~ State Veterinarian’s Office encourages horse owners to check with their veterinarians now regarding vaccination schedule ~

Mosquito season will begin soon in Virginia. That means it’s time to start thinking about vaccinating your horses against mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) encourages all horse owners to check with their veterinarians for vaccination recommendations for their animals. In 2016, Virginia had seven confirmed cases of EEE in horses.

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The American Farm Bureau Federation announces the launch of Market Intel, a new series of market intelligence reports available at fb.org/marketintel and on Twitter (@FBMarketIntel). Market Intel will provide timely market intelligence on the agricultural economy for farmers, ranchers, lawmakers and consumers, according to AFBF.

“Soybeans Trumping Corn in 18 States” by AFBF’s Dr. John Newton, is the first Market Intel report in the new series. It features insights on the implications of the Agriculture Department’s just-released Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks reports.

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Virginia forest landowners looking to gain an understanding of how to keep their woods healthy and productive can do so in the comfort of their own home.

Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment are offering an online course to help private landowners become better stewards of their land.

The 12-week Online Woodland Options for Landowners course, which runs from May 15 to Aug. 4, teaches basic management principles and techniques for both novice and veteran private forest landowners. Materials provided include four reference books and access to an online a tree identification tutorial.

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The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is asking for comments on changes to hunting, trapping, or other wildlife regulations that you would like to see for the 2017–2018 seasons. They are interested in understanding the values and concerns behind your recommended changes to our hunting, trapping, and wildlife laws. This information will help the Department determine the best course of action to address potential regulation changes. Comments will be accepted online until May 10, 2017.

Click here to make comments: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/regulations/2017-terrestrial-wildlife-regulation-proposals/?utm_source=dgif_homepage&utm_campaign=terrestrial_regs_comment_period&utm_medium=slider

Once the page loads, click on “Provide Your Information to Comment”. 

Comments also may be: made in person at the May 24, 2017 meeting of the Board, 9:00 AM at 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, Virginia 23228; postal-mailed to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Attn: Policy Analyst and Regulatory Coordinator, P.O. Box 90778, Henrico, Virginia 23228; or emailed to regcomments@dgif.virginia.gov. Comments must be in writing and accompanied by the name, address and telephone number of the party offering them. Comments submitted other than at the May 24, 2017 Board meeting must be received no later than May 10, 2017.

After hearing public comment on the proposed amendments at the May 24 Board meeting, the Board anticipates adopting final regulation amendments that will be effective for the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 hunting and trapping seasons.

In his latest crop market report—Cropland Area and Production Projected Lower, Prices Higher in 2017—AFBF economist John Newton says USDA experts late last month indicated total cropland area for the eight principal crops was projected at 249.8 million acres, down 1.4 percent from 2016.

If realized this would be the lowest planted area since 2011 when 249 million acres were planted to the eight crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, sorghum, oats, rice and cotton.

USDA believes that in addition to fewer acres being planted, projected crop yields will also decline from last year—a combo that compelled USDA to reduce its production expectations for many crops in 2017.

In the report, Newton also addresses the spring price discovery and its implications for crop insurance policies and projections for acreage changes in corn and soybeans for the upcoming year.

Download the full March 2017 Crop Market Update below.

http://www.fb.org/files/Crop_Market_Update-March_2017.pdf

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall was honored by National 4-H Council today as a founding luminary during the launch of the 4-H Luminaries. This exclusive group of accomplished and influential 4-H alumni will help raise awareness of the life-changing 4-H impact and generate support for bringing 4-H to more youth.

The 40 members recognized in the Class of 2017 4-H Luminaries will help fuel the growth of 4-H by committing to serve as 4-H spokespeople – sharing the personal impact of 4-H, offering their expertise and access to experiences for 4-H youth, alumni and professionals, and connecting their network for marketing, media and fundraising opportunities to help grow the mission of 4-H.

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Farmers from the 5th Congressional district met with newly elected Congressman Tom Garrett in Nelson County on Monday to discuss several federal issues of importance.  The fifth district is large, encompassing much of Southside Virginia and extending north all the way to Fauquier County.  Some farmers traveled more than two hours for the meeting.

The three issues were regulatory reform, Farm Bill, and Labor.  There was significant discussion on the labor issue, mainly the shortage of it and the bureaucracy of the H2A program.  Given that there are complexities and delays with the H2A program, a documented guest worker program; many farmers like it because the labor is good and dependable.  Congressman Garrett advised that he has become much more knowledgeable about the program since taking on his new role, and said that he would do his best to advocate for a more efficient process.  The first hand examples of farmers using the H2A program was beneficial and included fruit and tobacco growers and horticulture enterprises.  Regulatory reform was also discussed and we were pleased that work has already taken place in reducing some burdensome regulations.

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It’s Time to Bury the Death Tax … Permanently!

Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) have introduced the bipartisan Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 (H.R. 631) to permanently repeal the estate tax. Senator John Thune introduced companion legislation, S. 205, in the U.S. Senate.

Estate taxes are a pressing problem for family-owned farms. Approximately 90 percent of farm assets are illiquid assets, such as land, buildings and equipment, which leaves few options when it comes to generating cash to pay an estate tax. A repeal of the death tax will allow the family business to continue without having to sell land, livestock or equipment to pay the taxes.

Farm Bureau believes that the estate taxes should be permanently eliminated.

To send a message, click here:  app.muster.com/take-action/7YFuXDsskT/

To make a call, click here:  app.muster.com/take-action/p/RnuYElmfQE/

Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced $4.5 million in new export sales of Virginia soybean products by Perdue Agribusiness to markets in Southeast Asia, an important and growing region with high demand for agricultural inputs from the United States. Soybeans and soybean meal are two of Virginia’s largest agricultural exports, with over $870 million worth of these products leaving the state for international markets in 2016 and over $55 million to the Southeast Asia region. The announcement was made during the 9^th annual Virginia Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade being held in Richmond. The sale was made as a result of a reverse trade mission of soybean buyers from Southeast Asia, arranged by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and coordinated by VDACS’ Southeast Asia-based trade representative.

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Describing the flawed “Waters of the U.S.” rule as nothing more than a federal land grab, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called President Trump’s executive order to ditch the rule “a welcome relief to farmers and ranchers across the country.”

Duvall asserted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “failed to listen to farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns when drafting the rule and instead created widespread confusion for agriculture. Under the rule, the smallest pond or ditch could be declared a federal waterway.”

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