The USDA has opened the application period for up to $10 billion in direct economic assistance to farmers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), ECAP will help farmers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.
Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year, and many commodities widely planted in Virginia are eligible. The program also includes payments for eligible double-crop rotations, which will benefit Virginia farmers.
To streamline and simplify the delivery of ECAP, FSA will begin sending pre-filled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports to FSA for 2024 eligible ECAP commodities. Producers do not have to wait for their pre-filled ECAP application to apply. They can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to apply using a login.gov account or contact their local FSA office to request an application once the signup period opens.
Barboursville Vineyards captured the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup for its 2023 Vermentino, a white wine made entirely from estate-grown grapes, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced.
The award, presented during the annual Governor’s Cup Gala at Richmond’s Main Street Station, marks the sixth Governor’s Cup victory for the Monticello AVA winery. The 43-year-old competition drew more than 600 entries from over 140 Virginia wineries, cideries and meaderies.
“Luca Paschina and his team at Barboursville Vineyards embody the passion and pioneering spirit of Virginia wines,” Youngkin said at the ceremony. “Their dedication to excellence is evident in every vintage they produce.”
Located in Barboursville, Virginia, the vineyard has produced wines for nearly five decades. Paschina, who joined as winemaker and general manager in 1990, works alongside Vineyard Manager Fernando Franco and Assistant Winemaker Daniele Tessaro to develop grape varieties suited to Virginia’s climate.
Under Paschina’s leadership, Barboursville previously won Governor’s Cup awards for:
1988 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
1997 Cabernet Franc
1998 Cabernet Franc Reserve
2009 Octagon
The winning Vermentino earned the highest average score from judges evaluating appearance, aroma, flavor, commercial suitability and overall quality.
The wine will be featured in the Virginia Governor’s Cup Case, a collection of the competition’s 12 highest scoring wines that includes:
50 West Vineyards, 2021 Aldie Heights Cuvée
Barboursville Vineyards, 2023 Vermentino
Barboursville Vineyards, 2017 Octagon
DuCard Vineyards, 2023 Cabernet Franc Vintners Reserve
King Family Vineyards, 2021 Mountain Plains Red
Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2022 Chardonnay
Paradise Springs Winery, 2023 Cabernet Franc, Brown Bear Vineyard
Potomac Point Winery, 2023 Albariño
Trump Winery, 2018 Sparkling Rosé
Valley Road Vineyards, 2023 Petit Manseng
Veritas Winery, 2023 Monticello White
Winery at La Grange, 2023 Petit Manseng
The case features a balanced mix of six white wines, five red wines and one sparkling rosé.
In a separate category, Daring Wine & Cider Company received the Cider of the Year award for its Crab Apple Blend, marking the fifth year cider has been judged in its own competition.
This year’s competition introduced “Best in Show” awards for categories with at least five entries. Winners included:
Breaux Vineyards’ 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
7 Lady Vineyards’ 2017 Petit Manseng for Dessert Wine
Pollak Vineyards’ 2022 Merlot Reserve
Carriage House Wineworks’ 2022 Petit Verdot Reserve
Jefferson Vineyards’ 2023 Viognier
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr emphasized the importance of wine and cider to Virginia’s economy.
“I welcome the opportunity to see new wineries and our standard-bearers of Virginia’s quality continue to raise the bar for what can be achieved in Virginia as a wine region,” Lohr said.
The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board. All entries must be made from 100% Virginia-grown fruit to be eligible.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced $264,000 in matching grants to support six community infrastructure projects focused on strengthening local food production and sustainable agriculture.
The funding, provided through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Infrastructure Grant program, will enhance markets and food distribution while expanding access to locally grown food across the commonwealth.
“[These grants] are pivotal in providing targeted support to communities who want to create innovative solutions to local, healthy food access,” Youngkin said. “We are proud to invest in the efforts of these dedicated food leaders.”
The competitive grants will support projects in six localities:
Abingdon: $50,000 to enclose and heat the town’s farmers market, transforming it into a year-round facility with weather-resistant curtain walls, tracked doors and a two-bay sink.
Bath County: $50,000 to establish The Village Kitchen, a fully equipped shared-use commissary kitchen and food aggregator that will help local farmers and food businesses scale their operations.
Cumberland County: $32,678 to upgrade the farmers market at the Luther P. Jackson Community Center, including flooring protection, electrical improvements, new lighting, doors and signage.
Newport News: $50,000 for the SIP Seafood Market’s commercial kitchen and fresh seafood retail area, covering purchases of ice machines, refrigeration units and food display equipment.
Onancock: $31,943 to purchase equipment and a prefabricated building to house a winter market, creating a year-round food hub for farmers and food vendors.
Prince William County: $49,450 to support Sunshine Honey Farm’s expansion from a small farm stand to a brick-and-mortar market selling meat, eggs, honey and vegetables.
“It’s so important that we help our farmers and small food producers get their products to consumers, especially consumers in their local community,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “These grants support farm income, strengthen local economies, and increase residents’ access to fresh local foods.”
Created by the General Assembly in 2021, the AFID Infrastructure Grant program partners with local governments to develop community infrastructure supporting small-scale farmers and food producers. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in spring 2025.
Virginia farmers and agricultural professionals, we have an exciting opportunity to keep your finger on the pulse of cutting-edge agricultural research and innovation!
The Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (VT CALS) has launched a new monthly newsletter, VT CALS Research Monthly, designed to keep you informed about the latest developments in agricultural science and education.
What You’ll Discover in Each Issue
By subscribing, you’ll receive regular updates on:
Groundbreaking agricultural research and innovative solutions
Upcoming events, workshops and professional development opportunities
Remarkable achievements of VT CALS students and faculty
Community outreach initiatives and critical industry partnerships
Whether you’re a producer, educator or agricultural professional, these insights can help you stay ahead of the curve and connected to the latest advancements in our field. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and stay informed about the work happening at Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
There have been recent reports of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol activity across the country and in Virginia. Agricultural employers are encouraged to act immediately to ensure your farm and employees are as prepared as possible for any immigration enforcement.
Employers who fail to comply with U.S. immigration laws and regulations may face fines, including I-9 violations up to $2,789 per form and undocumented worker violations up to $27,894 per worker. Employers could also face criminal charges and, if convicted, up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for actions considered “harboring” or concealing undocumented workers
As you prepare, please consider the following resources:
Cornell University has several resources from their Ag Workforce Central. As part of the Ag Workforce Central Office Hour on January 9, 2025, Cornell hosted attorney Michael Sciotti from the law firm Barclay Damon LLP to discuss how employers can get into I-9 compliance and prepare for enforcement actions. Find the video and the presentation with links to resources at Ag Workforce Central.
Employers should have a list of all employees’ emergency contacts they can inform if the employee is detained or arrested. Likewise, all employees should have a farm contact so they can inform if they are detained or arrested by ICE.
Please take time to review the resources above and speak with your legal counsel to ensure you are complying with immigration and labor laws, appropriately train employees, and have a response plan in the event of an ICE audit or raid.
Plows and Politics 