47 minute read
Save the Date
from FBN Jan 2023
Grassroots advocacy shines during Legislative Day
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Legislative Day will be held Jan. 23 at the Omni Richmond Hotel and at the Pocahontas Building.
In addition to a legislative briefing, Farm Bureau will host a new attendee orientation on the evening of Jan. 22. This is an opportunity for first-time farmer advocates to participate in informal, roundtable discussions led by members who have previously attended Legislative Day.
Young Farmers will meet in Halifax
The 2023 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Winter Expo will take place Feb. 24-26 in Halifax County.
Hotel location and details were still being determined at press time.
Follow the Young Farmers Facebook page at facebook.com/ vafbyoungfarmers for updates and additional expo information.
Women’s Leadership Conference moved to March
The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Conference will be held March 10-12 at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center in Virginia Beach.
This year’s theme is “Growing Together from the Mountains to the Ocean.” Registration will close early February.
To register, visit the Women’s Leadership Program website at bit.ly/3HsZCnb or contact Samantha Beard at 804-290-1031 or samantha.beard@vafb.com.
National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week celebrated in March
National Ag Day 2023 will be celebrated on March 21 during National Ag Week, March 19-25.
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom will hold its annual Agriculture Literacy Week March 13-17 (See related article on Page 27).
Golf tournament will benefit AITC
The annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Charity Golf Tournament will be held May 8 at The Dominion Club in Glen Allen.
For more information, contact Angela Buchanan at angela.buchanan@vafb.com or 804-687-4463, or visit AgInTheClass.org.
4th in the Nation
VFBF ANNUAL CONVENTION
Full funding of conservation practices is historic, Farm Bureau president shares
Virginia Farm Bureau® Federation
invites you and a guest to join us on Wednesday, November 30, at The Greenbrier® in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, for the Eastern Shore Reception
5:30-6:45 p.m. in the Colonial Hall, hosted by Accomack and Northampton County Farm Bureaus and The Annual Awards Banquet
7:00 p.m. in the Colonial Hall
ADAM CULLER
President Wayne F. Pryor led voting delegates in setting next year's legislative priorities during last year’s annual convention.
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor said the General Assembly’s approval of full funding for agricultural best management practices is historic.
A total of $295 million for the July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, biennium was allocated in the state budget to help farmers implement conservation practices.
“This is an unprecedented amount of funding,” Pryor shared Nov. 30 with producers at the VFBF Annual Convention. “Virginia Farm Bureau— on behalf of our state’s farmers—has been advocating for full funding of agricultural best management practices since 2009.”
He advised the farmers in attendance that if they were considering implementing conservation practices on their farms, they should do it now.
“Farmers have always been stewards of their land, and they want to continue preserving our natural resources for the next generations, but conservation practices can be costly,” Pryor explained. “Now that this funding has been allocated, I know many of you will take advantage of this opportunity to improve the state’s farmland and help keep our waterways healthy.”
Pryor also noted that Farm Bureau helped ensure that $1.55 million was included in the state budget for retention of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and for hiring additional ones.
“Together We Grow” was the theme of the 2022 convention, which was held Nov. 28 through Dec. 1 at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Pryor told Farm Bureau’s volunteer leaders that 2022 was a successful year for the organization.
The organization met its membership goal for a sixth consecutive year and then surpassed it by nearly 900 additional members, counting 133,163 members for 2022. “This is truly remarkable, and we couldn’t have done it without all of your help,” Pryor told Farm Bureau leaders.
Another 2022 success was a record-breaking amount of donations raised for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, which provides free agriculture-themed resources to educators. A total of $430,000 in donations was raised this past year, Pryor reported.
And it was announced at the convention that a raffle for a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, sponsored by the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee, Virginia Tractor and James River Equipment, raised an additional $60,000 for AITC.
Keynote speaker Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, credited Virginia Farm Bureau leaders with helping him chart a course for supporting the industry.
Lohr shared that while serving as chair of the Rockingham County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee, he was inspired by county Farm Bureau leaders who served on both the Farm Bureau board and the county board of supervisors. “I remember thinking it was so awesome that someone could be a leader in agriculture and leader in Farm Bureau, and also be a leader in local government.” As a result, Lohr went on to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates and represent farmers in the state legislature.
He noted that 77% of the legislature
represents urban districts now. “Many (lawmakers) don’t have a strong connection to what we do every day in our agricultural lives,” which is why it’s so important for Farm Bureau members to build relationships with their legislators, he said.
Governor announces that agriculture and forestry are still Virginia’s most robust industries, despite pandemic setbacks
While Virginia’s agriculture and forestry sectors were profoundly impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Nov. 30 that both industries have recovered lost ground and forged ahead.
The governor quoted figures from a recently completed economic impact study by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. The research concluded in October 2022 and found that those industries’ contributions have grown from $91 billion in 2016 to $105 billion. Jobs increased too, with 12,000 people entering the ag and forestry workforces since then, creating a total of 490,000 jobs.
“Everyone in this room plays a vital role in ensuring that our agriculture and forestry industries remain strong and deliver the economic growth and development we depend upon that is arguably at the core of Virginia’s history,” Youngkin said.
Pryor, Sink, Hundley re-elected
County Farm Bureau delegates elected Pryor, who farms in Goochland County, to a ninth term as VFBF President. Scott E. Sink of Franklin County was re-elected to a sixth term as vice president. A. Faye Hundley of Essex County was re-elected to a third term as state Women’s Leadership Committee chair.
Tazewell farmer will represent Young Farmers
Michelle Fox of Tazewell County was elected Nov. 30 to a twoyear term as chairman of the VFBF Young Farmers Committee.
The Young Farmers Committee chairman also serves on the VFBF board of directors.
Fox, a Tazewell native, was involved in FFA as a youth and now teaches math at Tazewell Middle School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bluefield University and an associate’s degree in education from Southwest Virginia Community College, and has earned licenses in elementary education and middle school math.
She has been actively involved in the VFBF Young Farmers Program for many years and serves on the Tazewell County Farm Bureau board of directors and Women’s Committee. She and her husband, Nathan, have represented District 1 on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee since 2019.
Shenandoah farmer elected to Farm Bureau board
Justin Pence of Woodstock was elected Nov. 30 to a threeyear term representing District 6 on the VFBF board of directors.
As a board member, Pence will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren counties.
He has served on the Shenandoah County Farm Bureau board for the past 16 years, half of those as the organization’s president. He is a member of the VFBF Member Services Advisory Committee and the Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Fundraising Committee.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Virginia Tech and currently serves as chief operating officer of BluePoint ATM Solutions. He also runs a beef cattle and hay operation in Edinburg.
Pence succeeds board member Peter Truban, who did not seek re-election.
Re-elected directors
• District 3: Bruce N.
Stanger of Montgomery
County • District 9: William F.
“Bill” Osl of Cumberland
County • District 12: J. Barry Bates of Essex County
County Farm Bureaus win Awards of Excellence
Southampton County Farm Bureau, led by President Gary Cross, received a first place VFBF County Award of Excellence for a countywide effort to expand the Enhanced 911 emergency system database to include farms and their barns and fields, as well as other rural locations. The Southampton Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee spearheaded the effort to work with the Southampton County Fire and Rescue Association to develop an online GPS database of farm locations.
The second-place winner was Wythe County Farm Bureau, led by Jonathan Grimes. The organization’s Women’s Committee developed a hands-on education and demonstration program for 18 urban middle school students with no knowledge of agriculture. The program’s goal was to introduce students to the importance of
agriculture and show them the wide range of careers in agriculture and agribusiness.
Buckingham farmer wins Farm Bureau Achievement Award
Sarah Large of Buckingham County was named winner of the 2022 VFBF Young Farmers Achievement Award on Nov. 30.
The Young Farmers Achievement Award honors individuals who are successful in production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm.
Large’s Cherry Hill Farm is where she and her husband, Frankie, operate a 300-head cow-calf operation and finish 16,000 gilts annually for Smithfield Foods.
Large is a Buckingham County Farm Bureau board member and a district leader for the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee. She also is chair of the of VFBF Young Farmers Legislative Advisory Committee and serves on the VFBF Legislative Committee and the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom board of directors.
Large will receive a travel package to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Puerto Rico, where she will compete for the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award.
Rachel Henley of Goochland County took top honors Nov. 30 in the VFBF Young Farmers Discussion Meet.
The Discussion Meet is designed to simulate a committee meeting in which discussion and active participation are expected from each contestant. Relevant topics are presented to competitors, who are judged on their discussion skills, understanding of important agricultural issues and ability to build consensus.
Henley grew up riding horses in Hanover County, where she participated in 4-H. Her husband, Thomas, is a fourth-generation farmer on their dairy and grain farm. Henley is involved in the farm’s agritourism component, including sunflower festivals and educational programming for students and other community members.
She is a full-time Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Powhatan County.
Henley will receive a travel package to the 2023 AFBF Annual Convention in Puerto Rico, where she will compete in the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet. Wise farmer receives Distinguished Service Award
Gwen Fleming of Pound, who serves as president of WiseDickenson County Farm Bureau, was honored Nov. 30 with a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award.
Fleming was recognized by VFBF leaders for her efforts to support disaster relief last summer, after devastating flash flooding in Buchanan County displaced families, swept houses off their foundations, caused mudslides and blocked and damaged roads.
After an initial fundraising effort among three county Farm Bureaus in the immediate area, Fleming contacted presidents of county Farm Bureaus statewide to ask for help. Checks began to trickle in, then swelled to a wave of support that by late October totaled more than $15,000. The overall Farm Bureau contribution to the effort topped $20,000, from 37 county Farm Bureaus.
Lynchburg meat processing facility wins inaugural ‘Bull Pen’ challenge
Virginia Farm Bureau® Federation
invites you and a guest
Lynchburg-based beef to join us on Wednesday, November 30, retailer and processing at The Greenbrier® in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, for the facility Seven Hills Food Eastern Shore Reception 5:30-6:45 p.m. in the Colonial Hall, Co. earned top honors hosted by Accomack and Northampton County Farm Bureaus and in the first Virginia The Annual Awards Banquet 7:00 p.m. in the Colonial Hall Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability Agricultural and Forestry Innovation Challenge.
The competition, nicknamed the “Bull Pen,” was held during the convention, and winners were announced Nov. 29. Seven Hills Food Co. was awarded the competition’s grand prize of $10,000 in addition to $2,500 for placing among the five finalists.
Wilmer Stoneman, VFBF vice president of agriculture, development and innovation, described the Bull Pen as an entrepreneurial competition that facilitates innovation and promotes and supports Virginia agriculture and forestry.
Dalton Mosser, vice president of Seven Hills Food Co., said the company’s entry centered on reducing waste from meat processing and finding value-added markets for cowhides.
Mosser noted that with the prize money from the competition, Seven Hills anticipates infrastructural improvements will help the facility keep more than 2 million pounds of waste out of Virginia landfills annually.
Instead, hides are being used to create premium leather products, marketed in partnership with Bedford County-based leather retailer Moore & Giles.
Virginia Farm Bureau® Federation
invites you and a guest
Agricision Inc. of to join us on Wednesday, November 30, at Southampton County, The Greenbrier® in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, for the an agricultural analytics Eastern Shore Reception 5:30-6:45 p.m. in the Colonial Hall, hosted by company, finished second Accomack and Northampton County Farm Bureaus and and received $5,000 as well The Annual Awards Banquet 7:00 p.m. in the Colonial Hall as $2,500 as a finalist.
Craig County-based rainbow trout operation
Smoke In Chimneys received $2,500 for the
Bull Pen’s People’s Choice
Award, as well as $2,500 as a finalist.
Falls Church-based innovators Ellipticraft and
Newport News-based crop scouting service Pixelar also earned $2,500 as finalists.
Roanoke TV anchor, other news professionals recognized
Neesey Payne, an anchor for television station WDBJ7 in Roanoke, captured Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2022 Ishee-Quann Award for Media Excellence, the top honor in Farm Bureau’s annual Journalism Awards program, for the second consecutive year. Payne also won in the award program’s television category for a fourth consecutive year.
Other 2022 VFBF Journalism Award winners are:
Weekly and semi-weekly newspapers: Kilmarnockbased Rappahannock Record and Rappahannock News, located in Rappahannock County.
Members’ Choice Award: The Princess Anne Independent News in Virginia Beach, nominated by Virginia Beach Farm Bureau President Bobby Vaughan. Hay bale creations recognized
The 8th annual Women’s Leadership Program Hay Bale Decorating Contest drew 46 entries.
The convention favorite— as voted on by attendees— was “Big Bear Hug” by Kayla Collins from Patrick County. For her win, Collins received a trophy.
The following winners received a trophy and $100.
Best Agribusiness or Commodity Display: Page County Farm Bureau— “Dancing with You Through the Seasons of Life”
Best Community Spirit Display: Page County High School—“Page County is Fueled by Farming!”
Best Agricultural Themed Display: North Fork Middle School—“Rootin’ for Agriculture”
Best Agribusiness, FFA, 4-H or School Display: Orange FFA—John Deere Combine
Most Creative Display: Wythe County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees—“Hay, you can COUNT on Farmers.”
Luncheon food sourced from Va. farms
During the Nov. 29 Farm to Table Luncheon, attendees enjoyed foods sourced from the following Virginia farms: KellyBronze of Albemarle County; Overlook Farms and Produce of Rockingham County; Goldman Farm through Southside Virginia Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association in Charlotte County; Sweethaven Lavender of James City County; and Richlands Creamery of Dinwiddie County.
Farm Bureau membership cards are now paperless
Virginia Farm Bureau members will no longer be mailed printed membership cards.
The cards are available online at vafb.com. After a member logs in, on the My Account page, they need to navigate to the membership section. Once there, a link to “Membership Card” is available.
You also may request a printed copy from your county Farm Bureau office.
Outstanding Young Agriculturalist competition applications accepted through March
The application deadline for high school juniors or seniors interested in competing for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist award is March 31.
The annual award recognizes youth for outstanding academic, community and agribusiness achievements. County-level winners will be notified in early May.
Points are awarded for academics, agriculture experience, leadership, an oral presentation and recommendations.
The state winner will receive a cash scholarship of $1,500 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and the VFBF Young Farmers Committee. The runner-up receives $500, and finalists are awarded $250.
For complete rules and a registration form, visit bit.ly/3DnHclN or email kelly.roberts@vafb.com.
Tractor cab conversations
Agricultural podcasts inform and entertain farmers while they’re working or relaxing
BY NICOLE ZEMA
Don’t bother setting the table. A good podcast delivers fascinating dinner party conversations directly into the tractor cab.
With hundreds of free agricultural podcasts exploring relevant topics, farmers have an array of options to keep their minds occupied during farm tasks or relaxation time. Podcasts recorded by agriculturalists and industry experts explore issues ranging from technology and innovation to policy, agronomics and more.
American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farmside Chat podcast is hosted by AFBF President Zippy Duvall, featuring 39 conversations with the nation’s farmers, leaders and lawmakers on what it takes to grow a safe and sustainable food supply.
And one Virginia-based podcast, now streaming in its second year, is geared toward stakeholders in the state’s largest private industry.
The pilot episode of Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers’ podcast, Cultivating Conversations about Agriculture, was recorded in June 2021 by fifth-generation aquaculture, hydroponics and row crop famer Kyle Sturgis of Northampton County, and first-generation cattleman Austin McNett of Augusta County.
“I find I’m often working by myself, so to pass the time, I enjoy listening to podcasts for information, updates and entertainment,” Sturgis said. He had noticed a need for more communication across the Young Farmers network, and Farm Bureau was supportive of the podcast idea.
Members of the original Young Farmers podcast, Kyle Sturgis, right, and Austin McNett, chat with a guest during the pilot episode.
The hosts invited guests to discuss state-specific issues, including grain marketing, agricultural education, FFA, farmer resources and commodities.
According to analytics, listeners tune in from across the U.S. and Canada. A review from BeachGal2020 said, “Amazing insight on agricultural issues impacting farmers today. If anyone wants to learn more about farming or the everyday decisions farmers are confronted with, this podcast is for you.”
The podcast founders recently passed the mic to new hosts Ashley Kuhler and Morgan Slaven, Young Farmers who present their unique industry perspectives in a friendly, conversational style. Kuhler was an FFA leader in the Shenandoah Valley and is now content and community manager for Farmer Focus, a chicken company. Slaven grew up in the sixth generation on a cattle farm in Augusta County. She now owns her own farm and works full time for the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.
“Morgan brings a great perspective as a generational farmer, and I bring the contrasting perspective of someone in the agriculture community, so we can present relatable topics that foster connections with our listeners,” Kuhler said.
Their target audience includes anyone interested in rural or agricultural issues, no matter their age or background. The hosts plan to produce one or two podcasts per month.
“Whether enhancing technical skills for their business, or personal development for their quality of life, we want listeners to feel a sense of community when they tune in,” Slaven said. “Hopefully they are hearing something that validates what they are thinking or feeling, which helps motivate them to continue doing what they do for our industry every day.”
Ashley Kuhler, foreground, and co-host Morgan Slaven are pictured with Laura Siegel, AgriSafe health communications officer, and Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Jeremy Daubert on a recent episode of Cultivating Conversations about Agriculture.
The most recent podcast episode featured discussion of farm stress and mental health with experts from Virginia Cooperative Extension and AgriSafe.
“We hope our audience ends up listening to a podcast with a feeling of belonging and that they are not alone in a challenge or celebration of something they are going through,” Kuhler said. “We also hope to connect them to resources and acknowledge the issues that affect their lives.”
Tune in at your convenience
Hear VFBF Young Farmers Cultivating Conversations about Agriculture podcast on Spotify and Apple Music, or the Buzzsprout website: buzzsprout.com/1799499
Submit topic requests via email: youngfarmerspodcast@gmail.com
Stream AFBF’s Farmside Chat at: apple.co/3G2f6kn
Top-five rated agriculture podcasts ranked by traffic and following
1. The Modern Acre 2. Agriculture Technology 3. Field Work Talk 4. Idle Chatter 5. Texas Ag Today
Farm Bureau family seeks help and finds healing in season of crisis
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
“W ho are you, and what have you done with my husband?” Jane Doe suddenly didn’t recognize the man she married when an unforeseen emotional crisis blindsided their Central Virginia farm family in 2020.
Though unexpected, the turmoil was the first step in a healing journey that fostered radical honesty, revealed their strength of character and illuminated the path forward.
While this couple asked to be identified anonymously as John and Jane Doe, elements of their story may sound familiar to farmers who struggle to maintain their mental health while contending with farm stress and family crises.
It was during busy harvest season when John became increasingly agitated over a seemingly inconsequential personal matter. Negative emotions he’d buried years in the past were unknowingly triggered and came barreling back with frightening intensity.
His harsh, hurtful words rendered him a stranger to Jane after almost a decade of marriage.
“It was a slow-motion train wreck,” John recalled. “I knew my thoughts were irrational, but it didn’t matter. The train left the station, and there was no stopping it until it derailed.” An elephant on the trampoline
While dealing with farm stress was nothing new, John’s outburst followed by an inconsolable emotional state was completely out of character. Jane asked her mother to take the kids. The couple spoke more honestly than ever before.
“If we didn’t deal with it, eventually it could have broken our marriage,” Jane said. “We had no choice but to tackle it.”
Weather, equipment breakdowns and a disrupted supply chain, plus the global pandemic, were already creating pressure.
“The money has been forked out to grow that crop,” John said. “It’s capital intensive, with so much out of our control that still impacts the bottom line.”
Now imagine a trampoline stretched tight and then an elephant drops out of the sky, Jane explained.
“That’s how it was for us,” she said. “And we didn’t see it coming.” ‘I wasn’t in this alone’
John called a friend in Richmond and disclosed his struggle.
“The next day he was at my house and rode the combine with me all day,” he recalled. “It was very reassuring that I wasn’t in this alone.”
John needed to take a step back from work. Family took over farm tasks and child care.
“His dad would get in the combine, and his mom drove the grain cart,” Jane said. “They would say, ‘Go to dinner and concentrate on each other.’ We
couldn’t have done it without that support system.”
Meanwhile, Jane reached out to friends who helped John find a therapist willing to accept new patients. He began telehealth appointments.
“The therapist had a farm background as well, which made it a lot easier, because she understood what I was dealing with on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
With defined goals, new coping tools and fresh perspective, John’s mindset improved.
“Now it’s a scar instead of a wound,” he said. “I learned nothing will change until you’re honest with yourself.” Strength in vulnerability
Because there often are no signs of an impending crisis, mental health maintenance is crucial. The couple compares it to maintaining farm equipment—small fixes now will prevent major breakdowns in the future.
“The millennial generation sees therapy like going in for a physical,” Jane said. “It’s another part of your overall health.”
While farmers in multi-generational operations may have advantages like land and capital, there is more pressure to succeed, John said. One of his grandfathers died by suicide, and a great-grandfather was institutionalized after losing his farm.
“I’d like to think we’re more open and accepting to talking about this than previous generations were,” he said.
A recent American Farm Bureau Federation research poll found that farmers and rural residents are more comfortable than they used to be talking about stress and mental health challenges with others, and stigma around seeking help or treatment has decreased in rural and farm communities, though it’s still a factor.
Farming is more than what you do, Jane explained. “It’s who you are. If you primarily define yourself as a farmer, you’re more likely to internalize perceived successes and failures of the farm itself.”
Their message to the agricultural community—be vulnerable with each other.
“They’re probably fighting something themselves,” John concluded. “And it might start an important conversation.”
Recovering from a mental health crisis requires being honest with yourself, one Central Virginia farmer noted.
In crisis? Call or text 24/7
The AgriStress Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has interpretation services for 160 languages. Farmers can call or text 833-897-2474 to speak directly with a healthcare professional. Crisis specialists have access to a Virginia-specific curated database of agricultural and health resources.
Resources
VDACS establishes a new resource for Virginia farmers
Last summer, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched the AgriStress Helpline for Virginia to provide the commonwealth’s agricultural producers with mental health support.
A call or text to 833-897-2474 connects farmers with trained professionals who can offer support and help find mental health resources in a specific area of the state.
“The physical demands of farming, isolation, weather variability, fluctuating input cost and commodity prices can all impact mental health,” said Matthew Lohr, Virginia secretary of agriculture and forestry. “Stigma and privacy concerns associated with obtaining mental health services may cause some producers to refuse to seek out these very important resources.”
Visit agrisafe.org/agristresshelpline to learn more.
Pat and Robert Saunders are proud of their Saunders Brothers Farms’ greenhouses with state-of-the-art irrigation systems.
Robert Saunders wins prestigious Farmer of the Year Award
BY KATHY DIXON
Since its inception in 1990, the
Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern
Farmer of the Year Award has evolved into one of the most prestigious agricultural honors in the Southeast, and a Virginia farmer is the 2022 winner.
This is the fifth time that a Virginia farmer has captured the award, beating out nine other state winners from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Robert Saunders is a multi-generational farmer who grows field and woody ornamentals, apples, Asian pears, peaches and nectarines on Saunders Brothers Farm in Nelson County.
He grew up on a family farm as one of seven brothers. “As children, my six brothers and I composed the workforce on the farm,” Saunders recalled. “I still have my first paycheck for $13.80 from the summer of 1968 when I was 4 years old. We picked peaches, potted plants, loaded trucks, dug ditches, got up hay, fed and worked cattle, and even milked a Guernsey cow daily during elementary and middle school.”
That kind of work ethic continues today and was one of the reasons Saunders received the award at the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, in October. The accolade recognizes excellence in agricultural production and farm management, along with leadership in farm and community organizations.
“Robert and his wife, Pat, have an unbeatable positive attitude, strong work ethic and dedication to agriculture,” said Grace Monger, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Nelson County, who nominated Saunders for the award.
She added that “Robert and his family have been incredible supporters of local community activities, including our 4-H program, working hard to give agricultural opportunities to kids from all backgrounds.”
Robert, who holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Virginia Tech, serves as general manager for the farm, which produces 59 fruit varieties on 160 acres and ornamental nursery crops on 260 acre and in 400 greenhouses. Pat retired after working for Nelson County Schools as an art teacher and now provides full-time support for the farm.
The operation was started in 1915 by five brothers who raised rabbits, tobacco and apples. Robert’s dad started growing boxwoods in 1941, and two years ago the Saunders brothers launched NewGen® Boxwood, a genetic company that breeds specialty boxwoods to be disease- and pest-resistant. Robert said some people are surprised to learn that the farm’s “signature plant” is boxwoods.
Their boxwoods have become so well-known in the industry that they were selected for the White House Rose Garden restoration in 2020. Saunders Brothers was the exclusive supplier of the boxwoods in the garden.
All those plants require a lot of labor. There are currently 160 full-time employees working at the farm, including 100 H-2A workers, who are “key” to the operation, Robert said.
Since labor is the farm’s biggest expense, “we’ve worked really hard to mechanize and automate,” he explained. They bought machinery from Europe that helps prune plants faster, and the greenhouses employ a state-of-theart irrigation system that conserves water. The computer-generated evapotranspiration system decides how much water each plant needs based on its size, weather conditions like wind and humidity and other factors. And the water is automatically dispensed.
“This cut our water use in half immediately,” Robert noted.
That smart farming has carried over into succession planning for the next generation of farmers. Robert and three of his brothers, Bennett, Jim and Tom, broadened their management team and created an apprenticeship program for new employees, including their own children, who they require to apply for jobs.
Robert and Pat’s daughter, Annie Saunders Burnett, runs the Saunders Brothers Farm Market, and their son, Robert Price, is participating in the farm’s 40-week apprentice program to learn about each component of the business before choosing a slot that best suits his skills.
Damaging diseases: Emerging pathogens on crop researchers’ radar
BY ALICE KEMP
Plant diseases are producers’ nemeses. They wreak havoc on crops if not caught early, resulting in yield loss, damaged product and lost income.
From row crops to fruit and vegetables, every crop is affected by diseases. And while scientists develop disease-resistant varieties, and farmers can use fungicides and management plans, new diseases emerge or old ones become resistant to treatment.
Corn tar spot
“For the first time, we’ve identified tar spot on corn in Virginia,” said David Langston, plant pathology professor and Extension specialist of Virginia Tech’s Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Suffolk.
Corn tar spot is an invasive fungal disease that has heavily impacted corn crops in the Midwest. Identified by small, raised circular black spots on corn husks, leaves and stems, it causes leaf tissue death, stunts kernel development and causes significant yield loss.
While it was first seen in Virginia last September and hasn’t caused major problems yet, Langston and other researchers are closely monitoring the disease.
Pumpkin plectosporium blight
An emerging disease on cucurbits like squash and watermelon, plectosporium blight is becoming a persistent issue for Virginia’s pumpkin growers.
“We’ve seen it more in recent years,” said Langston, who is studying the soil-borne disease along with Steven Rideout, a fellow Virginia Tech plant pathology professor. “A lot of people don’t know what it is, or they’ve never heard of it.”
Identified by white and tan lesions on pumpkin stems and stalks, the fungus can spread quickly—stunting growth and reducing marketability.
“In some fields where it’s been severe, we’ve probably lost as much as 50% of the fruit,” Rideout explained.
Guava root-knot nematode
“We’re currently monitoring for the guava root-knot nematode, which has caused serious problems in North Carolina,” Langston said.
While not seen in Virginia yet, the nematode parasite presents a substantial threat if it migrates. One of the most damaging and aggressive nematodes, it primarily affects sweet potatoes causing root damage, early plant death and yield loss. It also could affect cotton, curcurbits, peppers, soybeans, tobacco and tomatoes, even varieties with resistance to other root-knot nematodes.
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus
While Rideout said they haven’t seen tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Virginia yet, it’s on everyone’s radar as “it definitely threatens the tomato industry” with damaged fruit and severe crop loss.
Rideout explained the seedborne disease is endemic in Mexico, and there have been some greenhouse outbreaks in Arizona and California.
“We import a lot of tomato fruit from Mexico,” he said. “We’re definitely keeping our eyes open for it here in Virginia.”
Broccoli alternaria
Because alternaria leaf spot and head rot is the most disastrous disease for broccoli on the East Coast, pathologists are focusing heavily on this fungal disease that enjoys damp weather and humidity. Langston and Rideout are part of a federal grant study to learn more about the disease and develop better controls, as some studies have shown it may be developing a resistance to certain fungicides.
“We’ve seen more problems with this disease,” Rideout said. “It causes leaf spots, but where it’s really destructive is when it gets into the crown of the plant–it’s not marketable.”
Diseased crops include broccoli and its leaves, this page. Facing page, clockwise from top left, tar spot, guava root-knot nematode, and plectosporium blight on pumpkin stems and an immature pumpkin.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH Montgomery County Pumpkin grower keeps plectosporium at bay
Dan Brann of Brann and Long Farms in Montgomery County says spending hundreds an acre on fungicide is a reasonable tradeoff to keep diseases out of his pumpkin field.
“I just added up how much we spent, and I guess we scared the plectosporium away,” he chuckled.
A high-value crop worth thousands of dollars an acre, pumpkins are favored for their aesthetics. In addition to plant death, plectosporium causes rough brown patches, making pumpkins unmarketable—something that “certainly was a big issue some years,” Brann said.
Brann has managed the disease with a broad-spectrum fungicide applied early in the growing season. He then balances it with fungicides that target other diseases like powdery mildew. He applies fungicide about every 10 days to 2 weeks.
“I’m using more fungicides to help control it, so while I’ve had some plectosporium most years, I haven’t had it as a major quality factor for the last few years because of the fungicide program.”
He also incorporates crop rotation— growing pumpkins in a field one year and wheat the next—to keep pests and pathogens from accumulating in the soil.
“Raising pumpkins on the same field every year is really asking for trouble,” he explained. “Rotation’s very, very important.”
While Brann has found a program that works for his field, Langston and Rideout said there’s still work to be done to better understand the disease and its spread, when to apply fungicides and how to identify varieties less susceptible to the disease.
Department of Labor announces final rule updating H-2A temporary agricultural program
BY NICOLE ZEMA
Virginia’s foreign labor contractors and farmer advocacy groups have mixed feelings about the U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule to amend H-2A temporary labor regulations.
The H-2A program allows employers to fill temporary labor needs by hiring foreign agricultural workers when there are not sufficient local workers who are able, willing, qualified and available, and when doing so will not adversely affect the wages of U.S. workers in similar jobs.
The new rules are intended to strengthen worker protections, modernize and simplify the application process and ease regulatory burdens on employers. The changes especially impact Virginia’s farm labor contractors filing with the H-2A program, said Cindy Webb, program manager at the Virginia Employment Commission’s Agriculture and Foreign Labor Certification.
“The Department of Labor’s modernization efforts to the application process and updating current regulations that govern the program are appreciated, and there are some positive changes to come from this final rule,” said Zach Jacobs, legislative specialist with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation governmental relations. “But there are still a few areas of concern with the final rule that continue to burden employers with strict regulations and limit opportunities.”
Executives at H-2A consultant firm másLabor in Nelson County also lauded some decisions and expressed disappointment in others.
Tom Bortnyk, másLabor senior vice president and general counsel, said they’re pleased with new regulations that don’t limit truck drivers’ geographic reach, and other decisions that mandate digital signatures, clarify safety regulations and some employment obligations, and digitize surety bonds.
He praised tweaks that modernize procedures for determining the prevailing wage.
“The final rule abolishes the very loose standards for state workforce agency-conducted prevailing wage surveys in favor of uniform standards and criteria,” Bortnyk said. “It will provide much greater transparency and reliability.”
It’s a simpler methodology, Webb added.
“It also grants explicit authority for the state to allow other state agencies like universities to conduct the wage survey and make the findings on behalf of state workforce agency,” she said.
But Farm Bureau sees the rule as problematic.
“These standards do not take into account the current economic situation facing producers coupled with affordability and predictability,” Jacobs said.
Other changes fall short, Bortnyk continued. Proposals that would allow employers to stagger start dates or eliminate certain recruitment provisions were rejected. And the final rule now abolishes the “two-contiguous states” flexibility, requiring all H-2A applications be limited to a single area of intended employment.
“This provision will increase the
transaction costs for employers currently taking advantage of this flexibility,” Bortnyk said.
The final rule explicitly states that employers who file jointly are all responsible for any potential liability. While this gives workers adequate recourse for labor violations, “this means that joint employers may be liable for back wages or civil money penalties, even if they were not directly responsible for the violation,” he continued.
Farm Bureau was supportive of a proposal to replace the “50% rule” with a 30-day rule, which was rejected. H-2A employers must provide employment to any qualified, eligible U.S. worker who applies for the job opportunity until 50% of the work contract period has elapsed.
Webb said the final rule aims to improve safety and health protections for workers housed in rental or public accommodations, and adjust the housing certification process to allow state and local authorities to conduct annual inspections.
According to Farm Bureau, housing is one of the biggest barriers to entry for employers turning to the H-2A program for their labor needs. The ruling imposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration temporary labor camp standards for all rental and public accommodations.
“This creates more burdens for farmers, as many hotel and motel locations will not meet this strict new standard,” Jacobs said.
Bortnyk agreed housing provisions may limit employers’ options and make it difficult to locate usable housing.
“The final rule does not adopt a proposal to allow worker housing approval for up to 24 months, reducing the frequency of inspections and reducing transaction costs for employers,” he said.
For more information about H-2A rules and other worker protections, contact a toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (866-487-9243).
The state’s reforestation program provides cost-share money to landowners who reforest their land with pine trees.
Reforestation program turns 50
The Virginia Department of Forestry’s Reforestation of Timberlands Program has promoted and incentivized responsible forest management practices for five decades.
BY ADAM CULLER
To Virginia farmers, sustainability is more than just a buzzword.
The commonwealth’s farmland and timberland provide farmers’ their livelihood. Landowners understand more than most that keeping their parcels in production is essential for Virginia’s economic and environmental future.
The Reforestation of Timberlands Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Forestry, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Through the help of this program, farmers and other rural landowners have been able to sustain Virginia’s forests for future generations.
The RT program was born from a survey conducted in 1966 that revealed pine was being overcut in Virginia. It was officially enacted by the Virginia General Assembly in 1970 with the objective of giving landowners incentive to plant or improve pine stands on their properties.
Five decades later, the program continues as a pine establishment initiative that provides cost-share money to private and non-industrial landowners who want to reforest their land with pine.
Its original goal—to support the sustainability of Virginia’s pine resource and to maintain it—has endured the test of time, said Dean Cumbia, VDOF director of forest resource management.
“There have been some changes and tweaks, but the purpose has been steadfast throughout the history,” he said. “I think that’s what has made it so successful.”
Funding future forests
Cumbia noted the RT program has served over 52,000 landowners and has facilitated the reforestation of more than 2 million acres of Virginia timberland since its inception.
Todd Groh, who oversees the RT program as VDOF forest resource management program manager, said that the program has historically catered to “your average landowner.”
The program is funded by the Virginia
Forest Products Tax, which is matched by Virginia’s general fund. The funds then partially reimburse reforestation expenses for site preparation, planting and release cutting, and the removal of competing hardwood trees from pine stands.
Program-funded projects are capped at 100 acres per year for a single landowner, though the average project size is 38 acres of reforestation.
To receive funding, landowners must submit a one-page application to VDOF. After the application has been accepted and an agreement outlining project requirements is signed by the landowner, VDOF foresters will help connect them with contractors to aid the project’s completion.
Once the project is completed and invoiced, as much as 75% of the total cost may be reimbursed to the landowner. Historically, the average repayment rate for RT projects is 42%.
“We want to spread the funds as far and wide as we can,” Groh added. “If a landowner is sitting on the fence thinking if they should or shouldn’t (follow through with a project), we want to give them just enough incentive to do it, but not enough to pad their pockets.”
A helping hand
The benefits of the RT program are abundant. Cumbia said reforestation not only promotes carbon sequestration, biodiversity and soil and water conservation, it also stimulates Virginia timber markets.
Miller Adams, a VDOF area forester and president of Charlotte County Farm Bureau, noted the program has increased funding in recent years. He said legislators are to thank for the support, as well as the determined lobbying efforts of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
“For us field foresters out here working with landowners, we’re seeing that there’s more demand for the program than there is funding,” Adams said. “Farm Bureau has gone to the plate on many occasions, and funding has been an issue they’ve really gotten in front of legislators with.
“Hopefully that will continue in the future.”
The three pillars of planning
Because Reforestation of Timberlands Program projects require financial investments and land-use commitments that can last decades, interested landowners should adhere to the “Learn, Plan, Act” process.
LEARN
Landowners should first identify objectives for their property, both immediate and long-term. Once those goals are identified, landowners should consult with fellow landowners, foresters and other unbiased professionals and agencies, such as VDOF or consulting foresters, to learn how to achieve them.
PLAN
After identifying their objectives, landowners then can develop a land-management plan to serve as a roadmap for the forest that will be grown on their property. Experienced VDOF foresters can help determine the best course of action for landowners to meet their goals, and can assist in evaluating their land to provide forest-management recommendations.
ACT
Landowners can begin to move forward with their projects and work toward achieving their goals.
Manage your money with help from Farm Bureau Bank
BY ADAM CULLER
For nearly a quarter century, Farm Bureau Bank has helped farmers and Farm Bureau members across the country manage their finances.
Farm Bureau members in Virginia have access to dozens of member benefits, including the opportunity to bank with Farm Bureau Bank. The institution operates with farmers’ interest in mind, offering those with an agricultural background valuable resources when it comes to wealth management.
Farm Bureau Bank also offers special pricing, promotions and perks that are exclusive to members.
The bank offers a wide variety of products ranging from personal or business banking services to loans for farming equipment.
Deposit services geared for personal accounts can help customers better track their everyday expenses and grow their savings. Deposit products include interest-bearing checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts and more.
Farm Bureau members also may finance new and used passenger vehicles, ATVs, boats, RVs and motorcycles, as well as new and used farm machinery.
Business owners can take advantage of business services that are designed to assist companies conduct business more efficiently and help improve cash flow and returns on investment. Services in this department include account management, specialized checking accounts for businesses, and access to Visa Premier Business credit cards that offer rewards.
Members also may apply for the Farm Bureau Member Rewards Mastercard, which offers triple reward points on gas, grocery and dining purchases; double reward points on select Farm Bureau member benefit partners, including Virginia Farm Bureau insurance products; and single reward points for all other purchases.1 The card also has no annual fee.2
“With everything Farm Bureau Bank offers, I think it’s safe to say this is an extremely valuable benefit to our members,” remarked Gerald Gardner, director of sales for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “They’re in tune with what our farming members need when it comes to their banking needs, which may not necessarily be the case with all banks and lending institutions.”
Gardner noted that while all of Farm Bureau Bank’s services are useful to customers, certificates of deposits—or CDs—may be of greater interest to customers amid growing interest rates and inflation.
CDs are one type of high-interest savings accounts that may be opened with deposits of $1,000 or greater. CDs often offer higher interest rates than standard savings accounts.
Certificates of deposits have term lengths, normally between three months and five years, where the initial deposit earns interest, or “matures.” CDs generally require deposits to remain untouched over the course of the term, otherwise the customer would be subject to a withdrawal fee.
However, customers may choose the term length that best meets their needs. Because of their flexibility and accessibility, CDs are considered a low-risk strategy.
“With the environment we’re in with interest rates and inflation, CDs are an excellent option for people who prefer a more conservative approach to saving and investing their money,” Gardner said. “Depending on your financial situation, a CD may be a better fit than a normal savings account or money markets, and they’re not as volatile as putting money into stock.”
To learn more about Farm Bureau Bank, visit vafb.com/
membership-at-work/membership/
benefits, and scroll to Farm Bureau Bank. Alternatively, members may visit
farmbureau.bank.
1 Purchases mean any signature or pin-based, online, contactless, phone or mail-order purchase made with the Farm Bureau Member Rewards Mastercard. Offer excludes Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, credits and returns. Points expire after four full years. Program may change or be cancelled at any time. 3X reward points on qualifying transactions, up to $1,500 quarterly. 2X points may vary by state. Visit www.farmbureau.bank/creditcards to see what double point benefits your state receives. See complete Terms and Conditions for the Farm Bureau Member Rewards Mastercard and Member Rewards Program at www.farmbureau.bank/creditcards. 2 Other fees may apply. For full Terms and Conditions, visit www.farmbureau.bank/creditcards.
Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
Protect your farm property from inflationary effects with a policy review
BY ADAM CULLER
Depending on which study you read, inflationary prices on everything from food to farming supplies may be around for the foreseeable future.
Near the end of 2022, inflation had driven up the price of diesel fuel by 43% and raised the price of some fertilizer components by as much as 28%. Additionally, lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to cause supply chain challenges for consumer products across the board, as well as labor shortages.
Scott DeNoon, senior farm product and underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., noted inflation has caused certain types of property to depreciate at lesser rates than usual. In consideration of this trend, DeNoon warned that some farmers’ policies may need attention because their coverage amounts may not be adequate moving forward.
“In most cases—based on the current economic conditions we’re experiencing —the values of property such as farming equipment, barns, sheds and dwellings have increased quite a bit,” DeNoon explained.
“The cost to repair or reconstruct dwelling and farm structures has increased due to the rising cost of building materials and labor,” he added. “Likewise, the cost to purchase or repair vehicles and farming equipment has increased because of parts shortages. That’s why it’s very important for farmowner policyholders to make sure they have the coverage they need from a value perspective.”
With so much volatility happening at once, DeNoon recommended farmers take the time to review their farmowner policies immediately.
Because some farmers have more downtime during the winter months, he also said the seasonal slowdown gives them added time to meet with their Farm Bureau agent to do a comprehensive coverage review.
“When you consider the impact of inflation, these meetings will help you make sure everything is where it needs to be from a coverage perspective,” DeNoon said. “These meetings with an agent really help customers understand where they have coverage and where they don’t. When it comes time to use that policy, you need to make sure that it’s going to provide the coverage you expect.” Keep your business moving with an added endorsement
Due to prolonged supply chain issues and increased wait times for repairs, there may be instances where farmers need to spend extra money to continue normal business operations after an insurance claim.
In these instances, policyholders can endorse their farmowner policies with a Farm Extra Expense Coverage endorsement, which provides reimbursement for those additional expenses.
The endorsement compensates farmers for covered losses to insured farm buildings and structures, equipment and other types of personal property.
“Let’s say you have a tractor or a piece of farming equipment that’s out of service due to a covered loss—it’s common these days for dealers or repair facilities to have difficulty getting the parts to fix that equipment,” DeNoon said.
“If that equipment is needed to complete a time-sensitive task such as planting or harvesting, it may be necessary to rent or borrow a piece of equipment. With the Farm Extra Expense Coverage endorsement, it would provide reimbursement for the cost of renting that equipment until the damage to your machinery can be fixed or replaced.”
To learn more about farm owner insurance products, visit vafb.com/ insurance/farm or call your local Farm Bureau agent.
I Love Strawberries selected for AITC Book of the Year
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week will take place March 13-17.
The organization has chosen I Love Strawberries, written by Shannon Anderson and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett, as its 2023 Book of the Year. The book takes readers on a journey following strawberry-loving Jolie as she grows her own fruit from seedling to table with the help of her faithful rabbit sidekick, Munchy. The colorfully illustrated and humorous book gives readers a peek into everything involved when cultivating the delicious berry. Agriculture Literacy Week is the largest educational event of the year for AITC, with thousands of volunteers reading to children across the commonwealth. Now in its 12th year, the program helps teach youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of their food.
“Volunteer agriculture advocates are excited to have an opportunity to share a book and personal examples about farm life with children from across the state. This book also highlights the importance and excitement around entrepreneurship. Creating a connection from farms to food is vital to understanding the importance of agriculture to our daily lives,” said Tammy Maxey, AITC executive director.
Copies of I Love Strawberries are available for purchase at $14 each from Virginia AITC. A book order form is located on the Virginia AITC website, AgInTheClass.org.
In addition to the book, orders will include free supplementary resources to expand learning at school and at home. These include reading tips, coloring pages and other free activities.
Volunteers are encouraged to read I Love Strawberries to children in pre-K through third grade. Virginia AITC also will share highlights on its social media platforms throughout the week.
Agriculture Literacy Week volunteers 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, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been supporters as well.
For details or to order books, visit AgInTheClass.org.
Changes to new farm bill under consideration, on Real Virginia
Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Lawmakers are considering changes to the 2023 Farm
Bill, and Farm Bureau members are weighing in. • Virginia agriculture and forestry have recovered from the pandemic, and together are still the state’s top private industries. • Sheep and maple syrup reign supreme in
Alleghany County, featured on this month’s County
Agricultural Close-up.
Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month 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, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and third weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville, WHSV Harrisonburg and WRLH Richmond.
Real farmers, sharing real stories, on real farms
REAL
VIRGINIA
A weekly television program produced by Virginia Farm Bureau ®
Agriculture touches your life every day! Meet the Virginia farmers who raise products for your table and your community. Learn how to prepare delicious Virginia foods and cultivate a lush landscape and edible garden. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on many cable outlets—check local listings. Watch anytime at vafb.com, and weekly on
• WBRA digital channel 15.2 • WHRO Norfolk
• WTKR Norfolk • WVVA Bluefield
Watch the first and third weekends of each month on
