Agriculture & Natural Resources
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Welcome
Berkeley County is home to many small farms producing diverse commodities from fruit to honey, grain to meat, and dairy to poultry. Diverse farming operations offer diverse habitats of fields and hedgerows, orchards and woodlands for area wildlife to live, forage and rear young. Whether you are a back yard gardener, an orchardist, or a farmer, our focus is to be your local connection to up-to-date agricultural information. Scroll to bottom of page for links to external agriculture organizations and agencies in the local area.
Berkeley County by the numbers from the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture:
Number of farms: 946Land in farms: 73,134 acres
Market Value of Products Sold: $25,909,000
State Ranking in Apple Production: 1
County Population: 122,076 (2020 Census)
Square Miles: 32
Lawn, Gardening & Pests
Get a yard that feels and looks like home. Get a bountiful harvest. Grow your own and sow something beautiful. WVU Extension has lawn, gardening and pests information you can use.
This Month in the Garden Calendar
Candy Roaster – the Impressive Winter Squash
The Candy Roaster, also referred to as a Permelon or Pink Banana, is a winter squash that remains a staple in many Appalachian gardens. This heirloom is part of the Cucurbita maxima family and has a history as impressive as its flavor. Candy Roasters were cultivated by the Cherokee people in the 1800s, who in turn shared their seeds with those who settled in Appalachia.
The Candy Roaster comes in multiple varieties, hence the multiple names. Candy Roasters cross pollinate easily, leading to more than 40 known varieties and several hybrids that carry the Candy Roaster name. This winter squash can grow in a tubular, round, teardrop or squat shape. Depending on the variety, the harvested crop may come in pink, blue or gray.
Eastern Panhandle News
Beef Quality Assurance
The Eastern Panhandle will host a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training on Wednesday, February 14 from from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location for the program will be:
WVU Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research, Education, and Outreach Center
67 Apple Harvest Lane
Kearneysville, WV 25430
Read about Beef Quality Assurance
Ag Winter Dinner Meetings at Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research Center
The Agriculture Education Winter Dinner Meeting Series returns in 2024, with two topics for livestock producers being held at the Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research Center.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Dr. Darin Matlick, WVU Extension Veterinarian, will be speaking on Dystocia & Tick Management
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Greg Halich, Associate Extension Professor at University of Kentucky, will
be speaking on Bale Grazing as a simple, cheap, effective way to winter
cattle.
Both programs will be held at the Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research Center. The meal will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the educational program to follow
at 7 p.m. Pesticide credits are available.
Read about Ag Winter Dinner Meetings at Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research Center
Gardening Workshop in Martinsburg, WV on March 2, 2024
Join the Berkeley-Jefferson WVU Extension Master Gardener Association for a morning of gardening workshops to kick off the 2024 growing season. This year, the program will include nine sessions to choose from, with topics geared towards beginner gardeners, intermediate gardeners, and advanced gardeners.
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Read about Gardening Workshop in Martinsburg, WV on March 2, 2024
Farm Financial Analysis
Join us on January 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. for an Educational Dinner Meeting at the Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research Center.
This meeting will feature Brian Wickline, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. The presentation will focus on Farm Financial Analysis.