Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Best Management Practices (BMP) Program provides technical and financial assistance to identify and assess farmstead water‑quality concerns and to help farmers implement structural improvements designed to reduce agricultural waste discharges to Vermont waters.
The BMP Program primarily focuses on structural practices located in farmstead and production areas. Examples of conservation practices eligible for cost‑share through the BMP Program include:
- Barnyard runoff collection
- Bedded pack facilities
- Composting stack pads
- Silage leachate collection
- Clean‑water diversion (e.g., gutters, ditches, French drains)
- Manure storage systems
- Milk‑house waste collection and treatment
All farms required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices are eligible to apply. The application is quick and easy.
Eligible projects are assessed every June to determine which will receive cost‑share funding for the following year’s construction season. Applications received by May 1 will receive an engineering consultation in the spring and will be considered for cost‑share ranking for the 2027 construction season.
The Vermont Barn Painting Project is returning for the 2026 season, offering support to farm families working to preserve their historic barns. With funding from the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund, the program reimburses barn owners for painting and minor repairs that keep these iconic structures strong and visually vibrant.
The 2026 application is open now through April 30. Ten barns will be selected for funding. Apply online or email [email protected].
Learn more
Economic Impact of Dairy in New England
New research funded by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center about the economic impact of dairy in New England is now available. This research examines the role of dairy farm production, processing, distribution, and markets to better understand the dairy industry’s economic contributions and future opportunities. It evaluates economic impacts, regional product flows, pricing dynamics across the value chain, and the effectiveness of public investments supporting the sector.
Read the report
Join the Vermont Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show
This is the last call to join the Vermont Pavilion at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City from June 28–30. The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business‑to‑business trade events for specialty food products. Buyers, distributors, and wholesalers from around the world attend the show each year.
In addition to benefiting from the Vermont brand, Pavilion members will join a community of Vermont businesses exhibiting at the show and will be invited to join preshow calls to help them prepare and to support networking and resource sharing among businesses.
Sign up by May 1
Exhibit at the Vermont Specialty Food Association Producer Expo
The Vermont Specialty Food Association is hosting the first-ever VSFA Producer Expo on May 4 in Montpelier, VT — a new business-to-business trade show connecting Vermont producers with buyers, retailers, distributors, chefs, and industry partners.
Producers will showcase their products, connect with buyers, and grow their wholesale business in a Vermont-based, accessible trade show environment. Buyers and industry professionals will discover Vermont-made products, meet producers face-to-face, and take advantage of show-only wholesale pricing and incentives.
Register today
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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