Virginia Agricultural Commodity Boards

Virginia's Agricultural Commodity Boards strengthen the marketing and sale of Virginia's farm commodities through targeted market development, promotional campaigns, educational initiatives, and agriculture research programs. These boards, comprised of producers and agribusiness leaders, oversee and administer the self-funded programs designed to grow demand, support innovation, and enhance competitiveness of Virginia agriculture across local, national and global makets.

Board Information

About the Virginia Apple Board

The Virginia Apple Board was created by the General Assembly in 1946. The Board is comprised of six members, two from each of three growing regions across the state. The Board expends the moneys collected from the apple tax; $0.025 cents/bushel, that is collected from growers who produce greater than 500 tree run bushels.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.


Apple Board Annual Report

Contact Us

James Atwell
Phone: 276.228.5501
Email: James.Atwell@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit Virginia Apple Board website.

About the Virginia Aquaculture Advisory Board

The Virginia Aquaculture Advisory Board was created by action of the 1992 General Assembly for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on matters relating to aquaculture. The goal of the board is to provide advice on policy matters related to the rearing and harvest of fish and shellfish in controlled environments. The Aquaculture Advisory Board shall be composed of seven members appointed by the Governor.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Contact Us

Ursula Deitch
Phone: 757.387.7670
Email: ursula.deitch@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Cattle Industry Board

The Virginia Cattle Industry Board was reinstated in the 2018 Acts of Assembly in an effort to promote the Virginia feeder cattle industry. The Board is comprised of 11 members who govern the board’s fund which is comprised of 50 cents per head of cattle sold in Virginia.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Cattle Industry Board Annual Report and Forms

Contact Us

Matthew Sponaugle
Phone: 540.383.7983
Email: matthew.sponaugle@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit Virginia Cattle Industry Board website.

About the Virginia Corn Board

The Virginia Corn Board, established in 1980 following approval by corn producers through a statewide referendum, serves as the governing body responsible for advancing the Commonwealth’s corn industry. The Board is comprised of 11 members from across the industry and is appointed by the Governor. The Board administers programs that support research, education, and market development to enhance production efficiency, crop quality, and long term economic viability for Virginia growers. Its initiatives are funded through a mandatory assessment of one cent per bushel on all corn sold within the state, with revenues directed toward projects that strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of Virginia’s corn sector.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Corn Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Laura Maxey Nay
Phone: 804.371.6157
Email: laura.maxeynay@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Cotton Board

The Virginia Cotton Board was established in September 1997 for the purpose of managing funds collected from grower assessments for the purpose of conducting programs in research, education, and promotion of the growth and use of cotton. The cotton assessment is 95 cents per bale ginned in Virginia, and it is remitted by the gins. The Board is composed of eight members appointed by the Governor who will serve no more two consecutive four-year terms, each of whom shall be a resident and producer of cotton in Virginia.

Upcoming Meetings

Date: February 26, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. Est.
Location: 6321 Holland Road Suffolk, VA 23437

The Virginia Cotton Board’s agenda will include the following: discussion and approval of contractual arrangements with national and regional organizations, FY24-25 program and project reports, and FY25-26 potential projects for funding. Additionally, prior meeting minutes and financial reports will be heard and approved.

Virginia Cotton Board Annual Report

Annual Report

Contact Us

Contact: Jennifer Atkins
Phone: 804.839.9003
Email: Jennifer.Atkins@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Egg Board

The Virginia Egg Board was established to promote education, research, and marketing of eggs and egg products in the Commonwealth. The Board is comprised of five members appointed by the Governor, who oversee the fund supported by the state’s egg excise tax collected on eggs and egg products at the wholesale level.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Egg Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Contact: Kirby Moir
Phone: 757.309.6217
Email: kmoir@virginiaeggcouncil.org

About the Virginia Horse Industry Board

The Virginia Horse Industry Board was formed in 1994 with a mission to promote and develop economic opportunities for the betterment of the horse industry in Virginia. The Board is comprised of 12 members who govern the Board’s fund, which is comprised of $1.50 fee for every Equine Infections Anemia (Coggins) test performed, and $3 per ton of food sold, in Virginia. The Board also receives funding from parimutuel wagering through the equine racing industry.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Horse Industry Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Garret Petro
Phone: 804.225.3663
Email: garrett.petro@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit Virginia Horse Industry Board website.

About the Virginia Marine Products Board

The Virginia Marine Products Board serves as the official marketing arm of Virginia’s seafood industry, working to expand domestic and international markets and support the industry’s economic growth. It is composed of industry representatives appointed by the Governor and operates within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, with programs funded through industry-generated fees rather than state tax dollars. Through marketing, education, and collaborative partnerships, the Board promotes Virginia seafood, supports businesses across the supply chain, and strengthens the connection between consumers and the Commonwealth’s fisheries resources.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Marine Products Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Mike Hutt
Phone: 757.874.3474
Email: Mike.Hutt@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit Virginia Seafood website.

About the Virginia Peanut Board

The Virginia Peanut Board is comprised of 8 members from the 8 peanut producing counties/cities in Virginia. The Virginia Peanut Board works in conjunction with the Virginia Peanut Growers Association to market and promote Virginia grown peanuts, facilitate research projects, and advocate on behalf of Virginia’s peanut industry.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Peanut Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Caitlin Joyner
Phone: 757.569.0249
Email: Caitlin.joyner@aboutpeanuts.com

About the Virginia Potato Board

The Virginia Potato Board was created in 1994 in order to conduct a program of promotion, research, education, advertising and any other means of promoting the use of potatoes in the Commonwealth. The Board is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, who govern the board’s fund which is funded by a tax of 2 cents per hundred weight of any potatoes sold in the state of Virginia.

Upcoming Meetings

Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. Est.
Location: 33446 Research Dr Painter, VA 23320

The Board will meet to review results from funded potato research that occurred during the 2024 potato growing season and discuss projects submitted for the upcoming growing season. The Board is also expected to review and approve the minutes from the previous meetings as well as discuss any other business brought before the Board.

Virginia Potato Board Annual Report and Forms

Contact Us

Ursula Deitch
Phone: 757.787.5876
Email: Ursula.Deitch@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Sheep Industry Board

The Virginia Sheep Industry Board was created in 1996 to assist with predator control throughout Virginia as well as to promote the production and consumption of lamb in the Commonwealth. The Board is comprised of 12 members who govern the board’s fund which is comprised of 50 cents per head of sheep and lambs sold in Virginia.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Sheep Industry Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Matthew Sponaugle
Phone: 540.383.7983
Email: matthew.sponaugle@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Small Grains Board

The Virginia Small Grains board was established in 1991 for the purposes of managing the Small Grains Fund, which consists of the checkoff dollars collected from the one-half of one percent of the net market price per bushel for small grains produced in Virginia and sold to a first handler. The Board uses these funds to contract with government agencies and the private sector to conduct programs for market development, promotion, publicity, education, and research. The programs are to enhance the economical production of and to increase the sale and use of small grains.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Small Grains Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Laura Maxey Nay
Phone: 804.371.6157
Email: laura.maxeynay@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Spirits Board

The Virginia Spirits Board was established in 2020 to provide to foster the development of the Virginia spirits industry by expanding spirits research, increasing education, and promoting the production of ingredients necessary for alcohol distillation and the production of spirits in the Commonwealth. The Board is comprised of eleven members as follows: the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, nine voting non-legislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, three of whom shall be coopers or maltsters and six of whom shall be owners or operators of a distillery in the Commonwealth.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Virginia Spirits Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Jennifer Atkins
Phone:804.839.9003
Email:Jennifer.Atkins@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit Virginia Spirits website.

About the Virginia Soybean Board

The Virginia Soybean Board was established in 1970 by Virginia farmers by referendum. The Board is comprised of 11 members from across the industry and is appointed by the Governor. The Board supports the Commonwealth’s soybean producers by funding research, education, and market development initiatives through a grower approved checkoff assessment of one half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans sold . As a state level checkoff organization, it works in partnership with the United Soybean Board, which oversees the national soybean checkoff, ensuring that Virginia growers’ investments contribute both to local priorities and to broader national and international efforts that expand demand and strengthen the soybean industry.

Upcoming Meetings

Date: March 9, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: 549 E. Rochambeau Dr. Williamsburg, VA 23188
Commonwealth Calendar: Soybean Event Details

The Virginia Soybean Board (Board) will discuss checkoff revenues resulting from sale of the 2025 Virginia soybean crop and approve the previous meeting minutes. TAs well, the Board will review submitted fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 project reports and submitted FY 2026-27 project proposals. Following the review of the project proposals, the Board will make funding decisions for soybean industry projects that will be executed during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026FY 2027.

Virginia Soybean Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Laura Maxey Nay
Phone: 804.371.6157
Email: laura.maxeynay@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Tobacco Board

The Virginia Tobacco Board was created in 2012, merging the Virginia Bright Flue-Cured Tobacco Board and the Virginia Dark-Fired Tobacco Board. The eight-member Board uses excise tax funds, $0.40 per 100lbs. sold, paid by growers to plan and conduct campaigns of sales promotion, advertising, publicity, research, and education for the purpose of increasing the demand for and consumption of Virginia flue-cured and dark-fired tobacco.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Virginia Tobacco Board Annual Report and Forms

Contact Us

Jennifer Atkins
Phone: 804.839.9003
Email: Jennifer.Atkins@vdacs.virginia.gov

About the Virginia Wine Board

The Virginia Wine Board was created in 2004 with the purpose of fostering the development of the Virginia wine industry by expanding viticultural and enological research, increasing education, and promoting the production of grapes and wine in the Commonwealth. The Board consists of 10 members, 9 of which are nonlegislative citizens appointed by the Governor. These members allocate the Wine Promotion Fund in the areas of research, education, and marketing to advance the goals of the industry.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Virginia Wine Board Annual Report

Contact Us

Lindsey Anderson
Phone: 804.314.8444
Email: lindsey.anderson@vdacs.virginia.gov

Visit the Virginia Wine website.

Commodity Board Coordinator

For questions or more information, contact:

Melissa Ball
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Marketing and Development
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219

804.786.5448
Email: melissa.ball@vdacs.virginia.gov


All but the Marine Products Board and the Wine Board use funds generated through assessments that growers and producers of these commodities have agreed by referendum to pay for programs and projects that would benefit their commodities. The activities of the Marine Products Board are funded by licensing fees. The Virginia Wine Board receives an appropriation as provided in the 2004 Virginia Acts of Assembly.

Members of the State Apple Board are elected. Members of the other boards are appointed by the Governor from recommendations by the various industry groups.


All public meetings of Virginia government entities can be found on the Commonwealth Calendar.


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