TODAY: Welch to Tour Drought-Impacted Farm in Orwell, Discuss Path to Disaster Aid

Oct 17, 2025
ORWELL, VT— On Friday, October 17that 11:00 AM,U.S. Senator Peter Welch(D-Vt.),Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development,Energy,and Credit, will join Addison County farmers and legislators at Lazy Dog Farm in Orwell for a drought-impact tour to hear from farmers navigating an organic dairy farm through one of Vermont’s harshest droughts. Senator Welch will hear from farmers about how the historic drought has impacted soil, crop yields, farmers’ livelihoods, and efforts to mitigate the impact of extreme weather.
As the growing season in Vermont ends, farmers across the state are facing the impact of thedriest August on record, with nearly94%of the state experiencing a severe drought. The most recent National Integrated Drought Information System map declared that almost24%of Vermont meets the D3 (Extreme Drought) intensity value, and nearly70%of the state is experiencing D2 (Severe Drought) intensity value.
Senator Welch recently joined fellow Vermont Congressional Delegation colleagues, U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), incalling on the Trump Administrationto help drought-impacted Vermont farmers access urgently-needed disaster assistance. The Delegation called on USDA to issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation for the entire State of Vermont due to the mounting impacts of the pervasive and severe drought that has struck the state in recent weeks.
WHAT:Senator Welch Joins Addison County farmers and leaders to tour droughtimpacted farm and discuss path to disaster aid.
WHO:Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Drought-Impacted Farmers, Legislators and Policymakers; Champlain Valley Watershed Alliance.
WHEN:Friday, October 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM
WHERE:Farm Stand at Lazy Dog Farm, 152 Royce Hill Road, Orwell, VT 05760
RSVP:Media are kindly asked to RSVP toElisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov.
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