By Jamie Martin
Farmers in Vermont are facing a deepening crisis as severe drought conditions spread across the state. U.S. Senator Peter Welch, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, has requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve a Secretarial Disaster Designation for all counties in Vermont.
The designation would open access to emergency assistance and financial support programs for farmers whose livelihoods are at risk. Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture has also formally requested statewide disaster relief to address the drought’s devastating effects. Senators Bernie Sanders and Representative Becca Balint joined Welch in urging the USDA to act swiftly.
In their letter, the lawmakers highlighted how the drought has drastically reduced crop yields. “Farmers typically harvest three to four cuts of hay each year, but this season many saw only one high-quality cut,” they noted. Corn yields could fall by more than 40%, driving up winter feed costs while reducing milk production across Vermont’s dairy farms.
The drought’s effects extend beyond dairy. Fruit and vegetable growers are reporting their lowest yields in years, and many orchards have been forced to haul water for more than three months.
According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 94% of Vermont is under severe drought, with nearly a quarter of the state in extreme drought conditions.
Lawmakers stressed that immediate federal support is vital to protect Vermont’s farming economy, calling the drought’s impact “widespread and lasting” and urging USDA approval for full statewide disaster assistance.
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Categories: National