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 …
Poultry Exhibition and Sale Events Suspended in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is suspending all poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales at flea markets or auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This decision follows recent HPAI confirmations in commercial poultry operations in multiple surrounding states, as well as a confirmed case in a …
Nominations Now Open for Inductees to the 2025 West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame
Charleston – The West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF) today announced that nominations are open for the next round of honorees for West Virginia’s Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame (WVAFHF). The Hall of Fame highlights the people, businesses, organizations, institutions and foundations that have significantly contributed to agriculture, forestry and family life in West Virginia. Selected nominees will be …
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 …
WVDA Drought Recovery Program Accepting Enrollment
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 …