FBN Jan 2015

Farm Bureau News

JANUARY 2015 | VAFARMBUREAU.ORG

College turning pecans into profit VFBF The Voice of Virginia’s Agriculture Producers

Farm Bureau News

Volume 74, Number 1 January 2015

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Features 14

Locals have gathered pecans at Richard Bland College for years. Now the school is harvesting and selling nuts.

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2014 Farm Bureau photo contest winners

When it comes to visual appeal, Virginia’s farms never disappoint.

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Annual Convention returns to Hot Springs

“We have a 750-acre campus with almost

College benefits from natural resource

The 2014 Annual Convention featured elections, policy discussion, a visit from the governor and insightful speakers.

RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE

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).

500 pecan trees, and it’s part of the college’s plan to use its natural resources.”

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 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

— JOANNE WILLIAMS,

communications director, Richard Bland College

Departments 6

National News

10

Virginia Ag & Forestry

23

For Your Benefit

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A Pie for Every Season

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Heart of the Home

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

ON THE COVER

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

Richard Bland College’s pecan grove (Photo courtesy of Richard Bland College)

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

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President

Board of Directors DIRECTOR

DISTRICT COUNTY

Emily Edmondson 1 Tazewell Richard L. Sutherland 2 Grayson 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 Leigh H. Pemberton 8 Hanover William F. Osl Jr. 9 Cumberland Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 Pittsylvania J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 Lunenburg W. Ellis Walton 12 Middlesex M. L. Everett Jr. 13 Southampton David L. Hickman 14 Accomack Janice R. Burton * Halifax Grant A. Coffee ** Lunenburg *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

President’s Message

Is this a turnaround year for Farm Bureau?

In December 2013, I stood before delegates and other members at our 88th Annual Convention and predicted that 2014 would be the WAYNE F. PRYOR year Virginia Farm Bureau began to see the fruits of our rebuilding process for membership and other Farm Bureau activities.

Last month at our 89th convention, I stood before many of those same members and felt like I’d made a good prediction. We finished our membership year in October with 128,187 members, which exceeded our goal, and I firmly believe this is the start of our turnaround for membership.

Fair attendence up as well Another number I want to share is the increased attendance at the State Fair of Virginia, which was 238,000, up 4 percent from 2014. I believe our efforts to expand the fair’s agriculture focus are paying off.

We have more than 58,000 Facebook followers for the fair, and the number of social media followers has increased for our federation page and for events at The Meadow Event Park as well. Our Plows & Politics blog also continues to grow, and that’s great, because we will never run out of things to share about agriculture and Farm Bureau.

Legislative success Telling our story to legislators in Richmond continued to pay dividends last year. We saw several victories in the General Assembly, including costshare funding for best management practices and the state reforestation fund. We also lobbied successfully for better farmer representation on the board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and a compromise bill modifying Virginia’s zoning laws to protect agritourism activities on farms was approved.

Our governmental relations staff logged more than 250 cases of working with local governments on your behalf last year, and supporting you at the local, state and federal level remains a key focus for Farm Bureau. If you want to stay current on legislative and regulatory issues, I urge you to sign up for our new Action Alert program soon (See article on Page 9).

Conservation and regulation One of our top federal issues last year was opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule that would amend the Clean Water Act and give that agency greater authority over uses of private land. This is an ongoing issue in Washington. We fought it most of last year, and there’s no guarantee that last November’s election will change things at the EPA. So we must remain vigilant.

An active role Farm Bureau has continued to be a key partner in promoting the marketing of Virginia farm products.

We co-sponsored the sixth annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade and were among sponsors of the first Urban Agriculture Conference and the annual Farm to Table Conference. Our Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability helped bring $2.1 million in value-added producer grants to Virginia this past year.

The state and its farmers were in the national spotlight last winter when our Young Farmers hosted the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference in Virginia Beach.

Our young farmers have also been helping to expand the Certified Farmseekers program with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

And while I’m on the subject of our industry's future, it’s no secret that Virginia farmers can expect stronger regulations to protect the environment. That’s why Farm Bureau was a key supporter of the new Virginia Resource Management Plan program that was finalized and introduced last year. Virginia is the first state in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to develop this voluntary approach to improving environmental standards.

You, our members, asked for alternatives to mandatory EPA regulations, and now would be an excellent time to step up to the plate and participate.

Perhaps this winter would be a good time to develop a resource management plan for your farm—because each January is an opportunity to get a jump on the challenges of a new year. And that’s a practice at which our Farm Bureau producer members are quite adept.

Wayne F. Pryor, a Goochland County beef and grain producer, is president of Virginia Farm Bureau.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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To our readers:

IN MEMORIAM

David R. Cundiff, Franklin County David Robert “Buddy” Cundiff, president of Franklin County Farm Bureau, died Oct. 24, 2014.

Mr. Cundiff, who was 57, had served as Franklin Farm Bureau’s president since 2013. The organization recently was recognized by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation for an effort he led to revise the county zoning ordinance CUNDIFF concerning commercial feedlots as a use by right in the A-1, Agriculture, zoning category.

“David was one dynamic leader,” said Mark Dawson, VFBF senior district field services director. “He contacted people; he took this idea and drove it from beginning to end. This work just shows what type of person he was.”

Mr. Cundiff was chief of police of the town of Rocky Mount and served 30 years with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. He was elected to the Franklin County Board of Supervisors in 2008 and was appointed that body’s chairman in 2012.

The fifth-generation farmer of tobacco, beef cattle and grain is survived by his wife, Tina Turman Cundiff, his mother and one son.

This issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News marks the launch of a magazine re-design.

It’s our intent to mail you a readerfriendly and well-organized publication that shares not only relevant industry and Farm Bureau news but also information that proves useful to you as a producer. We’ve set about organizing content so that key elements are easy to find and concisely written with the busy reader in mind.

We hope you’ll be pleased with the ongoing enhancements, and we thank readers who have been generous with their recommendations.

James H. McAden, Brunswick County James Hugh “Mac” McAden III, president of Brunswick County Farm Bureau, died June 23, 2014.

Mr. McAden, who was 64, had served as Brunswick Farm Bureau’s president since 2011. He also served on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Advisory Committee.

“Mac’s family has been involved in Farm Bureau for McADEN many years, and Mac seemed to enjoy the time he dedicated to Farm Bureau,” said Greg Maxey, VFBF senior district field services director.

“His straightforward nature and sense of humor, combined with his belief in Farm Bureau’s purpose, made it a pleasure to work with him as county president.”

Mr. McAden was the co-owner of McAden Dairy Farms/Trucking.

He is survived by his significant other, Brenda Tucker; his mother; two sons; three stepchildren; and seven grandchildren.

74

41%

Years that Virginia Farm Bureau has published Virginia Farm Bureau News for its members. The first issue was dated Feb. 15, 1941 and had as its top headline “Virginia To Seek 8,000 Farm Bureau Members.”

Rate by which U.S. agricultural exports have grown in value in the past five years.

See the related article on Page 6.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Save the Date!

Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Trade set for March The sixth annual Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Trade will take place March 9 and 10 at the Richmond Marriott Hotel.

The conference is organized by the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Port Authority and the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

For details and to register, visit events.signup4.com/GovAgTrade2015.

Members can save at Farm Bureau warehouse open house on Feb. 27 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. 27 open house.

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

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 for the open house.

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

Young Farmers Winter Expo to be held in Bristol The 2015 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Winter Expo will be held Feb. 27 through March 1 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Bristol.

The keynote speaker will be Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Brothers, who gained an online following after posting farm-themed parody videos

on YouTube. The agenda will include tours of area farms, the Bristol Motor Speedway and the Origin of Country Music Museum.

For details, visit VAFBYoungFarmers.com.

Women’s Conference planned for March in Roanoke The 2015 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Conference will be held March 20-22 at The Hotel Roanoke.

The conference will feature workshops about growing strong leaders, and speakers will include Dr. Jewel Hairston, dean of Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture, and Dr. Dixie Dalton, associate professor of agriculture at Southside Community College.

To register, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

Risk management meetings gearing up for 2015 The following meetings for farmers with an interest in risk management opportunities have been scheduled: • Jan. 13 – Four Rivers Producer Conference • Jan. 14 – Five County Agriculture Conference • Jan. 14 – Lower Peninsula Agriculture Conference • Feb. 10-11 – Eastern Shore Agriculture Conference Reservations for the meetings are required. Each is offered by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation in cooperation with other organizations.

For more information or to arrange a risk management meeting in another area, contact Jonah Bowles, VFBF agricultural market analyst, at 804-290-1117 or jonah.bowles@vafb.com.

Volunteers to read My Virginia Plate during Agriculture Literacy Week Third ‘Farmer Ben’ work is AITC 2015 Book of the Year Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program has named My Virginia Plate, written by Tammy Maxey and illustrated

by Kevin Pitts and Greg Cravens, its 2015 Virginia AITC Book of the Year.

It is the third in a series of AITC “Farmer Ben” books.

“My Virginia Plate provides an overview of how Virginia farmers produce a wide variety of foods that are a part of a healthy diet,” said Maxey, who is Virginia AITC senior education program coordinator.

The book will be read and distributed in schools statewide by volunteers during Virginia’s fifth annual Agriculture Literacy Week, March 15-21, 2015.

Agriculture Literacy Week runs concurrently with National Ag Week.

“Last year volunteers read to more than 50,000 children in 2,300 classrooms across the state,” Maxey said.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information about Agriculture Literacy Week, visit AgInTheClass.org.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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National News

USDA: Nation’s farm exports set new record in 2014 U.S. agricultural exports, including those from Virginia, are at an alltime high.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that agricultural exports for 2014 totaled $152.5 billion, topping last year’s record $141 billion.

“American farmers and ranchers have once again achieved another year of record exports,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Agricultural exports have climbed 41 percent in value over the past five years. U.S.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

U.S. and Virginia farm exports are at record highs.

agricultural exports have increased in volume as well as in monetary value, which demonstrates an increasing global appetite for high-quality, American-grown products.”

Virginia agricultural products have followed the same trend.

In March, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced that the state’s farm and forestry exports reached an all-time high of $2.85 billion in 2013, up from the previous record of $2.61 billion in 2012.

Agricultural exports from Virginia have grown in value by 27 percent since 2010, when the state launched a strategic plan to grow those exports.

Virginia has trade representatives in key markets to help facilitate the purchase of ag and forestry products.

National News

State trade offices are operating in Canada, Latin America, Europe, India, Russia, China and Hong Kong.

The top three export markets for Virginia are China, Canada and Switzerland. Virginia’s top ag and forestry exports include soybeans, soy meal and soybean oil; lumber and logs; unmanufactured leaf tobacco; wheat, corn, barley and other grains; animal feed; pork; poultry; seafood; processed foods and beverages, including wine; wood pellets; animal fats and oils; raw peanuts; and cotton.

normally keep as breeding animals to maintain or grow their herds.”

Young agriculture professionals needed to fill bounty of jobs

U.S. pork production set to surpass beef for first time since 1950s U.S. pork producers are poised to ramp up production this year, while beef cattle producers have been paring down their herds.

Beef cattle numbers in the United States have been declining over the past few years, and herds are currently as small as they’ve been since the 1960s, said Bob Young, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Next year, he predicted, U.S. pork production will top U.S. beef production for the first time since the 1950s.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Commodity Marketing Director Spencer Neale noted that, over the past year, hog numbers nationwide have been significantly affected by a porcine virus. But that problem has been addressed, he said, and swine numbers are ready to rebound.

On the other hand, “farmers reduced their cattle herds because feed prices were high and the sale prices they were getting for the animals were high,” Neale said. “That gave them a good reason to sell cattle they would

Rising ag professionals will be extremely tech-savvy.

There is an abundance of job opportunities in the food and agriculture fields and a national shortage of young professionals to fill them.

That is the conclusion of a recent study sponsored by the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Food & Ag Council.

The report on study findings includes a detailed analysis of workforce trends in six agriculture fields: agricultural business and management; agriculture mechanization and engineering; animal sciences; plant and soil science; food science and technology; and other life sciences. Findings indicate that between January and August 2014 nearly 34,000 people were hired each month. Twenty-five percent of workers in the highlighted fields are 55 or older, which means job opportunities will grow through workforce attrition.

The report analysis projects a 4.9 percent growth in employment opportunities in the next five years,

adding 33,100 new jobs in advanced agriculture fields.

Ag backgrounds not necessarily a prerequisite The report offers recommendations for guiding STEM professionals to food and ag careers and advancing STEM education and career development in relevant areas of agriculture. In essence, it states that there is a need to transfer knowledge from a retiring generation to their successors. And, unlike previous generations, some of those successors will have no previous connection to agriculture.

“There is a huge field of ag professionals not getting their hands in the dirt,” said Spencer Neale, director of commodity marketing for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“The business of feeding the world is so complex, and there are many ag careers related to policy, the environment, sustainability and technology. The problem is the gap in the number of people to fill those jobs.”

Neale noted that U.S. land-grant universities are typically at the forefront of preparing ag graduates for the workforce. “Organizations like Farm Bureau Federation also have an important role to play in partnering with agencies and universities to meet these growing needs,” he said.

The report noted that the next generation of ag professionals is both tech-savvy and community-minded.

“As agriculture becomes increasingly global and information-based, those attributes can surely make a difference,” Neale said.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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Virginia Horse Festival raring to go March 27-29 Virginia is for lovers, and the Virginia Horse Festival is for horse lovers. | BY KATHY DIXON

Extreme Mustang Makeover and EquiSmartz The festival will include an Extreme Mustang Makeover competition and the statewide 4-H EquiSmartz competition.

The Virginia Horse Festival grew out of the former Virginia Equine Extravaganza. “We are taking established events and pulling them together as part of one big festival,” said Julie Williamson, a member of the Virginia Horse Festival planning committee. “People won’t have to pick which event to attend; they can attend

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

KATHY DIXON

T

he new Virginia Horse Festival will be held March 27-29 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and will have something for experienced horse owners and riders, new horse owners, hobbyists, dog lovers and those with a taste for Western wear, boots and jewelry.

“Everything from show prep to basic vet care will be covered in our clinics and demos,” said Glenn Martin, the festival’s program manager. “This event will be both educational and entertaining for longtime members of Virginia’s horse community, as well as for those who are fans of horses or thinking about becoming horse owners.”

The Virginia Horse Festival will have something for seasoned and would-be horse owners.

everything in the same weekend.”

The festival will kick off with the Mustang Makeover, a wild horse training event sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Youth and adult trainers, assigned wild mustangs in November 2014, have been training them for competition.

At the horse festival, the trainers will compete in classes such as handling and conditioning, leading, riding obstacles and freestyle. The Mustang Makeover finals will be held Saturday night and culminate with an auction of the trained Mustangs.

The EquiSmartz competition tests 4-H students’ knowledge of horses and ponies. District competitions are held throughout the year.

Other highlights Additionally, The Meadow’s annual Secretariat birthday celebration is scheduled for March 28. The 1973 Triple Crown champion was born on the property on March 30, 1970.

The Central Virginia Agility Club will provide dog agility demonstrations as well. All seminars, clinics, demonstrations and nightly entertainment are free to observe with a paid admission.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For details about the Virginia Horse Festival, visit VirginiaHorseFestival.com.

Farm Bureau to emphasize ag issues at Jan. 29 Legislative Day Farm Bureau producer members will speak with state legislators about issues of interest to farmers in their communities and statewide during Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Legislative Day on Jan. 29.

Member-identified critical issues for the 2015 session of the Virginia General Assembly are: • adequate funding for Virginia’s Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program; • adequate funding for operational support and technical assistance for soil and water conservation districts; • maintaining state oversight and regulation of the application of biosolids and industrial residuals as a source of nutrients on farmland;

only changes that are preferable to farmers and provide further protection from nuisance lawsuits; • maintaining the Land Preservation Tax Credit as an incentive for farmers to preserve working farms and forests; • avoiding cuts to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Purchase of Development Rights program; and • maintaining the funding such that the integrity of the VDACS Weights and Measures program is not compromised.

On Jan. 28 the VFBF Women’s Committee will host a legislative reception at which Farm Bureau leaders will have an opportunity to talk with their representatives in an informal setting.

PAM WILEY

• protecting the Right to Farm Act in its current form by supporting

SIGN UP for new Action Alert system

Throughout the year Farm Bureau staff send out Action Alerts asking producer members to voice their concerns about specific agricultural issues to their legislators. The more members respond to those alerts, the more effective Farm Bureau is in making sure Virginia farmers are heard.

In 2010, members responded to Action Alerts regarding federal legislation that would unfairly blame farmers and overestimate their impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts resulted in 28,000 contacts made to Virginia’s Congressional delegation and played a major role in the legislation’s defeat.

If you are a producer member with an interest in helping to maintain your ability to farm in Virginia, you can help by responding to Action Alerts.

To receive them, contact Kelly Pruitt at kelly.pruitt@vafb.com or 804-290-1293 with your name, membership number and contact information.

The Governmental Relations Department is implementing a new Action Alert system that is more user-friendly and has more capabilities.

The old system used many outdated email addresses; for that reason, Farm Bureau is asking members to sign up again to ensure that all contact information is current.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (left) attended last year’s legislative reception.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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Virginia Ag & Forestry

Labor issues, access to institutional markets addressed at Farm to Table Conference

BY CANDACE SIPOS

What needs to happen for Americans to value fresh, healthy local food more?

The Virginia Farm to Table Conference has become a meeting ground for farmers and other professionals to discuss that question and many others.

The discussion is a popular one; roughly 800 people attended the growing conference Dec. 2-4. Virginia Cooperative Extension hosted the event with other organizations; Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was among the sponsors.

The conference was held at Blue Ridge Community College and Virginia State University.

Labor issues for beginning farmers

The line between volunteer and unpaid intern labor and the question of what should be paid for labor on a farm are tricky ones. That was one of the main messages during a panel discussion on labor issues among beginning and startup farmers, led

by Dr. Kim Niewolny, an Extension specialist and director of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program.

Farm internships should be an educational experience for the participant, not a cheap way to boost profit, according to panelists. Interns and volunteers shouldn’t replace paid employees, though it is much easier for operations with nonprofit status to legally use unpaid labor.

One audience member asked if it might boost small and start-up farms’ 10

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

The volume of food that schools and other institutions must buy can be a challenge for smallerscale farms.

productivity if employees were paid more per hour.

“One thing you have to remember is, that $8.55 an hour that you’re paying, it costs you more than that because you have to match the Medicare and the Social Security,” said panelist Sally Walker, who runs Glade Road Growing with her husband in Blacksburg.

Walker said they give back to their three part-time employees and team of volunteers by providing meals and by keeping the farm running as efficiently as possible to minimize menial tasks.

She and panelists from Agriberry Farm in Hanover County explained that their operations provide educational stepping stones for young workers.

Interacting with institutions

In a panel discussion on selling food to institutions, panelist Danny Boyer of Four Winds Farm in Grayson County said “it’s a shame” that farmers who have quality products have a difficult time selling it for use in schools, hospitals and other large organizations.

Cost and volume demands for a system with 5,500 students in eight schools are key concerns, said panelist Andrea Early, executive director of school nutrition for the city of Harrisonburg’s public school system.

Raising meal prices, she noted, can prompt parents to prepare children’s lunches at home. It would help her, she said, to see better reimbursement rates for feeding the 72 percent of Harrisonburg students who receive free and reduced meals at school.

The “volume discount,” wherein large-scale companies can offer institutions much lower prices than small farmers—and even rebates—“just stops local producers dead in their tracks once they get to a certain scale,” said Ann Karlen, executive director of Philadelphia-based Fair Food.

Panelists and attendees agreed that Americans must value the quality of their food more before demand will push institutions toward local produce.

The key, many noted, is education.

Virginia Ag & Forestry

McAuliffe announces council to tackle nutritional divide

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o help bridge the nutritional divide in Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has announced a new council that will seek to eliminate childhood hunger and promote Virginia’s agriculture industry.

The Commonwealth Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide will seek to achieve three major objectives, using a public-private approach and relying on the commonwealth’s vibrant agriculture sector.

It will be chaired by first lady Dorothy McAuliffe, a longtime supporter of giving more Virginians, especially children and young adults, access to nutritious, affordable and locally sourced foods.

Three-year plan

The council’s objectives will be to eliminate childhood hunger in Virginia by increasing A new state council will work toward more children having access to healthy foods from Virginia farms. participation in nutrition assistance programs; promote Virginia’s leading industry—agriculture— and increase access to affordable, Farm Bureau Federation and chairman “We are excited about the healthy and local foods; and facilitate of the Virginia Food System Council. “All opportunity to work with the first efficient and effective local initiatives three objectives are areas where we can lady and other stakeholders on this related to community nutrition, make a positive difference in Virginia.” initiative,” said VFBF President Wayne food access and health strategies and The council will develop a three-year F. Pryor. “Agriculture in Virginia is programs. plan to achieve its objectives and will diverse, dynamic and cutting-edge, and “This is good news for Virginia consist of representatives from five our farmers understand the critical agriculture and for the citizens of different state agencies and a broad role that they, and the foods they Virginia,” said Spencer Neale, director range of public- and private-sector produce, have in all these areas.” of commodity marketing for Virginia stakeholders appointed by the governor.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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Virginia Ag & Forestry

CENSUS:

Virginia aquaculture sales topped $55 million

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

WHILE THE NUMBER OF VIRGINIA AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH IS DOWN 19 PERCENT FROM 2005, SALES SHOWED A 26 PERCENT INCREASE.

KATHY DIXON

Virginia is home to more than 120 commercial aquaculture operations that saw a total of $55.6 million in sales in 2013.

Among them were 17 operations selling crustaceans—soft-shell crabs, freshwater prawns and saltwater shrimp; 26 operations selling food fish like hybrid striped bass, catfish, tilapia and trout; 80 selling oysters and clams; and three selling ornamental fish. More than half of the state’s 2013 aquaculture sales, $41.5 million, were for mollusks, divided almost evenly between clam sales and oyster sales.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released findings from its 2013 Census of Aquaculture on Sept. 29. The census is the third that NASS has conducted; the previous census was conducted in 2005.

While the number of Virginia aquaculture operations in the commonwealth is down 19 percent from 2005, sales showed a 26 percent increase.

“Virginia aquaculture is truly a bright spot for Virginia and showcases the diversity of agriculture in our state,” said Spencer Neale, director of commodity marketing for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The growth in this particular segment is a trend that we have seen going back 20 years, when a similar census conducted by the state estimated aquaculture sales at a little over $18 million. There is no reason this growth trend should not continue, moving forward.”

Nationwide, the census found the total sales of aquaculture products in 2013 was $1.37 billion, an increase of 26 percent from 2005. Sales of food fish totaled $732 million, an increase of 9 percent from 2005. Crustacean sales totaled $85 million, up 59 percent, and mollusk sales totaled $329 million, an increase of 62 percent.

More than half of Virginia aquaculture sales in 2013 were for clams and oysters.

Virginia Ag & Forestry

Pulaski aquaponics venture is finalist for recognition Pulaski Grow, an aquaponics business established in Pulaski County to provide youth job training opportunities, is among four finalists for the first-ever Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The challenge provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations being developed in rural areas of the United States. It is a key component of the Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative, a joint effort between the American Farm Bureau Federation and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Finalists were chosen from among more than 200 applicants.

Sales of produce and fish planned Pulaski Grow was founded by director Lee Spiegel to teach job skills to teens. Based on the campus of a former elementary school, it is expected to eventually become a nonprofit organization and acquire two greenhouses. The first greenhouse will house 3,000 vegetable plants and several 500-gallon fish tanks stocked with tilapia. Spiegel intends for the facility to sell fresh produce and fish.

The four challenge finalists each won $15,000 and will pitch their business ideas to a team of judges at the 2015 AFBF Annual Convention this month. The judges will select a Rural Entrepreneur of the Year, who will receive an additional $15,000, and they will present a Peoples’ Choice Award, which is worth $10,000 more.

Most Virginia Outdoors Foundation participants are managing their land for farming or forestry.

Conservation easements prove good option for farmland preservation One of Virginia’s oldest land conservation options has proven to be a valuable tool for farmers and other landowners seeking to protect their property from development.

A recent survey of 631 Virginia Outdoors Foundation participants determined that 90 percent of them are managing the protected lands for agricultural production or forestry, and 73 percent said the protected land was either important or essential to their livelihoods.

“For a long time groups like Farm Bureau have supported conservation easements and the land preservation tax credit as a good option for some landowners,” said Trey Davis, assistant director of governmental relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “This is one of the first times there’s hard data or feedback showing that the financial incentives at the state level have helped these folks at a business level” as well.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and an outside agency or government body to permanently limit certain uses of a property, while allowing the property owner to continue to own and use the land, and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. Usually the arrangement comes with some form of compensation, such as the state tax credits that can be claimed through a VOF conservation easement.

“There have always been concerns that conservation easements may be too restrictive for farmers,” Davis said. “The agriculture community and conservation community have been working to address these concerns the past few years.”

The VOF was created in 1966 by the Virginia General Assembly and has easements on more than 735,000 acres across the commonwealth. That’s more than 1,100 square miles of open space protected from development forever.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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COLLEGE BENEFITS FROM NATURAL RESOURCE School has a 750-acre campus with almost 500 pecan trees

BY KATHY DIXON

R

ichard Bland College is nuts about turning a natural resource into profit for the school.

They’ve begun harvesting nuts from 108-year-old pecan trees that were well established on the land when the school bought it in 1960.

“It stemmed from an innovative idea from our president, Debbie Sydow,” said Joanne Williams, RBC director of communications. “We have a 750-acre campus with almost 500 pecan trees, and it’s part of the college’s plan to use its natural resources.”

The pecan trees were planted on the Prince George County land in 1906, and by the time the college acquired the land, they were well-established and producing plenty of nuts. Students, faculty and members of the community gathered pecans after the nuts fell from the trees.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE

The 108-year-old pecan grove at Richard Bland College predates the college, which bought the land in 1960.

“Locals have been coming here for years and picking up pecans,” said Bill Wamsley, RBC landscape supervisor.

“Even in a hard rain, they come out.”

Williams recalled visiting a local restaurant where a customer brought in pecans and gave them to others in the establishment. “They were beautiful, and I asked her where they came from. Her response: Richard Bland College!”

But Sydow wanted the college to begin harvesting the trees and selling the pecans for a profit. They bought some equipment and began harvesting last winter.

The school hopes to purchase additional equipment to shell and package the nuts and sell them at retail, Williams said.

Right now the unshelled nuts are sold to a wholesaler.

Eventually it will be a soup-to-nuts operation run by students, maybe even a business class, Williams said.

Currently there are three students helping with the operation, along with the facilities director, landscape supervisor and other facilities employees. They use a hopper, which rakes up the nuts—as well as leaves and other debris—and flings them into a basket. Employees sort through the nuts, sweep the dirt off, then wash them and sort them again. It’s all done by hand.

The workers begin harvesting the pecans after the first hard frost. The frost causes the nuts’ shells to dry, and they begin to fall from the trees.

“Last year we harvested through January (2014),” Wamsley said in November. “This year they’re already all down.”

Tom Goudreault, a facilities management employee, blames heavy winds. “It knocks them down prematurely, but we can’t control the weather.”

Last year’s harvest yielded more than 1,000 pounds of pecans, but the school did not expect that many this past fall. Until last year, the trees had not been fertilized or had any other inputs. They were fertilized for the first time last February and will be fertilized again next month.

“We want this to be a continuous source of income for the college,” Williams said.

In the meantime, community members are still allowed to harvest nuts. And if they store them in a cool, dry place, the unshelled pecans will keep for as long as three years.

PECAN FACTS • A pecan is not truly a nut; it is technically a fruit with a single stone or pit, surrounded by a husk. The husk starts out green and turns brown at maturity.

• Wood from pecan trees is used for furniture, flooring and flavoring fuel for smoked meats.

• Albany, Ga., which boasts more than 600,000 pecan trees, is the pecan capital of the United States.

• There are more than 1,000 varieties of pecans. Many are named for Native American Indian tribes, including Cheyenne, Mohawk, Sioux, Choctaw and Shawnee.

• Some of the larger pecan shellers process 150,000 pounds of pecans each day. That’s enough to make 300,000 pecan pies!

• The United States produces about 80 percent of the world’s pecan crop.

Source: National Pecan Shellers Association

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

15

2015 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Virginia farms, the families who operate them and the animals and crops they produce are a boundless source of photo subjects.

County Farm Bureaus in Virginia had the option of sponsoring photo contests last year and submitting their first-place entries for judging on the state level. Entries were judged in three age categories. These photos were among the first-place winners.

THIS PAGE: Top, Cows Have the Best View by Patricia

Temples, Greene County; Left, Alpaca Snack by Caroline Hale, Floyd County OPPOSITE: Top left, Evening on the Farm by Kenzie Miller,

Shenandoah County; Top right, Nose to Nose, Cheek to Cheek

by Maika Atwell, Smyth County; Bottom: She is Family by Ann Harrell, Craig County.

16

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

17

Leadership opportunities: Farm Bureau offers plenty to go around

BY KATHY DIXON

When opportunity comes knocking, Farm Bureau members take advantage of leadership opportunities offered through the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Women’s Communications Boot Camp For some, it takes longer than others.

“It took me three years to build up my confidence to apply for the Women’s Communications Boot Camp,” said Kristal Harris, one of 15 graduates of the 2014 boot camp.

Harris, who lives and farms in Pittsylvania County, took part in four intense days of interviews, media training, feedback and constructive criticism. “I wish I hadn’t waited so long.”

Partners in Agricultural Leadership AFBF offers its members a plethora of leadership development opportunities—from the communications boot camp to an overseas fellowship and other programs in between.

“I had an amazing experience,” said Matt Lohr, who was a member of the first-ever Partners in Agricultural

Leadership, or PAL, program in 2003.

“I learned how to be a more effective communicator, how to build stronger relationships with elected officials and how to better connect with the general public when sharing the story of agriculture.”

The PAL program grooms young farmers to become advocates for agriculture, honing their public speaking and media relations skills.

Lohr went on to run for a seat in the House of Delegates, where he served from 2006 until 2010, when he was appointed Virginia’s commissioner of agriculture and consumer services. He’s now director of the Farm Credit of the Virginias Knowledge Center.

McCloy Fellowship in Agriculture Hunter Richardson, a diversified crop and cattle farmer in King & Queen County, participated in AFBF’s McCloy Fellowship in Agriculture program in 2002. He traveled through Germany to learn about food production, markets and culture in that country.

The McCloy Fellowship program was started by the American Council on Germany in 1976 to give young American and German professionals an opportunity to broaden their

professional experience. In 1979, the ACG established partnerships with AFBF and its German counterpart for the McCloy Fellowship in Agriculture.

“It forces you to consider global production and consumption habits,” Richardson said. “Since returning stateside, I understand the need for multiple production methods and recognize trends in both domestic and global consumer demands.

“I participated in conversations 12 years ago with German leaders about the use of genetically modified organisms in the German food supply.”

‘ I am a farmer, and I need to own it’ Richardson said the McCloy, PAL and women’s boot camp program show that “the Farm Bureau organization cares about investing in young producers and in their leadership development.”

Harris said she appreciates that farm women have the additional opportunity to develop their leadership and communication skills.

“For years I’ve said, ‘I’m just a teacher; you need to talk to my husband, because he’s the farmer,’” she said, “but after those four days at boot camp I realized that, yes, I am a farmer, and I need to own it.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? • The American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Boot Camp is held annually for three days in the fall. For more information and an application, visit fb.org/programs.

• The McCloy Fellowship in Agriculture is held annually for three weeks in September or October. For more information and an application, visit fb.org/programs.

• Each new Partners in Agricultural Leadership class is announced in April and lasts 22 months (The current class runs April 2013 through February 2015. Applications for the next class are being accepted this winter). Applicants must meet specific criteria, and participants commit to attend four workshops that are four to seven days in length and a graduation module at the AFBF Joint Leadership Conference. For more information and an application, visit fb.org/programs .

18

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Governor: Farmers

have key

role in building state economy

FOG DELAYED HIS ARRIVAL at Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention, but Gov. Terry McAuliffe was perfectly clear about his vision for agriculture’s and forestry’s role in Virginia’s economy.

McAuliffe spoke at the convention’s Dec. 3 opening general session, thanking participants “for all that you do to build the new Virginia economy.”

On the current economic front, “we face severe headwinds in the commonwealth of Virginia,” the governor said, noting that U.S. Department of Defense spending cuts have been painful, particularly in Northern Virginia, and that the effect of federal sequestration could be devastating.

Industries like agriculture and forestry, he noted, are “essential elements” of reducing Virginia’s economic reliance on the federal government.

McAuliffe reiterated his goal for Virginia agriculture exports to break the $3 billion mark this year and for the state to become the “East Coast capital” for agricultural trade. Currently, he noted, “we’re third. I don’t believe in being third, folks.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that U.S. agricultural trade set a new record, showing a 7.8 percent increase over 2013.

“There is no reason that we can’t do that in Virginia as well,” McAuliffe said.

2014 Annual Convention Dec. 2-4 at The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs Theme: “Farming for the Next Generation” Participants: More than 700 farmers and other agriculture professionals, including nearly 300 delegates representing 88 county Farm Bureaus

Purpose: To shape VFBF policy for the coming year; present awards; and share relevant industry information

Philanthropy: Live and silent auctions sponsored by the Young Farmers

Gov. Terry McAuliffe spoke at the Dec. 3 general session.

KATHY DIXON

Committee raised $8,400 for Agriculture in the Classroom and to fund scholarships for Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Program.

Details: Detailed coverage of speakers’ remarks and award winners’ achievements is available under “Convention Headlines” at VaFarmBureau.org/NewsVideo/ConventionNewsroom.aspx.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

19

Producers and others honored with awards The following award recipients were recognized at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

Distinguished Service Awards

Dr. Charles W. Steger, retired president of Virginia Tech Henry E. Wood, Buckingham County, former District 9 director, VFBF board

Young Farmers Achievement Award

Brent and Margaret Arbogast, Rockingham County

Young Farmers Discussion Meet winner Sarah Scyphers, Washington County

County Farm Bureau Best in State Awards

Franklin County Farm Bureau, for governmental relations Powhatan County Farm Bureau, for governmental relations Stafford County Farm Bureau, for agriculture promotion or education Tazewell County Farm Bureau, for membership acquisition Wythe County Farm Bureau, for member involvement and retention

Warren Beach Award, for support of young farmers Gregory B. Farmer, president and CEO, Colonial Farm Credit

Ishee-Quann Award for Media Excellence Rappahannock Record, Kilmarnock

Journalism Awards

The Roanoke Times, daily newspaper; Rappahannock Record and Tidewater News, non-daily newspapers; WHSV TV 3 in Harrisonburg, television; The Westmoreland News and The Gazette-Virginian (South Boston), Members’ Choice Award.

2014 elections

Lunenburg farmer will represent young producers on board Lunenburg County grain producer Grant A. Coffee was elected to a twoyear term as chairman of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee.

Coffee is vice president of Lunenburg County Farm Bureau and co-owner of Coffee Farms Inc., which grows COFFEE soybeans and wheat. He also runs a custom spray operation and trucking company and is a research specialist at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Blackstone.

Hanover producer will fill District 8 seat

PEMBERTON

20

Hanover County dairy, grain and hay producer Leigh H. Pemberton was elected to the VFBF board of directors Oct. 27 to serve the third year of a three-year term held by H. Carl Tinder Sr. of Albemarle County, who resigned.

Pemberton will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico and Louisa counties.

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Re-elected officers and directors President....................................... Wayne F. Pryor Vice president.............................. Scott E. Sink Women’s Committee chairman....................................... Janice R. Burton District 1 director........................ Emily Fisher Edmondson, Tazewell County District 4 director....................... Gordon R. Metz Jr., Henry County District 7 director....................... Thomas Graves Jr., Orange County District 10 director..................... Robert Mills Jr., Pittsylvania County District 13 director...................... Marvin L. Everett Jr., Southampton County

Virginia Tech president hails farmers’ partnership with colleges Virginia Tech President Dr. Timothy D. Sands told several hundred Virginia farmers that the partnership between U.S. agriculture and the nation’s land-grant universities “has never been stronger.”

Sands delivered the Dec. 2 keynote address on “The Future of the Land Grant Mission” at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

He began his term as Virginia Tech’s 16th president in June and previously served as acting president, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Purdue University.

It was at Purdue, he said, that he came to appreciate the significance of the nation’s land-grant universities. “It

became a passion of mine, even though I don’t work in the agricultural area. I came to appreciate the impact that it has had on the history of the United States.”

Land-grant universities are U.S. institutions designated by individual states to receive benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. Those acts granted federally controlled land to states to sell to establish colleges that would teach practical agriculture, science, military science and engineering in addition to traditional classical studies.

In 1914, land-grant universities’ outreach mission was expanded by the Smith-Lever Act to include cooperative extension, the practice of sending agents

into rural areas to share the results of agricultural research.

Today, Sands said, the relationship between Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia’s agriculture industry “really sets an example for the other mission areas” at Virginia Tech through “that direct transfer of knowledge.”

In the coming years, Sands said, “we must continue to honor the history of our partnership with the agriculture industry” by seeking opportunities for new growth and by conducting research related to key issues such as nutrition, food safety and security and water usage.

Middle-size farms ‘going away,’ 2012 census figures show

Panelists: Ag education need not wait until middle and high school

The 2012 Census of Agriculture points to a “hollowing out” of the middle of American agriculture, according to Dr. Bob Young, American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist and deputy executive director for public policy.

Young spoke Dec. 2 on “The Numbers of Agriculture: What the 2012 Census Says About Us.” He called census data “critically important” and said the 2012 findings indicate a continuing increase in the number of both small-scale farms and large farms.

For example, Young said, 33,330 of the 2.1 million farms in the United States—about 1.6 percent—produce 50 percent of the nation’s agricultural products, according to the 2012 census, and 50 percent of U.S. beef was sold by 12,879 of 740,978 producers, or 1.7 percent. Half of America’s grains and oilseeds were grown by just 20,197, or 4 percent, of the nation’s 503,315 producers.

“I refer to this as a hollowing out of the middle of agriculture,” Young said. “Most farms are becoming either lifestyle operations or big production operations; there’s not a lot in the middle.”

The 2012 census indicates that the bottom 25 percent of farm operators number about 2 million, the top 25 percent number about 4,000 and the middle 50 percent total 115,582, which is down from 175,805 in 1997—a 35 percent decline.

Effective education about agriculture begins at a young age, ideally in schools.

That was the assertion of panelists in a Dec. 2 workshop titled “Growing Agriculture Education in Your County.”

“We don’t want to keep agriculture a secret,” said Martha Moore, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation vice president of governmental relations. “We want to tell agriculture’s story.

If you don’t tell your story, no one else will.”

Tammy Maxey, senior education program coordinator for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program, said many county Farm Bureaus are already involved in agriculture education programs in their communities. Examples include distributing agriculture-related placemats to local restaurants and organizing Dairy Days and Farm Fun Days for students and workshops for local teachers.

Sarah Scyphers, an agriculture education teacher at Holston High School in Washington County, said programs and initiatives for even the youngest students can have an impact.

Scyphers said she did her first Partners in Active Learning Support program several years ago for third-graders. The mentoring program that matches teen FFA members with elementary and middle school students. Scyphers said those PALS participants are now enrolled in her Foundations of Agriculture class at Holston, and it is her largest class ever.

“We have 60 freshmen enrolled in the class and had to turn some away,” she said. “I can’t help but think it’s that students remembered the PALS program and it had an impact on them.”

Panelists suggested partnering with county 4-H and FFA programs and using resources offered by AITC. VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

21

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The Farm Bureau protects the future of your farm and your neighbors farms all year long.

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Print your certificate today!* Visit fbverify.com/CaseIH *A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount. Farm Bureau Members can download a certificate at www.FBVerify.com/caseih. Not a Farm Bureau member? Reach out to your state Farm Bureau to join today.

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22

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

For Your Benefit

NEW! Members

Save $500 on purchase or lease of selected GM vehicles

Help is within reach with Member’s Medical Alert

Farm Bureau members in Virginia are now eligible for a manufacturer’s incentive discount of $200 to $300 on utility and sport vehicles and all-terrain vehicles from participating Polaris dealers.

Members should negotiate their best deals with their preferred Polaris dealers and then add the manufacturer’s incentive discount to the bottom line. There is no limit to the number of incentive discounts that a Farm Bureau member may use, provided they use no more than one per vehicle acquired and vehicle acquisitions are made for their personal or business use.

To take advantage of this benefit, visit FBAdvantage/Deals, enter your membership number and ZIP code, and print out a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your local Polaris dealership.

Farm Bureau members can receive a $500 discount on the purchase or lease of qualifying Buick, Chevrolet or GMC vehicles at participating dealerships.

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. The discount must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered.

See participating GM dealers for full details.

Virginia Farm Bureau’s Member’s Medical Alert system, makes it easy for members or their loved ones to summon assistance in an emergency.

Powered by national provider LifeStation, the service features a stateof-the-art, 24-hour call center with care specialists who can be contacted via a tabletop console or a help button that users can mount on a wall or wear around the neck or wrist or clipped to a belt.

• Members pay a special monthly rate of $25.95 for land line use.

• Cellular-based connection is available for an additional $14.95 per month.

• No long-term contract and 30-day money-back guarantee.

eligible for discounts on Polaris vehicles

For details call 877-288-4958 or visit MembersMedicalAlert.com and use code FB102.

* Benefit available pending approval by specific county Farm Bureaus.

Young farmers, farm economy featured on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • the hard-working winners of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers Achievement Award; • Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s vision for agriculture and forestry in a growing state economy; plus • recipes for winter entertaining and garden tips for the cold months.

Watch this!

To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV in the Voices of Agriculture time slot. It also airs 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.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

23

A Pie for Every Season

Don’t pie out; bake something seasonal We’ve all heard the phrase “as American as apple pie,” but pies actually originated elsewhere and didn’t start out filled with fruit.

According to the American Pie Council, the first pies were made by ancient Romans, who may have learned about filled pastry dishes from the Greeks. The first known pie recipe—for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie—was published by the Romans in the 14th century, the pie council said.

Credit for the first fruit pie is given to England’s Queen Elizabeth 1.

English settlers brought pie to America, according to the APC, and early American pie crusts were not so much part of a dish as a vessel to hold the filling during baking.

Throughout 2015, we plan to offer Virginia Farm Bureau News readers seasonal pie recipes. This month, when gardens lie dormant, what’s widely available is meat. Beef, bison, chicken, lamb, pork and turkey all are perfect for a savory pie entree.

There’s chicken and turkey pot pie, ground sausage quiche (like a pie) and shepherd’s pie, which began as a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind. The pie dish was lined with mashed potatoes and, in some instances, had a mashed potato “crust” on top as well. Shepherd’s pie typically is made with beef or lamb.

There are many variations on the shepherd’s pie. A St. Stephen’s Day pie is made using turkey and ham, holiday staples that often are at hand on the saint’s Dec. 26 feast day. The Cumberland pie is a version with a layer of breadcrumb on top. A vegetarian version, sometimes called a shepherd-less pie, can be made with meat substitutes like tofu or lentils or chickpeas.

24

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Beefy Shepherd’s Pie INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef (90% to 95% lean) 1 medium onion, chopped 12-ounce jar mushroom gravy 1½ cups frozen peas ¼ teaspoon pepper 2½ to 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes, warmed 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (optional) DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 450°. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef and onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking the meat into crumbles and stirring occasionally.

Remove meat from the skillet with a slotted spoon, and pour off the drippings in the pan. Return beef to skillet; stir in gravy and peas, and season with pepper.

Spoon beef mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Top with potatoes, spreading evenly; sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese begins to brown.

Source: Virginia Beef Industry Council

A Pie for Every Season

Beef, Cheddar and Potato Pie

Easy Chicken Pie

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds ground beef

4 chicken breasts

2 carrots, cut into ¼" cubes

2 cups chicken broth

1 large onion, diced

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 stalks celery, diced

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1 tablespoon garlic

1 cup self-rising flour

1 large baking potato, cut into ¼" cubes

1 cup buttermilk

½ cup dark beer

salt and pepper to taste

8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded 3 teaspoons salt, divided 1 teaspoon pepper, divided 2 refrigerated pie crusts 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon water DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375°. Stir-fry the ground beef, carrots, onion, celery, garlic and potato in a large skillet until beef is thoroughly cooked and some of the liquid had evaporated, about 15 minutes. Reduce heat, add beer and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Add the cheese, 2 teaspoons of salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

Place one of the pie crusts into a deep-dish pie pan, making sure that all the crust edges overhang. Using a slotted spoon, put beef mixture into pie shell. Lightly brush the edge of the crust with the egg wash, and place the second pie shell on top.

Press crust edges together to seal, and trim to a ½” edge.

Place the pie pan on a baking sheet. Brush the top pie crust with the egg wash. Cut an “X” in the center of the top crust, and sprinkle the pie top with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

Bake for 45 minutes, checking throughout. If the top starts to darken, make a tent out of aluminum foil and place over the pie to prevent further browning. Let pie cool for 15 minutes before serving.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook the chicken, removing all skin and bones. Place the chicken in a greased 9"x13" baking dish. In a saucepan, mix the chicken broth with the soup. Bring to a boil. Pour over the chicken. In another saucepan, over medium heat, blend the butter and flour. Add the buttermilk, blend well and spoon mixture over the chicken. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Source: Brenda Sutherland, Grayson County, in Bring It to the Table: The Surprising Southeast Virginia Farm Bureau Women

Source: Susan Harrell, Greensville County, in Bring It to the Table: The Surprising Southeast Virginia Farm Bureau Women

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

25

Heart of the Home

Pair Virginia pork and apples with cinnamon for a fragrant entree Combining cinnamon and apples with a traditional pork tenderloin makes a festive and aromatic winter dinner, said Real Virginia television program cooking host Caressa Jackson.

Many cuts of pork, including the tenderloin, are as lean as skinless chicken, and lean pork is a great source of protein and essential vitamins.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Tenderloin INGREDIENTS

2 medium apples, sliced into thin wedges 2- to 3-pound boneless pork tenderloin ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for pan-searing pork 1 teaspoon brown sugar ½ tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon lemon juice DIRECTIONS

Apples and cinnamon turn a roasted pork tenderloin into an aromatic centerpiece for winter meals.

26

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking dish with foil, and place 2⁄3 of the apple slices on the foil.

Sprinkle the tenderloin with salt and pepper. In a large skillet or grill pan, heat the oil and sear the meat about 2-3 minutes on each side until it’s lightly browned; cool slightly. Cut 3" deep slits across the top of the tenderloin. Place the remaining apple slices in the slits, and then place the roast on top of the apple slices in the baking dish. Tent the foil, sealing it completely, and bake for 30 minutes.

In a small mixing pan, stir together the brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and lemon juice, and add in the tablespoon of olive oil.

Remove the pork from the oven, and open the foil. Pour the cinnamon mixture over the tenderloin, re-cover and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

Serves 4.

Tax season: Preparing for the inevitable Tax season will be here before we know it. Farm taxes can be more complicated than non-farming filings, so it’s helpful to be prepared with all the right documents.

BY KATHY DIXON

Farm taxes “come with some twists and turns,” said Certified Public Accountant David Black.

That’s why it’s important for farmers to have all the necessary documents ready when meeting with their tax preparation professionals.

“Bringing in all the necessary documents makes life a lot easier,” said Black, who works at the accounting firm Young, Nicholas, Branner & Phillips LLP in Harrisonburg. Farmers account for a third of his business, and Black said he prefers that clients who use accounting software back it up onto a jump drive and bring it with them. That way, he can research certain entries in both the balance sheet and profit-and-loss statements. And if he has any questions, he can find answers on the spot.

Electronic files are useful for finding mis-postings, like loan payments classified as expenses or personal expenses noted in the business checkbook. “I look for entries that seem out of place when I review the electronic file,” Black said.

He also encourages farmers to bring in statements from cooperatives to which they belong. Those statements are mailed with dividend checks.

“I have to show the entire amount allocated to the farmer, not just the cash portion he receives,” Black explained.

“This information can only be found on documents provided to the farmer by the individual cooperative or on a year-end Form 1099 mailed to farmers in January.”

He also requires farmers to bring loan balance statements from their lenders, and a list of all commercial accounts is a necessity as well.

“The first year I work with farmers,

10 tax tips from farm business specialists Source: University of Vermont Extension.

1. Download Publication 225, the Farmer’s Tax Guide, from irs.gov.

2. Find a great accountant.

3. Start tax planning in December.

4. Don’t buy equipment just to avoid paying taxes.

5. Avoid referring to your farm as a hobby.

Find this at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf.

they don’t always know what they need to bring, but after a few years they do,” Black said. Basically, he needs any supporting documents that help him determine profit and loss.

“I want their tax return to be as accurate as possible.”

Of course nothing replaces a face-toface meeting. That’s when Black asks about things like livestock that have been sold and equipment that’s been traded.

“If a farmer doesn’t bring in his statement, I might not know that he traded three pieces of equipment for one larger piece,” he said.

Being prepared to meet with a tax professional and having the proper documentation, ne noted, “ultimately produces a more accurate tax return.”

For more information, consult the IRS 2014 Farmer’s Tax Guide at irs.gov/ pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf.

6. Divide farm expenses (electrical, insurance, phone, etc.) from home expenses.

7. Depreciate equipment quickly to get tax deduction savings before inflation depletes the value.

8. If you gross under $400,000 a year and buy farm equipment, the IRS says you can depreciate up to $108,000 of the cost of that equipment on taxes that year.

9. Pay all of your employees, even if they are related to you.

Employee wages are deductible.

10. Pay into Social Security. An option in the tax code allows farmers to pay at least a quarter of their year’s Social Security with each return.

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

27

Baby, it’s cold outside—but we’re still working!

BY LEAH GUSTAFSON

About this time every year, you probably get surprised looks from people when you talk about all the activities happening on your family’s farm.

And while snow-covered trees, fields and rooftops can paint a pleasant wintry picture, frigid temperatures can pose risks for illness and injury. Here are some warning signs of common cold-weather dangers.

Hypothermia About 700 deaths from hypothermia occur each year in the United States. Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees, and it can be fatal if it’s not detected quickly and treated.

What to watch for: You’ll feel cold, shiver and seem socially withdrawn. As the condition worsens, you can become confused and sleepy and slur your speech.

Frostbite Frostbite can cause a loss of feeling and color in affected areas such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.

It can permanently damage body tissue, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and those who are not dressed appropriately to be out in the cold.

What to watch for: Reduced blood flow to hands and feet; numbness, tingling or stinging; aching; and bluish or pale, waxy skin.

Depression About 5 percent of Americans, three-quarters of them women, experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression that typically occurs during the coldweather months.

What to watch for: Symptoms are similar to those associated with other types of depression: sadness, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, social withdrawal and trouble concentrating.

People with SAD also tend to move slowly, crave carbohydrates and gain weight.

Dress in layers—and insulated boots!

Heart attacks There are numerous risk factors for heart attacks, but did you know heart attacks are more common in winter?

What to watch for: Warning signs for a heart attack include chest pain (though not always); shortness of breath; sudden fatigue or dizziness; sweating; nausea; vomiting; irregular heartbeat; and a blue tinge to the skin.

Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Care Consultants remind you to take care of yourself during the cold winter months. Dress in layers, wear a good pair of insulated waterproof boots and wear loose-fitting clothing made of fabrics that will wick perspiration away from your skin and keep you dry. Protect your hands, feet and face, and use lip balm. Avoid drinking alcohol in an attempt to stay warm.

Is that snow out there?

Ask your insurance agent about coverage against damage to farm structures The weight of snow can be heavy and can cause extensive damage to homes, farm buildings and property.

Your Farm Bureau insurance agent can help you ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage to protect structures and personal property.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

“Damage to your home, outbuildings and property can occur at any time, so it’s important to make sure you are clear about what’s covered in your policy and what’s not,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.

Virginia Farm Bureau offers more than 50 endorsements that can be added to homeowner and farmowner policies. They include replacement cost, business income and coverage related to earthquakes, floods and damage from ice and snow.

State Fair officials ‘thrilled’ with 2014 event, attendance Official attendance figures show 238,000 people visited this year’s State Fair of Virginia, a 4 percent increase over 2013.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better combination of mostly sunny skies, cooler temperatures and large crowds.

We are thrilled with the attendance figures,” said Greg Hicks, the fair’s vice president of communications.

“The 2013 fair was a success, and we incorporated lots of guests’ suggestions when planning for last year’s event.

We think the extra effort paid off, and visitors got a healthy dose of agriculture, food, rides, music and entertainment.”

The fair opened Sept. 26 and ran through Oct. 5 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation became full owner of the fair and The Meadow in 2013.

Scholarships, other honors awarded Participants in 4-H and FFA youth livestock competitions were offered up to $70,000 in scholarship money, and 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.

Other continuing traditions included the fair’s commercial wine competition, the Black Tie & Boots gala benefit, the Miss State Fair of Virginia pageant and the State Fair Parade. Taylor Reynolds of Chesterfield County was named the 2015 Miss State Fair of Virginia and will compete in the Miss Virginia pageant next June. During the parade, the Lancaster High School Red Devil Band of Lancaster County captured the fair’s Marching Band Championship Cup.

“ The 2013 fair was a success, and we incorporated lots of guests’ suggestions when planning for last year’s event.”

—G REG HICKS, vice president of communications, State Fair of Virginia

New events included a Salute to Secretariat on both weekends, during which descendants of the famous racehorse were present; an NFL-sanctioned Punt, Pass & Kick competition; and the Latin Music Festival.

New Elements

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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Donor organizations generous to AITC in 2014 In addition to many individuals who contributed, the following organizations made contributions of $500 or more to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom between Aug. 14 and Dec. 5, 2014.

• Amherst County Farm Bureau • Arthur W. Perdue Foundation Inc. • Augusta County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Bedford County Farm Bureau • Culpeper County Farm Bureau • Goochland County Farm Bureau • Greene County Farm Bureau • Houff Foundation • Houff’s Feed & Fertilizer • James River Equipment Inc. • King William County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Louisa County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association Inc. • Nottoway County Farm Bureau • Old Dominion Electric Cooperative • Orange County Farm Bureau

• Pilgrim’s Pride • Rockingham County Farm Bureau • Rockingham County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Russell County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Smithfield Foods • Southeast United Dairy Industry Association • Southern States Cooperative Inc. • Tyson Foods Inc. • Virginia Agribusiness Council • Virginia Corn Board • Virginia Farm Bureau Employee Participation Committee • Virginia Farm Bureau Southwest District Women’s Program • Virginia Farm Credit Association • Virginia Horse Industry Board • Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Inc. • Virginia Small Grains Board • Virginia Soybean Board Donations can be made online at AgInTheClass.org or mailed to AITC, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261-7552.

2015 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, mailed to producer members, or in Cultivate, 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. Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted.

Use the form in this 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.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

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 and July Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • May and August Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only)

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.

Important: We are not responsible

provide proofs or tearsheets.

•A ds submitted without payment will be returned.

STEP 5

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

Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552 Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/.

STEP 3

Deadlines

STEP 2

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.

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

• We do not invoice for classified ads or

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

DEADLINE

Mailed to producer members May April 1 August July 1 Mailed to associate members April March 2 July June 1

for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Cultivate and Virginia Farm Bureau News do not constitute an endorsement by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its affiliated companies and organizations.

We reserve the right to edit or reject ads, including ads that represent a business in competition with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company or any of our affiliated or affinity partners. We reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement that makes reference to any particular political party or group, religious belief or denomination, race, creed, color or national origin.

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:________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________

STATE:________________________

ZIP:______________

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

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

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available

1.________________________ 2.______________________ 3._________________________ 4.________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6._______________________ 7.______________________ 8._________________________ 9.________________________ 10.______________________________ ( ) 11._______________________ 12._____________________ 13.________________________ 14._______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN: q August (mailed to producer members) q April (mailed to associate members) q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2015 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q May (mailed to producer members) q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me. q July (mailed to associate members) Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free Ad placement available for these issues only (Ads expire with membership).

*

VaFarmBureau.org / JANUARY 2015

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Hope you had as much fun as we did!

The organizers of the State Fair of Virginia hope you had as much fun at the 2104 fair as we had planning and presenting it.

We’re grateful to the 238,000 fairgoers who made the fair part of their fall. We’re equally grateful for the work of our agricultural partners and everyone who participated in livestock, equine, vocational, horticulture and arts & crafts competitions and demonstrations. The fair could not showcase the best of Virginia without you!

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2015, when the fair will be held Sept. 25 through Oct. 4.

Find out about other events at The Meadow Event Park at MeadowEventPark.com.