The Virginia Department of Agriculture's Specialty Agriculture Newsletter, Summer 2007, is now available.

According to Virginia Cooperative Extension's article "Are you Considering a Value-Added Agriculture Enterprise?", by Keith Dickinson, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent. In agriculture, this term [value-added] refers to the processing or modification of a farm product to add value to it. Examples might include a beef cattle farmer who decides to finish and slaughter her cattle and sell beef, rather than selling the live animal as a feeder calf. Another example might be a tomato grower who decides to use his tomatoes to make salsa, rather than sell them fresh at the farmer's market. It could even be something as simple as a hay producer who decides to produce high-quality hay in square bales for the equine market, rather than lower quality hay in round bales for the cattle market.

The opportunities are endless and there are many farmers looking towards diversifying their businesses by adding value to the products they produce.

Check out the following links to find out more information on value - added agriculture:

"Keys to Success in Value-Added Agriculture"

"The Value of Value-Added Agriculture"

"Developing a Business Plan for Value-Added Agricultural Products"

Montague Farms

Montague has focused their efforts on specialty soybean production and has been able to produce high quality soybeans for natto, tofu, sprouts and soy sauce in Japan and for other edible soybean markets in the Far East. Now, with modern plant breeding technology they are able to respond to changing consumer demands by developing new varieties that meet the needs of the marketplace. Taste, fiber content, nutritional value and other characteristics are under continuous evaluation as they explore new varieties to meet changing consumer demands. For more information about Montague visit www.montaguefarms.com.

Alpacas

Alpacas are relatively new to North America, being native to Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.  They began to be imported to the States in the 80’s and 90’s, and currently there are approximately 100,000 alpacas in America and Canada.   Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, along with more recognizable animals such as the llama and camel.   They are ruminants and are easy to care for as well as being easy on the land.   They live about 20 years, have a strong herd instinct, and deliver a baby, called a cria, once a year, if bred.

What is the purpose of alpaca farming?   Fiber.  Alpacas grow fiber (fleece) that is warm, soft, strong, and hypo-allergenic.   It does not contain lanolin as sheep’s wool does and is as fine as cashmere.   Alpaca breeders across the US and Canada are working together to create a large enough herd so that North America can support its own fiber textile industry.   As of now, most alpaca products come from Peru and other South American countries.  The goal is to compete with that and have a new, viable industry on our home soil.  Although the business is in the breeding right now, the incredible potential of alpaca fiber means that in the future, revenue will be brought in from the fiber itself.

For more information on alpacas, or fiber, please visit www.alpacainfo.com or www.afcna.com . 

There are three alpaca farms in Isle of Wight.

Alpacas of Courthouse Pastures, LLC

Al and Virginia Dillon

Email: farmeracd@aol.com

home: 757-595-4121

cell: 757-879-1007

16148 Courthouse Hwy.

Smithfield, Virginia

Products: Our focus is on breeding and selling quality

alpacas. We welcome farm visits and are willing to

host educational field trips. Contact us for more info.

Cornerstone Farm Alpacas, LLC
Daren & Chris Wingard
26298 Spivey Town Road
Windsor, Virginia 23487
(757)651-6335
Email: thewingards@cornerstonefarmalpacas.com
www.cornerstonefarmalpacas.com


Products: Our sales include alpacas, fiber, yarn. We also host field trips and plan to do educational seminars in the future.

Woodland Trail Farm
Joe and Kathy D'Andria
12158 Six Ponds Lane
Smithfield, VA 23430
Phone: (757) 357-1792
Email:info@woodlandtrailfarm.com
www.woodlandtrailfarm.com

Products: We specialize in the breeding and the raising of quality white and light fawn Alpacas. We also produce Raw, Cleaned, and Carded Alpaca Fiber, Hand Spun and Hand Dyed Alpaca Yarn, and Hand Made Alpaca End Products (includes Scarves, Hats, Teddy Bears, Baby Sweaters and Booties), all are produced from the fine fiber of our Alpacas.