From the Commissioner
I have written before about the importance of agricultural statistics. This year, we began sharing excerpts from the Mountain State Reporter in our Market Bulletin to put those numbers in more readers’ hands. Produced monthly by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) West Virginia Field Office in cooperation with the WVDA, the Reporter tracks everything from livestock inventories to crop production. Numbers never tell the whole story of farming, but they help us understand where we have been, the challenges we face and where agriculture is headed.
Recent NASS figures offer encouraging news. Despite unpredictable weather, rising costs and pressure on farmland, West Virginia agriculture is holding its own.
In 2025, acreage harvested for corn grain and hay increased. That matters to our crop growers, livestock producers and local agricultural economy. Looking ahead, NASS estimates hay acreage will increase again in 2026. Dependable forage is the foundation of strong livestock operations, especially after challenging growing seasons.
Our cattle producers have shown resilience, too. Despite drought conditions that strained grazing and hay supplies, West Virginia’s cattle inventory remained at approximately 365,000 head at the beginning of both 2025 and 2026.
Holding steady through those conditions reflects the commitment of producers who work hard to keep their herds healthy and their farms operating. Not every sector has been as fortunate. This spring’s devastating freeze hit our fruit growers hard, particularly in the Eastern Panhandle. Many orchardists suffered significant losses, a reminder that even the most experienced farmer cannot control Mother Nature.
There is another important story in the data: the continued presence of our farms. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the number of farms nationwide declined nearly 7% between 2017 and 2022. In West Virginia, the decline was approximately 3.5%. We have not escaped the loss of farms or farmland, but we retained a greater share of our farm operations than the nation as a whole. For a state where so much agriculture is rooted in family farms, that matters.
These numbers do not erase the hardships our farmers face. They do, however, reflect an agricultural community that continues to plant, raise livestock, adapt and invest in the future.
RED MEAT PRODUCTION
- Commercial red meat production in West Virginia during July 2026 totaled 600,000 pounds. This was down 14 percent trom July 2025.
- Commercial cattle slaughter totaled 672,000 pounds live weight, down 11 percent from July 2025. Cattle slaughter totaled 500 head down 100 head from the previous year. The average live weight was up 78 pounds from the previous year, at 1,291 pounds.
- Commercial hog slaughter totaled 129,000 pounds live weight, down 35 percent from July 2025. Hog slaughter totaled 500 head, down 200 head from the previous year. The average live weight was down 8 pounds from the previous year, at 275 pounds.
CASH RECEIPTS
The 2025 cash receipts from farm marketing’s for all agricultural commodities in West Virginia totaled 1,179,471,000 dollars, an increase of 104.6 million dollars from 2024. Recepts from livestock and livestock products accounted for 80.1 percent of the State total. Cash receipts from crops accounted for 19.9 percent of the 2025 total.
The largest contributor to the agricultural marketings in the State continues to be poultry and eggs. Cash recepts from the poultry industry, which includes broilers, eggs, turkeys, and farm chickens, accounted for 44.4 percent of the State total. The second leading contributor was cattle and calves which accounted for 28.9 percent of the total in 2025.
Nationally, West Virginia ranked 30th for cash receipts from poultry and eggs. Broilers were the main contributor from poultry and eggs accounting for 29.2 percent of cash receipts in the State, ranking 20th in the nation. Other highly ranked West Virginia commodities include farm chicken receipts at 10th in the nation, turkey receipts at 11th in the nation and maple products at 12th in the nation.
SENIOR FARMERS MARKET VOUCHERS
If you’re a senior who received a Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program voucher earlier this year, time is running out to use them! The vouchers are good through October 31 at participating farmers markets and farm stands across West Virginia.
AUCTIONEER EXAM
Auctioneers and Apprentice Auctioneers, mark your calendars! Auctioneer exams will take place on Tuesday, November 17. Arrive at the Guthrie Agriculture Complex, Bldg. 2 (217 Gus R. Douglass Ln., Charleston), no later than 8:30 a.m. for the written exam. The oral examinations will begin at noon. Bring a copy of your valid driver’s license and your exam fee, if you haven’t already paid. A pre-exam review (sponsored by the WV Auctioneers Assoc.) will be offered on Monday, November 16, starting at 5:30 p.m. Please arrive early. For more information, contact Jennifer Zagata at 304- 558-3200 or jzagata@wvda.us.
