A rest day on Sunday and visiting the Fannon Family Reunion, Tommy and David packed up their bags to go to Eastern Virginia.  We were lucky enough to catch up with Suzanne Slack, Area Horticulture Extension Agent.  We were able to tour the Southwest Virginia Farmers Market with Kevin Semones and then travel to visit Steve Pottorff, Caroll County Extension Agent, at his small farm.  From there, Suzanne took us to WO Hill & Son Orchard in Cana, VA.  We were able to see a demonstration of high density planting that Suzanne installed on the farm with a grant. Tommy and David spent the evening at Reynolds Home Place in Critz, VA and were able to view research being conducted there.

On Saturday, David and Tommy met with Jimmy Byington and his family at Lazy Boys Charolais Farm in Jonesville, VA.  The contrasts to cow size, calving ease, and number of cows needing assistance during birthing was very striking.  Ireland’s dominate breeds are Charolais and Limousin with average cow size being 1800 lbs and 50% of cows need help to deliver calves that average around 110 lbs.  Jimmy’s cows are roughly 1200-1500 lbs in size and average birth weight is 83 lbs, and rarely require assistance calving.  If he has to pull a calf then the cow is on the list to cull as soon as possible.

David and Tommy were able to stop in at the Lee Farmer’s Cooperative and the Ewing Livestock Market to compare prices and look at our systems.   Prices on inputs for farmers seem to be very similar, but livestock marketing is very different in Ireland.  Leeman Field had several events in celebration of Memorial Day Weekend and they were able to see team roping and an antique tractor pull. Afterwards, we traveled to Big Stone Gap, VA to enjoy an evening of music by the band Black Lilies at the Gathering in the Gap Music Festival.

Tommy and David were able to visit the Powell River Project in Wise County Virginia with Phil Meeks and Bear Early!!  The Powell River Project started in 1981 with Virginia Tech completing research and demonstrations on the site for reclamation.  The project includes roughly 1,100 acres with 200 acres in pasture land for their cattle herd.  Issues with reclaimed coal mined land include fertility and drought prone soils.

From there we traveled to the farm of Starling and Gwen Fleming,  they have a herd of roughly 40 black Angus pastured on mined lands.   They have been in the cattle business for roughly 30 years.  Starling has many different management issues then the traditional farmer, but has adapted his system well.  Starling is a strict when it comes to culling cows that do not fit his job description for his herd.  If they calve out of season or have issues, they will be on the list to cull.

David and Tommy started their day going to Lee County Career and Technical Center, where we were able to compare the differences in educational systems.  We then traveled to Lee County Animal Hospital to meet Dr. Matthew Marcum to discuss his veterinary practice in the area.  One striking difference is the number of caesarean sections that take place and the medications that farmers in Ireland have to get through a veterinary practice instead of a farm store.  At Wilderness Road State Park, David and Tommy were able to see a glimpse into frontier life and experience our State Park System.

Arabella Cline welcomed David and Tommy to look at her beef, sheep, and gerbil operation.  Yes, gerbils!  Arabella has a special niche market for gerbils and takes 400 to market a month.  She also raises beef cattle and is growing her herd.  She has gone from 40 acres of land to almost 350 acres. We went on to Will Shipley’s farm, who primarily raises burley tobacco and field crops. Field crops support his family dairy operation in Tennessee.  Burley tobacco is a traditional crop of Southwest Virginia, but completely new to Tommy and David. Will raises roughly 160 acres of burley tobacco.

The Daniel Boone Soil & Water Conservation District and Lee County Extension Office hosted a Pasture Walk that evening at the farm of Homer Vandergrift that is leased by John Carter.  At the meeting, Tommy and David were able to talk to many farmers and discuss pasture management.  The farmers enjoyed discussing the differences in farming operations.

Tommy and David were able to meet several other Agriculture Extension Agents at our DPLT Leadership Training.  Several agents were able to go to the Southwest Virginia Research and Education Center with us.  Kate Lawrence, Morgan Paulette, and Phil Blevins discussed their counties and work.

We were lucky enough to catch Lee Wright before he went to the hayfield and look at the herd of hair sheep.  Hair sheep have become the dominant sheep in our region, but in Ireland wool is the standard.

Welcome to Exchange with Ireland Blog! Meet Tommy and David from Ireland’s Teagasc. They are agriculture advisors traveling through Virginia. Yesterday, we went to My Shepherd’s Farm in Wythe County, Burke’s Garden in Tazewell County, and Smithfield in Russell County!