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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

VA: Sustainable Agriculture and Farming

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, some of the largest recent price increases in farm real estate have been in Oklahoma and Texas, where prices grew by 11.4% and 11.3%, respectively. (Adobe Stock)
Rising Land Prices Pose Challenges for VA Farmers

Farmers are facing record-high land prices due to a bevy of factors. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, Virginia farm real estate …

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According to a report by One Earth, since the beginning of agriculture. 133 gigatons of carbon have been lost from soils. Regenerative agriculture is designed to keep that carbon in the soil. (Adobe Stock)
Regenerative Agriculture Makes for Sustainable Farming

Virginia farmers looking for a sustainable way to tend to their crops can look at regenerative agriculture. The idea is to focus on soil health and …

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According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, net farm income is expected to increase by $7.3 billion. This comes when farmers are faced with a bevy of changes in their business.
Farmers Adapting to Industry Changes

Farmers are adapting to numerous shifts in their industry, ranging from price hikes to the effects of climate change. A big change for agribusiness …

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In 2017, the United States had around 48,000 farmers who identified as Black according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. (Adobe Stock)<br />
More Black Farmers Use Farm Service Agency Programs

Some farmers of color have been hesitant to interact with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency after a history of discrimination…

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According to its website, New Roots Community Farm aims to
Community Farm Could Be Model for Economic Sustainability

As Virginia's farms continue to cope with unstable economic markets, one operation is blazing a new trail for a more equitable and economically …

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The Petersburg Oasis CommUNITY Farm aims to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to the community via an on-site produce stand. (Adobe Stock)
Virginia Fundraiser Builds Support for New Petersburg Farm

A fundraising effort is underway for a new community farm in Petersburg. The Central Virginia Agrarian Commons aims to raise about $137,000 to …

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According to the most recent data from the USDA, there were only 1,865 farmers of color in Virginia as of 2017, about 4% of the state's total. (Adobe Stock)
Panel Highlights Ways for Farmers to Tap Into Federal Aid

The federal Farm Service Agency provides loans and financial support to farmers across Virginia and the nation, and experts are encouraging farmers …

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Farming is Virginia's largest private industry, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (Adobe Stock)
New Land Trust Model Will Support BIPOC-led Farming in Central VA

RICHMOND, Va. -- In central Virginia, permanent access to land is one of the biggest barriers to farming. A new land-trust model aims to secure both …

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According to the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association, it can take as many as 15 years to grow a Christmas tree, but the average growing time is 7 years. (Ed Kennedy/Flickr)
Fewer Christmas Trees? Fewer Workers on Tree Farms

ELKTON, Md. – Christmas trees will be available this holiday season, although growers say they've had a tougher time getting Balsam, Frasier …

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency oversees voluntary programs to help promote conservation practices on farms and ranches. (Pixabay)
Farmers, Conservation Groups Rally Congress to Pass Farm Bill

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia farmers and conservation groups are warning that some of the nation's most critical resources are at stake as Congress …

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Researchers say conservation provisions in the Farm Bill have helped stabilize some wild bird populations. (Pixabay)
Farm Bill Could Have Good Impact on Wild Birds

RICHMOND, Va. – While the Farm Bill is crucial policy for agriculture, it's also quite literally for the birds. The "State of the Birds 2017" …

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Bees are important pollinators for plants and flowers, but in the past year, populations nationwide have dropped by one-third. (Pixabay)
Final Comments Today On Pesticides and Bee Health Regs

RICHMOND, Va. — Today is the final day for the public to comment on an updated assessment of four pesticides that environmental and food-safety …

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