Tomorrow, the 2013 Virginia General Assembly will convene in Richmond. Here is what Virginia Farm Bureau will be focusing their efforts on this year:
Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program
Virginia Farm Bureau urges legislators to:
- Adequately fund for the Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program in order for farmers to be able to meet Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan goals by 2017 to avoid mandatory agriculture best management practice requirements
Soil and Water Conservation Districts Funding
Virginia Farm Bureau urges legislators to adequately fund operational support and technical assistance for Soil and Water Conservation Districts to:
- Administer Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program
- Assist farmers in developing Resource Management Plans
- Track voluntary agriculture best management practices to help document water quality improvements for input into the Chesapeake Bay computer simulation model
Virginia Farm Bureau urges legislators to:
- Support increased funding for the state portion of the state/federal coyote control programs to expand technical assistance east of Blue Ridge
- Support funding for the implementation of a central contact point for wildlife damage issues
Property Rights and Trespass
Virginia Farm Bureau urges legislators to:
- Oppose any attempts to weaken statutory changes to Virginia’s law that defined “lost profits” and “lost access”
- Support legislation to amend the Code of Virginia to further protect landowners from trespassers and liability claims from those who trespass
General Assembly updates and action alerts will be sent every Wednesday and Friday, so if you haven’t joined the Capitol Connections Action Center, please send your email address to kelly.pruitt@vafb.com. You must be a producer member to receive action alerts. Plows and Politics will continue to be updated every Tuesday and Thursday.
We will also be sending out printed updates three times during this year’s session starting in February.
And don’t forget Legislative Day at the Capitol is on Tuesday, Jan. 22nd! We look forward to seeing those of you who have registered at the Hill!
