The Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund Grant Application

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has partnered with the Vermont Community Foundation to create the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund. The purpose of the fund is to address critical needs of Vermont farms that sustained damage from Tropical Storm Irene, to help them continue or return to production.

Update, May 2012: The Community Foundation is working with the Agency of Agriculture, who is in turn working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to assess remaining needs among Vermont farmers. The Foundation expects to announce an additional grant round to assist farmers with their recovery; if you are in need of immediate assistance or have questions about this process, please call Philanthropic Advisor Ryan Torres at 802-388-3355 ext. 289 to discuss your situation.

Download the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund: Emergency Feed Assistance Application. [PDF]

Please follow the submission instructions on the application.

Timeline of Grant Round

Round 5 - Emergency Feed Assistance

Application deadline* - February 17
Grant checks mailed - By March 2

*Application and supporting documentation must be received at the Foundation on this date.
Depending on resources available, additional grant rounds may be added.

Eligibility

A farm will be considered eligible if:

it is located in Vermont,
it is committed to remaining in business,
it had gross annual sales of at least $20,000 in calendar year 2010, or it is a small or start-up farm that can demonstrate its investment and potential for growth, and
it has contacted the Vermont Farm Service Agency (FSA).

note: Individuals who received grants in previous rounds are eligible, although preference will be given to first time applicants.

Uses of Grants

Grants may be used to help meet critical needs by replacing feed lost as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, only to the extent those losses are not covered by insurance or can be covered by other sources of income. Grants cannot be used to help recover projected income from feed crops lost in the storm.

Grant Decisions

Grant decisions will be made in consultation with representatives from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, NOFA Vermont, Vermont Farm Bureau, Rutland Area Farm and Food Link, and University of Vermont Extension. Decisions will be made and checks will be mailed within two weeks of the application deadline.

Previous Grant Rounds
Round 1