Department of Agriculture and Local Food & Farm Council press for funding to expand farms, infrastructure and workforce

The Department of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Local Food and Farm Council (LFFC) appeared before the Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriation, and Finance on Aug. 15 to present an inventory of programs, grant awards and a list of unmet needs for FY2026.

Commissioner Lewis E. Peterson Jr. described the department’s FY2026 general‑fund request of $5,068,495 (personnel and fringe approximately $4.59M) plus a proposed $500,000 transfer from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund and $246,277 for the industrial hemp commission—bringing the department’s territorial appropriation request to about $6.01M, the department said. Federal and non‑appropriated funds and multi‑year federal grants would add roughly $11.49M to the department’s expected FY2026 resources, producing a total projected set of funds of about $17.5M.

Program highlights and capital needs: - Nursery, lab and abattoir: Peterson described progress and remaining needs in plant nursery operations (Saint Croix renovation near completion) and laboratory/abattoir upgrades. On St. Croix the lab roof, processing‑room condenser and other equipment upgrades were budgeted at roughly $222,171, and the department reported upgrades and equipment funded by FEMA and other grants. The St. Thomas abattoir remains in need of repair;…