The Agency facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment.
The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant aims to support a wide range of projects that focus on long-term farm viability and climate/economic resilience for dairy farmers or groups of farmers. The grant encourages applications for projects at all stages of development, emphasizing the inclusion of service providers or planners to demonstrate a strategic, long-term approach. Competitive projects will likely benefit multiple farms and can include upgrades to farm production practices, the introduction of specialized equipment, adoption of green technologies, and the development of new models for dairy production among others. The improvement projects should lead to increased climate resilience and economic sustainability. Furthermore, the grant details specific funding amounts, ranging from $15,000 to $100,000, with a requirement for a 25% match in cash or in-kind contributions. Priority funding is available for former participants in certain programs, with a total of $1,495,000 available for grants.