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Policy

Policy

Policy

September Policy Updates by Mark Schonbeck

2023 Farm Bill Opportunities to shape it are still open   The National Sustainable Agriculture…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminSeptember 25, 2023
Policy

Policy Updates August 2023

Cost Share for Virginia Farmers to Protect Soil and Water Robust funding and streamlined paperwork…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminAugust 29, 2023
Policy

Farm Bill Update and Next Steps – Late July 2023

By Mark Schonbeck As the September 30 expiration date for the current Farm Bill approaches,…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminJuly 26, 2023
Grants and ScholarshipsPolicy

Cost Share for Virginia Farmers to Protect Soil and Water

Robust funding and streamlined paperwork for Fiscal Year 2024 The Virginia Department of Conservation and…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminJuly 26, 2023
Policy

Working Trees, Grasslands, and Buffers for Conservation Act of 2023

Working lands conservation options are popular amongst farmers and ranchers and in high demand. The…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminJuly 25, 2023
Policy

June Policy Updates by Mark Schonbeck

Protect Funding for USDA Research into Climate Impacts on Agriculture VABF joins 50 other organizations…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminJune 21, 2023
Policy

May 2023 Policy Updates

Update on Federal Organic Research Bills:   Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) in the House…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMay 25, 2023
Policy

April Policy Updates

Thank you !! Thank you to all who signed the Farmers’ Climate Letter to Congress…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminApril 27, 2023
Policy

March 2023 Policy Updates

Take Action!   Agriculture Resilience Act to be Introduced March 28 Let’s get our whole…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Policy

ARA Section by Section

VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Policy

Changes in the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023 compared to ARA 2021

Changes in the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023 compared to ARA 2021   Title I…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminMarch 23, 2023
Policy

February Policy Updates

By Mark Schonbeck Come Join Thousands at the Farmers’ Rally for Resilience Washington, DC on…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminFebruary 22, 2023
Policy

January 2023 Policy Updates

Take Action:   The Next Farm Bill must be a Climate Bill Add your Name…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminJanuary 23, 2023
Policy

December 2022 Policy Updates

By Mark Schonbeck New Free Southern Soil Health Course! OFRF’s New Online Course Gives Organic…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminDecember 26, 2022
Policy

November Policy Updates

By Mark Schonbeck USDA Launches 2022 Census of Agriculture Your participation will help build better…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminNovember 22, 2022
Policy

October 2022 Policy Updates

Farm Bill 2023 kicks off NSAC Farmer Fly-in Success Advocating for a sustainable 2023 Farm…
Mark Schonbeck Mark
Mark Schonbeck MarkOctober 25, 2022
Policy

September 2022 Policy Updates

Major New Investments in Organic and Climate-Smart Agriculture USDA Launches Organic Transition Initiative $300 Million…
Mark Schonbeck Mark
Mark Schonbeck MarkSeptember 22, 2022
PolicyVABF News

Press Release: More Than 150 Organizations Across Sectors Call on President Biden to  Demand A Transformative Farm Bill

Union of Concerned Scientists Press Release on the Sept 13, 2022 letter to President Biden…
VABF Admin
VABF AdminSeptember 22, 2022
Policy

Policy Updates August 2022

Cost-sharing for Organic and Transitioning Farmers   Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP)…
Mark Schonbeck Mark
Mark Schonbeck MarkAugust 23, 2022
Policy

July 2022 Policy Updates

Take Action Promote Farmer Climate Story Week during July 25-29 National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)…
Mark Schonbeck Mark
Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 25, 2022
Next Entries »

News & Resources

  • About VABF
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    • SOUTHERN PIEDMONT CLIMATE-SMART PROJECT
      • Farmer Information Sheet – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmer FAQ’s – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmer’s Market Information Sheet – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmers Market FAQ’s – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
    • Transition to Organic Partnership Program
      • Organic Transitioning
      • NRCS Announces $75 Million to Assist Producers Transitioning to Organic as Part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative 
  • News & Resources
    • Articles and Research
    • Book Reviews
    • Classified Ads
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admin@vabf.org

P.O. Box 4, Woolwine, VA 24185
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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)

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
🌾🐝Special One Day Screening of "Into the Wee 🌾🐝Special One Day Screening of "Into the Weeds" on Tuesday, October 3rd at locations all over the US! This documentary follows the story of groundskeeper Lee Johnson and his fight for justice against agrichemical giant Monsanto (now Bayer, which bought the company in 2018), the manufacturer of the weed killer, Roundup.

"Blending interviews, testimonials, trial footage, news coverage, and vérité, the film follows the progression of this groundbreaking lawsuit, while also stepping back to consider the systemic impact of glyphosate-based herbicides on human health, our food systems, and the biodiversity of our planet."

This special event screening of "Into the Weeds" will also feature exclusive follow-
up bonus footage exploring the question: “Can there be a future without pesticides and if so, how do we get there?” Featuring findings and expert testimony from scientists, doctors, policymakers, farmers, environmentalists, food safety advocates, and concerned public figures, audiences will leave the screening both informed and inspired to take action at home, at work, and in their communities.

🌿 2 Free Tickets Available! 🌿 We’ve partnered with Into the Weeds for a special ticket giveaway at participating AMC, Cinemark, or Regal theaters all over Virginia and beyond.

To enter:
1️⃣Follow us @vabfarming and Into the Weeds @intotheweedsdoc
2️⃣Tag a friend who would watch this documentary with you in the comments below.
3️⃣Share this post in your story.

Check your direct messages on Monday to see if you've won the tickets!

Buy tickets online for a screening near you at www.fathomevents.com/events/Into-the-Weeds

#IntoTheWeedsDoc
🌿🐂 Join us for "Diggin' Deep: Feeding your F 🌿🐂 Join us for "Diggin' Deep: Feeding your Farm with Regenerative Grazing." 

We have two workshops happening in Bedford County, Virginia, with farmers who are leading the way to healthy soils, ecological function and improved cattle production.

Come learn from Dr. Allen Williams, farmer and co-founder of Understanding Ag, as well as farmers Keith Tuck (Oct 16th) or Ben Coleman (Oct 17th) on the "what, why and how of regenerative grazing with livestock."

We will see how implementing soil-focused regenerative practices provides multiple benefits to a farm or grazing operation--from improved biological function of soils and higher quality forages to enhanced ecological benefits for the farm and the communities they support.

Both days will begin with a short presentation by Dr. Williams providing an overview of practices, principles and examples of regenerative farming. 

Lunch will be provided; then we head into the field to see first-hand how regenerative grazing management techniques have benefitted their farm business. Wear your boots and bring your rain gear!

These workshops are offered in partnership with National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Soil for Water project, supporting farmers and ranchers to make their land more resilient, their business more profitable and their lives better using regenerative grazing methods.

Register today! 

Workshops are limited to 50 participants each. Free to register! 

Sponsored by VABF, Understanding Ag & NCAT/S4W 

@understandingag 
@ncat_org 
@tuckfarms 
@mountainrunfarm
This week is Climate Action Week - Call your Repre This week is Climate Action Week - Call your Representative and Senators today!

It is the time to urge our Senators and Representatives to ensure that the next Farm Bill truly helps our farmers and ranchers cope with climate change.

From Mark, our policy advisor:
"For those of you in Abigail Spanberger’s district (7th): she serves on the House Agriculture Committee and has been a strong advocate for climate-friendly and regenerative agriculture – so be sure to thank her and encourage her to continue working for the best possible farm bill for organic and sustainable agriculture and for climate-smart conservation.

 For those of you in other districts, your Representative does not serve on the Ag Committee, yet they will play an important role during floor debate – through amendments and final decision on voting on a draft bill – in ensuring that the new Farm Bill will help protect climate, soil, and farmers alike, will promote racial equity, and will support the growth of the organic sector. 

Similarly our two Senators – Mark Warner and Tim Kaine – do not serve on the Senate Ag Committee, yet both are committed to protecting the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality. Urge them to further this goal by supporting a climate smart farm bill that supports organic farming and best conservation for climate mitigation and resilience. Emphasize that a climate-friendly farm bill will simultaneously support policies and practices (like perennial buffers, cover cropping, and nutrient management, and perennial buffers) that protect the Chesapeake as well."

To contact your legislators via social media to urge them to to act on climate in this farm bill, find their social media handles at https://bit.ly/mocsocials

In all social media communications to Members of Congress or others, use the NSAC climate campaign hashtag: #farmersforclimateaction
Save the date! Come out to support VABF on Wednesd Save the date! Come out to support VABF on Wednesday, November 8th at Parkway Brewing Company. 

$1 of every 16oz pint sold all day will be donated to VABF!
🐝 Virginia Beehive Distribution Program🐝 App 🐝 Virginia Beehive Distribution Program🐝 Applications due tomorrow! 9/12 🐝

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is accepting applications for the 2023 Beehive Distribution Program until September 12, 2023. 

"The Program provides equipment directly to eligible individuals for the construction of new beehives. Residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are 18 years of age or older at the time an application is submitted are eligible to receive no more than three beehive units per fiscal year... 

Recipients of beehive units will be selected at random from accepted applications."

Search “VDACS Beehive Distribution Program” for more info from the vdacs.virginia.gov website.

#honeybee #beehive #virginiabees #beekeeper #beekeeping #beekeepinglife
🌿Reminder! Send in your Speaker Proposals to pr 🌿Reminder! Send in your Speaker Proposals to present at the upcoming VABF|SFOP Summit! 🌱

Speaker Proposals are being accepted for the Virginia Association for Biological Farming and VSU Small Farm Outreach Program Summit until 9/1/23. This inaugural summit brings together the Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference and the VSU Small Farm Outreach Program Annual Conference into one dynamic weekend!

The VABF-SFOP Summit will take place January 19-21, 2024 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

Seeking speakers on a variety of topics, including:
Agroforestry
Beginning Farmer
Certified Organic
Equity and Diversity in Farming
Farming for Profit
Regenerative Grazing
Soil Health
Urban Agriculture
Crop Production

Send in your proposal today! 
Visit VABF <dot> ORG
Farmers! Advocates! Provide input on Virginia's fo Farmers! Advocates! Provide input on Virginia's food system infrastructure gaps, needs, and priorities to help VDACS frame an investment grant program.

Visit Surveymonkey.com/r/SP8ZBX5

USDA has set aside $6.5 million over four years under the new USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program for Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to establish a competitive grant program for farms and food businesses to invest in infrastructure for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of local and regional agricultural products, including specialty crops (fruits and vegetables, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and value-added food products, excluding meat and poultry.
Speaker Proposals are being accepted for the Virgi Speaker Proposals are being accepted for the Virginia Association for Biological Farming and VSU Small Farm Outreach Program Summit until 9/1/23.

The VABF-SFOP Summit will take place January 19-21, 2024 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

Some of the topics we are interested in having presenters speak about included:
Agroforestry
Beginning Farmer
Certified Organic
Equity and Diversity in Farming
Farming for Profit
Regenerative Grazing
Soil Health
Urban Agriculture
Crop Production

Send in your proposal today!
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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

9 hours ago

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
🌾🐝Special One Day Screening of "Into the Weeds" on Tuesday, October 3rd at locations all over the US! This documentary follows the story of groundskeeper Lee Johnson and his fight for justice against agrichemical giant Monsanto (now Bayer, which bought the company in 2018), the manufacturer of the weed killer, Roundup.Watch the Trailer: youtu.be/Yx3ixLoJn3M?si=Fbu0Bn8QAr7ScD0I"Blending interviews, testimonials, trial footage, news coverage, and vérité, the film follows the progression of this groundbreaking lawsuit, while also stepping back to consider the systemic impact of glyphosate-based herbicides on human health, our food systems, and the biodiversity of our planet."This special event screening of "Into the Weeds" will also feature exclusive follow-up bonus footage exploring the question: “Can there be a future without pesticides and if so, how do we get there?” Featuring findings and expert testimony from scientists, doctors, policymakers, farmers, environmentalists, food safety advocates, and concerned public figures, audiences will leave the screening both informed and inspired to take action at home, at work, and in their communities.🌿 2 Free Tickets Available! 🌿 We’ve partnered with Into the Weeds for a special ticket giveaway at participating AMC, Cinemark, or Regal theaters all over Virginia and beyond.To enter:1️⃣Follow us @vabfarming and Into the Weeds @intotheweedsdoc2️⃣Tag a friend who would watch this documentary with you in the comments below.3️⃣Share this post in your story.Check your direct messages on Monday to see if you've won the tickets!Buy tickets online for a screening near you at www.fathomevents.com/events/Into-the-Weeds#IntoTheWeedsDoc ... See MoreSee Less

Into the Weeds | October 3

youtu.be

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “Terrifying, tremendous courtroom drama” - The Globe and Mail“First-rate nonfiction storytelling.” - VarietyDoes the most widely used weed kill...

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VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming

1 week ago

VABF Virginia Association for Biological Farming
This week is Climate Action WeekCall your Representative and Senators today It is the time to urge our Senators and Representatives to ensure that the next Farm Bill truly helps our farmers and ranchers cope with climate change. For those of you in Abigail Spanberger’s district (7th): she serves on the House Agriculture Committee and has been a strong advocate for climate-friendly and regenerative agriculture – so be sure to thank her and encourage her to continue working for the best possible farm bill for organic and sustainable agriculture and for climate-smart conservation. For those of you in other districts, your Representative does not serve on the Ag Committee, yet they will play an important role during floor debate – through amendments and final decision on voting on a draft bill – in ensuring that the new Farm Bill will help protect climate, soil, and farmers alike, will promote racial equity, and will support the growth of the organic sector. Similarly our two Senators – Mark Warner and Tim Kaine – do not serve on the Senate Ag Committee, yet both are committed to protecting the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality. Urge them to further this goal by supporting a climate smart farm bill that supports organic farming and best conservation for climate mitigation and resilience. Emphasize that a climate-friendly farm bill will simultaneously support policies and practices (like perennial buffers, cover cropping, and nutrient management, and perennial buffers) that protect the Chesapeake as well. What to Ask For when You Call your Representative and Senators: Top Priority: Ensure that all $20 billion in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding that was put into USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs be made a part of permanent baseline conservation funding and that it continues to support climate smart and climate resilient practices. For more information, see NSAC’s IRA conservation funding blog, their recent analysis of IRA impacts on expanding conservation, and new IRA funding available through this year’s conservation innovation grant funding. Organic Research: urge your Representative to support the Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Act and call Senators Tim Kaine (tel 202-224-4024) and Mark Warner (tel 1202-224-2023) and ask them to cosponsor the Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act. For more information, see OFRF’s action alerts and information on these bills atofrf.org/news/osri-act-introduced/ for the Senate bill, and ofrf.org/news/soar-act-announcement/ for the House bill. Small Farms Conservation Act would create a separate section within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program designed for smaller operations, including a streamlined (simpler) application process, bonus payments for soil health practices on operations of 50 acres or less, and additional training for NRCS field staff in working with smaller and more diversified operations. Marker bills have been introduced in both chambers of Congress. For those of you who use social media To contact your legislators via social media to urge them to to act on climate in this farm bill, find their social media handles at bit.ly/mocsocials. In all social media communications to Members of Congress or others, use the NSAC climate campaign hashtag: #farmersforclimateaction ... See MoreSee Less

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© 2023 Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

  • About VABF
  • Events
  • VABF Projects
    • SOUTHERN PIEDMONT CLIMATE-SMART PROJECT
      • Farmer Information Sheet – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmer FAQ’s – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmer’s Market Information Sheet – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
      • Farmers Market FAQ’s – Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
    • Transition to Organic Partnership Program
      • Organic Transitioning
      • NRCS Announces $75 Million to Assist Producers Transitioning to Organic as Part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative 
  • News & Resources
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    • Book Reviews
    • Classified Ads
    • Gardening Tips
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    • VA Farming Resources
  • Find a Farm
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