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WVU Jefferson County Extension Service 1948 Wiltshire Road, Suite 3 Kearneysville, WV 25430-9644 (304) 728-7413 FAX (304) 728-4101 |
I. Introduction There are federal, state and local government agencies that have been established to assist farm operators with a wide variety of services. While most small farm operators are unaware of the services provided by these agencies, veteran farmers who have utilized these agencies often mix up what services are provided by which agency. Services provided among these agencies include financial, technical and educational. While some services overlap between some agencies, the farmer needs to go to the correct agency to insure that he\she receives the maximum benefit. The list below identifies and describes the resource agencies for farmers in Jefferson County. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Eastern Panhandle Soil Conservation District (EPSCD) West Virginia Division of
Forestry Department of Environmental
Protection Department
of Environmental Protection - Environmental Enforcement West Virginia Department
of Agriculture The Animal Health Division has been given the task to prevent, suppress, control, and eradicate anym communicable diseases of animals or poultry.The Marketing & Development Division is a multi-disciplinary division within the West Virginia Department of Agriculture which is responsible for the promotion of West Virginia agricultural products and commodities, economic development and the operation of state-owned farms and farmers' markets. The Meat and Poultry Inspection Division provides daily inspection of all commercial slaughterhouses and processing establishments to guarantee that only fully inspected, wholesome and truthfully labeled meat and poultry products are offered for sale. Since January 2000, all inspection operations have been conducted on a risk assessment basis, utilizing science-based Hazard Analysis and Critical Cointrol Point (HACCP) inspection systems. The Plant Industries Division is responsible for a wide range of agricultural and forest (both urban and rural) insect, plant disease and related organism activities, including detection, identification, survey, regulation, and control, and for pesticide registration, regulation and associated activities. The Publications Division coordinates the distribution of agriculturally related information to the general public and provides printing and informational support to all other WVDA divisions and the State Soil Conservation Agency, Forestry Division and West Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service. Publications has the responsibility is the monthly composition, printing and dissemination of The Market Bulletin, as mandated by West Virginia Code, Chapter 19, Article 2, Section 8; answering requests from State Citizens; and, composition and printing of reports, newsletters, directories, forms leaflets, fact sheets, etc., for WVDA and its administrative attachments as directed. The Regulatory Protection Division acts as a consumer protection / consumer service organization, enforcing laws, rules and regulations to protect the public food supply. By regulating agriculture-oriented industries such as feed, fertilizer, lime, seed, etc., the Division's trained staff of regulatory officers (field inspectors), laboratory analysts, product registration specialists and compliance personnel helps guarantee that consumers (both industry and residents) receive quality agricultural products. "
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