Agriculture Environment Health & Safety Police & Fire Beat
Buy firewood locally to avoid invasive diseases and pests, say Va. forestry experts
FROM Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 10/31/24 / Agriculture / Environment / Health & Safety / Police & Fire Beat /
It’s very difficult to determine if wood is infested, and it can be infested with a variety of invasive pests,” said Bill Osl, a Cumberland County forestland owner who chairs Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Forestry Advisory Committee and the Virginia Board of Forestry. “By buying firewood locally, you’re not just limiting the spread of these destructive and non-native organisms, you’re also helping someone in the community and supporting the local economy..”
Getting food to the people who need it in flood-ravaged areas Texas and Louisiana top USDA priority
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08/31/17 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Federal Government / Good Eating / Health & Safety / People & Places /
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is actively working with officials in Texas and Louisiana to ensure that people impacted by Hurricane Harvey have access to food now and after emergency operations are completed.
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Horses at second Va. farm test positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)
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FROM Elaine Lidholm, Virginia Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services 08/26/17 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Health & Safety /
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (VDACS) has confirmed a diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) on a second farm in Virginia, unrelated to the first farm where the disease was found.
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USDA official to kick off availability of renewable ethanol fuel blends E15 and E85 in Manassas
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FROM US Department of Agriculture 08/20/17 / Agriculture / Federal Government / Manassas / Money & Taxes / People & Places / Transportation /
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, Michael Scuse, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, will join state officials and business leaders at Sheetz, 11774 Sudley Manor Drive in Manassas, to highlight the availability of higher ethanol fuel blends in Manassas.
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August 17 update on Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy in Virginia
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By Elaine Lidholm, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services 08/17/17 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Health & Safety /
On August 15, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) reported that its Animal Health Laboratory in Warrenton confirmed a diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) on two horses from Culpeper County. A third horse on the quarantined farm developed a fever the evening of August 16 and tested positive for the neuropath genic strain of the Equine Herpes Virus -1. The quarantine is extended until September 6th.
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Agriculture and forestry industries’ impact on Va. economy up 30 percent in four years
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FROM the Governor's Office 07/20/17 / Agriculture / Business / Money & Taxes /
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced July 18 that a new comprehensive study shows Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries contribute $91 billion annually to the commonwealth’s economy–a 30 percent increase over results of a 2013 study that found a $70 billion annual economic impact.
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Young Farmers to hear gubernatorial candidates on ag and forestry issues July 28
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07/19/17 / Agriculture / Politics / State Government /
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers will host an Agriculture and Forestry Gubernatorial Candidates’ Forum from 1-5 p.m. on July 28 in Roanoke.
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Virginia horse tests positive for West Nile Virus and is euthanized
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FROM Va. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services 07/10/17 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Health & Safety / State Government /
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) July 10 announced the state’s first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse in 2017, according to Elaine Lidholm, VDACS spokesman. It is the first case since August 2015 in Virginia. The horse, a ten-year-old Saddlebred gelding, was from Wythe County and died as a result of the disease
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New tax credit available to Virginia farmers to help reduce food waste
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By Dawn Eischen, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 06/09/17 / Agriculture / Education / Good Eating / Health & Safety / Money & Taxes / State Government /
Virginia farmers have an incentive to donate excess product to nonprofit food banks due to the Food Crop Donation Tax Credit. Approved by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2016 Session, farmers who donate edible food crops to a nonprofit food bank can receive up to a 30 percent tax credit for their donation.
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Time to pay Prince William County property taxes; deadline is Dec. 5
Taxpayers are encouraged to pay their taxes before the Dec. 5 due date. A late payment penalty of 10 percent will apply to any unpaid tax balance after the Dec. 5 deadline. Additionally, interest will accrue monthly on unpaid balances at a rate of 10 percent per annum until they are fully paid.
