Resources for Flood Response & Recovery | Vermont Business Magazine

Submitted by tim on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 04:22

A Message from Secretary Tebbetts

Well, here we are.

It’s hard to imagine that just one year after extreme flooding we are again facing severe weather issues and more flooding. Many of our farmers, producers and citizens were once again hit with damage.

All of us at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets are thinking of you during this difficult time. Our team is contacting the farm community, and we will continue to stay close once we arrive at the recovery stage.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or issues, you may email us at [email protected] or you can call the Agency at 802-828-2430. You can also visit our flooding response and recovery website to find important resources and guidance.

It’s important that we stay connected and check on each other. There will be stress and mental health challenges. If you need support, please contact Farm First or call 211. Farm First is a free program providing farmers and their families with support, resources and information to reduce stress.

Please take care of yourself and neighbors. We know the coming days will be difficult, but, as we did last year, we will pull together and try to lighten the load.

Be well,
Anson

Flood Recovery Resources

Next Steps for Farms Impacted by Flooding

What farmers impacted by flooding should do now:

1. Document damage to your farm from flooding and severe storms that began July 10, 2024 to the best of your ability.

2. Report damage, including any damage to your home on the Vermont 211 website or call 2-1-1.

3. Contact your county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Service Center to determine which federal agricultural disaster programs you may qualify for and submit relevant documentation.

4. Prepare to share information about your losses and damages in the Vermont Agency of Agriculture 2024 Flooding Loss & Damage Survey, which will be sent out in the next week.

Learn More

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Equipment-only Grant

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has grant funds available through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program to support specialized equipment purchases that will strengthen the middle of the food supply chain in Vermont.

Eligible equipment purchases must help Vermont farms and food businesses to increase market access, diversify product offerings, and/or increase production quantities.

Awards will range from $30,000 to $100,000, with no match commitment. Approximately $1 million in total funds are available for this grant round.

The Request for Applications will be released in mid-August, and VAAFM will host a Grant Applicant Webinar on August 20th at 11am EST.

Learn More

Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers to Meet

The Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (ACMF) will meet on July 23rd - July 25th in Tarrytown, NY to consider USDA programs and policies and their impacts on minority farmers.

The ACMF will then recommend action-oriented strategies to maximize the participation of minority farmers in USDA programs and services.

The public is invited to attend in person or virtually, and are welcomed to provide written or verbal testimony.

Meeting details, including the agenda, will be available on the ACMF web page. For more information, contact RJ Cabrera at [email protected].

Pre-register by July 22nd

Farm Agronomic Practices Application Due Soon

The Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) program from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets supports hundreds of Vermont farmers every year to install conservation practices like cover cropping and manure injection. FAP is relatively flexible, easy to access, and provides flat per-acre payments to help support the cost of conservation practices.

For example, FAP can provide $45/acre to support cover crops that are drilled or incorporated, or $30/acre to support manure injection or cover crops that are broadcast or inter-seeded.

Applications for practices planned between now and the end of 2024 are due August 1st.

Apply Now

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

August
8/1 - Farm Agronomic Practices application deadline
8/8 - Dairy Processor Modernization Grant deadline
8/20 - RFSI Equipment-only Grant Applicant Webinar

September
9/5 - New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant deadline

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View the VAAFM Grants Calendar