Virginia Farm Bureau Federation named 17 winners of a student essay contest that focused on the future of agriculture in light of population projections for 2050.
The winners received an opportunity to attend the nation’s only Vice Presidential Debate for the 2016 general election on Oct. 4 at Longwood University.
The essay contest was the culmination of a Collegiate Farm-to-Table Dinner and Agriculture Education program held Sept. 15 at Longwood.
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Every four years, the American Farm Bureau Federation asks the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to address the issues that concern farmers and ranchers the most. We asked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump the same questions.
Both candidates explained their positions on biotechnology, trade, immigration reform, regulatory reform, food safety and more. That the candidates took the time in the throes of this very competitive election season to go into such detail in their responses says as much about the importance of these issues and the farmers and ranchers who care about them as it does about Clinton’s and Trump’s political platforms.
The responses below, on the topic of the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, are the second in a series of responses that will be released over the next week. To read about Trump’s and Clinton’s positions on regulatory reform, click here: http://fbnews.fb.org/Templates/Article.aspx?id=40434
Land Use Assessment is very important to farmers in Virginia. Most, if not all, states have some type of tax valuation system that taxes agriculture and forestry acreage at its use value instead of it highest market value. As county governments have looked for more revenue the past few years, Land Use has come up on the agenda at several county board of supervisors meetings for possible changes or elimination. In central Virginia, discussions took place in Cumberland and Fluvanna counties. Thankfully, Farm Bureau led the charge in not only defending Land Use Assessment, but proactively promoting the program as a valuable tool for county governments to balance rural and non-rural needs and finances.
Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced 23 Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) grants, totaling $6.42 million, to support projects that will help shield 7,037 acres of at-risk land from development.
VLCF grants are used by private land trusts, local governments and state agencies to protect and acquire significant lands in the following categories: farmland, forestry, historic resources, natural areas, and parks and open space.
“These grant recipients include a great cross-section of important conservation opportunities, and I am very pleased with the choices made by the VLCF board,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The projects selected protect Virginia’s biodiversity, history and way of life while enhancing public access to our natural resources. We will continue to support innovative land conservation efforts to ensure that Virginia’s greenspace remains healthy and vibrant for future generations.”
Every four years, the American Farm Bureau Federation asks the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to address the issues that concern farmers and ranchers the most. We asked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump the same questions.
Both candidates explained their positions on biotechnology, trade, immigration reform, regulatory reform, food safety and more. That the candidates took the time in the throes of this very competitive election season to go into such detail in their responses says as much about the importance of these issues and the farmers and ranchers who care about them as it does about Clinton’s and Trump’s political platforms.
AFBF will be releasing their responses over the next week, kicking off the series today with the candidate’s positions on regulatory reform.
The schedule for upcoming responses is:
Join fellow forest landowners and a host of natural resource professionals for a fun and exciting day in the woods learning about forest and wildlife management.
These tours promote wise resource management on private woodlands. Participants will: (1) observe science-based management practices; (2) become acquainted with public and private sources of technical and financial management assistance; and (3) network with fellow landowners, natural resource professionals, and others that share your interest in Virginia’s natural resources.
To view tour itineraries and mial-in resgistration, go here: http://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/content/dam/forestupdate_frec_vt_edu/landownerprograms/events/2016programs/40FallForestryandWildlifeFieldTour.pdf
For online registration, go here: http://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/onlineregistration.html
There’s a certain allure to the road less traveled. Heavy, saturated traffic gives way to an open road meant just for you. The humdrum path of the interstate is traded in for an unexpected curve or rolling hill. Or maybe it just feels familiar, part of a routine.
But often there’s another characteristic of a rural road: farm machinery donning an orange triangle, marking it as a slow-moving vehicle (SMV). It’s a symbol most of us recognize but don’t always expect to encounter while on a rural road – until it’s too late.
Last week, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation hosted a Collegiate Farm-to-Table Agriculture Education event at Longwood University. The dinner and panel discussion focused on “Shaping the Future of Agriculture Together” in light of world population projections for 2050.
You can watch it in its entirety here:
Written by Amy Loeffler
Virginia Tech will host a Precision Agriculture Day on Oct. 12 at Kentland Farm in Blacksburg from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Participants will have the opportunity to get answers to common questions about the benefits of precision agriculture and learn how they can establish cost-effective technologies on their farms.
Precision agriculture is becoming increasingly utilized — and economical — in recent years as producers use technology such as iPads, GPS, and variable rate equipment to increase yields and inform management decisions.
Registration information for the event, which costs $10, can be found online. Kentland Farm is about 8 minutes from the Virginia Tech campus at 5250 Whitethorne Road.
From AFBF President Zippy Duvall:
Farm Bureau and America’s livestock and poultry producers got some great news late last week. A federal appeals court agreed with us in a lawsuit filed against EPA over the agency’s release of farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information—details such as home address, GPS coordinates, telephone numbers and email addresses. About three years ago, EPA released the information about farmers and ranchers in 29 states. The release was in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by three activist groups. Farm Bureau and the National Pork Producers Council objected and sued, calling the release “an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Plows and Politics 