Cultivate Feb 2014

Cultivate february 2014

Virginia Farm Bureau

Farms with four-legged security staff

Contents

Cultivate Volume 7, Number 1 February 2014 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year, February, April, July, November/December (combined issue). It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid in Richmond, VA. The annual subscription rate is $1.48 (included in membership dues).

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POSTMASTER: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238.

Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096.

Email address is Cultivate@vafb.com.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised.

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Member: Virginia Press Association

Features

Departments

13 Guard animals: Because ‘you use every tool you can’

26 Have a Soup-er Year!

Visit three farms where livestock animals are protected, in part, by other animals—dogs, llamas and donkeys.

28 Heart of the Home 30 Marketplace

6 Insurance isn’t free, but peace of mind can be priceless It costs money to insure a home or vehicle or your personal belongings, but your agent can help you balance costs and coverage.

9 GMOs: Three letters, eight crops and lots of attention Genetic modifications to plants to promote desired qualities is nothing new. Find out some basics.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Morgan Barker Staff Writer Bill Altice Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Cathy Vanderhoff Advertising VISIT US ONLINE

Publication schedule Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in April. The magazine is published quarterly.

VaFarmBureau.org WE’RE SOCIAL!

Members – Address change?

On the Cover

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Chewbacha the llama keeps watch over sheep at Shamoka Run Farm in Augusta County (Photo by Pam Wiley).

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.

Food for Thought

It’s all Virginia agriculture, and it’s all needed It’s a question people ask all the time: “Virginia—isn’t that a big tobacco state?”

“That’s one of the major horse states, isn’t it?”

“Virginia’s a peanut state, right? Or is it apples?”

Depends on where you look and who you ask, to some degree. But there’s no denying that Virginia is a serious commercial agriculture state, and it has been since the very early 1600s.

When it comes to conditions that allow farms to produce a variety of products, Virginia won the diversity lottery. And in a country where 2 percent of the population are producing everyone’s food and fiber—not to mention products for a whole lot of people overseas—that’s a big win indeed.

It’s not hard to come up with a meal plan featuring nothing but Virginia foods; it probably would be a challenge to narrow that menu down. And it could be downright delightful to just plan on four seasonal meals instead, and enjoy more products.

One commonality of all Virginia farm products, from local organic microgreens to commercial-size exports of chicken parts, and grass-fed steaks to bales of cotton and truckloads of freshly harvested timber, is that someone wants to buy it. For each purchase to take place, someone, at some time, had to say, “OK, I can grow those. In fact, I’d like nothing better than to grow those.”

That’s why you’ll find fresh strawberries and, later, peakof-summer tomatoes with relative ease when you get a taste for them this year. It’s why you can find a Virginia wine to compliment just about any kind of meal. It’s also why whole communities have thrived, because agriculture- and agribusiness-related work is available. It’s why you can go for a drive in many parts of the state and see crops in the field, livestock in the pastures and acres of trees on commercial forestland. And it’s why after more than 400 years agriculture and forestry are still the state’s top industry.

Virginia Farm Bureau is proud to work closely with farmers of every stripe, operation size and production preference. And as we count down to National Ag Week, March 23-29, we wish all of our Cultivate readers continued good experiences with the Virginia farm products in their lives.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Virginia agriculture’s Top 20 A look at Virginia’s top 20 agricultural commodities based on cash receipts should dispel any notion that we’re living in a one-product state.

The list was released in late 2013 and is based on 2012 sales.

Commodity

2012 Cash Receipt Value ($ Million)

1. Broiler chickens

$649

2. Cattle/Calves

$434

3. Milk

$358

4. Turkeys

$324

5. Soybeans

$302

6. Greenhouse/Nursery

$272

7. Corn for grain

$212

8. Hay

$123

9. Winter wheat

$109 (109.3)

10. Tobacco

$109 (108.8)

11. Eggs

$ 91

12. Cotton fiber

$ 69

13. Fresh tomatoes

$ 62

14. Hogs

$ 55

15. Apples

$ 54

16. Peanuts

$ 24

17. Summer potatoes

$ 15

18. Cottonseed

$ 12 (11.8)

19. Barley

$ 12 (11.7)

20. Grapes

$ 11

Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service

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kathy dixon

Riders in the Ma’Ceo Gypsy Festival Equestrian Show performed spectactular stunts under the big top.

From conquering the canter to holistic therapies for horses, there was a clinic, demonstration or seminar for every horse enthusiast at the Virginia Equine Extravaganza.

The event was held Nov. 1-3, 2013, at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.

Participants attended more than 100 clinics and demonstrations, shopped at more than 50 vendor booths and learned about everything from parasite management to caring for senior horses.

Julie Goodnight, host of Horse Master on RFD-TV, taught attendees how to “Ride Right.” Ken McNabb, host of RFD-TV’s Discovering the Horseman Within, gave 4

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lessons on increasing control of a horse, and Dr. Robert Miller, equine behaviorist and veterinarian who created imprint training for foals, spoke on how to better understand why horses behave the way they do.

In addition, the Ma’Ceo Gypsy Festival Equestrian Show wowed crowds with highenergy choreographed performances and daring bareback stunts.

And because The Meadow is the birthplace of Thoroughbred racing legend Secretariat, there was an exclusive Secretariat-themed event as well. The extravaganza hosted the Virginia premier of the documentary film Penny & Red: The Life of Secretariat’s Owner.

pam wiley

Virginia Equine Extravaganza drew horse lovers—many with horses

Horses of all breeds had a big presence—sometimes literally—at the event.

VaFarmBureau.org

photos kathy dixon

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Clinician Leisha Griffith gave a presentation titled “Introduction to Barrels and Problem Solving.”

Indoor presentations covered topics such as infrared inspection, saddle fitting, top line development, equine dentistry and horse-shopping at the racetrack.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

A vending and exhibit area offered numerous shopping opportunities.

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MANAGING INSURANCE COSTS WHILE ENSURING APPROPRIATE COVERAGE Whether you rent or own your home and lease or own your car, it’s important to have the proper insurance coverage to protect your belongings.

“It costs money to carry insurance to cover your home, belongings and your vehicle, but that insurance can give you peace of mind, which is priceless,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. While it may feel like you’re always paying an insurance premium and you never need it, consider the alternative, Rooks said.

“If you don’t have coverage, you’re taking a huge risk. If you were to have a loss, you would have to pay for that car,

your house or whatever it may be, out of your own pocket. Very few people can afford that, and that’s why insurance is so valuable.”

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

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

Auto insurance Virginia requires some mix of minimal liability coverage for bodily injury and physical damage to protect others in the event of an auto accident you cause.

While you can lower your premium by having a higher deductible and purchasing a minimum amount of coverage, the limits are so low that you will be paying a high amount if you have an accident.

That could leave you stuck owing thousands of dollars in over-the-limit medical bills and property damage. You’d also have to pay to repair or replace your vehicle and be financially exposed to theft, acts of nature and—if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist— medical bills.

“The best option is to talk to your agent and find out what discounts are available and to make sure you have appropriate coverage that fits into your budget,” said Gerald Gardner, director of sales for

®

And unlike the drivers, all it takes is a QUOTE TO QUALIFY! Stop by your local Farm Bureau Insurance office on or before April 1, 2014 and get a personal auto quote or policy review and YOU might be one of 5 VIP PRIZE PACKAGE WINNERS revving their engines at Richmond International Raceway on April 25 and 26, 2014!

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

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VIP PARKING SOUVENIR PROGRAM FREE FOOD & BEVERAGE

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

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VaFarmBureau.org

VFMIC. “You can buy a standard policy, pass on collision, comprehensive and road service or towing. There are a lot of ways to customize your plan and make it more affordable.”

Homeowner insurance If you own your home outright, you are not required to have homeowner insurance; however, if you’re financing your home, your lender will insist that you keep a minimum insurance policy in force for the term of your mortgage.

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

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

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

“The hidden danger of going bare on home insurance is liability,” Gardner said. “If someone trips and falls on your property or you have a pool, that’s really risky.”

There are a number of ways to save on home insurance, such as maximizing discounts by bundling policies. You can save 5 to 15 percent by bundling your Farm Bureau home and auto policies; 15 to 20 percent for a combination fire/burglar/ sprinkler/security system; and up to 25 percent by raising your deductible.

Renter’s Insurance Regardless of who owns your home, don’t underestimate the value of your belongings. If you had to replace everything in a home you rent—or a dorm room if you are in college—that’s a good chunk of change.

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

“If you were cooking and left something on the stove, you’ve got liability for causing that damage,” Rooks said.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Regular reviews of auto, homeowner and renter’s insurance can help balance costs with necessary coverage.

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

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

• Know what is covered in your plan.

Some items are not standard in an auto or home policy and need to be added.

Be sure of exactly what you have.

It’s also important to let your agent know if you’ve done any of the following since the last time the two of you talked: • sold a vehicle or purchased a new one; • made an addition to your home; • installed a security system; or • built a fence or unattached shed or garage.

• Check to make sure you still could meet your deductible if you had a claim.

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>> save the dates

National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week to be celebrated in March To recognize the bountiful contributions of agriculture, National Ag Day will be celebrated on March 25 during National Ag Week, March 23-29.

The theme of this year’s Ag Day is “Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and 7 Billion Mouths to Feed.”

The National Ag Day program encourages Americans to understand how food and fiber are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; and value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

County Farm Bureau women’s committees will mark the occasion by donating nonperishable food items and making monetary donations to regional food banks, food pantries and Ronald McDonald Houses across the state.

Farm Bureau volunteers and other members of Virginia’s agricultural community also will participate in the state’s fourth annual Agriculture Literacy Week, which will run concurrently with Ag Week.

This year’s Agriculture Literacy Week will feature the book What’s in the Garden? by Marianne Berkes. Volunteers will read the book and other agriculture-related books to children in their communities’ elementary schools, preschools and day care facilities.

“During the past three years we have averaged about 1,850 volunteers who have read to children in classrooms across the state,” said Tammy Maxey, senior education programmer for Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. “We’re hoping more people will volunteer to read this great book to children and teach them more about agriculture.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entries from high school students and college students will be judged separately, and prizes will be awarded in each group. Guidelines and entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices and at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

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

VaFarmBureau.org

GMOs

GMOs: Three letters, eight crops and lots of attention

By Kathy Dixon

More than 17.3 million farmers in 28 countries, including the United States, are using genetically modified seeds to grow crops because GM crops are more efficient and better for the environment.

Their initials get plenty of attention, but what exactly are genetically modified organisms, or GMOs? “To put it simply, GMO seeds and the products that come from them have had the DNA of a different organism successfully introduced into another organism,” said Dr. Wade Thomason, Virginia Cooperative Extension grains specialist and associate professor of crop and environmental science at Virginia Tech. “Genetic modification gives researchers the ability to focus on a particular trait that would be beneficial to farmers.”

In Americans’ diets for 20 years Mankind’s earliest farmers relied on random mutations to create grasses that held onto their seeds long enough to allow for a harvest, or grains that weren’t encased in tooth-cracking shells. Later, breeders crossed plants by hand and sorted through thousands of offspring for promising varieties. Rutabagas, for example, were created by crossing turnips and cabbage, and seedless grapes and seedless watermelons were bred to create fruits that would appeal to consumers.

As a result, few crops that people eat today bear much resemblance to the original foods. Modern molecular biology allows scientiests to tag the genes they want to manipulate while remaining in the realm of conventional breeding.

Researchers started developing GMOs in the 1970s with the intent of making crops more efficient, less costly and easier to grow. “Instead of five herbicide blends being needed in a field, (with GMO seeds) you now only need one,” Thomason said.

Some genetically modified crops also are pest-resistant. “We couldn’t control VirginiaFarmBureau.com

boll weevils in cotton or European corn borers in corn, so researchers engineered the DNA of the plants so that they can now repel those bugs.”

Farmers would not be able to grow the amount of food that they do without the help of GMO seeds, Thomason said. “The reality is that the safety and plentitude of our current food system relies on GMOs.” When producers can grow more food on fewer acres, using fewer inputs, they’re automatically curtailing the potential for soil erosion and the potential for chemicals to reach waterways. The genetic traits of modified seeds have benefitted farmers by making crops more productive and easier to manage.

But how about consumers?

In America, “you can basically assume that if you’re consuming any product with corn, soy, cotton or canola, there’s an 85 percent chance it contains a GMO,” Thomason said. “For 20 years these GMOs have been in everyone’s diets.”

Since the introduction of agricultural biotechnology in 1996, the global adoption of biotech crops continues to rise, according to a report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Last year marked an unprecedented 100-fold increase in land planted in biotech crops since they first were commercialized.

Of the 17.3 million farmers using agricultural biotechnology, 90 percent— more than 15 million—of those are resource-poor smaller-scale farmers in developing countries.

In third-world countries where people have limited diets and rely heavily on grains, genetically modified crops have the potential to provide nutritionally dense foods that otherwise might not be readily available. Thomason cited “golden rice,” a grain that has been genetically modified to be enriched with vitamin A, or beta-carotene, and zinc—nutrients that are lacking in the diets of millions in Asia and Africa.

Which foods are GMOs? Genetically modified seeds for eight crops are available for commercial use in the United States: • alfalfa; • canola; • corn; • cotton; • papaya; • soybeans; • squash; and • sugar beets.

Those crops have been developed primarily for herbicide tolerance and insect and disease resistance.

Those qualities help farmers to maintain yields while reducing the potential for soil erosion and the level of products they must apply.

A few of the seed varieties are credited with saving specific crops from disease.

Some other fruits and vegetables often are mistaken for genetically modified organisms. They include pluots (plum-apricot crosses), large apples and different-colored carrots, but those were developed through other breeding techniques.

GM tomatoes, apples, rice and potatoes are in the research and development stage and are not available to the market.

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GMOs

‘There is greater scrutiny on GMO crops than anything else in our food supply’

By Kathy Dixon

Perhaps the most compelling evidence for the safety of genetically engineered crops is that millions of people have been eating them since the mid-1990s without problems indicated by credible research.

“There is no evidence at all that the current GE foods pose any risk to humans,” according to Straight Talk on Genetically Engineered Foods, a report published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which has been a critic of food companies and processed foods.

“That isn’t surprising,” said Greg Jaffe the CSPI’s director of biotechnology. As with most food, foreign genes inserted into a plant’s DNA and the proteins they produce are largely broken down in the stomach and digested, he explained. He added that the vast majority of GE foods on the market today contain only one or two added genes.

“We can’t say that GMO foods are absolutely safe. I mean, can you say that anything is 100 percent safe? But scientific research [on GMOs] can eliminate 99 percent of the probability that anything is wrong,” said Dr. Wade Thomason, Virginia Cooperative Extension grains specialist and associate professor of crop and environmental science at Virginia Tech.

On average, each GM seed variety takes $136 million and 13 years to bring to market because of the research, safety studies and regulatory approval processes necessary, Thomason said. No other type of new seed that comes to market from other breeding methods goes through any approval, including the thousands of conventional and organic seeds developed from mutagenesis, or the natural or 10

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deliberate process of exposing seeds to physical and chemical agents in order to foster desirable traits for plant breeding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts a mandatory review of all GMOs to ensure they are safe to grow.

The Enviromental Protection Agency conducts a mandatory review of GMOs containing regulated ingredients to ensure they are safe for the environment.

And the Food and Drug Association conducts a voluntary review to ensure they are safe to eat.

“Some people believe they collude with major seed companies, but that is not the truth,” Thomason said. “There is greater scrutiny on GMO crops than anything else in our food supply.”

Buzzwords: Roundup and Bt A single bacterial gene is inserted in GE corn, soybeans, cotton and sugar beets to make the plants resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, sold commercially as Roundup. The gene produces a protein that protects the crop from the herbicide’s effects, allowing farmers to spray their fields and kill only the weeds.

The other major class of GE crops is those modified with a different bacterial gene to produce a natural pesticide called Bt (for Bacillus thuringiensis), toxic only to certain insects. Most U.S. cotton and corn has been engineered to produce Bt. Eating corn with a built-in bug-killer might sound scary, but Bt is considered so environmentally benign—and harmless to humans—that it is widely used in organic farming. Most plants produce natural pesticides to discourage insects from eating them, and several

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Center for Science in the Public Interest report Straight Talk on Genetically Engineered Foods is available on the center’s website at cspinet.org.

Additional information is available at gmoanswers.com, a clearinghouse site about biotechnology whose supporting partners include the American Seed Trade Association, the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Cotton Council.

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance also has information about GMOs from a wide variety of sources on its website at fooddialogues.com.

crops have been conventionally bred to contain high levels of those chemicals.

GMO crops often used for fuel, animals About 90 percent of corn, soybeans, cotton and sugar beets grown in the U.S. are genetically engineered, and at least one of those crops shows up in the vast majority of chips, cereals, soft drinks, crackers and other processed foods.

Yet Americans aren’t actually eating as much GE ingredients as statistics suggest, Jaffe said. That’s because the GE genes and proteins are largely stripped out— along with all other DNA and proteins— during processing. “Corn oil from GE corn is no different from corn oil from non-GE corn,” Jaffe said.

The bulk of U.S.-grown GE corn and soy actually goes to ethanol production or animal feed. The fact that noticeable health problems have not shown up in cows, pigs and chickens is another indication the crops are not causing harm, said Dr. Charles Benbrook of the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University.

VaFarmBureau.org

GMOs

Farm Bureau opposes mandatory labeling of GMO foods Generally speaking the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is not opposed to food labeling. But producer members, who determine the organization’s policies, oppose mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. “Virginia Farm Bureau is concerned that proponents (of GMO labeling legislation) are trying to stigmatize conventional and biotech foods as being unsafe or less nutritious in order to promote niche products that generally are sold to consumers at a higher price,” said Lindsay Reames, VFBF assistant director of governmental relations.

If states were to mandate labeling of foods that contain GMOs, Reames said, “there could be no end to the types of safe food and agriculture technologies that could be unfairly banned or stigmatized by false accusations and innuendo rather than scientific consensus. The success of American commerce is a level playing field based on facts and fairness, and our regulators help ensure that remains constant. We support legislative and regulatory decisions based on science—not emotion and fear.”

Research has proven that biotech crops currently available on the market are the same from a compositional and nutritional standpoint as their non-GM counterparts.

Testing has shown, and the Federal Drug Administration has confirmed, that GMOs are nutritionally the same as non-GM crops and contain the same levels of key nutrients like amino acids, proteins, fiber, minerals and vitamins.

Food from GMOs is digested in the body the same as food from non-GM crops, Reames said, noting that hundreds of studies have shown, and continue to demonstrate, that GMOs do not present any health risks, including new allergies or cancers, infertility and ADHD.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Since farmers began growing crops from GM seeds, there has not been a single documented instance of harm to human health from genetic modifications, Reames said. “That includes allergic reactions,” which some GMO opponents say happen because of the genetic modifications.

Farmers have intentionally changed the genetic makeup of their crops and livestock since domestic agriculture began 10,000 years ago. “In the late 20th century, advances in technology enabled us to expand the genetic diversity of crops,” Reams added. “For years,

university, government and company scientists intensively researched and refined this process. A major result has been GM seeds that maintain or increase the yield of crops while requiring less land and fewer inputs, both of which lessen the impact of agriculture on the environment and can reduce costs for farmers.

“Virginia Farm Bureau believes that a requirement to label foods as GMO will create a false impression that the food is unsafe.”

GMO labeling in the United States At press time, legislation that would mandate GMO food labeling in Virginia had been written but not introduced in the state legislature.

Connecticut and Maine voters passed labeling ballot initiatives last year, while voters in Washington state narrowly defeated one. A labeling ballot initiative was defeated in California in 2012.

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GMOs

Farmers cite environmental, production benefits of GM crops

Time to market comparisons Genetically modified seed variety Average time from discovery to farm fields Pharmaceutical medicine Average time from laboratory to pharmacy shelves

Hanover County dairy farmer Leigh Pemberton has grown one or more genetically modified crops a year for 12 or 13 years. He grew GM corn to feed his dairy cows in 2013, and in mid-January he said he will be planting GM corn and soybeans this year.

“I think it’s a good thing, especially if we’re going to continue feeding a growing population,” he said of the technology.

Pemberton started growing GM forage crops “because it gave me the opportunity to get better weed control and, hopefully, reduce some of my chemical costs.”

He’s quick to explain that GM crops are not a silver bullet for weed and pest problems, though.

“It’s like all technology. It’s had to evolve,” he said, comparing the introduction of GM crops to the introduction of penicillin. “Everybody thought penicillin was the cure-all for infections forever and ever.”

Similarly, with GM crops, “it’s been a learning curve.”

Generally speaking, he said, “you’re paying a lot of technology fees, so you’re not really saving any money. But you’re getting the opportunity to grow a better crop. … From an environmental standpoint, I’d say it’s definitely been worth it.”

‘I don’t see a downside’ In a Cultivate article published in July 2012, Accomack County corn and soybean grower David Hickman said his family began planting GM versions of both crops in the mid-1990’s.

“We saw a boost in soybean yield by 30 percent in the first year, because before GM seeds the herbicides used to kill weeds damaged the crop.” Hickman said.

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“I don’t see a downside to using GM seeds. The yields are better, and they help reduce the amount of pesticides we use on plants, which is better for the environment.”

Accomack corn, soybean and wheat producer Lynn Gayle has grown GM corn and soybeans for 10 years and previously grew non-GM versions of those crops.

Most of the corn and soybeans grown on Virginia’s Eastern Shore “winds up in poultry feed,” he said.

Corn is a natural host to some insects, he noted, and Bt corn eliminates some of the worm problems he previously experienced. “That’s just a tremendous help,” Gayle said. He noted that when he’s grown non-GM sweet corn in a personal garden, pest control is “a constant battle,” while a nearby field of Bt feed corn had no insect problems.

Having to apply fewer products to keep pests down saves money, he said, and at the same time “you’re making less trips over the field, and certainly that costs less.”

‘I wish we’d had more to sell’ Jonathan Cavin, a Lee County vegetable and tobacco grower and beef producer, grew three-quarters of an acre of GM sweet corn last summer and sold it directly to consumers in early fall.

“I wish we’d had more to sell,” he said recently. He and his father are planning on planting more this year and working on having it available earlier.

Cavin said his family typically has grown sweet corn for their own consumption. “You always had to plant three times more than you need, because the bugs take it,” he said of non-GM corn.

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years

8.5 years 12

Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft Years from conceptualization to market release

years

Automobiles Years from conceptualization to market release

years

Heinz new ketchup packets Years to develop and reach market Xbox 360 Years from conceptualization to market release

3 3

years

2.9 years

Source: U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance

Someone gave him some sweet corn grown from GM seed to try, Cavin said. “ I was amazed at how there were no worms in it.”

He sold his corn locally through word of mouth and Facebook posts and made it clear to buyers that it was grown from GM seed. “We were declaring it right off the bat” and sold out in early October.

But he kept some for his family. “I actually ate some of it for dinner last night,” he said in mid-January. “My kids love it. My mother and grandmother, they both talked about how sweet it was.”

That’s important, Cavin said. He tells his buyers that if he wouldn’t feed something to his children, “I won’t be selling it to you.”

VaFarmBureau.org

GUARD ANIMALS: Farmers employ four-legged predator deterrents because ‘you use every tool you can’

By Morgan Barker

Not known for their ferocious natures, smaller livestock animals like sheep can fall victim to predatory animals.

Securely fencing and penning the animals is one way Virginia farmers keep the predators at bay. Keeping them under the watchful eyes of other animals is another.

Three Virginia producers recently shared their experiences with using animals to protect their sheep and alpacas.

Sheep farmer: Donkeys don’t suffer wandering dogs guardian animals. Price usually sells hers for being there, then you put them in with the PATTI PRICE of Page County has used $400 to $500. “But, like any animal, it costs sheep,” Price said. donkeys to guard her sheep for eight years. something to raise and feed them,” she said.

It’s a learning process for both donkey and Neither she nor the donkeys have much One other concern in Virginia, Price owner. “You need to monitor the situation use for dogs that run at large and can be a noted, is the availability of lush grass. and make sure the animals are bonding and source of stress for the sheep.

“Donkeys come from rough areas and that they’re not too aggressive.”

“Donkeys are good because they have a aren’t used to so much forage,” and too Donkeys are a fairly economical option for natural dislike of canines,” Price said. “They much spring grass can tend to want to chase cause them to founder, them away.” or develop a serious and She prefers standardpainful inflammation of size donkeys for guardian the feet. “So you might animals, she said. have to put a grazing “You also need jennies muzzle on them” or limit (females) or gelded their access to grass. males, because they’re Donkeys also cannot eat not too aggressive. The commercial sheep and donkeys also need to be a cattle feed. little older. If the donkey is Price has enough too young and too playful, donkeys on her farm to it might hurt an animal.” create multiples lines of There’s also some defense. In addition to training involved once a putting them in the same new donkey is on the job. pastures as the sheep, “You can use certain “I keep them in the outer methods to bond the pastures,” she said. donkeys and the sheep “So if dogs want to get together. You put them kathy dixon next to the sheep, so they Page County sheep producer Patti Price has found that her guard donkeys have little use for dogs. to my sheep, they have to go through the donkeys.”

“They tend to want to chase them away.” can get used to them

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pam wiley

GUARD ANIMALS

Like the sheep they protect, Great Pyrenees are comfortable in winter weather.

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leo tammi

leo tammi

Leo Tammi of Augusta County said he tries to minimize human interaction with guard dogs like Hansel while the dogs are young and forming a bond with his sheep.

Great Pyrenees guard dogs are easygoing and bond well with sheep, Tammi said.

VaFarmBureau.org

GUARD ANIMALS

Augusta farmer finds sheep are ‘very comfortable’ around guard dogs LEO TAMMI of Augusta County first purchased dogs to guard his sheep 20 years ago after losing some of his flock to feral dogs.

“I was desperate. And desperation is the mother of invention,” Tammi said.

“Controlling predation is a constant concern, so you use every tool you can.”

Tammi also uses a llama and an electric fence. He’s lost lambs to both feral and domestic dogs and to coyotes. “Domestic dogs are a major concern, and coyotes harass and kill sheep,” he said, noting that dealing with coyotes is particularly difficult.

“When you institute control, you educate coyotes. If you shoot at a coyote and miss, then the coyotes know about guns.” They also know how to work together, with one coyote distracting a dog while another attacks the sheep. “Coyotes are a very savvy animal.”

With regard to guard dogs, “I prefer Great Pyrenees,” Tammi said. “They are easygoing and good with people. They also bond very well with sheep.”

Nocturnal by nature, the big white and buff-colored dogs have a long history of guarding livestock. Tammi said he pens puppies with lambs for about 10 weeks, starting when they are 8 weeks old, “so that becomes their social setting. And as much as is practical, we don’t interact with the puppies at all.”

That’s not easy, given a Pyrenees puppy’s cute factor. “You just want to wrap your arms around it and roll in the grass.” Tammi said. But business is business, and these farm dogs are working dogs.

After spending time around the dogs, “the flock accepts them, and the flock is very comfortable around the dogs,” Tammi

said. “I’ve even found that the ewes are so comfortable with the dog that they will seek out the dogs to have lambs.”

To effectively use guard dogs, “we need support from the neighbors,” Tammi said.

The dogs sometimes leave his property while chasing off predators, and people have varied reactions to large strange dogs on their property.

Another consideration when using a Pyrenees as a guard animal is the cost, Tammi said. “You can pay several hundred dollars for a dog,” and they require caninespecific veterinary care. Additionally, their dense coats need to be shorn in the summer, and they do not eat the same foods as the sheep.

“But when you consider the cost of a single evening of (sheep) losses,” Tammi said. “it’s worth it.”

leo tammi

“I’ve even found that the ewes are so comfortable with the dog that they will seek out the dogs to have lambs,” Tammi said.

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GUARD ANIMALS

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A guard llama will put itself between its charges and a perceived threat. “I’ve had this llama for seven years, and I used her mother before that,” said Prince William County alpaca farmer Carl Persons, shown with Rosebud.

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VaFarmBureau.org

GUARD ANIMALS

Alpaca farmer finds llamas to be effective as ‘speed bump’ for predators CARL PERSONS of Prince William County teaches seminars on how to secure farms against predators. He has plenty of hands-on experience from protecting his 26 alpacas.

“Guard animals are one method of protecting against predation animals.

Mostly, I’ve had problems with (invading) dogs,” Persons said. That’s where Rosebud the guard llama comes in.

“I’ve had this llama for seven years, and I used her mother before that,” Persons said.

“If the llama senses something is wrong, she puts herself in front of the herd to protect it.”

Persons said llamas blend well with alpacas because they’re related. “They’re cousins to alpacas; they integrate well, and they eat the same thing.”

Guard llamas can cost up to $1,000, but Persons said a good guard animal is worth it. Not all llamas make good guard animals, though. “It can’t just be any llama. There’s some genetic specification, and there are guard lines for llamas,” Persons said.

His main concern with llamas is aggression; he replaced his first guard llama because it was too aggressive about herding the alpacas.

Alpacas are expensive and fragile, Persons explained. “A donkey is a good guard animal, but it wouldn’t work with the alpacas because it is too aggressive. An alpaca couldn’t handle a kick from a donkey.

It would be very bad.”

Persons said guard animals are just one approach to protecting his alpacas. “The most important thing is to have a multilayered approach to protection. The No. 1 thing to do is to have a good fence and be aware of the predators in your area. A llama might just be a speed bump, but lots of speed bumps might deter a predator.”

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Persons said llamas and alpacas are a good combination. “They’re cousins to alpacas; they integrate well, and they eat the same thing.”

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Save $500 on selected GM vehicles—and $1,000 more on selected GM and Chevy trucks Farm Bureau members in Virginia can receive a $1,000 discount on 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet and GM regular cab, heavy duty 2500 and 3500 series trucks through April 1, 2014. This is in addition to the Farm Bureau GM $500 Discount Program, bringing the total savings on specific trucks to $1,500.

The Farm Bureau GM $500 Vehicle Discount Program is available for members purchasing or leasing qualifying Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles at participating dealerships. Members must be at least 18 and have been Farm Bureau members for at least 60 days.

The discount is not a rebate and may not be stackable with some other incentives. It must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered.

To use this member benefit, visit fbverify.com/GM, enter your membership number and ZIP code, and print out a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your GM dealership.

Members without Internet access can get assistance in acquiring a certificate from their county Farm Bureau offices.

See participating GM dealers for full details.

Member benefit offers discounts on Case IH equipment A partnership between Case IH and the American Farm Bureau Federation gives Farm Bureau members in Virginia access to manufacturer’s incentive discounts on qualifying Case IH products and equipment when they buy from participating dealerships.

While some of the qualifying equipment is of specific interest to members who farm, other pieces are of potential interest to members who do not farm but who live on and maintain rural properties.

Qualifying products include the following:

• • •

Case IH Farmall compact tractors (A & B series) – $300 per unit; Case IH Farmall 100A Series tractors – $500 per unit; and Case IH Scout utility vehicles – $300 per unit.

Members will need to present a current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate to their Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the discounts. Certificates can be obtained online at fbadvantage.com/Deals/Case and members without Internet access can receive assistance at their county Farm Bureau offices.

“There is no limit to the number of incentive discounts that a Farm Bureau member may use as long as it is no more than one per unit,” said Zach Hetterick, Case IH livestock marketing manager.

“This discount is also stackable, meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership.”

Find a dealership near you at caseih.com.

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ELIGIBLE VEHICLES: Buick

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Chevrolet

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Excluded from discount Cadillac Chevrolet Volt

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Call 800.258.2847 or Visit ChoiceHotels.com Don’t Forget to Use Your Virginia Farm Bureau Special Rate ID When You Book, and Your Personal Choice Privileges® Member Number to Earn Points While Saving!

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VaFarmBureau.org

Medical alert benefit now available for cell phone use Help is always within reach for Virginia Farm Bureau members who use the Member’s Medical Alert program powered by national provider LifeStation. The service makes it easy for members or their loved ones to summon assistance to their homes in an emergency.

LifeStation maintains a state-of-the-art, 24-hour call center with care specialists

users can reach via a tabletop console or a help button that can be mounted on a wall, worn around the neck or wrist or clipped to a belt.

Farm Bureau members pay a special monthly rate of $25.95 for use with a land line in the home and are eligible for a 30-day money-back trial. A cellular-based connection is offered for an additional $14.95 per month.

The service involves no long-term contract.

To order or get more information call 877-288-4958, or visit MembersMedical Alert.com and use code FB102.

Members can save at Feb. 28 Farm Bureau warehouse open house In need of tires or a battery for your car or truck?

Farm Bureau members can save 10 percent on purchases from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division at its Feb. 28 open house.

Since 1965, the Products Division has provided members with a variety of quality supplies, through Farm Bureaucertified local dealers and the Farm Bureau

warehouse in Henrico County.

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

Members can save on a variety of parts, including tires, batteries and oil and grease products. They also can save on a variety of parts for farm equipment.

The warehouse is a 53,000-square-foot facility with a daily inventory typically

valued at $1.2 million. It serves about 400 dealers throughout Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, as well as several in West Virginia and Delaware.

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

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

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

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

If you need to update your records, email your current contact information to

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

Real Virginia looks at local beef, Canadian trade Do you know your cuts of beef? In the February edition of Real Virginia, we’ll visit a Shenandoah Valley meat processor to learn about all the different cuts of local meat you can buy. We’ll also report on how a new trade office north of the border could help the bottom line for many Virginia farmers.

Watch this!

Real Virginia is Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program that airs nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV. It also airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on 40 cable systems across the state. It’s available online at VaFarmBureau.org.

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

To view RealVirginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Cheese byproduct to be used on icy Milwaukee streets this winter It’s truly a solution cheeseheads can appreciate.

Milwaukee city officials announced last year that road crews would test a mixture of cheese brine and rock salt on some icy streets this winter. The hope is that the pilot project will ease the long-term impacts of winter ice treatments on roads and the environment.

Cheese brine is a salt-and-water solution commonly used to make Italian varieties of cheese such as mozzarella and Parmesan. When it’s no longer suitable for soaking cheeses, it typically is discarded as industrial wastewater. A city report notes that the brine has “a distinctive odor.”

Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski told the Chicago Tribune that the brine project is an opportunity “to take something that was a waste product and turn it into something that’s useful. The idea is that the more we can reduce the salt, which we have to pay for, the

less money it would cost and the better for our environment.”

Polk County, Wis., has used cheese brine from a local cheese maker on its roads since 2009. The county saved nearly $40,000 that first year by using the solution to pre-wet salt or a combination of salt and sand.

Agricultural byproducts have the potential to serve many useful purposes, according to Tony Banks, assistant director of commodity marketing for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“Whether it’s construction materials made from straw, plastic derived from feathers or energy generated from manure, it takes a need, imagination and sometimes flexible regulations to create these beneficial uses,” Banks said. “It’s really a win-win situation when there are both financial and environmental benefits, as in the brine application.”

Got longevity? Influential ‘got milk?’ slogan marks 20 years The two-word slogan that raised consumer awareness of the health benefits of milk marked its 20th birthday late last year.

Surveys have found that the campaign raised consumer awareness levels by 90 percent, and in 2005 advertising professionals ranked it the most influential slogan in the history of television.

“Got milk?” originally was created for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993. It was used in a television commercial that featured

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a radio quiz contestant who couldn’t answer the $10,000 question because his mouth was full of a peanut butter sandwich and he had no milk to wash it down.

The campaign was such a hit that within two years it became licensed to the National Milk Processor Education Program and went nationwide.

VaFarmBureau.org

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

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

The good news is you don’t have to go through the process alone.

Health insurance brokers can explain your options to you, giving you unbiased information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leah Gustafson is a marketing specialist for Experient Health.

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

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Any problems? Contact Deals Advantage support at 888-275-9136 THERAPY, SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE

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Cultivate FEBRUARY 2014

Think about the things you loved to do that are difficult today — going for a walk or just sitting comfortably while reading a book. And remember the last time you got a great night’s sleep? As we get older, health issues or even everyday aches, pains and stress can prevent us from enjoying life.

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VaFarmBureau.org

From the Ground Up

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To have a garden full of fresh, delicious spring vegetables, you’ll need to start planting this month.

But there’s some planning involved before you start dropping seeds into the soil.

“Before you start your garden, it’s important to get a soil test,” said Chris Mullins, a fruit and vegetable specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University. “When we planted our spring garden at VSU, we sent a soil sample to the soil test lab at Virginia Tech for a home garden soil test.”

The soil test report will provide the pH level of the soil and give recommendations for fertilizer. The pH level will help determine whether the soil needs amending.

“We like to use organic fertilizer 5/4/3 and poultry manure or goat manure in the garden,” Mullins said. “These soil amendments help our crops grow well.”

Spring crops include asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and potatoes.

When cutting seed potatoes to plant, make sure each piece has an eye.

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Got a taste for spring vegetables? Plant in late winter

Cabbage is among spring vegetables that get planted in late winter.

For asparagus, dig trenches that are 6 inches deep. Lay the asparagus crowns down 12 inches apart in the trenches, and cover them with a full 6 inches of soil.

The asparagus will grow into 3-foot ferns.

“You can’t harvest asparagus the first year, but the next year you can harvest a little bit,” Mullins said. “By the third, fourth, fifth year and beyond, you can harvest the spears in mid-April through mid-May.” For broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and similar crops, it’s easy to work with transplants. Space the plants 18 inches apart in a row. Put soil around the base of each plant, and add 8 ounces of water to each one.

Potatoes should be started from seed potatoes. Cut the seed potato into several pieces, making sure each piece has at least one obvious eye. The plant will grow up from the eye, Mullins said.

The potato pieces should be buried 2 to 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart in a trench.

“Some people like to grow potatoes raised up in a hill, and you can do that or put them flat in a row,” Mullins said. “The important thing is that the sun doesn’t touch them, so you’ll want to put more soil on top as they grow. If the sun reaches the potato, it will turn green.”

Peas also make a good spring crop, but they should be planted by St. Patrick’s Day. “You can keep planting peas until midApril, or you could plant them in late August for a fall crop. They need to be planted earlier so they’ll come up. In the summer you won’t have any good luck,” Mullins said.

The sugar snap pea doesn’t need to be trellised and can be planted in a shallow furrow, 1 inch apart.

Onions should be planted 4 inches apart and do not need to be planted deep. Just set them in the soil, press down and the roots will grow and prosper, Mullins said.

“It’s so easy to grow a spring garden, and you will have wonderful crops in the spring, which is a great kickoff for all the great crops available in the summer.”

Chris Mullins appears on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program. Mullins is an assistant professor and Virginia Cooperative Extension greenhouse specialist at Virginia State University and works with fruit and vegetable growers statewide. He is a member of the American Society of Horticulture Science.

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From the Ground Up

Want to ‘Bee a Hero’? Promote pollination by choosing bee-friendly plants Everyone can be a hero for honeybees by adding plants that are honey bee-friendly to a home garden or landscape.

During the 2013 State Fair of Virginia, the Richmond Beekeepers Association invited fairgoers to “Bee a Hero” and provided lists of plants that attract honey bees.

“Everyone can help ‘Bee a Hero’ for the honey bees by planting bee-friendly gardens, avoiding harmful chemicals, buying local Virginia honey or starting their own backyard beehive,” said Valerie West, president of the association. West has been keeping bees for four years at her home in Richmond.

Honey bees are critical to the success of agriculture and the health of the environment and are responsible for more than

$15 billion in increased crop value each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Commercial production of many specialty crops, such as almonds and other tree nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables are dependent on pollination by honey bees.

“I first became interested in beekeeping for pollination purposes, but the more I learned about honeybees and how the colony works together, I became more and more fascinated with them,” West said. She finds her bees enjoy holly, Russian sage, sunflowers, basil, melon flowers, clover and dandelions.

Many crops’ yields and quality would be greatly diminished without honey bee pollination.

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VaFarmBureau.org

In the Garden

Plants that attract bees: BIANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All spring bulbs

• • • • •

Sweet clover

Anise hyssop Asters Berries Calamint Catnip Caryopteris Chives Comfrey Coreopsis Dandelion Echinacea Gaillardia Globe thistle Goldenrod Hazelnut Hyssop Lavender Melissa Mint Monarda Motherwort Obedient plant Oregano

ANNUALS:

• • • • •

Arugula

• •

Cleome

• • • • • • • • • • •

Flax

Rose mallow

Borage Buckwheat Canola (Rape seed) Cornflower (Bachelor’s buttons)

Monarda, also know as bee balm

Cosmos Crimson clover Phacelia Holy basil Mustard Sunflower Poppies Scabiosa Verbena Zinnia

TREES:

• • •

Tulip poplar

• •

Sourwood

Plantain Pussy willow

Basil

Cornflower, also known as bachelor’s buttons

Linden Black locust (Robinie) Fruit trees

Rosemary

Blackberry blossoms

Rudbeckia Russian sage Sage Sedum Sunflower (perennial) Thyme Wild rose White clover Verbena (perennial)

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Tulip Poplar

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Have a Soup-er Year

Kick-start the new year with hearty, healthy soups

By Kathy Dixon The cold winter months call for a steaming-hot bowl of healthful soup.

Broth-based soups filled with vegetables and beans provide vitaminrich meals, and soups made with lean meats provide a protein-packed meal that’s low in fat and calories.

If you add tomatoes to your soup, you’re adding lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer, according to Penn State University. And adding vegetables high in vitamins A and

C can help you get the required minimum serving amount per day.

Consuming broth-based soup at the beginning of a meal can help you feel full, which can help you eat less of the courses that follow. And you can always make the soup the main part of the meal.

Soup is a versatile medium, and ingredient lists can be tailored to suit even picky eaters! Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests adding leftover vegetables from other meals or allowing children to add

their favorite vegetables to a soup to increase the chances of them eating it.

Even cream soups can be healthy with the right substitutions. The University of California Cooperative Extension Service recommends using skim milk in place of heavy cream or pureed white beans in place of milk to thicken soup. To further reduce a soup’s fat content without sacrificing flavor, chill it and skim off any fat before reheating and serving.

Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup INGREDIENTS

1 pound extra-lean ground beef, cooked and drained 6 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 6 carrots, diced 2 medium onions, chopped 48-ounce can low-sodium tomatoes 15-ounce can mixed vegetables, rinsed and drained to remove excess salt 15-ounce can green beans, rinsed and drained DIRECTIONS In a large stock pot, brown the ground beef. Remove the beef, and drain the fat from the pot.

To the same pot, add potatoes, carrots, celery and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Cook on low until tender, about 30 minutes.

Add the remaining ingredients and the ground beef, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Soups made with lean meats provide protein, and ingredients can be tailored to suit any taste.

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VaFarmBureau.org

Have a Soup-er Year

Italian Bean Soup INGREDIENTS

15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed and drained 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained 30-ounces can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 medium onion, chopped 15-ounce can green beans, rinsed and drained 46-ounce can low-sodium tomato juice 15-ounce can Italian-style tomatoes 15-ounce can vegetable broth 1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic powder DIRECTIONS Place beans in a large stock pot, and stir in chopped onions and green beans.

Pour in the tomato juice, tomatoes and vegetable broth, and add the Italian seasoning, pepper and garlic powder.

Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve with Italian or French bread or whole-wheat rolls.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension

Leftover vegetables from other meals can be healthy, flavorful additions to soups.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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Heart of the Home

Juicy grilled flank steak is worth the wait in sandwiches “It can take a lot of time to cook the steak, but it’s so worth it” for these sandwiches, said cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris. Serve them on Game Day or to jazz up a lunch menu or prepare a simple supper.

“Flank steak is best served rare to medium-rare so you can get all that nice, juicy flavor in your sandwich.”

The flank steak in this recipe also works well in tacos and other types of sandwiches. sara owens

Grilled Flank Steak Sandwiches with Onion and Horseradish Mayonnaise SANDWICH INGREDIENTS

1 cup dry red wine ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil 2 large cloves garlic, smashed 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 pounds flank steak, trimmed of any tough membrane and additional fat large Vidalia or other sweet onion, sliced into ½”-thick slices mixed baby greens 8 large soft sandwich rolls such as bolillo rolls or sub rolls MAYONNAISE INGREDIENTS

½ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sour cream 6 tablespoons prepared horseradish a couple of shakes of Worcestershire sauce salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS To a large resealable bag add the red wine, oil, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar. Seal the bag, and give it a few shakes to blend everything together. Add the flank steak. Marinate the steak in the refrigerator overnight or at least 8 hours.

In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat a cast-iron grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high. Remove the steak from the marinade, and discard the marinade. Season the steak on both sides with black pepper, and sear it on both sides until browned but still rare to medium-rare inside, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Set steak aside to rest.

Toss the onion slices with a little bit of oil, and season them with salt and pepper. Grill onions until soft and slightly charred, about 5 minutes per side. Set aside.

Cut the steak into serving slices across the grain.

To assemble the sandwiches, split open the buns and slather both sides with the horseradish mayonnaise. Place a handful of greens on the bottom of each bun. Then top greens with some of the onions and then slices of steak. Serves 8

Food writer Kendra Bailey Morris recommends serving flank steak rare to medium rare for maximum juiciness.

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Cultivate FEBRUARY 2014

VaFarmBureau.org

Heart of the Home

Winter salad features greens, nuts, fruit and goat cheese This salad is served with a classic French vinaigrette and presents an opportunity to sample Virginia goat cheese.

“Goat cheese is really delicious,” said cookbook author Kendra Bailey Morris.

“Virginia has some great locally made goat cheeses, too.”

The dressing could be used on any number of other salad combinations, Morris noted, and the salad ingredients can be changed up to include walnuts, mixed greens or spinach.

Arugula Salad with Warm Goat Cheese, Pears and Hazelnuts INGREDIENTS

2½ teaspoons champagne vinegar or pear vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon minced shallot ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper to taste 2 4-ounce logs fresh goat cheese 1 cup panko bread crumbs ½ teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dried basil ¼ teaspoon salt 1 ⁄8 teaspoon black pepper 1 large egg 16 cups baby arugula 1 pear, thinly sliced ¼ cup hazelnuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey and shallot. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the dressing has emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

Slice the goat cheese into eight ½” disks (One simple way to slice the soft cheese is to use a piece of clean dental floss). In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. In another small bowl, whisk the egg.

Dip each goat cheese disk into the egg, and then roll it in the breadcrumb mixture.

Place cheese disks on a sheet pan lined with parchment, and place the pan in the freezer for 15.

Preheat a large pan to medium. Add 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan. When the oil begins to shimmer, remove the goat cheese from the freezer and fry in batches until brown and crisp on all sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.

To assemble the salads, toss greens and the pears with a couple of teaspoons of the dressing, just enough to coat, and divide the salad greens between four plates. Sprinkle salad with hazelnuts, and place two slices of fried cheese on each. Drizzle with additional dressing and serve. Serves 4

This salad can be modified to include walnuts, mixed greens or spinach in place of hazelnuts and arugula. sara owens

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Kendra Bailey Morris appears each month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Morris is an author and culinary instructor whose work appears in Better Homes and Gardens, Food Republic, Virginia Living, Chile Pepper and other publications and is a former food columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her blog is at fatbackandfoiegras. blogspot.com.

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2014

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Marketplace

Find winter and spring farm products, with Farm Bureau Fresh If you’re looking for Virginia farmfresh meats, eggs, greenhouse- or high tunnel-grown produce or wool or other fibers, there’s a Farm Bureau member benefit that can make your search easier.

Farm Bureau Fresh, based on the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace, lets members who farm place free, searchable listings of up to 45 words.

Consumers can use Farm Bureau Fresh to search for products in any of 11 categories, or use a ZIP code to locate all producers in a specific area who sell to the public. In addition to addresses, phone numbers and farm websites, you’ll be able to access a map and Go0gle travel directions to each farm, stand or other venue.

Products currently are being listed in the following categories:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

agritourism; aquaculture; bees and honey; Christmas trees; CSAs; eggs; fiber; flowers; fruit; meat; mushrooms; pick-your-own; pumpkins; and vegetables.

Farm-fresh produce, fiber and eggs are among the products consumers can find with Farm Bureau Fresh.

2014 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members, or in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members.

Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20.

Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted.

Use the form in the February 2014 issue of Cultivate or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org/marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current.

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Cultivate FEBRUARY 2014

Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm Equipment; • Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and • Livestock equipment.

Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • May Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • July Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • August Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).

VaFarmBureau.org

Marketplace

How to place your classified ad Step 1 Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad.

• Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only.

• Classified ads are not transferable.

• Please type or print.

• Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.

Step 2 Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.

Important:

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

Step 5 Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552

Step 3

Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/Marketplace.

Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).

Deadlines

Step 4 Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership.

Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear.

• Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau.

Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: Issue Deadline Mailed to producer members May April 1 August July 3

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

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

Moving?

If your address or phone number has changed—or is about to—don’t forget to contact your county Farm Bureau office to ensure that your membership and subscription information stays current!

Mailed to associate members April March 3 July June 3

One free 15-word ad per membership per year; dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Category in which ad should run (select only one): ❑ Crops

COUNTY: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

❑ Farm Equipment

ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________________________________________________

❑ Hay/Straw

CITY: _________________________________________________ STATE:____________________________

❑ Livestock

ZIP:__________________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: ___________________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: _________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above.

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

❑ Livestock Equipment No other categories available in magazines

1. ____________________________ 2.____________________________ 3. _______________________________ 4. ______________________________ 5. __________________________________ 6. ____________________________ 7. ____________________________ 8. _______________________________ 9. ______________________________ 10. _________________________________ ( ) 11. ___________________________ 12. ___________________________ 13. _______________________________ 14. _____________________________ 15. _________________________________ phone number

Watch this!

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN: ❑ April (mailed to associate members) To (mailed view RealVirginia, ❑ May to producer members) visit VaFarmBureau.org. ❑ July (mailed to associate members)

* Ad placement available for these issues only VirginiaFarmBureau.com

❑ August (mailed to producer members) ❑ Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer

❑ Payment enclosed: $_______________ ❑ This is my one free 15-word ad for 2014.

for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free (Ads expire with membership.)

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

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

And this month Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers will help host a leadership conference in Virginia Beach for their peers from across the nation.

Your Farm Bureau membership helped support those activities.

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

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

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

VaFarmBureau.org