When the weather warms up, mosquitoes will get more active very quickly, so it’s time for horse owners to think about vaccinating their horses against mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying the EEE or WNV viruses are present, and those insects pose a threat to humans and horses. Therefore, in addition to vaccination, everyone needs to think about mosquito control to keep down populations.

Governor Terry McAuliffe and other Virginia officials are on a weeklong trade and marketing mission to attend Hannover Messe in Germany, the world's largest industrial fair, and conduct 40+ meetings there, in Belgium and the United Kingdom to bring new jobs and economic activity to the state.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced that the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications until May 20 for loan repayment grants for veterinarians willing to serve in parts of Virginia with moderate to critical shortages of food animal vets. Several rural counties in Virginia lack adequate access to veterinary services for food supply animals.

Jim Gehlsen has initiated what he calls a “grow-op,” for customers who want to come to his Evergreen Acres farm in Nokesville once or twice a week and buy organic produce direct from the farmer. The grow-op idea grew out of many discussions he had with a woman whose diet is exclusively organic foods.

Any pesticide chemical residue found on samples of various foods tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture were below levels that could pose a safety risk, according to the 2014 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary.

There’s risk every spring that a hard freeze will kill tender fruit blossoms, says the Virginia Farm Bureau. Virginia apple and peach growers are familiar with that risk. But growers across Virginia saw some losses from two hard freezes the week of April 3, including Jay Yankey, owner of Yankey Farms, a pick-your-own operation in Prince William County.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) recently selected Dr. Charles C. Broaddus as State Veterinarian and Director of the Division of Animal and Food Industry Services (AFIS). He will begin his new duties May 11.

Century Forest Program that goes into law July 1 is designed to honor and recognize Virginians who have owned working forestlands for 100 years or more. Officials at the Virginia Department of Forestry, which will manage the program when the law goes into effect, estimate that there are more than 1,000 individuals or families eligible for this distinction.