Governor Cuts Ribbon for New Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and Office Complex in Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, VA: Governor Timothy M. Kaine cut the ribbon and dedicated the building for a new laboratory and office complex in Harrisonburg. The complex, which houses employees from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), is a state-of-the-art facility that provides diagnostic testing for Virginia's poultry and livestock industries in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding counties.
Joining in the ribbon-cutting ceremony are, left to right, Delegate Matthew J. Lohr, 26th District; Robert S. Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Governor Kaine; and Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
What We Do
The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry is the voice of the number one industry in Virginia. The agriculture and forestry industries annually contribute over $79 billion to the Commonwealth's economy and provide 10.3% of jobs in Virginia. The Secretary oversees and provides policy guidance to two agencies- the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Department of Forestry. In addition to the agencies, the Secretary oversees the Virginia Agricultural Council and the Virginia Marine Products Board.
Economic Impact of Agriculture and Forestry on the Commonwealth of Virginia Study
September 2008: A new study, “The Economic Impact of Agriculture and Forestry on the Commonwealth of Virginia” was commissioned by the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and created by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. The study explores the contribution and impact of the agriculture and forestry industries on Virginia’s economy. The results found that the total economic impact of agriculture and forestry related industries was $79 billion. The full study and the study summary are now available online.
Click here to view the full study (pdf 1.5kb)
Click here to view the summary document (pdf 313kb)