Tag: virginia agriculture
Heavy rainfall virtually halts fieldwork, damages some Virginia crops
Although Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Virginia “dodged a bullet” with Hurricane Joaquin, farmers still got hit with crop damage. Above-average rainfall the last week of September through Oct. 4 prevented harvest activity and potentially damaged soybeans, cotton, peanuts and tobacco.
Popcorn among Virginia’s more unusual crops
According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, popcorn is raised on four Virginia farms. Only 4,500 pounds of the nation’s 861 million pounds of popcorn are raised in Virginia, but one grower says it’s not difficult to grow.
Virginia apple production ranked sixth nationwide
Virginia’s commercial orchards yielded about 4.6 million bushels of apples in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Virginia crop forecast shows corn, soybean and peanut production up from 2014
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced the state’s crop production forecast based on conditions as of August 1.
How ya like them apples? Virginia ranks sixth in apple production nationally
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today the 2014 production figures for apples, grapes and peaches. The figures came from surveys by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Virginia is for farmers, you might say
When folks outside of Virginia think of Old Dominion’s agriculture, there may be a tendency to first think of horses, tobacco and vegetables, not necessarily in that order.
Winter wheat production forecast down 13 percent from last year
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that Virginia farmers expect to harvest 15.3 million bushels of winter wheat during 2015, down 13 percent from the previous year.
Virginia Agriculture: Showing Virginia agriculture’s innovative side
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) unveiled this week the second edition of Virginia Agriculture, an annual magazine devoted to the Commonwealth’s number one industry.
USDA payments to farmers start going out today
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today the start of distribution of USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) annual rental payments to participants across the country.
Crop forecast hard to come by this fall
The last available crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are dated Sept. 30, right before the congressional budget impasse shut down non-essential parts of the federal government.
Sweet potato harvest under way, going slow
Fresh sweet potatoes are showing up at Virginia farmers’ markets and local food outlets, but it’s too soon to tell whether some Virginia growers will have a good year, according to Clifton Slade, Virginia Cooperative Extension vegetable and produce specialist for the Small Farm Outreach Program at Virginia State University.
Updated Virginia agricultural crop forecast
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Thursday that dry conditions for most of August have lowered Virginia’s row crop yield prospects.
Tree nurseries seek public’s help with acorn, seed collection
Virginians can help preserve native tree species by collecting acorns and seeds from 13 species and delivering them to the nearest office of the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF). Acorns and seeds must be received by October 10.
Matt Lohr: It’s not the hand you’re dealt, but how you play it
Last month I had the tremendous honor to keynote a dinner at the National FFA State Presidents’ Conference in Washington, D.C. This is an annual event that brings two state FFA officers from each state to our nation’s capitol for a week of intense leadership development.
Barley yield and flue-cured tobacco production up
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that Virginia’s wheat producers expect yields to average 64 bushels per acre in 2013.
Soybean, tobacco and wheat acreage up in Virginia for 2013
A survey conducted in early June by the Virginia Field Office of the National Agriculture Statistics Services reveals that Virginia’s farmers will plant 3 percent more soybeans than the previous year while corn acreage will decline 8 percent.
McDonnell announces opening of agricultural trade office in Europe
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Thursday the formal opening of a representative office in Europe focused on increasing agricultural and forestry product exports to the region. With the opening, the Commonwealth is believed to be the only state in the U.S. to currently have a dedicated agricultural trade representative in the European market, one of the world’s largest economic regions. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the governor.
Report: Record year for Virginia peanuts
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that Virginia’s peanut yield is forecast to be 4,200 pounds per acre this year, up 200 pounds per acre from the previous month’s forecast. If realized, this would be a record yield. Production is estimated to be 84 million pounds, up 37 percent from last year. Producers are expected to harvest 20,000 acres in 2012.
Matt Lohr: New grant fund recognizes needs of ag-based business
Ever since I became the Commissioner of Agriculture two years ago and gained a broader view of agriculture throughout the entire state, I have noticed that Virginia really values its farmers. Of course agriculture is the state’s largest industry, and I’m sure that earns us some points right there. But I think there is a deep-seated appreciation of our farmers in Virginia and a realization of how much they contribute to our quality of life.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
