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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

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

by Jeff Ishee Early assessments show the region’s agriculture sector suffered far more damage than was first believed. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA — Farmers across the Shenandoah Valley are still digging out after a late January winter storm. Early assessments show the region’s agriculture sector suffered far more damage than was first believed. Image credit - Farmer who would like to remain anonymous Officials with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency

source: Deere news release Moline, IL -- In keeping with our strong tradition of building America, we are excited to announce plans to open two new U.S.-based facilities: a state-of-the-art distribution center near Hebron, Indiana, and a cutting-edge excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina, both set to open in the next year. "Our investment in these new facilities underscores John Deere's dedication to strengthening the backbone of American industry and supporting

by Jeff Ishee Jan. 25 - 2026 - Single-digit and below‑zero temperatures are sweeping across the Mid‑Atlantic in late January, threatening small grain crops, livestock, and farm infrastructure at a time when producers are already stretched thin by deep snow and generally volatile weather. The sudden Arctic plunge is part of a broader cold pattern pushing frigid air from the Midwest toward the East Coast, bringing dangerous wind chills and prolonged freezes. As temperatures di

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky Proud®, the official marketing program of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, is offering a one-day workshop for Kentucky producers to help them develop a plan to market agricultural products to a wider audience. Kentucky Proud is hosting the Retail Readiness workshop in partnership with the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and the University of Kentucky’s MarketReady Producer Training Program. “This one-day workshop

CALLANDS, VA — Demand for Virginia-grown tobacco may have dipped over the decades, but grower efficiencies and commitment to quality keep the state’s surviving operations profitable. Over 8,400 Virginia farms were producing tobacco in 1992. Today, only 173 farms in Virginia are growing the historically iconic crop, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement and 2004 federal tobacco quota buyout pushed some growers into early retirement,

by Kimbra Cutlip A new study from the University of Maryland provides the first clear picture of attitudes and barriers to agrivoltaics—the dual use of land for farming and solar energy—in Montgomery County, Maryland. The results reveal how local environmental, political, and social factors influence acceptance and adoption of solar energy in the region’s agricultural sector. The study , which was published in the journal Energy Policy on January 13, 2026, is significant beca

Source: Michigan Farm Bureau Michigan land values showed “remarkable resilience and strength” in the latter part of 2025, according to Jay Van Gorden, area sales manager for Farmers National Co. (FNC), a national landowner service provider. This is especially the case for high-quality farmland, said Van Gorden, which is still near record levels. “Farmers National has seen multiple sales in the $15,000 to $19,000 per acre range in the past few weeks in our Eastern Region for h

by Jeff Ishee President Donald Trump has signed into law the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which will allow school systems to offer students whole milk and other healthy dairy products. The law overturns Obama‑era nutrition rules that limited schools to fat‑free and low‑fat milk options beginning in 2012, a policy originally aimed at reducing childhood obesity. Shenandoah County, Virginia, dairy farmer Thomas French was in the White House Oval Office for the sig