Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets In 2012, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 142, creating the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative and the structure for investment of state dollars into agricultural and forestry-based businesses.
Over the ensuing eleven years, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) has invested $15.6 million in 446 farm, food, and forestry projects and leveraged an additional $24.6M in matching funds. These projects have created 540 new jobs, impacted 24,985 acres, and generated $92M in sales.
To celebrate these investments and the resulting impacts, the WLEI Board has released the latest Impact Report detailing the significant outcomes from the 11 years of the program. The report contains specific results of the funding in fiscal year 2023, including special funds allocated to the program from the American Rescue Plan Act.
With ongoing support from Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Legislature, WLEI continues to grow, and in fiscal year 2023 received an increase in annual base funding from $594,000 to $1,000,000.
Get Your Farm Scale
Tested and Licensed
The Weights & Measures Section of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is hosting multiple scale inspection events around the state.
Scales used to sell produce or other commodities at farmers markets or farm stands must be tested and licensed per state law.
The full list of events with dates and times is available on the Weights and Measures webpage. Please fill out the application form ahead of time to make your inspection go quickly. Each scale takes 5-10 minutes to inspect.
Testing Dates: throughout April/May
Northeast Farms of Color Land Trust "We the Land" Gathering
Join the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust for "We the Land," a gathering for Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, Southeast Asian & North African, and People of Color Earth Workers, Land Stewards, and Farmers.
From August 2nd - 4th in Northampton, Massachusetts, the gathering will focus on knowledge exchange, grassroots organizing, celebration, and ceremony.
Full details, tickets, and a schedule are available on the We the Land webpage. Full conference tickets are $275, with an option for a sliding scale "community cost" ticket starting at $15.
Gathering: March 2nd - 4th
Upcoming Webinar Series: Farm to Institution Sales
New Hampshire Farm to School is hosting a webinar series for farms interested in selling to schools, hospitals, and colleges.
These webinars will provide an overview of institutional markets, including their typical purchases, purchasing requirements, working with food hubs, and farm enterprise analysis.
The material is focused on New Hampshire but farms across New England are welcome.
The free webinars take place on March 19th, March 26th, and April 2nd. Registration is required.
Webinars: March 19th, March 26th, April 2nd
The Vermont Pavilion at the
Summer Fancy Food Show
A reminder that the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is recruiting specialty food businesses interested in exhibiting at the Vermont Pavilion at the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City from June 23rd - 25th.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business to business trade shows for specialty food products.
VAAFM still has 10' x 10' booths available, as well as larger spaces. Booth costs are $44 per square foot.
Interested businesses should contact Trevor Lowell, [email protected] for more information.
Interest deadline: rolling
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
March
3/15 - Rule Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals public comment deadline
3/17 - Vend in the Vermont Building at the Big E deadline
3/18 - Virtual Statewide VAAFM Listening Session
3/19 - Agricultural Pesticide Applicator Meeting
3/20 - 2024 Grain Growers Conference
3/20 - Rutland County VAAFM Listening Session
3/25 - Franklin and Grand Isle Counties VAAFM Listening Session
April
4/2 and 4/3 - Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Summit
4/4 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Clarendon)
4/5 - VAAFM Scale Testing Half Day (Bennington)
4/5 - VAAFM Scale Testing Half Day (Berlin)
4/8 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Dummerston)
4/9 - Initial Pesticide Certification Meeting
4/9 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Windsor)
4/11 - Farm to School and Early Childhood Vision Grant deadline
4/11 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Colchester)
4/12 - VAAFM Scale Testing Half Day (Morrisville)
4/15 - Spring Farm Agronomic Practices Program deadline
4/24 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Middlebury)
4/25 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Derby)
4/26 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (St. Johnsbury)
May
5/2 - VAAFM Scale Testing Full Day (Randolph Center)
June
6/6 - Goat & Sheep Dairy Development Grant deadline
View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets