The Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture represents fourteen states and two territories with West Virginia and Maryland representing the northern boundary, the Virgin Islands representing the southern extreme and Texas representing the western extreme of the associations area of membership.
With forest products being the largest revenue generating agricultural industry in the state the West Virginia Department of Agriculture interacts with AWP in many ways. One example was on display for the tour participants while at the Petersburg dry kilns. A local WV Department of Agriculture inspector was on hand to demonstrate to the attendees how phyto-sanitary inspections are done on kiln dried lumber that is being exported. Most lumber being exported requires a phyto-sanitary certificate. Phyto certificates ensure that shipments of lumber are free of any pests that could be transported internationally.
Annual hardwood lumber exports for Allegheny Wood Products averaged approximately 34 million board feet (more than 2,500 container loads) per year over the past two years. The Petersburg Dry Kiln Facility averaged just over 7.6 million board feet (more than 560 container loads) of exports per year.
