FBN Jan 2014 by Virginia Farm Bureau

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January 2014

Extravaganza embraced all things equine

Farm Bureau News

Contents 7

Virgnia Farm Bureau News

What to do if eminent domain comes knocking

Get answers to some common questions that arise when eminent domain is used to take privately owned land. 12

Technology, transportation and risk management were convention topics

More than 700 producer members and others with an interest in agriculture and agribusiness gathered for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2013 Annual Convention. 16

Event embraced all things equine

The 2013 Virginia Equine Extravaganza, presented by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation last November, offered clinics, presentations, a movie premier and shopping and networking opportunities for horse enthusiasts.

Departments 26

Have a Soup-Er Year!

Heart of the Home

Marketplace

Volume 73, Number 1 January 2014 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.

Member: Virginia Press Association

editorial team 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

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

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16 16 On the Cover Horses of all breeds and horse enthusiasts of all stripes were part of the 2013 Equine Extravaganza (Photo by Pam Wiley).

Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President Board of Directors director district Emily Edmondson 1 Richcard L. Sutherland 2 Evelyn H. Janney 3 Gordon R. Metz 4 Stephen L. Saufley 5 Peter A. Truban 6 Thomas E. Graves 7 H. Carl Tinder Sr. 8 William F. Osl Jr. 9 Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 W. Ellis Walton 12 M. L. Everett Jr. 13 David L. Hickman 14 Janice R. Burton * Nathan A. Aker **

county Tazewell Grayson Floyd Henry Rockingham Shenandoah Orange Albemarle Cumberland Pittsylvania Lunenburg Middlesex Southampton Accomack Halifax Wythe *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A challenging year brings out Farm Bureau’s resilience

It’s nothing short of amazing how many things can transpire for one organization over the course of a year. In this column in January 2013, I explained Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s rationale for becoming half-owner of the State Fair of Virginia and its home property, The Meadow Event Park. Twelve months later, the federation is full owner of both entities and was sole presenter of a 2013 fair that drew 229,000 visitors. That’s a respectable rookie-year attendance, and plans are in the works to boost The Meadow’s potential as an investment by holding several large signature events there in 2014. This year’s fair would not have been possible without all the Farm Bureau volunteers and staff and our agricultural partners who made it happen. And I’m sure our members who toured The Meadow during the 2013 VFBF Annual Convention saw the property’s potential for many other events. Festivities aside, 2013 was tough for Farm Bureau in terms of membership, which has dropped over the past two years. The good news is steps to reduce our insurance company’s losses are completed. Now it is time to rebuild. In last fall’s elections, 83 of 88 candidates endorsed by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC for seats in the Virginia House of Delegates were successful. VFBF AgPAC also endorsed Lt. Governor-elect Ralph S. Northam. And before that, our organization had a strong year for our critical issues in the state legislature. Our members already have begun meeting with legislators prior to the 2014 General Assembly session to discuss critical issues facing farmers. While these represent just a fraction of the issues with which we will be involved this winter, our member involvement is an important component of our successes in implementing polices adopted at our convention. I strongly encourage each of our members to use all the tools available to you to follow developments in this year’s General Assembly and in Congress. We are living and working in challenging times, and we simply cannot be too informed. At the same time, we began offering some significant new member benefits that offered savings on vehicles, farm equipment and, through the Deals Advantage program, retail and restaurant purchases nationwide.

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Our Young Farmers hosted a gubernatorial candidates’ forum this past summer as part of their annual Summer Expo, and next month they will co-host the first American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference to be held in Virginia. I know they are excited to welcome their colleagues from across the United States and showcase Virginia agriculture. As Virginia marked its third annual Agricultural Literacy Week, county Farm Bureau women’s committee members and many other volunteers read to more than 50,000 schoolchildren. Farm Bureau Women also raised more than $46,000 for Agriculture in the Classroom last year, which can only help that program engage more teachers and pupils and emphasize agriculture’s relevance in their lives. Health insurance options changed for many Americans last year, and I’m proud to say Virginia Farm Bureau rolled with the changes, creating its own health insurance exchange to better serve our members. Farm Bureau moved quickly to train staff in county offices so they can help potential customers understand what is available to them. I’ll close with some good news. During our Annual Convention in Richmond last month I was able to announce that Virginia Farm Bureau has once again received all six AFBF Awards of Excellence presented to state Farm Bureaus. They recognize activities in six key areas: • Education and outreach; • Leadership development; • Member services; • Membership initiatives; • Policy development and implementation; and • Public relations and communications. As 2014 unfolds, I expect to see our work in 2013 start to pay off, and I anticipate a year of continued resilience—and of renewal. I thank you for your confidence in your Farm Bureau leaders, and I look forward to sharing good news with you in 12 months. Wayne F. Pryor, a Goochland County beef and grain producer, is president of Virginia Farm Bureau.

january 2014

Elvin Custis, former VFBF board member, passes Elvin R. Custis Jr. of Accomack County, who served on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors for 28 years, died Dec. 4, 2013. Elvin R. Custis Jr. Mr. Custis, who was 83, represented producer members in Accomack, Northampton and Isle of Wight counties and the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach from 1969 to 1997. He was a past president of Accomack County Farm Bureau and was a 2000 recipient of the VFBF Distinguished Service Award. He was a retired farmer, businessman and member of the Accomack County Board of Supervisors, a longtime Ruritan and a lifetime member of the Exmore-Belle Haven Moose Lodge. Mr. Custis is survived by his wife, Linda Coulbourne Custis; his mother, Charlotte Sturgis Custis; two children; and four grandchildren.

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National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week to be celebrated in March To recognize the bountiful contributions of agriculture, National Ag Day will be celebrated on March 25 during National Ag Week, March 23-29. The theme of this year’s Ag Day is “Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and 7 Billion Mouths to Feed.” The National Ag Day program encourages Americans to understand how food and fiber are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; 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 and making monetary donations to regional food banks, food pantries and Ronald McDonald Houses across the state. Farm Bureau volunteers and other members of Virginia’s agricultural community also will participate in the state’s fourth annual Agriculture Literacy Week, which will run concurrently with Ag Week. This year’s Agriculture Literacy Week will feature the book What’s in the Garden? by Marianne Berkes. Volunteers will read the book and other agriculture-related books to children in their communities’ elementary schools, preschools and day care facilities. “During the past three years we have averaged about 1,850 volunteers who have read to children in classrooms across the state,” said Tammy Maxey, senior education programmer for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. “We’re hoping more people will volunteer to read this great book to children and teach them more about agriculture.”

New national FFA president hails from Virginia, visits Farm Bureau Brian Walsh (right) of Shenandoah County was elected 2013-2014 national FFA president late last year, marking the first time in nearly 35 years that a Virginian has held that office. Walsh, who was the 2011-2012 Virginia FFA president, visited the Virginia Farm Bureau offices outside Richmond last November and met with President Wayne F. Pryor. His term as president will involve more than 100,000 miles of national and international travel for presentations to engage industry leaders, FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders and the public.

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Legislative Day meetings with state lawmakers set for Jan. 23

Louisa County Farm Bureau President Jim Riddell (left) met with Del. Peter Farrell, R-Henrico, during the 2013 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day.

ounty Farm Bureau representatives from across Virginia will speak with their state legislators about issues of interest to farmers in their districts and statewide Jan. 23 during the annual Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day in Richmond. Members have identified the following critical issues for the 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly: • adequate funding for the state’s Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program; • adequate funding for operational support and technical assistance for soil and water conservation districts; • opposition to attempts to support mandatory labeling of genetically modified food products;

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• setting a baseline for the regulation of on-farm activities on agricultural operations; • including $7.6 million for Phase 2 of Virginia Tech’s dairy research in the capital expenditure authorization to enable the university to relocate the remaining parts of the dairy complex and replace six dilapidated buildings with three modern research, teaching and Virginia Cooperative Extension facilities; • protecting private property rights of landowners by resisting expansion of the term “navigable” to include all waters of the state; and • maintaining a minimal burden of proof of “crown grant” properties and their associated rights. “Emails and phone calls can be effective,

but any legislator will tell you meeting face to face with them has the biggest impact,” said Kelly Pruitt, VFBF governmental relations grassroots coordinator. “Legislative Day gives farmers from all across the state the opportunity to let their legislators know what issues are important to them, face to face.” The VFBF Women’s Committee will host a legislative reception the evening of Jan. 22 to provide an opportunity for Farm Bureau leaders to talk with their representatives in an informal setting. Members will have appointments on Jan. 23 with their respective state senators and delegates. During those appointments, they will present their representatives with copies of an “Agriculture Map of Virginia” puzzle to encourage their participation in Agriculture Literacy Week March 23-29 at their local schools.

january 2014

Majority of AgPAC-endorsed candidates elected

ighty-three of 88 candidates endorsed for Virginia House of Delegates seats last fall by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC political action committee were successfully elected in November. Additionally, Lt. Governor-elect Ralph S. Northam was endorsed by VFBF AgPAC. All of the successful endorsed House candidates were incumbents except for nine: Republican Ben Chafin in the 4th District; Republican Les Adams in the 16th District; Republican Terry L. Austin in the 19th District; Democrat Marcus Simon in the 53rd District; Republican Buddy Fowler in the 55th District; Republican James A. Leftwich Jr. in the 78th District; Republican Bill DeSteph in the 82nd District; Republican Glenn Davis in the 84th District; and Republican Scott Taylor in the 85th District. Eighty-five of 88 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia participate in VFBF AgPAC. They provided representatives for Local Evaluation Committees that interviewed candidates and gave input to the AgPAC board of trustees. The board interviewed candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general as well. AgPAC activities are supported by voluntary contributions from Farm Bureau members in Virginia. “AgPAC’s activities serve not only to endorse candidates but also to let our political leaders know that the agricultural community, at the grassroots level, is actively involved in the election process,” — Martha Moore, said Martha Moore, VFBF vice president of VFBF vice president of governmental relations. “Our members take governmental relations a keen and active interest in who represents them. They also are generous with their time when elected officials need to know where farmers stand on specific issues. “Their careful consideration of candidates in 2013 is likely to benefit Virginia agriculture on many fronts in the years to come.” Farm Bureau reached out to Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe soon after his victory. McAuliffe included VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor, Moore and governmental relations staff member Andrew Smith on his Agriculture and Forestry Transition Policy Council. In addition, Moore and Smith were invited to participate on the Natural Resources Transition Policy Council. “These initial opportunities provide Farm Bureau with a pathway to discuss issues important to farmers as Governor-elect McAuliffe forms his administration,” Moore said. “This demonstrates how our political action committee activities help to begin a dialogue with candidates during the campaign so that it can continue after the elections.”

‘Our members take a keen and active interest in who represents them.’

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Academy Award-winning filmmaker to direct documentary about American farmers and ranchers Oscar-winning and two-time Emmywinning filmmaker James Moll has announced production of Farmland, a feature-length documentary about the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. The documentary will profile farmers and ranchers in their 20s who have assumed the generational responsibility of running the family business. A trailer for the film can be viewed online at farmlandfilm.com. Made in cooperation with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance—of which Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are members—the film will give an up-close look at some of the young farmers and ranchers who grow and raise the food Americans consume daily. It also will show the latest farming practices and technologies that are changing and improving the landscape of modern agriculture. “I’ve always strived to make films that are unbiased testaments to the subject matter,” Moll said. “It’s about telling real stories that resonate.” Moll most recently received a Grammy for directing and producing Foo Fighters: Back and Forth. His previous documentaries have covered topics such as the Holocaust and an epic trek across the Sahara Desert. Moll received an Academy Award for directing and editing the feature documentary The Last Days, for which Steven Spielberg was executive producer. He also received an Emmy Award for Inheritance, for which he was director/ editor and producer, and he directed and produced the feature documentary Running the Sahara, with executive producer Matt Damon. The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance consists of nearly 80 farmer- and rancherled organizations and their agricultural partners, representing virtually all aspects of agriculture. It works to engage in dialogues with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised. The alliance is committed to continuous improvement and supporting U.S. farmers’ and ranchers’ efforts to increase consumer confidence and trust in today’s agriculture. VaFarmBureau.org

eminent domain

If eminent domain comes knocking: Some answers to frequently asked questions Thanks to efforts by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and other groups, Virginia voters in 2012 overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to permanently protect private property rights. Since the 3-to-1 passage of that amendment, Virginians’ private property now can be taken for a legitimate public use only, and citizens must receive just compensation in any situation where eminent domain is used. In cases in which land is threatened to be condemned using eminent domain, it is important for landowners to know their rights. If you are a landowner in that situation, the following answers to frequently asked questions might be helpful.

Why can the government take my property? Eminent domain is the government’s ability to take private property for public use and stems from the 5th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, usually referred to as the “takings clause.” It states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation to the landowner. Virginia’s constitution and state code set parameters for takings by the state and local government.

Who can take my property? Federal, state and local governments have the power of eminent domain. Those government bodies have further delegated the power to other entities such as the Virginia Department of Transportation and public utility companies.

How is a legitimate public use decided? Only a judge can decide that. Even if the condemner believes it is for a public use, the courts may rule otherwise. Common public uses include acquiring new land for

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Eminent domain is the government’s ability to take private property for public uses such as road construction, utility projects and public buildings.

road construction (new roadways, expansion, roundabouts), utility projects (power lines, sewers) or public buildings such as schools and airports. Virginia’s 2012 constitutional amendment ensures that land cannot be condemned for private gain, private benefit or private enterprise, or for increasing jobs, tax revenue or economic development.

How will I know if my property is about to be taken? Hopefully, you will be notified far in advance by the condemner. Sometimes, though, you may find out about it online or in a newspaper. Often, a public agency will have a public hearing to discuss the scope

of a project and identify what land will be affected. A landowner should receive a written notice that his or her property (or part of it) is needed for a public project, and the agency will make an offer to buy the property before it files condemnation papers. If the landowner doesn’t agree to the offer, the agency must prove to a court that the property is “reasonably necessary” for the proposed taking.

When will the eminent domain taking occur? It depends on the project, but the property cannot be taken until the condemner makes an offer for the property january 2014

eminent domain

and the landowner has accepted it. If the property taken is worth $10,000 or more, the condemning authority has to provide a copy of the appraisal.

If I say no to the offer, who decides how much money I get? The initial offer from the public entity was based on an appraisal provided by an appraiser of their choosing. For obvious reasons, it could be biased. In Virginia, you are allowed to choose a randomly selected jury (comprised of landowners) or a panel of appointed commissioners who can determine the total amount of compensation you are owed. Remember: You are entitled to damage claims even if they take only part of your property. You will need a separate appraisal from a licensed appraiser to prove the damages, and an attorney to represent you in court. The key is to make sure you are getting the most amount of money for the fair market value of your land, even if the whole parcel was not taken.

Do I have to pay taxes on my compensation? You have a period of time to reinvest your award sum and defer your tax obligation. If part of the award is for damages to property you still own, you can potentially defer the payment of taxes on that portion of the award until you sell the property.

Let’s suppose that the government has decided to take my property for a legitimate public use. What should I do before the condemnation has begun? • Keep all records of conversations with the condemner in one place. Note the agency representative’s name, the date and time of the conversation, and what was said. Save any correspondence or documents. • Keep the property in tip-top shape, as if you were about to sell it. This will help you receive the highest fair-market value. • Take photographs of the property on a clear day.

The power of eminent domain often is delegated by government to other entities such as public utility companies.

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• Consult an attorney regarding the filing of subdivision plans, the title to the property or any land leases that may be on the property.

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Ranked Among the Top * Agricultural Lenders in the Country. Virginia Farm Bureau does not offer legal representation or appraisal services; however, the organization is available to serve as a landowner resource. If your property is threated by eminent domain, feel free to contact Trey Davis in the VFBF Governmental Relations Department, at trey.davis@vafb.com.

First Bank & Trust Company Agricultural Lending Division For more information visit our website. www.firstbank.com VIRGINIA: Abingdon l Bridgewater l Bristol l Christiansburg l Harrisonburg l Lebanon Lynchburg l Norton l Staunton l Verona l Waynesboro l Winchester l Wise l Wytheville TENNESSEE: Bristol l Gray l Johnson City l Kingsport

*February 2013 American Banker. Based on year-end 2012 FDIC reports.

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Got big plans for 2014? Consider insurance coverage when planning events on your farm If you’re planning to invite the public onto your farm for a special activity or event this coming year, it’s important to talk to your insurance agent during the planning stages, to make sure you have the necessary liability coverage. “It is essential to have liability insurance, as a general farm policy won’t give you all the coverage you need,” said Jesse Richardson, an attorney who advises farmers and an associate professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech. “Even if you have a limited liability company, that may give you a little extra protection, but you still need liability insurance. Anything else won’t give you that same level of protection.” Any time you invite the public on to your property, you increase the potential for liability issues exponentially. If your insurance agent doesn’t know what you’re doing, it’s probably not covered, Richardson added. “I never want to scare people, but it is important that they take the steps to minimize their risk, because then it’s manageable,” Richardson said. “If you’re inviting people to come onto your property for business purposes, you owe it to them to make it safe.” Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. customers may be able to take advantage of many available farmowner policy coverage endorsements. “Virginia Farm Bureau has more than tripled the number of available coverage endorsements for specific farm activities available through its farmowner insurance program, with many related to agritourism and direct-marketing,” said Scott DeNoon, VFBMIC agricultural underwriting specialist. Coverage endorsements are available for festivals and other special events, state-licensed farm wineries and wine tastings, animal viewing, carriage rides, bed-and-breakfast operations and picnic areas, among other farm venues. Depending on the activity, coverage may be available by adding endorsements to the standard farmowner policy. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Farm owners need to consider liability issues associated with holding events on farms. A discussion with an insurance agent can be a good starting point.

Endorsement classifications are not automatically included in a farmowner policy and need to be added during a consultation with a Farm Bureau insurance agent. “Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to review your needs so they can work with you and make sure you are covered, as well as offer guidance on keeping the premises safe,” DeNoon said.

Talk with your agent about these activities If you will be doing any of the following this year on your farm property, be sure to notify your insurance agent first:

• buying or selling property; • adding a new building; • increasing the amount of livestock on your property; • increasing or decreasing the acreage of your operation; • making plans to hold an event; • operating a community-supported agriculture or direct-marketing operation; • offering wagon rides, corn mazes, hay mazes or similar attractions; or • offering tours to the public or to school or civic groups. january 2014

2014 national young farmers’ conference to be held in Va. Beach The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers are joining forces with the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee to host the AFBF 2014 Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference. The event will be held Feb. 7-10 in Virginia Beach and will take the place of the annual VFBF Young Farmers Winter Expo. This is the first time a national Young Farmers & Rancher event has been held in Virginia. The conference focus will be on leadership and personal development; the event is highly interactive, and more than 1,000 participants from at least 45 states are expected to attend. The agenda includes five tour tracks, workshops, awards and recognition, and networking opportunities.

The keynote speakers will be Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, and Dr. David Kohl, president of AgriVisions LLC and professor emeritus at Virginia Tech. Possible tour options include Jamestown and Yorktown; the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and Eastern Shore aquaculture operations; the Stihl manufacturing plant; Purdue’s import and export facility and Virginia beach farms; and International Paper and Montague Farms. For more information or to sign up, visit YoungFarmersExpo.org or contact Ron Saacke at ron.saacke@vafb.com or 804-514-4202.

Risk management meetings gearing up for 2014 The following meetings for farmers with an interest in risk management opportunities have been scheduled, and more are being planned for this winter: • Jan. 7 (Northampton County); • Jan. 14 (Sussex County); • Jan. 14 (Charles City County); • Jan. 15 (King and Queen County); • Jan. 16 (Westmoreland County); and • Feb. 6 (Chesapeake). All meetings are free, but reservations are required.

The meetings are offered by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and other organizations in Virginia and other states. For more information or to arrange a risk management meeting in another area, contact Jonah Bowles, VFBF agricultural risk management coordinator at 804-290-1117 or jonah. bowles@vafb.com.

Women’s Conference will be held in Norfolk The 2014 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Conference will take place March 21-23 at Sheraton Norfolk Waterside hotel in Norfolk. Its theme will be “Cruise on the Sea of Agriculture … Getting Underway.” The conference will include multiple workshops and judging for the 2014 10

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Members can save at Feb. 28 Farm Bureau warehouse open house In need of parts for your truck, car or farm machinery? Farm Bureau members can save 10 percent on purchases from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division at its Feb. 28 open house. Since 1965, the Products Division has provided farmers with a variety of quality supplies, through Farm Bureau-certified local dealers and the Farm Bureau warehouse in Henrico County. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the warehouse at 1541 Mary St. in Sandston. Refreshments will be served. Members can save on a variety of parts, including tires, batteries and oil and grease products. They also can save 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 for the open house. The warehouse is a 53,000-squarefoot facility with a daily inventory typically valued at $1.2 million. It serves about 400 dealers throughout Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, as well as several in West Virginia and Delaware. For information on specific products, call the warehouse at 800-476-8473.

Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador and Farm Woman of the Year honors. The conference is open to any woman with an interest in agriculture. To register, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

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Sixth annual ag trade conference set for early March The 2014 Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Trade will be held March 6 and 7 at the Richmond Marriott. The event, now in its sixth year, is being organized by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Port Authority and Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. This year’s theme is “Connecting the World’s Customers to Virginia’s Farms and Forests.”

“Virginia farmers and processors are fortunate to have access to eight different state trade offices in prime regions around the world,” said Spencer Neale, VFBF director of commodity marketing. “However, it all starts with VDACS staff in their Richmond headquarters, and our annual trade conference has become a premier venue for those new to or already involved in international markets to get updates on the world of trade. “It’s also a great opportunity to network with a diverse set of stakeholders.” Registration is open at VaFarmBureau/Agriculture/ AgTradeConference.aspx, and details are being made available online as they become available.

Virginia opens trade office in Canada, has eight worldwide As of mid-November, Virginia has agricultural trade offices in eight locations around the world. The commonwealth announced the opening of a representative trade office in Canada on Nov. 20. Canada imported $205 million in Virginia farm products in 2012 and is Virginia’s second-largest international export market for agricultural products, behinda China. Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, said Canada “has long been an important market for a number of Virginia agribusinesses, but we know we can grow our market share given our high quality products and close proximity. Because we are geographically close and

easily accessible by truck and rail, Virginia’s focus will be on increasing business and trade opportunities in eastern Canada, thus helping increase employment in the commonwealth. Indeed, every $1 in agricultural exports generates $1.40 of in-state business activity to process, package, finance and ship these products.” Overall agricultural exports from Virginia were more than $2.61 billion in 2012, an all-time high. VDACS has agricultural trade offices in India, China, Latin America and Europe, all regions that contain some of the world’s largest and fastestgrowing economies. The department has operated a trade office in Hong Kong for more than 20 years.

USDA gearing up for 2013 Census of Aquaculture Aquaculture is an important segment of Virginia agriculture, but with statistics nearly a decade old, it’s not always easy to see just how aquaculture stacks up with other agricultural products. That’s why the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service mailed 2013 Census of Aquaculture forms to producers in midDecember to collect data for the 2013 calendar year. Completed forms are due Jan. 15. Producers can fill out the Census online via a secure website at agcensus.usda.gov or return their forms by mail.

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“The aquaculture industry has undergone numerous changes since the last time this information was gathered in 2005,” said Herman Ellison, NASS state statistician. “The results of the 2013 Census of Aquaculture will help assess the current state of this part of the U.S. economy and Virginia’s economy, helping the industry demonstrate its strength and advocate for its needs.” The Census of Aquaculture collects data on water area, production and sales, point of first sales outlets and aquaculture distributed for restoration or conservation purposes. The information is used by all those with an interest in the aquaculture sector, from federal, state and local governments to agribusinesses, trade associations, researchers and producers themselves. The Census of Aquaculture is part of the Census of Agriculture Program. Federal law requires all producers who receive a census report form to respond and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

january 2014

Convention 2013: Leading agriculture into the future

Convention touched on ‘Leading Agriculture into the Future’

Leading agriculture into the future

MORE THAN 700 PRODUCER MEMBERS AND OTHERS with an interest in agriculture and agribusiness gathered for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2013 Annual Convention Dec. 3- 5 in Richmond. The convention theme was “Leading Agriculture into the Future,” and convention speakers addressed topics that included risk management and transportation safety. Participants also had an opportunity to tour The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and the Keystone Truck and Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights.

Delegates elect new District 9 board member, re-elect three

William F. Osl Jr.

Cumberland County cattle, forage and forestry producer William F. “Bill” Osl Jr. of Columbia was elected Dec. 5 to a threeyear term on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors. Osl will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince Edward counties. He succeeds Henry E. Wood of Buckingham County. Osl serves on the Cumberland County Farm Bureau board and is a past president of that organization. He has served on the VFBF Legislative Committee, and currently

serves on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation AgPAC board of trustees and the VFBF Membership Categories Committee. He retired from AT&T and Lucent Technologies after working for 28 years as a corporate officer and vice president. He and his wife, Stephanie, own and operate Oakland Farm.

Three directors re-elected Three VFBF directors were re-elected to new three-year terms: Evelyn H. Janney of Floyd County, Peter A. Truban of Shenandoah County and W. Ellis Walton of Middlesex County.

Risk management can keep dream years from becoming nightmares, farmers told

Mark Gold

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Keynote speaker Mark Gold was quick to dispel any expectations of market predictions during his Dec. 3 remarks at the VFBF Annual Convention. “If I knew where the markets were going, I wouldn’t be telling you,” he told the assembled farmers and other agriculture professionals. “I’d be long retired.” Gold is president, CEO and managing partner of Top Third Ag Marketing and a former member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Top Third’s goal is to help its farmer customers market their products in the top

third of prices available during a market year. Gold spoke on “Managing Risk in an Inherently Risky Business” during the convention’s opening luncheon and later in the day led a more detailed workshop on risk management for interested producers. Over the past three years, he noted, many American farmers have been living “The Dream”: attractive prices for corn and soybeans, rising land values and periods where the most profitable marketing strategy “was just to fall asleep and market

VaFarmBureau.org

Convention 2013: Leading agriculture into the future

(grain) whenever you wanted to.” Historically, Gold said, two out of every 10 crop years is like that in the United States. “Those other eight can be a marketing challenge.” Dream years, he noted, expose producers to greater risks, and the commodities market exists “to force out an inefficient producer” when prices drop below the cost of production. Gold encouraged crop and livestock farmers to use the trading tools available to them to establish price floors now for the crops they will plant and the animals they will sell in 2014. He also emphasized that revenue insurance offers some assurance of revenue, but it will not market a crop. “Revenue insurance does not maximize revenue,” he said. “Marketing is what maximizes revenue. … Crop insurance allows you more marketing opportunities,

but you have to spend some money to protect that (premium) price.”

‘We can do better’ In an afternoon workshop for interested producers, Gold noted that the average American farmer sells the majority of his crops every year in the bottom third of available prices. “We can do better,” he noted. The first, and most important step, he said, is devoting time to marketing. “I’m asking you to spend five minutes a day marketing your products; I believe everyone can handle that.” Gold also advised farmers to quit making excuses and not get emotional when selling commodities. If a good price comes along, he said, don’t just hold out for a better one. He told workshop participants that if they develop a marketing plan, use self-

discipline and track daily market prices they will know the best times to sell or exercise buying options such as a “put.” A put option is “used to establish a minimum selling price and gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell a particular futures contract at a specified price at any time during the life of the option,” Gold said. No matter what happens, they won’t lose any more than the agreed-upon sell price. “Options maximize your opportunities,” Gold said. He also recommended that farmers not try to speculate on their sales contracts. “Only 7 percent of all outside speculators can beat the pros in Chicago [Board of Trade].” Finally, he recommended that farmers find a marketing mentor or hire an agricultural marketing firm to assist them.

State police, DMV share information on farm product transport Staff from the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shared information about motor carrier safety inspections and vehicle weight limits with farmers Dec. 3 during a workshop titled “Things You Need to Know about Transporting Farm Products in Virginia.” “The main function of the motor carrier safety program is to keep the roads safe,” said state police Master Trooper C.F. Rosemond III. “For us, safety is a major concern. We’re after compliance and safety; we’re not out to ticket you. We want to remove potentially unsafe drivers and hazardous vehicles from the roadway.” Virginia follows federal motor carrier safety regulations pertaining to commercial vehicles. Rosemond said that the safety program calls for inspections of a truck, its load and its driver. Such inspections cover brakes, air leaks, couplings, exhaust and fuel systems, lighting, safe loading and more.

With regard to weight limitations, DMV representative Bobby Pulley said “the longer the truck, the better. “The more axles and the longer the truck is, the more you can haul, and if the truck is light, you can haul more.” The maximum width of any vehicle on the interstate and designated highways is 102 inches, excluding mirrors and any warning devices installed on a school bus. The maximum height of all vehicles is 13 feet 6 inches. For weight, interstate travel is restricted to a maximum of 80,000 pounds. However, motor carriers can purchase an appropriate overload permit to extend their maximum weight to 84,000 pounds to travel on noninterstate highways. Vehicles registered as farm vehicles, also known as F-tag vehicles, can operate as if they purchased the 5 percent permit for free until caught over that limit.

Registered farm vehicles hauling Virginia-grown forest or farm products from the place where they are first produced, harvested or felled to the location where they are first processed can also receive an additional 5 percent extension of the single axle, tandem axle and gross weight limits. Those with “Farm Use” tags only are not eligible for the weight overages. “The Golden Rule is that you have to buy something to get something,” Pulley said. “So buy an F-tag, and you can increase your weight limit.” More specific information about size, weight and safety and equipment requirements is available in the DMV booklet Virginia’s Size, Weight and Equipment Requirements for Trucks, Trailers and Towed Vehicles, available online at dmv.virginia.gov under “Forms and Publications” (Look for “DMV 109”) or at local DMV offices.

“We’re after compliance and safety; we’re not out to ticket you.” — Master Trooper C.F. Rosemond III, Virginia State Police

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2014

Convention 2013: Leading agriculture into the future

Farm Bureau Young Farmers honor VDACS official The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee honored Kevin Schmidt Dec. 4 with its 2013 Warren Beach Award for his work in support of Virginia’s young farmers. Schmidt is director of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Policy, Planning and Research. He has been with VDACS since 2007, when he was hired as the first coordinator for the Office of Farmland Preservation.

“Mr. Schmidt has always supported our efforts to grow the Young Farmers Program and support the agriculture industry in Virginia,” said Nathan A. Aker, chairman of the Young Farmers Committee. “When the committee came to him asking that they be involved in improving the Farm Link program in 2010, he welcomed their input and worked with them toward solutions they could support.”

Kevin Schmidt

Congressman, educator, longtime board members honored

Rep. Randy Forbes

Dr. Charles W. Coale

Virginia Farm Bureau News

U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-4th; Dr. Charles W. Coale, a retired professor of agricultural economics at Virginia Tech; and former Virginia Farm Bureau Federation directors Archie B. Atwell and Edward A. Scharer were honored Dec. 4 with the 2013 VFBF Distinguished Service Awards. Forbes was singled out for his strong support for farmers and Farm Bureau policy positions in southeast Virginia. While Coale officially retired more than a decade ago, he has continued to serve Virginia’s agriculture community. His early work at Virginia Tech featured research to help boost Virginia’s seafood industry and food safety. Other projects he worked on included agriculture diversification, direct marketing for farmers and agritourism. Atwell, a 42-year veteran Farm Bureau leader from Smyth County, served 15 years on the VFBF board, retiring in 2012. He also taught vocational agriculture at Bland High School and worked with various programs for young farmers. Scharer, a former VFBF vice president, has farmed in Albemarle County for four decades. Before his six years as vice president, he served 15 years on the VFBF board, representing farmers in Central Virginia.

Archie B. Atwell

Edward A. Scharer

VaFarmBureau.org

Convention 2013: Leading agriculture into the future

County Farm Bureaus recognized for excellence Farm Bureaus in the counties of Hanover, Fluvanna, Prince George and Wythe were recognized Dec. 4 by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation for their work in membership, educating the public and promoting agriculture and Farm Bureau.

Prince George County Farm Bureau, led by President W.D. Kreider, won in the category for membership acquisition. Hanover County Farm Bureau, led by President Leigh Pemberton, won in the member involvement and retention category.

Fluvanna County Farm Bureau, led by President George Coin, captured honors for agriculture promotion or education. Wythe County Farm Bureau, led by President Jerry Spraker, was recognized for its governmental relations program.

Pittsylvania County farmers honored for achievements Bob and Kristal Harris of Pittsylvania County were named winners of the 2013 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Achievement Award on Dec. 4. The Harrises live and work on their first-generation farm. They grow tobacco, soybeans and sorghum and raise dairy cattle and poultry and are engaged in a unique partnership in which they exchange labor for equipment and land. The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers who are successful in

production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm. Bob Harris is a past chairman of the VFBF Young Farmers Committee, and Kristal Harris teaches business classes in the county public school system. The Harrises will receive up to 250 hours’ use of a Kubota M-series tractor from Kubota Tractor Corp.; a new Stihl chain saw from Mid-Atlantic Stihl; $500 from Virginia’s Farm Credit associations; and $500 from Chesterfield County Farm Bureau.

Kristal and Bob Harris

Extension agent from Craig County wins Discussion Meet Jeannie Dudding, a Craig County farmer and Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Bland and Giles counties, took top honors Dec. 3 in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Young Farmers Discussion Meet. 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.

Dudding was awarded a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and will get an upgraded model thanks to the Blueridge Farm Center in Buchanan.

Jeannie Dudding

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2014

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E Q U I N E

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kathy dixon

Riders in the Ma’Ceo Gypsy Festival Equestrian Show performed spectactular stunts under the big top.

Virginia Equine Extravaganza drew horse lovers—many with horses

Virginia Farm Bureau News

In addition, the Ma’Ceo Gypsy Festival Equestrian Show wowed crowds with highenergy choreographed performances and daring bareback stunts. And because The Meadow is the birthplace of Thoroughbred racing legend Secretariat, there was an exclusive Secretariat-themed event and official Secretariat merchandise for sale as well. The extravaganza hosted the Virginia premier of the documentary film Penny & Red: The Life of Secretariat’s Owner. The 2014 Virginia Equine Extravaganza will be held Nov. 1 and 2.

pam wiley

From conquering the canter to holistic therapies for horses, there was a clinic, demonstration or seminar for every horse enthusiast at the Virginia Equine Extravaganza. The event was held Nov. 1-3, 2013, at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. Participants attended more than 100 clinics and demonstrations, shopped at more than 50 vendor booths and learned about everything from parasite management to caring for senior horses. Julie Goodnight, host of Horse Master on RFD-TV, taught attendees how to “Ride Right.” Ken McNabb, host of RFD-TV’s Discovering the Horseman Within, gave lessons on increasing control of a horse, and Dr. Robert Miller, equine behaviorist and veterinarian who created imprint training for foals, spoke on how to better understand why horses behave the way they do.

Horses of all breeds had a big presence— sometimes literally—at the event. VaFarmBureau.org

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kathy dixon

Clinician Leisha Griffith gave a presentation titled “Introduction to Barrels and Problem Solving.”

A vending and exhibit area offered numerous shopping opportunities. VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Indoor presentations covered topics such as infrared inspection, saddle fitting, top line development, equine dentistry and horse-shopping at the racetrack. january 2014

FIXF â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ER O R LUP ESS Farm Bureau members enjoy exclusive discounts of up to 50% off on auto services. Log on to www.VaFarmBureau.org to ďŹ nd popular auto repair retailers like these:

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

2013 State Fair of Virginia drew 229,000— and compliments Attendance figures indicate 229,000 people attended this year’s State Fair of Virginia, which is owned by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. The event was held Sept. 27 through Oct. 6 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. “A lot of thought and planning went into putting on the fair this year, and we feel like it was a huge success,” said Greg Hicks, VFBF vice president of communications. “We’ve had many, many positive comments from those who attended.” Virginia youth participating in the 4-H and FFA livestock competitions earned a total

of $70,000 in scholarship money. “This is a tradition we were happy to have back as part of the State Fair, and we hope to further enhance our livestock and other agricultural exhibits at future fairs,” Hicks said. Other returning traditions included a Miss State Fair of Virginia pageant and a State Fair parade. Courtney Garrett of Prince Edward County was named the 2013 Miss State Fair of Virginia and will compete in the Miss Virginia pageant next June. During the parade, the Marching Cavaliers of King William High School captured the SFVA Marching Band Championship Cup.

Additionally, hundreds of adults and youth who competed in arts and crafts, baked goods, crops and vegetables, honey and plant competitions earned recognition, ribbons and cash awards. “We especially want to thank all of the families and other fairgoers who came out and made this fair a success,” Hicks said. “Without them, there would be no fair. And we hope even more Virginians will come enjoy the fair in 2014.” The 2014 State Fair will be held Sept. 26 through Oct. 5.

Warm sunny days throughout the State Fair of Virginia’s 10-day run helped boost attendance.

Memory of Trooper Andrew Fox honored during fair More than 70 law enforcement officers and state and local officials helped honor the late Virginia State Police Trooper Andrew D. Fox during an Oct. 3 plaque dedication ceremony at The Meadow Event Park. Fox, a Tazewell County native, sustained fatal injuries Oct. 5, 2012, while working traffic detail during a special assignment at VirginiaFarmBureau.com

the State Fair of Virginia. A plaque honoring his life and service will be mounted outside The Meadow Event Park’s Public Safety Operations Center, and a second plaque will be placed inside the building. “It is my hope that those plaques will serve as a reminder ... of the enormous

responsibility we assume when we invite the public through those gates, and of the willingness and professionalism with which our law enforcement partners shoulder that responsibility,” said State Fair President Jeff Dillon.

january 2014

New benefit offers discounts on Case IH equipment A new partnership between Case IH and the American Farm Bureau Federation gives Farm Bureau members in Virginia access to manufacturer’s incentive discounts on qualifying Case IH products and equipment when they buy from participating dealerships. Eligible individuals, family or business members will receive the following discounts on purchases of these qualifying products:

• Case IH Farmall compact tractors (A & B) – $300 per unit; • Case IH Farmall utility tractors (C, U, J Series) – $500 per unit; • Case IH Maxxum Series tractors – $500 per unit; • Case IH Farmall 100A Series tractors – $500 per unit; • Case IH self-propelled windrowers – $500 per unit; • Case IH large square balers – $500 per unit; • Case IH round balers – $300 per unit;

Members will need to present a current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate to their Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the discounts. Certificates can be obtained online at fbadvantage.com/Deals/Case and members without Internet access can receive assistance at their county Farm Bureau offices. “There is no limit to the number of incentive discounts that a Farm Bureau member may use as long as it is no more than one per unit, and the equipment included provides opportunities for small landowners to larger, professional producers ,” said Zach Hetterick, Case IH livestock marketing manager. “This discount is also stackable, meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership.” U.S.-based Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors in more than 160 countries. Find a dealership near you at caseih.com.

• Case IH disc mower conditioners – $300 per unit; • Case IH sickle mower conditioners – $300 per unit; and • Case IH Scout utility vehicles – $300 per unit.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Save $500 on selected GM vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and $1,000 more on selected GM and Chevy trucks Farm Bureau members in Virginia can now receive a $1,000 discount on 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet and GM regular cab, heavy duty 2500 and 3500 series trucks through April 1, 2014. This is in addition to the Farm Bureau GM $500 Discount Program, bringing the total savings on specific trucks to $1,500. The Farm Bureau GM $500 Vehicle Discount Program is available for members purchasing or leasing qualifying Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles at participating dealerships. Members must be at least 18 and have been Farm Bureau members for at least 60 days.

The discount is not a rebate and may not be stackable with some other incentives. It must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered. To use this member benefit, visit fbverify. com/GM, enter your membership number and ZIP code, and print out a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your GM dealership. Members without Internet access can get assistance in acquiring a certificate from their county Farm Bureau offices. See participating GM dealers for full details.

ELIGIBLE VEHICLES: Buick

Corvette

GMC

Enclave

Cruze

Acadia

LaCrosse

Equinox

Canyon

Lucerne

Express

Savana

Regal

HHR

Sierra

Verano

Impala

Terrain

Chevrolet

Malibu (including 2014)

Yukon

Avalanche Aveo Camaro Camaro C Camaro ZL1 Colorado

Silverado

Excluded from discount

Suburban

Cadillac

Tahoe

Chevrolet Volt

Traverse

Medical alert benefit now available for cell phone use Help is always within reach for Virginia Farm Bureau members who use the Memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Alert program. The service makes it easy for members or their loved ones to summon assistance to their homes in an emergency. LifeStation maintains a state-of-the-art,

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

24-hour call center with care specialists users can reach via a tabletop console or a help button that can be mounted on a wall, worn around the neck or wrist or clipped to a belt. Farm Bureau members pay a special monthly rate of $25.95 for use with a land line in the home and are eligible for a

30-day money-back trial. A cellular-based connection is offered for an additional $14.95 per month. The service involves no long-term contract. To order or get more information call 877-288-4958, or visit MembersMedical Alert.com and use code FB102.

january 2014

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VaFarmBureau.org

Agriculture Literacy Week is March 23-29 AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org

Virginia’s fourth annual Agriculture Literacy Week will run concurrently with National Ag Week, March 23-29. The Agriculture in the Classroom program is encouraging anyone with an interest in agriculture to participate by reading the 2014 AITC Book of the Year to children in preschool through second grade. The 2014 Book of the Year is What’s in the Garden?, written by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Cris Arbo of Buckingham County. “This book is ideal for the designated age group. It’s colorful, it introduces lots of fruits and vegetables, it includes kid-friendly recipes and it makes for an interactive read because it employs riddles,” said Tammy Maxey, AITC senior education programmer. “Its emphasis is on how different plants grow in the garden, and it also depicts pollinators and helpful insects.” Copies of What’s in the Garden? are available for $7 each through AITC and can be ordered at AgInTheClass.org. Volunteers who previously have read at schools during Agriculture Literacy Week often donated a classroom copy or school library copy of the Book of the Year during their visits.

Over the past three years, an average of 1,850 volunteers have read to children across the state, Maxey said. “Our goal this year is to have 2,000 volunteers read to at least 50,000 children.”

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

AITC supporters In addition to many individuals who contributed, these organizations made contributions of $500 or more to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom between Aug. 16 and Nov. 18, 2013. • American Family Fitness • Augusta County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Blue Ridge Beverage Company • Case IH • Colonial Farm Credit • Dinwiddie County Farm Bureau • Dominion Foundation • Hanover County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Isle of Wight County Farm Bureau • King William County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association • MillerCoors • Old Dominion Electric Cooperative • Orange County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Perdue Inc. Pilgrim’s Pride Roanoke County Farm Bureau Rockbridge County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Russell County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Smithfield Foods Southwest District Women’s Committee Tabb, Brokenbrough & Ragland LLC Virginia Agribusiness Council Virginia Beef Industry Council Virginia Corn Board Virginia Farm Credit Association Virginia Horse Industry Board Virginia Small Grains Board Virginia Soybean Board

Real Virginia looks at farm politics, Super Bowl recipes

Watch this!

Virginia farmers will be talking to their state lawmakers in January about critical legislative issues, including funding for voluntary conservation measures. Find out more in January on Real Virginia. You also can get two delicious recipes for Super Bowl parties. Real Virginia is Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program that airs nationwide on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV. It can also be watched weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on 40 cable systems across the state. It’s available online at VaFarmBureau.org. Check local television listings, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations.

To view RealVirginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2014

Want to ‘Bee a Hero’? Promote pollination by choosing bee-friendly plants Everyone can be a hero for honeybees by adding plants that are honey bee-friendly to a home garden or landscape. During the 2013 State Fair of Virginia, the Richmond Beekeepers Association invited fairgoers to “Bee a Hero” and provided lists of plants that attract honey bees. “Everyone can help ‘Bee a Hero’ for the honey bees by planting bee-friendly gardens, avoiding harmful chemicals, buying local Virginia honey or starting their own backyard beehive,” said Valerie West, president of the association. West has been keeping bees for four years at her home in Richmond. Honey bees are critical to the success of agriculture and the health of the environment and are responsible for more than

$15 billion in increased crop value each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Commercial production of many specialty crops, such as almonds and other tree nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables are dependent on pollination by honey bees. “I first became interested in beekeeping for pollination purposes, but the more I learned about honeybees and how the colony works together, I became more and more fascinated with them,” West said. She finds her bees enjoy holly, Russian sage, sunflowers, basil, melon flowers, clover and dandelions.

Many crops’ yields and quality would be greatly diminished without honey bee pollination.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Plants that attract bees: BIANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All spring bulbs

• • • • •

Sweet clover

Anise hyssop Asters Berries Calamint

ANNUALS:

• • • • •

Arugula

• •

Cleome

• • • • • • • • • • •

Flax

Catnip Caryopteris Chives Comfrey Coreopsis Dandelion Echinacea Gaillardia Globe thistle Goldenrod Hazelnut Hyssop Lavender Melissa Mint Monarda Motherwort Obedient plant Oregano

Rose mallow

Borage Buckwheat Canola (Rape seed) Cornflower (Bachelor’s buttons)

Monarda, also know as bee balm

Cosmos Crimson clover Phacelia Holy basil Mustard Sunflower Poppies Scabiosa Verbena Zinnia

TREES:

• • •

Tulip poplar

• •

Sourwood

Plantain Pussy willow

Basil

Cornflower, also known as bachelor’s buttons

Linden Black locust (Robinie) Fruit trees

Rosemary

Blackberry blossoms

Rudbeckia Russian sage Sage Sedum Sunflower (perennial) Thyme Wild rose White clover Verbena (perennial)

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Tulip Poplar

january 2014

Have a Soup-er Year

Kick-start the new year with hearty, healthy soups By Kathy Dixon January is National Soup Month and National Slow Cooker Month—the doublewhammy of easy, healthful eating. Making soup in a slow cooker is a great way to combine the health benefits of soup with the ease of slow cooking. It’s a natural when preparing for any winter gathering. During the cold winter months, soup warms the body while providing healthful benefits. Broth-based soups filled with vegetables and beans provide vitamin-rich meals, and soups made with lean meats provide a

protein-packed meal that’s low in fat and calories. If you add tomatoes to your soup, you’re adding lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer, according to Penn State University. And adding vegetables high in vitamins A and C can help you get the required minimum serving amount per day. Consuming broth-based soup at the beginning of a meal can help you feel full, which can help you eat less of the courses that follow. And you can always make the soup the main part of the meal. Soup is a versatile medium, and

ingredient lists can be tailored to suit even picky eaters! Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests adding leftover vegetables from other meals or allowing children to add their favorite vegetables to a soup to increase the chances of them eating it. Even cream soups can be healthy with the right substitutions. The University of California Cooperative Extension Service recommends using skim milk in place of heavy cream or pureed white beans in place of milk to thicken soup. To further reduce a soup’s fat content without sacrificing flavor, chill it and skim off any fat before reheating and serving.

Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup INGREDIENTS

1 pound extra-lean ground beef, cooked and drained 6 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 6 carrots, diced 2 medium onions, chopped 48-ounce can low-sodium tomatoes 15-ounce can mixed vegetables, rinsed and drained to remove excess salt 15-ounce can green beans, rinsed and drained DIRECTIONS In a large stock pot, brown the ground beef. Remove the beef, and drain the fat from the pot. To the same pot, add potatoes, carrots, celery and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Cook on low until tender, about 30 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and the ground beef, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Soups made with lean meats provide protein, and ingredients can be tailored to suit any taste.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Have a Soup-er Year

Italian Bean Soup INGREDIENTS

15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed and drained 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained 30-ounces can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 medium onion, chopped 15-ounce can green beans, rinsed and drained 46-ounce can low-sodium tomato juice 15-ounce can Italian-style tomatoes 15-ounce can vegetable broth 1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic powder DIRECTIONS Place beans in a large stock pot, and stir in chopped onions and green beans. Pour in the tomato juice, tomatoes and vegetable broth, and add the Italian seasoning, pepper and garlic powder. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with Italian or French bread or whole-wheat rolls.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension

Leftover vegetables from other meals can be healthy, flavorful additions to soups.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2014

Heart of the Home

GAME-DAY BURGER blends American classic with Cuban sandwich This blend of an American hamburger with a traditional Cuban sandwich is perfect for a Super Bowl party or college bowl game tailgate, said cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris. It can be pan-fried or cooked on a grill. For a more flavorful burger, Morris suggests using an 85-percent-to-15-percent meat-to fat-ratio and seasoning the meat just before cooking. “If you salt the meat too early, it tends to make it tough,” she said.

Roasted garlic mayonnaise gives these burgers an attention-getting flavor.

Game Day Cuban-Style Burgers (Recipe adapted from Bobby Flay) INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS In a medium-size bowl, mix ground beef, Worcestershire, grated onion and cumin. Form the seasoned meat into four patties. Sprinkle both sides of the burgers with salt and pepper. Preheat a sauté pan to medium-high, and add the oil. Once it begins to shimmer, add patties to the pan and cook until they are cooked medium. Be careful not to overcook the burgers. Set cooked burgers aside. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, roasted garlic, Dijon mustard and lime juice. Season with a little black pepper. Cover and set aside. 28

Virginia Farm Bureau News

kathy dixon

1 pound ground chuck or sirloin (preferably with 15% fat) 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon grated onion ¼ teaspoon ground cumin salt and pepper ¼ teaspoon vegetable oil ½ cup mayonnaise 4 large cloves roasted garlic, smashed with a pinch of salt 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ¼ teaspoon fresh lime juice 4 sesame seed hamburger buns 8 thin slices deli ham 8 slices Swiss cheese thinly sliced dill pickles

To make the burgers, place a slice of Swiss cheese on the bottom part of the bun, and then spread a little roasted garlic mayo onto the cheese. Next, add the burger, and top the burger with a slice of ham, a couple of pickle slices and another slice of cheese. Spread a little more mayo on the top bun, and wrap the burger in aluminum foil. Cook burgers again in a hot skillet over high heat—pressing them down with a spatula or weighing them down with another heavy skillet. — another 5-8 minutes or until they are golden brown on each side and the cheese has melted. Serve hot.

Note: For easy roasted garlic, preheat oven the 275˚, and slice the top off a whole garlic head, leaving the cloves exposed. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Wrap the garlic head tightly in aluminum foil. Roast garlic in the oven for 45 minutes, remove it from the oven and let it rest another 15-20 minutes in the foil. Unwrap and use.

VaFarmBureau.org

Heart of the Home

CHILI combines classic flavors in this tried-and-true dish Cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris says chili is always a crowd-pleaser for Super Bowl parties and other gatherings with family and friends. This version is made with ground buffalo meat and stout, but chicken, beef or pork can be substituted. Slow cooking tends to dilute flavors, Morris said, so be heavy-handed with the aromatics like onion, garlic and other seasonings.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Stout Beer Chili Reprinted with permission from The Southern Slow Cooker: Big-Flavor, Low-Fuss Recipes for Comfort Food Classics by Kendra Bailey Morris and Ten Speed Press, 2013. INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS Spray the inside of large slow cooker with cooking spray. In a large saucepan, crumble the buffalo meat and cook until well-browned. Remove the meat to the slow cooker, and drain half the fat from the saucepan and discard. Sauté the onion and garlic in the remaining fat in the saucepan until translucent. Pour onion, garlic and pan juices into the slow cooker. Then add all ingredients from the tomato sauce through to the tomato paste. Give it a stir, and add the pinto beans. Cover and cook 8-9 hours on low, skimming off any surface fat from time to

2 pounds ground buffalo meat 1 large onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon brown sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon allspice ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional 1 bay leaf 12-ounce bottle of dark beer, preferably a Virginia stout 3 ounces tomato paste 2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed salt and pepper to taste

time. During the last 15 minutes of cooking, season with salt and pepper. Serve chili topped with optional garnishes. Note: You can substitute ground beef, cubed beef or pork or cooked, shredded chicken for this dish. If you prefer a thickerstyle chili, mix 2 tablespoons of masa harina (fine corn flour) with 2 tablespoons cold water to whisk in during the last 45-minutes to an hour before serving. Then uncover the slow cooker, crank the temperature up to high and cook until thickened.

shredded Cheddar cheese minced green onions chopped cilantro sour cream hot sauce tortilla chips or cornbread

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

kathy dixon

OPTIONAL GARNISHES:

This chili recipe calls for buffalo but can be made with beef, pork or chicken.

Kendra Bailey Morris appears each month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Morris is an author and culinary instructor whose work appears in Better Homes and Gardens, Food Republic, Virginia Living, Chile Pepper and other publications and is a former food columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her blog is at fatbackandfoiegras.blogspot.com. january 2014

Marketplace

2014 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Virginia 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 in the January 2014 issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News 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 membership is current.

Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm Equipment; • Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and • Livestock equipment. Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April 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 can be found above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Virginia Farm Bureau News. All member numbers will be verified.

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Marketplace

How to place your classified ad Step 1 Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad. • Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only. • Classified ads are not transferable. • Please type or print. • Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.

Step 2 Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.

• 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 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.

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

Deadlines

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.

Important: 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.

Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: Issue Deadline Mailed to producer members May April 1 August July 3 Mailed to associate members April March 3 July June 3

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; dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Category in which ad should run (select only one): ❑ Crops ❑ Farm Equipment ❑ Hay/Straw

CITY: ______________________________________________________ STATE: ________________________________ ZIP: ___________________

❑ Livestock

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

❑ Livestock Equipment

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

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: ❑ April (mailed to associate members) ❑ May (mailed to producer members) ❑ July (mailed to associate members)

❑ August (mailed to producer members) ❑ This is my one free 15-word ad for 2014 ❑ Payment enclosed: $ _______________ ❑ Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free Ad placement available for these issues only (Ads expire with membership).

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

january 2014

Let’s do this again next year! VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION wants to thank the 229,000 fairgoers who helped make the 2013 State Fair of Virginia the amazing event—and epic good time—that it was. Thanks also to the Virginia farm, forestry and horticultural organizations that helped ensure that agriculture remained a focus of the fair, and to everyone who participated in livestock, equine, crop, culinary, vocational and arts & crafts competitions. Because of you, the fair truly showcased the best of Virginia! We look forward to next year’s fair being even more exciting, and to welcoming you back again. 2014 State Fair of Virginia: Sept. 26 through Oct. 5 VaFarmBureau.org