Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund grants over $237,000 to farmers in second round

The Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture announced that the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund has awarded $237,500 to 49 farmers affected by Tropical Storm Irene in the fund’s second grant round. To date, the grant committee has received 159 applications and a total of 101 farmers have received grants in excess of $540,000. The committee is currently reviewing its third round of applications. As of October 13, total contributions received or pledged to the fund exceeded $1.25 million.
‘The storm may be over but the challenges continue for our Vermont farmers,’ said Chuck Ross, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. ‘The Vermont Community Foundation has created unique opportunities for people within and outside Vermont’s borders to contribute to the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund, and as the support continues with compassion and force, our ability to connect resources to farm needs remains strong.’
‘Over the last six weeks, we’ve learned a lot from farmers about their immediate needs as well as the challenges they may start to face over the coming months,’ said Ryan Torres, philanthropic advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation. ‘As a fund, we’re working to balance individual grants to affected farms as quickly as possible while also preparing to support Vermont’s farming communities through the winter and spring, as new needs arise.’
The grant committee includes representatives from the Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, NOFA Vermont, Vermont Farm Bureau, Rural Vermont, Rutland Area Farm and Food Link, and University of Vermont Extension. Grant decisions are based on a number of factors, including total losses and overall need.
The grants, which fund up to $10,000 per farm, will help farmers replace infrastructure, seed, feed, livestock, supplies, and equipment lost as a result of the storm, to the extent the losses were not covered by insurance or other sources of income. The grants can also be used to help pay outstanding bills such as farm mortgage costs, land lease payments, or animal feed bills.
According to the Agency of Agriculture, a rough estimate of farmland impacted by Irene exceeds 20,000 acres; a conservative estimate of crop losses and crop land damage needing repair exceeds $10 million dollars.
Those interested in learning more about the fund or making a contribution can visit www.vtfloodresponse.org.
The Agency of Agriculture works to facilitate, support and encourage the growth and viability of Vermont agriculture while protecting the working landscape, human, animal and plant health and the environment. Visit www.vermontagriculture.com for more information.