Breaking News: Senate Passes Farm Bill, Heads to the White House

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VFBF President
Wayne F. Pryor
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) voted today for Senate passage of the bipartisan Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2014, which now goes to the President for his signature.  The legislation included many provisions championed by the Senators that will benefit Virginians, including strengthened crop insurance for farmers and conservation programs for the Chesapeake Bay.  The 2014 farm bill, which saves taxpayers more than $23 billion over 10 years, passed the House last week and was approved in the Senate with broad bipartisan support on a 68-32 vote.
The farm bill provides historic reforms including eliminating wasteful direct payment subsidies, strengthening the agriculture safety net, and reinvesting in the conservation of our natural resources.  The legislation requires reasonable efforts toward land conservation on the part of farmers receiving federal premium subsidies for crop insurance and provides $100 million for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, a new competitive grant program into which the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative has been consolidated. The bill also includes $8.6 billion of savings by tightening a loophole in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit calculations. More importantly, the farm bill rejects the harsh eligibility cuts in the House-passed version of the bill and will not remove anyone from food assistance programs.  
“Virginia Farm Bureau Federation supports the final passage of the conference’s farm bill, “said Wayne F. Pryor, President of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.”Country of Origin Labeling and other livestock issues continue to be important to us. We have debated them through several previous farm bills, and that debate will undoubtedly continue. However, the conservation programs and funding, along with the crop insurance and other programs that help us survive weather extremes and volatile markets are well past due.  We are thrilled the farm bill has passed.”

The 2014 farm bill continues funding for a number of other provisions that will help grow Virginia’s local food systems, including efforts to encourage education and training for new farmers and increased funding for community-supported agriculture programs such as farmers markets.
“I’m very pleased that the House and Senate have again found common ground on major legislation – in this case on a bill that supports Virginia’s farmers and agribusiness while also reducing the deficit,” said Senator Warner. “This legislation will finally give growers and producers the long-term certainty they need to maintain and expand their businesses. I’m also encouraged that the farm bill reaffirms our commitment to protecting the Chesapeake Bay. The new Regional Conservation Partnership Program sustains Bay-related jobs and continues providing Virginia’s farmers with the tools they need to help conserve this important watershed.”
“I’m heartened that Congress came together today to pass a farm bill that restores certainty for farmers across the country,”said Senator Kaine. “This bill saves taxpayers $23 billion over ten years, eliminates wasteful direct payments, strengthens crop insurance, and closes loopholes in the SNAP program without reducing nutrition access for the neediest people.  It also ensures robust support for Chesapeake Bay restoration and improves farmers’ access to export markets and consumers’ access to fresh, local, organic foods.  While no bill of this scope is perfect, this farm bill greatly benefits farmers and families across the country and serves as another positive sign that Congress will work across the aisle to get things done this year.”

Governor McAuliffe Announces First Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Planning Grants of Administration

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Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced the awarding of two planning grants from the Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID).  The two projects, one in Essex County and the other a partnership effort between the Town of Purcellville and Loudoun County, have been awarded a total of $34,500 to support the growth of agricultural and forestry projects in the Commonwealth. The AFID planning grant program encourages local governments to promote agriculture and forestry and incorporate the needs of these important industries into their economic development planning efforts.
Speaking about the planning grants being awarded to the localities, Governor McAuliffe said, “Job creation and expanded economic development are the chief priorities of my administration, and I plan to ensure that agriculture and forestry are a major part of our efforts to grow and diversify our economy” said Governor McAuliffe. “Supporting local efforts to strengthen these critical industries is an important component of my economic development strategy, and I applaud leadership in Essex County, Loudoun County, and the Town of Purcellville for exploring how their agricultural assets can be better utilized and grown for future job creation opportunities.”

The AFID planning grants program, funded annually at $250,000, was developed in 2012 to encourage local and regional governments to think strategically about how they can better support and integrate agriculture and forestry-based industries into their community’s overall economic development efforts.  The planning grants are part of the larger Governor’s AFID program, an economic development tool specifically for agriculture and forestry value-added or processing projects.  AFID economic development grants are available for political subdivisions of the Commonwealth interested in growing their agriculture and forestry industries by strategically targeting for assistance those businesses that add value to Virginia grown agriculture and forestal products.   
                        
“The two projects are prime examples of what we hoped the AFID would do for localities interested in building on their agricultural and forestry economic assets,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore. “Essex County will utilize its grant funding to better incorporate agriculture and forestry into their strategic economic development growth plans, a primary goal of the AFID program.  AFID funds will be used by the Town of Purcellville, working in partnership with Loudoun County, to explore the creation of a possible viticulture and enology center, an excellent example of seeking new initiatives that can have lasting, positive impacts on a region’s agriculture and forestry sectors.”
Applications for AFID planning grants are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year.  Successful funding requests must show a clear need to be addressed, a solution to be undertaken, demonstrate strong support from local government and the agriculture and forestry community, and be able to match each dollar requested with a dollar of local government funds, or allowable in-kind contributions. Localities interested in applying may visit http://vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/planning.shtmlor contact Stephen Versen at stephen.versen@vdacs.virginia.govor 804.786.6911 for more information.
Details on the two grant awards are below:
1.      Project Title:  Loudoun County Viticulture and Enology Education Center
Applicant:      Town of Purcellville
Award:           $17,500
Summary:      The Town of Purcellville, with the support of Loudoun County, and in conjunction with Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), will conduct a feasibility study for the development of a viticultural and enology education center, using as a model the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology.  It would serve Virginia’s wine industry by training the next generation of wine makers and vineyard managers through certificate and degree programs. 
2.      Project Title: Developing a Roadmap for Agriculture and Forestry Industries in   Essex County                              
Applicant:      Essex County Industrial Development Authority
Award:           $17,000
Summary:      Through a competitive bidding process, the Essex County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is proposing to hire a contractor to work with an appointed Essex County Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Board to develop a strategic plan for agriculture and forestry industries within Essex County.  The effort will help the County promote and enhance the competitiveness of its agriculture and forestry industry.

Breaking News: House Passes Farm Bill

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The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill authorizing nearly $1 trillion in spending on farm subsidies and nutrition programs, setting the stage for final passage of a new five-year farm bill that has been stalled for over two years.
Negotiators from the House and Senate spent several weeks working out their differences on issues in the legislation, including cuts to food stamps, income caps on farm subsidies and a price support program for dairy farmers. The bill is expected to save about $16.6 billion over the next 10 years.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 251 to 166. The Senate is expected to take up the bill later this week.
The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the new Farm Bill, which was filed late Monday. AFBF President Bob Stallman released the following statement earlier today:

“The American Farm Bureau Federation commends the House for its passage of the new five-year farm bill today. It’s been a tough road for the legislation during the past two years, but we are pleased with the clear bipartisan vote that prevailed. We appreciate the conferees’ diligent work in making some tough decisions to put forth a solid bill and in getting it to this crucial point.

“We now turn our attention to the Senate for timely passage of the bill, which will provide farmers and ranchers certainty for the coming year and allow the Agriculture Department to begin planning for implementation of the bill’s provisions.

“Farm Bureau is optimistic the final 2014 farm bill will soon be ready for the president’s signature, and America’s farmers and ranchers can, with certainty, continue with their business of providing food and jobs for America.”

Farm Bill Filed; Farm Bureau Urges Passage

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AFBF President
Bob Stallman
House-Senate negotiators reached agreement and filed a new farm bill late Monday: a nearly 960-page measure that combines a landmark rewrite of commodity programs together with bipartisan reforms and savings from food stamps.
Factoring in cuts already made during two years of debate, the bill should generate about $23 billion in 10-year savings, a third of which is attributed to the nutrition title. The single-largest savings will come from ending direct cash payments to farmers, which cost more than $4 billion annually. This nearly 18-year-old program will be replaced by two options linked to real market losses. But the total dollars within the commodity title are projected to be substantially less, and more than ever, crop insurance emerges as the backbone of the farm safety net.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging House members to pass H.R. 2642, the 2014 farm bill. “The bill will provide farmers and ranchers certainty for the coming year and allow the Agriculture Department to begin planning for implementation of the bill’s provisions,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman in a statement. Stallman described the legislation as a solid bill that includes many Farm Bureau-supported provisions, including risk management for fruit and vegetable farmers and support for livestock farmers during disasters.
Below is his full statement: 

“The American Farm Bureau Federation urges House and Senate members to pass H.R. 2642, the 2014 Farm Bill. The bill will provide farmers and ranchers certainty for the coming year and allow the Agriculture Department to begin planning for implementation of the bill’s provisions.
“We appreciate the hard work of the conferees to get the farm bill to this point. They had many tough decisions to make, but were able to move forward with a solid bill that includes many Farm Bureau-supported provisions. We are particularly pleased with provisions to provide risk management to fruit and vegetable farmers and to support livestock farmers during disasters. We now urge House members to bring it on home by voting in support of the bill.
“It is imperative that all of agriculture unify behind this farm bill, for the good of the whole of American agriculture, consumers, our hard-working farm and ranch families and the rural communities they support.”

Legislative Day moves to Feb. 11-12

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Due to the Inclement Weather this week, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Annual Legislative Day has been rescheduled to Feb. 11th and 12th. It will still be held at the Marriott in Richmond. 

A briefing of issues will begin at 4 p.m. and the Legislative Reception will be from 6-8 pm on the 11th. The breakfast will be on the 12th then meetings with legislators on the Hill to follow. If someone is attending the County President’s Conference they will have enough time to make it to their meeting on the 12th.

You have until Wednesday, Jan. 29th to register. Please contact your MSS if you are interested in attending. 

Governor McAuliffe Announces More Than $1 Million in Farmland Preservation Grants

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Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced the recipients of fiscal year 2014 farmland preservation grants.  Eight localities have been awarded just over $1,058,000 from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).  Localities must use the grant monies to preserve farmland within their boundaries through local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. PDR programs compensate landowners who work with localities to preserve their land permanently by voluntarily placing a perpetual conservation easement on it.
VDACS allocated almost $149,678.46 each to the counties of Albemarle, Clarke, Fauquier, Isle of Wight, James City, and Stafford, as well as the City of Virginia Beach.  Rappahannock County will receive an $11,000 grant.  These allocations total a little more than $1,058,000, bringing the total allocation of state matching funds to $8.68 million since 2008, when PDR funds were first distributed.
Speaking about the farmland preservation grants, Governor McAuliffe said, “Today’s announcement, which will be the first of many, highlights my administration’s goal of conserving Virginia’s working lands, an important component of land preservation.  These grants are the first step toward my administration’s goal of conserving 400,000 acres of open space and working lands across Virginia. I applaud the commitment of my predecessors and the General Assembly to land preservation, and I look forward to building on the successes they have achieved over the last eight years.”

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore added, “Adequate and accessible working lands are the foundation of agriculture and forestry, Virginia’s largest industries.  Local governments receiving these funds will be able to use them alongside their dedicated local support, creating new opportunities to preserve working farmland, produce goods for purchase, create jobs, generate tax revenue, and protect our precious natural resources.  I look forward to working with Governor McAuliffe, Natural Resources Secretary Molly Ward, localities, and landowners during the next four years to preserve as many working land acres as possible”
This is the seventh time that the Commonwealth has provided state matching funds for certified local PDR programs.  Of the 22 local PDR programs in Virginia, 18 have received local funding over the past few years. To date, more than 6,700 acres on 49 farms in 12 localities have been permanently protected in part with $6 million of these funds.  Additional easements are expected to close using the remaining funds over the next two years.  Future new appropriations will help preserve additional working lands as well.

Localities interested in future rounds of grant applications for PDR matching funds should contact the Office of Farmland Preservation at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. They may e-mail Andrew Sorrell, the Office of Farmland Preservation Coordinator, at andrew.sorrell@vdacs.virginia.govor call 804.786.1906.

Bedford Young Farmers Place Second At American Farm Bureau Convention

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W.P. and Amy Johnson of Bedford were one of the three runners-up in the Excellence in Agriculture competition at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas,  earlier this week. Each runner-up will receive a Case IH Farmall 45A, courtesy of Case IH, and $3,000 in cash and STIHL merchandise, courtesy of STIHL.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Congratulations!

From the Field: Advocacy–My Personal Story

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

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I think the most dominant message in the agriculture community last year was about agriculture advocacy; getting the message about today’s agriculture industry out to the general public. It didn’t matter what commodity you raised; every trade magazine talked about it. Numerous daily ag emails that I subscribe to talked about it. But when faced with having to deliver the message yourself, the mantra of telling agriculture’s story hits home.

This happened to me on Monday afternoon. Emily Nelson, one of the staff from my soil and water conservation district, called and asked if I would be willing to be interviewed from a farmer’s perspective by the NBC TV station in Charlottesville about cost share conservation programs. I have to admit that I was initially reluctant and tried to think of some other people. But I then realized that I needed to seize on the opportunity when presented. There wasn’t much time since the reporter wanted to come to the farm in less than 24 hours. So I agreed and mentally prepared myself for some comments that I wanted to make.


I checked with Martha Moore, and she gave me a couple of comments, specifically about supporting the budget amendments for funding of cost-share agriculture BMPs by Senator Hanger and Delegate Scott. When it was all said and done, I think that having less than 24 hours’ notice was probably best, because the waiting time made me more anxious about what I was going to say.

Tuesday at 12:30 pm, the TV reporter and two staff from the soil and water district arrived. I took them to two riparian areas, and he interviewed me and Emily of the soil and water district. Both of us had great presentations and great comments. We didn’t high-five afterward, but it was one of those occasions when you feel that you just nailed it. I took the opportunity to give the reporter a paper with all of my contact information and offered myself as a resource for agriculture information and anything about beef and beef cattle, which he seemed very appreciative. They left at 1:30 pm.

The story aired at 5:30 pm, but I didn’t get to see it since I was in a budget meeting in Charlottesville. However, I did see it online and the video is above for you to view. The story that ran didn’t include any of my videoed interview or Emily’s interview. However, he did use some of our comments. One hour combination of talking and video was edited to 1 minute and 11 seconds. The text of the online story was O.K., but I didn’t like that one of his comments about cattle being a large pollutant to streams followed my comment, giving the appearance that I said it. In conclusion, the interview and story was positive, because it did get some of the agriculture message out to the general public, even though it wasn’t all the comments that I had hoped for. Most importantly, I was able to share that farmers care about water quality and are doing their part. I am very pleased that the reporter had interest in doing a story about cost share conservation programs and was willing to make the 45 minute drive from Charlottesville to Nelson County. I also had the opportunity to make myself available to him as a resource for agriculture issues.

This was my experience, but other farmers have been active recently. Lynnwood Broaddus of Caroline County wrote a letter to the editor in the Free Lance Star newspaper in Fredericksburg as a rebuttal to comments made about AFBF’s lawsuit appeal challenging EPA’s regulation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Vickie Gibson of Orange County responded to false and derogatory advertising by an Arby’s franchise owner in Richmond comparing grass fed beef to grain fed beef. Pictured in the ad was a nice piece of sod compared to a bucket filled with corn, candy, and syringes. Vickie quickly contacted the franchise owner to correct their information. She also sent the message out through Facebook. I read the letter, and she did a great job. I think some of our workshops with U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance have paid dividends.

Advocacy can take many forms such as the three that I mentioned: TV, newspaper, and social media. In our age of abundant and immediate information, the general public is still misinformed and ignorant about agriculture. However, the food movement over the past decade has created an open discussion and is creating more awareness. That being said, we still need to tell our story and be ready to take advantage of opportunities whenever and wherever they are.

Another opportunity to advocate for agriculture will occur next week in Richmond. Farmers from all over the state will be visiting with legislators in the General Assembly to voice their opinions on issues and tell their story. Until next time, Mark

Meet Gov. McAuliffe’s Cabinet

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Governor McAuliffe’s cabinet has been finalized.  Each of these individuals are designees until they are confirmed by the General Assembly over the course of the next couple of weeks.
Two of the most critical to the agriculture and forestry industry are the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and Secretary of Natural Resources.
Sec. of Agriculture
Todd Haymore
Todd Haymore was renamed Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  Governor McAuliffe has outline a couple of aggressive agenda items for Secretary Haymore’s term including making Virginia the agriculture and forestry export capitol of the East Coast.  Governor McAuliffe has made this statement in a number of formal and informal speeches he has made over the course of the last month.  Mostly recently, he included this in his address to the General Assembly on Monday, January 13.  For full text of Governor McAuliffe’s remarks, click here. 

Many members have asked about the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services as well as State Forester.  Secretary Haymore announced this morning to the Senate Finance Sub-Committee that he has made interim appointments until he has time to go through the process of interviewing and selecting candidates for these positions.

Sec. of Natural Resources
Molly Ward
Molly Ward was named as Secretary of Natural Resources.  She has reached out to Farm Bureau to express her interest in learning more about our positions on areas under her Secretariat.  President Pryor has extended an invitation to her to meet with us to discuss our policies. For more information on her background, click here.

Below is a complete list of the other Secretariats as well as the Governor’s Chief and Deputy Chief of Staff:

Governor’s Cabinet
Chief of Staff
Paul Reagan

Deputy Chief of Staff
Suzette Denslow

Secretary of Administration
Nancy Rodrigues

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Todd Haymore

Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Maurice Jones

Secretary of the Commonwealth
Levar Stoney

Secretary of Education
Anne Holton

Secretary of Finance
Ric Brown

Secretary of Health and Human Resources
William A. Hazel Jr.

Secretary of Natural Resources
Molly Ward

Secretary of Public Safety
Brian Moran

Secretary of Technology
Karen Jackson

Secretary of Transportation
Aubrey Layne

Secretary of Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security
John Harvey

Status Update: Tobacco Buyout Payment Cuts

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Wilmer Stoneman
Associate Director
Governmental Relations

Last November, we requested that you contact Virginia members of the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and Secretary Vilsack asking them to work with Congressman Hurt in opposing sequestration cuts to the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP) which was designed to help transition tobacco producers to the free market. USDA identified TTPP, a privately-funded, temporary, contractual program, as a direct payment program and thus subject to FY2014 federal budget sequestration.

Your efforts in responding to the Action Alert were rewarded this week when it was announced that tobacco growers and quota holders will receive the full amount of their final tobacco buyout payment, as directed by a provision within the Budget Control Act.  In a letter this week to Senator Warner, Secretary Vilsack maintained that “funding for the TTPP is sequestrable” under the Budget Control Act. However, the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with USDA, also determined that, under the Budget Control Act and authority for the program, TTPP funds sequestered in fiscal year (FY) 2013 are available for FY2014 payments. Vilsack continues, “Similarly, funds sequestered in FY2014 will become available at the beginning of FY 2015 to complete the final payment.”

The Farm Service Agency has not yet issued official instructions to state and county FSA offices concerning new revisions to the TTPP payment schedule and procedures. We cannot state for certain the actual amounts or timing of the payments at this time.  However, it is our understanding that producers and quota holders could receive up to 95% of the scheduled TTPP payment in January or February 2014 (FY2014) and receive the balance of the final scheduled TTPP payment this fall in FY2015 (ideally as close to October 1, 2014 as possible).  Financial institutions that provided lump sum payments will be paid first, most likely in January 2014, to avoid the government accruing interest.

Again, thank you making the legislative and agency contacts necessary to address this issue.  We appreciate the efforts and support of Congressmen Hurt, Griffith, Forbes, Scott and Goodlatte, Senators Warner and Kaine and Governor McDonnell in working towards a resolution on this issue.