As the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized hemp production regulations, Virginia growers were being cautioned about an increasingly saturated market.

The public has until Jan. 29 to comment on interim final regulations, including licensing, maintaining information on land where hemp is grown, complying with procedures and provisions, testing THC contents and handling policy violations. Although many of the regulations remained unclear through the first full year of legal hemp growth in 2019, registered hemp acreage boomed from 78,176 acres in 2018 to 511,442 acres in 2019. With a market expected to surpass $10 billion by 2025 and regulations being put in place by the USDA, that trend is expected to continue.

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More than 99% of food samples tested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program had pesticide residue levels well below the acceptable levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Additionally, data from the USDA’s 2018 PDP summary released at the end of 2019 revealed 47.8% of samples tested had no detectable pesticide residue at all.

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If Hemi the Virginia border collie could talk, he’d have a lot to say. He is one of 10 dogs across the U.S. selected for the 2020 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest created by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite farm dog on social media by Jan. 17 to select the People’s Choice Pup. The winner will be announced in January at the AFBF Annual Convention in Austin, Texas.

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Farmers will step away from the fields and into the statehouse on Jan. 27 to discuss agricultural issues and concerns with legislators during the 2020 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Day.

This year’s theme is Farmers In Action to emphasize the importance of farmers being politically active. Pittsylvania County farmer Kristal Harris said putting a human face on the issues affecting Virginia’s agricultural community means lawmakers can make decisions informed by real relationships.

Harris has participated in VFBF Legislative Day the past few years.

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Virginia Farm Bureau Federation delegates will join farmers and ranchers from across the country to shape national policies during the 101^st American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention & Trade Show.

Five VFBF delegates and two alternates will attend the event, which will be held Jan. 17-22, in Austin, Texas.

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From damaging farm equipment to destroying crops, fire ants can be a major hindrance for farmers.

After being introduced to the U.S. about a century ago, fire ants have established themselves in the Southeast. They have spread from Texas to Southeast Virginia, where they have wreaked havoc on plants and animals.

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The Rowe Report is a new column by Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator Ben Rowe.

Congress often works most efficiently when they are under a deadline. With 2019 drawing to a close, legislators (and their staff) work hard to close up shop and head home to their Districts and their families. With this deadline in mind, we saw Congress pass a flurry of bills during these last few weeks of the first session of the 116^th Congress. We have all seen the headlines and news coverage coming out of Washington this past week, but amongst the noise, several landmark agricultural bills have been moved. Get comfortable and grab a hot drink, this is going to be a long article but worth a read as you prepare for the new year. Continue reading →

A national poll conducted in April found that 48% of rural adults are experiencing more mental health challenges than a year ago.

Based on those findings, the American Farm Bureau Federation is partnering with Farm Credit and the National Farmers Union to help combat farm stress with a training program that will offer online and in-person training for individuals working with farmers.

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