CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has reopened FY22 applications for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grants. The WVDA anticipates West Virginia will receive approximately $170,000 from which multiple grants will be awarded. Applications are due March 23, 2022. “Specialty crop funding allows West Virginia agriculture commodities to explore and enhance their …
Winter Blues Farmers’ Market Returns February 26
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Winter Blues is back! The indoor farmers’ market makes its return on February 26 after taking a year off because of the pandemic. More than 60 vendors from across West Virginia will be on hand to sell products grown and sourced right here in the Mountain State. The event takes place at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention …
Commissioner of Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt to Kick Off Mountain State Maple Days
CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and Chef Paul Smith will kick off the 2022 Mountain State Maple Days with a ceremonial tree tapping at 11:30 a.m. on February 19 at Ronk Family Maple Farm in Lincoln County. Paul Ronk is the current WV Maple Syrup Producer’s Association (WVMSPA) president and Chef Paul will be representing …
WVDA Calls for Increase Biosecurity Given to Prevent Avian Influenza
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) are urging poultry owners to increase biosecurity efforts following the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia. In addition, a Eurasian strain of Avian Influenza virus has been detected via routine surveillance from hunter-harvested wild ducks in South Carolina, …
Op-Ed: Creation of Horse Coalition is Vital to WV Equine Industry
As a former state lawmaker and the current Commissioner of Agriculture, we are constantly asked about what our neighbors are doing right and wrong. When it comes to burdens, we steer away from the mistakes, and when it comes to success stories, we try to replicate them. To the west, Kentucky does a lot of things right when it comes …
WVDA Offering Better Process Control School
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will be hosting an Acidified-Only Better Process Control School (BPCS) February 21-22, 2022 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center. BPCS is a course that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as well as the United States Department of Agriculture for processors of acidified and low acid canned foods. There is a $50.00 …