The COVID-19 pandemic left supermarkets reeling from undersupply and supply chain breakdowns, causing consumers to explore new markets and develop new food-purchasing habits.

A survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Kentucky found farmers markets and direct-from-producer sales will likely benefit from the shift in consumer behavior.

Thirty-five percent of survey respondents said they had purchased food from at least one new food outlet during the pandemic. Of those, 6% purchased from farmers markets, direct-from-producer and community-supported agriculture businesses.

An additional 17% of respondents purchased food from a combination of farmers markets, CSAs, direct sales, artisan markets, local restaurants and food boxes.

The study also revealed 31% of consumers who began purchasing food from farmers markets during the pandemic have continued to do so, as well as 34% of consumers who purchased from CSAs and direct sales.

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Agricultural groups know farmers are essential workers, and they are supporting efforts to get them vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Our nation’s food supply depends on farmers’ and frontline agricultural workers’ ability to work safely,” said Ben Rowe, national affairs coordinator for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The work of planting, cultivating, harvesting, packaging and processing crops and livestock cannot be conducted remotely or accomplished without contact. Despite swift implementation of best practices and state and federal guidance in the fields and processing facilities, the agricultural workforce remains at heightened risk of infection, as do the frontline critical-risk workers.”

Food and agriculture workers and veterinarians are eligible under the Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1b. Every health district in Virginia has moved into Phase 1b, which means these workers are eligible regardless of their home county.

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Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2022 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina. This is the fourth year of the contest, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America.

The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2022. Up to four regional runners-up* will each win $1,000 in prize money.

“We’re excited to host this popular contest again and provide the general public with another glimpse into daily life on the farm,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farm dogs often play a dual role as both working dogs and companions to farm families, which is especially important because farming and ranching can be stressful, even on the best days.”

Scientific research insights provided by our partner Purina reveal that interacting with pets can provide health benefits. For example, after spending just 20 minutes with a dog, people experienced a significant increase in levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a role in moderating stress. This was also associated with a decrease in heart rate and an increase in self-reported sense of well-being. Following the interaction with the dog, people were in a more positive emotional state.

Desired attributes for the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. The 2022 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2021 Farm Dog of the Year Bindi can be viewed at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty.

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Check out this week’s Merchandiser Minute!

Farmers are disproportionately impacted by estate taxes due to the value of farmland, making it difficult to continue a family business after the death of a loved one. Many of you have experienced the impacts of the estate tax, or death tax. Imagine if other farmers did not have to deal with this subject.

American Farm Bureau firmly supports the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021 [H.R. 1712/S. 617] introduced by Representatives Jason Smith (R-SD) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA), and Senator John Thune (R-SD).

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 temporarily doubled the estate tax exemption from $5.5 million to $11 million per person through 2025. If this exemption were to be reduced it would be devastating to the continuity of America’s farms, impacting 10% of farms or 65% of farmland.

Learn more: “Estate Taxes Are A Threat to Family Farms”

Write your members of Congress today to urge their support for this legislation that would help keep American agriculture thriving! Add a personal message to your e-mail by noting your county Farm Bureau, and describing how your farm and family are personally impacted by estate taxes.

To take action, click here: https://www.fb.org/advocacy/action-alerts/the-estate-tax-needs-your-support

Corn and other crop prices are at multiyear highs right now from exports, but ethanol production has declined as people work from home and leave their cars parked in their driveways.

“When ethanol demand fell, that pushed corn prices down,” said American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist Dr. John Newton during the virtual 57th Annual Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting. “The cash corn price around the country fell, and we still haven’t seen the ethanol industry recover. We’re 2 billion gallons less in terms of ethanol production compared to prior year levels. That’s about 600 to 700 million bushels of corn that weren’t used for ethanol production.”

According to the National Corn Growers Association, roughly 30% of field corn is used for ethanol, making it the second-largest market for U.S. corn.

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A formal succession plan for family land ownership can secure and sustain prosperity for future generations. This reality has enhanced opportunities for some Virginia farm families, but has hurt others.

A February webinar, organized by the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, explored the topics of family land, farming and race. It also addressed Virginia’s recent efforts to slow the loss of family-owned farmland, and how to ensure that historically underrepresented groups can continue farming.

Ebonie Alexander, executive director of the Black Family Land Trust, said the 1920s were the height of African American U.S. land ownership, at about 15 million acres. Between then and early 2000, 90%-97% of those land assets were lost due to systemic discriminatory practices. Alexander said that heirs’ property—informal generational property transfers that occur without wills or estate plans—resulted in fractional ownership.

“Heirs’ property is one of the leading causes of land loss in the African American community today,” Alexander explained. She said the loss can be attributed to a lack of access to competent legal services and affordable resources to build solid wills and estate plans.

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For the first time in 13 years, the Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade will be conducted virtually.

The event will be held 1-4 p.m. on March 30 and will highlight Gov. Ralph Northam’s trade priorities and initiatives. It’s co-hosted by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Port of Virginia and the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

“I am pleased that Virginia Farm Bureau has been involved with this annual trade conference since it began more than a decade ago,” said Wayne F. Pryor, VFBF president. “We’ve seen a remarkable increase in agricultural trade across the globe. It’s helpful each year to step back and examine how much our farmers are exporting, and who they are trading with.”

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The 2021 General Assembly has officially adjourned. Check out what issues got a , and a from the GR Team below! And thanks to everyone who watched our videos this session.

Check out this week’s Merchandiser Minute!

https://youtu.be/9INDzncOZVc