Many of us are just gearing up for spring, but some local farmers already have their minds on Christmas.

As a part of Virginia Agriculture Week, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Matt Lohr planted the first tree of the season at Evergreen Tree Farm in Rockingham County Monday.

Lohr says agriculture is the number one industry in the Commonwealth, and the demand for locally-grown products is high.

He says, no matter what type of agriculture, from food to Christmas trees, the consumers always see the final product.

"There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes many months leading up to it before the actual product is ready. So I think it's important to highlight that agriculture is a year-round business and folks do a lot of work starting months and months in advance and many times it's all year long so they can produce that final product," says Lohr.

The tree he planted will be ready to be cut and sold in about eight years.

© Copyright 2012 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.