Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension are hosting an informational webinar to learn more about large-scale solar projects and land-use planning policies. This session will highlight research from West Virginia University’s Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic regarding solar land-use practices around the United States. The session will also include an update from Jennifer Friedel, Esq., Associate Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech on new policies in Virginia. Register to hear these presentations and ask your questions. Speakers include:
Whitney Morgan, Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia
Jesse Richardson, Professor of Law, Lead Land Use Attorney, West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia
Jennifer Friedel, Asst. Prof. of Practice, Director, Virginia Land-Use Value Assessment Program, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech
Large-Scale Solar Projects and Land-Use Planning: Sharing Research on Experiences from Other States and an Update from Virginia
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact John Ignosh, Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering, VCE Northern District Office at 540-432-6029/TDD* during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Consumer demand for locally-sourced meats and producer meat enterprise interest are at all-time highs and outpace current local meat and poultry processing capacity in many localities. Shared Cost Meat Processing for Livestock Producers — Co-ops and Collaboration will introduce farmers, ranchers and local meat and poultry processors to opportunities and challenges in establishing or expanding local meat and poultry enterprises. The presentations will not only focus on market demand and regulations, but will also examine business structures that can benefit smaller scale farms and processing such as cooperatives and other collaborative business entities. Our presenters are each highly experienced in rural cooperative and business development, including meat processing and marketing, and accessing grants and financing options of importance for smaller-scale operations. Webinar topics include:
Enterprise entry challenges
Local retail/wholesale meat marketing
Local meat processing challenges and opportunities
Opportunity for a regional cooperative or collaboratively-owned meat enterprise
Cooperatives vs. other business ownership models
Grants and other financial assistance options
Shared Cost Meat Processing for Livestock Producers – Co-ops and Collaboration
The sponsors offer their programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and are equal opportunity employers.
Additional Resources
For additional information concerning small-volume red meat processing and meat marketing in Virginia, please refer to our study guides at https://www.vafairs.com/resources/.
Virginia Farm Bureau partnered with Farm Credit to host a farm tour for Congressman Ben Cline in the Shenandoah Valley. The group visited Wightman Grain & Cattle, Steve Baker’s hog farm and pork processing facility, Cave Ridge Vineyard and Hillview Dairy Farm. Congressman Cline listened to the issues important to each of these operations and engaged in discussions on how Congress can be helpful. The group also held a Farm Bill roundtable to talk about programs that are working and not working for today’s farmers and agriculture industry.
Forest carbon markets are expanding rapidly in the commonwealth. If you are a forester, landowner, county leader, or just interested in this topic, please consider attending the first ever Forest Carbon Symposium hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
In this symposium, you will learn about the importance of forest carbon markets, what this market means to Virginia, and what opportunities are available for our state’s forestry community.
The 14th Annual Virginia Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade was held on March 29 in downtown Richmond. This conference was started at the Virginia Farm Bureau West Creek headquarters and continues to be co-sponsored by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation (VFBF), Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
Several VFBF staff members attended the conference and learned a great deal from presentations related to U.S. agriculture trade and domestic policy updates, adapting to more extreme and variable weather patterns, looking beyond the Phase One trade agreement, supply chain challenges and opportunities, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the effect on world trade, and current events in Europe and their effect on global and U.S. agriculture. Here are a few thoughts and takeaways from VFBF staff:
Brett Bruen used the term “Post-American era”, to refer to our current time where other countries are uncertain of America’s willingness to intervene in geopolitical situations around the globe. While that term was challenging to hear, it was also motivation for the agricultural industry to intensify diversification efforts and increase resiliency both for sourcing inputs and finding new and varied markets for outputs. In this age of increasing volatility, developing effective risk management strategies will be vital for Virginia agriculture to stay competitive on the global stage. In short, times of great uncertainty are also times of great opportunity.
-Elijah Griles, Commodity Specialist
The session on supply chain challenges impacting U.S. ports was insightful, especially with the state-specific data supplied by the representatives from the Port of Virginia, including how well the Port of Virginia is rising up to current challenges, compared to the other major U.S. ports. The two last sessions on the Russian invasion of Ukraine provided helpful information on diplomatic efforts to put a halt to Russia’s encroachment efforts, and how the last four weeks may disrupt Ukrainian farmers’ harvest and planting seasons; along with the impacts the invasion will likely have on worldwide food supply. I gained a better understanding of the major agricultural exports of the Ukraine and Russia and the countries they supply those exports to.
-Kathleen Early, Corporate Secretary
I considered the speakers to be of a very high level—first class—and appreciated the Q&A part of each presentation. There was great discussion on the answers by the speakers. In addition, the networking, building, and food were so special. We are all so thankful for how good we have it! There was amazing attendance by the target audience, including a continued presence of students who received much recognition. The conference still has a great reputation as a “time well spent” meeting.
-Robert Harper, Grain Division Manager
I was interested to hear about the emerging markets in southeast Asia and projections that 50% of the population growth in the next 15 years will be in Africa. I’ve heard prior statements to this growth, but 50% in Africa seems very high. Similarly, I’ve been aware of the droughts and struggles on the west coast, but I wasn’t aware of the planting restrictions, which are very concerning.
-Matt Nuckols, District 7 Field Service Director/Fundraising Specialist
Having spent much of her career leading agriculture trade negotiations for the United States, Sharon Bomer Lauristen’s insight into the development, monitoring, and enforcement of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement was incredibly interesting. She indicated that China appears committed to improving food safety, but has a lack of understanding of the U.S. science-based system, which leads to a distrust of certain products. Looking to the future, there is a need for U.S. agriculture to diversify its markets through market access in new trade agreements, as well as separate geopolitical issues and food security.
While the current avian influenza outbreak has caused concern and prompted poultry growers to step up their biosecurity practices, the virus is also a concern for the nation’s zoos, as reported April 6 by The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Plows and Politics 