CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Friday, July 29, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) received multiple reports from the Jackson County Fair of swine exhibiting respiratory symptoms and fever. Samples were collected the same day and submitted to Moorefield Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, a WVDA animal testing lab. The …
WVDA Urging Landowners to Sign-up for the 2023 Lymantria Dispar Suppression Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is urging landowners to sign-up for the Cooperative State-County-Landowner (CSCL) Lymantria dispar, formerly Gypsy Moth, Suppression Program. The program is focused on protecting landowners’ forested acreage from devastating effects caused by the invasive Lymantria dispar. The sign-up period runs from July 1 until August 31, 2022. “West Virginia’s forests are …
Op Ed: Investments in Local Food Vital to Fending off Food Shortages
After serving twenty years as Marine Corps Intelligence Officer and five years as the Commissioner of Agriculture, it’s easy to identify trends that have the potential to affect the security of the United States. One trend not being discussed enough is the current levels of stress on our food system. Despite our effort to instill resiliency through local agriculture, our …
Commissioner Leonhardt Continues to Increase Employee Compensation through Cost Savings
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) announced they will honor the intent of the Legislature 5% across-the-board pay increase for all state employees. The Budget, passed by the Legislature, included additional general revenue dollars to cover the pay raise but only for employees paid out of general revenue funds. The …
2022 West Virginia Maple Syrup Production Numbers Released
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has released the 2022 maple syrup production numbers for the State. Production totaled 13,000 gallons in 2022, unchanged from the previous year. The number of taps, 77,000, and yield per tap, 0.169 gallons, were unchanged as well. On average, the maple syrup season opened on February 6 and closed on …
2022 Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
JACKSON’S MILL, W.Va. – The West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame (WVAFHF) will honor the 2022 inductees with a banquet on Saturday, July 23 at Jackson’s Mill. The 2022 banquet and reception will start at 5:00 p.m. with a dinner to follow at 6:00 p.m. “As we continue to see supply chain issues ravage our economy, its vital …