The 2022 Census of Agriculture numbers were released in midFebruary. The Census is a complete count, done every 5 years, of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land – whether rural or urban – count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold.
The state response rate was 64.9% which is better than the national average of 61%. West Virginia showed promising numbers in several statistics, including an increase in the number of overall producers with a gain of 1,000, and small increases in new & beginning producers (less than five years).
There was also a significant increase in retail sales with 524 farms selling directly to retail outlets and institutions, with sales of $10.778 million – up 57% from 2017. West Virginia farms and ranches produced $948 million in agricultural products in 2022, up from $754 million in 2017. West Virginia’s number one agriculture industry, poultry, continues to thrive. There were significant gains in the inventory and sale of layers compared to 2017.
Two new industries, hemp and hops, are also gaining popularity within the state. “We see a lot of positives in these census numbers, but there is still a lot of work to do,” stresses Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt. “We have a tremendous growth opportunity in specialty crops – things like maple syrup, honey, hops and value-added products. I have every confidence West Virginia’s agriculture industry will grow and thrive moving into the next census set for 2027.”