Virginia has become the first state in the nation to launch the Farm Recovery Block Grant Program, a disaster recovery initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announces that Virginia’s Imported Fire Ant Quarantine was expanded today to include the counties of Chesterfield, Lee, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince George, and Surry, and the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Hopewell, and Petersburg.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed that a horse stabled at a private residence in Chesterfield, Virginia, has recently tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). The horse is currently quarantined on the property and does not pose a risk to other horses in the area.

Spotted lanternflies have become one of the most well-known invasive species over the past few years. While they may seem harmless, they can cause significant damage to homes and gardens, and present major issues for farmers.

A flock of commercial turkeys in Rockingham County, Virginia has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Resources.