Agriculture and Forestry Agenda

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

• Expand Virginia’s Agriculture Trade
  As governor, Ed will work to increase Virginia’s agricultural markets, both nationally and internationally. With these efforts, Virginia will continue to become more competitive with surrounding states, leading to better economic opportunity for hardworking Virginians. Ed will include the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and our agriculture industry on all major trade missions. He will be a relentless marketer for Virginia and implement substantive regulatory reform policies, removing barriers to job creation, including and especially in the agriculture industry.
• Designate a Joint Deputy Secretary for Rural Economic Development
  In rural Virginia, economic growth and support of the agriculture and forestry industries go hand in hand. Ed Gillespie will designate a Deputy Secretary to report directly to the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and Secretary of Commerce and Trade to increase collaboration between economic development efforts of the Commonwealth and the agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture industry.
• Support the Center for Rural Virginia
  Rural Virginia needs a governor who will implement sound policies leading to natural, organic job creation. The agriculture industry is an economic driver in rural areas around the Commonwealth. Ed supports the Center for Rural Virginia and their substantive efforts for Virginians in these areas as well as various efforts such as Virginia’s continued development of rural infrastructure including broadband.
• Support the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund
  Established by Governor McDonnell, this grant program supports projects intended to foster economic development in rural areas. As governor, Ed will expand efforts by agricultural companies, in partnership with localities, to spur natural, organic economic growth through this fund.
• Support Farmers in Meeting Voluntary Watershed Implementation Plan Goals
  In order to meet goals for the improvement of water quality, Virginia partners with farmers through an incentive-based, voluntary conservation program. However, funding for this program through the Soil and Water Conservation Districts have been year-to-year historically unreliable and inconsistent, resulting in pollution abatement strategies that are neither the most effective nor most efficient. Both the government and farmers want the same thing – improved water quality in Virginia. As governor, Ed will form a working group comprised of members of the General Assembly and his natural resources transition team to find a common and reasonable solution to this dilemma.
• Protect Virginia Agriculture Businesses from Overburdensome Regulations that Inhibit Production
  Ed will protect small businesses from stifling regulations that are anti-competitive and anti-business. He will be a tireless advocate on behalf of Virginians to the federal government, ensuring that opening and growing a business in Virginia is not burdened by unnecessary federal regulation.
• Increase Agritourism Activities
  A study by Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business reports that Virginia’s agritourism industry accounts for $2.2 billion in economic activity. Ed will work with his Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry as well as the Virginia Tourism Commission to increase agritourism activities on farms. Ed will host a Virginia Agritourism Tour to celebrate Virginia’s agritourism industry and communities.
• Support ‘Virginia Grown’
  Ed Gillespie supports Virginia Grown, which provides up-to-date, easy to access information on locally grown products ranging from aquaculture to dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and livestock. As a part of Agriculture week, Ed will lead an initiative to further expand the buying and selling of all Virginia Grown products, including the formation of more farmers markets to support local products.
• Establish Standards for Industrial Hemp
  Industrial hemp is a cash crop and can be found in a variety of products such as paper construction materials, food, personal care items, rope, canvas and nutritional supplements. Ed will work with the federal government, General Assembly and licensing boards to explore industrial hemp production as an option for Virginians.
• Support the Development of Produce Auctions
  Produce Auctions, such as the one in the Shenandoah Valley, offer local area growers a central location for selling products. Produce auctions are a great way to drive economic growth and spur revitalization in rural Virginia areas.
• Protect Virginia’s Right-to-Farm Statute
  This commonsense law protects farmers from unnecessary regulation and government involvement in areas already “zoned as an agricultural district or classification.” In the agriculture industry, just like any, the sweet spot of job creation is when a small business is becoming larger one. Farmers should not face undue government regulation when trying to conduct business and provide for their families.
• Support Workforce Development in Agriculture
  For the agriculture industry to continue to grow, there must be a focus on training the next generation of farmers. The average age of a farmer in Virginia is approximately 60 years old. Ed Gillespie will bring together stakeholders who offer farmer mentor programs to create a targeted approach that ensures resources are in place for young Virginians to enter and thrive in the agriculture industry.
• Continue the Operation of the State Fair
  As governor, Ed supports the State Fair, which is an effective outreach and educational tool for agriculture.
• Support Right-to-Repair Law in Virginia
  Ed supports right-to-repair laws that allow farmers to have access to parts, tools, and service information they need to make repairs on farm equipment.
• Strengthen Trespass Laws
  As governor, Ed Gillespie will work with the General Assembly to strengthen trespass laws to protect from eco terrorism and the destruction of property on farms.
• Support Agriculture Tax Friendly Policies
  In March, Ed released his “Cutting Taxes for ALL Virginians” Plan, which supports small businesses, including many farms owners around the Commonwealth. The plan puts Virginia on the path towards meaningful local tax reform, including the sunsetting of job killing local taxes such as the Business Professional Occupancy License tax and Machinery and Tools tax. Ed will work with localities to come up with more effective, pro-growth revenue sources that will provide tax relief to small businesses, many of which are located in the agriculture industry. Ed Gillespie also opposes any effort to reinstate Virginia’s estate tax.
• Support Land Use Assessment
  The Land Use Assessment allows a locality to evaluate real estate based on the “use value” instead of “market value.” The “use value” is the amount of potential production. This policy protects from punishing taxation hard working farmers and foresters who own property for these uses. Ed supports localities in their decision to utilize the Land Use Assessment tool.
• Expand the Production and Sale of Virginia Wine, Craft Brewery, Farm Distillery and Cidery Products
  Ed Gillespie supports the Virginia Farm Winery Law, supporting our small businesses around the Commonwealth who produce wine. He also supports the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, which works to provide the affordable distribution of Virginia wines to other markets. Ed, through his pro-business policies, will make it easier for these businesses to open and grow.
• Encourage Private Forest Management Choices
  As Governor, Ed Gillespie will support the utilization of private forest management opportunities to manage our forest resources.
• Partner with Public Universities in Modernizing the Agriculture and Forestry Industries
  Technological innovation is revolutionizing modern-day agriculture and forestry practices. Ed Gillespie will work with our research universities to explore and promote evidence based practices utilizing cutting edge technology to continue to make production more efficient.

AQUACULTURE

• VMRC Leadership
  Ed will appoint a commissioner to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) who understands the interests of both recreational fishermen and our hard working watermen and the important role they play in Virginia’s economy.
• Recognize Aquaculture Products as Agricultural Products
  Those who provide aquaculture products, such as cultured seafood, fisheries, oysters and clams, should be able to compete in the agriculture market. Ed will work with the General Assembly to make clear that aquaculture is an agricultural activity. Senator Jill Vogel and Delegate Nick Freitas have both introduced companion bills that support the aquaculture industry and Ed will partner with efforts such as these to continue their hard work.
• Expand Fisheries and Clam and Oyster Farming
  Fisheries and clam and oyster farming contributes multi-millions of dollars to the Virginia economy every year. Ed supports the expansion of this industry and protection from over-burdensome regulations of the hard working Virginians who work in the aquaculture industry.