Ag Industry Trends & Outlooks

Farming remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. Accidents can, and do, happen all the time. It’s important to implement preventative precautions and to be prepared if the worst case scenario happens. 

The extended period of rainy weather in July and August and major flooding on July 10 has severely impacted many Vermonters. One sector that has been experiencing major impacts from the weather is Vermont’s forest economy. The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation developed a survey specific to this sector that will assist state agencies and elected officials in determining how to respond. 

Grants can be a great resource to provide additional funds needed to take on larger projects, but they’re often under-utilized because they can be time consuming and involve quite a bit of paperwork. To help Northeast agricultural producers navigate funding options, Farm Credit East recently released an update to its report, Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture. 

Raising chickens is nothing new. However, a less common practice that has recently started gaining popularity are backyard chickens. More and more people are opting to raise chickens for eggs in their own backyard. Before you jump in, here are a few important things to consider when evaluating whether backyard chickens are for you.