10/08/02

Doubling agriculture cash receipts is still an important goal of Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), he told farmers and ag leaders on Sept. 27.
Warner gave a report on agriculture in the commonwealth during Agriculture Day at the State Fair, which was sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the state fair and the Virginia Agribusiness Council.
He reassured the audience of nearly 200 farmers, agribusiness leaders and FFA students that he is still committed to his goal to double agriculture cash receipts by the end of the decade to guarantee the long-term viability of Virginia agriculture.
Warner also said he will conduct a one-day conference with farmers and ag leaders to develop detailed strategies to double ag receipts. The conference date hasn’t been announced.
“A lot of farmers across Virginia have been asking how the governor plans to implement his campaign promise of doubling ag receipts,” said Martha Moore, director of VFBF Public Affairs. “We were pleased to hear that the governor has not retreated from that promise and we look forward to being an integral part of his one-day conference to develop a plan.”
Doubling receipts can be done, in part, through marketing and through “new products we will develop,” the governor explained.
Virginia has an advantage over other states because of its port in Norfolk. “Our ability to export agriculture products is one way to double agriculture receipts,” Warner said.
He plans to go on a trade mission to Asia next year, he said, adding that “one trade mission will be solely dedicated to agriculture.” Earlier in his talk, he said, “Asia offers tremendous opportunities for Virginia agriculture.”
In other topics, the governor is still committed to creating and filling a cabinet-level position of secretary of agriculture and forestry. However, due to budget constraints, it’s likely to be put on hold.
Turning to challenges facing agriculture, Warner said the federal government should provide more than the recently announced $69 million to offset the losses that Virginia poultry producers incurred when the avian flu infected their flocks. More than 4.7 million turkeys and chickens in the Shenandoah Valley had to undergo euthanasia.
He also noted that the federal government should provide drought relief funds. Federal loans won’t be sufficient, he said. So far, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 10 of 50 localities under consideration for drought assistance in Virginia as agriculture disaster areas hit hard by the drought. This designation makes farmers in these counties immediately eligible for USDA low-interest emergency loans.
Agriculture losses from the drought in Virginia stand at an estimated $120 million and could reach as much as $200 million by late fall, according to the governor’s office.
The governor’s staff is working on a statewide water policy, Warner said.