Agriculture Best Management
Practices and Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Governor McAuliffe dedicated
the entire amount of the surplus in the Water Quality Improvement Fund to
nonpoint source pollution projects. In
addition, he maintained the funding from the fee on the recordation tax. The following is the breakdown:
$34,798,198 to Agriculture
Best Management Practices Cost Share
$19,606,641 to address the
backlog in the SL6 practice that farmers signed up for prior to July 1, 2015
$6,841,091 for operational
funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts
$7,417,751 for technical
assistance for Soil and Water Conservation Districts
While this is not the full
amount of the need or the backlog, it will represents historic funding levels
for agriculture best management practices cost share program and a significant
investment in the backlog for the SL6 practice. We are still evaluating whether
we will be seeking a patron to carry a budget amendment to increase the funding
further.
Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services Weights and Measures
We were disappointed that the
Governor did not increase the amount of funding for the weights and measures
program. The program will have $2.8 million. We will be seeking a patron from the House
Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees to carry a budget amendment to
increase the funding.
VT Livestock and Poultry
Facilities Phase 1
The Governor announced a week
ago his bond package that he plans to introduce in the General Assembly. This includes the $22.5 million for this
project. We will be supporting this
project being included in any bonding package that moves forward in the General
Assembly.
Other Budget Items of
Interest
Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services
Meat and Poultry Inspection
Matches federal funding in
order to provide two inspector positions and one compliance specialist. This is an increase of $104,255 in state
funding to match additional federal funding.
Agriculture and Forestry
Industries Development Fund
Provides additional $1
million available to bring the total available to $2 million. In addition, funding is provided to hire two
marketing specialists for this grant program.
Virginia Grown Foods
Ambassador and Grow Virginia’s Organic Food Production Specialist
$243,696 to establish a
Virginia Grown Food Ambassador and a Grow Virginia’s organic food production
specialist to promote Virginia grown products.
These positions will work to raise the profile of Virginia agricultural
products and foods and to increase use in restaurants, schools and institutions
as well as support the “Bridging the Nutritional Divide Initiative.
Virginia Farmland
Preservation Fund
Increases the amount
available to $2 million to compensate landowners who voluntarily place an
agricultural conservation easement on their property.
National Accreditation for
Regional Animal Health Laboratories
Provides $250,138 for the
department to pursue national accreditation of the regional animal health
laboratories. This should help farmers with their marketing agreements that
include animal health components.
Transferring Responsibility
of Virginia’s federal food programs in Schools and Other Places to VDACS
Requires Department of
Education, Health and Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop a plan to
transfer federally funded feeding services governed by the Commonwealth to one
agency. We are seeking additional
information on this initiative to understand the benefits of such a
consolidation.
Virginia Department of
Forestry
Reforestation of Timberlands
(RT) Program
Fully funds the RT program to
match the industry severance tax.
Fire Suppression Equipment
Provides $1.076 million to
replace fire dozers and transports used in fire suppression activities and
additional support vehicles utilized by first responders who are also
firefighters.
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