Increased fuel costs and colder than normal winters make heating costs a significant burden on many greenhouse operations. So, how can growers deal with high energy costs in the greenhouse? This publication covers energy conservation, alternative fuel choices, growing temperatures and production practices.

This book provides forms for many of the categories of expenses, receipts, labor, and financial summaries needed by most agricultural related businesses using cash accounting methods. Column headings are included for major items with some columns remaining blank for your own headings.

There are many factors to consider before starting a new farm enterprise. Financial management is an important component in the startup and decision-making processes for beginning farmers. The purpose of this series of publications is to inform Virginia agribusiness owners and managers about farm financial risk management tools, techniques, and resources available to help them prepare and use a financial systems approach for their operations.

There are many factors to consider before starting a new farm enterprise. Financial management is an important component in the startup and decision-making processes for beginning farmers. The purpose of this series of publications is to inform Virginia agribusiness owners and managers about farm financial risk management tools, techniques, and resources available to help them prepare and use a financial systems approach for their operations.

On June 25, 2020, Virginia Cooperative Extension hosted a webinar featuring 5 speakers from USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Richmond. The speakers provided an overview of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), information on eligibility and aid available for producers of various crops, and the importance of record keeping.

Grain and soybean production is a critical component of Virginia agriculture — the state’s No. 1 industry (VDACS 2013). Virginia’s farmers produced more than half a billion bushels of grain and soybeans over the span of 2006 to 2012 (USDA-NASS 2013b)1. The objectives of this publication are to characterize the market for grain production and storage in Virginia.

Did you know that farmers who sell unprocessed foods to retail outlets typically receive just 11.6 cents of each dollar the consumer spends on food? The remaining amount is allocated to industry groups such as food processors, packaging and transportation, retail trade, food services, energy, finance and insurance, and legal services.

This site outlines commodity information and resources to help Virginia producers build successful agricultural enterprises. It includes auctions, historical prices, basis, marketing trends, and more.

The publication provides an overview of the property tax reassessment process in Virginia. It explains why tax reassessment is important, and what the typical process looks like for Virginia jurisdictions. The paper gives a breakdown on how often reassessments are conducted, how the process differs for counties versus cities, and a step-by-step breakdown of the process for contractors or state officials. In addition to reassessment methodologies, the publication also provides figures showing statistical breakdowns of reassessment factors such as contracting or conducting in-house, the use of a physical inspection, and common reassessment intervals.

The U.S. aquaculture industry faces significant economic and marketing challenges that hinder its growth, despite its tremendous diversity and potential. To address these challenges, a multi-institutional project was initiated through a partnership with Virginia Tech and a diverse group of economists and Extension specialists. This collaborative effort seeks to strengthen connections among researchers, Extension professionals, and industry stakeholders to enhance the economic viability and market competitiveness of U.S. aquaculture. This project aims to create a robust foundation for sustainable industry development by cultivating new partnerships and expanding the aquaculture economics network. Central to this project is a comprehensive assessment of economics and marketing needs of Sea Grant programs and “Aquaculture Hubs” across the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, Hawai’i, and Guam. This assessment was conducted through a web-based survey, gathering insights from specialists, agents, and key industry stakeholders. The survey targets specific needs for tools, analyses, and training in areas such as business planning, risk management, and strategic planning. By identifying these needs, the project aims to tailor resources that directly support aquaculture businesses in navigating financial and market challenges. The findings from this survey are expected to guide the development of targeted resources, workshops, and training programs that will empower aquaculture producers and Extension professionals. This study not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term collaboration through the creation of an Aquaculture Economics and Marketing Information portal. Engaging diverse regions and stakeholders ensures that the outcomes of this project will promote resilience, innovation, and sustainability in U.S. aquaculture.

There are many factors to consider before you start a new farm enterprise. Labor issues are often underemphasized in the decision-making processes of beginning farmers. It is important to consider who you will hire, where you will find help, how you will manage your employees, and what legal matters are relevant to your farm.

Starting a farm is an exciting yet challenging opportunity. As with any new undertaking, there is a lot to think about before beginning a farm venture. Gaining access to farmland, viable markets, capital and credit, as well as hands-on training and resources are some of the most important startup issues to consider as part of. the planning process. You are likely asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” The purpose of this resource is to help newcomers make informed decisions at the start of the planning process. This “quick guide” is primarily designed for beginning farmers and ranchers, but service providers will also find this resource useful for answering questions about the farm startup process. This foundational work offers a valuable starting point on which to create a successful whole farm plan for a new agricultural venture.

The purpose of the Virginia Beginning Farmer Profiles is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia gain knowledge about farm start-up and planning from first-hand, personal experiences shared by other beginning farmers. This educational resource is component of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program’s Whole Farm Planning curriculum.

With funding from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program in fall 2010, the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program aims to meet the expressed needs of Virginia’s beginning farmers and support the development of social networks through which they can gain vital skills, information, technical assistance, and business capacity for long-term agricultural viability (see www.vabeginningfarmer.org).

This publication is a teaching resource (series of lesson plans) developed by a participant in the Graduate Extension Scholars (GES) program.

This publication is a teaching resource (series of lesson plans) developed by a participant in the Graduate Extension Scholars (GES) program.

Extension agents are closely involved in advising farmers and farm families on identification and mitigation of financial risks unique to the agricultural industry. Financial decisions are often time-sensitive and complicated, and the source of many sleepless nights to farmers and advisors alike. This tool is intended for use as a communication aid to foster safe, productive conversations between farmers and service providers. It is designed to complement related resources aimed at supporting the mental health of our farmers who make tough decisions under conditions of uncertainty on a daily basis.

Farmers nationwide are experiencing socio-economic crisis and Virginia’s farmers are no exception. Farmers in Virginia are under immense stress due to various threats including social threats (within the family or community), economic threats (including land or market loss and associated financial stress), political threats (such as systemic discrimination, racism, and disadvantageous political policy), and environmental threats (like drought, flooding, or pest infestation). Farmers in Virginia experience overwhelming feelings of stress and may encounter associated mental health issues due to the current crises and the threats they face.

You are likely asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” The purpose of this tool is to help you gather a solid basis of information as you consider your “start-up” situation. Once you have completed as much as you can of this worksheet (or if you have any questions along the way), please bring it to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office to get guidance on where to go next: http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/index.html. Good Luck! We look forward to helping you bring your farm vision to life!

This article outlines tools and standards used in animal welfare audits for broiler chickens. These audits assess whether farms, hatcheries, or processing plants meet animal welfare certification standards, which may be company-specific or part of nationally recognized certification programs. The audits are performed to evaluate resource-based inputs (housing, handling, veterinary care) and animal-based indicators (health, behavior, emotional states) to assess overall animal welfare. Here we show examples of prominent U.S. broiler welfare certification programs, their associated audit tools, animal welfare indicators used during audits, and compliance thresholds.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s impact on Virginia, farmers and livestock producers must navigate the financial challenges of flood recovery, including tax implications. Disaster-related expenses, property losses, and relief programs can affect tax filings, with potential deductions and credits available to offset recovery costs. Understanding the tax treatment of damaged assets, federal disaster assistance, and potential deferrals on income from livestock sales is crucial for financial stability. This presentation provides an overview of key tax considerations after flooding, helping producers make informed decisions to maximize relief benefits and maintain long-term economic resilience.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a Census of Agriculture every five years. The census is a complete count of farms and ranches in every county of every state in the U.S. Other information gathered during a census includes, but is not limited to, land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and market value of agricultural products. By comparing data to earlier censuses, trends, and new developments in the agricultural sector of the Virginia and U.S. economies can be measured.

The Vineyard Financial Calculator is an educational tool that is useful for comparing the financial performance of different vineyard operational scenarios. This tool's intended user is an individual or organization exploring the financial requirements of vineyard establishment and operation in Virginia. The tool was designed to forecast the approximate pretax annual cash inflows and outflows of a vineyard − information required to build a business prospectus. Users can modify certain input variables, such as vineyard size and labor costs, as well as outputs, such as crop level, to tailor the projections to personal expectations. The VFC is only a predictive tool; actual results could vary from those predicted due to site conditions, variances in costs, or unanticipated gains or losses. This tool was created in 2016 and originally published in 2017. The principals with which this tool operates are still valid, but the raw material prices may have changed.

Row crop agriculture in Virginia and other Eastern states is largely rainfed, but there is increasing interest in irrigation as a way to manage dry periods and weather variability. However, irrigation systems require substantial installation and operating costs, and it can be very difficult to determine if yield improvements will be sufficient to justify these costs. This publication provides an overview on the Irrigation Financial Estimator Tool, which was recently developed to help row crop producers estimate financial aspects of supplemental irrigation. The tool estimates installation and operating costs, as well as revenues from improved yields, using user-supplied information and historic data on weather and prices for crops and fuel. It accounts for uncertainty in these estimates by presenting a range of values for each cost.

Row crop agriculture in Virginia and other Eastern states is largely rainfed, but there is increasing interest in irrigation as a way to manage dry periods and weather variability. However, irrigation systems require substantial installation and operating costs, and it can be very difficult determine if yield improvements will be sufficient to justify these costs. This publication provides an overview on the Irrigation Financial Estimator Tool, which was recently developed to help row crop producers estimate financial aspects of supplemental irrigation. The tool estimates installation and operating costs, as well as revenues from improved yields, using user-supplied information and historic data on weather and prices for crops and fuel. It accounts for uncertainty in these estimates by presenting a range of values for each cost.

In 2022, Virginia had more than 8.6 million residents. With a death rate of 0.8%, about 70,000 people/year in Virginia pass away. If fraud touches 2% of those estates, it means that 1,400 cases of estate fraud start every year in Virginia. This is an average of five new cases every day.

Virginia farmers sell their produce through many venues including on-farm sales, farm stands, and farmers’ markets. Wherever the produce is sold, it must be sold by weight, count, head/bunch, or dry measure. If the produce is sold by weight, the produce will be weighed on scales that have been certified by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Weights and Measures.

Dairy farmers are usually subject to net income fluctuations due to volatility in both milk and feed prices. Risk management tools, such as hedging milk prices in the futures market, may be used to protect dairy farmers against milk price volatility. Alternatively, dairy farmers selling milk in Virginia can buy Virginia milk commission base (MCB) to obtain higher milk prices and, therefore, sustain or increase net cash flows.

Amy’s Garden has been growing and selling great organic produce and cut flowers since 1995. What began as an ambitious backyard garden quickly blossomed into a full-time farming career for husband and wife team Amy Hicks & George Ferguson. Nowadays, with the help of a dedicated team of seasonal employees they grow an amazingly diverse selection of specialty vegetables, small fruits and cut flowers on their organic farm in historic Charles City county, VA.

In 2022, PVQE included 25 genotypes: 5 commercial varieties, including ‘Bailey II’,’ Emery’, ‘NC 20’, ‘Sullivan’ and ‘Walton’; and 20 advanced breeding lines developed by the North Carolina State University peanut breeding program (Table 1). All breeding lines have the ‘high oleic acid’ characteristic. Cultivars and lines were planted from May 11 through May 24 at five locations: Tidewater AREC in Suffolk, VA, Slade Farm near Williamston, Martin Co., NC, the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station (UCPRS) near Rocky Mount, NC, McDuffie Farm near Council, Bladen County, NC, and the Edisto Research and Education Center (EREC) in Blackville, SC.

Demonstration and explanation of operation and use of a stone burier implement for tractor. The tool buries stones in a field and makes raised beds at the same time. Burying stones prevents cultivation and planting equipment from skipping and causing loss of production. The stone burier can also be used to bury cover crops allowing quicker field turnovers.