Latest news with #Vandiver
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Heritage pork helps small farmers increase revenue by delivering delicious product
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WFXR) – 'This little piggy went to the market…..' With profit margins razor thin, one of the hottest trends among small farmers these days is diversification, adding new crops or livestock to their existing operations. The practice helps to generate new revenue streams, mitigate risk, and spread operational costs. One place diversification is being embraced is the Virginia Gold Orchard in Natural Bridge. Virginia Gold grows Asian pears, produces grapes and wine at its Ramulose Ridge Vineyard, and produces cut flowers and lavender. Now, heritage breed pigs can be added to that list. Owner Thomas Vandiver says the pigs, a breed known as Idaho Pasture Pigs, integrate perfectly into his growing operation. The pigs are pastured in open grass areas and tree lots, where they can eat chestnuts, walnuts, and acorns. In addition, the pigs feed on insects and grubs. Their diet is supplemented daily with a non-GMO feed made up of field peas and barley. See the Video! View Wildlife in Your Own Backyard! Plus, at certain times of the year, there is fruit, a lot of fruit. The pigs are allowed to forage in the orchard, assisting farm operations by serving as a natural clean-up crew while fertilizing the orchard. 'They get a lot more fruit because we do finish our pigs on the fruit,' said Vandiver. 'So we have lots and lots of fruit that we produce that's not quite marketable for humans. The pigs love to eat it, and it gives a very unique flavor. So it's beneficial. The trees give to the pigs. The pigs give back to the trees.' It takes about ten months for Vandiver to raise his pigs to the 250-pound weight for market and processing. Vandiver sells cuts of pork like chops, bacon, ribs, and sausage at the orchard. He also sells whole and half hogs to individual customers. He is sold into next year. Vandiver says it is because of the quality and flavor of the pork he raises. One way to tell is by the color. 'That color is amazing,' said Vandiver as he held up a pack of chops, almost a deep red in color. 'Pasture-raised pork should have that sort of pinkish tone to the meat. That just speaks to a really healthy pig raised on a really healthy pasture.' More 'On the Farm' on Raising healthy pigs is important to Vandiver. He wants them raised and processed ethically and humanely. Vandiver says that is good for the pig and good for the product that will eventually go to a customer: 'When you take a bite of that pasture raised pork, when you take a bite of that sausage, that sausage on a bun, or a pork chop on a plate, or some ribs you're picking, in you're mind, and this is what I'm thinking, there are months of sunlight, there are dozens of thunderstorms, the rain that hits the pasture; all of that is concentrated in that pork. The animals are just amazing, the way they can concentrate all that nutritional benefit for us to enjoy.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vandiver residents say Alabama Power drilling project spilled thousands of gallons of grout into woods
VANDIVER, Ala. (WIAT) — A group of homeowners who say Alabama Power is responsible for leaving them without running water for six months have a new reason to be concerned. Tommy Fish owns property about a quarter mile above the site of the Alabama Power fiber optic drilling project that he says struck an aquafer, draining his well. He wasn't the only one impacted by the drilling project. Almost everyone on the street he lives on has also lost water in their wells. Fish and his neighbors have taken Alabama power to court over the loss of water. Earlier this year, lawyers for Alabama Power stated in court that the only possible solution was to finish the drilling project and backfill the hole with grout. Last week, Fish discovered something that he says is a direct result of this solution. 'We have discovered that there have been three eruptions, and thousands of pounds of grout have spilled out, creating yet another environmental catastrophe,' Fish said. Fish says he's worried about the environmental impacts that could be caused by the grout spilling, but he says there's also another concern. 'This is the grout material the subcontractor used. Also, after this was completed, we also lost two more residents on Lakeview Circle. Their water went dry after they completed their grout filling,' he explained. 1 killed in Birmingham crash Bruce Romeo, a lawyer representing Fish and his neighbors, says the latest he's heard from Alabama power about a solution to the ongoing problem is drilling new wells. He says, with the discovery of the grout spilling, he's not confident that the proposed solution will work. 'We know that, even after there was a quote unquote fix on this, there were additional depletions. So, even after, if they dig new wells, are they just depleting as well even if they go deeper,' Romeo said. Alabama Power says they currently have no comment on the situation. This group of residents will see Alabama Power in court on Tuesday at 11 a.m. CBS 42 will continue to follow this story and bring you updates on air and online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uncertainty over the future of 200-year-old farmers market
MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The future of the Madison County Farmers Market is in jeopardy, but county officials said it could be saved. After the Ayers anchor store, which provided stability and continuity to the market, left earlier this year, county commissioners have been scrambling to find a replacement and revive an institution of the county many know and love. 'It's really going to hurt': Lawrence Medical Center closing emergency department 'I think buying local is the greatest thing you can do to support your local economy,' Dean Sharp, a Huntsville resident, said. Sharp has been going to the market since he was a little boy, along with his father who owned a local produce shop at the time. When he heard about the anchor store leaving and putting the market in limbo, he was heartbroken. 'An end of an era, you know,' Sharp said. Madison County Farmers Market started in 1814, over two centuries ago, in the courthouse basement. It is one of the only institutions still in business from that time. While it has called many other places around the county home since then, people truly consider it a historical landmark. Big Ol' Ballpark Fair heading back to Toyota Field A vendor who has sold at the market for several years said they have heard little to nothing from county commissioners since that news. The vendor, wishing to remain anonymous, said they even tried to call the market's number to get information. When the call went unanswered, they could not even leave a voicemail. 'The communication, well, there wasn't any, which was a big problem,' the vendor said. 'And then I found an email and was able to contact somebody that way. And they pretty much at the time said they were working on it.' The vendor is worried about those who rely on markets like these for their income. 'There's no clear path to me that any of the vendors, the farmers, can get prepared for it,' the vendor said. County Commissioner Phil Vandiver said that could all change very soon, adding that they have been working hard to find a business to fill that spot. 'When you're a government agency, you have to follow requirements,' Vandiver said. 'We had to put out a bid to find somebody to go in. Now we're having to hire somebody to run the market for us.' Vandiver said it costs the county $25,000-$50,000 a year to operate the market. He said anchor stores are pivotal to help cover those costs, find additional produce and attract customers. He said one bid for the spot is appealing. 'We're still working through some of the details of the bid,' Vandiver said. 'I think our financial department is working with the ones that gave us the high bid and making sure they got all their paperwork turned in and all like that.' Once that paperwork clears, the county commission said it can disclose more details about the bid. Vandiver said the commission has every intention of opening the market in late May. Even though the intended date quickly approaches, the vendor said they still have not heard anything. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AGFC winter stockings to add nearly 60,000 trout to Arkansas ponds
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is putting a bow on its 2024-25 winter community pond stockings. AGFC officials said the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery sent about 57,000 trout to ponds in Cabot, Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Conway, Maumelle, Bentonville and Springdale. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission monitoring bird flu in the state According to the AGFC, the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery is responsible for stocking all Family Community Fishing Program ponds across the state. Hatchery manager B.J. Vandiver explained that the hatchery crew also worked to put together an extra prize for anglers this year. 'Maurice (Jackson) and Clint (Coleman) secured some golden rainbow trout from a private facility to give anglers a little something extra this year,' Vandiver said. 'We successfully tagged and stocked 385 tagged golden rainbow trout spread out among the majority of the stocking sites in December. We ended up having about 100 surplus golden rainbows that were stocked (untagged) at select locations in January as well.' Jackson added that the first round of golden trout were all tagged, and anglers who turn in a tagged fish get a prize pack as well as a chance at a special prize. 'We'll be drawing a winner from all anglers who turned in their tags on the AGFC's Facebook page live at 10 a.m. March 13,' Jackson said. 'Three winners will receive a free guided trout fishing trip for two on the Little Red River, courtesy of Sore Lip 'em All Guide Service in Heber Springs.' Arkansas Game & Fish 2025 license plate introduced To read more about the Family and Community Fishing Program, . The live drawing will be on March 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
