By Brodie Haenke, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Farmers interested in participating in the Vermont Pay For Performance Program will be able to submit applications January 1-31, 2024 by visiting our webpage at www.agriculture.vermont.gov/VPFP. This program provides performance-based payments to Vermont farmers for reducing phosphorus losses from their agricultural fields. Reductions in phosphorus losses are estimated using a web-based environmental modeling application called FarmPREP (Farm Phosphorus Reduction Planner). First time enrollees, regardless of their P-reductions, are eligible for a data entry payment of $15 per acre they enroll in the program (up to $4,000). Because this program relies on farm management data, ideal program participants are farms that are comfortable using computers, keep organized field and nutrient records, and are interested in learning about their farm management with new environmental modeling tools.
To be eligible for the program, farms must manage crop, hay or pasture land, ensure their farm business is registered with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), have an up-to-date Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) that meets the RAPs for their farm size, which includes having up-to-date soil and manure tests for all sources, and have updated maps for all their fields. Farmers who are interested in learning about the effects of their management, keep organized records, and are happy to engage with and communicate with technical service providers are most likely to achieve success in the program.
For more information, please contact Brodie Haenke at Brodie.haenke@vermont.gov or by phone at 802-636-7852.
