Sentinels for centuries
100-year old forests receive special designation
The Voice of Virginia’s Agricultural Producers
“We walk the trails and hike in the woods.”
Volume 84, Number 1
January 2025
Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017-763) (ISSN 1525-528X) is published four times a year. January, April, September, November. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.13 (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 virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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RITA HODGES, Hemlock Haven Farm, Henry County
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
Producer members will receive their next issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News in April. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/ virginiafarmbureau
WE’RE SOCIAL!
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 assumes no liability for products or services advertised. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products.
Member: Virginia Press Association
EDITORIAL TEAM
Pam Wiley Vice President, Communications
Kathy Dixon Managing Editor
Nicole Zema Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer
Christina Amano Dolan Staff Writer/ Photographer
Kenny Kane Graphic Design Manager
Eleanor Stickley Sr. Graphic Designer
Alice Kemp Sr. Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION Officers
Scott E. Sink, President
Robert J. Mills Jr., Vice President
Board of Directors
DIRECTOR DISTRICT COUNTY
Emily F. Edmondson 1 Tazewell
Richard L. Sutherland 2 Grayson
Bruce N. Stanger 3 Montgomery
Jeannie L. Dudding 4 Craig
Russell L. Williams II 5 Rockbridge
Justin Pence 6 Shenandoah
Thomas E. Graves 7 Orange
Leigh H. Pemberton 8 Hanover
William F. Osl Jr. 9 Cumberland
A. Bruce Slagle 10 Halifax
Matt T. Fimon 11 Brunswick
J. Barry Bates 12 Essex
Gary D. Cross 13 Southampton
David L. Hickman 14 Accomack
A. Faye Hundley * Essex
Thomas N. Henley ** Goochland
*Women's Leadership Committee Chair
**Young Farmers Committee Chair
2024 Success Stories
Member Support
Agriculture, Development and Innovation
• Our grain marketing division moved over 4.8 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat in 2024, which is slightly down from 2023 due to drought and other weather conditions.
• Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability helped farmers apply for more than $18.15 million in local, state and federal funding programs.
• The foundation also helped establish the Central Virginia Poultry Cooperative and worked with growers, localities and the Tobacco Commission and governor’s office to secure over $1.8 million in grants for the endeavor.
Communications
• After working to inform members and the public in 2023 about the need for a new farm bill, communications staff were recognized in 2024 by American Farm Bureau for that collaborative effort.
• Since 2017, the Real Virginia television program has profiled agriculture in more than 75 counties.
• Each month, Farm Bureau coverage of agriculture news and issues results in about 100 articles and broadcast stories statewide.
Governmental Relations
• During this past year’s General Assembly, VFBF policy prevailed on 37 out of 42 key policy issues, including defeating legislation that would have taken away the ability of local government to make decisions regarding utility-scale solar facilities.
• Farm Bureau also created a workgroup led by the Board of Veterinary Medicine and the state veterinarian to address the large animal veterinarian shortage, and successfully advocated for the creation of the Office of Working Lands within the Department of Forestry.
• The team secured full funding for the next two years for conservation practices if farmers work through their local soil and water conservation districts, and secured increased staffing to support those efforts
Rural veterinarians are in high demand, and VFBF supported legislation to address that shortage.
Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability helped establish a co-op so Central Virginia poultry growers wouldn't lose their livelihoods
Growth & Service
• We met the membership quota for the eighth year in a row! VFBF ended the membership year with 135,369 members—565 more than in 2023—and 59 of 88 county Farm Bureaus made quota. The member retention rate was 91.95%.
• The Products Division re-launched its website and began taking online orders from individual members and other customers on Aug. 1. It also established a distribution center in Rocky Mount to make products more readily available for members in the western and southwestern parts of the state.
• Frederick County Farm Bureau received an American Farm Bureau Federation County Award of Excellence for its Farm Explorer Passport program. The program encourages county residents to obtain a “passport,” visit 10 farm markets and get the booklet stamped. Those with a completed passport can redeem it at the local visitor’s center for prizes
Top membership counties for 2024
Special Programs
Safety
• The Farm Bureau Safety Program has coordinated and funded grain bin rescue trainings in seven counties, reaching more than 150 local EMS personnel.
• The safety program raised awareness for on-farm first aid preparedness through a guest speaker at the Young Farmers Summer Expo and the Page County Farm Bureau annual meeting.
• The program launched a biweekly e-newsletter to build and foster a community focused on making farms and farmers safer. Subscribe at vafb.com/safety.
Farm products like tractor tires can now be ordered online through the Farm Bureau Products Division website at products.vafb.com.
First responders learn how to extract someone from a grain bin collapse during one of many VFB-sponsored training programs in 2024.
Agriculture Education
• Agriculture in the Classroom’s “Cultivate the 88” campaign resulted in 100% of county Farm Bureaus donating to the AITC foundation for the third year in a row. That campaign, combined with other fundraisers, helped raise a record $508,000 for AITC.
• Through AITC education efforts, 700,000 children were reached during the 2023-24 school year.
• Two Virginia educators—a Loudoun County biology teacher and a Chesterfield County 4-H agent—were recognized nationally for their outstanding efforts in agriculture literacy.
Women's Leadership
• Since 2021, the Women’s Leadership Academy has had 80 participants and expanded the program to offer two sessions – both of which were full and had a waitlist in 2024.
• The annual Women’s Leadership Conference that followed the academy had 260 participants, a record number since the pandemic.
• A statewide Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive sponsored by the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee started in June and had collected 3,067 pounds of food and $320 in cash donations as of September. The effort is ongoing
A record number of women participated in the Women's Leadership Academy in the spring.
Amy Goodyear, a biology teacher at Heritage High School in Leesburg, was named Virginia AITC's 2024 Teacher of the Year.
AITC education program coordinator Lynn Black offers agricultural hands-on lessons to students.
Young Farmers
• Our Young Farmers performed well nationally in the Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement Award competitions. Rachel and Thomas Henley of Goochland County came in third overall in the Excellence in Ag competition, and Matt Fimon of Brunswick County finished his term as chair of the AFBF Young Famers & Ranchers Committee.
• Young Famers are concentrating on increasing outreach efforts and conducted networking events across the state and even across state lines when they attended Young Farmer expos in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
• The Young Farmers Summer Expo, which was held in July in Nelson County, also was extremely well attended and provided a well-deserved spotlight on farms and agribusinesses in that community. Eighteen people competed in the Discussion Meet—one of the largest groups that has recently competed.
The Meadow Event Park
• The State Fair of Virginia had a successful year, despite a wet start and some damp days throughout its 10-day run, with over 225,000 attendees.
• It’s been 11 years since Farm Bureau became the sole owner of the fair and The Meadow Event Park. An economic impact study of The Meadow found it had an economic impact of $41.5 million and supported 288 jobs in the region.
• The fair awarded over $144,000 in youth scholarships and raised nearly $9,000 for Southwest Virginia farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. Additionally, fairgoers donated over 5,000 pounds of nonperishable food and about 3,000 school supply items, Some of that was donated to hurricane recovery efforts and some was donated locally.
Young farmers network and learn more about their industry during summer and winter expos.
The State Fair of Virginia teaches the public about agriculture and provides scholarships to youth participating in livestock shows and other events
Member Services
Thank you for your membership!
As a Farm Bureau member, you’ve put your support squarely behind your community and the farm families who produce the nation’s food and other important products. Here is the current package of member benefits and services.
Your Membership Advantage
Staff at your county Farm Bureau office are happy to provide details about any of these!
Travel Services
• Avis Car Rental Savings – up to 35% off Avis base rates
• Budget Car Rental Savings – up to 35% off Budget base rates
• Budget Truck Rental Savings – up to 20% off Budget consumer rental rates
• Biltmore Estate – up to $8 off online ticket prices
• Choice Hotel Discounts – up to 20% off the “best available rates” at more than 7,000 locations
• Dollywood & Dollywood Splash Country – Save $10 on regular or children’s tickets to world-renowned theme parks in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
• NEW! Drury Hotels – receive a 15% discount off best available rates at Dury Hotels at 150 locations in 26 states.
• Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Discounts – up to 20% off at over 8,000 participating hotels worldwide.
Home/Business/Farm
• NEW! Affinity Cellular – Exclusive benefits including a $75 airtime credit, free activation and free shipping.
• Bush Hog Products – Save up to $250 when purchasing Bush Hog products valued at $5,000 or more.
• Case IH Equipment Discounts – Save up to $500 on qualifying products from participating dealers.
• Caterpillar Machine Discounts – Save up to $2,750 on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers, and receive an additional $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with new equipment.
• Ford Truck Savings – $500 toward the purchase or lease of a new Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty®*
• Grainger Savings – Get deep discounts on equipment and supplies from Grainger, plus get free standard ground shipping on all standard Grainger products**.
• John Deere Rewards Savings – Members eligible for a rewards upgrade to Platinum 1 to save on select agriculture and turf equipment.
• NEW! KEY Apparel – Members receive a 10%-20% discount on all merchandise, plus free shipping on orders over $75.
• Member Deals Plus®*** – lets you save wherever you go, with the nation’s largest private discount network on meals, clothing, vehicle care and other goods and services, with online access and show-your-phone technology.
• Farm Bureau Products Warehouse – competitively priced auto, truck and farm tires, and farm equipment parts
• Reward Protection Service – offers a $2,500 reward for information that results in a conviction in the event of theft or vandalism on a member’s property.
• Vogue Towers – Members can get paid for leasing land to Vogue Towers for installing a wireless communication tower.
• Yamaha Vehicles – Get a $250 rebate on select Yamaha 4WD ATV and SXS vehicles, excluding youth models under 350cc.
Healthy Living
• Life Line Screenings – for four non-invasive cardiovascular screenings, plus a free osteoporosis screening
Insurance Protection
New product offerings give members more options than ever before. Fast claims service when you need it most and personal, face-to-face service.
• Auto, Home, Life – a wide array of auto, home, and life insurance products, as well as farm, business liability and personal property insurance
• Health – Staff at your county Farm Bureau office can help you review and enroll in individual, group or Medicare supplemental health insurance plans with health insurance carriers on both the public and private health insurance marketplaces.
Financial
• Farm Bureau Bank – including credit cards, deposit accounts and mortgage, vehicle, and education loans
• Estate Planning Assistance – free, no-obligation analysis to help you set financial goals
* Excludes F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty
**FREE standard shipping on all orders shipped ground transportation. Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States.
***Member Deals Plus® and Member Deals plus® are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
To access your savings, visit vafb.com, and go to the “Membership at Work” tab on the lefthand menu.
Farmers to engage and educate lawmakers during Legislative Day
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Legislative Day will be held Feb. 3
A legislative briefing with VFBF governmental relations staff will take place the evening of Feb. 2. Also planned for that evening is an orientation for first-time farmer advocates (See related article on page 13).
WHEN: Feb. 2-3
WHERE: Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad Street, Richmond, and the Virginia State Capitol
Young Farmers will meet in Franklin County
Nearly 200 young farmers will gather for the 2025 VFBF Young Farmers Winter Expo in February to celebrate “Agriculture Shines in Franklin County.” Attendees will network with peers, learn about key agricultural issues and explore area agricultural operations.
WHEN: Feb. 21-23
REGISTRATION: Follow the Young Farmers Facebook page at facebook.com/vafbyoungfarmers for details, updates and registration information.
Celebrate National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week this March
National Ag Day 2025 will be celebrated on March 18 during National Ag Week, March 17-23. The annual observances are organized by the Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.
Virginia AITC will hold its annual Agriculture Literacy Week March 17-21 (See related article on page 27).
Women’s Leadership Conference to be held in Henrico
“Wearin’ Boots with Ag Roots” is the theme for the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference, which will be held April 3-6. Members of county Farm Bureau women’s committees will engage in fellowship, attend informative workshops and tour nearby agricultural operations. The conference will host keynote speaker Amberly Snyder, a champion barrel racer whose motivating life story inspired the Netflix biopic Walk. Ride. Rodeo. and led to an appearance on the Yellowstone television series
WHEN: April 3-6
WHERE: The Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump REGISTRATION: Visit bit.ly/47jaLUi for details.
Annual golf tournament benefits AITC
Sponsors and teams of four are invited to tee off in the 28th annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Charity Golf Tournament in May. The tournament will offer two shotgun starts with awards following each round of play. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
WHEN: May 5
WHERE: The Dominion Club in Glen Allen
REGISTRATION: Registration opens in February. Visit virginia. agclassroom.org/donors/events for details.
Conference on agricultural trade will be held in Richmond
The 2025 Virginia Agriculture Trade Conference is tentatively planned for April 22. Details were still being developed at press time.
Farmers seeking solutions to farming in conjunction with solar facilities, on Real Virginia
Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program:
• Find out how Farm Bureau members are exploring challenges and options for working with solar energy production.
• Learn about one of the winners of a statewide contest promoting new agribusiness ventures.
• Discover why some Virginia farmers are being encouraged to grow climate-hardy, highly nutritious fava beans.
Real Virginia airs nationwide at 5 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month in the Voices of Agriculture program on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV; and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WBRA digital channel 15.2, the WHRO World Channel, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and third Sundays of each month at 10 a.m. on WVIR Charlottesville and at 10:30 a.m. on WHSV Harrisonburg; and on the first and third Saturdays at 8 a.m. on WRLH Richmond and at 5:30 a.m. on WSLS Roanoke.
$630 million
The estimated final price tag for damage from Hurricane Helene to Virginia’s agriculture, forestry and related industries, as predicted by Virginia Cooperative Extension in November 2024. See related article on page 20.
Sink takes over the helm of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; Mills elected vice president
For the first time in 18 years, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has a new president.
On Dec. 4 at the organization’s 2024 Annual Convention in Hot Springs, over 250 voting delegates elected farmer Scott E. Sink to a two-year term as president. He succeeds Wayne F. Pryor of Goochland County, who retired after nine two-year terms.
Sink has chaired the VFBF National Affairs Committee and served on the VFBF AgPAC Board of Trustees and
the board of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability. He had served as VFBF vice president since 2012 and is a past chair of the VFBF Young Farmers Committee and a past board member of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Additionally, he is a past president of Franklin County Farm Bureau.
Delegates also elected a new vice president—Pittsylvania County tobacco, beef and poultry producer Robert J. Mills Jr.
Mills previously served on the organization’s board, representing producer members in Campbell, Halifax and Pittsylvania counties. He has chaired the VFBF Poultry Advisory Committee and been vice chair of the Flue-Cured Tobacco Advisory Committee, and served on the Livestock Advisory Committee. Additionally, he is a past president of Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau and the board of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Newly elected VFBF President Scott E. Sink, left, is congratulated by outgoing president Wayne F. Pryor. Robert J. Mills Jr. was elected vice president during the annual convention Dec. 4 in Hot Springs.
PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
Pryor predicts bright outlook for organization
In his final remarks to farmers attending the convention, Pryor told them, “We have so much to be proud of.”
Among the sources of pride are having a mutual insurance company, which allows Farm Bureau to sell insurance in other states; and an affiliation with Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., which monetarily helps support county Farm Bureaus, the state Farm Bureau and its
Young Farmers Program and Agriculture in the Classroom program.
Additionally, Pryor noted, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance claims service is “second to none.”
He also emphasized that Farm Bureau’s grassroots efforts and its members’ advocacy is “so important. Your presence is what makes legislators take notice.”
He concluded by saying that “all of the good things that have happened for the past 18 years have been because of you. I couldn’t have accomplished all of our many successes without support from our counties, our board of directors, our employees and our members.”
AFBF president emphasizes importance of farm bill
AFBF President Zippy Duvall told farmers attending the VFBF opening luncheon that “we need a modernized farm bill now!”
Despite the current leadership transition in Washington, he said, farmers can’t afford to wait for an updated farm bill. And further extensions of
current policy, he added, will have detrimental effects on farmers and ranchers, like eliminating crucial economic disaster assistance.
Duvall encouraged farmers to use their grassroots power to contact their leaders and continue pushing for immediate passage of a farm bill. He also noted that labor issues remain the industry’s No. 1 challenge.
Counties honored for excellence in programming
Six county Farm Bureaus were honored for projects conducted in their communities in 2024.
Frederick County Farm Bureau, led by President Steve Black, received a first-place VFBF County Award of Excellence for creating the Farm Explorer Passport Program
Pryors recognized with Distinguished Service Awards and Warren Beach Award
Wayne and Pattie Pryor received the VFBF Distinguished Service to Virginia Farm Bureau Award for their support of the organization. Wayne Pryor also was recognized with the Distinguished Service to Virginia Agriculture Award. Since 1966, these recognitions have celebrated exceptional achievements in advancing statewide agriculture, and the impact of Farm Bureau.
Additionally, the VFBF Young Farmers Committee honored the Pryors with the 2024 Warren Beach Award for their contributions to the Young Farmers Program. The Pryors are highly regarded for their longstanding dedication to young farmers.
The couple make their home at Pryoville Farms in Goochland County’s Hadensville community, where they raise grain and hay.
to encourage visits to 10 participating farm markets. The adult and child “passports” were available at the markets and the local visitors’ center. Participants who collected a stamp at each market could claim a commemorative prize at the visitor’s center.
More than 1,500 people participated in the program in 2024.
The County Award of Excellence second-place
Pattie and Wayne Pryor were presented with a U.S. flag from American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, who spoke during the convention's opening luncheon.
NICOLE ZEMA
FREDERICK COUNTY
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
winner was Rockingham County Farm Bureau, for its successful campaign to begin phasing out a local farm equipment and machinery tax. President Thomas Byrne led efforts by members to meet with local elected officials and explain how the tax put them at a competitive disadvantage in the region.
As the result, county supervisors agreed to begin phasing out the tax in 2025.
The third-place winner was Charles City-James City-New Kent-York County Farm Bureau; Chesterfield County Farm Bureau was awarded fourth place; and Russell County Farm Bureau and Franklin County Farm Bureau tied for fifth place.
Goochland farmer elected Young Farmers chair
Goochland County farmer Thomas N. Henley was elected to a two-year term as chair of the VFBF Young Farmers Committee. Henley farms full time at his family’s multigenerational dairy and grain operation in Goochland. He also owns a septic tank manufacturing company with his father. Henley has been actively
involved in the VFBF Young Farmers Program for many years, and serves on the Goochland County Farm Bureau board of directors.
He and his wife, Rachel, previously represented farmers in Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico and Louisa counties on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee.
Halifax, Brunswick farmers elected to VFBF board
Halifax County forester
A. Bruce Slagle was elected to represent District 10 on the VFBF board of directors. The district is made up of Campbell, Halifax and Pittsylvania county Farm Bureaus.
Slagle will complete the term of Robert J. Mills Jr., who was elected VFBF vice president.
Slagle has served on the Halifax County Farm Bureau board of directors since 2014. He also serves on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Leadership Council in Halifax County and on the local Southern States Cooperative board. He is a past recipient of the Virginia Forestry Association Logging Merit Award and the Halifax County Soil and Water Conservation District
Forestry Award.
Slagle’s family operated a logging business which he now owns and operates with his son Morgon.
Brunswick County cattle, hay and timber producer Matt T. Fimon of Warfield
was elected to a three-year term representing District 11 on the VFBF board of directors.
Fimon, who chaired the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee in 2023, succeeds J.M. “Jerry” Jenkins of Lunenburg County.
As a board member, Fimon will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Brunswick, Charlotte, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg counties.
Since 2018, he has served on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee with his wife, Lindy Tucker Fimon. He was appointed to the AFBF committee in early 2021. He also serves on the Lunenburg County Farm Bureau board of directors.
The couple runs a beef cow-calf and hay operation with Lindy’s family in Lunenburg and Brunswick counties. They also raise sheep and meat chickens and manage a cut flower operation. Off the farm, Fimon works as a human resources manager for a jeanswear retail company.
Board members reelected Women’s Leadership Committee chair: A. Faye Hundley of Essex County
District 2: Richard L. Sutherland of Grayson County
District 5: Russell L. Williams II of Rockbridge County
District 8: Leigh H. Pemberton of Hanover County
District 14: David L. Hickman of Accomack County
Augusta County cattleman wins Young Farmers Discussion Meet
Marshall Slaven took top honors in the VFBF Young Farmers Discussion Meet. The Discussion Meet simulates a county Farm Bureau meeting in which members discuss problems and develop possible solutions. Relevant topics are presented to competitors, who are judged on their discussion skills, understanding of important agricultural issues and ability to build consensus.
This year’s final-round question was “How can Farm Bureau continue to provide value and opportunity to welcome members from across the broad diversity
of modern agriculture and American farmers and ranchers?”
Slaven said Virginia Farm Bureau already partners with 4-H and FFA but should consider strengthening that relationship through on-farm training of young people interested in agriculture.
Slaven and his wife, Joy, raise 1,200 head of beef cattle. He also provides custom hay baling and wrapping services to other farmers, and transports manure on contract. In a separate business, he brokers straw to several large dairies and other cattle operations. He assists his father with the family fencing business and raising 500 brood cows.
First runner-upwas Ashley Kuhler of Shenandoah County, a first-generation farmer producing pastureraised poultry and other local products. Other finalists were Adam Davis of Halifax County and Thomas French of Shenandoah County.
equipment.
Edgewood Apiaries & Farm of Fluvanna County placed second in the Bull Pen challenge and received $5,000 for its premium, nectar-specific Virginia honey and hivebased products. The multi-generational farm also received $2,500 as a competition finalist.
Northern Neck newspaper, other news professionals recognized
Reporter Rachel Tillapaugh and meteorologist Will Stafford of Lynchburg’s WSET ABC 13.
Farm to table foods sourced locally
Southampton agricultural tech company wins entrepreneurial challenge
Southampton-based agricultural software and drone manufacturing company Agricision Inc. earned top honors in the third annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability Agricultural and Forestry Innovation Challenge.
Agricision was awarded the competition’s grand prize of $10,000 in addition to $2,500 as one of five finalists.
Founded by farmers
Ken and Diana Warren, Agricision aims to provide farmers with innovative pest and crop management solutions. The software automatically identifies pests as the ScoutX2 drone flies over a field—geotagging the pests’ location in real time and sending data directly to spraying
The Rappahannock Record, a weekly newspaper based in Kilmarnock, was recognized Dec. 3 with VFBF’s 2024 IsheeQuann Award for Media Excellence, the top honor in Farm Bureau’s annual Journalism Award program. The paper also scored an 18th consecutive win in the program’s weekly newspaper category.
Members’ Choice Award winners are:
Reporter Caroline Coleburn of Richmondbased WTVR CBS 6; and
During the Dec. 3 Farm to Table Luncheon, attendees enjoyed foods sourced from the following Virginia farms: Duchess Dairy of Wythe County; Overlook Produce Bakery & Deli of Rockingham County; Razzbourne Farms of Rockbridge County; Saunders Brothers Farm Market of
Nelson County; Seven Hills Food Co. of Lynchburg; and Tonoloway Farm of Highland County.
The farms have all benefited from assistance from the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability.
From left, VFBF President Scott E. Sink presents Agricision Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Sheri Neuhofer and Agricision engineer Richard Mansell with the top honor in the VA FAIRS Agricultural and Forestry Innovation Challenge, which VFBF senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation Tony Banks, right, has helped organize for the past three years.
NICOLE ZEMA
PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
Solar and cost-share funding are among issues farmers will discuss with legislators
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly session begins Jan. 8, and legislators will be considering bills affecting agriculture. To help educate lawmakers on the impacts that legislation will have on the commonwealth’s farmers and their communities, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is hosting its annual Legislative Day on Feb. 3. “Farm Bureau’s policy process highlights the organization’s true grassroots nature,” said Katelyn Jordan, VFBF local and state advocacy specialist. “Each fall, Farm Bureau members select pre-session issues to inform discussions between county leaders and legislators during VFBF Regional Legislative Briefing Meetings.” Member-identified critical issues determined for the 2025 Virginia General Assembly include:
• Continue full funding of the state’s cost-share program: Ensure full funding of the Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program by dedicating monies in the Water Quality Improvement Reserve Fund to the cost-share program through fiscal year 2030, and support allocating $205.8 million from the budgetary surplus to the program.
• Address the large animal veterinary shortage: Support the creation of a state loan repayment program to reimburse students specializing in food animal veterinary care when practicing a certain number of years in an identified vet shortage area. Support allocating $543,010 for the 2026 budget to increase the number of eligible seats for Virginia students at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine for the Class of 2029.
• Solar: Support legislation to incentivize the location of solar facilities on parking lots, rooftops
and brownfields, and support efforts to create a farmer-friendly definition of agrivoltaics, a method of using the same land for agriculture and solar energy production. Create incentives for smaller-scale agrivoltaic operations that enhance farming operations and help Virginia achieve its renewable energy goals. Oppose legislation that would remove local government authority on the siting of utility-scale solar facilities.
• Prevent the reinstatement of the Virginia Estate Tax: Oppose legislation that would reinstate an estate tax in Virginia.
• Maintain use of Environmental Protection Agency-approved pesticides: Oppose legislation that prohibits the proper use of EPAapproved pesticides, and educate legislators on the benefits of crop protectants.
“Legislators value when farmers come to the General Assembly and share how legislation impacts their operations,” Jordan said. “It is so important for lawmakers to hear from farmers experiencing the issue firsthand—offering genuine insights and perspectives that might otherwise be missed. We look forward to seeing our county leaders in February!"
Stay informed on important issues and updates with Action Alerts
Want to receive Farm Bureau Action Alerts directly to your phone? Text “VAFB” to 52886 or scan the QR code below to receive text message notifications when Farm Bureau sends out important legislative information. If you prefer to receive action alerts by email, contact Tenille Nuckols at tenille.nuckols@vafb.com or 804-290-1293 with your name, membership number and contact information. The more members who respond to alerts, the more effective Farm Bureau is in ensuring Virginia farmers’ voices are heard by legislators
VFBF board member J. Barry Bates and VFBF Women's Leadership chair A. Faye Hundley discuss agricultural issues with a representative during the 2024 Legislative Day.
BY ALICE KEMP
TC ENTURY FORESTS Celebrating Virginia’s forestry heritage
ucked among Virginia’s 16 million acres of forestland are rich stories of stewardship, family and dedication to the land.
Virginia’s timberlands serve critical roles in the state’s economy and ecology. And 59 of these forests stand out among the rest as designated Century Forests.
“The Virginia Century Forest Program was established in 2016 to honor individuals and families in the commonwealth whose working forests have been in the same family for 100 years or more,” explained Jennifer Leach, Virginia Department of Forestry’s working lands preservation, marketing, and communications programs coordinator.
“It’s important to recognize these
families who have made long-term commitments to enhancing the environment and protecting the quality of life for their fellow Virginians through forestry,” she added.
Henry County forest dates to nation’s independence
It’s not often you come across a family that’s been on the same land since the days of the American Revolution.
“The land grant was for two parcels— one for 535 acres and then another for 300 acres,” said Michael Hodges, who owns Hemlock Haven Farm with his brother, Jim. “They were signed in 1781 by Thomas Jefferson, who was governor then.”
Michael and his wife, Rita, live on the remaining 213 acres nestled in the
foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 100 of those acres comprising a Century Forest. The Hodges family continues to trace their roots to the land, uncovering records as far back as 1773.
“It’s been a managed farm and timber for all that time,” Michael said.
The forest’s mix of pine and hardwoods like oak, walnut and hickory have been integral to the family’s livelihood and traditions for seven generations. Its timber built the family’s first homes, barns and fences, and fueled hearths through cold winters.
Today, the Hodges family maintains a stewardship plan with their local forester to conserve and enhance the woodlands.
“We’ve fenced cattle from streams, planted riparian buffers and done wildlife snags”— areas with standing
With land grants signed by Thomas Jefferson, Hemlock Haven Farm has been in the Hodges family for nearly 250 years and is designated a Century Farm, a Bicentennial Farm and a Century Forest.
ALICE KEMP
dead trees for wildlife nesting and shelter, Michael explained.
Every 30 to 50 years, timber is sustainably harvested, sold and replanted. And though it’s part of the family business, the forest also serves as a place for family recreation and respite.
“We walk the trails and hike the woods,” Rita said. “We like to take the dogs through the woods … just to get out, see it and enjoy it.”
While the original acreage has been fragmented over time—parceled out among descendants and weathering development pressures, the Hodges are proud to continue the family’s nearly 250-year forestry heritage.
“Our kids grew up here, and it’s a responsibility to keep it in the family and keep it going,” Michael said. “My brother and I each have two kids—I like to say the 8th generation is in waiting.”
Wedding gift began a century-long legacy
Sifting through their “family bible” of records, deeds and plats, John and Patricia Haile recount the meticulously chronicled history of their family’s land in Essex County.
“It was given as a wedding present in 1844,” Patricia said. “John’s great, great grandfather was getting married and his father, Captain Robert Gaines Haile, bought the farm for him.”
That gift marked the beginning of a 180-year farming and forestry legacy at Elton Farm, a sprawling 304acre property with over 100 acres of hardwoods and pines.
“There was a sawmill on the property until 1950,” John recalled. “My father cut black walnut trees, milled them into railroad ties and sold them to the railroad.”
Though the sawmill is gone, the Hailes continue to manage the forest, working with foresters to maintain their trees through regular thinning and preventing invasive species from encroaching. The timberland serves as a sanctuary for livestock—shading them on hot days and providing shelter during calving season.
“It’s a renewable resource and does a lot for our environment,” Patricia noted.
The Haile’s Century Forest also is a testament to times of resilience.
“Fifty acres of the property had an improved stand of pines that was first planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps,” John said. “While trying to recover from the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt hired unemployed young men to do conservation work, and planting trees was one of the jobs they did.”
Century Forest Facts & Stats
• Virginia has the nation’s first Century Forest Program
• Forestland owners must have a minimum of 20 contiguous acres of managed forest.
• The state has 59 Century Forests, ranging from 100 to 286 years old.
• The forested land on Century Forests ranges from 25 acres to 2,593 acres, with an average of 237 acres.
• Learn more about the VDOF Century Forest Program at bit.ly/3UREGyO
Generation NEXT: Transitioning forestland to the next generation
• The Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension have created Generation NEXT: An outreach program to help family forestland owners make informed and intentional decisions regarding passing on their land and forests to the next generation. Learn more and find succession planning tools, resources and workshops at bit.ly/3UJZhVU
Nicknamed “Roosevelt’s Tree Army,” the New Deal-era program is credited for helping millions weather hard economic times while planting around 3 billion trees across the U.S.
“They were harvested in 1984, and then new pines were replanted,” John said. Those trees are now approaching 40 years old, and will be logged once he secures a decent sale in the fluctuating timber market.
Like the Hodges family, the Haile’s Century Forest is more than a source of income—it represents a legacy of memories and history. And as the Hailes, their children and grandchildren tend the livestock, they don’t see neighbors or a development. Instead, “the trees are the background view from every pasture,” John said.
Clockwise from left: The original plat of the Haile family land. In addition to being selectively cut for timber, the Century Forest provides shelter for the farm’s cattle. John Haile’s father, pictured in the Century Forest, operated a sawmill until the 1950s. John still finds remnants of the sawmill around the property, like old railroad ties still intact 80 years later.
ALICE KEMP
Agrivoltaics in Virginia: Promises and pitfalls
BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN & NICOLE ZEMA
When integrating renewable energy into an existing agricultural production system, its dual value can be mutually beneficial. But as an emerging industry, agrivoltaics projects present complex regulatory, environmental and societal challenges.
The hope for coexistence
Wythe County farmer Eric Crowgey was inspired by an article about grazing sheep under solar panels in the United Kingdom. His 600 head of hair sheep, 154-acre tract of sun-drenched cropland, plus proximity to electrical transmission infrastructure checked the boxes for a feasible agrivoltaic operation at Richdale Farms.
“It was a win-win,” he recalled. “I wanted to remain agricultural. And if we could get a solar lease payment and have meat production underneath the panels, what better way of meeting a clean-energy need, but also a meat need?”
He signed with a solar developer willing to integrate the array into the existing cropland, keeping the topsoil for forage production, with panels positioned high enough for grazing.
“In my humble mind, we would be the first community in Southwest Virginia powered by solar, which would provide energy for up to 4,500 homes,” Crowgey said. “Wytheville would be a clean-energy town!”
But his contract was bought out twice, with the third developer interpreting its terms differently. The topsoil was removed and buried, the land was graded, and the dream of coexistence between agriculture and renewable energy evaporated.
“Once topsoil is removed, that plan goes out the window,” said Martha Moore, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation senior vice president of governmental relations. “Prime farmland can be a blank canvas that makes it easy for utility-scale solar to ‘cannibalize’ as a candidate for easy development.”
Land availability impact
Solar lease payments and kilowattage royalties can be attractive to many farmland owners already burdened by rising input costs and labor shortages. Because of greenhouse gas regulations and increased energy demands, solar is projected to rise
from 4% of the country’s total energy production to 45% by 2050, potentially requiring nearly 10.4 million acres of land in solar production—with 90% of projected development to be from utility-scale projects in rural communities, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
New and beginning farmers motivated to produce the world’s food and fiber are competing with developers for the same land. Among them is Pittsylvania County young farmer Logan Mills, who is surrounded by the rapid rise of utility-scale solar.
“To the north, to the west, to the south, to the east—it’s all the way around us,” he said.
As of January 2021, there were 38 solar facilities generating greater than five megawatts in Virginia. These were mainly located in rural and lightly populated areas in the eastern and southern portions of the state, according to a 2021 analysis of utility-scale solar in Virginia by Aaron Berryhill, solar program manager for the Virginia Department of Energy.
Mills sees what’s occurring statewide—a dramatic market shift driven by greenhouse gas regulations
and demand from data centers that is creating an immediate demand for solar energy, with much of the development occurring on farmland and in rural communities.
Once poised to add up to 300 acres of farmland to his operation, Mills is now searching for new expansion opportunities after being outbid by a solar developer. But fierce competition for farmland leaves little on the table.
“As a young farmer, it is very discouraging,” he lamented. “We all know the size and scale of farms is going to have to keep on expanding for us to keep on making a living, but there’s not enough land for all of us.”
Societal and environmental impacts of solar arrays also raise concern.
“As society expands and there’s a greater need for electricity, there’s a need to balance the impacts of any source of energy generation,” Berryhill noted.
Any form of energy generation is resource-intensive, he added.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act, signed into law in 2020, commits Virginia to generate electricity exclusively from carbon-free sources by 2050.
“To meet clean-energy goals, Virginia may ultimately need to dedicate hundreds of thousands of acres of land to renewable energy production to meet future electricity needs from carbon-free sources,” Berryhill wrote in his 2021 analysis.
Environmental and local impact
Potential environmental and social impacts are something researchers and policymakers are racing to get ahead of.
The challenges and opportunities that utility-scale solar presents in rural communities demonstrate the outsized role that local planning will have on Virginia’s renewable energy future, Berryhill wrote.
Local authority for utility-scale solar siting has been of ongoing interest in the General Assembly. VFBF’s farm advocates were recently successful in upholding local control—delaying legislation that wouldn’t require special conditional use permits for solar development and remove local decision-making.
Berryhill said Virginia is becoming increasingly dependent on renewable energy, with demand outpacing
other states—primarily driven by a proliferation of data centers in Northern Virginia. However, a majority of development occurred in lower-income communities.
“People may consider there’s a tax revenue to the local government, but these are lower-income areas where most of their income is coming from working lands—whether it’s through forestry or agriculture,” he said.
“By changing a significant land use, there certainly could be a potential impact to the local economy, and I think some people have started to question that and what exactly it is—a net positive or a net negative?”
It comes down to individual perspective, said VFBF working lands advocate Rachel Henley.
“If your focus is climate, reducing carbon emissions and getting to clean energy, that could mean you’re going to forego preserving forest and farmland and losing the carbon sequestration and ecological benefits they provide,” she said. “If you believe we need opportunities for food production and keeping our ecosystem balanced, you might not be sure about taking forest and farmland for solar.”
A feasible balance
The definition of agrivoltaics is still evolving.
“For me, agrivoltaics means dualvalue systems that are not only synergistic, but also complementary,” said Robin White, Virginia Tech associate professor of ruminant nutrition and sustainable agriculture. “We’re still in a space we need broader agreement on what exactly that looks like in practice.
“I think of it as agriculture-first,” she continued. “Taking renewable energy and integrating it into an existing agricultural production system. Some solar industry folks actively engaging in these projects may be coming from a different lens, because their background is in utility-scale systems and they want to integrate agriculture
Wythe County farmer Eric Crowgey’s plan to work hand-in-hand with a solar developer didn’t work out. Right, Pittsylvania County farmer Logan Mills stands in front of the family’s tobacco bulk barns while discussing the area’s fierce competition for land.
into renewable energy systems.”
Legal and regulatory definitions of agrivoltaics have been proposed by various agencies, but the need for more user-centered agreement on the interpretation of definitions was identified at a recent agrivoltaics summit in Blacksburg. The event drew about 60 stakeholders—farmers, landowners, Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, contractors, utilities and solar developers—and identified a need for a state-focused network to enable discussion around agrivoltaics and to connect diverse stakeholders interested in feasibility.
“We hope that eventually a network will help build a community-inspired culture for agrivolatics in Virginia, and serve to help connect interested farmers and landowners with those developers practicing the state-of-theart best practice, and enabling that integration with agriculture,” White said. “But we’re not quite there yet.”
Bad actors
Crowgey said his grandchildren will someday be encumbered with the 30-year solar lease.
“I’m going to have an industrial wasteland, a strip mine, for my grandchildren to inherit,” he said. “It was the Eric Crowgey retirement fund, and now it’s the Eric Crowgey nightmare. Think twice before drinking the Kool-Aid!”
Unfortunately, Crowgey is likely not alone in this experience, White said.
“This is a pretty classic challenge for early adopters,” she said. “Bad actors are always present in emerging industries because we don’t have a set of best management practices or standards that we know should be included in agreements and contracts.”
When climate-minded Shenandoah County farmer Fred Garber is asked why he considered integration of 9,666 bifacial solar panels on 22 acres of sheep grazing land, he holds up a photograph of his grandchildren.
“We were concerned about what kind of world they are going to live in,” he said. Plus, the lease generates extra income and furnishes Valley residents with emission-free power through his local electric cooperative.
Eleven solar developers approached Garber with proposals, and he chose
one associated with the co-op.
County supervisors agreed to permit the agrivoltaics project, stipulating no ground disturbance should occur. Garber was pleased with that.
“I don’t want a bulldozer in here destroying my topsoil that I’ve worked for years and years to build,” he said.
However, the project superintendent insisted on bulldozing the land to prep for installation.
“I said—you can’t do that; there’s no permitting,” Garber recalled.
“But after days of contemplation, he decided that he could.”
Like Crowgey, his plan to graze sheep on the solar site dissolved.
“If you go too far without correcting situations, it’s a point of no return,” he said. “It really irks me that we don’t have sheep. But the developer … did not have experience with sheep and did not care to pursue it.”
He recommends consulting with a real estate lawyer who can read a lease before signing a solar contract.
Editor’s note: Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Department of Energy released an update to Berryhill’s 2021 analysis that was not available at press time.
Shenandoah County farmer Fred Garber’s 163-acre property includes 22.5 acres of 9,666 bifacial solar panels that follow the contours of the land, rotate throughout the day, and capture enough sunlight to furnish Shenandoah Valley residents with emission-free power.
Take time to investigate a solar proposal
Sound advice
Until recommendations are hammered out through the statefocused agrivoltaics network, White said farming communities interested in these projects are encouraged to pursue due diligence.
“Ask about previous projects,” she said. “Can you talk with farmers they worked with previously? Or can you see a completed project? It takes time to do that. But if you’re going to invest in that space and make that change, take the time to see what you’re getting into, and confirm that the contractor you’re working with can produce a result you can live with at the end of the day.”
Before signing, ask questions
• Can these contracts be bought and sold?
• How are the sites and installations maintained and managed?
• Who is responsible for maintenance and management of the sites?
• To what extent does that landowner have final say or oversight on what is done?
• Who are the primary contacts when something goes wrong?
Join the state-focused agrivoltaics network
A newly formed Virginia agrivoltaics network is a space where producers, Extension agents, landowners, solar developers and utilities can network, interact and identify where it makes sense for projects to be sited.
To join the contact list for an upcoming spring agrivoltaics network launch, email Robin White at rrwhite@vt.edu.
Shenandoah County farmer Fred Garber recommends consulting a real estate lawyer before signing a solar contract.
Above, the agricultural fencing surrounding the panels was selected to blend in with the community’s rural landscape. Bottom left, the proximity of Garber’s farm to the Shenandoah Valley substation was especially attractive to solar developers. Bottom right, the panels on Garber’s property sit flat by the early afternoon to store electricity.
Southwest Virginia farmers assess damage and assist neighbors following Hurricane Helene’s impact
BY NICOLE ZEMA
The mightiest winds and highest floodwaters can’t extinguish the spirit of the Great Southwest.
Helene roared into Florida on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane, pushing catastrophic wind and rain northward across six states, washing away homes, bridges and roads while knocking out power and cell service.
As the wind and water receded, farmers and rural residents in Southwest Virginia assessed the damage, assisted neighbors, initiated relief efforts and started a long journey of recovery.
A Nov. 11 Virginia Tech economic analysis suggested the final price tag for the damage from Hurricane Helene to Virginia’s agriculture, forestry and related industries will fall between $416 million and $630 million. The overall U.S. death toll reached 228, with two killed in Virginia.
Among Virginia localities, Grayson County suffered the most damage. Other heavily impacted counties include Bedford, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe, and multiple independent cities. More than 100 homes and businesses were destroyed.
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation state board member Emily Edmondson of Tazewell County reported farmers in her district lost livestock to drowning. Wind destroyed timber and crops. Power outages impacted well pumps and watering lines for livestock. Campers parked along the New River in Giles County were submerged. And numerous roads were wiped out or rendered impassable. Neighbors’ hay bales, plus trash and logs, were washed
into the bottomlands of Richard Sutherland’s Grayson County farm. He watched his trickling farm creek become an expansive river.
“I’ve been here all my life, 76 years, and it’s the highest I’ve ever seen the water,” said Sutherland, who also serves on the VFBF board. “Water was up to the fences and way out in the meadow. Fortunately, I did not have any cattle in the bottom, but I lost a lot of fences.”
Smyth County Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Andy Overbay said flooding wiped some areas clean of river topsoil, exposing the underlying rock.
“It’s almost like someone trucked in a quarry and dumped it along the South Fork Holston River,” he said.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited hard-hit areas like Damascus, and announced that the state’s request for an expedited Federal Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the White House. This declaration provided additional support to impacted individuals and local governments.
Almost 1,300 Helene-related claims were reported to Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Some field adjusters utilized drones to survey damage. Company leaders project these claims will likely approach $9 million.
‘Swept it away’
“As bad as it was, I haven’t lost a thing that can’t be put back,” said Smyth County farmer Justin McClellan. “We lost an alfalfa field, about 1,000 feet of fence, almost a mile of roadway and several crossings. But other folks lost a whole lot more. We got a tremendous flood, but when you look at East Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, we’re fortunate.”
McClellan’s 80-year-old father remembers destruction from the region’s historic flood in 1977.
“And this was far worse,” he said. Rain saturated the ground in the days preceding Helene. Winds knocked trees into fences, structures and roadways.
“When this deluge hit, the creeks started jumping out of their banks and running through the fields,” McClellan continued.
Several of his farm structures
Hurricane Helene destroyed farm equipment, barn roofs and more, causing up to $630 million in damages to Southwest Virginia farms.
and cattle-working facilities also flooded. A horse arena washed away.
“And I thought I was on high ground,” McClellan lamented. “Some neighbors had hay down low, and the river swept it away.”
Farmers were already short on hay supplies following months of summer drought.
In Chilhowie, hay and cattle farmers Carly and Troy Crutchfield considered moving their 220 rolls of this season’s hay supply to higher ground as they watched the Middle Fork Holston River rising at midday by their farm.
“No, the water won’t reach it,” she recalled saying. “But by 4:30 p.m., all the hay was scattered down the river and our pens were destroyed. The hard work we’ve done all summer is gone.”
Meade Tractor of Abingdon offered free clean-up assistance with a skid steer. A trailer load of hay was donated as Crutchfield inquired about buying some.
“I don’t feel right taking donations because others need it worse,” she said. “But the number of people reaching out has been amazing, and we’re thankful to the Lord for a path forward to overcome this!”
On Oct. 19, 2024, farmer Jerry Dickinson worked by the lights of his tractor to secure a load of 32 hay bales donated by Essex County farmer Jay Hundley.
“I told him if he could bale it, I would get it out there,” Dickinson said.
At daybreak, he set off on a 300mile journey toward Max Meadows.
More than 2,900 bales have been donated to help hard-hit farms in Southwest Virginia recover, in a statewide effort coordinated by Virginia Cooperative Extension and county Farm Bureaus.
‘In a pretty bad pinch’
Though Helene’s deluge forged new creek channels and widened waterways, the heavy rain revived dry pastures, extending the grazing season.
But that’s of little comfort to Tazewell County farmer Hayden Lyons, who was left with 50 acres of pumpkins. Two of this season’s 12 loads were en route to his longtime pumpkin distributor on the outskirts of Asheville when the storm hit.
“They got close,” he said. “But the road was washed away, so they turned around and came back.”
His homeless pumpkins sat on pallets or were stored in a barn. Without a last-minute retail market, others went unharvested.
“The least we can do is use them for pig feed,” he said.
Grocery chains had already secured inventories of pumpkins ahead of Halloween.
“It has me in a pretty bad pinch,” he said. “That’s my cash crop for the year and a huge chunk of my income. My distributor is so loyal, I had no reason to find another market because they took everything we grow. I had all my eggs in that basket. But hopefully cattle will carry me through this year.”
‘Recovery
will be a marathon’
Wilmer Stoneman, vice president of agriculture, development and innovation for VFBF, said it will take months, if not years, to completely recover from this disaster. The Virginia Farm Relief Fund was created through VFBF’s Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation & Rural Sustainability, raising $165,000.
“We needed everyone’s help to make this happen,” he said. “Even small donations helped us move
Flooding from Hurricane Helene in Tazewell County cut a swath straight through farmland in Burkes Garden.
the ball forward and help those farmers who experienced record damage recover from this disaster.”
The State Fair of Virginia partnered with VA FAIRS in providing Hurricane Helene relief with its State Fair Cares drive. Fairgoers donated 500 pounds of canned goods, 2,000 school supply items, new pairs of gloves, and $8,643 in hurricane relief funds.
Agriculture Recovery Resource Days also were organized to help farmers and agribusinesses impacted by the storm. VFB joined over 15 local, state and federal agencies to provide information about programs and resources that can support farmers’ recovery efforts.
“Recovery will be a marathon,” Overbay noted.
Fortunately, the mutual support demonstrated in crisis is what makes rural America special, McClellan added.
“Communities come together,” he said. “Sour grapes were thrown aside, and we acted as one. And someday we will tell our grandkids about this storm!”
Needs are ongoing
Virginia Cooperative Extension launched an online collection of resources for producers in Southwest Virginia affected by Hurricane Helene and subsequent flooding: ext.vt.edu/hurricane-relief Farmers also may submit requests for assistance at tinyurl.com/ SWVaAgNeeds. Or contact your local Extension office.
$159.3M Total cost of losses
livestock, agriculture and apiary
facilities, land and infrastructure
3,672 Total number of farms impacted
Roof collapses were caused by the storm’s damaging winds. Hayden Lyons’ Tazewell County pumpkins were left to rot in the fields because truckloads were headed to Asheville, which was unreachable due to Hurricane Helene.
Take CARE
‘Processing a loss they never thought would happen’
Hurricane
Helene victims face indirect impacts
BY NICOLE ZEMA
The direct impact of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic flooding in late September was immediate, but the indirect effects of such disasters take longer to manifest.
Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Amy Byington in Lee County helped coordinate a statewide relief response for farmers. The storm’s immediate impacts throughout Southwest Virginia included miles of downed fencing, damaged crops, rotting hay, lost livestock, washed-out bridges and silt-covered bottomland fields.
“And then the substantial amounts of timber we lost,” she said. “That was an investment in the future. Gone.”
That kind of recovery is not resolved quickly.
“It’s going to take many of these farmers years to recover, if they ever do,” Byington continued. “Emotions are still high, and the stress is starting to take a toll on many.”
With compounding losses associated with natural disasters, ongoing stress and depression can erode mental wellbeing over time. As neighbors in flood- and wind-ravaged localities look after each other, Virginia’s agriculture community and rural health leaders are reminding those affected to also check in with themselves.
Following a natural disaster like
flooding, its mental health impacts might be revealed weeks, months or even years later, said Dr. Jesse E. Bell, professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Those impacts can manifest in conditions including stress, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts.
“In rural farming communities, you may have a stoic farmer who feels like they can take this on themselves, so they don’t necessarily seek help, because of potentially associated stigmas or lack of access to care,” Bell said in a September AgriSafe webinar about farmer mental health.
Agrisafe is an organization that works to improve the health and safety of farmers and ranchers.
That disposition is typical in the agricultural community, Byington said. Impacted farmers have told her, “I hate to complain,” or “I’m not in as bad shape as my neighbor or others affected by this storm.
“Some do have light damages, but many have more damages than they have ever seen in their life,” she continued. “I can tell many are frustrated and struggling. They are also processing a loss they never thought would happen. And many are sending resources to help other farmers, when they are in need of a lot of things themselves!”
After the storm: It’s OK to not be OK
Resources are available for farmers and rural residents grappling with stress and mental health struggles related to Hurricane Helene or other natural disasters.
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Hurricane Helene Resource Page VCE has developed a list of regional resources to help families and communities prepare for, respond to, and cope with the aftermath of flooding and other disasters. Visit bit.ly/stormresource to access the list, or call your county Extension office.
AgriStress Helpline®
The AgriStress Helpline® is a free and confidential crisis and support line available 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 833897-2474. The helpline is facilitated through the AgriSafe Network.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Distress Line at 800-985-5990 for immediate, 24/7 emotional support. SAMHSA is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Amy Byington, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Lee County, assesses damage from Hurricane Helene.
Virginia Farm Bureau ranked No. 1 on Forbes list of best U.S. companies for homeowners insurance
RICHMOND—Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. recently was named at the top of a prestigious list, ranked the No. 1 homeowners insurance company in the country.
Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to rank America’s Best Insurance Companies for 2025. VFBMIC is one of 97 U.S. companies with high marks in at least one of five insurance categories evaluated: homeowners, renters, auto, permanent life or term life.
The rankings were derived by surveying more than 18,000 people across the country who reported having an insurance policy in at least one of the five categories. Companies with the highest scores made the Forbes ranking.
Survey respondents were asked whether they were satisfied with their insurance company and if they would recommend it to others. They also rated their insurance providers; the guidance
Select warehouse products discounted 10% for members
Virginia Farm Bureau members can enjoy 10% off most inventory in stock at the Products Division’s Spring Open House, Feb. 24-28.
Crop packaging for silage, net wrap or baler twine are not included in the spring discount. Those items are already discounted for members participating in early booking for the 2025 Crop Packaging Program.
Visit products.vafb.com to view an array of other discounted items, including tires, batteries, oil, tillage components, apparel, hardware and more.
To place an order, call 800-476-8473. Discounted products are available only through pickup at the warehouse, located at 1541 Mary Street in Henrico County.
that agents offered; and their customer service, cost, company transparency, digital services and claims service.
Recent years have been tough for insurance companies as carriers faced big obstacles—increased claims, higher vehicle repair and replacement costs, higher property material and labor costs, increased weather-related damages, rising reinsurance rates and pressure to keep up with technological advances.
“This recognition by Forbes is a testament to all of our employees who support our products and services,” said Bob Brown, executive vice president of VFBMIC and CEO of its subsidiary Countryway Insurance Co. “I personally feel a sense of pride in our agents, member service specialists, claims staff, policy services and underwriting teams, and our entire organization in what they do for our members. It is this high level of personal attention and superior service that sets us apart from our competition.”
Visit forbes.com/lists/best-insurance-companies for the full list of America’s Best Insurance Companies for 2025.
For quotes and information about Virginia Farm Bureau’s insurance products, visit vafb.com.
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom awards $33,000 in grants
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom has awarded 68 grants in 44 Virginia localities for the 2024-25 school year. The grants will help provide 25,000 youth in urban and rural areas with unique agricultural experiences related to gardening, animal agriculture, nutrition, STEM integrations and leadership development. These grants and the projects they support also help youth gain a better understanding of food production and agriculture-related career opportunities.
“Middle and high school programs make up half of the grant projects, providing students with experiences that promote career awareness and hone job and leadership skills,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC executive director. “Youth from preschool through high school in public and private educational settings will have an opportunity to learn about a variety of agricultural concepts, with urban gardens, hydroponics and embryology among the most popular project topics this year.
Congratulations to the schools, centers and 4-H chapters across Virginia that have been selected.”
Grants were received by:
Amelia County: Amelia Academy
Arlington County: Escuela Key and Innovation elementary schools
Augusta County: Stuarts Draft Elementary School
Bath County: Bath County High School
Bedford County: Forest Middle School, and Goodview and Thomas Jefferson elementary schools
Bland County: Bland County Elementary School
Caroline County: Founders Keepers Cooperative
Chesapeake: Great Bridge High School
Chesterfield County: Cloverhill Christian Academy and Salem Church Elementary School
Culpeper County: Eastern View High School
Fairfax County: Island Creek Elementary School
Fauquier County: Piedmont Child Care Center
Franklin County: Snow Creek Elementary School
Frederick County: Eukarya Homeschool Academy and Greenwood Mill Elementary School
Fredericksburg: Fredericksburg Academy
Greensville County: Greensville Elementary School
Halifax County: Halifax County Comets FCCLA
Hanover County: Mechanicsville Elementary School
Henrico County: Henrico Cooperative Extension 4-H, Jackson Davie and R.C. Longan elementary schools
Isle of Wight County: Hardy Elementary School, Isle of Wight Academy, Smithfield Middle School
Lancaster County: Chesapeake Academy
Leesburg County: Belmont Ridge Middle School
Loudoun County: Heritage and Loudoun Valley high schools
Louisa County: Louisa County High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Nelson County: Nelson County High School
Newport News: Mary Passage Middle School
Nottoway County: Kenston Forest School
Page County: Shenandoah Elementary School
Petersburg: Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology and Cool Spring Elementary School
Powhatan County: Pocahontas Elementary School and Powhatan County Public Schools
Prince William County: Leesylvania Elementary School
Pulaski County: Pulaski Cooperative Extension 4-H
Richmond: Franklin Military Academy, Huguenot High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Maymont Preschool, Thomas H. Henderson Middle School
Rockingham County: Lacey Spring and Linville-Edom elementary schools, Rockingham Cooperative Extension 4-H and Spotswood High School
Russell County: Honaker Elementary School
Shenandoah County: Signal Knob Middle School and The Growing Tree School
Southampton County: Southampton Academy and Southampton Middle School
Spotsylvania County: Lee Hill Elementary School
Stafford County: Stafford Cooperative Extension 4-H
Suffolk: Elephant’s Fork Elementary School
Tazewell County: Tazewell Cooperative Extension 4-H
Virginia Beach: Salem Elementary School and St. John the Apostle Catholic School
Williamsburg: Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Wythe County: Max Meadows and Sheffey elementary schools
The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture through education and outreach activities. To learn more and support, visit virginia.agclassroom.org
AITC grants fund experiential learning like growing gardens, taking care of livestock and learning how crops are grown.
Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm named AITC Book of the Year
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom has selected Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm by Lindsay H. Metcalf as its 2025 Book of the Year.
The book will be read by volunteers to children during Virginia AITC’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week, March 17-21.
With bright illustrations by Xin Li, Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm explores how produce is grown both inside and outside on farms. Readers join best friends Emma and Efrem as they learn about their family’s farms and the various farming equipment, innovations and techniques involved in growing our food.
“This year’s selection spotlights the diversity of agriculture and technology used to produce food for our communities and worldwide,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC’s executive director. “Agriculture Literacy Week is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to share stories of farming with children across the commonwealth. Over 70,000 youth participate in this event annually, spurring their interest in agriculture and growing food and fiber.”
Now in its 15th year, Agriculture Literacy Week is AITC’s largest educational event of the year, with thousands of volunteers reading to children across the commonwealth. The program helps teach youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of their food.
Copies of Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm are available for purchase at $14 each from Virginia AITC. A book order form is located on the Virginia AITC website, virginia.agclassroom.org
In addition to the book, orders will include free supplementary resources to expand learning at school and at home. Books will be accompanied by a volunteer guide, as well as other teaching resources to be presented to the classroom educator.
Volunteers are encouraged to read Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm to children in pre-K through third grade. Virginia AITC will share highlights on its social media platforms during the week.
Agriculture Literacy Week participants include county Farm Bureau volunteers; Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees; FFA and 4-H members; partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies; and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit and Farm Credit of the Virginias have been supporters as well.
For details or to order books, visit virginia.agclassroom.org
Delve into a Virginia-grown
EPIZZA NIGHT
QR code or visit bit.ly/4fpbkQZ to watch
njoying a slice of pizza is a national pastime. Researchers have found Americans devour an estimated 3 billion pizzas annually—with 350 slices of pizza eaten every second in the U.S.! And as Americans collectively spend about $38 billion on pizza each year, it’s clear the cheesy favorite holds a special place in our hearts—and in our stomachs.
Hosting a pizza night at home can be more than just dinner, it can be a fun event bringing everyone together for the joy of creating personalized pies. Many ingredients that make pizza the delicious dish it is are grown in Virginia. From a zesty tomato base and creamy cheese to savory veggies and Virginia-made sausage, local farmers are dishing up the perfect pizza toppings.
So whether you prefer a classic margherita or a fully-loaded supreme, add a little Virginia-grown goodness to your special pie. No matter how you slice it, there’s something for everyone.
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 450°.
On a baking sheet or pizza pan, spread the pizza crust evenly with sauce, one cup cheese, sausage, mushrooms and then the remaining cup of cheese. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and cheese is melted.
Cheesy Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces bulk Italian sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained
10-ounce pizza crust, about 12”, thin
½ cup pizza sauce
2 cups provolone cheese, shredded
4-ounce can of mushroom pieces, drained
—Recipe adapted from the Pork Checkoff
Vegetable Pizza
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ ounces quick-rise yeast
⅔ cup hot water
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon olive oil cooking spray
Scan the
Real Virginia’s Heart of the Home host and chef, Tammy Brawley, make a grilled white pizza!
Cheesy Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
8 ounces canned, tomato sauce
¼ teaspoon ground basil
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ head broccoli, chopped
1½ carrots, shredded
½ bell pepper, chopped
½ onion, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, sugar and salt. Blend the yeast with the flour mixture. Add hot water. and stir to form the dough, then add the whole-wheat flour to create a sticky ball of dough.
On a floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover the ball of dough in oil. Place the dough in a bowl and cover, allowing it to double in size, about 10-15 minutes.
Heat oven to 400°. Spray a pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray.
While the dough is rising, combine the tomato sauce, basil, pepper, oregano and garlic powder to make the sauce.
Roll the dough out, and place it on the pizza pan. Spread the pizza sauce onto the dough, and top with chopped vegetables. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
—Recipe adapted from Virginia Cooperative Extension
Apple Pizza with Maple, Bacon and Blue Cheese
INGREDIENTS
2 apples, sliced thin
⅓ cup maple syrup
1 pound pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
12 ounces shredded Italian blend cheese
4 slices cooked bacon, cut into thick pieces
½ cup roasted garlic cloves
3 ounces crumbled blue cheese
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 475°.
Place sliced apples in a small bowl, and add maple syrup. Set aside.
Divide the pizza dough ball into four sections. Working with one dough ball at a time, stretch the dough and place on a small baking sheet, working into a rectangle. If the dough springs back, let it rest for a few minutes, then continue to spread to the corners of the baking sheet.
Layer each pizza with shredded Italian cheese, then top with apple slices, bacon, garlic cloves and chunks of blue cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden.
Drizzle with additional maple syrup. Cut, and serve immediately.
—Recipe adapted from New York Apple Association, FoodieCrush
Rosemary Chicken, Potato and Caramelized Onion Grilled Pizza
INGREDIENTS
8-12 chicken tenders, about 1 pound
½ teaspoon salt, divided
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
¼ cup plus 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 clove garlic, minced
2 medium sweet onions, sliced thin
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 baby new potatoes, sliced thin
1 pound prepared uncooked pizza dough
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup grated fresh mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
Slice the chicken diagonally into ¼” pieces. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken, and sauté 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Add the rosemary, and stir to combine. Add the garlic, and stir until fragrant. Remove the chicken to a plate and reserve.
In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 10-15 minutes until they are a deep golden brown. Add the balsamic vinegar, stir, and remove from the heat.
In a nonstick sauté pan placed over medium-low, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the potatoes and remaining salt and pepper. Sauté about 6-8 minutes, tossing occasionally. Cook until potatoes are softened and lightly browned.
Heat the grill on medium. Divide the dough into four pieces and roll out so each is about 8-9” in diameter.
Before placing on the grill, brush one side of each pizza with olive oil. Place the dough on the grill grates, oil side down. Grill for 3-4 minutes and then turn. Top each pizza with onions, potatoes and chicken. Add the mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan. Close the grill, and cook another 4-5 minutes or until the toppings are heated through and cheese is melted. Serve immediately, cutting each pizza into quarters.
—Recipe adapted from Chicken Roost
Rosemary Chicken, Potato and Caramelized Onion Grilled Pizza
Missed open enrollment? There’s still time to obtain health coverage
BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN
If you want to obtain health insurance for the upcoming year, open enrollment periods typically are the only time to sign up for coverage.
The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance for 2025 runs through Jan. 15.
But those who missed the deadline still have opportunities to secure some form of health coverage.
Special enrollment periods
If you’ve experienced certain life events, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. These typically 60-day periods allow individuals to sign up for health insurance outside of conventional open enrollment periods.
Examples of qualifying events include getting married or divorced; the birth or adoption of a child; certain changes
in residences; losing employer group coverage; or losing Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid coverage.
Many businesses have open enrollment periods as well, and employers who offer insurance to their employees are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days.
Short-term health insurance
Individuals who don’t qualify for a special enrollment period may purchase short-term health insurance plans to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage and require that your health qualify, they offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.
Short-term plans have limited duration periods, and the sale of short-term plans during the ACA open enrollment
period is prohibited in Virginia.
Other year-round options
There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid or CHIP, and individuals who qualify for coverage may enroll anytime. CHIP offers lowcost health and dental coverage to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid.
Whether self-employed or a business owner seeking coverage for employees, group health insurance may be an option. Qualifying businesses can start a group health plan anytime during the year.
Farm Bureau works with many health insurance carriers, including Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Sentara and UnitedHealthcare.
To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779.
Protect your farm workers and business from devastating injuries
BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN
When it comes to running a business in one of the most dangerous industries, preparation can save a life.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries are still the most dangerous in America. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injury reports 23.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers in 2022, with a majority due to incidents with transportation or equipment.
“When you’ve got a lot that you’re trying to accomplish in a short amount of time, accidents happen,” noted Kim Price, farm and field underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.
For example, refastening power take-off shields on equipment can be easily overlooked when in a hurry. But devastating consequences can happen in the blink of an eye, warned Lisa Whitus, VFBMIC commercial lines underwriting manager.
“Just take a minute, put it back on, and then move on with what you’re doing—it could save your arm or life,” she advised.
PTO shields, rollover protection systems and required slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment are just a few life-saving items that Farm Bureau field underwriters look for when making farm safety visits to VFBMIC policyholders with farm
workers’ compensation coverage.
“The first line of safety is the farmer,” Price explained. “Additionally, our field underwriting staff assist in the identification of farm safety hazards in their inspections.”
Hoping to identify preventable accidents before they occur, underwriters look at farm barns; equipment and machinery; chemical storage buildings; workshops; grain bins; silos; animal handling facilities; and dairy, winery, brewery, orchard and agritourism operations. They also walk around the property and look for things like rickety ladders and unfenced manure pits, and ensure required safety guidelines like “No Smoking” and “Toxic Chemical” signs are posted accordingly.
Underwriters often make suggestions on how farmers can improve safety on their farms. For example, underwriters may suggest having an emergency response plan for medical and weatherrelated incidents for workers.
Any farm safety recommendations are shared with the farmer’s insurance agents, who will follow up with them.
And when an accident occurs, VFBMIC policyholders with workers’ compensation coverage can protect their business assets while covering an injured employee’s
medical expenses and lost wages.
By law, any employer in Virginia with more than two employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, farmers with fewer than two employees also can obtain a Farm Bureau workers’ compensation policy.
“Farming is an inherently dangerous occupation, and we want to help our policyholders maintain a safe workplace and protect their operation,” Whitus added.
Those interested in obtaining Farm Bureau workers’ compensation coverage must have a supporting VFBMIC farmowners policy.
Consult with your Farm Bureau agent about coverage options.
How to report workplace injuries
It’s crucial for employers to immediately report any workplace injuries to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.
“Because an injury can go from minor to bad, bad to worse, and worse to severe in short order,” Whitus noted.
Employers must report losses directly to VWCC by completing a First Report of Injury form, which can be accessed at workcomp. virginia.gov. VWCC will send a loss notice to the workers’ compensation carrier listed on the form.
