Agriculture

Protecting the way of life of Southwest Virginia’s farmers is is one of Rick's top priorities.  During his service in Congress, Rick has worked to increase the market for Southwest Virginia farm products and to provide assistance to our farmers.  During the past year, Rick has taken important steps to help Southwest Virginia farmers:

Hair Sheep Production: A New Opportunity for Southwest Virginia Farmers - After meeting with the Scott County Hair Sheep Association, Rick secured a commitment from a locally-owned food retailer to purchase 10,000 lambs annually from local hair sheep producers.  Current local production of hair sheep is well below that number, and the commitment provides a guaranteed market which can now be enjoyed by hundreds of additional hair sheep producers.  Hair sheep present an opportunity for farmers to diversify their operations and increase their income whether they are presently engaged in tobacco, beef cattle or dairy production.

Rick Fights to Keep Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices Open - Earlier this year, the President announced plans to close many local FSA offices across the nation, including offices serving Alleghany, Buchanan, Carroll, Grayson, Henry, Patrick, Smyth and Tazewell Counties and the City of Galax.  Citing the tremendous assistance FSA offices provide to Southwest Virginia farmers, Rick joined with his colleagues in the Congress to voice opposition to this proposal.  Due to Congressional opposition, the President's plan has been abandoned, and all of the FSA offices serving Southwest Virginia's farmers will remain open.

Drought Disaster Assistance Secured -

Rick contacted the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on behalf of Southwest Virginia farmers who suffered crop losses caused by recent drought conditions.  As a result of recent disaster declarations issued by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, farmers in Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe Counties and the Cities of Bristol, Galax, and Norton who have suffered drought-related crop losses may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the federal government.

Funding Secured for the Biodesign and Processing Research Center - At Rick's request the U.S. Congress has approved a federal appropriation in the amount of $950,000 for the establishment of the Biodesign and Processing Research Center (BPRC) administered by Virginia Tech.  The BPRC will conduct research on the production of enzymes and pharmaceuticals from transgenic crops and conversion of agricultural wastes to value-added products.  Advancements in these areas will boost the viability of Southwest Virginia's farm economy.