Authority: Title 3.2, Chapters 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 32, 34, 35; Title 28.2, Chapter 2; 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 Tobacco Board, $143,000 the first year and $143,000 the second year.
2. To the Corn Board, $390,000 the first year and $390,000 the second year.
3. To the Egg Board, $210,000 the first year and $210,000 the second year.
4. To the Soybean Board, $1,164,000 the first year and $1,164,000 the second year.
5. To the Peanut Board, $320,000 the first year and $320,000 the second year.
6. To the Cattle Industry Board, $800,000 the first year and $800,000 the second year.
7. To the Virginia Small Grains Board, $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the second year.
8. To the Virginia Horse Industry Board, $320,000 the first year and $320,000 the second year.
9. To the Virginia Sheep Industry Board, $35,000 the first year and $35,000 the second year.
10. To the Virginia Potato Board, $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year.
11. To the Virginia Cotton Board, $180,000 the first year and $180,000 the second year.
12. To the State Apple Board, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year.
B. Each commodity board is authorized to expend funds in accordance with its authority as stated in the Code of Virginia. Such expenditures will be limited to available revenue levels.
C. 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.
D. Out of the amounts in this Item shall be paid from certain special fund license taxes, license fees, and permit fees levied or imposed under Title 28.2, Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, Code of Virginia, to the Virginia Marine Products Board, $402,543 and two positions the first year and $402,543 and two positions the second year.
E. Out of the amounts in this Item, $2,369,734 the first year and $2,369,734 the second year from the general fund shall be deposited to the Virginia Wine Promotion Fund as established in § 3.2-3005, Code of Virginia.
F. Out of the amounts in this Item, $1,151,899 the first year and $1,151,899 the second year from the general fund shall be deposited to the Virginia Spirits Promotion Fund established pursuant to § 3.2-3012, Code of Virginia.
G. Out of the amounts in this Item, $30,000 the first year and $30,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support a pilot partnership between the Department and Virginia State University's Small Farm Management Agents to increase diversity of program participants, with an emphasis on small, socially disadvantaged, BIPOC, new and beginning, veteran and women farmers and landowners.
H. Out of the amounts in 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.
I. Out of the amounts in this Item, the Commissioner is authorized to expend $1,120,226 the first year and $1,120,226 the second year from the general fund for the promotion of Virginia's agricultural products overseas. Such efforts shall be conducted in concert with the international offices opened by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
J. Out of the amounts in this Item, $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to support 4-H and Future Farmers of America youth participation educational costs at the State Fair of Virginia. These funds shall not be used for administrative costs by the State Fair.
K. The Department shall transfer the June 30, 2024, fund balances in the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund (02013) and the Agricultural Vitality Program Fund (09092) to the Department of Forestry (411) following final close of Fiscal Year 2024 in accordance with House Bill 892 of the 2024 General Assembly Session.