Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The latest Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) impact report is now available! Since 2012, WLEI has supported Vermont agriculture and forestry businesses with vital investments that have helped grow their businesses and economic impact. With $18.8 million invested in 555 farm, food, and forestry projects, and an additional $30.9 million leveraged in matching funds, the Working Lands program has played an important role in the growth of Vermont’s rural economy.
To celebrate these investments and their positive impacts, the WLEI Board has released the latest Impact Report detailing the significant outcomes from the entire 12 years of the program.
Check out the report for data and stories about this important program that supports farm, food, and forest businesses across Vermont!
Help Us Better Serve Vermont's Agricultural Community
If you're reading this newsletter, we want to hear from you! The Agricultural Development team at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, puts out this weekly newsletter. We work to grow Vermont’s agriculture and food system by giving grants, promoting local food, and helping businesses and communities connect to useful resources.
We want to improve how we share information with people involved in Vermont’s food system, and we need your help. Please take this short, anonymous survey to let us know who we are reaching, what information you’d like to get from us, and how we can do better. It should only take 5 minutes to complete. Please only take this survey once.
Take the survey
Join the team of Dairy Extension Professionals from UMaine, UNH, and UVM for live monthly webinars held on the last Wednesday of each month from 11:30am-12:30pm. Sessions will focus on current dairy research and programs including interviews, presentations, and roundtable discussions.
Tune in live to join the conversation or find the recorded sessions on the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program YouTube channel. Upcoming webinar topics include: Low Carbon Dairy Program; Farm of the Year Awardees; and Virtual Fencing.
Learn more & register
Stay Informed on Key Ag Issues in Montpelier
The Vermont Legislature has been in session for over a month, and agriculture is a hot topic. Lawmakers are discussing key issues affecting agriculture such as avian influenza, manure spreading, working lands, agritourism, farm-to-school programs, and more.
Want to stay in the loop? Visit the Vermont Legislature's website to search for bills introduced in the House and Senate and check out the Vermont Senate Committee on Agriculture and Vermont House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry YouTube channels to hear the latest updates straight from the source.
Learn more
Join the Vermont Pavilion at Summer Fancy Food Show
Calling all Vermont specialty foods businesses! Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Vermont Specialty Foods Association invite you to join us in exhibiting at a Vermont Pavilion at the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show, taking place in New York City June 29 - July 1, 2025.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business-to-business trade shows for specialty food products. Buyers, distributors, and wholesalers from all over the world attend the show each year.
We have up to twenty 10' x 10' booths available within the Vermont Pavilion, with options for larger booths as well. Booth costs are $47 per square foot.
Learn more & reserve your spot
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
February
2/20 - Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant deadline
March
3/2 - Big E Vendor Application deadline
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View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov
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