FBN Aug 2011

Virgnia VaFarmBureau.org

August 2011

Farm Bureau News

Cows, convention-goers converge on capitol

Contents 8

Virgnia Farm Bureau News

Cows, convention-goers converge on capitol

Dairy-farming families from all over the nation were in Virginia earlier this summer for the National Holstein Convention.

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Virginia FAIRS helping farmers add value to products

A foundation created by Virginia Farm Bureau has helped establish an artisanal cheese operation, two beef marketing cooperatives, six wineries, two food hubs, two agriculture complexes and more.

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Meth trafficking on the rise in Southwest Virginia

Southwest Virginia has seen increased methamphetamine trafficking over the past decade, and the problem is spreading. State and federal authorities shared tips on how to protect rural properties.

Departments 15

Your Membership Advantage

24

In the Garden

27

Good for You!

28

Taste of Virginia

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Member Marketplace

Volume 70, Number 5 August 2011 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. E-mail 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 Farm Bureau News in September. The magazine is published six times a year.

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virginia farm bureau federation

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Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Edward A. Scharer, Vice President Board of Directors

On the Cover 8

Fitting crew supervisor Jason Thomas leads a cow into the Richmond Convention Center for the auction held during the National Holstein Convention in June (Photo by Kathy Dixon).

director district Emily Edmondson 1 Archie B. Atwell 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 9 Joseph H. Williams 10 J. M. Jenkins 11 W. Ellis Walton 12 M. L. Everett Jr. 13 David L. Hickman 14 Janice R. Burton * Robert Harris **

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

P r e s i d e n t ’s ’s Me s s a g e

Stand your ground, and sign a postcard, to prevent eminent domain abuse

d

Wayne F. Pryor, a Goochland County beef and grain producer, is president of Virginia Farm Bureau.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

kathy dixon

Navigating legislative procedures can seem challenging.

Trying to farm without land—or enough land, or adequate access to your land—would be more challenging still.

Earlier this year, Farm Bureau fought for your ability to amend Virginia’s constitution to protect your property rights.

We have another major hurdle to clear before you have that opportunity.

To amend Virginia’s constitution, the General Assembly must pass a resolution in two consecutive years with the exact same wording. If this wording is passed Stand Our Ground a second time by the 2012 General Assembly, Virginia voters would weigh in on the amendment next November.

Property Rights This constitutional amendment is intended to prevent eminent domain abuse. It would tighten up the state’s definition of “public use” with regard to when the government can take property—ensuring that your property cannot be taken and given to another private entity to increase the tax base or tax revenue. It also would ensure that private property cannot be taken without just compensation to the owner and that no more property than is necessary is taken.

State legislators passed the proposed amendment, HJR693, this past winter.

Opponents of the bill will tell you that Virginia’s constitution already provides this protection we are seeking. It gives you some protection, but it doesn’t go far enough.

To help get the amendment bill passed a second time, Farm Bureau is preparing for the “Stand Our Ground: Property Rights” campaign, which will kick off at county Farm Bureau annual meetings.

You and other producer members all over Virginia will be asked to sign a postcard asking your state senator and delegate to support a second passage of the property rights amendment in the 2012 legislative session. Farm Bureau also will be calling on some members to make personal contacts with their legislators.

Over the past two years Farm Bureau members statewide have rallied to stem a rising tide of unreasonable water quality regulations.

You were extremely effective then, and it’s important that you continue to “Stand Your Ground” heading into 2012.

Otherwise, we all risk having that ground taken out from under us.

Eminent domain abuse can be a serious hindrance to working farms. A proposed amendment to Virginia’s constitution would help prevent that abuse.

august 2011

3

Noteworthy Quote

Dick Odle, former state board member, dies Emmitt Drexel “Dick” Odle of Nickelsville in Scott County, who served on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors for 12 years, Odle died June 11.

Mr. Odle, who was 82, represented producer members in Lee, Russell, Scott, Wise and Tazewell counties from 1987 to 1999. He joined the Scott County Farm Bureau in 1958 and was the 2007 recipient of the VFBF Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.

Mr. Odle spent his entire life in Nickelsville, where he farmed. He was the manger of the Scott Farmers Cooperative Inc. for 20 years and served in the U.S. Army from 1948–1950.

He is survived by his wife, Velma Odle, two sons, five grandchildren, eight greatgrandchildren, one brother and one sister.

VFBF communicators bring home two national awards “We need every graduate in animal science, we need every agriculture person out there, to talk to consumers and help them understand … that we are doing everything we possibly can to keep our animals comfortable.” ∂

Virginia Farm Bureau’s communications staff earned a pair of awards in the 2011 American Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Award competition. The winners were announced June 14 during AFBF’s 2011 Public Relations Conference in Virginia Beach.

The department claimed the “Best Internet Feature” award for developing the “Fresh Food Locator” on the Save Our Food website at SaveOurFood.org. The locator helps consumers quickly find farmers’ markets and other local food venues closest to their homes.

“This feature has been one of the most popular aspects of the Save Our Food website,” noted Greg Hicks, vice president of communications. “One of our goals for the Save Our Food campaign is to persuade consumers to buy locally grown foods. The Fresh Food Locator is a great tool for accomplishing that goal.”

The department also claimed “Best Advertising Campaign or Spot,” for another element of the Save Our Food campaign. The spot, currently running in television markets in parts of Virginia, features an apple being passed from the farmer to the trucker to the grocery manager to the consumer, illustrating how food starts on the farm and winds up on the dinner table.

“Hopefully, this concept helps consumers connect the dots and become more aware of the important role agriculture plays in their daily lives,” Hicks said.

“We helped generate the ideas for these two projects and then worked collaboratively with outside vendors in their actual development.”

Virginia competes in the large-state category, which includes all state Farm Bureaus with 80,000 or more members.

Dr. Jerry Fitch of Oklahoma State University, on a new senior-level OSU course in “Animal Agriculture Advocacy & Policy” offered this spring

4

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Students win Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest Jennifer Fowler of Accomack County and Matthew Harris of Montgomery County have been awarded $1,000 for their entries in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest.

The contest was open to high school and college students from Farm Bureau member families and was held to benefit the interests of young people in rural health care.

Participants’ essays detailed “My Future Career in Rural Health in Virginia.”

Fowler, daughter of Wayde and Penny Fowler, is a University of Virginia graduate and highly involved with volunteer work in the health field. She aspires to become a physician assistant and will continue her education in a program at Campbell University.

Harris is the son of James Gene and Kathy Harris and recently graduated from Radford High School. He hopes to one day attend medical school.

SaveOurFood.org

>> save the dates

Annual Convention will feature trade, conservation workshops Agricultural trade and farmland conservation will be major topics at the 2011 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention, which will be held Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott hotel.

This year’s convention will run from Tuesday through Thursday, a change from the Monday-through-Wednesday schedule used in recent years.

The event theme is “Ag Trade: Growing Opportunities,” and J.J. Keever, senior deputy executive director for external affairs for the Port of Virginia, will deliver the keynote address.

The convention is open to voting delegates and any other interested Farm Bureau members. It will include recognition of members for a variety of accomplishments.

It is at the VFBF Annual Convention that voting delegates from each county Farm Bureau help shape the organization’s state and federal policies for the coming year. Delegates also will elect members of the VFBF board of directors to represent Districts 1, 4, 7, 10 and 13. Members of the Virginia AgPAC board of trustees to represent Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 also will be elected.

On the agenda Members may attend their choice of two educational conferences on Tuesday.

One conference will feature advice for working farm and forestland owners on conservation easements. Participants will include representatives from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, an attorney specializing in conservation easements, and farmers who have placed such easements on their land.

In the second conference, Greg Edwards, the Port of Virginia’s director of external affairs, will speak on the port’s capabilities with regard to agricultural exports.

At Tuesday’s opening luncheon, members will recognize print and broadcast news professionals from around the

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Save on tires, farm parts at Farm Bureau warehouse open house on Sept. 30 VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 2011 Annual Convention Norfolk Waterside Marriott November 29 – December 1

state with the VFBF Journalism Awards for exemplary coverage of agriculture.

The final round of the Young Farmers Discussion meet will be held during Tuesday night’s Family Night program, and the annual Young Farmers auction to benefit Agriculture in the Classroom and Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Program will wrap up the evening.

Getting registered Details and registration forms will be available at county Farm Bureau offices and online this fall.

Members can save up to 10 percent on car and truck tires, batteries, oil, grease products and replacement farm parts purchased from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division at its Sept. 30 open house.

For more than 45 years, Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division has provided farmers with a variety of quality supplies, whether from a local dealer or the Farm Bureau warehouse located in Henrico County.

The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farm Bureau warehouse located at 1541 Mary St. in Sandston.

Refreshments will be available.

The warehouse is a 53,000-square-foot facility with a daily inventory valued at $1.2 million. It serves about 400 dealers throughout Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, as well as some in West Virginia and Delaware.

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

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Friend and follow Farm Bureau and Save Our Food While you’re seeking out fresh, locally grown foods this summer, don’t forget to join Virginia Farm Bureau’s social media network.

You can find Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Save Our Food and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. tweeting on Twitter, posting on Facebook, making connections on LinkedIn and posting videos on YouTube and VaFarmBureau.org.

To find out more, visit VaFarmBureau.org, SaveOurFood.org and FarmBureauAdvantage.com.

Connections newsletter emailed to members

Are your membership records current?

If you haven’t signed up to receive Connections, Virginia Farm Bureau’s e-newsletter for its Save Our Food campaign, look for sign-up links on many of the pages at SaveOurFood.org.

Connections delivers a broad range of articles compiled by Farm Bureau staff about farming and food issues and their impact on the foods consumers choose for their families.

If you’ve moved or acquired a new telephone number, please call or visit your county Farm Bureau to update your membership records.

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

Also, get The Real Dirt Farm Bureau uses The Real Dirt, its video blog at VaFarmBureau.org and on YouTube (TheRealDirtVA) to share insights into issues of concern to the organization’s producer members.

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

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Ambassador program open to young adults who care about agriculture You don’t have to come from a farming family to be the next Virginia Farm Bureau Ambassador. As long as you’re a young adult from a Virginia Farm Bureau member family and have a love for agriculture, you can apply.

Sowers The annual competition is for anyone 18 to 25 years old who wants to be a spokesperson for agriculture and represent Farm Bureau.

Applicants must be Farm Bureau members; 18 years old and have not reached their 26th birthday by Dec. 31; and nominated by Oct. 15. Each must complete an application signed by their county Farm Bureau Women’s Committee chairman. Applications are due Dec. 31 and can be found at VaFarmBureau.org/contests.

The state-level winner will be announced at the 2012 VFBF Women’s Conference in March. He or she will receive a $3,000 scholarship from the Women’s Committee, and the first runner-up will receive $500.

The winner will make public appearances across the state.

The Farm Bureau Ambassador program began in 2006 as an evolution of the Miss Farm Bureau contest. It was opened to both genders in 2008.

This year’s winner, Shasta Sowers of Floyd County, is a sophomore at Virginia Tech majoring in agricultural sciences. She was last year’s runner up.

Sowers said that in 2008 and 2009, when she served as FFA state secretary for Virginia, she realized how much she loved to travel the state and advocate for the agriculture industry. She said the duties of Farm Bureau Ambassador are very similar.

“It’s an opportunity to meet new people, improve your public speaking skills and your knowledge of agriculture,” Sowers said.

“During the past few years of competing I have learned so much about Virginia Farm Bureau and have opened up new doors of opportunity.”

Sowers said she would recommend entering the contest to anyone who qualifies.

“Not only has it been fun, but it’s a great way to make connections, build a résumé and help pay for college.”

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august 2011

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Viewing Virginia

Cows, convention-goe

By Audra Norris

T

he Holstein Association USA held its 2011 National Holstein Convention at the Greater Richmond Convention Center June 22-25.

Dairy farmers from across the country were in attendance to celebrate the No. 1 milking cow in the United States.

The convention theme was “Virginia is for Holstein Lovers,” and it was the first time since 1983 that the event has been held in the commonwealth.

“Hosting the National Holstein Convention this year is a tremendous honor for all of our dairy producers,” said Matt Lohr, Virginia commissioner of agriculture and consumer services. “This event offers the exciting opportunity to show off our great commonwealth and all the things we love about Virginia.”

Convention participants attended meetings related to HAUSA issues and participated in various social activities.

There was also a large focus on youth events, including “Dairy Jeopardy” and public speaking competitions.

One major component of the convention was an auction of about 100 cows.

According to HAUSA Sales Committee member and auctioneer Roger Miller, the auction stood to gross more than $1 million, with individual cows going for as much as $200,000.

“When it comes to selling these cows, it all depends on the genetics,” Miller said. “For each one, you can look at its heritage and see how much milk its mother produced, and its grandmother and its greatgrandmother. You can see the DNA traits that will follow through in her offspring,

Fitting crew supervisor Jason Thomas and other staff bathed cows outside the Richmond Convention Center in prep

and traits such as good dairy type and udder system are more valuable.”

As the convention host, Virginia had the potential to boost its recently struggling dairy industry. In recent years, low milk prices, drought conditions, rising feed costs and regulatory concerns have presented challenges

to dairy operators’ profitability.

“Hosting the convention certainly can’t cause rain to fall or milk prices to increase, but it gives an emotional boost to all those in the industry,” Lohr said. “Learning new trends or gaining insight on how to tackle tough issues is always helpful in improving one’s operation.”

Viewing Virginia

rs converge on capitol ‘Networking is so important among dairy farmers.

It’s great to come here to Virginia and learn a new idea or two.’

kathy dixon

– TODD JONES fourth-generation Indiana dairyman

aration for an auction at the National Holstein Convention in late June. The event was last held in Virginia in 1983.

Convention attendees toured Virginia dairy and Holstein breeding operations, including Alvis Farm in Goochland County.

The family-run, 700-cow facility opened its doors and shared numerous tips for running a major dairy operation. Visitors were able to walk through the milking parlor and

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

open-air barn and asked the Alvis family questions related to business strategies and livestock care.

Indiana dairyman Todd Jones said the convention is the second he has attended as an adult. He said he had not expected to see such an operation as large as the 3,500-acre

Alvis dairy, and he found value in the tour and the convention as a whole.

“Networking is so important among dairy farmers. It’s great to come here to Virginia and learn a new idea or two,” he said. “It’s something that you really have to have a passion for; dairy farming always has a niche for what you want to do. Plus it’s a great place to raise a family.”

The fourth-generation dairy farmer said he brought his family to the convention to inspire a fifth generation in his son and daughters. “It’s really important to pass on interest to the next generation. They’re the ones who are going to keep it going.” august 2011

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Viewing Virginia

Lee County farmer chosen for leadership program

Food deserts found amidst plentiful local food supplies

Jonathan Cavin of Lee County is one of 10 young leaders in agriculture selected by American Farm Bureau Cavin Federation to participate in its sixth Partners in Agricultural Leadership program.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Cavin said. “I’m going to learn lessons that I’ll use in my everyday life to help me become a better leader and a better speaker.”

Cavin and his wife, Amber, operate a farm in Rose Hill, where they grow burley tobacco and raise beef cattle. A full-time farmer since 1997, Cavin’s roots in agriculture started with him helping on his grandfather’s farm at 8 years old.

He currently serves on the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Burley Tobacco Advisory Committee and is a former member of the VFBF Young Farmers Committee.

Virginia has been represented by young farmers five out of the six years PAL has held the training workshops.

PAL participants learn vital information regarding agricultural public policies and have opportunities to build their problem solving and consensus-building skills.

A food desert is not a new geography term; it’s an apt description of areas where lowincome consumers either cannot afford healthy, nutritious food or don’t have affordable transportation to access that food.

More than 150 census tracts in Virginia can be classified as food deserts, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

They include entire counties in Southwest and Southside Virginia, as well as slices of cities.

The term food desert was adopted by the Obama administration’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Working Group, which has released a Webbased map highlighting more than 6,500 areas nationwide where the only local food An online map shows areas where people with lower incomes have sources are fast-food limited access to nutritious foods. restaurants or small-scale convenience markets.

The interactive map is available at ers.usda.gov/data/fooddesert/fooddesert.html.

“We’ve seen a lot of demographic and population shifts over the past 20 and 30 years, and one thing we’ve seen is a large abandonment of rural areas,” said Spencer Neale, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation senior assistant director of commodity marketing. “And with that comes a decline in the number of supermarkets and grocery stores in very rural areas. The small-town grocery store is no longer there, so people are at a disadvantage because it’s more difficult to find a selection of affordable and nutritious foods.”

Neale noted that many lower-income consumers live 10 miles or more from a supermarket or other local food source—well beyond walking distance or even convenient driving distance in more rugged terrain. And urban consumers fare no better, he said, even though they may have the option of walking or public transportation. They often live in areas where grocery chains have moved out to follow a more profitable customer base in the suburbs.

The Virginia Food System Council, a group of government and private agencies and interest groups, is studying Virginia’s current food production and delivery system. Neale, who represents Farm Bureau on the council, said the council is working on a statewide food system assessment and plans to release a report in November.

“The food system council is considering many options, but they have to be cost-effective,” he said. “Farmers consider what they do both a vocation and a business. … But if we can find ways to reach these food deserts with locally-grown foods, those are market opportunities that could be opened up for Virginia farmers.”

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA SEEING INCREASED METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING

By Sara Owens

F

or the past 10 years there has been an increase in methamphetamine trafficking in Southwest Virginia, and cases are spreading to nearby counties.

Methamphetamine, often called “meth,” is an illegal psychoactive drug that increases alertness, concentration and energy. It has a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Many meth users are turning to farmland for ingredients and shelter in order to produce the drug.

“Ten years ago there were virtually no cases of meth, and now it has become an epidemic,” said Bobby Givens, senior special agent for the Virginia State Police.

“So far this year we have discovered more than 100 meth labs in rural Southwest Virginia alone.”

Virginia Farm Bureau’s Investigations Department is working closely with federal and state police officers to investigate methamphetamine cases, said Frank Dunton, vice president of investigations.

“It’s really opened our eyes to what’s out there,” Dunton said.

Jennifer Eskew, senior special agent for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said meth users have learned how to refine the manufacturing process and obtain

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

needed ingredients, and they are cooking it in small quantities.

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the main ingredients used to make meth. They are found in many over-the-counter allergy medications.

Since September 2006, anyone in Virginia who wants to purchase a drug containing those substances must show identification and sign for the medicine and is limited to purchasing a small amount.

“The thought was that the restrictions would help decrease meth trafficking, but people have found a way around the restrictions,” Eskew said.

Take steps to protect your farm and property Keeping an eye on rural property, including farm outbuildings, is an important first step in preventing damage associated with methamphetamine manufacturing.

So is knowing what to look for, police say.

“Meth cookers love using rural communities because of the isolated buildings and barns where they can cook meth in secrecy,” Givens said. “They can cook meth on someone else’s property and leave them with the mess. They’d rather

Manufacturing methamphetamine poses a significant fire risk.

leave the mess for their neighbors to deal with, contaminate their drinking water and harm their animals.”

Eskew said equine farms are commonly targeted by meth cookers because they have many of the ingredients and supplies they need.

Items commonly stolen from farms, farm homes and farm supply stores include: hypodermic needles; instant cold packs; anhydrous ammonia tanks; iodine; Pyrex glassware; stainless steel spoons; ammonium nitrate; starter fluid; small propane canisters; lye; pseudoephedrine; lithium batteries and rubber tubing. august 2011

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VOLATILE? WATCH THIS: Manufacturing methamphetamine is a potentially deadly process that creates a significant fire hazard. That’s apparent in a short video at nationalmethcenter.org/ ENFORCEMENT.html, which shows police in Tulsa, Okla., handling ingredients used to cook a small batch.

If you find materials on your property that you suspect have been used to cook meth, law enforcement officials caution against touching or moving anything. Wash your hands and face immediately, and call the police.

It is important to keep barns and sheds locked and keep propane tanks and gasoline cans secured.

“Often meth cookers won’t stop at just stealing the ingredients they need to cook meth. They’ll also take items from barns, such as horse saddles. If they’re breaking into a home, they’ll take valuables because it helps fuel their addiction,” Givens said.

Meth cookers will often cover a building’s windows with black trash bags or foil.

“If you notice that the windows are covered, see a waste pile outside of the building or notice someone going outside to smoke, report this suspicious activity to state police immediately,” Givens said.

If you smell unusual odors or see 2-liter plastic drink bottles and blister-packs of cold or allergy medicine, use caution and do not get too close to the items, Dunton added.

“Sometimes meth users will set up booby traps to harm anyone checking the property,” he said. “It’s best to just stay away and call the police.”

Due to the explosive nature of a meth lab, it is important not to turn light switches on or off, because a switch could create a spark that can start a fire. Dunton also cautioned against opening, smelling or moving any suspicious containers.

When leaving the area, decontaminate yourself by immediately washing your hands and face.

Eskew said that meth cookers sometimes use rural property just to dump their trash.

“Trash from making meth has to be treated like a hazardous waste site or spill incident,” she said. “This mess can contaminate water if dumped in a creek bed. People trying to pick up trash off

‘Sometimes meth users will set up booby traps to harm anyone checking the property. It’s best to just stay away and call the police.’

–— FRANK DUNTON vice president of investigations, Virginia Farm Bureau

of their property might be exposed if they’re not wearing gloves and taking extra precautions against any liquids that could splash on them.”

Eskew noted that meth-related ingredients can cause serious illness in or kill animals that come in contact with them.

“Most people think that the police will clean up their property after discovering a meth lab,” Givens said. “That’s wrong.

Police will dismantle the lab, but the mess is yours to clean up. Depending on how contaminated the property is, you may have to call a private environmental company to clean it up, and it can be very expensive.

“Farmers are having a tough time as it is with the economy; they don’t need to pay to clean up meth labs.”

WHO TO CALL: If you see any suspicious activity, call the Virginia State Police Tip Line at 800-553-DOPE (3673).

Lye is among hazardous products commonly stolen from farms, farm homes and farm supply stores by individuals who manufacture methamphetamine.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

august 2011

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Health care reform timeline On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This legislation, along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, makes sweeping changes to the U.S. health care system.

Those changes will be implemented over the next several years.

Here is the 2011 portion of the timeline for the implementation of key reform provisions that affect employers and individuals.

Significant changes to the U.S. health care system are being implemented over the next several years.

2011

 In order to make prescription drug

 Health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage must annually report on the share of premium dollars spent on health care and provide consumer rebates for excessive medical loss ratios.

 The health care reform law conforms the definition of “qualified medical expenses” for health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and HRAs to the definition used for the itemized tax deduction. Expenses for over-thecounter medicines and drugs may not be reimbursed by those plans unless they are accompanied by a prescription.

There is an exception for insulin, and OTC medical supplies and devices still can be reimbursed without a prescription.

 The new law creates a Simple Cafeteria Plan to provide a vehicle through which small businesses can provide tax-free benefits to their employees, to ease the small employer’s administrative burden of sponsoring a cafeteria plan.

14

Virginia Farm Bureau News

coverage more affordable for Medicare enrollees, the new law will provide a 50 percent discount on all brand-name drugs and biologics in the “donut hole.” It also begins phasing in additional discounts on brand-name and generic drugs to completely fill the donut hole by 2020 for all Part D enrollees.

 The law provides a free, annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan services for Medicare beneficiaries and eliminates cost-sharing for preventive services beginning in 2011.

 The law increased the additional tax on HSA withdrawals prior to age 65 that are not used for qualified medical expenses from 10 percent to 20 percent.

 The law created a long-term care insurance program for adults who become disabled. Participation will be voluntary, and the program is to be funded by voluntary payroll deductions.

The program is technically effective Jan. 1, but significant portions are not required to be established until 2012.

Additional details are available at healthreform.gov.

Got health insurance concerns?

Virginia Farm Bureau is compiling updates on the details of health care reform legislation passed last year in the “Resource Center” section of its insurance website at FarmBureauAdvantage.com.

Farm Bureau offers individuals and families Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical and dental insurance and medical and dental Medicare supplement plans. Members who are business owners have access to group health insurance products from Anthem and several other major insurance providers.

Licensed staff at county Farm Bureau offices statewide can share details about available products and help you compare the coverage you have to coverage available through Farm Bureau.

SaveOurFood.org

Your Membership Advantage

Fire extinguisher program helps protect farm equipment When it’s hot and dry outside, conditions are ideal for machinery fires.

Keeping all farm machinery equipped with a fire extinguisher could make the difference between saving the equipment and watching it burn. In addition, you’ll save insurance premium dollars and help keep your rates as low as possible.

Virginia Farm Bureau Safety has a program to assist members in protecting certain pieces of farm equipment from loss by fire by providing, at no cost to members, one 10-pound ABC-type fire extinguisher with a mounting bracket for each piece of eligible equipment insured by Farm Bureau. Eligible equipment includes selfpropelled grain combines; self-propelled haybines; self-propelled forage harvesters; self-propelled cotton pickers; selfpropelled peanut combines; and track-type bulldozers.

In addition, should the extinguisher be used, or leak down for any reason, Farm Bureau will have it recharged at no cost.

Members also can purchase the following fire extinguishers and mounting brackets at a reduced rate: • 2½-pound ABC fire extinguisher with bracket; • 5-pound ABC fire extinguisher; • 10-pound ABC fire extinguisher with wall hanger; • 10-pound ABC fire extinguisher with mounting bracket; • 2½-gallon water fire extinguisher (empty); and • 2½-gallon water fire extinguisher mounting bracket; Contact your county Farm Bureau office to find out more and to be sure your equipment is properly insured.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Your membership helps Farm Bureau enhance members’ lives by promoting and supporting agriculture. It also affords you access to a variety of benefits and services available to members of your immediate household. For more information or details on all of your Farm Bureau member benefits, contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit VaFarmBureau.org/Benefits.

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New medical alert benefit can give peace of mind Help is always within reach for Virginia Farm Bureau members who use Farm Bureau’s Membership Advantage.

The Member’s Medical Alert program, powered by national provider LifeStation, makes it easy for members or their loved ones to summon assistance to their homes in an emergency. It’s a resource that can allow senior adults to remain independent while providing their families with peace of mind.

The equipment is easy to install; simply plug it into an existing phone line. LifeStation maintains a state-of-the-art, 24-hour call center with care specialists users can reach via a tabletop console or a help button that can be mounted on a wall, worn around the neck or wrist or clipped to a belt. The care specialists will contact local emergency services professionals and designated family members or friends.

All Member’s Medical Alert equipment will be shipped at no charge.

Farm Bureau members pay a special monthly rate of $25.95 and are eligible for a 30-day money-back trial. The service involves no long-term contract, and members may cancel at any time.

To order or get more information call 877-288-4958, or visit MembersMedicalAlert.com. august 2011

15

Augusta County dairyman Gary Conner plans to begin making artisanal cheese by the end of the year. The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability helped him get his new venture off the ground.

16

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

Virginia FAIRS helping farmers add value to products Article and photos by Kathy Dixon

After 40 years, dairyman Gary Conner has decided that milking cows just isn’t enough. It’s hard to pay the bills, he said, when prices for milk don’t cover the cost of production.

Fortunately, consumers are willing to pay a premium for artisanal cheeses, which are made by hand rather than mass-produced.

Conner, who owns Mainstreet Farmstead in Augusta County, decided to use some of the milk from his 140-head dairy herd to make a Cheddar-style cheese he will sell in both retail and wholesale markets.

“My product will be made with fresh milk, straight from the cow to the cheese, and that will be our selling point,” he said.

Construction of the cheese processor began in July, and Conner expects to start making cheese by Christmas. Although he came up with the idea himself, he said he never would have been able to turn it into an actual business venture without assistance from the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability.

“Trying to run the dairy farm and get this new business going without help from VA FAIRS, I’d never have gotten it done,” he said. “With their help, it’s going to happen.”

VA FAIRS was created by Virginia Farm Bureau to promote and facilitate economic opportunities for farmers and other rural Virginians. The foundation provides technical and financial assistance for those developing value-added agricultural products and markets, and those who are exploring new opportunities using existing resources.

“Everyone’s out there looking for a way to make money, and value-added is a way to grow farming operations,” said Chris Cook, VFBF agriculture enterprise development coordinator. Value-added products and processes are not just for small farmers; they’re for any farmer who wants to make more money, he said.

“Agriculture is changing, and crops that used to be the mainstay of the rural economy are in decline,” in some parts of the state, Cook said. “Producers need to look at innovative opportunities, and FAIRS can help turn an idea into a new business venture or adventure.”

So far, FAIRS has helped or is in the process of helping more than two dozen Virginia farmers or agricultural businesses.

FAIRS helps producers secure grants, conduct feasibility studies and formulate business plans.

“I would recommend them to anyone interested in value-added products,” Conner said. “FAIRS has the experience and the contacts to help you succeed.”

Six wineries, two beef marketing cooperatives, two agriculture complexes, two food hubs, two berry farms, several dairies, an aquaculture cooperative and a biofuel facility already are benefitting from FAIRS’ services.

Technical assistance “I know how to milk cows, but I don’t know how to navigate bureaucracy,” said Roy Vanderhyde, one of the owners of Vanderhyde Dairy Inc. in Pittsylvania County. He recently built an anaerobic digester using grants he secured with help from FAIRS. “They took an idea and helped make it a reality,” he said.

The Vanderhydes’ anaerobic digester will recover methane from the waste of 950 dairy cows. The waste will be used to produce enough electricity for more than 500 households, as well as liquid fertilizer and odorless animal bedding.

Vanderhyde had been considering a methane digester for five years, but it wasn’t until he sought help from FAIRS that the wheels started turning. The foundation helped him conduct a feasibility study and then walked him through the grant application process.

The dairy received more than $1.6 million in grants, without which the digester never would have been possible, Vanderhyde said.

The digester began producing gas in mid-January, but Vanderhyde is waiting for Verizon to hook up phone lines before the operation can make electricity.

The lines would make up an automated communication system telling the generator when it’s OK to run, Vanderhyde said. Once in operation, the generator will produce about 450 kilowatts of electricity per hour.

While other FAIRS projects are not on the same scale as the dairy’s methane digester, they all have benefited from the foundation’s expertise. (continued on page 19 )

“ Trying to run the dairy farm and get this new business going without help from VA FAIRS, I’d never have gotten it done.” — Gary Conner, Mainstreet Farmstead

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

august 2011

17

With assistance from VA FAIRS, Pittsylvania County dairyman Roy Vanderhyde was able to get grant money for an anaerobic digester that will recover methane from animal waste to generate electricity.

“I know how to milk cows, but I don’t know how to navigate bureaucracy. ...

They took an idea and helped make it a reality.” — Roy Vanderhyde, Vanderhyde Dairy Inc.

18

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

‘I wouldn’t know where to begin’ In 2005, Joe Williams was a Pittsylvania County tobacco producer who started diversifying into wine grape production.

His family contracted grapes to local wineries, but when sales dropped due to the economy they looked into opening a winery of their own.

Williams, like Vanderhyde, had FAIRS assist him with a feasibility study and preparation of a value-added grant application. The grant will help pay for bottles, corks, sales software and marketing plans.

“There’s so much paperwork involved that I wouldn’t know where to begin if I tried to do it myself,” Williams said.

His Homeplace Vineyards has 9 acres planted in wine grapes, and he sells wine on site but hopes to expand sales to local stores and restaurants.

Recognizing national potential Through Molly Harris’ Lulu’s Local Foods, farmers can sell their products online to customers who join an online farmers’ market. Customers pay a one-time seasonal fee and then log on weekly to order fresh meat, produce and other farm-raised products. They pick up their purchases at a designated site.

VA FAIRS has helped Harris expand the concept across the United States.

The foundation worked with Harris to plan the business, set up a website and work out the kinks before she decided to offer franchises on the software.

“When I first met Molly two years ago, she walked into my office with a huge pile of paper in a cardboard box and a hundred customers,” Cook said. After considerable work on Harris’ part, “she now has a food hub in Richmond with over 1,000 customers, and she’s helping lots of small farmers in the area.

“And now food hubs in Goochland, Virginia Beach and even Montana are using her software program and helping farmers there as well.”

“ There’s so much paperwork involved that I wouldn’t know where to begin if I tried to do it myself.” — Joe Williams, The Homeplace Vineyard

Joe and Brenda Williams (left) run The Homeplace Vineyard with their daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Chris Smith. Their son, Jessie, and daughter and son-in-law Renee and Billy Reaves also are involved in the operation.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

august 2011

19

VA FAIRS Technical Assistance Projects Harvue Farms cheese and milk products Berryville

Shenandoah Valley Beef beef marketing cooperative Harrisonburg

Messick Farms produce and berries Bealeton

Cobbler Mountain Winery VAPG for winery Marshall

Will Farms bottling pasteurized milk Bridgewater

Virginia Wineries Association cooperative planning Richmond LuLu’s Local Foods food hub marketing Richmond

Charlottesville Food Hub producer food-marketing cooperative Charlottesville

Glenmary Gardens berry farm Bristol

Oak Hill Winery adding sparkling wine Spotsylvania

Rappahannock Indian Tribe Group water marketing cooperative King and Queen County Homestead Cheese artisanal cheese Stuarts Draft

Virginia Aquaculture Cooperative aquaculture seller/buyer cooperative Farmville Rosemont Winery family-run winery La Crosse Virgilina Distillery Co. artisanal distillery Virgilina

Appalachian Ag. Exposition Center ag. complex Wytheville

Graduated Projects

Homeplace Vineyard LLC small-scale winery Climax

Croftburn Farm Cumberland County Anaerobic Digester Cooperative Alleghany Highlands Agriculture Center

Smyth/Grayson Meats Cooperative natural beef cooperative Hillsville

MountainRose Winery Narmada Winery Vanderhyde Dairy Inc.

Olde Dominion Ag. Foundation ag. complex and show ring Chatham White Oak Mountain Meadery mead from honey Chatham Piedmont Bioproducts LLC biofuels from switchgrass & woody material Chatham

Your membership helps open up new farm marketing options With any business venture, there are always challenges to staying profitable.

Your Farm Bureau membership helps the organization assist farmers in developing business strategies to meet those challenges. Farm Bureau also provides staff support for the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability, an independent, nonprofit organization offering technical services to rural and agricultural businesses.

The foundation offers a Web-based, online business planning and development program that will allow anyone interested in starting a small business to assess his or her financial needs and build a financial plan. It’s at www.vafairs.com.

20

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Virginia FAIRS success stories include the following:

•

The Virginia Aquaculture Association established a cooperative to help producers market their fish.

•

The Cumberland County Farm Bureau secured a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to study generating energy and organic fertilizer from poultry waste.

•

A sheep producers’ association in Scott County undertook a study of how it can market to grocery chains in Southwest Virginia.

•

Regional cattlemen’s associations in Virginia have begun exploring how they can retain more profit by building meat processing facilities to serve their communities.

•

Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau formed the Olde Dominion Agriculture Foundation and built a 76,000-squarefoot agricultural complex, complete with an indoor livestock arena. A similar building is in the works in Wytheville.

•

Piedmont Bio Products formed a cooperative that buys farm-based feedstocks grown by its members and turns the crops into biofuel.

SaveOurFood.org

Agritourism safety: Assume nothing

By Audra Norris gritourism is becoming increasingly popular, but it does require some attention to safety features on a farm.

“It exposes farmers to liabilities and issues that they’re not necessarily familiar with,” said Virginia Farm Bureau Safety Manager Jimmy Maass.

“As farmers, we tend to know we shouldn’t do certain things” in an agricultural setting, Maass noted, “but it’s not safe to assume that visitors always know what to do. You have to act as if people coming to your farm don’t know anything regarding safety.”

Stephanie Wiglesworth, Chesterfield Berry Farm market manager in Chesterfield County, said keeping visitors safe is a major priority when they come to pick berries and see the farm’s numerous attractions.

“We have fences to mark off which areas are safe for walking, and we have someone in the field at all times to watch over our visitors,” she said. “We also keep fully stocked medical boxes on hand, and on the busy weekends we have an ambulance on site, just in case.”

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Maass shared some other basic safety check items:

• Be sure to post an agritourism liability sign in plain view, it decreases a farm’s liability in the event of an injury.

• Provide drinks or other refreshments,

Clearly marking areas where it is safe to walk and watching visitors while they are picking in the field or enjoying attractions can go a long way toward preventing injuries at an agritourism operation.

especially during the warm months.

• Allow shady areas for people to rest and get out of the sun.

• If you have a petting zoo, provide a hand-washing or sanitizer station and signs encouraging visitors to use it.

Be sure to only use animals that are people-friendly.

• Attach safety chains and guard rails to your wagons if you offer hayrides.

• Train your farm staff in CPR. If you can, keep an artificial external defibrillator on hand, and train your staff to use it as well. Always have first aid kits available.

• Make arrangements with your local rescue squad for them to be available during your busy season. Maass recommends utilizing the volunteer squad in exchange for a donation.

• Have personnel in charge of parking to balance the flow of traffic in and out of your farm.

• When foul weather is predicted, especially in the summer, assign someone to keep an eye on the radar for potentially hazardous conditions. If you hear thunder, have your visitors return to their vehicles, or have a safe place for them to take cover. If a storm is close enough to hear, it is close enough to do damage.

Farm Bureau members are also entitled to free farm and agritourism safety inspections at their request, and your county Farm Bureau insurance agents can answer questions related to insuring agritourism activities. august 2011

21

September is Child Passenger Safety Month: Boost for safety, and give kids a lift for life September is Child Passenger Safety Month, which promotes properly securing all children in appropriate child safety seats, booster seats or seat belts.

Since 2006, certified professionals have checked more than 10,000 safety seats through the Virginia Safety Check Station Program.

On Sept. 24, National Seat Check Saturday, child safety seat checks will take place across the state. To find one near you, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website at www.vahealth. org/injury/safetyseat/inspectioncoordinators.htm.

From birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds, children should be secured in the back seat in a rear-facing infant seat.

Children between the ages of 1 to about 4 and 20-40 pounds should be secured in the back seat in a forward-facing toddler seat.

Children between 4 and 8 or 40-80 pounds—unless 4 foot

9 inches tall—should be properly restrained in the back seat in a belt-positioning booster seat.

Farm Bureau offers members four different child restraint seats on a cost-share basis through its Child Saver Program.

All seats meet current federal safety standards, and since 1989 Farm Bureau has helped member families obtain more than 28,000 seats.

For your newest passenger, the program features a rear-facing infant car seat for children between 5 and 22 pounds, with a fivepoint harness system, a removable fabric-covered pad and an adjustable handle for lifting the seat off its base with one hand.

Three other seat choices also are available: a  convertible car seat with five-point harness; converts from a rear-facing design for infants 5 to 35 pounds to a forward-facing design for toddlers 22 to 40 pounds;  a high-back booster seat for children 40 to 80 pounds; and  a no-back booster seat for children 30 to 100 pounds.

For more information on the Child Saver Program, contact your local county Farm Bureau office or Farm Bureau Safety at 804-290-1376 or safety@farmbureauadvantage.com.

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If you’ve been thinking about a new building, contact Morton Buildings today. With endless features and options, you and your sales consultant can plan for a building that truly meets your needs.

22

Virginia Farm Bureau News

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Reference Code 602

SaveOurFood.org

AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM www.agintheclass.org

AITC SUPPORTERS In addition to many individuals who contributed, these organizations made contributions to the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom between April 1 and June 30

Leader Level ($1,000 to $9,999) The following groups made contributions at the Leader Level: • Bedford County Farm Bureau • Benefit Fiduciary Group LLC • Birdsong Peanuts • Philip Morris International • Pulaski County Farm Bureau • Shenandoah County Farm Bureau • Southeast United Dairy Industry Association • Synagro • Virginia Cotton Board • Virginia State Feed Association

Builder Level ($500 to $999) The following groups made contributions at the Builder Level: • Charlotte County Farm Bureau • First Bank and Trust Co.

AITC benefits from surprise bequest Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program learned earlier this year that it was remembered in the will of Nicolaas A. “Nic” Kortlandt of Fauquier County, who died Jan. 7.

“I met Nic shortly after his wife, Patty, passed away. He was a lovely man who greatly missed the love of his life. I had no idea that he planned to remember AITC in his will. I wish I had known so I could thank him and let him know how much it would mean to us,” said AITC Executive Director Karen Davis.

The Kortlandts began farming in Fauquier in 1954, and Mr. Kortlandt was a past president and longtime board member of Fauquier County Farm Bureau. He also served as a director of the John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District and the NOVA 4-H Center. Mrs. Kortlandt served as secretary of the Piedmont Valley Ruritan Horse Show for 20 years and was a judge at the Fauquier County Fair.

Mr. Kortlandt’s bequest is being administered as an endowment. AITC will receive an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 each year in perpetuity, providing a steady base of support for educational programs.

“Nic’s thoughtfulness and generosity will help AITC to provide services for years to come, serving generations of students and teachers,” Davis said, noting that demand for AITC’s educator workshops, classroom

Nicolaas A. Kortlandt of Fauquier County, shown with his wife, Patty, in a family photo, bequeathed an endowment to Agriculture in the Classroom.

resources, newsletters and Web resources has increased over the past few years. All are provided at no cost to teachers or schools.

“We have postponed several projects this year until funding became available,” Davis noted. “This bequest will help us to move forward with some of those.”

In 2010, charitable bequests made up 8 percent of Americans’ annual charitable giving, according to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel.

For information about remembering AITC in a will, contact your financial advisor, or contact Davis at 804-290-1142 or karen.davis@vafb.com.

• Lee County Farm Bureau • Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau • Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee • Tazewell County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee

Golf tournament sponsors

Enjoy fall savings on highway safety products for farm equipment

The annual AITC golf tournament, held May 23, drew 40 teams and raised more than $43,000 for educational programs and classroom resources. Special thanks to Hole in One Sponsor Kubota; Bronze Sponsor TMA Resources; Silver Sponsors LexusNexus and Old Dominion Electric Cooperative; Gold Sponsor IKON Office Solutions; and Title Sponsors Innovative Computer Systems and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.

Virginia Farm Bureau members can save up to 20 percent on slow-moving vehicle emblems, reflective tape kits and amber strobe lights through Sept. 30. The items can help prevent accidents when moving farm equipment on public roads.

Virginia sales tax will be added to all order prices. Orders are limited to 12 of each item per membership and can be placed through any county Farm Bureau office.

Find more information about AITC at AgInTheClass.org. Donations to the AITC program are always welcome and can be mailed to AITC, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261

• Highway-use reflective tape kit (red/white) in 10-foot and 150-foot rolls

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Available items: • Metal SMV emblem • SMV decal • Farm machinery reflective tape kit (red/amber/orange) • Magnetic amber strobe light • Metal spade and socket for mounting SMV emblem

august 2011

23

In the Garden

Crapemyrtles are popular drought-proof trees

C

rapemyrtles are among the most popular garden plants for summer color and winter visual interest, said horticulturalist Mark Viette.

“Crapemyrtles bloom all summer long and are fantastic for neglected areas of the yard,” he said. “They can survive droughts easily and really are foolproof.”

Different varieties have different mature heights, so it is important to pick the right size crapemyrtle for your landscape, Viette said. They bloom white, purple, pink and red, and their foliage is either green or burgundy. Other than Japanese beetles, common pests present no problems.

“If you live in a colder climate you can easily plant a crapemyrtle in a 20- to 30-gallon container and bring the container into a garage or basement during cold weather,” Viette said.

Crapemyrtles should be pruned after the threat of cold weather has passed.

“By May you can easily see which parts will grow well,” Viette said.

Crapemyrtles can be treated as a tree or a shrub. If you want a tree, prune to expose the trunk’s bark and to remove any side shoots. For a shrub, prune the crapemyrtle so it is 12 to 18 inches tall.

Thin out your crapemyrtle by 20 percent each year, Viette said.

“You also want to deadhead the crapemyrtle by removing the seed pods.”

He recommended keeping some of the new growth at the bottom of a tree-pruned crapemyrtle. If one of the main branches dies or sustains storm damage, newer growth eventually can take its place.

Crapemyrtles are available in numerous summery colors and mature heights.

24

Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

In the Garden

norm hyde

For shade gardens, use large, varied groups of plants

Varied groups of shade-loving plants can create an attractive garden corner while preventing soil erosion. Hostas and ferns are two common choices.

E

ver wondered if anything will grow in that shady spot in your yard? There are many varieties of plants that thrive in shade, according to horticulturist Mark Viette.

“Trees take all of the moisture out of the ground, so you are going to want to grow plants that can deal with that type of environment,” he said.

Viette suggested ferns, hostas and

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

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

begonias for shady areas. He recommends planting them in large, varied groups.

“It just looks nicer when you have a variety of plants in groups,” he said.

Some plants, like hostas, can get large, so it is important to space new plants 24 inches apart. Others, like begonias, will reseed themselves each year or will develop seed pods that drop to the ground and sprout during warmer weather.

Magnolia trees, hydrangea bushes and the dramatic Japanese painted fern also grow well in shade, Viette said.

Planting ground covers in shady areas will help prevent runoff and erosion and help tree roots filter water. Pine needles are a good shade garden mulch; using only 2 to 3 inches of pine needles helps keep soil from drying.

Mark Viette appears on Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly 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 Mark Viette is a former board member. august 2011

25

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Virginia Farm Bureau News

SaveOurFood.org

Good for You!

A C O LOR FU L PA LETTE of food leads to healthier eating

By Kathy Dixon When it comes to healthy eating, color is key.

If you turn your dinner plate into a palette of colors, chances are you’ll be eating well-balanced meals chock-full of nutrients and vitamins.

“When you eat in color you can almost be certain that you’re getting proper nutrients,” said Jennifer Abel, a Virginia Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent in Arlington County. “Variety is always important in maintaining a healthy diet.”

Abel added that during the summer months, when farmers’ markets are brimming over with fresh produce, there’s no excuse not to eat enough fruits and vegetables at every meal. She and other nutritionists recommend that people eat various colors of food to ensure they get all the vitamins and minerals they need.

Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture is on board. USDA recently replaced its food pyramid with a food plate divided into four colorful quarters: the red quadrant is for fruits; the green fourth represents vegetables; the orange for grains; and purple for lean protein. Beside the plate is a small blue circle signifying a side serving of dairy such as fat-free or low-fat cheese, milk or yogurt. The plate’s message: Half of everyone’s food plate should be full of fruits and vegetables.

Colors represent different nutrients that the body needs. For example, dark, leafy greens are high in iron and contain calcium and magnesium. “We all need to eat more leafy green vegetables,” Abel said.

Green fruits and vegetables like grapes, honeydew, green beans, sprouts and leafy greens also are high in lutein, which is believed to help strengthen vision and reduce the risk of some cancers.

Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables such as carrots, peaches, squash and sweet potatoes contain carotenoids, bioflavanoids and vitamin C. They help promote heart health, good vision and a strong immune system and can reduce the risk of some cancers, Abel said.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

The food plate eating recommendations released earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture assign a color to each of five food groups. Varying the colors in one’s meals in general gets a variety of nutrients into the meal plan.

Purple and blue fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, eggplant, purplefleshed potatoes and raisins, are high in anthocyanins, which have antioxidant benefits and are believed to help prevent cancer, contribute to urinary tract health and improve memory.

Red fruits and vegetables such as apples, pomegranates, tomatoes and watermelon are high in lycopene, which helps regulate cholesterol and prevents prostate cancer.

All fruits and vegetables—regardless of color—are high in fiber, which helps prevent colon cancer and diverticulitis.

So how does one practice eating in color? Abel has some suggestions.

For breakfast, a quarter of the plate could be filled with fresh blueberries,

and the rest of the plate could consist of scrambled eggs made with diced green and red peppers and chopped kale, sprinkled with Swiss cheese. Add a slice of whole-wheat toast, and you have your whole grains as well.

For lunch, she suggests an apple or peach, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, and a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with fresh spinach instead of lettuce.

A colorful dinner could include a tossed salad with broccoli, carrots and radishes, a fruit, a lean piece of chicken and a halfcup serving of brown rice.

“Eating in color will definitely lead to healthier eating,” Abel said. “This time of year there is lots to explore at local farmers’ markets. Be creative, and make eating a colorful experience.” august 2011

27

Taste of Virginia

?

GREEN TOMATO CAKE BETTER THAN A MOVIE

?

Green Tomato Cake INGREDIENTS

2 cups chopped green tomatoes 1 tablespoon salt ½ cup butter 2 cups white sugar 2 eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup raisins ½ cup chopped pecans

Green Tomato Cake

whipped topping, mint sprigs and pecans for garnish You may have eaten fried green tomatoes or seen the movie of the same name, but chef John Maxwell’s green tomato cake is unique.

“It’s crispy, brown, delicious and sweet,” Maxwell said.

Green tomatoes have the same nutritional benefits as red ones, including vitamin C and lycopene.

PREPARATION

Place chopped tomatoes in a bowl and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt. Let stand 10 minutes. Place in a colander, rinse with cold water and drain. Pat tomatoes dry.

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9˝x13˝ baking pan.

Blend butter and sugar together. Add eggs, and beat until batter is creamy.

Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add raisins and nuts to the dry mixture; add all dry ingredients to batter, and mix well. Dough will be very stiff.

Stir in drained tomatoes. Pour batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake’s center comes out clean.

Garnish slices with whipped topping, mint and pecans.

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

28

Virginia Farm Bureau News

Chef John Maxwell appears each month on Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly television program, courtesy of Virginia Grown, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He’s also director of the Food Service Management Program at the Culinary Institute of Virginia in Norfolk.

SaveOurFood.org

Taste of Virginia

CLAMS + FRESH, LOCAL VEGGIES + PASTA = ? A REFRESHING SUMMER DISH ?

Clam and Corn Spaghetti INGREDIENTS

6 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups diced sweet onions 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup fresh corn kernels, cut from two uncooked ears ½ teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon salt

Clam and Corn Spaghetti

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Fresh clams paired with local farmers’ market produce makes for one tasty dish, said chef John Maxwell.

And because the recipe calls for whole-wheat pasta, “this dish is generally good for you,” he said.

After cutting the corn kernels from the cobs, save the cobs for making soup stock, Maxwell suggested.

²⁄³ cup dry white wine or grape or apple juice ½ cup chopped fresh basil ½ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 pounds fresh clams, scrubbed (no soap) PREPARATION

Cook pasta according to package directions, about 8 minutes.

Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking liquid; drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, begin warming the oil. Sauté onions and garlic in hot oil, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook.

Stir occasionally until very soft and just beginning to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, stir in corn, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute.

Sprinkle flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Stir in wine, and bring to a simmer. Add chopped basil and parsley.

Stir in the reserved cooking liquid, and add the clams. Cover and simmer, stirring often, until the clams open, about 5 minutes. Stir in the pasta.

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

august 2011

29

MemberMarketplace CROPS ANTIQUE APPLE TREES – Summer Rambo, Wolf River, Virginia Beauty, Yellow Transparent. Over 100 different varieties available for planting. Catalog $3. Write: Urban Homestead, 818-A Cumberland Street, Bristol, VA 24201. 276-466-2931. www.OldVaApples.com AZOMITE – Mineral supplement with over 70 trace elements. Go to www.Azomite. com for Va. dealers. 540-373-3276.

DEER AND RABBIT REPELLENT – $12.95 makes 10 gallons. Safe, effective, long lasting. 540-586-6798, www.repels.net

GOOD – 9-ft. NH haybine $2,000, tedder $900, JD 4x4 baler 1,000 bales made $13,000. 276-730-4074.

SPERRY NEW HOLLAND – Manure spreader, good condition. Shelter kept, model 520, 13-ft. by 6-ft., $1,800. 540-576-2547.

WANTED – Bottom plow for Farmall 100.

Will trade 3-gang, 3-pt. plow or buy.

434-392-7451.

HAY AND STRAW SQUARE BALES – No pesticides or herbicides. Orchard and fescue mixed grasses.

Market price, Nottoway. 214-914-0323. www.waverlyfarmsvirginia.com.

FARM EQUIPMENT FIAT-ALLIS TRACK LOADER – 12GB, 44,000, good undercarriage and condition. strice@cox.net, 540-330-5776.

LIVESTOCK ANGUS BULLS – Calving ease, semen tested, excellent bloodlines, reasonably priced and good selection. Delivery available, CStock Farm, Scottsville. Day 434-286-2743 after 7 p.m. 434-286-2076 or 434-286-2423.

CHINCOTEAGUE PONIES – Solids and paints, some year olds, eight 2011 foals, by appointment only. 757-336-1778.

MADISON COUNTY – Locally raised all natural 100% pastured, grain finished Angus, Angus x Hereford beef. Wholesalesides, retail-pounds and select packages via UPS shipping. Purchases at farm by appointment. Checkout www.

RidersBackfieldFarmBeef.com, 540-923-4036.

REGISTERED – One-half Simmental, one-half Angus heifers, ten months old.

Registered Tennessee Walking horse, colts.

540-239-5471.

REGISTERED CHAROLAIS BULLS – High quality and easy calving EPD's from $975 to $1,675. Abingdon, 276-628-9543.

SPANISH GOATS – Hearty, healthy Valera.

Excellent breeding stock or pets, $150$500. Nottoway, 214-914-0323. www.waverlyfarmsvirginia.com

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT LIVESTOCK BARNS – Hay sheds, rough and dressed lumber. Metal roofing, we make our own tin, 20 colors. Max Kendall Lumber and Tin, Axton, Va., www.maxkendalllumber.com Toll free 888-434-2825.

Place online Member Marketplace ads year-round!

If you want to advertise your farm stand, CSA or pick-your-own operation, your farm-related services, or special events on your farm, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Member Marketplace is a good place to start.

Farm Bureau expanded its online classified advertising opportunities this year to help members promote and find their farm products and events. Information on using the service to find farm-fresh foods and special events has been shared with associate members via Cultivate magazine.

Members can place free classified ads at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace in the categories that currently appear in Farm Bureau News—crops, farm equipment, hay and straw, livestock

and livestock equipment—as well as in the following categories: • agritourism; • agricultural event notices; • agricultural services; • community-supported agriculture; • horses; • nursery and greenhouse; and • on-farm sales.

Internet-only ads will have a 45-word maximum and will expire Dec. 31. Only members with paid 2011 memberships will be able to place ads.

2012 magazine classified ad schedule and policies

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:

Members of Virginia Farm Bureau will receive one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in 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 your January 2012 issue of 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 2012 dues are paid.

30

Virginia Farm Bureau News

• • • •

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 Farm Bureau News. All member numbers will be verified.

SaveOurFood.org

County Farm Bureau Offices Accomack

757-787-4208

Frederick

540-869-8650

Northumberland-Lancaster

Albemarle

434-293-5775

Giles

540-921-1777

Nottoway

804-435-0083 434-292-4389

Alleghany

540-962-3961

Giles

540-626-3201

Orange

540-672-3447

Amelia

804-561-2169

Gloucester-Mathews

804-725-3555

Page

540-743-5082

Amherst

434-946-5336

Gloucester-Mathews

804-642-3602

Patrick

276-694-7108

Appomattox

434-352-7851

Goochland

804-556-4119

Pittsylvania

434-432-2381

Augusta

540-886-2353

Goochland

804-290-1502

Pittsylvania

434-792-7484

Augusta

540-943-9820

Grayson

276-773-3091

Powhatan

804-598-3081

Bedford

540-586-9103

Grayson

276-236-7210

Powhatan

804-897-4989

Bedford

434-385-5239

Greene

434-985-7057

Prince Edward

434-392-3050

Bland

276-688-4341

Greensville

434-634-9471

Prince George

804-541-0559

Botetourt

540-992-2062

Halifax

434-572-4529

Prince William-Fairfax

703-368-6813

Brunswick

434-848-3542

Hanover

804-798-6534

Pulaski

540-674-5119

Brunswick

434-584-0290

Hanover

804-730-8730

Rappahannock

540-987-8225

Buckingham

434-983-2583

Henrico

804-270-6400

Richmond

804-333-4410

Campbell

434-332-5411

Henrico

804-737-4999

Roanoke

540-342-2626

Caroline

804-633-9825

Henry

276-638-7760

Roanoke

540-562-3710

Carroll

276-728-4103

Highland-Bath

540-468-2605

Rockbridge

540-463-3603

Carroll

276-236-7210

Isle Of Wight

757-242-6730

Rockingham

540-434-6778

Isle Of Wight

757-365-0400

Russell

276-889-1119

Charles City-James CityNew Kent-York

804-966-2310

King George

540-775-9650

Russell

276-596-9036

CC/JC/NK/YK

757-564-3929

King and Queen

804-769-2580

Scott

276-386-7411

CC/JC/NK/YK

757-595-7143

King and Queen

804-785-9431

Shenandoah

540-459-4019

Charlotte

434-542-5822

King William

804-769-2580

Smyth

276-783-6148

Chesapeake

757-546-8000

Lee

276-346-2363

Southampton

757-653-9341

Chesterfield

804-748-5467

Loudoun

540-751-1111

Spotsylvania

540-786-7575

Chesterfield

804-639-4070

Loudoun

703-858-0545

Stafford

540-899-9454

Clarke

540-869-8650

Louisa

540-967-1370

Surry

757-294-3285

Craig

540-864-6428

Lunenburg

434-676-2451

Sussex

434-246-3531

Culpeper

540-825-0682

Madison

540-948-3311

Tazewell

276-988-6556

Cumberland

804-492-4621

Mecklenburg

434-738-6141

Virginia Beach

757-426-6115

Dinwiddie

804-469-3726

Mecklenburg

434-584-0290

Virginia Beach

757-467-0603

Essex

804-443-3733

Middlesex

804-776-6886

Warren

540-635-4074

Fauquier

540-347-3172

Montgomery

540-382-8161

Washington

276-628-7135

Floyd

540-745-2021

Montgomery

540-961-4086

Washington

276-466-3987

Fluvanna

434-842-3411

Nansemond

757-934-2321

Westmoreland

804-493-8004

Franklin

540-483-9225

Nelson

434-263-8328

Wise-Dickenson

276-328-8274

Franklin

540-721-7047

Northampton

757-678-5158

Wythe

276-228-4042

Franklin

540-483-4708

Northumberland-Lancaster

804-580-4422

Your county Farm Bureau office is your first point of contact for information on services and programs included in Virginia Farm Bureau’s Membership Advantage.

Addresses for county Farm Bureau offices, along with contact information for individual Farm Bureau insurance agents, are available online at FarmBureauAdvantage.com.

‘Super foods,’ fancy foods and local foods, on Down Home Virginia

Watch this!

To view Down Home Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org

VirginiaFarmBureau.com

Whether they’re growing "super foods" for consumers, producing value-added fancy foods or manning a booth at a local farmers’ market, many Virginia farmers are working hard to raise and market local foods. Get the latest on this topic, as well as a report on the National Holstein Convention, which was held in Virginia this summer. Plus horticulturist Mark Viette shows how to use shade plants in your landscape, in the August edition of Down Home Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s monthly cable and satellite television show.

The award-winning show airs nationwide at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month on RFD-TV, as well as on 48 cable systems and three broadcast stations in Virginia. It’s also available online at VaFarmBureau.org.

Check local cable listings for the show times in your area, or visit VaFarmBureau.org for a list of participating stations. august 2011

31

Land. The best investment on earth.

Financing for: r Building or buying a home r Farms, lots & home sites r Small or large tracts of land r Timber & recreational tracts r Hunting & fishing properties

If you are interested in owning your own land, Farm Credit can help. We have been providing financing for land and farms to people just like you for 95 years.

800-919-FARM (3276) www.farmcredit.com

The Experts in Rural Finance