The Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund

This fund was established in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to provide support to individual farmers who were affected by the flood. We are grateful to everyone who made contributions, organized fundraisers, and volunteered time in the name of helping farmers. Because of your generosity, we accomplished the following:

The numbers above are up-to-date as of 1/15/2013
Some farmers were awarded more than one grant

*Total Awarded figure includes a $50,000 grant, made possible by an individual donor’s contribution, to help fund a case manager at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture who will support farmers currently facing the greatest recovery needs and help develop a future emergency response plan.

The fund’s sixth and final round took place in August and early September 2012. The committee has now closed the fund to additional donations and is reviewing existing applications to distribute the remaining dollars. On behalf of the fund committee members and Vermont’s farming community, the Community Foundation thanks all those who contributed to the fund and supported farm recovery.

For those who are interested in supporting farmers while ensuring that all Vermont families have the opportunity enjoy locally produced food, the Vermont Community Foundation’s Food and Farm Initiative works with farmers and others who want to help families put nutritious, local food on the table regardless of where they live, what they earn, or how much they cook. This initiative will open new markets for farmers and help feed those Vermonters who currently do not have access to the food required to meet their basic nutritional needs. Learn more about the program or make a contribution.

There are other funds, not managed by the Vermont Community Foundation, which accept contributions to provide farmers with emergency assistance. These include:

• NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund – established in 1997 by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA VT), this emergency fund assists organic and NOFA member farmers adversely affected by natural and unnatural disasters through grants and zero-percent-interest loans.
• Vermont Farm Fund – The Vermont Farm Fund offers quick response, zero interest Emergency Loans of up to $10,000 help farmers get back on their feet quickly after a devastating loss due to an unexpected natural disaster that puts their farm or farming career in danger.

If you have questions, please contact us at 802-388-3355.