Vermont’s farms shape our land and our way of life. Without the open expanses of land that farmers care for, many of the recreational activities we enjoy, like snowmobiling, hunting and cross-country skiing, wouldn’t be possible. In the recent poll Dairy in Vermont: Vermonters’ Views, 66 percent of Vermonters said they use farmland for recreation and 91 percent said that dairy farming is important to Vermont’s quality of life.
The majority of Vermont’s farmland is devoted to dairy and crops for feed, as farmers use their land to grow corn as grain and silage, and to grow grass for pasturing. Dairy farmers in Vermont make more than half of the milk produced in New England, and also provide a nutritious and local source of food. In this respect, it’s important to support and thank our local dairy farmers not only for being good stewards of the land that we enjoy, but also for providing our communities with safe, high-quality milk and dairy products for our local communities.
In return, dairy farmers greatly appreciate the private citizens, organizations and members that make use of their land, like the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers and the Hunters Anglers Trappers Association of Vermont. Thank you for supporting the open landscapes that make Vermont such a unique and special place to enjoy.
Amanda St. Pierre
Richford
On behalf of the Farmers Watershed Alliance