Press Releases

TAPPAHANNOCK, VA – On Tuesday, August 23rd, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) hosted a First Congressional District Farm and Agribusiness Tour with the Virginia Farm Bureau, Colonial Farm Credit, and National Wood Pallet & Container Association. The purpose of this tour was for Congressman Wittman to speak directly with farmers and agribusiness leaders in Virginia’s First District, and for Congressman Wittman to use the information from these conversations to inform and guide his agriculture policy moving forward in Washington, D.C. 

During this tour, attendees accompanied Congressman Wittman for tours of O’Malley Timber Products, James River Equipment, Tidewater Lumber, and Montague Farms Field. 

“Today’s tour re-emphasized the critical nature of the agriculture industry to not only Virginia’s First District, but to the entire Commonwealth and nation,” said Rep. Wittman following the tour. “Our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture workers are at the core of keeping the globe fed and fueled, and it’s essential that they have access to the tools and resources they need to continue supporting their families, our nation, and the rest of the world. I am grateful to the folks who both hosted and joined me today on this tour. I am confident that together we can develop a plan to remove harmful regulatory barriers, restore domestic agriculture production and supply chain issues, and meet the global food demand.”

“We appreciate Congressman Wittman taking time to speak directly with farmers and tour farms and agricultural operations in his District. Virginia’s 1^stDistrict has a wide diversity of agriculture, reflective of the productive soils and entrepreneurial farmers in the area. Congressman Wittman is a longtime friend and supporter of agriculture and forestry.  We hope this tour gives him fresh firsthand knowledge of both the challenges and opportunities facing the people producing food and fiber for our country and enables him to continue to represent these family businesses in Congress,” said Ben Rowe, National Affairs Coordinator, Virginia Farm Bureau and Paul Franklin, CEO, Colonial Farm Credit.

“We applaud Congressman Rob Wittman and his support of forestry products by including O'Malley Timber Products in his Farm & Agribusiness tour. His dedication to local manufacturing and the people he represents is evident in his words and, more importantly, his actions. He is a champion of the wooden pallet industry, and we appreciate his recognition of the value of wood pallets to the global supply chain,” said Jason Ortega, vice president of public affairs, National Wooden Pallet & Container Association.

Agriculture has an economic impact of $70 billion annually and provides nearly 224,000 jobs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to the Virginia Farm Bureau. To learn more, click here.