USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications from Virginia landowners and governmental and non-governmental groups interested in protecting the state’s wetlands and working farms through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

This signup includes both the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) components of this 2014 Farm Bill program. Applications are accepted on a continual basis, but NRCS requires individuals (WRE) and entities (ALE) interested in fiscal year 2019 funding to submit applications on or before August 31, 2018. If funds are still available, a second signup period will be held with a deadline of October 19.

Continue reading →

A majority of Virginia’s forestland is privately own, much in conjunction with farms. The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program (VFLEP), develops a newsletter to inform landowners of information and opportunities to best manage their forest resources. We plan to begin sharing this newsletter as it’s available on Plows and Politics. You can read the latest issue here.

Driven by improvements made by Congress in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and the Agriculture Department’s efforts to inform dairy farmers about the enhanced program, as of early July more than 21,000 dairy farm operations had enrolled in the Dairy Margin Protection Program for the 2018 coverage year. More are putting the final touches on their enrollment applications. Once final enrollment is tallied, more than 50 percent of licensed dairy operations in the U.S. will be participating. These farmers purchased MPP coverage on 131 billion pounds of milk, representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. milk supply.

Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is surveying Virginia producers for its County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) small grains survey. The survey will collect information on total acres planted and harvested, and yield and production of small grains crops. CAPS will provide the data needed to estimate acreage and production of winter wheat and barley in Virginia.

“The data provided by producers will be used to set county average yields, which are needed in federal farm programs, such as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC),” said Herman Ellison, Virginia state statistician. “I hope every single producer understands the importance of these data and will take the time to respond if they receive this survey. Producers lose out when there is no data to determine county yields, crop insurance price elections and more. When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS is not able to publish data. Without data, agencies such as USDA’s Risk Management Agency or Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers”.

Within the next few weeks NASS representatives will contact selected growers to arrange telephone or in-person interviews for conducting the survey. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified. County average yields will be published on December 13, 2018.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Virginia Field Office at 1-800-772-0670.

By Ben Rowe, National Affairs Coordinator

In my first few weeks with Virginia Farm Bureau, I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet with our members from across the Commonwealth, and represent your interests in our nation’s capital and our statehouse in Richmond. We have enjoyed a busy July at VAFB where we have been focused on several national policy issues ahead of Congress’ August recess.

Earlier this month, I traveled with a group of Southwest Virginia Young Farmers to DC to meet with their representatives and discuss four policy areas important to these young farmers: farm bill, trade tariffs, broadband connectivity and expansion, and electronic logging devices and trucking hours of service. This trip was a valuable opportunity for our members to sit across the table from their legislators and discuss the impact of these policies on their operations, and districts.

Continue reading →

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. was named among the prestigious 2018 Property-Casualty Ward’s 50 Companies.

The list is compiled by Ward Group, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and a leading provider of industry benchmarking.

“To be named one of the 50 top P&C companies in the country is a tremendous honor,” said Darlene Wells, VFBMIC executive vice president and general manager. “It is a privilege to work for an organization that strives for and delivers excellent results. It is a testament of employees’ fortitude, focus and discipline on growing our company in a healthy, financially responsible manner that gives us a stronger financial position to grow and better serve our policyholders for the long term.”

Continue reading →

Changes are coming to the state Women’s Committee Awards. New to the program, the Distinguished Farm Bureau Woman Award will recognize a woman for her contribution in either farm business and community activities; agricultural business and community activities; or agricultural leadership and community involvement. This award is open to all Farm Bureau women producer and associate members. It will replace the Farm Woman of the Year recognition.

The state women’s committee will also honor an Outstanding Woman in Agriculture. The recipient will be selected by the state committee and will recognize a woman’s achievement in the agriculture industry. The Farm Bureau Ambassador program will see a minor change, as each finalist will now receive $200 for their efforts, beginning at the 2019 Women’s Spring Conference.

Unfortunately, after much deliberation, the Lady Leader contest will no longer be offered.

Visit the Virginia Farm Bureau Women’s Program page at www.vafb.com for more information later this summer

The Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) program, the commonwealth’s premier agriculture-leadership training program, celebrated the graduation of its third class of leadership fellows at the Hotel Roanoke on July 14.

The program, which is housed at Virginia Tech within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is also preparing to welcome its fourth class of fellows, and has announced the names of those invited to begin this fall.

The Cohort III fellows, who engaged in a service project and professional development activities during the past two years, enjoyed an evening reception and dinner ceremony at the historic hotel and closed their fellowship experience with an alumni networking brunch. Each reminisced about experiences and knowledge gained throughout the program.

Continue reading →