FBN Jan 2024

Farm Bureau News The Voice of Virginia’s Agricultural Producers

JANUARY 2024

SUPPLY AND DEMAND Meat processors beefing up capacity

Farm Bureau News

Volume 83, Number 1 January 2024 Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017-763) (ISSN 1525-528X) is published four times a year. January, April, September, November.

It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.13 (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 virginiafarmbureaunews@vafb.com.

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

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Features 9

FARMERS’ CONSERVATION PRACTICES LAUDED AT CONVENTION

Farm Bureau president tells VFBF Annual Convention attendees that farmers are making a difference in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.

“Sometimes they can’t even find processors nearby.”

— CALEB WEBB, Carroll County cattleman

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

Member: Virginia Press Association

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MARK FARM ROADS IN APPS AS PRIVATE

MEAT SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Cattle producers are seeking solutions to the need for increased processing capabilities in Virginia, and legislative initiatives are helping.

VIRGINIANS AT FOREFRONT OF AG INNOVATIONS

Meet a few forebearers of agricultural innovation—from peanut farming improvements to agricultural research to ag education.

Departments 6 8 28

EDITORIAL TEAM

Private landowners often find confused motorists traveling on their property, but there are ways to prevent that from happening.

Pam Wiley Vice President, Communications Kathy Dixon Managing Editor Nicole Zema Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Christina Amano Dolan Staff Writer/ Photographer Eleanor Stickley Graphic Designer

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Producer members will receive their next issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News in April. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/ virginiafarmbureau.

WE’RE SOCIAL!

For Your Benefit Save the Date Heart of the Home ON THE COVER Increased demand for beef has led to backlogs with meat processors (Photo by Nadia Borovenko).

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Alice Kemp Sr. Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President

Board of Directors DIRECTOR

DISTRICT

Emily F. Edmondson 1 Richard L. Sutherland 2 Bruce N. Stanger 3 Jeannie L. Dudding 4 Russell L. Williams II 5 Justin Pence 6 Thomas E. Graves 7 Leigh H. Pemberton 8 William F. Osl Jr. 9 Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 J. Barry Bates 12 Gary D. Cross 13 David L. Hickman 14 A. Faye Hundley * Michelle Fox **

COUNTY

Tazewell Grayson Montgomery Craig Rockbridge Shenandoah Orange Hanover Cumberland Pittsylvania Lunenburg Essex Southampton Accomack Essex Tazewell

*Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman

President’s Message

New year will build on last year’s successes

P

eople sometimes say “out with the old, in with the new” when the calendar turns to the next year.

Reflecting on Virginia Farm Bureau’s successes in 2023 and looking ahead to 2024, I’d like to rephrase that to: Improve on the old, and bring on the new!

Our organization offers its members special programs, WAYNE F. PRYOR legislative support and exclusive discounts to maximize the value of their membership.

We ended the 2023 membership year with 134,804 members—1,640 more than in 2022. And 71 of our 88 county Farm Bureaus met their membership quotas.

Our tried-and-true grassroots process continues to ensure that farmers and their interests are represented in the state legislature. As you’ll read in our 2023 recap, Farm Bureau policy prevailed on 24 out of 30 key policy issues—that’s a pretty solid success rate.

The grain division handled over $38 million in gross grain sales, and our volunteers raised a record $540,000 for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom.

Agriculture in almost 70 Virginia counties has been featured on our television show, Real Virginia, and some of our staff are representing members’ interests by serving on 25 regulatory, technical or advisory committees or panels.

We have county Farm Bureaus that have purchased grain bin rescue tubes for their first responders, our safety committee has hosted mental health workshops, and our Agriculture, Development and Innovation Department has organized meat processing listening sessions.

Additionally, our Products Division now has dealers in Virginia and three other states, and it is positioned to be the leading source of tractor tires in the commonwealth.

We had a Virginia young farmer chairing the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, and by late September our Women’s Leadership Committee had collected 1,230 pounds of PB&J and $400 in monetary donations to support local food banks.

There are too many accomplishments to share here, although we are listing the top three in each of our federation departments. This just scratches the surface of all that our staff are doing to enhance every Farm Bureau membership.

I’m proud of our past successes, but I’m looking forward to building on them this year and providing even more value for your Farm Bureau membership in the future.

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

Top membership counties for end of membership year 2023 as of Oct. 31, 2023

County Farm Bureau

Members

Bedford

3.330

CC-JC-NK-Y

3,176

Washington

3,144

Hanover

3,005

Tazewell

2,894

Augusta

2,657

Henrico

2,626

Franklin

2,574

Russell

2,555

Rockingham

2,507

County Farm Bureau

Percentage of goal

Warren

106.62

Prince George

106.51

Pittsylvania

105.59

Essex

105.57

Alleghany

105.04

Fluvanna

105.00

Henry

104.49

Floyd

104.27

King & Queen

104.25

Mecklenburg

103.90

County Farm Bureau

Member retention rate

Fluvanna

95.54%

Charlotte

95.51%

Buckingham

95.44%

King & Queen

95.04%

Floyd

94.99%

Northampton

94.81%

Surry

94.80%

Dinwiddie

94.79%

King William

94.78%

Shenandoah

94.66%

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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2023 Success Stories Member Support Agriculture, Development and Innovation • The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability helped producers and rural businesses apply for almost $7.8 million in state and federal funding to expand businesses, hire employees and capture more value for their products.

• VA FAIRS also completed five meat processing expansion feasibility studies and assisted seven local processors in requesting grants to help them expand their capacity.

• The grain marketing division handled over $38 million in gross sales and worked with nearly 450 grain producers. It also successfully hosted the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Wheat Tour to connect wheat growers with buyers.

Communications • Communications staff provided county Farm Bureaus with a full year’s worth of seasonal Facebook posts to keep their members informed and engaged. Toward the end of 2023, county Farm Bureaus received a new year’s worth of posts for 2024.

• Since mid-2017, the Real Virginia television program has profiled agriculture in almost 70 Virginia counties.

Those video stories have been shared with county Farm Bureaus and, in some instances, county governments for promotional activities.

• Cultivate magazine, which is published quarterly and mailed to associate members, turned 15 years old last year.

A Cultivate readership survey was conducted in the spring, and among nearly 1,300 members who participated, 88% said they read the magazine on a regular basis, and eight out of 10 said they find it interesting. A similar Virginia Farm Bureau News survey was conducted last fall. Among 591 members who participated, 95% said they read the magazine on a regular basis, and 95% find it interesting.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Products Division is on its way to becoming the leading source of tractor tires in Virginia.

• Virginia Farm Bureau staff and volunteers made it a point to bring our congressional leaders out of Washington and onto Virginia farms. In 2023, Virginia Farm Bureau hosted more than 20 farm tours and roundtables across the state to give representatives a firsthand understanding of agriculture and how federal policy—especially the federal farm bill—impacts Virginia farmers.

• With the largest turnover in General Assembly representatives in recent history, farmers met with legislators in rural and urban areas to share information about agriculture and forestry issues and build relationships. Farmers met with 35 candidates in urban areas, including Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. The focus of the meetings was to discuss agriculture and how it impacts urban areas. Farmers met with 47 candidates in rural areas to discuss their understanding of key Farm Bureau issues.

Growth & Service • Membership quota was reached and exceeded. End-ofyear total was 134,804—1,640 more than in 2022. Member retention was 92.91%, and 71 of 88 county Farm Bureaus reached quota.

Governmental Relations

• The Products Division is well on its way to becoming the leading source of tractor tires in Virginia, and our member benefits expanded in 2023, with added new services like Great Hearing Benefits saving our members thousands of dollars.

• VFBF policy prevailed on 24 out of 30 key policy issues in the General Assembly, including aligning the achievement of nutrient load reductions in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL with funding allocations; fully funding conservation practices for farmers; clarifying laws on unlicensed farm vehicle tags; strengthening land use assessment law; and continuing the cattle checkoff.

• Loudoun County Farm Bureau received an American Farm Bureau Federation County of Excellence Award for its work advocating for young farmers, specifically through a panel discussion with the county board of supervisors chair. The organization will be given the opportunity to highlight its county programming at the AFBF Annual Convention in Salt Lake City this month.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

VFBF year-end roundup

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Safety • Nine county Farm Bureaus have purchased grain bin rescue tubes to donate to local first responders, and a pilot grain bin rescue training was held in the spring.

• The safety program hosted six regional mental health workshops focused on how farmers and other ag professionals can recognize the signs of emotional distress. The safety program also promoted the AgriStress Helpline’s free services.

• The safety program worked with the Communications Department to promote numerous safety topics through news releases, magazines, media interviews, social media and other platforms.

Women • The Women’s Leadership Conference in the spring was well attended, and the corresponding Leadership Academy had its largest class yet with 22 participants.

• Thirty-one women’s committees were among participants in Agriculture Literacy Week, which reached more than 19,000 children in 175 schools statewide.

• County women’s committees held peanut butter and jelly drives to support local food banks. By late September they had gathered a cumulative 1,230 pounds of PB&J and $400 in monetary donations.

Young Farmers • In January, Young Farmers Committee member Matt Fimon was elected to chair the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

• Two successful Expo events were held, as well as a joint retreat with the West Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers.

• The state Young Farmers committee decided to develop a contests subcommittee to increase participation in Young Farmers events and to improve all competition applications.

Members met with legislators to share agricultural perspectives; Young Farmers honed their communications skills through roundtable discussions; and volunteers read agriculture-themed books in elementary classrooms around the state.

Special Programs Agriculture Education • A record $540,000 was raised for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom in 2023.

• AITC provided Farm Bureau volunteers with more than 75,000 educational items to distribute to youth and families.

• AITC program efforts connected 600,000 children with accurate information about agriculture through education and other outreach programs.

The Meadow Event Park • The State Fair of Virginia raised over $157,000 for its scholarship program, Agriculture in the Classroom and the Children’s Hospital of RIchmond through its fundraising events—Black Tie & Boots, Sale of Champions, Ben Risney chainsaw carving auction, Taste of Virginia and the SFVA Crafters for Children auction.

• The State Fair celebrated 210,000 visitors despite a wet start from tropical storm Ophelia, and it experienced an all-time record high attendance on the fair’s second Saturday.

• Overall facility rental partnerships experienced a record year.

Major events included two new American Kennel Club shows, the 50th annual BMW Motorcycles of America rally and the Richmond Oktoberfest—held at The Meadow for the first time. vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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Thank you for your membership!

As a Farm Bureau member, you’ve put your support squarely behind your community and the farm families who produce the nation’s food and other important products. Here is the current package of member benefits and services.

Your Membership Advantage Staff at your county Farm Bureau office are happy to provide details about any of these!

Travel Services • Avis Car Rental Savings – up to 35% off Avis base rates • Budget Car Rental Savings – up to 35% off Budget base rates • Budget Truck Rental Savings – up to 20% off Budget

consumer rental rates

• Biltmore Estate – up to $13 off regular gate admission

and reduced rates at The Inn on Biltmore Estate and other accommodations • Choice Hotel Discounts – up to 20% off the “best available rates” at more than 7,000 locations • Dollywood & Dollywood Splash Country – Save up to $10 on tickets to world-renowned theme parks in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

• Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Discounts – up to 20% off at over 8,000 participating hotels worldwide.

Home/Business/Farm • Bush Hog Products – Save up to $250 when purchasing

Bush Hog products valued at $5,000 or more.

• Case IH Equipment Discounts – Save up to $500 on

qualifying products from participating dealers.

• Caterpillar Machine Discounts – Save up to $2,750 on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers, and receive an additional $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with new equipment.

• Ford Truck Savings – $500 toward the purchase or lease of a new Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty®* • Grainger Savings – Get deep discounts on equipment and supplies from Grainger, plus get free standard ground shipping on all standard Grainger products**.

• John Deere Rewards Savings – Members are eligible for a rewards upgrade to Platinum 1 to save on select agriculture and turf equipment.

• Member Deals Plus®*** – lets you save wherever you go, with the nation’s largest private discount network on meals, clothing, vehicle care and other goods and services, with online access and show-your-phone technology.

• Farm Bureau Products Warehouse – competitively priced 6

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

auto, truck and farm tires, and farm equipment parts • Reward Protection Service – offers a $2,500 reward for information that results in a conviction in the event of theft or vandalism on a member’s property.

• Vogue Towers – Members can get paid for leasing land to Vogue Towers for installing a wireless communication tower.

• Yamaha Vehicles – Get a $250 rebate on select Yamaha 4WD ATV and SXS vehicles, excluding youth models under 350cc.

Healthy Living • Life Line Screenings – for four non-invasive cardiovascular screenings, plus a free osteoporosis screening • My Free Pharmacy – members eligible to receive free generic prescriptions delivered to their door with a paid subscription

Insurance Protection • Auto, Home, Life – a wide array of auto, home, and life insurance products, as well as farm, business liability and personal property insurance • Health – Staff at your county Farm Bureau office can help you review and enroll in individual, group or Medicare supplemental health insurance plans with health insurance carriers on both the public and private health insurance marketplaces.

Financial • Farm Bureau Bank – including credit cards, deposit

accounts and mortgage, vehicle, and education loans • Estate Planning Assistance – free, no-obligation analysis to help you set financial goals * Excludes F-150 Lightning, F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty **FREE standard shipping on all orders shipped ground transportation. Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling

For Your Benefit

by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States. ***Member Deals Plus® and Member Deals plus® are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

New member benefit helps improve hearing health Great Hearing Benefits works to improve hearing health, which is essential to overall health. The company is comprised of thousands of credentialed hearing care professionals in a nationwide network, providing the latest technology with affordable pricing, award-winning care and record-breaking patient satisfaction.

And now Virginia Farm Bureau members can save up to 50% on top hearing aids provided through companies like Beltone, ReSound and Jabra.

Members get: • Discounted pricing in today’s top hearing technology; • A free 60-day trial;

• 3-year warranty and service;

- 5,000+ hearing care locations nationwide; - In-person or virtual appointments; - The benefit of sharing discounts with up to three immediate family members; and - A 25% discount off Jabra consumer audio and headsets, plus office teleconference products.

To access your savings, visit vafb.com, and go to the “Membership at Work” tab on the lefthand menu.

Wherever the road takes you, Choice Hotels® is there.

Choice Hotels has a variety of brands to suit every traveler’s needs. Use your Virginia Farm Bureau discount to save up to 20%* at nearly 7,500 Choice Hotels locations worldwide.

Farm Bureau Members Receive a $500 Exclusive Cash Reward* on an Eligible New F-150 Lightning , Super Duty , F-150, Ranger or Maverick ®

®

®

®

®

3 ways to book your rate: Visit ChoiceHotels.com and enter the Special Rate ID Call 800.4CHOICE and give them the Special Rate ID. Download the Choice Hotels mobile app and enter the Special Rate ID.

Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson, Charlottesville-UVA, VA

FORD SUPER DUTY

Visit FordRecognizesU.com/FarmBureau today for complete offer details!

*

The Radisson brands, including Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, and Park Inn by Radisson, are owned in the Americas regions by Choice Hotels.

Outside of the Americas, the brands Park are owned

by Radisson Hotel Group, an unaffiliated company Belgium.

The Radisson brands, including Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, andheadquartered Park Innin by Radisson, are owned in the Americas regions by Choice Hotels. Outside of the Americas, the brands are owned

by Radisson Hotel Group, an unaffiliated company headquartered in Belgium.

* Terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, visit: https://choicehotelscreative.com/ b2b/global_sales/2023/va_fb_tcs.pdf. © 2023 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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Save the Date!

Legislative Day emphasizes farmer advocacy Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Legislative Day will be held Jan. 29.

A legislative briefing with VFBF governmental relations staff will be held the evening of Jan. 28. when: Jan. 28-29 where: Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St., Richmond, and the Virginia State Capitol

Young Farmers will meet in Henrico County Nearly 200 young farmers will gather for the 2024 VFBF Young Farmers Winter Expo in February to celebrate “Farming on the Fringe.” when: Feb. 22-24 where: Lodging at the Hyatt Place in Henrico County • Programming will be held at the VFBF West Creek office in Goochland County. registration: Follow the Young Farmers Facebook page at facebook.com/vafbyoungfarmers.

Celebrate National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week this March National Ag Day 2024 will be celebrated on March 19

during National Ag Week, March 17-23.

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom will hold its annual Agriculture Literacy Week March 18-22 (See related article on page 27).

Women’s Leadership Conference to be held in Roanoke Members of county Farm Bureau women’s committees will meet for the 2024 Women’s Leadership Conference in April with the theme Stars of Agriculture: Farm Bureau Women Shine. when: April 26-28 where: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center registration: Visit bit.ly/47jaLUi for details.

Charity golf tournament benefits AITC Sponsors and teams of four are invited to participate in the annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Charity Golf Tournament in May. when: May 13 where: The Dominion Club in Glen Allen registration: Registration opens in February. Visit virginia. agclassroom.org for details.

THE BEST DEAL ON HEARING AIDS AND CARE

Welcome Virginia Farm Bureau Members As a member of the Virginia Farm Bureau, you have access to the Great Hearing Benefits (GHB) program. GHB provides family members access to hearing care and hearing aids at discounted rates.

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with up to 3 family members

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5,000+ Locations Nationwide

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Share Your Benefits

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greathearingbenefits.com/farm-bureau/virginia © 2023 GN Hearing A/S. Great Hearing Benefits is a registered company owned by GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

REFERRAL CODE: VAFBVCWI23

VFBF ANNUAL CONVENTION

NICOLE ZEMA

Farmers are making a difference in Chesapeake Bay cleanup, Farm Bureau president shares

President Wayne F. Pryor told convention attendees that Farm Bureau brought congressional leaders out of Washington and onto Virginia farms in 2023.

V

irginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor said money the 2023 General Assembly appropriated for agricultural best management practices stands to make a difference in improving the quality of the Chesapeake Bay. “Thanks to money in the state budget, conservation practices installed on farms during fiscal year Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022, resulted in nitrogen reductions of approximately 11.3 million pounds, phosphorous reductions of approximately 4.1 million pounds and sediment reductions of approximately 847,000 tons,” Pryor told farmers from across the state on Nov. 29 during the VFBF 2023 Annual Meeting of Voting Delegates. “We’re here in Virginia Beach, and the beautiful ocean that’s connected to the Chesapeake Bay is a visual reminder of why our farmers

are committed to implementing conservation practices on their farms.”

This year’s General Assembly appropriated an additional $249.5 million for conservation practices and technical assistance over the current fiscal year and the next.

“This is critical to helping farmers implement what can be costly practices on their farms, but we all know it is well worth the money,” Pryor explained. He is challenging all Virginia farmers to take advantage of the cost-share money to increase or implement conservation practices on their farms.

He also shared with convention participants that Virginia Farm Bureau staff and volunteer leaders made a point of bringing congressional leaders out of Washington and onto Virginia farms. In 2023, Farm Bureau hosted more than 20 farm tours and roundtables across the state

to give representatives a firsthand understanding of agriculture and how federal policy—especially the farm bill—impacts Virginia farmers.

Pryor said that because of the largest-ever turnover in General Assembly seats, Farm Bureau members also made a point of meeting with 35 urban and 47 rural legislative candidates and incumbents to share information about agriculture and forestry issues.

“These meetings help us build relationships with our representatives, and they allow them to better understand how their voting on certain issues could impact the state’s largest industry,” he added.

Pryor also said that 2023 was a successful membership year for the organization.

Farm Bureau not only met its membership goal for a seventh consecutive year, but surpassed it by 1,640 member households, counting 134,804 memberships for 2023.

Another 2023 success was a record-breaking amount of donations raised for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, which provides free agriculture-themed resources to educators. More than $500,000 in donations was raised this past year.

Additionally, silent and live auctions at the convention netted an additional $10,000 for AITC.

Speakers emphasize farmers’ importance Keynote speaker Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation president, said the Farm Bureau organization is powerful because of its county leaders who represent 2,800 county offices. Duvall said the vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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strength of AFBF rests in its county leaders, the grassroots policy process and its members making personal connections with legislators. “It’s unbelievable how people pay attention to what Farm Bureau members think about policies. Not every organization gets that kind of attention.”

Jason Brown, a former NFL player who now owns 1,000-acre First Fruits Farm in Louisburg, North Carolina, spoke during the Farm to Table lunch on Nov. 28. He told conventiongoers that farming is better if you share your bounty with others. He has donated over 1 million pounds of produce from his farm to food pantries and churches since he started it in 2012.

Governor touts the importance of Farm Bureau

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he is working to support Virginia’s largest combined industry—agriculture and forestry.

Farming and forestry contribute $100 billion annually to the commonwealth’s economy and support 500,000 jobs, “which is staggering,” Youngkin said to farmers and other agricultural stakeholders on Nov. 29.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

He credited Farm Bureau for much of the state’s agricultural success, noting that the membership organization serves as a “linchpin” for connecting farmers with stakeholders and communities.

Youngkin also noted that his agriculture and forestry cabinet members are working to expand opportunities for the state’s farmers—in Virginia, across the country and around the world. As a result, Virginia farm commodities are globally recognized for their quality.

Workshops focus on ag advocacy, farm transition

The American court system is “incredibly important” for agricultural advocacy.

That was the message from Travis Cushman, deputy general counsel for AFBF, on Nov. 28 during a workshop titled “Courts and Ports: A Look at Legal and Economic Issues Facing American Agriculture.”

Although the court system is intended to focus on the law, “people are trying to change policy through the courts,” Cushman remarked. He said AFBF is doing the same.

One example of that involves a 1972 amendment to the Clean Water Act that gave federal jurisdiction over “navigable waters” as defined as waters of the United States.

When a case called Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that challenged

the EPA’s authority over waters of the U.S. rose to the Supreme Court last year, AFBF decided to get on board. It established a group of 14 national agricultural organizations and coordinated with 20 state Farm Bureau organizations to file a strategically focused set of friend-of-the-court briefs.

The state Farm Bureau brief was cited in the final court decision in favor of the plaintiffs, who said the EPA was overreaching in its control of private waterways. In May of this year, all nine justices agreed that the EPA’s definition of waters of the U.S. was invalid and needed to be amended.

In Dick Wittman’s Nov. 28 workshop, “Nontraditional Succession in Family Farm Business,” he highlighted resources available for farmers without an heir ready to take over their businesses.

Programs like the Idaho Farm and Ranch Center offer curriculum for navigating succession planning, and land matching programs like Virginia Farm Link and Young Agrarians help connect land seekers with landowners.

Southampton farmer elected to Farm Bureau board

Gary D. Cross, a cotton, peanut and small grains farmer from Southampton County, was elected Nov. 29 to a three-

year term on the VFBF board of directors.

Cross will represent Farm Bureau producer members in Charles City, Dinwiddie, Greensville, James City, New Kent, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex and York counties.

He has served as president of the Southampton County Farm Bureau for 15 years and currently chairs the Chowan Basin Soil and Water Conservation District. He also is a member of the VFBF Cotton Advisory and Peanut Advisory boards.

He succeeds board member M.L. Everett Jr., who did not seek re-election.

Re-elected directors

• District 1: Emily F. Edmondson of Tazewell County • District 4: Jeannie L. Dudding of Craig County • District 7: Thomas E. Graves of Orange County • District 10: Robert J. Mills Jr. of Pittsylvania County

County Farm Bureaus win Awards of Excellence

Craig County Farm Bureau, led by president Jeannie L. Dudding, received a first-place VFBF County Award of Excellence for its second annual Land Lab Ag Fair at Craig County High School. The program

was designed to introduce county residents to the school’s Land Lab, which offers students hands-on experience in agriculture.

The ag fair also is a fundraiser for the lab and the school’s FFA chapter.

More than 1,000 visitors toured the school facilities on May 6, and close to $6,000 was raised for these programs.

The second-place winner was Patrick County Farm Bureau, for its Ag Demo Day last spring. County Farm Bureau President Jonathan Wood led a team of sponsors who highlighted farm and highway safety related to farm equipment.

Late district leader named Outstanding Woman in Agriculture

The VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee posthumously honored Kathy Coffee of Lunenburg County with its Outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award Nov. 29.

The award recognizes women for achievements in and contributions to the agriculture industry.

Coffee’s husband, Billy, was present during the recognition. The Women’s Leadership Committee will plant a dogwood tree on the Coffee family farm in her honor.

Coffee, who served as District 11 chair on the committee, died from an illness in August. She was a member of the Lunenburg County Farm Bureau

Women’s Committee for more than 40 years.

“Kathy brought so much to the table with her knowledge, her devotion to the farming community and her extensive involvement with Farm Bureau,” said Faye Hundley, Women’s Leadership Committee chair, during the presentation. “She’d been a fixture in the women’s program for years and exemplified what it means to be a leading woman in agriculture.”

Madison County veterinarian wins Discussion Meet

Dr. Amanda WeakleyScott of Madison County took top honors Nov. 28 in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers Discussion Meet.

The competition is designed to simulate a committee meeting in which discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. Relevant topics are presented to competitors, who are judged on their discussion skills, understanding of important agricultural issues and the ability to build consensus.

This year’s discussion centered on how Farm Bureau members can be more inclusive of all types of agriculture and work toward a more diverse membership within the organization.

In addition to her veterinary practice serving farmers in Madison and

surrounding counties, Weakley-Scott represents the counties of Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, King George, Madison, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania and Stafford on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee. She and her husband, Roger, have two daughters and operate two commercial turkey houses, a poultry litter hauling and spreading business, a cow-calf operation and a custom hay business.

Weakley-Scott received a travel package to the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she will compete for national honors.

Southampton County couple receives Distinguished Service Award

Peanut and cotton growers M.L. and Jeannette Everett from Southampton County were honored on Nov. 30 with the Distinguished Service to Virginia Farm Bureau Award.

The Everetts, who are the first couple ever recognized with the award, are recognized as public servants and advocates for agriculture. Long-time friends and colleagues say they lead by example, are true to their word, sustain an immaculate farm operation and are

committed to conservation practices.

The Everetts have served in a leadership capacity on several Farm Bureau committees and boards.

Jeannette shared her talents with the VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee—both statewide and on the county level. Her projects included assisting local fire departments and rescue squads in mapping 911 addresses for every farm in Southampton County.

M.L. sits on the Southampton County Farm Bureau board and recently stepped down from the VFBF board of directors.

It’s a distinction he shares with his late father, as both held state Farm Bureau board and county Farm Bureau president seats.

M.L. currently serves on the boards of the Virginia Peanut Growers Marketing Association and the Chowan Basin Soil and Water Conservation District.

He also chairs the VFBF Peanut Advisory and Cotton Advisory committees, and holds a seat on the Countryway Insurance Co. board of directors.

Synthetic fertilizer company wins ‘Bull Pen’ challenge

Chesterfield County 6-based fertilizer company NTP Technologies earned top honors in the second annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability Agricultural vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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and Forestry Innovation Challenge.

The competition, also known as the “Bull Pen,” was held Nov. 28.

NTP Technologies has created a nitrogen fertilizer substitute through its proprietary, non-thermal plasma technology that generates affordable, sustainable, salt-free nitrates that use only air and electricity as inputs.

The company was awarded the competition’s grand prize of $10,000 as well as $2,500 for being one of the five finalists.

Potomac Vegetable Farms of Loudoun County placed second and received $5,000 plus $2,500 for being a finalist.

Virginia Oyster Company, a boat-to-table seafood operation in Gloucester County, received $2,500 as recipient of the Bull Pen’s People’s Choice Award and $2,500 as a finalist.

Hay bale creations recognized

The 9th annual Women’s Leadership Program Hay Bale Decorating Contest attracted a record 59 entries.

The convention favorite— as voted on by attendees— was “Colonel Hayrolled” by Belvedere Plantation, which will receive a trophy.

The following winners received a $100 cash prize.

• Best Square Bale: Tazewell 4-H Dog Club—”A Dog House and Three Pups” • Community Spirit: Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy—“Mrs. Oscar, the Osprey: Bringing 12

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Harrisonburg newspaper, other news professionals recognized

Awareness to FFA” • Junior Display (ages 8 and under): Lane Smith of Warren County—“Rootin’ for Agriculture” • Most Creative Display: Grayson County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee— “Got Milk and Cookies?”

• Special Theme: Stars of Agriculture: Rockbridge Women’s Leadership Committee—“Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Farming!”

Farm-to-table foods sourced locally

During the Nov. 28 Farm to Table Luncheon, attendees enjoyed foods sourced from the following Virginia farms: Coastal Cattle and Cullipher Farms from Virginia Beach; Harvue Cheese from Clarke County; Honey River from Lancaster County; Richlands Dairy & Creamery from Nottoway County; Southside Virginia Fruit & Vegetable Producers Association, Southside Region; and Studley Farms from Hanover County.

These farms have all benefited from assistance from VA FAIRS.

Clockwise from left: Creative winning haybale displays included a dog house, milk and cookies, an osprey, Highland cattle and a Barbie farmer.

Harleigh Cupp, a reporter for the Daily NewsRecord in Harrisonburg, was recognized Nov. 28 with Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 2023 Ishee-Quann Award for Media Excellence, the top honor in Farm Bureau’s annual Journalism Awards program.

Other 2023 VFBF Journalism Award winners are: • Weekly and semi-weekly newspapers: Kilmarnockbased Rappahannock Record, for the 17th time.

• Television: Reporter George Noleff of Roanokebased WFXR. • Radio: Manager Frank Wilt of WSVA in Harrisonburg.

• Members’ Choice: Cathy Dyson of The Free LanceStar in Fredericksburg; Brenden Blevins of the Living Appalachia program on WEHC and WISE by Emory & Henry College; and Kelley Gaskill and Will Russell of WESR and its news website ShoreDailyNews.com.

Anticipate new faces and logistical changes on annual Legislative Day NICOLE ZEMA

BY NICOLE ZEMA

A

40% turnover of seats in the General Assembly is just one of the major changes Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Committee members should anticipate ahead of the annual Legislative Day, which will be held Jan. 29 at the state capitol.

Farm Bureau policy is developed on the grassroots county level, debated and approved by a statewide body of voting delegates. VFBF Legislative Committee members traditionally present those Farm Bureau policy priorities to lawmakers at their offices on Legislative Day.

New faces, new places VFBF advocates are encouraged to establish relationships with the 51 legislators who are new or previously served in the General Assembly in a different office.

The venues for the orientation dinner and next morning’s Legislative Day activities will change as well.

VFBF Legislative Committee orientation activities this year will take place Jan. 28 at the Marriot, 500 E. Broad St. Legislative Day on Jan. 29 will be held at the new General Assembly building at 201 N 9th St., which anchors the northwest corner of Capitol Square.

Two historic facades were preserved and integrated into the new, high-tech building. Offices for assembly members and additional committee rooms are found on the fifth to the 11th floors.

The tower above contains office suites for assembly members and aides. The three topmost floors are reserved for members of the Senate Finance and House Appropriation committees.

Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-5th), representing the counties of Grayson, Smyth, and Washington, and cities of Bristol and Galax, met last year with VFBF Legislative Day participants to discuss agricultural issues relevant to Southwest Virginia.

The Pocahontas Building is scheduled to be demolished after the General Assembly officially moves to its new offices for the 2024 legislative session.

“Apparently, the new building is very state of the art, and other states have already reached out to get ideas to update their own general assembly buildings,” said Sam Norman, governmental relations support specialist.

Burgers on Bank Street may need a new setup The Women’s Leadership Committee historically serves lunches to lawmakers made with Virginia-grown ingredients, called Burgers on Bank Street. However, the construction of an underground pedestrian tunnel may reduce typical foot traffic near the site.

A possible new location had not yet been determined at press time. vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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GET AHEAD OF GPS CONFUSION:

Fix your farm road in Google and Apple maps

F

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

rom dog-eared maps to handheld mapping devices, getting from point A to B has gotten much easier these days.

Whether you’re running late or navigating unknown terrain, having a savvy GPS to map the way is an invaluable tool for many modern motorists—until they make a wrong turn.

Prince William County farmer Stephanie Cornnell has often heard the phrase from disoriented travelers: “But my GPS told us to go this way.”

Despite posting “No Thru Traffic” signs to dissuade interstate travelers from barreling down her private farm road, Cornnell’s family and employees fear being struck while wandering the property.

“They will fly through here going 50 miles an hour,” she said. “They’ve almost hit our employees. We all have young kids, and we all live on this farm.”

A recent national survey conducted

by United Tires reported an overreliance on GPS among over 1,200 surveyed drivers, with 93% of respondents admitting they were GPSdependent.

The study also indicated an increase in distracted and dangerous driving that arises from confusing GPS directions. Two in five drivers surveyed admitted to driving dangerously to beat their estimated arrival time, and 46% admitted to experiencing road rage while using their GPS. “We’ll tell them to turn around, that this is a private road, and we’ve been cussed at,” said Cornnell.

Apple Maps removed Cornell’s private road within a week of her 14

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

GPS directions often take drivers on routes that wind through private property, but there are ways to have locations removed from mobile apps.

submitting a request, and her Google Maps request was eventually addressed after over two years and an “overflow” of community support.

Prohibited traffic has since improved considerably, but she’s working to resolve the same issue with Amazon.

Bill Braford of Rockbridge County requested removal of his farm road from Google’s GPS, which was approved within a few weeks after corresponding with a map reviewer.

His request was submitted through a form prior to Google Map Maker’s transition to Google Maps in 2017, which now allows users to submit road

edits to reviewers directly through Google Maps. Approval wait times depend on the nature of the edit and the number of approvals it requires.

Currently, Google Maps displays Cornnell’s private road with the warning, “This route has restricted usage or private roads,” which still causes some confusion among users, she said.

“If we can figure out a way to get these farm access roads not listed as private but completely removed from the maps, I think that would be the most beneficial situation for everybody,” she added.

Fix your farm road in Google Maps Computer • On your computer, open Google Maps.

• In the top left corner, click Menu.

• On the left, click Edit the map, then Add or fix a road.

• On the map, select the road you want to fix.

• On the left, verify the road segment selected.

• Under Edit information, select the type of information you want to fix, and enter the correction.

• Click Done, then Submit.

Android • Open the Google Maps mobile app.

• On the bottom, tap the Contribute tab.

• Tap Edit map, then Add or fix a road.

• Select the type of information you want to fix, then select the affected road.

• From the bottom tiles, select the road segment you want to fix, and tap Next.

• Enter the correct information, and tap Send. iPhone/iPad • Open the Google Maps mobile app.

• On the bottom, tap the Contribute tab.

• Tap Edit map, and then Add or fix a road, and then Fix a road.

• Tap the road you want to fix and then Next.

• Select the type of information you want to fix, and enter the correct information.

• Tap Send.

If you're a property owner and have trouble with drivers on your private roads, you can take steps to remove those locations from Google Maps.

Fix your farm road in Apple Maps • Open the Apple Maps mobile app.

• Type in an address in the Search Maps bar.

• Click on three dots, then Report an issue.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

15

ADAM BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY

‘A huge ripple effect’ Consumers seek locally raised beef as growers and processors try to keep pace with demand

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Seven Hills Food Co.’s production manager Donta Coleman, left, and president Dalton Mosser operate the state’s largest meat processor, which is located in Lynchburg.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

T

here is enough capacity statewide to process the 14,000 head of beef cattle finished in Virginia annually. However, long travel distances and labor shortages, plus an ongoing processing backlog exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, has created industry challenges as consumers increasingly clamor for locally sourced foods.

Nationwide, market prices are driven up by sustained demand and a dip in inventory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2023 cattle inventory report showed overall headcounts are down about 3 million from 2022.

“Cattle prices are at or around record highs, so revenue is up for producers,” said Elijah Griles, a commodity specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “But their inputs are more expensive with market-wide inflation, so profit is not increasing proportionally.”

As market forces play out, new legislative initiatives address the need to study processing expansion at home. In the meantime, some growers are seeking their own solutions.

USDA-inspected facility with a mobile processing unit,” he explained. “We will kill at our farm and process the beef at our facility. We can sell it in our storefront where it’s processed, plus serve it in our restaurant. And if a farmer wants to process a couple beefs, it would cost the same for him that it does for us.”

Webb is working with state agencies and organizations to secure grant funds to expand into processing, sales and food service.

COVID’s domino effect When COVID supply chain disruptions emptied grocery beef cases, consumers called farms, inquiring about direct sales. But a swell of interest in locally raised beef was curbed by processing backlogs.

“Our processor said it would be hard to get our beef processed, so we started booking ahead about two months at first,” Webb recalled. “Then it went to a year. Now it’s two years out to kill dates.”

Caroline County cow-calf operators Peggy and David Spicer of Willow Hill Farms & Beef went from a three-week turnaround to booking their trusted area processor a year in advance.

“Everyone was full; there were

Carroll County cattleman Caleb Webb commutes an hour south to North Carolina just to process two cows per month. Other Southwest Virginia cattle growers make similar treks, he said.

“Sometimes they can’t even find processors nearby to cut their meat for their own freezer,” said Webb, referring to custom exempt processing for uninspected, non-retail consumption.

In 2019 he realized Webb Farms Inc. could net more profits through mobile processing and retail—straight from the farm to the consumer— while simultaneously meeting a regional need.

“We are hoping to build a

Labor shortages persist Business has mostly stabilized at Willow Hill, though processors still contend with labor shortages.

The state’s largest processor, Seven Hills Food Co. in Lynchburg, had humble beginnings in 2015, buying local cattle and selling cuts to restaurants. Business grew quickly as they restored and updated the former century-old Dinner Bell Meat

ADAM BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY

One-hour trip, two-year backlog

no new slots,” David remembered.

“Luckily, we were already established customers.”

A personnel shortage once resulted in cancellation of their booked slot, Peggy added.

“A cancellation throws everything in a kink with a domino effect,” she said. “You have cattle trailers lined up, people taking off work, and then there’s customers we promised beef to, which is now not ready. You lose sales that way. It’s a huge ripple effect.”

The Spicers’ supply chain has few middlemen. They raise about 35 cow-calf pairs on 150 rolling acres.

Steers are weaned and stay on pasture before they’re finished at a nearby feedlot with grass and grain. The couple then delivers packaged beef direct to their consumers.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

17

‘A huge ripple effect’

he said.

USDA meat inspectors also are understaffed, leading to scheduling issues, Mosser noted. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service 2023-2026 Strategic Plan says they will continue to address frontline staffing shortages, taking proactive steps to retain employees.

Legislative solutions Hopefully, USDA staffing shortages will be resolved before new legislation leads to greater processing capacity statewide.

HB 830, introduced by Del. Tony Wilt, R-Harrisonburg, was approved by the governor in April 2022 to expand and develop slaughter and meat-processing facilities through strategic planning and financial incentive programs. This and its sister Senate bill direct the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop a fiveyear strategic plan to increase total combined capacity of slaughter and meat-processing facilities.

Wilt is making good on assurances to Shenandoah Valley farmers,

backlogged processors and Farm Bureau, to grow the commonwealth’s processing capacity.

“It’s been an ongoing issue for years,” he said. “But when COVID hit and product was not on the shelves, people really sat up and paid attention.”

This ties into the growing demand for locally sourced foods, Wilt said, which is both exciting and challenging.

“It doesn’t do you any good to expand if you can’t find the people to work,” he acknowledged. “The need for more processing is there, but we must connect the dots.”

Virginia House and Senate budget items slated to increase the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund for processing projects were cut. Wilt hopes to see those items brought back.

“That grant would go toward equipment and potential expansion for processors—whatever that may look like,” he explained. “Maybe current processors could use that money to increase their staffing. Or maybe offer higher wages.”

NICOLE ZEMA

Products facility.

Then came COVID shutdowns.

“We had a lot of beef in the building and zero restaurant orders,” said Seven Hills president Dalton Mosser.

Kroger corporate came calling, requesting 50,000 pounds of fresh beef per week.

“We hired all the laid-off restaurant staff in town and did 150-head a week of fat cattle,” Mosser said. “We were delivering directly to Krogers from here to Tennessee and West Virginia!”

Now, The Virginia Beef Co. retail brand is sold in 100 Kroger stores, and Seven Hills’ diamond logo is listed on restaurant menus from Roanoke to D.C. With more capital investment, Seven Hills has the capacity to process 500 head weekly.

While there’s space for 60 workers, they hover around 40. During the pandemic, “we lost scores of hardworking guys,” Mosser lamented.

“Labor became a crisis for a long time.”

Prior to that, Mosser found “excellent employees” through a workrelease program. Some are now on the management team.

“But there’s still a labor crisis,”

Peggy and David Spicer of Willow Hill Farms & Beef have booked up to a year in advance to process their cattle.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA

Peggy Spicer feeds cattle at Willow HIll Farms. The cows will eventually be processed into packaged beef for their customers.

VA FAIRS can help access new markets, funding The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability helps farmers access new markets for processed meat. Staff can assist clients in exploring funding options, grants and loans, including value-added producer grants awarded annually by USDA Rural Development. Visit vafairs.com or call 804-290-1158 to learn more.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

19

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

Some Virginians were at the forefront of agricultural innovations Ella Graham Agnew, 4-H, Extension trailblazer

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

Ella Graham Agnew, known today as the visionary behind 4-H and Extension Homemakers clubs, was a woman of many firsts.

Born March 18, 1871, in Nottoway County, Agnew later became one of the first girls in Virginia to study stenography.

After devoting her early career to working as a teacher, principal and interpreter for the American consulate in South Africa, Agnew focused on transforming rural education for girls. She shared her vision with Joseph D. Eggleston, Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction and later president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and in 1910 received the first field appointment given to a woman by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agnew became a VPI employee in 1914 when Extension moved to land-grant institutions, and taught sewing, poultry husbandry and other aspects of home economics. Her transformative work reached nearly 330,000 women and girls, and evolved into the era’s 4-H and Extension Homemakers clubs.

She left VPI in 1919 and held a variety of notable positions, including the first woman editor of The Southern Planter’s women’s section. In 1944, she became the first woman to receive VPI’s Certificate of Merit, and five years later she became the first woman to have a building named for her on the Virginia Tech campus.

Agnew Hall still stands today, and a historical marker in her hometown in Nottoway, where she organized tomato and canning clubs in 1910, shares her lasting legacy with generations to come. The marker reads: “A pioneer in rural education, her successes opened doors for thousands of girls, women, their families and communities.”

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Ella Graham Agnew, left, worked with Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) home economics giants Mary Moore Davis, center, and Maude Wallace.

Benjamin F. Hicks, peanut pioneer

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

Born into slavery, Benjamin F. Hicks will be remembered as one of the country’s most influential agricultural innovators.

In the 19th century, the Southhampton County native revolutionized peanut farming—an industry that still plays a vital role in the state’s economy, accounting for over $29 million in cash receipts in 2021, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Hicks, now known as a masterly inventor, was born in 1846, three years before Virginia passed a law permitting the emancipation of any enslaved person by will or deed.

While he earned his living as a blacksmith and farmer, Hicks’ exceptional creativity and craftmanship captured the attention of his peers. He used his anvil, forge and other woodworking tools to improve farming methods and techniques for the peanut crop. His most notable invention was a 1902 gasoline-powered

PORTRAIT OF JOHN LEE PRATT, PHOTO BY ROBERT CLAUDE

machine for stemming and cleaning peanuts, for which he received a patent.

George Washington Carver benefited from Hicks’ inventions and created more than 300 food, commercial and industrial uses for peanuts.

Nearly a century following Hicks’ passing in 1925, his descendants came together to honor his legacy.

In 2008, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources unveiled a state marker to recognize his life and contributions. The cast-iron monument is located near Courtland in Southampton County.

“The marker is important because it educates the public about Benjamin Hicks, who should be more widely known as an agricultural innovator whose work led to improvements in the harvesting of peanuts, a significant regional crop,” remarked Jennifer Loux, VDHR highway marker program manager.

John Lee Pratt, agricultural research institution donor, collaborator

BY NICOLE ZEMA

When no agricultural innovations existed to solve John Lee Pratt’s cattle nutrition problem last century, he opened his checkbook. The King George County farm boy became one of America’s wealthiest men, quietly funding the growth of the renowned research institutions developing industry solutions to this day.

“Uncle John made his wealth by accumulating stock in companies that employed him,” said his great grandnephew Robert Claude, who owns the farm that belonged to Pratt’s niece. “He was an engineer and problem solver, always looking for solutions.”

After WWII, Pratt felt his cattle were not getting enough nutrients from foraged grasses. He sought advice at Virginia Tech.

“My understanding was they couldn’t help,” Claude said. “An

Australian gentleman thought his cows may be deficient in cobalt. He started mixing it with his feed, and the health of his calves and milk quality improved.”

Pratt held a board position at Johns Hopkins University and donated $500,000 to establish an institute to study micronutrients, continuing his philanthropic legacy.

Impactful programs would be funded as he bankrolled graduate assistantships.

Pratt’s 1975 will left a minimum of $60 million—over $333 million today—to research programs at nine Virginia educational institutions, including Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.

“His fingerprints are everywhere,” Claude said. “He’s been gone for almost 50 years now, yet still has a quiet impact.” vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

21

Farm Bureau policy represented on dozens of state work groups, advisory committees

BY NICOLE ZEMA

PHOTO BY WILL PARSON - CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM

F

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

armers and foresters work the land as Virginia Farm Bureau Federation leaders and staff act as their proxies, voicing members’ priorities as state policy is developed or revised.

Farm Bureau has a seat at the table in over a dozen state work groups, advisory committees and association boards, weighing in on regulatory topics relevant to VFBF’s grassroots policies adopted by its voting delegates.

“Sometimes we have a specific policy direction we are trying to advocate for,” said VFBF Governmental Relations senior vice president Martha Moore.

“Sometimes we’re providing guidance documents or explaining regulations.

And sometimes we’re playing defense if there’s something coming up that could inadvertently impact farmers. Or, we may be there just to make sure our voice is heard, if needed!”

For example, she said, the Virginia Department of Conservation’s Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee facilitates interagency planning in modeling and estimating impacts of coastal flooding.

“If farmers’ crops and animals are damaged by floods, that perspective has to be there, even if it’s not the main focus of the work group,” Moore continued. “We have to make sure the interests of our members are accounted for. Sometimes we’re a main focus, and sometimes we’re a micro focus.”

VFBF legislative specialist Katelyn Jordan is Moore’s TAC alternate. She also serves on DCR’s Flood Resilience Coordination Work Group, Virginia Department of Health’s Tick-Borne Disease Work Group and Agritourism Event Structure Technical Advisory Committee, among others.

“The voice of our members is critical on virtually all subject matter because their impact stretches to every corner

in Virginia,” she said.

Workgroups result from legislation State work groups often are a result of legislation passed by the General Assembly. The legislation, either on its own or in its enactment clause, typically will direct a state agency to convene subject matter experts to study and make recommendations on a particular topic, which will be presented to the governor and General Assembly.

“In a lot of cases, we will advocate to be included in a work group because the subject matter impacts our membership,” Jordan noted.

She also shares Farm Bureau’s policy stances with the Virginia Land UseValue Assessment Program’s Technical Advisory Committee. The land use taxation program enables localities to provide tax relief to landowners to preserve undeveloped lands, providing substantial real estate tax savings for agricultural and forestal landowners.

VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor speaks up on behalf of thousands of conservation-minded farmers on a small matrix work group that includes top agency leaders.

“We’ve had a project going on for years, trying to clean up the Chesapeake Bay through agricultural best management practices,” he said.

“Along with five other states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, we’ve made a lot of progress. But the numbers say we’re not there.”

Farm Bureau advocates say assessment numbers don’t account for about 20,000 acres of older BMPs. “Maybe we’re already doing more than our part, compared to other states in the watershed,” Pryor continued.

“That’s why this committee was formed, to meet those standards within the three-year deadline.”

VIRGINIA’S TOP EXPORTS Agriculture & Forestry Soybeans

$2.3 billion

Animal products $960 million Wood products

$509 million

Tobacco

$215 million

Beer

$145 million

Destinations

Innovative farm technology needed to feed world’s growing population

China

$1.4 billion

Canada

$370 million

Venezuela

$296 million

Taiwan

$270 million

Egypt

$267 million

BY KATHY DIXON

I

t’s possible to combine climate-smart agriculture with increased food production and innovative technology.

That’s according to Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, who spoke at the Virginia Agricultural Trade Conference Nov. 1.

Co-hosted by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Port of Virginia and the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Sciences, the event has been held since 2008.

During his presentation on “Trade and Domestic Policy Priorities,” McKinney told the nearly 200 conference attendees that farmers need to combine climate-smart practices with technology that will enable them to increase productivity.

“We can do this, but voluntary climate-smart programs are essential,” he remarked.

Studies have shown that farmers need to double their production in order to feed a projected 10 billion people in 2050. However, McKinney and other speakers said farmers around the world are losing productivity growth because innovative technologies are being rejected.

Virginia Tech’s Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative, which leverages partnerships, innovation, policy and analysis to ensure farmers have access to productivity tools, found that global agricultural productivity is in steep decline. The report also said current efforts to accelerate productivity growth fall short of the need. “We’re not getting the job done,” McKinney said.

He added that the European Union’s Precautionary Principle “is dangerous.” That principle states that if a given policy or action might cause harm to the public or the environment, and if there is no scientific agreement on the issue, then the policy or action should not be carried out.

Greg Doud, COO of the National Milk Producers Federation, agreed. In his talk, “Current Risks to U.S. and Global Markets,” he said that Europeans are “going backward” in terms of global trade.

“We need to leave geopolitics out of this and focus on food production,” Doud noted.

McKinney added that trade threats related to technology adoption—like Mexico refusing to buy yellow corn from the U.S. because it’s genetically modified—are “troubling.”

He then gave a synopsis of NASDA’s position on trade with various countries. “I’m an advocate for sustaining trade with China,” McKinney remarked. He also said there are many opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the U.S. previously was hesitant to trade with Africa, there is more interest now.

Paul Spencer, a global trade policy advocacy leader for Corteva Agriscience, said his company is working to boost African farmers’ productivity.

He said a 10-year program in Tanzania that provides 100,000 farmers with hybrid corn seed and herbicides doubled their income and increased production by 300%.

To improve global productivity, Spencer said “we need science-based, internationally compatible regulatory approaches.”

Gov. Glenn Youngkin also spoke at the trade conference and said Virginia is constantly working to expand its global trade, as evidenced by the record $5.1 billion in agricultural and forestry exports it generated in 2022. The 2022 export total eclipses the previous record $4 billion set in 2021 by 25%.

Virginia’s top agricultural and forestry exports in 2022 were soybeans at over $2.3 billion, animal products at more than $960 million, wood products at more than $509 million, tobacco at $215 million, and beer at $145 million.

“We have to set an aggressive bar for this next year,” Youngkin said. vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

23

Take

CARE

Farm youth not immune to mental health stressors

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Farm youth are not immune to the stressors that impact the mental health of their adult counterparts.

This is concerning to researchers, as statistics show farmers experience worse mental health than the general population. Farm youth have been overlooked as much of the mental health research, resources and services have focused on adults.

A 2023 webinar presented by AgrAbility explored the status of farm youth mental health and the unique causes of stress among young people living in farming and rural communities, and highlighted available resources.

“Agriculture is a uniquely stressful industry,” Josie Rudolphi, an assistant professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois

Urbana-Champaign, said during the webinar. “We are highly susceptible to sudden and unfavorable changes in weather, markets or the economy.

We know this work is nonstop and all-consuming. And working with family for several generations causes strain and stress for some people in that space.”

Farmer mental health typically is marked by a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression and, in some populations, higher suicide risk. Almost 2 million U.S. youth are exposed to the stress of farm production stressors.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the same body of research and resources for them, that we have for adult producers,” Rudolphi continued.

Jana Davidson is program manager with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation that is leading efforts to

reach more farm children, families and communities throughout North America to address ongoing needs.

PAF’s findings identified that the complications that stress adults also impact farm youth—financial commodity prices, long hours and pressure to complete tasks.

“And some children find themselves having to defend their family’s way of life to others,” Davidson added.

Youth also struggle with pressure to carry on farming traditions and lack of extracurricular activities due to farm responsibilities.

“We are grateful to see farm youth included in these discussions,” said Dana Fisher, chair of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Safety Committee.

See resources discussed in the webinar at: agrability. org/online-training/ farm-youth-and-stress.

Fix windshield damage early to avoid total replacement With roadway vibrations, temperature fluctuations and wet weather, a tiny windshield chip can easily become a crack that grows larger with time.

Repair of minor windshield damage is preferable to total windshield replacement.

“If you have Other Than Collision coverage—also known as comprehensive—on your auto insurance policy, the included glass coverage will help cover the costs to repair a damaged windshield,” said Anne Baskette, Virginia Farm Bureau director of claims administration. “Depending on your policy’s deductible, those repairs could be free!”

VFB auto insurance policyholders may choose any repair shop to do the work, but they should first make sure the business accepts their insurance.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Otherwise, she said, default repair services on glass claims are provided

by Safelite AutoGlass®, a leading industry provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services.

“Through our relationship with Safelite, we have taken the guesswork out of glass repair and replacement,” Baskette continued.

Through Safelite, customers can choose in-shop service where repairs and replacements can be completed in as little as 30 minutes to an hour.

Vehicles that require a safety system recalibration after a replacement can take 2-3 hours to complete.

Safelite also provides mobile services, offering customers the convenience of scheduling a time for a technician to come to their home, workplace or any other location.

“When your vehicle sustains minor windshield damage, drivers should schedule repair service quickly,” said Jon Cardi, senior vice president of Safelite Solutions, an insurance administrative division of Safelite. “Our technicians have a higher likelihood of saving the windshield with an environmentally friendly repair instead of a full replacement if the damage is addressed early. This cost-efficient and effective process eliminates out-ofpocket costs.”

“To avoid a pricey fix, it’s advisable to schedule a repair while chips or cracks are 6 inches or smaller,” Baskette added.

Policyholders can start a glass claim by calling 800-452-7714 (Have the auto policy number handy), and following the prompts. Customers also may report a claim online at vafb.com.

Spring open house provides product discounts Virginia Farm Bureau members can enjoy 10% off most inventory in stock at the Products Division’s spring open house, Feb. 26 to March 1.

Crop packaging for silage, net wrap or baler twine are not included in the spring discount. Those items are already discounted for members participating in early booking for the 2024 Crop Packaging Program.

Visit products.vafb.com to view an array of other discounted items, including tires, batteries, oil, tillage components, apparel, hardware and more.

To place an order, call 800-476-8473.

Discounted products are available through pickup at the warehouse located at 1541 Mary Street in Henrico.

New women’s coordinator and AITC fundraising manager named Christy Murphy has stepped into a new role as Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership coordinator and Agriculture in the

Classroom fundraising manager.

She assumed the new role in November after serving for nine months as AITC’s fundraising coordinator.

“In the short nine months Christy has been with AITC, she has impressed us with her out-of-the-box thinking, organizational skills and general knowledge of fundraising and networking strategies,” noted Kelly Roberts, VFBF director of special programs.

Roberts added that those skills and Murphy’s experience managing volunteers in her previous career make her the “perfect fit” for the new role.

Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mary Washington University and worked as director of admissions, communications and marketing for the Fuqua School in Prince Edward County from 1995 until November 2022.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom awards over $36,000 in grants Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom has awarded 75 grants in 52 Virginia localities for the 2023-24 school year.

The grants will be allocated to provide 30,000 youth in urban and rural areas with unique agricultural experiences related to gardening, animal agriculture, nutrition, STEM integrations and leadership development. These grants and the projects they support also help youth gain a better understanding of food production and career opportunities in the agriculture field.

“Learning about the environment and academics through gardening is a theme for several grant projects this year—ranging from indoor and outdoor gardens to aquaponics and hydroponics,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC executive director. “These grant projects also create community engagement and career awareness throughout the grade levels. Youth from preschool through high school in public and private educational settings will have an opportunity to learn about a variety of agricultural concepts.

Congratulations to the schools, centers and 4-H chapters across Virginia that have been selected.”

Grants were received by: Amelia County: Amelia Academy and Amelia County High School Augusta County: Valley Academy Alternative School and Valley Career and Technical Center Bedford County: Huddleston Elementary School Bristol: Virginia High School Buchanan County: Buchanan Elementary School Caroline County: Lewis and Clark Elementary School Carroll County: Carroll Cooperative Extension 4-H Chesapeake: Grassfield High School Chesterfield County: Evergreen Elementary School Clarke County: Johnson-Williams Middle School Fairfax County: Aldrin, Marshall Road and Oakton elementary schools and Westfield High School Fauquier County: Kettle Run High School Fluvanna County: Oakland School Franklin County: Franklin County High School Frederick County: Armel Elementary School Galax: Galax Elementary School Gloucester County: Achilles Elementary School

elementary schools Henry County: Bassett High School and Henry County Career Academy Lancaster County: Lancaster Cooperative Extension 4-H Lee County: Lee County Career & Technical Center Loudoun County: Heritage High School, Lovettsville Elementary School and Stone Hill Middle School Louisa County: Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Manassas Park: Manassas Park Middle School Mecklenburg County: Rivermont School Middlesex County: Middlesex Elementary School New Kent County: George Watkins Elementary School Newport News: Heritage High School and Stoney Run Elementary School Norfolk: Norview Middle School Page County: Shenandoah Elementary School Petersburg: Cool Spring Elementary School Prince George County: L.L Beazley Elementary School Pulaski County: Pulaski Cooperative Extension 4-H Richmond: Huguenot High School Rockingham County: Blue Ridge Christian School, Lacey Springs Elementary School and Montevideo Middle School Russell County: Honaker Elementary School Shenandoah County: Mountain View High School and Signal Knob Middle School Southampton County: Southampton Academy and Southampton Middle School Spotsylvania County: Post Oak Middle School Stafford County: T. Benton Gayle Middle School Staunton: Shelburne Middle School Suffolk: Elephant’s Fork Elementary School Surry County: Luther Porter Middle School Tazewell County: Tazewell Cooperative Extension 4-H Virginia Beach: Brookwood Elementary School, Corporate Landing Middle School, Holistic Life Schools, New Castle and Salem elementary schools and St. John the Apostle Catholic School

Goochland County: Byrd Elementary School

Washington County: Greendale Elementary School

Halifax County: Clays Mill Elementary School and Halifax County High School

Wythe County: Max Meadows Elementary School

Hampton: Jane H. Bryan Elementary School and Jones Middle School Harrisonburg: Harrisonburg City Public Schools Henrico County: Henrico Cooperative Extension 4-H, and Henry D. Ward, Highland Springs and R.C. Longan 26

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Williamsburg: D.J. Montague Elementary School The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture through education and outreach activities. To learn more and support, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.

Logan’s Greenhouse named AITC Book of the Year

AITC announces new scholarship for students

V

irginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week will take place March 18-22.

Virginia AITC has selected Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood as its 2024 Book of the Year. Cheerfully illustrated by Samara Hardy, the book follows Logan, a young boy who uses a wheelchair and accessible gardening tools as he organizes a playdate at his greenhouse for his friends.

Throughout the book, readers can learn about the unique characteristics of the fruits and vegetables Logan grows in his greenhouse.

“We were looking for an inclusive and interactive story about growing food,” explained Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC executive director.

“Everything but one crop featured in the book is grown in Virginia. It’s a good opportunity for students to see and relate to something they may be able to grow here.”

Agriculture Literacy Week is AITC’s largest educational event of the year, with thousands of volunteers reading to children across the commonwealth.

In its 13th year, the program helps teach youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of

their food.

Copies of Logan’s Greenhouse are available for purchase at $14 each from Virginia AITC. A book order form is located on the Virginia AITC website, virginia.agclassroom.org.

In addition to the book, orders will include free supplementary resources to expand learning at school and at home. These include seeds for children to plant after reading, volunteer reading tips, coloring pages and other free activities.

Volunteers are encouraged to read Logan’s Greenhouse to children in pre-K through third grade. Virginia AITC also will share highlights on its social media platforms throughout the week.

Agriculture Literacy Week participants include county Farm Bureau volunteers, Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees; FFA and 4-H members; partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies; and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been supporters as well.

Is your high school senior or college student pursuing a future in agriculture or education? If so, they may be able to receive $1,000 to further their studies.

The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is introducing the Doug Stoughton Memorial Scholarship to provide an opportunity for students pursuing careers in agriculture or education.

Winners will receive $1,000 for use at a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The scholarship honors the late Doug Stoughton, a past Virginia Farm Bureau Federation special programs director who had a passion for agriculture and education, and who left a lasting impression on AITC and VFBF. “Doug was very instrumental in advocating for AITC and agricultural literacy,” said Tammy Maxey, AITC executive director. “This scholarship allows us to honor his legacy and the impact he had, while providing an opportunity for students pursuing a career in agriculture or education.”

Interested students can apply online at form.jotform.com/VaAITC/ AITCScholarship. Applicants are required to submit a high school transcript and two letters of recommendation.

Additionally, applicants will need to submit personal statements describing their extracurricular activities and community service, leadership experience, interest in agriculture and education and how this scholarship will benefit them.

Applications are due March 31 and can be emailed to aitc@vafb.com.

Scholarship winners will be notified by May 31.

For more information, visit virginia. agclassroom.org. vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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Heart of the Home

A

fter a fruitful hunting season, your freezer or your neighbor’s may be full of wild game ready to be transformed into delicious meals. But before embarking on a culinary adventure, there are a few things to keep in mind when cooking game.

Game meats are known for their strong flavors and a distinct ‘gamy’ taste. While some might enjoy this trait, others may want to tone down the meat’s intensity before cooking. A simple overnight salt and vinegar brine can help moderate the bold taste, as can marinades, rubs, spices and herbs.

FIELD to TABLE:

from

Tuck in this chilly season with wild game recipes

Wild game also tends to be leaner than domestically raised livestock, which means careful cooking so the meat doesn’t dry out or get tough. Tender cuts like venison backstraps are best cooked hot and fast on a grill or cast-iron pan, while game roasts can be cooked low and slow until tender, such as braising or in a slow cooker. Adding butter, oil or other fats also enhances moisture. Game fowl like grouse, pheasant and quail tend to be dry, so they should be basted frequently.

Roasted Wild Duck INGREDIENTS

1-2 apples, chopped 1-2 onions, chopped wild duck, cleaned and dressed 2 strips of bacon 1 cup cooking wine DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 350°.

In a mixing bowl, combine the apples and onions, and lightly stuff the duck. Place the stuffed duck on a rack in a roasting pan, and place the bacon strips on top.

Add the cooking wine, cover, and bake for 2-3 hours until tender.

Salty bacon and tart apples add rich flavor to this roasted duck.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

—Recipe adapted from Country Treasures from Virginia Farm Bureau Kitchens

Venison Rotini Soup

Rabbit in a Slow Cooker

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground venison

2 rabbits, cleaned and cut into serving pieces

1½ cups uncooked rotini

salt and pepper to taste

1 envelope chili seasoning mix

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 cups water

1 onion, sliced

16-ounce can whole tomatoes, broken up

1 tablespoon lemon juice

8-ounce can tomato sauce

1 rounded teaspoon sugar

10-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables 1 tablespoon minced onion

Pineapple Baked Quail

1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon dried chives DIRECTIONS

Using a Dutch oven on your stovetop, brown the ground venison, stirring to crumble. Drain the grease.

1 bay leaf 2 parsley sprigs

INGREDIENTS

8 whole quail, skin on 20-ounce can sliced pineapple, drained, juice reserved

1 cup port wine 2 tablespoons currant jelly 2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Season the rabbit with salt and pepper. Using a heavy skillet, heat the oil, and then add the rabbit and onion. Lightly brown both.

Add the rotini, seasoning mix, water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, vegetables, onion and sugar to the Dutch oven. Cover, and simmer 15 minutes or until rotini is tender.

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

In a mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and chives, and serve with the soup as a garnish.

salt and pepper to taste

—Recipe adapted from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

¼ teaspoon mace

1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 small lemon, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 400°.

Transfer the rabbit and onion to the slow cooker, and add the lemon juice, sugar, mace, bay leaf, parsley and port. Cover, and cook on low for 8-9 hours.

In a shallow baking dish, arrange the quail breast-side down.

Remove the rabbit, and turn the slow cooker to high heat. Add the currant jelly into the juice, and let it melt.

In a blender, mix the pineapple juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, rosemary and cornstarch. Pour the pineapple juice mixture over the quail.

Dissolve the cornstarch in an equal amount of cold water, and stir into the liquid. Cook until slightly thickened. Return the rabbit to the slow cooker and heat it

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then turn the quail breast-side up, and arrange the pineapple and lemon slices over the quail.

Baste with the sauce from the baking dish, and bake until the quail are fork tender, 15-30 minutes longer.

through. Serve the gravy over the rabbit.

—Recipe adapted from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Arrange the quail and pineapple slices on a platter. Salt and pepper the sauce to taste, and serve over the quail. Allow two quail per person.

—Recipe adapted from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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Missed open enrollment?

Explore your health care coverage options

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

If you want to obtain health insurance for the upcoming year, open enrollment periods typically are the only time to sign up for coverage.

The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance for 2024 runs through Jan. 15.

But if you missed the deadline, there are still opportunities to secure some form of health coverage.

Special enrollment periods If you’ve experienced certain life events, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. These typically 60-day periods allow individuals to sign up for health insurance outside of conventional open enrollment periods.

Examples of qualifying events include getting married or divorced; having a child; certain changes in residences; losing employer group coverage; or losing Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid coverage.

In April 2023, Virginia began to redetermine eligibility for many

Medicaid members for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The Department of Medical Assistance Services estimates that roughly 14% of Virginia’s Medicaid members may lose coverage during the 14-month redetermination process.

“If you find yourself losing Medicaid during this redetermination, Farm Bureau is here to help you find other coverage,” said Tracy Cornatzer, director of sales for VAFB Health Insurance Solutions.

Many businesses have open enrollment periods as well, and employers who offer insurance to their employees are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days.

Employees should verify their group’s open enrollment period with their employer or Human Resources representative.

Short-term health insurance Individuals who don’t qualify for a special enrollment period may purchase short-term health insurance

plans to provide temporary coverage.

Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage and require that your health qualify, they will offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

Enrollment in short-term plans is limited to three-month increments.

Other year-round options There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid or CHIP, and individuals who quality for coverage may enroll anytime. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid.

Whether self-employed or a business owner seeking coverage for employees, group health insurance may be an option. Qualifying businesses can start a group health plan anytime during the year.

To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779.

Discover the songbird shelters that protect feathery friends, Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly on Real Virginia television program:

• Discover the many ways to provide shelter for songbirds during the cold days of winter.

• Learn about crop rotation and the many methods farmers use to protect their land while also diversifying what they grow.

• Find out how cattle farmers go the extra mile to care for their animals using the Beef Quality Assurance program.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WBRA digital channel 15.2, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and third weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville, WSVF Harrisonburg, WRLH Richmond and WSLS Roanoke.

Cover your farm property, and make a policy review a New Year’s resolution

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

W

hen planning your New Year’s endeavors for 2024, consider adding a farmowners policy review to the top of your resolutions list.

To ensure that any needed coverage on valuable farm property is up to date, it’s a good idea to check in with your agent at least once a year or more for larger operations, recommended Scott DeNoon, vice president of underwriting & policy services for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Now is a good time to get that done, as opposed to when you’re in the middle of planting or harvesting season when things are hectic,” DeNoon suggested. “Take the time to know your coverage, know what you have and what your expectations are, so when something does happen, there are no surprises.”

Policyholders should examine the values of farm equipment, barns and other structures, which often change.

The value of farm equipment generally depreciates over time, DeNoon said. For example, a tractor insured for $20,000 when purchased 10 years ago may be worth $5,000 today.

“Are you over-insuring? Has the value of that equipment come down? If so, you can adjust that and save some premium dollars,” DeNoon said. He added that VFB insurance agents often identify ways to save money.

It’s also important to ensure all farm equipment schedules are up to date, and look for any inadequate, unnecessary or missing coverage.

“Make sure that the equipment you want to insure is insured, because the

time of a claim is not the time to find out,” he noted.

DeNoon warned that as inflation continues to drive up building costs, coverage amounts may not be adequate.

“It’s starting to stabilize some, but it still costs more to build any type of structure today than it did just two years ago,” he added. “That’s why it’s so important to review those values and schedules to make sure you’re properly protected if something were to happen.”

Protect property from winter perils with added endorsements It may be a long, snowy winter ahead for Virginians, as storms, showers and flurries are forecast to continue through the start of spring, according to the 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac.

While prepping homes and farms for winter weather, policyholders can obtain additional protection from a variety of winter perils with added endorsements.

For farm buildings, barns and similar structures, farmers should ensure they have coverage for common issues like frozen pipes, or roof collapse due to the weight of ice, snow or sleet.

Winter-related endorsements for livestock also are available.

Whether from incidents like falling through ice or freezing temperatures, policyholders can get compensated for covered losses to insured livestock.

“Check in with your agent, and make sure that you’ve got the coverage you need to address any winter-specific perils or issues,” DeNoon encouraged.

To learn more about farmowners insurance products, visit vafb.com/ insurance/farm or call your local Farm Bureau agent.

The Meadow named top venue for outdoor rodeo events The Meadow Event Park was named the 2023 Outdoor Rodeo of the Year by the American Roughstock Association.

The ARA hosts rodeos in nine states, and riders who participated in the 2023 American Roughstock Association Finals were asked to vote for their favorite venue. The Meadow, in conjunction with producer Revenge Roughstock and Rodeo Co., received 96% of the votes.

“We work hard to make sure that we have a facility that’s kept up well and accommodates the needs of the rodeo producers and contestants,” noted Glenn Martin, livestock and equine events director for The Meadow.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation acquired the Caroline County venue in 2013.

Staff from The Meadow will receive the award at the American Roughstock Finals in Lumberton, North Carolina, on Jan. 20.

vafb.com / JANUARY 2024

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