ABOUT

The West Virginia Agricultural Advisory Board has come together to develop a five-year strategic plan to guide the growth of the agricultural economy in West Virginia. West Virginia’s abundant land holds promise for agricultural prosperity for the state and its people. In 2016, West Virginia farmers produced more than $700 million in sales of crops, livestock, poultry, fruits, vegetables and more. And, leaders believe this is only the beginning of what could be a major economic driver for the state’s economy.

In order to identify opportunities for growth, the Agricultural Advisory Board, which is comprised of Governor Jim Justice, Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt and Dean of WVU Extension Service Steven Bonanno, appointed a steering committee tasked with leading a process to develop a long-term, sustainable plan to maximize the agricultural sector in West Virginia.

The following agencies are represented on the Steering Committee:
WV Department of Agriculture
WV Farm Bureau
USDA WV Natural Resources Conservation Service
WV Conservation Agency
WVU Extension Service
WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
West Virginia State University Extension Service

Community Meetings

As part of developing our plan, 14 community meetings were held in each of the state’s conservation districts. Overall, over 350 participated in these meetings.

DOWNLOAD THE MEETING NOTES

“OUR PARTNERS WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO SEE OUR FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES BECOME ONE OF THE MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR WEST VIRGINIA.”

-Jennifer Williams, Associate Dean, WVU Extension, and co-chair of the steering committee

Survey Results

THE PROCESS

Pittsburgh-based Fourth Economy Consulting is facilitating a six- to nine-month process that will guide the advisory board in shaping the future of agriculture in West Virginia.

The process will involve the following steps:

Develop clear goals to guide the strategic planning process

Develop an initial analysis of opportunities to grow the agricultural economy based on: Reviewing existing plans and initiatives that have been developed; Collecting and synthesizing data to uncover opportunities and; Surveying agricultural stakeholders to solicit ideas - Take the Survey here!

Work with a broad cross-section of agricultural stakeholders throughout the state to vet, refine, and prioritize those opportunities highlighted in the initial analysis

Work with key stakeholders responsible for implementation of prioritized opportunities to develop detailed and actionable recommendations

Create a clear and attainable five-year strategic plan with a timeline and evaluation methodology

Contact us

Questions or comments?

Email us at wvagadvisory@fourtheconomy.com