Attention Vermont Food Truck Owners!
The Vermont Building at The Big E in West Springfield, MA, is looking for Vermont-based food trucks to serve up delicious eats this September!
This is a huge opportunity to showcase your food to thousands of fairgoers.
Don’t miss out! Apply now!
Deadline: March 2nd
Click Here to Find Out More: https://buff.ly/4gPMiKG
by Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts
Investing in our food and forest economy is great for Vermont. One of Vermont’s signature programs is the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. Once again Governor Phil Scott has proposed allocating $1 million dollars to this economic development program. If we look at the history the results are impressive in all of Vermont’s 14 counties.
Since 2012, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative has supported Vermont agriculture and forestry businesses with critical investments that have grown their businesses. 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 economy. It’s supporting new and legacy businesses, helping them buy critical equipment or providing them with services. We track the results in a detailed impact report.
You can read it here https://workinglands.vermont.gov/document/fy24-impact-report.
With ongoing support from Governor Scott and the Vermont Legislature, farm, and forest businesses from all regions of Vermont have generated tens of millions in new economic activity, helped strengthen local supply chains, and invested in the future of Vermont’s working lands. Investing in the food and forest economy is important for Vermont. It invests in our neighbors and communities. The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative has proven it creates jobs and provides Vermonters with local food and products. If we want to grow our rural economy, we need to continue investing in our working lands. We are hopeful that the legislature will continue to invest in Working Lands because it’s making a difference across the Green Mountains.
Anson Tebbetts | Secretary, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Read all the March 2025 Agriview Articles Here
Vermont Celebrates Weights & Measures Week March 1 – 7, 2025
By Marc Paquette and Scott Dolan, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
State and local jurisdictions throughout the country are celebrating Weights and Measures Week which takes place on the first seven days of March each year. The date for Weights and Measures Week commemorates the signing of the first United States weights and measures law by President John Adams on March 2, 1799. This year the Vermont Weights & Measures program, located in the VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets, would like to highlight the Metrology component of the program.
Metrology not Meteorology
Knowing the weather ahead of time and taking for granted that everything you buy, or sell is based on standard quantities are both invaluable serves provided by a mix of public and private entities. Metrology is the science of weights and measures, which is completely distinct from meteorology, the science of weather forecasting and atmospheric analysis.
Forty-two states operate metrology laboratories that diligently provide calibration services to countless public and private organizations. Nationally, these laboratories provide calibrations for mass, volume, length, frequency, thermometry, and density standard. Notably, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) even maintains a one-million-pound weight for calibrating extremely large force sensors. These state-run metrology laboratories, supported by the NIST Office of Weights and Measures, have formed the foundation for consistency and confidence in all commerce and weights and measures enforcement programs in the United States and beyond.
Everyone employed as a metrologist in one of these state-run NIST-recognized metrology laboratories must have completed over 160 hours of on-site training at the NIST Campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Additionally, they are required to attend annual training provided by NIST around the country. During the first week of June in 2025, NIST will be holding its National Measurement Assurance Program Training in Portland, Oregon. As part of NIST’s Measurement Assurance Program, all labs must submit reports annually and complete proficiency tests in a range of measurement categories to prove they continue to meet NIST’s rigorous standards.
The Vermont Metrology Laboratory, located at Vermont Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory (VAEL) in Randolph Center, provides calibration services to 137 different organizations across the Northeast United States. These services encompass a range of measurements, including calibrations of mass standards between 1 mg (shown in figure 2) and 7000 lb (shown in figure 3), volume standards from 5 gallons to 200 gallons, and hydrometers used by the maple industry in Vermont and beyond. These artifacts must undergo annual calibration to maintain the required precision and accuracy for their continued use.
To give you an idea of the required precision and accuracy when carrying out this work, three examples are provided.
- When calibrating a 7000 lb weight cart (a device used to test large truck and hopper scales) our instrument takes reading in increments of 0.011 lb (or 5 g).
- When calibrating a 1 lb weight, we take measures down to 0.0000022 lb (or 1 mg) to ensure that 1 lb weight is within the 0.000154 lb (or 70 mg) tolerance for commercial field work.
- When calibrating a 1 mg weight, readings are taken to the 0.1 μg (we are not providing the pound equivalent here because there are too many zeros).
Most of the companies we service provide calibration services for gas pumps, oil and propane delivery trucks, and scales of all sizes that people use every day. We also offer calibration services to private manufacturers. Each year, the lab certifies that over 2000 weights and over 100 volume standards meet the requirements for use in the weights and measures field.
In Vermont, all maple syrup and sap hydrometers sold must undergo testing in the metrology lab for accuracy before they can legally be sold in the State of Vermont. We receive on average 8,000 maple hydrometer each year from US, European and Chinese manufacturers.
Metrology is a largely invisible part of everyone’s life even if most days our labs are behind closed doors.
For more information, please contact Scott Dolan by email at [email protected] or by phone at 802-522-5415
Read all the March 2025 Agriview Articles Here
Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is now OPEN for 2025 Nominations
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame! Nominations can be made electronically through www.VTAgHallOfFame.org. Nominations will be accepted in three categories: Emerging Leaders, Ag Innovators, and The Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations will be accepted by Friday, March 24th, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
With over 100 Vermonter’s recognized in the last 23 years, the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is ready to accept your thoughtful, quality nominations for 2025! All are welcome to submit a nomination at a chance to honor Vermont farmers, producers and people dedicated to supporting Vermont’s working landscapes. Prior nominations do not carry over; please resubmit your nomination for consideration again.
Any person who is or has significantly contributing to farming in Vermont – whether they own or work on a farm or provide direct support, is eligible for nomination. Individuals, partners, families and collectives – including members of the farmworker community – are contenders and will be reflected on.
Inductees will be honored at the annual luncheon hosted during the Champlain Valley Fair in late summer.
The three categories are as defined:
Emerging Leader: This category highlights those who are stepping up to become the next generation of agricultural leaders in Vermont. Age 40 or younger (born after January 1, 1985), these individuals demonstrate a deep commitment to Vermont’s working landscape and are poised to lead our Ag community into the future. They are remarkable for their service, youthful energy, and dedication to Vermont agriculture.
Ag Innovator: Those in consideration for this category have demonstrated a fresh and forward-thinking approach to agriculture. They are making or have made a significant, positive impact on Vermont, in areas such as, but not limited to: growing the local economy, promoting stewardship and conservation, improving community health and nutrition, developing new tools and practices, and using alternative models in business and land ownership. They are notable for their unique perspective and unconventional approach. (Age is not a factor for consideration in this category.)
Lifetime Achievement: This category recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement, improvement, or development of Vermont agriculture over the course of their long career. Nominees shall have played an active role in Vermont agriculture for at least thirty years.
To nominate an ag leader for the 2025 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame visit the website at www.vtaghalloffame.org. The nomination form is available electronically or to print.
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