a column by WV Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick
I’m happy to report to you that we here at the WVDA remain committed to expand and grow Agriculture opportunities for our livestock and crop producers in West Virginia.
As the 2016 harvest continues our potato pilot program is gaining steam. More than 30 farmers in 13 counties are in various stages of production and processing. Sales have been brisk on those potatoes that have already been plowed and packaged. Among those that have purchased directly from the farmers participating in the program are county public school systems, wholesalers, independent grocers and grocery store chains.
The quality of the product has been good and during the months of October, November and December we expect sales to remain very active.
Our goal for the program from the outset was simple, to return to our roots and expand commercial potato production in the Mountain State. We believe we are achieving that while helping to establish new, or expanding existing farm operations for West Virginians.
The investment we’ve made, and the partnerships we’ve formed with the West Virginia Conservation Agency, the West Virginia University Extension Service, the West Virginia State University Extension Service, the West Virginia National Guard and many others is and will keep paying nice dividends for our farmers in the years to come.
And as I told you last month, we recently purchased four donor cows from an Oklahoma-based company recognized throughout the world for having beef cattle with superior genetics.
The intent of this program is to develop new, and assist existing West Virginia farmers in beef cattle production. As is the case with the potato pilot program, we are trying to further develop and improve production for our farmers.
At no time have we ever, nor will we be, competing against any West Virginia producer. The vision is to expand Agriculture in the Mountain State and we believe we are on the right track to make that happen.
Agriculture clearly is one area where we can help diversify West Virginia’s economy and we believe through programs like these that the positive interest and attention our industry deserves will come to the front.
Cedar Lakes on the move
The historic home of the annual FFA Convention and the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair will become an even better place for educational opportunities, public events and private meetings. We believe that we can make this great property thrive with the plans we’re now putting in place. We want to bring even more private visitors to the facility, as well as expand the educational opportunities offered there.
WVDA will take care of some maintenance projects that have been deferred in recent years, such as replacing the roof on the dining hall. Also, we will investigate the possibility of expanding meeting space to match the lodging space because we can sleep over 600 there, but we only have meeting space for about 400. The FFA sets up a large meeting tent to help accommodate all the students when they’re here and we’d like to change that.
Cedar Lakes will continue to have a strong connection to agriculture education, besides the annual FFA events, we will construct and operate high tunnels and outdoor gardens that will serve as hands-on learning laboratories for youth and adult education programs.
One aspect of the educational program will be business planning because we need to step beyond just the production side. We want people doing intensive workshops here where business planning is on equal footing with the growing side. The farmers of tomorrow will also need to be able to market their products and have true business relationships with their customers.
Many of the traditional aspects of Cedar Lakes will remain the same. It will continue as the home of the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair, and we will keep pursuing private conference business.
We look forward to facing the challenges of Agriculture in West Virginia and will diligently pursue progress every day.