Month: September 2023

Virginia Digital Opportunity Survey

/ VFB Governmental Relations / Leave a comment

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Office of Broadband is excited to announce the launch of a statewide survey to gather data that will inform the Virginia Digital Opportunity Plan. The Office of Broadband is currently in the process of developing the comprehensive Virginia Digital Opportunity Plan, the required output of Virginia’s Digital Equity Act Planning Grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The Digital Opportunity Plan will enable the Commonwealth apply for Federal broadband funding from the Digital Equity Act Capacity Grant program, as well as for eligible entities to apply for funds from the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant program. These grants will be used to improve the affordability of internet services in the Commonwealth, increase digital literacy programming and resources aimed at increasing digital adoption, and fund unique programs that address the digital divide beyond just access to physical broadband infrastructure. 

We strongly encourage all Virginia residents to complete this quick, 10-minute survey to help our office better understand your digital needs. Together, we can foster digital opportunity in the Commonwealth by ensuring that residents have access to affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet, and have the skills necessary to use the internet to its full potential.

The Digital Opportunity Survey is currently available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Ukrainian. Paper copies of the survey are available in the resources tab. 

Please take the Digital Opportunity Survey now!

Take the survey now.

PAPER SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS

If distributing paper surveys, please ensure that you collect them from participants once they are done. Completed surveys can be mailed or faxed to SIR Research. If possible, we recommend collecting the paper surveys and mailing them in one batch directly to SIR. If you find that you are receiving a significant amount (20+) of paper surveys each week, we recommend you send a weekly collection to SIR. If you would prefer to email or fax completed surveys in, please retain the hard copies to be returned at a later date for quality assurance.

Mailing Address

SIR 2601 Floyd Avenue Richmond, VA 23220

Scan and Email Address: Becky.Chipman@sirhq.com

Fax: 804-342-1790

REGIONAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY PLANS

PROGRAM PURPOSE

DHCD is partnering with the Department of Social Services, the Virginia Community Action Partnership, and Community Action Agencies to develop Regional Digital Opportunity Plans. Across nine regions, Community Action Agencies are assessing the digital divide through stakeholder engagement, survey distribution and data analysis and community input sessions to develop regional plans that address identified community needs related to the digital divide. The nine regions, as well as the lead Community Action Agency for each regional plan, are listed in the map. 

DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY CASE STUDY PILOT PROGRAM

PROGRAM PURPOSE

The intent of this program is to bring organizations working to close the digital divide into the state’s planning process. The objective of this grant opportunity is to identify best practices of initiatives/efforts that are addressing the digital divide in communities throughout Virginia. DHCD will provide grant funding to the organizations operating these programs, with the deliverable of a case study highlighting key findings, which DHCD will incorporate into the Commonwealth Digital Opportunity Plan.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit here for more information.

Applications will be accepted and evaluated by DHCD on a rolling basis, until all available funds are committed. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to begin development of their case study if selected.

VDACS Announces 2023 Pesticide Collection Program Dates and Collection Sites

/ VFB Governmental Relations / Leave a comment

Farmers, pesticide dealers, pest control firms, certified applicators, homeowners and golf course operators are encouraged to participate in the 2023 Virginia Pesticide Collection Program. The program collects unwanted, outdated or banned pesticides, at no cost to eligible participants, and disposes of them in a safe manner.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Office of Pesticide Services, with participation from Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, oversee the program, which has collected and destroyed more than 1.8 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides since its inception. The program is funded through pesticide product registration fees collected by VDACS.

The following is a list of the 2023 collection sites and schedule. All locations are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • September 26 – Lynchburg Livestock Market, 243 Livestock Rd., Rustburg, Va.
  • September 27 – Southern States-Farmers Cooperative, 182 Smi Way, Farmville, Va.
  • September 28 – Meherrin Ag & Chemical, 1409 Vincent Store Rd., Charlotte Court House, Va.
  • October 3 – Nutrien Ag (Fertilizer Warehouse), 204 South Lunenburg Ave., South Hill, Va.
  • October 4 – Halifax County Agriculture Marketing Center, 1001 Farmway Ln., Scottsburg, Va.
  • October 5 – Piedmont Farmers Cooperative (Formerly known as Southern States Chatham Co-op), 485 Tightsqueeze Industrial Rd., Chatham, Va.
  • October 11 – National Guard Armory, 315 Commonwealth Blvd. W., Martinsville, Va.

In administering the Pesticide Collection Program, VDACS divides Virginia into five regions. Each year, the department conducts a collection in a different region. Once all five regions have been served, the program starts another cycle. Click here for the list of future collection localities.

Participants must transport their unwanted pesticides to the collection sites. If participants cannot safely containerize the unwanted pesticides for transport, VDACS may arrange assistance on a case-by-case basis. Only pesticides will be accepted. Pesticide contaminated material (for example, pesticide contaminated fertilizer) will not be accepted as part of the collection program. In addition, the program does NOT accept motor oil, paint, fuel, fertilizer or other chemicals.

Participants need to complete a pesticide collection registration form prior to the scheduled collection date and return the completed form to marlene.larios@vdacs.virginia.gov or mail to Office of Pesticide Services, VDACS, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond Virginia 23218. The form is available at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/disposalregistration.pdf or by contacting the program at 804.371.6561.

Participants should direct questions to their local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent or to the VDACS Office of Pesticide Services at marlene.larios@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Now Available: USDA Milk Loss Assistance for Dairy Operations Impacted by 2020, 2021 and 2022 Disaster Events

/ VFB Governmental Relations / Leave a comment

USDA has made available Milk Loss Program (MLP) assistance for eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk (e.g., power outages, impassable roads, infrastructure losses, etc.) during calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), signup for MLP opened September 11 and runs through October 16, 2023. 

Background 

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43), providing $10 billion for crop losses, including milk losses due to qualifying disaster events that occurred in calendar years 2020 and 2021. Additionally, the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) provides approximately $3 billion for disaster assistance for similar losses that occurred in calendar year 2022. 

Eligibility 

MLP compensates dairy operations for milk dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to qualifying disaster events, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex) and smoke exposure that occurred in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years. Tornadoes are considered a qualifying disaster event for calendar year 2022 only.

The milk loss claim period is each calendar month that milk was dumped or removed from the commercial market. Each MLP application covers the loss in a single calendar month. Milk loss that occurs in more than one calendar month due to the same qualifying weather event requires a separate application for each month.  

The days that are eligible for assistance begin on the date the milk was removed or dumped and for concurrent days milk was removed or dumped. Once the dairy operation restarts milk marketing, the dairy operation is ineligible for assistance unless after restarting commercial milk marketing, additional milk is dumped due to the same qualifying disaster event. The duration of yearly claims is limited to 30 days per year for 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

How to Apply 

To apply for MLP, producers must submit: 

  • FSA-376, Milk Loss Program Application
  • Milk marketing statement from the:
  • Month prior to the month milk was removed or dumped.
  • Affected month.
  • Detailed written statement of milk removal circumstances, including the weather event type and geographic scope, what transportation limitations occurred and any information on what was done with the removed milk.
  • Any other information required by the regulation.

If not previously filed with FSA, applicants must also submit all the following items within 60 days of the MLP application deadline: 

  • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.  
  • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.   
  • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).   
  • Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs (if applicable).   
  • Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, (if applicable).
  • A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the MLP producer and applicable affiliates.  

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms already on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms can contact their local FSA county office.   

MLP Payment Calculation 

The final MLP payment is determined by factoring the MLP payment calculation by the applicable MLP payment percentage.

The calculation for determining MLP payment is:

  • ((Base period per cow average daily milk production x the number of milking cows in a claim period x the number of days milk was removed or dumped in a claim period) ÷ 100) x pay price per hundredweight (cwt.).

For MLP payment calculations, the milk loss base period is the first full month of production before the dumping or removal occurred. 

The MLP payment percentage will be 90% for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers and 75% for all other producers.     

To qualify for the higher payment percentage, eligible producers must have a CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, form on file with FSA for the 2022 program year.     

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations do not apply to MLP, however the payment limitation for MLP is determined by the person’s or legal entity’s average adjusted gross farm income (income derived from farming, ranching and forestry operations). Specifically, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, cannot receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 in payments under MLP if their average adjusted gross farm income is less than 75% of their average AGI or more than $250,000 if their adjusted gross farm income is at least 75% of their average AGI.     

More Dairy Information 

In other FSA dairy safety-net support, Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program payments have triggered every month, January through July, for producers who obtained coverage for the 2023 program year. July 2023’s income over feed margin of $3.52 per hundredweight (cwt.) is the lowest margin since DMC program benefits to dairy producers started in 2019. To date, FSA has paid more than $1 billion in DMC benefits to covered dairy producers for the 2023 program year.

Additionally, FSA closed the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) application period on August 11.

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Loan Assistance Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.

Virginia Grants Awarded to Support Local Food Systems

/ VFB Governmental Relations / Leave a comment

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced today the latest awards from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Infrastructure Grant program. Three projects will receive $127,500 in competitively awarded, matching grants for new community infrastructure development projects that support local food production and sustainable agriculture.

Created by the General Assembly in 2021, AFID infrastructure grants are awarded to support locally identified investments that aid small-scale farmers and food producers in growing their operations. This round of grant awards will support the construction of a new farmers market in Craig County, the expansion of an existing farmers market in Henrico County, and the improvement of an on-farm market in the city of Virginia Beach.

“This round of grant awards helps to strengthen the local agricultural infrastructure in these communities by improving the connection between producers and consumers,” said Youngkin. “This funding will enhance and expand opportunities for both farmers and consumers, and we are helping support food access and family health throughout the Commonwealth.”

“As a farmer myself, I understand the challenges many farming families face trying to get their goods in the hands of consumers and this funding helps bridge the gap,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr. “In addition to improving revenue opportunities for local producers, these grants aid in reducing food insecurity by increasing access to fresh local foods in several communities.”

The following projects are receiving funding in this round of the AFID Infrastructure Grant program:

New Farmers Market
Craig County
$50,000

Craig County is receiving funding to support the construction of a farmers market with public restrooms in the town of New Castle. A rural area with a population of 5,200, Craig County and the town of New Castle have only one small grocery store and residents must travel a minimum of 20 miles to access the nearest farmers market. The new farmers market will have a positive impact on the agricultural community by providing another avenue for locally grown produce to be sold within the surrounding community. The application is a joint effort between Craig County, Craig County Economic Development Authority, and the town of New Castle.

Farmers Market Expansion
Henrico County
$50,000

Henrico County is receiving funding to support the expansion of the Dorey Park Farmers Market which will provide expanded shelter for consumers, an educational programming space, and a separate office and storage area for the market managers. Established in 2018, the Dorey Park Farmers Market has quickly grown to more than 40 vendors. The market was established around an existing, small shelter which has become undersized for the number of vendors and consumers it serves. The project benefits the community with an improved market facility that provides access to locally grown produce as well as an improved retail outlet for local farmers to sell their products – both of which are essential for continued growth and success.

On-Farm Market Improvement and Equipment Upgrade
City of Virginia Beach
$27,500

The city of Virginia Beach is receiving funding to support Cullipher Farm in the installation of a new 10 by 20-foot freezer and additional irrigation equipment for its orchards and vineyards. Cullipher Farm is a multi-generational family-owned business that produces a variety of traditional vegetable and fruit crops for sale in its on-farm market as well as canned goods, baked goods, ice cream and beef. In addition to a robust “you-pick” operation and on-farm experiences, the business grows and processes various types of fruits for juice and has recently expanded into beef cattle. Currently limited in on-site freezer space, the installation of a new freezer will enable the company to be more efficient in its juice pressing with larger production runs and store more frozen products on-site. It will also enable the company to be more efficient in its beef processing, with larger production runs and less trips to the processor which is located 100 miles away. The additional irrigation equipment will increase productivity of farm crops as well as potentially help minimize losses due to freezes.

Administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the AFID Infrastructure Grant program, in partnership with local governments, awards grants to develop community infrastructure in support of local food production and sustainable agriculture. Applications for the next round of this grant program will be accepted in the spring of 2024. Additional information about the program is available here.