The American Farm Bureau Federation announced today that its 102^nd Annual Convention will be held online following the cancelation of all events through Jan. 31, 2021, at the San Diego Convention Center where the convention was scheduled to take place.

“Our top priority at every Farm Bureau gathering is the safety of our attendees and staff,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “While we are saddened to not meet in person for this convention, we are eager to bring this event safely to farm and ranch homes across the country and excited to offer the same top-level content our members have come to expect from our in-person events.”

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Farmers suffering losses due to hurricanes or wildfires have until Oct. 30 to apply for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus.

WHIP+ compensates producers for losses due to hurricanes, floods, snowstorms, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, drought, excessive moisture and wildfires that occurred in calendar years 2018 and 2019. Drought and excessive moisture were added as eligible losses for the program in March 2020. To date, FSA has received more than 133,000 applications for WHIP+ disaster assistance and paid out nearly $1.4 billion in WHIP+ benefits. For more information or application assistance, visit farmers.gov WHIP+ webpage, or contact your local USDA Service Center.

The State Fair of Virginia has begun a commemorative ornament series for fair fans to create their own blue-ribbon Christmas trees.

The first ornaments are available for pre-order until Oct. 20. The etched glass ornament features the new State Fair logo and is dated 2020. A portion of the net proceeds will support the fair’s scholarship program. Ornaments will be shipped in November. To order, visit StateFairVa.org

Riding all-terrain vehicles is a fun outdoor activity for many children—but as accidents increase, parents are urged to use caution if buying ATVs for the holidays.

A recent report from Marshfield Clinic Research Institute revealed ATV injuries among children are on the rise, and are likely linked to the pandemic, as children got a head start on summertime activities when schools closed early.

“Children are home more than they were in previous years,” said Dana Fisher, chairman of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Farm Safety Advisory Committee. “More home time means more opportunities to use ATVs, and unfortunately that means more opportunities for accidents.”

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Despite a positive report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Virginia winter wheat farmers have been perplexed by an erratic growing season and less-than-anticipated yields.

The Sept. 30 NASS report estimated Virginia farmers harvested 7.8 million bushels of winter wheat in 2020, a 20% increase from 6.51 million in 2019. Wheat harvested for grain totaled 130,000 acres, up from last year’s record low of 105,000.

Despite those numbers, the output is significantly less than what was forecast in June, when NASS reported Virginia farmers were expected to harvest 11 million bushels this year. Additionally, the average yield per acre dropped to 60 bushels in 2020, down from last year’s average 62 bushels.

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Welcome to the first installment of our new video series “Friend of the Farm Chats,” where we get to know the legislators who serve on the Senate and House agriculture committees. First up is Chairman of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources Committee Del. Kenneth R. Plum. Watch below to learn why this Northern Virginia delegate is a true country boy at heart.

By Nicole Zema, VFBF Communications

Andrew Smith is part of a nationwide family with origins in Virginia. This family’s heirs preserve tangible memories of a storied organization serving youth since 1925.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s associate director of governmental relations will be officially recognized as a recipient of the Honorary American FFA Degree at the upcoming 93^rd National FFA Convention & Expo. Each year, FFA honors exceptional individuals and companies for outstanding contributions to the organization.

Smith grew up on a dairy farm in Hanover County. He joined FFA, previously known as Future Farmers of America, in eighth grade at age 13. He still has the iconic blue corduroy jacket from Liberty Junior High School, among other memorabilia.

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Check out this week’s Merchandiser Minute!

Virginia Farm Bureau producer members may recall completing a survey this spring related to black bear management. This was part of a study conducted for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (previously known as the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) to obtain input from Virginia residents, bear hunters, and agricultural producers regarding the management of black bears in the Commonwealth.

According to the final report, “the surveys covered a range of black bear management topics to assist the Department in the development of its 2021-2030 Black Bear Management Plan. Topics covered in the survey include participation in wildlife viewing or hunting involving bears, feelings about bears, encounters, and experiences with bears, and opinions on black bear population sizes and management priorities.”

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Governor Ralph Northam has announced that Virginia is allocating $30 million in funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to improve broadband access in underserved localities.

Localities must apply for the funding, and eligible projects are those able to be completed within the time constraints on spending federal dollars, which means more Virginians could get connected to high-speed, broadband internet by the end of the year.

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