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 …
Op Ed: Breaking the Cycle: Why WV Must Prioritize Local Food and Health
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. …
16th Winter Blues Farmers Market Returns with Over 120 West Virginia Agribusinesses
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 …
WVDA Secures Legal Victory in Beekeeping Case
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 …
Deadline Approaching: WVDA Drought Recovery Program – Enroll by Jan. 30!
Don’t miss this crucial opportunity for drought recovery assistance. 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 …
WVDA Confirms Case of Avian Influenza in Backyard Flock in Pocahontas County
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock in Pocahontas County. This marks only the second case of HPAI in domestic birds in West Virginia since the start of the global outbreak in early 2022. The diagnosis was made following a field investigation, sample …