Agriculture and forestry are the backbone of Virginia’s economy and the heart of our rural communities. As the commonwealth’s first and third largest private industries, they generate a combined $102 billion in economic impact and support 490,000 jobs. From the moment Gov. Youngkin took office, his directive to our team was clear: these industries must not only grow, they must thrive. Over the past four years, we have worked to make that a reality.
When we entered office, Virginia agriculture and forestry were facing a pivotal moment. The 2022 USDA Ag Census confirmed what producers had been feeling. Pressures were mounting, and the demographics of our farm families were shifting. The average age of a Virginia farmer had climbed to 59.2, continuing a forty-year trend. Even more troubling, the number of mid-career farmers aged 35 to 54 was shrinking, while the share of farmers over 65 had grown dramatically over two decades.
The structure of agriculture itself showed similar strain. More than 80% of Virginia farms were small operations generating less than $50,000 a year in sales. These farms were increasingly vulnerable to market volatility and rising input costs. Over the long term, Virginia had lost 18% of its farms between 2002 and 2022, and nearly half of that loss had occurred in just the five years before we took office.
The threat was unmistakable. When farms cannot remain profitable, they are far more likely to be lost to development, taking with them the culture and stability of rural communities. Our administration understood that the surest way to preserve farmland and protect rural Virginia was to strengthen farm profitability and restore confidence in the future of agriculture and forestry.
So we focused on fundamentals. We delivered $9 billion in tax relief that allowed farmers, families and small businesses to reinvest and grow. We fully funded Agriculture Best Management Practices for the first time in Virginia’s history, supporting soil and water conservation efforts that safeguard the natural resources our farmers depend on. We made major investments in infrastructure, improving ports, highways, rail and rural assets because producing the best goods in the world is only impactful if those goods move efficiently to market.
We also expanded Virginia’s global footprint. We opened new doors for producers through international outreach, including our first Virginia-Taiwan trade office. Across the commonwealth, we connected 185,000 more homes and businesses to broadband and championed new workforce housing initiatives in rural communities, ensuring that when jobs grow, families have a place to live.
Through the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, we encouraged over $720 million in capital investments across the commonwealth. One of the most dynamic areas of growth has been controlled environment agriculture. Virginia is now home to 23 CEA companies, positioning the commonwealth as a national leader in this next generation of indoor food production.
We also took decisive steps to preserve working lands. The creation of the Joint Office of Working Lands Preservation aligned and accelerated land preservation efforts across state government. Our message has been consistent and unmistakable: the best way to save farmland is to keep farmers profitable and keep land in the hands of Virginia’s farm and forestland owners.
To support small and mid-sized producers, we reinvigorated the Virginia Grown and Virginia’s Finest programs, building new retail partnerships that put more Virginia products on Virginia shelves. We launched the Virginia Verified Meat Program to certify livestock bred, born, raised and processed in the commonwealth. This opens new marketing opportunities for producers committed to local excellence.
Recognizing that the future depends on the next generation, we created the Beginning Farm Finance and Conservation Seminar. These seminars have helped new and aspiring farmers connect with financing tools, land preservation options and proven pathways to profitability. More than 450 prospective farmers have already participated in nine seminars held across every region of the state.
Today, prices are stabilizing, markets are expanding and a renewed sense of optimism is taking hold across Virginia agriculture and forestry. The roadmap Gov. Youngkin set in motion four years ago has delivered results and positioned these industries to grow with strength and stability for decades to come. The future is bright, and Virginia’s farmers and forestland owners are ready for what comes next.
Matt Lohr is Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry.