Agriculture in Virginia
ZIP codes in our Virginia data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is Virginia's largest private industry, spread across a landscape that runs from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachian Mountains. The mix of poultry, livestock, row crops, and specialty crops means growers and gardeners across the state work in very different conditions, and understanding your region is the first step to success here.
Farming in Virginia
Poultry is Virginia's leading agricultural sector, with broiler chickens and turkeys raised heavily on the Eastern Shore and in the Shenandoah Valley. Cattle and calves along with dairy are major livestock enterprises, especially in the valley and southwestern counties, while soybeans, corn, hay, wheat, and cotton dominate the row-crop acreage. The state also has a long history of tobacco in the Southside and peanuts around Suffolk, plus well-known specialty crops such as apples in the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge, fresh-market tomatoes, and a fast-growing wine grape industry. This diversity makes Virginia one of the more varied farming states in the mid-Atlantic.
Climate and growing conditions
Virginia's climate ranges from humid subtropical along the coast and Piedmont to cooler, humid continental conditions in the western mountains. The frost-free growing season stretches from roughly 140 days in the higher elevations to more than 220 days in the Tidewater and southeastern coastal plain. USDA hardiness zones run from about 5b in the highest Appalachian ridges up to 8a in the warmest coastal areas, with most of the state falling in zones 6b through 7b.
Major agricultural products
- Broiler chickens
- Turkeys
- Cattle and calves
- Dairy (milk)
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Apples
Hardiness zones in Virginia
Growers in Virginia fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Virginia
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Virginia
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (115 counties):
Market prices & data for Virginia
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.