AAFM Proposes Repeal of On-Farm Slaughter Sunset

The  “miscellaneous” agricultural bill traditionally facilitates a series of technical corrections that the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets brings to the lawmakers’ attention in each session (here is the misc ag bill draft). 

We celebrate that in 2021, Section 1 proposes to repeal the on-farm slaughter sunset. This “sunset” means that without a legislative act, the on-farm slaughter law would automatically cease to exist in July 2023 - right after this legislative biennium. Shall the proposed legislation to repeal the sunset pass into law, the on-farm slaughter law will continue to exist indefinitely. This will allow Rural Vermont to organize for the new policy priorities related to improving the on-farm slaughter law as indicated by the ongoing survey (click here and take the survey). Contact caroline@ruralvermont.org if you want to stay up to date on the developments of the on-farm slaughter campaign. 

Among other smaller changes, of further importance is the proposed expansion of the PES and Soil Health working group into 2023; as well as the continuation of the states hemp pilot program throughout the year. The pilot program was previously set to expire in 2020, but states are federally now allowed to operate a pilot program in 2021. The PES and Soil Health working group was created through Act 83 (2019): “to recommend financial incentives designed to encourage farmers in Vermont to implement agricultural practices that exceed the requirements of 6 V.S.A. chapter 215 and that improve soil health, enhance crop resilience, increase carbon storage and stormwater storage capacity, and reduce agricultural runoff to waters.” The group was renamed and reauthorized last year with Act 129 (2020) and AAFM aims to reconvene the working group early in March.