The Maple Agriculture Development Grant Opportunity is Open for Applications

Submitted by tim on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 05:40

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Maple Agriculture Development Grant aims to develop, grow and sustain maple businesses throughout Vermont. High priority projects include improvements relating to climate resilience, operational efficiency, and food safety and quality.

Project awards will range from $15,000 to $100,000 with no match requirement; a total of $543,750 is available to award.

These funds are a result of a report from the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture, identifying maple, meat, and produce as Vermont agricultural sectors with critical funding needs.

The Request for Applications, program factsheet, and applicant webinar recording can be found online. Applications will close on November 21st.

Reach out to Madison Berry at [email protected] or 802-622-4626 with any questions.

Apply for a Maple Development Grant

Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program

The Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program supports Vermont farmers who enroll in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

The State-funded program will provide supplemental payments to Vermont farms who successfully engage in conservation planning on cropland or pasture under CSP and/or who successfully enroll in CSP contracts for their cropland or pasture.

Ag producers of all sizes who meet the requirements will receive a one-time payment of $2,000, followed by an additional payment of $1,500-$7,500 if they successfully sign a CSP contract.

Application deadline: November 3rd

Forest to Fiber: Next Generation Pathways for Vermont

A new Market Opportunity Assessment commissioned by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) explores the emerging technologies and markets that show promise for using pulp grade wood to replace oil-based plastics.

The potential for wood to replace plastic in woven and nonwoven textiles is progressing rapidly, offering new market development opportunities across the Northeast.

The report, produced by the VSJF with funding support from the US. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and others, highlights current regional forest economy conditions and areas for growth.

Read the full report

Pig On-Farm
Slaughter & Processing Workshop

Join Rural Vermont and Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert on November 4th for a pig slaughter and processing day.

Participants will learn how to humanely slaughter, gut, skin, and quarter a whole pig with guidance from Mike Stock, Resource Management Coordinator at Merck and an experienced butcher.

The cost is $70. Registration is required.

Workshop: November 4th

Local and Regional Food Systems Resilience Playbook

If you are a food systems leader seeking to broaden and deepen your understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of local and regional food systems, a new playbook is available for you.

The Local and Regional Food Systems Resilience Playbook was published by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and their partners. It helps answer the question "what can LRFS stakeholders do to learn from experience and 'stay ready' for when the next food system disruption occurs?"

Read the full report

View the VAAFM Grants Calendar