From American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall:
AFBF President Zippy Duvall
Many of you know that I was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks ago. I want to begin this column with a heartfelt thank you for everyone’s thoughts and prayers. Your messages of caring and encouragement have meant a lot to me.
It is amazing how this virus hits people in such different ways. My COVID-19 experience has been much lighter than others have had. I’m blessed and grateful for that, but I also want to send prayers to everyone whose health has been more severely impacted, as well as those whose livelihoods have been threatened.
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. was named among the 2020 Property-Casualty Ward’s 50 Companies—for the third year in a row.
Virginia Farm Bureau’s strength has always been rooted in our membership. Our members live in every corner of the Commonwealth, raise an unbelievable variety of crops and commodities, and carry diverse views that all come together through our grassroots structure to serve as a united representative of the Virginia agriculture industry.
The 2020 Virginia Ag Expo has been canceled to ensure the health and safety of exhibitors and guests as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Farm Bureau is asking Senate lawmakers to make several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to make it more workable for farmers and ranchers.
While DMV Customer Service Centers are reopening, the staggered openings and services by appointment only have implications for pesticide applicators and their ability to take the certification exam(s). To address the issue, the Administration has again extended the expiration date for all Notices of Authorization to tests issued on or after December 20, 2019. All authorization letters for prospective applicators to take the exam(s) to become certified issued on or after December 20, 2019, will now expire on October 31, 2020, or the current date of expiration, whichever is greater. Prospective applicators that do not take the exam(s) by October 31, 2020, or the current date of expiration, whichever is greater, will be required to submit a new application with appropriate fees to take the exam(s).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has 
