Flood Resources

Information for Consumers:

• Many Vegetable Farms Flooded, but Plenty of Safe Local Produce Available (PDF from UVM)

Ways to Help:

• Shop at your local farmers' market or farm stand, and seek out farmers who have been affected - many still have products from undamaged fields or early harvests
• If you are a CSA member and your farm was flooded, stick with them if you can - this is when farms need community most!
• Donate to NOFA Vermont's Farmer Emergency Fund
• Donate to the Vermont Community Fund's Farm Disaster Relief Fund
• If you know a farmer who has been impacted, volunteer to help muck out their barn, pull up downed fence, bring in flooded produce, or even make dinner. If you don't know any farmers personally but would like to volunteer, try listing with #VTResponse or United Way.

Information for Farmers:

• If you have been affected by the flood and are experiencing mental and/or emotional difficulties, you can contact the VT Department of Health's "Starting Over Strong" program at 855-SOS-VT00 (855-767-8800). Common issues include: recurring dreams and nightmares related to the flood, anxiety, sadness, fear, anger, inability to concentrate, dwelling on the disaster, worsening or persisting physical issues including stomachaches and headaches. To find more information about taking care of your mental and emotional health throughout the storm recovery effort, go to http://healthvermont.gov and choose ‘After the Flood.’
• Managing Flood Damaged Crops and Forage from Tropical
  Storm Irene (PDF from UVM)
• Resources for Flood Damaged Crops, Forages and Pastures (collected by Sid Bosworth at UVM Extension)
• Interpreting the Results of Soil Tests for Heavy Metals (PDF from UVM)
• All produce - above or below ground - that has been in contact with flood waters must be destroyed and cannot be sold. Click here for the Agency of Ag press release.
• Explanation of Vt. Agency of Ag/FDA Advisory - 9/3/11 Letter from Ginger Nickerson, UVM Extension GAPS Coordinator
• Vocational Rehab Program Offers Help to Farmers in Irene's Aftermath
• The Vermont Agricultural Mediation Program (VTAMP) provides free mediation services to the agricultural community in Vermont. Due to the recent flooding, farms may have insurance claim issues, USDA program compliance issues,  or other financial issues. VTAMP can help farms resolve these and other agricultural issues without a fee. For more information: www.vtamp.org, (802) 583-1100 or matts@emcenter.org. VTAMP is a non-profit organization certified by the Vermont Department of Agriculture and the USDA.

• Please report any damage to fields, crops, structures, equipment, etc to your local Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resource Conservation District, or to us at NOFA Vermont. Report also to your insurance agent, if you have one. It is best to document the damage with photographs before beginning clean up. Use this Agricultural Damage Assessment Form to report to the FSA.

• Vegetable and berry growers should also report damage to Vern Grubinger at UVM. Please include estimated monetary losses and description of damage to fields, crops, and structures.

• Post-Flooding Produce Safety for Commercial Produce Growers (PDF from UVM)
• Managing Flood-Damaged Crops (PDF from UVM)
• Post-Flooding Livestock Recommendations (PDF from NOFA-VT)
• What to Do Next: A Farmer’s Guide to Moving Forward After Tropical Storm Irene (PDF from NOFA-VT)
• Click here for a FAQ for organic farms (updated 9/21).

Potential sources of funds:

• Financial Resources for Farmers Fact Sheet (PDF, updated 9/15)
• NOFA Vermont Farmer Emergency Fund
• Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans
• Other FSA Disaster Assistance Programs
• Vermont Farm Fund Emergency Loan Program
• Mad River Valley Community Fund
• Vermont Economic Development Authority
• Vermont Farm Women's Fund
• Small Business Administration (loans available to farm-related business, producer co-ops, and non-profits, but not farmers directly)

Additional State and Local Resources:

• UVM Extension
• VT Department of Agriculture
• Seven Days "How You Can Help" information
• Rutland Area Farm and Food Link
• Addison County and nearby farmers can email Annie Harlow to be put on a Farmer to Farmer list matching farms with extra to those in need
• Mad River Valley Localvores
• #VTResponse