AREA COUNTIES – The 2025 Agriculture Drought Impact Survey Dashboard displaying results of a survey that opened in late October, shows results in area counties, where farmers can now benefit from a recently announced Small Business Administration disaster assistance program.
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Vermont that sustained economic losses due to the drought beginning Oct. 7, 2025. The disaster declaration covers the counties of Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington. Apply at sba.gov/funding-programs.
Data in the survey dashboard at the Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets website can be viewed by county, where 19 Caledonia County farms responding estimated 3,725 acres were impacted by the summer and fall’s drought with losses of $254,056.
Twenty-five Orleans County farms reported more than twice the Caledonia County losses with $649,500 lost on 9,105 acres there.
Washington County’s estimated drought losses of $1,122.000 dwarfed those in other area counties, though the 8,230 acres impacted for the 17 farms reporting there are less than in Orleans County.
In Lamoille County, just four farms responded, estimating $52,500 in losses on 544 impacted acres.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
