From Herman Ellison, State Statistician, National Agricultural Statistics Service:

NASS conducts more than 400 surveys each year across the country. The more producers we have responding, the better and more accurate our data will be. We want to understand why farmers do or do not respond to our surveys, and we’ll use this information to improve the survey experience. It’s short – just three questions – and we appreciate your feedback.

Responses will be collected through Sept. 1, 2017. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Farmer_Feedback/index.php

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to limit the content of N-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in finished smokeless tobacco products (STP) in order to reduce the risk of cancer associated with STP use. The proposed standard would limit NNN levels to 1.0 mg/g (1 ppm) or less in moist smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, dry snuff and other STP throughout the finished product’s labeled expiration date. According to FDA and other data most STP sold in the U.S. do not meet this standard.

Nicotine conversion to NNN can occur during all steps in delivering STP to the consumer from field to retail shelf. Technology does not exist that will allow growers and manufacturers to meet this proposed standard consistently. This proposed standard, if implemented, would force STP manufacturers to test and purchase bales with reduced NNN content. Here in Virginia, this selection process would result in the elimination of contracted dark fire-cured tobacco production and further depress demand for burley tobacco.

FDA is accepting public comment on its proposed standard through July 10, 2017. Please contact FDA and tell them you OPPOSE the proposed standard because it cannot be achieved with current technology and ask them to withdraw the proposed rule.

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Lindsay P. Reames has been appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  Lindsay most recently served as Manager of Animal Care & Sustainability for Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, leading their animal care and sustainability initiatives.  Previously she served as Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.  Lindsay earned her Master of Public Administration and her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Virginia Tech.  Lindsay and her family operate their Amelia County farm, which raises beef cattle, corn, soybeans and hay.

Roanoke County Farm Bureau President Megan Seibel has been promoted to Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

Congratulations, Lindsay and Megan! 

The Bedford County Young Farmers held a legislative farm tour on May 13th. Below are two perspectives from Farm Bureau staff: Mark Campbell, Sr. Field Services Director, and Arielle Brown, Legislative Specialist. 

Mark Campbell: Bedford County Farm Bureau and the Young Farmers hosted a “Meet Virginia Agriculture” event on May 13th.  The event was originally initiated by an idea from Delegate Scott Garrett for legislators to learn first-hand about farms and the business of farming along with challenges and opportunities.

Meet Virginia Agriculture was held in the Huddleston area.  Legislators and their aides that attended were Delegate Scott Garrett, Delegate Kathy Byron and aide, Senator Suetterlein, Senator Bryce Reeves and Aide, and two county board of supervisors’ members.  Everyone car pooled to the farms which allowed for good discussion between farms, which included Gardner Heifers; Tuner Dairy; and the farm of Beth Bays and family, young farmer member.

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Robert Mills, VFBF Board Member and member of Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau was elected President of the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Thursday. Shelley Barlow of Nansemond County Farm Bureau was elected Vice President.

Mills owns and operates Briar View Farms, which includes a pullet breeder operation that raises 34,000 birds annually for Perdue Farms, and he has 300 brood cows. He also grows 90 acres of flue-cured and dark-fired tobacco.

Barlow and her husband, Joe, work and live on her family’s farm Cotton Plains Farm in Chuckatuck. The Barlows’ main crop is cotton, although they also grow wheat, soybeans and hay. She is also active in the Virginia Farm Bureau Women’s Program and the Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom Program.

The formation of the first Board of Agriculture was authorized by the Virginia General Assembly on March 5, 1888. Today’s Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services consists of citizens and practicing farmers from each Virginia congressional district and two pesticide-industry professionals. Board members are appointed by the Governor for a four-year term. The presidents of Virginia State University and Virginia Tech are ex officio members of the board.

From American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall:

This week, President Trump sent to Congress a proposal to slash the USDA budget by more than $228 billion over 10 years, including $38 billion from farm programs. This proposal would fail agriculture and rural America, and for that reason the American Farm Bureau cannot support it.

Farm Bureau members are concerned about the federal budget deficit. We believe agriculture should do its fair share to get us back to fiscal discipline and a balanced budget. But we’ve already done more than our fair share.

When Congress passed the 2014 farm bill, it was estimated to cut the deficit by $23 billion over 10 years. Agriculture was the only sector that voluntarily offered savings during the 113^th Congress, when the 2014 farm bill was passed. Before that, Congress passed budget reconciliation bills that targeted agriculture for savings. In fact, it is difficult to think of another sector that has done as much as agriculture to address the national deficit.
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All Americans—farmers, the public, state and local officials, environmentalists—should be able to count on a regulatory system that is fair and transparent. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a regulatory reform bill.  Now the Senate needs to act.

Farm Bureau is working to prevent implementation of the current Waters of the U.S. rule and other excessive expansion of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, reform the Endangered Species Act, preserve farmers’ and ranchers’ land-use and water rights, and reform the federal regulatory process.  Learn more here.

We need a regulatory process that is based on facts, respects the legislative intent of Congress and observes the separation of powers in the Constitution.

Tell your Senators that reform is needed now! Click on the link to take action: http://www.fb.org/advocacy/regulation-reform-now/

Members of more than 40 county Farm Bureaus in Virginia have donated nearly $44,000 to assist fellow farmers affected by destructive wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. The recent fires swept through an estimated 1.5 million acres, killed seven people and destroyed homes, cattle and livelihoods.

Beth Bays, secretary of the Bedford County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee, helped spearhead that county’s relief efforts.
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Governor Terry McAuliffe will lead a three-day trade and marketing mission to Mexico from May 1-4, 2017.  The Governor will be accompanied by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden, and representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The delegation will visit Guadalajara and Mexico City.

The Governor and his delegation will participate in more than 10 meetings over the course of the mission. The Governor will meet with senior business executives and government officials, including Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso, to promote Virginia as a business location and tourism destination. The delegation will also encourage trade opportunities for Virginia agricultural and forestry products including: pork, wheat, apples, poultry, lumber, wine, tobacco, and specialty food and beverage products.

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From the Richmond-Times Dispatch

By Matt Nuckols of Eastview Farm, Hanover County Farm Bureau member:

As a dairy farmer, I provide my neighbors, friends and family with milk; it is my livelihood, and I work hard to do it right. Dairy farmers must follow stringent regulations to ensure we deliver a high-quality, consistent and safe product with nine essential nutrients. If I don’t follow sanitation and hygiene rules, my dairy operation could be hit with a fine, or even shut down.

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