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Honor Farmers Contract Act

By Mark Schonbeck MarkMarch 28, 2025Policy

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Honor Farmers Contract Act

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About VABF
Events
Virginia Biological Farming Conference
- 2025 Virginia Biological Farming Conference Survey
- 25th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference
VABF Projects
News & Resources
Find a Farm
Connect
Donate

vabfarming

Join us for the 25th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference from January 10-12, 2025 in Roanoke, Virginia! 3 days dedicated to sustainable ag!

If you plan to purchase a greenhouse or high tunne

If you plan to purchase a greenhouse or high tunnel, this educational program is for you! @vsu_ag Randolph Farm, this Thursday, March 20th with @rimolgreenhouse

Harry Edwards of RIMOL Greenhouse Systems will explain the various types of greenhouses and high tunnels that are available. You will learn about methods for calculating size and what customization options are available.

Dr. Theresa Nartea of VSU Integrated Marketing will help you visualize how to plan your marketing based on what you grow.

A USDA representative will be on hand to present various funding methods through USDA program loans and grants.

At the end of the workshop we will visit the VSU Randolph Farm high tunnel with Mr. Edwards and Dr. Nartea to look at typical high tunnel space and step through a potential layout plan.

#greenhouse

The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Associa

The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, and Partners present our March Farm Tour and Farmer Social with Smoke In Chimneys!

Thursday, March 20, 3:00-6:00pm
22499 Cumberland Gap Rd, New Castle, VA 24127

Free! Please register to join: https://tinyurl.com/marchRFNfarmtour

Smoke In Chimneys is a revitalized 1930s trout hatchery owned by Ty and Shannon Walker in New Castle, VA. They hatch, raise, process, and distribute trout for table fare to restaurants, co-ops, stores, and individuals around the state. The trout are raised in a gravity-fed earth-pond system that is supplied with water by a covered artesian spring near the ponds. Along with the many flies, nymphs, and bugs in the natural pond system, the trout are fed a high-quality, non-GMO ration. Smoke In Chimneys is raising fish the same way they were raised at that location almost 100 years ago and producing a quality of trout matched only by those caught in the wild.Join us for a tour of the farm with a social to follow. Light refreshments will be provided and feel free to bring something to share.

For more information, contact Becki DeRusseau at becki.derusseau@vabf.org.

Detailed directions will be shared with registrants.

Spring is coming and these farms are seeking hands

Spring is coming and these farms are seeking hands and help!

Find the listings on our website with contact info and full descriptions.

Did you know? VABF Members can list their job opportunities and other classified for free!

What's happening with the Federal Funding Freeze?

What's happening with the Federal Funding Freeze? Farmers! We'd like to hear from you!

If you participate in a USDA program and if you or your farming operation have suffered economic harm or other adverse impacts from the executive orders and/or the resulting confusion at USDA agency offices, and you are willing to share your stories with Virginia's congressional delegation, please contact Brent (programs@vabf.org) and Mark (schonbeckmark@gmail.com).

We will communicate your stories and concerns to Virginia's Senators and to your Congressional representative without delay and we will do so anonymously if you prefer.

Not a Farmer?
You can help too!
Contact your Reps and let them know USDA Funding is important for our farmers & our communities.

We'd like to see your farm

Have you heard about the Certified Naturally Grown

Have you heard about the Certified Naturally Grown Online Farm School "Practical Marketing for Busy Farmers"?

The first live class starts tonight, Feb 12th! (Replays & resources are available indefinitely.)

Join for one class or sign up for all three and save 20%!

February 12th ··· Using Social Media to Market your Farm

February 19th ··· Building a Strong Customer Base with Email Newsletters

February 26th ··· Point of Sale Strategies to Maximize Revenue

Get your tickets and learn more @cngfarming

Enrollment includes:
-- 90 minutes of live instruction each week
-- Lifelong access to all resources provided

Taught by an experienced team of ecological farmers, a three week deep-dive into the most common avenues for building and strengthening your customer base. Learn which media are most effective for your business goals, and how to harness each for maximum impact – all from a farm-centric perspective.

VABF followers save 25% on individual classes with access code FARMBRAND.

#localfarmers #localfood

We’re so thankful that Daniel James @herd.ventur

We’re so thankful that Daniel James @herd.ventures was able to record this year’s keynotes for us! We’ll be sharing more from Niaz Dorry and Jon Jackson in the weeks ahead.

Niaz Dorry is the Coordinating Director of the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and the Director of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC). Niaz has played a pivotal role in steering federal legislation towards recognizing and supporting family-scale, community-based, and Indigenous fishing and farming communities.

#nffcfamily #nationalfamilyfarmcoalition #northamericanmarinealliance

Another Conference we are excited to share abo

🌾Another Conference we are excited to share about - the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference and (free) Fair!

@commongrainalliance

The 2025 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference will be held on March 17th in Loudoun County, Virginia. Join grain artisans, growers, and supporters for a day of presentations, workshops, discussions, and networking designed to strengthen the Mid-Atlantic grain economy.

On Sunday the 16th is the free Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair! Everyone is welcome to gather in celebration of products made with regional grains and staple foods at Wheatland Spring Farm and Brewery. (Register in advance!)

The OGS Spring Conference is just 6 weeks away! T

The OGS Spring Conference is just 6 weeks away! This year, OGS has selected the theme of Resilience, Recovery, and Renewal.

"This theme serves as a strategic framework to guide our efforts in assisting the region's recovery from Hurricane Helene while also fostering the imagination of a new future. It is essential to recognize that restoring our food system to its former state is insufficient; we must come together as a community to engage in constructive discussions and develop the necessary skills to advance collectively toward our goals."

They have many amazing workshops planned, an outstanding lineup of speakers, and new ways to connect as a community including the Community Room, the Healing Space and the on-campus Social Hour.

Learn more & register @organicgrowersschool

Let us know your thoughts! We'd like to hear your

Let us know your thoughts! We'd like to hear your honest feedback so we can improve each year.

Stay tuned to our Newsletter
for details on the next Conference!

Save the Date
January 9th – 11th, 2026

at the Hotel Roanoke (our last year in Roanoke!)

Wow! What a weekend! The love and appreciation in

Wow! What a weekend! The love and appreciation in the room was palpable for the presentation of the Ira Wallace Lifetime Achievement Award, with a beautiful introduction by Thelonius Cook.
@southernexposureseedexchange

Then we enjoyed a fantastic keynote by Jon Jackson of Comfort Farms on the ways farmers can use perceived weakness as strengths.
@comfortfarms

Niaz Dorry wrapped up the weekend with an inspiring keynote on Sunday that wove connections from the land to the sea and all the family-scale farmer and fisher people along the way.

Stay tuned for the full recordings of our keynotes from @herd.ventures! (And more photos from the weekend!)

Let us know your highlights, thoughts and suggestions to improve next year to our survey
Vabf • org / survey2025

An amazing Pre-Conference yesterday with the High

An amazing Pre-Conference yesterday with the High tunnel tour and lunch at Lick Run Farm with Garden Variety Harvests and compost facility tour with Star City Compost and Real Roots Food System.

This is just one of the 8 pre-conference workshops we were able to offer this year!

Load More Photos... Follow on Instagram

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Sign-on to Support Robust Funding for Key Programs

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March Policy Updates

Mark Schonbeck MarkMarch 28, 2025

Policy VABF News

Mark Schonbeck honored with inaugural Perennial Advocate Award

Brent WillsFebruary 27, 2025

P.O. Box 4, Woolwine, VA 24185
434-299-8007
501(c)(3) EIN 541417875

VABF’s mission is to educate about, advocate for, and promote organic and biological farming and gardening.

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vabfarming

Our mission is to educate about, advocate for, and promote organic & biological farming & gardening. 501(c)(3)

If you plan to purchase a greenhouse or high tunne

If you plan to purchase a greenhouse or high tunnel, this educational program is for you! @vsu_ag Randolph Farm, this Thursday, March 20th with @rimolgreenhouse

Harry Edwards of RIMOL Greenhouse Systems will explain the various types of greenhouses and high tunnels that are available. You will learn about methods for calculating size and what customization options are available.

Dr. Theresa Nartea of VSU Integrated Marketing will help you visualize how to plan your marketing based on what you grow.

A USDA representative will be on hand to present various funding methods through USDA program loans and grants.

At the end of the workshop we will visit the VSU Randolph Farm high tunnel with Mr. Edwards and Dr. Nartea to look at typical high tunnel space and step through a potential layout plan.

#greenhouse

The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Associa

The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, and Partners present our March Farm Tour and Farmer Social with Smoke In Chimneys!

Thursday, March 20, 3:00-6:00pm
22499 Cumberland Gap Rd, New Castle, VA 24127

Free! Please register to join: https://tinyurl.com/marchRFNfarmtour

Smoke In Chimneys is a revitalized 1930s trout hatchery owned by Ty and Shannon Walker in New Castle, VA. They hatch, raise, process, and distribute trout for table fare to restaurants, co-ops, stores, and individuals around the state. The trout are raised in a gravity-fed earth-pond system that is supplied with water by a covered artesian spring near the ponds. Along with the many flies, nymphs, and bugs in the natural pond system, the trout are fed a high-quality, non-GMO ration. Smoke In Chimneys is raising fish the same way they were raised at that location almost 100 years ago and producing a quality of trout matched only by those caught in the wild.Join us for a tour of the farm with a social to follow. Light refreshments will be provided and feel free to bring something to share.

For more information, contact Becki DeRusseau at becki.derusseau@vabf.org.

Detailed directions will be shared with registrants.

Spring is coming and these farms are seeking hands

Spring is coming and these farms are seeking hands and help!

Find the listings on our website with contact info and full descriptions.

Did you know? VABF Members can list their job opportunities and other classified for free!

What's happening with the Federal Funding Freeze?

What's happening with the Federal Funding Freeze? Farmers! We'd like to hear from you!

If you participate in a USDA program and if you or your farming operation have suffered economic harm or other adverse impacts from the executive orders and/or the resulting confusion at USDA agency offices, and you are willing to share your stories with Virginia's congressional delegation, please contact Brent (programs@vabf.org) and Mark (schonbeckmark@gmail.com).

We will communicate your stories and concerns to Virginia's Senators and to your Congressional representative without delay and we will do so anonymously if you prefer.

Not a Farmer?
You can help too!
Contact your Reps and let them know USDA Funding is important for our farmers & our communities.

We'd like to see your farm

Have you heard about the Certified Naturally Grown

Have you heard about the Certified Naturally Grown Online Farm School "Practical Marketing for Busy Farmers"?

The first live class starts tonight, Feb 12th! (Replays & resources are available indefinitely.)

Join for one class or sign up for all three and save 20%!

February 12th ··· Using Social Media to Market your Farm

February 19th ··· Building a Strong Customer Base with Email Newsletters

February 26th ··· Point of Sale Strategies to Maximize Revenue

Get your tickets and learn more @cngfarming

Enrollment includes:
-- 90 minutes of live instruction each week
-- Lifelong access to all resources provided

Taught by an experienced team of ecological farmers, a three week deep-dive into the most common avenues for building and strengthening your customer base. Learn which media are most effective for your business goals, and how to harness each for maximum impact – all from a farm-centric perspective.

VABF followers save 25% on individual classes with access code FARMBRAND.

#localfarmers #localfood

We’re so thankful that Daniel James @herd.ventur

We’re so thankful that Daniel James @herd.ventures was able to record this year’s keynotes for us! We’ll be sharing more from Niaz Dorry and Jon Jackson in the weeks ahead.

Niaz Dorry is the Coordinating Director of the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and the Director of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC). Niaz has played a pivotal role in steering federal legislation towards recognizing and supporting family-scale, community-based, and Indigenous fishing and farming communities.

#nffcfamily #nationalfamilyfarmcoalition #northamericanmarinealliance

Another Conference we are excited to share abo

🌾Another Conference we are excited to share about - the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference and (free) Fair!

@commongrainalliance

The 2025 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference will be held on March 17th in Loudoun County, Virginia. Join grain artisans, growers, and supporters for a day of presentations, workshops, discussions, and networking designed to strengthen the Mid-Atlantic grain economy.

On Sunday the 16th is the free Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair! Everyone is welcome to gather in celebration of products made with regional grains and staple foods at Wheatland Spring Farm and Brewery. (Register in advance!)

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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

7 hours ago

Our monthly e-news is always full of updates, including monthly vegetable gardening tips from Ira Wallace, a book review from Pam Dawling, and policy updates from Mark Schonbeck. Subscribe: vabf.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e12c9257356e2d41752c63b31&id=53613a538e ... See MoreSee Less

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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

2 days ago

Reminder! This Thursday, April 3rd from 6:30- 8 PM, 4 the Soil & American Farmland Trust are hosting a "Mid-Atlantic Farmer Forum" via Zoom with Updates, Insights and Conversations on Farm Policy and Funding. They will have a variety of speakers from farmers to federal partners to provide updates and answer farmers’ questions. Registration: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xbU1q84ARuKNfQ-pd ... See MoreSee Less

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© 2025 Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

About VABF
Events
Virginia Biological Farming Conference
- 2025 Virginia Biological Farming Conference Survey
- 25th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference
VABF Projects
News & Resources
Find a Farm
Connect
Donate

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