Charleston, W.Va. — To combat the severe drought affecting West Virginia in 2024, the state legislature has allocated $10 million in surplus funds to create the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) Drought Recovery Program. Those eligible are livestock farmers, who are already enrolled in the USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). These farmers can now sign …
Mini Grants Provide Essential Support for Farmers Markets Statewide
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) teamed up with the West Virginia Farmers Market Association (WVFMA) to offer the 2024 WVFMA Mini-Grant Program which helps fund needed improvements/upgrades to farmers markets across the state. The WVFMA received 43 applications from traditional farmers markets, mobile markets and on-farm stands totaling $194,000 in funding requests. This year, 14 …
West Virginia and Kentucky Partner to Tackle Food Insecurity in Border Counties
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) have established a cross-border cooperative agreement to aid food-insecure residents in Mingo County, WV, and select parts of Pike County, KY. This first-of-its-kind initiative will enable residents in these counties to access USDA Foods across state lines, providing expanded food resources and filling …
WV Receives $301,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Eight West Virginia agribusinesses, organizations, and agencies will share in $301,000 in FY 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). The monies will help fund projects that strengthen West Virginia’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research. …
Signup for 2025 Lymantria Dispar (Gypsy Moth) Suppression Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is urging landowners to sign up for the Cooperative State-County-Landowner (CSCL) Lymantria dispar (spongy moth) Suppression Program. The program is focused on protecting the landowners’ forested acreage from devastating effects caused by the invasive Lymantria dispar. The sign-up period runs from July 1 until August 31, 2024. “West Virginia’s forests …
WVDA to Honor Six Women in Agriculture at The State Fair of WV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Each year, the WVDA honors outstanding women who have made significant contributions to the agriculture industry, whether it be on the farm, in the classroom, in the lab or through outreach. The six recipients of the 2024 West Virginia Woman in Agriculture Award are truly outstanding in their fields. They will be recognized during a ceremony at the …