March 2018

1  Virginia Farm to School, Regional Farm to School Network Kickoff Meeting:  Creating a Roadmap to Farm to School.  WHO:  School nutrition professionals, farmers, distributors, produce company representatives, and anyone interested in Farm to School.  Contact Trista Grigsby for more info.  Trista.Grigsby@doe.virginia.gov or 804-225-2331.  Learn about Food Safety from Farm to School; Reading, writing, and responding to solicitations for bids; and Creative delivery & distribution models.  Help develop your region’s vision for how to increase access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food in schools.  When:  9:00 am – 3:00 p.m. at the Southside Planning District, 200 S. Mecklenburg Ave, South Hill, VA  23970 (Snow date March 27, 28, or 29).   Lunch will be ordered together, or bring your own.  

2   Southside Area Beef Conference in conjunction with Virginia Cattlemens Association, VT Southern Piedmont AREC (2375 Darvills Road, Blackstone), 8:30-3:30. $15 per person; please register by Feb 23 to the Brunswick Extension Office, (434) 848-2151. Cost is $25 after Feb 23. Pending approval, BQA recert credits will be available. Topics include legislative updates, antibiotic residues, matching cattle genetics to your environment, and more.

2-3   South Atlantic Hops Conference: Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. More information available at http://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/hops.html

5   2018 Governor’s Agricultural Trade Conference. With a luncheon address by the Honorable Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia, and an exciting roster of speakers throughout the day, this is the premier venue to learn about and discuss the most pressing issues affecting agricultural trade today. Whether you represent agricultural production, academia, ag policy, transportation and logistics, or the media, you will not want to miss the opportunity to hear from top experts and policymakers about topics influencing the trade of Virginia’s agriculture and forestry products. For details and registration, visit https://vafb.swoogo.com/govagtrade2018

6 Farm Business Financial Planning  (Part 2–Business Plans and Grants): 4 PM, $10 per session or $25 for all three (Feb 27-Goochland, March 6-Powhatan, March 27-Cumberland). For more information, please contact the Cumberland Extension Office at (804) 492-4390. Registration and info at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflJz5fYg096gwzILKkW5cv1_C1MHbwmtLft_TheFe6GOqMkA/viewform

6-7  All About Irrigation Workshop:   March 6 (Irrigation Basics) and 7 (Advanced Irrigation), Location: Tidewater AREC, 6321 Holland Road, Suffolk VA.  Event website: https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/jshortridge/irrigation-workshop

The event is FREE and lunch will be provided. However, registration is REQUIRED. Participants can register at the website above.  The first day of the workshop will feature material aimed at producers who are not yet irrigating, but considering investing in irrigation systems. The second day will include more advanced material on irrigation technology and management. Participants can attend either day, or both, depending on their interests.

6-8 Doing Right by Your Horse, Land, and Pocketbook: Featuring – New equine research results from Virginia Tech & the University of Maryland; Getting the most for your money when buying hay; and Farm practices that help heal the environment.

March 6th-Middleburg, VT MARE Center, Contact: Dr Bridgett McIntosh, 540-697-3521, Ext. 22 bmcintosh@vt.edu;    

March 7th-Roanoke, Hollins University, Contact: Kate Lawrence, 5400473-8260, ML87@vt.edu

March 8th-Charlottesville, Earlysvile Fire Department, Contact:  Ruth Schrecongost, 434-872-4580 horse@vt.edu

The time at each location will be from 6:00-8:30 pm.  This is a FREE program that includes dinner.  Space is limited so you must RSVP.  

7  Upcoming Dicamba Training Programs – Two session – 1 to be held at the Southern Piedmont AREC, 2375 Darvills RD, Blackstone, VA  from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.  Call Haley Norton to RSVP at 434-645-9315.  The other one to be held at the Brunswick County Extension Office, 100-A Tobacco Street, Lawrenceville from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  Call Cynthia Gregg to RSVP at 434-848-2151.   

8   Direct Meat Marketing 101, 1-8 PM, Powhatan (Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department Co. 2). $30; includes dinner. Topics include regulations and inspection, basic economics of direct marketing, carcass breakdown, pricing cuts, marketing, and label claims demystified. Contact Rachel Grosse at (804) 598-5640 or rgrosse@vt.edu. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScH-Uk5uVa0dO8CFEysOSBv1KewFSQ79rfNAT3LJ6oLRuwEKg/viewform

8   10th Annual Berry Production and Marketing Conference, Gateway Dining & Event Center located on the campus of Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. This year’s  conference includes both researchers and growers with many years of experience in the areas of production, postharvest, and marketing of berry crops. Register Online:  https://www.ext.vsu.edu/events/2018/3/8/10th-annual-berry-production-marketing-conference

8  Soybean Production Meeting & Dicamba Training at Stone’s Mill Hunt Club, Poe Drive, Kenbridge, VA from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  The program will include Weed Management Update, Soybean Agronomy Update and Dicamba Training.  Lunch will be served.  Please RSVP to the Mecklenburg County Office by Friday, March 2 at (434) 738-6191, Ext. 4371.

9 Eastern Virginia Forage & Grazing Conference: Specialists from Virginia Tech and local agencies are conducting The Eastern Virginia Forage Conference on Friday, March 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Doswell Ruritan Hall: 16433 North Washington Highway, Doswell, VA. Specialists from NRCS, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Cooperative Extension, will speak on maximizing annual forage production, forage for livestock that increases wildlife, converting pastures to summer perennials, renovating pastures with annuals, & controlling weeds. In addition, the trade show will allow you to speak with vendors about their products and services. Participants will receive 2 Continuing Education Credits for Nutrient Management. To register for this event, go to https://hanover.ext.vt.edu/ or call or email the Hanover Extension office at 804-752-4310 or lmaxey-nay@vt.edu. The registration fee is $10 per person. Please send the registration fee to:Virginia Cooperative Extension, 13015 Taylor Complex Lane, Ashland, VA 23005. Please make checks payable to Treasurer, Virginia Tech. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate, please call (804)-752-4310 by March 2, 2018.

9   Crape Myrtle Pruning Workshop, Amelia. Join us at 9201 Amelia Street (intersection of Amelia Street and Court Street) in Amelia Courthouse on Friday, March 9th from 1-3 PM. Guest speaker and Middlesex Extension Master Gardener Virginia Clark will discuss caring for crape myrtles and several other types of shrubs on the site. She will perform a live pruning demonstration, offer hands-on practice to participants, discuss pruning tools and tool sharpening, and answer questions about crape myrtles and ornamentals. Participants should dress for the outdoors and bring their own pruning tools, if they have them. The event is free. In order to receive any weather-related changes, register to (804) 561-2481.

9  Virginia Farm to School, Regional Farm to School Network Kickoff Meeting:  Creating a Roadmap to Farm to School.  WHO:  School nutrition professionals, farmers, distributors, produce company representatives, and anyone interested in Farm to School.  Contact Trista Grigsby for more info.  Trista.Grigsby@doe.virginia.gov or 804-225-2331.  Learn about Food Safety from Farm to School; Reading, writing, and responding to solicitations for bids; and Creative delivery & distribution models.  Help develop your region’s vision for how to increase access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food in schools.  When:  9:00 am – 3:00 p.m. at the Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Rd, Staunton, VA  24401 (Snow date April 5).   Lunch will be ordered together, or bring your own.  

12   Winter Feeding Workshop at Delma’s Food Pantry building (old Cumberland social services bldg) starting at 5:30 pm. Free; dinner is provided and being sponsored by Kent Feeds. Featured speakers are Dr. Lincoln-Montgomery-Rodgers of Agrarian Veterinary Services, LLC and Jared Rottmund of Kent Feeds. **The first 25 hay samples submitted to the Cumberland Ext. Office by February 19th will be sent to Cumberland Valley Labs for a free routine analysis. To register, please visit https://goo.gl/forms/9v3c5ZMqt72hMtOk2 or contact the Cumberland Extension office at 804-492-4390.

15   Tri-County Ag Supper Club at Wilson’s BBQ in South Hill at 6:30 p.m. with supper on your own.  Topics will be determined by request, to include policies and other issues related to agriculture on a local, state and national level.  If you have ever wanted to get together with other producers and d9iscuss topics of interest, with plenty of time for questions and answers, this is your chance.  For more information or to pre-register, contact your local Extension Office:  Mecklenburg 434-738-6191 x 4371; Brunswick 434-848-2151; Lunenburg 434-696-5526.

15   Novel Tall Fescue Renovation Workshop, 8:30-5 PM, Raphine VA. Register at www.vaforages.org/events/. Topics and agenda items include Fescue Toxicosis: Symptoms and Causes; Economics; Establishment and First Year Management; Seed and Endophyte Testing; Long-Term Pasture Management; Company Products; Incentives; Producer Panel; Plot Tours.  Registration before March 1-$60/person; after March 1-$75/person. Includes lunch, refreshments, & proceedings. Workshop–Raphine Vol Fire Co, 2130 Raphine Road, Raphine, VA 24472 (Exit 205 off Interstate-81). Plot tours–McCormick Farm, 128 Cyrus McCormick Circle, Raphine, VA 24472.

16   Commercial and Registered Technician Pesticide Applicator Recertification, (registration form here), 9-3:45, Southern Piedmont AREC in Blackstone (2375 Darvills Road). Please note, this is for those holding a Commercial license in the following categories: 7A, 7B, 7D, 10, and Private Categories 90 and 91. It is also for Registered Techs IN THESE FIELDS. This means that they should be working toward one of the previously mentioned Commercial Categories, or working under someone with a license in one of the previously mentioned categories. Lunch is provided; registration is $15 before March 9 and $25 after March 9. Call the Nottoway Extension office at (434) 645-9315.

16-18 Central Virginia Beginning Landowners Forest Retreat, Holiday Day 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox. The forest retreat is geared towards landowners who are new to forest management and will provide information on both hardwood and pine forest management, offer chances for interaction with natural resource professionals from various agencies in Virginia, as well as with other landowners, provide information on estate planning, management planning and certification, and provide hands-on experience with tree identification, forestry equipment, and more.For details and online registration, visit https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/

20  Virginia Farm to School, Regional Farm to School Network Kickoff Meeting:  Creating a Roadmap to Farm to School.  WHO:  School nutrition professionals, farmers, distributors, produce company representatives, and anyone interested in Farm to School.  Contact Trista Grigsby for more info.  Trista.Grigsby@doe.virginia.gov or 804-225-2331.  Learn about Food Safety from Farm to School; Reading, writing, and responding to solicitations for bids; and Creative delivery & distribution models.  Help develop your region’s vision for how to increase access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food in schools.  When:  9:00 am – 3:00 p.m. at the Beale Annex Conference Room, 202 South Church Lane, Tappahannock, VA  22560.   Lunch will be ordered together, or bring your own.  

21   Commercial and Registered Technician Pesticide Applicator Recertification, (registration form here), 9-4:15, Southern Piedmont AREC in Blackstone (2375 Darvills Road). Please note, this is for those holding a Commercial license in the following categories: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, and 10, and Private Categories 90 and 91. It is also for Registered Techs IN THESE FIELDS. This means that they should be working toward one of the previously mentioned Commercial Categories, or working under someone with a license in one of the previously mentioned categories. Lunch is provided; registration is $15 before March 14 and $25 after March 14. Call the Nottoway Extension office at (434) 645-9315.

21  Beekeeping Workshop Series, Panel of Experts at the Buckingham Extension Office at 7:00 p.m.

21   2018 Virginia Fencing School (Lee County): The Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, in conjunction with Virginia Cooperative Extension, will again hold four Fencing Schools across Virginia this spring.  These schools, taught by industry professionals, are equally beneficial to novice and experienced fence builders.  During the schools, participants will learn about different fence types (electric and non-electric) and materials, proper brace and fence construction, the basics of electric fencing and electric fence trouble-shooting.  The schools are limited to 30 participants and fill up quickly. Visit https://vaforages.org/2018-virginia-fencing-school-agenda/

21-22   2018 Agritourism in Virginia’s New Economy Conference at The Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. Farm Tours are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and the conference concludes around 2:00 pm on Thursday. https://vafb.swoogo.com/agritourism2018

24   Women in Agriculture Gathering, Richmond (Farm Bureau Building off West Creek Parkway). This event will equip female farmers, landowners, and agriculture enthusiasts with opportunities to network with peers, hone technical skills, and discuss solutions to the unique challenges they face. This year’s conference will also have a special emphasis on agvocacy on the farm, online, and everywhere else—women in agriculture play a key role in shaping the voice and face of the industry as it reaches consumers. Speakers will be female farmers and industry leaders from across the region. Registration before March 20 is $30; registration March 21 or later is $40. Register at www.tinyurl.com/womeninag2018 For questions or concerns, contact Rachel Grosse Henley (rgrosse@vt.edu), Charley Maxwell (mcharley@vt.edu), Laura Siegle (laurab08@vt.edu), or Sarah Sharpe (seweaver@vt.edu).

27 Farm Business Financial Planning  (Part 3–Applying for a Loan and Financial Statements): 4 PM, $10 per session or $25 for all three (Feb 27-Goochland, March 6-Powhatan, March 27-Cumberland). For more information, please contact the Cumberland Extension Office at (804) 492-4390. Registration and info at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflJz5fYg096gwzILKkW5cv1_C1MHbwmtLft_TheFe6GOqMkA/viewform

28   2018 Virginia Fencing School (Page County): The Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, in conjunction with Virginia Cooperative Extension, will again hold four Fencing Schools across Virginia this spring.  These schools, taught by industry professionals, are equally beneficial to novice and experienced fence builders.  During the schools, participants will learn about different fence types (electric and non-electric) and materials, proper brace and fence construction, the basics of electric fencing and electric fence trouble-shooting.  The schools are limited to 30 participants and fill up quickly. Visit https://vaforages.org/2018-virginia-fencing-school-agenda/

28   Direct Meat Marketing 101, 1-8 PM, Charlottesville (Albemarle County Office Building). $30; includes dinner. Topics include regulations and inspection, basic economics of direct marketing, carcass breakdown, pricing cuts, marketing, and label claims demystified. Contact Sarah Sharpe at (434) 985-5236 or seweaver@vt.edu. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScH-Uk5uVa0dO8CFEysOSBv1KewFSQ79rfNAT3LJ6oLRuwEKg/viewform

29  Making and Using Baleage to Reduce Feeding Cost at the Roanoke-Hollins Stockyard from 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.  BBQ dinner and speaker sponsored by Vermeer & Zimmerman’ Equipment, Inc.  Please RSVP to the Botetourt Extension Office by March 23, 2018.  (540) 473-8260 or MCL87@vt.edu

TBD   Stockmanship clinic at the BARN facility in Buckingham

April

4   2018 Virginia Fencing School (Lousia County): The Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, in conjunction with Virginia Cooperative Extension, will again hold four Fencing Schools across Virginia this spring.  These schools, taught by industry professionals, are equally beneficial to novice and experienced fence builders.  During the schools, participants will learn about different fence types (electric and non-electric) and materials, proper brace and fence construction, the basics of electric fencing and electric fence trouble-shooting.  The schools are limited to 30 participants and fill up quickly. Visit https://vaforages.org/2018-virginia-fencing-school-agenda/

7-8   Wool Handling School hosted by Virginia Cooperative Extension and American Sheep Industry Association at Blue Ridge Community College’s Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center in Weyers Cave. Topics: wool fiber characteristics, responsibility in wool production, wool contamination and handling practices, wool packaging and labeling, and commercial wool processing fee. Instructor fee and registration: $75 (payable to American Sheep Industry Association) and due by March 10th by mail to: August Extension Office, P.O. Box 590, Verona VA 24482; contact John Benner at benner89@vt.edu or (540) 245-5750.

12   2018 Virginia Fencing School (Middleburg): The Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, in conjunction with Virginia Cooperative Extension, will again hold four Fencing Schools across Virginia this spring.  These schools, taught by industry professionals, are equally beneficial to novice and experienced fence builders.  During the schools, participants will learn about different fence types (electric and non-electric) and materials, proper brace and fence construction, the basics of electric fencing and electric fence trouble-shooting.  The schools are limited to 30 participants and fill up quickly. Visit https://vaforages.org/2018-virginia-fencing-school-agenda/

19   Tri-County Ag Supper Club at Wilson’s BBQ in South Hill at 6:30 p.m. with supper on your own.  Topics will be determined by request, to include policies and other issues related to agriculture on a local, state and national level.  If you have ever wanted to get together with other producers and discuss topics of interest, with plenty of time for questions and answers, this is your chance.  For more information or to pre-register, contact your local Extension Office:  Mecklenburg 434-738-6191 x 4371; Brunswick 434-848-2151; Lunenburg 434-696-5526.

(TBD) Beekeeping Workshop Series, Hands on Working a Hive

24&25   2018 Grazing School, Raphine, VA. Designed with beginning and experienced producers in mind, this 2-day, intensive course will teach you everything you need to know to better manage grazing on your farm. Topics include basic pasture management, grazing management, designing a rotational grazing system, fencing and watering options, strategies to extend the grazing season, matching forage quality & animal needs, and creating a forage budget. You will have hands-on opportunities to work with grazing tools, try out fencing materials, and practice allocating pasture to livestock. The last day of the school features a workshop where you can begin developing a custom grazing plan. Limited to 25; visit https://vaforages.org/2018-grazing-school/

27   Buckingham Cattlemen’s Association Production Sale, 7:00pm

May

18 – 19  Cattlemen’s College at The Barn facility, 11851 W. James Anderson Hwy, Buckingham, VA from 8:30 am -4:30 pm.  Learn how to increase profitability without additional input costs.  Achieved by techniques that can be applied during our daily routine.  For more details, visit http://tomurtin.net  $50/person for both days, $40 for one day.  Lunch will be provided.  Mail completed registration to:  VCE-Buckingham, PO Box 227, Buckingham, VA  23921.  To reserve your spot, registration and payment must be received by April 20th.