USDA Announces Expanded Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Timber Producers in Vermont

(Colchester, VT., Oct. 23, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that producers can apply for up to $31.7 million in assistance through a USDA funded block grant to help producers in Vermont recover from crop, timber, and on-farm infrastructure losses due to adverse weather events in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, FSA is reopening the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) signup for the same period providing cost-share for certain restoration activities on private forestland not covered by the state block grant program. Applications for both EFRP and the Vermont Agriculture and Timber Disaster Assistance Block Grant program will be accepted from Oct. 26 through Dec. 31, 2026. EFRP applications will only cover restoration activities that are not eligible for block grant assistance.

"USDA is committed to ensuring Vermont's farmers and timber producers receive the support they need and deserve after facing years of weather-related losses," said Wendy Wilton, FSA State Executive Director in Vermont. "The combination of state and USDA disaster relief assistance will give impacted agricultural operations options to help with restoration and recovery efforts following devastating losses."

Vermont Agriculture and Timber Disaster Assistance Block Grant

The State of Vermont received $31.7 million from FSA to administer through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The grant program provides disaster recovery assistance to eligible Vermont agricultural producers, timber landowners, and contract loggers who experienced qualifying weather-related losses. The program was established through federal block grant funding authorized under the American Relief Act of 2025.

Potentially eligible agricultural losses include:

• Damage to eligible on-farm infrastructure;
• Bare-ground practices;
• Future economic loss
• Market loss

The timber assistance component includes:

• Standing timber losses
• Harvested timber losses
• Licensed Forester assessment costs
• Forest stewardship plan updates
• Certain logger recovery costs required to reopen damaged harvest sites and restore access via reinstallation of Acceptable Management Practices.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must have been farming or operating an eligible agricultural or timber business during 2023 and/or 2024, must have experienced a qualifying weather-related loss, and continue to operate today. Losses must be connected to an eligible weather event and supported by documentation. Applicants may apply for eligible losses that have already been repaired, rebuilt, or replanted, or may attest that they will use program funds to complete eligible restoration or replanting in the future for applicable categories. This program is non-competitive; all applicants demonstrating eligible unmet loss will receive payment.

For more information or to apply visit the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets www.agriculture.vermont.gov or contact [email protected].

For more timber related information, contact the Agency of Natural Resources or contact [email protected].

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

EFRP is administered by FSA and helps non-industrial private forestland owners recover from natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, ice storms, floods, and other qualifying events. EFRP provides funding and technical support for approved conservation practices that restore forest health, mitigate further damage, and promote sustainable forest management.

To assist with forest restoration related to weather events in 2023 and 2024, FSA has reopened EFRP signup for losses during those years. EFRP signup will be available to eligible owners of non-industrial private forest land in all Vermont counties.

To apply for EFRP, forestland owners must submit a request for assistance to their local FSA office. The application process includes an assessment of the damage, documentation of the disaster impact, and a description of the proposed or completed restoration measures. Applicants must also submit documentation of expenses incurred for the approved restoration activities for calculation of cost-share payments. Detailed enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through the local FSA office.

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