FIRST CASE OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IN A HORSE FOR 2015

           The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a Virginia horse this year. The horse, a 12-year-old miniature mare, was from Chesapeake and had not been vaccinated for EEE.

 

EEE causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord. The disease is also called "sleeping sickness.” Symptoms include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for signs of the disease to appear.

 

Last year Virginia had one reported case of EEE, in a horse from Suffolk. The disease has a mortality rate of 80 to 90 percent, so prevention is a key part of equine health. Vaccination and mosquito control/avoidance are the central elements of prevention.

 

In a May 2015 press release, Dr. Richard Wilkes, VDACS’ State Veterinarian, encouraged horse owners to work with their veterinarians to plan a vaccination schedule that would protect their horses from EEE and West Nile Virus (WNV). Available vaccines are generally effective in drastically reducing the incidence of both EEE and WNV in horses. For the vaccine to be effective it must be handled and administered properly and be given at least two weeks before the horse is exposed to the virus. Additionally, to stimulate full immunity, horses must be vaccinated twice, about 30 days apart, the first year of vaccination. The vaccines are effective for six to 12 months, so horses should be revaccinated at least annually. In an area where the disease occurs frequently, such as southeast and Tidewater Virginia, most veterinarians recommend vaccination every six months. 

 

In addition to vaccination, it is a good idea to avoid mosquito infested areas and to take measures to reduce the local mosquito population to minimize the chances of mosquitos biting your horse.

 

For more information, please contact VDACS’ Office of the State Veterinarian at 804.692.0601 or consult your local veterinarian.

 

 

Elaine Lidholm

Director of Communications

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

102 Governor Street

Richmond VA 23219

804.786.7686

Fixed knot fencing demonstration

Culpeper Coop and the Clarke County Ruritan club allowed VCE to partner on a Stay Tough "fixed knot" fence building demonstration at 8:30 am on July 8th at the Clarke County Fairgrounds. Come by and learn more about fence building techniques and slip knot fencing.

Tree Fruit Program

We have a fantastic day tour of several Winchester area fruit operations scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2015.  The tour will include orchards, vineyards, high tunnel fruit and vegetable production, a retail market, a packing operation, a cidery, a catered lunch, and an evening meal at Marker-Miller Farm Market.  We plan to arrange a coach for participants (coach to begin and end at National Fruit:  550 Fairmont Ave., Winchester, VA 22601).  There will also be other transportation and carpooling options planned as the need dictates.  If you are interested in this day tour, please contact the Frederick county office and send in the registration fee of $30.00/each by July 8, 2015.

Feel free to contact me for additional information or any clarifications.

We continue to thank our Tree Fruit Program Sponsors for making this educational tour possible.

Mark Sutphin
Associate Extension Agent | Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture | Unit Coordinator (Frederick)

2015 Northern Virginia Area Wool Pool

Local producers interested in marketing their wool through local wool pools will have the opportunity to do so through Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association based in Canal Winchester, Ohio.  Producers are encouraged to package, handle and store their wool in an appropriate manner in order to maximize the value of their wool clip.  Wool should be packaged by type and grade (ewe vs. lamb wool, long staple vs. short wools, fine vs. medium wools) in plastic bags, and be clean, dry, and have foreign material (straw, mud, manure) removed prior to packaging.  Following is the local pool delivery date, and location where wool will be picked up:

 

July 14                      Clermont Farm, Berryville  from 8am-11:30 am  ***Collection point Change****

 

Address:  801 East Main Street,  Berryville, VA 22611.  From Route 7 Take the East Business 7 exit (Across from Audley Farm) toward Berryville.  First drive on left.  Follow road right then to barn.

 

For more information regarding specifics contact Corey Childs at 540-635-4549 or cchilds@vt.edu.

 

There are a limited number of wool bags available in the Warren County office.  Call ahead for availability 540-635-4549.

 

Wool to be sorted and graded in Ohio, and priced according to grade.

 

Proper Wool Handling

Proper harvesting, packaging, and storage of the wool is important to realize the full value of the wool clip. Since wool sales represent a very small portion of the gross returns for most sheep enterprise, wholesale changes to the genetics of the flock to improve fiber diameter and fleece weight are likely not justified for most Mid-Atlantic producers. However, there are several important steps that should be considered to maximize the value of the wool clip:

A.           Minimize Contamination:

1.            Keep shearing area clean and free of straw/hay and other potential sources of contamination.

2.            Avoid use of plastic baler twine in sheep operation that may contaminate fleeces (this contamination occurs throughout the year, not just at shearing time).

B.           Use Proper Packaging Material:

1.            Do not use plastic feed sacks to store or package wool.

2.            Plastic film bags are available and preferred. Points to consider with plastic film bags:

a.            Sheep need to be dry when sheared. Plastic bags will not breathe as well as jute bags (more possibility for wool to mold and rot).

b.            Plastic film bags will tear easier when handled.

c.            Tie plastic film bags shut in similar manner to jute bags.

3.            Store wool in dry place, avoid cement or dirt floors to prevent moisture uptake.

C.           Sort Wool at Shearing Time

1.            Shear white-face sheep first, blackface sheep last to avoid contamination of white-faced wool with black fibers.

2.            Package lamb and ewe wool separate.

3.            Remove tags at shearing and discard.

4.            Sort belly wool and bag separately. Also sort wool caps and leg wool out if justified.

5.            Off-type fleeces (black, high vegetable matter, etc.) as well as belly wool should be shorn last.  They can be packed alone or along with clean wool.  If you choose to pack together the off type wool should be packaged first in a small plastic garbage bag or paper sack. The small bag may then be added to the large polyethylene film bag. The small bag serves to keep these wools separate and prevents them from contaminating other fleeces already packaged, and results in a more uniform lot of wool.

6.            Do not tie wool with paper twine.

 

 

Mid-States plans to have wool bags for sale at the pools.

 

Please let me know if you have questions.

 

C. Corey Childs

Unit Coordinator - Agriculture Extension Agent

Warren County Extension Unit

220 N. Commerce Avenue

Front Royal, Virginia  22630

Cell: 540-692-4075

Office: 540-635-4549

Fax: 540-635-2827

cchilds@vt.edu

http://vacoopext.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Sheep-And-Goat-Producers

https://www.facebook.com/pages/VCE-Northern-Shenandoah-Valley-Agricuture-and-Natural

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Tree Fruit Meetings

Dear Commercial Tree Fruit Growers:

 

Below are the dates for the upcoming commercial tree fruit meetings.  Drs. Keith Yoder, Chris Bergh, and Greg Peck will be providing updated information and will be available for discussions and concerns regarding the upcoming season.  Please find more information and seasonal updates at the Virginia Cooperative Extension – Tree Fruit Website:  http://www.anr.ext.vt.edu/tree-fruit/   To receive email notifications of updates and blog posts, simply go to the website and enter your email address on the right hand side at the “Subscribe” tool. 

 

 

Our third Spring meeting is this week:  Thursday, April 23.  In-Depth Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Pathology, Entomology, and Horticulture Updates

                Program: Dr. Greg Peck (Horticulturist - Virginia Tech AHS Jr. AREC) & Tom Kon (Penn State PhD student)

 

 

Thursday, May 7.  Breakfast Meeting 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Pathology, Entomology, and Horticulture Updates and Breakfast Provided

 

 

Thursday, May 21.  In-Depth Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  Pathology, Entomology, and Horticulture Updates

Program: Dr. Chris Bergh (Entomologist - Virginia Tech AHS Jr. AREC) & Brent Short (Lab Technician - USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV)

 

 

All meetings will be held at the Alson H. Smith Jr. AREC (Winchester Fruit Lab) at 595 Laurel Grove Road, Winchester, Virginia.  Directions from I-81: take Stephens City exit (Exit 307).  Go west into Stephens City on Fairfax Street and proceed straight through the traffic light onto Rt. 631 (Fairfax Street becomes Marlboro Rd.) and continue west approximately 3.5 miles.  Turn right (north) onto Middle Road (Rt. 628) at the “T”.  Go 1.5 miles north on Middle Road and turn left (west) onto Laurel Grove Road (Rt.629).  Go 0.8 miles to the AREC on the left.

 

 

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Mark Sutphin, Frederick County Extension, at (540) 665-5699/TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Private Pesticide Applicator and Core Manual Preparation Training

Private Pesticide Applicator and Core Manual Preparation Training
March 20, 2015
Warren County Extension Office
  9 A.M. – 3 P.M.
220 North Commerce Avenue, Front Royal, VA 22530
This training is based on the pesticide application principles taught in the Virginia Pesticide Core Manual. Individuals who attend this training will be given the opportunity to take the Virginia Private Pesticide Applicators test at the end of the session. Individuals interested in obtaining a Commercial Applicators permit or those wanting a Registered Technician permit need to make application through the Virginia Department of Pesticide Services. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides/index.shtml

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________________________
Registration Fee: $40 per person – includes lunch and Core Manual

Payment Enclosed: $40 x _____ (# participants) = $__________

Make check payable to: VCE – Warren County (no credit cards accepted)

Mail registration and check to: Warren County Extension Office

220 North Commerce Avenue, Suite 500

Front Royal, VA 22630

Register by March 6th to ensure availability of CORE manual - Call 540-635-4549 for more information

Possible Tax Credits Available for Purchases of Precision Spray Equipment

I received a recent inquiry that I thought I would share so that all may know of the possible tax credit opportunity. Through Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost Share and Tax Credit Programs, tree fruit and grape growers who purchase precision spray equipment might be eligible for a tax credit. The specific question I received was regarding a Durand Wayland Smart Spray system, but other equipment manufacturers have systems that may be eligible for tax credits as well.  Please reach out to Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) or your local Soil and Water Conservation office for specifics on the tax credit program and to file for approval of a tax credit claim.

The exact wording regarding precision agricultural equipment from the Program Year 2015 Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share (VACS) BMP Manual can be found below as well as the link to the entire document.

Tax Credit for Purchase of Precision Agricultural Equipment (page IV – 13)

§ 58.1-337. Tax credit for purchase of advanced technology pesticide and fertilizer application equipment.

A. Any individual engaged in agricultural production for market who has in place a nutrient management plan approved by the local Soil and Water Conservation District by the required tax return filing date of the individual shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by § 58.1-320 of an amount equaling twenty-five percent of all expenditures made by such individual for the purchase of equipment certified by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board as providing more precise pesticide and fertilizer application. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia State University shall provide at the request of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board technical assistance in determining appropriate specifications for certified equipment, which would provide for more precise pesticide and fertilizer application to reduce the potential for adverse environmental impacts. The equipment shall be divided into the following categories:

1. Sprayers for pesticides and liquid fertilizers;

2. Pneumatic fertilizer applicators;

3. Monitors, computer regulators, and height adjustable booms for sprayers and liquid fertilizer applicators;

4. Manure applicators;

5. Tramline adapters; and

6. Starter fertilizer banding attachments for planters.

B. The amount of such credit shall not exceed $3,750 or the total amount of the tax imposed by this chapter, whichever is less, in the year of purchase. If the amount of such credit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability for such taxable year, the amount which exceeds the tax liability may be carried over for credit against the income taxes of such individual in the next five taxable years until the total amount of the tax credit has been taken.

C. For purposes of this section, the amount of any credit attributable to the purchase of equipment certified by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board as providing more precise pesticide and fertilizer application by a partnership or electing small business corporation (S corporation) shall be allocated to the individual partners or shareholders in proportion to their ownership or interest in the partnership or S corporation. 

http://dswcapps.dcr.virginia.gov/htdocs/agbmpman/csmanual.pdf

 Additional information regarding the Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost Share and Tax Credit Programs can be found at the following link: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/costshar.shtml  

 Mark Sutphin

Associate Extension Agent | Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture | Unit Coordinator (Frederick)