HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Virginia agriculture officials marked a major upgrade to the state’s animal disease‑testing network this week, breaking ground on expansion projects at three regional laboratories that support food safety, livestock producers, and public health.

State and local leaders joined Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Katie Frazier at the Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory to launch the multi‑site effort, funded by a $13.1 million appropriation approved by the General Assembly in 2022. The project includes expansions at the Harrisonburg, Warrenton, and Lynchburg labs.

Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Katie Frazier. Photo credit: Carolynn Unger.

Frazier said the facilities play a critical role in Virginia’s multi‑billion‑dollar agricultural sector, providing diagnostic and regulatory testing for veterinarians, food manufacturers, farmers, and pet owners. VDACS operates four regional labs that conduct bacteriology, virology, serology, parasitology, pathology, molecular testing, necropsies, and food‑product safety sampling.

Commissioner Charles Green said the upgrades will add roughly 8,800 square feet of laboratory space and include dedicated rooms for PCR testing and flexible work areas designed to accommodate future technology. All labs will remain open during construction.

Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory expansion illustrations. Photo credit: Carolynn Unger.

Virginia State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Broaddus noted the system earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s highest National Animal Health Laboratory Network designation last year. He said the expansion will strengthen Virginia’s role in national disease monitoring and improve service to producers and consumers.