You’re invited! Join us for our Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 25, 2024, 5:30-9:00 p.m. Enjoy dinner, speakers, and connecting with friends in the agricultural community. It’s all happening at VFW Post 7823, 530 Exchange Street, Middlebury. More details to follow in the New Year.

Many thanks to Salem Farm Supply and Pivot Bio for generously sponsoring our meeting!

It may feel far away right now, but it will be time to update NMPs before we know it. Make sure to grab a manure sample this fall and get soil samples for all fields with outdated soil tests (greater than 3 years old). Click here for a refresher on how to take a manure sample. And stay tuned for NMP update sessions at the Middlebury office this winter!

 

Don’t have an NMP and are interested in learning more about nutrient management? UVM Extension hosts a 6-week nutrient management planning course in January and February. If you are interested in attending the class, let us know at your earliest convenience so we can enroll you and work with you to meet the pre-course requirements.

 

For assistance sampling, interest in the NMP class, and any other questions, reach out to Abby Augarten at (802) 656-7544 or Anna Elewski at (802) 656-7548.

Our friends at UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program are hosting several upcoming events and webinars related to soil health, water quality, and climate change!

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program deadline has been extended from November 1st to December 15th. If you are a certified organic producer or handler who has paid certification fees to become newly certified or re-certified, you may be eligible for cost-share reimbursement.

 

Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement of up to 75% of their direct certification costs paid annually, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. There are up to four eligible certification scopes (crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling), which must be individually inspected for organic certification to be eligible for reimbursement.

 

Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis. Click here for more information and to apply for reimbursement.

 

Grants of up to $50,000 are available through the Farm & Forest Viability Program to help Vermont farmers invest in water quality-related on-farm infrastructure.

 

Projects eligible for funding must make on-farm capital improvements that have direct, positive impacts on water quality.

 

Information zoom sessions will be held to answer questions on Monday, January 8th at 3:30pm. Applications are open and the application deadline is January 19th, 2024. Click here for more information.

 

The State of Vermont received a $16 million grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in 2015. In 2020, this grant was extended for five years with an additional $10 million in assistance to farmers and forest landowners. This program provides financial and technical assistance for the development and implementation of water quality improvement throughout Vermont. Funds are available for agricultural and forestry best management practices, for wetland restoration, and for agricultural, wetland, and forestry easements.

 

All Vermont farm and forest landowners are eligible, however strong priority for agricultural practice funding is given to small farmers (CSFO and SFO). Easement prioritization is based on water quality protection value and availability of funding.

 

Landowners who are interested in this RCPP program are encouraged to reach out to the RCPP planners with the VT Association of Conservation District. General programmatic questions may be directed to: Marli Rupe, Agricultural Water Quality Section Chief, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, marli.rupe@vermont.gov or 802-490-6171. Click here for more information. 

 

Provides pasture management technical assistance and financial assistance to Vermont farmers to improve water quality and on-farm livestock exclusion from surface waters statewide. Applications accepted year-round. Click here for more information.

 

Provides technical and financial assistance to Vermont farmers for in-field agronomic best practices to address critical source areas, erosion, and surface runoff. The Program’s goal is to reduce soil erosion and improve soil and water quality on cropland that contributes a disproportionately high level of nutrients in runoff. Such areas of cropland are considered “Critical Source Areas” (CSAs), representing a small proportion of the landscape yet a high proportion of nonpoint source pollution loads. Applications accepted year-round. Click here for more information.

 

A voluntary program designed to reduce sediment runoff and improve water quality by removing land from agricultural production and establishing vegetative buffers. State and federal funds are used to compensate landowners for the loss of productive agricultural land through upfront incentive payments and annual rental payments based on the total acreage dedicated to vegetated filter strips, forested buffers, or grassed waterways. Applications accepted year-round. Click here for more information.

 

The CRRP will provide funding for projects that make capital improvements or capital expansions that were delayed due to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. Eligible uses for these funds include the development of affordable housing, improvements to or new construction of childcare facilities, projects for nonprofits and small businesses in impacted industries*, and municipal water supply and wastewater projects. These recovery funds are intended to retain and expand existing businesses and nonprofit organizations with a preference for projects located in regions and communities with declining or stagnant grand list values. The application is now open and will remain open until all funds are allocated. Click here for more information.

 

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Applications accepted year-round. Click here for more information. Contact Tracy Rexford with any questions regarding REAP at  tracy.rexford@usda.gov.