Tried no-till and it didn’t work? Want to give it a go but don’t know where to start? Share your experiences with other local farmers and hear how Simpson Farm made the switch through trial and error. Check out their manure injection system, NT drill & chat with the consultants and custom guys who are all part of the team that makes it happen. 

This three session intensive workshop will immerse growers into the practice of seed saving through hands-on learning, presentations, and field trips. We will begin with building a common understanding of seed terminology and botany. Participants will learn isolation and hand-pollination techniques, and also explore seed saving practices for encouraging high genetic diversity and bioregional adaptation. Together we will harvest seeds from dry-seeded and wet-seeded crops to learn processing techniques and review best practices for seed storage.

Join Orleans County Conservation District at Allstad Farm in Hardwick for a practical workshop on managing wet areas, improving hay land productivity, and understanding tile drainage. Hear from Chad Allaire, the farmer behind Allstad, and technical experts. You'll learn about best management practices, installation considerations, and state and federal regulations. Farmers and landowners are welcome. Light lunch provided. Registration required.

Local Food in Practice: Restaurant & Farm Partnerships is a free event series produced in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. 

The series is designed for Vermont farmers and restaurant professionals who want to build stronger, more effective working relationships around local sourcing for the restaurant market channel.

Download the event flyer

Join us at the VTSU Randolph campus for a 2-day Artificial Insemination of Dairy cattle training on September 3rd-4th. This training, conducted in collaboration with Premier Select Sires, Inc., will blend classroom lectures with practical hands-on labs. Participants will gain insights into the bovine reproductive cycle and learn about common reproductive management techniques. The program includes a three-hour session dedicated to developing palpation skills and another three-hour segment focused on artificially inseminating dairy cattle.

September 10-12 at Vermont State University, Randolph Campus

Join this immersive three-day academy designed for Conservation District staff, NRCS employees, Technical Service Providers, Extension personnel, consultants, and other agricultural professionals. Participants will receive hands-on training in NRCS CEMA 216 Soil Health Testing through classroom instruction, field assessment, laboratory analysis, and conservation planning.

Vermont Cheese Week is a state-wide, weeklong celebration designed to feed the fanaticisms of all you cheese lovers out there. (We see you.) It’s unique learning, tasting, pairing, and authentic Vermont experiences that celebrate our beloved cheesemakers, and the land and animals that make cheese possible. Lodging and dining, classes and learning, tastings and pairings, farm and creamery tours, and so much more! The week concludes with our capstone event: the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival at Shelburne Farms on September 20.

Learning to design land use patterns with topography in mind helps to ensure conscious and careful soil and water management. While we are very intentional about the use of heavy machinery in our work, these tools are remarkable in their capacity to reshape the landforms we tend to improve access; mitigate existing resource concerns; direct, capture, or divert surface runoff; and build more resilient working landscapes.

In this workshop, we'll  -

Join us as we celebrate the 14th Annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival! Spend a wonderful autumn day at the historic Shelburne Farms Breeding Barn celebrating Vermont cheese and making new friends!

Back by popular demand: Meet-a-Cheesemaker Panels! From 12:30-1:00pm, we'll have a panel on the History of Cheesemaking in Vermont, and from 2:30-3:00pm a panel on Women in Cheesemaking. Panels are free to attend with your Festival ticket.

Our flagship program - the Vermont Farm Show event - is returning! 

This multi-day event will highlight our increased focus on educational opportunities through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, workshops, and more. Equally important to us is increasing visibility for the variety of agricultural products generated in our state. Vermont Farm Show event attendees will have ample opportunities to taste, touch, and purchase some of our state’s finest farm products.