Authority: Title 3.1, Chapters 1.1, 4.7, 6, 9,18, 23, 24, 25, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 26, 27, 27.1, 40, 42, 43, and 44; Title 28.2, Chapter 8; and Title 61.1, Chapter 4, Code of Virginia.

A. Agricultural Commodity Boards shall be paid from the special fund taxes levied in the following estimated amounts:

1. To the Bright Flue-Cured Tobacco Board, $135,000 the first year and $135,000 the second year.

2. To the Corn Board, $390,000 the first year and $390,000 the second year.

3. To the Dark-Fired Tobacco Board, $8,000 the first year and $8,000 the second year.

4. To the Egg Board, $210,000 the first year and $210,000 the second year.

5. To the Pork Industry Board, $244,500 and 1.0 position the first year and $244,500 and 1.0 position the second year.

6. To the Soybean Board, $480,000 the first year and $480,000 the second year.

7. To the Peanut Board, $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year.

8. To the Cattle Industry Board, $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the second year.

9. To the Virginia Small Grains Board, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year.

10. To the Virginia Horse Industry Board, $320,000 the first year and $320,000 the second year.

11. To the Virginia Sheep Industry Board, $35,000 the first year and $35,000 the second year.

12. To the Virginia Irish Potato Board, $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year.

13. To the Virginia Cotton Board, $180,000 the first year and $180,000 the second year.

14.  To the State Apple Board, $257,650 the first year and $257,650 the second year.

B. Out of the amounts for this Item shall be paid from certain special fund license taxes, license fees, and permit fees levied or imposed under Title 28.2, Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7, Code of Virginia, to the Virginia Marine Products Board, $403,421 and 3.0 positions the first year and $403,421 and 3.0 positions the second year.

C. Each Commodity Board is authorized to expend funds in accordance with its authority as stated in the Code. Such expenditures will be limited to available revenue levels.

D. Out of this appropriation shall be set aside an amount not to exceed $580,679 the first year and $580,679 the second year from the general fund for the Virginia Wine Board.  The funds shall be deposited into the Virginia Wine Promotion Fund.

E. Each Commodity Board specified in this Item shall provide an annual notification to its excise tax paying producers which summarizes the purpose of the Board and the excise tax, current tax rate, amount of excise taxes collected in the previous tax year, the previous fiscal year expenditures and the Board's past year activities. The manner of notification shall be determined by each Board.

F.  Out of the amounts for this Item shall be provided $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund to be transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia State University for additional research and field tests of specialty crops to determine which crops are best suited to Virginia conditions.

G.  Out of the amounts for this Item shall be provided $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year from the general fund to develop and implement a program to facilitate the development and marketing of high-value specialty agricultural production.  The program will gather data on specialty crop production in Virginia, identify resources to help farmers enter into new production, provide marketing support for specialty and value-added agricultural products and, through existing funding sources, provide matching low-interest loans to farmers or cooperatives for pilot projects for new specialty crop ventures.

H.  Out of the amounts for this Item, the Commissioner is authorized to expend from the general fund amounts not to exceed $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year for entertainment expenses commonly borne by businesses. Further, such expenses shall be recorded separately by the agency.