Farm Bureau News The Voice of Virginia’s Agricultural Producers
APRIL 2021
Female Farmers Shouldering more agricultural responsibilities
Farm Bureau News
Volume 80, Number 2 April 2021 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).
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Features 11
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“You don’t need
Virtual AFBF convention provides real content
There was no shortage of content, recognition and accomplishments during the American Farm Bureau virtual convention.
Farmers help fill community leadership roles
Farm Bureau members work to advocate for Virginia agriculture while serving on local boards.
to have broad shoulders to do the work anymore.” – JENNIFER LEECH, Ingleside Dairy Farm, Rockbridge County
Invasive plants should be on your unwanted list
Damage to Virginia crops and livestock from invasive plants costs more than $1 billion each year.
Save the Date For Your Benefit Heart of the Home
Nicole Zema Staff Writer/Photographer
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
Producer members will receive their next issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News in September. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/ virginiafarmbureau.
WE’RE SOCIAL!
Jennifer Leech has served as Ingleside Dairy Farm’s herdsman for 15 years (Photo by Adam Culler).
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
Member: Virginia Press Association
Kathy Dixon Managing Editor
ON THE COVER
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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.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Departments 4 6 28
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.
Pam Wiley Director, Communications
CONTINUING SERIES: Diversity in agriculture
The second article in a year-long series examining minorities in agriculture profiles female farmers and their growing role on farms.
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.
Adam Culler Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Alice Kemp Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
Officers Wayne F. Pryor, President Scott E. Sink, Vice President
Board of Directors DIRECTOR
DISTRICT COUNTY
Emily F. Edmondson 1 Tazewell Richard L. Sutherland 2 Grayson Bruce N. Stanger 3 Montgomery Jeannie L. Dudding 4 Craig Russell L. Williams II 5 Rockbridge Peter A. Truban 6 Shenandoah Thomas E. Graves 7 Orange Leigh H. Pemberton 8 Hanover William F. Osl Jr. 9 Cumberland Robert J. Mills Jr. 10 Pittsylvania J. M. Jenkins Jr. 11 Lunenburg J. Barry Bates 12 Essex M. L. Everett Jr. 13 Southampton David L. Hickman 14 Accomack A. Faye Hundley * Essex Lindy Tucker Fimon ** Lunenburg *Women’s Committee Chairman **Young Farmers Committee Chairman
Find It and Win!
Top membership counties for 2021
Virginia Farm Bureau News is offering a new contest for its readers. In each issue, search for a farming icon, and enter to win. This month’s icon is
as of March 15*
County Farm Bureau
Members
Washington 2,207
an ear of corn. Contest rules are as follows: Find the ear of corn inside this publication. Once you’ve located it, send an email to membershipbenefits@vafb.com with the subject line “Found It.” The body of the email must contain the following:
Charles City-James City-
1,967
New Kent-York Franklin 1,941 Hanover 1,937 Smyth
1,829
Bedford 1,825
• Your name
Augusta 1,744
• Your mailing address
Tazewell 1,658
• The membership benefit advertisement located nearest the image The first 15 members who submit correct entries will win a 20-ounce stainless steel Virginia Farm Bureau logo tumbler. Readers are eligible to win only one tumbler during the contest period, January through December 2021. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. Winners will be contacted by email. *Virginia Farm Bureau and Countryway employees are not eligible to win.
20-OZ. STAINLESS STEEL VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU LOGO TUMBLER!
Russell
1,610
Rockingham
1,574
County Farm Bureau
Percentage of goal
Rappahannock 77.70 Fluvanna 77.04 Southampton 75.99 Smyth
75.99
Greensville 75.82 Floyd 75.81 Pulaski
FEMALE FARMERS
75.56
Lee 75.41 Charlotte 75.27
16,456 The number of women who are principal farm operators in Virginia, as identified by the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture. That is a 115% increase from 7,653 in 2012. Read about some of the state’s female farmers on page 16.
Clarke 75.27 County Farm Bureau
Member retention rate
Greensville 75.31 Rappahannock 75.14 Smyth 74.36 Charlotte 74.35 Southampton 74.35 Pulaski
74.30
Floyd 74.23 Shenandoah 73.44 Fluvanna
73.37
Lunenburg 73.28 *Final 2021 membership totals will be published in your January 2022 magazine.
vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Save the Date!
Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Golf Tournament planned for May The 24th Annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Golf Tournament is planned for May 3 at The Dominion Club in Henrico County. The event benefits AITC, and sponsors and teams of four can register to play. There will be a brief awards presentation following the tournament. For more information and to register, visit AgInTheClass.org.
Virginia Farm Festival to be held in May The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County is planning to debut the Virginia Farm Festival May 1 and 2. The event will be filled with family-friendly agricultural activities, music, crops and farm animals to celebrate Virginia agriculture. For more information, visit MeadowEventPark.com. The event will operate with COVID-19 guidelines in place.
This month on Real Virginia:
Daffodils are springing up in Gloucester County State Fair countdown As of April 1, there are exactly 176 days until the 2021 State Fair of Virginia opening on Sept. 24. After being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fair organizers are excited to welcome everyone back for their fair favorites. Fair fact: The 2019 State Fair drew more than 3,800 entries in competitions for visual and culinary arts, horticulture and more. If you’d like to participate in any of the fair competitions this fall, the time is ripe to start planning your awardwinning entry. You’ll find the fair’s 2021 competition guidelines available this summer at StateFairVa.org.
Women’s Leadership Conference moved to August The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Conference will be held Aug. 27-29 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Henrico County. Lorenda Overman, the American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee vice chair, and Bob Farmer, a writer and spokesman for the Farmers’ Almanac, will be the featured speakers. The conference will include workshops on Medicare, mental health, a look ahead for the VFBF Women’s Program, an optional cream cheese-making class, and more! For more information, contact Angela Haskovec at 804-290-1031 or angela.haskovec@vafb.com. 4
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
WATCH US
Annual Convention to be held in Williamsburg The 2021 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention will take place Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at The Williamsburg Lodge. The annual event will include speakers, policy discussion, award presentations and informative workshops. Registration will open in early fall. The convention is open to county Farm Bureau delegates and other interested Farm Bureau members.
Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Daffodils have been blooming in Gloucester County for centuries.
• Farm veterinarians remain in short supply.
• “Safety first” is a mantra for those living in farm country.
• Warren County’s versatile agricultural enterprises are featured in 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, and on the first and third weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville and WRLH Richmond. Watch Real Virginia anytime online at youtube.com/user/ VirginiaFarmBureau.
Ag leaders anticipate redistricting commission’s impact on rural Virginia BY NICOLE ZEMA
A diverse group of eight Virginians will join eight legislators in serving on the state’s new redistricting commission. They will soon be tasked with redrawing the state’s political maps using new U.S. Census data. A panel of retired judges chose 64 finalists from 1,200 applicants selected by General Assembly leaders. The judges then picked six men and two women of varied race, age, political affiliation and geographical location to fill the eight citizen seats on the 16-member commission. The commission’s eight legislative seats also represent the state’s geographical makeup; those commission members were chosen by the General Assembly’s four political caucuses.
Del. Les Adams, R-Chatham, was one of the two House Republicans appointed to the commission. He represents Henry and Pittsylvania counties—rural areas of the southern Piedmont where his father and grandfather farmed. As commission members work to redraw the maps, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board members are hopeful the commission’s decisions will give rural communities a cohesive voice. Tazewell County cattle producer Emily F. Edmondson represents farmers in Southwest Virginia, where less residential density means less representation in the General Assembly. “We have a relatively cohesive voice out here,” Edmondson said, “though it’s a small voice.” She has noticed the rural population shift to more urban areas over time. Tobacco, beef and poultry producer Robert J. Mills Jr. agreed. He serves Farm Bureau producer members in rural Campbell, Halifax and Pittsylvania counties on the VFBF board, and those farmers have expressed some
apprehension about redistricting. “The size of districts in the Southside and Southwest Virginia are just getting larger, because new districts are being created in Northern or Eastern Virginia,” he explained. “So I do hear concern that we’re losing more ground.” It’s important that members of organizations like Farm Bureau and the Virginia Agribusiness Council have conversations with leadership in urban areas, Mills said. “For me, as a farmer who loves rural Virginia, it’s really hard to digest bills that are sent down from Fairfax and Northern Virginia to regulate me and how I do business on the farm. Perhaps if some rural districts expand, they may pick up pieces of urban areas, resulting in more rural representation in Richmond,” Mills said. Adams said he’s in their corner. “The needs of our rural communities are always at the forefront of my service,” Adams said. “And will certainly be represented on the commission.”
Protect your property through Farm Bureau’s Reward Protection Service
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BY ADAM CULLER
arge swaths of farmland and rural properties often are left unprotected, making farms and rural residences targets for arsonists, thieves and vandals. To deter criminal activity from happening on their properties, Farm Bureau members in Virginia have access to free signs indicating their participation in Farm Bureau’s Reward Protection Service. The service offers a $2,500 reward for information that leads to a conviction of persons responsible for arson, theft or vandalism on a member’s property. “The Reward Protection Service helps prevent crime and incentivizes crime reporting at no added cost so it’s a great benefit,” said Laurie Gannon, vice president of claims for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Under the program’s guidelines, rewards are available only when signs are posted in prominent locations on a member’s property at the time of loss. Members who own multiple properties must display signs at each location. If an act of arson, theft or vandalism occurs, an eyewitness can make a reward claim once the perpetrator has been arrested and convicted of a crime. Once the claim
has been submitted, Virginia Farm Bureau will assign the claim to its Special Investigations Unit for further review. The SIU will verify with law enforcement that the claimant’s information helped secure a conviction. The $2,500 reward will be paid once the information is verified and if no other claimants seek the reward. To learn more about how to obtain a sign for your property, contact your local Farm Bureau office. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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For Your Benefit
Home/Business/Farm Savings
NEW benefit exclusively for Virginia Farm Bureau members!
Save on tried, true and new Bush Hog products Since 1951, Bush Hog has offered dependable rotary cutters, finishing mowers, landscape tools and a wide variety of tractor-mounted implements. Its rotary cutters are perfect for cutting pastures and mowing fields, and they come with a 10-year gearbox limited warranty. Bush Hog offers Americanmade equipment to meet all your agricultural and landscaping needs— like zero-turn mowers that reduce mowing time and allow you to cut more efficiently. And now Virginia Farm Bureau members can save $250 when they purchase Bush Hog products valued at $5,000 or more! Visit vafb.com/benefits and log in as a member or create an account, then print out a Membership Discount Agreement Form and take it to any authorized Bush Hog dealer at the time of sale. The discount must be claimed at the time of purchase.
Spiff things up with Grainger products and supplies Members are eligible for special Virginia Farm Bureau prices on selected product categories and supplies from Grainger, plus free standard ground shipping on all standard Grainger products*. Get started with your price savings using one of three easy methods. Present the Virginia Farm Bureau organization account number at time of purchase. The number is available from your county Farm Bureau, or visit vafb.com/benefits (You will need to be registered and logged in as a member).
• Go to grainger.com/farmbureau to establish a new Grainger.com® account using that account number.
• Call Grainger customer service at 800-472-4643 to update your existing Grainger account with the Farm Bureau organization account number. To be sure you get your Farm Bureau member prices, always reference Virginia Farm Bureau’s organization account number when visiting your local branch, making a telephone order, or ordering with your personal account online. If you have questions or need assistance, contact your county Farm Bureau. *FREE standard shipping on all orders shipped ground transportation. Other freight charges will be incurred for services such as expedited delivery, special handling by the carrier, sourcing orders and shipments outside the continental United States.
Dig into substantial savings at participating Case IH dealers 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 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
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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
For Your Benefit
Visit the Biltmore Estate— America’s largest home
Travel Services
Members receive admission discount to top-rated Dollywood parks Located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Dollywood is recognized as one of the world’s best theme parks. Spanning 150 acres and located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions, including Lightning Rod, the world’s fastest wooden coaster. Dollywood has won more awards than that of any other theme park for its live shows featuring country, bluegrass, Southern gospel and classic rock. Master craftsmen demonstrate the area’s rich artistry, from hand-blown glass to blacksmithing. Members can now purchase discount tickets to the Dollywood Theme Park. Visit Dollywood.com/Store/ Special-Offers?promocode=VAFARMBUREAU or vafb.com/benefits.
Biltmore Estate in Ashville, N.C., is America’s largest home. Built by George and Edith Vanderbilt, this property offers visitors tours, carriage rides, beautiful gardens, kayaking, horseback riding, paddle boarding, biking and much more on 8,000 acres. Farm Bureau members in Virginia will receive $10 off regular gate admission to the historic Biltmore estate. Members also can realize reduced rates at The Inn on Biltmore Estate, The Village Hotel and a variety of local accommodations. While there, browse through unique estate shops for wine lovers, gardeners, bookworms and everyone in between. Savor complimentary tastings of more than 20 handcrafted wines; view rare treasures from the Biltmore collection; and learn about the estate’s barnyard animals. Visit Biltmore.com/corporateperk for more information. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
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vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Modernized products inventory valued by Farm Bureau members BY NICOLE ZEMA
When will the tires on your tractor need repair or replacement? Virginia Farm Bureau’s products division considered that question when it modernized its inventory last year. Bill Latane, director of member benefits, said Farm Bureau members may expect to replace tractor or equipment components, like tires, after just a few years of heavy use. “So, we need to make sure we have the parts for what was hitting the market
two to three years ago,” Latane said. Those new product selections, like CEAT Specialty Tires, were the right call. “It turned out to be a really good product for us—an excellent tire at a little-bit better price point,” Latane said. Of the variety of products added to the inventory, Latane said the new LiquiTube Balancer and Sealer has been a hit with members. “LiquiTube Tire Sealant is a product we’ve had a number of years; it’s been a very good product for us,” he said. “And in the last few months, LiquiTube came out with combination balancing beads and sealant for medium truck tires. People like the
idea that if they run over a nail and there is a puncture in their tire, they don’t have a $150,000 truck sitting on the side of the road, waiting for someone to change the tire.” The products division is showing off its facelift—both virtually and at its physical location. Its new website, products.vafb.com, was launched in 2020. The site lists 1,800 products and inventory status at the Henrico County warehouse, which recently was decluttered and reorganized. The website is currently for informational purposes only, so customers should still place orders at 800-476-8473, or purchase through a Farm Bureau products dealer.
Agricultural Lending Division
Get in touch by visiting www.firstbank.com/ag or calling: Southwest VA area 276.623.0128 | New River Valley area 540.583.5458 | Shenandoah Valley area 540.437.0604 8
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
General Assembly
Farm Bureau navigates hybrid General Assembly
I
t was not business as usual due to COVID-19 restrictions, but legislators, lobbyists and citizens utilized a hybrid virtual and in-person 2021 Virginia General Assembly session to get things done. This year the House met 100% virtually, for both committee meetings and floor sessions. The Senate met in person at the Science Museum of Virginia, while committees listened to public and stakeholder testimonies virtually. The following is a recap of key issues regarding implementation of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation policy. Specifics on bills with which Farm Bureau was involved are detailed in a comprehensive summary that was mailed or emailed to Farm Bureau leaders who participate in the VFBF Action Alert and legislative update system.
Based on information available at press time, here is how 21 key policy positions fared in the General Assembly: means Farm Bureau policy prevailed. means Farm Bureau policy did not prevail. means Farm Bureau was neutral on the final action, or more work needs to be done on the issue to say Farm Bureau policy prevailed.
This session, Farm Bureau worked to:
KEY POLICY POSITIONS Clarify the member appointment process to the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board and ensure geographic representation ✓ Continue the peanut excise tax to support industry education, research and promotion efforts ✓ Defeat a burdensome pre-notification process for farmers for certain environmental permits ✓ Ensure all farmers’ ability to be reflected in land conservation decisions Ensure farm equipment is not considered clutter and subject to local ordinance Establish and fund the Dairy Margin Coverage Program ✓ Establish the Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Fund and Grant Program ✓ Establish the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program and Fund ✓ Expand tax credits for conservation tillage and include precision ag equipment ✓ Expand the agricultural BMP tax credit program ✓ Data collection to understand the impact of solar facilities on future availability of land for production agriculture and forestry Increase the minimum fine for littering ✓ Inform landowners of the specific intent in a "quick take" condemnation and what their options are ✓ Maintain a farmworker exemption from minimum wage increases ✓ Prevent reinstitution of the estate tax ✓ Protect farmers’ ability to use neonicotinoids ✓ Secure additional funding for the agricultural BMP cost-share program ✓ Secure additional funding for the state Purchase of Development Rights program ✓ Secure additional funding for Virginia Cooperative Extension and its regional Agricultural Research and Extension Centers ✓ Update Virginia’s industrial hemp laws ✓
Remember, Farm Bureau’s work is never done. After the General Assembly session, the organization works to have staff or members appointed to boards and various technical advisory committees or participate in meetings to ensure the proper implementation of legislation. Additionally, members have begun participating in this
✓ ✓
✓
spring’s regional policy development meetings to begin determining Farm Bureau’s policy positions for 2022. If you are a producer member and do not receive Action Alerts but would like to, contact Kelly Roberts, VFBF assistant director for member engagement, at kelly. roberts@vafb.com or 804-290-1293. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Building bridges:
A story of private-public collaboration
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BY ALICE KEMP
hrough communication and teamwork, a lesson about building bridges turned into reality. When logger Donnie Reaves was getting ready to harvest timber at a site in Lynchburg last June, he knew the job would be complicated. “Where the timber was, there was no access to get it out,” explained Reaves, a Bedford County Farm Bureau member who owns around 2,500 acres of forested property. “We had to cross a sewer line and then a stream.” Crossing the sewer line posed potential water quality risks. The site also was in a visible location, which added an element of public scrutiny. Reaves is a seasoned logger who harvests around 200 loads a year, but he asked the Virginia Department of Forestry for help. “We just sat down and talked about everything,” explained VDOF water quality specialist Kevin Dawson, who worked with Reaves and forestry consultant Todd Goode on the project. “We figured out the best place to cross the creek, and we decided, ‘OK, here’s what we’ll do; this is what we think will be the best plan.’” Dawson wrote a pre-harvest proposal involving the installation of two sets of temporary bridges to navigate a crossing at Dreaming Creek—one to cross the sewer line and another the stream. The bridges needed to be stabilized and strong enough to hold heavy logging equipment, so Reaves consulted with Forest Pro Inc., a forestry equipment dealership owned by loggers. To help cover the construction costs, Reaves secured funding through the VDOF Logger Best Management 10
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
Donnie Reaves of Bedford County used this bridge to help harvest timber and worked collaboratively with the Virginia Department of Forestry to implement best practices during the harvest at a site in Lynchburg. PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA LOGGERS ASSOCIATION
Practices Cost-Share Program. The program helps subsidize practices that improve and protect water quality, covering loggers’ stream crossing expenses at 50% up to $2,500 and $5,000 if the project includes a portable bridge. The Lynchburg area experienced record rainfalls during the harvest— sometimes as much as 5 inches a day. The bridges held up, and no sediment from the timber harvest entered the stream. “I’m very happy to say we’ve never had a water quality problem on that job the entire time Donnie was working, and we still don’t,” Dawson remarked. He fielded frequent calls from citizens about the project, and he
regularly stopped by to check on the progress. “Donnie would always take the time to walk the job with me,” Dawson recalled. “If we saw something that needed attention, we would just deal with it then and there.” Ron Jenkins, executive director for the Virginia Loggers Association, said the success of this project demonstrates how cooperation and mutual respect go a long way in implementing best management practices. “This clearly shows that the public and private sectors can work well together to produce a high-quality outcome,” Jenkins said. “When people take time to listen to each other, you learn from each other, and that’s what these two did.”
proud of the countless acts of kindness and compassion by our Farm Bureau family who gave their time and resources to make life a little better for their neighbors.” He added that although 2020 was a difficult year, one of the silver linings was holding the convention virtually. The change made it possible for members who had never traveled to the event to participate.
Virginia young farmers rank among top national competitors
V
AFBF President Zippy Duvall addressed conference attendees from his Georgia farm.
Virtual AFBF convention full of the normal events, competitions
I
t may have been held virtually, but the 102nd American Farm Bureau Federation convention didn’t lack any actual content, recognitions or accomplishments. During the Jan. 10-13 convention, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation received AFBF’s Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and membership achievement. VFBF also received AFBF Awards of Excellence for advocacy; engagement and outreach; leadership and business development; and membership value. AFBF President Zippy Duvall said this year’s theme of “Stronger Together” was exemplified by the state Farm Bureaus’ collective contribution of $5.4 million in donations and 1.4 million pounds of food to local food banks and pandemic relief programs. The VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee-led PB&J food collection contributed to this effort. County Farm Bureau women’s committees collected a cumulative 4,306 pounds of food and $3,367 in monetary donations. “Farm Bureau has always stepped up to help our communities, especially in times of disaster and crisis, and this was no exception,” Duvall said during the convention’s opening session. “Throughout the pandemic, Farm Bureau has been there, supporting farmers and ranchers, giving back to communities, providing assurance that our food supply is strong and ensuring America’s pantries are stocked. I’m so
irginia was well-represented in the 2021 AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers competitions, held during the virtual convention. Matthew and Shelbie Heldreth of Wythe County took third place in the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award program; Jonathan and Kelsey Grimes of Wythe County placed fourth in the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award program; and Jacob Gilley of Orange County competed in the national Discussion Meet contest. The Achievement Award honors young farmers who are successful in production agriculture and provide leadership on and off the farm. The Heldreths manage a 1,200-acre beef cattle operation at Heldreth Farms in Rural Retreat. Matthew serves as chairman of the Wythe County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee, and Shelbie serves on the county Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee. “There was some very good competition, so we were just excited to be in the top 10 nationally. Coming in third is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement,” Matthew Heldreth said after the winners were announced. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes individuals for involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.
THE GRIMESES
THE HELDRETHS
Jonathan Grimes is an agriculture education teacher and FFA advisor at Fort Chiswell High School in Wythe County, and Kelsey Grimes is a Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H agent. The Grimeses represent the New River Valley region on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee, and have been VFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award finalists since 2017. “It was our goal to make it to the top 10, and this was an opportunity to represent Virginia well in the top four,” Jonathan said of the award. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Gilley took part in two rounds of the AFBF Discussion Meet, designed to simulate a committee meeting in which discussion and active participation are expected from each contestant. He is vice president of the Orange County Farm Bureau, and he and his wife, Jennifer, serve on the VFBF Young Farmers Committee. WORKSHOPS HELP EDUCATE, ADVOCATE AND PROGNOSTICATE A variety of workshops and panel discussions were held throughout the AFBF virtual annual convention. Some were live-streamed, while others could be accessed any time during the event and for several weeks after.
Rural mental health workshop reminds farmers ‘It’s OK to not be OK’
Depressed farm economies, weather disasters and the coronavirus pandemic have exacerbated farm-related stress. And studies show there is increased risk for suicide, substance use disorder and depression among U.S. farmers and rural residents. Agriculturalists discussed these issues Jan. 12 during a workshop titled “Farm State of Mind—Responding to the Challenges of Rural Mental Health.” A Morning Consult poll conducted among 2,000 rural adults in December 2020 on behalf of AFBF found that 66% of farmers and farmworkers said COVID-19 had impacted their mental health. More than half said they are experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago. Farm blogger Meredith Bernard of This Farm Wife Inc. in North Carolina said farmers are high-stakes gamblers. “We don’t buy lottery tickets, but we buy cows and we plant crops,” she said. “Every day feels like it’s a gamble.” That uncertainty, plus the pressure to sustain a farm legacy for the next generation, causes unrelenting stress. Panelist Randy Roecker said he knows that pressure well. The 12
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
Wisconsin dairyman owns the farm his grandfather started in the ‘30s. He has struggled with farm stress and depression himself, and discussed warning signs: withdrawn demeanor, unkempt appearance, weight loss, irritability and exhaustion. “This is a subject we have to talk about,” Roecker said, discussing efforts in his community to combat the crisis. “It’s OK to not be OK.”
Rural voices are key to broadband expansion
Increased government funding and infrastructure improvements have facilitated expansions of broadband services in rural America, though industry experts said additional advancements are required. “Today, farmers who can be the most efficient with their time and can best use available resources and data are the ones who are going to be successful,” Jackie Mundt, a cow-calf and grain producer from Preston, Kansas, noted during the Jan. 12 “Staying Connected in a Virtual World” panel discussion. According to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2020 broadband deployment report, 22.3% of rural Americans lack broadband services, which panelists concurred is detrimental to some farmers and their communities. “For those of us without [broadband], it’s incredibly frustrating,” Mundt shared. “This is an issue that’s standing between us and our livelihoods.” She noted that she can’t utilize advanced farming technology that would improve efficiency. There is fiber-optic cable running beneath her land, but she can’t tap into it. The location of the fiber-optic cable on Mundt’s farm on coverage maps falsely indicates that a broadband connection is available. With the passing of the U.S. Broadband DATA Act, which was signed into law in March 2020, consumers can challenge the accuracy of broadband data and
coverage maps. Gov. Ralph Northam announced Jan. 26 more than $29.6 million will be invested toward broadband expansion across 11 Virginia localities to help bridge the digital divide. The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative grant funding will connect more than 11,700 households, businesses and other institutions.
Agricultural economic outlook tied to pricing and trade agreements
Commodity prices, COVID-19 and trade agreements are three of the top subjects shaping agriculture this year. During the “2021 Farm Economy Outlook” workshop, AFBF livestock economist Michael Nepveux said, “China is the big elephant in the room.” Before the swine flu reduced China’s hog herds in 2018, the country accounted for half of the world’s production and consumption of pork, he noted. Since then, U.S. pork, beef and poultry exports to China have not only rebounded, but also experienced significant increases in 2020. Nepveux said it’s uncertain whether those exports will continue to increase. Dr. John Newton, AFBF chief economist, said that under the Phase One trade agreement with China, $22.5 billion in U.S. agricultural products were exported in 2020. He expects that figure to reach more than $40 billion. But the unknowns regarding trade include President-elect Biden’s views on trade with China, and whether the U.S. will rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Newton said that when former President Obama negotiated the TPP, it stood to boost net farm income by $4 billion.
Diversification key to pivoting farm operations During a Jan. 12 panel discussion, Matt Cunningham, owner of Rustic
Brew Farm in Ohio, said his family’s farm was shrinking due to land development, low commodity prices and competition from larger farms. Worried about the farm’s future, “I decided to look for something a little more profitable.” Cunningham was already growing corn, soybeans and wheat, so he tapped into the popular craft beer market by selling malting barley to local brewers. He and other speakers asserted that change and diversification are ways to ensure farms will continue for future generations. The workshop also emphasized the importance of connecting to consumers with a social media presence—a requirement in today’s marketplace. That’s something Virginia farmer Mike Cullipher, a member of the VFBF Specialty Crops Advisory Committee and co-owner of Cullipher Farms in Virginia Beach, knows well. While Cullipher Farms had a website and social media accounts, Cullipher didn’t have an online ordering platform for the farm’s retail market. When the pandemic hit, he had to pivot. Cullipher Farms kept revenue flowing by allowing customers to order online and pick up their purchases in a drive-thru arrangement at the farm, using social media to keep customers informed.
Jacob Gilley, top center photo above, competed in the AFBF Discussion Meet. To the left, the Heldreths, who won 3rd place in the AFBF Achievement Award, are shown in the top left panel. VFBF President Wayne Pryor and VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Faye Hundley also were recognized during the virtual AFBF convention.
Experts predict a bright outlook for Va. beef cattle market
Cattlemen and beef consumers went on a roller-coaster ride in 2020, but the outlook for beef cattle production and consumption is looking brighter this year. Industry experts at a Jan. 12 workshop discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic sent consumer prices skyrocketing as farm prices plummeted. But both prices returned to near previous-year levels quicker than expected. By the end of 2020, “we were able adjust and get back over” the pace set the year before for processing cattle
and hogs, shared AFBF economist Michael Nepveux. He noted that in early May, American beef production dropped 34% below the same time in 2019 due to panic food buying and health concerns in processing plants. In November 2020, away-from-home food sales totaled $50 billion, a 20% decline from 2019. Beef production last year was near record levels, and a 1% to 2% production decline is expected in 2021. A slightly smaller cattle supply
is welcome news to producers and feedlots who lost money when they had to feed cattle for several extra weeks last spring. “The whole industry pivoted in just a few months to adapt to major changes in the overall food supply network. Now that everyone has been through that, we don’t expect that problem to happen again,” said Margaret Ann Smith, a Rockbridge County cattle broker and member of the VFBF Livestock Advisory Committee. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Farm Bureau leaders give back, educate and promote Community activists come from all walks of life, and many Virginia Farm Bureau members lead the charge. Some promote agricultural conservation by serving on local soil and water conservation boards, while others support agricultural products by assisting commodity promotion boards. Certain Farm Bureau leaders are appointed to local governing boards where they can connect
Smyth County farmer bridges gap between farmers and community BY ALICE KEMP
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n the far reaches of Southwest Virginia, Smyth County cattle farmer Charlie Atkins stays active in his community. As a chair of the (Smyth County) Board of Supervisors, he acts as a liaison between farmers and county residents, keeping them informed about current agricultural issues. “What I learn through the Smyth County board of supervisors helps me get back to the Farm Bureau and the farming community,” he said. “I can keep them a little more up-to-date on legislative issues or grants, so we know if we need to put something together to get it to Richmond, or maybe make calls to our congressmen.” With his finger on the pulse of the community, he’s talked with legislators about the lack of broadband in the area—something that heavily impacts rural farming families. He also works to ensure policies like the county’s land use assessment taxation ordinance remain in place so farmers pay real estate taxes based on farm properties’ actual use. “I’m always having to educate and keep (county) board members attuned to what land use really means to the individual farmer out there,” Atkins explained. “Some people feel land use favors a few individuals, and it doesn’t benefit the county as a whole. We’re basically an agricultural county so we need the land use.” 14
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decision-makers with information about issues that impact farming. And other leaders strive to bring the next generation into farming’s fold by working in agricultural education. What unites them is an unselfish desire to participate in community roles for the betterment of Virginia agriculture. Read about four VFB leaders who are doing just that.
Working to improve Virginia’s beef cattle industry is another of Atkins’ agricultural focuses. Serving on the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association board, he helps oversee bull testing programs. Bulls are graded on factors like their ability to gain weight and expected prodigy difference—predictions of their ability to pass various traits onto offspring. The highest-performing bulls are sold, improving the genetics of what goes back into the farm.
Grayson County supervisor promotes regional ag activities BY NICOLE ZEMA
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rayson County supervisor Brenda Sutherland has a heart of service that beats for Southwest Virginia agriculture. Sutherland’s childhood on the farm, and a long career in education and administration, led to highly visible, influential regional leadership roles. She taught, coached and worked in personnel for a neighboring school system for decades. “Nothing I have ever done has been about me; it’s about my students,” Sutherland said. “I retired in 2010 and tried it for a month, but I couldn’t do it.” She took a part-time gig at Grayson County Farm Bureau, and earned her insurance license. Four years later, Sutherland was encouraged to run for a one-year term on the Grayson County Board of Supervisors. “I won, and I guess the rest is history,”
she said. “Maybe I felt the need to give back to my community. I was a bedroom resident of Grayson, and traveled out of the county to work for 32 years. I thought, this is one way to give back.” Sutherland represents the board on Grayson County’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, formed in 2018 to develop inclusive strategies to enhance agriculture and forestry enterprises and related industries, with a focus on agricultural education, communications, economic development and wildlife. “I think that’s a pretty powerful mission,” she said. In 2020, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor tapped Sutherland as a trustee of VFBF AgPAC, the organization’s legislative action committee. Sutherland also chairs the Virginia Association of Counties Economic Development and Planning Board. And she currently serves as executive director of the Crossroads Rural Entrepreneurial Institute, an educational initiative intended to revitalize the regional economy. She helps manage a beef cattle and cow-calf operation with her husband, Richard, who serves on the VFBF board. They are members of CarrollGrayson Cattle Producers Association, and Brenda Sutherland represents the group on the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association Policy Committee. “I help him feed (cows) every day,” Sutherland said, and joked, “but I’m really a glorified gate opener.”
Madison county farmer promotes agricultural advocacy
Surry County farmer and educator encourages youth participation
BY NICOLE ZEMA
BY ADAM CULLER
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A
ynn Graves wasn’t intentionally vying for all the jobs that now require his attention. But his multiple leadership roles are opportunities to improve conservation and enhance agricultural activities in the Upper Piedmont and beyond. Graves was appointed to the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District board when a seat was vacated in 2005. The district covers Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties. Fifteen years later, he serves as Madison’s district director and as board chairman. “You don’t get paid for it, and it takes up a lot of your time,” the Madison County farmer said. “But you see benefits for the county, the state and especially trying to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.” Apples and agribusiness alone are enough to keep Graves busy. You might find him in his cannery pressing apples, or troubleshooting the Wi-Fi at the family’s Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges, an agritourism operation that includes crop fields and 50 acres of apple orchards. Graves was eventually asked if he wanted to serve on the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. He now serves as first vice president of the VASWCD, and will rotate into the role of president in 2022. Involvement with the VASWCD offers a broad perspective of environmental needs throughout Virginia, demanding regionally specific strategies to help farmers implement best management practices. In Central Virginia, “we’re fencing out streams,” Graves said. “But east of here, it’s more about cover crops. And out toward the bay you have shoreline erosion problems. You get to widen your knowledge on the association, and meet wonderful people.”
CHARLIE ATKINS
BRENDA SUTHERLAND
LYNN GRAVES
DANIEL JUDKINS
s Daniel Judkins explains it, when you’re born into a farming family, an innate passion for agriculture runs through your veins. Judkins grew up on Pecan Knoll Farm in Surry County, where his father, Tommy, and his late grandfather, Sidney, raised row crops before pivoting to cow-calf production in 1990. A sixth-generation farmer, his first agricultural experience was riding in a car seat in a combine while his father harvested corn. Now 33, Judkins is dedicated to sharing agricultural experiences with youth as farm manager of the Isle of Wight County Schools Agricultural Land Lab. He and Jason Brittle, an Isle of Wight agriculture teacher, were selected to lead the lab when it began operating in 2017. Since its inception, the lab has transformed 6 acres of unkempt land into a working farm, and students now learn small-plot farming practices by raising livestock and produce. About 80 students participate in the lab each school year, and Judkins said sharing a lifetime of farming knowledge with his pupils has been rewarding. “It’s important for the students to understand where their food comes from, and that it takes hard work to produce that food,” he explained. “And to see our students, who are as green as you can be to the agriculture industry, grow and learn, you couldn’t ask for anything more.” In addition to his endeavors as a fulltime educator, Judkins raises 50 head of beef cattle and serves as vice president of Surry County Farm Bureau. As he continues to lay the foundation for young farmers in Surry, Judkins’ primary interest remains in expanding agricultural education at the land lab. His hope is that the lab eventually will become a model program for other Virginia counties. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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NICOLE ZEMA
ADAM CULLER
ALICE KEMP
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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
ALICE KEMP
ALICE KEMP
Clockwise from top left: Sarah Morton operates Cattle Run Farm in Greene County; Jennifer Leech is herdsman for Ingleside Dairy Farm in Rockbridge County; and Joanne Jones manages a family farm in Appomattox County. She expanded the operations to include an agritourism component.
DIVERSITY IN AG
Female farmers’ involvement in agriculture is growing
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heir numbers may be small, but minority farmers are an important part of the state’s agricultural composition. This is the second article in a series that explores different segments of minority farm operations in Virginia.
Appomattox woman keeps third-generation farm running BY ALICE KEMP
When Joanne Jones started managing her husband’s family’s 450-acre, third-generation farm in Appomattox County, she wanted to name it. “The farm didn’t have a name until I came,” said Jones, who also is a fulltime Virginia Cooperative Extension agent. She chose the name Dark Leaf, which honors the crop that started it all generations ago—dark leaf tobacco. “I’m proud of it.” Jones grew up on a small farm in Brunswick County and married into her husband’s family farm 16 years ago. Her father-in-law ran the farm, but she took on more responsibilities when he was diagnosed with cancer. She was already at home with her oldest child while her husband, Bruce, worked off the farm. “My father-in-law passed away about a year later,” she said. “And then I began running the operation. That’s how I inherited it.” Jones is one of an increasing number of women who are sole farm
The U.S. Census of Agriculture has been surveying the race and ethnic origin of principal farm operators since 2007. The census tracks the number of American Indian, Asian, Black, Hawaiian, Latino, women and veteran farmers managing U.S. farms.
operators. The 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture reported more than 36% of American farmers are women, 29% are principal operators, and 78% of all female producers are involved in daily decisions.
Diversifying into agritourism Like many farmers, Jones was stressed about fluctuating commodity prices and rising costs. As a soybean, tobacco and wheat grower, she was inspired to diversify after a family trip to another farm’s fall agritourism operation. “I thought to myself, ‘We could do this. I’d love to do this,’” she said. Now alongside their regular crops, there’s an acre of U-pick blackberries and strawberries for visitors in the late spring and early summer. Each October, the farm offers a pumpkin patch and family activities like a haunted corn maze, barrel train and pedal cars. “We’re looking at taking this field back here and putting in a concert stage,” she said, pointing to an old sunflower field bordered by woods. “We’ve gotten bigger each year.”
Building the connections “I feel like women always have
played more of a role than what’s been recognized,” Jones said. “It’s just more behind the scenes.” In addition to harvesting and planting, Jones handles the farm’s paperwork. “If you’re the one doing that, you know what’s making money and what’s not—what’s losing, what’s gaining.” Jones admits it was difficult getting people to take her seriously in the early days, but six years as president of Appomattox County Farm Bureau helped her build respect.
Central Virginia farmer enhances farm operations, promotes inclusivity BY NICOLE ZEMA
Third-generation farmer Sarah Morton believes there’s a place for everybody within the “culture” of agriculture. And as a servant leader, Morton has developed programs and dedicated her career to engage, educate and empower individuals from all walks of life to sustain and enhance agriculture in Virginia’s Piedmont and beyond. Both her paternal and maternal
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DIVERSITY IN AG grandfather were farmers. Her dad operated the family’s Greene County beef cattle farm and worked nights as a security guard, while her mother was what she calls a “domestic engineer,” raising five biological children and fostering 15 others. Morton’s dad scaled down operations but continued hobby farming later in life. Morton became principal operator at Cattle Run Farm and was eventually joined by her brother Ralph, a retired military veteran. “After my brother transitioned back, we began a phased approach to diversify our operation, taking it beyond a hobby,” she said. It was her idea to figure out how the farm could expand into niche markets. They connected with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Small Farm Outreach Program at Virginia State University, where they were introduced to blackberry production. “Today we have thornless blackberries, raised-bed vegetable production, and currently utilize grow towers for indoor lettuce and Swiss chard production,” Morton said. Last year they expanded into pasture-raised pork, and they plan to build a high tunnel to extend their produce-growing season in the fall. This spring, Morton will launch an on-site agribusiness—rental accommodations called the SarahJames Inn, named in memory of her parents. Beyond managing the farm’s strategic initiatives, Morton assists with planting and harvesting when not volunteering or working on her doctorate. She also owns a small berry farm in Albemarle County called Five Oaks Farm, where she plans to expand into viticulture. In addition to her farm responsibilities, Morton is a founding member of Minority and Veteran Farmers of the Piedmont, a nonprofit based out of Culpeper’s George
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Washington Carver Agricultural Research Center. Currently, her brother serves as the board chair for the organization—an offshoot of the SFOP—that offers farmers support to establish small farm businesses. “MVFP has an open-door policy for anyone interested in learning about the fundamentals of agriculture production,” Morton said. “Small farmers continue to get left out of conversations. So we’re trying to do a better job advocating for the small farmer and the socially disadvantaged population, by helping them find niches so they can continue to add to their bottom line while building economic equity and community wealth.”
Rockbridge woman ushers in new era of dairy farming BY ADAM CULLER
Jennifer Leech believes female producers stick out at dairy conventions, which makes sense because women account for just 30% of all U.S. dairy farmers. But for Leech, the decision to pursue a career in dairy farming was an easy one. While studying dairy science at Virginia Tech, the idea sparked in her mind as she rounded up results from a survey being conducted by her professor. “Scott Sink was looking for someone to enter data from a survey he had sent out to dairy farmers, and I ended up doing it,” Leech recalled of the project that was overseen by Sink, now vice president of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “It wasn’t a huge job or anything—there might have been 300 surveys to enter. But while I was doing those surveys, that was the moment I knew I wasn’t going to be working in an office.” After graduating in 2006, Leech returned home to Ingleside Dairy Farm in Rockbridge County as a thirdgeneration dairy farmer without an
official job title. Two months after she began working on the farm, Leech found an increased role when the farm’s herdsman quit after more than 20 years on the job. The position, and the responsibilities that came with managing a 340-head dairy herd, now belonged to her. “I had a lot of learning to do,” Leech said. “My dad and brother were around to answer questions, so it was a team effort in getting me caught up to speed. Within a few months, I felt like I had a handle on what I was supposed to be doing.” Nearly 15 years later, Leech has flourished as Ingleside’s herdsman. Though her job title still isn’t “official,” she now manages the daily operations of the dairy, its herd health and the farm’s rainbow trout business. Leech makes decisions on when animals are vaccinated and how health abnormalities are addressed. She also handles breeding and facilitates group changes, though Leech noted she has “plenty of help” from others on the farm to get the work done. Ingleside has been equipped with robotic milking machines since 2012, placing it ahead of the curve in modern dairy farming. Leech noted modern technology has lessened the dairy industry’s emphasis on brawn, saying “You don’t need to have broad shoulders to do the work anymore.” Encouraged by the growing number of women who are choosing careers in production agriculture— especially in dairy farming—Leech said the positives of the trend are apparent. “In general, women tend to be nurturing and caring,” she said. “When you think about a farm, that’s exactly what you need. You need someone who’s patient, nurturing and caring with the animals or crops, and it just makes sense that women are drawn to these kinds of careers.”
Biden taps Virginia ag leader Dr. Jewel Bronaugh as USDA deputy secretary BY NICOLE ZEMA
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n his first weeks on the job, President Biden made his leadership picks for the U.S. agricultural, environmental and trade sectors. And one of Virginia’s own is among the top spots. Biden nominated Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, who headed up the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to serve as deputy secretary of agriculture BRONAUGH under Secretary Tom Vilsack. Bronaugh is a lifelong Virginian, born in Petersburg and educated at James Madison University and Virginia Tech. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne F. Pryor said Virginia has benefited from Bronaugh’s leadership as VDACS commissioner, state Farm Service Agency executive director, and in roles at Virginia State University. “She has done much to promote agriculture and address the many issues facing farm families and rural Virginia, and we supported her swift confirmation,” Pryor said. Bronaugh said she did not actively seek the USDA appointment. “However, I am absolutely honored with this opportunity to serve our nation’s farmers and agribusinesses,” she said. “I am looking forward to promoting U.S. agricultural products, improving economic opportunities, helping to end hunger, ensuring fairness and equity in the agricultural industry, and preserving our nation’s natural resources.” Bronaugh, who is the first African American deputy secretary of agriculture, was appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to serve as commissioner of VDACS in 2018. Northam said Bronaugh has been “a true leader— promoting the agency’s core mission while taking on new challenges, including our COVID-19 pandemic response and farmer mental health, focusing on economic development to improve food access in underserved communities.” Rural mental health is a priority Bronaugh hopes to continue advocating for at the federal level, with goals to develop a network of resources focused on rural areas. During her tenure as commissioner, Bronaugh created the Farmer Stress and Mental Health Taskforce to address critical mental health issues facing farmers and families in rural communities. Prior to serving as VDACS commissioner, Bronaugh was dean of VSU’s College of Agriculture. Five years later, Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Vilsack appointed her as Virginia’s state executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, where she provided oversight for price support, compliance, farm loan, conservation, environmental and emergency assistance programs in Virginia.
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Reeds like these look harmless— even picturesque—but invasive plants can harm landscapes, crops and even livestock.
D E T N A W ) n u ( OST
M S ’ A I N VIRGI BUSTED!
Virginia landowners urged to be vigilant in fighting invasive plant species BY NICOLE ZEMA
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ome bad boys from out of town are amassing quite a rap sheet in Virginia. Invasive plants are species introduced by human activity into regions where they did not originate. They spread aggressively, displacing or destroying natural resources and crops, or harming livestock. Damage caused by invasive plants in Virginia costs more than $1 billion annually, and the national figure exceeds $120 billion, according to the Virginia Invasive Species Working Group. These botanical offenders can run, but they can’t hide. It’s up to vigilant Virginians to drop a dime on them by reporting invasive species to invasivespeciesva.org/report-sightings. The state working group offers tips to prevent mistakenly transporting these fugitives: • Buy and burn local firewood. • Always clean boating equipment before using a new waterway. • Clean your boots after hiking or hunting in habitat with invasive species, and check
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VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
your dog for seeds. •W hen landscaping, avoid purchasing invasive plants, and consider using native plants. •B ecome part of an invasive species earlydetection network, like eddmaps.org. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Natural Heritage Program published a list of invasive plant species at bit.ly/invasiveplantsVA. The list ranks the plants by high, medium or low levels of invasiveness based on their threat to natural communities and native species. Dr. Jacob Barney is an associate professor in the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, and his research is broadly focused on the causes, consequences and management of invasive plant species. Seven notorious invasives are ranked on his most-unwanted list, charged with ecological infractions throughout Virginia’s sprawling farmland, forests and coastal marshes.
THE SAVAGE SEVEN
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Origin: Eastern Asia Charges: Shades out native plants and alters soil chemistry “This nitrogen-fixing woody shrub quickly takes over pastures and disturbed sites and is readily spread by birds,” Barney said.
Worst weed: Amaranthus palmeri Street name: Palmer amaranth a.k.a. Palmer pigweed Origin: Southwest U.S. Charges: Chokes out existing crops, toxic to livestock “It’s the worst agricultural weed, hands down,” Barney said. “Many herbicideresistant biotypes make this plant super difficult to get rid of.”
2 Worst tree: Ailanthus altissima Street name: Tree of heaven Origin: China Charges: Outcompetes native plants, damages structures “It’s super common across the state, and is even worse now as it serves as a host tree for the spotted lanternfly, which is threatening a host of crops, including Virginia’s vineyards,” he explained.
3 Worst shrub: Elaeagnus umbellata Street name: Autumn olive or Japanese silverberry
4 Worst forest invader: Microstegium vimineum Street name: Japanese stiltgrass Origin: Asia Charges: Impacts native diversity, reduces wildlife habitat, disrupts ecosystem “Stiltgrass is the worst invader in the eastern U.S. forests, and threatens many pastures,” Barney noted. “This prolific warm-season grass is very shadetolerant and makes dense mats of thatch that also increase fire frequency.”
5 Worst marsh invader: Phragmites australis Street name: Common reed Origin: Europe Charges: Overwhelms other marsh plants from above and below, diminishes habitat value “An exotic biotype is replacing all of the native Phragmites and other native marsh species, causing all kinds of ecological problems,” he said.
6 Worst newcomer: Arthraxon hispidus Street name: Joint head grass Origin: Eastern Asia Charges: Forms dense stands, threatens native vegetation along shorelines “This recently expanding invader is also becoming more common in the northern Virginia grasslands and pastures,” Barney shared.
7 Most dangerous fugitive: Oplismenus undulatifolius Street name: Wavyleaf basketgrass Origin: Eurasia Charges: Spreads on forest floor, often entirely displacing native plants “This invader is spreading from Maryland,” he said. “It’s a perennial with sticky seeds that readily spreads on animals and unsuspecting hikers and hunters. This is likely to be worse than stiltgrass.”
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AG ANTIQUES Farmers proud of pieces that reflect agriculture’s history
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Vintage farm vehicles still in use at Amelia County farm
he 1919 Model T orchard truck that putters about Glendale Farm has been around long enough to witness its second global pandemic. The Model T was built as a car and was converted to a work truck in the early 1920s, said Lillian Azevedo and Brendan Burke— both archaeologists living at the WarrinerBurke property in eastern Amelia County. The truck was used as an orchard truck near Stockton, Calif., but has been in the Azevedo family for almost 80 years. It belonged to Azevedo’s grandfather, George, who worked as a well driller when he bought the truck in the 1940s. “George was crazy about Model Ts and owned a couple dozen by the time he passed away,” Burke said of his grandfather-in-law. “After Lilli’s grandmother passed, we bought this truck and shipped it here, which turned out to be quite the adventure. We had to take the front axle out from under it to fit in the enclosed trailer.” Azevedo said her uncle, Larry, president of the Model T Ford Club of America, tried to convince her she didn’t want the century-old truck. “It’s super-low gear,” Azevedo said. “And only goes 20 mph downhill with a tailwind!” Henry Ford debuted the Model T 1908 as one of the first mass-production vehicles. The early Model T came with an assembly
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
Brendan Burke checks the radiator on the 1919 Model T truck that is still used on Glendale Farm in Amelia County.
Helen Warriner-Burke poses on the family’s historic MinneapolisMoline tractor that she drove when she was 11.
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BRENDAN BURKE
The farm’s 1919 Model T orchard truck is still used for small jobs like hauling hay bales.
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
tool kit, housed the gas tank under the front passenger seat, and had to be crank-started. “It can still crank-start,” Burke said. “But at some point it was retrofitted with an electric starter.” While the truck has retired from orchard work, it’s useful for small jobs around the farm, like hauling stacks of lumber or hay bales. The family is looking forward to entering it in local parades and has used the large flatbed for outdoor socially distanced family gatherings. “During WWII I remember my dad was trying to get a tractor,” said Helen P. Warriner-Burke, the matriarch of Glendale Farm. “All he had was an old Fordson—a steel-wheel behemoth.” With U.S. manufacturing materials diverted to the war effort, Warriner-Burke said it was difficult for average farmers to procure new equipment. “Most people were hopeful to get John Deeres or Farmalls,” she said. “But in 1946 he succeeded in getting this one. They were pretty uncommon in this area. It does not have hydraulics on it, so it became obsolete pretty quick, but it got tons of use. We used it mainly for baling hay and moving tobacco wagons. And it was the first tractor that I drove when I was 11. It needs some work now, but it still runs!”
Stanley Hula’s collection began with an antique sign he received for his 30th birthday. Now, his Renwood Fields Farm Museum in Charles City County is filled with antique signs and tractors like these.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ALICE KEMP
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Clockwise from top left, Hula’s treasures include this Rumely tractor, an antique seed tester, an old seed spreader and a Titan tractor. When his collection outgrew his home, he moved everything to a barn and opened the museum in 1999.
tanley Hula of Renwood Farms in Charles City County is known for his farm antiques. It began when his mother gave him an antique farm sign on his 30th birthday. Since then, he’s accumulated countless signs, as well as over 50 antique tractors and equipment and other items from simpler times. His collection eventually grew so large it overwhelmed his family. “My boys said, ‘You’ve got to do something,’ because the house was overflowing,” Hula chuckled. To solve the space problem, in 1999 he constructed a separate building to house his immense personal collection, and Renwood Fields Farm Museum was born. Now he shares his vast collection and knowledge of farm antiques with the public. The farm museum is open in July and August by appointment only. In September it’s open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to dusk, and in October it is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Learn about Medicare options through free virtual seminars
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irtual Medicare 101 seminars were so popular in 2020 that Virginia Farm Bureau is once again offering a series of free informational classes for its members. “Medicare can be confusing, and it’s important that you have a good understanding of how Medicare works,” said Tracy Cornatzer, sales manager for VFB Health Insurance division. “We had a great turnout in 2020, and since the pandemic is continuing, we’ve decided to hold this year’s seminars virtually to minimize risk to our members, customers and staff.” The virtual sessions are accessible from the living room couch or kitchen table—on a computer, phone or tablet.
Sessions typically last an hour, and a health insurance representative of VFB’s Health Insurance division will present the material. Cornatzer said the material covers the nuts and bolts of how Medicare and related plans work. Enrollment periods and plan timelines also will be explained during the sessions. Virginia Farm Bureau has facilitated Medicare seminars since 2016, but last year was the first time the sessions were held online. “We will miss seeing everyone in person but are happy that with the aid of technology we can offer these classes through a computer, tablet or phone,” Cornatzer said. To RSVP, email your name, county, email address, and the date of your
chosen seminar to MedicareSeminar@ vafb.com or contact your local Farm Bureau office. Participants can RSVP to the session of their choice and will be sent a Webex link to join that meeting virtually. Seminars will be held at 10 a.m. on April 6, May 4, June 8, July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7; and at 6 p.m. on April 29, May 27, June 24, July 29, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23. If you are unable to attend and have questions about Medicare or need assistance signing up for a Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, or Part D plan, contact a local Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779. You also can request a quote at vafb.com/ health.
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Have questions about Medicare Supplements? Call today!
Virginia Farm Bureau 1-800-229-7779 An authorized licensed insurance agent for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, license number: 109534
This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For more information on benefits, please contact your agent or the health plan. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. AADVOTH006M(15)-VA 55681VASENABS 24
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Rockingham County educator named AITC Teacher of the Year BY ALICE KEMP
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hil Satolli, a first grade teacher at Lacey Spring Elementary School in Harrisonburg, has been named Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom 2021 Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes a Virginia educator for incorporating agriculture into his or her core curriculum. Satolli integrates agricultural topics into his teaching, and a passion for gardening has led him to
SATOLLI
create real-life learning opportunities for his students. He established
a schoolwide composting project and a raised-bed garden, which help teach his students about amending garden soil, cultivating their own food, and harvesting and cooking the foods they grow. Satolli’s first graders help educate other students and staff on the benefits of composting, and the project has converted nearly 2 tons of the school cafeteria’s food waste into usable compost. Students in all grades have opportunities to work in the school garden, planting a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers. “Phil has won school grants from Virginia AITC
Virginia AITC continues to provide a bounty of virtual resources BY ALICE KEMP
V
irtual education during the pandemic revealed how access to online resources is crucial for students learning at home. Many of those resources—like those offered by Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom—are here to stay. Since Virginia AITC began adding to its virtual library of free agriculturerelated lesson plans and activities last spring when schools closed, it has continued to create new content. “AITC has utilized social media as a significant avenue for connecting children to agriculture,” said Tammy Maxey, programs director for Virginia AITC and president of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. “In addition, Virginia AITC’s YouTube channel has provided an opportunity to expand on videos, farm tours and highlight important contributors to agriculture.” With ongoing campaigns like #AgSunday, #TeachMeTuesday and
#ThinkerThursday, educators, parents and students can journey through a plant’s life cycle, take virtual field trips, learn about a day in the life of farmers, listen to book readings and watch cooking demonstrations—all with the click of a button.
Lessons span multiple subjects “They’re really well-done,” said educator Pamela Hall of the virtual farm tours. “It feels like you’re right there on the farm.” Hall is a pre-K through third grade STEM teacher at Carrollton Elementary School in Isle of Wight County. Her students rotate classroom days with virtual learning at home. She’s used some of AITC’s lessons in her classes, and even created her own virtual demonstration on how to create a hydroponic garden using common household items. Hall added that the AITC lessons are convenient and integrate easily into
in 2019 and again in 2020 to increase agriculture emphasis at his school,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC programs director and president of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. “His promotion of gardening has had a tremendous impact on his school, especially under the restrictions schools have dealt with during COVID-19.” As Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year, Satolli will receive a scholarship to the 2021 National AITC Conference in June, and a $500 cash award.
other curriculum areas like literacy, math and history. And the response has been overwhelming. AITC’s Facebook page garnered more than 500,000 visits last year, with fans sharing the lessons, demonstration labs and educational games, Maxey said.
New content added regularly The ingenuity knows no bounds as volunteers, teachers and AITC staff continue to create engaging content to educate youth about agriculture. Some of the organization’s recent content includes highlighting Black leaders who have made important, lasting impacts on agriculture, and recognizing the countless career paths for youth to consider in the field of agriculture. The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. AITC’s programming and resources are made possible thanks to the financial support of donors like Virginia Farm Bureau. Visit AITC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel for a vast array of online videos and demonstrations. View additional resources on its website: va.agclassroom.org. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Pay attention: April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month BY ADAM CULLER
W
hether it’s picking up a cellphone, interacting with passengers or finishing breakfast in the car during your morning commute, distractions are a daily occurrence for most drivers. As harmless as these actions seem, the smallest distractions can cause dire consequences. Each April, Distracted Driving Awareness Month reminds motorists to avoid dangerous activities that could divert their attention from driving. According to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles crash statistics, distracted driving contributed to 23,246 collisions and 120 fatal accidents in 2019. Those figures represent 18.1% of all crashes and 14.5% of all fatalities on Virginia roadways.
Despite the state seeing slight improvements from 2018 totals of 24,350 collisions and 126 fatalities, drivers are being encouraged to continue minimizing distractions behind the wheel. “When drivers engage in activities that cause them to lose their focus, they’re putting their lives in danger, as well as those of their passengers and fellow motorists,” said David Tenembaum, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. actuarial manager and treasurer of Drive Smart Virginia. “Like any other accident, crashes caused by distracted driving can happen in an instant. It’s important for drivers to pay close attention to the road and their surroundings to avoid these unfortunate accidents.”
Distractions like using a phone or drinking a beverage while driving can prove deadly. Using a handheld device while driving in Virginia is now illegal.
Drive Smart Virginia defines distracted driving as any activity that takes a driver’s attention from the road. This includes cellphone use, adjusting audio or climate controls, grooming or operating a navigation system. Virginia law now prohibits drivers from handling cellphones while driving on the state’s roadways, but studies show using handsfree technology comes with its own dangers. A study conducted by the University of Utah found that it can take drivers up to 27 seconds
to gain full attention after issuing a voice command. Additionally, modern vehicles often come equipped with touchscreen displays that serve as a second screen for connected devices, which cause similar distractions to those caused by handheld gadgets. “While we’re grateful Virginia legislators have taken an important step in addressing this epidemic with a ban on hand-held cellphone use, there’s still much work to be done by our state’s drivers,” Tenembaum added.
Go paperless for fast, convenient service
V
BY ADAM CULLER
irginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. has rolled out its paperless option, bringing customers instant access to their policy information anytime, anywhere. Policyholders who choose paperless enrollment will receive email alerts when new documents are available. Benefits of choosing this service include around-the-clock online access to policy documents and statements, as well as the ability to pay bills quickly. Paperless services are available for most insurance policies offered by VFBMIC.
Sam Rooks, vice president of underwriting and policy services for VFBMIC, said policyholders can expect an improved customer experience when they make the switch. “With the paperless option, you’re going to have your account information available at your fingertips, and that’s a huge win for our customers,” Rooks said. “Otherwise, you’re waiting on policy paperwork, invoices and notices to come through the U.S. mail. By switching over, that delay is eliminated, and you get that added layer of convenience being able to immediately
access everything online.” Sign-up information will be sent in mid-April to policyholders who have an email address associated with their insurance policies. VFBMIC also will send out paperless enrollment notifications throughout the year. If you don’t have an email listed on your insurance accounts, contact your Farm Bureau agent. Alternatively, customers can enroll in paperless services by logging into their account on vafb.com. Eligible policies will be listed, and customers can choose which policies to enroll. vafb.com / APRIL 2021
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Heart of the Home
BEET BONANZA:
savor these vibrant, healthy root vegetables
Vibrant beets look and taste good in salads and other dishes.
28
K
VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU NEWS
nown for their signature deep, red-violet color, beets aren’t just another pretty vegetable. Offering a bounty of health benefits, their jewel tone is a result of betalains—a type of plant pigment containing antioxidants and anti
inflammatory properties. They may help prevent heart disease and stroke, reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. Low in calories, high in fiber, and a good source of vitamins B and C, potassium and magnesium, make these nutritional powerhouses a great ingredient for meals.
The signature red beets may be the most recognized, but varieties also come in orange, white, and even red and white candy canestriped. With a rich, earthy taste, they can be prepared in countless ways—canned, roasted, steamed, boiled, tossed in a salad or served as a side dish.
6 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon prepared sweet hot mustard ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 6 cups mixed salad greens 6 tablespoons toasted walnuts 6 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese DIRECTIONS
Place beets in a shallow bowl, and set aside. In a small mixing bowl, blend together vinegar, oil, sugar, mustard salt and pepper. Pour over the beets, and toss gently; cover, and refrigerate for an hour. Line six salad plates with salad greens, top with a layer of beets. Sprinkle each salad plate with 1 tablespoon walnuts and 1 tablespoon blue cheese. —Recipe adapted from the National Pork Board
Boiled Beets INGREDIENTS
1½ pounds beets 2 tablespoons vinegar
Beet, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad INGREDIENTS
32-ounce can of beets, drained and diced ¼ cup red wine vinegar
Diced beets can be enjoyed either hot or cold.
Bring beets to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 45-60 minutes.
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
Place the pot under cold running water, and rinse until beets are cool enough to be handled.
DIRECTIONS
Peel off the skin, slice or dice, and serve. —Virginia Cooperative Extension
Beets with Orange Sauce INGREDIENTS
½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon cornstarch
DIRECTIONS
¼ cup orange juice
Wash beets, and trim tops and roots.
¼ cup water or juice from canned beets or water reserved from boiled beets
In a large saucepan, add beets, vinegar and enough water to cover. This will help keep the beets from “bleeding,” or turning the liquid red.
In a saucepan, mix sugar, salt and cornstarch. Add orange juice and water or beet juice, and mix together until smooth. Cook until thickened. Remove from the heat, and add beets. Let stand for 30 minutes. Reheat once ready to serve, mixing the beets with the butter and orange sections before serving. —Recipe adapted from Cecelia C. Moyer, Amelia County, in Country Treasures from Virginia Farm Bureau Kitchens
3 cups sliced, cooked beets (either canned or using the boiled beets recipe) 2 tablespoons butter vafb.com / APRIL 2021
29
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Your to-do list just got easier. If you have an upcoming policy or membership payment, try QuickPay on vafb.com. Pay securely without a password. • Pay insurance premiums and annual membership dues without having to create an account or track down your password.
Avoid delays. • With postal delays becoming more common, take advantage of QuickPay to ensure timely payments and uninterrupted coverage.
Easy to get started. • All you need is your billing statement and a credit card or bank account to pay securely online. That’s it.
“Member” and “Membership” refer to a membership in a county Farm Bureau®. Membership is open to everyone. Insurance products are benefits available exclusively to members. All insurance products are underwritten and provided by Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company® and affiliates.
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Medicare Advantage plans include added benefits for 2021 BY ADAM CULLER
M
edicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity among Medicare beneficiaries, as are the number of plans that offer supplemental benefits to subscribers. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has grown from 6.9 million participants in 1999 to 24.1 million in 2020. It’s now estimated that 39% of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, are offered and managed by private health insurance carriers and are approved by Medicare. These plans include Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B benefits, and most include Medicare Part D prescription coverage. These plans also provide a wide range
of supplemental benefits not offered through original Medicare. Benefits may include dental, hearing and vision coverage, fitness allowances and reimbursements for assistive devices and over-the-counter drug purchases. Supplemental benefits vary by plan. A study commissioned by the Better Medicare Alliance revealed the number of supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans increased in 36 of 41 categories over the past year. Notably, meal benefits now are provided in 57% of all Medicare Advantage plans, and 46% include transportation services to and from doctors’ visits. Charles Sowers, senior market account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants, said the low-cost premiums of a Medicare Advantage Plan offer significant value
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in cost and coverage. “With Medicare Advantage, there are low-premium plans that are going to include both medical and drug coverage, whereas with a Medicare Supplement Plan subscribers have to purchase drug plans separately,” Sowers said. “So rather than spending upwards of $150 to $200 per month for coverage with a Medicare supplement, they’re instead paying $0 to $50. That makes a big difference.” Before deciding on a plan, customers should consider their benefit needs, possible out-of-pocket expenses, prescription costs and whether their providers are enrolled in a plan’s network. For more information on Medicare Advantage plans contact your local Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779.
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