Vermont Pay for Performance Program Performance-based payments to farmers for reducing phosphorus losses from their fields

Vermont Pay for Performance Program Performance-based payments to farmers for reducing phosphorus losses from their fields is sponsored by State of Vermont. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

The Vermont Pay for Performance Program (VPFP) from the Water Quality Division of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is an innovative program that provides performance-based payments to Vermont farmers for reducing phosphorus (P) losses from their agricultural fields.

While most current conservation programs only pay cost-share for practice implementation, VPFP also pays for the outcomes of practices: it recognizes that conservation practices generate value to the public and directly compensates farms for that value. This approach also allows us to target our water quality resources towards the highest impact farms and fields with respect to reducing Vermont’s phosphorus losses.

Farmers will use FarmPREP, a web-application tool that integrates farm management data, agronomic and hydrologic science, and numerical modeling to evaluate reductions in P losses across their farm operation.

In Phase 1: Planning, regardless of their P-reductions, participants are eligible for a Data Entry Payment of $50 per field (up to $3,000) to compensate them for the time to work with a TA provider to enter their management data into FarmPREP. They are also eligible for a Practice Payment up to $10,000. The Practice Payment rate will be the same as in Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP).

In Phase 2: Implementation, participants remain eligible to receive a Data Entry Payment and Practice Payment and additionally will be paid for an average lbs. P Loss/ac between 0. 0 and 2.

0. To be eligible for the VPFP program, farms must: * Be a Farm as defined in the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), operating within Vermont * Manage crop, hay or pasture land in Vermont * At the time of application, have an updated NMP for the year of enrollment. NMP information, including up-to-date soil and manure tests, is essential to calculations of your performance under this program.

* Dual enrollment eligibility limitations: If you are currently enrolled in FAP, EQIP, CSP, RCPP or any other payment program for cover crop, crop rotation, pasture and hay planting, reduced till, no till, manure injection, manure incorporation, nutrient management, and rotational grazing/prescribed grazing, you are eligible to apply for the VPFP, but you waive the right to receive a**Practice Payment** in Year 1.

Instead, you will be eligible to receive only a Data Entry Payment of $50/field up to $3,000 for your first year in the program. Upon completion of the Planning Year in VPFP, you will receive an estimate of future payments under the VPFP program.

To enroll in VPFP for Year 2 or beyond, will need to choose between programs: you can either drop out of VPFP and continue with other programs, or end your contracts with other programs and continue with VPFP. If you do not have soil or manure tests or an up-to-date Nutrient Management Plan that meets the RAPs for your farm size, you must work to obtain those requirements PRIOR to submitting an application.

Your local Conservation Districtcan help you with this process. _The Vermont Pay for Performance Program (VPFP)application will close at 11:59PM on **Wednesday, July 15th, 2026**. Farms will receive notification of acceptance into VPFP Phase 1: Planning by Monday, August 31, 2026.

Starting in 2027, farms who enrolled for planning in 2026 and meet eligibility criteria will move into VPFP Phase 2: Implementation. _ _Applications for new applicants to Phase 1: Planning will reopen in January 2027. _ Applications are due July 15, 2026.

## Priorities for Enrollment VPFP will be a competitive program. Based on annual budgets, VPFP may only be able to select a portion of applicants to enroll. Ranking of eligible applicants will prioritize the following: * Farms that demonstrate dedication to keeping their Nutrient Management Plan, soil tests, and manure tests up to date.

* Farms that demonstrate dedication to keeping nutrient management records clear, legible, and up to date. * Farms with high rates of conservation practice installation. * Farms with high rates of self-funded field conservation practices/minimal overlap with federal payment programs.

* Farms located in areas of Vermont with the highest TMDL required phosphorous reductions. * Farms interested in improving existing or adding additional conservation practices. * Farms interested in learning from FarmPREP to inform data-driven decision making and comfortable with the uncertainty and co-learning inherent to a new and innovative program.

* Farms that meet the criteria for Historically Underserved Producers.