The Understory – April 30, 2026

April 30, 2026 11:00 am

Block Grant Reopens: Applications Accepted Through July 1

Earlier this month, Governor Spanberger announced that the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program will reopen, with applications accepted through July 1. This provides those farmers and timber owners impacted by Hurricane Helene who did not apply during the initial period, with another opportunity for relief funding. Applicants must be located within one of the designated southwest Virginia localities (full list is available at the link below). The grant covers timber and perennial crop losses, farm infrastructure, and market, aquaculture, and plasticulture losses. To learn more and apply, visit our colleagues with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Governor Spanberger Creates Virginia Wood Council

On Friday, April 17, Governor Abigail Spanberger, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Ben Rowe and State Forester Terry Lasher hosted an industry roundtable during the East Coast Sawmill, Logging and Pallet Equipment Exposition in Doswell. The group held an in-depth discussion on the challenges and concerns in the sector. After the roundtable, the Governor signed an Executive Directive to formally establish the Virginia Wood Council, an advisory body to align industry stakeholders and address market challenges. The Governor and Secretary then toured the Expo and chatted with exhibitors. To learn more about the newly created Wood Council, read the Governor’s news release.

Callery Pears Are Out, Native Plants Are In

On April 11, dozens of Virginians participated in DOF’s fifth Callery Pear Exchange event in Fairfax County, receiving free native trees to replace invasive pears on their property. Following the success of previous events in other locations, these exchanges encourage replacing the problematic pears with natives, which are better at supporting wildlife and providing ecosystem services. Many Fairfax residents participated, but some came from as far as Arlington, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. Participants chose from elderberry, river birch, serviceberry, fringetree and other natives, with DOF staff on hand to recommend the right species based on site soil, sunlight and other considerations. Watch a short video from the event on DOF’s Facebook.

New Blog Uncovers Virginia’s State Forests

Did you know DOF manages 26 forested properties around Virginia? These state forests span more than 75,000 acres, and many offer outdoor recreation. Compared to national and state parks, state forests are “hidden gems,” offering a quieter and wilder escape for fishing, hiking, biking and even horseback riding. Our new blog will feature several state forests throughout the year to uncover these hidden treasures and help you plan your next adventure. For the first installment, DOF staff explored Cumberland State Forest – Virginia’s second-largest state forest – in search of ephemeral flora and fauna. Read more on DOF’s website.

Category: Public Information