Rural Vermont Nears Milestone 1,000 Member Goal: Board of Directors Offer “Eat Like a Farmer” Promotion to Close the Gap
For the first time in its 30 year history, Rural Vermont is close to becoming 1,000 members strong! Rural Vermont's Board of Directors is helping to close the gap by putting a pretty delicious offer on the table. Make a contribution of at least $5 to Rural Vermont and be entered to "Eat Like a Farmer" - win a stockpile of fresh, fermented, and frozen food! Winner drawn at 11/22 Celebration Finale in Bethel.
Read More NOFA-VT’s Journey Farmer program accepting applications for 2016
Program for beginning farmers provides training, mentoring, educational stipend, and more
Read More 4th Annual Agricultural Literacy Week
NOFA-VT is excited to launch the 4th annual Agricultural Literacy Week, November 16-21, 2015
Read More USDA Increases Grant Funding to Nearly $1.5 Million for Innovative National Food Policy and Law Projects at Vermont Law School
VLS Center for Agriculture and Food Systems partners with Public Health Law Center, Rudd Center on state, local food policy innovations.
Read More ACORN Celebrates 10 Years with Annual Meeting at American Flatbread!
ACORN is ten years old! Inviting all community stakeholders to our Annual Meeting featuring Molly Anderson, Middlebury College Food Studies professor, present “Working Together for a Better Food System." Join us in our celebration and help us realize that "Vermont CAN Feed Itself!"
Read More Addison County Green Energy Business Grants
What would a $500 Green Energy Grant mean to your Addison County Business?
Read More Agency of Ag Releases Draft Agricultural Water Quality Rules for Public Input
Ten Public Meetings Across the State will Allow Stakeholders to Provide Feedback The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) has released a draft copy of the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) for a period of public comment which will run through December 18, 2015. This is a pre-filing period which will afford the opportunity for all interested stakeholders to review the Draft RAPs and provide initial comment before VAAFM will formalize the draft this winter and will then enter into the formal rulemaking process in the spring of 2016. Additional public comment periods will follow both the draft rewrite as well as the formal rulemaking period.
Read More Agency of Ag Announces $25,000 in Trade Show Grants Available to Vermont Farm, Food & Forestry Businesses
Today, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces the availability of $25,000 in grant funds for the Trade Show Assistance Grant. Part of VAAFM’s growing Domestic Export Program, the Trade Show Assistance Grant is designed to help expand out-of-state sales opportunities for Vermont farm, food, and forestry businesses by increasing the financial accessibility of national trade shows. Held annually throughout the United States, trade shows attract many thousands of retailers and represent a valuable opportunity for VT businesses to exhibit their products and connect with new out-of-state markets and distribution channels.
Read More Vermont NRCS announces Nov. 20 deadline for Vermont farmers to apply for assistance
Farmers wishing to utilize Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) financial assistance to implement conservation practices next spring should submit an application by the November 20th deadline.
Read More Vermont Livestock Care Standards Advisory Council Releases Humane Handling Best Practice Guidelines
The Vermont Livestock Care Standards Advisory Council is pleased to announce the availability of important bilingual educational materials, for use by Vermont’s cattle industry members, intended to help ensure the humane handling and transport of calves and cattle within Vermont. The release of these materials is the culmination of a year-long initiative undertaken by the Council that was supported by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Farm to Plate Network, and many other individuals and agricultural organizations within Vermont and New England.
Read More Sterling College Gets “Bird-Friendly” Recognition
The Virginia Russell Maple Sugarbush, abutting Sterling College’s campus and managed by its students and faculty, is home to over 200 maple taps and numerous species of birds. Both trees and birds will be able to coexist and thrive, thanks to the Bird-Friendly Maple Project, which just recognized the sugarbush as supporting both bird habitats and sugaring activity. The Bird-Friendly Maple Project is a partnership among Audubon Vermont, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, and the Vermont Maple Sugar Maker’s Association. It seeks to promote bird conservation and maple syrup production.
Read More Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets Will Lease Mobile Flash Freeze Unit to Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce the transfer of its mobile flash freeze unit to the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center (PHCC) in Middlebury, Vermont under a long-term lease agreement. PHCC will utilize this innovative food processing tool to flash freeze locally grown fruits and vegetables for long-term storage, and will partner with Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE), also of Middlebury, to distribute frozen produce through the Addison County Food Shelf.
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