Cultivate WINTER 2016
Virginia Farm Bureau
Dairy farms milking 21st-century technology
Cultivate Volume 9, Number 1 Winter 2016 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year. February, May, August, October. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid in Richmond, VA. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.48 (included in membership dues).
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to make their own
Virginia dairy farms milking new robotic technology
Five years ago, exactly one Virginia dairy farm used robotic milking systems. Today almost a dozen either use one or are installing one.
schedules; they can
County Farm Bureau donates animals to park’s farm
milked at their leisure.
At Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County, animals in a period-correct farm exhibit have been donated by the county Farm Bureau.
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Facility in Virginia working to keep drivers, passengers safe
“The cows are able
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is supported by auto insurers like Farm Bureau that want to reduce losses from vehicle crashes.
eat, sleep and be
This means calmer and happier cows.”
— LINDA LEECH, Ingleside Dairy Farm Inc. in Rockbridge County
Did You Know?
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For Your Benefit
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Heart of the Home
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Stewards of the Land
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Marketplace
All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised. Member: Virginia Press Association
EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Assistant Editor Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Advertising
VISIT US ONLINE VaFarmBureau.org
Departments 3
Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-2901096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email address is Cultivate@vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
WE’RE SOCIAL!
2016 marks 90 years since the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was formed to collectively and effectively address the needs and interests of the commonwealth’s farmers.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
ON THE COVER
Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in May. The magazine is published quarterly.
Dairy farming is a traditional Virginia occupation that now includes 21st-century technology like robotic milking parlors.
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.
Did you know?
KATHY DIXON
Beef and dairy cattle need supplemental food during the winter months. In some regions of the country, winter feed makes up more than half of the annual cost of keeping a beef cow, reported Beef magazine. Cattle that typically graze on grass or other natural forage have a limited supply during the winter months. That means farmers need to feed their livestock supplemental hay, grain or other feed mixtures during those months. Many farmers feed their cattle hay, but it can be inconsistent in quality and can be expensive if they don’t grow it themselves. Some farmers grow winter annuals, which provide highquality forage alternatives to traditional winter feeding programs that rely heavily on stored grains. Rye varieties of grasses allow valuable grazing time in late fall and early winter and again in early spring. Another common winter feed is fescue grass. Some farmers allow the grass to grow in the late summer and into the fall and then ration it out to their cattle by moving the animals from pasture to pasture during the winter months. While the cows graze the grass, farmers don’t have to haul hay or other nutritional supplements to the fields.
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1621 Year in which potatoes arrived in Colonial North America. See recipes that mark National Potato Month on Page 26.
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Save the Date!
National Ag Day National Ag Day will be celebrated March 15; and National Ag Week is March 13-19.
Members can save at Farm Bureau warehouse open house on Feb. 26
Volunteers will read The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen for 2016 Agriculture Literacy Project
Farm Bureau members can save 10 percent on tires, batteries and other products from the Virginia Farm Bureau Service Corp. Products Division at its Feb. 26 open house. Since 1965, the Products Division has provided members with a variety of quality supplies, through Farm Bureau-certified local dealers and the Farm Bureau warehouse in Henrico County. The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the warehouse located at 1541 Mary St. in Sandston. Refreshments will be available. For information on specific products, call the warehouse at 800-476-8473.
The Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Agriculture Literacy Project will take place March 14-31. National Ag Day is March 15; Agriculture Literacy Week will run concurrently with National Ag Week but has been extended to two weeks due to popular demand. “We expanded from Agriculture Literacy Week to two weeks due to its increasing popularity and demand for volunteer readers,” said Tammy Maxey, senior education program coordinator for Virginia AITC. Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program has selected The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen, a children’s book by Diana Prichard, as its 2016 Virginia AITC Book of the Year. The book encourages young readers to consider how their favorite breakfast foods arrive on their plates. Last year 1,200 volunteers read to more than 50,000 children across the state. Volunteers have included participants in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Program and Young Farmers Program, FFA members, employees of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies, and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been major supporters. For more information, visit AgInTheClass.org.
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Save the Date!
Rural health essay contest entries due March 31 High school and college students from Virginia Farm Bureau memberfamilies who are interested in a health-related career in a rural area have an opportunity to earn cash toward their education. Participants in Farm Bureau’s 2016 Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest have until March 31 to submit an essay on “My Future Career in Rural Health in Virginia.” First-place winners will receive $1,000, and second-place winners will receive $500. Entries from high school students and college students will be judged separately. Guidelines and entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices and in the “Member Programs” content at VaFarmBureau.org.
The Virginia Horse Festival will feature many different breeds, as well as clinics, demonstrations and lots of horse-related shopping opportunities.
Virginia Horse Festival set for April 1-3 The second annual Virginia Horse Festival will take place April 1-3 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The event will offer a comprehensive look at the equine industry over three days of clinics, demonstrations, exhibits, shopping and more. During the festival, contestants will compete in the Colt Starting Challenge USA. During this national competition, eight trainers will work with and ride a previously unridden horse. During the finale, trainers and horses will navigate a judged obstacle course. The Southern States Parade of Breeds, which highlights different kinds of horses, will return this year, as will the 4-H EquiSmartz statewide knowledgebased competition, along with demonstrations by the Central Virginia Agility Club. An indoor trade show will include vendors who offer a broad spectrum of horserelated supplies and services. Outdoor shopping areas will feature trailer, barn, arena footing and fencing vendors. A special recognition of Secretariat’s birthday also will be part of the weekend’s events. Festival-goers can visit with Secretariat descendants, see screenings of the Disney film Secretariat and a display of Secretariat memorabilia and take narrated tram tours of the farm. Special VIP tours with members of the Secretariat team will be available as well. For more information visit VirginiaHorseFestival.com.
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Teens encouraged to apply for Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award High school juniors and seniors with an interest in agriculture have until March 31 to enter Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award program. The annual award recognizes teens for outstanding academic, community and agribusiness achievement. Finalists will compete at the VFBF Young Farmers Summer Expo. The state winner will receive an award valued at $1,500, including $250 from Virginia Farm Credit Associations, $500 from VFBF Service Corp. under the GM Incentive Program and $750 from the VFBF Young Farmers and Women’s committees. All prizes are subject to change based on sponsor availability. Entry forms and details are available at county Farm Bureau offices and in the “Member Programs” content at VaFarmBureau.org.
BY SARA OWENS
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or the past several years, Chesterfield Farm Bureau has been adding to the periodcorrect farm exhibit at Henricus Historical Park. The park, which is located on the James River in Chesterfield County, re-creates what life was like 400 years ago for English settlers and the Indians who inhabited the area. Chesterfield Farm Bureau donated two goats to the park about three years ago. Buttercup and Grasshopper came from a farm in Chesterfield and were the first animal donation to the park. Two years ago, Chesterfield Farm Bureau President Howard Nester and his wife, Lucy, began raising Silver Gray Dorking chickens—a period-specific breed—on their farm to donate to the park. The Dorking was introduced in Britain at the time of the Roman conquest, making it one of the oldest English breeds. In 2015 the newest addition to the interpretive program, a Tamworth pig named Cordelia, took up residence at Henricus. Cordelia was raised by Dinwiddie County farmer and Farm Bureau member Wayne Robertson and donated by Chesterfield Farm Bureau, along with $1,000 to help park staff care for her, the goats and the chickens. “We really care about animals and about Henricus Historical Park,” Howard Nester said. “More than 30,000 schoolchildren visit Henricus every year, and we think it’s important that they get to see animals that are similar
SARA OWENS
Chesterfield Farm Bureau helps agriculture education flourish at local historical park
Chesterfield Farm Bureau President Howard Nester and his wife, Lucy, paid a visit to goats the county Farm Bureau donated to Henricus Historical Park. The Nesters have raised period-correct chickens (inset) for the park’s interpretive farm exhibit.
to what would have been present in the 1600s. Children need to know not only about present-day agriculture, but also about agriculture of the past.” Tamworth pigs closely resemble pigs that would have been found in early Colonial settlements. For many schoolchildren, a visit to Henricus is a rare opportunity to see any pig up close, said Andrew Rowand, a historical
interpreter who cares for the Henricus animals. Rowand said the park may not have a lot of acreage, but “we try to keep our animals moving to help with our land management. What we do with our animals is similar to what the colonists would have done with their animals.” There were abundant forests that could have been cleared by hand for
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SARA OWENS
Henricus Historical Park
Cordelia, the Tamworth pig at Henricus Historical Park, enjoyed a sunny spot and a belly rub from historical interpreter Andrew Rowand last fall.
farming , “or the colonists could have turned loose 50 pigs,” Rowand said. “The animals grazed and fertilized land in the winter, so the colonists could plant crops in the spring. They help turn up the soil and make it looser for planting.” Hogs, chickens and goats were the primary domesticated animals in Henricus in the 1600s because they traveled well on boats, Rowand said. Nester said he believes it is important to support Henricus because the park is growing rapidly and provides many educational opportunities for schoolchildren, their teachers and the general public. 8
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Over the past several years, Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program has held a regional workshop at Henricus for teachers in surrounding localities; the workshop includes a tour of the park. “It’s one of our most unique workshops that we hold each year,” said Tammy Maxey, AITC senior education program coordinator. “The teachers are able to leave the workshop and tour the park and take a step back into time. They get to see close-up what Henricus is doing to educate children about agriculture. It’s really great.”
In May 1611, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Virginia with instructions from the London Company to find a secure and healthy area to establish a new town and principal seat for the colony. In September 1611, Dale moved up the James River to establish Henricus, the colony’s second successful settlement in the New World. Visitors to today’s Henricus Historical Park can see 12 re-created Colonial structures and experience history through hands-on encounters with historical interpreters. The re-created English settlement represents various military functions, trades and farming elements of Henricus from 1611-1622. The park also interprets the culture of the Arrohateck people of the Powhatan Indian chiefdom during their time of contact with the English colonists. Henricus Historical Park is a nonprofit partnership of the Henricus Foundation and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. For more information, visit henricus.org.
Viewing Virginia
Winter can’t chill interest in Virginia farmers’ markets
Virginia has nearly 120 local farmers’ markets that operate during the winter months.
Farmers’ markets may seem like a summer event, but many are going strong through the winter months. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national farmers’ market directory lists 116 winter markets operating in Virginia. The Leesburg Farmer’s Market in Loudoun County is open year-round. Its summer season runs from May through October, and then it switches to the winter market. Market Coordinator Kathryn Willis said the market has a loyal customer base. “Last year in February we had snow predicted for the afternoon, so we went ahead and opened at 9 a.m.,” Willis recalled. “It started snowing at 8, and by 10 a.m. we had 4 inches of snow but we still had customers!” During the winter months, markets offer seasonal cold weather produce like greens, as well as fruit, meats, baked goods and canned goods like honey, jellies and jams. “Some vendors choose not to be here in the winter months because it can get unpleasant outside,” Willis said; however, in mid-December she had 36 vendors signed up for 38 available winter market spots. “As farmers’ markets have continued to gain in popularity, we’ve seen an increasing number of markets extending their hours into the fall and winter and some even year-round,” said Tony Banks, a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation commodity marketing specialist. “Consumers want the opportunity to shop for local food year-round, and if markets are open they will come out and support them.”
Farm Bureau, regional commission receive award for Meadow historic designation Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with the George Washington Regional Commission, was recognized late last year with a 2015 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation. The award recognizes the groups for the successful nomination of Secretariat’s
birthplace in Caroline County to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources placed The Meadow Historic District on the Virginia Landmarks Register on March 19. On May 26 the National Park Service placed the property on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Meadow was purchased in 1936 by Christopher Tompkins Chenery, who established Thoroughbred bloodlines that would produce the legendary 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat. Meadow Stable also produced Riva Ridge, winner of the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Across America
Indoor agriculture called ‘next major enhancement’ to U.S. food supply Indoor agriculture has definitely put down roots in the United States. Vegetable Growers News in 2015 cited a white paper released at the third annual Indoor Ag-Con that outlined 15 existing commercial-scale rooftop greenhouse and vertical farms in the U.S. Authors of the report, titled Indoor Crop Production: Feeding the Future, conceded that indoor farming will never replace conventional outdoor agriculture. “It will instead augment the food chain to create a diverse, distributed system more resilient to supply shocks and better prepared to meet the demands of a global population.” Indoor agriculture typically entails growing produce with hydroponic and aeroponic technologies in greenhouses, warehouses and containers. The 2015 Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit, held last October, included a tour
of Petersburg’s Harding Street Community Agriculture Center, which features indoor aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems (See related article on Page 15). Summit speakers included the owner of a North Carolina operation that features portable hydroponic gardens housed in shipping containers, as well as the president of the largest rooftop soil farm in the U.S. The white paper authors noted that at least $32 billion in venture capital-like funds were invested in indoor agriculture in 2014. “We’re on the cusp of witnessing significant increases in agricultural production indoors in the U.S. and here in Virginia,” said Tony Banks, commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The local food movement continues to evolve and expand. Greater emphasis is being placed on
Indoor agriculture typically entails farming in greenhouses, warehouses and containers.
addressing both food quality and quantity concerns in food deserts. These factors coupled with technology advancements in plant varieties, artificial lighting, automated control systems and other systems are enhancing the economic viability of projects of larger scale. Indoor agriculture makes 12-month production cycles possible, which further helps the economic viability of these facilities.”
Chicken Check In answers consumers’ poultry questions The National Chicken Council has launched Chicken Check In, a website at chickencheck.in, to provide answers to questions about U.S. chicken production. The site features videos that take viewers onto poultry farms and into commercial poultry houses and show practices similar to meat-chicken production on the Delmarva Peninsula. An FAQ section addresses common consumer questions, and a recipe section shares numerous ways to prepare chicken, as well as recommendations for safe poultry handling and storage. The Chicken Check In website features videos from U.S. poultry farms.
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Virginia dairy farms are milking new robotic technology With transponders, lasers and robots, the future of dairy farming has arrived. ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON
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n some Virginia dairy farms, cows move freely in barns, heading toward robotic milkers when they feel the urge to be milked. The cows enter the milking stalls on their own. Once in a stall, a robot scans the cow’s transponder to determine when she was last milked and how much milk she produced. Once the robot gets those answers, a laser scans the cow’s udder and determines the coordinates of her teats in order to position the machine. The milking cups are attached, and the cow calmly eats from an automated grain bin that doles out a ration as determined by the robot’s information. She stands docile in the stall until the milking is completed. It may sound far-fetched, but it’s happening now. Five years ago, only one Virginia dairy farm used robotic milkers, said Eric Paulson, executive secretary/ treasurer for the Virginia State Dairyman’s Association. Today, there are almost a dozen dairies either using them or currently installing them. “The robotic milkers help with labor costs and availability, and they’re dependable 365 days a year,” Paulson said. “They don’t care what the weather’s like or if it’s a holiday.”
Less labor, calmer cows The state’s first dairy to install the current generation of robotic milking systems was the Leech family’s Ingleside Dairy Farm, Inc. in Rockbridge County. Owner Linda Leech said that when her children, Beau and Jennifer, returned to the farm after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2004 and 2006, the milking parlor was in need of an upgrade. After considerable research—including trips to dairies in Pennsylvania, New York and Canada—they decided robotic milkers would eventually pay off. The four Lely robotic units have led to less labor per cow and increased milkings per cow, Leech said. “Since the system is available to the cows 24 hours a day, the cows are able to make their own schedules; they can eat, sleep and be milked at their leisure. This means calmer and Dairy cows at Hillside Dairy Farm in Pulaski County happier cows.” Additionally, the transponders enter milking stalls on their own upon feeling the urge to be milked. linked to the robotic milkers measure each cow’s rumination minutes, the amount of time the cow chews her cud, which is useful catch problems before they become health information, Leech explained. serious,” she said. Laura Flory, who operates robotic The Florys said the ability to milkers on her family’s Hillside Dairy increase the size of their herd without Farm in Pulaski County along with adding additional labor was part of her husband, Scott, and his parents, the robotic system’s allure. Laura and Dale and Janet, agreed. “We can Scott Flory joined | DAIRY cont'd on p. 14 » VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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While being milked, cows receive a computer-dispensed ration of feed.
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the family operation in 2009 after graduating from Virginia Tech with dairy science degrees. In their efforts to upgrade the farm’s existing dairy facilities, they visited dairies across the United States until they found a robotic milking system that fit their needs. “With this technology, we get to do the things we like—spend time with the cows and work with our family— and we get to do less manual labor,” Laura said. “Before, it took us five to six hours per milking, so it was about 12 hours per day on milking alone! Now it’s done in half the time.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF INGLESIDE DAIRY FARM INC.
Dairy farming in Virginia
A laser scan directs machinery that attaches milking equipment to each cow’s udder (top). Computers note each cow’s milk output, and the milk flows into a storage tank (center). Each cow in the herd wears a collar-mounted transponder that allows the farm’s computers (bottom) to collect herd health information.
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Virginia’s dairy industry accounted for about $2.3 billion in economic output in the commonwealth in 2014 and employed nearly 8,000 people. Those were among findings of a study released last fall by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. The study was conducted for the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association. The state’s dairy industry includes not only dairy farming and milk production but also the processing of fluid and condensed milk and products like butter, cheese and ice cream. The study estimated that 7,975 people were directly employed in the industry in 2014. When the multiplier effect of payments to dairy-related Virginia businesses and labor were considered, that workforce increased to 13,819 workers. Milk is Virginia’s third-ranked agricultural commodity in terms of cash receipts.
KATHY DIXON
Shipping container gardens among solutions discussed at urban ag summit
Raymond Denson (right) of the Harding Street Community Agriculture Center in Petersburg showed Urban Agriculture Summit participants the facility’s aquaponic system.
BY KATHY DIXON
Shipping container gardens, aeroponic growing towers and “green roofing” were among innovative solutions discussed at Virginia’s second annual Urban Agriculture Summit. Held in Richmond and at nearby urban gardens, the summit aimed to expand knowledge of urban agriculture and explore ways to grow fresh produce in food deserts, or areas in which residents have limited access to healthy foods. “Seventeen percent of all Virginians live in food deserts,” noted Virginia first
lady Dorothy McAuliffe, the summit’s keynote speaker. “Local agricultural economic development opportunities are crucial” to correcting that. The summit was sponsored by 16 organizations, including the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation & Rural Sustainability. Ben Greene, owner of The Farmery in Raleigh, N.C., shared his solution
to food deserts—portable gardens housed in shipping containers. Greene created the CropBox, a portable garden container that allows urban farmers to “grow food in people’s neighborhoods.” The Farmery is a collection of four CropBoxes, a retail store, a kitchen and a dining/entertainment area. “It’s farmto-fork with science mixed in,” Greene explained. Inside CropBoxes, hydroponic systems are used to grow vegetables and herbs on each wall, leaving a middle aisle for customers to come in and pick the produce. CropBoxes use 90 percent less water than conventional and greenhouse cultivation and 80 percent less fertilizer. One acre of crops can be grown in 320 square feet. At the Harding Street Community Agriculture Center in Petersburg, conference attendees learned how aquaponic and hydroponic systems combined with aeroponic growing towers will enable the center to sell produce daily to those currently without access to fresh foods. “This is to provide a healthy food supply for inner city residents,” said Duron Chavis, the center’s director. Conference attendees also toured one of Tricycle Gardens’ urban operations and the Jerusalem Connection Community Garden. Tricycle Gardens are community gardens where members rent small plots of land to grow food for themselves and beautify their neighborhoods. The Jerusalem Connection garden produces fruits and vegetables in two greenhouses and 31 raised-bed gardens and serves as a food distribution hub. The harvest is donated to local food pantries and community organizations and sold at farm stands in areas identified as food deserts. Summit participants also heard from Ben Flanner, president of Brooklyn Grange Farm in New York, the largest rooftop soil farm in the United States. The farm grows more than 50,000 pounds of produce annually. VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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2015 Photo Contest Winners
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nce again, participants in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation photo contest showed farms are limitless sources of compelling photo subjects. County Farm Bureaus in Virginia had the option of sponsoring photo contests last year and submitting their firstplace entries for judging on the state level. These are the first-place winners.
Pa’s Legacy - Generation 4
by Henry Wood Jr., Buckingham County
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Feeding Hay on a Snowy Day by Justin Matney, Tazewell County
Haley and Hot Ham
by Joy Rosson, Louisa County
Ms. Ruth’s Farmstead
by Ann Harrell, Craig County
Best of Friends
by Justin Matney, Tazewell County
Corn Harvest
by Hope Anderson, Craig County
Mac the Cattle Dog
by Ellen Rosson, Louisa County
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INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR
Working to drivers and 18
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF IIHS
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HIGHWAY SAFETY
help keep roadways safe
ucked away off the back roads of Greene County is an institute and research center that works to help save lives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Ruckersville is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses—deaths, injuries and property damage—from crashes on the nation’s roads. The IIHS and its sister organization, the Highway Loss Data Institute, are wholly supported by a long list of auto insurers and insurance associations— including the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “The Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a proud supporter of IIHS,” said Sam Rooks, VFBMIC vice president of underwriting and policy services. “Farm Bureau and all of the other insurance companies who support IIHS do so because we believe the research they do is so crucial to improving vehicle safety and saving lives.” The IIHS was founded in 1959 by three major insurance associations representing 80 percent of the U.S. auto insurance market, to support highway safety efforts by others. A decade later, it was reinvented as an independent research organization, shifting from a focus on crash prevention to using a modern, scientific approach to identify options for reducing crash losses.
Tests help manufacturers make safer cars The IIHS Vehicle Research Center is a state-of-the-art facility where the The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety facility includes a 22,000-square-foot crash hall and 15 acres of outdoor track for testing vehicles. VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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“We believe the research they do is so crucial to improving vehicle safety and saving lives.”
SARA OWENS
Sam Rooks, VFBMIC vice president of underwriting and policy services
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institute performs crash tests that encourage manufacturers to make safer vehicles and help consumers make safe choices. Vehicles are rated for safety based on performance in several tests, with the best performers carrying a “Top Safety Pick+” or “Top Safety Pick” designation. The 22,000-square-foot crash hall has three runways to accommodate front- and side-impact tests and for replicating crashes into another vehicle or a fixed object. It features 750,000 watts of lighting to allow for high-quality photography of 50 to 70 crash tests each year. The crash hall also is used to evaluate new technologies such as adaptive headlights and rearview camera systems. Testing labs
PHOTOS COURTESY OF IIHS
The IIHS conducts 50 to 70 vehicle crash tests annually at the Ruckersville facility. Test dummies (inset) help researchers address safety concerns for passengers of all ages.
at the facility include one for measuring roof strength and one for testing children’s booster seats. The facility also features 15 acres of outdoor track for testing vehicles. In September 2015, the original 1,000-foot track was expanded to allow space for high-speed maneuvers, and a new 300-by-700-foot track with a 115-foot-high steel and fabric roof was built. The new track allows staff to perform tests year-round in any type of weather.
Safety of vehicles improves year after year According to the IIHS, in 1995 roughly half of the vehicles tested earned marginal or poor ratings, and
more were rated poor than good. Today nearly all vehicles tested earn good ratings for protection in a moderate overlap frontal crash. In 2003, when the IIHS began performing side-impact tests, not many vehicles earned top ratings, yet most receive good ratings today. Rear and rollover ratings also have improved. In 2012 the IIHS began performing the small overlap front test. It is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object. The institute began rating vehicles for front crash prevention in 2013. A new type of technology, front crash prevention can warn of an impending frontal collision or initiate
Crash tests include side-impact crashes (upper) and those in which the front of a vehicle overlaps another vehicle or an object (lower). The IIHS reports vehicles tend to earn better safety ratings today than they did two decades ago
autonomous braking; it’s part of a growing category of crash avoidance features that can take vehicle safety to new levels.
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April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month Eight out of 10 traffic crashes in Virginia are related to a distracted driving incident. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Virginia and a good time to remember that when you are behind the wheel, driving should be your No. 1 priority—not talking on the phone or texting, eating or any other activity that diverts your attention from the road. Virginia Farm Bureau has partnered with Drive Smart Virginia to bring awareness to the issue of distracted driving. For more information, visit drivesmartva.org.
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MINIMIZE YOUR RISKS According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 94 percent of crashes nationwide are caused by driver error. Minimize your risks by following these tips: • Avoid eating and drinking while driving. • Set your GPS, radio or iPod before you start driving. • Turn off your phone, or put it out of reach if necessary. • Secure your pets, as they can be a major distraction.
Proud to be a founder
• Use your passengers: If you need to make a phone call, change the music or get directions, ask your passengers for help!
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a founding member of Drive Smart Virginia!
• Buckle up! Your seat belt is your best defense against a distracted driver.
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For Your Benefit
Short-term health insurance policies offer coverage in times of transition For individuals who lose their health insurance coverage outside of the annual open enrollment period or without a qualifying event, a shortterm health insurance plan can be a good option. Short-term health insurance plans help bridge gaps in coverage for individuals and families in times of transition. The plans give individuals the flexibility to drop the coverage at any time without penalty and to apply for another term of coverage with certain restrictions. The plans are based on a family’s or individual’s needs and can be in effect for one to 11 months with a range of available deductible amounts. “These policies are likely a good choice for applicants who need coverage without a qualifying event, who are between jobs or are waiting for a new employer’s coverage to become effective,” said Brett Denton, vice president of Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Care Consultants and Experient Health. The plans also can be helpful to people who: • are coming off a parent’s insurance plan; • were recently discharged from the military; • missed open enrollment and do not have a qualifying event; • are waiting for Medicare; • need a temporary alternative to COBRA insurance; or • have lost coverage following a divorce. Denton noted that short-term health insurance plans do not meet the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act minimum essential benefits. “This means you could have a penalty for having a plan that doesn’t meet the law requirement and have a tax burden at the end of the year.” Short-term plans also are not designed to cover everything and typically will not cover routine office visits, maternity, mental health or preventive care. They also will not cover preexisting conditions. “If you’re healthy and just need temporary coverage until another plan kicks in, or you missed the last open enrollment and just need coverage for the rest of the year, this may be a good option,” Denton said. “And often, plans will kick in the next day.” For more information about short-term health insurance plans, contact your county Farm Bureau office.
Got some driving to do?
Save on car rentals from Avis An agreement between Farm Bureau and Avis entitles Farm Bureau members to savings when renting vehicles from Avis.
Avis savings Members can save up to 25 percent on Avis’ daily and weekly rates when they reference Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number. Avis also offers special services like Avis Roving Rapid Return and the Preferred Service program, which can make renting and returning a car quick and easy. And the Avis where2 GPS Navigation system offers turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic routing and hands-free calling when used with Bluetooth-capable phones. For information on using this member benefit, contact your county Farm Bureau. Once you have your Farm Bureau discount number, visit avis.com/vafb or call 800331-1212 to schedule your rental.
New member benefit! Farm Bureau, Caterpillar Inc. announce partnership Thanks to an agreement between Farm Bureau and Caterpillar Inc., members can save up to $2,000 on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers: • small wheel loaders – $2,000 • compact wheel loaders – $1,000 • small dozers – $1,000 • backhoe loaders – $500-$1,000 • compact track loaders – $500-$1,000 • multi-terrain loaders – $500-$1,000 • skid steer loaders – $500-$1,000 • telehandlers – $500-$1,000 • mini hydraulic excavators – $250-$500 Visit FBAdvantage.com/Deals/Cat to obtain a membership verification certificate to present to your dealer at the time of purchase or lease quote. Your discount can be combined with any current retail discounts, promotions, rebates or offers available through Caterpillar or Cat dealers, with the exception of other membership purchase incentives. Discounts cannot be applied to past purchases. Find a Cat dealer near you at cat.com. VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Plant selection can help attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to home gardens, where they play a key role in pollination.
Online tool helps identify best Virginia native plants for pollinators
Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Incentive To take advantage of incentives available for the purchase or lease of a qualifying Chevrolet, Buick or GMC vehicle, members can visit FBVerify.com/gm. Only customers who have been active members of a participating Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days are eligible to receive a certificate.
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Gardeners who want to introduce beneficial plants for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds can use the online Virginia Native Plant Finder to search for native plant species that benefit pollinators. Located at dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/np, the finder is free and managed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, housed within the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. “Pollinators provide an important service to many plant species by assisting in their reproduction. Without pollinator species, many plant species would disappear,� said Kevin Heffernan, stewardship biologist with the program. Native plants are those that grow where they evolved. They have traits that enable them to adapt to local conditions. The Virginia Native Plant Finder lets users create their own custom native plant lists by selecting from a few dropdown menus. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are among the categories of pollinators, and there’s a special category for monarch butterflies. Users also can search for plants by their common or scientific names.
A little horsepower can help when pruning large grasses Home gardeners with tall, deciduous varieties of ornamental grasses know the process of cutting them back before spring can get unwieldy. “It’s easy to prune the grasses with large shears and a little more difficult with smaller shears,” said horticulturalist Mark Viette. “But if you have five, six or 10 of them, using shears takes forever.” A job of that size, Viette said, calls
for a rope and a chain saw. Ornamental grasses can have sharp, serrated edges, so consider wearing a long-sleeve shirt, and cover your neck, face and hands as desired whenever you work around them. Start with a cinch knot in the rope. “Imagine you are bundling a Christmas tree. That’s essentially what you’re going to do,” Viette said. Settle the knot low on a clump of
grass, and walk around the plant. “Sometimes having two people can help,” Viette said. With the rope wound around the plant, start pulling it tight. Keep walking around the grass, and tie upward. While wearing protective equipment, use the chain saw to cut below the rope in a straight line across the base of the plant. Then pull the bundled grass out of your way.
Use chain saws carefully Using a chain saw is inherently hazardous. Follow these tips from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration before you get started. • Check the controls, chain tension and all bolts and handles before starting the saw. Make sure they are adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. • Make sure the chain is sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full. • Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged. • Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw’s chain path. • Wear proper personal protective equipment at all times, including hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection. • Be cautious of saw kick-back. To avoid kick-back, never saw with the tip. If your saw is equipped with a guard, keep it in place. Cutting back ornamental grasses allows for new growth each spring and summer.
For more on chain saw safety, visit osha.gov.
VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Heart of the Home
Your taste buds will love some spuds this month
The potato is centuries old, and its role in healthy and creative meals is still unfolding February is National Potato Month, so it’s time to show the old spud a little love. You might even want to try one of these potato recipes for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Potatoes have no fat or cholesterol, and a medium-size potato has only 110 calories, according to the National Potato Council. The tubers also are sodium-free, contain 45 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and have more potassium than bananas. The potato is thought to have been domesticated in South America in 500 B.C. After Spaniards arrived on that continent in 1532, potatoes were introduced to France and the Netherlands. European leaders championed the potato as a food source for famine-starved populaces. Potatoes grew in popularity as European farmers discovered they could grow them on a large scale on former grain land. They became a staple crop by the end of the 18th century. The first potatoes arrived in the American colonies in 1621, when Bermuda’s governor sent potatoes to Virginia Gov. Francis Wyatt. They became widely grown in 1719. And now potatoes are abundant and can be found at any time of the year, so they’re perfect for cooking in the winter months. The following potato recipe from Joanne Burkholder of Greene County in Cooking Virginia Style With Farm Bureau Women incorporates a favorite winter herb as well.
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Rosemary Potato Frittata INGREDIENTS 4 ounces tiny new potatoes, cut into ¼" slices to equal 1 cup ¼ cup chopped red or yellow onion ¼ cup chopped red, green or yellow pepper, or a combination of all three 4 large eggs, beaten OR 1 cup refrigerated egg product ½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried, crushed rosemary 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper nonstick cooking spray ¼ cup shredded Swiss cheese fresh rosemary for garnish DIRECTIONS In a covered 6" to 7" nonstick skillet, bring a small amount of water to a boil and cook potatoes and onion for 7 minutes. Add the peppers. Cook, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Drain in a colander. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, rosemary, salt and pepper. Set aside. Wipe out the skillet; lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Return vegetables to the skillet. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, about 1 minute or until egg mixture begins to set. Run a spatula around the edge, lifting the mixture so the uncooked portion flows underneath. Continue cooking and lifting the edges until the egg is almost set but still glossy and moist. Remove skillet from the heat. Sprinkle with cheese and let stand, covered, for 3 to 4 minutes or until the top is set and the cheese is melted.
Heart of the Home
To serve, cut the frittata into wedges and garnish with fresh rosemary. Serves 2.
Or, try this recipe from the National Potato Board.
Baked Pizza Potatoes INGREDIENTS 4 large Russet potatoes, scrubbed ¼ cup nonfat plain yogurt 4 teaspoons butter-flavored spread ½ teaspoon garlic or seasoned salt snipped fresh chives or green onion tops 16 slices turkey pepperoni ¼ cup warm pasta sauce ¼ cup Italian blend shredded cheese 1 tablespoon minced green pepper 1 tablespoon sliced green onion DIRECTIONS Cut a wedge out of each potato about 1/8" wide and 1" deep, and place potatoes in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high, uncovered, for 10 to 12 minutes until potatoes are tender. Use oven mitts to remove the dish, and carefully make a slit in the top of each potato and fluff the inside with a fork. Stir together 1 tablespoon yogurt, 1 teaspoon butter spread and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Place into the first potato, and sprinkle with chives, if desired. Repeat with each potato. Place turkey pepperoni slices on a plate, and microwave on high for 45 to 60 seconds to crisp. Break the slices into coarse crumbles. Top each potato with pasta sauce, cheese, green pepper and green onion. Microwave on high for 2 to melt the cheese, then top potatoes with crumbled pepperoni slices. Serves 4. Frittata recipes—like many other potato dishes— can be altered to use seasonal ingredients in a quick meal.
VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Stewards of the Land
“We’re trying to get as many animals as we can on the farm,” Roger Hatcher said of his and his wife’s efforts to maintain wildlife habitat on their property in Cumberland County.
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Stewards of the Land
Meet Roger Hatcher Allendale Farm, Cumberland County BY KATHY DIXON
T
he farm: Roger and Evelyn Hatcher bought the property in 1989; the former tobacco farm was established circa 1777. They raise Brittany spaniels, and the land was perfect for bird hunting. Eventually the Hatchers started farming and raised black Angus cattle until five years ago. They currently maintain 150 acres of fenced pastureland, which they have leased, and they grow hay and small grains. Additionally, they run a re-baling business in which they take large bales of hay and make them into smaller bales for easier handling, primarily for horse and alpaca owners. Until 2011, the Hatchers grew a variety of grasses on 300 acres of owned and leased land. They also purchased loads of hay and straw from other U.S. and Canadian farms. Most of their current hay suppliers are local farmers. Many customers pick up their bales at the farm, but the Hatchers also provide full-service delivery and stacking.
KATHY DIXON
Community involvement: Roger is a past president of Cumberland County Farm Bureau. He currently serves as chairman of the Cumberland County water and sewer committee and is a past chairman of the county’s landfill committee. He and Evelyn are both active members of the Guinea Presbyterian Church. Stewardship practice: The Hatchers have been creating wildlife habitat since they bought their farm. When they first started, overgrown fields offered natural vegetation in which wildlife could live. Although Roger eventually cleared some of the land for growing crops, he made a conscious decision to leave corners and field
edges alone to provide additional housing for birds, deer, rabbits and other wildlife. Additionally, the couple planted native grasses in one field to attract small animals. “There’s a covey of quail that live here, and you can often see more than a dozen deer coming out of this field,” Roger said. The native gamagrass, bluestem and switchgrass attract the wildlife and provide plenty of cover from predators. “We’re trying to get as many animals as we can on the farm,” Roger said. He noted that farmers don’t have to spend much money on creating wildlife habitats. In fact, they can actually save money by not mowing field edges and not applying herbicides to kill the weeds in some areas. An additional bonus is that any natural grasses growing near waterways provide erosion control. Three creeks that flow through the property are fenced to keep cattle and horses out of the water and off the banks. That effort was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The program required the Hatchers to plant a variety of oak and cypress trees that provide feed for deer, turkeys, squirrels and other small game. Biggest source of pride: “Leaving the edges of fields uncut provides productive wildlife habitat, and it’s a low-cost option anyone can do,” Roger said. “You just take nonproductive land against a fence or stream and either plant things or just let native plants like weeds grow. Weeds provide seeds, which are excellent feed for the songbirds that overwinter the area.”
The Hatchers maintain pastureland and grow hay and small grains; they also re-bale hay (center). Native grasses and areas that have intentionally been left uncleared provide forage and cover for deer, rabbits and other wildlife. VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Forestry, farmland preservation highlighted on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Forestry continues to be important to Virginia’s rural economy. • More money is available to preserve Virginia farmland. • Funding to curb coyote damage on farms is making a difference. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on most cable and satellite systems. It airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on cable systems across the state. It’s available online at VaFarmBureau.org.
Real Virginia
To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.
2016 magazine classified ad schedule and policies Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members, or in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members. Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20. Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice 30
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for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted. Use the form on Page 31 or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone. Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current. Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm Equipment; • Hay/Straw;
• Livestock; and • Livestock equipment. Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • May Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • August Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • September Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).
Marketplace
How to place your classified ad STEP 1
Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad. • Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only. • Classified ads are not transferable. • Please type or print. • Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.
STEP 2
Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.
STEP 3
Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).
STEP 4
Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership. Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear. • Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau. • Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.
• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. • Ads submitted without payment will be returned.
STEP 5
Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552 Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/.
Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members April March 4 September August 5
Mailed to associate members May April 5 August July 5
Important: We are not responsible
for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Cultivate and Virginia Farm Bureau News do not constitute an endorsement by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its affiliated companies and organizations. We reserve the right to edit or reject ads, including ads that represent a business in competition with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company or any of our affiliated or affinity partners. We reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement that makes reference to any particular political party or group, religious belief or denomination, race, creed, color or national origin.
Moving? If your address or phone
number has changed—or is about to—don’t forget to contact your county Farm Bureau office to ensure that your membership and subscription information stays current!
One free 15-word ad per membership per year; dues must be paid before placing ad.
NAME:___________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.:______________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY:_________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________
STATE:________________________
ZIP:______________
DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above
ADVERTISEMENT (one word per space; please type or print):
Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available
1.________________________ 2.______________________ 3._________________________ 4.________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6._______________________ 7.______________________ 8._________________________ 9.________________________ 10.______________________________ ( ) 11._______________________ 12._____________________ 13.________________________ 14._______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number
ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN:* q April (mailed to producer members) qM ay (mailed to associate members) q August (mailed to associate members) q S eptember (mailed to producer members)
q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2016 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me. Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free (Ads expire with membership).
* Ad placement available for these issues only VaFarmBureau.org / WINTER 2016
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Helping Virginia agriculture grow stronger each year Virginia agriculture and forestry are year-round industries—and Virginia Farm Bureau’s commitment to farmers is year-round as well. Your Farm Bureau membership supports local educational and safety events and provides assistance for farmers developing new or more strategic business plans. Additionally, it helps farmers engage in important dialogues with their communities and elected officials. As a Farm Bureau Member, you’re a Friend of the Farm—a supporter of agriculture and the Virginia way of life. We hope you will encourage family and friends to become Friends of the Farm as well. Because the work never completely stops. It just changes with the seasons.
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