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.
Latest News 
During a visit to Cave View Farm in Weyers Cave today on his "Virginia: Growing Strong" statewide tour, Governor Bob McDonnell signed agriculture and forestry development legislation passed during the recently concluded 2012 session of the General Assembly. All four pieces are part of the Governor's jobs and economic development legislative agenda. The Governor was joined by members of the General Assembly, representatives from the agriculture and forestry industries as well as local economic development associations and chambers of commerce.
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In conjunction with Governor Bob McDonnell's "Virginia: Growing Strong" weeklong statewide tour taking place May 7 through May 12, Governor McDonnell's cabinet will travel across the state meeting with stakeholders and highlighting the successes achieved since the start of the McDonnell administration. Over the next week, cabinet secretaries will hold more than 50 events and meetings all across the Commonwealth.
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Following recent news of record-high agriculture exports; Virginia's unemployment rate falling to 5.6 percent, the lowest rate in over three years; and the passage of a balanced budget that directs historic new resources to higher education, puts significant new funding into K-12 education and dramatically improves the solvency of Virginia's Retirement System, with no tax increases; and continuing his administration's focus on job creation and economic development, Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that he is embarking on a "Virginia: Growing Strong" statewide tour over the next week.
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