Service Area Strategic Plan
11/22/2009   2:45 am
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (301)
Biennium: 2008-10
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. This service area also is consistent with Goal #2 of “Virginia’s Leading The Way” Commonwealth of Virginia’s economic development strategic plan. Strategies under this goal include agribusiness development, specialty agribusiness, farmland preservation, and farm business transition.
  • Describe the Statutory Authority of this Service
    §3.1-14 (A)(2) Charges the Commissioner with…”the dissemination of information relative to the advantages of soil, climate, healthfulness and markets of this Commonwealth, and to resources and industrial opportunities offered in the Commonwealth…”

    §3.1-18.9 through 3.1-18.12 Establishes the Office of Farmland Preservation; Farm Link program and sets the powers, duties, and reporting requirements of these programs.

    §3.1-73.6 through 3.1-73.8 Establishes the Aquaculture Development Act including the Aquaculture Advisory Board; and sets the powers and duties of the Act and the meeting requirements of the Board.
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 46,800 46,800
State & Local Governments Local governments, conservation organizations, and agencies 200 200

Anticipated Changes To Agency Customer Base
Because of attrition (retirement) of potentially as much as 70% of existing farmers in the next 10-15 years, 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 growing state and local focus on land conservation, the demand for farmland preservation and farm transition services will likely increase.
Partners
Partner Description
[None entered]
Products and Services
  • Factors Impacting the Products and/or Services:
    Overall economic conditions for business growth, trade and development.

    Market demand for 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 high value and value-added business ventures.

    Expanded and increased farmland preservation and farm transition activities.
  • 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.
    • Provide technical assistance in the development and implementation of farmland preservation strategies.
    • Provide funding and support for high value specialty agriculture research and commercialization projects.
    • Allocate state matching funds to local PDR programs.
    • Establish and maintain a Farm Link database.
    • Partner with other organizations to develop and disseminate farm transition information.
Finance
  • Financial Overview
    [Nothing entered]
  • Financial Breakdown
    FY 2009    FY 2010
      General Fund     Nongeneral Fund        General Fund     Nongeneral Fund  
    Base Budget $1,307,766 $0    $1,807,766 $0
    Change To Base $0 $0    $0 $0
               
    Service Area Total   $1,307,766  $0     $1,807,766  $0 
Human Resources
  • Human Resources Overview
    [Nothing entered]
  • Human Resource Levels
    Effective Date      
    Total Authorized Position level Ø    
    Vacant Positions Ø    
    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 2008-2010.
    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 new farm bill.
    Objective Measures
    • Amount of capital investment in agribusinesses.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      12.78
      Date:
      6/30/2008

      Measure Baseline Description: $12.78 M for FY 2007

      Measure Target Value:
      10
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: $10 M per year

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

  • Market and promote Virginia as an exceptional site for development of specialty agricultural business in their decisions to locate, expand, or remain in the state.
    Alignment to Agency Goals
    • Agency Goal: Enhance opportunities for the growth, profitability and continued viability of the Virginia agriculture industry.
    Objective Strategies
    • Conduct comprehensive outreach programs to disseminate the results of research and on-farm pilot projects.
    • Provide funding and support for on-farm pilot projects as a result of successful specialty agriculture research.
    • Provide research funding and support for new products, technologies, and processes through the Specialty Agriculture Research Grants program.
    • To promote development and commercialization of specialty agricultural businesses and technologies through management and support for 20 projects for the period 2008-10.
    • Explore new opportunities for federal funding as a result of the new farm bill.
    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:
      20
      Date:
      6/30/2008

      Measure Baseline Description: 20 expected in 2006-08.

      Measure Target Value:
      20
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: 20 for 2008-10 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 2010.
    • 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 new farm bill.
    Objective Measures
    • Number of acres of farmland preserved by local purchase of development rights programs.
      Measure Class:
      Governor's Key
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up

      Key Summary: We will increase to 32,000 acres the number of acres of farmland held in agricultural easement by local purchase of development rights programs by 2010.

      Measure Baseline Value:
      17600
      Date:
      1/1/2007

      Measure Baseline Description: 17,600 acres preserved as of January 2007.

      Measure Target Value:
      32000
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: 32,000 acres by 2010.

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

  • 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 business 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 Farm Link database.
    • Maintain the 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 new farm bill.
    • Allocate funding for farm transition workshops focused on building communication among family members, and increasing the professional capacity of farm family service providers.
    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:
      15
      Date:

      Measure Baseline Description: 15contacts for FY 2007.

      Measure Target Value:
      35
      Date:
      6/30/2010

      Measure Target Description: 35 contacts per year by 2010.

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


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