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Last Update :7/19/2010 VAC Town Hall Series Begins in Blacksburg
Virginia Agribusiness Council
We Represent Virginia Agribusiness with a Unified Voice.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Release: July 19, 2010
Contact: Katie K. Frazier, (804) 643-3555; (katie.agribusiness@att.net)
NEW VDACS COMMISSIONER, VA. TECH CALS DEAN, AND LEGISLATORS MEET WITH AGRIBUSINESS INDUSTRY LEADERS IN BLACKSBURG
Blacksburg- The Virginia Agribusiness Council kicked off its fourth annual Town Hall series in Blacksburg last week. The meeting, sponsored by Brann & King Pumpkin Farms and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, was attended by over thirty agribusiness industry members at the Virginia Tech Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena. Industry members met with area representatives Senator Roscoe Reynolds and Delegate David Nutter, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Commissioner Matt Lohr, and Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (VT CALS) Dean Alan Grant.
Blacksburg Town Hall participants provided valuable feedback as they learned more about Virginia Tech’s plans regarding relocation of some animal facilities off-campus and Virginia Cooperative Extension strategic planning and restructuring from Dean Alan Grant. Industry representatives emphasized their desire for an animal agriculture presence on the land-grant university campus and the need for accessible teaching facilities for students.
VDACS Commissioner Matt Lohr, just appointed on May 1 to his position, shared his joint priorities with Governor McDonnell for agribusiness, the states’ number one economic industry, including rural job creation, marketing of agricultural products at home and abroad, farmland preservation, agri-tourism, and addressing environmental pressures for farms. Opposition to the pending DGIF proposal to reintroduce elk in southwest Virginia was clearly evident among meeting participants. In contrast, many voiced strong support for Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and programs that are critical to future agriculture industry viability.
“These Town Hall meetings have been very successful in creating opportunities for candid dialogue between agency leaders, farmers, and agribusinesses,” said Donna Pugh Johnson, President of the Virginia Agribusiness Council. “The discussion and feedback between Dr. Grant, Commissioner Lohr, our legislators, and the industry is invaluable to all parties.”
Additional Town Hall meetings with State officials are also planned for Warrenton, Isle of Wight, Doswell, Weyers Cave, and Farmville over the next several months. In addition to VDACS Commissioner Lohr, also participating in future meetings will be DCR Director David Johnson, and DEQ Director David Paylor. For more information on these meetings, visit the Virginia Agribusiness Council web site at www.va-agribusiness.org.
The Virginia Agribusiness Council is a non-profit organization committed to representing the agriculture and forestry industries in the Commonwealth through effective government relations efforts. Its membership includes farmers, foresters and other agricultural-product producers, marketers and processors, industry suppliers and commodity and industry associations. It is headquartered in Richmond.
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