February 2023 Newsletter- PDF Download
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July 2022 Newsletter - PDF Download
Inside This Issue:
'Follow a Farmer' Eases the Burden on Farmers to Share Their Story
Message from President Tisbert
Upcoming Events
Jackie Folsom to be Inducted into Ag Hall of Fame
The Zipline: Shipping Reforms and Bipartisan Solutions
Breakfast on the Farm Recap
May 2022 Newsletter - PDF Download
Inside This Issue:
Vermont Breakfast on the Farm is Back!
Meet The Vermont Farm Bureau Field Representatives
Message from President Tisbert
Vermonter Appointed to Farm Bureau National Committee
The Zipline: Help Wanted, Desperately
VT Farm Worker Housing Needs Assessment Survey
Issue Spotlight: Improving Housing Conditions for Migrant Farmworkers
In collaboration with the Milk with Dignity Standards Council (MDSC), Vermont Community Foundation (VCF), Vermont Low Income Trust for Energy (VLITE), and farmers, Efficiency Vermont is helping address the problem of inadequate farmworker housing across the State of Vermont. Farmworkers experience housing insecurity and often live in substandard or crowded conditions. In addition to reducing the risk of spread of COVID-19 on farms, we also seek to establish a model for just, sustainable, and healthy farmworker housing. Read more about it.
Farmworker Housing to Replace or Augment Existing Dwellings
Construction and installation of eight permanent, new ZEM housing units for farmworkers currently living in unhealthy and overcrowded housing (another ~50 farmworker housing units needed – subsequent goal to deliver additional homes over next five years). Timeline: March 2021 – December 2022. Read more about it.
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A VAAFM Publication for over 80 years. Available in print and online.
"The goal of this Agriview initiative is to make sure that all members of our Vermont agricultural community have equal access to the information they need to stay abreast of changing regulations, to get help and answers to questions, to identify and take advantage of available resources, and to stay connected to our ag community."
VAAFM License & Registration Forms:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/licensing-registration-library
Are you looking for help on your farm? CLICK HERE to post a job or find workers.
Hiring Tips
Your hiring process should start with a written application form for all employees that requires a signature.
NEVER take an application at face value. ALWAYS check an applicant’s references!
Never call a cell phone for a company reference, always dial the company directly and ask to be transferred to the referenced employee.
Be cautious of individuals who try to use a college ID instead of state issued ID or have out of state license plates.
Search for all applicants online to see if they have public social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.) or websites/blogs. Look for any questionable content or connections to activist organizations.
Require all employees to sign your animal care policy. Provide proper animal handling training and updates. Require employees to report any mishandling to management immediately. Forms and templates are available from National Dairy FARM to prepare a farm’s animal care policies.
Coming to work unusually early or staying late and going into areas of the farm not required for their job are red flags to watch out for (see below for others)
Be vigilant! If something does not seem right, explore it further.
Employee Warning Signs
In most cases, employers realized - after the fact - who the former undercover employee had been. They also recognized - after the fact - many behaviors or actions demonstrated by the undercover employee that allowed them to have access to the animals and to produce videos - whether of real or staged animal mistreatment. Some of the behaviors included:
Befriending or mingling with upper management - asking questions about operations including security matters or time schedules.
Volunteering for jobs before or after normal business hours.
Volunteering for jobs that are less desirable, but would provide them access to the animals, often before or after normal business hours.
Seeking employment in jobs below their skill or education level; demonstrating previous jobs or experiences out of character for the job they were seeking.
Seeking employment with no pay - so they can “learn more about the business" before committing to the job.
Using an out-of-state driver's license.
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GRANTS
Northeast SARE Apply Here Farmer, Partnership, Graduate Student, Research &Education, Research for Novel Approaches
USDA Small Business Innovation Research
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State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Grants CLICK HERE
Organic Farming Research Foundation Grants CLICK HERE
Vermont Farm Women's Fund CLICK HERE
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