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The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is paying visits to third-grade classrooms over the next two weeks to improve the “agricultural literacy” of the Mountain State’s young people.
“The stability of our nation’s food supply provides a massive engine for our nation’s economy and has allowed other aspects of our society to flourish. However, the general public may not fully recognize what is necessary to produce, process, transport and protect the food supply that we all rely upon,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass.
“Children, in particular, often seem to think that the source of their food is the grocery store. This initiative aims to restore the link between farm and food in the minds of the next generation,” he said.
WVDA staff members will provide a variety of interactive educational presentations. Activities include West Virginia “Ag Jeopardy,” the importance of hand washing with “The Germinator,” and a “Bug Safari” which teaches students about the impact of insects on humans and the environment.
Adults often learn from the presentations too.
“The teachers frequently are surprised at some of the facts they pick up,” said Beth Southern, organizer of the annual project. “They tell us, I never knew that before today.’”
WVDA staff members were at Flinn Elementary School in Sissonville today from 9:30-11:30 a.m., at West Teays Elementary in Teays Valley April 4 from 9:00-11:00 a.m., at Central City Elementary in Huntington April 6 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., and at Shoals Elementary in Mink Shoals April 8 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
How much do you know about agriculture in West Virginia? Test yourself with these questions:
- How many farms does West Virginia have?
- What percentage of farms in West Virginia are owned and operated by families?
- What is West Virginia’s leading agricultural sector in sales?
- What is the market value of West Virginia agricultural products sold in 2007?
- What is the estimated market value of agricultural land and buildings in West Virginia?
- How many farm-based businesses are listed in the 2008 agritourism directory?
- Where does West Virginia rank nationally in apple production?
- Where does West Virginia rank nationally in peach production?
- How many beef cattle were raised in West Virginia in 2007?
- What activities is the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) involved in on a daily basis?
Answers:
- According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, produced by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service – West Virginia Field Office (NASS-WV), West Virginia has 23,618 farms, a 13.5 percent increase over the 2002 Census and tenth best in the country.
- West Virginia leads the nation in percentage of family-owned farms at 95.2 percent.
- Poultry and eggs is the leading agricultural sector in West Virginia. It generated more than $300 million in sales in 2007. Eggs produced in West Virginia are used almost exclusively to produce chicks for the broiler (meat chicken) industry, not as table eggs. West Virginia ranked 16th nationally in broiler production.
- West Virginia farmers produced nearly $600 million worth of agricultural goods in 2007.
- West Virginia agricultural lands and buildings are valued at an estimated $8.8 billion.
- There are 226 agritourism ventures listed in the 2008 agritourism directory. Visit a farm near you to learn about agriculture first-hand!
- West Virginia ranked eighth in the nation in apples in 2007 with 80 million pounds produced.
- West Virginia ranked 13th in peach production in 2007 with 4,200 tons produced.
- West Virginia produced 420,000 beef cattle in 2007.
- The WVDA is involved in far more than just “cows and plows.” Its stated mission is to protect plant, animal and human health and the state’s food supply through a variety of scientific and regulatory programs; to provide vision, strategic planning and emergency response for agricultural and other civil emergencies; to promote industrial safety and protect consumers through educational and regulatory programs; and to foster economic growth by promoting West Virginia agriculture and agribusinesses throughout the state and abroad.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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