CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and Chef Paul Smith will kick off the 2022 Mountain State Maple Days with a ceremonial tree tapping at 11:30 a.m. on February 19 at Ronk Family Maple Farm in Lincoln County. Paul Ronk is the current WV Maple Syrup Producer’s Association (WVMSPA) president and Chef Paul will be representing …
WVDA Calls for Increase Biosecurity Given to Prevent Avian Influenza
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) are urging poultry owners to increase biosecurity efforts following the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia. In addition, a Eurasian strain of Avian Influenza virus has been detected via routine surveillance from hunter-harvested wild ducks in South Carolina, …
Op-Ed: Creation of Horse Coalition is Vital to WV Equine Industry
As a former state lawmaker and the current Commissioner of Agriculture, we are constantly asked about what our neighbors are doing right and wrong. When it comes to burdens, we steer away from the mistakes, and when it comes to success stories, we try to replicate them. To the west, Kentucky does a lot of things right when it comes …
WVDA Offering Better Process Control School
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will be hosting an Acidified-Only Better Process Control School (BPCS) February 21-22, 2022 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center. BPCS is a course that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as well as the United States Department of Agriculture for processors of acidified and low acid canned foods. There is a $50.00 …
WVDA Offering Virtual Refresher Better Process Control Class
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will be hosting a virtual refresher Acidified-Only Better Process Control (BPC) class on January 26. To be eligible to attend this class you mut have previously completed the BPCS course. This is only a four-hour refresher class and will not provide certification. There is no cost for the refresher class, …
Commissioner Leonhardt Honors Service of Cedar Lakes Director Karen Facemyer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner Leonhardt released the following statement after the announcement of the retirement of current Cedar Lakes Conference Center Director and former State Senator Karen Facemyer. Facemyer had served as the head of Cedar Lakes since May of 2017. Her last day will be Friday, December 31, 2021. “Karen has done a wonderful job leading the Cedar Lakes …