More funding from working lands plus what to know about ransomware threats

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More funding from working lands plus what to know about ransomware threats

Mon, 09/13/2021 - 4:38am -- tim

Maple Webinar Series

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets If you operate a maple business here in Vermont, be sure to check out the free series of webinars from University of Vermont Extension that will offer expert advice on everything from business management and legal agreements, to tapping practices and land-use tax programs. The series covers a wide range of important topics designed to help Vermont's maple enterprises thrive by increasing profits and improving forest health. 

Upcoming webinars are scheduled for select Wednesday evenings through the end of October. Recordings and slides of past webinars are available on the program's website. To attend, participants must register forty-eight hours in advance of the scheduled webinar. Participants are eligible to receive a continuing forestry education credit for each webinar they attend. Here's a look at the webinars coming up:

Learn More Here
 

The Vermont Intelligence Center has released a warning that the food and agriculture sector is among the critical infrastructure sectors increasingly targeted by cyber-attacks. In a ransomware attack, victims’ files are encrypted and made unavailable, and the attacker demands a payment for the decryption tool and key. Ransomware may impact businesses across the sector, from small farms to large producers, processors and manufacturers, and restaurants. More information, including resources for reducing the risk of ransomware attacks, are available here.

The requests for applications for three more funding opportunities through the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Program have been released. These programs are designed to support Vermont-based working lands businesses, slaughter and processingoperations and producer associations. Projects eligible under these programs include infrastructure, marketing, meat processing, and professional development. Depending on the grant, awards range from $10,000 - $100,000. 

Deadline to Apply: November 1

This free virtual workshop, led by Didi Pershouse, will deepen each participant’s understanding of whole-systems landscape function and effective land management, with a focus on water and the soil sponge. Biology creates a natural sponge in healthy soils and grasslands that slows and sinks water on a total landscape scale–providing resilience in times of flooding and drought. Many of our current economic, social, and climate concerns are due to a degradation of our country’s soils, in particular it’s sponge-like structure or “tilth.”

Event Date: September 20, 6 - 8 pm 

Protein is a critically important part of a basic diet. How can the global animal protein sector continue to sustainably feed a growing and increasingly hungry world? That question is at the core of the Sustainable Solutions for Zero Hunger by 2030: A Vision for Animal Agriculture. This event, hosted by USDA, will bring together key leaders across the animal protein food chain from around the world to discuss the next steps of food production’s sustainable transformation, its ability to fight hunger and its durability against shocks.

Event Date: September 14, 12 - 5 pm
 
View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620

Our website address is:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov