5 minute read
For Your Benefit
Improve your financial and physical health with discounts and services
Healthy Living
Members save on prescription drugs
Virginia Farm Bureau’s free Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program affords members discounts at more than 67,000 pharmacies nationwide, on all FDA-approved brand and generic drugs.
Members pay no fee to use the program, which is designed for individuals with no insurance coverage for prescription drugs.
The program works via what’s known as a “consumer care” or “point of sale card” that can be used by your entire household. There are no medical exams, no waiting periods, no claim forms to file and no exclusions for preexisting conditions.
Your county Farm Bureau can provide starter card information and details on how to locate participating pharmacies near you. Farm Bureau representatives also can help you compare potential savings on generic and name-brand drugs.
For more information, visit vafb.com/benefits. You will need to register and log in as a member.
Life Line Screenings take the guesswork out of health risks
Members can save on four non-invasive vascular health screenings—for carotid artery, abdominal aneurysm, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease—and have a free osteoporosis screening and bone density test to assess risk for stroke, heart attack and bone fractures.
Life Line Screenings, the national leading provider of preventive screenings, offers this collection of procedures to Farm Bureau members for $135.
Watch for mailings about scheduled screenings in your area, visit vafb.com/benefits and register and log in as a member, or contact your county Farm Bureau. Travel Services
Farm Bureau members get a discount on Avis, Budget
Save up to 30% off Avis base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number. In addition, enjoy extra offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day.
Call 800-331-1212 or visit avis.com/vafb to make a reservation.
Save up to 30% off Budget base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Budget Customer Discount number. Plus get other great offers like dollars off, a free upgrade or a free weekend day.
Call 800-527-0700 or visit budget.com/vafb to make a reservation.
Your Virginia Farm Bureau Avis Worldwide Discount number and Budget Customer Discount number are available from your county Farm Bureau and in the “Membership at Work” section of vafb.com (Register as a member on the site, and log in first).
Home/Business Savings
In the market for a new truck?
Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible for $500 in Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of a new Ford Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty®.*
The offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. You must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase.
Visit FordSpecialOffer.com/FarmBureau to generate a certificate you can take to your local Ford dealer. * Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. This incentive is not available on F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty®.
John Deere offers substantial savings for members
Current Virginia Farm Bureau members* are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade to Platinum 1 status, which unlocks extra discounts on equipment, parts and merchandise.
You can save on the following equipment: • $150 to $250 off tractors • $550 to $1,400 off compact construction equipment • $100 to $250 off utility vehicles • $200 to $1,700 off commercial mowers • $50 to $150 off residential mowers
Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau, and have your membership number handy. *Must be a member for at least 30 days to qualify.
Save on Xerox printers and supplies
Farm Bureau members interested in purchasing printers and supplies like cartridges, toner and ink will receive preferred pricing on the latest Xerox technology and services, including up to 50% off home and office products and production printers.
To learn more, visit Xerox.com/FarmBureau, or contact a Xerox representative at 800-ASK-XEROX (800-275-9376), ext. 232.
Users must present their Farm Bureau membership card or member number at the time of sale.
Virginia horticulture census yields mixed results
BY ALICE KEMP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, and Virginia’s results are mixed.
According to the census, Virginia sold $271 million in floriculture, nursery and specialty products in 2019, down 16% from 2014. Additionally, the number of horticulture operations decreased to 465—17% less than in 2014.
“The number of horticultural production operations is definitely trending lower in Virginia,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “Shifts in wholesale and consumer demand, vertical integration and increasing imports are having an effect on the number of horticultural operations in Virginia and nationwide.”
Robert Saunders, part owner of Saunders Brothers Wholesale Nursery in Nelson County, said he’s noticed a general slowdown in the nursery industry over the past 10 to 15 years, and some growers went out of business or exited the industry.
“We did not see the growth from 2014 to 2019 that we would have liked to
Potted flowering plant sales increased 63% in 2019.
have seen,” he said. “We saw it leveling out much more than we had seen if you were to go back to the early to mid2000s. Everybody in our industry is seeing margins tightening.”
Despite the overall decrease in sales, the report found nursery stock and potted flowering plant sales increased. Nursery stock was up 8% and potted flowering plants were up 63%.
“Nursery is tied to home starts, and home building has been strong,” explained David Knopf, regional director of the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Field Office.
In addition, interest in potted plants is growing as more people are cultivating plants inside their homes. Saunders said he’s also noticed the perennial market has been robust.
The horticulture census found potted herbaceous perennials were up 2%, and food crops grown under protection were down 23%. A 38% dip in sales was reported for sod, sprigs and plugs, and annual bedding and garden plants were down 42%. The number of Christmas tree growers decreased by 36%, but sales increased 15%.
Saunders added that despite the turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic, his business had a good 2020 as more people took an interest in gardening, and suppliers transitioned to meet local demand.
“It’ll be interesting to see how many people will remain gardeners after this,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic.”
