Women in Agriculture (WAgN)

Vermont Farm Women's Fund Grants
Deadline: October 25, 2009.
The Vermont Farm Women's Fund (VFWF) is offering its next round of grants to help women farmers improve their businesses or become more involved in agricultural policy development. The fund provides two kinds of awards: Farm Business Development awards provide support for education and travel related to helping recipients improve some aspect of their business. Leadership Development awards provide support to help women farmers develop skills, access and opportunities to provide leadership in agricultural policy development. Farmers can use awards to help research and develop new products; conduct feasibility studies; and to attend workshops, conferences and classes to learn new marketing, business management and value-added production skills and knowledge. Additionally, applicants for either award may request funds to help defray associated travel, childcare, and replacement labor. Grants are capped at $750. Average award size to date has been $608. Visit Vermont Farm Women's Fund for more information. Click on the "Upcoming Deadlines and Applications" link on the left to get to the online application form. Or, you can request an application package by calling 802-223-2389x15.

Southern SARE Invites Producer Proposals
Deadline: November 24, 2009
The call for proposals have been released for the 2010 Southern Region SARE Producer Grants. Proposals are due by November 15, 2009. Obtain the calls at: http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/callpage.htm3 Southern SARE producer grants are only open to farmers and/or ranchers or producer organizations. Any farmer/rancher or producer organization in the US Southern Region is eligible to apply for the grants which have maximums of $10,000 for individual producers and $15,000 for producer organizations to be used within two years. The Southern Region is comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S.Virgin Islands.

Strolling of the Heifers Microloan Fund for New England Farmers
Deadline: November 27, 2009
The Strolling of the Heifers Microloan Fund for New England Farmers will be accepting applications through November 27, 2009 for loans of $10,000 or less. Applicants must live in one of the four counties of Western Massachusetts or in Vermont, and must prequalify. To learn more, visit The Carrot Project Farm Financing




Northeast SARE Farmer Grants
Deadline: December 8, 2009
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers Farmer Grants for commercial farmers who have a new production or marketing idea that will likely boost profits, improve stewardship, and strengthen the farm community. To learn more, download an application and instruction booklet, please visit NESare Farmer Grants. The Northeast Region is comprised of Connecticut Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington, DC.




Community Capital Management Assistance Program (MAP) Grants
Deadline: Rolling until funds are fully disbursed
Thanks to a $99,000 USDA Rural Development Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG), Community Capital is pleased to launch its Management Assistance Program (MAP). Visit http://communitycapitalvt.org/images/Forms/map%20application.pdf 6Businesses located in one of the following eight Vermont counties can apply for up to $2,500 and formal or informal groups of businesses can apply for up to $5,000 to purchase consulting services that advance their individual or shared business goals. Eligible counties include: Addison, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Washington. There are match requirements, so read the application carefully to find out how you can meet those requirements. Applicants can expect a 2-week turn around time on their application provided it is complete when submitted. All decisions are made by staff.

Holistic Management International has been funded through the USDA's Beginning Farmer Grant to teach beginning women farmers the tools of whole farm planning. Groups are forming in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York.

Classes will begin in January 2010. Participants must agree to attend the 6 sessions that will take place over the winter of 2010 and 4 farm tours that will take place during the spring and fall of 2010. Sessions will be scheduled when the participants are selected but will likely be held on Saturday. There will be farm mentors also available.

If you are a woman farmer who has been farming less than 10 years, contact the coordinator for your state for an application. If you would like to participate as a farmer mentor, please also contact your state coordinator.

Applications must be submitted by November 25, 2009. Class is limited to 15 participants.

In Vermont contact: Mary Peabody, UVM Extension/VT WAgN, 802/223-2389, Mary.Peabody@uvm.edu

In New Hampshire contact: Kate Kerman, Small and, Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire
(603) 876-4562; leader@sbfnh.org

In Massachusetts contact: Kelly Coleman, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) & Massachusetts WAgN, 413/665-7100; kelly@buylocalfood.org

In New York contact: Phil Metzger, phil.metzger@ny.usda.gov, 607-334-3231 x4

In Maine, contact: Gail Chase, WAgN Maine, 207/568-7599; gchase@uninets.net

In Connecticut: Bill Duesing, Connecticut NOFA, 203/888-5146; www.ctnofa.org