas that dominate the northern Blue Ridge limit the 28

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type of agricultural commodities that can be grown,” explained Don Flegel, a resource soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Harrisonburg. “Of course growing timber products and providing activities that are associated with forests, such as hunting, hiking and enjoying nature, are very important in this area.” Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are covered with thick forests and rise to elevations more than 4,000 feet in the central and northern parts of the state. The southern Blue Ridge is a broad, less-steep region with the exception of

Mount Rogers—the state’s tallest peak at 5,729 feet. The dominant soil series in the northern area are Myersville and Cotoctin, Flegel said, and stones cover a large percentage of the ground. Those stony soils are susceptible to erosion, said Kevin Spurlin, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Grayson County. He added that farmers need to use cover crops to limit erosion and maintain productivity in that region. In the southern area, the dominant soil series is Hayesville, which is deep and drains well. “This area contains many more farming operations than

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

KATHY DIXON

■■ Coastal Plain

The Blue Ridge region is home to both pasture and cropland, as well as steep, stony areas used for forestry and recreation. The photos above were taken in Grayson County.

BY KATHY DIXON

“orchards used to be the mainstay,” Flegel continued. “But vineyards are beginning to pop up due to soils, favorable air drainage and availability of land.” There are plenty of scenic tourist destinations along the Blue Ridge, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, Luray Caverns and Natural Bridge. A significant portion of forested land in the region is found in the Shenandoah National Park and the Jefferson and George Washington national forests. SARA OWENS

does the northern Blue Ridge,” Flegel noted. The gentle slopes on the southern side support a “large diversity of agricultural products,” Spurlin further explained. South of Roanoke, many farmers raise livestock because of the abundant pastureland. They also plant orchards and grow vegetables where they once grew tobacco. Flegel noted that the region is known for crops like cabbage and broccoli as well, “and this area is the center of Christmas tree production in the state.” In the northern Blue Ridge,

Christmas tree farming is another significant industry in the region. vafb.com / SUMMER 2017

Heart of the Home

Most corn you find at farmers’ markets—and sometimes even in grocery stores—is picked and sold on the same day. When shopping for corn, choose ears with green husks, fresh silks and tight rows of kernels. Refrigerate corn with the husks on for use within one to two days. Extension offers the following options for cooking corn on the cob:

Fresh corn on the cob, microwave-style INGREDIENTS

4 fresh ears of corn on the cob, husks on* DIRECTIONS

Peel back the husks to the base of each ear, remove the silks and trim the tips. Close the husks back into place around the ears. Cook on a microwave-safe plate for 4 minutes per ear. Allow to cool slightly before shucking. *For five or more ears, completely remove the husks, silks and tips. Wash the corn and place in a 9"x13" microwave-safe dish. Add ¼ cup water, cover with plastic wrap, and cook for 4 minutes per ear.

Fresh corn on the cob, grill-style

There’s still plenty of time to enjoy some juicy Virginia-grown sweet corn.

Summer is sweeter, thanks to fresh Virginia corn on the cob

t the heart of the sweltering summer months are gatherings with family and friends. And nothing is sweeter at a backyard cookout than some juicy corn on the cob. Corn is low in sodium, provides small amounts of fiber and B vitamins and contains carotenoids that may be good for your health, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. To lower 30

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a calorie count, Extension experts recommend serving corn on the cob with pesto instead of butter. Virginia sweet corn is at its peak in July and August. While sweet corn is grown throughout the state, production tends to be heaviest in the counties of Augusta, Carroll, Charlotte, Halifax, Hanover, King George and Rockingham; the city of Virginia Beach; and on the Northern Neck.

INGREDIENTS

fresh ears of corn on the cob, husks on* DIRECTIONS Peel back the husks to the base of each ear, remove the silks and trim the tips. Close the husks back into place around the ears. Place the corn in a large bowl of cold water for 10 minutes. Remove the corn from the water and place on the grill*; close the cover, and grill for 15-20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or until kernels are tender. Remove the husks and eat, or cut corn from the cob. *You can spread butter, pesto or seasonings on corn before cooking, for different flavors.

Amendment to ‘farm use’ tag law took effect July 1 Drivers who violate Virginia’s policies and guidelines for “farm use” tags on unlicensed vehicles face a stiffer penalty under a law change that took effect July 1. The change was approved by state legislators to address abuse of the current “farm use” designation. “The General Assembly changed the penalty structure for second and subsequent offenses to a rigid $250 fine,” said Andrew Smith, senior assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. As before, the law allows for a fine of up to $250 for a first offense. The change requires that the second or subsequent violation be punishable by a $250 fine.” Virginia lawmakers created the “farm use” designation for farmers who use unlicensed vehicles for

specific purposes such as planting and harvesting crops and transporting farm products to market. Most farmers show the designation by using a special “farm use” placard on their vehicles. Other drivers, however, have purchased the placards and are using them for purposes other than those stated in the Code of Virginia. “We continue to work with law enforcement officials to better educate the public both in and out of the farming community on the proper uses of these exemptions,” Smith said. “They are for specific uses in the normal operations of farms on the public roads. We do hope the farming community can continue to have this option in the transportation needs for producing and transporting farm products. If any abuse continues, we are worried the exemptions would be lost.”

“Farm use” plates can be used on vehicles exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the vehicle's owner. The plates can be used on vehicles for seasonal transportation of farm produce and livestock along public highways for a distance of not more than 75 miles. State law limits the plates to pickup trucks, panel trucks, trailers, semitrailers, sport utility vehicles and vehicles having a gross weight rating of more than 7,500 pounds. Cars are not included. Farm Bureau offers its members resources to clarify what qualifies as a farm use vehicle. Those resources are available at vafb.com/membershipat-work/farmers-in-action/ legislative/resources.

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“Farm use” tags indicate unlicensed vehicles used exclusively for specific purposes in normal operations of farms and on public roads.

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.

vafb.com / SUMMER 2017