In an era when farming is becoming increasingly specialized, there are some people who fear that the traditional diversified farm is disappearing. But for long-time Spotsylvania County farmer Walter Gentry diversification of his operations is essential to the success of his 700-acre farm. Nestled not too far from historic Spotsylvania Courthouse, Gentry tends to about 175 […]
The Virginia Tech Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences has posted recordings of the entire Introduction to Land Application of Biosolids webinar that was presented in November and December. The webinars are designed to provide basic information about biosolids to local officials—administrators and their staff, elected officials, planners, local attorneys and other interested individuals. […]
Bobby Bagley knew the property well, having lived his youth not far from its location. It’s in the valley, near Staunton, in an area where farms are common. As Bagley tells it, there wasn’t much there. It had been well used by the previous owner and the soils were in pretty poor condition. Returning the […]
Five years ago, with little fanfare, the members of the Virginia Biosolids Council created a document identifying practices we believed contributed to being a good neighbor. Every member of the Council approved our Code of Good Practice. Support of it became a requirement for membership. This was the first effort of its kind by any […]
The Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech will conduct three informational webinars later this year on biosolids. The webinars are designed to provide local officials – administrators and their staff, elected officials, planners, local attorneys and other interested individuals – basic information about biosolids. The Department of Crop and Soil Environmental […]
The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) has honored three biosolids management organizations with the prestigious 10 Years Platinum award at WEFTEC® 2014 in New Orleans, La. The three organizations—DC Water of Washington, DC; Orange County Sanitation District, Calif.; and City of Los Angeles, Calif.—represent leaders in the industry for continuous improvement and best management practices in biosolids management. DC […]
A Pennsylvania state court has ruled against plaintiffs who claimed damages from the off-site odors and particulates from the land application of biosolids. The suit, filed in 2008, claimed that allowing off-site biosolids odors from a farm was negligent, constituted a legal nuisance and was a trespass. In issuing its December 28, 2012 Summary Judgment […]
Precision farming is becoming an increasingly important practice for many Virginia farmers. It utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology to provide crop yield mapping and monitoring, delineating boundaries and the ability to achieve far more precision and economy in applying fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, which reduces their impact on the […]
Kevin Engel is a farmer. And if measured by the number of counties he farms, a big one. Kevin oversees a farming operation based in Hanover County that now includes 17 Virginia counties and sales that extend to Japan, China and India, and ports in Morocco and Eastern Europe. In fact, about 70 percent of […]