Reaching Underserved Producers in VT and NH with Risk Management Programs
Project Director: Jennifer Byrne (whiterivernrcd@gmail.com)
White River Natural Resources Conservation District
Award Amount: $100,000
This project will provide continued education and technical assistance (TA) for small holder, specialty crop operations and small-scale dairy and livestock farms to increase enrollment in Whole-Farm and Micro-Farm Revenue Protection as well as Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Programs. The geographic focus area will be the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. VT and NH are two of the former “Targeted States”, identified for having low levels of adoption of crop insurance. There are currently zero (0) farms in Vermont that are accessing these type of insurance policies. We hope that number will change next year due to our current efforts under our existing NERME grant. Our Conservation District is a trusted and effective resource throughout the community, holding long term relationships with the farming community, we are especially focused on serving beginning, socially disadvantaged, livestock, and specialty crop producers. In 2024, we will convene at least 10 additional Farm Teams annually across the region, host at least 5 educational workshops reaching up to 100 producers, develop 4 educational products, and will emphasize and explore a “conservation lens” within risk calculation. The anticipated outcomes will be greater adoption and utilization of these insurance programs among underserved producers.
Reducing Financial Risk: Supporting Economic Viability for Producers Underserved by Crop Insurance through Financial Record Keeping, Analysis, and Strategic Risk Management
Project Director: Jeffrey Cole (jcole@thecarrotproject.org)
Co-Project Director: Julia Grigg (jgrigg@thecarrotproject.org)
TSNE, Inc. – The Carrot Project
Award Amount: $100,000
Overview: The project addressed financial risks through education, training, and one-on-one business advising to help producers evaluate Federal risk management programs. Key elements were for farmers to: 1) build financial recordkeeping and management skills; 2) identify financial risks; 3) understand and evaluate risk mitigation resources/tools, including crop insurance; 4) apply these tools to address financial risk; and 5) take measurable steps toward economic viability. The target audience was underserved producers in CT, MA, ME, NH, and RI.
Audience Emphasis: We reached the target audience in all 5 states. At least 80%* of participants were underserved producers. (*Some engagements did not facilitate collection of demographic data; however, we know from general audience attributes that the majority were in the target audience).
Implemented strategies were: 1) Incorporate stakeholder input to ensure producer needs were met; 2) Generate workshops/trainings to educate producers and provide resources for implementing risk management tactics; 3) Deliver 1:1 advising to improve producer skills, assess risks, and implement plans responding to risks; 4) Create an asynchronous learning system to help producers improve financial recordkeeping skills, understand their risks, understand steps for developing risk management strategies, and evaluate USDA risk management products.
Outcomes: We proposed to provide resources and support to equip participants with skills to understand their risks, assess risk management tools available to them, develop individualized financial systems and risk management plans, and when appropriate, apply to insurance programs as part of comprehensive risk management plans.
We achieved all proposed outcomes, significantly exceeding our projections in two-thirds of our metrics, and we reached 328 producers. We accomplished this through intensive collaborations to define content, activities, and messaging that resonated with our audience. We then leveraged our partnerships and expertise to deliver impactful programming.
Data available to date indicates two participants applied for USDA risk management products.
Cover Crop Sequences to Support Pollinators and Soil Health on Diversified Vegetable Farms
Project Director: Vernon Grubinger (vernon.grubinger@uvm.edu)
Co-Project Director: Laura Johnson (laura.o.johnson@uvm.edu)
University of Vermont
Award Amount: $97,863
This project helped diversified vegetable farmers learn how to use cover crop sequences to support insect pollinators and soil health within complex crop rotations. Farmers know that cover crops help maintain soil organic matter, reduce erosion, and provide floral resources for pollinators, but they typically lack a systematic approach to optimizing these benefits. Most Northeast vegetable farms are small operations growing a variety of high-value cash crops, often in multiple fields. Planting flowering cover crop species can reduce production risks posed by inadequate pollinator resources while mitigating soil degradation, helping to maintain vegetable yields in a changing climate.
Our work and partnerships with the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, FSA, NRCS, and growers helped reach our target audience, commercial vegetable farms. During this project, 78 farmers directly engaged by sowing flowering cover crops and 450 others expressed interest in the practice after exposure to educational materials and/or attending outreach activities which were: a conference presentation, 11 on-farm workshops, 3 webinars, and 85 individual consultations. The Vermont Vegetable and Berry Grower e-newsletter reached 1,025 farmers and service providers with information generated during the project, specifically, observed pollinator activity in flowering cover crops during the growing season. Eight farmers engaged in pollinator habitat design planning using an on-line tool developed by the project team and documented their adoption of pollinator support practices.
A new partnership with NRCS personnel was established that is expected to increase applications and funding awarded for establishment of pollinator habitat.
During the two years of the project, 3708.5 pounds of certified organic cover crop seed, enough to cover more than 35 acres of land, was delivered to participating farmers, free of charge. Education regarding NAP disaster coverage, including the free coverage option for beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers, was provided to 50 farms.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Ensuring Farm Sustainability with Covered Production and Diversified Risk Management Strategies
Project Director: Jennifer Hashley (jennifer.hashley@tufts.edu)
Tufts University
Award Amount: $100,000
The Climate-Resilient Agriculture NERME project addressed rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and shifting seasons by supporting small-scale, beginning, specialty crop, and historically underserved producers in the Northeast. The project helped farmers reduce climate-related risks through education on covered production systems, including high tunnels, low tunnels, and caterpillar tunnels, to stabilize yields, extend growing seasons, and improve profitability.
Through eight online trainings, three on-farm tours, development of an online asynchronous course, and individualized technical assistance, more than 300 producers gained practical skills in weather risk mitigation, conservation funding, enterprise planning, and marketing. Participants learned to install and manage covered structures, access farm safety net programs, and track outcomes to strengthen production and financial resilience.
New Entry reached its audience through multiple channels. Outreach included newsletters reaching more than 9,600 general subscribers and 2,600 farmers, a social media presence exceeding 10,000 followers, and partnerships with veteran and BIPOC-serving organizations to ensure equitable access to resources. A new communications staff member expanded the organization’s outreach capacity.
The project’s activities increased growers’ awareness of protected agriculture benefits, improved pest and disease management, and promoted peer-to-peer learning. Farmer-led tours engaged 54 participants in sharing practical approaches to seasonal production, while 43 producers received 99.75 hours of individualized technical assistance in enterprise budgeting, recordkeeping, marketing, and high tunnel management. Fifteen of these producers received 36 hours of focused support on covered production systems.
The project exceeded participation goals and strengthened farm viability across the region. By combining education, demonstration, and individualized support, New Entry helped producers build resilience and profitability amid growing climate variability..
