Virginia Farming Media

01/15/2025

What will it cost to grow an acre of corn in 2025?

01/15/2025

Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land continues to be a complex and closely watched issue. Approx. 3.6 percent of total privately-held ag land in the United States is now owned by foreign interests.

https://www.onthefarmradio.com/single-post/foreign-owned-farmland-increases-by-1-6-million-acres

Image credit: Mark Stebnicki / Pexels

Source: American Farm Bureau FederationWASHINGTON, DC - Recent analysis of foreign ag land ownership showed rising numbers in the United States. Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land remains a widely debated topic.Two additional years of data from 2022 and 2023 became available recently. That'...

01/14/2025

The Virginia Farm Show starts on Thursday of this week and runs through Saturday. It is the only agricultural trade show in Virginia that caters to full-time as well as the part-time farmer. In addition to exhibits of all the major lines of equipment and services, there is a Skid Steer Rodeo for all the attendees to watch as well as participate in. Details at https://www.facebook.com/virginiafarmshow

01/14/2025

The final numbers are in for U.S. tractor sales for 2024. Farm tractor sales were down 13% compared to 2023. Combine sales were down 24% for the year.

A total of 217,200 new tractors were sold in the U.S. in 2024, averaging 595 tractors per day. This is down from 2023, when an average of 673 new tractors were sold per day.

To read the entire report click here.
https://www.aem.org/getattachment/e142384a-e4c7-4db8-8db6-8429372d2ead/US-Month-Ag-Report-12-2024.pdf

Data credit: Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Image credit: Jeff Ishee

01/13/2025

The solar dilemma - what Virginia farmers are facing. Here is an excellent report on the situation from Elijah Griles.

https://youtu.be/6Usi0gQCg6c?si=k6jTOhUVlgkL93D6

Video link - VA Farm Bureau

As demand for renewable energy grows, Virginia farmers and rural landowners find themselves at the forefront of a challenging balancing act. ...

01/13/2025

Coming up over the next couple of weeks . . .

01/13/2025

A couple of interesting charts from the big USDA data dump on Friday. . .

01/11/2025

On January 10, the National Agricultural Statistics Service published the final crop numbers for 2024. In Virginia, farmers saw an average yield of 114 bushels of corn for grain per acre statewide (revised upward from an earlier estimate of 95 bpa).

TOTAL corn production in Virginia is estimated at 34.8 million bushels, down 40% from the previous crop.

For reference, yields in nearby states are below:

North Carolina 87 bpa
West Virginia 110
Pennsylvania 138
Maryland 143
Tennessee 152
Ohio 177
Kentucky 178

National average 179 bpa

Image credit: Bence Szemerey/Pexels

01/10/2025

While the statewide average yield for corn for grain in 2024 was 114 bushels per acre, some farmers did better . . . MUCH better.

NOTE: On Jan. 10, NASS revised Virginia's corn yield from 95 bpa to 114 bpa.

https://articles.vafb.com/news-and-features/categories/virginia-corn-growers-top-national-yields-contest-despite-tough-season

Source: VA Farm Bureau
Image credit: VA Farm Bureau

01/10/2025

Heads up . . .

Calling all crop and livestock producers!! This project is a great opportunity to build relationships with fellow Virginia farmers while having a hand in innovative agriculture!

Be sure to sign up by January 31!

Learn more here➡ https://shorturl.at/dTif5

American Farmland Trust

01/08/2025

FYI. . .

The Eastern Shore Small Farms & Homesteaders Workshop will be held at the Eastern Shore AREC in Painter, VA on February 13, 2025.
Registration information will be coming soon!

01/08/2025

This just in from North Carolina . . . nearly 3 million laying hens being depopulated.

https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15711607/nearly-28-million-north-carolina-hens-lost-to-avian-flu

Source: USDA APHIS

Almost 11 months had passed since the state had its last commercial flock struck by the virus.

01/08/2025

This is welcome news - costs going DOWN instead of up. The new fee structure became effective on Jan. 2, 2025.

https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/press-releases-250107-vdacs-announces-lower-pesticide-registration-and-license-fees.html

Source - VDACS News Release

01/08/2025

The age of autonomous tractors is upon us.

John Deere revealed several new autonomous machines this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company's second-generation autonomy technology combines advanced computer vision, AI, and cameras to help the machines navigate various environments. Company officials say the new model 9RX Tractor for Large-Scale Agriculture features 16 individual cameras which enable a 360-degree view of the field. An autonomous orchard tractor is also being introduced for spraying orchards. With this new technology, John Deere says farmers can step away from the machine and focus their time on other important jobs.

See the video presentation here>> https://www.youtube.com/live/HDzlPrPRBKU?si=tEyiMBRbQ1uzb7NA

Image credit: Deere

01/07/2025

Slowly getting back in the groove after the holidays. Hope everybody had an enjoyable time with family during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Here's a quick glance at how we ended December with crop and livestock conditions across Virginia . . . Local observations (and photos) are always welcomed. Go ahead. Chime in on what you're seeing at your place.

01/03/2025

Here's a tip o' the hat to the ag and forestry community in Bath County, Virginia . . .

https://youtu.be/I-no5ukLvic?si=fDXOV7XSDwkCfAUS

Nestled in the Allegheny mountains, Bath County blends mineral springs, mountain pastures, and agricultural heritage with scenic agritourism and traditional cider production.

🏞️ Nestled in the Allegheny mountains, Bath County blends mineral springs, mountain pastures and agricultural heritage with scenic agritourism and tradition...

01/03/2025

Earlier this week, Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States died. He was 100 years old. He was the only President (so far) that had been a member of the Future Farmers of America. He often spoke warmly of his experience in the FFA.

His first elected position was as secretary of the Plains High School FFA chapter. Speaking at the National FFA States President Conference in 1979 he stated that his first words as an elected official were “I keep an accurate record of all meetings and correspond with other secretaries wherever corn is grown and future farmers meet.”

During another speech, Carter said he recalled that one of his first FFA projects included the "building of a little rough-hewn model of the White House. I have to admit that I never thought I would live there. I was hoping some time I might look at it through the cracks in the fence, but I have come further."

Some of Carter’s later activities with the FFA Include:

Speaking at the National FFA convention in 1975 (this was before his presidency).
Became a FFA Alumni Life Member in 1977.
Donated his FFA jacket to the Smithsonian in 2014.

Read the full article here>>
https://footnote.wordpress.ncsu.edu/2025/01/02/an-hour-before-daylight-1-3-2025/

Image credit: Smithsonian National Museum of American History