How should the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets invest up to $500,000 in Vermont’s specialty crop industries? Thanks to a COVID-19 stimulus bill, the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is receiving additional funding in 2022 and they are seeking industry input on how to best utilize it.

Learn about our plan and share your thoughts by joining the Vermont Specialty Crop Stakeholder Webinar Call. You can also share your perspective by responding to this brief survey.

Stakeholder Call: Nov. 4 @ 2 p.m.

This grant will provide dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations with funds needed to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets.

Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized. Activities covered by this grant include accessing technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades.
Grants available of $10,000 - $40,000.

Deadline to Apply: Feb. 3

Join Rural Vermont for a two-part educational workshop on the slaughter and processing of poultry guided by Elizabeth Roma from Putting Down Roots Farm and Roma's Butchery.

Participants can choose to attend one or both workshops, which are being held back-to-back with an hour break in between. Each workshop is being held at a different location in the South Royalton area but within a short distance of each other. Participants get to take home their farm-fresh slaughtered and cut chicken. Registration is required to attend


Workshop: Nov. 6 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m