CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Each year, FFA Chapters nationwide celebrate National FFA Week, a time to recognize the impact of FFA on students and highlight the importance of agricultural education. This year, National FFA Week runs from February 15-22, 2025. West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and WVDA staff will visit five FFA chapters across the state to learn about …

Facing what our new Governor describes as a “massive deficit” in our state budget, I can’t help but notice that Medicaid and PEIA are among the primary causes. This raises an important question. What could we have done over the past few decades to reduce these expenses? The answer is simple – promote healthier outcomes through better diet and nutrition. …

Charleston – The Winter Blues Farmers Market returns for its 16th year on March 1 to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center from noon to 5 p.m. The Market wraps up the annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference (Feb. 26 – March 1), sponsored by WVU Extension and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). More than 120 agribusinesses from …

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has achieved a major legal victory for farmers and beekeepers across the state. In November 2024, the WVDA intervened in the Kanawha County Circuit Court case Alex Urban v. City of South Charleston to defend the rights of West Virginians to engage in agricultural practices, including beekeeping. This effort was …