Look for Virginia Grown horticulture products at a nursery or greenhouse near you
A few weeks ago the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other agricultural organizations encouraged citizens to take the $10 Buy Local Challenge: if each household in Virginia spent just $10 a week on locally grown agricultural products, consumers would invest an additional $1.65 billion back into the local economy annually.
That’s an extra $1.65 added to the $55 billion agriculture already contributes to the state’s economy each year. Read more
Federal farm bill’s scope is much broader than farms
The details of the 2012 farm bill are being ironed out in Congress now, as much of the current law in the 2008 farm bill expires in 2012.
While the farm bill does include commodity program support, most of the funds from the bill are allocated to nutrition and food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which replaced food stamps.
Historically, the farm bill is renewed every five years and governs federal farm and food policy. The 2008 Farm Bill contains 15 titles covering support for commodity crops, horticulture and livestock, conservation, nutrition, trade and food aid, agricultural research, farm credit, rural development, energy, forestry and other related programs. Read more
Virginia ag exports reach all-time high
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Tuesday that agricultural exports from Virginia reached an all-time high level in 2011, surpassing the previous record set in 2009. The governor made the announcement during his keynote remarks at the Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade in Richmond.
The Commonwealth exported a record $2.35 billion in agricultural products in 2011, a more than 6 percent increase from 2010. The new record also is a more than two percent increase above the 2009 level when Virginia reached its previous record high for agricultural exports. The growth in agricultural exports comes despite a continued slow economic recovery worldwide. Read more
McDonnell announces $1.2 million in Farmland Preservation Grants
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Tuesday the distribution of $1.2 million in farmland preservation grants from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to 13 Virginia localities.
This is a significant increase from the $100,000 available last fiscal year for state matching funds. Localities must use the grant monies to preserve farmland within their boundaries through local Purchase of Development Rights programs. PDR programs compensate landowners who permanently preserve their land by voluntarily placing a perpetual conservation easement on it. Read more
Farm Bureau: Seven farmwork-related deaths in Virginia in 2011
Seven lives were reported lost due to farmwork-related accidents in 2011—one more than in 2010.
Tractor overturns accounted for two deaths, tractor or other equipment runovers accounted for two more, and other tractor or equipment incidents resulted in three, according to unofficial statistics from Virginia Farm Bureau.
The organization had no record of 2011 farm deaths from incidents involving animals.
In the 17 years that Farm Bureau has tracked farm deaths and injuries, tractor incidents have accounted for most of the deaths and many injuries. Rollover protective structures and seat belts can help prevent deaths due to tractor overturns. Read more
Farm Link program seeks mentors
The good news is there are plenty of eager young farmers ready and willing to take a stab at making a living in agriculture.
The bad news is that land is limited and expensive, and opportunities to learn alongside a successful farmer are few and far between. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee would like to change that this year.
“I’m lucky; I started with my father. He basically took over from my grandfather, and that was a very abrupt change, because granddaddy kept all the reins,” said W.P. Johnson, a VFBF young farmer in Bedford County. “Dad has relinquished all but the financial side in our operation, but that’s OK with me, because I’m learning all the decisions on when to and when not to do something. That’s been a good mentoring situation for me,” said the hay, soybean and wheat producer. Read more
Farm Bureau: 2011 a ‘decent year’ for farmers
This year has been a year of more ups than downs for Virginia farmers. Corn, soybeans,cattle and hog prices have all been good this year, despite a recent decline in some.
“Farmers received record-high prices for corn,” said Jonah Bowles, agricultural market analyst for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. The 52-week high for corn was $7.80 per bushel, and for soybeans it was $14.75.
“And prices paid for livestock were good, with farmers receiving as much as $150 per hundredweight for cattle this past year, but the record-high prices for corn have hurt them.” Read more
