Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - Vermont Legislature

Vermont FarmViability ProgramThe mission of the Vermont Farm Viability Program is to enhance the economicviability of Vermont farms by providing farmers and ag-related businesses withindividualized business planning and technical services. Businesses receivetailored services designed to improve management skills from advisors at theIntervale Center, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont,uvm Extension or through private consultants. The program builds Vermont’sagricultural infrastructure and increases the supply and distribution of Vermontagricultural products while also improving the viability of Vermont farms.2012 Program Highlights• The program enrolled 48 farms for in-depth business and transfer planning.Farmers reported significant improvements in their ability to manage theirbusiness, generate income, manage production and understand the directionthey would like to take their business.• Staff of the Vermont Farm Viability Program played an active and integralrole in the Farm to Plate network, participating in the steering committee,the Meat Processing Task Force, the Dairy Development Working Group,and chairing the Technical Assistance Working Group.• The Vermont Farm Viability Program provided our network of serviceproviders and consultants with four days of professional developmenttraining, covering topics from food safety regulations and practices, to thelegal implications of farm employment, to helping farmers manage socialmissions in the context of profitability.• Using awards from the Vermont Agriculture Innovation Center, which wascreated with funding secured by Senator Leahy, the Vermont Farm ViabilityProgram partnered with the Vermont Food Venture Center, the Center foran Agricultural Economy and Northeast Organic Farming Association ofVermont to extend business planning and technical assistance services toag-related businesses and value-added enterprises across the state, as wellas assisting 33 meat producers and processors in scaling up to raise livestockmore year-round and increase processing capacity at farms and facilitiesstatewide.“We are thrilled to be moving our operation to more secureground while still being able to support and expand uponexisting markets due to the land’s close proximity to Burlington.We can’t wait to invite our loyal and new customersdown to our beautiful new farmland over the next coupleof seasons.”— Adam HausmannVermont Land Trust photos Renting land for 10 years in Burlington’sIntervale, Adam Hausmann built up a strongcustomer base for his organic berries and tablegrapes, sold through restaurants, markets, andpick-your-own sales. Working with advisorsthrough the Intervale Center, he completed abusiness plan with the Vermont Farm ViabilityProgram in 2006. A Farm Viability grant helpedhim construct a greenhouse, increasing theprofitability of his strawberry crop. He alsoreceived technical assistance from the programto plan for the development of a value-addedenterprise. His fields were flooded more thanonce, however, and in 2012, he purchased 56acres of conserved farmland on higher ground inCharlotte and moved his operation. The farmlandwas conserved by the Vermont Land Trust withVHCB and NRCS funding.7 / Celebrating 25 Years