Agriculture

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With their vivid colors and deep holiday roots, poinsettias remain one of the most recognizable plants of the season in West Virginia. Keeping them healthy through the holidays—and even for many years—is easier than many people think.Sven Verlinden, an associate professor at West Virginia University in Morgantown, said poinsettias can stay vibrant … Read more

RIPLEY, W.Va. — State officials have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock in Jackson County. However, it’s only the third detection in domestic birds in West Virginia since the global outbreak began in early 2022.The diagnosis was confirmed following a field investigation, sample collection, and testing at the department’s animal … Read more

FLAT TOP, W.Va. — With the exception of corn, perhaps no vegetable is as all-American as the pumpkin. Carved as a Jack-O’-Lantern or pureed into a Thanksgiving pastry, the pumpkin—and the pumpkin pie—are as American as, um, well, apple pie.In many ways, pumpkins are especially important in West Virginia, where they sustained families isolated in … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Five West Virginia agri-businesses, organizations, and agencies will share more than $300,000 in specialty crop block grant program funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administered through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.The grants will support marketing, education, and research initiatives that strengthen West Virginia’s specialty crop industry. The U.S. Department of … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest is particularly meaningful for state natives. As the crisp air of late summer settles over the Appalachian hills, the agricultural landscape of West Virginia comes alive with a tapestry of colors and flavors. From the nostalgic scent of apple orchards to the vibrant hues of pumpkins dotting … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va.— Around 1790, in a small clearing on a ridge above Wellsburg, West Virginia, a pioneer settler named Edward Cranford planted a nursery of apple trees from seed, hoping one day to turn them into a productive orchard. Apple trees grown from seed rarely produce apples with marketable, commercial qualities, but even gnarled and … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The W.Va. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in Berkeley County, marking the first detection of the invasive pest in West Virginia.Native to East Asia, the Box Tree Moth feeds primarily on boxwood plants (Buxus species), a popular ornamental shrub widely used in landscapes … Read more

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — To help farmers and ranchers incorporate agritourism into their business models, a West Virginia University researcher is gathering a team of national experts to develop guidelines for generating agritourism revenue.Agritourism is boosting the economy in West Virginia and providing an additional revenue source for farmers. In 2022, direct sales on U.S. farms … Read more

FLAT TOP, W.Va. — Worms are already making their presence known in the upper layers of the soil in early March, says a West Virginia permaculturist who can attest to the lore of the Worm Moon of March. Justyn Marchese says he’s already observing the early-spring activity of worms at his farm on Flat Top … Read more