WV Farm Bureau Magazine October 2014 | Page 9

ake a drive down any country road in West Virginia and you will see it: A farmer working in the fields, tending to his or her animals and making a living off the land. In a state that seems to be best known for its mountains, mining, and manufacturing, farming often gets overlooked as the industry that literally puts food on our tables. Farming is essential in West Virginia, and it powers our economy. Think about these statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: In 2012, West Virginia was home to more than 21,000 farms. Of those, 93 percent were family-owned. Additionally, 94 percent of farms were smaller than 500 acres, with the average size being approximately 168 acres. endeavors and the sense of comradery that filled the air. It was also very encouraging to see our State’s youth involved with Future Farmers of America, 4-H clubs, and local farm bureaus. The youth of our state are the future of farming in West Virginia, and with farmers getting older every year and more dependent on outside income in order to keep the family farm going, instilling in them the pride of hard work is essential. But farming is not for the weak of heart or those hoping to get rich. In 2012, 94 percent of farms in West Virginia had less than $50,000 in sales. Farming is about family, history, and the unmatched sense of self that comes from planting a seed and being able to harvest it or watching a calf, lamb, kid or chick grow. You know this, and so do I. Our office will do what we can to protect current and future farmers, and ensure that burdensome regulations from Washington, D.C. do not make their jobs harder. As your Attorney General, I want to hear about regulations you encounter that make it harder to raise livestock, work the fields, or tend to your orchards. As mentioned in a previous column, our office is very concerned about the EPA’s proposed rule that will clarify what streams and wetlands will fall under Clean Water Act protection. The rules are currently open for comment, and I encourage each of you to educate yourselves about the proposed rule and what it could mean to your property. But West Virginia farmers are facing a challenge these days. According to the USDA, the average age of a West Virginia farm operator is nearly 60, and only 42 percent of farm operators have farming as their primary occupation. The rest work some other job to make ends meet. In order for our nation and state to be strong, we must be able to take care of ourselves. And a big part of that revolves around being able to feed ourselves and our neighbors. Without farms, there would be no food. And without you, and the hard work you do, West Virginia would suffer. That’s why celebrating our agricultural heritage and successes are so important. This summer, I had the opportunity to attend many of the great fairs and festivals this state has to offer, including fairs in Cabell, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Putnam counties, as well as the State Fair of West Virginia. At each fair, I was inspired by the hard work on display, the pride people showed in their As we enter the harvest season, please know our office has directed much of our time and resources toward protecting and fighting for West Virginia. Even though our jobs may seem so different, our goals go hand in hand: We all want to provide for and protect the great state that we call home. Patrick Morrisey is the Attorney General of West Virginia West Virginia Farm Bureau News 9