Pennsylvania fruit growers face catastrophic losses after historic spring freeze
Source: Penn State University By Alexandra McLaughlin UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — At a century-old farm in Franklin County, more than 400 young plum trees were expected to produce their first commercial crop this year. The grower had spent four years expanding his orchard for a specialty buyer who promised to purchase every plum he could grow. Then came the April freeze. In a single night, the crop was gone, according to Daniel Weber, horticulture educator on Penn State Extension’
Could your dog help fight the spotted lanternfly? A new study makes the case
Ordinary pet dogs outperformed trained human searchers in the first real-world test of community dog-handler teams, finding more than twice as many egg masses. Source: Virginia Tech by Marya Barlow At a Maryland vineyard, Debi Persing guided her Boston terrier, Xephyr, slowly down a row of grapevines. Vineyard workers and scientists had already identified several invasive spotted lanternfly egg masses hidden among the vines. They believed they had found them all. Then Xephyr
Family Forest Carbon Program enrolls 200,000 acres
Source: American Forest Foundation Washington, D.C. – The American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) recently reached 200,000 total acres enrolled, a major milestone in its mission to support family landowners, bolster rural economies, and deliver meaningful conservation impact. As part of FFCP, these 200,000 acres — greater than the land area of New York City — are set to remove 3.5 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere and g
Farm Credit of the Virginias returns $31 million in cash dividends to customers
Farm Credit of the Virginias (FCV), a cooperative lending institution serving Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, will return $31 million this month to its members through their annual patronage program.* FCV’s cooperative framework allows the Association to return a portion of its profits back to members on an annual basis. During 2025, agricultural producers and rural homeowners faced economic uncertainty, market volatility, as well as high interest rates and inpu
Andy Seibel shares the history of the FFV - predecessor to the FFA
by Jeff Ishee Andy Seibel April 26, 2026 - Many people may not be aware that, before there was ever an FFA organization, there was an FFV organization. It was 100 years ago this spring that a vote was taken to form the Future Farmers of Virginia. That organization eventually was the model for the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA, which consists of more than a million members. Andy Seibel, a long-time leader in Virginia FFA, shares the story of how the Future Farmer
Devastating crop losses caused by freezing temperatures in Virginia
by Jeff Ishee April 24, 2026 - Virginia fruit growers and wineries are reporting significant crop losses after a hard freeze on April 20–21. The extreme temperatures damaged tender buds and young fruit across the state’s orchards and vineyards. Temperatures plunged into the mid‑20s in many areas, striking at the most vulnerable point of early bloom. The week prior saw daytime highs well above the statewide average, causing many crops to advance in maturation. In some areas of
Virginia farmers can be paid to improve their pastures
Source: Virginia Farm Bureau BLACKSBURG, VA — Virginia farmers and landowners have a new opportunity this spring to be compensated for conservation practices that support soil health, pasture productivity and long-term farm resilience. Enrollment is open statewide for the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture, paying landowners either $100 or $300 per acre for implementation of approved farming practices. The Alliance is an initiative supported by the U.S. Department
USDA report shows significant farm losses, 2.5 million acres of farmland erased in 2025
by Jeff Ishee February 19, 2026 - A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the nation’s agricultural landscape continued to contract last year, with thousands of farms disappearing amid ongoing economic pressures. According to the USDA, approximately 15,000 farms were lost nationwide in 2025, marking one of the steepest single‑year declines in more than a decade. Total land in farms, at 873,950,000 acres, decreased 2,510,000 acres from 2024. See the full rep
Join us for a private tour of what will be one of the largest wineries in the Mid-Atlantic region
by Jeff Ishee February 2, 2026 - We were recently invited to take an owner-guided tour of Noer Vineyards in Verona, Virginia. According to owner John Noer, the operation recently opened for limited sales after several years of construction and planting. When the entire acreage is under vine (approx. 200 acres), it will be one of the largest family-owned vineyards in the Mid-Atlantic region. Stunning view from atop the ridge where the future tasting room may be situated. This
Sub-zero temperatures and slick ice strand livestock; pastures described as "skating rinks"
by Jeff Ishee Updated Jan. 30, 2026 - A surge of Arctic air pushed sub‑zero temperatures into the Mid‑Atlantic region in late January, raising serious concerns for livestock producers already battling frozen ground, icy winds, and strained infrastructure. Reports have been received about collapsed poultry houses and greenhouses due to heavy sleet and snow. Barns, hay sheds, and other farm facilities also did not survive the storm in some areas. Agricultural experts warn that
