Agriculture in West Virginia plays a vital role in supporting the state’s economy, rural communities, and sustainable way of life. With fertile farmland and family-owned farms, West Virginia produces high-quality crops, livestock, dairy products, and specialty goods like maple syrup and honey. Local agriculture provides fresh, healthy food for residents and visitors while fueling farmers markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and agritourism experiences that attract tourists. The agriculture industry also helps preserve open spaces, protect natural resources, and maintain the scenic landscapes that define the Mountain State. By supporting local farmers and sustainable practices, West Virginia’s agriculture industry strengthens rural economies and promotes a healthy, resilient future for generations to come. Welcome to the Agritourism news directory at West Virginia Explorer. Be sure to visit our Agritourism guide for more information about agritourism in West Virginia.
The application period for the state’s industrial hemp program will open September 1, 2019, according to officials at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Those interested in growing industrial hemp for the 2020 growing season must submit an application and all required materials by September 30, 2019, to be considered for licensure, Commissioner of Agriculture … Read more
A common West Virginia wildflower, though not an American native, Queen Anne’s Lace appears to have traveled ahead of European settlers as they arrived in the region. Belonging to the carrot family, Daucus carota is native to temperate regions of Europe and southwest Asia and is naturalized to North America and Australia. It’s a biennial … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has confirmed that some plants shipped to Rural King stores in West Virginia are being recalled because of the plant disease Phytophthora ramorum. Rural King stores have agreed to initiate a voluntary recall of rhododendron plants from affected stores, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “If you purchased … Read more
One of West Virginia’s best-known native shrubs, American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), has long been regarded as a cold-and-flu remedy in Appalachia, was highly regarded by the Celts, and was sacred to many Native American tribes. It’s an ideal plant for managing transition zones in woodland areas as well. For all its notoriety, it’s a common … Read more
The W.Va. Department of Agriculture is urging landowners in the Mountain State to sign up for its cooperative Gypsy Moth suppression program to help slow the spread of the invasive gypsy moth. The sign-up period will run from July 1 until August 31, according to Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner of Agriculture, who said invasive pests are … Read more
Fayette County officials are set to unveil on Saturday the region’s first community farm, an agricultural initiative designed to support sustainable development. To occupy the historic Whitlock Farm on W.Va. 16 two miles south of Fayetteville, West Virginia, the project will provide for community gardens, a local food distribution site, sustainable farming educational opportunities, vocational … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has detected boxwood blight in several residential and commercial landscapes throughout West Virginia. The blight was first diagnosed in West Virginia on plants shipped from out of state nurseries in July 2015, according to Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner of Agriculture. It was first reported in the United States in 2011. … Read more
The W.Va. Department of Agriculture will host nine farm-to-table dinners at state park restaurants between June 15 and September 12 in conjunction with the W.Va. Farmers Market Association and the state Department of Natural Resources. Several dinners this year will heighten the excitement with themes that compliment the local food pairings, including “Hoedown-on-the-Hill” at Chief … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture issued 158 individual licenses under its new industrial hemp program for 2019—more than triple the amount issued in 2018. The licenses included 71 applicants who marked processing as part of their submission and a proposed total acreage to be grown by licensees is 2,531, according to Commissioner of Agriculture … Read more
The West Virginia Agriculture Advisory Board has released a five year-strategic plan for West Virginia agriculture, which Commissioner of Agricultural Ken Leonhardt says he hopes to initiate immediately. Titled “A Shared Agenda for Growing West Virginia’s Agricultural Economy,” the plan focuses on several areas—connecting producers to market opportunities, creating infrastructure needed to grow the agriculture … Read more
