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Agriculture Education Programs
Each year, the WVDA sponsors a National Farm-City Week poster contest themed that draws hundreds of entries. During National Agriculture Week, WVDA staff visit elementary schools and provide a variety of educational activities ranging from Agriculture Jeopardy to a Bug Safari to a Hand-washing Station. Each activity provided students hands-on education and information about the WVDA and agriculture. The programs build awareness of the daily impact of agriculture and an appreciation of the fragility of our food supply. For more information, contact the WVDA's Communications Division at 304-558-3709.
Apiary Program
The Apiary Program helps promote beekeeping as a branch of agriculture in West Virginia and minimize the incidence of apiary diseases, parasitic mites and other pests through inspection and treatment programs. Staff provides educational seminars and marketing assistance to enhance beekeepers' management skills, as well as demonstrations to entertain and educate the general public. For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program
The CAPS program conducts surveys for insects, plant pathogens and injurious weeds in field crops to detect any new non-native plant pests and to monitor the impact of native agricultural pests. The program functions in a cooperative agreement with USDA-APHIS-PPQ on specific pest-control issues, supports export certification programs, and contributes data to the National Agricultural Pest Information System's (NAPIS) computer database. For more information, contact the WVDA's Plant Industries Division at 304-558-2212.
Food Distribution Program
The mission of the Food Distribution Program is to provide federally purchased food to West Virginia Child Nutrition Programs and qualified recipient agencies that serve low-income and needy families. Deliveries are made to recipient agencies at least monthly and, more often, twice monthly. More than $10 million worth of food are delivered to feeding programs each year. For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
Gypsy Moth Program
The Gypsy Moth Program is, by far, the largest Forest Health Protection program and is broken into two main functions. The Gypsy Moth Cooperative Suppression (GMCS) Program conducts the Cooperative State-County-Landowner (CSCL) spraying program to kill adult moths in the infested areas of the state. The Slow the Spread (STS) Program uses pheromone treatments to disrupt mating on the leading edge of the main gypsy moth infestation zone. For more information, contact the WVDA's Plant Industries Division at 304-558-2212.
Homeland Security
The Homeland Security Section provides training, guidance and preparation for emergency response situations that may present themselves to the WVDA. Knowledge of available physical and human resources, both within the WVDA and throughout the community, are important keys to response preparation. For more information, contact the WVDA's Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.
Livestock Grading and Marketing Program
Staff provides unbiased grading services to approximately 12,000 farmers and collected livestock market news at a dozen West Virginia auction markets. Staff produces approximately 300 market reports on 80,000 head of livestock and grades 55,000 head of feeder cattle annually. For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
Meat Inspection Program
The program provides daily inspection of approximately two dozen commercial meat-processing plants in West Virginia not covered by USDA inspection programs. Inspectors examine roughly 5,000 animals for health issues before slaughter, and oversee processing activities to protect consumers from food-borne pathogens and ensure they receive safe, wholesome products. The program has routinely been recognized as among the best in the country, and there has never been a recall of West Virginia-inspected products. For more information, contact the WVDA's Meat and Poultry Inspection Division at 304-558-2206.
National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes West Virginia as one of a handful of states that has crossed the 50 percent threshold in registering agricultural premises. In addition, USDA has recognized the state for implementing the Standardized Premise Registration System (SPRS), for focusing on equine and bovine premise registration, for improving traceback capabilities by officially identifying livestock participating in USDA disease programs and for increasing outreach and education for producers. For more information, contact the WVDA's Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.
Plant Pest Regulatory Program (PPRP)
The PPRP works to prevent the movement of plant pathogens on nursery stock produced in West Virginia and nursery product imported into the state. The program includes registration and annual inspection of all nurseries and nursery dealers, and the enforcement of state plant quarantines and orders. For more information, contact the WVDA's Plant Industries Division at 304-558-2212.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
The program annually distributes approximately $500,000 worth of federally funded vouchers to income-eligible senior citizens to help them purchase fresh, West Virginia grown produce at farmers’ markets throughout the state. In addition, the program funds the distribution of five-pound bags of West Virginia apples to homebound senior citizens in the Title IIIC program (Meals on Wheels). For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
Specialty Crops Grants
The WVDA administers USDA-funded Specialty Crops Grants that promote a wide variety of local food-related projects. Several West Virginia entities have qualified to receive grant monies, along with several farmers’ markets that used the funds to increase their marketing efforts and visibility. For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
The program annually distributes approximately $500,000 worth of federally funded vouchers to income-eligible senior citizens to help them purchase fresh, West Virginia grown produce at farmers’ markets throughout the state. In addition, the program funds the distribution of five-pound bags of West Virginia apples to homebound senior citizens in the Title IIIC program (Meals on Wheels). For more information, contact the WVDA's Marketing & Development Division at 304-558-2210.
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