Apply for the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant

Submitted by tim on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 23:28

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Are you looking for technical assistance related to dairy food safety? Or are you wanting to develop a dairy food safety plan but don’t have the necessary resources?

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, is currently accepting applications for the second round of the Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant.

This funding opportunity offers support to dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations in all Northeast states to improve the safety of dairy products. Awards will range from $10,000 - $40,000 with a 25% required match commitment.

Projects should build upon existing state and federal compliance requirements to improve consistency, production safety standards, and quality of dairy products. Projects that use food safety improvements to enhance dairy product marketability or reach new markets will have priority.

The application for the Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant is open now through January 19th.

Click Here to Apply

New England Farmer Microgrants Program

The New England Farmer Microgrants Program seeks to address financial barriers for farmers in New England by offering grants for projects related to land access, farm succession, and the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices.

In 2023, there are two separate funding opportunities: The Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming funding opportunity provides grants up to $10,000 to livestock producers in select counties in CT, MA, NH, and VT for projects that improve soil health through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices.

The Farmland Access, Succession, and Transfer Support opportunity provides grants of up to $5,000 to farmers anywhere in New England who are looking to purchase or lease land to farm or pass their farms on to other farmers.

Application deadline: November 4th

Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant RFA

The Agency of Agriculture has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for a new competitive grant to strengthen farm and food producers' economic viability and enhance food security.

The Local Food Purchase Assistance cooperative agreement provides funding for Vermont farms, food producers, and organizations to purchase food from socially disadvantaged farmers and producers and distribute to communities in need.

If you are interested in applying, please review the RFA online for eligibility, timelines, and application information.

Please also consider registering for an informational webinar on November 3rd at 2:30pm or contact Julia Scheier at [email protected] or 802-522-7042 to learn more.

Application opens: November 7th

Comment on the 2024 Clean Water Budget

The Clean Water Board is seeking input on its 2024 clean water budget. The public comment period will be open until Nov. 22nd.

The public is invited and encouraged to learn more about Vermont’s clean water funding by scrolling through this interactive Story Map.

You can weigh in by completing a brief online questionnaire or RSVP to attend the Clean Water Budget Public Hearing on November 2nd.

Public comments close: Nov. 22nd

Determining Your Farm's Mission, Vision, and Values

This week on VAAFM’s Marketing and Agritourism Blog, we dive into determining a mission, vision, and set of values for your farm or food business.

Establishing these foundational elements provides a clear direction for your business and is a critical step in deciding how and where you will market it.

Grab a pen and paper and check out the full blog on our website!

A new blog comes out twice a month!

View the VAAFM Grants Calendar