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Events, News & Jobs
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News
Vermont Farm to School Conference Gathers 250 Local and National Leaders to Listen, Learn, and Develop Plans to Grow Farm to School Throughout Vermont
Over 250 local and national farm to school leaders gathered together this week at the 2016 Vermont Farm to School Conference to learn about the positive impacts of Farm to School programming, sample local cuisine, and help shape the future of farm to school in Vermont. Held over the course of two days at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont, the conference featured talks by US Senator Patrick Leahy, USDA Farm to School and Community Food Systems Director Deborah Kane, and Executive Director of Child Nutrition of Detroit Public Schools Betti Wiggins.
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture Grants Over $237K to Benefit Specialty Crop Producers
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $237,845 for seven projects to benefit Vermont fruit, vegetable, and added-value producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to four agricultural organizations to undertake a range of technology development, research, education, marketing, and program-building projects. The grants will leverage an additional $167,000 in matching funds.
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture Awarded $500,000 to Develop Produce Safety Program
On September 9, 2016, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) awarded the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets $500,000 to develop a Vermont State Produce Safety Program. The award will support Vermont in its collaboration with FDA to cooperatively implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. $500,000 is the first award of a planned five-year, $3.625 million investment in Vermont’s program by FDA, pending Congressional budget allocation.
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VT Farmers Can Receive Financial Assistance to Install Structural Practices that Protect and Improve Water Quality
The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont is encouraging producers to submit applications for financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). While EQIP is offered through a continuous signup, NRCS makes periodic funding selections. The last application cut-off date for farmstead practices to be funded in 2017 is February 17, 2017.
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New England Food Co-ops Collaborate to Improve “Healthy Food Access” in their Communities
October is National Co-op Month and New England’s food co-ops are joining more than 30,000 co-ops and credit unions across the US to celebrate the many ways co-operatives help to build strong communities. Over 15 food co-ops in New England are partnering with the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, the Cooperative Fund of New England, and Hunger Free Vermont to launch and expand “Healthy Food Access” initiatives, helping thousands of people put healthy food on their tables. Read more in the full media release below about the kinds of needs-based discounts co-ops are offering to address issues of food insecurity and malnutrition in their communities.
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The Cas-Cad-Nac Farm Cookbook Featuring Vermont-Raised Alpaca Wins New England Regional Printing Award of Excellence
Cas-Cad-Nac Farm, a nationally recognized alpaca breeding farm owned by Ian and Jennfier Lutz in Perkinsville, VT, is pleased to announce that its recently published cookbook, The Cas-Cad-Nac Farm Cookbook, won a first place Pinnacle Award for Best of Category at the Print Industries of New England (PINE) Annual Awards of Excellence in Boston.
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VHCB Grants Address Water Quality and Help Farmers Transfer Farms to the Next Generation
Funding commitments at the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board's October meeting will lead to conservation of five farms, each with water-quality related easement provisions. Two farms will be transferred to new owners. In Waitsfield, pending further fundraising, a town forest will see an addition of 110 acres.
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USDA Funded Project Will Help VT Dairy Farmers Minimize Impact to Climate Change
In Vermont, a $1.2 million Conservation Innovation Grant was awarded to NativeEnergy, Inc. to implement a mobile manure solids separation project. The grant from USDA-NRCS will enable NativeEnergy to implement an innovative approach to improve dairy farms’ manure management, reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) at the farm, and capture and remove excess nutrients.
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Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program Tackles Water Quality
The Viability Program awarded $65,000 in Dairy Improvement Grants for on-farm improvements that increase water quality. A new grant round for members of the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery and Dairy Farmers of America to make on-farm improvements is open for applications.
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Agency of Ag Celebrates Farm to School Awareness Month with State Leaders and Announce New Grant Funding for Universal Meals
In honor of Farm to School Awareness Month, which begins October 1st, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) gathered together today with Vermont Farm to School leaders at Winooski School District to celebrate the impacts of Farm to School programming and to announce new grant funding for Universal Meals in Vermont schools.
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Agency of Ag Announces Statewide Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Grant Program
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (AAFM) is pleased to announce the first ever Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Ag Clean Water Initiative Program (Ag-CWIP). The Ag-CWIP will provide new opportunities for farmers and organizations to undertake projects that will achieve reductions in nutrient runoff from agricultural lands, with a priority for projects which reduce phosphorus losses statewide.
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Local Grass-Fed Beef Business Doubles Acreage through Conservation
Cheryl and Marc Cesario, farmers of Meeting Place Pastures in Cornwall, purchased 90 acres from their neighbor, Matt Bonner, who had conserved the land with the Vermont Land Trust in order to make it more affordable to the Cesarios.
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