FBN Nov 2020

Farm Bureau News The Voice of Virginia’s Agricultural Producers

NOVEMBER 2020

Aerial Agriculture Drones improve farmers’ productivity

The Very Best of Virginia

Farm Bureau News

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

Volume 79, Number 4 November 2020

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Features 12

“It’s not a toy drone to take

Quiet crisis hurting farm families

Researchers find farm families are harder hit

by the opioid crisis than the rest of rural America.

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GPS technology gives farmers an edge

In the age of precision agriculture, GPS enables

farmers to make the most of their time and money.

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pictures while you’re hiking.”

— WESLEY GWALTNEY,

instructor of agricultural technology, Virginia Tech

Agricultural drones collect important data

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

EDITORIAL TEAM

Nicole Zema Staff Writer/Photographer Adam Culler Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Alice Kemp Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator

Modified livestock show offers sense of ‘normalcy’

A modified State Fair Youth Livestock Show gave 4-H and FFA members a chance to exhibit their goats, sheep, cattle and swine— and earn scholarship money.

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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

Board of Directors DIRECTOR

For Your Benefit Heart of the Home

WE’RE SOCIAL!

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

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

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.

Kathy Dixon Managing Editor

A drone’s sky-high perspective helps improve crop quality, increase yields and watch over livestock and property.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

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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.

Pam Wiley Director, Communications

Departments 7 28

Virginia Farm Bureau News (USPS 017763) (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).

ON THE COVER Drones give farmers a sky-high perspective (Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech).

DISTRICT COUNTY

Emily Edmondson 1 Richard L. Sutherland 2 Bruce N. Stanger 3 Gordon R. Metz 4 Russell L. Williams II 5 Peter A. Truban 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 M. L. Everett Jr. 13 David L. Hickman 14 Faye Hundley * S. Kyle Sturgis **

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

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

Young Farmers eligible to win national honors and prizes Winners of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture Award will compete on the national level during the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation Virtual Convention.

The convention will be held online Jan. 8-13. The three competitions enable members to showcase their leadership experience, communication skills and successful business plans as they compete against their peers from other state Farm Bureaus.

Jonathan and Kelsey Grimes of Wythe County are this year’s Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award winners. The Grimeses were recognized Oct. 14 in a live announcement on the VFBF Young Farmers Facebook page.

Jonathan Grimes is an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Fort Chiswell High School in Wythe County. Kelsey Grimes is the Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H agent in the county.

Virginia Farm Bureau’s 2020 Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture winners Kelsey and Jonathan Grimes with their 2-year-old son, Dawson.

At press time, the VFBF Young Farmers and Collegiate Discussion Meet competitions were being held online. Virginia’s Achievement Award judging is scheduled for later this fall.

Winners of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a new Ford vehicle up to a $35,000 value, along with paid registration to the 2021 Farm Bureau FUSION Conference, courtesy of Ford. The conference is scheduled for March in Portland, Oregon.

A second-place runner-up in each competition will receive a Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, courtesy of Case IH. Third-place finalists in each competition will receive a Case IH 40" Combination Roll Cabinet and Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH. They also will receive a $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize, courtesy of American Farm Bureau Insurance Services Inc., and $1,850 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise (PROTO, DeWalt, Stanley, Lenox and Irwin), courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

Fourth-place finalists in each competition will receive a Case IH 40" Combination Roll Cabinet and Top Chest and a $500 Case IH parts card, courtesy of Case IH. Prizes are subject to change without notice. If prizes supplied by sponsors are unavailable, AFBF reserves the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater value.

The national YF&R competitions may be conducted virtually due to the pandemic. If the competitions are not held at an AFBF event, then no trip awards will be made by the state program.

Top membership counties for 2020 as of Oct. 20*

County Farm Bureau

Members

Washington 3,133 Charles City-James City-

3,015

New Kent-York Hanover 2,858 Bedford 2,822 Tazewell 2,714 Franklin 2,610 Augusta 2,504 Henrico 2,451 Smyth 2,396 Rockingham 2,327 County Farm Bureau Prince George

Percentage of goal 109.52

Bedford 106.45 Appomattox 105.32 Nansemond 104.62 Greene 104.45 Prince William-Fairfax

104.15

Alleghany 103.89 Sussex 103.55 Prince Edward

103.00

Caroline 102.85 County Farm Bureau

Member retention rate

Rockbridge 95.13% Prince Edward

95.04%

Craig 95.00% Sussex 94.94% Rappahannock 94.91% Southampton 94.90% Bland 94.89% Clarke 94.87% Charlotte 94.77% Caroline 94.23% *Final 2020 membership totals will be published in your January 2021 magazine.

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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WATCH US!

>> VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU WEEKLY TV PROGRAM

This month on Real Virginia: Agricultural activities heat up as the weather cools down Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program:

• Youth who raised animals to exhibit at the State Fair of Virginia showcased their achievements at a modified State Fair Youth Livestock Show.

• Growers in Southwest Virginia are preparing to soon harvest cole crops.

•#StillFarming throughout the pandemic, Virginia farmers are adapting their fall agritourism venues.

• Discover Botetourt County’s robust cattle and dairy industries on this month’s County Agriculture Close-up.

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 Roanoke, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk.

Watch Real Virginia anytime online at youtube.com/user/VirginiaFarmBureau.

OPIOIDS

74 That’s the percentage of U.S. farmers and farmworkers who say they have been directly impacted by opioid abuse. See related story on Page 12.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Fertilizer innovation challenges announced at Virginia farm

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future with better crop yields and enhanced environmental stewardship may be realized sooner than later, as the nation’s innovative agriculturalists step up to embrace the challenge.

Farmers, students and representatives from national and statewide agricultural organizations gathered—masked and socially distanced—at Creamfield Farms in Hanover County this summer to learn about two programs intended to accelerate the use and development of fertilizer technologies.

The Environmental and Agronomic Challenge aims to identify existing Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers that meet or exceed environmental and agroeconomic criteria. Competitors are tasked with creating EEFs that control fertilizer release to reduce nutrient losses to the environment. Winners will receive scientific evaluation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge aims to generate new methods of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application. Competitors are challenged with finding solutions to addressing environmental concerns while simultaneously maintaining or increasing crop yields using nitrogen and phosphorus. Each winner will be awarded $10,000.

The competitions are sponsored by USDA, EPA, The Fertilizer Institute, the International Fertilizer Development Center, the National Corn Growers Association and The Nature Conservancy.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the innovations will have an impact on food production and environmental protection—not just at home, but globally.

“The agricultural practices we implement in the United States are implemented around the world, and we set the gold standard for environmental protection and agricultural practices,” he said.

Essex County grain farmer Scott Mundie, a Farm Bureau member who spoke at the event, said he grew up on a row crop and cattle farm that eventually transitioned from conventional tillage to no-till and minimum tillage.

“Change is intimidating and expensive,” Mundie told the group. “Virginia farmers, like me, have continued to adopt and implement an increasing number of conservation practices that protect our natural resources by promoting soil health, conserving water, enhancing wildlife and efficiently utilizing nutrients.

Ongoing advocacy, developments in precision agriculture and funding for state and federal cost-share programs will advance those goals, he said.

Kyle Sturgis is a grain farmer and aquaculture producer in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and he chairs the VFBF Young Farmers Committee. Farmers in his part of the state, he said, recognize the importance of agricultural practices that advance protection of the sensitive Chesapeake Bay, like precise fertilizer and pesticide applications, and cover crop programs.

Sturgis echoed Mundie’s sentiments, and emphasized that adequate funding is crucial to implementing those practices.

“Farmers are willing to do it, as long as the funding is there,” he said. “I don’t know anyone who loves the bay as much as an Eastern Shore farmer.”

Entries for the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge will be accepted through Nov. 30. Winners will be announced in early 2021. For more information or to register, visit epa.gov/innovation/next-gen-fertilizer-challenges.

County Farm Bureaus offered more than $170,000 in scholarships in 2019 County Farm Bureaus in Virginia continue to invest in their communities’ future by offering scholarships to local students. In 2019, 68 county Farm Bureaus offered $171,720 through their own scholarship funds, and many Farm Bureaus also contributed to other organizations’ scholarships.

Donation amounts ranged from $250 to $7,500.

State Fair scholarships awarded Since 2013, the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program has awarded over $550,000 via 1,484 individual scholarships.

Each year, the fair offers more than $65,000 in scholarships annually to winners in 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions, as well as equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.

The fair’s Applied Livestock Scholarship Program awarded $23,000 in scholarships to 14 youth who exhibited beef cattle, sheep, meat goats and swine at the 2019 fair.

TM

CORRECTION In an article about Virginia Farm Bureau’s fire extinguisher program in the September issue of Farm Bureau News, readers were not advised that eligible equipment must be selfpropelled. We regret this oversight. vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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1 , 000

Farm Bureau members receive

$

BONUS CASH *

FOR A LIMITED TIME ON MOST ELIGIBLE NEW FORD VEHICLES

Our valued partnership highlights the great movement that we have together, and how farming and trucks have gone together for over 100 years.

2020 FORD RANGER

Computer-generated image with optional accessories shown.

Don’t miss out on this offer.

Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com today! * Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. $1,000 Bonus Cash on most eligible new 2020/2021 Ford vehicles, and $500 Bonus Cash on eligible new F-150 and Super Duty. This incentive is not available on Ford Mustang Shelby GT350®, Mustang Shelby® GT350R, Mustang Shelby® GT500®, Mustang Mach 1, Mustang Mach-E, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Ford GT and F-150 Raptor. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase and take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford Dealer’s stock by January 4, 2021. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details. Note to dealer: Claim in VINCENT using #37408.

For Your Benefit

Time-tested benefits save members money Purchase discounted holiday gifts with Member Deals Plus® Virginia Farm Bureau’s exclusive Member Deals Plus® benefit uses the nation’s largest private discount network to save you money on meals, clothing, vehicle care, and other goods and services. It uses “show your phone” mobile deals that can be accessed anywhere and redeemed from a smartphone at the point of sale, or from a home computer.

Members can enjoy Member Deals Plus savings at more than 100,000 locations nationwide.

How to get started

To register as a Member Deals Plus user, visit vafb.com/benefits, and click the Member Deals Plus link near the top of the page. Then, on the Member Deals Plus website,

1

Click “Register” in the top right corner, and use your Farm Bureau membership number.

2

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

Then, to save with a mobile device,

1

Download the “Member Deals Plus” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

2

Sign in with your email address and password you created on the website.

For assistance, contact Member Deals Plus customer service at 888-275-9136.

Member Deals Plus and Member Deals plus are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

John Deere offers substantial savings for members Current Virginia Farm Bureau members* are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade to Platinum 1 status, which unlocks extra discounts on equipment, parts and merchandise.

You can save on the following equipment: • $150 to $250 off tractors • $550 to $1,400 off compact construction equipment • $100 to $250 off utility vehicles • $200 to $1,700 off commercial mowers • $50 to $150 off residential mowers Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau and have your membership number handy. *Must be a member for at least 30 days to qualify.

Participating Case IH equipment dealers help you save

Save up to $5,000 on select Caterpillar machines

Members can save $300 to $500 on qualifying products from participating Case IH dealers. You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Eligible individual, family or business members receive the following manufacturer discount on purchases of the listed products: Tractors: • $300 off Farmall Compact tractors, A, C and C CVT series • $500 off Farmall Utilities, C and U series • $500 off Maxxum Series and Farmall 100A series

If you’re planning some heavy work this winter, Caterpillar Inc. offers Farm Bureau members savings of up to $2,500 on select Cat machines, as well as a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Cat machine.

Savings are good on excavators, small wheel loaders and dozers, backhoe loaders and more.

You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Balers: • $300 off Round balers • $300 off Small square balers • $500 off Large square balers Mowers & Utility Vehicles: • $300 off Disc mower conditioners • $300 off Sickle mower conditioners • $500 off Self-propelled windrowers • $300 off Scout utility vehicles vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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Thousands of pounds of food donated through PB&J collections County Farm Bureau women’s committees are reporting strong numbers as they tabulate how much was collected from their recent PB&J food drives.

Throughout the summer and fall, county Farm Bureau women’s committees came together to help the hungry in their communities with a classic lunchtime staple— peanut butter and jelly.

Sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee, the food drives collected peanut butter, jelly and other nonperishable food items to help support regional food banks, local food pantries and Virginia families.

At press time, participating women’s committees reported collecting a cumulative 3,974 pounds of food and $3,325 in monetary donations.

The PB&J theme was chosen in honor of Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s 2020 Book of the Year, PB&J Hooray! by Janet Nolan. Peanut butter also is among food banks’ most requested sources of protein.

Final numbers are still being calculated and will be reported in January’s issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Assess danger before unclogging pond drains

BY NICOLE ZEMA

B Consider safety first when buying ATVs this holiday season

BY ALICE KEMP

R

iding all-terrain vehicles is a fun outdoor activity for many children—but as accidents increase, parents are urged to use caution if buying ATVs for the holidays.

A recent report from Marshfield Clinic Research Institute revealed ATV injuries among children are on the rise and are likely linked to the pandemic, as children got a head start on summertime activities when schools closed early.

“Children are home more than they were in previous years,” said Dana Fisher, chairman of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Farm Safety Advisory Committee.

“More home time means more opportunities to use ATVs, and unfortunately, that means more opportunities for accidents.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 40,000 children under 16 are treated in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries each year.

Fisher said when shopping for an ATV this holiday season, it’s crucial to look for one that’s an appropriate size.

“ATVs, based on the size, can be a lot more powerful than people anticipate,” he explained. “There are some that are designed for younger riders and for smaller riders. Make sure the piece of equipment is sized right for the child.”

Children should be able to rest their feet on the footrest and easily reach the handles. Virginia restrictions limit children under 12 to ATVs no more than 70 cubic centimeters, and children 12 to 16 are limited to no more than 90 cc.

Andy Seibel, also a member of the VFBF safety committee, said buying properfitting safety gear, especially helmets, also is important.

“Sometimes when we see children with helmets, they’ll actually spin around on their head because they were purchased as an adult helmet instead of a child’s helmet,” Seibel said. “Make sure you actually get something that’ll fit your child.”

When it comes to driving an ATV, Fisher and Seibel said parents need to watch their children, ensuring they know how to operate it safely, and demonstrate safe riding themselves.

“If they see you riding without safety glasses or a helmet, then they’re going to think it’s OK to ride without them,” Seibel said.

He also strongly encouraged parents to enroll children in a safety class.

To find safety classes near you, contact your local ATV dealer or Virginia Cooperative Extension agent.

eaver dam debris clogged the spillway pipe in Stephen Goforth’s ranch pond near Chelsea, Okla., causing 5 feet of water to accumulate over it.

To drain the flood, the 61-year-old rancher had to physically unclog the 2 ½-foot-diameter pipe. An Oklahoma Highway Patrol report said Goforth was standing in the pond, working with his feet to clear the debris.

“When the water was released, somehow he got sucked into the pipe and drowned,” said Goforth’s uncle Cecil Rhodes, a Farm Bureau member in Isle of Wight County.

Rhodes is a vegetable and row crop farmer. Since the May 1 tragedy, he and his family have been motivated to bring awareness to this safety issue.

While such incidents are infrequent, they have made headlines in recent years. A Kansas man was killed in 2019 when his arm was sucked into a pipe while unclogging it.

“It’s almost unimaginable,” Rhodes said. “If a beaver plugs those pipes, and you have more than 12 inches of water, you’ve got a problem, and you have to be extra careful.”

One cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 pounds, and combined with immense hydrodynamic forces in concentrated areas like ponds, unclogging an overflow pipe can create a powerful vortex.

“In general, the force of water is one of the most amazing on earth,” said Scott Thomas, regional dam safety engineer at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management. Thomas encouraged pond owners to contact a qualified professional engineer, licensed to practice in Virginia, to observe and assess the situation and give recommendations for cleaning and removing debris or obstructions. vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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Amherst agent Ed Sale named Ralph Stokes Award Honoree

BY NICOLE ZEMA

A

Honoree chose service over reward Ray Leonard, VFBMIC vice president of sales, said Sale has long been known as a top-producing agent in Farm Bureau and is well-respected in his community.

Sale recently qualified to attend a sales10

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Ed Sale raises beef cattle on his family’s Amherst County farm.

NICOLE ZEMA

humble act of generosity had a profound impact on Amherst County Farm Bureau insurance agent Ed Sale.

While serving meals to destitute families in Guatemala on a church mission trip, Sale noticed a little girl standing in line, waiting for volunteers to fill her bowl with rice and chicken broth.

“She had torn clothes and three rubber bands on her wrist,” said Sale.

“She wouldn’t take that bowl until she took two rubber bands off her wrist and gave each of us one. So, when you get back home, you’re a pretty humble person.”

His dedication and commitment to serving others was officially celebrated earlier this year, when Sale was named 2020 Ralph Stokes Award Honoree.

The recognition is the top sales award presented by Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Sale’s heart for service has led him on multiple mission trips to Guatemala and Haiti. He doesn’t take a clean drink of water for granted. That broad worldview gives Sale a vantage point to recognize how good he has it, and he works hard to pay it forward.

“When you go to third-world countries you really learn how blessed we are in this country,” he said. “It made me realize how much God has given me.

And as it says in the book of Luke, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’”

incentive fishing excursion, but declined the opportunity so he could participate in an overseas mission trip instead.

“It’s a difficult choice—to volunteer in a third-world country over an allexpenses-paid weeklong fishing trip on the Gulf Coast,” Leonard said.

“But Ed didn’t hesitate, honoring his commitment to his church, his community and to those less fortunate.”

Generations of Sales still live on the same sunny acres in Amherst where he was born and raised. The family is deeply connected to its agricultural ancestry.

Sale lives on a road named for his grandfather, a tobacco grower and cattle farmer. His son’s family resides in the house built by Sale’s great-grandparents.

Now Sale, his father and brother raise beef cattle on the land.

“I’ve never found any place I love more than right here,” Sale said. “I try to give

Farm Bureau 50, 55 hours a week, but the rest of my time is spent out here.”

Before joining the VFBMIC family, Sale was his own boss at an auto parts store, where he worked in customer service from the age of 19. In 2001, two-time Ralph Stokes Honoree John Parr encouraged Sale to test for a sales position at Farm Bureau.

Sale said those are the only two jobs he’s ever had. “I always liked sales, maybe because I love people. I had a lot of relationships that brought me a lot of business.”

In addition to the long list of Sale’s awards and accomplishments shared with the VFB network, his proudest work has been in service to his community. He coached Dixie Youth Baseball for 20 years and was league president, and he served 16 years with the Amherst Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Full VFB products inventory can be viewed on new website When the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. held a member appreciation week in September, “members wanted to know, ‘What have you got?’” said Bill Latane, director of member benefits for Virginia Farm Bureau.

Fortunately, members can now get the answer—from the comfort of their own homes. A new service corporation website listing the 1,800 products stocked in the Henrico County warehouse is live at products.vafb.com.

The products shown on the website are offered for sale exclusively to Farm Bureau members in Virginia and to Farm Bureau-affiliated dealers in Virginia and select other states. The inventory and availability are real-time, so members can view in-stock products. However, the website is currently for informational purposes only; members must place orders by calling 800-476-8473 or purchasing through a Farm Bureau products dealer.

The VFB Products Division is now a certified dealer for Firestone agricultural tires. “The warehouse also stocks a full line of BKT and CEAT agricultural tires, which gives us three quality national brands at slightly different price levels to meet our members’ needs,” Latane noted. “We are currently stocking 184 different rear tractor tires, 29 different front tractor tires, 53 different implement tires plus automotive, light truck, medium truck, lawn and garden tires, ATV tires, specialty tires and industrial tires.”

Also available are Shell Rotella and T-2 engine oils. “These are widely recognized as one of the best engine oils for heavy-duty applications,” Latane said. And the warehouse stocks PURUS hydraulic fluids, which meet or exceed Original Equipment Manufacturers’ requirements.

If you’re looking for a way to warm your shop or garage, check out the VAL6 radiant heaters, available through the warehouse. The heaters produce almost no smoke, operate off diesel fuel or kerosene and require only 120v electricity, Latane said.

Members can view the new VFB Products Division website to see what’s in stock.

Virginia’s Harvest treats help sweeten the season Whether you’re at a festive gathering or exchanging gifts, Virginia’s Harvest products offer Farm Bureau members a chance to share delicious foods made with Virginia products, like “butter toasted” peanuts and chocolate peanut brittle. For your holiday dinner table, there also are salt-cured, bone-in Virginia hams!

Available exclusively from Farm Bureau’s products division, the Virginia’s Harvest collection also includes the ever-popular roasted, salted and unsalted gourmet peanuts; double-dipped, chocolate-covered peanuts; and a 2-pound bag of salted peanuts in the shell. And if you can’t make up your mind, a peanut trio pack offers a variety of tastes.

For product details and prices, visit vafb.com/benefits, and click on “Virginia’s Harvest.”

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

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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opioid abuse

‘I’m going to be fine’ High rate of opioid abuse in agriculture impacts farm families

to stressors and grief. We wrote case studies to show how farm stress can be manifested in people’s bodies.”

Market volatility, unpredictable weather and financial loss can amplify personal stress for farm families, and heighten the risk of substance-use disorder. Empathy is key to abolishing stigma, Niewolny said.

Access to resources lacking in rural areas

BY NICOLE ZEMA

A

quiet crisis shrouded in shame is hurting American farm families.

Stereotypes ascribed to addiction have resulted in a stigma that exacerbates the suffering of those affected by opioid abuse.

A 2017 Morning Consult poll indicated the opioid crisis has struck farm families harder than the rest of rural America. Morning Consult is a data intelligence company that conducts global research.

The survey found 74% of farmers and farmworkers say they have been directly impacted by opioid abuse. For survey purposes, directly impacted means participants know someone who is or has been addicted; have addiction in the home; have used opioids not prescribed to them; or are personally addicted.

The Morning Consult poll, sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union, has prompted a larger conversation about decreasing the stigma around opioid addiction in farming communities, and increasing awareness about available resources.

Researchers and service providers 12

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

across Virginia are initiating that conversation.

“There is implicit and open bias against people who have substanceuse disorders,” said Dr. Kathy Hosig, associate professor and director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research. “Even those suffering often believe they are undeserving of help. People might not understand that addiction is a physical brain disease, which is where a lot of stigma arises.”

Stereotypes compound damage Stereotypes of addiction can be socially and physically damaging to individuals and communities, said Dr. Kim Niewolny of Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Farm Safety, Health, and Wellness Initiative that supports mental health, grief and farm stress education for farmers and service providers.

“Addressing mental health, stress and trauma is essential as we talk about substance-use disorders,” she said. “For example, historical trauma can be transferred from generation to generation, acting as a possible factor for the way someone might respond

“That is challenging in agriculture because we often talk about rugged individualism, the ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ attitude,” she said. “We need to do more to shift away from that kind of thinking.”

Hosig added that those suffering, especially in rural Southwest Virginia, don’t always have choices.

“What if you don’t have any bootstraps?” she asked. “If you can’t get resources you need to make choices, you don’t have agency.”

Team formed to address services With the goals of reducing stigma and addressing access to services, a team of health experts is building relationships with Virginians recovering from substance abuse.

“Virginia Cooperative Extension became involved in the prevention side, and we started seeing there needs to be technical support for recovery services,” Hosig said. The Virginia Higher Education Opioid Consortium began providing technical assistance to Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services’ Community Service Boards. CSB peer-support specialists, who are in stable recovery and trained to provide support, can help Virginians navigate services.

Susan Dalrymple, Extension’s rural opioid coordinator, said since the pandemic began in March, rural Southwest Virginia counties have seen a significant increase in suicides and overdoses.

“Although one very positive point from the pandemic is that counseling services are held online,” she said. “You do not have to leave your home, which for farmers is their workplace.”

With increasing awareness of farm stress and the mental health crisis in agriculture, other risk factors for substanceuse disorder should be considered. The social isolation of rural regions can intensify substance-use disorders, and rural areas may have limited access to services, treatment and support. The physicality of farm operations means farmers are susceptible to injury, and at the average age of 58, most farmers fall into the demographic likely to obtain opioid prescriptions.

“Farming doesn’t mean you have to use your body to the point of not coming back from that,” Niewolny said. “A farmer might say, ‘I’m going to be fine,’ but it’s not OK to suffer.”

Common signs of opioid addiction • Inability to control opioid use • Mood changes • Drowsiness • Changes in sleep habits • Weight loss • Frequent flu-like symptoms • Decreased libido • Lack of hygiene or dental care • Isolation from family or friends • Stealing from family, friends or businesses • New financial difficulties source:

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Local resources and methods of treatment Behavioral health treatments can help those with substance-use disorders seek to change behaviors, thoughts, emotions and understanding of personal situations through counseling and specialized psychotherapies.

Virginia’s Community Services Boards are the primary point of entry into the state’s public behavioral health services system at dbhds.virginia.gov.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also lists local providers at findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or the national helpline at 800-662-HELP. Medication-assisted treatments combine behavioral therapy and medications to treat substance-use disorders.

These MATs are safe to use for months, years or even a lifetime under a doctor’s supervision. For more information, visit samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment.

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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GPS technology

helps farmers produce their best ARTICLE AND PHOTOS

BY ALICE KEMP

Jay Hundley, left, and Ian Watkins use GPS to map cornfields on Cloverfield Farms in Essex County.

T

he world is becoming increasingly high-tech as industries adopt new technology to meet demand and improve their efficiency—and farming is no exception.

In the age of precision agriculture, Global Positioning System technology is enabling farmers to make the most of their time and money.

‘Maximize our return’

When you ask about Virginia farmers who use GPS, the name Hundley comes up—a lot.

Since 2008, the Hundley family has invested heavily in technology to help maximize their operation at Cloverfield Farms in Essex County.

They raise corn, soybeans and small grains on around 8,000 acres, and GPS plays a part “in pretty much every aspect of it,” said Jay Hundley, Essex County Farm Bureau president.

“It goes from steering to yield 14

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

monitoring, section control, variablerate planting, variable-rate fertilizing,” he said.

Using GPS, Hundley maps specific zones in his fields. Soil, fertilizer and yield data he’s collected over the years is compiled and analyzed by precision software, which shows him the highest- and lowest-performing zones.

Ian Watkins, one of Hundley’s employees, said this allows them to determine the best way to plant the individual zones—concentrating their efforts to reduce overages and save on cost.

“If there’s a spot over here that’s only going to produce 100 bushels an acre, you plant and fertilize for 100 bushels,” Watkins explained. “But if this spot over here is doing 300, you plant and fertilize it for 250.”

Hundley and Watkins said customization also can be applied to planting different seed varieties. On a

Hundley points out areas in a field with varying pH levels, as indicated by GPS.

corn planter, Hundley said, he can put two seed varieties in one hopper. Using GPS, the machine knows which variety to plant and where.

“As it goes through the fields, it hits this zone and this variety will plant,” he said. “Then it’ll hit another zone that you want another variety to be in, and it’ll automatically switch to plant that one.”

He added that he’s trying to maximize the return on every acre.

Technology is an investment

“We started with one foot in,” said Grayson Kirby of Creamfield Farm in Hanover County. “We started with our toe on the edge of the water, just to make sure it would work.”

Over the past decade, Kirby has grown his family’s part-time farm into a full-fledged operation— cultivating about 4,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and other grains in nine counties. He said while most equipment already comes with GPS platforms, buying machines with variable rate controllers and the corresponding precision software is an expensive commitment. Kirby and his family made the leap in 2015—allowing them to utilize GPS much more effectively.

“Since then, we’re 100% in, and it’s really showing good returns,” Kirby said.

Before fully using GPS technology, Kirby said it was difficult to specifically determine which rows needed fertilizer. “You were always going to overlap a little bit because of the different sections. Now with GPS, it recognizes when it’s overlapping, and it then cuts off the sections.”

And the technology has gone a step further. “They’ve taken it down to nozzles on sprayers so individual nozzles will cut off. Each of them has their own controller, and you get even more precise.

“You can put your money where it counts and then save it where it doesn’t,” he added.

Not just about dollars and cents

On Cloverfield Farm, Watkins uses autosteer, which utilizes GPS to guide equipment in a straight line in the field. “It takes a lot of fatigue off the operators,” he said. “Especially running the bigger planters and combines where you’re constantly leaning out, looking at stuff, turning around, doing this, doing that.”

Instead of having to focus on keeping the machine driving in a straight line, the driver is free to monitor the machine and make sure things are working properly.

GPS and precision ag technology also come with an environmental benefit regarding fertilizer application. Before this technology, Kirby said, “there were places where you were overapplying, and when you

overapply, the plant doesn’t use it, and then it runs off.

“So, it’s another feather in the cap.

We’re not only doing good things for ourselves, we’re doing better things for the environment.”

Farming in low-visibility conditions

In addition to reducing fatigue, autosteer allows farmers to work fields later in the evening—a benefit during the fall when it gets darker earlier—or in low visibility.

“I’ve run in dusty conditions where we couldn’t even see the header, we didn’t even know where we were going,” Hundley said. “You put the autosteer on, and it’ll track you back down the field. You kind of know where you’re at in the field while watching the map.”

Grayson Kirby said he’s used GPS on Creamfield Farm in Hanover County since 2015.

The precision technology allows him to see the population, yield and fertilizer rates for specific rows.

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

15

The big picture

Agricultural drones survey property and collect data to improve quality and increase yields

A

sky-high perspective of farm operations offers more than just a pretty picture.

As drone functionality soars and units become more affordable, Virginia agriculturists are exploring their use in improving crop quality, increasing yields and surveying livestock and property. Light- and distance-measuring technologies affixed to drones can accurately determine crop status, and even predict disease symptom onset, resulting in greater profit for producers.

Whether the devices are used for checking on sheep, looking for wildlife damage, counting crops or measuring plant volume to calculate yields, researchers want to make drones accessible to Virginia farmers.

Sky’s the limit for technological potential What will save tobacco growers the most money and make their operations more profitable? Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Southern Piedmont Agricultural Resource and Extension Center in Nottoway County are developing systems that should answer that question.

Hyperspectral imaging devices may have potential to detect slight indicators of crop quality, often invisible to the naked eye. In 2018, while Austin Hayes was studying for his master’s degree at the center, they conducted an experiment in a grower’s black-shank infested tobacco field.

“We were trying to see if we could separate healthy plants from plants that appeared healthy but soon became symptomatic,” Hayes said. “We took several readings over a period of two weeks. By doing that, we were able to look through the lens of time, to tell 16

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

BY NICOLE ZEMA

A bird’s-eye view of Virginia Tech’s Kentland Farm and Sheep Center as seen with drones, which are used in the college’s Agricultural Technology program.

which plants were pre-symptomatic, and when.”

Comparing the readings, researchers found statistical differences in data between healthy plants and seemingly strong plants that would later become symptomatic for the soil-borne disease.

Equipment pinpoints unhealthy crops “We used a hyperspectral radiometer, which takes a point measurement rather than an entire image,” Hayes explained. “Hyperspectral sensors and cameras allow us to measure beyond the range of visible light to get a unique spectral signature for an object.”

A spectral signature can ultimately illuminate those minor differences.

That information could be empowering to tobacco growers, who can follow up with a precise management decision, like fungicide or early harvest.

But the typical farmer may not have the expertise or computational resources to interpret layers of data that will describe the field, or $70,000 to purchase a hyperspectral radiometer.

“We’re trying to take first steps into developing a system so a grower can fly a drone over their own field and interpret the information and act on it,” Hayes said.

To make the device more affordable, research is directed toward identifying the specific bands of the spectrum needed to detect specific diseases and other plant stresses, said Dr. David Reed, tobacco agronomist at the center.

Graduate research assistant Caleb Hinkle is working on multiple projects to study how nicotine levels vary among different tobacco varieties, the ability of drone technology to determine tobacco yields, and the implementation of drones as a scouting tool in farming operations. Specialized cameras affixed to drones measures leaf area, volume and plant size, and categorizes tobacco plants as small, medium or large. These data may be used to highlight areas in the field that are underperforming and may require management attention.

“The camera works directly with a specialized sensor that measures ambient light, cloud cover and atmospheric densities of gasses that can change light that we can’t see,” Hinkle said. “You can go out and see what the issue is in that specific spot, so you’re not scouting an entire 100-acre field.”

Reed’s team has been contacted by a company interested in implementing drone-assisted precision agriculture on a countrywide basis.

“They could predict what the yield

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

Caleb Hinkle, a graduate research assistant at Virginia Tech, demonstrates drone use in a tobacco field in Nottoway County.

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

17

will be for an entire country in Africa,” Reed said. “We are collecting data to utilize in our research, certainly, but we want to extend that to other growers in the future.”

Farmers attend a drone instruction class at Virginia Tech.

PHOTO BY NICOLE ZEMA

Students, farmers benefit from drone use

Agricultural educator Dan Swafford, right, demonstrates drone technology with a student attending a drone conference at Virginia Tech.

Caleb Hinkle and Austin Hayes, Virginia Tech graduate research assistants, with a drone used in tobacco research.

Lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, is used to develop 3D models of farmland that discern the precise terrain, allowing farmers to make informed management decisions.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Thermal images of cows can show the advantage of silvopasture systems in reducing heat stress in livestock.

The next generation of aerial agriculturalists are aiming high at Kentland Farm, a tract of land owned

by Virginia Tech’s College Farm Operation in Montgomery County.

The two-year Agricultural Technology Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences prepares students to enter the industry or be an asset on their own farms. The airfield at Kentland and the college’s Drone Park facility are environments to explore unmanned systems operations.

Use of a quadcopter and a fixedwing drone are part of the curriculum, affixed with a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index device, which measures light reflection at certain frequencies to determine plant health.

“We’ll fly over any number of the fields and correlate that data with what we might be actually seeing in the field,” said Wesley Gwaltney, program instructor.

He said graduate Brady Louk won the $16,500 fixed-wing drone in a trade show raffle and donated it to the program.

“It’s not a toy drone to take pictures while you’re hiking,” Gwaltney said. “It takes off vertically, flies and returns to its take-off point and lands. There’s no joystick. A tablet operates the flight, processes the imagery and it is userfriendly.”

For Dan Swafford, a part-time research associate who works closely with the program, access to agricultural drones is personal. He knows a farmer with limited physical mobility who needs to check on his sheep. A $500 drone does the footwork from 75 feet or less.

“It’s a check-on tool,” Swafford said, explaining that drone-assisted flock monitors can look for new lambs or sick sheep. “And the sheep don’t care about the drones flying overhead; they’re used to it.”

Flying drones on the farm during the winter Drone use is limited by weather conditions, and winter weather can affect flight times and drone reliability.

Cold temperatures can cause the charge life of a drone battery to drain quickly. The following are tips to help reduce the effects of cold weather on drone batteries.

• Always check batteries before flying.

• Charge batteries to 100% within 24 hours of flying.

• Always put warm batteries into the drone.

• If possible, keep the drone in a warm vehicle until just before flying.

Besides the standard pre-flight checks, additional precautions should be taken to prevent damage to drones when flying in the cold and snow.

• Avoid getting the drone wet from rain or snow.

• Dry props before takeoff to avoid getting moisture into the motors.

• Use a landing pad to keep the drone out of the snow during takeoffs and landings.

The following procedures will allow the drone to have its maximum flight time during cold conditions.

• Use manual takeoff, and allow the drone to warm up on the ground at least 30 seconds before taking off.

• Allow the drone to hover for a while after takeoff.

• Use full throttle during flight operations to help extend the battery charge.

• Fly at a lower altitude to accomplish the work to be done.

• Check battery charge level constantly while flying.

Information courtesy of Dan Swafford and Morgan Paulette, Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service, and Dr. Marshall Swafford, Eastern New Mexico University

Get your drone off the ground—legally

BY ADAM CULLER

D

rones are increasing in popularity among farmers, but if they’re being used for commercial purposes, it’s important that operators follow Federal Aviation Administration regulations before flying.

The FAA defines commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones as “the operation of unmanned or model aircraft for non-hobby and nonrecreational purposes.” Commercial operators are required to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate and follow the FAA’s small unmanned aircraft, or Part 107, regulations.

According to the FAA, there are three main steps to obtaining this certification:

Understanding the rules To obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate, individuals must first become familiar with Part 107 rules. Under these regulations, commercial drone operators must: • Operate a drone that weighs less than 55 pounds, and fly under 400 feet above ground level.

• Keep unmanned aerial vehicles within the commanding pilot’s line of sight or that of a visual observer.

• Fly during daylight hours or civil twilight hours—30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset—with appropriate anti-collision lighting.

• Fly at or below 100 mph.

• Abstain from flying over groups of people.

• Be aware of FAA airspace restrictions.

• Yield the right of way to any manned aircraft.

• Remain at least 400 feet away from lateral boundaries of critical infrastructure, which includes airports, military bases, federal prisons and power plants.

A comprehensive list of Part 107 regulations can be found at bit.ly/2RYGZPV. Additional waivers

may be requested for operations not covered under Part 107.

Acing the test To become an FAA-certified pilot, individuals must first pass an aeronautical knowledge test.

Test registrants must be: •A t least 16 years of age •A ble to read, write, speak and understand English • I n a physical and mental condition to safely fly an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Before registering for the test, individuals must obtain an FAA Tracking Number by creating an Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application at iacra.faa.gov.

After obtaining an FAA Tracking Number, registrants must schedule an appointment to take the $160 knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center.

Once the test has been passed, complete FAA Form 8710-13 for a Remote Pilot Certificate. The certificate is valid for two years, and certificate holders are required to pass a recurrent knowledge test every two years.

Registering your drone Once certified, pilots must register their drones with the FAA. Registration costs $5 and is valid for three years.

Individuals must have the make and model of their drone when registering.

Visit dronezone.faa.gov to create an account and register your drone. Once registered, mark your drone with your registration number in case it’s lost or stolen.

Note: All drone operators are required to register their aircraft with the FAA if it weighs more than 55 pounds, even if it is being used for recreation.

For more information regarding drone certification, visit faa.gov/ uas/commercial_operators/ or knowbeforeyoufly.org/commercial/. vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

19

The show must go on Youth exhibit livestock at modified event ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA

T

he world almost felt normal for a while as Virginia’s youth stepped into the ring with their animals.

While the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 State Fair of Virginia, 4-H and FFA members still had an opportunity to show their goats, sheep, cattle and swine the weekends of Sept. 24 and Oct. 3. Some participants and guests wore masks and were reminded to practice social distancing while watching the competitions at the 2020 “While a modified Modified Youth Livestock youth livestock fair was Shows at The Meadow Event not ideal, we believe it Park in Caroline County.

About 300 youth allowed our youth to participated in the events, showcase the yearlong which were supported by Virginia FFA state officers effort they’ve put into and a host of volunteers raising their animals, from Virginia Cooperative and enabled them to Extension and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. earn scholarship money Agriculture and youth are as well.” the foundation of the fair’s — VFBF PRESIDENT mission, “so our first priority was to find a way to honor WAYNE F. PRYOR our youth and allow them to be recognized for their dedication and hard work,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor. “While a modified youth livestock fair was not ideal, we believe it allowed our youth to showcase the yearlong effort they’ve put into raising their animals, and enabled them to earn scholarship money as well.”

Ashley Isaacson of Stafford County showed dairy and market goats both weekends. She has participated in 4-H livestock shows since elementary school. At age 19, she is not eligible to compete next year.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Isabella Dean, 16, of Madison County, shows her Hereford beef cow in the ring.

Ethan Walsh, 16, of Frederick County, with his Yorkshire purebred pig.

A cross-breed heifer is shown by Carrter Eavers, 11, of Augusta County. Youth participants were not required to wear a mask while competing in the ring, but the audience, volunteers and judges were asked to comply with pandemic safety regulations.

Ryann Bradshaw, 16, of Fauquier County, uses clippers to prepare her Hampshire-Suffolk cross sheep for the exhibition.

“He’s getting a close clip so he’s show-ready,” she said.

Colton Hemp, 10, of Augusta County, showed swine, goats and lambs this year.

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

21

Regan Jackson, 16, of Clarke County, smiles for a photo with her blue-ribbon-winning Jersey dairy cow.

The show must go on “I just aged out of 4-H, so today was my final show after nine years,” she said. “It’s bittersweet. But I’m excited to move up to an adult volunteer position next year.”

Bethany Gentry, 17, of Rockingham County, has almost a decade of experience showing livestock. She kept her eyes on the judge as she showed her Boer goat.

“Always maintain eye contact, so the judge knows that you know where he is,” Gentry explained. “And it’s a respect thing. Also, you want to position your goat for the best presentation.”

Marlene Jolliffe, the State Fair’s executive director, said the show offered a sense of normalcy in uncertain times. “It was inspiring and uplifting to see our youth, their animals and families at our facility,” she said. “2020 has been a challenging year, so it felt good to have a live event and fulfill this very important mission!”

Olivia Coisman, 15, of Culpeper County, shows Nigerian Dwarf and Oberhasli dairy goats. She also makes and sells goat’s milk soaps.

Trey Daubert, 9, of Rockingham County, reassures his Red and White Holstein during ring exhibition.

Hannah Biby, 12, of Shenandoah County, gets a drink for her Jersey dairy cow before heading to the ring.

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Amber Hickman, 17, of Amelia County, prepares to show her Lamancha dairy goat. One of her goats born in March is named Demi—short for “Pandemic.”

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

23

Safety first: Insurance discounts are coming for collision avoidance technology

BY ADAM CULLER

E

quipped with autonomous braking systems, backup cameras and blind spot sensors that alert drivers to roadway hazards, modern vehicles are prioritizing passenger safety.

And as more automobiles with advanced technology enter the U.S. fleet, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is preparing to reward customers whose vehicles possess some of those safety features.

On new personal automobile insurance policies and future policy renewals effective on or after Oct. 15, 2020, VFBMIC will begin offering premium discounts to policyholders who drive vehicles with collision avoidance technology. Eligible technology includes forward collision warning—with and without autonomous braking, blind spot warning and rear automatic braking.

Premium discounts will apply only to customers of VFBMIC’s multivariate-rated personal auto policy, or AMV,

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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Forward collision warning and other new safety features on cars means that some Virginia Farm Bureau auto policyholders are eligible for discounts.

line of business.

David Tenembaum, VFBMIC actuarial manager, said Highway Loss Data Institute findings are enabling the company to offer these new policy discounts, as research found collision avoidance technology can significantly reduce accidents and claims.

HLDI research from 2018 revealed forward collision warnings with autonomous braking reduced the frequency of property damage liability claims by 13% and collision claims by 2.3%.

Forward collision warnings use sensors or cameras that warn drivers with audible and visual alerts they are getting too close to the vehicle in front of them. With the addition of autonomous braking, a vehicle will apply the brakes if a driver fails to respond to a rapidly approaching object.

Rear automatic emergency braking applies a vehicle’s brakes if a driver doesn’t respond to an object behind them.

This feature reduced the frequency of property damage claims by 29.9% and collision claims by 12%.

Blind spot warnings, which alert drivers to vehicles in their blind spots, contributed to a 6.8% decrease in the frequency of property damage claims and a 1.5% decrease in collisions claims.

When combined, collision avoidance safety features could prevent one-third of reported crashes each year, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Though cars with advanced safety technology represent just a fraction of all vehicles on U.S. roads, VFBMIC is eager to embrace the future with its new discount program.

“A limited number of companies are offering these types of discounts, and we want to get ahead of the pack by not only offering discounts for advanced safety features, but higherthan-average discounts compared to our competitors,” Tenembaum added.

Contact your Farm Bureau insurance agent to see if your AMV policy qualifies for a discount.

Keep insurance needs in mind during uncertain times

N

BY ADAM CULLER

Together, we’ll overcome the opioid epidemic.

obody is immune to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and now’s an opportune time to evaluate how changes to work and travel routines may have altered your insurance needs.

To identify any insurance gaps that may have surfaced #FarmTownStrong during the pandemic, it’s important to speak with your Farm Bureau insurance agent to review your policies. In-person, phone and video meetings can be arranged by calling your local Farm Bureau office.

“The pandemic continues to change the way we live and work, and it’s critical to understand that the insurance policies you previously established may need to be updated to reflect those changes,” said Gerald Gardner, director of sales for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Whatever those changes may be, we want to make sure you’re properly covered.”

With more people and businesses gravitating toward If someone you care about is suffering from opioid addiction, remote work settings, customers may need to review their please visit farmtownstrong.org. personal property coverage to ensure their home office equipment is properly covered.

Without proper coverage in place, the full value of business CS18_149 Farm Strong Qpg Ad_r.indd 1 property used in a residence may not be covered in the s 11/15/18 al farm e r n o event of a loss. Also, unendorsed homeowner policies do not , tories g real s automatically provide coverage for on-premises business in r a h s rmers, liability. Contacting your insurance agent can help you Real fa determine which policies will best cover your business or home office.

“While working remotely has allowed many businesses and their employees to navigate through difficult circumstances successfully, it also opens the possibility of coverage gaps,” Gardner said. “Obtaining the correct coverage under your homeowner or business owner policies will protect business assets wherever you’re working.”

A weekly television program produced Much like unendorsed homeowner policies, personal

by Virginia Farm Bureau auto insurance policies will not cover vehicles being used for business purposes. To protect against additional liability Agriculture touches your life every day! Meet the risks, customers should discuss with their agent the need for Virginia farmers who raise products for your table and a commercial auto policy. your community. Learn how to prepare delicious Virginia Additionally, if changes in vehicle usage or mileage are foods and cultivate a lush landscape and edible garden. permanent, the policy needs to be properly rated.

Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first “As we continue to realize the pandemic’s effects, we’re Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and encouraging customers to keep close contact with their Farm DirecTV, and on many cable outlets—check local listings.

Bureau agents to make sure their interests are covered and Watch anytime at vafb.com, and weekly on they’re taking advantage of available discounts,” Gardner said.

• WBRA Roanoke • WTKR Norfolk “With so much uncertainty going around, the last thing • WHRO Norfolk • WVVA Bluefield we want is for a customer to experience a loss they weren’t prepared for.”

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8/26/20 8:32 AM

Use caution on roadways to steer clear of deer collisions

I

BY ADAM CULLER

t’s that time of year when drivers should prepare for the added dangers of sharing Virginia’s roadways with roaming deer.

Deer migration and mating season occurs from October through December, and the animals’ increased presence near roads often leads to an increase in collisions. When accidents occur, damage to vehicles can be substantial.

In 2019 Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. received 3,651 auto insurance claims involving collisions with deer, up nearly 25% from 2,923 in 2018. The claims amounted to $6.26 million in losses, an average loss of $1,715 per claim.

VFBMIC claims data also revealed collisions surged in the fall last year, with the highest number of accidents

occurring in November. There were 448 collisions with deer in October, 668 in November and 657 in December, accounting for 48% of all deer-related claims and $4.8 million in losses. “The increase in collisions is concerning, because these accidents can cause serious harm to drivers and can be very costly,� said Laurie Gannon, VFBMIC vice president of claims.

To minimize the risk of striking a deer, motorists are encouraged to drive slowly and be aware of their surroundings. Driving slowly can help increase reaction time and can potentially reduce vehicle damage caused by a collision.

Deer are most active during dawn and from dusk until midnight, and are often seen on roads that divide agricultural land and wooded areas.

Deer crossing signs are posted in hightraffic areas to alert drivers to the presence of deer.

Drivers should focus their peripheral vision on the shoulders of roads, watching for movement that might indicate deer are nearby. Using highbeam headlights can help increase a driver’s range of vision at night.

If a deer runs or jumps across the road in front of you, slow down immediately as others may be following behind.

Brake firmly, keep your vehicle straight, and do not swerve—swerving can cause collisions with other vehicles or cause drivers to lose control of their cars.

In the event of a collision, remove your car from the road if possible, and notify the police. Once safe, contact your insurance agent to report any damage.

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Agricultural Lending Division

26

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

Consider your health care options during open enrollment periods

BY ADAM CULLER

O

pen enrollment periods for the Affordable Care Act and Medicare have started, and now’s the time for customers to weigh their health insurance options for 2021.

Medicare enrollment The Medicare Annual Election Period, which began Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7, allows Medicare beneficiaries to change their Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for the upcoming year.

During this time, subscribers can enroll in, withdraw from or switch Part D drug coverage or Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Medicare Part C. For most Medicare subscribers, the Annual Election Period is the only time to alter either plan for the upcoming year, and any policy changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.

Gina Gentilini, senior individual account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance division, noted customers in Virginia will have access to several new Medicare Advantage plans in 2021.

“The Annual Election Period is a great time for people to evaluate if the plans they’re on are the plans they need to be

on for the coming year,” Gentilini said. “If you’d like to see if a Medicare Advantage plan would be a good fit, contact your Farm Bureau office. Your agent will get you in touch with someone who can help compare those plans.”

ACA enrollment Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act started Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15. The Healthcare.gov Marketplace plans for under age 65 allow subscribers to purchase their own health, dental and vision coverage. ACA plans do not require medical underwriting, and those who enroll during the open enrollment period will have coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

Coverage can benefit those who are uninsured or underinsured due to their employment status, as well as those who have experienced changes to their medical or financial conditions.

The open enrollment period is the time to evaluate if the coverage you’re currently on is still the right coverage for you.

“We want customers to know that Farm Bureau is here to help them through both open enrollment periods,” said Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for VFB’s Health Insurance division.

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27

Heart of the Home

Variations of thick Brunswick stew are easily prepared

N

o Virginia stew is as quintessential as Brunswick stew. It’s been part of Virginia history since it was first prepared on a hunting expedition in Brunswick County in 1828.

Cooking Brunswick stew is a labor of love, and often family recipes are passed down through generations. Traditionally prepared with wild game like squirrel or rabbit, variations of the thick, tomato-based stew have evolved to include chicken or pork, accompanied by vegetables like okra, lima beans, corn and potatoes.

“Everybody has their own recipe. It takes eight hours to cook ours,” said George Daniel, a stew master in Brunswick

County who cooks with Red Oak Stew Crew. Mixing 85 gallons at a time, Daniel and his team have won the World Championship Brunswick Stew Cook-off four or five times, he said. “You cook it until you put the paddle in the middle, and it stands up. That’s the thickness of the stew, and it’s considered done at that point.

“You can use the same ingredients, and no two people will get theirs to taste the exact same,” he added.

Daniel understandably wouldn’t reveal his team’s secret winning recipe, but we found some simple recipes that can be prepared in your kitchen—without a team of stew masters.

Brunswick Stew

seasonings, and simmer until the meat is tender. Remove the chicken from the pot, and remove the bones and skin.

INGREDIENTS 4 pounds chicken ¼ cup oil

Chicken

Return chicken to the broth, and add vegetables.

Cook until the vegetables are tender. Serve hot with homemade biscuits or cornbread.

½ cup chopped onions 1 quart tomatoes 1 cup water

-Evelyn M. Kirby, Hanover County, Country Treasures from Virginia Farm Bureau Kitchens

1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Lima Beans

Brunswick Stew with a Twist

¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce 2 teaspoons sugar 3 cups corn 3 cups lima beans

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cubed potatoes DIRECTIONS Flour the chicken, and in a large stock pot, sauté it in oil until light brown. Add onions, and cook until clear.

Add tomatoes, water and 28

1 large onion, chopped

Potatoes

1 celery rib, chopped 1 large green pepper, chopped 1 cup frozen sliced okra, thawed

Corn

4 cups frozen cubed hash browns, thawed

VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS

¾ pound barbecue pork, chopped 1 cup chopped cooked chicken ¼ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained 15-ounce can tomato sauce 15-ounce can corn with red and green peppers, drained 15.5-ounce can lima beans, drained 2 cups chicken broth ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS In a 5-quart slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover, and cook on high for 6½ hours.

-Sarah Large, Buckingham County, Cooking Virginia Style with Farm Bureau Women

Savory Brunswick Stew INGREDIENTS 1 stewing chicken ½ tablespoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1-2 onions, sliced 4 potatoes, diced 1 pint tomatoes 1 pint butterbeans 1 pint corn ½ cup bread crumbs hot sauce 1 tablespoon butter or bacon drippings 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce DIRECTIONS In a large stock pot, combine chicken, salt, pepper and onion, and cover with water.

Simmer until tender. Remove chicken from broth, and cool slightly. Remove bones. Add chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and beans to broth, and cook until done. Add corn, and cook for a few more minutes.

Add crumbs and seasonings.

Varieties of meat, vegetables and sometimes “secret ingredients” lead to unique Brunswick stew concoctions.

-Recipe adapted from Trudy Maness, Rockbridge County, and Helen Bartenslager, Augusta County, Country Treasures from Virginia Farm Bureau Kitchens

vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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Statement of Ownership

Farm-to-retail price spread is higher than ever LEGAL Notice of Annual Meeting Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company The annual meeting of policyholders of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held at 8:45 a.m., Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the Virginia Farm Bureau office, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, Virginia for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Company.

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

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

Dated this 1st day of October, 2020.

Kathleen M. Early, Secretary

BY ALICE KEMP

It’s common knowledge that COVID19 severely disrupted the food supply chain, but new information sheds light on how the pandemic widened the gap between what consumers pay at the store and what farmers receive.

According to a report by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the farm-to-retail price spread hit record levels during the pandemic— particularly for the beef and pork industries.

“If you look at the farm-to-retail price spread for beef, in June it was $5.21 per pound, and that is the highest it’s been ever since the data was collected beginning back in 1970,” said Michael Nepveux, an AFBF economist.

“You see a similar story in pork. So the farm-to-retail spread for pork hit its record in June at $3.65 per pound.”

Nepveux attributes the spread to labor issues and restrictions at processing plants that created a shortage of beef and pork. Wholesale and retail prices increased, but because there was an oversupply of animals that couldn’t be processed, the prices for live animals declined.

“The record farm-to-retail price spreads for cattle and hogs in 2020 have aggravated a lot of livestock producers that produce and deliver animals to the commodity-level supply chains,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

For example, Emily Bryant, a Botetourt County beef cattle producer, said her family farm has been adversely affected. “It would be safe to say that our operation has seen a decline of 15-20% in prices for cattle sold from late February to mid-August,” Bryant said.

“We pray that we are past the worst of it. Prices have rebounded for now. The markets seem to be a little stronger.”

Bruce Stanger, a Montgomery County beef cattle farmer and member of the VFBF Livestock Advisory Committee, said he also believes the worst has passed, but it’s “a shame that we always get the short end of the stick” when it comes to prices.

“We’ve got the animals and we have to sell them, and we’re sort of at the mercy of whoever’s buying.” vafb.com / NOVEMBER 2020

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