Service Area Strategic Plan
5/19/2013   9:44 am
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (301)
Biennium:
Service Area 1 of 1
Agribusiness Development Services and Farmland Preservation (301 532 09)
Description

Economic Development of the Agricultural Sector and Preservation of the State’s Agricultural Resources.
Background Information
Mission Alignment and Authority
  • Describe how this service supports the agency mission
    The service area aligns directly with the Agency’s mission to promote economic growth and development of Virginia agriculture, encourage environmental stewardship and provide consumer protection. It also aligns with Goal #1 of the Agency’s Strategic Plan; Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry. Strategies under this goal include agribusiness development, specialty agribusiness, farmland preservation, and farm business transition.
  • Describe the Statutory Authority of this Service
    §3.2-102 (A) charges the Commissioner with general powers and duties to include "…promote, protect and develop the agricultural interests of the Commonwealth; …promote the creation of new agribusiness, including new crops, biotechnology and new uses of agricultural products and the expansion of existing agribusiness".

    §3.2-200 through 3.2-203 establishes the Office of Farmland Preservation and the Virginia Farm Link program, and sets the powers, duties, and reporting requirements of these programs.

    §3.2-2600 through 3.2-2603 defines the Aquaculture Advisory Board including composition and appointment of members, membership terms and meeting requirements and sets the powers and duties of the Commissioner.
Customers
Agency Customer Group Customer Customers served annually Potential annual customers
Agribusinesses, Ag Cooperatives and Membership Organizations Agribusinesses, Ag Cooperatives, agricultural organizations and institutions 1,000 1,000
Virginia farmers Farmers 47,383 47,383
State & Local Governments Local governments, conservation organizations, and agencies 200 200

Anticipated Changes To Agency Customer Base
As nearly 30% of Virginia’s farmers are older than 65 with an average age of 57, the number of traditional agricultural customers will decline. However, because of the increasingly larger scale and capital intensity of agribusinesses and non-traditional specialty agriculture, the number and size of the individual customers served will likely increase resulting in an increased demand for technical business development services. Additionally, given the increased focus on land conservation, the demand for farmland preservation and farm transition services likely will continue to increase.
Partners
Partner Description
Internal Agency Partners
Local and State Economic Developers/Offices
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia's Land Grant Universities
Products and Services
  • Factors Impacting the Products and/or Services:
    Overall economic conditions for business growth, trade and development.

    Market demand for products, particularly increasing demand for local and sustainable produced products.

    Supply and production level of commodities and agricultural-based products.

    Changing demographics of constituents.

    Discontinuation and modifications of federal government agricultural support programs.

    Financial security and stability of agricultural businesses.

    Changing development pressures on agricultural resource base.
  • Anticipated Changes to the Products and/or Services
    Expanded and increased business development activities in specialized agribusiness including value-added and renewable energy related business ventures.

    Continued interest in farmland preservation policies and programs.

    Increased interest in farm transition activities.

    Reduction in state and local funding for purchase of development rights (PDR) programs.
  • Listing of Products and/or Services
    • Marketing and promotional activities to showcase Virginia as an exceptional site for development of agricultural business so as to support 20 companies in their decisions to locate, expand, or remain in the state each biennium.
    • Target for special development efforts those sectors of Virginia agriculture, which show the best prospects for investment and employment growth over the next biennium.
    • Target the tobacco producing areas as a priority for agribusiness development initiatives through the referral of three leads over the next biennium.
    • Target two specific commodity based sectors, which are competitively challenged, as a priority for value-added or high-value added initiatives over the next biennium.
    • Provide technical assistance to localities on infrastructure and site development for agribusiness.
    • Technical assistance in the development and implementation of farmland preservation strategies.
    • Provide funding and support for high value specialty agriculture research and commercialization projects.
    • State matching funds to local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs.
    • Administration of the Virginia Farm Link database.
    • Funding for farm transition workshops focused on building communication among family members, and increasing the professional capacity of farm family service providers.
Finance
  • Financial Overview
    [Nothing entered]
  • Financial Breakdown
    FY 2011    FY 2012
      General Fund     Nongeneral Fund        General Fund     Nongeneral Fund  
    Base Budget $1,023,265 $0    $1,023,265 $0
    Change To Base -$5,310 $60,000    -$5,310 $60,000
               
    Service Area Total   $1,017,955  $60,000     $1,017,955  $60,000 
Human Resources
  • Human Resources Overview
    [Nothing entered]
  • Human Resource Levels
    Effective Date      
    Total Authorized Position level null    
    Vacant Positions null    
    Current Employment Level 0.0    
    Non-Classified (Filled)    
    Full-Time Classified (Filled)    breakout of Current Employment Level
    Part-Time Classified (Filled)    
    Faculty (Filled)    
    Wage    
    Contract Employees    
    Total Human Resource Level 0.0   = Current Employment Level + Wage and Contract Employees
  • Factors Impacting HR
    [Nothing entered]
  • Anticipated HR Changes
    [Nothing entered]
Service Area Objectives
 
  • Increase the level of capital investment in agribusiness for the period 2010-2012.
    Objective Description
    Agribusiness expansion, recruitment and retention.
    Alignment to Agency Goals
    • Agency Goal: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry.
    Objective Strategies
    • Market and promote Virginia as an exceptional site for development of agricultural business so as to support 20 companies in their decisions to locate, expand, or remain in the state each biennium.
    • Target for special development efforts those specific sectors of Virginia agriculture, which show the best prospects for investment and employment growth over the next biennium.
    • Target the tobacco producing areas as a priority for agribusiness development initiatives through the referral of three leads over the next biennium.
    • Target two specific commodity based sectors, which are competitively challenged, as a priority for value-added or high-value added initiatives over the next biennium.
    • Explore new opportunities for federal funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA).
    Link to State Strategy
    • nothing linked
    Objective Measures
    • Amount of capital investment in agribusinesses.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      12.4
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Baseline Description: $12.4 M for FY 2009

      Measure Target Value:
      15
      Date:
      6/30/2012

      Measure Target Description: $15 M each year of the biennium

      Data Source and Calculation: Summation of investment results as derived from internal tracking system.

  • Increase the number and success of agribusiness projects, including specialty agriculture, for the period 2010-2012.
    Alignment to Agency Goals
    • Agency Goal: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry.
    Objective Strategies
    • Promote the development and commercialization of specialty agricultural businesses and technologies.
    • Include in our normal operations the message that Virginia is an exceptional site for specialty agriculture.
    • Partner with VDACS programs and operating divisions to transition specialty agriculture clients into successful new agribusiness start-ups or expansions.
    • Explore new opportunities for federal funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA)..
    Link to State Strategy
    • nothing linked
    Objective Measures
    • Number of specialty agribusiness clients managed by Agribusiness Development Services staff.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Maintain
      Measure Baseline Value:
      35
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Baseline Description: 35 clients managed in FY 09

      Measure Target Value:
      35
      Date:
      6/30/2012

      Measure Target Description: Manage at least 35 clients each year of the biennium.

      Data Source and Calculation: Data is taken from Governor's Working Paper, List of ADS clients: Primary Business Prospects

  • Increase the amount of permanently preserved working farms and forest land in Virginia.
    Objective Description
    Assistance with the development of local farmland preservation programs, and allocation of state PDR matching funds.
    Alignment to Agency Goals
    • Agency Goal: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry.
    Objective Strategies
    • Provide technical assistance to localities through the Office of Farmland Preservation in the development and implementation of farmland preservation programs and strategies.
    • Support the development of ten new local PDR programs by 2012.
    • Allocate state matching funds to local PDR programs.
    • Conduct comprehensive outreach programs to educate farmers and the general public.
    • Coordinate efforts with allied organizations and agencies involved in land conservation.
    • Request increased resources to implement a state funding match for local farmland preservation programs.
    • Explore new opportunities for federal funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA). .
    Link to State Strategy
    • nothing linked
    Objective Measures
    • Number of acres of farmland preserved by local purchase of development rights programs.
      Measure Class:
      Agency Key
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      25488
      Date:
      1/1/2009

      Measure Baseline Description: 25,488 acres preserved as of January 2009.

      Measure Target Value:
      40781
      Date:
      1/1/2012

      Measure Target Description: 40,781 acres by January 2012.

      Data Source and Calculation: Annual survey conducted by American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

  • Increase the number of successful farm transitions from existing farmers to beginning and active farmers.
    Objective Description
    Assistance with the development and delivery of farm transition efforts.
    Alignment to Agency Goals
    • Agency Goal: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry.
    Objective Strategies
    • Enlist the assistance of allied organizations (such as Virginia Farm Bureau and Virginia Cooperative Extension) in the recruitment of potential farmers/land owners to the Virginia Farm Link database.
    • Maintain the Virginia Farm Link database and continue to add new functions that better facilitate farm transitions.
    • Partner with allied organizations to disseminate information concerning strategies for successful transitions.
    • Request resources to provide better technical assistance to facilitate farm business transition and succession.
    • Explore new opportunities for federal funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA).
    • Allocate funding for farm transition workshops focused on building communication among family members, and increasing the professional capacity of farm family service providers.
    Link to State Strategy
    • nothing linked
    Objective Measures
    • Number of contacts between existing farmers and beginning/active farmers.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      444
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Baseline Description: 444 contacts for FY09.

      Measure Target Value:
      500
      Date:
      6/30/2012

      Measure Target Description: 500 contacts each fiscal year through FY2012.

      Data Source and Calculation: Automated Farm Link database tracking system.


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