Passing this on from the VT Agency of Agriculture. -TB

We have less than one month to collect survey responses to the Agriculture Drought Impact Survey.

Please encourage the Vermont agricultural community to complete and submit a response to the survey with their impacts before the survey closes on December 15, 2025.

We have 168 responses to date, mostly from small farms expressing the impacts and losses they’ve experienced during the 2025 drought.

You can find highlights of aggregate responses on the Agriculture Drought Impact survey dashboard on the VAAFM drought webpage.

High Level Summary:

1. Scope: This survey is appropriate for all agricultural businesses, organizations, or individuals who raise animals, meat, or poultry and/or grow feed and other crops (including produce, maple products, Christmas trees, horticultural plants), in Vermont for anyone beyond their immediate family.

2. Deadline: This survey is open through Monday, December 15th, 2025.

3. Outreach Resources: We are sharing several items to support survey distribution and completion. These include:

1. Link to the survey: https://forms.office.com/g/dFMQZDQCMe

2. QR code for survey (attached)

3. Printable PDF Version* (attached survey paper copy)

*Printable PDF Version & Process

Attached you will find a printable pdf version of the survey. Please feel free to print these copies to bring on farm visits, to larger events, and/or to have in your offices. As outlined on the top of the pdf, surveys should be sent via mail to the provided address, OR, if a TA provider has filled it out for a farmer, they are welcome to scan it and email it to AGR.Drought. Please note paper copies must be postmarked by December 15th, 2025.

We recognize that this survey is capturing estimated losses and additional impacts may not be realized until spring 2026 or next growing season. At that point, we will reevaluate the agriculture industry need and consider additional data collection tools to capture longer term or more comprehensive impacts from the 2025 drought.

Visit the VAAFM drought webpage, AGR.Drought or 802-828-2430.

• Items accessible on this webpage include survey link, live dashboard of results, agricultural resources (financial support, water sources, technical assistance), and links to other important reporting sites (i.e. drought.vermont.gov).

Thank you for your collective support in ensuring our agricultural community is aware of this ag drought impact survey and encouraged to share their experience.

Thanks,

Abbey

Abbey Willard (she/her)

Agricultural Development Division Director | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

116 State St., Montpelier Vermont 05620 | http://agriculture.vermont.gov

Tel:802-272-2885 |

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2025 Agriculture Drought Impact Survey_Paper Copy.pdf

The 130th (???) annual meeting of the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association and UVM Fruit Program will be held on February 20, 2026 at the American Legion Hall, 49 Wilson Rd., Middlebury, VT. Please hold that date on your calendars and keep an eye out for further details.

Have a happy Thanksgiving,

Terry and the UVM Fruit Program

__

Terence Bradshaw (he/him)
Associate Professor, Specialty Crops

Chair, Dept of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment
(formerly Plant and Soil Science)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

University of Vermont
117/210 – Jeffords Hall | 63 Carrigan Dr
Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 922-2591 | tbradsha
https://go.uvm.edu/alebradshaw

UVM Commercial Horticulture | UVM Fruit Blog
Horticulture Research and Education Center
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Live Webinar Series on Farm Succession and Transfer starting January 8th

Mike Ghia, VT Farm Viability Program

What is the future of your farm? If you are like most farmers, you are so busy with the day-to-day business of farming you find it difficult to take the time to plan long-term, particularly planning for a transition from one generation to the next. It can be especially challenging during times of financial uncertainty. And it can be difficult if there is not someone immediately lined up to take over the farm. At the same time, you probably have hopes for the future of your farm and have thought some about what you would like to happen to your business and your land. With sound succession planning with concrete action steps, it is more likely that the goals and desires of all the generations involved can be met, and there is a greater likelihood that the farm will stay in farming.

The “Farm Succession Planning Webinar Series” is for farmers to learn about key issues, tools and resources to help them make informed decisions and take steps towards transferring their farm to the next generation of their family or a non-family successor. Farmers will learn from professionals who can help in the process and from other farmers. Topics include retirement, financial, and estate planning, taxes, legal entities, and determining goals for retirement, business transitions, and your land. All generations, including family and non-family members, who may play a role in your farm’s future are encouraged to attend.

This series is organized by Land For Good, in partnership with the info for more information