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Local and
Regional Farm News
for
the Shenandoah Valley
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New weather forecast published for July through
September 2009
Click here for details>>
"Local Woods" directory available
The Shenandoah Resource
Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council’s Forestry Committee recently
announced a new “Local Woods” web-based directory that features
locally-produced wood products, public parks and forests in the Shenandoah
Valley, and sources of local forestry assistance for private woodland owners
. It is being launched in an effort to promote awareness of and support for
Valley-based forests, wood products and services.
It may be found on the
Shenandoah RC&D Council’s website at:
www.shenandoahrcd.org/CommForestryLocalWoodProducts.htm
The Shenandoah Valley includes
more than a million acres of public and privately-owned forests and
woodlands. Trees are a renewable resource that help protect water and air
quality, mediate temperature, provide wildlife habitat, recreation, natural
beauty, and a wide variety of products used in our daily lives. The Valley’s
forests and forest products are important contributors to our local
economies, as well. There are many untapped opportunities to increase
“value-added’’ local wood products that could help ensure the continuation
of privately-owned woodlands.
The new website was developed in
partnership with local representatives from the Virginia Department of
Forestry and Cooperative Extension Service and other volunteers who serve on
the Shenandoah RC&D Council’s Forestry Committee. The website features links
to a wide variety of sources for wood-related categories, ranging from
technical assistance in woodlot management, furniture makers and flooring
vendors to state and national parks and forests and wood art vendors. It is
intended to provide a readily accessible directory for Valley residents. The
website will be updated at least annually.
National Turkey Federation Honors Virginia Poultry
Federation with Grassroots Advocacy Award
HARRISONBURG, VA –
Virginia Poultry Federation received the National Turkey Federation’s 2008
Grassroots Champion Award, which honors the work of individuals and state
turkey associations in achieving industry legislative priorities. Steve
Willardsen of Cargill Meat Solutions received the award on behalf of VPF
during the Turkey Federation’s Annual Convention in Orlando.
The award recognizes outstanding
efforts to actively participate in the federal policymaking process,
communicating with Members of Congress to educate them on the local impact
of legislation, and engaging other stakeholders to affect positive outcomes
for the turkey industry. NTF selected VPF because of the Virginia turkey
industry’s efforts to educate national and state officials about the adverse
economic impacts of federal ethanol mandates and subsidies that divert corn
to fuel and artificially increase the cost of feeding livestock and poultry.
NTF president Joel Brandenberger
stated, “I would like to extend a special thank you to the Virginia Poultry
Federation, the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative and Cargill Meat
Solutions for their outstanding leadership and continued efforts on this
issue.”
VPF president Hobey Bauhan
commented, “We are honored to receive this national recognition. The credit
goes to VPF members that engaged governmental officials on this issue. That
is was grassroots advocacy is all about.”
Virginia Cooperative Extension helps with farm
transitioning
BLACKSBURG—The latest
U.S. Census of Agriculture revealed that Virginia farmers are aging, which
increases the need for education and planning for farm transitioning from
generation to generation.
According to the census, the average age of a Virginia farm operator was
58.2 years in 2007, a jump from 56.7 years in 2002 and 55.8 years in 1997.
The number of Virginia farm operators younger than 35 also has fallen to
fewer than 2,000 for the first time.
"High input costs with farming make it very difficult for young operators to
enter into production agriculture," said Jonah Bowles, agricultural risk
management coordinator for Virginia Farm Bureau.
"This creates a problem for the farmer who wants to transition out of
production, because the result is few younger farmers and more older
farmers," Bowles said.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is continuing to offer Shenandoah Valley
producers a comprehensive look at the farm transition process.
Extension agents in the Shenandoah Valley have developed multi-session
workshops to help local farmers in the farm transition process. The
workshops cover retirement, health care, estate planning, business
structure, personal and family goals and more.
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2009 Land Rental Guide published for the
Shenandoah Valley
Interested in local farmland rental rates?
Virginia Cooperative Extension recently published the new Land
Rental Guide
available here (PDF file).
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Virginia farmers offered help with resident Canada Goose problem
Richmond - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries and the Wildlife Services Program of the USDA are working together
to offer Virginia farmers an additional tool to manage problems caused by
resident Canada geese. The new "Agricultural Depredation Order" is being
offered for the first time in Virginia in 2009. The program authorizes
landowners, operators, and tenants actively engaged in commercial
agriculture to use certain lethal methods to control resident Canada geese
on lands that they personally control where geese are damaging agricultural
crops.
"We have been working to address damage by resident Canada geese for years
and feel this new program will speed up the process in order to be more
responsive to farmers," said VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan.
Todd Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services says that resident Canada geese, i.e. those that don't
migrate but stay in Virginia year-round, are a big problem for farmers.
"During the winter, Canada geese can cause a lot of damage for winter wheat
and cover crops. In early spring when crops are beginning to appear in the
field, the geese can strip a field bare by plucking the young plants out of
the ground. They eat crops and grain, and where they occur in large enough
numbers, they can raise the fecal bacterial levels in water supplies. We get
calls all the time about resident geese from desperate farmers, and are glad
to see some relief for them through this new Agricultural Depredation
Order."
Activities allowed under this permit include the lethal take of Canada geese
from May 1 through August 31, and the destruction of Canada goose nests and
eggs between March 1 and June 30. All management actions must occur on the
property controlled/managed by the applicant. Geese may not be taken using
hunting methods such as decoys and calls. Permit holders must keep a log of
their control activities and must submit a report by September 30 of each
year detailing the number of birds taken.
The permit is free and agricultural producers can apply by calling the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Wildlife Services, P.O. Box 130, Moseley, VA 23120 Phone: (804) 739-7739
FAX: (804) 739-7738. For additional information, see
www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/waterfowl.
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 Virginia
Cooperative Extension provides hay budgets
With hay and pasture becoming increasingly valuable
sources of farm income, several new crop budgets are being provided
by Virginia Cooperative Extension. Budgets are available for
stockpiled fescue, timothy, clover, alfalfa, etc. Spreadsheet
budgets allow for customized line items for fuel, fertilizer,
seeding, harvesting, etc.
More here>> |
Book addresses rural issues
 Welcome
to the Country, Things You Need to Know When Moving to Rural Virginia is
a charming new book written by Virginia author Frank Levering, who runs a
Patrick County cherry orchard (now 100 years, still a family business) and
helps his wife Wanda Urbanska produce the PBS show "Simple Living TV."
Frank's new book introduces urbanites to "country culture"... sharing the
unwritten rules by which rural people live and get along.
Selected chapter titles give the
prospective reader an idea of what to expect in this down-to-earth book:
* The Code of the Country
* Good Fences Make Good
Neighbors
* Virginia's Animal Kingdom and
You
* Private Property and You
* Creating Community
The book was made possible the
Ballyshannon Fund, with
assistance from Virginia Farm Bureau and
Virginia Cooperative Extension.
To order a copy, contact the
Virginia Cooperative Extension Distribution Center at (540) 231-1322 and ask
for publication 275-200. Cost is $5.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling.
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New Shenandoah Valley Buy Fresh/Buy
Local Directory available now.
Click logo below for the PDF version.
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 Virginia
Tech updates fencing budgets - The Extension Publication Virginia
Farm Business Management Livestock and Fence Budgets (VCE Pub 446-048) is
now
available online in both PDF and Excel formats. You may also contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office
for a hardcopy of this publication. |
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Ag Calendar
July 24 - 26: Pageant of Steam;
Berryville, Virginia; The 42nd Annual Steam Show will feature hundreds of
antique farm tractors and farm equipment. Tractor pull will be at 6:30 PM on
Friday night. The horse pull will be on Saturday at 6:00 PM. The mule pull
and jump will be on Sunday at 1:00 PM. Noon tractor parades on both Saturday
and Sunday. Located on Rt. 7 in Berryville, Virginia. See web site
www.svsgea.com
Aug. 8 - Mid-Atlantic Meat Goat
Symposium; Franklin, Virginia; Presentations on meat goat economics,
fencing, predator control, etc.; Hours: 9:30 Am - 2:30 PM; Location: Paul D.
Camp Community College in Franklin, VA; Call (757) 514-4330.
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 Climate
Change Bill attracts attention of farmers. |
The latest hay
price report is available here>>
USDA: Higher feed prices may lead to lower meat
production
June 11 - Total U.S. meat production for 2009 and 2010 is
estimated lower as higher forecast feed prices are expected to put a damper
on the pork and broiler sectors. That's according to the USDA's recent World
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.
Pork
Pork production for 2009 is estimated slightly higher at 22.75 billion
pounds from 22.74 billion pounds predicted last month as higher
second-quarter slaughter weights boost production and more than offset a
reduced second-half forecast that is lower to due to reduced imports of
Canadian hogs. For 2010, pork production is lowered to 22.35 billion pounds
from last month's prediction of 22.62 billion pounds. Higher feed prices and
weaker forecast hog prices are expected to limit growth in animal weights
and incentives to increase production.
The average price for barrows and gilts for 2009 are lowered to a range of
$43 to $45 per hundredweight from a range of $45 to $46 predicted last
month. For 2010, prices are lowered slightly to a range of $48 to $51 from a
range of $48 to $52. These projections are based on weak demand.
Broilers
Broiler production for 2009 is reduced to 35.42 billion pounds from 35.49
billion pounds predicted in May, and also reduced for 2010 to 35.93 billion
pounds from 36.08 billion pounds predicted last month due to expected higher
feed prices.
The average price for broilers is raised for both 2009 and 2010 due to
reduced production. For 2009, the price is raised to a range of 80 cents to
83 cents per pound from a range of 78 cents to 82 cents per pound. For 2010,
the price is raised to a range of 80 cents to 87 cents per pound from a
range of 78 cents to 85 cents per pound.
Beef
Meanwhile, beef production in 2009 is forecast lower to 26.46 billion pounds
from last month's prediction of 26.53 billion pounds due to the slower pace
of fed-cattle slaughter so far in the second quarter and lighter average
carcass weights. For 2010, beef is unchanged at 25.99 billion pounds.
The average price for Choice steers is lowered in 2009 to a range of $84 to
$87 per hundredweight from a range of $85 to $88 based on weak beef demand.
The range of 2010 is unchanged at $87 to $94 per hundredweight.
Virginia nursery proud to supply boxwoods to White House
WASHINGTON—It was 1962, and then-first lady Jacqueline
Kennedy wanted to spruce up the White House gardens. When plans were
finalized, it was a family-owned nursery in Nelson County she turned to for
boxwoods.
Saunders Brothers nursery has been supplying plants to the White House ever
since.
"Vardar Valley is the boxwood used widely at the White House," said Paul
Saunders, who started the boxwood business at his family’s nursery. The
family began growing nursery plants and operating an orchard in 1915.
Saunders and his sons, Tom, Bennett, Jim and Robert, operate the wholesale
nursery, which comprises nearly 350 greenhouses and ships more than 500
varieties of plants to garden centers throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
The 150-acre apple and peach orchard provides fruit for wholesale and local
retail markets.
"People are getting more interested in their homes, making their homes look
pretty, putting lipstick on the landscape, if you want to call it that,"
Saunders said. "Our flagship plant has been boxwood, and it is still our
best plant that we are probably best known for."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that the production value of
domestic horticultural crops will increase by more than 3 percent annually
over the next decade. In Virginia, greenhouse and nursery operations
generated more than $248 million in cash receipts in 2007.
Tom Saunders, who handles his family nursery’s container production, said he
expects consumers’ enthusiasm for gardening to broaden.
"I think more people will produce their own food products at home now, with
the economy what it is," he said. "It is just more satisfying to a person to
produce that crop themselves or to produce that flower starting from a young
plant and finishing on out."
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Custom-rate guide published for the
Shenandoah Valley
Custom rates listed for making hay,
plowing, planting and harvesting crops, shearing sheep, hauling
livestock, spreading manure, applying fertilizer, building fence,
and more.
click here for complete guide
(pdf file) >> |
Virginia Cooperative Extension helps aging farmers transition the family
business
May 15 - With the U.S. Census of Agriculture pointing
to an aging population operating Virginia's farms, the need for education
and planning for the complicated issue of transitioning the farm from
generation to generation could not be greater.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is continuing to offer
Shenandoah Valley producers a comprehensive look at the farm transition
process.
According to the census data released in February, the
average age of a Virginia farm operator was 58.2 years in 2007, a jump from
56.7 years in 2002 and 55.8 years in 1997. The number of Virginia farm
operators younger than 35 has also fallen to fewer than 2,000 for the first
time. Gordon Groover, Extension farm management specialist, anticipates a
major transition of farms, both big and small, in the next 15 to 20 years.
"We have fewer young farmers coming into the family
business," said Groover, who is also an associate professor of agricultural
and applied economics in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences. "A good number might want to come back to farming, but the
question is: Can they generate enough of a family income to sustain
themselves in agriculture?"
Extension agents in the Shenandoah Valley have pioneered
multisession workshops to help local farmers answer that question. These
workshops deal with retirement, health care, estate planning, business
structure, personal and family goals, and much more. Although many programs
try to cover the breadth of these issues in only a few honors, the
Shenandoah Valley program aims to give a comprehensive look at farm
transition through multiple sessions.
Bill Whittle, senior agriculture and natural resources agent
and unit coordinator in Page County, explained that open communication
across generation lines is also a big issue.
"Farmers tend to be reserved about business matters, but
during this process they need to communicate more than ever," Whittle said.
"They have to be willing to talk as a family about their future goals for
the farm."
Whittle encourages all participants to develop a farm
transition plan that has flexibility in the event of unforeseen
circumstances or changing goals. "At the end of the sessions, families have
the tools to complete a transition management plan to guide them through the
years," he explained. "This plan must be reasonably fluid because life
changes."
To date, the Shenandoah Valley program has attracted 104 farm
families accounting for more than 220 individuals. There are similar
Extension-led programs in other parts of the state to help farm operators
deal with this complicated issue.
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 Farm
TV show now available globally
Virginia's Public Television, WVPT, recently
announced that current and recent episodes of Virginia
Farming are now available online 24 hours a day. Viewers may
watch the program from anywhere in the world via computer. The
award-winning program features rural and agricultural news from
around Virginia and surrounding states. An archive of the four
most recent episodes are available for viewing.
See the web site
www.wvpt.net
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Copyright 2008, all rights reserved -
This web page is owned and maintained by
"On the Farm" Radio, P.O. Box
137, Mount Sidney, VA 24467
(540) 363-3938 |
