December 19, 2025Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the FY2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program. The SCBG Program provides funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of West Virginia’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research initiatives. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery …
WVDA Veterans Pitch Competition Now Accepting Applications
December 16, 2025Charleston – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Veterans & Heroes to Agriculture Agribusiness Pitch Competition, an annual event designed to support veterans and other emergency responders pursuing agricultural careers and small-business ventures in the Mountain State. The competition provides qualified applicants an opportunity to present their ideas for innovative, …
WVDA Confirms Case of Avian Influenza in Backyard Flock in Jackson County
December 5, 2025Charleston – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock in Jackson County. This is only the third detection of HPAI in domestic birds in West Virginia since the global outbreak began in early 2022. The diagnosis was confirmed following a field investigation, sample collection, …
USDA Announces Additional Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers
November 18, 2025Charleston – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding support for producers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), USDA will deliver more than $16 billion in new Congressionally approved assistance. This builds on earlier USDA relief efforts, including $9.3 billion through the Emergency Commodity …
Op-ED: Standing Together to Fight Hunger in West Virginia
October 30, 2025As West Virginians, we take pride in caring for one another, especially in challenging times. With the federal government shutdown creating uncertainty and potential delays in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, many families are facing difficult questions about how they will put food on the table in the coming weeks. While SNAP benefits fall wholly under …
WV Businesses Receive $302,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants
WV Businesses Receive $302,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants October 9, 2025 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Five West Virginia agribusinesses, organizations and agencies will share more than $302,000 in FY2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), administered through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). The grants will support marketing, education and …