Jennifer Massengill, a science and technology teacher at Hampton Roads Academy, has been named Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom 2018 Teacher of the Year.

The award recognizes a Virginia educator for incorporating agriculture into his or her core curriculum.

“Jennifer uses her extensive school garden as the jumping-off point for real-life, hands-on examples to demonstrate required core curriculum such as science, technology and language arts.” said Tammy Maxey, AITC senior education manager. “Through Jennifer’s efforts, her students are gaining a greater appreciation for agriculture, as well as an improved understanding that food begins on the farm.”

Massengill’s goal has been to involve each student with the garden. Through science classes, blog groups, afternoon garden club activities and morning cooking classes, those experiences provide meaningful, real-life context to required Virginia Standards of Learning.

As Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year Massengill will receive a scholarship to attend the 2018 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in June in Portland, Maine, and a $500 award.

Virginia AITC also recognized two finalists, who will receive registration to the National AITC Conference: Christine Miller of Swift Creek Elementary School in Chesterfield County and Chris Ratliff of McCleary Elementary School in Craig County.

Governor Ralph Northam will co-host the 10th Annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade on March 5, 2018 at 12:00 PM at the Richmond Marriott Hotel. The two-day conference is co-hosted by Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, and the Port of Virginia. The event will bring together producers, agribusinesses, entrepreneurs, exporters, foreign ambassadors and government ministers, educational leadership, state and federal government officials, and others to discuss challenges and opportunities for global agricultural exports.

“For a decade, the Annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade has highlighted the vital role agriculture and forestry exports play in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “Global trade is critical to a strong and diverse economy, and attention to growth and opportunities for our largest private sectors is a top priority in my administration.” Continue reading →

Legislation to curtail frivolous and excessive lawsuits against farmers and other agricultural interests cleared an important hurdle on Wednesday by advancing in both Houses.

HB987, introduced by Majority Leader Delegate C. Todd Gilbert (R-Mount Jackson) and Del. Roz Tyler (D-Jarratt) passed unanimously in the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates. An identical bill, SB 567, was also introduced in the Virginia State Senate by Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) and Senator Richard Stuart (R-Stafford). It passed unanimously on the Senate floor.

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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018 during a town hall at Reinford Farms in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.

“Since my first day as the Secretary of Agriculture, I’ve traveled to 30 states, listening to the people of American agriculture about what is working and what is not. The conversations we had and the people we came across helped us craft USDA’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018,” said Secretary Perdue. “These principles will be used as a road map – they are our way of letting Congress know what we’ve heard from the hard-working men and women of American agriculture. While we understand it’s the legislature’s job to write the Farm Bill, USDA will be right there providing whatever counsel Congress may request or require.” Continue reading →

An executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month will reduce the bureaucratic red tape private companies encounter while building out infrastructure to deploy broadband services on federal lands. The order directs the General Services Administration to develop a common form and master contract for wireless facility locations on other property owned by the federal government within 180 days. Additionally, all federal property managing agencies must provide a quarterly report to the GSA on the number of applications, approvals and rejections based on the newly developed common form application.

The order does not provide any funding for the deployment of broadband to rural areas but expedites the approval process for companies that want to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural areas near or on federal lands.

This morning the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision deciding which federal court has jurisdiction to hear legal challenges to the 2015 WOTUS rule.

Ellen Steen, General Counsel of the American Farm Bureau Federation reacts:

“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled correctly today that federal district courts—not federal courts of appeals—have jurisdiction to review the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. This Supreme Court decision brings greater clarity to an important issue that has bogged down the litigation over this and other Clean Water Act regulations for years. That is a positive result, but it also creates uncertainty and confusion in the short term, because the Sixth Circuit must soon lift its nationwide stay of the 2015 rule.

“At this time, the Environmental Protection Agency has not yet finalized its proposed rule to delay the application of the unlawful and dangerous 2015 WOTUS rule while the agency considers whether to permanently repeal that rule. AFBF is considering its options to avoid application of the 2015 rule while EPA moves forward with an appropriate long-term solution that provides clear rules and clean water without requiring a federal permit to plow a field.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today outlined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) services available in the event of a government shutdown.

“USDA is committed to safeguarding life and property through the critical services we provide – and should the government shut down, we will continue to do just that,” said Secretary Perdue. “I am proud of each USDA employee for everything they do to benefit the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who depend on our services. It is their mission each day to fulfill our USDA motto, ‘Do right and feed everyone.’”

While you may click HERE to view USDA’s lapse in funding plans, background information on USDA services available in the event of a government shutdown are below:

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The Food Safety Modernization Act will go in effect Jan. 26. Considered the most sweeping update of U.S. food safety laws in more than 70 years, it will affect the nation’s largest-scale produce growers, including some in Virginia.

The act’s Produce Safety Rule establishes mandatory science-based, minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. These standards were designed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the Crop Production 2017 Summary today, highlighting record high yields for soybeans and peanuts.

“The 2017 final crop yields and production were mixed when compared to 2016 crops,” said Herman Ellison, Virginia state statistician. “The highest yields on record for soybeans and peanuts were the highlight, while corn did not meet farmer’s expectations.”

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Governor-Elect Ralph Northam has appointed Rob Farrell as State Forester.

Farrell is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has worked for VDOF for 18 years, starting out as an area forester, then holding the position of assistant director of forestland conservation before taking on the role of Deputy State Forester in 2012.

Congratulations, Rob!