FBN Jan 2012 by Virginia Farm Bureau

Virgnia VaFarmBureau.org

January 2012

Farm Bureau News

Eminent domain victory: ‘We didn’t sue them for money’

Contents

Virgnia Farm Bureau News

8 “We didn’t sue them for money” in eminent domain case

Eminent domain has been used more than a dozen times to take parts of Edd Jennings’ family’s land in Wythe County. He recently won a lawsuit brought over damages to his property.

18 Convention included news about growing markets for ag trade

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2011 Annual Convention in Norfolk included updates from the state and the Virginia Port Authority on ag trade issues. Photo contest winners framed life on Virginia farms

Winning photos in Farm Bureau’s annual photo contest showcased the visual appeal of farm country.

Departments

Viewing Virginia

In the Garden

Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017-763) (ISSN 1525-528X) is published six times a year, January, March, May, June, August, September/October (combined issue). 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 $1.42 (included in membership dues). Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau News, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261-7552; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email address is virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb. com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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. 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.

27 Good for You!

Volume 71, Number 1 January 2012

Heart of the Home Member Marketplace

Member: Virginia Press Association

editorial team

publication schedule Producer members will receive their next issue of Farm Bureau News in March. The magazine is published six times a year.

Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Bill Altice Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Cathy Vanderhoff Advertising

18 16

virginia farm bureau federation Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Edward A. Scharer, Vice President Board of Directors

On the Cover

Eminent domain “has been a theme all my life,” said Wythe County farmer Edd Jennings. He recently won a lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Transportation regarding damage to his property while VDOT repaired part of Interstate 77 in 2002 (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

director district county Emily Edmondson 1 Tazewell Archie B. Atwell 2 Smyth Evelyn H. Janney 3 Floyd Gordon R. Metz 4 Henry Stephen L. Saufley 5 Rockingham Peter A. Truban 6 Shenandoah Thomas E. Graves 7 Orange H. Carl Tinder Sr. 8 Albemarle Henry E. Wood 9 Buckingham Robert Mills Jr. 10 Pittsylvania J. M. Jenkins 11 Lunenburg W. Ellis Walton 12 Middlesex M. L. Everett Jr. 13 Southampton David L. Hickman 14 Accomack Janice R. Burton * Halifax Robert Harris ** Pittsylvania

*Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Farm Bureau weathered storms in 2011, but there’s still work ahead Despite an earthquake, a hurricane and a flood, Farm Bureau came through 2011 with some major accomplishments. Teamwork and hard work made it possible for us to reach some significant milestones, including a record membership year. Congratulations to all of you for reaching our highest-ever membership level: 150,830 member families in 2011! On the down side, our insurance company suffered its second-largest loss ever in August, when Hurricane Irene blew through the state, resulting in almost $30 million in losses. Combined with the spring tornadoes, our members had $57.7 million in storm losses this year. In addition to all the property damage, many of our farmers lost valuable crops. Turning to politics, I’m pleased to report your work at the local level paid big dividends at the state capitol and in Washington. We started 2011 strong, prevailing on most of our policy issues in the General Assembly. We won more funding for agriculture best management practices, cost-share programs and technical assistance for farmers to protect water quality. The legislature also passed a law to define standards of care for agricultural animals. Our greatest victory was the first-year passage of a Virginia constitutional amendment to better protect private property rights. This was not an easy win, and gaining passage for a second consecutive year in 2012 is essential

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

to bringing this issue to a statewide referendum next fall. You’re probably already familiar with this battle through the “Stand Our Ground: Property Rights” campaign. Members have signed nearly 14,000 postcards to their legislators in support of this amendment. In Washington we have other policy battles to fight. In at least one case, the die already will have been cast. I believe we’ve reached the point where Congress may cut direct payments to farmers in the next farm bill. So as we fine-tune the 2012 Farm Bill, it’s essential that we work to keep federal crop insurance. This is the last line of defense for many farmers; without it, we are totally at the whim of Mother Nature. Farm bills are not written for times of excess; rather, they are written for times of distress. While commodity prices have been good this year, we’ve seen how weather can destroy crops in just a few hours. This country cannot thrive without a sound food security policy, and the 2012 Farm Bill is the main vehicle for that. We risk serious damage to our own economy if we remove the entire federal farm safety net, and this is one instance where we must truly “Stand Our Ground.” Looking back over last year, our record membership was just one of the many milestones we reached. We also took the historic step of purchasing an out-of-state insurance company, Countryway, based in Syracuse, N.Y. This was an acquisition that should be a win-win for both Farm Bureau and Countryway. They gain access to resources and technology they need,

and we gain a chance to spread our insurance risks and income across a number of states. Our grain division had another profitable year, and our risk management program continues to assist and educate farmers. We also helped pull down $2.1 million in valueadded producer grants for our members. One tremendous example of Farm Bureau teamwork was last spring’s National Agriculture Week, when volunteers across the state read to 54,000 children in 1,700 classrooms. If you follow Farm Bureau on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve seen an increased presence there as well. We have new Facebook pages, weekly Web videos and special sections on our website for Stand Our Ground campaigns. Also in the area of public relations, Virginia Farm Bureau has joined the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, and we’re participating in efforts to reach out and engage the public in a conversation about agriculture. I am blessed to have been your president last year and am excited to begin 2012. We made it through some tough storms and, looking forward, I’m sure we’ll be just as successful this year, as long as we all continue to work together. Wayne F. Pryor, a Goochland County beef and grain producer, is president of Virginia Farm Bureau.

january 2012

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Member Benefit

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National Agriculture Day, Agriculture Literacy Week to be celebrated in March To recognize the contributions of agriculture, National Agriculture Day will be celebrated on March 8 and is part of National Agriculture Week, March 11-17. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and others across the country join together to celebrate all that agriculture provides for consumers. The National Ag Day program encourages Americans to understand how food and fiber are produced and to value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy. County Farm Bureau women’s committees will mark the occasion by donating nonperishable food items, along with timely information about eating healthy, to regional food banks, food pantries and Ronald McDonald Houses across the state.

Noteworthy Quote

Agriculture Literacy Week Farm Bureau volunteers and other members of Virginia’s agricultural community will participate in the second Agriculture Literacy Week March 4-10. This year’s activities will feature the book From Our Fields … To You by Kellie Worrell, a Carroll County teacher and farmer. The book is Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s Farmer Ben Book of the Year and details the process of growing fresh produce and making it available to consumers. “We’re hoping to build on the success of last year’s inaugural Agriculture Literacy Week this year as we encourage even more volunteers to participate,” said Lynn Black, AITC education program coordinator. “It’s a great opportunity for those within the agricultural community to make connections with their local schools and to share agriculture’s story.”

Former Women’s Committee chairman passes Helen M. Neese, a former Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Committee chairman and board member, died Nov. 7. Mrs. Neese, who was 83, served on the VFBF Women’s Committee from 1983 through 2002. She also was a past chairman of the Shenandoah County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. In 1986 she represented Farm Bureau women across the country at the Triennial Conference of the Associated Country Women of the World in Ireland. In 1987 she was elected Southern Region Helen Neese representative to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Committee and was named Farm Woman of the Year by Country Women magazine. She is a past secretary of the national Country Women’s Council, representing the AFBF Women’s Committee. “Helen was my friend and my mentor. She taught me how to support agriculture, and her deep passion and love for agriculture showed through everything she did,” said Janice Burton, current VFBF Women’s Committee chairman. “It was a pleasure serving on the Women’s Committee with Helen. She was instrumental in getting Agriculture in the Classroom started in Virginia, and I appreciate her leadership and how much she carried the Women’s Program forward.” Mrs. Neese and her late husband, John, were retired dairy farmers. They became Farm Bureau members in 1950 and were the New Market Area Chamber of Commerce’s 1972 Outstanding Farm Family. She is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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“Well, as long as I can keep farming, I’m OK.” ∂ Howard Buffett, Warren Buffett’s son, a Nebraska corn and soybean producer and heir-apparent to the chairmanship of Berkshire Hathaway, on CBS’ 60 Minutes last month.

january 2012

>> save the dates

Ag trade conference planned for March 13 and 14 The Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade will be held March 13 and 14 at the Omni Richmond hotel. For details or to register, visit VaFarmBureau.org/Agriculture/ AgTradeConference. The event is being organized by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Port Authority and the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

The Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade is the fourth such annual conference in which Farm Bureau has been involved.

Risk management meetings gearing up for 2012 The following meetings for farmers with an interest in risk management opportunities have been scheduled, and more are being planned for this winter: • Jan. 10–11, Eastern Shore Ag Expo in Accomack County; • Jan. 17, Tri-County Ag Conference in Sussex County; • Jan. 17, Four Rivers Ag Conference in New Kent County; • Jan. 18, Five County Ag Conference in King and Queen County; • Jan. 18, Middle Peninsula Ag Conference in Gloucester County; • Jan. 19, Northern Neck Ag Conference in Westmoreland County; and • Feb. 2, Southeast Virginia Field Conference in Chesapeake. All meetings are free, but reservations are required. The meetings are offered by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension and other organizations. For more information or to arrange a risk management meeting in another area, contact Jonah Bowles, VFBF agriculture market analyst, at 804-290-1117 or jonah.bowles@vafb.com. 6

Virginia Farm Bureau News

A 10 percent discount is available on all Farm Bureau warehouse products except baler twine, which already is specially priced for members who need to re-stock.

Members can save at Feb. 24 Farm Bureau warehouse event In need of parts for your car, truck or farm machinery? 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 event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the warehouse, located at 1541 Mary St. in Sandston. Refreshments will be available. Members can save on tires, batteries and oil and grease products, as well as on disk blades, plow parts, chisel teeth, roller chains and cutting parts for hay equipment and combines. The discount is available for all products except baler twine, which already will be specially priced. Since 1965, the Products Division has provided farmers with a variety of quality supplies, through both the warehouse and numerous Farm Bureau-certified local dealers statewide. The warehouse is a 53,000-square-foot facility with a daily inventory typically valued at $1.2 million. It serves about 400 dealers throughout Virginia, Maryland and northern North Carolina, as well as a handful in West Virginia and Delaware. For information on specific products, call the warehouse at 800-476-8473. SaveOurFood.org

Majority of Farm Bureau-endorsed candidates elected Ninety-seven of 100 candidates endorsed for General Assembly seats last fall by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC were successful in their respective races. Among the 27 endorsed state Senate candidates who were elected, all were incumbents except Republicans Thomas Garrett Jr. in the 22nd District and Bill Carrico in the 40th District. Sixty-one of the 71 candidates endorsed for House of Delegates seats were incumbents. Newly elected candidates endorsed by VFBF AgPAC were Republicans Israel D. O’Quinn in the 5th District, Nick Rush in the 7th District, Randy Minchew in the 10th District, Joseph Yost in the 12th District, Christopher Head in the 17th District, Michael Webert in the 18th District, Peter Farrell in the 56th District, Matt Fariss in the 59th District, Keith Hodges in the 98th District and Margaret Ransone in the 99th District. Eighty-four of 88 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia chose to participate in VFBF AgPAC last year. They provided representatives for local evaluation committees that interviewed candidates and provided input to the VFBF AgPAC board of trustees. “Farm Bureau’s political action committee has afforded the organization a tremendous opportunity to build and maintain relationships with state legislators,” said Andrew Smith, VFBF senior assistant director of governmental relations. “Our members take an active interest in who represents them, and members who serve on the local evaluation committees give candidates very careful consideration. “They frequently also serve as a resource when officials need to know how specific issues stand to affect Virginia’s farmers.”

Down Home Virginia to become Real Virginia in 2012 Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program will get a new name and new content starting in January. Down Home Virginia, now in its 11th year, will become Real Virginia and feature a new chef and a vegetable gardening expert. Todd Schneider, the executive chef at Virginia’s Executive Mansion, will replace John Maxwell and will share recipes in a segment called “Heart of the Home,” some of which will be taped at the governor’s mansion. Andy Hankins, a longtime professor and Virginia Cooperative Extension alternative crops specialist at Virginia State University, will be featured in a new monthly segment on vegetable gardening called “From the Ground Up.” Landscape gardening expert Mark Viette and his “In the Garden” segments will remain on the program.

Farm Bureau membership hits all-time high The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has reached a record-high number of members. “I am ecstatic,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor, who reported that as of last year’s cutoff date, Oct. 14, the organization had reached a record-setting 150,000 members—99 more than last year’s record 149,901. As of Nov. 1, that total was 150,830. “Not only are our membership numbers at a record level, but our retention is just over 93 percent,” Pryor said. “With the economy the way it is, that’s almost as good as the high membership numbers. “It’s not always about how many members you have, but to have a record number is the result of what we do for our members. They obviously see the value of their membership.” Nationally, the new figures mean the organization exceeded its membership goal of 149,902, set by the American Farm Bureau Federation, two weeks ahead of the AFBF membership year-end. A total of 10,597 new members joined the organization this past year, and 93.05 percent of existing memberships were renewed, making this the ninth consecutive year the organization has held a retention percentage of more than 92.5 percent.

Membership in — recent years — 2001 132,719 2002 136,424 2003 143,069 2004 146,812 2005 148,193 2006 148,031 2007 146,934 2008 147,454 2009 149,857 2010 149,901 2011 150,830

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2012

photos by kathy dixon

Eminent domain has been invoked to take parts of Edd Jenningsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; farm in Wythe County more than a dozen times over the years.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

Washington Watch

Wythe County farmer favored in eminent domain case

= Virgnia april 2008

www.vafb.com www .va va affb fb.com m

Farm Bureau News

By Kathy Dixon

ometimes court battles are more about principles than money. Edd Jennings’ recent lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Transportation was about making the department think twice before taking land under eminent domain. As Jennings traversed the patchwork pieces of his family farm on an all-terrain utility vehicle, he talked about his recent victory over VDOT. “I thought the ruling was great and showed great courage on the part of Judge Showalter,” he said. Circuit Judge Joey Showalter ruled that VDOT took and damaged Jennings’ property during repairs to the Interstate 77 bridge, which looms over his house and cuts the 300-acre farm in half. A jury eventually will be impaneled to determine how much compensation VDOT should pay Jennings. “Money is not the issue,” Jennings said. “We didn’t sue them for money. We want to make condemning authorities think before taking other people’s property.” Jennings doesn’t want to give up the rights to his land and continues to fight even though parts of the farm have been taken under eminent domain more than a dozen times by four different utility companies. “It’s been a theme all my life,” Jennings said. “And I know I’ll be dealing with this the rest of my life.” y

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

The recent case against VDOT was the second lawsuit that Jennings has won, but previous takings occurred because his grandparents didn’t think they could refuse. “Edd learned that, despite the old saying ‘You can’t fight city hall,’ you actually can,” said attorney Joseph Waldo, president of the law firm Waldo & Lyle. The firm has represented Jennings in his suit against VDOT for the past six years. “This should teach farmers that they can fight eminent domain.” Jennings said farmers have so many issues to deal with that it’s hard for them to focus on land ownership. “But if you don’t have protected rights to your land, you have nothing,” he said. The judge ruled that VDOT’s use of Jennings’ land adversely affected access to his property. Between Jennings’ grandparents’ house and his parents’ house is a mound of construction debris, covered by dirt, that VDOT left under the I-77 bridge following a 2002 repair project. He also ruled that stormwater runoff from the bridge, which has left ditches 6 to 15 inches deep on Jennings’ property, amounts to a taking by the state. Condemning authorities such as local governments, state agencies or utilities, can exercise the right of eminent domain to take private property for a public use.

Years of fighting

Eminent domain law

Farm Bureau still working reform: for change fbn0408.indd 1

3/20/08 1:36:09 PM

Edd Jennings’ eminent domain woes were detailed in an April 2008 Farm Bureau News article.

They must compensate landowners. In most of the takings on Jennings’ land, including a natural gas pipeline, electric power lines, an interstate highway, a cable television line, an overhead bridge and a county road, the family has been compensated. Jennings got nothing for the I-77 bridge repairs. A previous lawsuit he filed against Duke Energy for pumping water under his land and ruining part of it garnered a settlement that was so successful Jennings is prohibited from disclosing the amount he received, Waldo said. “These last two cases, Edd dug in and fought and won, and others can too.”

january 2012

sara owens

FARM BUREAU TO STAND ITS GROUND ON BEHALF OF AGRICULTURE AT JAN. 24 LEGISLATIVE DAY

Sen. Phillip Puckett (right), D-Tazewell, was among state legislators who met with Farm Bureau leaders during the 2011 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day. Among producer members from Southwest Virginia who talked with him last January were Della Osborne of Washington County and O.B. Lockhart of Russell County.

Bill Faris of Washington County shared information about Farm Bureau’s 2011 legislative priorities with Puckett.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU members will stand their ground on important issues affecting Virginia agriculture during the organization’s annual Legislative Day. The focus during this year’s General Assembly is on a state constitutional amendment to protect private property rights from eminent domain abuse. On Jan. 24, Farm Bureau leaders will visit elected officials at the state capitol to share their concerns. “It is so important for our members to meet face to face with their legislators about the issues affecting their lives and businesses,” said Kelly Pruitt, VFBF governmental relations grassroots coordinator. “Legislative Day gives us the opportunity to educate our representatives about Virginia agriculture so that they will make better-informed decisions in this session.”

Farm Bureau’s 2012 critical legislative issues include animal care, Chesapeake Bay regulations, private property rights, funding for Virginia Cooperative Extension and wildlife damage. After lunch at the Richmond Marriott and a briefing session with Farm Bureau staff, members will have appointments with their respective state senators and delegates. During those appointments, they will present their representatives with copies of the children’s book From Our Fields ... to You by Kellie Worrell, to encourage their participation in Agriculture Literacy Week March 4-10 at their local elementary schools. The VFBF Women’s Committee will host a legislative reception that evening, which will allow Farm Bureau leaders to talk with their representatives in an informal setting.

SaveOurFood.org

Join grassroots efforts online with alerts, blog, website » Internet access plus interest in Virginia

Farm Bureau’s policies equals participation in the organization’s grassroots lobbying efforts. The Capital Connection Action Center is an online network for producer members to get the latest updates on Farm Bureau policies. To start getting automatic “Action Alerts” from the site, contact Kelly Pruitt, governmental relations grassroots coordinator, at 804-290-1293 or kelly.pruitt@ vafb.com. In addition a new blog called “Plows & Politics” gives members the latest updates on Farm Bureau priority issues and other legislative activities. The blog can be accessed at vfbplowsandpolitics.blogspot.com or in the “Policy & Action” section of the Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org.

� It’s much quicker for us to send an automated Action Alert and post on the blog than it is to send letters or individual emails.� — KELLY PRUITT Governmental relations grassroots coordinator

The “Policy & Action” section of VaFarmBureau.org includes information on Farm Bureau’s legislative priorities.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

“We’re working on more online methods to get up-to-date information to our members quickly,” said Pruitt. “Sometimes issues come up unexpectedly, and we need our members to contact their legislators immediately. “It’s much quicker for us to send an automated Action Alert and post on the blog than it is to send letters or individual emails.” Both Internet vehicles enable members to get more involved by expanding the way information is delivered to them. Members also can use the Capital Connection Action Center to view the latest Action Alerts, copy sample letters, email their legislators, and highlight certain issues to their local media. Information on Farm Bureau’s critical issues, including talking points, articles and video coverage, also is available in the “Policy & Action” section of VaFarmBureau.org.

january 2012

Viewing Virginia

Fall vegetable transplants offer new market

Clifton Slade (right, inset) shared his experience in growing fall vegetable starter plants (background). “Once the frost hits, usually in October, your weed control is taken care of,” he noted.

Growing fall vegetable starter plants is a virtually untapped market for smaller-scale Virginia farmers. “You could do as good on a half-acre as some people do on 20,” said Clifton Slade, a Surry County farmer and agriculture management agent at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm. “There’s a wonderful market for someone who wants to grow transplants.” Slade told participants at VSU’s 2011 Agriculture Field Day that there are few places to find fall vegetable starter plants in Virginia. Farmers with a small amount of land can easily grow starter broccoli, collard greens, kale, lettuce, spinach, sweet potatoes and Swiss chard and sell them for $2 each. On one acre of land, that could net up to $20,000.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Ideally, fall vegetables should be planted in mid-summer so that they are ready for Thanksgiving, Slade said. But those planted slightly later will be ready for the Christmas season. The beauty of fall vegetable production is that nature offers weed control in the form of frost, he said. “Once the first frost hits, usually in October, your weed control is taken care of. So you get a lot from these plants without a lot of extra weeding.” Planting the seeds for fall vegetable plants can be done with a hand-pushed seeder. Slade compared three different kinds of seeders and got the best results from a $400 model. “The extra income you can get from selling transplants would

make up for the cost of the seeder the first year,” he said. Traditionally, produce plants are set in rows about 3 feet apart, but if they are being grown for transplants, less room is needed. Slade grew bok choy, cabbage, romaine lettuce and spinach in a 500-square-foot garden with only 12 inches in between rows last year. He fertilized with organic compost and chicken manure and said he “beat everyone to market.” He sold starter plants at a farmers’ market for $2 each. “There’s nowhere else I know of where you can get $400 for growing something in 500 square feet of space,” he said.

SaveOurFood.org

Viewing Virginia

For small value-added agricultural producers, effective labeling can make the difference between success and failure. Theresa Nartea, Virginia State University Cooperative Extension marketing and agribusiness specialist, recalled working with a producer who didn’t market his product for two years because he was waiting to put nutritional information on the product label—even though it wasn’t necessary. “Some producers are at a standstill because they don’t understand the regulations,” Nartea said. She recommends that small-scale producers contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to find out which regulations affect them and which ones don’t. “I tell them that VDACS is their friend,” Nartea said. By way of example, she noted that anyone who wants to make and sell products like jam or salsa must supply certain information to VDACS prior to operating. That includes ingredients of the proposed product, a diagram of the processing area and sample labels. In the area of nutrition labeling, there are exemptions for smaller producers. Those with gross sales of less than $500,000 or with annual gross sales of food less than $50,000 can file for an exemption. And businesses with fewer than 10 employees and fewer than 10,000 units of a product sold don’t even have to file for an exemption. For new producers who have a valueadded product they want to market, Nartea suggested checking VDACS’ Virginia Grown website at virginiagrown.com to see if that product already is being sold. “People think they are being original, but many aren’t,” she said. She also recommended attending specialty foods conferences to see what people are interested in and to look for new and unique products to entice consumers. Eco packaging—like sauce in a reusable glass carafe—is a trend in which consumers are currently interested. “New and unique products initiate purchases,” Nartea said.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

photos by kathy dixon

VSU specialist: Value-added producers need to be in the know

This is the first ginger crop Charlie and Miriam Maloney of King and Queen County have planted.

Ginger provides niche market for high tunnel users Charlie and Miriam Maloney are proving that ginger can be grown successfully in Virginia. Last year they placed 225 of the plants in a high tunnel greenhouse at their Dayspring Farm in King and Queen County and harvested their first ginger roots in October. The tropical plant is a high-value crop that until recently has been imported from outside the United States, said Dr. Reza Rafie, who is working with the Maloneys on their ginger trial. Rafie is a Virginia Cooperative Extension horticulture specialist at Virginia State University. A grant from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services enabled VSU and the Maloneys to grow ginger in a high tunnel. “It is a considerable niche market opportunity,” Rafie said at a ginger field day. “Fifteen to twenty dollars per pound is the going rate for fresh Virginia ginger.” Ginger seeds need to be planted in early February in a heated environment and can

be transplanted at the end of April into a high tunnel. The plants mature by the following January but can be harvested earlier as baby ginger, which has a more delicate taste preferred by some chefs, Rafie said. The yield is 2 to 3 pounds of baby ginger per plant, compared to 5 to 7 pounds from a mature plant. The mature ginger is the type usually found in grocery stores, and it provides seed rhizomes for future crops. In addition to selling fresh ginger, there are many value-added products that can be made with it, said Theresa Nartea, VSU Extension marketing and gribusiness specialist. They include tea, candy and spa products. “The market is there for a small producer to sell fresh or value-added ginger products,” Nartea said. She said farmers should determine five things before they start growing it: what form of ginger they will sell; their target consumers; a selling price; where the ginger will be sold; and how it will be promoted.

january 2012

Women’s Conference will be held at The Homestead

Joint Young Farmers event will take place in Leesburg The 2012 Young Farmers Winter Expo will take place Feb. 3-5 at the National Convention Center in Leesburg. This year’s event will be held with the Maryland Farm Bureau Young Farmers and will focus on direct to-consumer marketing and making the most of large populations that live within easy reach of farmers in both states. The theme will be “Loading Up on Local Markets – Farming on the Urban Edge!” The expo will open with a winery tour and social at Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg. There will be a variety of speakers, including Dr. Alex White, an agricultural and applied economics instructor at Virginia Tech, and a panel discussion with farmers and chefs who have reached out successfully to local markets. Tours of farms and agricultural businesses will take place in both Maryland and Virginia. To register, visit vafbyoungfarmers.com or contact the VFBF Women and Young Farmers Department at 804-514-4202 or youngfarmers@vafb.com.

The 2012 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Conference will take place March 23-25 at The Homestead in Hot Springs. The theme of the conference is “Nurturing a New Horizon.” Workshops will include information about bridging generation gaps, using social media effectively, and herbal vinegars. There also will be informative sessions on meal etiquette, how to save money by couponing and Farmer Ben’s Farm Day Fun. The keynote speaker will be LaDonna Gatlin, sister of the members of country music group the Gatlin Brothers. Participants in the 2012 Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador and VFBF Farm Woman of the Year programs will be judged at the conference, and state-level winners will be announced. Members can register at county Farm Bureau offices beginning in late January.

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Make sure you have the insurance you need when it counts most

Hurricane Irene leads to $30 million in Farm Bureau claims

Floods, like the ones Virginia frequently sees in fall or spring, and earthquakes, like the one last August, can cause structural damage not automatically covered by homeowner or business insurance policies.

By Sara Owens If you recently suffered a loss due to a storm or other event, you know the potential value of an insurance policy. But what if that loss wasn’t covered? There are some losses that are not automatically included on a homeowner or business policy. “It’s important to review your policy and talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have all the coverage you need,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “No one wants to find out they’re not covered when it’s time to file a claim.” These are some occurrences that can damage a home or other building but are not automatically included on an insurance policy. If you are not covered and would like to be, your Farm Bureau agent can help. • Earthquake: Any home or building could be damaged in an earthquake, and even just a few cracks in drywall can be costly to repair, Rooks said. • Flood: Flood insurance must be purchased separately. The flood endorsement includes any rising water from creeks or rivers that creep into your home or other building and cause damage. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

• Water and sewer back-up: This coverage is for damage if an out-going water or sewer line backs up into your home or other building. • Building ordinance: Every Farm Bureau policyholder receives notice about this endorsement with his or her policy renewal, Rooks said. The building ordinance endorsement covers changes that must be made when repairing damage to older homes to bring them up to code. • Common items: Policies have a limited amount of coverage for items such as guns and jewelry. If the items are stolen, they are covered only up to $2,500. Policyholders can schedule those items to secure additional coverage. • Food spoilage: Policies cover only up to $500 worth of food spoilage. If you generally keep more than $500 worth of food in your refrigerator of freezer, you may want to consider adding this endorsement, Rooks said. Additionally, if you operate your own business and work from home, your agent can help make sure you are properly insured.

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. received nearly 6,200 storm damage claims after Hurricane Irene caused extensive damage to homes, farms and other property on Aug. 27, 2011. The storm was the costliest to hit Virginia since Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. The total damage from claims received from Hurricane Irene now exceeds $30 million. “The damage from Irene extended over most of the eastern third of the state,” said Rick Mattox, VFBMIC vice president of claims. “With a tremendous effort from our Farm Bureau claims adjusters and help from about 30 independent adjusters, we were able to close almost 95 percent of those claims within eight weeks. That’s really an incredible feat for an insurance company.” VFBMIC has received 350 claims as a result of the August 2011 earthquake that had its epicenter in Louisa County. Fewer than 10 were covered losses. “Unfortunately many of our customers did not have coverage for earthquake damage,” Mattox said. “The earthquake coverage is an endorsement that needs to be added to a homeowner’s policy. Anyone interested in adding earthquake insurance should talk to their agent.”

january 2012

First-place entries in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual photo contest showcased the visual appeal of agriculture. All winning photos can be viewed at VaFarmBureau.org, and an entry form and guidelines for the 2012 contest are available at VaFarmBureau.org/contests. Participants submitted photos for judging in four categories: Animals, Landscapes/Rural Life, People, and Structures and Equipment. Entries were judged in three age divisions: 6 to 10 years, 11 to 17 years, and 18 and older. “Under the Gun” by Russ Parkinson, Rockingham County

“Ed Saunders” by Courtney Didlake, Caroline County

Photo Contest

“Boys of Summer” by Parker Clary, Brunswick County

Virginia Farm Bureau News

“Supper Time” by Amy Larson, Washington County

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“Henry” by Elisha Courts, Fluvanna County

“This is Tasty!” by Drue Clary, Brunswick County

Winners

“Soft Stillness Before Harvest” by Thane Everett, Spotsylvania County

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

“The Wheel of Life” by Hannah Roberts, Campbell County

january 2012

2011 Annual Convention

Convention touched on AG TRADE strengths, challenges Anticipated growth and current standstills in the export of Virginia agricultural and forestry products were addressed by speakers at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2011 Annual Convention. The event drew hundreds of Farm Bureau producer members and others with an interest in agriculture and agribusiness. It was held Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. The convention theme was “Ag Trade: Growing Opportunities.”

Va. farm and forestry exports up in 2011, secretary says Virginia agricultural exports are up 5 percent from 2010, and that figure could increase even more before the end of the year, said Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry. Virginia shipped $2.24 billion worth of agriculture and forestry products in 2010, the state’s second-highest amount ever, Haymore told participants at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2011 Annual Convention on Nov. 30. “That’s great news, but there are trade barriers we continue Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore to battle,” he said, citing China’s ongoing ban on poultry Recent trade missions to China, Europe, shipped from Virginia and a ban on logs India and Israel already are paying off for shipped from Virginia that was enacted Virginia farmers. earlier this year. He also noted restrictions Perdue Agribusiness ships soybeans to in Cuba and exports to India that are the Dandong port in northeast China. limited due to high tariffs. “Every time a boat launches, at least Fortunately, Haymore said, Gov. Bob $20 million worth of soybeans is being McDonnell is committed to increasing shipped to China,” Haymore said. “This is Virginia’s agricultural and forestry a great opportunity for soybean growers exports. “He appreciates and supports in the state.” agriculture, and his mindset is to buy local and sell global.” The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services already has an office in Hong Kong and recently opened trade offices in Shanghai and New Delhi. “By having boots on the ground, we can make progress,” Haymore said. 18

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Top Virginia ag exports include: } } } } } } } } } } }

S oybea ns Gr a i ns Por k Pou l tr y Toba c co Wood Pr od uc t s Fats and O i l s Cotton S eaf ood Fr es h Vegeta b le s Ani m al Hi d e s

Virginia’s top export markets include: } } } } } } } } }

Ch i na Mor oc co Bel gi u m Ind ones i a Venez u el a Mexi co Ru s s i a Ir el and Ja pa n SaveOurFood.org

2011 Annual Convention

Solutions elusive for Chinese bans, port official tells farmers Bans by the Chinese government on poultry and logs shipped from Virginia have proved ongoing challenges for the state’s agriculture, forestry and shipping sectors. “Quagmire” was how J.J. Keever, Virginia Port Authority senior deputy executive J.J. Keever director for external affairs, described the process of getting the bans lifted. Keever delivered the keynote address Nov. 29 at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2011 Annual Convention. Virginia exports about 15 percent of its chickens and about 10 percent of its turkeys, Keever noted, and generally speaking, “we’re moving the Virginia (agricultural) products through the global marketplace.” China, however, has banned imports of poultry from Virginia since an outbreak of avian influenza in the Shenandoah Valley in 2007. While U.S. agribusiness and shipping officials have worked with Congress for years to get the ban lifted, “we have not made any significant progress,” Keever said. China also has banned imports of logs from Virginia and South Carolina since April, after insects were found in some shipments. Keever said Chinese officials accepted an invitation earlier this year to visit Virginia and discuss a solution, but that visit has since been rescheduled for March 2012. He estimated that the ban is stopping export of 4,000 to 5,000 shipping containers a month from Virginia during the current logging season. “Obviously progress has been slow to date,” he said, but in the case of both bans, “there are many people across the country trying to find one fix” that will get goods moving to China again. Like the state’s agriculture and forestry industries, Virginia’s container shipping sector is a significant economic driver for the commonwealth, Keever said. It is responsible for 345,000 jobs and $41 billion in business revenue. Globally, container shipping increased 11 percent in 2010, and it is forecast to increase 300 percent by 2040. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

“So this is a good opportunity for the Port of Virginia,” he said. Keever encouraged Virginia’s farmers to pursue new opportunities to export their commodities, “and we do appreciate those that we move through the port.”

Port of Virginia ‘very familiar with agriculture’ The Port of Virginia has the potential to be extremely profitable for Virginia farmers, a second Virginia Port Authority official told convention participants. Greg Edwards, director of external affairs, overviewed the port and its potential value to farmers during a Nov. 29 workshop titled “Port of Virginia: Proximity & Potential Profit.” “It’s close by, so why go somewhere farther away when you can utilize the port right here?” Edwards said. “Plus the Port of Virginia is very familiar with agriculture. Ag exports are a staple for the port, and we have a lot of experience handling agricultural products.” The Port of Virginia is the seventh-largest port in the country and the third-largest container port on the East Coast, with 13 percent of the market share. In 2010, 22 percent of all its loaded containers carried agricultural products, a 25 percent increase since 2006. Virginia was ranked ninth nationally for agricultural exports in 2010. Ag exports are on the rise due to a weakened U.S. dollar and because it is easier for farmers to export their products, Edwards said. Producers can export their goods using containers so that they avoid having to meet a higher volume threshold. “Instead of having to export 1,000 or 2,000 tons of a product, farmers can choose to fill two containers,” Edwards said. “That’s achievable and has made exporting products more appealing to farmers.” Farmers with an interest in agricultural trade should contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for help with letters of credit and finding buyers, he said. “When they’re ready to discuss moving their product, they should contact the Port of Virginia.”

Port of Virginia F A C T S •

•

The Port of Virginia is the nation’s seventh-largest and the East Coast’s third-largest port, behind those of New York / New Jersey and Savannah, and ahead of ports in Charleston and Jacksonville.

The port is able to accommodate larger ships that will benefit from the current $5.25 billion modernization of the Panama Canal.

C O N T A C T S : Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of International Marketing 804-786-3953 Virginia Port Authority 800-446-8098 january 2012

2011 Annual Convention

Variance to conservation easements allows for working farmland Without the sale of tax credits from a conservation easement on his 180-acre farm in Augusta County, Wes Kent would never have been able to purchase an adjoining 118-acre farm. “The conservation easement provided me a valuable tool to expand my farm,” Kent said during a Nov. 29 panel discussion on “Conservation Easements: The Right Fit for Your Farm?” Kent, a full-time beef, dairy and poultry farmer, bought his farm in 2004 after leasing it for several years. This year he was able to put that farm under a conservation easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, a state agency that is Virginia’s largest holder of conservation easements. With the sale of tax credits from that easement, he had enough collateral to secure financing to purchase his neighbor’s property. “This easement was a good fit for my farm,” Kent said. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements designed to restrict intensive land uses like residential and commercial development. Localities have used such agreements to preserve open and agricultural land and promote responsible growth. Easements can be donated for federal and state tax benefits or sold under purchase of development rights or transfer of development rights programs. Farmers who place conservation easements on their land continue to own, live on and farm it and can sell the land or pass it on to their heirs. There has been a perception that conservation easements aren’t a viable option for working farms, said panel moderator Matt Lohr, Virginia’s commissioner of agriculture and consumer services. Lohr has spent the past year working with farmers, agribusinesses, conservation groups and others to come up with a working lands variance to conservation easements. The variance allows farmers to continue farming land that is under easement. Historically, easements focused on open space preservation, “but farmland is worthy of preservation as farmland,” said panelist Lisa Anne Hawkins, a founding partner of the law firm Lenhart Obenshain PC who specializes in land conservation. “Conservation easements recognize and honor that so you can operate a viable

Virginia Farm Bureau News

business into the future,” and landowners can get some tax benefits as well, she added. Panelists encouraged farmers to at least consider whether the agreements might help them preserve their farms.

For more information, producers can call the state’s office of farmland preservation within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 804-786-1346.

Localities have used conservation easements to preserve open and agricultural land and promote responsible growth.

Delegates elect new District 10 director, re-elect four others Pittsylvania County beef and poultry producer Robert Mills Jr. of Callands has been elected to a three-year term on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board Robert Mills Jr. of directors. He will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Campbell, Halifax and Pittsylvania counties. Mills succeeds Joseph H. Williams, also of Pittsylvania, who did not seek re-election.

He owns and operates Briar View Farms Poultry, a 17,000-pullet breeder operation that raises birds for Perdue Farms, and co-owns M.C. Cattle, a 500-head cow-calf operation. He also grows tobacco. Delegates to the VFBF convention also re-elected District 1 director Emily F. Edmondson of Tazewell County, District 4 director Gordon R. Metz of Henry County, District 7 director Thomas E. Graves of Orange County and District 13 director. M.L. Everett Jr. of Southampton County.

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2011 Annual Convention

County Farm Bureaus recognized for excellence Farm Bureaus in the counties of Greene, Loudoun, Orange and Chesterfield were recognized Nov. 30 with Best in State Awards for their work in educating the public and promoting agriculture and Farm Bureau. Greene County Farm Bureau, led by President Joanne Burkholder, won in the category for membership acquisition. Loudoun County Farm Bureau, led by President Will Cockerill, won in the member involvement and retention category. Orange County Farm Bureau, led by President Jim Miller, captured honors for agriculture promotion or education targeting the public. Chesterfield County Farm Bureau, led by President Howard Nester Jr., was recognized for its governmental relations program.

Farm leader, property rights advocate honored with Distinguished Service Awards Retired VFBF board member Robert E. Hall of Northumberland County and state Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, were recognized Nov. 30 with Virginia Farm Robert E. Hall Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Awards. Hall raises corn, wheat, soybeans and oysters on 500 acres in Virginia’s Northern Neck region, as well as 1,500 acres of timber. A Farm Bureau member for 33 years, he served on the VFBF board from 1995 to 2010, representing producer members in the counties of Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland. He is a past president and board member of the Northumberland-Lancaster County Farm Bureau, a member of the Virginia Small Grain Checkoff Board and the Virginia Agricultural Council Board, and

treasurer and past president of the FFA Young Farmers of Northumberland County. Obenshain has represented Harrisonburg and the counties of Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren in the General Assembly Mark Obenshain since 2003. In 2007, he was a chief patron of legislation that reformed Virginia’s eminent domain laws to protect property owners. In 2011, he was at the forefront of the battle for property owners to get protections enshrined in the state constitution. Obenshain has a 100 percent voting record in support of VFBF policy issues while serving on the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Courts of Justice; Local Government; and Privileges and Elections committees, and he consistently has been endorsed by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC.

Young farmers honor organization’s vice president The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee honored VFBF Vice President Edward A. Scharer Edward A. Scharer of Albemarle County Nov. 29 with its 2011 Warren Beach Award for his long-standing

support of the Young Farmers Program. Scharer, a cattle, hog, row crop and forage producer, previously served three terms on the VFBF board of directors, representing producer members in the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico and Louisa.

“Mr. Scharer has always been a huge supporter of our efforts to grow the Young Farmer Program in Virginia,” said Young Farmers Committee Chairman Robert Harris. “He attends all of our functions and meetings and has always been a resource we could turn to for whatever we needed.”

Augusta County teacher wins Discussion Meet Christy Huffman Kerr, an agriculture teacher at Wilson Memorial High School in Augusta County, took top Christy honors Nov. 29 Huffman Kerr in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Young Farmers Discussion Meet. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

First runner-up was Chris Van Vlack of Loudoun County. Other finalists were Jeremey Burner of Orange County and Katelyn Koontz of Augusta County. The Discussion Meet is a committeestyle discussion of a predetermined agricultural topic. Participants are judged on their ability to build consensus and work toward solutions. Kerr was awarded a John Deere Gator

utility vehicle, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.; $500, courtesy of VFBF; and $250, courtesy of the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. She also will receive a trip to the 2012 winter conference for Farm Bureau Young Farmers from Virginia and Maryland in Leesburg. She will represent VFBF in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet in Honolulu. january 2012

USFRA begins conversation between farmers, consumers By Kathy Dixon It’s time for Virginia farmers to tell their stories. And they can join with others across the nation in a movement to get a dialogue going between farmers and consumers. Virginia Farm Bureau has affiliated itself with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, formed by farmers and agricultural groups to spearhead a national dialogue between consumers and producers. “I think this is definitely a positive step toward getting a twoway conversation going,” said Scott Sink, a Franklin County vegetable producer who is president of the Franklin County Farm Bureau and vice chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. USFRA research found that most of today’s consumers have little information about where their food comes from. To address that, the group held a Sept. 22 event called The Food Dialogues in Washington, California, Indiana and New York. Panelists in each location discussed concerns uncovered by USFRA-commissioned surveys and answered questions from audience members and people who visited the USFRA website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

Burning the midnight oil is in our job description.

“I hope that this is just the beginning of more conversations down the road,” said Sink, who attended the Washington event. The USFRA found that Americans think about food production often, yet 72 percent of consumers say they know nothing or very little about farming or ranching. Many said they think the United States is on the wrong track in the way it produces food. “Americans have a lot of questions about where their food comes from, how it is raised and if it is good for their health long-term,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, who serves as USFRA chairman. “The findings of our surveys indicate there is an opportunity for more dialogue between farmers, ranchers and the American public about how food is grown and raised in the U.S. We hope that the results of the survey combined with the Food Dialogues event will continue the conversation between farmers, ranchers and anyone who is interested in learning more about how food is grown and raised.” Consumers surveyed said that some of the agricultural topics with the most confusing information include pesticide and antibiotic uses and genetic engineering in crops. Seventy-nine percent said that producing healthy choices for all consumers is very important for farmers to consider when planning farming practices. “I think people want to know who produces their food and how they produce it,” said Sink, who operates a retail produce store in Montgomery County. “But people don’t even understand what they’re asking sometimes.” When he operated a farm stand, he noted, shoppers would ask if his produce was grown organically. Sink is not an organic farmer, but he would explain how he grows his fruits and vegetables and what inputs he uses. Typically, people still bought his products. “They need it to make sense to them,” he said.

Training session will coincide with Legislative Day

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Virginia Farm Bureau members attending this year’s Legislative Day on Jan. 24 in Richmond will be able to get training on how to better communicate with consumers. Representatives of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance will offer the training. The organization’s goal is to train 250,000 farmers and ranchers on new messaging to use when telling the general public about farming. Research commissioned by USFRA has shown that current messaging being used by most agriculture groups has not been effective in swaying consumer beliefs. The research also tested new messaging that resonated better with consumers. That information will be presented in the two-hour session Jan. 24.

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‘Don’t do anything stupid’ is not a health care plan When people talk about locally grown food, they’re talking about more than just proximity to a farm. “Buy local” is also about supporting specific values—family ownership, local control, environmental stewardship, community and ecological diversity. Those values motivate people to buy their food directly from the farmers who grow it. The local food system relies on an abundance of smaller-scale, diverse, sustainable family farms all across Virginia. For that kind of farm to exist, “sustainable” means more than environmental sustainability; it also includes economic viability. Farming is a dangerous and risky business, and it becomes a whole lot less attractive when a farmer knows he or she

is one fall from the tractor away from losing their livelihood. The industry has a need for new and younger farmers, but there are many challenges to attracting young people to farm in a way that will create a sustainable local food system. One of them, however, looms large: access to affordable, dependable health care. The ability to have adequate health care coverage is a serious concern for self-employed farmers. Many do not carry health insurance and try not to think about it. Others remind themselves, “Don’t do anything stupid” and hope that will keep them from getting hurt. However, there are strategies that can allow farmers to cover health care costs.

You can buy health insurance plans as an individual or purchase a group plan with your farm as a small business at an affordable cost. Virginia Farm Bureau health insurance representatives can help you make an informed decision. They can explain the coverage and help you find a way to afford it, so that if there is an accident or illness, you won’t have to worry about how to pay for needed care. Bottom line: If you don’t have a health insurance plan, get one. They are affordable, and it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for help in finding a plan that is best-suited to your needs.

Confused by Health Reform? We can help! • Individual plans • Employer group plans • HSAs and HRAs • Medicare supplement • Dental and vision

FARM BUREAU offers NEW health care reform-compliant plans with increased benefits for Virginia Farm Bureau members. Our trained staff will help you customize a health care plan to fit your needs and budget. We work with individuals, families and all types of businesses throughout the state of Virginia.

Get the Membership Advantage.

AU T H O R I Z E D I N D E P E N D E N T AG E N T

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For information on how the changes in health insurance can save you money, call us at 800-229-7779. Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corporation is an independent authorized agent in Virginia for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 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. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated HMO HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For exclusions, limitations, terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued, costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write your insurance agent or the company, whichever is applicable.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2012

Brush up on winter safety with online videos

More ‘dirt’! Farm Bureau launches new blog

Be sure you, your family and your farm are ready for Old Man Winter by brushing up on winter driving tips, hunting safety and ways to winterize your home. Visit the Virginia Farm Bureau Safety Center at FarmBureauAdvantage.com/TheAdvantage/SafetyCenter to view winter safety videos. For more information, contact Farm Bureau Safety at 804290-1376 or safety@farmbureauadvantage.com.

Virginia Farm Bureau’s video blog, “The Real Dirt,” has taken on a new dimension. Now housed at virginiafarmbureau.blogspot.com, the blog offers information and commentary on ag news and issues, as well as photos from Virginia farms, seasonal recipes that include Virginia farm products, and “Real Dirt” videos. “The Real Dirt” also is accessible from the first page of VaFarmBureau.org.

Farm Bureau partnering with hearing-loss study; members can participate Virginia Farm Bureau is partnering with the University of Michigan’s “HEAR on the Farm” research program. HEAR on the Farm is a study being offered to farmers in the interest of reducing noise-related hearing losses among producers by increasing their use of hearing protection devices. The university created the program with funds from the National Institutes of Health and in collaboration with the American Farm Bureau Federation. Producers who enroll in the study will be able to contribute to that effort while earning money for Virginia Farm Bureau Safety programs. They also can earn as much as $40 for participating. Interested farmers can get details at hearonthefarm.org; use the access code “saveears” to enroll. Or contact study administrators at hearonthefarm@umich.edu. The HEAR on the Farm website presents information about hearing protection devices, how they work and how to overcome barriers to using them. The site also demonstrates common farm noises and how they can be damaging to the ears. It describes how noise-induced hearing loss happens, and how to prevent it. 24

Virginia Farm Bureau News

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Agriculture Literacy Week is back for 2012 AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org

AITC SUPPORTERS In addition to many individuals who contributed, these organizations made contributions to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Clasroom between Aug. 15 and Dec. 12, 2011.

Leader Level ($1,000 to $9,999) The following groups made contributions at the Leader Level: • BB&T • Botetourt County Farm Bureau • Buckingham County Farm Bureau • Central District Women’s Committee • Culpeper County Farm Bureau • Dominion Foundation • Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation • Fauquier County Farm Bureau • Floyd County Farm Bureau • Houff Foundation • Nelson County Farm Bureau • Page County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Virginia Farm Bureau employees • Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers • Virginia Farm Credit Association • Virginia Pork Industry Board • Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association

Plans are being made for Virginia’s second Agriculture Literacy Week, which will be March 4-10 and coincide with National Ag Day, March 8. Farm Bureau volunteers and other members of Virginia’s agriculture and agribusiness community are invited to visit elementary schools and day care or afterschool programs in their areas and read the children’s book From Our Fields … To You by Virginia teacher and farmer Kellie Worrell. The book has been named Farmer Ben’s Book of t he Year for 2012 by Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. AITC is encouraging volunteers to purchase copies of the book to donate to school and classroom libraries when they visit. Last year volunteers read to more than 54,000 children during Agriculture Literacy Week and shared more than 1,800 copies of the designated 2011 book, Ready, Set, GROW!

Tips for reading to school groups, information on ordering copies of From Our Fields … To You and a downloadable activity book that can be copied for distribution are available in the “Volunteers” section of AgInTheClass.org. “The number of Farm Bureau volunteers, state ag officials and others who stepped forward to read to children in their communities was just amazing,” said AITC Executive Director Karen Davis. “I hope they had good experiences, and I hope they will encourage others to participate this year.” The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. For information on supporting the foundation’s educational initiatives, visit AgInTheClass. org and click on the “Donor” link, or contact Davis at 804-290-1142 or karen. davis@vafb.com.

Builder Level ($500 to $999) The following groups made contributions at the Builder Level: • Amelia County Farm Bureau • Augusta County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Greene County Farm Bureau • Henry County Farm Bureau • Highland-Bath County Farm Bureau • King George County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Midwest District Women’s Committee • Orange County Farm Bureau • Rockbridge County Farm Bureau • Russell County Farm Bureau • Valley District Women’s Committee • Virginia Agribusiness Council • Wythe County Farm Bureau

Find more information about AITC at AgInTheClass.org. Donations to the AITC program are always welcome and can be mailed to AITC, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

New AITC promotional video expected this month At press time, the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom was putting the finishing touches on an informational video called Kids Want to Know More that outlines AITC’s mission and what the program offers educators. Kids Want to Know More will replace the previous AITC video Cows Don’t Go to School and should be on AgInTheClass.org by the end of this month.

january 2012

In the Garden

, Relieve boxwoods of winter s wear and tear

photos by sara owens

Boxwood trees are great foundation plants and also can be used for privacy screening, but they are susceptible to winter storm damage, said horticulturalist Mark Viette. “The trees are often damaged by heavy, wet snow. A couple of winters ago we had a bad storm, and it flattened out our boxwood hedge,” Viette said. “Luckily, evergreens have the ability to maintain color after damage, but after two years, the branches become damaged. Boxwoods can rebound from damage, but in this case, the tree has been damaged for too long and it will require pruning.” Boxwoods should be pruned in the spring, using lopping shears or a hand saw. Scratch the branch with a penknife to see if the branch is dead or alive. If it is dead, it is important to cut it where the new growth starts at the base. More branches could die if you prune only a few of them, Viette said. “As you pull apart the plant, you can see where it is dead. Prune to where the nice, green growth is at the bottom of the tree, about 12 to 18 inches from the ground.” Once that’s done the plant will begin showing new growth, taking about three years to reach its former size.

Mark Viette appears on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program. Viette and his father operate the Andre Viette Farm and Nursery in Augusta County and have a live radio show broadcast by more than 60 mid-Atlantic stations each Saturday morning. They also are members of the Augusta County Farm Bureau. Andre Viette currently serves on the organization’s board of directors and on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee, and Mark Viette is a former Augusta Farm Bureau board member. 26

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

Good for You!

OATMEAL delivers fiber and protein in one bowl By Kathy Dixon

Spinach-Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf

Sowing your oats may have negative connotations, but eating oats is good for your health.

Ingredients

Oats made into oatmeal—not the instant kind that comes in different flavors—are a good source of fiber and nutrients, including vitamin E, zinc, iron and magnesium. Oats also are a good source of protein.

1 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms ¼ cup chopped onion 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained ½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Most oatmeal is made from whole oats that have been rolled and flattened into flakes. Steel cut oats, which are whole oats cut into thirds, have become a trendy form of the old staple.

1 pound 99% lean ground turkey breast

According to the American Cancer Society, insoluble fiber that is found in oatmeal has cancer-fighting properties because it attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity. And the soluble fiber found in oats may reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) without lowering HDL cholesterol (the good kind), according to the ACS.

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend

Additionally, soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch, which minimizes sharp rises in blood sugar level that usually happens right after eating. And research has found that people who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease. Even fast food restaurants are realizing the health benefits of oatmeal and are now offering it on their menus. Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Denny’s, McDonald’s and Starbucks all have some form of oatmeal on their menus. Oat consumption has grown by 5 percent each year since 1997, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration first issued its health claim for oat-based foods, according to the North American Milling Association.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

¾ cup oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked) ½ cup fat-free milk 1 egg white, lightly beaten ½ teaspoon salt (optional) ¼ teaspoon black pepper Preparation Preheat oven to 375.° Lightly spray a medium skillet with cooking spray. Cook mushrooms and onion in the skillet over medium-low heat for 4 minutes or until onion is tender; remove from heat. Add spinach, ¼ cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese, and mix well. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine turkey, oats, milk, egg white, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Spoon two-thirds of the turkey mixture lengthwise down the center of an 11˝ x 7 ˝ glass baking dish. Form a deep indentation down the middle of the turkey, and fill the indentation with the reserved spinach mixture. Top with the remaining turkey, forming a loaf. Seal the edges to completely enclose the spinach filling. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 170° and juices show no pink color. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese melts. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Source: quakeroats.com

january 2012

Heart of the Home

FRESH GINGER IS HIGHLIGHT ? OF SIMPLE SALMON RECIPE ? Salmon is a favorite of Virginia’s first lady, Maureen McDonnell, said Executive Chef Todd Schneider, who has been cooking for Gov. Bob McDonnell and his family and staff for the past two years. “This is a simple recipe using fresh, Virginia-grown ginger,” Schneider said. “I like to use fresh ingredients when I cook.” He suggests serving the fish with a side of steamed asparagus and your favorite rice.

Grilled Ginger Salmon INGREDIENTS

1 to 1½ pounds salmon filets 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon fresh, grated ginger PREPARATION

Trim the sides of the salmon. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place the salmon on the sheet, skin side down. Mix the oil, honey, mustard and ginger. Brush half of the mixture onto the salmon. Grill the fish, turning it once and removing the skin. Then place it on a baking sheet, cover with foil and bake at 350° for about 5 minutes. Brush salmon with the remaining marinade. Serve with asparagus and rice, and garnish with fresh dill and a lemon wedge.

Chef Todd Schneider appears each month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He also serves as the executive chef at the Virginia Executive Mansion and is owner of Seasons Fine Catering.

To find the station nearest you that airs Real Virginia, or to view the show online, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

MemberMarketplace

2012 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are entitled to one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members, or in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate 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 on Page 30 or the online form at VaFarmBureau. org/Marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose 2012 dues are paid.

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 Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • May Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • July Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • August 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 is on your membership card and also can be found above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Farm Bureau News. All member numbers will be verified.

Place online Member Marketplace ads year-round! If you want to advertise your farm stand, CSA or pick-your-own operation, your farm-related services, or special events on your farm, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Member Marketplace is a good place to start. Farm Bureau expanded its online classified advertising opportunities this year to help members promote and find their farm products and events. Information on using the service to find farm-fresh foods and special events has been shared with associate members via Cultivate magazine. Members can place free classified ads at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace in the categories that currently appear in Farm Bureau News—crops, farm equipment, hay and straw, livestock

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

and livestock equipment—as well as in the following categories: • agritourism; • agricultural event notices; • agricultural services; • community-supported agriculture; • horses; • nursery and greenhouse; and • on-farm sales. Internet-only ads will have a 45-word maximum and will expire Dec. 31. Only members with paid 2012 memberships will be able to place ads.

january 2012

MemberMarketplace

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.

Important:

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted. • We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. • Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

Step 5

Step 2

Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News / Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552

Step 3

Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/Marketplace.

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

Step 4

Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership. Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear. • Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau.

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: Issue Deadline Mailed to producer members May April 4 August June 29 Mailed to associate members April March 2 July June 1

We are not responsible for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Virginia Farm Bureau News and Cultivate 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.

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!

One free 15-word ad per membership per year; 2012 dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment

ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

q Hay/Straw

CITY: _______________________________________________________ STATE:_________________________________ ZIP:____________________

q Livestock

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: _____________________________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above

ADVERTISEMENT (one word per space; please type or print):

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 associate members) q May (mailed to producer members)

q July (mailed to associate members) q August (mailed to producer members)

q Payment enclosed: $_______________ q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2012

* Ad placement available for these issues only 30

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

County Farm Bureau Offices

Accomack

757-787-4208

Frederick

540-869-8650

Northumberland-Lancaster 804-435-0083

Albemarle

434-293-5775

Giles

540-921-1777

Nottoway

434-292-4389

Alleghany

540-962-3961

Giles

540-626-3201

Orange

540-672-3447

Amelia

804-561-2169

Gloucester-Mathews

804-725-3555

Page

540-743-5082

Amherst

434-946-5336

Gloucester-Mathews

804-642-3602

Patrick

276-694-7108

Appomattox

434-352-7851

Goochland

804-556-4119

Pittsylvania

434-432-2381

Augusta

540-886-2353

Goochland

804-290-1502

Pittsylvania

434-792-7484

Augusta

540-943-9820

Grayson

276-773-3091

Powhatan

804-598-3081

Bedford

540-586-9103

Grayson

276-236-7210

Powhatan

804-897-4989

Bedford

434-385-5239

Greene

434-985-7057

Prince Edward

434-392-3050

Bland

276-688-4341

Greensville

434-634-9471

Prince George

804-541-0559

Botetourt

540-992-2062

Halifax

434-572-4529

Prince William-Fairfax

703-368-6813

Brunswick

434-848-3542

Hanover

804-798-6534

Pulaski

540-674-5119

Brunswick

434-584-0290

Hanover

804-730-8730

Rappahannock

540-987-8225

Buckingham

434-983-2583

Henrico

804-270-6400

Richmond

804-333-4410

Campbell

434-332-5411

Henrico

804-737-4999

Roanoke

540-342-2626

Caroline

804-633-9825

Henry

276-638-7760

Roanoke

540-562-3710

Carroll

276-728-4103

Highland-Bath

540-468-2605

Rockbridge

540-463-3603

Carroll

276-236-7210

Isle Of Wight

757-242-6730

Rockingham

540-434-6778

Isle Of Wight

757-365-0400

Russell

276-889-1119

King George

540-775-9650

Russell

276-596-9036

King and Queen

804-769-2580

Scott

276-386-7411

King and Queen

804-785-9431

Shenandoah

540-459-4019

King William

804-769-2580

Smyth

276-783-6148

Lee

276-346-2363

Southampton

757-653-9341

Loudoun

540-751-1111

Spotsylvania

540-786-7575

Loudoun

703-858-0545

Stafford

540-899-9454

Louisa

540-967-1370

Surry

757-294-3285

Lunenburg

434-676-2451

Sussex

434-246-3531

Madison

540-948-3311

Tazewell

276-988-6556

Mecklenburg

434-738-6141

Virginia Beach

757-426-6115

Mecklenburg

434-584-0290

Virginia Beach

757-467-0603

Middlesex

804-776-6886

Warren

540-635-4074

Montgomery

540-382-8161

Washington

276-628-7135

Montgomery

540-961-4086

Washington

276-466-3987

Nansemond

757-934-2321

Westmoreland

804-493-8004

Nelson

434-263-8328

Wise-Dickenson

276-328-8274

Northampton

757-678-5158

Wythe

276-228-4042

Northumberland-Lancaster

804-580-4422

Charles City-James CityNew Kent-York

804-966-2310

CC/JC/NK/YK

757-564-3929

CC/JC/NK/YK

757-595-7143

Charlotte

434-542-5822

Chesapeake

757-546-8000

Chesterfield

804-748-5467

Chesterfield

804-639-4070

Clarke

540-869-8650

Craig

540-864-6428

Culpeper

540-825-0682

Cumberland

804-492-4621

Dinwiddie

804-469-3726

Essex

804-443-3733

Fauquier

540-347-3172

Floyd

540-745-2021

Fluvanna

434-842-3411

Franklin

540-483-9225

Franklin

540-721-7047

Franklin

540-483-4708

Your county Farm Bureau office is your first point of contact for information on services and programs included in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Membership Advantage.

Addresses for county Farm Bureau offices, along with contact information for individual Farm Bureau insurance agents, are available online at FarmBureauAdvantage.com.

New gardener, chef and show will debut in January

Watch this!

To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Beginning this month, Down Home Virginia has become Real Virginia, an improved television program highlighting the importance of agriculture to Virginia consumers. As part of the new program, Chef Todd Schneider of the Virginia Executive Mansion will feature Virginia foods in new recipes, while Virginia Cooperative Extension garden expert Andy Hankins will focus on home vegetable gardening. There also will be a look at how ginger is grown in Virginia, as well as a report on how important trade is to the state’s top industry. Real Virginia will air nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFD-TV, as well as on 48 cable systems and three broadcast stations in Virginia. It’s also available online at VaFarmBureau.org. Check local cable listings for the show times in your area, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations. january 2012

Farmers don’t take a season off, and neither does Farm Bureau As Congress crafts the 2012 Farm Bill and the state legislature considers the rights of property owners, farmers like you all over the state are making plans for the coming year. As a Farm Bureau member, you’re helping to make it a good year for all of them. For less than $4 a month you’re helping to ensure that working farmland stays in production, that Virginia farmers get the information they need to be successful, and that their interests are represented to elected officials. That’s some of what Farm Bureau does, thanks to people like you. You can make an even bigger difference this year by telling your family, friends and neighbors about Farm Bureau and encouraging them to become members as well. There’s never been a better year — and there’s never an off season.

SaveOurFood.org

VaFarmBureau.org