Program supports local partners improving water quality
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has announced $8 million in grant funding through the Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program (AGCWIP). The initiative will support local and regional partners in helping farmers improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff across the state.
Local organizations are vital in connecting farms with technical assistance, education, and state and federal programs. These AGCWIP grants aim to enhance conservation practices, particularly among small farms, to promote clean water and sustainable farming.
“These are important long-term investments to improve water quality that support those who are working the land and providing us food.” said Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture. “Our farmers have contributed greatly to reductions in phosphorus pollution over the last 10 years, and these grants are a contributor to that success.”
Since 2017, AGCWIP has empowered over 30 organizations to advance education, outreach, and on-site farm assistance. More than 80% of this assistance since 2020 has benefited small farms, helping them manage nutrients, plan grazing systems, and prevent livestock from accessing waterways.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) will open in early November 2025, and eligible applicants include individuals, organizations, and businesses working directly with Vermont farmers.
AGCWIP is funded by the Clean Water Fund, part of Vermont’s Clean Water Act of 2015. To mark its 10th anniversary, VAAFM has released a story map, A Decade of Progress: 10 Years Since Vermont’s Clean Water Act, highlighting achievements in agricultural water protection.
The public can also share feedback on the draft State Fiscal Year 2027 Clean Water Budget by attending the hearing on November 7, 2025, or emailing comments to ANR.CleanWaterVT@vermont.gov.
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