The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has released the 2025 Vermont Agriculture Drought Survey Report and an accompanying interactive Power BI data dashboard.
Between October 17 and December 15, 2025, the survey received 198 responses from agricultural businesses, representing all 14 counties. Estimated losses exceed $15.4 million on nearly 78,000 acres located across 109 Vermont towns.
The 2025 drought is the third consecutive growing season farmers have suffered extreme weather events that have impacted their business operation, land base, workforce, and overall viability.
Survey participants reported significant impacts to their businesses across Vermont’s agricultural industries, but the greatest impact was from production losses:
- 85% of respondents experienced lower crop yields or total crop failure
- 51% experienced insufficient pasture for forage
- 63% reported feed shortages going into winter 2025/2026
- 30% purchased and/or hauled water for the first time ever
- 27% reported reduced production from animals
Moderate drought conditions persist in 2026, and many business and landscape impacts are not yet fully understood. These impacts are complicated to measure over a short period, given that long-term effects are likely.
VAAFM is contemplating the options available to capture the lasting effects of this drought on the agricultural community. VAAFM will continue to work to understand the needs of Vermont’s agricultural communities and facilitate support to recover from yet another significant weather event.
Caledonia County Winter Farm Meet
Caledonia County farmers are invited to connect with fellow farmers and discuss emerging topics in Northern Vermont agriculture and new farming technologies with experts from around the state on March 20.
The event will feature presentations on frontiers in weed management with Brendan Noons, UVM Extension; the role of fungal allies in reducing climate change impacts in annual and perennial cropping systems with Sang Cho, Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies; and research updates from the Northwest Crops and Soils Program with Dr. Heather Darby, UVM Extension.
Learn more and RSVP
Scholarship to Support Training in Logging and Forest Trucking
A new scholarship is available for Vermont residents or Vermont companies who want training in the logging or forest trucking industry. The scholarship is funded by Vermont’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative and run by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast.
Up to three Vermont residents who apply to the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program in Maine — and are accepted — can then apply for a $10,000 scholarship. This money can help cover living or work‑related costs while they attend the 20‑week training program.
Learn more
The Franklin and Grand Isle Farmer’s Watershed Alliance, the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District, and Scott Magnan’s Custom Services are hosting a Precision Agriculture Workshop on March 12 in St. Albans.
Participants can earn custom applicator of manure water‑quality credits and learn about precision‑ag record keeping, granular fertilizer application, yield data use, and preventative equipment maintenance. Lunch will be provided. A certification session will follow for those needing custom applicator of manure certification. Registration is required.
RSVP today
Alternative Land Access and Business Structure Webinars
Join NOFA-VT for two more webinars in their Alternative Land Access and Business Structure series. The next webinars will be on March 10 with West Branch Commons and April 14 with Commons Land.
With the cost of land rising to a level that makes farming inaccessible to those without agricultural backgrounds or generational wealth, the workshops will consider questions about decommodifying land, working cooperatively, fundraising, building community, creating legal structures, and more.
Learn more and register
Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
March
3/30 - Specialty Crop Block Grant application due
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov
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