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Recently updated projections for the Northeastern US forecast increasingly severe and erratic precipitation events which pose significant risks to every sector of agricultural production in the region. Summer water deficits and droughts are also projected to intensify.Ìý Vegetable and berry farmers are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of severe precipitation and drought due to the intensive soil and crop management strategies which characterize of this kind of production.

Herbicide use and increased cultivation of genetically modified crops have caused a severe decline in milkweed and monarch butterfly populations.ÌýÌý But recent innovative uses for milkweed fiber have piqued the interest of some innovative farmers in the Northeast.

Since that time, we have engaged in countless outreach and applied research projects, helped launch new programs within ¶¶Òõ̽̽ and the extended community, and developed a cross-disciplinary, systems-based approach to addressing needs in Vermont's vibrant food system. We continue to research leading-edge practices and new approaches that help farmers and other food system stakeholders who are seeking profitability, incorporating environmentally regenerative practices, and addressing social and community-based food-related needs.