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.

International trade was a major theme in the opening half hour of Monday night’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.  Selling more of our goods around the world is a great way to help farms and ranches, benefit rural communities, and keep the United States ahead of its global competitors. Farm Bureau seeks the successful conclusion and congressional approval of trade agreements and other measures to expand global markets for U.S. agricultural exports.

According to a U.S. International Trade Commission report released May 18, 2016, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would reduce the U.S. trade deficit and increase jobs throughout the country, but some of the biggest gains would be for the agriculture sector.

Continue reading →

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.

For farmers and ranchers, immigration reform must balance agriculture’s need for a dependable supply of agricultural labor with enhanced security at our nation’s border.  It is a delicate balance that, at present, has not yielded a solution.

Reliable and skilled farm workers are harder to come by with each harvest season. U.S. agriculture faces a critical shortage of workers every year, as citizens are largely unwilling to engage in these rigorous activities and guestworker programs are unable to respond to the marketplace.

Without an efficient and legal way for a dependable supply of farm workers to enter the country, more U.S. crops are being left to rot in the field.  Or they cannot expand their fruit and vegetable farm or ranch.  And that means consumers will be less able to enjoy American-grown products.

Continue reading →

Dr. Megan Seibel, President of Roanoke County Farm Bureau, has been appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Prior to her appointment, Megan served as the Director of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program at Virginia Tech. She also served as the Associate Director for the Center of Cooperative Problem Solving at Virginia Tech and an Associate Fellow of the Occupational Research Centre in the United Kingdom. An agricultural producer, Megan and her family manage a wine grape and beef cattle operation in Botetourt County. Megan graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, and received her Master’s in Career and Technical Education and her Doctor’s of Philosophy in Agriculture and Extension Education from Virginia Tech.

Congratulations! We look forward to working with you…even more!

The combined shortfall fiscal year 2017 is $861.4 million.  Some of the key strategies to address the shortfall include eliminating raises for state employees of $125.1 million; pulling $392.3 million from Rainy Day Fund; and cutting $70 million from state agencies.  There will be additional cuts made by the Governor in his budget that he will introduce in December for the fiscal year 2018.

They always say that “it could have been worse” but we are still not happy with the cuts that the Governor made to key budget items that Farm Bureau has worked hard to support.  These do not represent all of the cuts made but some key ones specific to Farm Bureau policy:

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

• ½ of the Wildlife Damage Management Program: -$95,000 (This leaves $95,000 in the program.)
• ½ Farmland Preservation Fund: -$500,000 (This leaves $500,000 in the Fund.)
• Delay Hiring of Organic Marketing Specialists: -$68,236
• Discontinue the Beehive Grant Program: -$175,000
• International Marketing: -$175,000 (This leaves $250,000 of additional dollars appropriated by the 2016 General Assembly)
• Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID): -$220,000 (This leaves out of $2.108 million in AFID.)

Department of Conservation and Recreation

• Took $528,000 from some of the revenue generated from the ½ fee on recordation tax that was not obligated by the State Soil and Water Conservation Board. This reduces the amount of funds that the State Soil and Water Conservation Board may have allocated to unfunded practices

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.

Are you familiar with the Farm Bill?  If you are like most Americans, you probably have a misconception about this important piece of legislation.  While the bill is the primary agriculture and food policy tool of the federal government, the name is a misnomer.  The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that encompasses commodity programs, crop insurance, nutrition programs, international trade, conservation, , forestry, energy and the well-being of rural communities.  It might actually be more accurate to call it the Food Bill since 79 percent of the cost of the bill goes toward nutrition programs and only 21 percent goes towards programs that benefit farmers, ranchers and rural America.

About every 5 years, the Farm Bill must be renewed and the current Farm Bill expires in 2018.  So, the next president will need to understand the importance the Farm Bill has for farmers and ranchers, rural communities and all Americans.

Continue reading →

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.

Ask any student studying agriculture or food policy about Norman Borlaug and you’ll get an immediate positive response.  If you don’t know who he is, let me share this from the World Food Prize website.  They do a better job that I could.

“In 1970 Norman E. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work to feed a hungry world. Although a scientist with outstanding contributions, perhaps Dr. Borlaug’s greatest achievement has been his unending struggle to integrate the various streams of agricultural research into viable technologies and to convince political leaders to bring these advances to fruition.”  Read more.

Continue reading →

Virginia State University’s Aquaculture Program will hold its 29th annual Aquaculture Field Day on Oct. 20 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Randolph Farm, 4415 River Road, Ettrick.

Participants will learn about pond aquaculture and aquaponics production, marketing and harvesting.

A $10 per person registration fee includes lunch. To register for this event,  contact Debra B. Jones at (804) 524-5496 or email dbjones@vsu.edu. If you need further information or are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Debra B. Jones at (804) 524-5496 dbjones@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-5496 / (800) 828-1120 (TDD) during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations no later than five days prior to the event.

State and county Farm Bureau leaders are encouraging the nation’s farmers to urge Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement this fall.

“Our farm and ranch businesses lose when our nation leaves trade deals on the table that would level the playing field,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “American-grown and -made means quality, and customers around the world know this. But high tariffs and other trade barriers put in place by countries like Japan will keep shutting out American businesses and agricultural goods if we refuse to lead the way in approving trade agreements that would move us forward.”

Continue reading →

Hunters play a very important role in managing deer populations in Virginia.  In addition to helping support management by purchasing a hunting license, hunters have a direct impact on the deer management goals in Virginia by hunting and harvesting deer.  Landowners urban, suburban and rural alike; often have issues with deer damaging their property.  In many cases there are simply too many deer to accommodate the landowner’s goals for the property.

Continue reading →