OCTOBER 19, 2020, US Virgin Islands – As a result of the economic crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture (VIDA) in conjunction with the Office of Senator Allison DeGazon, has secured $100,000.00 to support local farmers. This economic impact payment is designed to support farmers as they continue to supply our local economy with fresh local produce at locations such as markets, school lunch programs, hospitals, senior citizen facilities, etc.
Interested Farmers will need to submit a “2020 COVID-19 Farmer Stimulus Application” to a cashier inside VIDA offices or via email at: grants@doa.vi.gov by November 25, 2020 at 11:59pm AST.
Late applications or those with missing information will not be considered or accepted. Please be sure to include copies of your 2018/2019 DCLA & VIDA Farm Licenses and Harvest Reports as requested.
How does it work/who qualifies for the farmers stimulus check?
Any farmer who has been licensed with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs for the last 2 years and whose farms are currently in production will qualify for this payment.
What is the amount each farmer will receive?
Each qualified farmer will be mailed a one-time stimulus payment from the Department of Agriculture. The final payment amount will be divided equally among the qualified farmers.
When will payment be received?
Payments are anticipated by the end of January 2021.
Is the money yours, free and clear?
Yes, this is not a loan and you do not have to repay the Department of Agriculture.
All questions about this application can be submitted to info.doa@doa.vi.gov or via phone at (340) 778-0997, on St. Croix; (340) 774-5182, on St. Thomas; or (340) 776-6274, on St. John.
Apply Now!
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JULY 14, 2020, US Virgin Islands – Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the territory the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture will be curtailing hours, effective immediately to limit exposure and promote the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and the Virgin Islands community at-large.
VIDA will modify business hours effective Monday, July 13, 2020 to be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. This will provide critical support of our community’s effort to increase food production. We encourage our customers and farmers to limit visits to our offices unless purchasing seedlings, feed, or other agricultural supplies on those days.
For documents requiring signature: Please deliver them to the office on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday and the documents will be returned to you on the following open business day.
Otherwise, most required forms or documents are available on our website at https://doa.vi.gov or they can be emailed directly to you. For more information, please email us at info.doa@doa.vi.gov.
For inquiries outside of these hours, please contact us at (340) 778-0997, on St. Croix; (340) 774-5182, on St. Thomas; or (340) 776-6274, on St. John. Visitors to our offices will be required to maintain our social distancing policy of six (6) feet at all times.
Veterinary Services are essential and on-going, please contact Dr. Bethany Bradford at (340) 642-7320 or email her directly at bethany.bradford@vi.gov.
We will continue to sanitize and maintain markets that have been officially reopened by VIDA. Please be reminded that masks are mandatory for vendors and patrons.
In these anxious and uncertain times, we urge our community members to keep safety in mind, as we at VIDA continue to serve in our mission to develop, support, and promote an economically lucrative agricultural industry in the US Virgin Islands while protecting consumers, farmers, and the environment.
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Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic?
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
For information, please visit: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap
Information contained in this post was provided through a webinar hosted by the US Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority. For more information or clarification, please use the contact information provided.
Legislature of the Virgin Islands of the United States | Honorable Senator Allison DeGazon
- Welcome to any comments, questions, or suggestions!
- Contact: adegazon@legvi.org
VI Department of Agriculture | Departmental Resources
- Agricultural Development
- Feed, Seed, Slips, & other agricultural supplies are available Territory-wide.
- Farmer Vending
- Food Production
- Land Preparation services still available.
VI Economic Development Authority | Economic Development Commission
- Content to be updated soon
- Please visit their website here.
VI Economic Development Authority | Economic Development Bank
- Farmers Program / Micro Credit Loan
- Maximum direct loan of $50,000
- Maximum loan term of 5 years
- Interest rate: 4% / 5%
- Applicant must be licensed as a commercial farmer for three years / Must be a legal resident of the resident of the Virgin Islands for 5 years.
- Can be used for:
- Capital Costs & Infrastructure
- Equipment & Inventory
- Other tools and implementation for the production and sale of produce.
- For more information, please use this link for their website.
World Central Kitchen | VI Plow to Plate Program
- Offers Grants from $5,000 to $20,000
- Creates opportunities for:
- Capacity Building
- Business & Technical Training
- Exposure to WCK’s network
- Volunteers to Work
- Can be used for:
- Physical Assets
- One time purchases
- Other tools to bring your business to the next level!
- Who can apply?
- Commercial Farmers & Fishers
- Agribusinesses (local, small scale food producers, distributors, & suppliers)
- Deadline April 30th, 11:59pm
- Application: https://wck.org/apply-to-p2p
- Questions, please email: usvi@wck.org
USDA | Natural Resources Conservation Service
- https://www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus
- Visit the link above to find the most up to date COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide.
- Identified funding and other Federal resources.
- Offers over 50 programs and services:
- Business & industry Loan Guarantee
- Rural Energy of America Renewable Energy System & Energy Efficiency Grant
- Value Added Producer’s Grant
- Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants (Deadline: July 13, 2020 | Informational Webinar: May 5th)
- If you have questions related to the Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
- Andrew Hayes | General Field Representative
- Phone: 770.312.7073 | Email: andrew.hayes@usda.gov
- If you have questions related to the Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
- For General Questions, please email vi-rd@usda.gov.
USDA NRCS | Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP) Assistance
- Addresses resource concerns for soil, water, air, cultural, land areas and provides technical and financial assistance in developing new programs and systems on your property.
- EQUIP Requirements:
- Must be registered through the USDA NRCS
- Crop Farmers: Must have irrigation history for crop land
- Livestock Farmers: Must have zoning for pasture land
- Bank account available for direct deposit.
- Office is open for appointments
- For more information please email Rudy O’Reilly at rudy.o_reilly@usda.gov or call (340) 692-9632.
US Small Business Administration
- Please visit https://sba.gov for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 related assistance
VI Small Business Development Center
- If you need assistance with clarifying which forms are needed, getting documentation together, etc
- Contact: (340) 693-1694 | info@visbdc.org
- Visit their website.
American Farmland Trust | Farmer Relief Fund
- To help directly support farmers impacted by the current crisis, American Farmland Trust is launching a new Farmer Relief Fund.
- AFT’s Farmer Relief Fund will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis.
- Initially, eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers. These are defined as producers with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products as inputs.
- The program will be extended through April 23rd.
UPDATED April 10, 2020: Understanding, supporting, and encouraging the vitality of farming to the local food system, beginning Saturday, April 4, 2020, VIDA, in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Virgin Islands Department of Health, will be allowing farmers to vend produce at the Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex, #1 Estate Lower Love on St. Croix from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. On St. Thomas, beginning Sunday April 12th, the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market will be supported with the assistance of We Grow Food, Inc. from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This temporary relocation of market facilities is meant to ensure the health and safety of our community while minimizing complications related to sanitation, hand washing, crowding, and enforcement.
As such, vendors utilizing this option will be required to:
- Practice social distancing of six (6) feet, as appropriate.
- Utilize provided stations for hand-washing and sanitation purposes.
- Create distance between stands, to limit crowds and reduce the number of customers within your area.
- Consider pre-packaging bags of fruits, vegetables, other items to limit shoppers’ handling of food and to keep customers moving quickly along.
- Having, if possible, a different person handling products and handling money OR washing hands or sanitizing in between these tasks.
- Remove tablecloths and sanitizing tables regularly.
- Eliminate samples and eating areas while directing customers to take all foods home with them.
- Please consider utilizing the CDC’s updated information on cloth-based face coverings.
We remind our vendors and our community that an on-farm stand for raw produce; shelf stable packaged foods like jams, jellies, or baked goods; or a farm’s own eggs do not need any additional licenses and we encourage farmers and consumers to utilize alternate means of distribution including:
- Checking out our running list of where our vendors have temporarily relocated here.
- Delivery and/or pick up options, or alternate locations such as road-side stands or other places that customers can drive-through or pick up
- Putting signs or information on social media or websites to explain changes, delivery options, or extra precautions you are taking to limit exposure to COVID-19.
- Suggestions for extra precautions: Instruct customers not to handle food. Package cheese, eggs, and produce for customers, even if these items are individually packaged. Open egg cartons for customers to see the eggs they are getting instead of having them handle multiple cartons.
For any questions, please contact our Department or email us at info.doa@doa.vi.gov.
