In the gently rolling landscapes of the Champlain Valley, a small but dedicated farm thrives, buzzing with the gentle hum of bees going about their daily work. 

 

Meet one of the passionate beekeepers behind this operation: Bianca Braman, who has cultivated a deep connection with nature and the intricate world of bees. She co-owns Vermont Bees with her partner Adam Collins and his father Bruce. Their journey began in 2015 with just 12 colonies of bees, and through careful nurturing, their farm has flourished into a vibrant sanctuary for these essential pollinators.

 

We recently visited with Bianca, one of the newest members of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition. We learned a lot about bees, and the environmental and economic considerations that go into beekeeping!

Ready to cultivate success in your dairy farming journey? Join our new, vibrant community of young dairy farmers!

 

Whether you’re planting the first seeds of your career or growing your operation, our group provides the support, resources, and camaraderie you need to thrive. Connect with peers, access expert advice, and stay ahead with the latest innovations in sustainable farming practices. 

 

We’re gathering young dairy farmers from throughout the state to create the Young Dairy Farmer Group. Together, these farmers will work to address some of the biggest challenges facing their farms and the dairy industry 

 

As a member of our group, you will have the opportunity to:

 

Do you want to be a part of this exciting new initiative for young dairy farmers? Reach out today to:

 

 

More than 70 farmers, industry experts, research scientists, and policy makers joined us on April 10 for “Dairy Sustainability: Climate, Soil, & Water,” a day-long workshop we co-hosted with University of Vermont Extension and Cornell PRO-DAIRY in Middlebury. 

 

Workshop highlights included climate and environmental leadership, whole farm environmental assessments, managing enteric emissions, climate-smart manure management, building sustainability and resiliency in dairy cropping systems, and Vermont resources and policy. 

 

It was a very robust agenda, to say the least, and we’re very grateful to all of the scientists who shared their latest research with us. We recognize the risk climate change poses for agriculture and the role we need to play to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

The Expo offers two full days of tours, demonstrations, education sessions and networking, all delivering the latest and greatest in manure management solutions and technologies in the heart of the Finger Lakes region.

 

Day one includes offsite tours that showcase the innovative manure practices of the northeast, on-site demonstrations dedicated to agitation and safety, and plenty of industry networking.

 

Day two features educational sessions by industry experts, followed by solid and liquid manure application demonstrations, including a dragline application in corn and grassland injection.

 

For the full schedule, click here.

 

Registration is now open for tours and expo-passes. Take advantage of early-bird rates (that end June 15) and secure your spot on your preferred tour! 

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states. In New England the $10,000 award is presented with New England Forestry Foundation. This award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

 

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for what he called “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

 

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Landowners may also nominate themselves. CLICK HERE for the nomination application. 

 

The application deadline date is June 28, 2024. Applications should be emailed to award@sandcountyfoundation.org. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and forestry conservation leaders from New England.

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.

 

Priority is given to smaller farms and forest operations for practice implementation with a focus on agronomic and forestry water quality improvement practices, grazing, and feed management. Unique opportunities through RCPP include the following:

 

 

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.