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..”
NOVEC will recycle holiday greenery and trees at Gainesville office until Jan. 9
|
FROM Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative 12/24/16 / Agriculture / Environment / Gainesville / Health & Safety / Nature and the Outdoors /
"We urge everyone who puts up a cut Christmas tree to water it daily and then take it down right after the holidays," says Mike Curtis, NOVEC vice president, Public Relations. "The longer it stays up, the drier it becomes, and the more dangerous."
|
Survey program results: No boll weevils in Virginia
|
12/16/16 / Agriculture / Business /
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) recently completed the 2016 cotton boll weevil survey and detected no weevils in Virginia. The destructive pest was first detected in the state in 1922.
|
Va. Governor’s Mansion to receive Christmas tree Nov. 28 from Staunton grower
|
FROM Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 11/24/16 / Agriculture / Business / People & Places / State Government / Nature and the Outdoors /
Bill Francisco of Francisco Farms, Staunton, will present a 12 ft. Canaan fir Christmas tree to decorate the first floor of the Virginia Governor's Mansion in Richmond. He won the right to donate the tree at this year’s annual meeting of the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association. His tree was selected as Grand Champion, and he will present a similar, fresh tree to First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe.
|
Virginia opens trade office in Southeast Asia
|
FROM the Governor's Office 11/21/16 / Agriculture / Business / State Government /
Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced the opening of a Southeast Asia representative office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) in Singapore, expanding the agency’s global network of international trade representatives stationed around the world.
|
Higher ethanol blends soon available to motorists in Virginia; get the new gas in Manassas Oct. 26
|
FROM U.S. Department of Agriculture 10/25/16 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Manassas / Transportation /
Through the USDA-funded Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP), drivers can now fill their tanks with cleaner-burning renewable ethanol fuel blends E15 and E85. Details tomorrow.
|
How not to get burned when purchasing firewood
|
By Elaine Lidholm, Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services 10/19/16 / Agriculture / Environment / Health & Safety / State Government / Nature and the Outdoors /
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) offers this advice on how to keep from getting burned when you buy firewood. Grab a tape measure, a yardstick or a ruler.
|
Osbourn Park students inspired by tour of White House gardens
|
FROM Prince William County Schools reports 10/16/16 / Agriculture / Education / Manassas /
White House history came alive for students in teacher Lydia Stewart’s class at Osbourn Park High School in early October. Her students, their parents, and other teachers toured White House grounds and gardens, including the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, and Kitchen Garden; the Bee Hive; and the South Lawn of the White House.
|
Veterans now eligible for new USDA commodity trader apprenticeship program
|
FROM US Dept. of Agriculture 10/03/16 / Agriculture / Breaking News / Business / Education / Federal Government / Good Eating / Military /
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun a new jobs program that will use the national apprenticeship system to hire new employees as agricultural commodity graders. USDA hopes many veterans will apply. Curriculum has been approved by DOL and VA, and enrolled veterans qualify for VA benefits.
|
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.
