Governor Timothy M. Kaine today unveiled a new comprehensive study, revealing that Virginia agriculture and forestry contribute about $79 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.

“This affirms the strength and importance of these industries and represents a significant increase from the last study, done 10 years ago, when the combined impact was $47 billion,” Governor Kaine said. “The agriculture and forestry sector is an economic engine that drives much of the economic activity in other Virginia industries, such as manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, as well as public and private services.”

The study, an initiative of the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, was led by Dr. Terry Rephann of The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. It found that agriculture accounts for more than $55 billion of that $79 billion total, and forestry contributes more than $23 billion each year. If you take into account other areas of activity such as recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, ecosystems services, agri-tourism, wine tourism, horse events, and agricultural festivals that were not part of the Cooper Center study, the total impact would be several billion dollars more than $79 billion.

More than 500,000 people, or one of every 10 employed Virginians, is either directly or indirectly working in this sector of our economy. More than 144,000 of those jobs are related to forestry, and more than 357,000 are related to agriculture.

Nearly 21 million acres, or 82 percent, of the Commonwealth’s total land area is forest, cropland, or pasture and range. Additional land is forested parkland and public open space. In 2006, Virginia’s farms generated an estimated $2.7 billion in cash receipts, and forest landowners received nearly $350 million for harvested timber.

"For almost 100 years, the Virginia Department of Forestry has helped protect and develop healthy, sustainable forest resources for the benefit of all citizens of the Commonwealth," said Carl E. Garrison III, State Forester of Virginia. "We are honored to have a role in making Virginia's economy strong through scientific forestry and in conjunction with forest industries."

Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said that promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia agriculture is the Department’s top priority.

“In 1998 when we did the last study, agriculture’s contributions were $36 billion annually, and now they are $55 billion,” Haymore said. “That shows significant growth for our industry, and we will do everything we can to help Virginia farmers and producers move more of their products into the global marketplace so that this upward trend continues.”

A full copy of the study, as well as an Executive Summary, is posted on the VDACS Web site at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/eis.shtml and on the Forestry Web site at www.dof.virginia.gov .