Virginia Agriculture
Shenandoah Valley Agriculture
What is the Shenandoah Valley?
The Shenandoah Valley is nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains in Western Virginia and is comprised of 8 counties (Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren). The name “Shenandoah” is derived from native American languages, most likely the Algonquin “schind-han-do-wi.” Many translations have been proposed, but the most enticing is “Beautiful Daughter of the Stars.” As that legend goes, Shenandoah was once a great lake in the mountains of Virginia. Sitting in their camps at night, looking down at the huge lake, Native Americans could see the heavens in the mirrored water – the beautiful daughter of the stars.
Agricultural History
Due to the rich soil and plentiful water-ways and natural springs, people have been living in the Valley for at least 10,000 years. Native American cultures started growing crops in the Valley about 1000 years ago, such as squash, corn, beans, walnuts, sunflowers and early grains. European settlers arrived in the 1700s and started raising a wide variety of crops and livestock, such as horses, cattle, swine and sheep. By 1810, the Valley was considered the leading producer of wheat for the entire Southern region of the U.S. Commercial wheat farming became so profitable in the Valley, that by 1850, 96% of its farmers were growing wheat as their principal crop. Daily life centered around the wheat production cycle.
Thanks to the numerous hills and swift flowing streams, water powered mills began to spring up to grind flour, saw logs, process wool and press apples. Ancient Native American trails were built into major roadways and eventually railroads tunneled into the valley, which gave producers more options to transport and sell their products.
Modern Agriculture In the Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is home to four of the top five agriculture counties in Virginia producing more than $1.3 billion annually in commodities sold. According to the 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census, Rockingham, Augusta, Page and Shenandoah Counties are ranked number 1, 2, 4 and 5 respectively as the largest agriculture localities in Virginia. Rockingham County is the state’s powerhouse for agribusiness, impacting over 13,000 jobs in the area relating to the agriculture industry. In addition, the Shenandoah Valley’s employment in agriculture and forestry is 82% above the national average, increasing by 28% since 2010.
Agriculture and agribusiness represent a broad range of companies including forestry operations and farm-dependent operations. Overall, this sector contributed nearly $388 million to the Shenandoah Valley’s GRP in 2021.