Farm and forestry groups press for $15.6M disaster fund in FY27
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Summary
Growers and farm advocates urged the Appropriations committees to appropriate $15.6 million to a Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund (speakers referenced S.60) to provide predictable disaster relief after frost, flooding and other climate-related losses that federal insurance often does not cover.
Farmers and agricultural advocates urged lawmakers to appropriate $15.6 million in FY27 to create or fund a Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund that would provide predictable disaster relief for diversified farms.
Speakers including Justin Rich (owner, Burnt Rock Farm) and David Keck (Stella 14 Wines) described catastrophic weather events in 2023 and 2024 — including an intense flood and a frost that destroyed grape yields — and said federal crop-insurance programs leave many diversified vegetable, berry and specialty crop farms without adequate coverage. "An adequately funded farm and forestry operations security special fund will codify the supports that we received from the ad hoc BGAP program and ensure that similar support can be available for others to rely on in the future," Rich said.
Multiple witnesses described the Business Emergency Gap Assistance (BGAP) program as useful but ad hoc and sometimes slow: one speaker noted BGAP authorization arrived nearly two months after a flood event. Advocates argued a dedicated special fund would let the state respond quickly, purchase Vermont-grown products when needed, and stabilize farm businesses that steward large shares of Vermont’s land base.
Supporters tied the request to S.60 and asked the committees to consider the fund as part of climate resilience and economic preservation for rural communities. The hearing provided no committee action; the request will be considered during the FY27 budget deliberations.
