CHARLESTON, W.Va. – For the 2021 season, West Virginia produced a totaled 13,000 gallons of maple syrup, down 3,000 gallons from the previous year. Yield per tap correlated with the overall decrease in production as taps on average produced 0.169 gallon, down from the 2020 yield of 0.213 gallon per tap. Despite production levels falling, the total number of taps …
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) has confirmed a third county, Jefferson, that now hosts the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Jefferson County was added to the list, which includes Berkeley and Mineral, after United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) collaborators spotted a small population on May 27 near Kearneysville, WV. The WVDA and USDA-APHIS confirmed …
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt announced West Virginia will be hosting the 2022 Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) annual meeting in June of next year. Commissioner Leonhardt chose the Mountain State after being elected President of the organization during the 2021 meeting in Arkansas. The theme for the 2022 meeting will be “Rooted in …
As the national food system came to a screeching halt in the early days of the pandemic, the demand for food increased, providing a unique opportunity for local agriculture. This opportunity was only possible due to the hoarding of supplies, the closure of restaurants and outbreaks in large scale processing causing an inability to garner normal goods from large chain …
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. – The West Virginia State Farm Museum will host two Antique Gas Engine Shows on Saturday, June 5 at 1 p.m. and Saturday, July 3 at 5 p.m. The events will feature an antique and farm tractor pulls. The Country Kitchen and Country Store will be open both days. “These are great events to start your summer …
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) are calling on residents of the Mountain State to support local dairies and connected industries during National Dairy Month. Originally established in 1937, National Dairy Month is held annually in June to highlight the impact of the dairy industry in the United States. West …