Followups – December 2017

Army Corps of Engineers recommends dredging Virginia shipping channels

In mid-November, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft feasibility study recommending a nearly $322 million project to dredge the Port of Virginia’s main shipping channels to at least 55 feet.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that the project would cost an estimated $321.9 million, with about $146.9 million being paid by the federal government and $175 million being paid by the commonwealth.

The study recommends deepening the Atlantic Ocean Channel — the approach to the port — to 59 feet from 52 feet. The Thimble Shoal Channel would be deepened to 56 feet from 50 feet and widened to 1,200 feet from 1,000 feet.

In its September cover story, Virginia Business looked at the port’s plans to deepen and widen channels to accommodate to the growing use of much larger ships.

Pittsylvania grower named Southeastern Farmer of the Year

Virginian Robert Mills Jr. has been named Southeastern Farmer  of the Year.

Mills, a member of the Virginia Tech board of visitors, was named the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo award in October at the Sunbelt Expo farm show in Moultrie, Ga. He competed against nine other state finalists.

Owner of the 2,244-acre Briar View farm in Pittsylvania County, Mills was named the 2017 Virginia Farmer of the Year during the summer.

After winning the state honor, he was profiled in a story on the Southern Virginia regional page in the magazine’s November issue.