Calendar
Calendar - Events of Interest and Grant Deadlines
Updated 05/13/2024
Dr. Christine Jones to the Upper Valley
June 4, Tuesday
Soil as a Living System with Christine Jones
9:30 am - 3:30 pm, lunch included
Meet at Newmont Farm
161 Mallary Road, Bradford, VT
This is a unique opportunity to spend a day with legendary Australian soil ecologist Christine Jones and get deep into understanding how the soil really works.
CRWFA is collaborating with Vermont Grass Farmers and WR NRCD to host Dr. Jones in the Connecticut River valley. She's coming a long way - tickets are for sale. Space is limited. Get your tickets here.
A long day off the farm in early June! Hard, we know. This is the only time she will be in the USA. If there's something we can do to help free you up so you can attend for the day, we'll do it.
Tickets are offered at a sliding scale for farmers with a suggested price of $30.00 and for general admission (including technical assistance providers) tickets are $60.00.
If you're a CRWFA member and want to attend, we will cover your ticket price. Either email Mike at crwfa.info@gmail.com or sign up and contact me after you've done so. We will pay your way.
Calendar
May 15, Wednesday
Dam Re-licensing "Office Hours"
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join Connecticut River Conservancy’s virtual office hours to bring your questions about how to comment in the hydropower relicensing process for five facilities on the Connecticut River – Turner’s Falls, Northfield Mountain, Vernon, Bellows Falls, and Wilder hydroelectric projects. The 90-day period to submit interventions and comments is OPEN NOW through it's extended deadline of May 22nd. This will be the last opportunity to comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and influence a license that will last for 40-50 years.
Main issues at stake for fish passage, recreation, erosion, and accountability
Instruction on how to submit comments or get your towns/organizations involved
Questions addressed in Q&A
The office hours can be customized based on who attends and what you most want to address. You can also submit a question to the speakers upon registration.
Full schedule of office hours is as follows, click on one of the following dates to register.
Additional background information is available on our hydropower page.
May 16, Thursday
Grazing Dairy Cows
5.00 - 7.00 pm
This multi-generational farm transitioned to Baird Swift's family (that's Haynes Dairy) back in 2019. Since then, he has continued milking cows, intensively grazing his herd throughout the year.
He also has a number of projects going with various local organizations, including NRCS and American Farmland Trust.
Register for this FREE event by clicking the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grazing-dairy-cows-tickets-887671789217?aff=oddtdtcreator
May 16, Thursday
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Littleton, NH: AHEAD Conference Room, 262 Cottage Street, 1st Floor, and Online (Zoom Link Here)
May 18, Saturday
9:00am - 3:00pm
Northeast Region 4-H Dairy Judging and show prep workshops
Don-sim Farm (700 Simpson Hl, Sutton, VT 05867, United States)
Pre-registration required by emailing melinda.birch@uvm.edu. Lunch is provided for participants so we need a confirmation email. We are also hosting a show white swap that day.
May 20, Monday
Dam Re-licensing "Office Hours"
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join Connecticut River Conservancy’s virtual office hours to bring your questions about how to comment in the hydropower relicensing process for five facilities on the Connecticut River – Turner’s Falls, Northfield Mountain, Vernon, Bellows Falls, and Wilder hydroelectric projects. The 90-day period to submit interventions and comments is OPEN NOW through it's extended deadline of May 22nd. This will be the last opportunity to comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and influence a license that will last for 40-50 years.
Main issues at stake for fish passage, recreation, erosion, and accountability
Instruction on how to submit comments or get your towns/organizations involved
Questions addressed in Q&A
Additional background information is available on our hydropower page.
May 20, Monday
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, In-person TBD and Online
Zoom – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84660772361?pwd=eGlVUE00SFhuNnBCVmlsMHBxeGJWQT09 Meeting ID: 846 6077 2361; Passcode: 369703. https://crjc.org/events/
May 20, Monday
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Latham Library Thetford, VT
May 21, Tuesday
3:00 PM – 7:30 PM
World Fish Migration Day, Conn River Conservancy
Windsor, CT | Virtual film option, 145 Lang Rd, Windsor, CT 06095, USA
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Film Screening and Panel Discussion (In-Person & Virtual Options)
The RRN is on a mission to remove dams and right size culverts to restore the health of the Sound and its tributaries. This film is the first public-facing ode to that mission, featuring many experts of the network at past, present and future river restoration project sites. Following the 20-minute film, we invite both our in-person and online audience to engage in a panel discussion to dive deeper into fish migration, dam removal, and river restoration topics.
https://www.ctriver.org/event-details/world-fish-migration-day-the-migration-celebration
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-fish-migration-day-the-migration-celebration-tickets-858807264647
May 22, Wednesday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Kilton Library 80 Main St, West Lebanon, NH
May 23, Thursday
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
https://crjc.org/events/
May 29, Wednesday
3:00-6:00pm
Farmers Market soil testing for lead, Woodstock Farmers Market
NRCS is offering free soil screening for lead, in conjunction with the UVM Extension. Bring 2 cups of your soil in a sealed, plastic bag and NRCS will perform analysis and give you the results on the spot.
May 31, Friday
Deadline: Letters of Interest for New England Food Vision Prize (see below)
June 4, Tuesday
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Soil as a Living System with Christine Jones
Start at Newmont Farm
161 Mallary Road, Bradford, Vermont
See above. Lunch provided.
June 5, Wednesday
1:59 pm
Deadline: VT "Middle of the Supply Chain" Grant proposals due (see below)
June 6, Thursday
10 am - 4 pm
Livestock Fencing for Service Providers
Location:
VTSU Farm, Water St (end of the road), Randolph Center, VT 05061
Description: Join us for a Livestock Fencing Workshop to learn how to properly build Electric and High Tensile Fencing. Taught by Gallagher Territory Manager. Cost is $15 to cover lunch. Click the registration link for list of topics covered.
To learn more & register: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=799016&
Organized by: UVM Extension
To learn more, contact: Jascha Pick, jascha.pick@uvm.edu
Thu Jun 13 2024
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Forest Farming: A Climate Smart Practice
Smokey House Center, 426 Danby Mountain Rd, Danby, Vt 05739
This Climate Learning workshop is free and refreshments will be provided.
Learn the fundamentals of forest farming such as site selection, species selection, and different production models while we visit different sites across Smokey House's property. We'll also discuss how forest farming can fit into broader forest management strategies to increase economic and ecological resilience as part of a diversified forest and farm planning.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-farming-a-climate-smart-practice-tickets-898021816427
June 13th, Thursday
5-7 pm
Cattle Handling
Hosted by Granite State Grazers, who will be meeting with Elaina Ensign of Gelinas Farm in Pembroke, NH to chat all things horse and cattle handling, including showing her bud box setup and why and how it works.
Register for this FREE event by clicking the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cattle-handling-tickets-899270340797?aff=oddtdtcreator
June 25, Tuesday
10 am - 4 pm
Livestock Fencing Workshop for Farmers
Location:
VTSU farm, Water St (end of the road), Randolph Center, VT 05061
Description: Join us for a Livestock Fencing Workshop to learn how to properly build Electric and High Tensile Fencing. Taught by Gallagher Territory Manager. Cost is $15 to cover lunch. The morning will be in the classroom and afternoon will be outside building fence. Click the registration link for list of topics covered.
To learn more & register: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=799166&
Organized by: UVM Extension. To learn more, contact: Jascha Pick, jascha.pick@uvm.edu
June 23 - June 29
AgroTek Innovation Program for 7th-11th Graders
Are you a current 7th-11th grader or connected with one? Interested in how new technologies can help feed the world and solve agriculture’s challenges? Want to build your skills and gain valuable experience that can make your college application stronger?
https://www.uvm.edu/extension/youth/agrotek-innovation-program-7th-11th-graders
June 29, Saturday
9:00-1:00
Lead soil test, Norwich Farmers Market
https://www.norwichfarmersmarket.org/
NRCS is offering free soil screening for lead, in conjunction with the UVM Extension. Bring 2 cups of your soil in a sealed, plastic bag and NRCS will perform analysis and give you the results on the spot.
July 8, Monday
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Windsor Welcome Center Windsor, VT
July 13, Saturday
9:00 - 1:00
Lead Soil Test, Randolph Farmers Market
NRCS is offering free soil screening for lead, in conjunction with the UVM Extension. Bring 2 cups of your soil in a sealed, plastic bag and NRCS will perform analysis and give you the results on the spot.
July 17, Wednesday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Maximizing Growing in Small Spaces
Wild Fern Farm, Kingston NH
NOFA NH with UNH Extension/Northeast SARE & Land for Good
July 18, Thursday
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
July 19, Friday
4:00 - 6:30 pm
Lead Soil Test, Hartland Farmer's Market
153 US-5, Hartland, VT 05048
Home - Hartland Farmers Market
NRCS is offering free soil screening for lead, in conjunction with the UVM Extension. Bring 2 cups of your soil in a sealed, plastic bag and NRCS will perform analysis and give you the results on the spot.
July 21, Sunday
Adapting to Farming in a Flood Plain
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
282 Intervale Rd, Burlington, VT 05401
NOFA VT: Much of Vermont’s most agriculturally important lands are located in low-lying areas prone to flooding. Though flooding enriches soils and enhances farm productivity, it also poses serious challenges to food safety, natural resource management, and long term farm business viability. Join us in exploring how two established farms in Burlington’s Intervale are navigating the complexities of floodplain farming.
Andy Jones, Intervale Community Farm, and Dylan Zeitlyn, Diggers’ Mirth Collective Farm, will share how their farms are adapting production systems, business models, and expectations as a result of increasing flood severity. Andy and Dylan will also be joined by Patrick Dunseith and Ben Fishbein of the Intervale Center who will discuss landscape wide stewardship, riparian buffer design, the role of native plants in building flood resilience, and the Intervale Center’s strategy as land manager for sustaining agricultural production in these vital lands.
To learn more, contact Nancy LaRowe at nancy@nofavt.org or 802-296-1883.
August 14, Wednesday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Protected Growing With High Tunnels in a Changing Climate
Joe's Brook Farm, 1525 Joes Brook Rd, St Johnsbury, VT
NOFA-VT: Protected Growing With High Tunnels in a Changing Climate
In our changing climate, many farms are considering or utilizing protected growing spaces to have more control over aspects like temperature and water. Learn about siting a new high tunnel and the management of water, heat, and wind for new and existing structures. Take a tour of and learn about the greenhouses at Joe’s Brook Farm. Owner Eric Skovsted will showcase their heater set ups, automatic irrigation through drip and overhead, automatic and manual roll up sides, different types of fans and vents, explain their moving greenhouse, propagation house with bench heat, and more infrastructure and construction considerations. UVM Extension’s Joshua Faulkner will discuss water management related to high tunnels, including planning to account for site hydrology and addressing drainage around new and existing structures.
To learn more, contact Nancy LaRowe at nancy@nofavt.org or 802-296-1883.
August 31, Saturday
9:00 - 1:00 pm
Lead Soil Test, Norwich Farmers Market
https://www.norwichfarmersmarket.org/
NRCS is offering free soil screening for lead, in conjunction with the UVM Extension. Bring 2 cups of your soil in a sealed, plastic bag and NRCS will perform analysis and give you the results on the spot!
September 25, Wednesday
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Exploring Agroforestry and Native Tree Cultivation
Dartmouth Organic Farm, Hanover NH
https://www.nofanh.org/craft
Grant Opportunities
Strengthening the Region's Food Supply Chain - Funding Opportunity
Supporting innovative ideas and collaborations that result in increased regional sourcing by New England’s educational institutions.
The Henry P. Kendall Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the 2024 New England Food Vision Prize. The Prize program aims to increase the amount of regionally-produced food served in K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities across New England.
We believe that educational institutions are uniquely positioned to support a thriving and resilient regional food system by leveraging their purchasing power to support local and regional producers and by using their nutrition and dining programs to directly engage students as consumers - showing them how food choices impact health, community, the economy, and the environment.
$1 million will be awarded in prizes ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 to teams seeking to build resiliency, relationships, and capacity within New England’s food supply chain through projects that result in increased preparation, sourcing, serving, or use and consumption of local and regional food in K-12 cafeterias and higher education dining halls.
Since 2018, the New England Food Vision Prize has supported more than 27 unique projects that test innovative ideas, invest in leaders, and help make measurable progress toward a more self-reliant regional food system. Now in its fifth year, we look forward to supporting ideas and projects that help advance our region toward producing 30% of its food by 2030. Read about past winners and their projects on our website!
Starting April 10th, we invite New England school nutrition and campus dining teams, together with their nonprofit, government and municipality, and for-profit partners from across the region to submit their best ideas for increasing regionally-sourced food on their menus. Prize criteria, eligibility, and timeline can be found on our website.
May 31, 2024 : Deadline for Letters of Interest
Letters will briefly explain the idea, how the project meets the criteria, and which institutions and partners will collaborate to realize the goal. Letters should be no longer than two pages. Instructions, details on submission, and more information on the Letter of Interest process here.
Submit Letters of Interest (starting Apr. 16)
June 21, 2024 : Invitation for Full Proposal
The Foundation will review all submitted Letters of Interest and invite a subset of teams to submit full proposals for consideration.
August 9, 2024 : Proposal Deadline
Proposals will expand on the original idea to include responses to a series of prompts, which will be the basis upon which applications are scored by staff and externals reviewers.
Click to Submit Letters of Interest
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets announces new grant targeting the "Middle of the Supply Chain" to build food systems resiliency
USDA Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant will distribute $3.2 Million to Vermont Businesses
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is releasing grant details for a new USDA initiative to build resilience in the food supply chain, provide more and better markets to farms and food businesses, support the development of value-added products, and promote equitable and safe jobs. These Resilient Food System Infrastructure grants, or RFSI, will reach all 50 states and territories. Vermont is awarding over $3.2 million in grants, broken into two rounds, to Vermont businesses and organizations that strengthen local and regional food systems.
Grants will support critical sectors of the “middle of the supply chain,” meaning everything between farm production and selling in stores. This includes aggregation, distribution, manufacturing, processing, storage, transportation, and wholesaling of Vermont food products. RFSI’s goal is to reduce bottlenecks and offer more infrastructure to get quality, Vermont made products to customers.
“These grants will help strengthen our food supply chain that helps feed us,” Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said. “Strengthening these important links will help build resiliency and prosperity in Vermont’s working lands. This was a recommendation of Governor Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission. It’s great we are acting on this recommendation.”
This grant program supports products such as specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and value-added products. Per USDA requirements, meat and poultry are excluded from this opportunity.
The first round of RFSI grants will be for infrastructure projects for things such as increasing processing capacity; modernizing storage, tracking, and IT systems; constructing new facilities; increasing dry and cold storage; installing climate-smart equipment; or modernizing facilities to ensure food and worker safety. Details for this grant are announced today in the Request for Application which can be found online, along with a FAQ that will be updated periodically. There is approximately $2 million available for this round. Grants will range from $100,000 - $500,000 with a 50% match (25% reduced match available). Projects will run from Fall of 2024 to early 2027.
The second round of RFSI grants will be for equipment-only projects that fall within the program’s goals of enhancing the middle of the supply chain. Approximately $1.2 million will be available for this round, with grants ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 with no match requirement. Full grant details will be available in August 2024 and projects will begin in early 2025.
To review the RFSI program and begin the application process, visit the program website here:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure
Due Date: Applications are due via WebGrants by June 5, 2024 at 1:59pm. Contact Julia Scheier with any questions at Julia.Scheier@vermont.gov or 802-522-7042.
