Cultivate Winter 2017

Cultivate WINTER 2017

Virginia Farm Bureau

Craft brewers putting Va. farm products on tap

Cultivate Volume 10, Number 1 Winter 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).

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Features 8

“Barley is an essential ingredient for brewing

Craft beers increasingly made with Virginia ingredients

Virginia’s growing community of breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries are creating opportunites for farmers.

beer, and proper

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Safety institute says red light cameras making a difference

determined in the

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quality of barley is

Do you live in one of the Virginia communities that’s using red light cameras? One study says they are helping to save lives.

Planning to retire? Don’t overlook insurance issues

If you’re planning for retirement, or you just retired, a conversation with your insurance agent can help make your post-work years more carefree.

field.”

— BARRY WOOD, Wood Ridge Farm Brewery, Nelson County

Did You Know?

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Viewing Virginia

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For Your Benefit

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Heart of the Home

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Marketplace

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 VaFarmBureau.org

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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.

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 May. The magazine is published quarterly.

Will Poole (left) and Justin McCracken are brewers at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, a farm brewery in Goochland County (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

Did you know?

It’s not only Americans who benefit from the products grown and produced by U.S. farmers and ranchers.

In 2015, $133.1 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products were exported, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Virginia farmers grew a healthy share of that. The state’s farm and forestry exports were valued at $3.19 billion in 2015.

About one in three American farm acres is planted specifically for export each year, and about 23 percent of raw U.S. farm products are exported annually, AFBF noted.

Additionally, the organization reported that 31 percent of gross farm income in America comes directly from exports.

U.S. farmers sell more food and fiber to world markets than the nation imports, which contributes to a positive trade balance.

Soybeans are a prominent Virginia farm commodity and, along with soybean meal, are among the state’s top farm exports.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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Save the Date!

Farm Bureau warehouse open house offers savings on tires and more

Virginia Horse Festival returning to The Meadow

Farm Bureau members can save 10 percent on purchases from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp.

Products Division at its Feb. 24 open house in Henrico County.

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

The Products Division provides members with a variety of quality supplies, through Farm Bureaucertified local dealers and the Farm Bureau warehouse.

At the warehouse sale, members can save on a variety of auto, truck and farm tires, batteries and oil and grease products, as well as replacement parts for farm equipment.

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

The third annual Virginia Horse Festival will take place March 24-26.

Join some of the equine industry’s top experts for three days of clinics, demonstrations and exhibits of interest to horse enthusiasts. The event will be held at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, birthplace of Secretariat, and will feature a Secretariat birthday celebration and tours of Meadow Hall.

An indoor trade show and outdoor vendors will offer a wide range of horse-related supplies and services.

For more information visit VirginiaHorseFestival.com.

Agriculture Literacy Week will feature readings of Sleep Tight Farm Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program will hold its

annual agriculture literacy project in early March and has named Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter its 2017 Book of the Year.

Volunteers will read Sleep Tight Farm in schools across Virginia March 6-10 to mark Agriculture Literacy Week. The children’s book by Eugenie Doyle shows readers what happens on a farm throughout the seasons and helps them see how farmers work to provide safe, healthy food all year long.

Volunteers in recent years have included participants in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Program and Young Farmers Program, FFA members, employees of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies, and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been major supporters as well.

21% Rate by which red light cameras have reduced fatal traffic crashes caused by someone running a red light, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The devices are being used in 426 U.S. communities, including some Virginia localities (See related article on Page 21).

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New year, new website — designed with you in mind!

A resolution that originated in a county Farm Bureau has resulted in a unified, streamlined Virginia Farm Bureau website.

The new mobile-friendly site at vafb.com features content previously found on the former portal page at VirginiaFarmBureau.com, the federation site at VaFarmBureau. org and the insurance site at FarmBureauAdvantage.com. It also provides access to the websites of Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom and the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability.

The site was built with the needs of current and potential members and insurance customers in mind.

“The new site is going to help our members and insurance customers find the information they want with much greater ease and help Farm Bureau be much more responsive,” said Greg Hicks, vice president of communications. “It also will make joining Farm Bureau or renewing a membership easier and will make existing members-only content more user-friendly.”

Consumers, he noted “have specific expectations of a business website or a membership organization’s website, and it is in Farm Bureau’s best interest to meet or exceed those expectations.”

Members can use the site to do the following: • Access all membership benefits; • learn about Farm Bureau’s agriculture-related programs and activities; • find local farmers’ markets; • stay current on Virginia agriculture news;

The new, unified Virginia Farm Bureau website was created to make finding insurance and membership information and the organization’s news simpler.

• get inspired with recipes and home garden tips; • update contact and membership information; and • renew memberships online.

Members with Virginia Farm Bureau insurance can do the following: • File an auto claim, including document and photo uploads; • request quick policy updates, like adding or dropping a vehicle; • review and print policy documents, including policy ID cards ; • contact an agent and view policy information 24/7; and

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

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

Finalists will compete at the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo July 28-30 in Roanoke. The state winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship, courtesy of Farm Credit and the VFBF Young Farmers and Women’s committees.

Prizes are subject to change based on sponsor availability.

Entry forms and details are available at county Farm Bureau offices or FENSTER by contacting Ron Saacke, VFBF vice president of the Women’s Program and Young Farmers Program, at ron.saacke@vafb.com.

The 2016 Outstanding Young Agriculturalist was Davis Fenster of Botetourt County, now a senior at James River High School. Fenster raises and sells poultry, beef and swine and intends to pursue a degree in poultry science.

• pay insurance bills online.

Staff at county Farm Bureau offices remain just a phone call away, Hicks noted. “We’re simply adding more options to help people manage— and get the most out of—their membership.” vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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Viewing Virginia

Bay foundation reports more grasses, crabs and oysters

Virginia recognizes first 23 families in Century Forest program

KATHY DIXON

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation reported late last year that crab and oyster populations and the presence of underwater grasses have increased in the bay.

In year-in-review content for 2016 on its website, the foundation said underwater grasses expanded by 21 percent and the bay’s blue crab population jumped 35 percent. The bay’s native oyster population, a critical species that filters water, is rebounding; the foundation planted more than 46 million juvenile oysters on protected sanctuary reefs throughout the bay.

The foundation website also reports that, for the past two years, the bay’s main stem has not experienced pollution-related anoxia—water completely devoid of oxygen. That’s a first since scientists started tracking aquatic oxygen levels in the bay in 1985.

The organization called for more work to address polluted runoff

from roads, cities and suburban development. It also called for funding throughout the bay watershed to help farmers protect water quality.

On Nov. 29, Dr. Basil Gooden, Virginia secretary of agriculture and forestry, praised farmers who are enrolled in the state’s Resource Management Plan Program during his remarks at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

“Resource Management Plans are designed to advance water quality improvement and offer regulatory assurance to farmers,” Gooden said.

“The RMP Program was backed by both conservation and farm groups. And as you know, the Farm Bureau was one of its strongest advocates.”

Virginia’s farmers “remain committed to protecting the Chesapeake Bay and all of our waterways,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “Good stewardship and good citizenship go hand in hand, and we are as pleased as anyone to learn of water quality progress in the bay.”

Oysters, which filter water, are a critical species in the Chesapeake Bay. Nearly 50 million juvenile native oysters were planted on sanctuary reefs in the bay last year.

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The first 23 families whose land qualified for Virginia’s Century Forest designation were honored this past November. The designation recognizes families who have owned working forestlands for more than 100 years.

The state law authorizing the Century Forest program went into effect July 1, 2016. The inaugural families own land in the counties of Albemarle, Campbell, Caroline, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fauquier, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Giles, King William, Lee, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski and Sussex.

To qualify for the Century Forest designation, property must have been owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years, include at least 20 contiguous acres of managed forest, be lived on or managed by a descendant of the original owners and have a history of timber harvests or forest management activities.

Andrew Smith, senior assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, said the Century Forest program “encourages people to keep their land in production and shows generations have been involved. These families have a sense of pride in their forest heritage.”

Mike Santucci, forestland conservation manager for the Virginia Department of Forestry, noted that nearly two-thirds, or 10 million acres, of Virginia’s woodlands are controlled by family forest landowners, “and the decisions they make to manage and conserve them are crucial to sustaining the commonwealth’s $17 billion timber industry.”

Virginia’s agriculture and forest industries contribute a combined $70 billion annually to the state’s economy, and timber is the thirdlargest contributing sector.

Viewing Virginia

State’s farmers have access to tax credit for crop donations to food banks In mid-December the Virginia Department of Taxation published final guidelines on its website for the Food Crop Donation Tax Credit, established by state legislation earlier last year.

The credit applies to farmers who make food crop donations to a nonprofit food bank. It took effect July 1, will last through 2020 and is equal to 30 percent of the fair market value of a donation, not to exceed $5,000.

The legislation that established the credit defines food crops as grains, fruits, nuts or vegetables. It received support from Virginia Farm Bureau Federation for its potential to benefit both farmers and Virginians in need of food.

New display introduces travelers to state’s farm commodities

Loan repayment program to help veterinarians in underserved areas Due to a continuing shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural areas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking nominations for its Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

The program helps qualified veterinarians offset a significant portion of their college debt in exchange for their service in highpriority shortage areas. To determine which veterinarians are in need of the loan repayment program, the NIFA solicited nominations of underserved areas earlier this year from each state’s top animal health official.

For 2016, the following Virginia counties were deemed in critical need of large animal vets: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise. Counties with a moderate need were Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Highland, Patrick, Smyth and Tazewell.

A growing shortage of large animal veterinarians has been a problem for more than a decade, and the VirginiaMaryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation have lobbied for a solution.

“We’ve found that in rural areas especially, our livestock farmers have had trouble getting quick access to a vet because there just aren’t enough to go around,” said Wilmer Stoneman, VFBF associate director of governmental relations. “Giving an incentive for vets to practice in these underserved areas should go a long way toward reducing the shortage.”

CLAIRE MILLS

Because agriculture is everywhere in Virginia, the Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee recently presented a colorful map to the Virginia Welcome Center on Interstate 85 South at Bracey to familiarize visitors with the state’s different agricultural regions.

The interactive map highlights the state’s top 20 agricultural commodities.

It was produced in partnership with

Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program and will be a permanent display in the welcome center.

“When visitors come into Virginia from North Carolina, this is the first welcome center they see,” explained Betty Upton, chairman of the county Farm Bureau women’s committee.

More than 147,000 travelers visit the Welcome Center at Bracey each year, said Tourism Relations Manager Alice Vaughan. “Agritourism is becoming more popular, and people want to know where products come from.”

Tammy Maxey, senior education manager for Virginia AITC, explained that the AITC program, the Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau and Virginia Farm Bureau worked together to develop the map, which was funded by donations from Virginia Grown, Mecklenburg Farm Bureau and other partners.

For Mecklenburg Farm Bureau President Irvin Matthews, it is a project that has come full circle. Matthews worked on construction of Interstate 85 in 1964 as a supervisor of ground forces for Talbott-Marks Co. He oversaw the groundwork for the location where the welcome center was built.

Now he is excited to see the growth of markets for agricultural products in Virginia. “This map will help promote agriculture in Virginia tourism,” he said.

“Now travelers will be able to see what we produce.”

Local students checked out the newly installed agriculture map.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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e d a m y l g n i s a e r c n i s r e e Craft b s t n e i d e r g n i a i n i g r i V h t i w

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BY KATHY DIXON

From berries to hops to grains, Virginia’s craft brewing industry is ripe for farm-raised ingredients.

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he glass is at least half-full for the state’s farm-to-brew sector.

And that means opportunities for Virginia’s farmers.

Some have already responded to a growing demand for everything from blackberries to hops and wheat.

With more than 175 craft breweries and 14 cideries, not to mention 47 distilleries and 282 wineries, Virginia’s drink industry is overflowing.

“Craft beverage makers invest a substantial amount of time and energy into the quality of their product,” explained Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden. “That means using the best and freshest ingredients available throughout their supply chain, which typically come from local growers.”

CRAFT BEERS

KATHY DIXON

Farm breweries like Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland County are using fruits, hops and grains grown on site. Other Virginia craft brewers are sourcing their ingredients locally when possible.

He added that Virginia farmers “are smart, resilient and adaptable, so a lot of them have already started thinking about the high demand market for high-quality, locally grown ingredients” for craft beverages.

“We’ve got some of the best grain producers in the nation growing breeds of barley specifically for beer making.”

Something that’s contributed to the growth of craft beverages and the use of local products was the General Assembly’s passage of a 2014 bill that eased regulations for farm breweries that choose to grow ingredients for beer on site. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation supported that legislation.

Gooden noted that the connection between farmers and brewers “has encouraged consumers to search out local products made with local ingredients. Virginia craft brewers, especially those located on a farm, have really started to hone in on the terroir of their region and are developing distinctly Virginian beverages.”

And Virginia is now home to the largest hops processing facility on the East Coast. Lucketts Mill HopWorks in Loudoun County is the first commercial-scale processing operation in the mid-Atlantic region.

It operates in collaboration with Black Hops Farm, which grows hops for James River Distillery and other breweries and restaurants.

Lucketts Mill received a $40,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund in 2014 to help them establish the facility. The AFID grant is an economic development tool that helps agribusinesses that source local ingredients to locate or expand in Virginia. Gooden’s office has used the AFID grants to help breweries, cideries, distilleries, wineries, malters and hop processors.

Gooden predicted that Virginia’s craft beverage industry and its use of local ingredients will continue to expand. “One of the Virginia craft beer industry’s greatest strength is its instinct to be collaborative while being competitive. There are not many industries that operate that way.”

BLACKBERRIES

HOPS

BARLEY

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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BREWING PARTNERSHIPS

Hardywood, Virginia farmers team up to produce seasonal beers

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rom its beginning, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond has placed an emphasis on using local products in its beer.

“We’ve taken a homegrown, local approach to beer, especially with our Reserve Series, which features local, seasonal ingredients,” noted head brewer Brian Nelson.

Always up for experimenting, Hardywood has used blackberries, raspberries, peaches, honey, ginger, pumpkins—and even strawberries, cucumbers, watermelon and oysters in some of its brews. And they’ve teamed up with farmers whom staff have met at local farmers’ markets. They also use local hops when available.

“We try to plan for our brew to coincide with the growing season,” Nelson said. “We are always keeping an eye out for Virginia ag products and what could be a new and creative beer ingredient. I really want to try to brew a pawpaw beer. We had a farmer bring us persimmons and plan to try that in a small batch.”

All of the ginger used in the awardwinning Gingerbread Stout is from Castlemonte Farm in Powhatan County.

Farm owner Bill Cox brought ginger to Hardywood to try.

The pumpkins in Farmhouse Pumpkin come from Virginia farms as well; the majority are from Grandma’s Pumpkins in Henrico County.

“I was shopping at my local farmers’ market in Chesterfield County and 10

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asked the operator of Grandma’s Pumpkins if they’d be interested in planting seeds and harvesting pumpkins for us,” Nelson said.

Using local ingredients can be challenging logistics-wise, and on occasion there have been crop losses or shortages, but Nelson remains committed to local sourcing.

“We definitely believe the local products help with the flavor of our beer,” he said. “We tried raspberries that were not from our local producer, and the flavor profile just wasn’t the same. It makes a difference.”

Local berries help produce gold-medal beer Hardywood has purchased raspberries for their award-winning Raspberry Stout from Agriberry Farm in Hanover County since 2014 and purchased the farm’s blackberries for its Virginia Blackberry Belgian-style white ale since 2012.

“The first year we worked on Raspberry Stout using Agriberry’s berries, we won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, so it shows,” Nelson said.

He said the farm “has been a great partner. They’re very forward-thinking like we are and are focused on quality.”

When hand-harvesting the farm’s fruits, Agriberry workers grade and sort them. Berries with any marks, scratches or abrasions are pureed for Agriberry’s jams, jellies and applesauce—or sold to buyers like Hardywood.

“We call it ‘second fruit,’ and Hardywood has been able to absorb

SARA OWENS

BY SARA OWENS

by far the largest amount,” explained Pierson Geyer, Agriberry’s field operations manager. Blue Bee Cider, also located in Richmond, uses some of Agriberry’s blackberries and raspberries in their Mill Race Bramble cider.

Geyer acknowledges that craft beer has an eclectic focus, which is beneficial to farmers.

“You’re able to put blackberries, raspberries, peaches, ginger, chocolate, coffee and more into beer; it’s an increased ingredient list, and that’s where we see the biggest benefit to local farm partnerships. People are really interested in trying new beers, and

CRAFT BEERS Blackberries

SARA OWENS

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond buys raspberries and blackberries for its beers from Agriberry Farm in Hanover County.

so many are seasonally driven, which makes it a natural pairing with the seasonality of farming.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF AGRIBERRY FARM

Plans for growth, more local products

Agriberry employees hand pick and grade the farm’s fruit for fresh-market sales and processing.

Agricultural plots are part of the plan for Hardywood’s third location in Goochland County, Nelson said. “We’re hoping to have a showcase of local products that we use in our beers and show customers that the same items they see in our plots are used in our beers.”

As Hardywood continues to grow, its need for more local products will grow as well. “As we scale up, it can be harder to do 100 percent local, but we hope to keep finding producers who want to work with us,” Nelson said.

Hardywood also is discussing options with a local food processor that could process locally grown products so they will be ready in pureed form when the brewery needs them.

“Having it processed and stored would help initiate more Virginia agriculture in the brewing industry,” Nelson said. “Anyone could use it. The processor would source from Virginia growers, process the product and it would be ready to use.” vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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Farm breweries infusing beers with homegrown ingredients Beyond a paddock for horses boarded on the property is one of Stable Craft Brewing’s hop yards.

KATHY DIXON

BY KATHY DIXON

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rench Toast brown ale made with six-row Thoroughbred barley and Throatlatch Imperial Farm IPA with Cascade and Nugget hops fresh from the farm are among the products farm breweries are crafting with homegrown ingredients.

“Brewers are starting to use more Virginia-grown ingredients in their craft beverages, and growing crops on our farm for our beers allows us to help conserve agricultural land,” explained Lisa Pumphrey, co-owner of Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland County, where French Toast is made.

Pumphrey described herself and her husband, Sean-Thomas, as “passionate brewers who learned about farming.”

On-farm hops preferred Craig Nargi, owner of Stable Craft Brewing in Augusta County, which 12

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brews Throatlatch, prefers growing his own hops because they are available when he’s ready to brew. The former chef and restaurateur said he prefers the purity of whole-leaf hops to readily available pelletized hops. He flashfreezes freshly picked hops that he grows on site and uses them in all of the beers he brews.

Hops provide flavoring for craft beers. “You can make the same malt recipe and change the flavor of the beer with the type of hops you use,” Nargi explained.

The Pumphreys grow their own hops as well. They bought their property in 2005 with the intent of farming it and leaving its pastureland for wildlife. “It wasn’t enough land to make a living growing grains, but adding the brewery enabled us to have a sustainable livelihood,” Pumphrey said. The brewery opened in 2013 and has allowed the farm to expand. Grain

producers Gary Hodges and Raymond Hawk grow barley, hay, rye and wheat on the property, while Sean-Thomas Pumphrey concentrates on growing hops.

Nargi bought his former horse farm in 2006. He continued to lease barn space to horse owners but also converted part of a barn into an event space for weddings. He wanted to expand into agritourism, and boarding horses helped pay the bills.

“I started growing vegetables and herbs for the weekend events, and someone suggested I grow hops,” Nargi said. He experimented with 100 plants and realized he could grow them successfully. In 2010 he contemplated converting the property into a farm brewery, and in 2012 he bought commercial equipment that would enable him to brew on a larger scale.

The tasting room opened in May 2016 with 16 beers on tap.

CRAFT BEERS Hops

KATHY DIXON

Breweries get help from VA FAIRS

While Nargi uses his own hops in his beers, he buys grains from malt suppliers in the Midwest. “If they were more readily available in the varieties we’re looking for, I’d buy them from Virginia growers,” he said.

The time is right, Nargi said, for Virginia landowners—whether they are brewers or farmers—to grow hops, barley and other ingredients for craft beers. “The idea is there, but we need more malting facilities. Eventually, making beer with 100 percent Virginia ingredients is doable.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF STABLE CRAFT

Brewers want locally grown ingredients

Craig Nargi of Stable Craft grows hops for his beers, boards horses and hosts weddings on his farm.

Both Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery and Stable Craft Brewing were assisted by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability.

The nonprofit foundation is based at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and has a mission to assist Virginia-based rural agricultural enterprises.

Craig Nargi, owner of Stable Craft, said he got a planning grant through VA FAIRS that helped him create a business plan and “fail on paper” instead of in real life. Once the plan was tweaked, VA FAIRS helped Nargi apply for and obtain a U.S. Department of Agriculture value-added grant.

“Because of the planning and their help, we probably avoided three years’ worth of setbacks,” he said.

Lisa Pumphrey, co-owner of Lickinghole, was able to secure USDA value-added grants with the help of VA FAIRS as well.

The foundation has helped more than a half-dozen breweries, wineries and distilleries, said Chris Cook, VA FAIRS executive director. He expects that number to increase over the next few years.

The foundation recently published From Barley to Beer: A Guide for On Farm Brewing, available at vafairs.com/ resources.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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‘From the dirt to the glass,’ farm brewery focuses on a homegrown, farm-malted product

Barry Wood converted an airplane hangar at Wood Ridge Farm into Wood Ridge Farm Brewery’s malting house, one of the few facilities of its kind on the East Coast.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CLAIRE MILLS

A

t Wood Ridge Farm in Nelson County, growing barley is the first important step in a hands-on process by which Barry Wood oversees production of craft-brewed beers served at his Wood Ridge Farm Brewery.

Wood Ridge is a 300-acre farm that has been in Wood’s family since the 1800s. He grows 40 acres of winter malting barley and 55 acres of malting barley in the spring, along with wheat, rye and oats. Although barley is the most commonly used grain in beer, Wood grows all of the grains used to create the 14 beers served on tap at his brewery.

“We not only grow all of the barley, we malt, roast and toast the barley. It is brewed right here using all of the ingredients we possibly can from the farm. That’s what makes it unique— everything is sourced locally, from the dirt to the glass,” Wood said.

The farm even produces some of the hops and some of the yeast needed for the beers.

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WOOD

Wood is among brewers reviving the age-old craft of farm brewing, but he also is tapping into a growing interest in local grains among burgeoning craft breweries and distilleries.

“Barley is an essential ingredient for brewing beer, and proper quality of barley is determined in the field,” he explained.

Virginia farmers planted about 46,000 acres of barley in 2015, but the crop grown now is used almost entirely for livestock feed and is not suitable for malting.

Virginia barley acreage has decreased

in recent years, noted Robert Harper, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation grain manager, “because the price of barley is so low. Small craft breweries and malting barley producers have found a way to add value to quality small grain products.”

Wood is helping to re-introduce the production of malting barley in Virginia. He grows four kinds of barley for brewing, but he readily admits that it involves trial and error to meet the challenges of this specialty crop.

Malting barley is a more sensitive crop than traditional feed barley. It is more susceptible to fungal diseases and requires application of fungicides, and Wood also applies two different fertilizers to grow the plump seeds he’s looking for. He constantly monitors his crop to harvest the grain at just the right time for optimal performance in the malt house and the brewery.

He sells some of his barley to other breweries, but most of it is malted right on his farm.

CRAFT BEERS Barley

Malted barley is a key ingredient Before barley can be used to make beer, it must undergo a process known as malting.

Barry Wood of Nelson County converted an airplane hangar on the farm into Wood Ridge Farm Brewery’s malting house and operates one of the few malting facilities on the East Coast.

“Once we built our brewery, our main focus was to supply the brewery with malt,” he said.

Wood, who studied at the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, and maltster Corey Hall produce malts in a traditional way called floor malting. The barley is soaked in water and then spread evenly onto a malting floor in a temperature-controlled room. For the next three to five days, Hall periodically turns the germinating barley with a shovel to distribute even heat for the grains, which are then dried in a kiln.

“Malted barley has everything you need in beer brewing,” Hall said. “It gives beer its color and has the right amount of protein, malty sweet flavor and natural sugars for fermentation.”

The 14 beers served on tap at Wood Ridge Farm Brewery are made with barley that’s grown and malted on site. Maltster Corey Hall (left, upper photo) turns over the barley in a temperaturecontrolled room so the grains will mature evenly during malting. Head brewer Chris Firey (left, lower photo) checks the temperature of a brew.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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2016

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

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articipants in county Farm Bureau photo contests submitted bushels of appealing photos last year.

County Farm Bureaus in Virginia had the option to sponsor photo contests and to submit their first-place entries for judging on the state level.

These are some of the firstplace winners.

Dad, I Can Do It

by Ann Harrell, Craig County

Pink Sunset

by Major Marshall, Craig County

My Brother’s First Hay Season

by Major Marshall, Craig County

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Still the Cash Crop

by Patricia Haskins, Pittsylvania County

The Cow

by Sydnee Burnette, Patrick County

Learnin’ the Biz

by Logan Stevens-Crawford, Craig County

Found Treasure

by Kai Marshall, Craig County

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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Winter vineyard work, up-and-coming ag leaders, on Real Virginia

REAL VIRGINIA

Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • I t’s cold and snowy, but wine grape producers still have work to do in the winter.

• Build your own garden greenhouse.

•T he third class of Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results is under way.

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.

Real Virginia

To view Real Virginia, visit vafb.com.

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SAVES YOU MONEY—loosens and redistributes existing material, saving you from purchasing new gravel or stone.

HARVEST THIS REWARD.

To help members and to show our appreciation, we’re offering a $500 private offer 1 toward the purchase or lease of most 2016 and 2017 Chevrolet vehicles.

1 Offer available through 5/31/17. Available on most 2016 and 2017 Chevrolet vehicles. Excludes 2016 Equinox L, Colorado 2SA and Spark EV; 2016 Malibu and Traverse L models, Cruze Limited L, Spark, SS and City Express, and 2016 Chevrolet Cruze L model. This offer is not available with some other offers. Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days will be eligible to receive a certificate.

Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used herein under license by General Motors.

For Your Benefit

Save up to 25% on car rentals from Avis, Budget Your Farm Bureau membership affords you up to 25 percent off your next reservation with Avis Car Rental or Budget Car Rental, two of the world’s bestknown car rental brands with locations worldwide. In addition, enjoy additional offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day.

Discount rates may vary between 5 percent and 25 percent depending on time of year, availability and other factors. The Farm Bureau discount may not be stacked with other corporate or membership discounts.

Visit Avis.com/vafb, or call 800-331-1212 to make a reservation, and reference Virginia Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number, available from your county Farm Bureau and on vafb.com.

Or visit Budget.com or call 800-527-0700 to make a reservation, and reference Virginia Farm Bureau’s Budget Customer Discount number, also available from your county Farm Bureau and on vafb.com.

Farm Bureau, Caterpillar Inc. offer savings on equipment Farm Bureau members in Virginia can save up to $2,500 on qualifying Caterpillar equipment—and receive a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Caterpillar machine.

Get the following savings on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers:

INSURANCE Q&A

Q: A:

How do insurance carriers determine auto insurance rates?

Auto rating today is very

sophisticated, said Bob Brown, senior vice president of product development and actuarial for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. For example, VFBMIC has a new automobile product that considers more than 70 variables to help determine a rate. But to put it simply, auto insurance rates are determined by age; driving history; type of vehicle; liability limits and deductibles for the policy; and where a customer lives.

Other factors that can come into play include a customer’s insurance score, whether the customer pays his or her bill on time and the number of vehicles and drivers on a policy.

• hydraulic excavators (Cat 336F and 349F) – $2,500 • medium track-type tractor (Cat D6T) – $2,500 • small wheel loaders – $2,000 • compact wheel loaders – $1,000 • small dozers – $1,000 • backhoe loaders – $500-$1,000 • compact track loaders – $500-$1,000 • multi-terrain loaders – $500-$1,000 • skid steer loaders – $500-$1,000 • telehandlers – $500-$1,000 • mini hydraulic excavators – $250-$500 Visit FBAdvantage.com/Deals/Cat 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.

ATTENTION MEMBERS: The member benefit that afforded Farm Bureau members in Virginia a manufacturer’s incentive discount on qualifying Polaris vehicles has been discontinued.

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 major booksellers.

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 published in 1982. vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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For business owners: If you are a retirement-minded business owner who will be closing or selling your business, you will have commercial liability and property concerns to address.

As you make plans for retirement, your insurance agent can help ensure a smooth transition.

Ready to retire?

Consider these insurance issues

W

hen you’re considering retirement—or have just retired—it is important to make sure all of your bases are covered. Hopefully you have a good life insurance plan already in place, but there may be more issues to consider.

Life insurance

Life insurance is part of many properly constructed financial plans and should be addressed well before retirement.

“Many of us need to provide this protection for our families in the event of an untimely death,” explained Gerald Gardner, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. director of sales. “Life insurance also can be used for estate planning purposes or as a way to ensure that a business can continue to operate in the event of the death of an owner or key employee.”

Gardner said a small piece of retirement savings also can be used to pay for life insurance, which can help provide an income tax-free death benefit for surviving family members.

Life insurance can be used to help: • pay the income taxes due on inherited retirement accounts; • ensure an income to a surviving spouse; • provide an income to a family member with special needs; • distribute your assets tax efficiently to your heirs; and • create an endowment for your favorite charity or organization.

As with any financial consideration, consult your estate planner or tax professional for more information.

Auto insurance

If you used your car for business and it is rated “Business” on your auto insurance policy, or if you simply drove it to the office and it is rated “To and From Work,” you could change those ratings to “Pleasure Use” after retirement, according to Lisa Whitus, VFBMIC underwriting manager.

“If vehicles are covered on a commercial auto policy, they could possibly be moved to a personal auto policy depending on their size, type and how they are titled,” Whitus said. “You should review this with your insurance agent.”

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Commercial liability Liability exposures can follow you for work you did in the past, including products you made or sold while still active in the business, according to Lisa Whitus, underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. In Virginia, the basic statute of limitations for a consumer to bring action against you for property damage or bodily injury is two to five years.

Whitus recommended obtaining coverage for ‘Products/Completed Operations’ for at least the limit of the statute after selling a business. “You could protect yourself by purchasing a ‘Discontinued Products/Operations’ Policy.

“It normally applies to an occurrence that happens after you are no longer operational due to a product of or operation performed by your former business,” she said.

Contact your insurance agent to discuss the matter further before you cease business operations.

Commercial property Before selling your business property, it is important to ask the following questions: • Who will own the building and its contents?

• Is the building now considered vacant or unoccupied?

• How does that affect coverage under your insurance contract?

• Do you need a commercial property policy?

• Do you need a vacant building policy?

• Where will the business contents be stored?

“An unendorsed homeowner or farmowner policy won’t cover property that was or is used in a separate business,” Whitus said. “If it is stored in a personal building, it could jeopardize coverage on that building.”

For more information about insurance considerations related to retirement, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

SAFETY INSTITUTE: Camera enforcement working to curb dangerous behavior

R

ed light running happens frequently and can be deadly.

In 2014 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that 709 people were killed and an estimated 126,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running.

More than half of those killed were pedestrians, bicyclists and people in other vehicles who were hit by a driver who ran a red light.

IIHS research shows that red light cameras are an effective way to discourage red light running.

Enforcement is the best way to get drivers to comply with any law, but police cannot patrol every intersection.

Cameras work to help fill that void.

An IIHS study comparing large cities with red light cameras to those without found the devices reduced the fatal red light running crash rate by 21 percent and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14 percent.

As of December 2016, 426 U.S. communities have red light camera programs, including more than 10 localities in Virginia.

line. The systems monitor the traffic signals, and the cameras capture any vehicle that does not stop during the red phase. Many camera programs will provide motorists with grace periods of up to half a second after a light turns red.

Cameras record the date, time of day, time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal, vehicle speed and license plate. Tickets typically are mailed to owners of violating vehicles.

Studies prove cameras reduce violations According to studies in Fairfax County and in Oxnard, Calif., reductions in red light violation rates were reduced by about 40 percent after the introduction of cameras.

Additionally, the effect carried over to nearby signalized intersections not equipped with red light cameras.

For more information on red light cameras and red light running, visit iihs.org.

Red light cameras automatically photograph vehicles that go through red lights. The cameras are connected to the traffic signals and to sensors that monitor traffic flow just before the crosswalk or stop

PHOTO COURTESY OF IIHS

How do they work?

When a driver runs a red light, red light cameras record the date and time of the incident, the vehicle’s speed and its license plate.

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a member of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from crashes on the nation’s roads.

The institute operates its Vehicle Research Center in Greene County.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

I

t’s a scary statistic—eight out of 10 traffic crashes in Virginia are related to a distracted driving incident.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Virginia and a good time to remember that when you are behind the wheel, driving should be your priority.

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

Distractions not limited to phones

SHARE THE ROAD: Careful driving around large trucks means everyone arrives safely U.S. truck drivers travel more than 430 billion miles each year. Their trucks’ size and handling characteristics require careful driving, not only by truck drivers but also by motorists around them.

That’s why Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is encouraging members to “Share the Road” when traveling the same routes as tractor trailers.

A Virginia Tech Transportation Research Institute study found that 78 percent of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles were caused by passenger vehicle drivers. Such crashes, and resulting injuries, fatalities and property loss, occur due to a lack of awareness and understanding about the special considerations involved with driving a truck.

An 18-wheeler is a large, heavy vehicle that: • requires more turning space and a greater braking distance; • has larger blind spots that can hide even another truck from the driver’s view; • needs more space and distance to execute a merge or exit on the interstate; • has a higher center of gravity that makes it more susceptible to rollovers; • can drift backward as much as 15 feet before the forward gears engage when the truck is stopped on an upgrade; and • can gain speed when traveling on a downgrade, especially when carrying a full load.

Motorists in passenger vehicles act in everyone’s best interests when they take the following precautions: • Maintain enough space between you and a truck in front of you that you can see the side mirrors.

• Always use your turn signals, and watch for truck drivers’ turn signals as well.

• Make every effort to pass a large truck on its left side.

• When passing, be sure there is sufficient distance to pass and return to the driving lane without speeding and without cutting off the truck.

• Allow space and room to maneuver in the event of an emergency situation with a truck, another vehicle or your own vehicle.

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Here are tips for staying focused on the road: • Avoid eating and drinking while driving.

• Use a GPS system that has voice navigation so you don’t have to look down to follow directions.

• Turn off or silence your phone, or put it out of reach if necessary.

• Maintain a safe following distance between your car and the car ahead of you. This will leave you time to act should an event occur.

• Wear your seatbelt. Even if you do everything right, you still can be involved in a car crash if another driver is distracted.

• Set a good example for your children.

Studies show that children pick up on their parents’ driving habits, both good and bad.

State law is good incentive to put devices away Virginia has a primary texting-whiledriving law. Drivers who use their phone to manually enter multiple letters or text in an effort to communicate with another person are guilty of texting and driving.

It’s also illegal to read any email or text message while driving. The fine for a first offense is $125, and a second or subsequent offense carries a $250 fine.

Va. guidelines for ‘farm use’ plates are specific

I

t may seem obvious, but it’s important to know that “farm use” license plates are just that, for farm use only.

Virginia lawmakers created the “farm use” designation for farmers who use vehicles for specific purposes such as planting and harvesting crops and transporting farm products to market. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles allows an exemption from registration for those limited agricultural uses. Most farmers show the designation by using a special “farm use” tag on their vehicles.

“These exemptions are very beneficial to the farm community, because these vehicles are used only a few times per year for specific purposes,” explained Andrew Smith, senior assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Unfortunately, some drivers have purchased the plates and are using them for purposes other than those stated in the Code of Virginia. Smith emphasized that it’s important for the public to understand the legitimate uses for the plates and to avoid the non-legitimate uses.

“The law is very specific about the purposes that qualify,” he said. “We want people both inside and outside of the farm community to be aware of the correct purposes of the “farm use” plates. If people continue to use them for unapproved uses, we are concerned that the agriculture community could lose these exemptions.”

“Farm use” license plates can be used on vehicles exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the vehicle's owner. The license plates can be used on vehicles for seasonal transportation of farm produce and livestock along public highways for a distance of not more than 50 miles.

The exemption 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.

facility to dispose of trash and garbage generated on a farm; or •o perating along a highway for a distance of no more than 50 miles to obtain supplies for agricultural or horticultural purposes, seeds, fertilizers, chemicals or animal feed.

Smith explained that, unfortunately, some people may not have a driver’s license or registration and think they are able to use “farm use” tags instead. But the tags are for specific farm activities only.

Farm Bureau offers its members resources to clarify what qualifies as “farm use.” Access information on unlicensed farm vehicle laws at vafb.com/Portals/ FBA/PDFs_and_Resources/membership_at_work/ UnlicensedFarmVehicle_2016.pdf.

What is farm use?

DMV defines legitimate use of a vehicle for agriculture use as: • crossing a highway; • operating along a highway for a distance of no more than 50 miles from one part of the owner’s land to another, irrespective of whether the tracts adjoin; • taking the vehicle or attached fixtures to and from a repair shop for repairs; • operating along a highway to and from a refuse disposal

“Farm use” plates can be used on pickup trucks, panel trucks, trailers, semitrailers, sport utility vehicles and vehicles with a gross weight rating of more than 7,500 pounds—for specific agricultural activities only. vafb.com / WINTER 2017

23

Group health insurance policies available through Farm Bureau Saving money on employee benefits while still attracting and retaining the best and the brightest is a must in today's economy. Virginia Farm Bureau’s health insurance agency— Experient Health—can help with group insurance policies.

Experient Health offers many group insurance plans, including vision, dental, life and disability. The company, which is a subsidiary of Virginia Farm Bureau, has staff in its Richmond office and throughout the commonwealth that works to help businesses find the best insurance plans for their employees.

“We do all the legwork for companies, making it easier for them to put together a good insurance plan for their company,” explained

Brett Denton, Experient Health vice president. “We try to make it as easy as possible.”

Denton said Experient helps companies with as few as two employees and as many as 150.

Under the Affordable Care Act, companies with 50 or more full-time employees or equivalents are required to offer group health insurance or pay a penalty, Denton said. “This is commonly referred to as the employer mandate or ‘pay or play.’”

Experient Health sells Aetna, Anthem, Optima Health and United Healthcare products for businesses, as well as various dental, vision and life products.

For more information on group insurance policies, call 855-677-6580.

Farm Bureau helps business owners weigh their options for employee health insurance plans.

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This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For more information on benefits, please contact your agent or the health plan. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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Each variety of cut flower has a different life expectancy, but all benefit from a little TLC.

water uptake. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 to 2 inches from the flower stems, and then follow these tips: • Use a floral food to keep flowers fresher. Floral food is a combination of additives that help to nourish the flowers and discourage bacteria from growing in the water. It is one of the best— and easiest—ways to extend the life of flowers.

• Follow the directions on the floral food package carefully. Improperly mixed, the product can do more harm than good. If the flower food solution becomes cloudy, replace it entirely with properly mixed solution. For flowers arranged in a floral foam, keep the foam soaked with water so floral food added at the time of design by the florist will stay active.

• Check the floral arrangement daily to make sure it has plenty of clear, fresh water. If possible, re-cut stems by removing 1 to 2 inches with a sharp knife or scissors that will not crush the stems.

• Keep flowers in a cool spot—65 to 72 degrees—and away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, ceiling fans or appliances. Heat from appliances or hot and cold drafts cause flowers to dehydrate.

Extra attention helps flowers stay vibrant longer

C

ut flowers can brighten up your day—and your home. And if you want to keep them fresher longer, a little extra attention can go a long way.

Most floral arrangements will last four to seven days or longer, depending on the flowers used and the care they receive, according to the Society of American Florists, which is based in

Alexandria. The organization notes that each cut flower variety has a different life expectancy.

Start with a clean, deep vase that has been washed with detergent or an antibacterial cleaning solution.

Remove from the flower stems any leaves that will be below the water line. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit your flowers’

When purchasing loose flowers for an arrangement, consider these tips: • Look for flowers with upright, firm petals and buds that are beginning to open.

• Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are a sign of age.

• Flowers with woody stems and branches such as quince, forsythia or lilac should be cut with sharp pruning shears. Place the flowers in warm water containing fresh floral food to promote flower opening.

For more information on cut flowers, visit aboutflowers.com. vafb.com / WINTER 2017

25

Heart of the Home

Diced, sliced, baked or fried: February is for potato lovers Grab some spuds, and share a little homemade goodness with someone special!

F

ebruary is the month of love, but did you know it’s also dedicated to those who love potatoes? That’s right, February is National Potato Lovers Month.

And what’s not to love? Potatoes are delicious baked, diced, fried and mashed. They are good alone, and they are yummy mixed with other ingredients.

Nutritionally, potatoes offer a lot to love. They are a source of vitamins B and C, are high in complex carbohydrates, are fat-free (when unbuttered) and are high in fiber if you eat the skins.

Virginia is a major producer of earlysummer potatoes. Farmers grow about

200,000 pounds of potatoes on close to 6,000 acres, with the bulk of that concentrated on the Eastern Shore.

So, for the love of potatoes, why not treat your sweetie—or yourself—to the following easy recipe from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Pork and Potato Curry INGREDIENTS

4 potatoes, diced 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons curry powder 14-ounce can low-sodium green beans, drained 14-ounce can low-sodium tomatoes 2 cups cooked pork, sliced or diced ⅓ cup seedless raisins salt and pepper to taste

The average American eats about 125 pounds of potatoes a year.

DIRECTIONS

Potatoes are grown in all 50 states and in about 125 other countries.

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Place the diced potatoes in a microwave-safe dish with a small amount of water. Cover and microwave on high for 10 minutes. Remove, and let stand.

Add the onion and garlic to the cooked potatoes.

Sprinkle curry powder on top of the potato mixture, cover and microwave

on high for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave, and stir.

Add the green beans and tomatoes, and cover. Microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Add the pork and raisins, and mix well. Microwave on high for 2 minutes or until heated through.

Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Heart of the Home

POTATO TYPES • Red or white potatoes are round and have a thin outer skin. They are good for boiling and stewing.

• New potatoes are freshly harvested. They are sweet and moist, and good for boiling and stewing.

• Russets are oblong with thick outer skins. They are good for baking and make excellent mashed potatoes.

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

27

Soil:

I t’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.

We begin with the Appalachian Plateau.

‘Toe of the boot’ encompasses steep, rocky terrain

V

irginia’s Appalachian Plateau is the smallest of the state’s five soil regions.

Sometimes called the “toe of the boot,” it covers the southwestern counties of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise, and parts of Lee, Russell, Scott and Tazewell counties.

The Appalachian Plateau is a series of highly dissected rolling uplands and randomly oriented ridges located on the western side of the Appalachian Highlands, which run southwest to northeast up the interior of the East Coast. The plateau covers parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Virginia’s Appalachian Plateau is dominated by forestland and steeply sloping areas, noted Dr. W. Lee Daniels, a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Crop and Soil 28

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Environmental Sciences. “Because of the topography,” he said, “it’s extremely rugged in that area.”

The Appalachian Plateau is an uplifted region that sits generally higher than the Valley and Ridge region to the east. Its average elevation is 2,000 feet above sea level, but areas range from deeply incised valleys at about 1,500 feet and ridges that extend to above 3,000 feet. Agricultural areas are largely confined to flood plains or river terraces because of the steeply sloping nature of most of the landscape, Daniels said. “Compared to other regions in Virginia, there is a lot less land in pasture or row crop production.”

Daniels added that much of the arable land is used to raise cattle, which are able to forage on slopes.

The distribution of what’s grown where in Virginia is directly determined

by soil types, Daniels explained. That’s why grains are grown predominantly in the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont is predominantly pastureland. In the Valley region, you’ll also find intensive row cropping due to suitable soils, he said. “Virginia soils are particularly diverse.”

In general, the Appalachian Plateau soils are “rocky, shallow and mostly infertile” and formed from shale, siltstone and sandstone, Daniels said.

He added that there are a couple thousand acres of reclaimed coalmine land that are being managed in pasture or orchard lands. Some of that land supports cattle as well.

“It’s actually a very beautiful place.”

Wise County soil samples have an average pH of about 5.6, explained Phil Meeks, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Wise. “That’s a bit

Soil Regions of Virginia Forestland and steep slopes make for rugged terrain in Virginia’s Appalachian Plateau.

■■ Appalachian Plateau ■■ Valley and Ridge ■■ Blue Ridge ■■ Piedmont

PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON

■■ Coastal Plain

Much of the region’s farmable land is used to raise cattle, which can forage on slopes.

BY KATHY DIXON

too acidic for vegetables and forages, but not quite acidic enough for crops like blueberries, although we have growers successfully producing all of the above with good management.”

Historically, Wise was one of Virginia’s top apple-producing counties, and there are still “a couple of thriving, commercial-scale orchards around,” Meeks said.

He noted that one Appalachian Plateau crop he’s excited about is maple. “We have an abundance of red and sugar maple trees on our ridges, both of which can be tapped for syrup production, along with more than adequate slope to run sap lines.”

Fourteen Wise families produced maple syrup last winter, Meeks said, and a handful are going to produce maple commercially this year.

Pamunkey is Virginia’s unofficial state soil Each state in the U.S. has selected a state soil, and in 20 states they have been established legislatively. Virginia is not among those 20.

Unofficially, Pamunkey soil is Virginia’s state soil. It acquired that distinction when the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked the Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists to select a soil.

The James River watershed flows through all of the state’s major soil regions, and Pamunkey soil is formed from the combined sediments from all those areas.

Therefore, it represents the whole state.

The VAPSS also based its decision on the fact that Pamunkey soil was used to sustain the Pamunkey Indians and other tribes and helped the Jamestown settlers grow crops. Pamunkey soils are fertile, high-yielding agricultural soils, and the farm near Jamestown where the official sample of Pamunkey soil was excavated is the oldest continuously worked farm in the U.S. It produced world-record corn and wheat yields in 2000.

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

vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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2017 magazine classified ad schedule and policies

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 insurancerelated questions.

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/ marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone.

Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current.

Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm equipment; • Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and • Livestock equipment.

Classified ads will be published in the following issues: · April 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.

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

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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

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.

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

Deadlines

STEP 4

Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines:

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 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.

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

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members April March 3 September August 4

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

Mailed to associate members May April 5 August July 5

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 April (mailed to producer members) qM ay (mailed to associate members) q August (mailed to associate members) q S eptember (mailed to producer members)

q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2017 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ 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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vafb.com / WINTER 2017

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