On-Farm Technical Assistance

Our staff are available to conduct routine soil samples on your farm. To keep your Nutrient Management Plan up-to-date, you need to soil sample your fields every three years. The price for a routine soil sample test is $17. There is no charge for our soil sampling services.

We provide agronomic support and planning to help you make informed decisions throughout the growing season. From crop planning to soil health strategies, we work with you to identify practical approaches that fit your operation.

Our staff can help you navigate government conservation programs and their applications. 

Staff work one-on-one with you to discuss your current operational needs and future plans to help you identify and enroll in programs that are the right fit. We’re here through every step of the process, from getting to know your operation, to considering various programs, completing applications, getting letters of recommendation, and then supporting you after enrollment. 

State:

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) Conservation Programs

Federal:

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Programs

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Conservation Programs

Our staff record and field verify state-funded and farmer-funded conservation practices in the Vermont Partner Database throughout the year.

Our efforts to record state-funded conservation practices helps farmers enrolled in programs like the Farm Agronomic Practices Program (FAP) receive prompt payments for the practices they have implemented. It also provides the State of Vermont and the EPA with a more accurate picture of the conservation work and corresponding nutrient reductions that exist across Vermont’s Lake Champlain basin. 

We are always open to new ideas and interested in working with farmers to test practices on their farms. We support on-farm research trials that help answer real questions and generate practical, farmer-driven results, and can help apply for grant funding to make this work happen. We coordinate closely with UVM Extension to support strong research and meaningful outcomes.

We work with partners like Efficiency Vermont to help farmers identify opportunities to reduce energy use and lower costs through practical, farm-specific solutions.

We support the next generation of farmers by connecting them to resources, funding opportunities, and peer networks. Our work helps new and transitioning farmers build strong, viable operations, including support and resources for succession planning.