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Virginia Association for Biological Farming
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  • 26th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference
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    Policy

    2018 Farm Bill: Update and Next Steps A person pouring red wine into a glass at a table.Policy

    2018 Farm Bill: Update and Next Steps

    On June 28, the Senate passed its version of the 2018 Farm Bill on a…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkJuly 19, 2018
    Farm Bill Update Late June, 2018 Book cover titled 'Apple Grower' about organic orcharding.Policy

    Farm Bill Update Late June, 2018

    Farm Bill Action, continued:   Virginia’s Senators, their Agricultural Legislative Staff, and phone numbers are:…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminJune 26, 2018
    House Farm Bill Defeated A woman with glasses speaking outdoors against a blue sky.Policy

    House Farm Bill Defeated

    On May 18, 30 Republican Representatives joined 183 Democrats to defeat HR 2, the Agriculture…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkJune 16, 2018
    Agricultural Policy: Farm Bill Action Updates, Soil Health Webinar, SARE Grant Applications, 2018 Appropriations Bill Freshly harvested carrots from Richmond Farm Tour with a hand holding them.Policy

    Agricultural Policy: Farm Bill Action Updates, Soil Health Webinar, SARE Grant Applications, 2018 Appropriations Bill

    Farm Bill Action As congress returns from its two week Easter Recess, the 2018 Farm…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkApril 16, 2018
    Agricultural Policy: Special Opportunity to Build a Better Farm Bill Smiling elderly man with white hair and beard outdoors.Policy

    Agricultural Policy: Special Opportunity to Build a Better Farm Bill

    Call your Representative today! The House Agriculture Committee is drafting its proposed 2018 Farm Bill…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkMarch 14, 2018
    Agricultural Policy Updates: February 2018 Logo of Foods Capital with a stylized 'F'.Policy

    Agricultural Policy Updates: February 2018

    Farm Bill 2018 Action It’s Farm Bill season, and there are a lot of good…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkFebruary 14, 2018
    National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Meets in Washington, DC to Advocate for a Better Farm Bill People planting crops in a field.Policy

    National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Meets in Washington, DC to Advocate for a Better Farm Bill

    On January 21-24, representatives of the 100+ member organizations of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkJanuary 11, 2018
    National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Farm Bill Platform Logo of WILLS Soil & Stream with roots graphic.Policy

    National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Releases Farm Bill Platform

    Mark Schonbeck has worked over 30 years as a researcher, consultant, and educator in sustainable and…
    Mark Schonbeck Mark
    Mark Schonbeck MarkNovember 17, 2017
    Agricultural/Research Policy – Policy Updates A wrinkled light gray bedsheet with a white remote control on top.Policy

    Agricultural/Research Policy – Policy Updates

    by Mark Schonbeck The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and other advocacy groups are gearing…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminOctober 11, 2017
    Agricultural/Research Policy – Racial Equity and Sustainable Agriculture Workshop banner for advanced grafting and cloning in agriculture.Policy

    Agricultural/Research Policy – Racial Equity and Sustainable Agriculture

    by Mark Schonbeck The tragic events in Charlottesville on August 12 struck close to home…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminSeptember 7, 2017
    Urgent Action on DARK ACT Needed + Opportunities, Events & More A large group of people seated at round tables in a conference room.Policy

    Urgent Action on DARK ACT Needed + Opportunities, Events & More

    Updates & Opportunities The DARK Act is Back! URGENT: Phone your Senators NOW about the…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminFebruary 24, 2016
    Conservation: Policy Bytes from NSAC Policy

    Conservation: Policy Bytes from NSAC

    Policy Bytes from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Web Site By Mark Schonbeck CONSERVATION Working…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminNovember 23, 2015
    Policy Developments and What You Can Do Policy

    Policy Developments and What You Can Do

    By Mark Schonbeck I attended the semi-annual National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) meeting in Iowa…
    VABF Admin
    VABF AdminAugust 21, 2015
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    admin@vabf.org

    1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke  VA 25015             434-299-8007
    501(c)(3)  EIN 54-1417875

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

    vabfarming

    Join us at the 26th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference, January 9th-11th , 2026 in Roanoke, Virginia!

    Tickets are limited, register now! https://rodalei Tickets are limited, register now! https://rodaleinstitute.org/investing-in-regenerative-organic-agriculture/
    Better hurry! The deadline to submit an abstract f Better hurry! The deadline to submit an abstract for our 26th Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference is approaching fast! Details are in the link in our bio!

#vabf #farmingconference #organic
    Join us now as an early supporting Sponsor of the Join us now as an early supporting Sponsor of the 26th Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference! 

This year, more than ever, we are asking for your support to secure and grow the future of VABF and the Virginia Biological Farming Conference. Enjoy promotional benefits from your sponsorship date until the Conference in January 2026.

Find all the details on our site or via our l°nk·tree

Contact us with questions or for a custom sponsorship package!
    Join us as a Speaker for the 26th annual Virginia Join us as a Speaker for the 26th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference! 

The Conference will be held January 9th - 11th, 2026 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. 

Speaker Proposals are due by August 15th. 

Speakers will be notified of acceptance before October 1. 

Proposals are being accepted below for both:

··· Pre-Conference Workshops Half & Full Day Intensives on Friday, 1/9/26

··· Conference Sessions 90 Minute Sessions on Saturday-Sunday, 1/10 & 11/26

Find out more info including inspiring topics on our Speaker Page at 
V · A · B · F ◊dot◊ O· R · G
    🌿🌟🌾🥕Save the date! 🥦🌱🌻✨ The 🌿🌟🌾🥕Save the date! 🥦🌱🌻✨
The 26th Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference will be held in Roanoke, Virginia from January 9th to 11th! 

#vabfarming #sustainableag #farmingconference
    Highlights from this month's e-news! Highlights from this month's e-news!
    🌾 Interested in renewable energy solutions & sm 🌾 Interested in renewable energy solutions & small grain harvesting? 

Join us next Saturday for a free event to Explore Small-Scale Organic Grain Farming Equipment & Renewable Energy Solutions with a Field Day at Living Energy Farm! 

June 21, 2025 
1PM to 5PM
Louisa, Virginia
*Free* Must register in advance!
visit vabf · org / events for more info 

This field day is hosted with sponsorship from the Transition to Organic Partnership Program in partnership with Common Grain Alliance & the Virginia Association of Biological Farming.

@commongrainalliance 
@livingenergyfarm
    VABF 2024 in Review 🌱 Our Farmer Listening Se VABF 2024 in Review 🌱 

Our Farmer Listening Sessions, 1-on-1 Farmer Support, and On-Farm Events reached Farmers all over Virginia; providing support for long-time regenerative growers and those just starting in the field. 

Our Annual Conference was a great success (even through the snow and ice!) and we are thankful for everyone of you who joined us as speakers, vendors, participants and volunteers! 

Membership continues to grow (join us!) and we look forward to introducing you to our Regional Ambassadors later this year! 

Find the full Annual Impact Report on V•A•B•F•.•0•R•G

Shoutout to @herd.ventures for our Conference Photos (and find the full recording of both keynotes on our YouTube thanks to Daniel as well!)
    A few highlights from our Monthly E-News: 🌱 Ve A few highlights from our Monthly E-News:

🌱 Vegetable Gardening Tips from Ira Wallace: "Time to thin!"

📗 Book Review by Pam Dawling: Food Science for Gardeners

🌾 Policy Updates by Mark Schonbeck plus News & Updates

🌿 Events listed on VABF
    Register today to join us for Monday's Farm Tour & Register today to join us for Monday's Farm Tour & Social at Lazy Pigg Farm in Ferrum, VA. See you there!

@roanokefoodshednetwork 
@lazypiggfarm
    Hey VABF Members! It’s time to vote on Nominees Hey VABF Members! It’s time to vote on Nominees and Current Directors of the VABF Board.

Election ends May 29, 2025.
    The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Associa The Roanoke Foodshed Network, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, and Partners present our May Farm Tour with Lazy Pigg Farm

··· Monday, May 19th 

··· 3:00-6:00pm

··· Ferrum, Virginia

· Please register to join ·· Details on our VABF event calendar! · 

The Lazy Pigg Farm is a multigenerational farm on 45 acres in Franklin County, Virginia. It was originally a dairy farm, but Dana and Sean Lydon raise Dexter cattle, Katahdin sheep and laying hens. They practice managed intensive rotational grazing to improve soil health and to leave the land better than they found it. In April 2023 they installed five acres of silvopasture. This will provide shade for the animals, as well as fence posts, nuts, and willow for additional forage. The Lydons are also starting woody perennials and perennial flowers to sell through the Blue Ridge Flower Exchange. 

For more information, contact Becki DeRusseau at becki.derusseau@vabf.org. Detailed directions will be shared with registrants.
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    © 2025 Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

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    • About VABF
    • 26th annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference
      • Registration
      • Event Details
      • Event Schedule
      • Event Location
      • Taste of Virginia
      • Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities
      • Buyer/Grower EXPO
    • Events
    • News & Resources
      • Articles and Research
      • Book Reviews
      • Classified Ads
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