MONTPELIER — Gov. Phil Scott announced a $25 million program to help Vermont dairy farmers and dairy processors whose operations have been hurt by the pandemic. The program will begin accepting applications on Friday.
Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said that since March 1, 25 Vermont dairy farms have shut down. The rolling average before COVID was the loss of 1.5 farms a month.
“The figures are pretty sobering,” Tebbetts said.
As of Tuesday, Vermont had 636 cow dairies, 47 goat dairies and five sheep dairies.
In addition to the assistance for dairies, the Agriculture Agency is preparing grant programs, $5 million for non-dairy farmers, farmers’ markets and slaughterhouses and a $500,000 program to help operators of country fairs and field days.
–Associated Press
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