WV Receives $341,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Eight West Virginia projects will share in $341,018.74 of federal funding under the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) H.R. 133 Stimulus funding. These projects were chosen from nine West Virginia organizations, agencies and institutions who requested a total of $355,057.65 for this fiscal year. Recipients must use the federal …

West Virginia Launches Partnership with FieldWatch

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) announced a partnership with FieldWatch, Inc. to launch a specialty crop and apiary registry for the state. The goal of the registry is to enhance communication between pesticide applicators and producers in West Virginia. FieldWatch is a not-for-profit company with existing DriftWatch and BeeCheck registries in 22 states, the District …

Commissioner Leonhardt Urges Continued Increased Biosecurity to Combat HPAI

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 23 of the 50 states, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt is continuing to urge farmers and producers to practice increased biosecurity measures. West Virginia currently has no confirmed cases of HPAI, but neighboring states of Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Maryland have found the virus in …

Op Ed: Do your Part, Plant an Extra Row

Attention farmers, producers and home gardeners! As we set in motion our spring planting, we call on you to do your part to grow West Virginia’s food resiliency by planting extra rows this year. Supply chain issues, inflation, the pandemic and the War in Ukraine have shown us the importance of creating an independent U.S. within the world market. History …

WVDA Announces Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Program

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has announced Request for Applications for FY22 Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Program (VHAGP). Grant recipients have one year to plan, implement and gather data on their respective projects. The total grant funding available is $24,000. Applications are due April 1, 2022. “As we continue to see the age …

WV Gold Star Mothers Receive $24,000 in Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has awarded the West Virginia Gold Star Mothers a $24,000 grant for Living Memorials projects. Living Memorials are places for Gold Star Families to gather and remember loved ones lost in the line of duty. The grant was issued under the WVDA Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program. Under the …