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Timber!!

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Andrew Smith
Senior Assistant Director
Governmental Relations
I have written about this before, but it’s always an important thing to remember. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled the Commonwealth a great deal this year, and it seems everywhere I go I see timber harvesting being conducted. It’s a vital part of the cycle needed for healthy timber production. Over 77 percent of Virginia’s forest is privately owned, much of it in conjunction of farming operations across our state. Forestry generates $17 billion annually in total industry output In Virginia. It’s a great feeling seeing a healthy economy for timber these days, and it’s an awesome sight to see one of our greatest renewable resources being harvested and to begin its journey into forest products.

Whether you are planning to harvest your timber now or just managing your stand, it’s important to know where your boundary lines are, and, even more importantly, that they are clearly marked to help avoid any timber trespass to occur on your land. As I get older I realize that property I once walked often now becomes more of a chore, and I am relatively a “flat lander,” so I am sure it’s even more of a challenge for folks in the western part of the state to walk their property lines. It’s imperative to make sure not only yourself know your lines, but your neighbors do, and a potential harvester can clearly identify those property lines when it comes to the day those tress are cut. The Code of Virginia details how your property should be marked to prevent timber trespass/theft in § 55-334.1. The Virginia Department of Forestry has produced an excellent publication called Prevent Timber Theft. I encourage you to check this publication out.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting that will take place November 30 – December 3 in Norfolk, Virginia this year. One of the education workshops is entitled “Property Security Concerns for Landowners” conducted by Aaron Gilland, President, Dendro Resource Management, Inc. Aaron will give a presentation on the importance of knowing and monitoring  your property, not just for potential theft, but also what to look for in illegal activities on your property and steps to help stop problems from happening. I encourage you to attend the workshop if you are joining us in Norfolk this year.

In the meantime check out the below handouts/articles on the subject!

The Value of Virginia’s Forest (DOF)
Dealing with Timber Theft
2013 Timber Theft Parts I and II by Bill Worrell
Virginia Department of Forestry Publications
Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program (VFLEP)

Making Sense of the Nationwide Stay of EPA’s WOTUS Rule

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In a short video, AFBF’s Don Parrish explains why Friday’s temporary stay of EPA’s controversial Waters of the U.S. rule is welcome news for farmers. He also explains what needs to be done to quash the government agency’s regulatory overreach. 

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Governor Announces New Agricultural Exports to Canada

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Three Virginia specialty food companies are set to begin exporting their products into Canada.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced recently that over the past several months international marketing staff at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Virginia’s Toronto-based agricultural trade representative, Argyle Communications, have worked with several Virginia specialty food producers to achieve new international sales.
The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg, and Charlottesville-based Bone Doctors’ Barbecue Sauce and Montebello Kitchens will export products to Canada.

The trade deals represent new revenue streams from Virginia’s second-largest export market for farm and forestry products.

“This is great news and represents an opportunity for other Virginia food businesses,” said Tony Banks, a commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

“Each year thousands of our northern neighbors travel to or through Virginia, where they are likely to eat and drink Virginia products. The greater presence and consumer awareness we have in foreign markets, the more opportunity there will be for all Virginia companies.”

Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, said more than 80 percent of the world’s consumer base lives outside of the United States, and every $1 in exports from Virginia generates about $1.30 within the state.

In addition to the new specialty food export deals, McAuliffe will continue efforts to increase exports of Virginia seafood, craft beer and wine to Canada.

Agricultural and forestry exports from Virginia reached a record high of $3.35 billion in 2014, an increase of more than 14 percent over 2013. The commonwealth exported more than $279 million in products to Canada last year.

Breaking News: U.S. Court Places Hold on Clean Water Rule Nationwide

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A U.S. court on Friday issued an order temporarily blocking the implementation of a federal water rule across the country.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit granted a nationwide stay against the so-called Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which is intended to clarify which bodies of water are covered by the Clean Water Act. The rule was finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May but still faces political and legal opposition.

Statement from Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation President:

“A federal court today ordered the EPA to stop enforcement nationwide of the Waters of the United States rule. The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased the Sixth Circuit recognizes that this rule has serious flaws and cannot go forward until the courts have had an opportunity to understand its effect on farmers, ranchers and landowners of all kinds.

“The judges expressed deep concerns over the basic legality of this rule. We’re not in the least surprised: This is the worst EPA order we have seen since the agency was established more than 40 years ago. The court clearly understood our arguments.

“We are confident that the courts will strike down this rule. Unfortunately, we also know stays don’t last forever, and cases like this almost always take years to win. So we again ask the Senate to pass legislation to nullify this rule just as the House has already done. Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to wait.”

Get to Know GMOs Month to Feature Push for Voluntary Labeling Program

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The Senate Agriculture Committee has announced an Oct. 21 hearing on biotechnology, and U.S. farmers soon will begin contacting their senators about legislation related to foods with genetically modified ingredients.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food plan to encourage Senate action on the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives in July. While H.R. 1599 has not been introduced in the Senate yet, negotiations are under way among Senate Agriculture Committee principals.

If enacted, the bill would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority on the use and labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients. It would create a voluntary labeling program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service. The AMS also administers the USDA Organic Program.

Earlier this year, AFBF President Bob Stallman asserted that state-led mandatory food labeling incentives “mislead consumers about the safety of genetically modified foods, even though there is no credible evidence linking a food-safety or health risk to the consumption of GM foods.”

Stallman said H.R. 1599 “would protect consumers from confusing and misleading GMO labels and create a national, voluntary labeling standard based on science and common sense.”

Lindsay Reames, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation assistant director of governmental relations, said prompt Senate action on the bill is critical. “The Senate needs to act quickly to preempt GMO labeling laws that go into effect next July—and give certainty to farmers, manufacturers and consumers. Inaction will create a state-by-state patchwork that threatens important production and environmental benefits.”

GMOAnswers.com, a website created by member organizations of the Council for Biotechnology Information to address consumer questions, is observing October as Get to Know GMOs Month.

Don’t Forget to Take your "I Farm I Vote" Photos!

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We’re almost a month out from Election Day! Have you posted your “I Farm I Vote” photo on your Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages yet?

All 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly are up for election this year. It’s crucial for farmers to let their voices be heard and elect people who will make decisions in agriculture’s best interests. Let them know rural votes matter!

Take a photo with the sign on your farm, and post them to your social media pages using the #IFarmIVoteVA hashtag. 

For more information, visit VaFarmBureau.org/PolicyAction/IFarmIVote.aspx to print a sign, or contact a county Farm Bureau office for more information.

Urban Agriculture Summit Set for Oct. 22 and 23

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Organizers are getting ready for Virginia’s third Urban Agriculture Summit, which will be held Oct. 22 and 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond. Summit speakers will address the current state and future of urban agriculture in the United States.

Speakers include Ben Greene from The Farmery in Raleigh, N.C.; Ben Flanner of Brooklyn Grange Farm in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Margaret Morgan, CEO of Eco City Farms in Riverdale, Md. Also on the agenda are panel discussions on soil optimization, social enterprise and entrepreneurial development.

Participants may take two separate guided tours. On the morning of Oct. 22 a group will visit the Harding Street Community Agriculture Center in Petersburg. Following presentations at the conference in the afternoon, a group will visit Richmond’s Tricycle Gardens and Jerusalem Connection.

An agenda and hotel information are available at events.SignUp4.com/UrbanAgSummit2015, along with information on sponsorship and vendor opportunities.

Organizers of the summit are the Virginia Department of Health; the Federation of Virginia Food Banks; Shalom Farms; the Society of St. Andrew; Virginia State University; Virginia Tech; Virginia Cooperative Extension; the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; the Virginia Food System Council; the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation & Rural Sustainability; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency.