Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition

Milk Quality Workshop
2023-05-06 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | UVM Miller Farm, 500 Spear Street, So. Burlington, VT, 05403, United States
Presented by the UVM Ag Viability Program. Details to be determined. Contact Whitney at whitney.hull@uvm.edu or 802-279-7517 for more details and to sign up.

Tile Drainage Workshop
2023-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
This virtual workshop, hosted by Cornell University, features researchers Laura Klaiber of Miner Institute and Dr. Joshua Faulkner from University of Vermont, who will share information related to tile drainage on farms in the Northeast as well as help give context to the larger topic of water, soil and nutrients in our agricultural watersheds. Strategies to understand and mitigate impacts to water quality will be presented.
There is no cost to attend this workshop, but pre-registration is required by April 14, 2023.

Navigating Biological Products on Your Farm
2023-04-18 10:00 - 11:30 | UVM Extension – Middlebury, 23 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT, 05753
There is growing interest in biological products as tools to increase crop yields, improve nutrient use efficiency, or bolster crop resilience to stress, but a lot of uncertainty remains if these products are a worthwhile investment for farmers. UVM Extension’s Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture team will provide a brief presentation on biological products, research on their efficacy from other institutions, and important considerations when deciding if a biological product is right for your farm. For farmers interested in trialing a product, this session will cover tips for setting up an on-farm trial and what assistance UVM Extension can provide. There will be time for discussion and for everyone to share their experiences and interests regarding biological products.
Coffee and donuts will be provided! Kindly RSVP to Abby Augarten at abigail.augarten@uvm.edu or via phone at 802-656-7544. Unable to make the meeting and interested in learning more? Email Abby to receive an informational handout.

Dairy Financial Tri-state Workshop
2023-04-03 10:00 - 2023-04-04 14:00 | UVM Extension – Barre, 327 U.S. 302, Barre, VT, 05641, United States
In this two-day event hosted by UVM Extension, educators Joanna Lidback and Tony Kitsos will help farmers calculate cost of production and breakeven milk price, discuss and learn about diversification options, and explore risk management.
This is a free event with lunch included. Ag service providers are encouraged to register, but priority will be given to dairy producers. Space is limited, and registration is required.
Contact Whitney Hull at whitney.hull@uvm.edu with questions.

Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) Update Session
2023-02-28 10:00 - 14:00, 2023-02-17 10:00 - 14:00 | UVM Extension – Middlebury, 23 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT, 05753
Update sessions are for farmers who have already created an NMP and have a goCrop account. NMP’s must be updated every year to stay in compliance with State of Vermont Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs).
You’ll be able to:
-update your spring/summer/fall 2022 records in goCrop
-roll over your 2022 into a 2023 plan and make any necessary changes
-print reports and records and fill out any reporting required for the state
These are informal sessions where you can get technical support from UVM Extension and work in a quiet space to get your updates done. NMP update sessions are free, but the goCrop account must be renewed every year online for $249. Coupon codes may be available; please contact UVM Extension for more information.

Custom Applicator Training
2023-02-10 10:00 - 11:30 | UVM Extension – Middlebury, 23 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT, 05753
If your custom applicator certification has lapsed or you have a new employee that needs to be certified, you may be interested in attending this custom applicator certification opportunity. Contact Lindsey Ruhl at lruhl@uvm.edu or (802) 391-4546 by Feb 3rd to reserve your spot. The event is free but please be aware that there is a $30 certification fee to VAAFM.

Annual Meeting
2023-01-31 18:00 - 21:00 | VFW Post 7823, 530 Exchange Street, Middlebury, VT, 05753
Agenda

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Registration + Cocktails (Cash Bar)

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Dinner (Choice of Ham or Lasagna)

7:00 – 7:15 p.m. Welcome

Introduction and Welcome, Brian Kemp

CVFC Plans & Priorities, Vijay Nazareth

7:15 – 8:15 p.m. Featured Speakers

Anson Tebbetts, VAAFM

Julie Moore, ANR

Travis Thomason, NRCS

Roy Beckford, UVM Ext

8:15 – 9:00 p.m. Business Matters

Media & Communications Update, Sarah Audet

UVM Ext. Introductions, Abigail Augarten & Anna Elewski

Board Nominations, Brian Kemp

Marie Audet, Blue Spruce Farm*

Ray Brands, Deer Valley Farm*

Eric Clifford, Clifford Farm*

LeAnna Compagna, Scholten Farm

David Conant, Conant’s Riverside Farm*

Ben Dykema, Wilcon Farm*

Peter James, Monument Farms*

Jon Lucas, Lucas Dairy

Ramsay Mellish, Cutting Hill Beef Company

*Indicates Current Board Member

9:00 p.m. Meeting Adjourned

Click here to register

Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) Update Session
2023-01-31 10:00 - 14:00 | UVM Extension – Middlebury, 23 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT, 05753
Update sessions are for farmers who have already created an NMP and have a goCrop account. NMPs must be updated every year to stay in compliance with State of Vermont Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs).
You’ll be able to:
-update your spring/summer/fall 2022 records in goCrop
-roll over your 2022 into a 2023 plan and make any necessary changes
-print reports and records and fill out any reporting required for the state
These are informal sessions where you can get technical support from UVM Extension and work in a quiet space to get your updates done. NMP update sessions are free, but the goCrop account must be renewed every year online for $249. Coupon codes may be available; please contact UVM Extension for more information.

Addison County Farm Bureau Legislative Forum
2022-09-22 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 85 S Maple St., Vergennes, VT, 05491
The Addison County Farm Bureau would like to cordially invite you as an Addison County voter to our Public Forum on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Parish Hall in Vergennes. This will be an opportunity to meet directly with legislative candidates, introduce yourselves, find out why they are running and answer your questions.
The format will be: Moderated, In Person, timed, and informal. The Moderator will ask each candidate to introduce themselves and summarize their candidacy within a two minute time limit. The audience will be asked to clearly print questions on a 3X5 card provided at entry for the Moderator to ask. There will be an answer time limit of two minutes for each candidate that wishes to answer.
Ice Cream Social to follow.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Hall will be open until 9 p.m. for those of you who would like to visit with your potential representatives.

Pivot Bio Demo at Foster Brothers Farm
2022-09-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Foster Brothers Farm, 58 Lower Foote St., Middlebury, VT, 05734, United States
Join us at Foster Brothers Farm in Middlebury to learn more about Pivot Bio, a new product that delivers plant-ready nitrogen as an alternative to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.
Nitrogen is a critical building block for all life, including plants. Farmers have come to rely on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in order to feed the world’s growing population. Without it, 50% of our food supply would not exist!
Unfortunately, the production of synthetic nitrogen accounts for 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions and much of it winds up in our waterways, lakes, and oceans.
To address these mounting concerns, Pivot Bio has created a product that aims to boost farmer productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, and sustainably feed the world’s increasing population.
Dan Mower, Territory Sales Manager for Pivot Bio, will be on hand to talk about the story behind the product and how the company provides an efficient nitrogen source for farmers. We’ll take a close look at a field at Foster Brothers Farm where Pivot Bio has been applied. We’ll also check out the farm’s robotic milking system.
RSVP: By Friday, September 2, email info@cvfc-vt.com or call/text 802-989-6712
Light refreshments will be served.

#Farm24VT
2022-05-18 05:00 - 2022-05-19 05:00 | VT
#Farm24VT is a 24-hour social media celebration of agriculture, food, and dairy in Vermont. Farmers, agribusinesses, food producers, and others in the agricultural community will be sharing photos, videos, and stories on social media to show how your favorite local foods get to your table. You can easily find their posts by searching for the #Farm24VT hashtag. We’re also giving away lots of great Vermont food and farm products during our celebration, including a year’s supply of Cabot Cheese!

Follow #Farm24VT on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you’re a Vermont farmer, agribusiness, food producer, or involved in the Vermont agricultural community, you’re welcome to participate! Learn More + Register

If you’re an individual or family hungry to learn more about Vermont agriculture, then you’re invited, too! Sit back, relax, and enjoy all the behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and stories from the Vermont farming community. Learn More + Register

#Farm24VT is a project of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition and the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance.

Take Your Social Media Presence to the Next Level: An Intermediate’s Guide
2022-04-07 10:00 - 11:15 | Zoom
To help Vermont farmers, food producers, and agribusinesses get ready for #Farm24VT, our friends at New England Dairy are offering a series of social media workshops this spring. All workshops are free and open to anyone involved in Vermont agriculture (not just dairy). Registration is now open!
If you manage your farm or agribusiness’ social media account and want to create more impactful and engaging content, this training is for you! You’ll learn proven ways to increase your followers, create more engaging content, and be sure that your “likes” aren’t just from your friends in agriculture.
After you complete this FREE 75-minute training you’ll know how to:

Best utilize advanced functions of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Dip your toe into the world of TikTok videos and Instagram Reels
Look like a pro when you “go live” on Facebook and Instagram
Get out of the “ag bubble” and reach a larger target audience
Develop post ideas and topics for the upcoming #Farm24VT campaign

Register Here

Take the Mystery Out of Social Media Marketing: A Beginner’s Guide
2022-03-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
To help Vermont farmers, food producers, and agribusinesses get ready for #Farm24VT, our friends at New England Dairy are offering a series of social media workshops this spring. All workshops are free and open to anyone involved in Vermont agriculture (not just dairy). Registration is now open!
You’re short on time and building a social media following for your farm or agribusiness seems overwhelming. We’re here to take the mystery and stress out of building a successful social media following and will help you turn it into something you enjoy doing to build trust and transparency in your business.
After you complete this FREE 60-minute training you’ll know how to:

Use the most important features of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Create compelling content that your followers will engage with
Build your following and bring in new followers consistently
Participate in the upcoming #Farm24VT campaign

Register Here

Vermont's Farmer Watershed Organizations Annual Meeting
2022-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Come one, come all! Vermont’s farmer watershed organizations invite you to our joint Annual Meeting.
That’s right: the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, and the Franklin and Grand Isle Farmer’s Watershed Alliance will present an evening filled with hot topics, updates on Vermont’s agricultural landscape, lively discussion, networking, and door prizes. We’re also excited to tell you about the second annual #Farm24VT, a social media outreach event celebrating agriculture in Vermont later this spring.
At our Annual Meeting, you will learn about:

What’s happening in Vermont agriculture;
Successes and opportunities for stewardship from Farmers for Sustainable Food, a farmer-led organization based in Wisconsin;
The work our three organizations and our members have done over the past year to implement innovative agricultural practices that protect and improve water quality and soil health throughout the state;
The challenges we have faced as a result of the pandemic, and what opportunities exist for us as individual organizations and as collaborators;
How you can get involved with #Farm24VT;
and more!

Featured guests include Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets, as well as Lauren Brey, Farmer, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Sustainability of the Dairy Business Association, and Managing Director of Farmers for Sustainable Food in Wisconsin. Farmers for Sustainable Food is a collaborative, nonprofit organization that provides resources, advocacy, support and empowerment for farmers who are innovating and demonstrating sustainable farming practices during a time of increased interest in agriculture and food origins.
The evening will conclude with several door prize drawings to thank the community for joining in the discussion.
You won’t want to miss it!
Click here to register
Click here to download the agenda

VT Pay for Phosphorous Program Apps Due
2022-01-31 | VT
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce that it has recently opened applications for the new Vermont Pay for Phosphorus (VPFP) Program, which will be one of the first of its kind in the United States.

This statewide program, which is supported by a $7 million grant award from the national USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA), will provide $4.9 million in payments to Vermont farms over 4 years.

Applications are due January 31.

Farms must manage annual crop or hay land, have an up-to-date Nutrient Management Plan that meets the RAPs for their farm size, and meet state and federal eligibility requirements to participate for Calendar Year 2022.

There are two types of payment available:

First-time enrollees, regardless of phosphorus reductions, are eligible for a one-time management planning and data entry payment of $15 for every acre of data entry successfully completed — up to a cap of $4,000.

Farms whose data has been entered can choose to be entered into a competitive pool for annual contracts for performance-based phosphorus reduction payments. These annual payments will compensate farms with $100 per pound of eligible phosphorus reductions in 2022, up to an annual cap of $50,000.

Click here to learn more and apply online.

Questions? Contact Brodie Haenke at Brodie.Haenke@vermont.gov or (802) 636-7852.

VHCB Water Quality Grant Due
2022-01-21 | VT
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program is offering grants of up to $40,000 to help Vermont farmers invest in water quality-related on-farm infrastructure. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on January 21, 2022. Learn More + Apply

Info Session: VHCB Water Quality Grants
2022-01-12 16:00 - 18:00, 2021-12-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program provides grants of up to $40,000 to help Vermont farmers invest in water quality-related on-farm infrastructure. Applications are due January 21, 2022. Learn More + Apply
Ahead of the deadline, VHCB will host two virtual information sessions on December 7 and January 12. Register

CVFC Board of Directors December Meeting
2021-12-08 09:30 - 12:00 | VT
The CVFC Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of each month. This month’s meeting will be held at a location TBD. Members of the coalition are welcome to arrive at 10:30 a.m., and the general public is welcome to arrive at 11:00 a.m. For full details or to RSVP, contact Kirsten Workman at Kirsten.Workman@uvm.edu.

CVFC Board of Directors November Meeting
2021-11-04 09:30 - 12:00 | VT

Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) Applications Due
2021-11-01 | VT
Financial assistance is available through VAAFM for new or innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure. Applications are due in November. Learn more at: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap

Fall Field Day at Borderview Farm
2021-10-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Borderview Farm, 487 Line Road, Alburgh, VT, 05440, United States
Come learn about the latest research in small grains, cover crops, soil health, and forages. We will be touring research trials evaluating perennial grass varieties, fall forages, stockpiled forages, and a variety of cover crop trials. Roy Desrochers, UVM Sensory Expert, will also provide a fun and educational session tasting and describing local grains!
We will also be having a dedication of the new E.E. Cummings Crop Testing Lab and celebrating the lives of our friends Erica Cummings, Ken Van Hazinga, and Jack Lazor. Join us to remember and celebrate their love of agriculture and our small farming community.
Field Day Registration is Free but we do ask you to please pre-register at https://2021fallfieldday.eventbrite.com by October 20, 2021. Maximum number of 80 registrants allowed. Rain or shine, please dress appropriately and bring your own water.

Field Day: Making Pasture Work
2021-10-13 11:00 - 13:00 | Meeting Place Pastures, 1683 West Street, Cornwall, VT, United States
You’re invited to CVFC’s next Field Day at Meeting Place Pastures in Cornwall! Join us in learning about raising dairy heifers on pasture. Paul Knox of Knoxland Farm (Bradford, VT) and Cheryl & Marc Cesario of Meeting Place Pastures will share their experiences custom grazing dairy heifers and how this might fit in to your herd management system as a way to raise healthy young stock efficiently, effectively, and with a solid financial bottom line. Paul will share why he grazes heifers while Cheryl & Marc will show us how to maximize profitability by grazing intensively to provide growing animals with high quality forage in the pasture. You will have the opportunity to see Paul’s heifers and the Cesarios’ pastures, ask questions, and troubleshoot how to implement this system effectively.

Snacks and beverages will be provided. Please follow the parking signs on site. Kindly RSVP by emailing info@cvfc-vt.com.

CVFC Board of Directors October Meeting
2021-10-07 09:30 - 12:00 | VT

Landscapes that Work for All of Life: Growing Community and Climate Resilience by Regenerating the Soil Sponge
2021-09-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
This virtual workshop, led by Didi Pershouse, will deepen each participant’s understanding of whole-systems landscape function and effective land management, with a focus on water and the soil sponge. Biology creates a natural sponge in healthy soils and grasslands that slows and sinks water on a total landscape scale–providing resilience in times of flooding and drought. Many of our current economic, social, and climate concerns are due to a degradation of our country’s soils, in particular it’s sponge-like structure or “tilth.”
In this introductory class we will consider these questions:

What is the soil sponge, and how is it different from soil carbon?
Can a healthy soil sponge really address our climate, environmental and social concerns?

Resilience to flooding, drought, and wildfires
Regulation of regional temperatures
Food and water security
Biodiversity
Health and increased immunity for all life on land
Local economies
Conflicts over resources

How do we work with nature’s essential workforce to create conditions for the soil sponge to regenerate?
What is the role of thoughtful livestock management in regenerating the soil sponge?

Didi Pershouse is the author of The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities and Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function. She teaches participatory workshops both in person and online, helping to show the nested relationships between soil health, human health, water cycles, and climate resiliency. She is the founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative and the Center for Sustainable Medicine, and a co-founder of the “Can we Rehydrate California?” Initiative. She is an independent trainer and curriculum developer for the UN-FAO Farmer Field School Program and the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Initiative in India. She was one of five speakers at the United Nations-FAO World Soil Day in 2017.
She is a Planning Commissioner for her town, a member of the Vermont State-appointed Payment For Ecosystem Services and Soil Health Working Group and is on the board of directors of the Soil Carbon Coalition, the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition and Regenerate Earth. She led a successful effort to conserve the Zebedee Headwaters Wetlands while serving as a Vermont Conservation Commissioner.
Contact soilforwater@ncat.org for more information.
Once registered, we will email you a Zoom link before the class.

Vermont Climate Council Agriculture Stakeholder Meeting
2021-09-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
You are invited to a workshop about the developing strategies for agriculture for the state’s emerging Climate Action Plan. The meeting will be held virtually to allow participation from across the state. Register Here
All farmers, farm-related businesses, technical service providers, farmer support groups and organizations, conservation districts and others are encouraged to attend.
The members of the Agriculture and Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Vermont Climate Council will share:

The strategies for helping Vermont farms and food system to be more resilient and adaptable in the face of climate change impacts;
The ways Vermont agriculture can play an essential role in storing and sequestering carbon; and,
The many co-benefits climate action can take for farm viability, healthy soils, increased biodiversity, water quality, and many others.

The Subcommittee hopes to hear from you:

Are they on the right track with their approaches?
What key strategies or ideas are they missing?
What two or three strategies or ideas are of concern or worry to you?
And, how would you improve them to address you concerns?

The input from this workshop will help the Subcommittee refine its recommendations due to the full Climate Council this Fall.
You may find more information about the Subcommittee’s work just below.

Subcommittees Overall Strategies
Specific Agriculture Strategies
Nature Based Solutions
Healthy, Local Food Access and Sustainable Working Lands Economies

Questions can be directed to Patrick Field or Jane Lazorchak at pfield@cbi.org or Jane.Lazorchak@vermont.gov

Sustainable Solutions for Zero Hunger by 2030: A Vision for Animal Agriculture
2021-09-14 12:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Protein is a critically important part of a basic diet but how can the global animal protein sector continue to sustainably feed a growing and increasingly hungry world? That question is at the core of the Sustainable Solutions for Zero Hunger by 2030: A Vision for Animal Agriculture, scheduled virtually for 12-5 p.m. ET on September 14, 2021.
Presented in partnership with Elanco and Agri-Pulse the event will bring together key leaders across the animal protein food chain from around the world to discuss the next steps of food production’s sustainable transformation, its ability to fight hunger and its durability against shocks.

Addison County Ag Showcase
2021-09-09 11:00 - 14:00 | Bourdeau Brothers of Middlebury, 88 Seymour Street, Middlebury, VT, 05753, United States
Bourdeau Brothers of Middlebury and Feed Commodities International, Inc. of Middlebury present the 12th Annual Addison County Ag Showcase. Watch crop demos, learn more about suppliers, products, and services, win door prizes, enjoy Skip’s famous Barbecue Chicken for lunch, and connect with the ag community!

CVFC Board of Directors September Meeting
2021-09-02 09:30 - 12:00 | VT
