Governor Cuts Ribbon for New Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and Office Complex in Harrisonburg
November 14, 2007: 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 — agriculture and forestry — which annually contributes over $47 billion to the state's economy. The Secretary oversees the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, the Virginia Agricultural Council and the Virginia Marine Products Board, and provides policy guidance.
August, 2007: With the passage of House Bill 1435 during the 2006 General Assembly session, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry was charged with conducting an assessment of the profitability and viability of the Virginia wineries.
Wanting to employ the best minds available for this task, the secretariat contracted MKF Research to complete this study. Headquartered in St. Helena, California, MKF has achieved national recognition in wine industry research.
The results are in – check out the report online.