The purpose of the Introduction to Whole Farm Planning module is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in Virginia make informed farm planning decisions by introducing them to the whole farm planning process.

Starting a farm is an exciting yet challenging opportunity. As with any new undertaking, there is a lot to think about before beginning a farm venture. Gaining access to farmland, viable markets, capital and credit, as well as hands-on training and resources are some of the most important startup issues to consider as part of the planning process. You are likely asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” The purpose of this resource is to help newcomers make informed decisions at the start of the planning process. This “quick guide” is primarily designed for beginning farmers and ranchers, but service providers will also find this resource useful for answering questions about the farm startup process. This foundational work offers a valuable starting point on which to create a successful whole farm plan for a new agricultural venture.

You are likely asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” The purpose of this tool is to help you gather a solid basis of information as you consider your “start-up” situation. Once you have completed as much as you can of this worksheet (or if you have any questions along the way), please bring it to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office to get guidance on where to go next: http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/index.html. Good Luck! We look forward to helping you bring your farm vision to life!

Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR), agricultural water is defined as “water used in covered activities on covered produce where water is intended to, or is likely to, contact the harvestable portion of the crop”. Production water is agricultural water used during produce growing activities prior to harvesting. Examples of production water include irrigation, fertigation, spray applications, dust abatement, frost protection, among others. Remember production water has to meet the definition of agricultural water to be regulated under the FSMA PSR. This document will cover why to test your production water, what to test your production water for, how to sample your production water, and most importantly how to interpret your production water test results.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

Assessing On-Farm Produce Safety Risks Modules are a series of nine videos to assist you in creating a food safety program and preparing you for a GAP audit. These videos are based off of a series of seven factsheets (FST-400NP through 406NP) available through Virginia Cooperative Extension. In this module, we are going to explore how food safety can play into market access, the ways market sectors are similar and different from each other in terms of requirements, and why it is important to always recognize that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ for food safety standards across market sectors.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2012 Census of Agriculture, sales from greenhouse-grown food crops equaled around $800 million in the U.S. Crops grown included tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and berries, with hydroponic production operations making up about 64% of the total production (cwt) (USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012). Demand for greenhouse-grown produce continues to increase, providing growers with unique opportunities to tap into this expanding market. Although greenhouse systems provide a more protected environment than field-grown systems, it is important to understand the unique food safety risks and possible sources of contamination when growing produce in these systems. Identifying food safety hazards are necessary to implementing practices that reduce the risk of contamination during the pre-plant, production, harvest, and post-harvest handling stages. Use the checklist below to guide you in asking important questions targeting possible risks at each of the greenhouse system stages.

This comprehensive website is intended to provide information about the efforts of the Virginia Fresh Produce Food Safety Team, as well as timely and science-based resources geared to reducing fresh produce contamination risks, beginning at the farm level, progressing through the marketplace to the final end-user, the consumer. The site also includes a blog that highlights our research and extension work on many fronts.

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, U.S. greenhouse vegetable farms more than doubled from 2012 (USDA 2019). Virginia fell within the top 10 states for acreage of vegetables and berry crops grown under protected culture. Protected culture includes greenhouses and structures like high tunnels. With close to two and a half million square feet devoted mostly to tomatoes, vegetables, herbs, and strawberries, the value of Virginia greenhouse sales in 2017 was over 31 million dollars! A lot of this increase in square footage was due to the addition of large operations coming into Virginia.

With the increasing number of controlled environment agriculture farms, Virginia Cooperative Extension is working closely with specialty crop growers to address the challenges of establishing and managing hydroponic greenhouse operations. Growers interested in producing food crops in controlled environments can use several different types of hydroponic systems. One of the most common types of hydroponic systems is called nutrient film technique (NFT).

One common type of hydroponic system is known as a media system and utilizes some type of containerized media to grow plants. This media or substrate is used primarily to anchor the plants while nutrient solution is delivered to the plants via sub-irrigation or top-irrigation. The terms media and substrate will be used interchangeably in this publication.

This factsheet is part of a series of seven factsheets targeting beginning farmers growing edible crops using hydroponic greenhouse systems. There are also five videos that are related to the factsheets and included in the numbering sequence.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we define “farm to school”, provide an overview of Farm to School initiatives in Virginia, highlight the content of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit and webinar series.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we are joined by several panelists who will share their experiences and processes for obtaining funds for farm to school projects and how to evaluate them.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we are joined by several panelists who will share their experiences and processes for obtaining funds for farm to school projects and how to evaluate them.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, our panelists will discuss why it is important to share success stories with stakeholders, and will provide some examples of ways to do so.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, our panelists will share about how they have navigated through the process of procuring local foods for local schools.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, our panelists will look at the flow of food from farm to tray, associated food safety contamination risks, and helpful resources to consider.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we are joined by several panelists, who will highlight some tangible ways food is being delivered and distributed as part of the farm-to-school value chain in Virginia.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we will consider how school gardens play an integral part of farm to school programs. Our panelists will share how they have developed and worked with school gardens and farms, and will offer some tips that can help in farm to school efforts.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, we will consider opportunities to extend classroom learning into early care settings, afterschool activities, and summer programs. Our panelists will share their stories of how they are doing so.

This webinar series is designed to support and explain each chapter of the Virginia Farm to School Toolkit, which was developed to guide VCE Extension agents, school division administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, school garden coordinators, and others toward using farm to school practices as a means to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, Virginia grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of educational settings. In this webinar, our panelists will share their stories about how they have sparked a love of local food and farming through classroom and afterschool programs.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Michael Richard and Alex Fayler of Glenmary Farms, Bristol, VA, about their oscillating hydroponic system for growing strawberries and their culture of food safety.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Carl Gupton, CEO of Greenswell Growers, about their automated nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system for growing lettuce and arugula, and how they have integrated food safety handling policies and practices as a central focus of their operation.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Deborah Morton of Mor-Farms, Halifax County, VA, and how she is revitalizing the family farm where her forebearers grew tobacco in 1906. Growing a diversity of vegetable crops with field and high tunnel production, we discuss food safety practices and how extension can assist growers with their audits.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Aaron Puckette of Puckette Farms, Campbell County, VA, about his field-grown produce for his Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and wholesale markets, and explain various aspects of assessing risks for a produce safety audit.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Lorrie Barron of Wildwood Berries and Produce, Charlotte, VA. Lorrie shares about her high tunnel and field-grown vegetables and berries sold through farmer's markets and a regional wholesaler, and highlights the food safety policies and practices she incorporates to reduce hazards.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Mentors Growers in GAP Certification Preparation is a series of six videos showcasing Virginia farmers and their stories of working with Virginia Cooperative Extension to have their farms become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. In this video, we speak with Scott and Becky Ramsey of Wyndale Gardens, Abingdon, VA, about their aquaponic system used for growing blue Nile tilapia and leafy greens. The first Harmonized GAP aquaponics farm certified within Virginia, Scott and Becky share their insights and commitment to providing the safest product they can to their retail and school markets.