From American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall: 

The nation’s system of laws and regulations is filled with policies that come from good intentions but, when applied without enough thought or input, don’t make sense in their implementation. One example that agriculture faces right now is the requirement that truck drivers install electronic logging devices in their vehicles. By switching from paper records to the electronic devices, it’s supposed to be easier to keep truckers honest about not going over the hours of service limits.

Continue reading →

After rebounding slightly in 2017, net farm income in 2018 is expected to fall to $59.5 billion, a 12-year low, according to the Agriculture Department’s most recent 2018 Farm Sector Income Forecast from the Economic Research Service. If realized, this would be the lowest net farm income since 2006 and would represent a decline of 6.7 percent from USDA’s 2017 projection.

Net farm income is a comprehensive indicator of U.S. farm profitability – for all crops and livestock – and includes cash receipts from farming as well as farm-related income, including government payments and noncash items like changes in inventories, economic depreciation and gross imputed rental income, minus cash expenses.

Net cash farm income is less comprehensive and does not include noncash items. Net cash income in 2018 is projected at $91.9 billion, down 5.1 percent from 2017 levels. If realized, this would be the lowest level since 2009.

Market Intel update
Newsline (podcast)

“The budget deal approved by Congress and signed by President Trump today includes a number of important agricultural provisions that will help America’s farmers and ranchers and support food security for all Americans,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall in a statement issued last week.

“First, the measure assists farmers affected by natural disasters. Last year’s fires and hurricanes were devastating for many farmers. This disaster assistance is much needed so that affected producers can recover and continue to help feed, house, fuel and clothe our citizens.

“By including measures to improve policies for cotton and dairy farmers, Congress has taken important steps to address two of our biggest farm bill priorities. Also important was eliminating the cap on USDA livestock risk management tools to provide more options in the livestock sector.”

For more information about those provisions, go here: https://www.agweb.com/article/inside-track-new-budget-deal-good-for-agriculture-naa-agweb-guest-editor/

It was typical day at the Lynchburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Veterinarian John Moody necropsied two calves from the same farm. The farm reported that three of four calves in a pen, all different ages, had died on the same day. Two of the calves were submitted to the laboratory for a necropsy, an animal autopsy, in hopes of determining the cause of death.

Continue reading →

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) just announced the detection of a new invasive insect pest in Virginia. In early January, VDACS inspectors discovered the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, at a stone yard in Frederick County near Winchester. The Spotted Lanternfly is native to China, India and Vietnam, and prior to the January detection, was not known to occur in Virginia. Both SLF egg masses and dead adults were detected at the Winchester site.

Continue reading →

For Virginia farmers, January is a time for tax preparation, livestock births, equipment maintenance and professional conferences.

For members of Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy organization, January also is time for an annual visit with state legislators. And even though construction of a new General Assembly Building has forced some logistical changes, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s producer members are staying engaged in the legislative process.

Continue reading →

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will host two free workshops to help farmers maximize the use of manure on their farms.

Both workshops are geared to dairy farmers, but anyone is welcome. Lunch will be provided.

“The main focus of these workshops will be to help farmers understand the nutrient value and the dollar value of the manure, and how they fit into the overall fertility management of their operation,” explained DCR Nutrient Management Specialist Becky Barlow.

Continue reading →

Governor Ralph Northam today announced that groups seeking to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $60,000 per project. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) anticipates administering nearly $440,000 in funds for the development of specialty crops. The deadline for submitting applications is March 15, 2018.

Continue reading →

A recent report indicates the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and Virginia Cooperative Extension have far-reaching impacts across the state.

The analysis, conducted by the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development, highlights examples of industry impacts and community developments made possible by people and programs supported by Cooperative Extension and the experiment station, which are classified as “Agency 229.”

“In addition to the numbers and analysis presented in the report, citizens provided concrete examples detailing how their lives and communities would not be the same without the outreach and research” of Agency 229, noted Dr. John Provo, director of the VT Office of Economic Development.

Continue reading →

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.