West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick said Tuesday the partial federal government shutdown won’t affect his agency’s operations.
Helmick said in a news release that the Department of Agriculture is continuing daily inspections at livestock slaughter and processing facilities.
The department also is continuing surveillance of egg and dairy products, testing poultry flocks for disease and conducting other routine activities.
Helmick said the department has broad powers under the state code to conduct inspections, enact embargoes and quarantines, and to deal with any livestock disease outbreaks.
Tag: Agriculture
State Fair was fine despite bad weather, fewer visitors
The State Fair of West Virginia said this year’s event was a success, despite rain that reduced attendance.
State Fair Chief Executive Officer Marlene Joliffe said in a news release that the 89th annual event saw about 175,000 visitors, down from the decade’s average of about 180,000-195,000 fairgoers.
Rain fell on five days during the fair’s eight-day run in August in Fairlea, WV.
Joliffe said 67 percent of fairgoers who responded to an online survey rated their experience at the fair as above average or excellent.
There were an estimated 4,000 entries in the livestock, 4-H, FFA, home arts and garden competitions.
Winning exhibitors were paid a total $175,000 in award premiums.
About 20,000 concert tickets were sold, and 20,000 pounds of food collected which was distributed to six area food banks, along with cash donations.
Joliffe estimated the Fair had a $14 million dollar economic impact on the state.