USA - Vermont Agricultural Recovery Task Force releases final report

12.02.2024 411 views

Last year brought months of challenging weather to Vermont. Persistent rainstorms set records that caused catastrophic flooding throughout the state and the Northeast. The flooding prompted emergency evacuations, closed access to multiple towns, and damaged homes and communities.

The agriculture sector was also hit incredibly hard. After a late freeze in May that destroyed fruit and berry crops, the flooding and heavy rain in July decimated crops and infrastructure. Many crops were destroyed prior to harvest, and the timing of the event and continuing wet weather last summer left farmers without an opportunity to replace them during the growing season. Lost crops and revenue put Vermont’s food system under duress.

Following these devastating events, the Vermont Agricultural Recovery Task Force was established last August to coordinate recovery efforts for Vermont’s agriculture and food systems. The Task Force has now released the Extreme Weather Impact & Recovery report to highlight the impacts, provide details and data, an overview of the various recovery efforts, and recommendations to continue, expand, and improve the state’s response to the ongoing challenges facing Vermont farms and farmers.

Some of the important impacts identified by farmers surveyed(1) after the flooding and included in this report are:

  • 34% of respondents said their loss of feed crops was the most significant damage to their operation.
  • 28.2% was the average loss of annual income reported as a direct result of the severe weather and flooding.
  • 53% of respondents anticipated a feed shortage or problems with feed quality because of the severe weather and flooding.
  • 56% of respondents said their cash flow will go negative in the next year because of the severe weather and flooding.
  • 70% have no crop or livestock insurance. Those who do have crop insurance did not receive sufficient premium payouts to cover losses.

The Severe Weather and Flooding Loss & Damage Survey, conducted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), from which the above data was derived, captured the immediate scope of need in the agricultural community and served a critical purpose in communicating that need to policy makers and others immediately following the event.

Six months after the flood, the full picture of loss sustained by the agricultural community is clearer. When combining total damages from the survey with reported damages (physical and economic) that agricultural applicants reported to the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP), agricultural producers disclosed:

  • $44,678,570 in combined damages.
  • $69,592,774 when food services, food and agriculture related retail, and manufacturing and processing from the BEGAP is included.

In light of these findings, the Agriculture Recovery Task Force has developed recommendations to continue, expand and improve our response to the 2023 severe weather and the consequential impacts on Vermont farms. These recommendations will also inform future severe weather responses as Vermont continues to experience increased precipitation, more extreme weather events, warmer temperatures, and increased periods of drought because of climate change. These changing climatic conditions are anticipated to further complicate food production and increase the likelihood of crop damage and failure in Vermont and throughout the Northeastern United States. Simultaneously, disparate climatic changes in other regions of the U.S. pose threats to food production and supply chain resiliency. Vermont must develop a more robust disaster response to ensure agricultural recovery from natural disasters and secure a resilient food system.

Source - https://www.morningagclips.com

06.02.2025

KOA Biotech raises €2M for early disease detection for fish farms

Using biotechnological tools, KOA Biotech has developed a biosensor system that, combined with proprietary algorithms, forms an autonomous device capable of early detection of waterborne infections.

06.02.2025

Nigeria, Mexico deepen investment cooperation in livestock development

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed Nigerias commitment to strengthening investment ties with Mexico in the livestock sector.

06.02.2025

Vietnam deepens cooperation with FAO to advance sustainable agriculture

Việt Nam has benefitted from over 400 projects supporting sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries, providing essential training to stabilise livelihoods and drive post-war socio-economic growth.

06.02.2025

USA - Illinois launches $7M program to encourage cover crop adoption

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has secured a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to launch the I-COVER program, which provides financial incentives to producers and landowners who adopt cover crops or new techniques for earlier establishment.

06.02.2025

Australia - North Queensland floods cut transport routes, causing food shortages and higher freight costs

Transport routes in North Queensland, disrupted by flooding, are anticipated to reopen within 48 hours. Retailers and consumers may face increased freight costs.

06.02.2025

Norwegian environment minister dismisses idea of salmon farming ban

As Norways wild salmon populations continue to decline, the countrys minister for climate and the environment has firmly dismissed any ideas of a ban on open-net fish farming.

05.02.2025

USA - Evers proposes $80 million in new agriculture spending

  Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday that hes proposing to spend $80 million through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) in his 2025-27 state budget to support farmers and Wisconsins agricultural industry. 

05.02.2025

USA - Department of Agriculture invests nearly $8 million in 26 game-changing programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced an investment of more than $7.5 million to help reduce planet-warming gas pollution.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop
istanbul escort