In 2018 and 2019, Virginia suffered through one of its wettest periods in history. Richmond had 190 days of measurable precipitation and a record-setting 63.5 inches of rain in 2019. For those who manage biosolids – either at the municipal facility or by recyclers and contractors, excessive rainfall impacts can result in operational challenges and restrict […]
Every year when the Virginia Biosolids Council reports on its progress in its Code of Good Practice Annual Report, odor is typically, by volume, the number one complaint received by the Department of Environmental Quality. The VBC reported a total of five biosolids-related complaints in 2022. Several years ago, the U.S. EPA compiled a report on […]
In 2022, Virginia farmers who choose to use biosolids received approximately 115,000 tons on 41,600 acres of cropland, pasture, and forestland. In addition to providing an incredibly beneficial product for row crops, pastures, hay lands, and forests, biosolids use in agriculture provides an alternative to filling up Virginia’s landfill space and can be vital in […]
Fall harvest has come and gone, and this means a next step for the VBC research at the Eastern Virginia AREC Research Plot. This plot is being used to examine the impact of the land application of biosolids and PFAS on soils. The research is being included in a national PFAS study conducted by Dr. […]
Jim Ippolito, a professor at Colorado State University, is an expert on the years of work on biosolids and its benefits. He and a colleague, Ken Barbarick, recently reviewed 45 years of biosolids land application research. The research was published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society […]
After Tropical Storm Ophelia swirled through the fairgrounds leaving some serious mud in her wake, crowds came out in full force to enjoy Virginia’s State Fair, Your Fair, Your Way, offering agricultural attractions along with classic rides, foods, and competitions for all. VBC creatively demonstrated the benefits of recycling biosolids by allowing the young and […]
August 3 was a beautiful day to meet and talk with hundreds of attendees at the 2023 Virginia AG EXPO at Land of Promise Farms in Virginia Beach. As one of the largest gatherings in the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry, AG EXPO drew a sizeable crowd of farmers, industry leaders, state agencies, vendors, and attendees. All […]
Cutrell Farms is nearly a century old; a 3rd generation farmer, Heath Cutrell played with his trucks as a boy and dreamed of farming, following in the footsteps of his dad and uncle. While he was not able to join his father and uncle immediately in their 1,200-acre operation in Chesapeake, Va., he went out on […]
W. Lee Daniels, Emeritus Professor of Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, wdaniels@vt.edu Over the next several decades, conversion of existing agricultural and forested landscapes into utility scale solar (USS) facilities will likely be the dominant land use change across rural landscapes in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. Total area affected by USS in Virginia, according to […]
The “Good Neighbor” brochure is a resource created by the VBC to provide information and resources for our farmers, landowners and anyone interested in biosolids. Farmers depend on the healthiness of their farm. So, when considering fertilizers, they want to make the best possible choices for their land. The VBC developed this brochure to answer basic […]