Virginia’s Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan Sets Priorities for Agriculture and Forestry

Virginia is developing its first Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan, a strategic roadmap intended to strengthen agriculture and forestry—two of the Commonwealth’s leading private industries. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a bipartisan bill creating the plan during the summer of 2026. In a November 6 announcement, her administration connected that work with support for family farms and recognition of women’s contributions to agriculture. The plan’s priorities include growing domestic and international market opportunities, building resilience, revitalizing the forestry industry, and developing the workforce.

The announcement provides policy and planning context rather than a procurement notice. It names no funding amount, solicitation, contract, grant opportunity, proposal deadline, or implementation schedule. For contractors, consultants, nonprofits, training providers, and other service organizations, the stated priorities may help identify areas of potential future alignment, but they do not establish an immediate opportunity or confirm that outside providers will be engaged. The plan’s development and any later implementation details should be monitored before making capture or bid decisions.

The administration’s focus on women farmers and family farms adds a further dimension to the policy signal. Spanberger met with Virginia farmers, agriculture leaders, and students involved in Virginia FFA and 4-H programs in Charlottesville, presented a proclamation recognizing the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and reaffirmed support for family farms. The release cites the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, which counted approximately 25,237 women farmers in Virginia—37 percent of the Commonwealth’s agricultural producers. Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Sesha Moon said the state is working to support women farmers and provide resources to help them remain resilient, particularly in response to recent challenges.

For GovCon professionals, the practical takeaway is to treat this as an early-stage state planning signal, not a funded buying requirement. Organizations with capabilities in agricultural market analysis, resilience planning, forestry-sector revitalization, or workforce development can map relevant past performance and monitor updates from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Secretariat of Agriculture and Forestry. The participation of Virginia State University leadership and the reference to USDA census data provide useful stakeholder and context signals, but the source does not identify a federal procurement role or a funding commitment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any future opportunity remains contingent on the plan’s development and subsequent decisions about delivery, funding, and acquisition.

• Plan: Virginia is developing its first Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan following a bipartisan bill signed by Governor Spanberger during summer 2026.
• Priority areas: Domestic and international market opportunities, resilience, forestry revitalization, and workforce development.
• Industry context: The plan is intended to strengthen agriculture and forestry, described in the announcement as Virginia’s number one and number three private industries, respectively.
• Women farmers: The 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture counted approximately 25,237 women farmers, representing 37 percent of Virginia’s agricultural producers.
• Family-farm focus: Spanberger reaffirmed support for family farms and recognized women’s contributions during a Charlottesville event marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
• Education and stakeholder engagement: The event included students in Virginia FFA and 4-H programs and leaders from the agriculture sector.
• State leadership: The governor was joined by Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Sesha Moon, and Virginia State University College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Jewel Bronaugh.
• Potential provider relevance: Agriculture and forestry market-development, resilience, revitalization, and workforce services could align with the plan’s priorities if future implementation needs are announced.
• No immediate procurement: The source specifies no funding, solicitation, award, contract, proposal deadline, or procurement timeline; monitor official state updates before treating the plan as an actionable opportunity.