In the wake of devastating floods that rocked Vermont a fortnight ago, state and federal authorities on Monday encouraged farmers to chronicle and relay the extent of the damage that has marred their farmlands — a defining emblem of Vermont’s picturesque landscape.

Officials, during their inspection, stopped by Paul Mazza’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm, a haunting scene of devastation where once-thriving fields lay submerged under a staggering 20 feet (6 meters) of water, rendering their produce worthless. A distraught Mazza, who owns seven farms scattered across various locales, estimates that a quarter of his produce survived the floods’ wrath. What remains of his fields is a dismal sight — swathed in sediment and strewn with sand deposits from the river.

“The devastation is soul-crushing,” lamented Mazza, the weight of his loss evident in his words. “I feel like I’ve been stripped bare.”

A 2021 state report had extolled Vermont’s vibrant agricultural scene — its maple production, apple orchards, and iconic dairy products — as pivotal to the “Vermont experience.” It underscored the integral role of agriculture in bolstering the state’s economy. “Without these agricultural pursuits, our quaint small towns risk stagnation, and our sprawling farmlands are susceptible to neglect or commercial development,” the report warned.

Adding to the grim tableau, Dave Conant of Conant’s Dairy Farm in Richmond recounted the horrors of the flood that inundated acres of corn and hay. “The sheer force of the floodwaters was staggering,” Conant described. The aftermath? Fields so caked in silt that they pose a risk to even heavy farm machinery.” A sorrowful Conant added, “This disaster has marred Vermont’s pristine beauty.”

With Vermont reigning supreme as New England’s top dairy producer and boasting a thriving local food movement, the implications of this misfortune are vast.

U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, representing the Democratic party, emphasized the urgency of documenting this catastrophe to bolster the case for funds when disaster relief discussions arise in the Senate.

Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, has already initiated a plea to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a federal disaster tag. Such a designation would pave the way for financial relief measures, including the provision of emergency loans at reduced interest rates.

Having witnessed the trials of the Mazza family firsthand, Governor Scott resonated with their anguish, noting the challenges of the days ahead. Optimistic, yet realistic, Scott voiced his hope for further federal aid but acknowledged that the road to recovery would demand more than just financial assistance. “In these trying times,” Scott opined, “we must harness every ounce of our resilience and innovation to surmount this crisis.”