What is the Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program?

A Virginia Agricultural Vitality Task Force was created within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement programs which protect and strengthen the Commonwealth's valuable agricultural sector, including but not limited to:

• Developing guidelines for purchase of development rights programs.
• Establishing and administering a "Farm Link" program to assist with the transfer of land between generations and to future farmers. Farm Link can link landowners with prospective farmer-buyers, develop business plans and provide assistance on a case-specific basis.

The Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program was strengthened by the establishment of the Office of Farmland Preservation in the Department of Agriculture. Task forces have developed recommendations for local farmland protection program standards and Virginia FarmLink.

For another look at the program, look at Saving the Family Farm in Virginia, a four-page document in PDF. For further information, look at http://www.savefarms.com

Why is it needed?

The Virginia Agricultural Vitality Program will help preserve and enhance the industry of agriculture in the Commonwealth. The benefits of agriculture are numerous: aesthetic amenities for tourists and every resident of Virginia, government savings based on the lack of services needs, and economic benefits in local communities and statewide.