2008 PRESS RELEASES
March 7, 2008
VIRGINIA’S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IS STRONG AND HEALTHY
by Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
March 16 – 22, 2008 is Agriculture Week in Virginia, by official proclamation of Governor Timothy M. Kaine. Agriculture is the state’s largest industry, with nothing else coming a close second, not tourism, not manufacturing, not even technology. So as we celebrate Agriculture Week, I believe it’s an appropriate time to examine the state of agriculture in Virginia to give folks a better understanding of just how important the industry is in the Commonwealth.
The essence of agriculture is providing food, but the industry does so much more. Agriculture also shelters us, clothes us, gives us plenty of green spaces, enhances the environment, provides a variety of recreational opportunities and is the backbone of the economy. Agriculture has been the foundation of economic activity in Virginia for more than 400 years now. It currently generates approximately $36 billion or 12.3 percent of all sales in Virginia annually, and creates nearly 10 percent of the total jobs statewide. Add forestry to that, and the total jumps from $36 to $45 billion.
The American system of agriculture is one of the most efficient in the world, and Virginia’s farmers and producers stand at the forefront of this effort. The average Virginia farmer feeds him or herself plus 128 other people here and around the world. Virginia agriculture is known for more than just its efficiency, however. We’re famous for our ham, peanuts, leaf tobacco, wine and seafood, and our exports are growing at a tremendous rate, adding to the positive side of the trade balance. We send Christmas trees and apples to Mexico, soybeans and meal to Cuba, cattle to Turkey, poultry to countries all over the world and wood products to China. We not only export live animals, we also send embryos and semen to countries trying to upgrade their livestock genetics and build stronger and more productive herds for meat and milk.
While our exports continue to grow, Virginia is also growing an important import. Each year we bring more and more people into the state to enjoy our agricultural festivals and our tourist sites. In fact, agri-tourism is one of the fastest-growing value-added aspects of the industry. Virginia has long led the nation in historical agricultural sites: Mount Vernon, Monticello, Gunston Hall, the Cyrus McCormick Farm, Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum and the Museum of Frontier Culture, to name but a few. But each year we add more farms to the roster of those agri-tourism operations that bring guests onto the property to experience farm life more or less first hand. These are places where you can pick your own fruits, berries and vegetables; buy farm-fresh eggs; enjoy one of Virginia’s many fine wines; cut your own Christmas tree; and enjoy activities that range from hay rides and corn mazes to horseback riding and fishing.
All of these activities – exports, agri-tourism, direct sales to consumer – plus the traditional marketing endeavors are a high priority with us at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). As the new VDACS Commissioner, I am focused on ratcheting up our domestic and international marketing efforts to ensure that everything we grow in Virginia finds a good home somewhere, whether it’s in your local grocery store or a gift shop high in the Alps. As much as I value our rich agricultural tradition, I do not want to rest on that. I want to ensure that we work diligently to find new markets for our agricultural products, expand our existing markets and meet the ever-changing preferences of consumers.
Virginia agriculture has always been responsive to the needs of consumers and the marketplace. A few years ago people wanted leaner pork and value-added products, so we gave it to them. Today’s consumers are interested in where their food comes from and how it is processed, and as a result, we are seeing growth in the number of farmers growing or raising organic or free-range products. We’re also seeing a tremendous growth in consumers who want to buy local products from the people who produce them. We are fortunate because Virginia produces such a wide variety of products that people can buy many of their basic needs locally, as well as gourmet and specialty products.
As we work to expand our agricultural offerings, we are also working diligently to preserve Virginia’s farmlands. In the past couple of decades, we lost farmland to development at an alarming rate. I believe that trend is now slowing and more and more localities are funding programs to preserve farmland through Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) or conservation easements. Just last month, we presented 14 localities with $4.25 million in PDR funds. This money will help farmers preserve their land at the same time it provides them with some much-needed financial support.
As we celebrate Virginia Agriculture Week in 2008, I can say with all confidence that our industry is alive and well and that I will do everything in my power to ensure its continued growth. We have built on our rich history and tradition to provide 21 st-century consumers with one of the safest, most wholesome, most abundant and affordable food supplies in the world. The state of agriculture in Virginia is strong, and I believe that’s something worth celebrating during Virginia Agriculture Week.