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Committee votes 5-0 to report out S.60 creating Farm Security Special Fund with $7.5M FY26 request
Summary
The committee amended and voted unanimously to report S.60, which would create a Farm Security Special Fund, request a $7.5 million FY2026 appropriation, and set grant rules to reimburse farms for uninsured losses up to 50% (maximum $150,000 per farm per year).
The committee voted unanimously, 5-0, to report S.60 as amended, a bill establishing a Farm Security Special Fund and requesting a $7.5 million fiscal year 2026 appropriation, the committee chair announced during the Feb. 28 meeting.
S.60 would create the Farm Security Special Fund at the Agency of Agriculture to provide grants to reimburse farms for uninsured or otherwise uncovered losses caused by eligible weather events (defined to include precipitation, heat, freeze, fire, hail, drought and similar severe conditions). Grants would reimburse up to 50% of documented losses, capped at $150,000 per farm per year, with award amounts adjusted based on farm income relative to a median farm net income metric.
For the record, Amy Schallenberger, representing NOFA Vermont, told the committee she had submitted suggested language asking the board to report the total documented Vermont farm financial losses from eligible weather conditions averaged over the prior three calendar years. “For the record, Amy Schallenberger, NOFA Vermont. I had emailed the committee a suggested, change,” she said, noting the intent was to provide information to help appropriations decisions without obligating funds.
Major provisions and mechanics discussed and included in the draft: - Fund structure and sources: the special fund would hold general-assembly appropriations, private or public donations and federal funds; balances would carry forward rather than revert to the general fund. - Application and documentation: applicants must submit a streamlined application including a description of damage, an attestation of the weather event, an estimate of losses and tax-based documentation (Schedule F or equivalent); the secretary may verify events using NOAA or other certified weather data sources. - Award process and timing: applications may be submitted at any time; the review board will review applications within a set period and the secretary must issue awards within 15 days of a board recommendation (the committee settled on a 15-day/10-day consistency issue during markup). - Review board and governance: the board is attached to the Agency of Agriculture and includes the secretary (or designee) as chair, the state chief recovery officer (or designee), three representatives of agricultural organizations with demonstrated expertise and two farmers who have received relief; board members serve staggered terms. The board reviews applications, assesses eligibility, and reports to the legislature; the committee discussed but limited use of subcommittees because of public-meeting impacts. - Eligible reimbursements: reimbursable categories include lost income, wages, debt payments, replacement livestock feed, infrastructure and equipment repairs, and costs to repair farm roads necessary for access.
The committee agreed to several drafting adjustments during markup, including replacing a formula-based appropriation provision with an explicit FY2026 request for $7.5 million and clarifying membership language for the review board. The committee then took a roll-call vote with five members recorded as “yes;” the clerk announced 5 yeses, 0 noes and 0 absences.
The committee directed staff to provide a clean, updated bill draft to members and to continue coordination with stakeholders and agency staff on application design and program administration.
