Vermont and the Farm Bill 2.0

## How the Farm Bill 2.0 affects VermontVermont is dominated by dairy with significant maple syrup and specialty cheese production. Sen. Welch (D-VT) is on the Senate Ag Committee. ## Vermont agriculture at a glance | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Farms | 6,800 | | Farmland | 1.2 million acres | | Top crops | Dairy, Maple syrup, Apples, Cheese, Cattle | | SNAP recipients | 75,000 | | Ag rank | Smaller ag state | ## Key programs for Vermont producers The most relevant Farm Bill 2.0 programs for Vermont:

• DMC
• Dairy Forward Pricing
• EQIP
• FCEP

## What's specifically changing for Vermont

1. Dairy Forward Pricing made permanent.
2. Common names: Vermont cheese makers benefit.
3. Maple syrup: Title VIII forestry.
4. FCEP: Vermont's working forests.

## Top resources for Vermont producers - **Vermont Department of Agriculture**: primary state-level point of contact for many federal programs. - **Vermont State University Extension**: local research, conservation planning, technical assistance. - **Vermont Farm Bureau Federation**: advocacy and producer information. - **Vermont FSA County Offices**: direct USDA loan applications, ARC/PLC enrollment, CRP. - **NRCS Vermont State Office**: EQIP, CSP, ACEP, conservation planning. ## How Vermont should think about the Farm Bill 2.0 If you're a producer in Vermont, the most important thing to track is the **interaction between this bill and H.R. 1** (the 2025 reconciliation law). Most commodity policy is locked in by H.R. 1; the 2026 farm bill adds incremental changes on top. For most Vermont operations, the highest-impact changes are likely to be: - **Title II conservation reshuffling**: if you use EQIP heavily, expect tighter funding - **Title VI REAP expansion**: if you're a co-op or in renewable energy - **Title XI crop insurance** for veterans, expanded eligibility and subsidy - **Title XII Prop 12 preemption**: if you're in livestock ## Related - [Full Farm Bill 2.0 Summary](/full-bill-summary/) - [What's New vs the 2018 Farm Bill](/whats-new-vs-2018/) - [Program Finder](/program-finder/) - [Browse all states](/states/)