News & Features

Virginia Farm Bureau News & Features is your place for news and information from around Virginia. From gardening tips and recipes to politics and events, stay up to date with what matters to Virginians.

Budget cuts could have dramatic impact on state’s largest industry

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Conservation, forestry and wildlife control have all taken huge hits in Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s reductions to the state budget.




New USDA initiative expands conservation tools for farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new initiative that expands opportunities for farmers and ranchers to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program, a popular voluntary program that offers landowners tools to prevent erosion, protect wildlife habitat and reduce nutrient runoff.



Bay foundation reports more grasses, crabs and oysters

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The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has reported that crab and oyster populations and the presence of underwater grasses have increased in the bay.



Resource Management Plans in place on more than 68,000 acres

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Virginia farm and forestland owners have put in place 326 Resource Management Plans that cover 68,147 acres, according to a report released Dec. 7 by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.



College classes now cover drone technology for farmers

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Piedmont Virginia Community College is now offering a drone certification class for farmers who want to use that technology.



What is ‘sustainable’ agriculture? Consumers’ ideas vary

New information is available on U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance findings related to common perceptions about sustainability and agriculture.



Cost-share funding helps both farmers and environment

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation has lobbied on behalf of its producer members this winter for adequate state funding of cost-share money for best management practices.



National survey, Virginia program noting farms’ conservation efforts

The National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting its second annual survey to measure the environmental benefits associated with conservation practices on agricultural land.



Farmers disposing of unwanted pesticides safely

More than 1.4 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides have been collected and destroyed since the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services began the Virginia Pesticide Disposal Program in 1990.



Flory family farms with earth-friendly practices

On Hillside Farm, Laura and Scott Flory and his parents, Dale and Janet, use a closed-loop flushing system in their dairy barn.



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