Vermont Farm Bureau backs farmer emergency relief bill but seeks broader review board and forestry inclusion

Jackie Folsom, president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, told the Senate Committee on Agriculture on Feb. 20 that the Farm Bureau supports S.60, a bill to create Farmer Emergency Relief Assistance, but raised three concerns about the draft language: references to "small and medium scale" farms in the findings, exclusion of forestry from eligibility, and the makeup of the review board that would allocate funds.

Folsom said Farm Bureau policy is size-neutral and suggested removing language that appears to limit the bill to small and medium farms. "We do not discriminate against size," she said, adding that the bureau supported the bill's concept but wanted that phrasing changed. She also asked that forestry be included in the bill; witnesses noted foresters often do not own the land they work and that proving losses can be complicated.

The Farm Bureau raised concerns about the composition of the proposed review board, which in the draft includes the secretary of agriculture, the state chief recovery officer and representatives of three organizations with experience granting relief funds or technical assistance. Folsom said that structure could exclude statewide organizations and other experienced reviewers who do not themselves distribute grants, and she urged language that would allow broader representation.

On funding, committee members and witnesses discussed the requested amount. A coalition figure cited in the hearing was roughly $20 million as an initial ask; senators and Folsom said the final appropriation could be substantially lower and discussed the importance of getting funds to farmers quickly. "The turnaround time on the money... can't be six months," Folsom said, arguing for a distribution process that provides timely assistance for seed, labor and other immediate needs.

Witnesses told senators they had been part of the bill’s drafting coalition and had shared model language with House sponsors (Representative Burke and Representative Lipsky were referenced for a related House draft). Committee members signaled intent to review the bill and possible funding levels; one senator said appropriations processes often remove dollar amounts from bills and that the committee would work to assemble an appropriation if there was sufficient support.

No formal votes were taken during the session. Folsom said Farm Bureau members would also testify at future hearings and offered to work with staff on suggested language to broaden the review board.