Who Will Be the Next Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneur of the Year?

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Entrepreneurs thinking about entering the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge – with $145,000 in startup funds up for grabs – are encouraged to pay close attention to the entry criteria, as there have been some changes since the inaugural competition.

“New this year, competitors must submit an idea for a business that is related directly or indirectly to food and agriculture,” said Dr. Lisa Benson, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s director of rural development. “This competition aims to address Farm Bureau’s mission to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities. We believe supporting rural businesses that relate in some way to food and agriculture is a winning strategy to accomplish this.”

Businesses directly related to food and agriculture include farms or ranches, processing facilities, value-added food processing, food hubs, community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs), farm-to-table restaurants and farmers’ markets. Businesses indirectly related to food and agriculture include support services such as crop scouting, agritourism, ag advertising agencies and ag tech companies that develop apps.

Also new, Farm Bureau will endeavor to connect top-scoring teams with resources for crowdfunding loans to help them jumpstart their businesses.

“Taking a startup company from innovative concept, to strategy, to reality often hinges on access to funding,” Benson said. “The challenge and crowdfunding are great options for small rural business owners to access necessary funding to take their business to the next level.”

Applications for the competition will be accepted beginning June 1 through June 30. Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in startup funds. The challenge, now in its second year, provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations being cultivated in rural regions of the United States. It is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs working on agribusinesses.

Again this year, competitors must be based in a rural community as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Competitors’ primary residences or businesses must be located in a county with less than 50,000 residents or a town with less than 2,500 residents.

The application includes a business plan, video pitch and photo. Judges will review the applications and provide feedback to the participants. Participants have the option of resubmitting portions of their applications based on feedback from the judges; resubmission is optional and participants are not penalized for not resubmitting their applications.

The top 10 teams will be announced on Oct. 15. This includes six teams who will win $10,000 in startup funds and four finalist teams who will win $15,000 in startup funds and compete in a live competition at AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, in January.

Finalists will compete for the grand prize title Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneur of the Year and $15,000 in additional startup funds to implement their ideas. One of the finalists also will be honored with the People’s Choice Award and $10,000 in additional startup funding.

The challenge timeline, detailed eligibility guidelines and profiles of the 2015 finalist teams are available online at http://www.strongruralamerica.com/challenge. A preview of the online application is available. Applications may be submitted online beginning June 1.

Judges for the challenge come from a wide range of economic development backgrounds, including banking, universities and rural development non-profit organizations. Farm Bureau staff at the county, state and national level may not serve as judges.

 

VSU to Hold Informational Field Days This Spring

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Blueberry is the fastest growing crop in many states including North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Market demand for blueberry is high and profit potential for growing locally grown blueberry is considerable. One major issue for blueberry growers is the planting of the new blueberry cultivars (varieties) that are becoming available with superior fruit size, taste, color and disease tolerance.

New and experienced blueberry growers will learn about new and better cultivars for planting.

At Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm a collection of 45 different blueberry cultivars (15-20 plants/cultivars) have set fruit. All are different in terms of cluster density, productivity, plant structure, bush size, vigor, etc. This is an opportunity to see these cultivars and decide which one may be suitable for your future blueberry production.

To register: visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10DymLW5I0jLZ1UXCHD3MEJNktaud03hjhdLdbSS7OmE/viewform?c=0&w=1
Beginning and experienced farmers will learn from Cooperative Extension Specialists about the latest research, trends and proven techniques for maximizing farm profits on limited acreage. USDA representatives will be on hand to explain how government resources can open doors for small farmers. Visit farm-related exhibitors and enjoy an Iron Chef competition demonstrating how to prepare winning meals with locally grown produce.

American Farm Bureau Hails House Passage of ‘Waters’ Bill

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The U.S. House of Representatives voted May 12 to overturn a rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency that would redefine which bodies of water and farm activities are subject to EPA oversight.
H.R. 1732 would force the EPA to withdraw its “Waters of the U.S.” rule and develop a new proposal. It will now be considered by the Senate.
The “Waters” rule was cause for concern among the nation’s farmers because it would give the EPA broad jurisdiction over dry land features and farming practices that historically has been relegated to individual States under the Clean Water Act.
Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said House members “sent a strong, bipartisan message that the flawed ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule is unacceptable and should be scrapped. Furthermore, it was refreshing to see members of Congress order regulators back to the drawing board with an admonition to listen to the very real concerns of people who would have their farm fields and ditches regulated in the same manner as navigable streams.”

The AFBF has characterized the “Waters” rule as an end-run around Congress and around U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and Stallman said it focused more on regulating land than on protecting valuable water resources.
“Farmers and ranchers know all about the importance of protecting water, and they will continue to put that belief into practice,” he said. “Through cooperative conservation measures, we have helped cut land erosion by more than 50 percent in just the last 20 years.”
U.S. farmers also have reduced pesticide use and today use cutting-edge technology to apply just the right amount of fertilizer at just the right time, Stallman said.
“We look forward to a new water rule that recognizes the enormous work we have done and honors the limits authorized by Congress and the Supreme Court.”

VFBF President Responds to Politifact Article on Estate Tax

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VFBF President
Wayne F. Pryor

Last week, Politifact published “Hurt amiss in blaming estate tax for sales of family farms and businesses. Here is VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor’s response.

“As a Virginia farmer and president of the state’s largest farmers’ advocacy organization, I would be remiss if I did not point out that PolitiFact Virginia’s “Hurt amiss in blaming estate tax for sales of family farms and businesses” serves to marginalize the threat that the federal estate tax poses to Virginia’s and the nation’s farmers.
The value of family-owned farms typically is tied to illiquid assets such as land, buildings and equipment. A strong appreciation of land values since 2002 has dramatically increased the number of farms that stand to be affected by the estate tax.
USDA reports from 2002 and 2013 indicate Virginia farm real estate appreciated $2,060 per acre—83 percent—in that 11-year period. Virginia cropland values appreciated $2,250 per acre—92 percent—in the same period.
Based on those 2013 land values, farms with more than 1,099 acres, or 1,064 acres of cropland, would reach the $5 million exemption. Based on the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the percentage of Virginia farms that exceed the $5 million exemption has increased from 1 percent to 2 percent, and the number of crop producers who exceed the limit has increased from 1 percent to 3 percent.
Individuals, family partnerships and family corporations own about 97 percent of U.S. farms, and I can assure you that 0 percent of them build and continue their family businesses to ultimately enrich the federal government. Perhaps, as Mr. Fiske asserts, “few families are wealthy enough to be bothered by the estate tax,” but the farm families who are that wealthy are the ones who are producing the majority of the nation’s food, fiber and fuel commodities.
They face a tax that penalizes them for their work and initiative and stands to claim the essentials of their livelihoods.
Virginia Farm Bureau is grateful to Reps. Hurt, Forbes, Goodlatte, Griffith and Wittman for their support on this issue.”
Wayne F. Pryor, President

Virginia Farm Bureau

From the Field: May is National Beef Month

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From the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.

It’s hard to believe it is May already. The old adage about time going by quicker as we get older is true. While May is when hay making season starts, temperatures in the mid-80s the past few days served as a wakeup call to get the hay equipment out of the sheds and out into the fields.
May is also national beef month and is the beginning of grilling season. Food today encompasses many thoughts and discussions other than just sustenance. In addition to nutrition; consumers consider source, brand, integrity, how it was raised, genetics, technology, price, humane treatment and even environmental impact.
This morning I read this article that came through my email. It is an interesting perspective of a former vegetarian that is also a registered dietician/nutritionist. I give her credit for not only allowing herself to once again enjoy a tasty steak, but she researched her misconceptions for herself. Here is the link. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2015/04/16/the-other-side-of-the-beef-is-bad-story.

She is not alone as many more consumers have misconceptions about beef and other foods. To make matters more complex, the national dietary guidelines advised in one generation to stay away from certain foods like eggs because of cholesterol and then a generation later are now heralded as a great protein source. The same goes for beef. It was bad for your heart. Now beef has been proven to lower bad cholesterol in the Beef in an Optimum Lean Diet (BOLD) study. This year for the first time in history the dietary guidelines factored in environmental impact. These are supposed to be dietary guidelines for nutrition, but the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee delved into environment and sustainability which is considered by many as being beyond the committee’s expertise. I don’t know if the federal dietary guidelines carry as much credibility with the general public as they used to, but the guidelines can still be far reaching as they are considered by federal food programs such as school lunches, nutritionists, and doctors.
So if your food product is being misportrayed, what are you to do? Most all of the commodity groups have lots of factual information for you to use as a resource to share with your doctor, neighbors, and others. These resources are backed by credible research and can be a reliable source for those you may be trying to educate or influence. This can be comforting to the consumer who is bombarded with conflicting messages on a regular basis.
There are also great testimonials on the internet such as https://feedyardfoodie.wordpress.comwhich is a blog by Anne Burkholder. She was raised in an urban setting, but is now an influential leader in the beef industry. Doing a little research of my own, I went to www.beefitswhatsfordinner.comand there was a lot of good information for consumers. The recipes looked good and gave me some new ideas to use ground beef. The www.incredibleegg.org is another good website.  I could go on. But if you have not done so, take a look at your commodity’s website. It can be a great resource to refer someone to if you get questions. Happy grilling.
Until next time,

Mark

American Farm Bureau Announces Get a Move On for GMOs Campaign

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AFBF President
Bob Stallman
As things heat up on the biotech labeling front, AFBF is providing a new resource to engage farmers and ranchers in the debate. This week, we are launching our Get a Move On for GMOs campaign. A Get a Move On website—at getamoveon.fb.org—is the first campaign resource we are rolling out. It explains why farmers and ranchers must be on the frontlines of defending access to biotechnology, how much is at stake if we lose that access, and why supporting a voluntary labeling bill is important. A “Take Action Now” link makes it easy for farmers and ranchers to urge members of Congress to support the voluntary labeling bill.

While GMO opponents want labeling mandates, Farm Bureau and food makers support a more reasonable approach. The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599) would establish that FDA is the nation’s foremost authority on food safety and create a voluntary labeling program run by USDA—similar to the USDA Organic Program. With a growing and troubling patchwork of state and local labeling requirements, we believe it’s time for a national approach—one that does not amount to putting warning labels on safe and wholesome foods. Get a Move On gives farmers and ranchers a way to oppose the multiple, varied state and local initiatives with the click of a mouse.

Members of Congress have told us that they are hearing plenty from the anti-biotech crowd, making it difficult for them to stand with agriculture. They know that GMO opponents are engaging in alarmism and opportunism. Lawmakers say they MUST hear from us. We have to Get a Move On, or else our vocal opponents will drown us out.

Last year, Farm Bureau surprised a lot of people with our Ditch the Rule campaign. In a fight against EPA and vocal environmental activist groups, we helped generate thousands of comments on the Waters of the U.S. proposed rule. Farmers and ranchers showed up, big-time! The Ditch the Rule campaign demonstrated what is achievable when we motivate the grassroots and deploy smart tools to make it easy to take action. We need to build on that success. It’s time to Get a Move On for GMOs! Check out the new website. Let us know what you think. And please keep your eyes peeled for more Get a Move On resources to come.   

New Specialty Poultry Production, Processing Facility to Locate in Albemarle County

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Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced that Kelly Turkeys USA, LLC will locate new operations for its specialty poultry production and processing facility in Albemarle County.  The company, which grows, processes, and sells high-end, heritage breed turkeys through direct and retail markets, will invest $1.4 million in a new facility.  The investment will allow the company to create 33 new jobs in the area and to grow production to 10,000 turkeys annually, over three years.  The Commonwealth is partnering with Albemarle County and Kelly Turkeys USA on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund.
VA FAIRS, the Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability, is also assisting Kelly Turkeys USA with other funding opportunities. Virginia FAIRS offers a cohesive and transparent mechanism to foster program delivery and project development between Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Business Assistance, Virginia Tech and other stakeholders with an interest in agricultural economic development, administration of programs, and assistance with obtaining grant funding. The Center acts as a vehicle where a multitude of talented and experienced stakeholders cooperatively enhance and expand services and programs to rural Virginia. VA FAIRS offers services to all Virginia producers and rural areas, including farmers, groups, associations, and agricultural and rural development centers. 

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe stated, “I am pleased to announce Kelly Turkeys’ investment in Albemarle County, which creates new jobs and grows the poultry industry, the largest sector of Virginia agriculture.  This investment bolsters Virginia’s reputation as a center for artisanal food production and highlights the importance of the growing agricultural economy of Albemarle County.  My administration is committed to expanding our diverse agriculture industry, one of the Commonwealth’s greatest assets, to help build the new Virginia economy.”
Founded in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, Kelly Turkeys U.K. is known for its unique breed of turkeys, the KellyBronze turkey.  The company has grown steadily in sales and reputation for the past 25 years and has been voted the best turkey in the United Kingdom for eight consecutive years.  Kelly Turkeys USA will bring the same brand and production methods to Virginia, establishing the company’s first United States facility.  The new U.S. location for the long-standing and established Kelly Turkeys brand will produce 100% Virginia-grown premium turkeys.
“The demand for artisanal foods is growing quickly, and companies like Kelly Turkeys are meeting that demand right here in Virginia,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, who represented Governor McAuliffe at the announcement.  “Virginia has long been known for its quality agricultural products, and we are excited to further cement our reputation as an artisanal food producer.  As we work to build the new Virginia economy, I’m pleased the Governor’s AFID Fund could support this project and Albemarle’s commitment to it.”
“It’s great to see Albemarle County continuing to develop and diversify its agricultural economy,” added First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, who also attended the announcement.  “Artisanal products like KellyBronze Turkeys contribute significantly to growing the new Virginia economy, and I am pleased that customers across the country will have access to these 100% Virginia-grown products.”
Through this announcement, Kelly Turkeys USA will help to grow the already diverse agricultural economy of Albemarle County.  The company’s new facility will utilize working farmlands in Albemarle County to support the Commonwealth’s largest private sector industry, agriculture.   This artisanal product will supply the growing market for premium turkeys in the Commonwealth and around the country. 
“The artisan quality of the KellyBronze Turkey fits in perfectly with the local food movement that is so strong in this area,” said Judd Culver, owner of Kelly Turkeys USA.  “The positive feedback we have earned from our customers for our Thanksgiving and Christmas KellyBronze Turkeys has been remarkable.  Most of our customers honestly say that it is the best turkey they have ever tasted and we can’t help but be over the moon about that!”
VDACS partnered with Albemarle County to secure this project for Virginia.  Governor McAuliffe approved a $29,000 grant from the AFID Fund to assist with the project and Albemarle County will provide a $29,000 cash match. 
“Albemarle County is extremely pleased to partner with Governor McAuliffe and Kelly Turkeys USA through this important grant, which furthers our long standing priority of supporting the County’s agricultural heritage and economy,” said Tom Foley, Albemarle County Executive.  “Through the AFID grant, we are utilizing an important economic development tool that is not only creating jobs and spurring capital investment in Albemarle, but is adding to the quality and diversity of our agricultural products.”
Speaking about the announcement, Senator Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County said, “Thanks to Kelly Turkeys USA working in partnership with the Commonwealth and Albemarle County, we have another expanding business creating new jobs and Virginia-grown products.  I am pleased to be a part of this company’s first commercial-scale poultry production and processing facility in the County.”
Delegate R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, who sponsored the legislation creating the AFID program in 2012, added, “I am thrilled to see the AFID program being utilized once again to support important economic development projects in this region.  As Virginia’s largest industry, it is important to do all we can to promote economic development and job creation in agriculture throughout the Commonwealth, and I am pleased to know that Governor McAuliffe agrees and supports this vital economic sector.” 
About the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund
The AFID Fund was created during the 2012 session of the General Assembly and is being embraced by the McAuliffe Administration as an important tool in growing the Commonwealth’s agriculture and forestry sector and helping to make Virginia the leading exporter of agricultural and forest products on the East Coast.  More information about the AFID grant, which has the flexibility to assist projects large and small throughout Virginia, can be found at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/afid.shtml.