Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition

Take Your Social Media Presence to the Next Level: An Intermediate’s Guide
2022-04-07 10:00 - 11:15 (America/New_York) | 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 | Vermont
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 | Vermont
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 | Vermont
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 | Vermont

Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) Applications Due
2021-11-01 | Vermont
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 | Vermont

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 | Vermont

Demystifying Regenerative Grazing and Soil Health with Dr. Allen Williams
2021-08-24 11:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Interest is growing in using grazing management to rebuild the health of degraded soils. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will host a two-part workshop in August for ag professionals, educators, and mentor farmers to provide information and hands-on training on regenerative grazing, soil health, and monitoring. NCAT soil and livestock specialists will be joined by Dr. Allen Williams of Understanding Ag, LLC to lead these workshops. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3fOeh0C

CVFC Board of Directors August Meeting
2021-08-18 09:30 - 12:00 | UVM Extension – Middlebury, 23 Pond Lane, Middlebury, VT, 05753
August is a BIG month for the agricultural community–see Addison County Fair & Field Days and Open Farm Week–so we’re pushing our Board of Directors meeting to a later date. They will meet on Wednesday, August 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the UVM Extension office located at 23 Pond Lane in Middlebury. All CVFC members are invited; members of the public may join at 10:00. If you would like to attend, kindly RSVP to Kirsten Workman, Board Secretary, at Kirsten.Workman@uvm.edu.

Pest & Disease Walk for Commercial Growers
2021-08-12 15:30 - 17:30 | Bear Roots Farm, 1572 S Hill Road, Williamstown, VT, 05679, United States
Join UVM pathologist Ann Hazelrigg, and entomologists Vic Izzo and Scott Lewins, for a field walk to learn about, identify and discuss solutions for this year’s pests and diseases, including integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. This workshop will be hosted at the certified organic mixed vegetable farm Bear Roots Farm in Williamstown and is geared toward commercial organic vegetable growers.
This workshop is free to attend for commercial growers. Pre-registration required.
Hosts: Karin Bellemare and Jon Wagner own and operate Bear Roots Farm, an organic mixed vegetable farm in Williamstown, VT. They also own and operate The Roots Farm Market, one of the main avenues of sale for their vegetables, in addition to a year-round CSA, in Middlesex, Vermont.
Instructors: Ann Hazelrigg is the the director of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic, a statewide resource for commercial growers, Master Gardeners, home gardeners and the general public to identify disease, insect and weed samples and make recommendations for control based on integrated pest management (IPM) principles. She also oversees the Master Gardener Program, the UVM Pesticide Education and Safety Program and the Extension E-IPM program.
Vic Izzo is an agricultural entomologist and lecturer in the Plant and Soil Science Department where he focuses upon agricultural pest insects and innovative strategies for their control within organic systems. Vic is also a research associate and educational coordinator in the Agroecology and Livelihoods (ALC) Collaborative at UVM, a transdisciplinary research lab dedicated to using Participatory Action Research methods.
Scott Lewins is the Entomology Extension Educator with UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, Extension Coordinator with the ALC, and Lecturer in PSS. Scott has worked with a multitude of growers within the region in various systems with a focus on sustainable pest management, particularly, the development of appropriate IPM tactics for northeastern organic growers.

Addison County Fair & Field Days
2021-08-10 - 2021-08-14 | Addison County Fair & Field Days, 1790 Field Days Road, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Celebrate Addison County agriculture! Enjoy delicious food, exciting rides, visits with animals, and fun, educational exhibits.

Open Farm Week
2021-08-08 - 2021-08-15 | Vermont
Do you love local food and farms? Want to get to know your farmer better — and get a behind-the-scenes look into Vermont’s vibrant working agricultural landscape?
During the 2021 Vermont Open Farm Week, you can meet the farmers, plants, and animals that bring your favorite high-quality Vermont products to your plate.
The greatest part about Open Farm Week is that every farm is unique. Milk a cow and harvest a carrot at one farm, sit on a tractor and take in the smell of freshly cut hay at another and then head over to another for woodfired pizza night and a garden tour. Events are happening all across the state, it’s a great time to get out and explore!

This year’s Open Farm Week offers 90+ opportunities to enjoy Vermont agriculture–and we couldn’t help but notice that a handful of our members are participating! Check it out:

Garlic Braiding Workshop at Last Resort Farm, Aug. 11, 10 am – 12 pm
Farm Tours at Philo Ridge Farm, Aug. 12-14, various times
Fried Chicken Dinner at Maple Wind Farm, Aug. 13, 5 – 7 pm

For more information and to view the complete list of events, visit: https://bit.ly/3ibDF1F

Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program - Cover Crop Apps Due
2021-08-01 | Vermont
The FAP Program utilizes state funding to help Vermont farms implement soil-based agronomic practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and agricultural waste discharges. The FAP program also provides education and instructional activity grants to support outreach regarding the impacts of agricultural practices on water quality and current state agricultural water quality regulations. Eligible practices include: cover cropping, conservation crop rotation, conservation crop rotation with nurse crop; conservation tillage, no till pasture and hayland renovation; rotational grazing; manure injection; and educational or instructional activities. Rotational grazing applications are due June 15; cover crop applications are due August 1; and all other FAP practices will be reviewed in order of receipt. Learn More

Soil & Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference
2021-07-26 10:00 - 2021-07-28 18:00 | Vermont
Note: Registration required by July 16.
The 76th Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) International Annual Conference, taking place virtually, July 26-28, 2021, will provide the opportunity for attendees around the world to share their conservation stories and bring natural resource management solutions from far and wide into their homes and offices. The virtual event format allows access and inclusivity on a broad scale, and our interactive conference platform provides a robust conference experience with live sessions, Q&A, networking, a virtual exhibit hall, and many other ways to learn, connect, and engage.
This year’s conference theme, “One World, Connected through Conservation,” encompasses the shared resources on which all life depends while recognizing local-level issues and management. No matter the landscape, collective efforts are required to protect and sustain our soil and water resources. While conservation challenges brought on by universal pressures like climate change may produce wide-ranging effects in our respective corners of the globe, there is commonality in the solutions—collaborations that span sectors and disciplines, practices informed by science, cutting-edge technology, a new era of policy, and, at the center of all this, the individuals working tirelessly to protect and improve our natural resources.
Professionals advancing conservation solutions through research and practice in public and private sectors will present their work, including the latest in soil health, water resources, conservation management, climate change adaptation, social science, and more. Workshops, symposia sessions, and posters will showcase ideas, technologies, and practices, and foster a dialogue around their adoption. Projects presented will include work at the watershed, national, and international scales, emphasizing the global impact of local efforts. Scientists and practitioners will apply the virtual skills they have obtained over the last year by taking attendees into the field and lab through live or prerecorded demonstrations and tours. Recognizing that our goals for the world’s natural resources cannot be realized without justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, conservationists will share insights and advice on projects and partnerships that seek diverse participation and take meaningful action toward creating and supporting systems that value and serve people equitably.
In addition to science and practice presentations, the event will provide a range of opportunities for personal and professional development. Sessions will address effective work habits, partnerships, and communication tools, and the conference will offer certified education credits (CEUs).
Share your research and project solutions with an international audience, learn from experts from around the world, make connections with leading organizations and agencies, and together, through this conference and its impact, we will build a future for global conservation.

CVFC Board of Directors July Meeting
2021-07-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Zoom
The CVFC Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of each month. This month’s meeting will be held at Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport. 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.

Farm Registration Deadline for Open Farm Week
2021-07-01 | Vermont
Registration is now open for the 7th annual Vermont Open Farm Week, taking place at farms across Vermont, August 8-15, 2021! This special week in August creates an opportunity for folks to visit farms and connect with Vermont’s working landscape, and it’s a great way for farmers to engage with their customers and communities.
For members of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, in particular, this is a great opportunity for you to showcase how you work to protect water quality and support soil health.
We are all looking forward to getting out and enjoying Vermont this summer, and especially during Vermont Open Farm Week! Technical assistance for farms is available. Register NOW through July 1st: http://ow.ly/cSt530o8ElK
Are you a CVFC participating in Open Farm Week? Please let us know! Once you have registered, email John Roberts at john[at]cvfc-vt[dot]com.

Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program - Rotational Grazing Apps Due
2021-06-15 | Vermont

CVFC Board of Directors June Meeting
2021-06-03 09:30 - 12:00 | Zoom
The CVFC Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Members of the coalition are welcome to join at 9:30 a.m., and the general public is welcome to join at 10:00 a.m. To attend, please contact Board Secretary Kirsten Workman; she will send you the Zoom link.

TNC Discussion Series: Emerging Markets for Ecosystem Services and Soil Carbon
2021-05-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Vermont
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont welcomes you to a discussion series on watershed conservation issues. Topics address questions that Vermont practitioners are grappling with as we advance healthy, resilient watersheds and human communities. Speakers bring insight based on experience or applied research elsewhere. We discuss related work ongoing in Vermont, and important considerations toward continuing to advance this work here.
Experiences with programs to incentivize soil carbon storage and establish mechanisms to market combined ecosystem services. Stephen Wood, The Nature Conservancy.
Register Here
Example questions to address:

How do costs/benefits of market-based approaches compare to other options for addressing the same environmental issues (e.g. PES or regulatory approaches)?
What are TNC’s experiences with protocols for documenting soil carbon? How relevant might this be to Vermont?
Where are the sources of funding for successful programs (funding to catalyze a market, and funding to support farmers or landowners transitioning to different practices)?
What have we learned to-date that will inform the success of these marketsin Vermont? What are the distinct opportunities and barriers?
What is the state-of-science regarding the soil carbon potential for Vermont?
