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Vermont Farm
Viability
Program
INFORMATION FOR
NEW AND ASPIRING FARMERS
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The Vermont Farm Viability Program works with farmers with at least 3 years experience and farm businesses that have been in business more than one full year with over $10,000 in gross income the previous year. If you are developing a new farm business, please contact the following organizations which provide business assistance to new and aspiring farmers. When your farm business becomes eligible in the next few years, consider contacting the Vermont Farm Viability Program for comprehensive business planning assistance.
While we have tried to gather all the pertinent information for new farmers in one place, this is not a complete list of all resources available. Please contact Ela Chapin [ela (at) vhcb.org] if you know of other resources that should be listed here. Thank you.
Organizations Providing Business Assistance
to New and Aspiring Farmers
Vermont New Farmer Network (VNFN)
Contact Beth Holtzman: 802-223-2389 or beth.holtzman@uvm.edu
Women’s Agricultural Network at the University of Vermont (WAgN)
Vermont Small Business Development Center(VT SBDC)
The Intervale Center
Farm Business Development Programs in Vermont
A resource list developed by Lini Wollenberg, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Ela Chapin,
VT Farm Viability Enhancement Program and Rick Levitre, UVM Extension.
Resource Guide for Vermont’s New and Aspiring Farmers
Third Edition. Produced by the Vermont New Farmer Network
Loan Opportunities
Check the Resource Guide (above), See p. 39, Appendix II, Farm Credit Availability for Beginning Farmers for a list of institutions that make loans to new farmers. Many are not just for beginning farmers. Includes VEDA/VACC, Farm Service Agency and The Vermont Community Loan Fund.
Other Loan Opportunities:
· NOFA-VT – small loan program
· Chittenden Bank
· National Bank of Middlebury
· Efficiency Vermont – energy conservation projects
· Ag Venture Inc.
· Equity Trust
· The Carrot Project
Grant Opportunities
· VT Agency of Agriculture On-farm renewable energy projects
· USDA Rural Development
Renewable energy, energy conservation, and value-added product grant programs.
Call 802-828-6000
Resources for Cheesemakers
· VT Institute for Artisanal Cheese
· VT Cheese Council
· Cellars at Jasper Hill
Technical Assistance for Grazing and Market Gardening
· NOFA-VT 434-4122
· UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
· UVM Vegetable and Berry Page (Vern Grubinger’s site)
Workshops and Event Listings
See the following websites for comprehensive and up-to-date lists
of farm-related
workshops and events in Vermont:
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
NOFA-VT
Vital Communities
Intervale Center
Women’s Ag Network at UVM
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