Virginia
Farmers looking for policy changes with the new Virginia General Assembly
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) – Farmers across the Shenandoah Valley are looking to have their voices heard in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly.
With the General Assembly in full swing, funding for Agricultural Best Management Practices is something that’s been on the lawmakers’ agenda before. A goal has been set to reduce the amount of erosion and runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.
“There are some big goals for farmers and agriculture as a whole coming up for 2027,” Bradley Dunsmore, a farmer in Augusta County, said. “The fully funding of those BMPs in the budget are very, very important for farmers if there is going to be any chance of farmers hitting their goals for 2027 with the Chesapeake Bay cleanup.”
Currently, farmers are using EPA-approved herbicides to help limit the amount of tilling required on farmland.
Dunsmore said legislators in Richmond are trying to limit the use of these herbicides, which can lead to farmers not meeting their requirements in 2027.
“Whether it’s a pesticide or herbicide, those are very important tools in a farmer’s tool bag,” Dunsmore said. “That allowed him to do things better than what we used to do in the past. You know, they allowed us, allowed a lot of farmers to go to no till or minimal till practices, which has greatly helped with erosion. It’s helped keep sediment out of the bay.”
Along with these bills, Dunsmore said the large animal veterinarian shortage has hurt many farmers in the Commonwealth. In the Valley, many farmers are grateful for the access to vets because Augusta County is the largest cattle producer in Virginia.
“I’d say we have more veterinarians in this area than we have anywhere else in the state. Certainly there are other parts of the state that agriculture is not as intensive, and there’s people that have farming operations that the closest veterinarian is well over an hour away. There might only be one veterinarian within two hours of them,” he said.
Dunsmore said farmers are keeping an eye out on legislation based around solar energy. He said the solar conversations are hot and controversial topic in the agriculture community.
Copyright 2024 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Watch CBS News
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Four new trollies will join the VB Wave Trolley fleet beginning May 10, when Virginia Beach Wave Trolley will resume its seasonal service along the oceanfront.
Trolley season lasts through September 25-27 for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival.
A total of 14 new trollies will be part of the fleet this year, gradually replacing the older versions. The 29-foot trolley replica buses seat 29 people and feature wooden seats, with “sky-blue and sand-colored brown exterior,” according to Hampton Roads Transit (HRTS). Last year, 281,507 riders used the trolley system.
“This year marks the 42nd season of the VB Wave trolley, and these new trollies will provide a comfortable, safe, and efficient ride for visitors and locals alike,” William E. Harrell said. He is the president and CEO of HRT. “As part of our partnership with the city of Virginia Beach, the VB Wave makes it easy for everyone to visit attractions and explore the Oceanfront and beyond without the hassles of parking or the high cost of gas,” Harrell said.
The following routes will operate May 10 through Sept. 27 for the Neptune Festival:
Route 30 is the Atlantic Avenue Trolley, running along the Oceanfront between JT’s Grommet Island Park to Fortieth Street. This service operates daily from 8 a.m.- 2 a.m.
Route 31 is the aquarium and campground trolley along General Booth Boulevard. It runs daily from 9:30 a.m.-11:10 p.m. through Labor Day and again on Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 11 through Sept. 27. Route 31 also extends to Atlantic Avenue and 18th Street.
Route 35 is the Bayfront Bus, providing service between Parks Avenue and 19th Street and Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road, enabling customers to visit Chesapeake Bay beaches, First Landing State Park, and Bayfront restaurants. It operates daily from 8 a.m.-12:30 a.m. through Labor Day and then Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from Sept. 11 through the Sept. 27 festival
The VB Wave trolley connects to HRT bus lines, Routes 20 and 960, with access to the Newtown Road Light Rail Station and the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Fares are $2 one way or $4.50 for an all-day pass. Kids 17 and under ride free with a paying adult. Riders can pay for tickets using HRT’s GoMobile app and a credit card. Riders can create and manage multiple virtual cards and reload value for easy group boarding, and need to have a unique scannable virtual card for boarding. Children are not required to scan a virtual card or pay fare when boarding with an adult.
Customers can also tap to pay using credit and debit cards. KOA Campground, Virginia Gift Shop, nine Sunsations locations, and Ocean Wave Gift Shop sell tickets. Riders can also pay with exact change cash onboard the trolley.
In addition, HRT is introducing a new route in Virginia Beach beginning May 10. The new Route 981 will connect the Amazon Fulfillment Center (ORF 4) at 1795 Dam Neck Road with the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Route 33 service is being restored to Atlantic Avenue and 68th Street 365 days a year to support the oceanfront hospitality industry.
-
Wyoming2 minutes ago(LETTER) ‘Wyoming Advantage’ is disappearing for Gillette residents
-
Crypto8 minutes agoBitcoin Holds Above $81,500 as $135M in Leveraged Crypto Positions Get Liquidated
-
Finance14 minutes agoMorgan Stanley sees writing on wall for Citi before major change
-
Fitness21 minutes agoThis simple strength training trick builds more muscle and better technique—here’s how to try tempo training in your next home workout
-
Movie Reviews32 minutes ago‘Given Names’ is a Fascinating Exploration of Who We Are (Berlinale 2026 Film Review)
-
News50 minutes agoVideo: Americans Exposed to Hantavirus on Cruise Ship Arrive in United States
-
Politics56 minutes agoTrump Proposes Suspending Federal Gas Tax Until Prices Fall
-
Business1 hour agoKennedy Is Driving a Vast Inquiry Into Vaccines, Despite His Public Silence