FBN June 2013

Virgnia VaFarmBureau.org

June 2013

Farm Bureau News

Youth livestock shows returning to State Fair

Contents 14

Virgnia Farm Bureau News

FFA and 4-H livestock competitions returning to State Fair

There once again will be a full complement of 4-H and FFA youth animal competitions at the Sate Fair of Virginia this fall.

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Virginia coyotes plague livestock producers statewide

Coyotes began causing problems for livestock producers in some parts of Virginia in the 1980s. Today, “every county in Virginia has a coyote population,” a wildlife control official noted.

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Plan ahead for potential summer storms

Planning ahead and preparing for the possibility of a hurricane or tornado are necessary for survival in a crisis.

Departments 6

In the Garden

8

Washington Watch

10

Viewing Virginia

20

Home Checkup Checklist

24

Good for You!

26

Heart of the Home

30

Marketplace

Volume 72, Number 4 June 2013 Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017-763) (ISSN 1525-528X) is published six times a year, January, March, May, June, August, September/October (combined issue).

It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid in Richmond, VA. The annual subscription rate is $1.42 (included in membership dues).

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau News, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261-7552; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email address is virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb. com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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

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

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Member: Virginia Press Association

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

publication schedule Producer members will receive their next issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News in August. The magazine is published six times a year.

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virginia farm bureau federation

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On the Cover 14

Sarah-Jane French of Cumberland County said she is looking forward to showing animals at the 2013 State Fair of Virginia (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President Board of Directors director district Emily Edmondson 1 Richcard L. Sutherland 2 Evelyn H. Janney 3 Gordon R. Metz 4 Stephen L. Saufley 5 Peter A. Truban 6 Thomas E. Graves 7 H. Carl Tinder Sr. 8 Henry E. Wood Jr. 9 Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 W. Ellis Walton 12 M. L. Everett Jr. 13 David L. Hickman 14 Janice R. Burton * Nathan A. Aker **

county Tazewell Grayson Floyd Henry Rockingham Shenandoah Orange Albemarle Buckingham Pittsylvania Lunenburg Middlesex Southampton Accomack Halifax Wythe *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

Securing adequate land to grow crops and raise livestock was the top challenge identified in the latest survey of participants in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers program.

That challenge was identified by 20 percent of respondents, followed by burdensome government regulations and “red tape,” which was identified by 15 percent.

“Access to adequate land to begin farming or expand an established operation is a major concern for today’s young farmers,” said Zach Hunnicutt, AFBF YF&R Committee chairman and a Nebraska farmer.

Nate Aker, who chairs the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee, agreed.

“It’s something that a lot of young farmers are constantly working on,” the Wythe County dairy, beef and pumpkin producer said.

“You need to have a long-term plan” for expanding a farm operation if it involves

buying or leasing more land, Aker said. At the same time, “there are some cases where you lose land that you have, and you try to make up the difference.”

It’s possible in some instances to have a long-term lease on farmland, he said, “and some of the short-term leases—they’re just short-term leases.”

Aker said he and other farmers in Southwest Virginia lease land that is for sale, knowing that they could lose their leases if the land sells. And whether they are looking to buy or lease, “the competition with development is pretty stiff.”

The 21st annual YF&R survey revealed that 90 percent of participants are more optimistic about farming and ranching than they were five years ago and that 83 percent believe they are better off than they were five years ago. More than 94 percent considered themselves lifetime farmers, while 90 percent would like to see their children follow in their footsteps.

Eighty-four percent believe their children will be able to do that.

Reminder: Discussion Meet will take place at YF Summer Expo in August The annual Young Farmers Discussion Meet competition is designed to build participants’ ability to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions that best meet their collective needs. The Discussion Meet is not a debate; but instead emphasizes active participation from each person involved.

Participants are judged on their ability to listen, share insights, offer constructive criticism and lead the group toward consensus on agricultural issues.

The semifinals for this year’s Discussion Meet will be held Aug. 3 at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Summer Expo in Wytheville.

The competition is open to Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35. All cash prizes and incentives for competing at the Summer Expo are sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau GM Discount Program.

The final round will be held in December at the VFBF Annual Convention in Richmond.

The state-level winner will receive a John Deere Gator utility vehicle and an expense-paid trip to compete at the 2014 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. The first runner-up also will receive a travel package to the AFBF convention.

To enter the Discussion Meet, contact Ron Saacke at 804-290-1032 or ron.saacke@vafb. com. He will provide participants with resource materials for competition.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

kathy dixon

Young farmers cite securing adequate land as top concern

Participants in this year’s Young Farmers Winter Expo toured Shenandoah Valley farms and agribusinesses.

National competition The AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet award winner will receive a choice of either a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or 2014 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, as well as an expense-paid trip to the 2014 AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference.

Three runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 55A, courtesy of Case IH, a Stihl Farm Boss, courtesy of Stihl, and $2,500.

All state and national prizes are subject to change and will be officially announced during or just prior to the annual competition.

june 2013

3

William P. Freeman, former VFBF board member, passes William P. Freeman of Giles County, a former board member for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, died April 24.

Mr. Freeman, who was 90, served in the Marine Corps for 26 years. After retiring as a sergeant major in 1967, he raised cattle and grew apples in Loudoun and Giles counties with his late wife, Rosemary.

Mr. Freeman served on the VFBF William P. Freeman board from 1988 to 2004 and represented producer members from Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties. He also served on the Giles County Board of Supervisors and chaired the board in 1996. In 2005 he was awarded a VFBF Distinguished Service Award.

Bruce Hiatt, immediate past VFBF president, recalled Mr. Freeman’s leadership qualities. “In almost any (board) situation, he was involved in discussion,” Hiatt said. “He had a sharp mind and could cut through any red tape.”

Mr. Freeman is survived by daughters Billie Jo Bevers and Georgia Haverty, three grandchildren, one sister and one brother.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Farm accident report website helps track farm accidents, fatalities Virginia Farm Bureau recently launched a website for reporting farm accidents. The site at FarmAccidentReport.com, allows anyone to report accidents they witness on Virginia farms.

“We wanted to make it easier for first responders and others to report farm accidents to us so that we could gather the most accurate information possible,” said Jimmy Maass, Farm Bureau safety manager. The organization offers farm safety inspections to its members and farm safety presentations to interested organizations and has compiled unofficial farm accident stats since 1994.

“We encourage anyone who knows of a farm accident to go to the website and fill out the form,” Maass said. “It will help us to make sure we account for as many farm accidents as possible, which will help us determine which areas to target in our education and warning efforts.”

According to Farm Bureau findings regarding farm fatalities since 1994, 107 people have died when their tractors overturned; 61 were involved in unspecified tractor or equipment mishaps; and 49 were run over by tractors or other farm equipment. Sixty-one farm deaths were attributed to operating farm equipment on public roads and to incidents involving animals or all-terrain vehicles.

VaFarmBureau.org

Award-winning Farm Bureau agent glad he stumbled onto insurance path

Mike W. Brown said becoming a Virginia Farm Bureau insurance agent 19 years ago was “the best thing I ever did.”

Brown is the recipient of this year’s Ralph Stokes Award—the highest honor a Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. agent can achieve. But he didn’t set out to sell insurance. In fact, the highly decorated salesman failed his first insurance aptitude test.

The Virginia Tech graduate had earned a degree in business management with a minor in exercise physiology and was working as a personal trainer in Washington.

One of his clients worked for Metropolitan Life and suggested Brown apply for a position with the company. He took a profile test as part of the application process and “failed miserably.”

Brown remained in the fitness business, but when he ran into his former client several years later, he was convinced to apply again. This time he aced the test and in 1990 began working as a Met Life agent.

“It was extremely challenging,” Brown said. But his skills improved, and his book of business increased.

Then in 1994 he met Barbara McDaniel, a legend among Farm Bureau insurance agents. While at a Fredericksburg Association of Life Underwriters meeting, McDaniel introduced Brown to Farm Bureau.

Even though he had grown up working on a farm, he’d never heard of Farm Bureau.

McDaniel told Brown he could double his income as a Farm Bureau agent, but it took seven lunch meetings before she convinced him to make the switch.

In 1994 he began working as a Spotsylvania County Farm Bureau insurance agent. In his second year with the company, McDaniel challenged him to win “Sophomore of the Year,” which recognizes the top second-year agent in the state.

She had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and was planning to take a leave of absence. “I promised her I would win,” Brown said. And he did.

At that same sales conference, McDaniel received the Ralph Stokes Award.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

kathy dixon

By Kathy Dixon

“It was probably one of the best moments of my life,” Fauquier County Farm Bureau insurance agent Mike W. Brown said of being honored by his peers with the Ralph Stokes Award.

“For 19 years, I’ve watched the winners of Ralph Stokes and have had so much respect for them and thought about how I’d like to be named the winner, but I never imagined that would actually happen,” Brown said.

When the winner was announced at this year’s Sales Conference, he started thinking they could possibly be describing him.

When he heard his name, “I was at a loss for words. It was probably one of the best moments of my life.”

The Ralph Stokes award is given annually to a Farm Bureau agent who supports company policies, has a high degree of integrity, is highly respected by peers, supports the agency force and creates a high degree of client loyalty.

“Mike Brown represents these ideals,” said Ray Leonard, VFBMIC vice president of field operations. “Mike is a consummate professional, working long hours to ensure that his members understand their insurance needs and supporting his family and community.”

Farm Bureau established the Ralph Stokes Award in 1986, the same year Stokes retired after selling Farm Bureau insurance for 32 years. Stokes was known for his motivation and for a high level of mobility, despite the fact that he used a wheelchair while serving policyholders in remote areas.

In addition to the Ralph Stokes award, Brown was recognized by his peers as the Most Valuable Agent of the Year for his sales district.

“We are fortunate to have Mike Brown representing Virginia Farm Bureau in Fauquier County,” Leonard said.

Although Brown has been out of the fitness business for decades, he continues to work out in his home gym every day.

Any spare time he has is spent with his wife, Tammy, and their four dogs: Cane, a yellow Lab rescued after Hurricane Katrina; Javier, a Chihuahua mix; Ladybug, a pug/Border terrier mix; and Quiggly, a black Lab. june 2013

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In the Garden

While some gardeners are afraid to prune trees or shrubs during the summer, it sometimes is the best time to make those cuts.

That’s the case with pear and other fruit trees, “because there isn’t any excessive growth, since it is mid-season,” said horticulturalist Mark Viette. “When there isn’t a lot of excess growth, it is easier to prune.”

Before pruning, walk through the garden and decide what needs to be rejuvenated, Viette recommended. He shared the example of a viburnum in his yard that a persistent woodpecker had damaged.

“There was a lot of damage, but it still had a strong trunk,” he said. “I looked at the tree and decided what I wanted to do, which was to prune the tree back hard and rejuvenate it instead of replacing it. I cut it almost to the ground but left a lot of nice, new growths.”

Viette recommended rejuvenating trees and shrubs by pruning once every five to seven years to encourage new growth.

“Make sure when you prune that you do it right the first time, because once you make a cut, you can’t do it over,” he said.

Viette said he also had a Blue Atlas cedar that needed some attention.

“I came in and removed all of the small limbs. Remember to pay close attention when pruning, because you will often see things you didn’t see before, such as dead or dying branches. Remove any branches that are dead or dying.”

Viette said he cut the cedar back to 5 feet in height.

“Cut it back, and then let it re-grow,” he said. “It may take up to three years for the tree to grow big again.”

Check print and online resources to find the optimal time to prune specific trees and shrubs, Viette said, and remember to wear protective eyewear when cutting trees and shrubs.

“By cutting the dead branches and pruning the trees back, you’ll make the original tree much happier,” he said. “Five years from now the tree will look great, so don’t be afraid of mid-summer pruning.”

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

photos by sara owens

A mid-summer day’s pruning can rejuvenate some trees and shrubs

“You’ll make the original tree much happier” and more attractive when you prune out damage and rangy growth, Mark Viette said.

VaFarmBureau.org

In the Garden

Fresh-cut flowers bring the outdoors indoors Bringing flowers from your garden indoors can really add color to your home, and horticulturalist Mark Viette recommended cutting them in the morning for best results.

“The best time to cut is early in the morning before the heat of the day sets in, around 10 or 11,” Viette said. “If you cut them later, the flowers and leaves will start to wilt from the heat.”

Flowers that are just starting to open will last longer indoors, and for maximum visual impact “cut a mixture of different summer plants.

Flowers that work great indoors include the following: • yellow or red hot poker; • crinum; • statice; • Russian sage; • phlox; and • hosta.

photos by norm hyde

Hosta leaves work well as a filler, giving the flowers in arrangements an attractive backdrop, Viette said. Choose a couple of each flower when cutting for indoor displays.

Use a sharp knife or shears, and cut each flower at the bottom of the stem near the base of the plant. Place cut flowers in a bucket of cool water immediately.

“Re-trim the stems once you get inside and start to put your arrangement together,” Viette said.

Cut flowers early in the morning, and place cuttings in a container of cool water immediately.

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Mark Viette appears on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program. Viette and his father operate the Andre Viette Farm and Nursery in Augusta County and have a live radio show broadcast by more than 60 mid-Atlantic stations each Saturday morning. They also are members of the Augusta County Farm Bureau. Andre Viette currently serves on the organization’s board of directors and on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee, and Mark Viette is a former Augusta Farm Bureau board member. june 2013

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Washington Watch

WARNER ROUND TABLE ALLOWS FARMERS TO WEIGH IN ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

In recent years “all of agriculture” has come to rely to some degree on foreign workers, said Wilmer Stoneman, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation associate director of governmental relations.

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said the so-called Gang of Eight’s current immigration bill “is the best chance in 35 years to fix a broken immigration system.”

Warner announced that to a room full of farmers and agribusiness professionals during a May 3 round-table discussion about immigration reform at Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Goochland County office.

About 30 people attended to give Warner input on the proposed legislation.

“I want to hear your concerns, because we still have time,” he said.

He outlined the highlights of the bill, which include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently in the United States illegally; increased border security; employer verification requirements; and an opportunity for more high-skilled and guest workers to enter the country.

Many of the producers attending the meeting rely on the federal H-2A or H-2B foreign worker program for their seasonal labor needs.

“Over the last decade or so, all of agriculture has begun to use foreign workers,” said Wilmer Stoneman, VFBF associate director of governmental relations.

“I think getting legal status for those 11 million helps all of you,” Warner said.

“That’s going to be the big kahuna of this legislation.”

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

But meeting participants were more concerned about wage rates required under the proposed legislation.

Several Pittsylvania County dairy operators spoke out about hourly wage increases.

Roger Jefferson, a Pittsylvania County dairy farmer, expressed concerns about how they would affect his bottom line.

“I could just quit the business, but a lot of people can’t walk away from it and I don’t want to walk away from it,” Jefferson said.

“I am a little concerned about the wage rate,” Warner responded.

Others shared concerns about the requirement that farmers give American laborers the first crack at seasonal job openings. They said it’s next to impossible to get American workers to fill the jobs, and once they have made an attempt, the opportunity to hire foreign workers for the season has passed.

Troy Simpson, who owns a landscape business and hires foreign workers, said he tried filling jobs with American workers, “and it just didn’t work.”

He had 150 referrals from the Virginia Employment Commission; 74 were scheduled for interviews, but only 34 showed up. Six of the 34 reported for work, and only one is still working for Simpson.

The assertion that immigrants are taking Americans’ jobs, Simpson said, “is a falsehood.”

AFBF SUPPORTS IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL’S GUESTWORKER PROGRAM It has a long way to go before becoming law, but the introduction of a bipartisan immigration reform bill is significant for U.S. agriculture.

A group of senators has unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes provisions for a new agricultural guestworker program. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said that’s extremely important for the future of agriculture.

“Ensuring access to a legal workforce is a high priority for AFBF, and we are pleased with this first step in the process. We look forward to working with Senate and House leaders as comprehensive immigration reform legislation is introduced and moves its way through Congress.”

The ability of laborers from outside the United States to fill farm jobs is critical, Stallman explained. “We have to have workers to tend to, harvest and plant our crops. Now, without that, what will happen—and what has happened to some extent when there have been worker shortages—is some operations move into another country, so we’re importing products.”

The proposed guestworker program, he said, would provide a stable, legal workforce for U.S. agriculture.

“What we proposed was basically a two-prong program. One was an ‘at-will’ program. That means a worker could come across the border with a legal visa and work wherever he could find work for a designated agricultural employer. So he can move from job to job as work demands dictated.

“Another part is the contract provisions where a worker can come across, with a proper visa, and then work under a contract much like the H-2A program. Now, only, the bureaucratic requirements would be much less for the ag employers and would make it much easier for them to use the program.”

Previously, Stallman said, a challenge for employers using the H-2A program has been negotiating the regulatory process in time to have workers in the fields when they were needed.

VaFarmBureau.org

Washington Watch

CDC: U.S. foodborne illness outbreaks on the decline

The safety of America’s food supply keeps getting better.

According to recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by 2010 the frequency of foodborne illness outbreaks had decreased by 32 percent over the previous five years.

“The industry is doing a great job,” said Dr. Richard Raymond, a food safety and public health consultant who previously worked as U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for food safety. “Consumers are doing a great job of listening to the safe food handling and proper cooking messages that are out there, and the restaurants and other people that cook our foods are doing a better job of preventing crosscontamination.”

Among the reasons food has gotten safer, Raymond said, are increased testing and a willingness to pull products out of circulation if a problem is suspected.

Foodborne illnesses are caused by contaminated foods or beverages. The CDC found that infections caused by six key pathogens in 2010 were 23 percent less frequent.

“E. coli incidences have been reduced, and the industry has worked hard to curb any potential outbreaks,” said Tony Banks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation commodity marketing specialist. “Farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the influence that crop and animal production practices have on food safety, and they are continuously implementing management practices that prevent potential foodborne contamination.”

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

A Food and Drug Administration analysis of U.S. milk found zero positive animal drug residue test results in finished products.

Study confirms U.S. milk is free of animal drug residue A recently released Food and Drug Administration annual report on milk drug residue says milk produced in the United States is free of animal drug residues.

In February the FDA released its annual National Milk Drug Residue Data analysis of animal drug residue tests in milk for Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2012.

All 50 states and Puerto Rico submitted data for the analysis. The samples came from raw milk taken at the farm, bulk milk pickup tankers, pasteurized fluid milk and pasteurized packaged products, along with other random tests throughout the supply chain.

Of the 3.8 million samples tested, only 828 non-processed, or raw, milk samples tested positive for animal drug residues, which is .017 percent.

All processing plants are required to test raw milk prior to receiving it. Raw milk that tests positive for animal drug residue is rejected at the plant and must be discarded.

Zero positive drug residue results were reported in finished products, which are the products consumers find on store shelves.

“These results show that consumers should feel confident that dairy farmers and processing plants are doing an excellent job in keeping the milk supply free of animal drug residues,” said Carolyn Peterson, dairy and foods program supervisor for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Leigh Pemberton, a third-generation Hanover County dairy farmer and member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Dairy Advisory Committee, said it’s a point of pride that milk from his farm is safe.

“It has to be a clean product, or we can’t sell it,” Pemberton said. “We consume milk, and we’re not going to produce something that isn’t safe for us or for others. We’ve been at this a long time. My grandfather started milking cows in 1898. We take pride in knowing that the milk we ship is a clean, safe product.” june 2013

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Viewing Virginia

Southwest Virginia farmers fight elk hunting restrictions Heated debates over reintroducing elk to Southwest Virginia have resumed in four localities this spring, prompted by a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries proposal to prohibit any hunting of elk in Lee, Russell, Scott and Tazewell counties.

Farmers in Southwest Virginia oppose the proposal “because it’s a de facto expansion of introducing elk into the state,” said Emily Edmondson, a Tazewell County cattle producer and member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

“We voiced our opposition to this in 2010” when the game department decided to reintroduce elk in Buchanan, Dickenson

and Wise counties, she said. “Our opinion hasn’t changed.”

Despite the earlier opposition from farmers in the region, the game department moved ahead with importing a small herd of elk from Kentucky for a pilot program in the three coal counties.

The department also planned to bring in 24 more elk from Kentucky in May. Farm Bureau members urged farmers and other concerned citizens to oppose closing the hunting season for elk during the game department’s public comment period on the proposal, which ran through mid-May. Edmondson said cattle producers are worried elk could expose their herds to animal diseases such as brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, costing them thousands of dollars in lost sales due to quarantine requirements and increased vaccination costs. There’s also an increased risk of auto collisions in areas where elk have been reintroduced.

“We’ve been seeing large increases of elk in Eastern Kentucky, and they’re causing an increased number of auto accidents and increased damage from those accidents there,” Edmondson said. “It’s simple physics. There will be higher damage when you hit an 800-pound animal with a car or truck than when you hit a 150-pound deer. So the amount of damage and risk to drivers and passengers is multiplied when there are more elk in the area.

“If the bordering counties are set aside and hunting of elk is prohibited, it’s only a matter of time before they spread east.

That will be devastating to our farmers and dangerous to all Virginia drivers.”

Aspiring farmers turning to classes to formulate business plans

Farmers in Southwest Virginia are concerned that a growing elk population will cause more traffic accidents and increase the risk that livestock will be exposed to brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

The latest snapshot of America’s beginning farmers and ranchers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds their numbers have been declining for at least two decades.

USDA also found that most of them

VaFarmBureau.org

Viewing Virginia

Classes are being offered in Virginia to help aspiring farmers develop viable business plans.

acquire their land from someone other than relatives, and that they are less likely to be raising traditional row crops and livestock.

All those statistics seem to accurately reflect Virginia’s beginning farmers, said Kelli Scott, farm mentor coordinator for the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Project.

There are currently seven sponsoring groups holding Virginia Whole Farm Planning classes for would-be farmers.

Scott’s role is to help the participants make connections with experienced farmers who are willing to assist them.

“The overarching goal of the Virginia Farm Mentor Network is to capture the skill, knowledge and experience of the existing farmer and share it with beginning farmers,” Scott said. She currently has 30 experienced farmers on her team, and 10 would-be farmers. But those numbers are growing every week as participants graduate from the farm planning classes with some knowledge and a viable business plan.

Each sponsoring organization has a different name for its curriculum. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services call their program Certified Farm Seeker. The name is intended to reassure established farmers that graduates will be up to the challenge of owning and running a farm.

“The wonderful thing about the Certified Farm Seeker program is that it’s online.

You don’t have to attend physical classes,” Scott said.

Each class has between 20 and 50 students, so hundreds of would-be farmers could be entering the field this year.

“Some folks are coming into this as a second career,” Scott said. “Particularly in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, they’ve bought 5 or 10 acres of land and want to do something with it. But others are younger people with no assets

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

who’ve developed an interest in farming.”

A complete explanation of the various whole farm planning classes around the state and the farm mentorship program is available at vabeginningfarmer.aee.vt.edu.

The USDA document on beginning farmers in 2013 is available at ers.usda.gov/ media/988138/eb-22.pdf.

Network goes back to basics to reach parttime farmers Virginia has 27,000 part-time farmers.

Unlike their full-time colleagues who are likely to be alerted immediately of an animal health crisis, it could take days or weeks to contact them with critical information.

Virginia’s new Animal Health Network will rely on personal contacts between feed suppliers and their customers to help pass along health warnings. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Virginia Cooperative Extension have created a network of local feed stores to better communicate with smaller-scale producers.

“For the producers who work in a business in an office or an urban setting during the day and then stop by the feed store on the way home, we’re planning if there’s an emergency situation to post it there,” said Dr. Richard Wilkes, state veterinarian. Notices would explain what the animal health issue is, tell producers where to get information and recommend what their next step should be.

“I think this is very much going back to ways that worked in the past,” Wilkes said.

“We had barbershops, we had country stores and places that people congregated to pick up a few items and have some conversation, to visit with their neighbors.

We’ve lost some of that, but we do see the local feed stores as one dimension of this older-type community that does exist and even thrive in some situations.”

The network has been tested several times with a high success rate in quickly spreading the word to feed stores across the state, Wilkes said. Other methods of communication like press releases and social media also will be used, but the network will directly target smaller-scale producers with word of mouth and signage.

Information about the Animal Health Network is available from Virginia Cooperative Extension offices, the state veterinarian’s office and local feed stores.

Extension sharing resources via e-books Virginia Cooperative Extension has begun making some of its more popular consumer resources available via e-book.

“A few years ago we were still handing out paper pamphlets, and now we’re putting things on people’s iPhones,” said Lori Greiner, Extension communications manager. “A couple of other state Cooperative Extension offices have been exploring this as well, but we’re pretty much on the cutting edge.”

A list of the currently available Extension e-books can be viewed at pubs.ext. vt.edu/category/ebooks.html. Everything from gardening tips to storm water runoff management is available for users of iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, Barnes and Noble Nook and Sony Reader devices.

Adobe PDF versions are also available for people who want to download documents to a computer or read them on an Internet browser.

“Now you can have those instructions right with you; you don’t have to print them out on paper when you’re doing the project,” Greiner said.

The initial articles featured in the e-book format were chosen based on which online articles were popular on the Extension website, she said. “We went back to some of the authors and asked them to review their publication so we could re-launch them in the e-pub format. They also updated them if any information was outof-date.”

Greiner said Extension is working with other specialists to update future articles. june 2013

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Virginia coyotes plague livestock producers

By Morgan Barker

C

linton Bell is one of many farmers in Virginia who have lost animals to a growing coyote population.

The Tazewell County cattle and sheep producer has had problems with coyotes since the 1980s. “One year we lost 25 lambs to coyotes. Since the first of this year, I’ve lost one ewe and half a dozen lambs,” Bell said.

According to Chad Fox, a district supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services agency, coyotes have lived in Virginia for 50 to 60 years.

“They first became a problem in the mid-1980s,” Fox said. “There were isolated problems before, but it wasn’t widespread enough to cause serious problems.”

Today “every county in Virginia has a coyote population.”

Wildlife Services reports that 170 sheep, 21 calves and 45 goats were killed by coyotes on the 150 Virginia farms that the agency provided assistance to in 2012.

Those numbers were down from previous years after preventative control of the coyotes was conducted on farms that had a history of problems.

Livestock losses continue to have a significant economic impact, though.

“The coyotes will attack a birthing mother and take out the calf,” said Tazewell County Farm Bureau President Eric Whitesell. “It’s a tremendous economic impact on these farmers, because of the animals that never make it to market.”

Bell concurred, noting that “a good many people have gone out of business because of coyotes.”

Fox pointed out that the impact on livestock production is much larger than statistics can represent. “Some things aren’t quantifiable, such as stress to animals and fence damage. It’s hard to put a damage figure on it.”

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Where coyotes used to be a problem mainly in Virginia’s western counties, they are now known to attack livestock in all parts of the state. Charles Llewellyn, a cattle farmer in Gloucester County, was the first person to have a documented attack in his area. Two years ago he lost 24 animals to coyotes.

“I went to the county and animal control, and they sent a fella from Highland County to diagnose the problem,” Llewellyn said. “I put up night cameras out in the woods, and we figured out it was coyotes.”

Methods of dealing with the coyote population vary throughout the state. Some counties have a bounty system through which individuals who Coyotes have litters of three to 12 pups between late March kill coyotes are given a reward and May, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. for a kill. But critics call bounty systems inefficient, and funding can be problematic. Some dead livestock practices and use guard localities place a limit on coyote bounties. animals such as dogs, llamas or donkeys.”

“Lots of coyotes that are brought in for Coyotes are considered a nuisance the bounty are miles from the nearest farm species, so there are no restricted hunting and not causing problems,” Whitesell said. seasons. Bell, who uses traps and snares, The bounty “gets people’s interest up,” said he catches “between 20 and 40 Bell said, “but we kill more coyotes than coyotes a year.” they can pay us for.”

Howard Nestor, president of the Fox asserts that there is really no way Chesterfield County Farm Bureau, traps to control the coyote population. “You as well. “I haven’t lost a calf to them yet,” cannot remove enough out of a local he said, “but I know another farmer who population to make a difference. The trapped six to eight coyotes, which means best you can do is remove coyotes from he has a dozen or more coyotes.” site-specific farms, but there’s no overall The future for livestock producers with management solution.” coyote problems seems to be focused on However, farmers can take preventative prevention. action to deter coyotes, he said. “The best “We go out and remove problem coyotes deterrent is a good fence. It can protect and teach farmers how to change to the animals and help identify how the practices that would reduce predations,” coyotes are getting in.”

Fox said.

He also suggests that farmers “move Wildlife Services damage specialists livestock to keep an eye on them and move visit sites, diagnose problems and suggest to a pasture with a better fence, improve methods for protecting livestock.

VaFarmBureau.org

Coyotes prefer semi-forested or open farm or pasture lands. They are most typically observed at dawn and dusk, and they do not hibernate in the winter. They are opportunistic foragers.

State budget includes funds to address wildlife damage on farms

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned Feb. 23 with an amended budget that included funding for an additional staff person to assist farmers with wildlife damage to crops and livestock.

Gov. Bob McDonnell added $72,525 to the budget to provide for another wildlife damage specialist who will provide direct assistance to producers through the U.S. Department of Wildlife Services to deal with nuisance species such as coyotes.

Legislators went a step further and provided $125,000 to Virginia State University for a Virginia Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist position. Those funds would match a grant from the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to also develop a call center for wildlife damage issues.

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4-H and FFA shows returning to State Fair of Virginia There will be a full complement of 4-H and FFA youth animal competitions at the State Fair of Virginia this year; officials have announced that the organizations’ dairy and livestock shows are returning.

“We are very excited to return the state 4-H and FFA youth dairy cattle, dairy goat and livestock shows to the State Fair this fall,” said Dr. Edwin Jones, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension. “We look forward to collaborating with the fair and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation on these important educational events that provide youth an opportunity to learn important life skills and leadership.”

The 4-H and FFA dairy cow and dairy goat shows will kick off the youth animal competitions Sept. 27-29, and other livestock shows will be held Oct. 3-6. The market and breeding shows for beef cattle, dairy cows, dairy goats, swine, sheep and meat goats will be open to all Virginia 4-H and FFA members.

Winners will receive premiums and scholarships.

“This program not only provides scholarship money but also gives the large number of youth who participate invaluable life lessons that accompany raising and showing livestock,” said

Rachel Kohl, an advanced instructor in Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Program and superintendent of the fair’s dairy goat competitions.

All of the 4-H and FFA events will be held on a portion of The Meadow Event Park south of state Route 30, near the venue’s equine facility. The new location is close to the fair entrance gate and is accessible from the midway area via a pedestrian tunnel under Route 30.

“This is a huge positive, moving the livestock events next to the equine facility,” said Glenn Martin, SFVA livestock and events coordinator. “When fairgoers go through the entrance, they will see the livestock tents immediately and will hopefully take the opportunity to start their fair visit there. This is a great chance for the general public to get closer to livestock and horses and ask questions of show participants.”

All 4-H and FFA members who want to exhibit livestock at the State Fair are required first to nominate their livestock projects.

The nomination schedule and other show information will be posted on the Extension youth livestock Web page at ext.vt.edu/ youthlivestock as it becomes available.

“We could not be more delighted to welcome the 4-H and FFA youth livestock events back to the State Fair,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “They are as timehonored a tradition as the fair itself, and we are committed to creating a fitting place for them this fall. I know there are many, many fairgoers who will be pleased to see them return, because the shows are an important part of many people’s State Fair experience.”

In recent years, 4-H and FFA members have exhibited more than 900 livestock projects at the fair.

The 2013 4-H and FFA youth livestock competitions will begin Sept. 27, the State Fair of Virginia’s opening day. courtesy of leeanne ladin

2013 State Fair of Virginia This year’s State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

OF VIRGINIA

Livestock competition perks include money, friendships

By Kathy Dixon They may not bring fame and fortune, but the annual 4-H livestock competitions at the State Fair of Virginia offer competitors significant benefits: college scholarship money and lasting friendships.

Sarah-Jane French had a wall full of ribbons that she’s won at the fair showing cattle, goats and sheep. “But I had to take it down because it got so full,” she said.

She also has a bank account with scholarship money she’s won and is saving for college. The Cumberland County eighthgrader said she’s been showing for the past five years and hopes to earn enough money at the shows to help pay her college tuition.

Last year, French had the Grand Champion Steer, one of the highest honors of the competition. And she won scholarship money while competing at the statewide livestock competitions, which were held in Harrisonburg last year.

“I am very excited about this year and very glad the livestock competitions are moving back to the State Fair of Virginia,” French said.

Elizabeth Nixon, who began showing livestock when she was just an 8-yearold member of the Orange County 4-H Cloverbuds, agreed. “I have lots of good memories of competing at the State Fair, and I’ve won a great amount of scholarship money to use for my education as well.”

Nixon, who is now a freshman at Butler Community College in Kansas and a member of the college’s livestock judging team, said showing cattle and sheep at the fair “is absolutely one of my most favorite things to do.”

The friendships she has made are invaluable, Nixon said. This summer she will be working for the Virginia Cattleman’s Association and its executive secretary Jason Carter, whom she got to know while showing cattle and sheep at the fair.

To enter this year’s competitions, youth must be members of either 4-H or FFA. 4-H is run through local clubs, and FFA is sponsored by high schools.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

courtesy of elizabeth nixon

Elizabeth Nixon of Orange County, shown during a 2011 competition, said showing sheep and cattle at the State Fair “is absolutely one of my most favorite things to do.”

Online entry forms have to be filled out, and show animals have to be “nominated” during several sessions in the summer.

After that, the exhibitors bring their animals to the fair, set up stalls or pens, fill them with bedding materials and wait for their assigned show times. In the interim, market project animals are weighed, and most exhibitors wash and clip their animals prior to taking them in the ring.

“When it’s time, you go in the ring, hope for the best and hope you walk out with a blue ribbon or banner,” Nixon said.

There are a variety of components in

each competition, including showmanship, breeding and market classes. The market and breeding classes are judged based on an animal’s individual conformation, while the showmanship competitions are based on how well the exhibitor has worked with the animal. “It’s about how you present yourself and the animal you’re showing,” Nixon explained.

French recommends that every fairgoer visit the livestock tents. “When I went for the first time, I had no idea what they were doing,” she said. “But I got interested quickly.”

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Students on field trips to the State Fair of Virginia can watch the workings of a bee hive; see cattle, goats, horses, chickens and other farm animals close-up and talk with the people who raise them; try their hands at milking a cow; pan for gold; learn about traditional and contemporary art and music styles; and observe principles of physics on midway rides.

“There is, therefore, a very good reason to call the fair ‘Virginia’s Largest Outdoor Classroom,’” said Betsy Foster, coordinator of the fair’s Educational Exposition, which draws about 14,000 students to the fair on field trips annually.

Educators statewide can begin registering field trips to the State Fair of Virginia’s 2013 Educational Exposition for weekdays Sept. 27 through Oct. 4.

“This is a tremendous resource for teachers at all levels,” Foster said, “and we take pains to make sure that there are plenty of Standards of Learning-relevant exhibits. We’re proud to offer an abundance of learning opportunities related to Virginia agriculture, forestry, history and natural resources, as well as technology and the fine and performing arts. And we throw in that dash of fair fun that makes it a truly unique field trip experience.”

Preschool and elementary school groups are welcome to visit on Friday, Sept. 27, Monday, Sept. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Middle and high school groups can book visits on Wednesday, Oct. 2, through Friday, Oct. 4, and Oct. 4 will be Home School Day as well.

Teachers who have never brought students to the fair can see 2012 online resources and a field trip planning guide on the fair’s website at StateFairVa.org/ Education.aspx. The 2013 versions will be available online Sept. 3.

Public and private school educators can register field trips to the Educational Expo at StateFairVa.org/Education/Educational_ Expo_Form.aspx. Home school educators can register through the Home Educators Association of Virginia.

The Educational Exposition is sponsored by the Virginia Lottery.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

monica burrow

Teachers can begin scheduling field trips to ‘Virginia’s Largest Outdoor Classroom’

Panning for gold has been a popular activity among schoolchildren on field trips to the State Fair.

VaFarmBureau.org

OF VIRGINIA

monica burrow

Field trips to the fair provide many children with their first opportunity to see farm animals up close.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

june 2013

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Miss Virginia-affiliated pageant will debut at 2013 State Fair The Miss State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program is accepting applications through Aug. 30. The pageant will be held Sept. 28 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.

“We wanted to bring back some of the traditions of the State Fair of Virginia, and one of those is to have a queen represent the fair,” said Sherri McKinney, executive director of the pageant. “We’re excited to partner with the Miss Virginia and Miss America organizations because of their standards and their long-standing commitment to scholarships, which have also been an important part of the fair.”

The Miss State Fair pageant will include Teen, Preteen and Miss programs.

Preteens must be ages 9 to 12; the Teen program is for girls ages 13 to 17 and not in

their senior year of high school; and Miss contestants must be 17 to 24 and a high school senior or beyond. All participants will take part in interview, fitness, talent and evening gown competitions.

The new titleholder will represent the State Fair of Virginia at the 2014 Miss Virginia Pageant in Roanoke, serve as a spokesperson for the State Fair and make appearances throughout the state. She also will receive a $500 scholarship toward her college education and paid registration in the Miss Virginia Pageant. The Teen and Preteen winners will receive paid registration fees in the Miss Virginia Outstanding Teen and Preteen 2014 program.

“The Miss Virginia organization is very proud to have the Miss State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program as part of our family,” said Harlen Gudger, executive director and president of the Miss Virginia organization.

“This year the Miss Virginia Pageant will award almost $250,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships to its participants. Next year, by including the Miss State Fair of Virginia Pageant, there will be even more of an

In 1979 former Miss State Fair of Virginia Kylene Barker became the first Miss Virginia to be crowned Miss America.

opportunity for the young women of Virginia to earn scholarship money to further their education.”

The winner of the Miss Virginia Pageant will compete in the 2014 Miss America Pageant.

Kylene Barker of Galax was a former Miss State Fair who, in 1979, became the first Miss Virginia to be crowned Miss America.

For more information about the Miss State Fair of Virginia program, visit MissStateFairofVirginia.webs.com.

Fair seeking volunteer ambassadors If you enjoy talking to people, like visiting the State Fair of Virginia and want to volunteer, then the State Fair Volunteer Ambassador Corps needs you!

The ambassador corps was formed in 1990 to make the fair a friendly, welcoming place for visitors, and it is still a vital part of the event today.

The ambassadors greet fairgoers, distribute program booklets, answer questions and provide directions.

Prior to the fair’s 10-day run, volunteers are required to attend a short orientation session. During the fair they are asked to work four-hour weekday shifts or fivehour weekend shifts that entail standing, walking and interacting with the public.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Most ambassadors work more than one shift during the fair’s run, averaging four shifts per person. They wear their own white shirts and khaki pants, along with an identifying uniform, which is likely to be a utility apron and optional hat. The uniform will be provided.

If you are interested in becoming part of this dynamic group, contact Kathy Dixon at kdixon@statefairva.org or Harry Wilkins at 804-288-4351.

State Fair Ambassador Corps volunteers greet fairgoers and provide directions and information.

VaFarmBureau.org

New benefit offers discounts on Case IH equipment A new 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.

Eligible individuals, family or business members will receive the following discounts on purchases of these qualifying products:

• • • • • • • • • •

Case IH Farmall compact tractors (A & B) – $300 per unit; Case IH Farmall utility tractors (C, U, J Series) – $500 per unit; Case IH Maxxum Series tractors – $500 per unit; Case IH Farmall 100A Series tractors – $500 per unit; Case IH self-propelled windrowers – $500 per unit; Case IH large square balers – $500 per unit; Case IH round balers – $300 per unit; Case IH disc mower conditioners – $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, and the equipment included provides opportunities for small landowners to larger, professional producers ,” 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.”

U.S.-based Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors in more than 160 countries. Find a dealership near you at caseih.com.

Case IH sickle mower conditioners – $300 per unit; and Case IH Scout utility vehicles – $300 per unit.

Members now can save on health screenings from Life Line Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has joined forces with Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive screenings, to provide a new screening service to members at a discounted rate.

Life Line Screening offers four vascular screenings and one osteoporosis screening. Its goal is to support physicians’ efforts to protect patients from stroke, heart attack and bone fractures by providing accurate ultrasound screening for at-risk patients.

The vascular screenings are available to members for $145— with no charge for the osteoporosis screening. Details are available from county Farm Bureau offices and will be mailed to members in the near future.

> Carotid artery screening uses painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound to visualize the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain. A majority of strokes are caused by plaque build-up in those arteries.

> Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, screening reads the systolic pressure in the ankle and arm for a measurement known as the “ankle-brachial index.” PAD also is known as “hardening of the arteries,” and sufferers have a 4- to 6-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

> Osteoporosis screening uses ultrasound to estimate the bone density of the heel. That estimate can indicate whether there is a reduction in bone density, which can indicate the presence of osteoporosis. The heel is used because it is similar in composition to the hip, where disabling fractures often occur.

Strokes affect nearly 800,000 Americans every year. Abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral vascular disease and atrial fibrillation, as well as high blood pressure, are silent conditions that people often do not know they have until it is too late.

> Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening uses ultrasound to visualize the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body, to measure its diameter. That measurement can indicate whether there is a weakening in the aortic wall that could cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. Aneurysms can burst, which generally is fatal.

> Atrial fibrillation, or “afib,” screening uses an EKG machine to identify an irregular heart rhythm. During “afib,” the blood might not pump out of the heart completely, instead pooling in the heart chambers and forming a clot. The clot can then travel to the brain, where it has the potential to cause a stroke, or travel elsewhere to block arteries to the arms, legs, kidneys or other organs. Individuals with atrial fibrillation have a five-fold increased risk of stroke.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

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HO M E C H E C K UP C HE C K L I S T Effective planning for severe summer storms starts well before any warning or watch is issued. In fact, tomorrow would be a great time to get started.

Before-storm planning ■

Plan to cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters are the best protection, but if you use plywood use 5/8˝ marine grade, cut to fit your windows. Also: Taping windows will not prevent glass from breaking.

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Notify your insurance company for claims service. Remember that it may take longer than normal for insurance personnel to get to you because of dangerous driving conditions and the volume of claims.

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If you need to hire contractors for damage repairs, look for established, licensed and bonded professionals; check references; and ask to see the contractor’s certificates of insurance. Make sure coverage for liability and workers’ compensation insurance is current.

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Clear clogged gutters and downspouts. If any are loose, take time to secure them.

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Ensure your property has adequate drainage to minimize pooling water.

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Reinforce garage doors.

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Locate and test utility shut-offs.

Category

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If you decide to get a generator, have a professional install it and have the appropriate electrical connections.

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Consider flood insurance. Talk to your Farm Bureau agent for details.

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Put together an emergency kit and develop a family emergency plan. Visit FarmBureauAdvantage.com/safety for details.

1 74-95 mph Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap, and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.

■

Know the difference between “watches” and “warnings”; it also might be helpful to know what the different categories of storms are (See table).

Sustained winds

Types of damage due to hurricane winds

2 96-110 mph Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.

If a storm is imminent ■

Know the difference between “watches” and “warnings”; it also might be helpful to know what the different categories of storms are (See table).

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Close storm shutters or install pre-cut plywood panels.

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Stay tuned to National Weather Service and local media for storm updates.

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If you evacuate, turn off your utilities before you leave.

After the storm ■

Wait until NWS or the media says the storm is over before venturing out. Be cautious, and watch for limbs and other debris hanging from trees or other areas.

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Survey your home for damage, and take steps to minimize further damage.

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Check utility lines for damage, and use extreme caution when turning utilities back on.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

3 (major) 111-129 mph Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks.

4 (major) 130-156 mph Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

5 (major) 157 mph or higher Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

VaFarmBureau.org

Plan ahead for potential summer storms Hurricanes, tornadoes and floods are more prevalent during the summer months. Planning ahead and preparing for the possibility of a storm is necessary for survival in a crisis.

“Every household should have a basic plan in place before a severe storm strikes, because when the storm happens it’s too late,” said Jimmy Maass, safety manager for Virginia Farm Bureau. “There isn’t enough time to discuss what to do or where to go.

Deciding on a plan ahead of time helps avoid panic.”

Maass recommends keeping on hand a fully-stocked disaster kit that includes at least a three-day supply of water; nonperishable meals; a flashlight; a batteryoperated or hand-cranked weather radio; extra batteries; a few blankets; a tarp and extra medications. The kit should include enough supplies for each member of your household and should be stored in a designated safe place for family members to meet after a storm.

Remember to include the special needs of infants, elderly and disabled family members and pets when making plans— and to keep personal identification with each person after the storm.

Other planning tips include keeping an inventory of all household items—by photograph, list, digital film or video—that can be turned in to the insurance company

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

in the event of a claim. It is important to keep documents such as wills, mortgages and insurance papers in a safe place outside of the home, Maass said.

Also, fill a bathtub with water to serve as a non-drinking water source, and tie down a gas grill that can be used for cooking during a power failure.

During severe storms, remember to stay in the lowest part of the house, Maass said.

Hallways and bathrooms without windows also are recommended places to remain during a storm.

After a storm has passed, be aware of possible structural, electrical or gasleak hazards. If you suspect damage to your home, shut off the electricity, natural gas and propane tanks to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions. Use a flashlight instead of a candle to inspect your home after dark. If you spot a frayed wire or sparks or smell something burning, immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker.

If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately. Notify the gas company and the police or fire department, and do not turn on the lights, smoke or do anything that could cause a spark.

Storm watches and warnings It is important to note the difference between a storm watch and a storm warning.

• HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM WATCH: Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours. Tune in to a weather radio, commercial radio or television for information.

• HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM WARNING: Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours.

• TORNADO WATCH: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky, and stay tuned to a weather radio, commercial radio or television for information.

• TORNADO WARNING: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

Take shelter immediately.

• EVACUATION ORDER: This is the most important instruction you could receive.

If issued, leave immediately.

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How new health insurance subsidies will work Beginning in 2014, health insurance premium subsidies and payment supports will be available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to millions of lower-income individuals and families.

The law’s consumer subsidies—premium tax credits and help with out-of-pocket health expenses—will be available to people who cannot meet its individual mandate to have health insurance, meaning they are unable to find affordable coverage from employers or other private insurance plans. Instead, they will turn to new state insurance exchanges scheduled to be created this year.

States can create their own exchanges or let the federal government do it for them, and Virginia has chosen the latter.

Eligibility for support payments will be determined by the relationship of individual or family gross income levels to the national federal poverty level. The current FPL is $11,490 for a oneperson household and rises by $4,020 for each additional family member. The level increases each year due to inflation.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

Higher health taxes have gotten much of the attention in the debate over health reform. But the law also includes two types of extensive financial help for lower-income Americans. Individuals and families with incomes from 100 percent to 400 percent of the FPL will qualify for tax credits to reduce premiums for health insurance purchased through the exchanges. Incomes from 100 percent to 250 percent of the FPL also will qualify for help in paying out-of-pocket costs for co-pays and deductibles not covered by health insurance.

Both assistance programs are tied to the development of standardized health care policies, which will be offered in four tiers—Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. To qualify for a tier, private insurance companies developing these plans must promise they will cover specified percentages of the typical health care expenses for people covered by the plan. These “actuarial value” thresholds are 60 percent for Bronze plans, 70 percent for Silver, 80 percent for Gold and 90 percent for Platinum.

VaFarmBureau.org

The Silver plans have a special role in the tax credits and payment subsidies. In a state insurance exchange, the secondcheapest Silver plan will become the benchmark for tax credits. Because health care costs differ around the country, the benchmark premium will not be the same in every state.

However, the percentages of that premium that can be received as health insurance tax credits will be the same.

They are based on a sliding scale of FPL percentages. People and families earning 133 percent of the FPL, for example, will have to pay only 2 percent of their income toward the health insurance premium. They will receive the difference as a tax credit. The payment limit for those at 400 percent of the FPL is higher— 9.5 percent of their income—so their tax credit will be smaller.

Here’s the list of FPL percentages and sliding scales of income that people must pay toward their health insurance premiums:

>

Up to 133 percent of FPL – payments are 2 percent of income;

>

133 percent up to 150 percent of FPL – payments begin at 3 percent and rise to 4 percent of income;

>

150 percent to 200 percent of FPL – payments begin at 4 percent and rise to 6.3 percent of income;

>

200 percent to 250 percent of FPL – payments begin at 6.3 percent and rise to 8.05 percent of income;

>

250 percent to 300 percent of FPL – payments begin at 8.05 percent and rise to 9.5 percent of income;

>

300 percent to 400 percent of FPL – payments are 9.5 percent of income.

Study finds farmers among Americans who take fewest sick days A new study conducted by Gallup and Healthways suggests that farmers, foresters and those in the commercial fishing industry take the second-smallest number of sick days in the nation.

The three professions are ranked second, behind physicians, with an average of three days a year.

That didn’t surprise Kitty Hockman-Nicholas, a Frederick County dairy and produce farmer.

“I’d have to be like ‘I can’t raise my head up’ sick” to take a day off, she said.

Her criteria for a sick day was echoed by CJ Isbell, a Hanover County beef, poultry, pork, feed grain and hay producer.

“I would have to not be able to get out of bed to take a sick day,” Isbell said in late May. “It’s been three years since I’ve taken a sick day, and that was after I had surgery. As a matter of fact, right now I have strep, and I’m still working out here on the farm.”

The study suggested the constant needs of livestock and crops are a major reason farmers take few days off. Isbell and HockmanNicholas agreed.

“Either way, animals need to be fed,” Isbell said.

Professions found to take more sick days include service workers, office workers, nurses and business owners.

To also qualify for out-of-pocket support, individuals and families with incomes up to 250 percent of the FPL must buy a Silver plan in their state exchange. If they do so, the very lowest-income group would pay only 6 percent of its out-of-pocket expenses, and the supports would cover the remaining 94 percent. At the upper end of this scale, a family earning 250 percent of the FPL would pay up to 27 percent of its out-ofpocket expenses and the supports would cover the remaining 73 percent.

Combining the two benefits would produce an average subsidy of about $5,000 a year for individuals and families, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

However, the benefits for low-income families, especially those with several children, will be much larger.

For Americans with the fewest resources, the ACA greatly expanded access to Medicaid. However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling said states did not have to accept that provision of the law, and many states have said they oppose the expansion. Virginia lawmakers have imposed some conditions that must be met before Medicaid eligibility will be expanded in the state.

Leah Gustafson is a marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants.

A recent study suggests the needs of livestock and crops are a major reason farmers don’t take many sick days.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

june 2013

23

Good for You!

Phytochemical-packed pungent peppers please the palate

By Kathy Dixon their maturity levels. Green peppers are harvested before they are fully ripe and have a slightly bitter taste. Orange and yellow peppers have a fruity taste and have been left on the vine longer.

Red peppers are the most mature. They contain almost 13 times more beta-carotene than green bell peppers and 60 percent more vitamin C. They taste sweet.

Pimento and paprika are both made from red bell peppers.

And don’t discount the nutritional content of cayenne and red chili peppers as well. Both are rich in capsaicin, a phytonutrient believed to have antiinflammatory and pain relief properties.

Capsaicin also provides Yellow and orange bell peppers taste fruitier and sweeter than green ones. “heat” that may help burn excess fat. Both “Brightly colored phytochemicals cayenne and chili peppers can be bought probably play a large role in the association fresh or prepackaged in the produce between high fruit and vegetable intake and section at grocery stores. lower risk of chronic diseases—especially Among the best ways to enjoy chili cardiovascular disease and certain types of peppers are adding them to soups and cancer,” said Kathryn Strong, a registered dressings, using them in place of black dietitian and a Virginia Cooperative pepper or mixing them with them olive Extension family and consumer sciences oil for a spicy oil to use in preparing agent serving Fairfax and Arlington counties. vegetables, meats or fish.

Peppers, whether packed with zing or not, Strong recommends eating bell peppers can help meet daily vitamin requirements. as a snack. Cut them into strips to dip in Just a cup of peppers provides more than hummus or a low-fat dip. “Peppers are 100 percent of the daily recommendation excellent flavoring agents in mixed dishes, for vitamin C, which can lower cancer risk and roasted red peppers add a grilled flavor and protect against cataracts. to salads, dips and dressings,” she said.

A cup of red peppers provides one-third Chipotle peppers and smoked paprika can of the daily recommendation for vitamin A, add a smoky complexity to bean dishes which helps preserve eyesight and fends and soups as well. off infections.

To choose the freshest bell peppers, look “Americans tend to under-consume for those with deep, vivid colors and taut key nutrients like fiber, potassium and skin. The stems should be green and freshvitamins A and C,” Strong said. “Eating bell looking. Store peppers in the refrigerator peppers regularly is a great way to help to help preserve nutrients and keep them meet these nutrient needs and get the fresh longer. added bonus of the extra phytochemicals in brightly colored varieties.”

Bell peppers, like chili peppers, originated in South America. Bell peppers all come from the same plant but differ in Whether they’re red and yellow, orange and green or some color in between, bell peppers are packed with a rainbow of phytonutrients.

The naturally occurring compounds act as powerful antioxidants to protect against cell damage from free radicals.

24

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Roasted Balsamic Vegetables INGREDIENTS

1 clove garlic 1 medium tomato ¼ cup fresh basil 1 red pepper 2 zucchini 2 summer squash 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 teaspoon dried oregano 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°. Thinly slice the garlic clove, and chop the tomato and basil. Cut the pepper, zucchini and summer squash into 2-inch pieces.

In a large bowl, combine the pepper, zucchini, squash and garlic slices. Drizzle with oil, add the oregano, and toss. Place the vegetables on a sheet pan in a single layer, and bake until tender.

Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the vegetables with balsamic vinegar and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oven, add the tomato and basil, toss and serve.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension

VaFarmBureau.org

Good for You!

Eggplant Ratatouille INGREDIENTS

2 medium eggplants 4 medium zucchini 2 medium onions 3 medium red ripe tomatoes 2 medium bell peppers 2 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried 1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried DIRECTIONS

Cut the eggplants into 1-inch cubes.

Slice the zucchini into ½˝-thick slices.

Slice onions, chop tomatoes and peppers and mince the garlic. Put the eggplant and zucchini in a colander, sprinkle with salt and toss lightly. Allow to drain for at least 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

In a heavy nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat on the stove.

Add the onions, and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the green peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and basil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30-45 minutes or until the vegetables are thoroughly cooked.

Stir to prevent sticking. Remove from heat and serve.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension

Peppers of all colors and degrees of spiciness are excellent flavoring agents in mixed dishes.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

june 2013

25

Heart of the Home

Slow cooker barbecue uses Virginia pork and North Carolina-style sauce This slow cooker recipe features a sauce that’s heavy on the vinegar and hot pepper. However, food writer Kendra Bailey Morris said, you also can skip the sauce and enjoy a basic roasted pork. Its pull-apart tenderness makes it perfect for serving on a bun with slaw, making burritos or topping a pizza or nachos.

Vinegar Style Slow-Cooked Pork Barbecue with Cider Slaw PORK INGREDIENTS

2 large onions, sliced 5-pound pork shoulder roast 6 cloves garlic, smashed 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cup cider vinegar 1 cup apple cider or apple juice BARBECUE DIRECTIONS Coat the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Place the onions in the bottom of the slow cooker. Make slits in the pork roast, and insert garlic cloves. Rub salt, pepper, brown sugar and red pepper flakes into the meat. Place pork in slow cooker fat-side-up, and pour in vinegar and apple cider. Cover and cook for 10-12 hours or until the meat is fall-apart tender.

Remove meat to a large bowl, and shred it with two forks. Set aside.

SAUCE DIRECTIONS Pour two cups of the pork pan juices into a measuring cup. Let it cool, and skim off any visible fat. Pour the liquid into a saucepan (Discard any leftover juices still in the slow cooker). Add water, cider vinegar, Worcestershire, chili powder, paprika, mustard, ketchup, red pepper flakes and brown sugar. Bring mixture to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, and add one cup of the sauce (or more if you like it wet). Give it a stir, and set the slow cooker to warm. Serve any additional sauce on the side.

Serve pork straight from the cooker with a slotted spoon.

SLAW INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, or to taste 2-4 tablespoons mayonnaise ½ head green cabbage, finely grated salt and pepper to taste pinch of celery seed (optional) SLAW DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, whisk sugar and vinegar together until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add mayonnaise, and blend dressing until it is smooth and creamy.

About 30 minutes before serving, add the grated cabbage (This is not an overnight slaw). Mix well to coat, and season it with salt, pepper and celery seed

SAUCE INGREDIENTS

Enjoy this barbecued pork with or without the vinegar sauce—and with or without hushpuppies.

26

Virginia Farm Bureau News

VaFarmBureau.org

kathy dixon

2 cups cooking liquid, reserved from pork ½ cup water ¼ cup cider vinegar 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1½ tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dry mustard ¼ cup ketchup ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 teaspoons brown sugar salt and pepper to taste

Heart of the Home

Steak tacos are infused with traditional Mexican flavors Borracho “basically means drunk” in Spanish, said food writer Kendra Bailey Morris. And carne asada means grilled meat. So this savory, beer-marinated grilled flank steak lives up to its name. Combine it with a sweet and spicy roasted tomato pineapple salsa and corn tortillas for an easy traditional Mexican-style dish.

To improve this recipe’s ease, make the salsa as many as two days ahead of time.

Carne Asada Borracho-style with Roasted Tomato Pineapple Salsa STEAK INGREDIENTS

kathy dixon

1½ pounds flank steak, trimmed of any excess fat ¼ cup vegetable oil 6 ounces Mexican beer (about half a bottle) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon mild chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 small lime, juiced 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon cider vinegar 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped salt and pepper steamed corn or flour tortillas, for serving minced onions, for serving minced fresh cilantro, for serving Roasted Tomato and Pineapple Salsa (See recipe)

STEAK DIRECTIONS In a large shallow dish such as a casserole dish, mix vegetable oil, beer, garlic, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, brown sugar, cider vinegar and cilantro.

Add the steak. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for an hour. Avoid marinating the steak any longer, since the lime juice can “cook” the meat.

Remove the steak from the marinade, and season it with salt and pepper (or steak seasoning). Let the steak rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat a grill. Grill the steak on medium-high until charred on the outside but pink on the inside (about 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your meat).

Let the steak rest for about 10 minutes before slicing it on the bias, and serve with steamed tortillas, minced onions, fresh cilantro and salsa.

SALSA INGREDIENTS

1 pound Roma tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise 2 fresh whole Serrano chiles or jalapenos 1 small sweet onion (such as Vidalia), chopped 1¼ cups fresh pineapple, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro salt and pepper to taste SALSA DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 400.° Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil, and spray it with cooking spray. Place the tomatoes cut-sideup in the roasting pan, and scatter the whole chiles. Roast the tomatoes and chiles on the center rack in the oven 30-45 minutes or until the chiles are charred and softened.

Place the chiles in a small bowl, and cover them tightly with plastic wrap.

Meanwhile, let the tomatoes cool, and then remove the skins. Dice the tomatoes, and place them in a medium bowl. Add the onion, pineapple, lime juice and cilantro.

Peel and mince the chiles, and then add them to the mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Salsa for this dish can be made one or two days ahead of time.

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. june 2013

27

AITC gets positive feedback from educators, volunteers When it comes to teaching Virginia’s rising generations of decision makers about agriculture, the Agriculture in the Classroom program uses two major emphases.

Professional development AITC professional development events for teachers equip participants to teach children about where food and fiber come from. Nearly 2,000 educators receive training and classroom resources annually.

They also have access to online resources at AgInTheClass.org.

The newest offering for 2013 is titled “Jump Into the School Garden,” which garnered the following email from Jana Abban, a student teacher who attends Virginia Commonwealth University: “This was truly an amazing experience!

I learned so much and have used your website for my student teaching lessons on many occasions. … I literally showed and told everyone who would listen about you guys!”

Volunteer opportunities AITC also promotes volunteer interaction with children, which has helped give them a firsthand account of how farmers touch everyone’s lives. This year AITC volunteers have visited about 2,000 classroom and reached an estimated 50,000 children with positive information about agriculture.

Agriculture Literacy Week volunteer Barbara Blythe of Southampton County Farm Bureau provided children with AITC Farmer Ben activity books to highlight National Ag Week.

“The kids love Farmer Ben and family,” Blythe wrote to AITC recently. “Please continue with their adventures.”

AITC supporters In addition to many individuals who contributed, these organizations made contributions to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom between Dec. 12, 2012, and May 3.

Summer workshops scheduled

• Amherst County Farm Bureau

A series of AITC hands-on professional development workshops will begin in mid-July. Each is designed for teachers of pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and will feature cross-curricular lessons for use with a school garden.

• Appomattox County Farm Bureau

} July 15 – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond

} July 18 – Henricus Historical Park, Chesterfield County

} Aug. 2 – Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County

} Aug. 6 – Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria } Aug. 6 – Science Museum of Western Virginia, Roanoke

} Aug. 7 – Morven Park, Leesburg For registration information, visit AgInTheClass.org or contact AITC at aitc@vafb.com or 804-290-1143.

Women’s Committee

Virginia Farm Bureau News

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

Women’s Committee

• Augusta County Farm Bureau • • • • • • • • • • •

28

AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org

Women’s Committee Birdsong Peanuts Botetourt County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Brunswick County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Carroll County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Charles City-James City-New Kent-York County Farm Bureau Charlotte County Farm Bureau Chesterfield County Farm Bureau Chesterfield Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Colonial Agricultural Educational Foundation Inc. Floyd County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Gloucester-Mathews County Farm Bureau

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Greene County Farm Bureau Greene Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Hanover County Farm Bureau King & Queen County Farm Bureau Lee County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Middlesex County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Nelson County Farm Bureau Northern Piedmont Community Foundation Old Dominion Farmers Marketing Association Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Powhatan County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Prince George County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Prince William / Fairfax County Farm Bureau Prince William/ Fairfax Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Rockbridge County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Rockingham County Farm Bureau Russell County Farm Bureau Russell Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Short Pump Ruritan Civic Foundation Smyth County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Southampton County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Southern States Cooperative Inc. Tazewell County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Turkey Knob Growers Virginia Agribusiness Council Virginia Crop Production Association Inc. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Virginia Farm Bureau Federation VFBF Women’s Program Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Inc. Washington County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Wise-Dickenson County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Wythe County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee VaFarmBureau.org

Help people find your summer farm products, with Farm Bureau Fresh If you are a Virginia farmer who direct-markets meats, eggs, produce or fibers, there’s a Farm Bureau member benefit that can make it easier for potential customers to find you.

Farm Bureau Fresh, based on the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace, lets members place free, searchable listings of up to 45 words. Farm Bureau began promoting Farm Bureau Fresh last year to anyone with an interest in local foods and other farm products.

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, they’ll be able to access a map and Google travel directions to your 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.

June’s Real Virginia to highlight Hokie milk and aquaculture

Watch this!

To view RealVirginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Students eating at Virginia Tech dining halls are now consuming milk from Tech’s own dairy herd.

And soft shell crab season is under way, while farmers elsewhere in Virginia harvest several other types of fish. These stories and more are part of the June editions of Real Virginia. There are also tips on how to prevent weeds and plant summer bulbs, and food writer Kendra Bailey Morris shares recipes for fried green tomatoes and malt shop hamburgers.

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV. It can also be watched weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on 41 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.

june 2013

29

Marketplace

2013 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members, or in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members.

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

Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

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

Use the form in this issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org/marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose 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 Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • May Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • July Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • August Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).

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

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To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

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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.

• 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

Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines:

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

Issue

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.

Deadline

Mailed to producer members August June 28

Important: We are not responsible for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Virginia Farm Bureau News and Cultivate 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!

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: ________________________________ ZIP: ___________________

❑ Livestock

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: ____________________________________________________ E-MAIL 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

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

*

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN: ❑ This is my one free 15-word ad for 2013 ❑ Payment enclosed: $________________ ❑ August (mailed to producer members) ❑ Please place my ad online in the VFB Marketplace for free (Ads expire with membership).

Ad placement available for these issues only ❑ Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

june 2013

31

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