Cultivate Fall 2017

Cultivate FALL 2017

Virginia Farm Bureau

Virginia wines, wine grapes are in demand

Cultivate Volume 10, Number 4 Fall 2017

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Features 14

Virginia wines, wine grapes are in demand

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Use two new member benefits to save money today!

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“This year’s grapes have more acid and

This year’s Virginia wine grape harvest began earlier than usual, and expectations for the crop were high.

less sugar, and people like the wine we make

Now you can save money on eligible Ford and Lincoln vehicles and equipment from John Deere, just for being a Farm Bureau member.

How to care for fall favorites and winter wonders

with that.”

— THEO SMITH, winemaker, Rappahannock Cellars

Buying fall mums or finding the perfect spot for a potted poinsettia? Find out how to take care of these seasonal favorites.

KATHY DIXON

Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year. February, May, August, October. 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 $1.23 (included in membership dues).

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-2901096. 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.

All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval.

Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising.

The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Assistant Editor Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Advertising VISIT US ONLINE vafb.com

Departments 3

WE’RE SOCIAL!

Did You Know?

5, 20 For Your Benefit 27

Heart of the Home

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Marketplace

MEMBERS — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

ON THE COVER

Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in February 2018. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/ virginiafarmbureau.

Kim and Al Pugh of SummerWind Vineyards in Isle of Wight County have been growing wine grapes since 2007 (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

Did you know?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture tracks different types of foods Americans consume annually.

Based on USDA Economic Research Service findings published this year, these are the nation’s most popular foods:

Product Consumption* Flour (white and whole wheat)

94.8 lbs.

Chicken

87.7 lbs.

Beef

51.5 lbs.

Potatoes

46.7 lbs.

Tomatoes

31.4 lbs.

Cheese

21.9 lbs.

Apples

11.6 lbs.

Bananas

11.3 lbs.

* Annual per-capita average

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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Farm Bureau website helps you maximize your membership

Virginia Farm Bureau 1982–2016

When you register as a member on vafb.com, Virginia Farm Bureau’s recently re-designed and mobile-friendly website, you’ll have quick and easy access to your membership information and details of your Farm Bureau insurance policies.

Once registered, all members can:

Virginia Farm Bureau insurance policyholders can:

From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau Greg Hicks

• Get access codes and other information related to member benefits and savings programs;

• View policy information 24/7, and contact your agent;

• renew memberships online; and

• request policy changes and pay premiums online; and

• update contact information to ensure you receive newsletters.

• download auto insurance ID cards.

The Farm Bureau website also features articles about farm and food trends and a farmers’ market directory.

FOLLOW FARM BUREAU—WE’RE NOT HARD TO FIND! You’ll find back issues of Cultivate at issuu.com/virginiafarmbureau.

Watch episodes of Real Virginia at va.fbvideos.org/real-virginia.

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Copies of Virginia Farm Bureau history can be purchased online From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau, a history of Virginia Farm Bureau published last fall, is available for purchase at dementimilestonepublishing.com/ from-the-ground-up.

The book was written by Greg Hicks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation vice president of communications.

It covers events over the past three decades and is a companion volume to an earlier work by J. Hiram Zigler that was published in 1982.

Hicks called From the Ground Up “a hybrid history-celebration work” that follows the state organization’s meteoric growth and successes. It includes chapters on the five most recent state Farm Bureau presidents, numerous photos of staff and members at various Farm Bureau events, listings of award winners, and many other highlights.

For more information, contact Hicks at greg.hicks@vafb.com.

For Your Benefit

NEW BENEFIT!

NEW BENEFIT!

John Deere program offers new savings for every project

Ford, Lincoln offering Bonus Cash toward vehicle purchase or lease

Good news, weekend warriors! Starting this fall, you can receive valuable John Deere discounts just for being a Farm Bureau member.

All Farm Bureau members in Virginia can receive automatic access to John Deere’s GreenFleet™ Loyalty Rewards program. That means deeper discounts on equipment, including riding mowers, utility vehicles and tractors at John Deere dealerships.

You’re also eligible for exclusive offers and special parts savings.

It’s easy to become a GreenFleet member. Simply sign up for the John Deere GreenFleet Loyalty Rewards program using a valid Farm Bureau membership number and your ZIP code at JohnDeere.com/Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau members are eligible for the following discounts in these categories of equipment:

In the market for a new car or truck?

Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible for the following offers through Jan. 2, 2018:

• $350-$3,200 off Commercial Mowing; • $100-$250 off Residential Mowing; • $200-$350 off Utility Vehicles; • $200-$350 off Tractors; • $500-$3,700 off Golf and Sports Turf; and

• $500 in Bonus Cash toward purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017 or 2018 Ford vehicle; or • $750 in Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017 or 2018 Lincoln vehicle.

Both offers are available to current members who have maintained a Farm Bureau membership for at least 30 consecutive days. The offers may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Co. or Lincoln Motor Co. private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer eligibility restrictions apply.

There is a limit of one Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease and a limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Farm Bureau membership during the program period. The Ford Bonus Cash offer is not available for purchase or lease of a Mustang Shelby GT350 or GT350OR, Ford GT, Focus RS or F-150 Raptor.

Your local Ford or Lincoln dealer can share complete program details and qualifications.

• 17 percent off MSRP for Commercial Worksite.

MEMBER SAVINGS

Other details:

• GreenFleet Loyalty Rewards benefits are available only at John Deere dealerships.

• There is no minimum length of Farm Bureau membership required to receive the GreenFleet benefit.

• Members need to sign up once for the GreenFleet Loyalty Rewards program, then renew or reactivate their memberships approximately every two years.

• GreenFleet members can manage their account at MyJohnDeere.Deere.com.

For full GreenFleet terms and conditions, visit JohnDeere.com/GreenFleet. For full program details, visit vafb.com/benefits.

Bonus Cash Savings How to access your Bonus Cash savings: Visit FordSpecialOffer.com/FarmBureau/Va or LincolnSpecialOffer.com/FarmBureau/Va to generate a certificate you can take to your Ford or Lincoln dealer.

When you provide your Farm Bureau membership number and ZIP code and answer a few simple questions, you’ll be able to create a certificate that can be printed from a home computer or displayed on your mobile device.

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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>> VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU WEEKLY TV PROGRAM

REAL VIRGINIA, WATCH US!

This month on Real Virginia: Amid development, agriculture thrives in Virginia Beach Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • A look at the thriving agriculture surrounded by development in Virginia Beach.

• A visit to the Virginia Beach Farmers Market, a booming source of local food—and education.

• Major-party candidates for governor recently addressed agriculture and forestry issues.

• Interest in Virginia beef cattle is growing among Canadian buyers.

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 WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk.

Watch Real Virginia anytime online at vafb.com.

GRAPE PRODUCTION

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Virginia’s rank nationwide for wine grape production (See Page 14)

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A children’s garden at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market draws visitors of all ages.

Virginia farmers join forces to help wildfire victims

County Farm Bureaus offered more than $165,000 in scholarships last year

BY CLAIRE MILLS

KYLENE SCOTT, HIGH PLAINS JOURNAL

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embers of more than 50 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia have donated nearly $55,000 to assist fellow farmers affected by destructive wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. The March fires swept through an estimated 1.5 million acres, killed seven people and destroyed homes, cattle and livelihoods.

In response to those devastating losses, Wythe County Farm Bureau donated $1,000 to the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Fire Relief Fund. County Farm Bureau President Nate Aker also sent a letter to his fellow county presidents, challenging other county Farm Bureaus to donate if possible.

Beth Bays, secretary of the Bedford County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee, helped spearhead that county’s relief efforts and called the devastation “heartbreaking.” Bedford Farm Bureau donated $2,000 for materials to rebuild fences, but the effort didn’t end there.

“Six of us from the Bedford County Farm Bureau ended up going to Ashland, Kansas,” Bays said. “We drove a trailer loaded with barbed wire and fence posts. Then we spent several days tearing down burned fences and rebuilding miles of new ones.”

Bays said it was difficult to understand the amount of destruction until she saw it. What used to be ranchland dotted with herds of cattle had been reduced to ashes.

“Everything was black as far as we could see,” she recalled. All that was left were shells of burned houses, trees and tractors. “These people lost everything.”

Bob Threewitts, a Rockingham County Farm Bureau board member, was touched by the plight of those affected by wildfires, and Rockingham Farm Bureau donated $1,000 to the charitable arm of the Kansas Livestock Association.

“We’ve been blessed with bountiful seasons for several years. It’s hard to understand what they’re going through, but we hope it helped a little bit,” he reflected.

Other county Farm Bureaus that have donated include Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City-James City-New Kent-York, Culpeper, Cumberland, Essex, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester-Mathews, Grayson, Greene, Halifax, Henry, Highland-Bath, King George, Lee, Loudoun, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Northumberland-Lancaster, Nottoway, Page, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince WilliamFairfax, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, and Wise-Dickenson.

County Farm Bureaus in Virginia invested in their communities’ future by offering $165,600 in scholarship funds in 2016.

Sixty-three county Farm Bureaus offered scholarships of their own, and many county Farm Bureaus also contributed to other organizations’ scholarship funds.

“Helping deserving students reach their educational goals—and, ultimately, their career goals—is an important way our county Farm Bureaus support their respective communities,” said Wayne F. Pryor, president of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Federation scholarships Additionally, the VFBF Women’s Committee awarded a $3,000 scholarship to the state winner in the Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador program. The first runner-up received a $500 scholarship.

The Women’s Committee and Young Farmers Committee, along with Farm Credit, awarded a $1,500 scholarship to the state winner in last year’s Outstanding Young Agriculturalist youth recognition program.

State Fair scholarships The State Fair of Virginia offers up to $70,000 in scholarships annually to winners in 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.

The Miss State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program, an affiliate of the Miss Virginia program, awarded more than $1,400 in scholarship funds last year.

VFBF became full owner of the fair in 2013. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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COMMUNICATIONS // TV PROGRAMMING The IBHS research center features a wind tunnel that can be used to replicate high winds, wind-driven rain, hailstorms and wildfires.

Real Virginia takes viewers onto commonwealth’s farms

BY SARA OWENS

“H

ello everyone and welcome to Real Virginia, a show about Virginia agriculture and the people who produce the wonderful products we enjoy, brought to you by the Virginia Farm Bureau.”

That’s how host Sherri McKinney greets viewers each week on Real Virginia, Farm Bureau’s weekly ruralbased television program.

Since January 2012, Real Virginia has aired on television stations across the state, as well as online.

“Real Virginia’s focus is how agriculture touches everyone—every day, and we produce the program with consumers in mind,” said Greg Hicks, Farm Bureau’s vice president of communications. “We realize many people don’t have lots of opportunities to visit a farm—and that many of them are curious about what happens there.

“Virginia Farm Bureau’s membership includes more than 35,000 farm households across the state, so we are in a unique position to take Real Virginia viewers out on the tractor, or into the milking parlor or the orchard or the vineyard. And we try to make the connection between farms, food and lifestyle.”

Real Virginia includes two news or features packages each week with a focus on farm families, agricultural trends or industry issues. This year the program added a “County Closeup” feature that highlights agriculture in a specific locality.

In recent months, the program has shared the following: 8

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· how a twice-weekly Shenandoah Valley produce auction benefits farmers, restaurateurs, consumers and even food banks;

· Virginia farmers’ role in protecting honeybees and other pollinators;

· the gourmet appeal of Virginiagrown peanuts;

· farm businesses that supply herds of goats for weed control and property improvement;

· a tourist-friendly trail of fruit producers in Nelson County;

not only agriculture but also for the families at the industry’s heart—and Farm Bureau’s.

“If they become a member of Farm Bureau after watching our show, that’s just an extra bonus for us. We hope to ignite a passion for supporting Virginia’s farmers.”

WHERE CAN YOU WATCH REAL VIRGINIA?

· a school for beginning farmers; and

· profiles of agriculture in Rockingham County, Hanover County and Virginia Beach and on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Real Virginia also features cooking and gardening segments.

Horticulturist Mark Viette in Augusta County hosts the landscape gardening segment “In the Garden,” and Virginia Cooperative Extension Specialist Chris Mullins at Virginia State University hosts the vegetable gardening segment “From the Ground Up.” Recipes from Chef John Maxwell of Richmond are featured in the cooking segment “Heart of the Home,” sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Maxwell’s focus is on delicious dishes featuring products from Virginia farms.

Originally conceived as a monthly program, Real Virginia adopted a weekly format in 2013.

McKinney expressed a hope that viewers gain an appreciation for

· Visit va.fbvideos.org/realvirginia to watch current and archived episodes, as well as older segments of “In the Garden,” “From the Ground Up” and “Heart of the Home.” · Real Virginia is carried on 34 cable access channels and five network affiliates.

It airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk. Check your local listings. · The program also airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV.

REAL VIRGINIA REGULARS TV PROGRAMMING // ‘IN THE GARDEN’

Viette: ‘I like to teach,’ and lots of gardeners want to learn

BY CLAIRE MILLS

W

hen it comes to trusted voices on gardening, the name Viette is synonymous with horticultural expertise.

Cultivating that family legacy, Mark Viette has shared seasonal garden tips and expert advice with Real Virginia viewers for the past 15 years. Viette hosts the program’s “In the Garden” segment that is videotaped at the Andre Viette Farm & Nursery in Augusta County.

The TV and radio garden personality, public speaker and writer is following in the footsteps of his father, Andre Viette, who established the Shenandoah Valley farm, nursery, garden center and display gardens in 1976. Mark Viette is now director of marketing and sales for the nursery operation and president of Viette Communications, which produces and distributes a national weekly radio call-in program.

“Gardening is America’s No. 1 hobby,” he noted. From nurturing a Christmas poinsettia to lawn care, he recommends starting small with an enjoyable project

and seeing the results before expanding one’s gardening focus.

“I like to teach. Dad and I have always taught. We used to teach 10 different courses at Blue Ridge Community College. Many people want to learn about gardening and the outdoors.”

Like any good teacher, Viette tries to keep the lessons simple, so that they are interesting and relevant yet easy to understand. Whether the topic is hummingbird and butterfly gardening or planting a shade garden, Viette breaks down the information into easyto-follow steps.

“These days a lot of people think gardening is complicated. I find gardening can be easy and fun, so I try to provide simple, concise information,” he explained.

Viette’s “In The Garden” segments demonstrate his belief that “everyone can garden,” right in their own backyards.

“People don’t need a lot of space to garden. Container gardens are now really popular. They can try patio gardening; there’s always something blooming in the garden,” Viette notes.

By age 8, Viette was always involved in his family’s business. He preferred

LORI JONES VIETTE

Each Real Virginia broadcast includes gardening and cooking tips from recognized professionals

“I try to provide simple, concise information” on home gardening, said Real Virginia gardening host Mark Viette.

assisting customers in the garden center to doing his homework, and by age 10 he was experimenting with a shaded vegetable garden, where he experienced success with tomatoes and iceberg lettuce.

That sense of curiosity led Viette to earn a degree in horticulture at Virginia Tech and complete an in-depth course in tissue culture of plants at the University of California in Riverside.

Recently he’s been experimenting with time-lapse photography of blooming flowers, which he converts into short video clips. Whereas a daylily blossom opens over 14 hours, the process allows viewers to see that spectacle in 10-15 seconds. It also allows him to catch the otherwise-missed fluttering of peony petals when they unfurl.

“Today we have to remember what people have experienced. They have grown up playing video games and seeing instantaneous results. I want viewers to see movement and change in short videos,” Viette explained. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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TV PROGRAMMING // ‘FROM THE GROUND UP’

Mullins sees gardening segment as ‘a great partnership for me and for VSU’

BY SARA OWENS

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SARA OWENS

hris Mullins has been around greenhouses his whole life. “At 4 years old I was walking around my parents’ greenhouse in Hanover County, learning how to plant tomatoes and grow geraniums,” he said with a smile.

Mullins, a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist for greenhouse and specialty crops at Virginia State University, is host of “From the Ground Up,” a Real Virginia segment focused on vegetable gardening. He assumed that role in January 2013 after former host Andy Hankins, also a VSU Extension

specialist, died unexpectedly.

With nearly 50 episodes under his belt, Mullins has grown quite comfortable with his duties.

“This is a great opportunity to reach a lot of gardeners and farmers,” Mullins explained. “No one here at VSU really has this kind of an opportunity to reach as many people as I do through the television program.

“I’m always getting comments from people saying, ‘Hey, I saw you on TV the other day!’ I like that it’s picked up all over the state,” Mullins said. “This is a great partnership for me and for VSU. We’re really happy with it.”

Mullins holds a master’s degree from

“I like that it’s picked up all over the state,” Chris Mullins said of Real Virginia’s reach.

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VSU and a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in biology. He previously worked in Charles City County running a hydroponics operation, and later he started his own business, raising vegetables and plants. His background made for a natural transition to working with VSU, where he has been since 1999.

His current areas of research and Extension work include hydroponics, greenhouse management, vegetable production, irrigation, high tunnel crop production and aquaponics. He also works with smaller-scale growers and Extension agents across the state, and he occasionally teaches a course on greenhouse management or vegetable production.

Mullins said he and the staff at VSU have the luxury to do applied research at Randolph Farm, the university’s educational farm. “We’re doing research that is readily usable to growers. We do a variety of trials such as how growers can utilize aquaponics to grow vegetables or testing different varieties of tomatoes in a greenhouse to see which work best.”

Since 2016, Mullins has been expanding his agriculture and leadership opportunities by participating in the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results Program, also known as VALOR. “It has just been an incredible program,” he said. “It allows a different frame of reference on Virginia agriculture that I am not exposed to as much. I don’t see the animal agriculture side often, since I work with plants and vegetables. It also has given me a lot of leadership skills.”

REAL VIRGINIA REGULARS

TV PROGRAMMING // ‘HEART OF THE HOME’

Maxwell unites international influences and Virginia foods

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KATHY DIXON

BY KATHY DIXON

Chef John Maxwell’s “Heart of the Home” recipes focus on products from Virginia farms.

‘I made food in Korea that I couldn’t even tell you what it was.

And I made some food in Iceland that was looking back at me!’ » Chef John Maxwell

WANT TO WATCH EVERY EPISODE OF REAL VIRGINIA? Visit va.fbvideos.org/real-virginia to find all episodes of the program, as well as older segments of “In the Garden,” “From the Ground Up” and “Heart of the Home.”

uring a recent “Heart of the Home” cooking shoot for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Real Virginia, there was a lot of hustle, bustle and good smells wafting from the kitchen in Meadow Hall, where the segment was recorded.

Chef John Maxwell moved adeptly around the kitchen at The Meadow Event Park, gathering ingredients, double-checking recipes, testing his microphone and preparing to cook four different dishes. The recipes aired in August.

“I like to teach my students the French term mise en place, which means everything in its place—from sourcing ingredients to chopping, slicing and dicing,” he said. Four of his culinary students attended the shoot for their first hands-on cooking lesson.

Maxwell is no stranger to TV. He spent 10 years cooking on a Richmondarea cable show called Blab TV back in the ’90s. He secured a sponsorship from Virginia Power, now Dominion Virginia Power, for the show. That led to travel across the country to cook with equipment provided by the utility company.

Soon after, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sponsored “Chef Maxwell’s Kitchen,” a cooking segment on Farm Bureau’s TV program in the early 2000s. That led to appearances around the world.

“I made food in Korea that I couldn’t even tell you what it was,” Maxwell remarked. “And I made some food in Iceland that was looking back at me!”

Now his focus is on locally produced

foods; the cooking segments on Real Virginia are sponsored by VDACS’ Virginia Grown program. One of the dishes Maxwell prepared during the August shoot was a smoked vegetable salad that featured fresh summer produce.

Maxwell has been teaching culinary arts at the Glen Allen and Newport News campuses of Stratford University for the past three years.

He previously taught at the Culinary Institute of Virginia in Norfolk and has served as culinary arts chairman at The Art Institute of Jacksonville in Florida.

He holds a master’s degree in hospitality and tourism from Strayer University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on culinary arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. Maxwell previously owned a restaurant and catering company in Richmond and holds the Certified Executive Chef, Certified Culinary Educator and American Academy of Chefs designations.

In addition to his culinary activities, he’s the author of a cookbook, short stories, poetry and several novels. One novel, Susanna, Mother of Columbus, is published; two more focusing on Christopher Columbus’ wife and mistress are awaiting publishing. The trilogy, called The Bacalao Conspiracy, stemmed from an English research paper Maxwell wrote about the Basques misdirecting Columbus to a more dangerous route to keep him from discovering the rich fishing grounds off Newfoundland.

Maxwell lives in Richmond with his wife, Judy. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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COMMUNICATIONS // PUBLICATIONS

Magazines, news dispatches, awards help Farm Bureau share agriculture’s story In addition to its weekly television program, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation uses other communications to reach its members, the public and the news media about agriculture and the state’s farmers.

Cultivate FEBRUARY 2015

Cultivate april 2013

Virginia Farm Bureau

Cultivate

Virginia Farm Bureau

SUMMER 2016

Virginia Farm Bureau

College turning pecans into profit

other Shiitakes, and s’ markets surprises: Farmerto the table bring taste

Shoppers enjoy Virginia-grown variety

• Cultivate magazine, which launched in 2008, helps show nonfarming members all the ways agriculture touches their lives. It also shares tips on insurance, safety, Farm Bureau member benefits and “lifestyle” activities such as cooking and gardening. Recent feature article topics have included:

- Virginia beef and the farm families committed to raising a quality product; - Virginia-grown ingredients used by the state’s craft breweries; - the year-round work that produces delicious Thanksgiving turkeys; and - how consumers’ curious palates have broadened farmers’ market offerings.

• Virginia Farm Bureau News magazine has, since 1941, been mailed to members who farm. Its mission is to keep readers abreast of industry and organization news and of services and savings afforded by a Farm Bureau membership.

Recent feature articles have included: - the scope of Virginia’s agricultural exports, along with the state’s top exported products and foreign markets; - business development and safety recommendations for fall agritourism; - Virginia gubernatorial candidates’ remarks on agriculture and forestry issues; and - the 25th anniversary of the Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom program, which receives significant support from Farm Bureau.

Both magazines also are distributed to elected officials across the commonwealth.

• Farm Bureau also distributes a weekly batch of agricultural news to more than 350 television, radio and newspaper reporters and editors. Local media outlets frequently publish these news items or assign staff to cover them. Farm Bureau is poised to put reporters in touch with “spokesfarmers” in their respective communities.

• Agriculture news organizations that serve Virginia also reprint Farm Bureau articles and turn to Farm Bureau for help with their coverage. They include the publications Delmarva Farmer, Lancaster Farming and Mid-Atlantic Country Folks; On the Farm radio news and the regional television program Virginia Farming.

VFBF holds an annual Journalism Award competition—now in its 30th year— that recognizes exemplary, ongoing coverage of agriculture by non-farming news media outlets.

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Winners of 2016 VFBF Journalism Awards Ishee-Quann Award for Media Excellence (Recognizes the most stellar of winning nominations) • The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg Daily Newspaper • Vic Bradshaw, Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg Weekly or Semi-weekly Newspaper • Rappahannock Record, Kilmarnock Television • WHSV-TV 3, Harrisonburg Radio • Frank Wilt, WSVA Radio, Harrisonburg Members’ Choice Award (Honorees are nominated by county Farm Bureau leadership for their local coverage) • The Free Lance-Star

Agriculture and forestry have a $91 billion annual economic impact in Virginia.

Governor announces agriculture’s and forestry’s economic impact has increased by $21 billion

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ov. Terry McAuliffe announced July 18 that a new comprehensive study shows Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries contribute $91 billion annually to the commonwealth’s economy.

That represents a 30 percent increase over results of a 2013 study that found a $70 billion annual economic impact.

“I am excited to see the agriculture and forestry industries have significantly increased their economic impact in just four years,” McAuliffe said. “As the commonwealth’s firstand third-largest private industries, agriculture and forestry play a vital role in the new Virginia economy. This is the kind of growth we are looking for in Virginia to keep us as the top state to do business in, a leader in export and trade, and a top destination for visitors who are seeking out our agritourism venues and our state’s natural beauty.”

The industries’ total employment impact increased by about 7 percent, from 414,700 to 442,200 jobs, representing about 9 percent of total employment in the commonwealth.

“This is wonderful news for agriculture and forestry, which have always been the No. 1 industry in Virginia,” said Tony Banks, a commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“Our farming members and organization as a whole are so proud of the industry and glad it is continuing to show an increase despite recent downturns in farm gate prices for agricultural commodities.”

According to the study, agriculture accounts for $70 billion of the $91 billion total, and forestry contributes $21 billion.

Related activities such as recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, ecosystems services, agritourism, wine tourism, equestrian

events and agricultural festivals were not included in the study but would add significantly to the total economic impact figure. Findings of a Virginia Tech study released in April indicate agritourism alone contributes $2.2 billion annually to the state’s economy, and study findings released in January noted that the wine industry contributes $1.37 billion.

In addition to tangible benefits such as cash receipts and jobs, agriculture and forestry landscapes afford substantial environmental and other societal benefits. Rural landscapes provide scenic amenities that contribute to quality of life. Forests improve air and water quality, mitigate flood vulnerability, provide wildlife habitat and aid biodiversity.

The study was led by Dr. Terry Rephann of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. A full copy is available at vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/ weldoncooper2017.pdf. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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These cabernet sauvignon grapes and other varieties statewide were harvested earlier than usual this year.

From Southside to Northern Va., 2017 is good year for wine grape growers ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON

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n an early September day, clusters of chardonnay grapes traveled up Rappahannock Cellar’s conveyor belt into the crusher.

Simultaneously, temporary workers were picking Cabernet Franc grapes.

That weekend owner John Delmare was expecting a couple hundred guests in the tasting rooms—all typical fall activities.

Rappahannock’s winemaker, Theo Smith, said 2017 was shaping up to be a quality harvest. “The flavors are really good,” Smith remarked. “This year’s grapes have more acid and less sugar, and people like the wine we make with that. They’re going to be beautiful.”

Virginia is home to more than 260 wineries, and Rappahannock Cellars in Rappahannock County was the 62nd to be established. At that time, it was one of only a half-dozen Virginia wineries serving the Washington area.

That was roughly 17 years ago, and Delmare’s family carved out a niche with a wine club modeled after those in California, where he operated a small winery for five years before moving to Virginia. Members pay a monthly fee and receive two bottles, either picked up at the winery or shipped to them.

When they visit Rappahannock, they get VIP treatment like appreciation events and complimentary tastings.

Delmare said his family grows grapes on 30 acres in Rappahannock County

and has for the past 25 years also used grapes from Indian Springs Vineyard in Shenandoah County.

2017 harvest started early Harvest began early this year at Rappahannock Cellars and also at SummerWind Vineyards in Isle of Wight County. At SummerWind, viognier and merlot grapes typically are harvested in August and cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, petit manseng and cabernet franc in September and early October. “But like any kind of agriculture, it’s all weather-dependent,” noted co-owner Kim Pugh.

She explained that different varieties ripen faster than others. The sugar levels, acidity and pH all have to be at a certain level before the grapes can be harvested.

By early September, SummerWind staff had already picked the viognier, merlot and cabernet grapes.

When they are deemed ready to harvest, it’s a fairly quick process. “Once you start picking, you want to get it done in a day or two,” Pugh said. “Everyone gets stressed out at harvest time.”

Once the grapes are harvested, they’re no longer susceptible to disease or insect damage.

Delmare said it can be challenging for a farm winery operator to find balance and be profitable while growing enough grapes, producing enough wine and employing enough staff. His operation has been helped by his 12 children, ranging in age from 13 to 33. Three work full time for the winery, and many of the others help at night and on the weekends.

“My wife, Marialisa, calls herself the HR director,” Delmare quipped.

Vineyard expanding to include winery Pugh and her husband, Al, have been growing grapes since 2007 and selling them to other wineries. They decided to keep half of this year’s grapes to be made into their own wine. They plan to open a tasting room next fall and serve wine crafted by a Charlottesville winemaker. Future harvests will be used mainly for their own wines.

Prior to growing grapes, Pugh worked as a registered nurse in Pennsylvania.

She and her husband decided to buy retirement property in Virginia. “We started growing grapes just as a hobby, then decided we wanted to grow them commercially and eventually open a winery. We learned as we went,” she explained.

Today she’s the primary vineyard operator, with assistance from her husband and daughter, Meagan. She also has two seasonal workers to help plant and pick. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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Grape harvests at Rappahannock Cellars, SummerWind Vineyards and many other vineyards statewide began earlier than usual this year.

More people are saying, ‘Make mine Virginia wine’ Virginia wine. The name says it all.

The commonwealth’s wines are gaining recognition across the country and even around the globe.

“Virginia is one of only two places on the planet successfully growing petit manseng,” boasted Annette Boyd, marketing director for the Virginia Wine Board. “France and us.”

In the past year, Virginia’s petit manseng plantings increased 20 percent. “That’s a sure sign people are investing and feel strongly about this grape,” Boyd noted.

She added that there are many other varietals the state’s wine growers are experimenting with, including albarino, nebbiolo and tannat.

“Growers are growing warm-weather grapes that have traditionally been grown in Spain, Italy and France,” Boyd explained.

While petit manseng plantings are on the rise, vineyard operators continue to plant more chardonnay grapes than any others. “It’s a popular white grape, and it grows well here,” Boyd said.

The second most-planted grape in Virginia is the red cabernet franc, followed by merlot and cabernet sauvignon, then viognier, a dry, fruity white wine.

Virginia viognier has received recognition since the 1990s, Boyd said, and is the state’s second most-popular white grape. In 2011 the Virginia Wine Board voted it the state’s signature white grape.

These days, however, other varietals are becoming just as popular. Boyd said petit verdot “grows ridiculously well in Virginia,” and is bottled as a varietal. In other states, it’s used for blends.

kept pace. The state’s wine production grew at about 6.7 percent annually for the first part of the decade but slowed to 2 percent in 2015.

The drop is blamed on a lack of Virginia grapes.

That’s why an agribusiness grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, called the Sounthern Virginia Vineyard Development and Expansion program, is crucial in supplying wine grapes. The grant program, which was awarded in January 2016, is managed by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Vineyards Association and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

Products labeled and marketed as Virginia wines can It includes cost-share contain no more than 25 percent fruits, fruit juices or other programs for existing agricultural products grown or produced outside Virginia. vineyard owners who want to expand and for those State grape production on the rise who want to start a vineyard.

Virginia’s 2017 grape production The program awarded $75,000 in was forecast at 9,000 tons, up cost-share agreements in 2016.

6 percent from last season’s final This year’s applications for existing production. This was based on field winery expansions are currently being reports from the Virginia office of evaluated. the National Agriculture Statistics “This program offers an exciting Service, which also indicated the 2017 opportunity for landowners in grape harvest was ahead of schedule.

Southside and Southwest counties,” By contrast, U.S. grape production explained Ashley Nauta, an for 2017 was forecast at 7.51 million Extension agent and vineyards tons, down 2 percent from last year. project coordinator. “These costshare funds are vitally important as our producers consider the capital Grants helping boost investments associated with vineyard establishment.” wine grapes for The program also has helped burgeoning wineries fund new grower workshops to provide those interested in vineyard While the number of Virginia development with an overview of the wineries has more than doubled in the state’s wine industry. past 10 years, vineyard acreage has not vafb.com / FALL 2017

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VIRGINIA WINE FACTS • From 2010 to 2015, the number of Virginia wineries increased 35 percent, from 193 to 261. Fulltime equivalent jobs at wineries and vineyards saw a 73 percent increase.

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• Virginia is ranked fifth nationwide for wine grape production.

• There are more than 260 wineries in the state.

• An economic study released earlier this year reported that Virginia's wine industry contributes more than $1.37 billion annually to the economy, an 82 percent increase from a similar study in 2010.

• In creating a product that will be labeled and marketed as a Virginia wine, the commonwealth’s farm wineries generally may use no more than 25 percent fruits, fruit juices or other agricultural products grown or produced outside Virginia.

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Virginia encompasses seven viticultural areas According to the Virginia Wine Marketing Board, there are seven American Viticultural Areas in the state. The most well-known Virginia AVA is the Monticello area, said Annette Boyd, marketing director for the Virginia Wine Board.

Viticultural areas, Boyd explained, help connect wines to regions like the Napa Valley’s cabernet sauvignon, Washington’s pinot noir, the Finger Lakes’ Riesling and France’s Bordeaux.

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George Washington Birthplace AVA This AVA includes the Northern Neck counties of Westmoreland, King George, Northumberland, Lancaster and Richmond.

2

Middleburg AVA Located 50 miles west of Washington and bounded by the Potomac River to the north and mountains to the east, south and west, this area contains 229 acres of commercial vineyards, 24 wineries and eight vineyards.

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The Monticello AVA The Monticello AVA is in the central Piedmont area, nestled along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It encompasses the small ridge known as Southwest Mountain and is home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where Jefferson spent years trying to grow European grape varieties.

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The North Fork of Roanoke AVA This AVA is on the eastern slopes of the Allegheny Mountains in Roanoke and Montgomery counties.

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The Rocky Knob AVA

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The Shenandoah Valley AVA

This area is located in Floyd and Patrick counties on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This AVA includes Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Botetourt and Amherst counties in Virginia, and Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia.

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Virginia’s Eastern Shore AVA Virginia’s Eastern Shore AVA is on the southern end of the Delmarva Peninsula, defined by the Chesapeake Bay on one side and the Atlantic ocean on the other, benefitting from bay breezes and sandy soils.

VIRGINIA

VARIETALS

• Chambourcin (shahm-boor-SAN) •Chardonnay • Gewürztraminer (guh-VURRS-tra-meen-ner) • Malbec • Merlot • Nebbiolo • Norton • Petit manseng • Petit verdot • Pinotage • Pinot grigio • Pinot noir • Riesling • Rkatsiteli (ruh-KAT-see-TELL-ee) • Sauvignon blanc • Seyval blanc • Syrah/shiraz (see-RAH/sher-AHZ) • Tannat • Traminette • Vidal blanc • Viognier (VEE-oh-nee-aye)

Wineries, vineyards get assistance from VA FAIRS Virginia wineries and vineyards are among agricultural businesses that have received assistance from the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability.

The nonprofit foundation is based at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. Its areas of expertise include strategic planning, grant assistance, feasibility study and business plan creation, and cooperative assistance for rural agricultural enterprises.

For more information on the foundation, its services and recent projects, visit vafairs.com.

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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For Your Benefit

Save wherever you go, with Member Deals Plus® New, updated app and streamlined registration!

Member Deals Plus®, the program that saves Farm Bureau members money at retail, service and restaurant locations nationwide, has a brandnew, user-friendly mobile app and a simplified registration process for new users.

If you currently use the original Member Deals Plus app on your mobile device, you will need to download the updated version.

Member Deals Plus uses the nation’s largest private discount network to save you money on meals, clothing, vehicle care and other goods and services. It uses “show your phone” mobile deals that can be accessed anywhere and redeemed from a smartphone at the point of sale, or from a home computer.

Many participating merchants have agreed to offer discounts in both the mobile and Web versions of the program.

Members can enjoy these discounts at more than 100,000 locations nationwide: • amusement parks • apparel • automotive parts and services • car rentals

• flowers • furniture • gifts • health and beauty items • home and garden purchases • hotel stays

• dining and food • entertainment and recreation

registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau

• movies

Federation.

• museums, zoos and tours • office supplies • outdoor equipment • golf • services • travel—and more.

How to get started

To register as a Member Deals Plus user, visit vafb.com/benefits, scroll down to the Member Deals Plus section and click on “Learn More.”

Then, on the Member Deals Plus website, 1. Click “Register” in the top right corner, and use your Farm Bureau membership number.

2. Once you’re registered, you can start saving immediately.

1. Download the “Member Deals Plus” app from the AppStore or Google Play.

You don’t have to wonder about health risks with Life Line Screenings Members can save on four non-invasive vascular health screenings—for carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease—and have a free osteoporosis screening to assess risk for stroke, heart attack and bone fractures.

Life Line Screenings, the national leading provider of preventative screenings, offers these procedures to Farm Bureau members at the discounted rate of $145.

Watch for mailings about Life Line screenings in your area, or contact your county Farm Bureau for details 20

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Member Deals plus and Member Deals Plus are

• jewelry

To save with a mobile device,

• concerts and events

2. Open the app, click “Setup Account” and follow the prompts to register.

For assistance, contact Member Deals Plus customer service at 888275-9136.

Virginia’s Harvest treats make tasty gifts Farm Bureau members can share tasty, traditional Virginia foods with the Virginia’s Harvest gift collection, available exclusively from the organization’s products division.

Choose from country hams and gourmet peanuts—roasted and salted or unsalted, butter-toasted or chocolate-dipped—and peanut brittle. Additional products include salted jumbo cashews, butter-toasted pecans and an energy mix of almonds, cashews and raisins.

And for your next tailgate party or oyster roast, there are 2-pound bags of salted peanuts in the shell.

To view and print the Virginia’s Harvest product brochure and order form, visit vafb.com/benefits, and click on the “Virginia’s Harvest Gifts” link.

Virginia’s Harvest items also can be viewed and ordered at county Farm Bureau offices. For an additional charge, they can be shipped via United Parcel Service with a personalized gift card.

Call the Virginia Farm Bureau Products Division at 800-476-8473 for more information or to order by phone.

When it comes to your insurance, honesty’s always the best policy

B

BY SARA OWENS

eing truthful when applying for insurance or filing a claim is extremely important.

Sometimes people commit insurance fraud without realizing they are committing a crime.

“Not being truthful on an insurance application is indeed a form of fraud,” said Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “When claiming something is worth more than it is, or filing a claim and fudging the facts, a person is potentially committing a crime by defrauding the insurance company.”

When an insurer asks questions about previous losses or drivers in a household, the answers help determine whether a policy may be written at a certain rate—or at all, Rooks added.

“Failing to provide truthful answers could result in an insurer charging less premium than they are legally due, or issuing a policy they would not have issued had they known the correct answers.”

It’s a rare occurrence, Rooks said, but there are individuals who will not answer application questions truthfully in order to get a policy issued or issued at a lower rate. “When an insurer discovers this has happened, a claim could be denied or the policy voided completely and the premium refunded,” he noted.

Frank Dunton, vice president of Virginia Farm Bureau’s in-house Investigations Department, defines insurance fraud as “obtaining money from an insurance company that would not have been paid if the truth had been told about the loss.”

Dunton said he and his staff see hundreds of cases of insurance fraud per year. The most common types of fraud are: • staged auto accidents and claims of resulting injuries; • storm fraud, in which someone tries to get more than they had before a storm with a higher claim payment, or claims damages from

a named storm that were existing damages from normal wear and tear; • theft fraud, in which someone reports as stolen items never owned, or reports a higher value on items that were reported stolen; and • vehicle fraud, selling a vehicle to a junkyard to be crushed, then reporting the vehicle as stolen.

Dunton said all Virginia insurance companies work with the Virginia State Policy Insurance Fraud Program, on whose advisory board he serves.

“The program gives out rewards of up to $25,000 for reporting insurance fraud. So if you see something, say something.”

For more information on insurance fraud prevention, visit the Virginia State Police website at stampoutfraud.com. To report suspected insurance fraud to Farm Bureau’s Investigations Department, call 800-277-8323, ext. 1162.

Study finds adults don’t always buckle up in back seat Adults have gotten the message that it’s safer for children to ride in the back seat properly restrained. But when it comes to their own safety, there’s a misperception that buckling up is optional.

Among adults who admit to not always wearing safety belts in the back seat, four out of five surveyed by the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said short trips or traveling by taxi or ride-hailing services are times they don’t bother to use a seat belt.

“For most adults, it’s still as safe to ride in the back seat as the front seat, but not if you aren’t buckled up,” explained Jessica Jermakian, an IIHS senior research engineer and a

co-author of the study. “That applies to riding in an Uber, Lyft or other hired vehicle, too.”

Of the 1,172 respondents who said they had ridden in the back seat of a vehicle in the past six months, 72 percent said they always wear their belts in the back seat, while 91 percent said they always wear their belts when seated in front.

“We wholeheartedly support IIHS’ and other efforts to emphasize the importance of seat belt use for drivers and for all passengers,” said Darlene Wells, executive vice president and general manager of the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., an IIHS member. “Using a lap and shoulder belt can cut your risk of a fatal injury by

60 percent in a van, pickup truck or SUV and by 45 percent in a car, and it’s one of the simplest precautions a driver or passenger can take.”

According to the Aug. 3 survey: • 72 percent said they always wear their belts in the back seat • 91 percent said they always wear their belts when seated in front • One-quarter of respondents said they believe the rear seat is safer than the front • Reasons for not wearing seat belts included uncomfortable or poorly fitting belts; finding the belt difficult to use and being unable to find it

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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Virginia Farm Bureau 1982–2016

JU ST PU B L ISH E D

Insurance Q&A

Q: A:

“An uplifting account of

If my pet dog, cat, rabbit or snake bites or harms someone else—am I covered?

Generally, you can be held liable for third-party injuries incurred on your property, including the damage inflicted by pets of any type, according to Scott DeNoon, an underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. The liability portion of a homeowner policy pays for damages sustained by a third party due to your negligence, such as the failure to properly control your pet.

It also pays any legal costs associated with the incident up to the policy’s liability limit. Medical payments coverage reimburses an injured third party for medical expenses incurred as a result of a covered event, DeNoon said.

Negligence does not have to be proven for this coverage to apply, since payment under this section of the policy may prevent a liability claim from being filed.

Your Farm Bureau agent can assist in designing an insurance program to provide liability protection for you and your family.

From the Ground Up: Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau

the success story that is

Virginia Farm Bureau”

Greg Hicks

Wayne F. Pryor,

FROM THE GROUND UP:

Growth of a Modern Farm Bureau If you are a Farm Bureau member, you’ve seen history in the making!

Commemorate it with a copy of this colorful, hardbound history and celebration of Virginia Farm Bureau’s past 34 years!

ORDER TODAY!

Available for $30 at DementiMilestonePublishing.com/from-the-ground-up.

Or contact author Greg Hicks, greg.hicks@vafb.com.

Financing Country Living Since 1916 The Experts in Rural Finance Homes • Land • Construction • Livestock Barns • Outbuildings • Equipment

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FarmCredit.com

Americans typically receive a questionnaire in the mail about three months before they become eligible for Medicare coverage.

What you need to know about Medicare

M

edicare is health insurance for people who are age 65 or older, under 65 with certain disabilities, or any age with end-stage renal disease.

“As people get closer to age 65, they often have questions about Medicare and their health coverage,” said Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for Virginia Farm Bureau’s health insurance division. “There are many pieces to the program and many options to consider.”

There are four types of Medicare: 1. Part A: Medicare Part A helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and home health care. Generally, there is no monthly premium if you qualify and paid Medicare taxes while working.

2. Part B: Medicare Part B helps cover medical services like doctors, outpatient care and other medically necessary services not covered by Part A. To receive Medicare Part B benefits,

you must enroll and pay a monthly premium determined by your income, along with a deductible.

Many people purchase a supplemental insurance policy, such as a Medigap plan, to handle Part A and B coverage gaps.

3. Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Medicare Part C, are combination plans managed by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They typically are a combination of Part A and B, and sometimes Part D coverage, but cover medically necessary services. These plans assign their own deductibles and coinsurance.

4. Part D: Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that is available to everyone with Medicare. It is a separate plan provided by private Medicare-approved companies, and you must pay a monthly premium.

About three months before you’re eligible for Medicare coverage, you will

receive a questionnaire in the mail.

Your answers to these questions help Medicare set up your file and make sure your claims are paid correctly.

Once you start Medicare, you should schedule a free preventative visit with your doctor within the first 12 months to assess your current health status.

Staff at your county Farm Bureau can assist you in obtaining supplemental insurance or a Medigap policy. For more information visit or call your county Farm Bureau office or vafb.com/quote.

Annual election period for 2018 The annual election period for 2018, which began Oct. 15 and will run through Dec. 7, is a good time to make changes to Medicare health or prescription drug coverage. All changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Contact your county Farm Bureau representative for assistance. vafb.com / FALL 2017

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Health care reform open enrollment for 2018 marketplace Open enrollment for 2018 will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. The window to purchase coverage is much shorter this year—only 45 days.

If you don’t enroll in a 2018 plan by Dec. 15, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods include job changes or retirement; turning 26 and no longer being included on a parent’s policy; and the birth of a child.

Important dates for 2018 enrollment: • Nov. 1, 2017 – Open enrollment starts.

• Dec. 15, 2017 – Open enrollment ends (This is a change from previous years).

• Jan. 1, 2018 – First date 2018 coverage can start

This year’s enrollment period is a shorter one.

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Feeding birds livens up a winter landscape

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n the winter when perennial plants are sleeping, there is still enjoyment to be found in the garden.

“Our wild bird friends can be very colorful and are fun to watch from the comfort and warmth of your home,” said horticulturalist Mark Viette of Augusta County.

Bird feeders can be kept outdoors all year to entice hungry birds.

“Birds have a high metabolic rate and use a massive amount of energy for flying, so they spend a big part of their lives either eating or searching for food,” Viette explained. “Hanging a bird feeder in your yard can help provide a convenient source of nourishment for local bird populations.”

The trick to attracting a variety of birds to your home is to install a variety of feeders and food choices, he said.

And bird feeders and bird foods make thoughtful holiday gifts.

Platform feeders are perfect for ground-feeding birds such as juncos, mourning doves and sparrows. Tube feeders filled with black oil sunflower seeds bring in titmice, chickadees, cardinals and white- and red-breasted nuthatches. Finches enjoy thistle seed feeders, and suet feeders attract four different species of woodpeckers, as well as nuthatches, chickadees and wrens.

In addition to bird feeders, Viette said, it’s important to provide a source of clean, fresh water for the birds throughout the winter months. “You can buy a simple birdbath heater to keep the big water troughs from freezing,” he explained. “Bluebirds will flock to this open water source all winter long.”

When the weather warms up, consider planting seed-, fruit- and berry-producing trees, shrubs and perennials to provide a natural food source for birds and give them some great hiding places.

Feeders help birds maintain optimum energy levels during the colder part of the year.

Make your own bird treats, feeder Birds enjoy a variety of foods, and there are some you can make in your own home. Horticulturist Mark Viette noted that these options make good family projects.

Peanut butter suet stuffing Birds love peanut butter, and this suet stuffing is easy to make. Mix the following ingredients together: • 1 cup chunky peanut butter • 3 cups coarsely ground cornmeal • 1 cup solid vegetable shortening (such as Crisco) • good quality birdseed blend that includes black oil sunflower seeds • dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries, and unsalted peanuts (optional) Place the stuffing in a feeder designed for suet blocks (You can use an empty suet container as a mold), or shape into balls and hang in mesh bags.

Pine cone ornaments Find some good-size pine cones that are fairly open with lots of room for the

peanut butter suet stuffing. Tie a string or yarn around the base of the pine cone that can be used to hang it.

Using your hands, squeeze and pack the stuffing into the spaces between the scales of the cone. If the stuffed cone is sticky enough, roll it in a paper plate of birdseed to add more seed.

Hang the pine cone in a tree near a window so you can watch the birds enjoy it.

Optional: Affix multiple stuffed pine cones to a wreath.

Citrus bird feeders Cut a grapefruit or orange in half, and scoop out the fruit, turning the two peel halves into little bowls.

Poke three holes near the cut edge of each, and feed string or yarn through the holes.

Stuff the “bowls” with peanut butter suet stuffing, and sprinkle birdseed on top. Set in the freezer to harden.

Remove from the freezer, and knot the string ends to create a hanger for each feeder. Hang them near a window.

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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How to care for fall favorites and winter wonders

S

pring is often thought of as the prettiest time of the year for flowers—but fall and winter are full of beauties too, including the hardy chrysanthemum and the vibrant poinsettia.

Mums Fall-blooming mums can enliven October gardens with an array of pinks, apricots, reds, purples and yellows.

These enduring plants are a delight both in the garden and as long-lasting cut flowers.

Mark Viette, a horticulturalist in Augusta County, warns shoppers to be aware that most mums purchased in the fall are not winter-hardy in colder regions. “It’s important to ask someone at a good garden center whether or not the mums they sell are winter-hardy,” he explained. “You may be able to tell by looking at the label. If it doesn’t give hardiness information, it probably isn’t a hardy variety.”

Another way to tell is to look for basal shoots, or stolons, at the base of the plant. “If you see these young shoots, then it is probably a hardier variety,” Viette added.

Hardy mums prefer full sun or light shade and well-drained soil.

“Poorly drained, wet soil is fatal to these perennials, especially during the winter,” Viette explained. It is important to maintain 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plants to protect the crown.

“If you can, it’s always best to plant mums early, before the first frost,” Viette suggested. “Keep them well watered after planting, and do not allow them to dry out!”

To keep the plants nice and compact with lots of blooms, shear or pinch them back by about one-third when they reach about 6 inches tall, and again when new growth reaches 3 to 5 inches; do not pinch back after midJuly.

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Chrysanthemums (top) and poinsettias bring traditional bursts of color to the end-of-year landscape and interior décor.

Once frost finally kills the last blossoms, shear the flowers off, but allow the old foliage to remain over the winter to protect the crown. Cut this foliage back in the spring, being careful not to disturb any new growth.

Poinsettias Native to Central America and Mexico, the poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1830 by Joel Roberts Poinsett.

The brilliant red "petals" of the poinsettia are not flower petals at all but modified leaves called bracts.

The bracts surround the true flowers, which are small and yellow. Recent hybridizing has produced a multitude of variations on the traditional red poinsettia. Plants are now available in white, pink, peach, yellow, marbled and speckled varieties. Choose plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way down the stem, Viette suggested.

The poinsettia plant thrives on indirect, natural daylight. At least six hours of sun exposure daily are recommended, but be sure to avoid direct sunlight, as this can fade the bract color.

To prolong the bright color of the poinsettia bracts, daytime temperatures should not exceed 70 degrees. “Avoid placing the plants near drafts, excessive heat or the dry air from appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts,” Viette added.

Poinsettias require moderately moist soil and should be watered enough to completely saturate the soil—but not so much that the plant is in standing water.

While it is not necessary to fertilize a poinsettia when it is in bloom, a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer may help maintain rich, green foliage and promote new growth after the holidays. Keep plants healthy and growing in a bright location. Cut them back to about 8 inches in late March, and put them outside when night temperatures exceed 55 degrees.

Mark Viette is director of marketing and sales for Andre Viette Farm & Nursery and president of Viette Communications.

He hosts “In the Garden” segments on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program.

© MARKERHISTORY.COM

Heart of the Home

Brunswick stew is commemorated with this historical marker on U.S. Route 58 in Brunswick County.

Brunswick Stew INGREDIENTS

1 large onion, chopped 1 celery rib, chopped 1 large green pepper, chopped 1 cup frozen sliced okra, thawed Modern Brunswick stew recipes offer many variations on the thick, tomato-based meal.

Southern favorite Brunswick stew hails from Virginia

A

roadside historical marker on U.S. Route 58 in Brunswick County claims that Virginia locality is “The Original Home of Brunswick Stew.”

The story relayed on the marker is of a local doctor and friends on a hunting trip in 1828, and their camp cook, who made a stew with squirrels, butter, onions, stale bread and seasonings.

More than one marker of the same nature can be found in Brunswick, Ga. Recipes for Brunswick stew have changed over time as “chicken has replaced squirrel and vegetables have been added, but the stew remains thick and rich,” the Virginia marker notes.

Brunswick stew is a traditional Southern fall stew. It is typically thick and tomato-based and contains potatoes, lima or butter beans, corn and okra. Some stews contain chicken, while others feature traditional game meat. It’s not uncommon to see huge cast-iron pots holding gallons of the stew at family reunions, church suppers and rescue squad fundraisers.

While some traditional stew makers take a team approach to cooking, Cooking Virginia Style with Farm Bureau Women includes a simplified recipe that pairs one cook with one slow-cooker.

4 cups frozen cubed hash-brown potatoes, thawed ¾ pound chopped pork barbecue 1 cup chopped, cooked chicken ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained 15-ounce can tomato sauce 15-ounce can corn with red and green peppers, drained 15-ounce can lima beans, drained 2 cups chicken broth ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS

Combine onion, celery, green pepper, okra, hash browns, pork, chicken, Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, lima beans, broth, salt and pepper in a 5-quart slow cooker.

Cook, covered, on high for 6½ hours.

vafb.com / FALL 2017

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Soil:

It’s the bedrock of

our nation’s food and fiber There are more than 600 documented soil types in Virginia, grouped into five main regions. In this soil series, we will explore the “skin of the earth” in each of these regions and how the soil influences regional agriculture and forestry activities.

In this fourth installment, we explore the Piedmont region.

Row crops like corn and soybeans, as well as hay and wine grapes, are staples grown in the northern Piedmont.

Piedmont region’s red clay soil not a hindrance to

P

iedmont soils have produced some of the world’s best fluecured tobacco.

Virginia’s Piedmont region also is the home of James Madison, picturesque wineries and some of the top agricultural counties in the state. Five counties there are among the state’s top 20 for total value of agricultural products: Cumberland, Fauquier, Franklin, Orange and Pittsylvania.

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The soil type typically found south of the James River is clay-like and sometimes referred to as “poor, red dirt,” noted Stephen Barts, Pittsylvania County agriculture and natural resources agent for Virginia Cooperative Extension. “But that’s why tobacco—especially flue-cured—grows well here,” Barts explained. “Tobacco growers want control over the amount of nutrients given to the plant, and this type of soil enables them to do that.”

The flue-cured tobacco that is grown in the Piedmont’s clay soil is renowned for its “distinctive aroma and chemistry—characteristics that are unique to tobacco grown in this part of the state,” Barts said.

In the northern Piedmont, the deep, red clay soils contribute to row crops “that yield as good as anywhere in the state,” noted Carl Stafford, an Extension agent in Culpeper County.

He added that the deep clay soils have

Soil Regions of Virginia ■■ Appalachian Plateau ■■ Valley and Ridge ■■ Blue Ridge ■■ Piedmont

PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON

■■ Coastal Plain

Most of Virginia’s top tobacco-producing counties are located in the southern Piedmont.

agriculture the ability to hold water that supports crop growth.

The Piedmont region stretches from the falls of the Potomac, Rappahannock and James rivers to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region runs across the middle of Virginia from north to south, expanding outward nearly 190 miles at its border with North Carolina.

It is characterized by rolling hills and numerous ridges near the Blue Ridge.

The Piedmont is split into the

BY KATHY DIXON

northern Piedmont, which contains pastureland and some areas on which silage can be grown; and the southern Piedmont, which is home to eight of the top 10 tobacco-producing counties in the state, including top-ranked Pittsylvania.

Stafford said there are areas in the northern Piedmont with good elevation and drainage, and that means “very few limitations in these soils.” In addition to row crops like corn and soybeans,

farmers in the northern area grow hay and have numerous vineyards.

Jason Fisher, an Extension agent and district forester in Halifax County, noted that, in addition to cattle, hay, small grains and tobacco, “we grow a lot of timber in the Piedmont, which is a mix of both pine and hardwood species.”

He added that many farms in the Piedmont have been reforested into pine plantations.

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2018 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place 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 this issue of Cultivate or the online form at vafb.com/ membership-at-work/membership/ benefits/marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current.

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

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

Finding your member number When placing your ad, be sure to include your Farm Bureau member number, which can be found on your membership card and above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Cultivate. All member numbers will be verified.

Notice of Annual Meeting Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company The annual meeting of policyholders of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, November 30, 2017, at the Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Company.

2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Dated this 1st day of October, 2017.

Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary

Notice of Annual Meeting Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association The annual meeting of members of the Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, November 30, 2017, at the Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Association.

2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Dated this 1st day of October, 2017.

Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary 30

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USPS Statement of Ownership

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.

STEP 3

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

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 longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

Important: We are not responsible

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

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

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.

STEP 5

Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552 Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at vafb.com.

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members April March 5 September August 3

Moving? If your address or phone

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

Mailed to associate members May April 5 August July 5

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

NAME:___________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.:______________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY:_________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________

STATE:________________________

ZIP:______________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above

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

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available

1.________________________ 2.______________________ 3._________________________ 4.________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6._______________________ 7.______________________ 8._________________________ 9.________________________ 10.______________________________ ( ) 11._______________________ 12._____________________ 13.________________________ 14._______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN:* q April (mailed to producer members) qM ay (mailed to associate members) q August (mailed to associate members) q S eptember (mailed to producer members)

q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2018 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free.

(Ads expire with membership).

Ad placement available for these issues only

*

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