Governor Phil Scott Announces $31.7 Million Vermont Agriculture & Timber Disaster Assistance Program

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) and Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) today announced the Agriculture and Timber Disaster Assistance Program will begin accepting online applications on October 26, 2026. In this first phase, eligible applicants can receive 95% of eligible losses up to a maximum payment of $75,000.

The state-administered program will provide disaster recovery assistance to eligible Vermont agricultural producers, timber landowners, and contracted loggers who experienced qualifying weather-related losses in 2023 and/or 2024. The program was established through federal block grant funding authorized under the American Relief Act of 2025.

"While this won't make businesses whole, it will be a helpful tool for those trying to keep their businesses going and make ends meet," said Governor Phil Scott. "I want to thank the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets as well as the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation for getting this program up and running to meet the needs of our agriculture and forest communities."

"This program will provide important assistance to Vermont farmers, forest landowners, and loggers who have been working to recover from significant weather-related losses," said Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts. "We know that recovery can take years. This assistance will help eligible businesses make repairs, restore their operations, and move forward."

Potentially eligible agricultural losses may include:

• Damage to eligible on-farm infrastructure;

• Future economic loss; and

The timber assistance component may include:

• Licensed forester assessment costs;

• Forest stewardship plan updates; and

• Certain logger recovery costs required to reopen damaged harvest sites and restoring access via reinstallation of Acceptable Management Practices.

"Forest landowners, and loggers have been carrying the weight of weather-related timber losses for years," said FPR Commissioner Danielle Fitzko. "With VATDAP applications now open, we can offer the support people need to recover and continue the important work of keeping Vermont's forests healthy and productive. The program covers the cost of assessments by licensed foresters, and FPR is here to help anyone who needs guidance through the process."

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.

The online application window is expected to open on October 26 and close December 31 with payments anticipated to be distributed in early 2027

Producers should begin preparing the information and documentation they may need, including:

• Ownership, lease, or timber sale contract documents;

• Parcel and property information;

• Tax identification or business information;

• Descriptions of weather-related damage and losses;

• Time-stamped photographs;

• Receipts, invoices, repair records, or estimates;

• Documentation of other payments received for the same loss; and

• Additional records supporting the timing, cause, and value of the loss.

Timber applicants may also need ownership or financial-interest documentation, stand maps or delineations, a licensed forester assessment, forest management plan information, timber sale or contract records, revenue documentation, and records of eligible recovery work.

VAAFM will provide additional information about the application portal, eligibility requirements, supporting documentation, and application assistance before the program opens.

Phase 2 of this programming will be focused on large infrastructure projects whose value is greater than $75,000, up to a $750,000 maximum. The second phase will be run as a competitive grant program. Receiving payment through phase 1 does not make an applicant ineligible for phase 2, however phase 2 will not cover losses already paid for through phase 1 or any other funding source.

For more agriculture related information, visit www.agriculture.vermont.gov or contact [email protected].

For more timber related information about the timber program, visit www.fpr.vermont.gov/forests/watershed-forestry/vermont-timber-disaster-assistance-program or contact [email protected].