FBN March 2014

Virgnia VaFarmBureau.org

March 2014

Farm Bureau News

Wine industry creating opportunity for new vineyards

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Virgnia Farm Bureau News

Wine industry creating opportunity for new vineyards

Virginia’s wine industry is booming, but “nobody’s growing enough grapes” to support large-scale production, one industry insider said.

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VSU project illustrates potential for big payoff on small plot

Grossing $1 per square foot on one acre involves some labor. But “the money is there,” according to a Virginia State University researcher.

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Virginians participate in American Farm Bureau convention

Eight delegates, five competing Young Farmers and other interested Virginia producers participated in the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Departments 26

Have a Soup-er Year

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Heart of the Home

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Marketplace

Volume 73, Number 2 March 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.

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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 May. The magazine is published six times a year.

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virginia farm bureau federation

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On the Cover 10

As of late 2013, Virginia was home to more than 250 wineries. That’s created a need for more in-state wine grape production.

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

National Ag Day–March 25 National Ag Week–March 23-29 If you’re a Virginia farmer and a Farm Bureau producer member, you’re part of an elite group of families who, in 2013 • helped contribute $70 billion to Virginia’s economy; • participated in nearly $3 billion in ag exports; • made farm-fresh foods and other products available at more than 200 farmers’ markets statewide; • made your voices heard by elected officials and other decision-makers on local, state and national issues; • took steps to preserve the commonwealth’s working farmland and encourage a rising generation of farmers; • worked with community organizations to address struggling families’ need for food; • reached out to more than 50,000 children to talk about your life’s work during Agriculture Literacy Week; and • helped support the commonwealth’s largest farmers’ advocacy organization.

kathy dixon

Thank you for everything you do.

Page County producer Patti Price, shown with some of her sheep and one of her donkeys, was featured in a February Cultivate magazine article about the use of guard animals on Virginia farms.

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Washington Watch

2014 Farm Bill signed into law; Warner, Kaine among Senate supporters Virginia’s senators were among members of Congress who voted to pass the 2014 Farm Bill in early February. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill on Jan. 29.

“I’m very pleased that the House and Senate have again found common ground on major legislation—in this case on a bill that supports Virginia’s farmers and agribusinesses while also reducing the deficit,” said Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2014. “This legislation will finally give growers and producers the long-term certainty they need to maintain and expand their businesses.”

The bill includes many provisions that will benefit Virginians, including strengthened crop insurance for farmers and conservation programs to help protect the Chesapeake Bay. It also saves taxpayers more than $23 billion over 10 years.

“I’m heartened that Congress came together to pass a farm bill that restores certainty for farmers across the country,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. “This bill … eliminates wasteful direct payments, strengthens crop insurance and closes loopholes in the SNAP (formerly food stamp) program without reducing nutrition access for the neediest people.

“While no bill of this scope is perfect, this farm bill greatly benefits farmers and families across the country and serves as another positive sign that Congress will work across the aisle to get things done this year.”

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau Federation lobbied for months for passage of a new farm bill. “We are thrilled that the farm bill has passed,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor in February. “The conservation programs and funding, along with the crop insurance and other programs in the farm bill that will help farmers survive weather extremes and volatile markets, are well past due.”

The farm bill provides historic reforms, including eliminating wasteful direct payment subsidies, strengthening the agriculture safety net and reinvesting in the conservation of natural resources. It requires reasonable efforts toward land conservation on the part of farmers receiving federal premium subsidies for crop insurance, and it provides $100 million for a new competitive grant program into which the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative has been consolidated.

The bill continues funding for numerous provisions that will help grow Virginia’s local food systems. Those include efforts to encourage education and training for new farmers and increased funding for community agriculture programs such as farmers’ markets.

The bill also rejects the harsh eligibility cuts in the House-passed version and will not remove anyone from food assistance programs. It does, however, call for $8.6 billion in savings by tightening a loophole in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit calculations.

The recently passed federal farm bill includes strengthened crop insurance and conservation programs.

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Virginia saw a slight decrease in farmrelated deaths in 2013

By Sara Owens A total of nine lives were reported lost due to farm work-related accidents in Virginia in 2013—one less than in 2012.

Unspecified tractor or equipment incidents resulted in two Many Virginia farm workfatalities have deaths; tractor related involved equipment. overturns accounted for two; incidents involving animals accounted for two; a tractor runover accounted for one; an all-terrain vehicle accident resulted in one; and a fall from a loft accounted for one, according to unofficial statistics compiled by Virginia Farm Bureau.

Over the past 19 years, deaths resulting from tractor incidents have accounted for the majority of farm accident fatalities.

“These statistics are an important reminder that, when working on the farm, it is so important to take a few extra minutes to make sure you are working as safely as possible,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Being cautious will save you so much more in the long run.”

According to Farm Bureau’s cumulative findings since 1994, 109 people have died when their tractors overturned; 63 were involved in unspecified tractor or equipment mishaps; and 50 were run over by tractors or other farm equipment. The remaining 65 fatalities were attributed to operating farm equipment on public roads and to incidents involving animals or ATVs. For more safety information on these topics and more, visit FarmBureauAdvantage.com/safety.

VaFarmBureau.org

Members were asked about farms at this year’s Legislative Day

By Sara Owens Despite a date change due to inclement weather, Farm Bureau volunteer leaders still made the annual trip to Richmond to talk with their legislators.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day was held Feb. 12 for members to meet with lawmakers about issues of interest to farmers in their communities. This year’s theme was “Ask Me About My Farm.”

Member-identified critical issues for the 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly were: • 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; pam wiley

• opposition to attempts to support mandatory labeling of genetically modified food products; • setting a baseline for the regulation of on-farm activities on agricultural operations;

Dinwiddie County Farm Bureau President Alvin Blaha (right) chatted with Gov. Terry McAuliffe (left) and Del. Riley Ingram, R-Hopewell, at the Feb. 11 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation legislative reception.

• including $7.6 million for Phase 2 of relocating Virginia Tech’s dairy research complex in the capital expenditure authorization;

Participants “were asked to provide one or two statements that we could quickly remember and say about our farm or ranch,” she said. “This provided an opportunity to start a conversation about how we wanted people to view our farm operations and our attachment to the industry.”

Drumheller said the Women’s Committee collaborated with governmental relations staff to develop flashing “Ask Me About My Farm” buttons that members wore to a Feb. 11 Farm Bureau legislative reception.

“I overheard a farmer-member tell a legislator about his farm,” she said. “That was the exact purpose of this project.”

Women’s Committee Chairman Janice Burton said giving legislators information about individual members’ farms serves to reinforce the connection between farms

• 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.

The “Ask Me About My Farm” theme was developed by VFBF Women’s Committee member Vicki Drumheller of Augusta County.

Drumheller said she got the idea from a workshop she attended at the American Farm Bureau Federation Promotion and Education Conference last fall.

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and Virginians’, Americans’ and the world’s food supply. “We really wanted to get a conversation started about farming.”

The Women’s Committee hosted the legislative reception, at which Farm Bureau also displayed banners highlighting commodities represented in food served at the event. “Legislators were able to literally get a taste of Virginia agriculture at the event, and it was a very successful theme,” said Kelly Pruitt, VFBF governmental relations grassroots coordinator.

Members made appointments with their respective state senators and delegates.

During those appointments they presented lawmakers with copies of an “Agriculture Map of Virginia” puzzle to encourage their participation in Agriculture Literacy Week, March 23-29, at their local schools. march 2014

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Secretariat birthday celebration will honor ‘America’s Super Horse’

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Slated to appear are jockeys Ron Turcotte and Eddie Maple, exercise rider Charlie Davis and Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat owner Penny Chenery and co-author of Secretariat’s Meadow –

The Land, The Family, The Legend.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

t’s been almost 44 years since legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born March 30, 1970, at what is now The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. But legions of devoted fans still mark the birthday of “America’s Super Horse.”

Only in Virginia can fans celebrate at his actual birthplace. The annual Secretariat Birthday Celebration at The Meadow will begin at 11 a.m. on March 29. Activities will include autograph sessions with members of the original Meadow Stable team; local Secretariat descendants Covert Action and Multiple Choice from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at James River; displays of Secretariat memorabilia; narrated tram tours of the historic property; children’s activities; and local vendors of equine-related items and Virginia products.

A new attraction will be an open house for the Museum of the Virginia Horse and the Meadow Champions Galleries in the Meadow Hall mansion. At 5 p.m., there will be a VIP cocktail reception, followed by an exclusive screening of the new film Secretariat’s Jockey – Ron Turcotte, produced by the National Film Board of Canada. At 8 p.m., the festivities will conclude with a champagne birthday toast at the foaling shed in which Secretariat was born.

Advance tickets are on sale at secretariatsmeadow.com. The admission cost includes the tram tour, and parking is free.

Additional ticket packages are available for the VIP reception, film and champagne toast. For details visit secretariatsmeadow. com or call The Meadow Event Park at 804-994-2800.

Thoroughbred heritage to be honored at new show A new equine event, the Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Show, will be held July 25-27 at The Meadow Event Park.

The show will feature three full days of competition for Thoroughbreds identifiable through The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, with hunter, jumper, dressage, side saddle, Western and combined training opportunities, as well as model and leadline classes.

The Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Show will be the first Thoroughbred show to be held at The Meadow.

It will feature a special ceremony at which all descendants of The Meadow’s Thoroughbreds will be asked to assemble in the show ring for a group photo.

Penny Chenery, daughter of Meadow founder Chris Chenery and the driving force behind Secretariat, was an early advocate for the health and welfare of retired Thoroughbreds and was instrumental in the creation of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at James River, home to two descendants of Secretariat, will receive 60 percent of the profit from the Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Show.

Email thoroughbredheritage@ gmail.com for information about sponsorship opportunities or to begin receiving email updates on the show.

VaFarmBureau.org

Certified Farm Seekers Program provides farming opportunities

With the average age of farmers approaching 60, Virginia is experiencing a rapidly increasing need for quality land transitions. Across the commonwealth, current farmers are facing retirement without a next-generation family member to take over their life’s work.

“Luckily for the future of agriculture, there is an up-and-coming dedicated generation of young farmers eager for opportunities,” said Stefanie Kitchen of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Program.

The Certified Farm Seekers Program—a partnership between VFBF Young Farmers and the Virginia Office of Farmland Preservation—is working to preserve land for agricultural use by linking retirementminded farmers and people who want to start farming. Its goal is to facilitate productive conversations between landowners and farm seekers that result in successful land transitions.

The program is designed to provide individuals seeking farming opportunities with the tools they will need to successfully demonstrate their farming commitment and vision to interested landowners. “ With a focus on planning for the future of your farm, the program not only matches farm seekers with farm owners, but also assists participants in developing a professional resume and business plan, crucial to any lasting farm enterprise,” Kitchen said. “When you become a Certified Farm Seeker, you have access to landowners interested in selling, leasing or forming a partnership.”

Many landowners and farm seekers can be found in the Virginia Farm Link VirginiaFarmBureau.com

The Certified Farm Seekers Program is a partnership between the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Program and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Farmland Preservation.

database, a state-housed online listing of available farmland in Virginia. Recently, properties in the database included a 328acre beef cattle farm in Rappahannock County, a 215-acre beef cattle operation in Henry County, a 100-acre vegetable farm in Shenandoah County, a 16-acre horse farm in Dinwiddie County and a 15-acre hay farm in Loudoun County.

“Certified Farm Seekers provides significant advantages to farmers looking for land by giving them a leg up on the competition,” Kitchen said. “Participants will receive landowner matching assistance and facilitation and elevation on the Farm Link database, increasing their chances of being contacted by a landowner. Recent farm seekers have included cotton farmers

in Southampton County and vegetable growers in Montgomery County.

“CFS is designed for farmers of all experience levels, and those who complete the program also receive $500 in costshare funds toward a farm planning tool, a professional business plan review and numerous networking and social opportunities.”

More than 70 farm seekers are currently taking advantage of the program, Kitchen said. Details and an application are available at vafarmlink.org, and potential participants also can contact Kitchen at 804-290-1030 or certifiedfarmseekers@ gmail.com or Andy Sorrell at 804-786-1906 or andrew.sorrell@vdacs.virginia.gov.

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Managing insurance costs while ensuring appropriate coverage Whether you rent or own your home, farm or property or lease or own your car, truck or equipment, it’s important to have the proper insurance coverage to protect your home, vehicle, belongings and livelihood.

“Purchasing insurance to cover your farm, home, belongings and your vehicle requires a financial commitment, but that insurance can give you peace of mind, which is priceless,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. While it might feel like you’re always paying an insurance premium and you never need it, that insurance is there when you need it most.

“If you don’t have coverage, you’re taking a huge gamble,” Rooks said. “If you were to have a loss and had no coverage, you would have to pay for that car, your house, shed, equipment or whatever it may be out of your own pocket. Very few people can afford that.”

Some policyholders want only a bare minimum amount of insurance, and while that may work for some, it may not be the best course of action for every situation.

There are a few policy tweaks you can make and cost-saving discounts available in some cases.

Auto insurance Virginia requires minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident bodily injury and $20,000 property damage to protect others for auto accidents where you are at fault.

While you can lower your premium by purchasing the minimum amount of coverage, the limits are so low that if you had an accident that resulted in damages greater than the minimum limits purchased, you could be faced with a significant financial loss.

That could leave you stuck owing thousands of dollars in over-the-limit medical bills, lost wages and property damage.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Regular reviews of farm, home and auto insurance can help balance costs with necessary coverage.

“The best option is to talk to your agent and find out what discounts are available and to make sure you have appropriate coverage that fits into your budget,” said Gerald Gardner, director of sales for VFBMIC. “You can buy a standard policy, pass on collision, comprehensive and road service or towing. There are a lot of ways to customize your plan and make it more affordable.”

Home and farm insurance If you own your own home or farm outright, you are not required to have

home insurance. If you’re financing, your lender will insist that you keep a minimum insurance policy in force for the term of your mortgage.

When housing prices plummeted, some people dialed back their coverage to their homes’ reduced market values.

“It’s not about the value of the house— it’s about the cost to rebuild,” Gardner said. “You need to check with your agent and make sure you have the appropriate amount of coverage. If you’ve owned your home for a number of years, it’s a good idea to check with your agent and make VaFarmBureau.org

sure your policy is still the best one for your home.”

Construction, plumbing and electrical costs have all gone up, and that might need to be factored into your coverage.

“The hidden danger of going bare on home insurance is liability,” Gardner said.

“If someone trips and falls on your property or you have a pool, that’s really risky.”

Farm insurance is similar to home insurance and is a critical step in having a successful operation.

“If you had a fire or damaging weather, could you afford to replace your equipment or make repairs to your property out of your own pocket?” Rooks said.

There are ways to save on home and farm insurance, such as maximizing discounts by bundling policies. You can save 5 percent to 15 percent by bundling

your home, farm and auto policies; 15 to 20 percent for a combo fire/burglar/ sprinkler/security system; and up to 25 percent by raising your deductible.

Renter’s insurance Don’t underestimate the value of your belongings. If you had to replace everything in a home you rent—or even in a college dorm room—that’s a good chunk of change.

Renter’s insurance is inexpensive, covers personal belongings wherever they reside and includes liability coverage.

“If you were cooking and left something on the stove, you’ve got liability coverage should you be held liable for the fire damage,” Rooks said.

Talk with your agent An annual conversation with your insurance agent can help you manage costs and make adjustments that assure you have appropriate coverage.

• Review your policies to make sure you still have the coverage you need.

• Know what is covered in your plan.

Some items do not come standard in auto, farm or home policies and need to be added. Be sure of exactly what your policy entails.

• Discuss any additions you’ve made to your home, farm or property, including installing a security, fire, burglar or sprinkler system.

• Review the vehicles and equipment on your auto or farm policy, and let your agent know if you have purchased or sold any equipment or vehicles.

• Discuss any additions to the outside of your home such as a detached garage, shed or fence.

• Discuss any changes to your farm. If you’ve purchased more land, made equipment changes, added livestock, diversifies or changed commodities, let your agent know.

Wagon use on farms: Safety is essential Using a farm wagon to transport customers is a popular attraction for pickyour-own and agritourism operations. If done without attention to safety details, however, it can be a liability risk.

“With the liability exposure that exists for hayrides, it is essential that farmers offering this activity take proper safety precautions,” said Scott DeNoon, agricultural underwriting specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. First, be sure your insurance carrier is aware that the activity is taking place, DeNoon said. “It’s important to make sure the proper coverage is in force.

Our members should contact their Farm Bureau agents for assistance in this area.”

The following measures should be in place for hayrides or other wagon transport activities: • Wagons should have secure railings or side panels that extend at least 36 inches above seating level on all sides.

• Wagons should have either permanent steps or mounting blocks or steps, with handrails, for loading and unloading passengers.

• Loading and unloading must always take place on the sides or in the rear of the wagon.

• The equipment used to pull wagons must be of adequate size to handle the load.

• A hitch pin equipped with a safety clip and safety chains must be utilized to secure the wagon to the equipment.

• The ride route should be clearly defined, free of sharp turns and obstructions and regularly inspected for hazards such as potholes and overhanging branches or wires.

• Using public roads for the ride route must be avoided.

• The driver of the equipment pulling the wagon must be trained and experienced in safe operation of hayride/wagon transport activities.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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“There are people growing grapes successfully all over the state.” ›› DR. TONY WOLF, director, Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center

WANTED:

More Virginia wine grapes

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By Norm Hyde and Sara Owens he Virginia wine industry has earned plenty of national and international accolades in recent years, but the amount of wine grapes being grown in the Old Dominion has remained relatively flat.

And that’s hampering the potential growth of the whole industry, according to Bill Tonkins, vineyard manager at Veritas Vineyards and Winery.

“Nobody’s growing enough grapes for large-scale production,” Tonkins said. “The average-size winery is only about 5 acres.

Those operations are not producing grapes in the quantities to make a large quantity of wine—no more than 2,000 or 3,000 cases a year.”

Under state law a wine cannot be called Virginia wine unless 50 percent or more of the grapes used in it come from Virginia.

The number of Virginia wineries jumped to more than 250 this year, Tonkins said.

That represents tremendous growth from 78 wineries a decade ago.

“The wineries I’ve spoken to probably need 20 to 30 percent more grapes each year,” said Christopher Hill, a grape grower and vineyard consultant in Albemarle County. “Winery owners want to grow their business, and the demand also has grown.

“Wineries have done a good job of continuing to improve the quality of the product, and the industry has done a good job encouraging tourists to come to Virginia wineries.”

Hill said most wineries have extended their vineyards as far as they can. Ideally, they need more land to grow more grapes,

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but if someone else grows grapes for them, they’d be happy to buy.

Buyers need tons, not pounds Len Thompson of Amherst County grows 7 acres of grapes. He was named the 2013 Virginia Grape Grower of the Year.

“We got into grape growing when I was ready to retire from the Navy,” Thompson said. “I was looking for a second career, something to do, and we owned some land in Amherst County.”

Thompson said most growers start with 3 to 5 acres.

“The first year you put vines in the ground, you’re really wanting to grow the vine itself. The second year you might allow a little bit of grapes on there, because you’re still in the growing vine mode. The third year you get a little bit more. The fourth year and the fifth year you would consider you’re going to get your regular production, or your full production.”

Thompson said wineries want tons of grapes, not pounds.

“You’re not going to sell 200 pounds of grapes to a winery. They want tons. So that’s going to dictate the amount of vineyard you’re going to need.”

Much of state suitable for vineyards Virginia is ranked fifth nationwide for wine production, tied with Texas. Tonkins said it could climb higher in the rankings with more wine grape vineyards.

“All you need is well-drained soil and, quite honestly, the rockier and stonier the better,” he said. “It helps the soil drain quickly. And that’s what we need to survive the hurricanes of September and October.

If you’ve got a bit of elevation, that’s wonderful. Enough to avoid spring frosts.”

Many areas of the state have locations suitable for grape growing, said Dr. Tony Wolf, professor of viticulture and director of the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

“There are people growing grapes successfully all over the state. There are pros and cons to all areas of the state. You can look at a map of Virginia vineyards and wineries, and that will give you a sense of the best places to grow grapes.”

Established farms have advantage Growing grapes is a wonderful opportunity, especially for established farmers, Hill said.

“The start-up cost is large. If you’re established with land, in the cattle industry or farming something else, you should examine your return. Look at your farm for suitable land. It doesn’t have to be a lot of land. If you can do a lot of the labor yourself and have a lot of equipment already, it isn’t as costly.”

Technical support and information are available from Virginia Cooperative Extension and industry specialists for potential growers.

“We provide educational, research-based information for people who think they may want to grow grapes,” Wolf said. “Our website also has a lot of good information on it, such as resources and training materials.”

Anyone interested in growing grapes can contact a local Extension office; an online directory is available at ext.vt.edu.

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morgan barker

VSU PROJECT EXAMINES POTENTIAL FOR BIG PAYOFF FROM A SMALL SPACE

“I’m trying to redefine what profitability is on a small farm,” said Clif Slade, a small farm outreach agent for Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University. “You don’t need 50 acres and farm equipment to make money.”

The 43,560 Initiative at Virginia State University seeks to illustrate ways to farm a small amount of land for a big payoff.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

By Morgan Barker and Sara Owens “There’s 43,560 square feet in an acre. Our objective is to gross that much ($43,560) from one acre,” said William Crutchfield, field coordinator for VSU’s Small Farm Outreach Program. “There have been books written about it, and we’re attempting a demonstration to see if you can do it. We’re trying to make a dollar per square foot, and you would net about half that.”

A variety of crops were planted on the

one-acre test plot last year. “A little over half the plot is leafy vegetables, but we’re also growing sweet corn, fruit, melons and tomatoes,” Crutchfield said during the 2013 growing season. “As one crop deteriorates, we’re plowing it under and planting something else.”

At the same time, the project helped support people in need. “We’re working with the local food banks and other nonprofits to do gleaning,” Crutchfield said.

In 2014, VSU will plant Irish potatoes, chickpeas, onions, carrots, cabbage, VaFarmBureau.org

collards, lettuce, kale, turnips, beets, Swiss chard, edamame, bok choy, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, radishes and sweet potatoes.

“In order to maximize profit on a small parcel of land, these are some of the best crops to grow,” said Clif Slade, a Virginia Cooperative Extension small farm outreach agent at VSU. Some important parts of production include liming, drip irrigation and planting a winter cover crop. “To get the yield I’m talking about, you need soil with a pH of 6.5,” Slade said. “For the winter cover crop, you’ll need to plant grass and legumes for nitrogen; common red clover and fescue will build the soil up. Drip irrigation will ensure that your plants will survive even when there isn’t a lot of rain and during high temperatures.”

Slade has undertaken the same project on his own farm and believes it’s possible for farmers to maximize profits on a small plot of land. “You’ll need $10,000 for up-front costs, which is what you would usually use to plant 15 acres,” he said. “But I’m trying to redefine what profitability is on a small farm. You don’t need 50 acres and farm equipment to make money.”

Marketing is another essential part of meeting the $43,560 goal. “Many people tell me they want to try this method on 5 or 6 acres, and I have to talk them down,” Slade said. “You have to test it first and find your market, and then you can think about expanding. I advise everybody to start small, try it out and then move up.”

Slade’s marketing approach has four parts: on-farm sales, farmers’ market sales, CSA sales and restaurant sales. “On-farm sales are great; you set up a website and email customers and tell them when things are ready,” Slade said. “Pick-your-own is the best, because it’s the least labor-intensive.”

Forming a CSA or selling to CSA operators is another good idea, he said.

“That’s what I did on my farm. I sold to a CSA with 250 members. Each week, I’d have 250 of something ready for those customers.”

Slade said he also recommends selling to restaurants. “Selling to high-end, white-tablecloth restaurants is a good option. They love using local produce and highlighting it on their menus.”

He said producers within driving

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More than half of the VSU test plot was planted in leafy greens last year, but researchers also planted sweet corn, fruit, melons and tomatoes.

“Many people tell me they want to try this method on 5 or 6 acres, and I have to talk them down,” Slade said.

“You have to test it first and find your market, and then you can think about expanding.”

distance of large metropolitan areas have added potential to increase their profits.

“If you love and respect the land and treat it right, it will treat you right,” Slade said.

Grossing a dollar an acre requires some labor, he said, but “if you’re willing to do the work, the money is there.”

It generally will take three to five years

to become successful at growing enough crops on an acre to gross $43,560.

VSU’s annual Vegetable and Berry Field Day on June 12 will showcase the 43,560 Initiative. There also are numerous volunteer opportunities for those interested in learning more about the project. Contact Slade at cslade@vsu.edu.

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american farm bureau federation annual convention

Farmers unite at convention to approve national policies American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman told AFBF members attending the organization’s annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, that they represent unity, unlike the “extreme partisanship and rhetoric” of Congress.

“We have reached that point—the point where Congress is falling down on the job of addressing the nation’s needs, including your needs as the producers of our nation’s bounty,” Stallman said during his opening address Jan. 12. “So, what are the needs? Well, three big ones come to mind: the farm bill, reliable water and agricultural labor reform.”

Those three topics were among the top issues that were voted into policy by about 360 voting delegates attending the convention. About 7,000 farmers were in attendance. Policies approved at the event will guide the nation’s largest farm organization throughout 2014.

“This very gathering is about people from different regions and backgrounds coming together to develop policy that benefits all of American agriculture,” Stallman said. “It is vital that Congress finish the current farm bill as soon as possible. America’s farmers and ranchers need the certainty that comes from five-year farm law. They need solutions and tools to manage the risks that threaten their livelihoods and the nation’s food supply.”

A 2014 Farm Bill was finalized and approved by Congress in early February and signed by President Obama on Feb. 7.

Virginia Farm Bureau voting delegates were among those helping to shape AFBF policy. “It’s important that Virginia representatives attend the national convention to help shape policies that affect all farmers,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “It’s crucial that we work with American Farm Bureau, because we rely on them to represent our interests in Congress.”

Pryor was one of eight voting 14

Virginia Farm Bureau News

delegates from Virginia. The others were VFBF Vice President Scott Sink; Joseph Barlow of Suffolk; Joanne Jones of Appomattox County; Tommy Motley of Pittsylvania County; Andy Seibel of Botetourt County; Andy Smith of Russell County; and C.W. Pratt of Smyth County.

It was also at the convention that state Farm Bureaus from across the country were recognized for outstanding work, and young farmers and ranchers were recognized for their achievements.

Virginia Farm Bureau received AFBF Awards of Excellence in all six possible categories: education and outreach; leadership development; member services; membership initiatives; policy development and implementation; and public relations and communications.

VFBF Young Farmers received national recognition as well. W.P. and Dr. Amy Johnson of Bedford County were among runners up for the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award. Bob and Kristal Harris of Pittsylvania County were among the Top 10 finalists for the YF&R Achievement Award. Craig County farmer and Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Jeannie Dudding advanced to the semifinal round of the annual YF&R Discussion Meet.

Delegates to the convention also re-elected Stallman to an eighth two-year term as AFBF president and re-elected 13 state Farm Bureau presidents—Pryor among them—to represent their regions on the AFBF board of directors.

Producers attending this year’s convention had an opportunity to attend a variety of workshops to help them improve their operations and strengthen their county Farm Bureaus.

Topics included new technologies and trends in agriculture; being a strong agriculture advocate; and economic impacts on U.S. farms.

The San Antonio River Walk’s operators say it is Texas’ No. 1 tourist attraction.

VaFarmBureau.org

kathy dixon

By Kathy Dixon

american farm bureau federation annual convention

Speaker identifies handy smartphone apps for farmers There are smartphone and tablet apps available for just about every aspect of farming, from soil identification to meticulous record-keeping.

That’s according to Jay Yates, program specialist with Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Extension Service. He led a Jan. 13 workshop titled “Apps for Agriculture: Technology That Helps Your Bottom Line,” at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

Yates told farmers the best way to find useful ag apps is to ask friends what they use. He also recommended checking agricultural magazines, TV shows and blogs.

For market news, Yates said his favorite app is DTN/PF from Progressive Farmer magazine. He noted, however, that the app is for iPads only and does not work on iPhones. It offers

weather updates and market news and allows users to set up a market price “watchlist” for specific commodities.

General agricultural news is available on AgFax and USDA News. Yates said AgFax is not actually an app but a hotlink to a website, and he noted that some websites have links to mobile apps.

While on a website, check the top of the page for an icon that looks like a box with an arrow at the top, called a share icon. Clicking on it will add the mobile app to a smartphone or tablet.

When farmers are trying to make decisions about applying inputs to fields or determine whether a new machinery purchase is worthwhile, there are apps for that as well, Yates said. Cropcost is a link to a spreadsheet designed by Texas A&M to help calculate profit by tracking expenses and income. Yates

recommended searching for Cropcost with a search engine.

For keeping track of pesticide applications, he recommended an app called Field Records. “This is probably one of the best pesticide record-keeping apps I’ve ever found—and it’s free,” he said.

To check weather conditions, Yates said, try TWC, The Weather Channel’s app, or WeatherBug, AccuWeather or Intellicast HD. For help with mixing and applying fertilizers, TankMix offers a calculator to determine how much of each chemical to use and in what order to add it. Then it saves calculations for the next time they are needed.

For livestock producers, Cattlefax offers market news, weather and a price calculator. “It’s a great free app because it pulls so many things together in one site,” Yates said.

Other apps he recommended included the DeWALT app, which includes a building calculator, and Clinometer, which gives measurement angles.

kathy dixon

W.P. and Dr. Amy Johnson of Bedford County were runners-up for the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

march 2014

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american farm bureau federation annual convention

New website aims to answer the public’s questions about GMOs GMOAnswers.com was created to answer consumers’ questions about foods that are genetically modified organisms.

“We want to empower consumers to make up their own minds about GMOs with facts and not fear,” said Dr. Cathleen Enright, executive vice president of Food and Agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the world’s largest biotechnology trade association.

Enright led a Jan. 12 workshop titled “Ensuring Our Access to Biotechnology: Changing the Conversation” during the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. BIO has 1,100 member organizations that are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental technology products.

The group launched its website in

July 2013 after opposition to GMOs became more vocal and more effective in creating anti-GMO sentiment.

But eliminating GMOs is not an option, Enright said. Food production using GMO seeds is critical to global food security. “If we don’t make multiple yield gains, we won’t have enough food” when the world’s population increases to 9 billion by 2050.

“We will need as much knowledge, diversity and innovation as possible, but we need all agriculture production systems.”

Between 1996 and 2012, 17.3 million farmers planted genetically modified seeds on 420 million acres in 28 different countries. However, Enright said, opposition groups in the United States are working “to create fear” and attack traditional agriculture.

In 2012, 36 bills in favor of labeling GMO foods were introduced and were framed as the consumer’s right to know, Enright said. A 2012 ballot initiative in California to label GMO foods was defeated by a 2.8 percent margin, but it cost the GMO supporters $44 million to accomplish that. “That kind of investment is better placed elsewhere,” Enright said.

Because of vocal anti-GMO groups, the United States is falling behind other countries in approval times for genetically engineered seeds, she said.

“Argentina and Brazil are way ahead of us. They have taken the emotion out of their scientific regulatory decisions.”

On GMOAnswers.com, consumers can ask questions about GMOs and the farmers who plant them. Since the site’s launch, visitors have submitted 626 questions; 404 of them have been answered and another 150 answers are in progress. Many of the questions have been tough, but their tone is starting to change, Enright said.

kathy dixon

Delegates (from left) Joanne Jones of Appomattox County, C.W. Pratt of Smyth County and Andy Seibel of Botetourt County took part in AFBF policy discussion.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

american farm bureau federation annual convention

State Farm Bureau presidents offer advice to today’s young producers Four state Farm Bureau presidents offered advice to young farmers during a workshop titled “What I Wish I Had Known Then” at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

“The key word to young people in farming today is ’patience,’” said Zippy Duvall, president of Georgia Farm Bureau.

“It’s not going to happen overnight; you’re not going to get rich overnight.”

Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig

Hill noted that agriculture is a cyclical business. He said he and the other older farmers survived the 1970s and 1980s but it wasn’t easy. “You have to be an optimist,” he said. “Ride the crest of good times, but prepare for bad times.”

No matter how difficult things get, he added, “remember that your most valuable asset is your family, and everything else is secondary.”

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President

Carl Shaffer recommended that young farmers get involved with Farm Bureau and talk to their legislators about agricultural issues. He also said making friends with those who work in lending institutions is helpful.

“I had regular meetings with my lending institutions, and I think that helped,” Shaffer said.

All of the Farm Bureau presidents recommended diversifying a farm to increase cash flow. “But if you’re looking to change, don’t do it drastically,” cautioned New Mexico Farm Bureau President Mike White. ”Sharpen the pencil, and make sure it will work.”

Virginia author honored with Book of the Year award The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its seventh annual Book of the Year award to Laurie Krebs of Williamsburg for her book The Beeman, which introduces young readers to bees, beekeeping and the pollination process.

Krebs is a retired elementary school teacher who began her writing career by creating stories for her classes. She was recognized Jan. 12 during the AFBF Annual Convention.

“I am thrilled and honored to have The Beeman selected by the American Farm Bureau as its Book of the Year,” she said.

“I wrote the story because I am married to The Beeman!”

As her husband, Bill, began reading about his new hobby, he shared his enthusiasm and knowledge with Krebs, who was fascinated and invited him to talk to her first grade class.

“The children, in turn, learned so much and loved his photographs and beekeeping equipment,” Krebs said. “I wrote The Beeman so that honeybees could be introduced to classrooms that my husband couldn’t visit.”

The foundation maintains its Accurate Ag Books database of more than 400 titles for children, teenagers and adults at agfoundation.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Laurie Krebs of Williamsburg wrote The Beeman based on her husband’s beekeeping experiences.

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

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

District winners will compete for the state-level award at the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo. The state winner will receive an award valued at $1,500, including $250 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, $500 from VFBF Service Corp. under the GM Incentive Program and $750 from the VFBF Young Farmers and Women’s committees. All prizes are subject to change based on sponsor availability.

Entry forms and details are available at county Farm Bureau offices and online at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

Teen from Orange named 2013 winner The 2013 Outstanding Young Agriculturalist was Garret Chambers of Orange County, who is majoring in agribusiness and agronomy at Virginia Tech. Chambers is a longtime 4-H member and raises cattle and helps with his family’s grain farming operation.

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Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest entries due March 31 High school and college students from Virginia Farm Bureau member families who are interested in a health-related career in a rural area have an opportunity to earn cash for their education.

Participants in Farm Bureau’s 2014 Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest have until March 31 to submit an essay on “My Future Career in Rural Health in Virginia.” First-place winners will receive $1,000, and second-place winners will receive $500.

Entries from high school students and college students will be judged separately, and prizes will be awarded in each group.

Guidelines and entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices and at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

18

Virginia Farm Bureau News

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VaFarmBureau.org

Save $500 on selected GM vehicles—and $1,000 more on selected GM and Chevy trucks Farm Bureau members in Virginia can 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

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Enclave

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VIP WINNERS WILL RECEIVE: 2 tickets to the Friday, April 25th NASCAR® Nationwide Series ToyotaCare 250 — where YOU’LL BE A STARTER for a qualifying race!

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No purchase of any type of insurance policy is necessary or required. Winners will not be selected based on the purchase of a policy. Drawing will take place on April 15, 2014. Promotion entrants must be residents of Virginia. Farm Bureau Insurance agents will enter prospective customers upon receipt of a personal auto insurance quote. Current Farm Bureau Insurance policyholders can be entered if they partake in a current policy review. Promotion does not include quotes on commercial auto, RVs or any other product line. See a complete list of rules at FarmBureauFans.com/Contests/Rules.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Members enjoy savings on many prescription drugs Virginia Farm Bureau’s free Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program now affords members significant savings on more than 12,000 name-brand and generic prescription drugs at more than 57,000 pharmacies.

Members pay no fee to use the program, which is designed for individuals with no insurance coverage for prescription drugs.

It also can be used in instances when a prescription drug is not covered by a health insurance plan.

On average, participants save 20 percent on brand-name medications and 40 percent on generic ones, though savings can be as great at 75 percent on specific generic products. Members

can realize additional savings when they take advantage of the program’s mail-order service.

The Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program is not insurance. Rather, it works via what’s known as a “consumer card” or “point of sale card” that can be used by your entire household.

There are no medical exams, no waiting periods, no claim forms to file and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Simply present your card at a participating pharmacy when you have your prescription filled, or use it when ordering medicines through the mail-order service.

You can obtain a card from your county Farm Bureau office.

Smart Start can mean insurance savings for young drivers Teen drivers who participate in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Smart Start Program receive a 5 percent discount on applicable auto insurance premiums for bodily injury, property damage, medical expense and collision coverage.

To be eligible, a driver must: • be a listed driver on a VFB personal auto policy;

To enroll, parents and teens with Virginia Farm Bureau auto insurance coverage need to meet with their insurance agents. Teens will be asked to take a quiz about safe driving and sign a contract to promise to drive safely.

The initial enrollment meeting also gives parents a chance to review their insurance coverage. Contact your Farm Bureau agent today for more information.

• possess a valid Virginia driver’s license; • be accident- and conviction-free; and • enroll in the program prior to his or her 18th birthday.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Why using a health insurance broker is a good idea If you don’t already have health insurance through a company program, or perhaps because you are self-employed, you can find plenty of options simply by doing a search online. But do you know what you really need when it comes to health insurance?

There are so many coverage options, with varying deductibles, copayments, annual limits and provider networks, that the same company could send you 30 or more quotes based on different levels of benefits.

The good news is you don’t have to go through the process alone. Health insurance brokers can explain your options to you, giving you unbiased information.

Brokers offer consumers policies from the majority of insurance carriers in a given area and can recommend government and state plans as well. When you buy a policy through a broker, it generally costs the same amount as when you buy directly from an insurance company.

In addition, a broker can be your advocate once you have purchased the plan. When one of Virginia Farm Bureau’s customers in Loudoun County had a problem with an international claim, their broker worked with the member to process the claim through the carrier’s international claims center and the hospital in Mexico—and was able to get the client some reimbursement for the claim.

It’s important to vet a broker before you give him or her your business. Rudy Heinatz, a small business owner in Gloucester County, had three bad experiences. “One (broker) just gave my wife and me printouts to read and left it to us to figure out the plans on our own,” he said. Another simply referred Heinatz to an insurance company’s toll-free number when he had questions regarding his policy. “There was no support and no follow-up,” he said.

If you are considering using a broker to help you find a new health insurance policy, here’s what to look for:

Strong reputation Ask everyone you know, including brokers you use for other insurance, for referrals. “We tried getting our health insurance online, and every person we talked to on the phone told us it wasn’t possible to get the coverage we needed for our family,” Heinatz said. An account executive at Virginia Farm Bureau found what he needed at a price he could afford, “making the whole scary idea of being on your own for health insurance seem so doable.”

The website for the National Association of Health Underwriters at nahu.org has a tool for finding an agent near you.

Breadth of knowledge Even if a broker comes well-recommended, ask a few pointed questions. Is he or she affiliated with a professional organization like the NAHU, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors or the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America? Such memberships can be an indication that a broker is interested in staying on top of changes in the industry.

All health insurance agents at Virginia Farm Bureau, for instance, are required to have a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education on all insurance products. They must be certified to sell certain senior products and must have a special government certification to help with the health insurance marketplace.

Ask your potential broker if he or she is familiar with government plans like Medicare or the Health Insurance Marketplace. Good brokers will know about all policies, even those that qualify you to receive a government subsidy.

Ask good questions Listen, also, to what the broker asks you. Brokers should try to identify your needs and desires for coverage and find out what you truly can afford—not steer you to a pricey plan without laying out all of your options.

Ask a potential broker how he or she handles complaints about a policy. According to a recent NAHU survey, that organization’s member brokers spend half their time helping clients after they’ve purchased a policy.

Customer support Remember, once you have your policy, you are free to transfer it to a new representative who might be better at helping with problems and ensuring that the policy you signed up for remains the best deal for you and your family.

For more information on how the Affordable Care Act will affect you, contact your county Farm Bureau.

Leah Gustafson is a marketing specialist for Experient Health.

A brokerage can be your advocate once you have purchased a plan.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

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Agricultural March Madness returns; voting runs through March 29

AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org

Virginia’s Agriculture Literacy Week will take place during the peak of the college basketball season, and the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is holding its second annual March Madness fundraising competition.

Producers of eight Virginia farm commodities—beef, dairy, equine, fruits, horticulture/gardening, pork, poultry and vegetables/grains— have begun to face off in a friendly competition that ultimately will benefit the commonwealth’s schools.

Anyone who donates at least $10 to AITC by March 29 can cast a vote in support of one of the commodity groups. To vote online, visit AgInTheClass.org and click on the “Agriculture March Madness” link at the top of the page. Votes and donations also can be mailed to AITC, Attention: Agricultural March Madness, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238.

AITC will distribute a children’s book and correlating classroom activity about the winning commodity to schools across the state.

The winning commodity also will be highlighted in the next AITC newsletter and education e-mail, reaching thousands of educators across Virginia.

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Last year, the contest raised $1,755, with participants in the equine industry raising $590. Funds raised were used to buy copies of the children’s book A Field Full of Horses and to create accompanying classroom activities to help educate students about Virginia’s horse industry.

“This is such a fun way to get quality books and agricultural resources into the hands of as many Virginia students as possible. As a farmer myself, I know that the agriculture community enjoys a little healthy competition in the name of good fun,” said Ellen Davis, AITC foundation chairman.

Agriculture Literacy Week coming up!

Volunteers are still making plans to mark Virginia’s fourth annual Agriculture Literacy Week by reading ag-related books to children in their communities. Agriculture in the Classroom still has copies of this year’s featured book, What’s in the Garden?

by Marianne Berkes available for purchase at AgIntheClass.org.

Agriculture Literacy Week will run concurrently with National Ag Week, March 23-29.

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 Nov. 18, 2013, and Feb. 11.

• Bedford County Farm Bureau • Enterprise Holdings Foundation • Frederick County Farm Bureau

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

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Homeowners can help block the spread of boxwood blight

By Norm Hyde Plant diseases have no regard for history or tradition, and unchecked boxwood blight could change the look of many home gardens and historic sites in Virginia.

That’s why Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists are asking homeowners and home gardeners to take steps to prevent the disease’s spread.

“You definitely don’t want to put boxwood greenery in the compost bin this year,” said Mary Ann Hansen, a Virginia Tech instructor in plant pathology, physiology and weed science and co-manager of the university’s Plant Disease Clinic. “Even with the cold temperatures, the fungus could survive over the winter and spread to nearby plants next spring.”

Winter is a good time to clean up around the yard and garden and remove any plant materials that could spread diseases in the spring. That includes boxwood clippings purchased for holiday decorations.

“The best thing to do is bag (boxwood) and get it to the landfill,” Hansen said. “Do not compost it or leave it lying around. Burning it is another option, if allowed by local fire laws.”

Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that starts out as leaf spots with a dark border. Symptoms also appear on stems, which show black streaks. Then the leaves turn brown and fall. Plants can lose almost all their leaves, with just a few green ones remaining at the top. The whole process can happen quickly. According to

C A R I N G

F O R

Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that starts out as leaf spots and causes a shrub’s leaves to turn brown and fall. Neither the English boxwood nor the American boxwood have resistance to the blight.

B O X W O O D S :

Overgrown boxwoods respond well to a severe pruning. They prefer full sun or part shade.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Hansen, the English boxwood and the American boxwood have no resistance to the disease, and once they become infected there are no fungicides that can save the plants.

“So far, the disease has only been found in certain areas of Virginia,” Hansen said. “It was first found in 2011 in Southwest Virginia, where we have a lot of nursery operations. But it showed up this past fall in the Richmond area in landscapes and a garden center and in a landscape and garden center in Fairfax County.”

Hansen said homeowners and landscape professionals should purchase boxwoods exclusively from nurseries that participate in the Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program.

“Some boxwood cultivars also appear to have tolerance to the disease,” Hansen said. Planting those varieties, especially if they are purchased from a nursery participating in the Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program, can reduce the chances of having to remove diseased plants from a landscape in the long run.

Virginia residents can submit plant samples with symptoms of boxwood blight to the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic through their local Extension offices.

Boxwood trees are great foundation plants and also can be used for privacy screening, but they are prone to ice, snow and winter damage, said horticulturalist Mark Viette.

Boxwoods should be pruned in the spring using lopping shears or a hand saw. Scratch a branch with a pen knife to determine whether it is dead or alive. If it is dead, it is important to cut out damaged branches to where new growth starts at the plant’s base.

“As you pull apart the plant, you can see where it is dead,” Viette said. “Prune to where the nice, green growth is at the bottom of the tree, about 12 to 18 inches from the ground.”

It will take about three years for a boxwood to regain its full size.

Boxwoods grow well in full sun to part shade; however, they look and perform best in a location that has some shade, especially in the afternoon.

Soil pH for boxwoods should be in the range of 6.5 to 7.2, but values just above or below that range will result in acceptable growth. Boxwoods can grow in a variety of soil textures—sand, silt and clay—but too much sand or too much clay should be avoided.

While boxwoods can withstand some dry conditions, they should be irrigated during periods of drought.

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Have a Soup-er Year

Stews warm the body during cold winter days Whether you assemble them in a slow cooker in the morning or throw them together when you get home in the evening, stews are a meal staple for cold winter months.

Hearty, healthy stews made with veggies and meat or beans—or all three—can be the perfect complete meal. As long as you steer clear of cream-based concoctions, most stews contain healthy ingredients.

If you make a large batch of stew, you’ve

also got the next day’s lunch or another supper. In fact, many stews often taste better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to meld.

It’s best to enjoy refrigerated leftover stews within two days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And don’t let soup sit out at room temperature for more than two hours.

To speed up cooling before storing stew in the refrigerator, USDA suggests

transferring the stew into multiple shallow containers and refrigerating within two hours. Once the stew is cooled, cover it completely.

Don’t put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator. It would take an 8-inch pot of steaming chicken soup 24 hours to cool in the refrigerator, according to the USDA. When reheating stew, make sure it’s at least 165 degrees throughout.

Turkey Stew INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons vegetable oil ½ cup chopped onion 1 finely chopped garlic clove or ½ teaspoon garlic powder 4 carrots, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 potatoes, diced 15-ounce can diced tomatoes 2 cups water 2 cups chopped cooked turkey salt and pepper to taste Italian seasoning or oregano, basil or thyme to taste DIRECTIONS Heat oil in medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, carrots and celery and stir 2 minutes.

Add potatoes, tomatoes and water to pan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add turkey, and cook another 5 minutes or until heated.

Season to taste before serving.

Source: Montana State University Extension Service Nutrition Education Program.

Making a large batch of stew also takes care of tomorrow’s lunch or another day’s supper.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Have a Soup-er Year

Irish Lamb Stew INGREDIENTS

Brunswick Stew INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 medium chopped onion ½ cup chopped bell pepper—red, green or a combination (optional) 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth ½ teaspoon dried leaf thyme ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 cups cooked, diced and boned chicken or turkey 2 cups tomatoes, canned or cooked 2 cups cooked dry beans OR 1 15.5-ounce can of red beans or Great Northern beans, drained 2 cups whole-kernel corn, frozen OR 1 15.5ounce can no-salt corn, drained

2 pounds lamb shoulder, cut into 1” to 1½” cubes 1½ teaspoons salt, divided 1½ teaspoons ground black pepper, divided all-purpose flour for dredging 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1 cup diced onion 3/4 cup peeled carrots, cut into ¼” rounds ½ cup peeled, diced turnips ½ cup diced celery 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons tomato paste 12-ounce bottle of stout 4 cups low-sodium beef or chicken broth ¼ cup pearl barley 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried thyme 8 small red potatoes, peeled and quartered (approximately 1¼ pounds) 2 tablespoons minced parsley

DIRECTIONS Season lamb with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Dredge in flour, patting off excess. In a large sauté pan over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. In batches, sear lamb for 2 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Remove from pan with slotted spoon; set aside. If the bottom of the pan starts to burn, scrape with a sturdy wooden spoon.

Add remaining oil, onion, carrots, turnips and celery. Sauté for 3 minutes while scraping the bottom of the pan to remove all brown bits. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook for 2 more minutes.

Transfer to Dutch oven or large pot.

Add lamb, stout, broth, barley, remaining salt and pepper, bay leaf and thyme. Cover pot, bring to a simmer and simmer 1½ hours.

Add potatoes; continue cooking until lamb is fork-tender, about 45 to 60 additional minutes. Add water if stew is too thick, or a small amount of cornstarch mixed with cold water if you want stew to be thicker.

Serve in bowls with a sprinkle of parsley and crusty bread.

Source: American Lamb Board

DIRECTIONS Heat oil in a large pan. Add onion and cook in oil until tender.

Add all remaining ingredients except salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 30 minutes at medium-low.

Season to taste with salt, if desired.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension

Ingredients for a traditional Irish stew—or a Virginia Brunswick stew, for that matter—are the subject of debate, sometimes good-natured, sometimes heated.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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27

Heart of the Home

Put a lid on it!

You’ll still be able to smell this bean soup “This is a hearty, comforting, delicious meal for a cold night,” said cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris. “This is a great way to use up a leftover holiday ham bone. The meatier the ham hock, the better!”

Opening the lid of your slow cooker can add up to 20 minutes of extra cooking time, so keep this in mind with any slow cooker recipe.

“A lot of heat escapes, so you really want to avoid removing the lid and just enjoy the aroma coming from your cooker!”

Enjoy this savory meal, Morris said, with a big hunk of cornbread.

Slow Cooker White Beans and Ham INGREDIENTS 1 pound dried cannellini or navy beans 1 large smoked ham hock or leftover ham bone 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped carrots ½ cup diced celery 1 cup chopped smoked ham or honey ham 3 small cloves garlic, minced 2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon paprika 1 tablespoons minced fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried sage ½ teaspoon dried thyme pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) salt and black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, cover the beans with at least 2” of water, and soak overnight.

Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Drain the beans, and add them to the slow cooker. Next, add the ham hock, onion, carrots, celery, smoked ham pieces, garlic, bay leaves, paprika, sage and thyme. Cover with water by at least 1”. Cover and cook 10 to 12 hours or until tender, adding more water if necessary.

Remove the ham hock or ham bone, and let it cool. Shred any additional meat, and return it to the slow cooker. Discard leftover bones and skin. Add the pinch of cayenne to the soup, and season with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves. Mash up some of the beans before serving if you like a creamier consistency.

Pull that Christmas ham bone out of the freezer to make this soup, or use a smoked ham hock.

sara owens

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

Heart of the Home

Versatile quiche recipe gives you lots of options This quiche is a great for making ahead and rewarming before company arrives— or even serving chilled, said cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris.

“It’s perfect for brunch, lunch, dinner or any time. Make it a day or two ahead of time; it’s perfect for entertaining.”

The recipe is really versatile too, Morris said, and the spices and herbs can be changed to your liking. Try substituting parsley or tarragon for the thyme or salty country ham in place of the honey ham. And then there are all the cheese choices!

sara owens

Ham, Onion and Cheese Quiche INGREDIENTS One prepared pie crust ¾ cup shredded Cheddar or Swiss cheese 1 tablespoon unsalted butter ¾ cup diced onion 1 cup diced honey ham 6 large eggs 1 cup milk ¼ teaspoon dried thyme ¹⁄8 teaspoon salt ¹⁄8 teaspoon black pepper DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375°. Place pie crust in a pie pan, and prick crust all over with a fork.

Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Sprinkle cheese over the bottom of the cooled crust. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

Heat a large sauté pan to medium-high and add the butter. When the butter bubbles, add the onion and ham. Sauté until the onions are translucent. Sprinkle onions and ham over the cheese. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into the pie shell.

Place quiche on a baking sheet on the center rack in the oven, and bake until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40-50 minutes. If the edges of the pie crust begin to burn, wrap them in aluminum foil.

Cut into wedges and serve hot, warm or cold. to the soup, and season with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves. Mash up some of the beans before serving if you like a creamier consistency.

Kendra Bailey Morris recommends this quiche for brunch, lunch or supper, served hot, warm or chilled.

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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. march 2014

29

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.

Farm Bureau needs your updated contact information, including e-mail Are your membership records current?

If you’ve moved, acquired a new telephone number, or changed your name or email address, it’s important that your new information is reflected in your membership and insurance records.

Email addresses and cell phone numbers help your Farm Bureau agent reach you in instances where prompt communication is important.

If you need to update your records, email your current contact information to membership@vafb.com, and our staff will handle the update. You’re also welcome to call or visit your county Farm Bureau office to update your records.

Farmland preservation, boxwood blight featured on Real Virginia

Watch this!

To view RealVirginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Farmers have been working to preserve farmland in Virginia for decades, but it turns out all Virginians have a stake in keeping the state’s agriculture industry strong. And gardeners who have boxwoods need to be on the lookout for a new, invasive disease. Plus we have recipes for a goat cheese salad and a springtime quiche, and tips on how to get your vegetable garden producing early.

Real Virginia is Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program that airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday 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.

Check local television listings, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations.

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).

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31

Breaking new ground, all the time It won’t be long before farmers across Virginia begin spring planting, but Farm Bureau members like you help the organization break new ground year-round.

Last year Farm Bureau became the sole owner of the State Fair of Virginia.

And earlier this year Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers helped host a national leadership conference in Virginia Beach for their peers.

Your Farm Bureau membership helped support those activities.

For less than $4 a month you’re helping to ensure that working farmland stays in production, that Virginia farmers get the information they need to be successful, and that their interests are represented to elected officials.

You can make an even bigger difference this year by telling your family, friends and neighbors about Farm Bureau and encouraging them to become members as well.

There’s never been a better year, and we’re just getting started.

VaFarmBureau.org