The call is open for producers, processors, cooperatives, associations, and similar firms to apply for USDA Value-Added Producer Grants. For more information, go to: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants. Proposals are due at the end of April.

The VAPG program funds business and market expansion with the goal of increasing income, jobs, and economic activity through conversion of commodities into value-added products. Raw materials are broadly defined, and not limited to ‘commodities’ like corn and soy. In recent years, Vermont businesses have expanded wineries, cider processing, salami producers, cheesemaking, and numerous other projects. I have served on the review committee in the past and can vouch that this is a great program for businesses that want to take their production to a new level.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has published a guide on the program at: https://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-NSAC-VAPG-Farmers-Guide.pdf

The Lake Ontario Fruit Program released an excellent video that details precision pruning of mature tall spindle trees to help reduce biennialism and reduce subsequent thinning need.

See it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29cF8yOKup0

Passing this on from Jake Jacobs at UVM Risk Management. -TB

As I mentioned [in the VTFGA meeting] today, there are proposed changes to RMA Apple Crop Insurance and USDA has extended the comment period to April 15, 2022. Would you mind sending the information below out to your apple growers’ email listserve or via your blog? Just want to be sure that anyone who wishes to comment knows about this.

My understanding is that any changes won’t be in effect until the 2023 growing season at the soonest; more likely not until 2024.

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

Funding is available to make health and safety repairs/improvements to farmworker housing with 0% interest loans up to $30,000. The loans are forgivable over 10 years, as long as the improved housing continues to be maintained and used for farmworker housing. The Daniel.Baker) and Champlain Housing Trust.

Repairs/improvements can include, but are not limited to:

• wastewater systems
• air sealing and insulation
• plumbing & electrical upgrades
• noise mitigation measures
• overcrowding relief
• mold remediation
• roof replacements
• food prep and storage improvements

Application Deadline: April 15, 2022

If funds are available following April 15th, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Applications will open soon. If you have questions or would like to be put on the contact list for updates, contact Charlie Glassberg at Champlain Housing Trust at cglassberg or (802) 810-8217.

For more information, see the attached flyers or visit the program webpage.

Best,

Ollie Cultrara (they/them)

Produce Program Outreach & Education Coordinator

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets | 94 Harvest Lane, Williston, VT 05495

Cell: (802) 461-5128 | ollie.cultrara

agriculture.vermont.gov/produceprogram

Farmworker Housing Overview, Eligibility, & Repair Checklist.pdf

Farmworker Housing Loan & Repair Process Flowchart.pdf

Here’s a reminder that the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association annual meeting will be this Tuesday, March 1. 12:00 – 1:30 PM, on Zoom.

https://go.uvm.edu/22applezoom

The meeting is free and does not require registration.

VTFGA membership renewal can be done at:

https://vt-tree-fruit-growers-association-annual-dues.cheddarup.com/

See you Tuesday,

Terry

VTFGA_126_2022agenda&registration.pdf

Hi:

Sorry about the late announcement, this has gone out to the VTFGA list via (snail) mail already but this list is a bigger net to cast out to the grower community. The 2022 Vermont Tree Fruit Association annual meeting will be held on Zoom, 12:00 noon – 1:30 PM. I think we all hope this is the last one of these online meetings we’ll have, thanks for bearing with us.

This meeting will be a bit different from many in the past. Instructional content from regional fruit production experts has been provided this year via the Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium webinar series. These roughly weekly webinars will continue through March, and are where growers can get pesticide applicator education credits. We’ve had good attendance from Vermont growers so far, check the list of remaining meetings at: https://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/northeast-extension-fruit-consortium

The VTFGA meeting does not carry any pesticide credits, as it is more of an update of our work at UVM, of the organization, and on marketing and other plans for 2022. As such, it is not set up in a webinar format, but rather as a meeting, so attendees will have greater access to contribute. This also means that there is no registration for the meeting itself, which will be hosted at: https://go.uvm.edu/22applezoom

There is a registration for the VTFGA, which is your industry organization that supports many needs of fruit growers in the state. UVM Fruit Program and VTFGA are separate organizations, but we work together to provide broad support for the industry, with educational support from my side, and marketing and lobbying support from VTFGA. It’s a great partnership and worthy of growers’ support.

Please find the VTFGA registration at: https://go.uvm.edu/22applereg (also attached to this message).

See you on March 1.

Agenda, VTFGA Annual Meeting
March 1, 2022 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Zoom

12:00 Registration

12:05 News from UVM Fruit Team and expectations for 2022
Dr. Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist

12:45 Vendor spotlight
Eric Boire, VTFGA Executive Director

12:50 VTFGA Business meeting
Eric Boire, VTFGA Executive Director

1:05 Vendor Spotlight
Jake Jacobs, UVM Risk Management Agency

1:10 2021 Apple Marketing Program

1:30 Adjourn

Terry

brochureVTFGA126th_2022.pdf

Passing this on from Vermont state entomologist Judy Rosowsky. My take, supported by Judy, is that this is a reasonable approach toward elimination of one of the remaining uses of a chemical that has good reason to be removed from use worldwide. We agree, as do the officials at USDA we’ve met with, that this approach presents little to no risk to the region’s grape and wine producers. -TB

This is a notification to the grape growers in Vermont of some upcoming regulatory changes in the procedures for importing grapes from Chile. Chile is host to the grape pest European Grapevine moth, aka EGVM, Lobesia botrana.

The USDA is proposing to phase out methyl bromide fumigation, which has been a primary means of treatment for grapes from Chile imported into the US. They would like to use a systems approach to phytosanitation in cooperation with Chilean grape producers or allow them to treat exported grapes using radiation.

These proposed changes were about to be posted on the Federal registry for public comment, but feedback from the US grape industry, especially form those in California, led them to amend their process. The proposed changes are posted at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/commodity-import-approval-process/stakeholder-consultation. Comments in writing are solicited and are due by March 29th.

This website will house the pest risk analysis for the EGVM and the commodity import document. USDA would like feedback from industry on the suggested changes in treatment options and anything else related to this process. USDA will host a webinar on Feb 23rd that will be targeted towards industry and will review the systems approach. Participants in the webinar will include the Chilean Plant Protection Association and USDA APHIS folks but will not include Chilean growers. There will be a Q&A session on March 2nd. If you are interested in attending either the webinar or the Q&A session, or if you know anyone who does, please let me know and I will send you the USDA contact.

If you have concerns about the import treatment option changes, please let me know, as I can help facilitate a response. If you know of anyone else I can alert about this, please send them my way. In my professional opinion the systems approach or radiation treatments are acceptable options to methyl bromide fumigation.

Thank you,

Judy Rosovsky

State Entomologist

VAAFM

Judy.rosovsky

802-279-2212

Please share widely where appropriate.

https://go.uvm.edu/vtgrapesurvey

The University of Vermont Fruit Program is conducting a short survey on alternative viticultural practices in the region and growers’ satisfaction with them. This survey will help inform and develop a research agenda for the region supporting diverse management philosophies. It should take 5-15 minutes to complete. We are interested in receiving responses from all vineyard operations in the region, and especially from vineyards that use low-input management practices to manage pests, diseases, and vineyard health. The survey is intentionally designed to prevent backtracking after submitting an answer. Please keep that in mind when completing it.

https://go.uvm.edu/vtgrapesurvey

Thank you,

Terence Bradshaw, UVM Fruit Program Director
Bethany Pelletier, Graduate Research Assistant

Registration is open now for a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training on March 8 and 9, 2022. The training will be delivered remotely via Zoom video conference by the University of Vermont Extension Produce Safety Team and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Produce Program.

This food safety training is designed for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about on-farm food safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training

• Date: Tues, March 8 – Wed, March 9, 2022
• Time: 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
• Cost: $20 (includes course materials and AFDO certificate)
• Location: Remote delivery via Zoom video conference

Learn More & Registerby February 16, 2022

This training satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement for covered farms that "at least one supervisor or responsible party" complete "food safety training … recognized as adequate” by FDA (21 C.F.R. §112.22(c)).

Even if your farm is not covered under the Produce Safety Rule, this course canhelp your farm develop a strong food safety culture, a better farm food safety plan, and a more effective operation.

Contact Dana Ruppert at dana.ruppert or (802) 257-7967 ex. 302 for more information or to request a disability-related accommodation.

Best,

Ollie Cultrara (they/them)

Produce Program Outreach & Education Coordinator

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets | 94 Harvest Lane, Williston, VT 05495

Cell: (802) 461-5128 | ollie.cultrara

agriculture.vermont.gov/produceprogram

Passing this on from our colleagues at University of New Hampshire. -TB

UNH Extension Grafting Workshop for Commercial Orchardists

Please consider attending our upcoming Grafting Workshop for Commercial Orchardists to be held on the afternoon of February 16th at Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Please note that space is limited and registration is required.

Commercial grafters from Virginia will be on site for detailed instruction, along with our host farm owner, Steve Wood. A major focus will be to understand the principles of effective grafting and practice the grafting cuts being taught, and participants will have access to instructors throughout the class for guidance.

Grafting new cultivars onto existing apple trees in the orchard offers many advantages. In this case, there is a larger initiative at play. Research has shown that select cultivars are particularly attractive to plum curculio (PC) and apple maggot fly (AMF). Grafted trees can serve as trap trees to hold PC and AMF, where they can be controlled, reducing the need for insecticide applications to the remainder of the orchard block. More information about this initiative will be shared at the workshop.

For full details and to register, please visit the event page here.

Jeremy DeLisle

Field Specialist – Food and Agriculture

Fruit and Vegetable Team

Merrimack County

315 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, NH 03303

Phone: 603-255-3556 x 805