Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has announce a second round of Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Ag Clean Water Initiative Program (Ag-CWIP).This grant program is made possible and supported, in part, by the Clean Water Fund – a fund created by Act 64 of 2015, Vermont’s Clean Water Act.This second round of Ag-CWIP RFPs will fund organizations assisting farmers throughout the state to support planning and installation of vegetative buffers adjacent to streams, grassed waterways to prevent gully erosion in crop fields, and grazing systems to exclude livestock from surface waters.
Interested parties should visit:Agriculture.Vermont.gov/WQ-RFPfor the complete RFP documents.
Lorenzo Whitcomb of the North Williston Cattle Company at his farm along the Winooski River. Whitcomb is already practicing low phosphorus farming. USDA photo
For each RFP, the Agency is providing up to $150,000 over two years to eligible contractors for technical assistance, design, and implementation services.Incentive payments and implementation funds for the cost to install the conservation projects developed by the contractor will be covered separately under grants directly between the landowners and VAAFM through the Best Management Practice Program.
“We’re excited to offer this expansion of technical assistance resources to support our hardworking farmers in their continued effort to identify, plan and install conservation practices to improve water quality throughout the state,” said Anson Tebbetts, Secretary of Agriculture. Tebbetts continued, “We’ve seen a real uptick in the number of farmers interested in implementing projects, but technical assistance capacity to serve them is currently under-resourced. We are hoping to expand technical assistance for farmers with these grant opportunities.”
The first RFP is seeking a contractor for the implementation of the Pasture and Stream Fencing Program. The Program’s objective is the delivery of technical assistance that provides on-farm grazing management planning and installs fencing to exclude livestock from surface water statewide.
The second RFP is seeking a contractor for the implementation of the Grassed Waterway and Filter Strip Program. The Program’s objective is the establishment of perennially vegetated grassed waterways and filter strips on agricultural cropland adjacent to waters of the State, including surface waters and ditches.
If a potential applicant requires clarification of any portion of the RFPs, specific questions can be submitted in writing no later thanTuesday, August 15, 2017. Questions about the RFPs may be e-mailed to[email protected].
At the close of the question period, a copy of all questions or comments and the Agency of Agriculture’s responses will be posted on the Agency’s web site:Agriculture.Vermont.gov/WQ-RFP.The Agency expects to post responses to questions received by Monday, August 21, 2016.
Applications for this program are due by4PMonMonday, August 28, 2017.
All applications must be submitted electronically to:[email protected].
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Source: Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets