The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (VR)—Consumers can appreciate the far-reaching impact of those producing the nation’s food, fuel and fiber any day of the year.
But during National Ag Week, March 16-22, farmers receive special recognition for their vital role.
According to the Agriculture Council of America, each American farmer feeds more than 165 people—a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. As the global population climbs, so does demand for food and fiber.
Agriculture impacts all of Virginia, which is home to around 39,000 farms spanning 7.3 million acres, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
As the state’s largest private industry, agriculture has an economic impact of $82.3 billion annually and provides more than 381,800 jobs, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Agriculture and forestry have a combined economic impact of over $105 billion, provide more than 490,000 jobs, support 1.6 jobs elsewhere and make up 9.3% of the state’s total gross domestic product.
Whether they are supporting beef cattle in Southwest Virginia, wine grapes in Northern Virginia, apples in the Shenandoah Valley or potatoes on the Eastern Shore, the state’s varying topography, soil and climate make up one of the most diverse agricultural landscapes in the country.
Many Virginia commodities and products rank in the top 10 among all U.S. states. In 2023, the commonwealth ranked third nationally for the production of tobacco and seafood, sixth for apples and turkey production, and eighth for peanuts and broiler chicken production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The impact of Virginia agriculture crosses international borders, with the state’s agricultural and forestry exports valued at more than $3.6 billion in 2023, according to Global Trade Information Services Inc.
Agriculture also provides countless intangible benefits, like supporting recreation, tourism, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, flood mitigation, improved water quality and soil stabilization.
Virginia’s wine grape sector alone generated over $6 billion for the state in 2022 when considering wages, tourism dollars and other indirect impacts, according to an industry impact study.
Leading the way in sustainability, Virginia farmers voluntarily enrolled over 416,000 acres on more than 2,500 farms in conservation easement programs—protecting the land from development, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Many also employ practices like minimal-till and no-till planting, and cover crops to prevent soil displacement and erosion and retain nutrients.
In addition to commemorating National Ag Week, many Farm Bureau volunteers will visit local schools during Virginia’s Agriculture Literacy Week, March 17-21. Organized by the Foundation for Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, volunteers will read Virginia AITC’s 2025 Book of the Year, Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm by Lindsay H. Metcalf. The event aims to educate youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of their food and fiber.
