West Virginia Farms: Agriculture History, How Farms Make Money and Strategy
Guide updated November 2026
West Virginia farms are small, hilly and overwhelmingly animal-based. The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 22,787 farms on 3,549,104 acres, with average sales of $41,592 per farm and total sales of about $947.8 million, up 25.7 percent from 2017. About three quarters of that came from livestock, poultry and their products.
| Farms and land in farms | 22,787 farms on 3,549,104 acres, average 156 acres (2022 Census of Agriculture) |
|---|---|
| Top commodities | Poultry and eggs, cattle and calves, hay and forage, apples and peaches, timber and specialty products |
| Market value of ag products sold | $947,765,000 in 2022, of which $715.5 million livestock and $232.3 million crops |
| State agriculture department | West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) |
| Land-grant extension | West Virginia University Extension, with West Virginia State University Extension |
| Farm Bureau | West Virginia Farm Bureau |
Agriculture in West Virginia: A Short History
West Virginia agriculture grew up on hillside family farms, cattle on the ridge pastures, orchards in the Eastern Panhandle and a corn, hay and sheep economy in the valleys. The Eastern Panhandle's apple belt in Berkeley and Jefferson counties became a commercial fruit region with packing houses and wholesale shipping, and families such as the Orrs built orchards across the twentieth century.
The Allegheny and Potomac Highlands later became poultry country, with contract broiler houses spread across Hardy, Pendleton and Grant counties. Many farms are small: the 2022 Census shows 9,295 farms of 50 to 179 acres and only 286 of 1,000 to 1,999 acres. The number of farms fell 3.5 percent from 2017, and the biggest drop was in the 50 to 179 acre group, down 500 farms.
How Farms in West Virginia Make Money
Commodity sales
Poultry is the state's largest animal sector. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture reports commercial poultry valued at $389.2 million in 2024, with broiler production at 83.1 million birds and turkeys at 3.9 million. Cattle follow: 31,124 cattle were graded at West Virginia livestock markets, according to the same annual report. Crops and nursery products brought in $232.3 million in the 2022 Census.
Value-added and direct sales
WV Grown, the state branding program, had 539 producer members, 51 retail partners and 28 support partners as of June 30, 2025. The department's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program put $3,340,273 into 11 processing, aggregation and distribution projects, and specialty crop block grants of $300,906 funded eight projects, from honey extraction equipment to cut flowers.
Agritourism, leases and diversification
Orchards in the Eastern Panhandle show the model: Orr's Farm Market and Butler Farms combine wholesale fruit, pick-your-own, events and hunting. Honeybee colonies reached 15,364 in October 2025, up 8.9 percent, a sign that small-scale diversification is growing.
Agriculture Strategy for West Virginia Farms
Soils, water and climate
Steep slopes, shallow soils and heavy rain make erosion and nutrient runoff the central agronomy problems. Streamside fencing, rotational grazing, cover crops, contour strips and litter storage are the standard conservation toolkit, and farms such as Butler Farms and Cottage Hill Farm have won state awards for using them. Drought is a real risk too: the state put $10 million from the Governor's Contingency Fund toward grazing and pasture renovation relief.
Production and risk
Cattle and poultry dominate because the land suits grass and the broiler industry offers a steady contract. Orchard growers face frost, hail and trade-shock risk: Farm Progress reported a 2018 hailstorm that destroyed about 200 acres of trees at one Berkeley County orchard. Crop insurance, FSA disaster programs and NRCS cost-share through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program are the main risk tools.
Technology and inputs
Controlled-atmosphere storage and modern packing lines let orchards sell fruit across the season, while energy-efficient poultry houses and manure or litter storage cut costs and protect streams. The WVDA reports 42,006 tons of fertilizer sold in the state, so nutrient planning through soil testing is worth the cost.
Farm Business Strategy in West Virginia
Margins and markets
With average sales per farm of $41,592, many West Virginia farms depend on off-farm income, so margin comes from lowering costs and finding premium channels. Direct and branded sales through WV Grown, farm markets and processors capture more of the consumer dollar than commodity sales alone.
Land, credit and succession
Land access and succession decide who farms. In 2022 Appalachian Orchard Company became the first working orchard in West Virginia to place land under a farmland protection easement, putting 350 acres into permanent agricultural use. USDA Farm Service Agency loans, Farm Credit lenders and the state's Century Farm program help families plan for the next generation, and a written plan with a family corporation can prevent a split.
Marketing and diversification
The WVDA's Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture program reached about 580 members, and its Farm to School and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition programs give small growers institutional customers. Certification programs, farm tours such as the Berkeley County Farm Crawl and pick-your-own fruit extend the season.
Farm Insight: West Virginia Trends to Watch
Watch poultry and the processing bottleneck. Poultry leads state animal sales, and grant funding for processing and aggregation suggests that infrastructure, not just production, is what limits smaller farms. A farm that secures processing capacity early has a marketing edge.
Expect more permanent land protection and more diversified small farms. The number of farms dropped 3.5 percent from 2017 to 2022, but sales rose 25.7 percent, which suggests the farms that stay are working harder to capture value. Profiled operations such as Appalachian Orchard Company, Orr's Farm Market, Butler Farms and Cottage Hill Farm show how.
West Virginia farms have an agricultural story that is ninety percent hills and ten percent hills with cattle on them, which is why a flat field in the state feels like a rumor. Readers of farm.FM for farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes know that every farmer in the Allegheny Highlands has at least one tractor story that ends with the words, 'and then it started rolling.' The real work of keeping steep ground productive, from poultry houses to hillside orchards, deserves our admiration.
The outlet behind those laughs, farm.FM, is the nation's first satirical farm site, complete with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers. A farm.FM humorist's archive shows what a week of it looks like.
Elite Farms and Ranches in West Virginia
These 4 operations are profiled in full, with history, how each makes money, lessons for other farms and published contact details.
Elite operations in West Virginia
- Appalachian Orchard CompanyElite operation. Martinsburg, West Virginia. Appalachian Orchard Company, Martinsburg, West Virginia: Orr family wholesale apple grower, about 550 acres, packing line, farmland easement. History and lessons.
- Butler FarmsElite operation. Inwood, West Virginia. Butler Farms, Inwood, West Virginia: four-generation beef, apple and hunting preserve farm, 1,000-plus acres, 2010 Farming Heritage winner.
- Cottage Hill FarmElite operation. Petersburg, West Virginia. Cottage Hill Farm, Petersburg, West Virginia: 1,000-acre Hereford and broiler farm, 2024 Conservation Farm of the Year. History, revenue streams and lessons.
- Orr's Farm MarketElite operation. Martinsburg, West Virginia. Orr's Farm Market, Martinsburg, West Virginia: Orr family orchard grower of peaches and apples since the 1950s, market opened 1995. History and lessons.
Who to Contact in West Virginia: Agriculture Offices and Associations
- West Virginia Department of Agriculture annual report 2025 - State programs, WV Grown, poultry and cattle figures
- WVU Extension Berkeley County - Land-grant extension agriculture and natural resources
- USDA NASS 2022 Census, West Virginia - State farm numbers, land and sales
- West Virginia Farm Bureau - State farm organization and Farming Heritage Award information
- USDA FSA West Virginia - State office for farm loans and disaster programs
- West Virginia Conservation Agency Century Farms - State conservation agency and Century Farm program
West Virginia Farming FAQ
How many farms are in West Virginia?
The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 22,787 farms on 3,549,104 acres, with an average size of 156 acres.
What is West Virginia's biggest agricultural sector?
Poultry. The state agriculture department values commercial poultry at $389.2 million in 2024, and livestock and poultry were about 75 percent of 2022 sales.
How can a West Virginia farm sell more directly?
WV Grown membership, farm markets, pick-your-own and Farm to School and other state programs offer routes beyond commodity sales.
Who helps with farm loans and conservation?
The USDA Farm Service Agency state office handles loans and disaster programs, and the West Virginia Conservation Agency and local conservation districts help with practices and awards.
West Virginia farms win by pairing careful hillside stewardship with diversified, value-added sales. Explore the profiled operations below to see how orchards, beef, poultry and conservation farms are building durable family businesses in the state.