According to the Brewers Association, there's never been a better time to open a brewery, or just be a fan of craft beer. The craft brew industry is on the upswing both in Loudoun and the nation, with U.S. operations at their highest level since the 1800s. Recently, Loudoun's Board of Supervisors took action related to expanding brewery operations in our county. Here's some background on the issue.

Governor Terry McAuliffe's first month in office featured honors and opportunities for Loudoun's rural industries. On January 29, Governor McAuliffe announced a $17,500 grant from the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund to the Town of Purcellville, with the support of Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Community College. The grant will be used to conduct a feasibility study for the development of a viticultural and enology education center based on the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology.

If developed, the center would serve Virginia's wine industry by training the next generation of wine makers and vineyard managers through certificate and degree programs. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore called the Loudoun study "... an excellent example of seeking new initiatives that can have lasting, positive impacts on a region's agriculture and forestry sectors."

In addition, the Governor announced on February 6 that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting applications for USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant funding. Agricultural associations, producer organizations and other groups that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops (those not traditionally covered by crop insurance) in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $50,000 per project. The deadline for returning applications is March 21, 2014.

2013 Cattlemen's Association President Robert Shoemaker, on right, presents to Gary Hornbaker.

Gary Hornbaker's efforts to help and grow the region's cattle industry were honored at the 10th annual Blue Ridge Cattlemen's Association meeting held recently at Whitestone Farm in Aldie. Hornbaker, Loudoun County's rural resources coordinator and a founder of the regional nonprofit cattlemen's group, was presented with an award for his decade of work.

"The Cattlemen's Association began with a meeting of just 18 members a decade ago, sitting on hay bales talking about the industry, and has grown to over 150 registered members and 220 attendees at our annual meeting," Hornbaker said. "This regional group is very diverse, from large purebred cattle operations selling the best genetic lines in the world, all the way to part-time farmers with just a few cows."

Hornbaker is well known in the industry. He served for 22 years as Loudoun County's agricultural extension agent, and also farms more than 900 acres, raising more than 140 head of Angus cattle and other livestock annually. He is also a governor-appointed member of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.

"We're all very proud of the work that Gary has done in support of Loudoun's rural economy," said Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer. "As has been evidenced by our rural business strategy, a healthy rural economy reduces county infrastructure costs and contributes to the high quality of life enjoyed by Loudoun residents."