The Vermont Community Foundation (Vermontcf.org) inspires giving and brings together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont. Through targeted grants and community partnerships, VCF supports impactful responses to the challenges facing Vermont’s working lands and rural communities.

Vermont farmers are facing another very difficult year. Nearly 80 percent of the state is in severe drought, with rainfall about 40 percent below normal. Many farmers are losing crops, buying expensive feed, and even trucking in water to keep their herds going. At the same time, federal agricultural funding has been paused or canceled, cutting tens of millions of dollars from programs that directly support farmers and Vermont’s working lands. The migrant farmworkers who are valued members of our agricultural community also face increasing threats from the rise in federal immigration enforcement actions. Many essential farm supplies, including feed, fertilizer, and equipment, come from Canada and other sources abroad, so tariffs and trade disruptions can drive up costs unpredictably. Anyone who has spent time on a farm knows how much depends on timing, when to buy, when to plant, and when to invest for the season ahead.

In a year like this, community support can make all the difference in helping Vermont’s farmers weather the storm and keep our local food system strong.