New Tool for Tracking Local Food Prices! | Vermont Business Magazine

Submitted by tim on Mon, 11/14/2022 - 11:31

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has a new Local Food Pricing Dashboard. In conjunction with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, the Agency has collected years of pricing data for vegetables, meat, and eggs at farmers markets across the state. This dashboard provides an interactive visual to see how prices have changed from 2019 to the present.

Each week of the market reporting season (June to October) the data is updated to reflect recent price fluctuations. Some market items have more data than others, depending on its popularity and frequency at markets in Vermont.

The dashboard should aid farmers, retail outlets, organizations, and the public to make price comparisons, set competitive pricing, asses business value for insurance rates and loans, and allow consumers to make informed choices. You can find the dashboard on our website!

If you have questions about the pricing, the tool itself, or farmers markets in Vermont, please contact Drew Watson, Agriculture Development Specialist, at [email protected].

Click Here to See the Dashboard on Our Website

ARPA Primary Producer Impact Grant Pre-App

Pre-App Open for Working Lands Primary Producer Impact Grant

Are you a farmer, sugarmaker, or logger looking for grant funds to support your business?

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative ARPA Funded Primary Producer Grant application is now open! The goal of this grant is to support primary producers as they continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Producers of major agricultural and forest products can apply for $50k to $250K. This grant opportunity is possible due to federal ARPA funds appropriated by the legislature to the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. We will be awarding $1,000,000 this year (FY23) and $1 million next year (FY24).

Application Deadline: December 16th

USDA Dairy Margin Coverage Program and State Reimbursement Program

USDA Dairy Margin Coverage and State Reimbursement Programs

USDA has announced the sign up for the 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage Program. The deadline is December 9th. All interested dairy farmers should contact their county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office as soon as possible.

The Vermont Legislature also approved $2,600,000 to reimburse Vermont dairy farmers enrolled in the DMC for 2022 and 2023. It is estimated that there will be $1,100,000 remaining to provide reimbursement for the Tier I premiums in calendar year 2023.

The USDA Dairy Margin Coverage web site Decision Tool has also been updated with 2023 program payment forecasting.

Application Deadline: December 9th

Sign up for Land Management and Land Rental Activities

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation have announced a sign up for Land Management and Land Rental activities funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

$3.75 million is available to work with landowners interested in evaluating their land for participating in the program. The program represents an opportunity to implement conservation practices through voluntary conservation contracts.

Eligible ag and forest producers should use their local USDA Service Center to complete a program application.

Application Deadline: January 13th

Creating Your Ideal
Customer Profile Blog

It may seem counterintuitive but identifying a niche and narrowing your target audience can help you reach and attract more customers – and keep them for longer.

Humans are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information and advertisements every day. If you want to stand out, you need to speak directly to your customers’ individual values, challenges, and goals.

Learn how in this week’s Marketing and Agritourism Blog on Building Your Ideal Customer Profile!

View the full blog