Virgnia VaFarmBureau.org
September/October 2011
Farm Bureau News
‘We just want our land’: Amendment would protect property owners
Contents 10
Virgnia Farm Bureau News
“We just want our land”: Amendment would protect property owners
Virginia Farm Bureau has launched a campaign to amend the state constitution to prevent abuse of eminent domain in acquiring land. 16
Summer Expo affords Young Farmers a look at farming in Southeast Virginia
The sixth annual Young Farmers Summer Expo drew about 180 participants to Southeast Virginia. The event included presentations of several Young Farmers awards. 29
Reduce fire hazards on your farm
What better time than Fire Prevention Week to check farm buildings for fire hazards? Find out what to look for.
Departments 13
Your Membership Advantage
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In the Garden
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Good for You!
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Taste of Virginia
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Member Marketplace
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Volume 70, Number 6 September/October 2011 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. E-mail address is virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb. com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Members — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information. All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised. Member: Virginia Press Association
editorial team Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Bill Altice Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Cathy Vanderhoff Advertising
publication schedule Producer members will receive their next issue of Farm Bureau News in January. The magazine is published six times a year.
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virginia farm bureau federation
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Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Edward A. Scharer, Vice President Board of Directors
On the Cover 10
Sam Brown, who operates Crooked Run Orchard in Loudoun County, is concerned for the future of his farm now that part of it has been taken for a new road (Photo by Kathy Dixon).
director district Emily Edmondson 1 Archie B. Atwell 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 Henry E. Wood 9 Joseph H. Williams 10 J. M. Jenkins 11 W. Ellis Walton 12 M. L. Everett Jr. 13 David L. Hickman 14 Janice R. Burton * Robert Harris **
county Tazewell Smyth Floyd Henry Rockingham Shenandoah Orange Albemarle Buckingham Pittsylvania Lunenburg Middlesex Southampton Accomack Halifax Pittsylvania *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman
New claims phone number—and assistance ’round the clock As of Aug. 1, Virginia Farm Bureau insurance policyholders have a new option for receiving live, 24-hour assistance when they need to report a claim. Calling 800-452-7714 will put you in touch with a trained customer service professional who can collect all pertinent information, forward it to Farm Bureau claims staff and notify your Farm Bureau insurance agent. For easy reference, the new toll-free number is at the bottom of every page of the Farm Bureau insurance website at FarmBureauAdvantage.com and is being added to all insurancerelated print communications. “Incidents that prompt an insurance claim don’t always happen during office hours, and we want our members to know we are there for them ‘round the clock,” said Bill Anderson, executive vice president and general manager of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Of course, policyholders are always welcome to call their county Farm Bureaus when they have a claim, but because we take their business seriously, we want to make sure we are always there when they need us—regardless of the hour.” When members call the new number, they will be prompted to press 1 for auto glass claims and 2 for all other claims.
Noteworthy Quote
Insurance claim? Speak with a Farm Bureau service representative 24 hours a day at 800-452-7714.
Virginia Century Farms among those recognized on new website A website that celebrates U.S. farms operated by the same families for 100 years or more has launched at agricultureslastingheritage.org. Created by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, America’s Lasting Heritage lets visitors access comprehensive lists of each state’s “century farms.” Virginia has more than 1,100 such farms, and the Virginia Century Farm Program is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The site also includes video and written profiles of farming and ranching families and an interactive timeline of American history and agriculture. Additional free resources are offered for educators. Virginia Century Farms must have been owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years; be lived on or farmed by a descendant of the original owner; and gross more than $2,500 annually from the sale of farm products or be recognized VirginiaFarmBureau.com
“We need to grow some more farmers here.” ∂ Suzanne Brown, founder of the New Hampshire Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, an ag business incubator set up on a 379-year-old farm after its owners had to put the farm up for sale.
Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage has begun profiling century farm families nationwide.
for a genuine silvicultural purpose at the discretion of VDACS. Details and an application are available at vdacs.virginia. gov/century/index.shtml. september/october 2011
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PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Your Membership Advantage -SAVING YOU MONEY >> Your Farm Bureau membership helps support the farmers who grow our
nation’s food. It also gives you access to a wide variety of benefits and services, and it can pay for itself quickly in savings and convenience!
travel advantages Avis Save up to 25% on daily and weekly rates. Visit Avis.com/vafb, or call 800-331-1212 and use Avis Worldwide Discount #A298846 when scheduling a rental. Budget Get up to 20% off rental car rates. Go to Budget.com/vafb, or call 800-5270700 and reference Budget Customer Discount #Y775746. Budget Truck Rental Save 15% on truck rentals. Visit BudgetTruckRental.com/virginia or call 800-566-8422 to make a reservation. Use Budget Truck Discount #56000132266. Choice Hotels Use Choice Hotels’ Significant Organization Savings plan and get a 20% discount at participating locations. Visit ChoiceHotels.com, or call 800-2582847 and use ID# 00800605. Advance reservations required. Wyndham Hotel Group Get 20% off “best available rates” at participating locations. Call 877-6707088, and use ID #67496. Advance reservations required. Children’s Museum of Richmond memberships Save 25% on any annual museum membership. Visit C-mor.org/ membership.
Member Benefit
Travel Counsellors, Inc. Enjoy exclusive escorted tours for Farm Bureau members. Visit TravelTCI.com, or call 800-572-4049.
healthy advantages NEW! Member’s Medical Alert Help ensure that your or a loved one can summon help at home in an emergency. Get free shipping, a 30-day, money-back trial and no long-term contract. Visit MembersMedicalAlert.com or call 877-288-4958, and use code FB102. Prescription Drug Discount Save on more than 12,000 prescription drug products, at more than 53,000 pharmacies nationwide. Obtain a discount card from your county Farm Bureau, and find a participating pharmacy near you at VaFarmBureau. org/benefits/health.htm. QualSight LASIK Save up to 50 percent off the national average cost of LASIK vision correction. Visit QualSight.com/-vafb, or call 866-979-9575 to schedule an initial appointment with a participating doctor near you. ClearValue Hearing Save up to 25% on Starkey hearing instruments. To learn more and find a ClearValue provider near you, visit ClearValueHearing.com or call 888-497-7447.
Financial Advantages Farm Bureau Bank Full member banking services. Contact your county Farm Bureau office, visit FarmBureauBank.com or call 800-492-FARM for more information.
Home and Business Advantages NEW! CDW Member Purchase Program Purchase selected electronics at cost and any other product at cost plus 3%; also, get free ground shipping on one order per year. Visit CDW.com/epp or call 877-813-4435, and reference EPP Access #F1F4D954. Grainger Get 10% off any item in the Grainger industrial supply catalog. Order online at Grainger.com and qualify for free shipping, or call 877-202-2594. Reference Discount #809039274.
Producer Advantages Producer members also have access to these benefits and services: • Commodity marketing representation • Grain marketing services • Risk management assistance • Farm tires and parts
>> For more information about all of the services included in your Membership Advantage, call your county Farm Bureau office today or visit VaFarmBureau.org.
>> save the dates
Annual Convention will feature trade, conservation workshops “Ag Trade: Growing Opportunities,” will be the theme of the 2011 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention, which will be held Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. J.J. Keever, senior deputy executive director for external affairs for the Port of Virginia, will deliver the keynote address at Tuesday’s opening luncheon. Greg Edwards, Port of Virginia director of external affairs, will speak on the port’s capabilities with regard to agricultural exports at a Tuesday workshop. “There are considerable export opportunities for Virginia producers, and the Port of Virginia is a tremendous resource for those,” said Spencer Neale, VFBF commodity marketing specialist. “The Virginia Port Authority has been a notable participant in the state’s annual agriculture trade conferences, and we’re pleased to bring two of its representatives before a larger Farm Bureau audience.”
On the agenda Members may attend their choice of two educational conferences on Tuesday. In addition to the trade-related one, there will be information on conservation easements for working farm and forest land shared by representatives from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. That workshop also will include insight from an attorney specializing in conservation easements and from farmers who have placed such easements on their land. “Farm Bureau producer members have shown some interest in conservation easements and whether those easements are viable options for their farms,” said Trey Davis, VFBF assistant director of governmental relations. “This workshop will be a good opportunity for them to get information and get their questions answered.” The convention is open to voting delegates and any other interested Farm
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 2011 Annual Convention Norfolk Waterside Marriott November 29 – December 1
Bureau members. It is at the VFBF Annual Convention that voting delegates from each county Farm Bureau help shape the organization’s state and federal policies for the coming year. Delegates also will elect members of the VFBF board of directors to represent Districts 1, 4, 7, 10 and 13.
Getting registered Details and registration forms will be available at county Farm Bureau offices and online this fall.
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Farmers growing more corn with less fertilizer
Corn production accounts for half of fertilizer use in the United States, according to The Fertilizer Institute.
American farmers have doubled their corn production from 1980 to 2010 using less fertilizer, according to The Fertilizer Institute. In 1980, U.S. farmers produced 6.64 billion bushels of corn nationwide using 3.2 pounds of nutrients for each bushel. In 2010, they grew 12.45 billion bushels with 1.6 pounds of nutrients each. “Through improvements in modern technology and oldfashioned ingenuity, our farmers are using fertilizer with the greatest efficiency in history and have again shown why U.S. agriculture will continue to feed the world,” said Ford West, TFI president. Corn production accounts for half of fertilizer use in the United States, and much of the nation’s corn crop is used to feed livestock and poultry. TFI has expressed hope that more farmers will adopt “4R nutrient stewardship,” which emphasizes the “use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, right time and right place.” “The numbers don’t lie—this new data shows yet one more reason that agriculture is a leader in environmental stewardship,” West said.
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
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SaveOurFood.org
Counting sheep: Demand for U.S. lamb and wool is anything but sleepy U.S. sheep producers are being encouraged to increase their herds, their lamb birthrates and the number of lambs they harvest. The U.S. sheep industry is experiencing all-time highs for lamb and wool, and the American Sheep Industry Association is encouraging producers to boost production in order to meet demand. An ASI initiative titled “Let’s Grow with Two Plus” has set three producer goals: increase flock size by two ewes or by two ewes per 100 by 2014; increase the average birthrate per ewe to two lambs per year; and increase harvested lambs by 2 percent. Farmers can find details at growourflock.org. Lamb processers are calling for more U.S. product, ASI notes on the site, and two major announcements this year have boosted demand. Grocery chain Kroger launched an American lamb branded campaign, and Super Wal-Mart committed to selling U.S.-grown lamb exclusively in its stores. Nontraditional market channels such as on-farm and farmers’ market sales and sales to small processors that serve ethnic communities have seen growth as well. Demand for U.S.-grown wool also is robust; the industry’s largest domestic consumer is the U.S. military. Spencer Neale, a commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, called the growing demand for wool and lamb exciting news.
The American Sheep Industry Association is encouraging farmers to step up production to meet healthy demand for U.S. lamb and wool.
“For years we have imported significant amounts of lamb—the majority of it from New Zealand and Australia—to meet American demand,” Neale said. “Given the growing consumer interest in purchasing food raised and processed here at home, U.S. sheep producers are in an excellent position to benefit.”
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september/october 2011
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Washington Watch
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A comparison of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture models for the Chesapeake Bay has prompted concerns that farmers will be held accountable for pollution they did not create.
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final update of a report on the science surrounding Chesapeake Bay water quality confirms significant differences between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s bay model and the model used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The American Farm Bureau Federation asserts that those differences, left unaddressed, could lead to farmers in the bay’s six-state watershed paying a steep price for pollution mistakenly attributed to them. AFBF and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau filed a federal lawsuit against the EPA in January to block that agency’s total maximum daily load or “nutrient diet” regulatory plan for the bay watershed. The analysis, conducted for the Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council, shows differences between the EPA and USDA models in the areas of land use, total acreage of the bay watershed, and data and assumptions about farm practices. As a result, there is a wide discrepancy in the nutrients and sediments in the bay being attributed to agriculture. AFBF President Bob Stallman said that, given the USDA’s superior knowledge of agriculture and farming practices, the EPA’s disregard for USDA information is not acceptable. “While we need EPA and USDA to work together to resolve these key differences, ultimately we believe that the types of regulations put in place for the bay by EPA are unlawful. This is a job for our state governments, not the federal government. But, since federal regulators are pursuing restrictive regulations on our farms, they should at least base their actions on credible facts.” A copy of the report is available at nutrientpolicy.org/ANPC_ News.html.
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
Builders’ association sues EPA over bay restoration plan The National Association of Home Builders is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block and terminate the agency’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan. The American Farm Bureau Federation filed a similar suit in January. The NAHB lawsuit, filed in late June in U.S. District Court in Scranton, Pa., contends that the EPA’s proposed total maximum daily load, or TMDL, provisions in the plan exceed the agency’s authority under the federal Clean Water Act, and that the EPA relied on flawed computer modeling to develop the TMDL. The TMDL is intended to compel six states in the bay watershed—New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia—to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering the bay and its tributaries by 20 percent to 25 percent over the next 14 years.
SaveOurFood.org
Corn, cotton among crops crushed by IRENE The majority of George Copeland’s 1,300-acre corn crop (right) in Charles City County was destroyed by winds from Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27. The corn was to have been cut for silage. “It’s frustrating, but it could have been worse,” Copeland said as he surveyed the destruction on Aug. 29 (below, right). He managed to harvest 130 acres of corn before the storm hit, but afterward he was unable to move his combine to other fields because downed power lines blocked his access road. At Cecil and Steele Byrum’s farm (below) in Isle of Wight County, acres of cotton plants were flattened by wind gusts, which the National Weather Service in Wakefield said reached speeds of 76 mph in some parts of the state. Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. had received more than 2,000 storm damage claims by Aug. 29, and Farm Bureau officials predicted more than 8,000 claims once damage assessments were completed. photos by kathy dixon
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
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kathy dixon
EMINENT DOMAIN TAKES ORCHARD OPERATORS’ LAND AND LIVELIHOOD ────
“It’s already affected our business, and when the road is built it will be so much worse,” Sam Brown said of a road the town of Purcellville wants to build across Crooked Run Orchard in Loudoun County.
By Kathy Dixon
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rooked Run Orchard will never be the same once an access road splits the 200-year-old farm in half. The town of Purcellville in Loudoun County, claiming it needs the land for a connector road to alleviate traffic through the middle of town, did a “quick take” on April 29. Construction of the road will bulldoze 64 apple and nine cherry trees and eliminate access to the back 45 acres of Sam and Uta Brown’s family farm. “It’s outrageous what they’re doing to us,” said Sam Brown, who has been growing fruit on the farm since 1985. The proposed Southern Collector Road will run 18 feet from the historic house where the Browns live, take one of their pick-your-own parking areas, cut through their current exit road and eliminate a wooded area. It also will block access to the back parcel of the farm, where the Browns grow hay and straw, have 2 acres
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
Is compensation just? of 3-year-old peach trees and operate a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. “How will people walk over there with that road cutting through the property?” Sam Brown asked as he pointed to the bright orange construction fence that slices his farm down the middle. The town put up a fence along the route of the proposed road in early July and told the Browns they could no longer use the property or they would be trespassing. When Brown received notice that the fence was being erected, he had only a short time to move all of his equipment and fruit-packing supplies and a 19-year-old pet pig out of the way. “They put the fence up, but they haven’t done all the engineering and don’t have the money or a contractor,” Brown said. “It’s already affected our business, and when the road is built it will be so much worse.”
The town plans to compensate the Browns with a figure that doesn’t account for future lost business. “We don’t want the money. We don’t want the road here. We just want our land,” Brown said. In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that clarified the definition of public use. The law specifically states that property can be taken only when the public interest dominates the private gain. The primary purpose of the taking cannot be for private financial gain, an increase in tax base or revenues, or an increase in employment in a locality. The Brown’s farm is surrounded on three sides by new commercial development, and they believe that the town did not take their property for the public interest, but rather to promote development. “This road will destroy our farm without taking an effective amount of traffic off Main Street,” Uta Brown said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
SaveOurFood.org
Farm Bureau supports amending state constitution to further protect landowners »
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Virginia Farm Bureau Federation members have said ownership of private property is a fundamental right that needs to be constitutionally protected. The state constitution recognizes that some takings are necessary for “public use;” however, public use should be narrowly defined and just compensation provided to the individual whose property is being taken, said Trey Davis, VFBF assistant director of governmental relations. “Because farmers’ assets are mostly land-based, they feel constantly under threat from eminent domain,” Davis said. “The only way to truly protect them is to have a constitutional amendment that ensures farmland cannot be taken and given to another private owner.” In last year’s General Assembly, Del. Johnny Jounnou, D-Portsmouth, introduced a bill to amend the state constitution that mirrors the 2007 statutory changes to state eminent domain law to strictly define public use. The amendment states that no more private property may be taken than is necessary to achieve the stated public use, and that the condemner has to prove the use is public. The language also ensures that just compensation be given to the property owner. Condemning entities would not be able to exercise eminent domain if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, tax revenue or economic development, Davis said. So in the case of Sam and Uta Brown of Purcellville, the amendment would ensure that the Browns have to be compensated for the loss of 73 fruit trees, as well as for business lost due to inability to access the back 45 acres of their property, Davis explained. But amending Virginia’s constitution is not a simple task. Jounnou’s amendment passed both bodies of the General Assembly in 2011, but it must pass the 2012 General Assembly with the same wording in order for it to be on the ballot next November. Then it must be approved by a majority of Virginia voters. In July, Farm Bureau launched a postcard campaign urging legislators to back the constitutional amendment. Postcards will be delivered to them during the 2012 General Assembly session. “Our success depends in large part on the activism of our members,” said Kelly Pruitt, VFBF governmental relations grassroots coordinator. “Our hope is to get 112 postcards from each of the 88 county Farm Bureaus as part of a ‘112 for 2012’ campaign to emphasize to legislators the need for this amendment.” Members can sign postcards at county Farm Bureau offices until Oct. 31.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
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Winter storm damage concerns? Do you have concerns about the effects of sleet and snow on your farm buildings or other structures? Coverage against building collapse due to ice and snow is not automatically included in a farmowner policy, but an endorsement can be added if the buildings qualify. Your Farm Bureau insurance agent can answer you questions about this and other coverage issues.
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Virginia treats make tasty gifts If you’re wondering what to give someone for a special occasion, consider treating them to the rich flavors of fine Virginia foods in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Virginia’s Harvest collection. Farm Bureau members can share country ham, gourmet peanuts, butter-toasted cashews, peanuts and pecans and chocolate-covered peanuts and peanut brittle. Virginia’s Harvest items can be viewed and ordered at county Farm Bureau offices. For an additional charge, they can be shipped via United Parcel Service with a personalized gift card. Visit your county Farm Bureau office to place your order, or call 800-476-8473 for more information or to order by phone.
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, of which Virginia Farm Bureau is a member, has launched a mobile site so consumers who are car-shopping can compare vehicle safety ratings using their smartphones. The site is a response to increased numbers of Web visitors accessing IIHS ratings from mobile devices over the past year. The institute conducts tests assessing how well vehicles protect people in the most common kinds of front-, side-, rollover-, and rear-impact crashes. Based on their performance, vehicles are rated good, acceptable, marginal or poor. Vehicles that perform the best across the board are listed as “Top Safety Picks.” Those vehicles earn a “good” rating in four of four evaluations and have electronic stability control for helping to avoid many kinds of crashes. Consumers who visit the IIHS website at iihs.org from smartphones automatically will be directed to the mobile site.
SaveOurFood.org
Your Membership Advantage
Members get savings, free shipping from Grainger Whether you own a business or simply need to find the right tool for a specific job, you can put your Virginia Farm Bureau membership to work and save 10 percent on all purchases from Grainger. That applies at Grainger retail locations, online at Grainger.com and when ordering from the Grainger catalog. Farm Bureau members’ online purchases also qualify for free shipping. Grainger serves more than 2 million customers from North American manufacturing, commercial, government, transportation and contractor markets. The company works with more than 3,000 suppliers to provide more than 1 million products for categories including these: • electrical; • fleet and vehicle maintenance; • HVAC;
Your membership helps Farm Bureau enhance members’ lives by promoting and supporting agriculture. It also affords you access to a variety of benefits and services available to members of your immediate household. For more information or details on all of your Farm Bureau member benefits, contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit VaFarmBureau.org/Benefits.
• hand tools; • hardware; • lighting; • motors; • plumbing; • power tools and metalworking; • pumps; and
Members enjoy discount on children’s museum memberships
• safety. To use your Farm Bureau discount, you’ll need your Farm Bureau membership number, which is on your membership card, and the Virginia Farm Bureau Grainger discount code: 809039274. Your Farm Bureau discount can be applied to an existing Grainger account, so you automatically save every time you buy—just call 888-617-4155.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
Virginia Farm Bureau members can save 25 percent off any membership level to the Children’s Museum of Richmond. That’s a holiday gift that recipients can use all year long. The membership also will admit the holder to five additional children’s museums in Virginia: Amazement Square in Lynchburg, the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum, the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, The Portsmouth Museums and the Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville. Memberships can be purchased at the Children’s Museum of Richmond, 2626 West Broad St. Travel directions, a list of membership benefits and information on CMoR’s satellite location in Henrico County are available at c-mor.org.
Virginia Farm Bureau sponsors a farm exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
september/october 2011
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Viewing Virginia
Blackberries—and other berries—were among “super foods” that were the focus of a field day at Virginia State University this summer. Consumer interest in super foods could translate into opportunities for Virginia farmers.
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
SaveOurFood.org
Viewing Virginia
kathy dixon
People want ‘super foods’; Virginia farmers can grow them ❦ By Kathy Dixon onsumers are clamoring for ‘super foods’—those that contain essential nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants and have few calories. “This is food that is considered especially nutritious and beneficial to your well-being,” said Tonia Reinhard, author of the book Super Foods: The Healthiest Foods on the Planet. Reinhard was the keynote speaker at Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 8th Annual Commercial Vegetable & Berry Field Day on July 14 at Virginia State University. When eating for health, she said, people should “think of the calories in your food as a dollar; you want to get the most for your money.” She said super foods are those that contain basic vitamins, including A, C, D, E and K, as well as phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring compounds in plant foods that provide antioxidants. They include beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein. Nutrient-dense foods have more vitamins, minerals and proteins per calorie than other foods. “You can maximize your health by eating nutrients in foods with the least amount of calories,” Reinhard said. Berries, herbs, leafy greens and nuts are the main groups of super foods, she noted. “Berries are chock-full of nutrients and very low in calories.”
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VirginiaFarmBureau.com
Consumers are interested in berries right now, after Parade magazine reported that berries are “a must-have in any healthy diet,” said Chris Mullins, an Extension greenhouse crops specialist at VSU. “Since consumers are interested [in berries] we see an opportunity for our growers to provide them. We want our producers to see the potential of growing these super foods.” That’s why the VSU field day focused on growing blackberries and raspberries in high tunnels that let farmers extend their growing seasons. “Why let Mexico provide all the berries when our growers can produce them better?” Mullins asked. “Growers in Virginia can’t beat the low labor costs in Mexico, but if they can grow berries out of season then they can provide them when other countries can’t.” Sonny Herrin, a former peanut grower from Isle of Wight County, came to the field day to look for alternative crops. “I’m looking into growing berries and maybe building a high tunnel,” he said. Jake Browder, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources and Conservation Services employee in Isle of Wight County, said there is cost-share money available through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program for producers who want to build high tunnels.
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2011
Young Farmers Summer Expo
audra norris
Johnny Parker (left), agronomist with Commonwealth Gin in Windsor, spoke to Young Farmers Summer Expo participants about cotton production at Holland Farm.
Summer Expo affords a look at farming in Southeast Virginia Cattle, corn and soybeans are familiar to farmers all over the state. But peanuts and cotton—and the specialized equipment they require—are found only in Southeast Virginia. Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers got a close-up look at farming in that part of the state July 29 and 30 at the Young Farmers Summer Expo. Participants visited the Wakefield Peanut Co.; Amadas Industries, which manufactures peanut combines and other large farm equipment; the Suffolk Cotton Gin; Holland Farm, which grows cotton; and the R.M. Felts Packing Co., which processes hams. Workshop speakers addressed risk management issues and efforts to re-establish agriculture in Afghanistan. 16
Virginia Farm Bureau News
Now in its sixth year, the event drew about 180 participants. It was based at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin and also included Discussion Meet semifinals and judging for annual Young Farmers awards, presented July 30. The event also included Discussion Meet semifinals and judging for annual Young Farmers awards, which were presented July 30. The Summer Expo is held in a different part of Virginia each year, affording participants a close-up look at different kinds of farming and regional practices. “Agriculture can be a really diverse industry, and coming here means getting exposed to other people’s perspectives,” said Chris Van Vlack of Loudoun County.
“You get to see different parts of the state and learn from others you wouldn’t usually meet.” Van Vlack said his three years attending the Summer Expo and serving on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee also have helped him learn how to make agriculture relatable to the public. That’s important, he said, because more and more consumers are taking an interest in their food’s origins. “We have this really knowledgeable consumer base that wasn’t there 20 years ago,” he said. “Locally, agriculture is exciting, and people are interested in a positive way.”
SaveOurFood.org
Young Farmers recognize their peers’ accomplishments Russell County beef producer wins Achievement Award John Henry Anderson “Andy” Smith IV was named this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Achievement Award winner July 30 at the Young Farmers Summer Expo. The award recognizes farmers who are successful in production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm. Smith and his father operate Smithfield Farms in Rosedale, where they have a 310-head beef cattle herd on 1,400 acres in Russell County. They market through the Virginia Tel-O-Auction. Smith is the eighth generation to live and work on the farm, which is a National Bicentennial Farm. John Winston Vaughan IV of Amelia County is this year’s runner-up. He raises small grains, hay and cattle and is a former Amelia County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee chairman.
Pulaski County couple wins Excellence in Agriculture Award Jason and Paige Pratt are this year’s VFBF Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award winners. The award recognizes individuals for their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. Jason Pratt is an agriculture agent for Virginia Cooperative Extension and works on his family’s Smyth County cattle farm with his father. Paige Pratt is an Extension specialist at Virginia Tech and oversees youth livestock programs across the state. Recently married, the Pratts have a long involvement with Farm Bureau and are interested in improving cattle genetics on their farm. Fred and Amanda Wydner of Pittsylvania County are this year’s runners-up. Fred Wydner is Pittsylvania County’s agriculture development director, and Amanda Wydner is an executive account manager for Certified Angus Beef.
Three producers honored with Environmental Stewardship Award Sam Gardner of Bedford County and John and Lydia Shepherd of Nottoway County are winners of this year’s VFBF Young Farmers Environmental Stewardship Award. The award recognizes the efforts of young producers who work to protect natural resources. This is the first year that the award has been given to more than one nominee. Gardner is president of Gardner Heifers Inc., a 600- to 800-head dairy replacement heifer operation. He and his family have made numerous enhancements on their farm to reduce soil and roadway erosion, keep cattle out of streams, manage manure and implement drainage projects and rotational grazing. The Shepherds have maximized the usefulness of their rented farmland by turning previously overworked and heavily eroded tobacco parcels into grain land with grassed waterways, buffer strips and no-till propagation.
Andy Smith
Jason and Paige Pratt
Augusta man is first Outstanding Young Farm Employee Jack Kerr of Augusta County is the recipient of the inaugural VFBF Young Farmers Outstanding Young Farm Employee Award. The award was created to recognize successful young agriculturalists for their commitment to production agriculture through on-farm employment. The ideal candidate is an individual who works full time or part time on a farm, is not a majority owner in the operation and has an impact on the overall farm success on a daily basis. Kerr works for a large purebred Angus cow-calf operation in Augusta, where he is responsible for monitoring calving, feeding and vaccinations. He also makes hay, maintains equipment and keeps records, among other duties. He holds an associate’s degree in applied agricultural management from Virginia Tech.
Sam Gardner
John and Lydia Shepherd
Jack Kerr VirginiaFarmBureau.com
september/october 2011
17
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2011
Young Farmers Summer Expo
The Summer Expo included a visit to the Amadas Industries plant in Suffolk. The company manufactures peanut combines and other large farm equipment, as well as luxury motor coaches of the sort used by entertainers. 18
Virginia Farm Bureau News
SaveOurFood.org
Halifax County teen wins Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award Rebekah Slabach of Halifax County has been named this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist. The Outstanding Young Agriculturalist
Finalists named for Nov. 29 Discussion Meet
Nomination deadline for 2012 Young Farmers awards
Semifinals for this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Discussion Meet took place July 30 at the Young Farmers Summer Expo, and four participants will compete for the state title in November. Finalists are Jeremy Burner of Orange County, Christy Huffman Kerr of Augusta County, Katelyn Koontz of Augusta County and Chris Van Vlack of Loudoun County. The Discussion Meet is a committeestyle discussion of a predetermined agricultural topic. Participants are judged on their ability to build consensus and work toward solutions. The final Discussion Meet round will be held Nov. 29 during the Family Night program at the VFBF Annual Convention in Norfolk.
Dec. 1 is the nomination deadline for the following 2012 VFBF Young Farmers recognitions:
Achievement Award; Excellence in Agriculture Award; Environmental Stewardship Award; and
Outstanding Young Farm Employee. For nomination forms and guidelines, visit VaFarmBureau.org/contests.
Award, which is co-sponsored by the VFBF Young Farmers Committee and Women’s Committee, recognizes high school juniors and seniors for academic, community and agribusiness achievement. A recent Halifax County High School graduate, Slabach serves as the ambassador for the Governor’s Academy for Renewable Resources and Agricultural Sciences. She lives and works on her family’s cattle farm, Linges and Longes, and is studying agriculture and history at Virginia Tech. District-level finalists were Elizabeth Knick of Franklin County, Jillian Lowery of Culpeper County, Elizabeth Nixon of Orange County, Paige Redifer of Augusta County and Hannah Thayer of Washington County.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
audra norris
Rebekah Slabach
Participants had plenty of time to check out the newest-year models of Amadas products.
september/october 2011
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
SaveOurFood.org
Farmer Ben resources available for the new school year
AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org
Agriculture in the Classroom is welcoming teachers and students back to school with numerous resources featuring the Farmer Ben character. Educators and volunteers who work with their community schools can purchase agriculturerelated coloring and activity books, Farmer Ben Bulletins for children in third through fifth grade, Farmer Ben placemats that feature fun facts and activities, and AITC’s popular Virginia agriculture jigsaw puzzle in the online store at AgInTheClass.org. They’ll also find Farmer Ben pencils, stickers and plastic cups and the book Ready, Set, GROW!, published last year. There also are free classroom activities and coloring sheets available for download in the “Volunteers” section of the website. “We’re delighted to share these resources with our volunteers, who in turn have shared them with teachers in their local schools,” said Karen Davis, AITC executive director. “Farm Bureau volunteers’ enthusiasm for Agriculture in the Classroom has gone a long way toward building the relationships we have with school systems across the state.” Additional information is available from AITC education program coordinators at 804-290-1141.
AITC supporters In addition to many individuals who contributed, these organizations made contributions to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom between July 1 and Aug. 15.
Leader Level ($1,000 to $9,999) Rockingham County Farm Bureau made a contribution at the Leader Level.
Builder Level ($500 to $999) Tazewell County Farm Bureau made a contribution at the Builder Level. Find more information about AITC at AgInTheClass.org. Donations to the AITC program are always welcome and can be mailed to AITC, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
Free, factual farming game launched online In Facebook’s Farmville game, players can “instant grow” crops, but on MyAmericanfarm.org, visitors learn that real crops take much more than pushing a computer button. Educators, students and families can use this interactive online game to learn valuable lessons about agriculture while practicing writing, math, science and social studies skills—for free. MyAmericanfarm.org provides interactive games that share the messages that farmers feed the world, are stewards of the land and care for their animals. It was created by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, which strives to build awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture through educational efforts. “It’s always good to have interactive computer games that portray agriculture in a positive, accurate light,” said Lynn Black, education program coordinator for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. “It’s a great way to educate youth in a fun way.” When someone logs onto the site, they can download a “Passport to Sustainability” and fill it with “stamps” that are earned by playing a variety of games. “Ag across America,” for example, is a game that gives agricultural facts about farming in the 50 states. Players are asked to click on a state with a desert to show a fact about agriculture. If they pick a correct state, a fact will come up like: “Arizona has 15,600 farms. The top three items produced in Arizona are cattle, dairy and lettuce.” If the player gets three correct, he or she earns a U.S. map to place in their passport. “It’s great when the agriculture industry can make educators’ jobs easier,” Black said. “We get our messages out, and they get free resources; it’s a win-win.”
september/october 2011
21
In the Garden
Need a little privacy?
GROW SOME!
A well-selected and carefully placed privacy planting can screen out undesirable views and noise, as well as light, wind, dust, salt and snow.
IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND PRIVACY these days. Whether your house is close to your neighbor’s or near a busy highway, there are fast-growing shrubs and trees that can serve as privacy screening, said horticulturalist Mark Viette. While privacy screening plants do not need to be the same size, they do need to be the right size for the area and should not be planted too close together. “It’s important to match up the right 22
Virginia Farm Bureau News
size tree with the right size area,” Viette said. “If the tree is in too big or too small of an area, you have a big problem.” When purchasing, don’t let the size of the tree fool you. “It may look small now, but it will get big,” Viette said. “Be sure to read the plant’s labels to see how tall it will grow. Don’t be deceived.” Viette said bright, colorful plants work best, and he suggests staggering privacy
plants in varied groupings. “Don’t plant the same type of tree or shrub all in the same row,” he said. “Plant the trees and shrubs in groups of three or five or more, and stagger the type of plant and its height.” It’s also important not to plant trees and shrubs too close together. “If they’re too close together, you will have difficulty pruning,” Viette said.
SaveOurFood.org
In the Garden
Trees for screening Planting trees is a good way to screen out an unattractive view, noise, light, wind, dust, salt and snow. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends the following screen trees:
Deciduous trees
Gingko Biloba
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Hedge maple Japanese maple Norway maple Red maple Freeman maple Alder Japanese white birch European hornbeam Flowering dogwood Kousa dogwood Washington hawthorn Ginkgo Deciduous hollies Goldenraintree Crape myrtle Galaxy magnolia Crabapple Hardy orange Cherry plum Weeping cherry Callery pear English oak Weeping willow Tree lilac Bald cypress
Evergreens
Gold Rider Leyland Cypress
Mark Viette appears on Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program. Viette and his father operate the Andre Viette Farm and Nursery in Augusta County and have a live radio show broadcast by more than 60 mid-Atlantic stations each Saturday morning. They also are members of the Augusta County Farm Bureau. Andre Viette currently serves on the organization’s board of directors and on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee, and Mark Viette is a former Augusta Farm Bureau board member.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
False cypress Japanese cryptomeria Leyland cypress Foster holly Nellie Stevens holly American holly Chinese juniper Rocky Mountain juniper Red cedar Hasse magnolia Dwarf southern magnolia Sweet bay magnolia Japanese red pine Eastern white pine Virginia pine Arborvitae Hemlock
september/october 2011
23
Good for You!
Pre-planning makes eating on the run healthier
By Kathy Dixon Let’s face it—we Americans are in a hurry. From drive-through Starbucks to instant messaging, we want everything fast. But our nutrition doesn’t have to suffer because of it. Healthy eating on the go requires pre-planning. “Thinking ahead is what it boils down to,” said registered dietitian Stephanie Diehl, who serves as the Northern District area coordinator for Virginia Cooperative Extension’s family nutrition program. “When people are in a hurry, they don’t always make appropriate choices.” And even when people are looking for fast, easy and good-tasting foods, there are smart choices everywhere. Diehl recommends thinking ahead of time about what’s available and where you might eat while you are on the move. Most fast food and sit-down restaurants post nutrition information online. “Do your research ahead of time,” she said.
Restaurant and supermarket salad bars offer an opportunity to make a healthy meal choice when you’re on the move.
24
Virginia Farm Bureau News
SaveOurFood.org
Good for You!
Checking restaurant menus and nutritional information online ahead of time can help you plan a healthier dining experience.
Once you are ordering at the drivethrough or sitting down in a restaurant, simply make healthier choices. “Most places have fruit you can get in place of fries, and they have salads too,” Diehl said. She also recommends ordering a child’s meal to save on calories, fat and sodium. “In the ‘50s, when you ordered a hamburger, fries and a drink from a fast food restaurant, it was the size of a kids’ meal today—that’s the right portion size,” Diehl said. At a restaurant, split your meal in half, and ask for a take-out box immediately. “That way you’ll only eat half, and you can save the other half for the next day’s lunch or dinner, which will save you time and calories,” Diehl said. People often think that the only option for eating quickly on the run is fast food, but she said supermarkets are great options while traveling. “I go straight to the deli section, where there are wraps, prepared salads, olive bars and fresh produce. You won’t spend any more than you would at a fast food
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
restaurant, and you’ll get more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.” For healthy eating at home, Diehl also suggests pre-planning. If you have bags of frozen veggies in the freezer, they are easy to use on days when you have limited time to cook. For a quick meal you can brown chicken tender pieces, add a bag of frozen veggies, heat a pouch of microwaveable brown rice and mix it all together. In minutes you have a meal that includes a lean protein, a whole grain and vegetables. “Meals at home don’t have to be elaborate; simple is key,” Diehl said. “You just need to have healthy foods that are readily available.” And the same is true for packed lunches. After you come home from grocery shopping, Diehl suggests washing and cutting up all the fruits and fresh vegetables. If you leave them in containers in the refrigerator, they are easy to grab on the go.
“When people are in a hurry, they don’t always make appropriate choices..” choices
september/october 2011
25
Taste of Virginia
EUROPEAN STEW WORKS WELL WITH ? VIRGINIA VEGETABLES ? Borscht comes from the Ukraine and is simply a beef stew with root vegetables. In this version, chef John Maxwell uses Virginia-grown beets and turnips, which are in season through November. “This is an extremely healthy beef stew,” Maxwell said. “To make a vegetarian version, simply increase the veggies and use vegetable stock instead of beef stock.”
Borscht INGREDIENTS
1 pound beets 2 carrots 1 turnip 1 onion, chopped 1 pound beef tips, short rib 8 cups beef stock 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon sugar salt and pepper to taste 1 bunch fresh dill 1 bunch fresh parsley 1 bunch beet greens, chopped into thick ribons 7 ounces cabbage sour cream for garnish PREPARATION
Wash and peel the beets, carrots and turnip, and cut into small pieces. Cut the beef into bite-sized pieces, and sauté until browned. Add the carrots, onion and turnips, and braise for about 10 minutes. Add the beets, beef stock, vinegar, bay leaves and sugar. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly and cover, then simmer for 45 minutes. Vitamin-rich borscht can be made with beef or vegetable stock.
Tie the dill and parsley into a bouquet. Add the herbs, beet greens and cabbage to the pot, and simmer for another 30 minutes. Remove the herbs and bay leaf, and serve with sour cream.
To find the station nearest you that airs Down Home Virginia, or to view the show online, visit VaFarmBureau.org.
26
Virginia Farm Bureau News
Chef John Maxwell appears each month on Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
SaveOurFood.org
Taste of Virginia
EGGPLANT PASTA DISH IS PACKED ? WITH NUTRIENTS ? Linguini with an eggplant and tomato sauce may not be low in fat, but it’s high in vitamins, according to chef John Maxwell. Both eggplant and tomatoes are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Eggplant contains folate, potassium, manganese and vitamins B6 and K. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, which has been found to protect against a list of different cancers. Although eggplants are available in a variety of shapes and colors, they were originally egg-shaped, which may be how they got their name, Maxwell said.
Roasted Eggplant Linguini INGREDIENTS
1 pound eggplant, whole 8 ounces linguini or other pasta 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil 8 ounces Portobello mushrooms, coarsely chopped 2 cups chopped tomatoes 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley ½ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon lemon juice salt and pepper Parmesan cheese PREPARATION
In a 400° oven, roast the eggplant until the skin is charred and the fruit is soft; about 15 minutes. Allow eggplant to cool for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the skin, chop the pulp and set aside. Cook linguini according to package instructions. Drain, and set aside. In a skillet or saucepan, sauté the garlic in oil until the garlic begins to brown. Add the mushrooms, and sauté until they are soft. Add the tomatoes and eggplant, and mix in half the parsley. Add the cream, and simmer until sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice just before serving. Toss half the sauce with the pasta. Serve additional sauce on each portion. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and remaining parsley.
Oven-roast the eggplant for about 15 minutes, then let it cool for 10 before removing the flesh for this pasta sauce.
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
september/october 2011
27
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Virginia Farm Bureau News
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By Audra Norris Fire hazards in farm buildings can be devastating to a farmer’s property—and wallet. Virginia Farm Bureau Safety Manager Jimmy Maass said the biggest farm fire hazards are electrical malfunctions and the storage of wet hay. “Often I’ll see electrical wiring that’s worn out and not up-to-date, and in that case you’re just asking for trouble,” he said. Storing wet hay in a farm building is also a major hazard that is sometimes overlooked. The hay will decompose, and the decomposition will generate heat, creating conditions for spontaneous combustion. The best way to avoid that is always to make sure hay is dry and perform multiple moisture checks before storing it. Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 9-15 this year. Maass made the following recommendations for reducing fire risks in farm buildings:
•
Make sure your electrical systems and wiring are in good condition. If you are unsure of your system, it is wise to have an electrician check it. Keep your wiring and electrical outlets clean.
•
Don’t over-use extension cords, and don’t subject them to heavy traffic. Wear and tear can cause a short, which increases the potential for a fire. Advertisement
Trusted by Farmers
•
Have a fire extinguisher at every exit in your farm buildings. Hang extinguishers on the walls rather than storing them on the ground, where they can rust and corrode.
•
Make sure your extinguisher is an ABC dry chemical model, which will put out fires from almost any source.
•
If you are storing flammable materials, keep them in a fire-resistant cabinet. Make sure the containers are in good condition, and keep them clearly labeled. “If there is a fire, and your materials aren’t labeled, firefighters won’t know how to stop it because they won’t know what caused it,” Maass said.
•
If you’re storing hay, do not keep it near electrical outlets or fixtures. Don’t store anything flammable near outlets or breakers, and keep electrical panels accessible.
•
While some farmers choose to use lightning rods, the rods can cause damage if they are not installed and maintained properly. If you do have one, always keep it in proper working order, and check its cables regularly.
Farm Bureau members have access to free safety inspections by the organization’s safety staff. “We often see that the ones who need it the most are the ones who aren’t using it,” Maass said. “It won’t cost you any money at all; you won’t be charged a fee or higher premium. It’s a free service we offer, and we’re happy to do it.”
Since 1926, Virginia Farm Bureau has been focused on the needs of farmers. We can tailor an insurance strategy to meet the needs of every producer. Ask us how Pasture, Rangeland & Forage- Rainfall Index can provide drought protection for your pasture and hayland. Contact your local Farm Bureau Agent, or call David Hunnicutt, AFIS, at 804-514-4014 or toll free 888-236-7716. The sales closing dates for the PRF and Small Grains Coverage is Sept. 30.
Get the membership advantage. FarmBureauAdvantage.com
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Performing multiple moisture checks before storing hay indoors can help reduce the risk of a fire. september/october 2011
29
MemberMarketplace
Place online Member Marketplace ads year-round! If you want to advertise your farm stand, CSA or pick-your-own operation, your farm-related services, or special events on your farm, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Member Marketplace is a good place to start. Farm Bureau expanded its online classified advertising opportunities this year to help members promote and find their farm products and events. Information on using the service to find farm-fresh foods and special events has been shared with associate members via Cultivate magazine. Members can place free classified ads at VaFarmBureau. org/Marketplace in the categories that currently appear in the magazines—crops, farm equipment, hay and straw, livestock and
2012 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members, or in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members. Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20. Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted. Use the form in your January 2012 issue of 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 2012 dues are paid. Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only:
livestock equipment—as well as in the following categories: Agritourism; Agricultural event notices; Agricultural services; Community-supported agriculture; Horses; Nursery and greenhouse; and On-farm sales. Internet-only ads will have a 45-word maximum and will expire Dec. 31. Only members with paid 2011 memberships will be able to place ads.
· · · · · · ·
· · · · ·
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 Farm Bureau News. All member numbers will be verified.
Notice of Annual Meeting Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company The annual meeting of policyholders of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Company. 2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year. 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Dated this 1st day of October, 2011. Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary
Notice of Annual Meeting Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association The annual meeting of members of the Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Association. 2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year. 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Dated this 1st day of October, 2011. Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary 30
Virginia Farm Bureau News
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County Farm Bureau Offices Accomack
757-787-4208
Frederick
540-869-8650
Northumberland-Lancaster
Albemarle
434-293-5775
Giles
540-921-1777
Nottoway
804-435-0083 434-292-4389
Alleghany
540-962-3961
Giles
540-626-3201
Orange
540-672-3447
Amelia
804-561-2169
Gloucester-Mathews
804-725-3555
Page
540-743-5082
Amherst
434-946-5336
Gloucester-Mathews
804-642-3602
Patrick
276-694-7108
Appomattox
434-352-7851
Goochland
804-556-4119
Pittsylvania
434-432-2381
Augusta
540-886-2353
Goochland
804-290-1502
Pittsylvania
434-792-7484
Augusta
540-943-9820
Grayson
276-773-3091
Powhatan
804-598-3081
Bedford
540-586-9103
Grayson
276-236-7210
Powhatan
804-897-4989
Bedford
434-385-5239
Greene
434-985-7057
Prince Edward
434-392-3050
Bland
276-688-4341
Greensville
434-634-9471
Prince George
804-541-0559
Botetourt
540-992-2062
Halifax
434-572-4529
Prince William-Fairfax
703-368-6813
Brunswick
434-848-3542
Hanover
804-798-6534
Pulaski
540-674-5119
Brunswick
434-584-0290
Hanover
804-730-8730
Rappahannock
540-987-8225
Buckingham
434-983-2583
Henrico
804-270-6400
Richmond
804-333-4410
Campbell
434-332-5411
Henrico
804-737-4999
Roanoke
540-342-2626
Caroline
804-633-9825
Henry
276-638-7760
Roanoke
540-562-3710
Carroll
276-728-4103
Highland-Bath
540-468-2605
Rockbridge
540-463-3603
Carroll
276-236-7210
Isle Of Wight
757-242-6730
Rockingham
540-434-6778
Isle Of Wight
757-365-0400
Russell
276-889-1119
Charles City-James CityNew Kent-York
804-966-2310
King George
540-775-9650
Russell
276-596-9036
CC/JC/NK/YK
757-564-3929
King and Queen
804-769-2580
Scott
276-386-7411
CC/JC/NK/YK
757-595-7143
King and Queen
804-785-9431
Shenandoah
540-459-4019
Charlotte
434-542-5822
King William
804-769-2580
Smyth
276-783-6148
Chesapeake
757-546-8000
Lee
276-346-2363
Southampton
757-653-9341
Chesterfield
804-748-5467
Loudoun
540-751-1111
Spotsylvania
540-786-7575
Chesterfield
804-639-4070
Loudoun
703-858-0545
Stafford
540-899-9454
Clarke
540-869-8650
Louisa
540-967-1370
Surry
757-294-3285
Craig
540-864-6428
Lunenburg
434-676-2451
Sussex
434-246-3531
Culpeper
540-825-0682
Madison
540-948-3311
Tazewell
276-988-6556
Cumberland
804-492-4621
Mecklenburg
434-738-6141
Virginia Beach
757-426-6115
Dinwiddie
804-469-3726
Mecklenburg
434-584-0290
Virginia Beach
757-467-0603
Essex
804-443-3733
Middlesex
804-776-6886
Warren
540-635-4074
Fauquier
540-347-3172
Montgomery
540-382-8161
Washington
276-628-7135
Floyd
540-745-2021
Montgomery
540-961-4086
Washington
276-466-3987
Fluvanna
434-842-3411
Nansemond
757-934-2321
Westmoreland
804-493-8004
Franklin
540-483-9225
Nelson
434-263-8328
Wise-Dickenson
276-328-8274
Franklin
540-721-7047
Northampton
757-678-5158
Wythe
276-228-4042
Franklin
540-483-4708
Northumberland-Lancaster
804-580-4422
Your county Farm Bureau office is your first point of contact for information on services and programs included in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Membership Advantage.
Addresses for county Farm Bureau offices, along with contact information for individual Farm Bureau insurance agents, are available online at FarmBureauAdvantage.com.
Property rights and Farm Link, coming up on Down Home Virginia
Watch this!
To view Down Home Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org
VirginiaFarmBureau.com
Virginia farmers need their land. That’s why many Farm Bureau members support a state constitutional amendment to ensure that the use of eminent domain to take land for the public good is fair. That’s the lead story in the September edition of Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly cable and satellite television show. We’ll also visit a farm family seeking to make it easier for their next generation to take over the business, and we’ll stop by Field Day of the Past in Goochland County. Plus, chef John Maxwell shares a classic borscht recipe, and horticulturist Mark Viette will show how to use plantings to screen your property. The award-winning show airs nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFDTV, as well as on 48 cable systems and three broadcast stations in Virginia. It’s also available online at VaFarmBureau.org. Check local cable listings for the show times in your area, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations. september/october 2011
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Land. The best investment on earth.
Financing for: r Building or buying a home r Farms, lots & home sites r Small or large tracts of land r Timber & recreational tracts r Hunting & fishing properties
If you are interested in owning your own land, Farm Credit can help. We have been providing financing for land and farms to people just like you for 95 years.
800-919-FARM (3276) www.farmcredit.com
The Experts in Rural Finance