The Produce Safety Alliance, in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration, is hosting a series of question and answer teleconferences to discuss FDA’s new produce safety regulations.

The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries has proposed amendments to the regulations to govern hunting and trapping during the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 seasons, foxhound training preserves, and other matters regulated by the Board. The regulation amendments proposed by the Board on March 20–21, 2013 will be published on the DGIF website (www.dgif.virginia.gov) at the start of a 60-day proposed regulation public comment period that opens on April 2 and closes on May 31, 2013. Regulatory comments received by DGIF during this period will be provided to, and considered by, the Board. In order to be submitted to the Board for their consideration during regulatory actions, comments must be in writing and accompanied by the name, address, and telephone number of the party offering the comments. Comments lacking the submitting party’s identifying information may be received by staff but will not be considered by the Board.The methods for submitting written comments are:

• Online at www.dgif.virginia.gov. An online comment systems links from the individual proposed amendments, making this the optimal channel for submitting comments; it produces the clearest and most efficient method for Board members to receive citizens’ comments on a given proposal. 
• Email sent to regcomments@dgif.virginia.gov. Be sure to include full personal identifying information. (Using the online comment system ensures this and is preferred.)
• Postal mail sent to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Attn: Policy Analyst and Regulatory Coordinator, 4010 West Broad Street, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, Virginia 23230-1104.
•  Comment forms available at nine public input meetings, foxhound training preserves, and other matters regulated by the Board. The regulation amendments proposed by the Board on March 20–21, 2013 will be published on the DGIF website (www.dgif.virginia.gov) at the start of a 60-day proposed regulation public comment period that opens on April 2 and closes on May 31, 2013. Regulatory comments received by DGIF during this period will be provided to, and considered by, the Board. In order to be submitted to the Board for their consideration during regulatory actions, comments must be in writing and accompanied by the name, address, and telephone number of the party offering the comments. Comments lacking the submitting party’s identifying information may be received by staff but will not be considered by the Board.  No oral comments will be taken at the meetings. 

Issue Summaries:

• They plan to expand the Elk Management Zone to include Lee, Scott, Russell, and Tazewell Counties. This will close the elk season and effectively reintroduce elk in those counties.  This is by request of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Farm Bureau is opposed. 
• They plan to reduce the either sex deer days in the following counties: Accomack, Amelia, Bland (Private Land), Caroline, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Grayson, Grayson (Public Land), Henry, King and Queen, Northampton, Nottoway, Patrick, Powhatan, Russell (Public Land), Smyth (Public Land), Spotsylvania, Tazewell (Public Land), Washington (Public Land).  Chesterfield and King George were added by the DGIF Board by request of the Va. Deer Hunters Association. Farm Bureau is generally opposed but recognizes these are each local issues for consideration of the County Farm Bureau.
• Expands the Bear chase or training season for two weeks in November in the following counties or portions thereof: Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Brunswick, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, James city, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York.  There is no direct FB policy regarding bear training seasons, this for the information of the County Farm Bureaus. 
• Tightened the regulation of feeding deer, elk, or other wild cervids.  It will be unlawful to feed such animals in Buchanan, Clarke, Dickenson, Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wise year round and from September 1 to January 1 statewide.  All feed must be cleaned by September 1 and the area is considered to be baited for 10 days following removal.  Farm Bureau has no direct policy.  This is however, a potential area of conflict.  Farmers regularly utilize similar methods and products to feed or provide mineral supplements to livestock.  While there is an agricultural feed exemption in the regulation, it does not exempt that same farmer for hunting over those products which are now considered bait.

So often an overlooked area during tax time are the effects on their taxes that a forestland owner faces. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has several resources for forestland owners during tax season.  These helpful items from both the USDA Forest Service and DOF can help save landowners money and headaches.

Determining your tax basis and other questions are covered in these easy-to-follow documents.

• Federal Income Tax on Timber – A Key to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 30 pp., 973KB, October 2012)
• Forest Landowners’ Guide to the Federal Income Tax – 2013 Edition (PDF, 164 pp., 9MB, March 2013)
• Tax Tips for Forest Landowners – 2012 Tax Year (PDF, 2 pp. 302KB, Sept. 2012)
• Agriculture Handbook 718, titled, “Forest Landowners’ Guide to the Federal Income Tax,”Topics covered include property exchanges, casualty losses, conservation easements, self-employment taxes, alternative minimum tax for individuals, Christmas tree production, and a system for record keeping. (English; PDF format)

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.

I recently attended the Virginia Farm Bureau (VFB) State Women’s Conference, and the theme was “Get Connected – Get Moving.” A big part of the conference was how to be effective in conversations about agriculture. Social media such as FaceBook, Twitter, and blogs are certainly tools of communication. But the same guidelines for being effective apply offline and in person.

Three things that resonated to me in the workshops were listening, telling your story, and being courteous. One of the workshops presented by Kathy Dixon of VFB was on getting the conversation started and utilized information from U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) www.usfraonline.org and www.fooddialogues.com. The other presentation was by our keynote speaker, Katie Pinke from North Dakota. She is an agriculture advocate and can be found at http:/.com from which you can link to her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

I would like to expand on the three principles that I mentioned earlier. Listening, while it may seem easy, may actually be a harder skill to perfect than we think, and I mean really listening and trying to understand what the other person is saying. How often are we thinking of what we are going to say next while the other person is talking to us? I know that I am sometimes guilty of that, especially when I hear someone spouting off talking points of differing opinions on agriculture, politics, or religion. Sometimes we need to read between the lines. Accusations against agriculture may just be a desire to really know how food is grown. One of the main missions of the USFRA is to increase transparency and have farmers and ranchers tell their story. If we don’t truly listen, we can’t effectively engage in the conversation. The speakers advised that we should have a conversation about agriculture and not a war of words.

The next principle was telling your story. The biggest take-away for me was a comment that Katie Pinke said. She said that people arguing a certain position can try to poke holes in facts or studies, but they can’t poke holes in your own story. If you are telling your own story-your own life experiences on your farm-it is impossible for anyone to discredit that. Everyone in the agriculture conversation is passionate on both sides. We in the agriculture community are science and fact-based, and we have a lot of science and facts to support our positions and practices. While this is important, we need to share more personal stories and not just regurgitate facts. Katie also said that video will increasingly be a communication tool to share personal agriculture stories. Another part of her presentation was to avoid always posting agriculture facts on your Facebook page or blog. Share some other interests you have. It will keep people more engaged and interested in what you have to say. You build relationships and credibility.

The final principle was courtesy. Let’s face it – there is a lot of noise in our society. We have TV, radio, internet, and more bombarding us with opinions all day long. One of the best ways to be effective in agriculture conversations or debates is to be courteous. People may throw dirt at you, but you don’t have to throw dirt back at them. A courteous conversation with facts and your personal story will go a lot farther than shooting back a snide remark. Plus, we have to face facts – there are some people that are not going to change their mind no matter what. Make your points and move on.

Lastly, I would like to say that the social media tools available have a lot of potential to get our message out to a huge nonagricultural audience. With the network of friends on Facebook, sharing some agriculture trivia or pictures of you on your farm or your livestock can reach people that you would have never been able to reach before, many that have never been near or set foot on a farm.

Remember, you don’t have to be armed with an arsenal of facts; just tell your story. If you need some facts, USFRA, Farm Bureau, and your national commodity organizations are good resources.

Until next time,
Mark

Happy National Agriculture Day! To celebrate, we found an article by Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Scott Reiter in Prince George County with current statistics that you may or may not have known about American and Virginia agriculture.

American agriculture: generations nourishing generations
By Scott Reiter (Extension Agent) 

American Agriculture: Generations Nourishing Generations is the theme for National Agriculture Week March 17-23, 2013. This is also the celebration of the 40th National Agriculture Day on March 19. Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use, and wear on a daily basis. But too few people truly understand this contribution. 

More than three million people farm or ranch in the United States. Individuals, family partnerships or family corporations operate almost 99 percent of U.S. farms. Over 22 million people are employed in farm or farm-related jobs, including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing and marketing and wholesale and retail sales. Virginia has over 47,000 farms and provides 357,000 of those jobs. Agriculture and forestry has a $79 billion impact in Virginia making it the states largest industry.

 Forty-one percent of U.S. total land area is farmland (938.28 million acres). Virginia has 8.1 million acres of farmland which is 32% of the states land area. We have lost 500,000 acres of farmland in Virginia to development of housing, roads, and other industry since 2002.

 The top five Virginia agricultural commodities are poultry and eggs, cattle and calves, dairy products, corn, wheat, and soybeans, and nursery-greenhouse production. U.S. farmers produce 46% of the world’s soybeans, 41% of the world’s corn, 20.5% of the world’s cotton and 13% of the world’s wheat. In the Petersburg area, crop production of corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, tobacco, and peanuts are the leading source of income. Cattle and calves, nursery & greenhouse, and dairy follow in value. There are also numerous small farms selling vegetables directly to consumers. Many local vegetable farms can be found in the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” guides(www.buylocalvirginia.org) or the Virginia Grown Guide (www.virginiagrown.com. 

Virginia ranks high nationally in the production of many crops. Leaf tobacco, 3rd in the nation; fresh market tomatoes, 4th; turkeys and wine, 5th; apples, summer potatoes, and fresh market snap beans, 6th; grapes, 8th; peanuts and sweet potatoes, 9th; and fresh market cucumbers, 10th. As you can see, Agriculture is abundant in variety and amounts of products produced.

 Farmers and ranchers are independent business people who provide for their families by growing and producing food and fiber. They use modern production techniques to increase the quality and quantity of the food they produce. In the 1960s, one farmer supplied food for 25.8 persons in the U.S. and abroad. Today, one farmer supplies food for 144 people in the U.S. and abroad. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more – and doing it better.

 – The efficiency of U.S. farmers benefits the United States consumer in the pocketbook. Americans spend less on food than any other developed nation in the world. American consumers spend the lowest percentage of their annual income on food – just 10 percent. 

– A farmer receives about 19¢ for the wheat in a 1 pound loaf of bread, they get about 10¢ for the corn in an 18 ounce box of corn flakes, and a dairy farmer receives about $1.72 for his fluid milk in 1 gallon of milk at current market prices. The rest of the retail price is processing, packaging, transportation, and profit margins.

 – Agriculture generates 20% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

 – One-fourth of the world’s beef and nearly one-fifth of the world’s grain, milk and eggs are produced in the U.S.

 – The United States exports $43.5 billion in agriculture products and imports $26.4 billion in farm products, equaling a positive net trade balance of $17.1 billion.

 – Cotton is by the far the most dominant fiber produced in the United States and is used for apparel, home fabrics as well as industrial uses.

 – Farmers use reduced tillage practices on more than 72 million acres to prevent erosion.

 – Farmers maintain over 1.3 million acres of grass waterways, allowing water to flow naturally from crops without eroding soil.

 – Agricultural land provides habitat for 75 percent of the nation’s wildlife.

 – Forests cover 16 million acres in Virginia and the forestry industry generates over $25 billion in timber, manufacturing, and supporting industries.

 Now you might ask, “What does Generations Nourishing Generations mean?” As mentioned earlier most farms are family businesses. It is not uncommon to see 2 or 3 generations in a family farm working together. And consider that some farms have been in existence since the founding of Jamestown. This means you may have the same land farmed by the same family for 10 or more generations!! Not many businesses have that kind of history. In Prince George, we have one of the oldest continuously operated farms in the United States. Brandon Plantation has been farmed since 1614 although not by the same family. Since 1619, Brandon has been operated by four families. The Harrison’s farmed from 1720-1926 at which time the Daniel family bought the farm and continue operations today.

 So you can see that many generations of farmers have feed the many generations of families in the United States. The next time you go to the grocery store, pass a farm field, or sit down to eat think about where your food comes from. And if you get a chance, thank the people that grow and deliver nutritious food to your family every day.

• A flow test to determine system output, along with a check of the water level before and during pumping (if possible), pump motor performance (check amp load, grounding and line voltage), pressure tank and pressure switch contact and general water quality (odor, cloudiness, etc.).
• A well equipment inspection to assure it’s sanitary and meets local code.
• A test of your water for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern. Other typical additional tests are those for iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides and other water constituents that cause problems with plumbing, staining, water appearance and odor.

• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil far away from wells, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels and livestock operations.
• Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems and chemical storage areas.
• Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.
• Keep your well records in a safe place. These include the construction report, and annual water well system maintenance and water testing results.

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that agricultural exports from Virginia reached a new all-time high of $2.61 billion in 2012, shattering the previous record set last year by almost 12 percent. The Governor’s announcement came during his keynote remarks at the fifth annual Governor’s Conference on Agricultural Trade in Richmond. The conference runs through Friday.

The Commonwealth previously reached a record level of agricultural exports in 2011, when more than $2.35 billion in products were shipped into the global marketplace from Virginia ports. The 2011 figure was a six percent increase from 2010. Agricultural exports, which also include forestry products, have grown in value by approximately 17 percent since 2010. The growth in agricultural exports comes despite a continued slow economic recovery worldwide.

Virginia’s strong position in the global marketplace is enhanced by a number of factors, including: quality producers, agribusinesses, and exporters; an excellent sea, air, and land port system; and a diversified portfolio of export markets and products. Top export products in 2012 included: soybeans; soybean meal; lumber, logs, and wood products; unmanufactured leaf tobacco; soybean oil; wheat, corn, barley and other grains; pork; animal feed; processed foods and beverages, including wine; animal fats and oils; wood pellets; cotton, seafood, and raw peanuts.

Virginia’s top three export markets in 2012 were the same as 2011, albeit in different order. China, by far, is Virginia’s top agricultural export customer with exports totaling more than $638 million in 2012, up from $304 million and the second spot in 2011. Agricultural exports to China, largely driven by soybean and grain shipments, have increased by almost 230 percent since 2010 when $194 million of goods were shipped there from Virginia. Canada holds the second spot with exports totaling more $205 million in 2012. Morocco, after being Virginia’s top agricultural export destination in 2011, is now third with approximately $139 million in goods purchased.

Virginia’s other top export markets, along with values shipped rounded to the nearest million dollars, include: Switzerland, $122 million; Turkey, $94 million; Saudi Arabia, $90 million; Indonesia, $82 million; Vietnam, $82 million, Venezuela, $67 million; Cuba $66 million; Mexico, $61 million; Japan, $53 million; Egypt, $52 million; Ireland, $49 million; Taiwan, $43 million; Russia, $42 million; Malaysia, $41 million; Hong Kong, $39 million; Chile, $38 million; Poland, $37 million; Italy, $37 million; Tunisia, $35 million; Jamaica, $34 million; Georgia, $32 million; Germany, $31 million; and India, $28 million.

Some key points from this year’s Virginia agricultural export study:

• The export commodity showing the largest percentage growth was wood pellets, which saw a more than 800 percent increase from 2011 to 2012. Exports grew from almost $4 million to approximately $35 million, largely driven on new sales to the European Union.

• The export value of soybeans more than doubled between 2011 and 2012, from $327 million to $734 million. A significant portion of this growth is attributable to the McDonnell administration’s efforts to find new customers in the global marketplace.

• The Commonwealth saw key growth in areas where the Governor’s agricultural export initiative focuses resources and attention: China, India, Mexico and other Latin American countries, and several countries in Europe.

• Virginia’s agricultural exports to China increased by more than 100 percent from 2011 to 2012. In fact, approximately 15 percent of Virginia’s agricultural export trade in 2012 was with China.

• Exports to India grew from $5 million in 2011 to $28 million in 2012. Most of the growth was associated with new sales of soybean oil and lumber, logs, and wood products.

• Exports to Mexico grew by more than $20 million, with new business in poultry and pork.

• Exports to Cuba reached an all-time high of $66 million. Virginia is now the second largest U.S. agricultural exporter to Cuba.

• Peanut exports grew from about $6.5 million to approximately $17 million, largely based on new trade into the European Union.

Agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $79 billion annually: $55 billion from agriculture and $24 billion from forestry. The industries also provide approximately 500,000 jobs in the Commonwealth according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.