Commissioner of Agriculture (West Virginia)
Gus R. Douglass
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| Name: | Gus R. Douglass |
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| Party: | Democrat |
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| Home City: | Leon, W.Va. |
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| Home County: | |
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Biography:
Currently serving tenth, four-year term as WV’s Commissioner of Agriculture; holds bachelor’s degree from WVU, an honorary Doctor of Laws from WV State University; an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree from WVU; life long farmer; operates a 540-acre farm in Mason County, specializing in beef cattle and grain production.
Personal Statement:
- What actions will you take to protect West Virginia's forests and native plants from invasive insects and weeds?
- The WVDA enforces provisions of the West Virginia Noxious Weed Act; has acted to strengthen its authority by adding those plants declared to be Federal Noxious Weeds to list of those regulated by State Code and adding additional plants that pose threats to State’s agricultural interests or human health.
- How would you assess the farmland preservation program?
- Support for farmland protection is not as strong in West Virginia as in other states. Productive farmlands and forestlands are disappearing rapidly. We need to become more aggressive and garner more support in the protection of farmland and forests in our state.
- What needs to be done to encourage West Virginians to produce and consume locally grown agricultural products?
- Identifying more direct marketing opportunities, like farmers' markets, would encourage produce growers to increase their plantings. We have sought state and federal grants to expand our farmers' market system and have been pretty successful. Through a Specialty Crops Grant we were able to put $80,000 into agricultural activities including farmers' markets, beekeeping programs, wineries and greenhouses. To boost consumer confidence listen to the national news regarding recalls and contaminated foods. We have experienced no recalls on West Virginia inspected or grown products. I would not expect folks to feed their families anything that my family and I would not eat.
