Rural VT has formally submitted its public comments to the Climate Council, and its Subcommittee on Agriculture and Ecosystems. Though we have done our best to include many things - the document is certainly not exhaustive and we would like to hear your feedback. We begin with suggestions on a Vision and High Level Recommendations, we then discuss the existing Greenhouse Gas Inventory in VT, “tensions and tradeoffs” to consider, and specific ideas, suggestions, and proposals. Please be in touch with Graham, graham@ruralvermont.org and provide your own comments and support for ours through the public portal.
In this piece published by the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, RV Policy Director Graham Unangst-Rufenacht reflects on the struggles small- and medium-sized farmers share in and the need for systemic change, starting with relief for black farmers and passing the Relief for America’s Small Farmer’s Act.
We are fortunate in Vermont to have so many locally owned food co-ops, grocery stores, farm stands and farmers’ markets, which offer fresh produce, meats, milk, cheeses and more throughout the year. But at most supermarkets and convenience stores where the majority of people buy their food, where do you imagine their products come from? Do you picture small, local, independent farms and ranches? That might have been true decades ago, but today, a few powerful corporations dominate the food industry, making it extremely hard for smaller farms to compete…
Rural VT has drafted its public comments for the Climate Council’s Subcommittee on Agriculture and Ecosystems. There is an opportunity to learn about some of the initial recommendations of this Subcommittee as well to provide feedback this Tuesday, September 14th, at 6pm. We’ll be attending, listening, and providing feedback as well. You can register for the meeting here. We hope to see you there!
Rural Vermont and other members of the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition continue to advocate for a just, equitable, accessible, and agricultural adult-use cannabis marketplace at the Cannabis Control Board’s public meetings. These meetings provide significant opportunity for public input and we encourage folks to attend as they are able and to share their voices, ideas, concerns, and experience!
ALSO: Rural VT and the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition Seeking Input from, and Site Visits with, Adult Use Cannabis Cultivators -
If you are considering participating in the coming adult use marketplace and you’d like to share your ideas and concerns, we want to hear from you! During the Summer and early Fall, we are doing our best to come to you - so, if you are interested in a farm or site visit, please be in touch with us by contacting our Policy Director, Graham: graham@ruralvermont.org.
Rural Vermont strongly supports the Justice For Black Farmers’ Act and condemns the judicial injunctions halting the implementation of the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act and its distribution of $4 billion in debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers who have been systematically discriminated against by the USDA for well over a century. Our national partner organization - the National Family Farm Coalition - has joined 25 organizations in signing onto an Amicus Brief to release the Wisconsin Order, and has offered this statement of support. Also check out their recent editorial about the debt relief for Black Farmers. For more information about the history of discrimination against small farmers in the US, and how BIPOC farmers and communities have been systemically and disproportionately impacted, check out the most recent episode in the Disparity to Parity webinar series.
On Friday, ANR sent THIS letter to current composters registered with/certified by the state.
Here is a brief excerpt explaining the impact of S. 102 on composters importing 2,000 cubic yards or less/year of food residuals:
“The new law, which was effective immediately upon signature, applies to two specific importation situations. The changes of note appear in the definition of “farming” in 10 V.S.A. § 6001(22) which has been amended to include the following importation scenarios:
(H) the importation of 2,000 cubic yards per year or less of food residuals or food processing residuals onto a farm for the production of compost, provided that:
(i) the compost is principally used on the farm where it is produced; or
(ii) the compost is produced on a small farm that raises or manages poultry.
This means, if your farm composting operation meets section (H)(i) or (H)(ii) above, then you are exempt from needing a registration or certification from the Solid Waste Management Program. Instead, you will operate under the jurisdiction of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. If you have any questions about if you qualify or what the transition to AAFM oversight could look like for you please feel free to reach out to Cary Giguere directly at (802)828-6531 or cary.giguere@vermont.gov.”
For more information on S. 102, check out our On-Farm Composting Factsheet!
Rural VT attends meetings of the Agriculture and Ecosystems Subcommittee of the VT Climate Council - the entity charged with developing a plan to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the Global Warming Solutions Act. We are working on our initial comments, and recommend getting yours in by the end of June as the subcommittees must have recommendations developed by late July for public feedback. There will be more opportunities for submitting comment going forward. All meetings are open to the public and provide opportunity for public comment.
You can submit comments to the VT Climate Council HERE.
The Cannabis Control Board recently hired an Executive Director, and is holding “special meetings” until it solidifies its regular schedule. The June 10th meeting focused on “small cultivators”, and members of the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition (including Rural VT), as well as local farmers and small businesses testified - highlighting many common themes. In one day, the CCB was able to bring in more voices of farmers and small businesses than either the House or Senate Agriculture Committee did in the last 6 years of cannabis legislation in VT. This week’s coming meeting will focus on Racial Equity. Meetings are open to the public and include the opportunity for public comment.
From VAAFM:
The Current Use Advisory Board, established in 32 V.S.A. § 3753, has two vacancies and the Governor's office is actively seeking interested applicants to serve in this critical role. The purpose of the Current Use or Use Value Appraisal Program is to encourage and assist the maintenance of Vermont's productive agricultural and forest land, prevent the accelerated conversion of these lands to more intensive use; to achieve more equitable taxation for undeveloped lands; to encourage and assist in the preservation and enhancement of Vermont's scenic natural resources; and to enable the citizens of Vermont to plan its orderly growth in the face of increasing development pressures in the interests of the public health, safety and welfare.
The Current Use Advisory Board set the Use Values for agricultural and forest land twice annually, with some subcommittee work off season possible. Members are reimbursed for time and mileage for participation in the meetings, which happen during working hours.
Membership of the Board must represent certain factions of Vermont taxpayers, and the two vacancies must be filled by 1) an individual from the private agriculture sector and 2) a selectboard member. To ensure a balance of representation, these members must not own enrolled land, and have no spouse, child, or parent who owns enrolled land.
Interested parties who meet these requirements should apply online at Application for Gubernatorial Appointment | Office of Governor Phil Scott (vermont.gov).
For more information about the Current Use Program, visit Current Use | Department of Taxes (vermont.gov).
The Current Use Advisory Board, established in 32 V.S.A. § 3753, has two vacancies and the Governor's office is actively seeking interested applicants to serve in this critical role. The purpose of the Current Use or Use Value Appraisal Program is to encourage and assist the maintenance of Vermont's productive agricultural and forest land, prevent the accelerated conversion of these lands to more intensive use; to achieve more equitable taxation for undeveloped lands; to encourage and assist in the preservation and enhancement of Vermont's scenic natural resources; and to enable the citizens of Vermont to plan its orderly growth in the face of increasing development pressures in the interests of the public health, safety and welfare.
The Current Use Advisory Board set the Use Values for agricultural and forest land twice annually, with some subcommittee work off season possible. Members are reimbursed for time and mileage for participation in the meetings, which happen during working hours.
Membership of the Board must represent certain factions of Vermont taxpayers, and the two vacancies must be filled by 1) an individual from the private agriculture sector and 2) a selectboard member. To ensure a balance of representation, these members must not own enrolled land, and have no spouse, child, or parent who owns enrolled land.
Interested parties who meet these requirements should apply online at Application for Gubernatorial Appointment | Office of Governor Phil Scott (vermont.gov).
For more information about the Current Use Program, visit Current Use | Department of Taxes (vermont.gov).
On May 17th, Governor Scott signed H.89 (Act 31), a bill related to limiting liability for agritourism, into law. Agritourism is a growing sector which allows Vermont farms to diversify their income.
Under this bill, liability is limited for certain activities including: recreational, entertainment, and educational activities, including farming, food production, historical, cultural, pick-your-own, and nature-based activities. Lodging at a farm or shopping at a farmstand are not considered “agritourism activities”, and therefore these activities are not covered by H.89.
The bill protects farms that choose to open themselves up to visitors in the event that a guest is injured due to interactions with animals, conditions of the land, or “ordinary dangers” of farm equipment. This does not absolve the farm from liability if the farmer is aware of a danger and fails to warn the participants, if the farmer intentionally causes harm to a participant, or other cases of gross negligence.
In order to fall under the protections of this bill, farms must post a sign with the following:
“WARNING: Under Vermont law, an agritourism host is not liable for the injury or death of a participant in an agritourism activity resulting from the inherent risk of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks include the risk of animals, weather, land conditions, and the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent way that may contribute to your own injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.”
Note: The sign must be placed at or near the main entrance to each agritourism activity. It must be clearly visible with black letters at least one inch in height. Any contract signed between an agritourism host and a participant must also include this warning.
As the Vermont legislature adjourns the 2021 session, the time is right for Rural Vermont to share an update, including plenty of good news! Thanks to the leadership and guidance of our farmer members and partners, the strength and resolve of our coalitions, and the support of our broader network, we are excited to report some significant gains over the first half of this year. Read on!
Raw Milk: Act 22 allows for the sale of raw milk by tier two producers at other farms’ farmstands and CSAs in VT as of 7/1/21. This bill provides a meaningful increase in market access for raw producers and in turn significantly increases the economic viability of selling raw milk by increasing consumers’ access to this product.
On Farm Slaughter and Meat Processing: H.420 awaits the Governor’s signature and doubles the allowances for on-farm slaughter of livestock: from 5 to 10 cattle, 15 to 30 pigs, 40 to 80 sheep & goats or a total combined live weight of 12,000 lbs. Farmers supported increasing the allowances for on-farm slaughter in testimony about the increased bottleneck for meat processing. The bill also repeals the law’s “sunset” and thereby secures this important practice in perpetuity. H.420 also includes the charge to draft future legislation to allow for CSA programs with animal shares to make the practice more accessible.
Soil Health, Payment for Ecosystem Services, & the Climate Council: We actively attend & inform the Ag. & Ecosystems subcommittee of the Climate Council, helping shape the VT Climate Action Plan. We co-initiated a statewide Soil Health Policy Network that facilitates policy discussions & information sharing. We also informed the PES & Soil Health working group with legal research in partnership with the Center for Agriculture & Food Systems & White River NRCD. H.420 (awaiting the Governor’s signature) extends the working group until 2023. Our aim is to increase farmer voices in decision making.
Adequate Shelter: Rural VT, NOFA-VT, and many farmers sought to ensure that existing animal welfare standards related to adequate shelter requirements in VT did not prohibit appropriate grazing and livestock management, proposing alternative language based on the National Organic Program. Based on our advocacy, the Senate Agriculture Committee included language in a related bill - H.421 - which clarified that accepted animal husbandry practices will not be subject to the adequate shelter requirements, meaning that graziers will not be subject to violations of animal welfare if their animals do not have access to shade and shelter at all times.
URL / Poultry Foraging: S.102 has been signed by the Governor and provides a pathway for the agricultural use of food residuals as laid out in the organics management hierarchy of the Universal Recycling Law (URL). The definition of farming in Act 250 & the Required Agricultural Practices now includes composting up to 2,000 cubic yards/year of food residuals. This resolves a jurisdictional dispute & allows farmers who practice compost foraging to regain markets of diverted food residuals. This practice reduces feed costs, produces valuable soil amendments, & incentivises diversification. We also advocated to hold the Agency of Natural Resources accountable for protecting the priority uses of organics more broadly.
Cannabis: Act 164, VT’s existing tax & regulate cannabis law, facilitates the development of a consolidated & concentrated cannabis marketplace, without distributing access & wealth by centering small businesses, farmers, & communities of color. With the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition, we worked to bring racial, economic, & agricultural equity to amend Act 164, as well as move our own bill, H.414, with little success in a challenging environment. In the near term, we will continue to organize and educate in preparation for the Cannabis Control Board's public rulemaking process, as well as municipal decision making around the State.
Ag Innovation Board: H.434, awaiting the Governor’s signature, assigns many functions of the Vermont Pesticides Advisory Committee to an Agricultural Innovation Board primarily charged with monitoring, researching, and making recommendations related to the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and agricultural plastics. We worked with allies to affect many aspects of this bill, in particular its board membership and refining its focus to three primary areas from what was at first a very expansive mandate.
Healthcare: H.430 is awaiting the governor’s signature and will expand the Dr Dynasaur Healthcare program to include income-eligible pregnant people & children regardless of immigration status and will be implemented in 2023. The bill also sets up a grant program to assist with medical bills in 2022. Privacy protections & culturally appropriate outreach & language access are also specified. Thank you VT Legal Aid, Migrant Justice, & others for their leadership.
Corporate Land Grabs and Land Access: Corporate farmland investment & acquisition globally & locally compromises communities’ food and resource sovereignty, & contributes to inequity and consolidation of the food system. We have been working with a national Anti-Land Grab group to coordinate a response to the VT Pension Investment Committee’s decision to invest $100 million dollars into TIAA’s farmland acquisition subsidiary Nuveen, & to organize & educate about this issue. We have continued to participate in the Farm to Plate Steering Committee and Chair the Farm to Plate Farmland Access & Stewardship Working Group.
Small Farm Action Days: Our first virtual Small Farm Action Day series in partnership with Action Circles and NOFA-VT created three advocacy training sessions and two joint hearings for farmers to address their concerns with legislators.
This list is not comprehensive, for more information, including our solidarity efforts, visit our website and social media!
We did it! On May 12, 2021 Governor Scott signed H.218 into law. The new law, Act 22, expands raw milk sales for tier two producers to other farms’ farmstands and CSAs in Vermont, and will go into effect on July 1st, 2021.
Congratulations, Everyone! Passing this bill was an uphill battle every single step of the way. Farmers leaders have laid the groundwork on this effort for the past twelve years, and it is thanks to this history, the diligent testimony of producers, and outpouring of support from consumers that got us here. Although this bill only directly effects tier two producers, we do believe that our work this legislative session has successfully elevated the importance of raw milk producers as an integral part of the agricultural landscape and Vermont's dairy community. We will continue work on this issue to support producers of all scales through grassroots organizing and potential future legislative initiatives as directed by farmer leaders.
We'd like to extend a special thank you to Rep. Heather Surprenant, lead sponsor and overall champion on this bill, for her tireless work on this issue, as well as Senator Pollina, who was instrumental in ushering this bill through the Senate.
Please consider thanking Rep Surprenant, Senator Pollina, and other members of the House and Senate Ag Cmtes for their work on this bill.
All House Ag Cmte Members:
Chairwoman Carolyn Partridge
Rep. Graham
Rep. O’Brien
Rep. Bock
Rep Norris
Rep Strong
Rep Pearl
Rep Surprenant
All Senate Ag Cmte Members:
Sen. Starr, Chair
Sen. Pearson
Sen. Collamore
Sen. Parent
Sen. Pollina
What’s in Act 22, the new RAW MILK LAW:
Tier two raw milk producers would be able to sell raw milk at other farm’s farmstands and CSAs within the state of Vermont (the 30 mile limit was removed)
The requirement to verbally inform each customer of the need to refrigerate milk is removed
The CSA or Farmstand selling the milk will maintain the required transaction records and customer contact records required by existing law. Farmstand and CSA owners will transfer this information to the raw milk producer within one week.
Milk must remain below 40 degree Fahrenheit at all times
The milk producer must notify VAAFM of any CSA or farmstand locations their milk is being sold. These locations will be subject to inspection by VAAFM.
The farmstand or CSA where milk is sold must display the 8.5x11 warning sign: “Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk. Keep Refrigerated. Consuming raw unpasteurized milk may cause illness, particularly in children, seniors, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.”
All labeling and other requirements of the law remain the same
The cmte added language to the statute to clarify the existing requirement that rabies vaccines, tuberculosis, and brucellosis tests must be conducted by a licensed veterinarian
These changes go into effect July 1, 2021
Thank you so much. This is your victory and you all inspire us everyday. Stay tuned for what's next!
From VAAFM:
The USDA is now accepting applications for three different grants that support the development, coordination and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and enterprises and value-added agricultural products. Over $93.5 million dollars is available in total.
Special consideration will be given to projects that assist underserved local and regional agricultural businesses, producer networks and associations, and local and tribal government in responding to COVID-19 disruptions and impacts.
$38.5 million is available through the Farmers Market Promotion Program, which supports direct-to-consumer markets like farmers markets and CSAs. The deadline to apply is June 21st.
$38.5 million is available through the Local Food Promotion Program to support indirect-to-consumer markets like food hubs and value-added product incubators. The deadline to apply is June 21st.
$15.3 million is available through the Regional Food System Partnership Program to fund public-private partnerships that build and strengthen viability and resilience of local or regional food economies. The deadline to apply is July 6th.
Rural VT began the session advocating in collaboration with NOFA VT, and many grazing farmers, to amend the existing “adequate shelter” requirements for livestock such that they would be refined from requiring livestock have access to shade and shelter at all times to requiring them have this access under particular conditions. After much debate but no action in the House, Senate Agriculture did not decide to implement our proposed language - but they did agree that it was unclear in the existing law whether or not those using accepted animal husbandry practices were subject to the law. They included language to this affect in a related bill - H.421. This ensures that grazers will not be subject to violations of animal welfare if their animals do not have access to shade and shelter at all times; though it does not implement any of our suggestions for conditions under which this determination could be made.
H.421 has now passed the Senate with the amendment and we expect it to pass in the House and he signed into law.
The Senate amended H.420, the miscellaneous ag bill, that now doubles the allowances for on-farm slaughter of livestock (in 6 V.S.A. § 3311a): from 5 to 10 cattle, 15 to 30 pigs, 40 to 80 sheep and goats or a total combined live weight of 12,000 pounds. We expect a vote of the House about concurrence any day now. The bill also repeals the “sunset” of the law and thereby secures this important practice of food sovereignty in perpetuity.
In addition, the bill directs the legislative council to draft legislation by 2022 that will clearly allow for CSAs with animal shares in consultation with the Agency for Agriculture, Food, and Markets (AAFM) "and other interested parties." Rural Vermont is in dispute with AAFM about the interpretation of the current law, especially about the question of whether the current law does or does not allow for CSAs for animal shares when the members become owners of the animal or herd.
In consultation with legislative council Michael O'Grady, the committee learned last Friday (watch recording here) that their approach to clarify in statute the legality of animal shares for on-farm slaughter - including the shared ownership of a herd and the delivery of meat products - would conflict with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Services interpretation of the legal barriers of the federal personal use exemption in 9 CFR § 303.1 (a) (1) that states that the federal requirements for meat inspection do not apply to (*Content warning: sexist language*): “The slaughtering by any individual of livestock of his own raising and the preparation by him and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such livestock exclusively for use by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees;” Legislative Counsel, Michael O’Grady, referenced FSIS interpretation as effectively requiring any and all owner(s) of the livestock to participate in some ways in the slaughter of the livestock. This interpretation, which FSIS only offered a few days ago, would render the personal use exemption completely impractical.
The discourse around CSAs with animal shares has revealed that AAFM is in a pickle with navigating taking agency for the on-farm slaughter community while also satisfying FSIS guidelines. In the Senate Committee on Agriculture they raised concern that FSIS's narrow interpretation of the law would impair Vermont's "equal to" status (that equated state inspected meat with USDA inspection) as well as the interstate shipment agreement with the USDA (that allows for out of state sales of state inspected meat), shall the committee proceed with their allowance of animal shares within the on-farm slaughter practice.
Rural Vermont argued in testimony last week (watch recording here) that Vermont’s current state law could be interpreted as already allowing for CSA’s with animal shares since it does allow for multiple owners and also does not prohibit a farmer's delivery of meat products as derived from custom butcher shops.
In 2019, Rural Vermont successfully advocated for the “multiple owner” amendment - that now allows a farmer to sell a live animal to an individual or individuals to slaughter for their personal use on the farm the animal was raised. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed back then that this amendment would be permissible under the federal personal use exemption in 9 CFR § 303.1 (a) (1).
Considering the multiple owner rule and the ability to utilize custom butchery, Rural Vermont believes that current law does not create barriers for realizing CSA models with animal shares. CSAs can facilitate what on-farm slaughter requires: a contract pre-slaughter that turns “customers” into “owners” of the animal(s) and thus responsible for the slaughter of their livestock for their own “personal use.” Legally, we argue that the law doesn’t prohibit CSAs so that farmers and their customers/members/stakeholders may design their contracts within the limitations of federal and state law as part of their “freedom of contract” - a doctrine derived from the fourteenth amendment (read more here). That would include that a farmer is allowed to sell a herd of livestock to multiple owners and include also that these owners are free to hire the farmer to maintain care of the livestock and to organize for the hiring of an itinerant slaughterer to perform the act of slaughtering as well as to utilize the services of a custom butcher shop on behalf of the owners. Farmers are also allowed to maintain (co-)ownership of any of the animals and to slaughter the animals they will consume themselves.
Rural Vermont will engage in finding a legislative solution for the CSA with animal shares for the 2022 legislative session as directed in H. 420. We celebrate the increase in allowances for on-farm slaughter and the sunset repeal that will secure this important decentralized direct-to-owner pathway to local meat consumption.
For more information please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org
S.102 passed today with a Senate vote in concurrence to the House amendments. While the latest version of the bill is not online yet, consider this side-by-side that highlights the latest House amendments in comparison to the bill as passed by the Senate. The bill means a milestone for soil health in Vermont - allowing farmers to produce the valuable compost they need to enhance soils and support their crops. S.102 is creating a pathway for the priority use of food residuals for the “agricultural use, including the consumption by animals” as laid out in the Universal Recycling Law .
At the core, S.102 amends the definition of farming in Act 250 and the RAP's to allow for the importation of 2,000 cubic yards per year or less of food residuals or food processing residuals onto a farm for the production of compost, provided that:
(i) the compost is principally used on the farm where it is produced; or
(ii) the compost is produced on a small farm that raises or manages poultry.
AAFM is charged to initiate rulemaking on or before January 1, 2022. In the interim, practitioners are held to comply with Sections 6–1101 through 6–1111 of the Agency of Natural Resources’ Vermont Solid Waste Management Rules. AAFM has the authority to regulate soil amendments, plant amendments and plant biostimulants aside from fertilizers that are already under their purview. This will allow farmers to Close-The-Nutrient-Loop by creating valuable composts for soil enhancement while also providing AAFM with the oversight to keep plastics out of Vermont soils - ensuring that their rules are “equal to or better” than the current ANR rules with respect to protecting public health and the environment.
To avoid future conflicts with neighbors around projected nuisance complaints, S. 102 prohibits a farm from initiating the production of compost from food residuals or food processing residuals on or after July 1, 2021 within a downtown, village center, new town center, neighborhood development area, or growth center, unless the municipality has expressly allowed composting in the designated area under the municipal zoning or subdivision bylaws or in an approved municipal plan.
The Poultry Farmers for Compost Foraging and I are excited to celebrate this success with you in spirit today! These pioneering farmers have been operating under a variance from ANR to obtain solid waste permits for years to persistently advocate for their innovative agricultural practice of “compost foraging” - where poultry is allowed access to forage on the compost piles of food residuals.
Senate Ag voted unanimously in favor of the amendment to H.420, the miscellaneous ag bill, that will double the allowances for on-farm slaughter (in 6 V.S.A. § 3311a): from 5 to 10 cattle, 15 to 30 pigs, 40 to 80 sheep and goats or a total combined live weight of 12,000 pounds. The committee also charged the legislative council to draft legislation that would effectively allow for CSA's with animal shares in consultation with the agency "and other interested parties." In consultation with legislative council Michael O'Grady, the committee learned last Friday (watch recording here) that their approach to clarify in statute the legality of animal shares for on-farm slaughter - including the shared ownership of a herd and the delivery of meat products - would conflict with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Services interpretation of the legal barriers of the federal personal use exemption in 9 CFR § 303.1 (a) (1) (*Content warning: sexist language*). The agency of agriculture, food, and markets raised concern that FSIS's narrow interpretation of the law would impair Vermont's precious "equal to" status for state inspected meat as well as the interstate shipment agreement with the USDA (that allows for out of state sales of state inspected meat), shall the committee proceed with their allowance of animal shares within the on-farm slaughter practice.
While Rural Vermont will engage in finding a legislative solution for the CSA with animal shares for the 2022 legislative session - we will celebrate with H.420 the increase in allowances for on-farm slaughter and the sunset repeal that will secure this important decentralized direct-to-consumer pathway to local meat consumption.
For more information please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org
USDA has reopened sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced an expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on March 24, 2021. CFAP updates include reopening of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2), additional payments for eligible cattle and row crop producers, and the processing of payments for certain applications filed as part of CFAP Additional Assistance.
Any individual or legal entity who shares in the risk of producing a commodity may apply for CFAP 2. Under CFAP Additional Assistance, certain contract growers are now also eligible for the program. Producers must be in the business of farming at the time of submitting their application to be eligible. Producers can apply for assistance for only commercially produced commodities. A full list of eligible commodities can be found here.
To complete the application for CFAP 2, producers will need to reference their sales, inventory, revenue, and other records. However, since CFAP 2 is a self-certification program, most documentation will not need to be submitted with the application. Learn more here.
New farms that began farming at the end of calendar year 2019 or later are eligible for CFAP 2 benefits. They are instructed to reach out to their local USDA office for assistance filling out their applications.
No deadline has been set for applications thus far.
Also, check out: NRCS Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices. AMA provides financial assistance up to 75 percent of the cost of installing conservation practices. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.
AMA offers an additional higher cost-share for historically underserved producers.
Eligible producers must be engaged in livestock or agricultural production, have an interest in the farming operation associated with the land being offered for AMA enrollment, have control of the land for the term of the proposed contract, be in compliance with the provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including the provisions for sharing AMA payments on a fair and equitable basis, and be within appropriate payment limitation requirements. Learn more about AMA here.
H.218, the new raw milk bill, passed out of the Senate Ag Cmte 4/14 with a vote of 4-1-0! Senator Brian Collamore remarked that he had been staunchly against the bill until he heard farmer testimony and was contacted by dozens and dozens of constituents and farmers on this issue. Today, he was the one who made a motion to pass the bill. Senator Parent was the sole vote against the bill. The committee made one minor amendment that expands the definition of CSA to make it more broad for diversified operations. We will share the exact bill language when it is available. Senator Pollina presented the bill on the Senate Floor for second reading on 4/20, where it passed in a landslide with only two votes against the bill (Senator Parent and Senator Brock).
The bill easily passes third reading and final vote on 4/21. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law, allowed to become law, or vetoed. We do not expect the Governor to veto this bill, and believe we have the necessary 2/3 majority in both the House and Senate to overturn a veto if he did. If the Governor allows this bill to become law, it will go effect on 7/1/21.
Contact Governor Scott and ask him to sign H.218 into law!
Thank you to the many, many farmers, eaters, and activists that helped us get this far. This is your victory!
What’s in the bill:
Tier two raw milk producers would be able to sell raw milk at other farm’s farmstands and CSAs within the state of Vermont (the 30 mile limit was removed)
The requirement to verbally inform each customer of the need to refrigerate milk is removed
The CSA or Farmstand selling the milk will maintain the required transaction records and customer contact records required by existing law. Farmstand and CSA owners will transfer this information to the raw milk producer within one week.
Milk must remain below 40 degree Fahrenheit at all times
The milk producer must notify VAAFM of any CSA or farmstand locations their milk is being sold. These locations will be subject to inspection by VAAFM.
The farm producing the milk and the farm selling the milk must have a conversation and mutual understanding about shared liability of this product
The farmstand or CSA where milk is sold must display the 8.5x11 warning sign: “Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk. Keep Refrigerated. Consuming raw unpasteurized milk may cause illness, particularly in children, seniors, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.”
All labeling and other requirements of the law remain the same
The cmte added language requested by VAAFM to clarify the existing requirement that rabies vaccines, tuberculosis, and brucellosis tests must be conducted by a licensed veterinarian
If successful, these changes would go into effect July 1, 2021
Questions? Contact mollie@ruralvermont.org
“Crossover” describes the deadlines by which policy bills and those with money involved have to pass one chamber in order to make it through the process in the same year. Here’s our summary about where Rural Vermont’s policy priorities stand in the process. We also included an overview of all testimonials and committee discussions as they are available on YouTube.
Good news: H.218 on increasing market access of raw milk, and S. 102 on regulating on-farm composting of food residuals as farming, made crossover!
Raw Milk - H. 218 An act relating to the sale of unpasteurized raw milk
Status: passed the House
Current draft: as passed by the House
Process ups: With your help, we defeated a detrimental amendment that would have nullified any gains offered by this bill. Thank you! The amendment was soundly defeated and the bill passed by the House on a resounding voice vote.
Process downs: The bill is now in the Senate Ag Cmte, where it again faces stiff opposition from the Department of Health, Veterinary Medical Association, and others. Do you live in Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Orleans, Rutland, or Washington counties? We need you to contact your Senator on this issue! All the details here.
For more information on H.218, please contact mollie@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials on H.218 in the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Feb 17 - https://youtu.be/2196K3nFxqQ?t=3782
Rep. Heather Surprenant, Sponsor
Feb 23 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DToDHlJ35g
Kylie Cook, Owner, Sunday Bell Farm; E.B. Flory, Dairy Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Kent Henderson, Northwest Veterinary Associates, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association; Natalie Kwit, State Public Health Veterinarian, Department of Health; Rich Larson, Owner, Larson Farm and Creamery; Kelley McGill, Law Clerk, Office of Legislative Counsel; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont; Elisabeth Wirsing, Senior Environmental Health Program Manager, Department of Health
March 9 - https://youtu.be/kBrUu0r5TIU?t=4276
Becky Allen, Food Animal Veterinarian, Addison County; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont
March 10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEE0rabBfks
Roy Folsom, Elite Certified Farm Agent, Nationwide Agribusiness; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont
March 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5qTs9rwglM
Committee discussion
March 12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8PjU_Mje90
James Donegan, Owner, Trillium Hill Farm; Rich Larson, Owner, Larson Farm and Creamery; Suzanne Long, Owner, Luna Bleu Farm; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermonthttps://youtu.be/v6hALlR2xhI?t=1272
Becky Allen, Addison County; E.B. Flory, Dairy Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Rich Larson, Owner, Larson Farm and Creamery; Suzanne Long, Owner, Luna Bleu Farm; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont
March 18 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxVjfhkqI7s
Rep. John L. Bartholomew, former member, House Agriculture and Forestry Committee; E.B. Flory, Dairy Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Kristin Haas, State Vet, Director, Food Safety, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel; Rep. Carl Rosenquist, House Committee On Human Services; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont
March 19 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U8IlseBt8s
Consideration of amendment - Rep. John L. Bartholomew, former member, House Agriculture and Forestry Committee; Steven Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel; Rep. Carl Rosenquist, Amendment Sponsor, House Committee On Human Services; Mollie Wills, Rural Vermont
Compost - S.102 An act relating to the regulation of agricultural inputs for farming
Status: passed the Senate with amendment, referred to House Ag
Current draft: as passed by the Senate
Process ups:
In its third year in the State House our “chicken bill” finally moves with the support of the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets as well as the Agency of Natural Resources.
After discussion, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources refrained from putting a sunset into their amendment of the bill
Our champions from the Senate Ag Committee secured that municipalities will be able to expressly allow composting within the designated prohibited areas.
Process downs:
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy committee amended the bill to prohibit the development of compost operations within a downtown, village center, new town center, neighborhood development area, or growth area - areas that make up 0.014% of Vermonts land mass altogether.
Being in touch with legislators over complicated discourses virtually or in a quick exchange can be challenging and the Rural Vermont community is missing the opportunity to check-in at the State House cafeteria.
For more information on S.102, please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials on S. 102: Senate Committee on Agriculture (SAG), Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (SNR), Senate Finance
SAG Jan 13 - https://youtu.be/9iWAPRNGN80?t=203
Kelley McGill, Law Clerk, Office of Legislative Counsel
SAG Jan 15 - https://youtu.be/rMmLqrxDiFg?t=6136
Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
SAG Jan 21 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61_YV3v9qz0
Kurt Ericksen, Vermont Compost Company; Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director, Rural Vermont; Karl Hammer, Owner, Vermont Compost Co.; Cathy Jamieson, Program Manager, WMPD Solid Waste Program, Department of Environmental Conservation; Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA VT; Peter Walke, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation
SAG Feb 10 - https://youtu.be/WJ0-lZ_6FdI?t=3563
Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Eamon Twohig, Program Manager, ResidualS MANAGEMENT & Emerging Contaminants Program, Department of Environmental Conservation
SAG Feb 16 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhnqR-8bpks
Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director, Rural Vermont; Cathy Jamieson, Program Manager, WMPD Solid Waste Program, Department of Environmental Conservation
SAG Feb 19 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnwWejETp60
Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director, Rural Vermont; Cathy Jamieson, Program Manager, WMPD Solid Waste Program, Department of Environmental Conservation; Kelley McGill, Law Clerk, Office of Legislative Counsel; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SAG Feb 23 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uVzpv2OhAQ
Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director, Rural Vermont; Cathy Jamieson, Program Manager, WMPD Solid Waste Program, Department of Environmental Conservation; Kelley McGill, Law Clerk, Office of Legislative Counsel; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SNR March 9 Bill Intro - https://youtu.be/joYmLQohrmQ?t=4980
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel; Sen. Christopher A. Pearson, Sponsor; Sen. Anthony Pollina, Sponsor
SNR March 10 - https://youtu.be/l3IsqOwGzgg?t=65
Cathy Jamieson, Program Manager, WMPD Solid Waste Program, Department of Environmental Conservation; Steven La Rosa, Team Leader, Weston and Sampson
SNR March 12 - https://youtu.be/YrYtsnHunJ8
Committee Discussion: Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Peter Walke, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation
Continued Committee Discussion
SNR March 16 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiKWAMCopqk&t=5s
Amendments to S. 102 on locations suitable for composting
Discussion and Possible Vote: Chris Cochran, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development; Cary Giguere, Policy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director, Rural Vermont; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Senate Finance March 17 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2IR_3gbC8g
Review Finance-related Sections of the Bill: Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SNR March 18 - https://youtu.be/DivVdxTJ_eg?t=3746
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SAG March 19 - consideration of Amendment by Senate Natural Resources and Energy
Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SNR March 23 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N4O78X9hoQ
Revised Amendments to S. 102: Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
SNR March 24 - https://youtu.be/xwtkJs4HrWQ?t=1640
S.102 Amendment; Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Adequate Shelter - proposed amendments to Act 116 (2020)
Status: Not included in the Miscellaneous Ag Bill or other Legislation / Awaiting interpretation from Legislative Council
Process ups:
We’ve had the support and voices of a number of farmers and grazing experts throughout this process providing testimony in Committee on multiple occasions.
Our testimony before the Livestock Care and Standards Advisory Council shifted votes on the Council such that it provided a split decision on whether to support our proposed amendments or not (as opposed to opposing our proposal).
We have the support of a number of organizations including NOFA VT, Vermont Grass Farmers Association, and the Champlain Valley Farmers Coalition.
Process downs:
Because this policy was amended last year after multiple years of work on it, there is reluctance to change the language at this point.
This process has also made clear that there is an immense amount of education which needs to be done with respect to Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing (AMP Grazing) among policymakers, non-grazing farmers, and the general public - as well as greater education with respect to what qualifies as animal welfare and / or abuse among particular types of animals under particular management.
Lastly, there has been, and remains, significant confusion with respect to whether the existing language of Act 116 is applicable to people raising livestock at all given language in other parts of Title 13 which may or may not provide an “exemption” for accepted livestock management. We have had multiple interpretations offered by different stakeholders in Committee as well as Legislative Council - and are currently awaiting a more definitive response from Legislative Council to determine how we will proceed with our advocacy.
For more information on Act 116, please contact graham@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials on Act 116 in the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Feb 17 - https://youtu.be/ewY-9suSWBE?t=1870
Jill Remick, Director of Property Valuation and Review, Department of Taxes
Feb 24 - https://youtu.be/z2tPMiMC6bU?t=2640
Rep. John L. Bartholomew, former member, House Agriculture and Forestry Committee; Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA VT; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
Feb 25 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omT6n3ZFzlg
Report from the Livestock Care Standards Advisory Council: Ruth Blauwiekel, UVM Veterinarian, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association; Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel; Kent Henderson, Northwest Veterinary Associates, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association
March 10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRMwGZN5SbM
Brandon Bless, Bread and Butter Farm; Jessica Danyow, Chair, Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board; Bruce Hennesey, Maple Wind Farm; Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA VT; Barry Londeree, Former Vermont State Director, Humane Society of the United States; Mary McFaun, Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board; Justin Poulin, Poulin And Daughters Farm, Randolph; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
March 11 -https://youtu.be/LdS8Bf-TCMg?t=1768
Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Cannabis - S.25 & H.414 related to cannabis as agriculture and social equity programs
Status: S.25 passed the Senate, H.414 remains in the House
Current drafts: S. 25 as passed by the Senate, H. 414 as introduced
Process ups:
Our coalition was able to work with the Chairs of, and secure time to testify in, the Senate Judiciary, and Senate Government Ops Committees - exploring how we can use S.25 as a vehicle for inclusion of our proposals.
We succeeded in having these Chairs and other members of their Committees acknowledge that our agricultural equity and access concerns are most appropriately addressed by the Agricultural Committees. These Chairs and Senators helped us gain a very brief opportunity to provide testimony in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
3 farmers provided strong testimony in Rural VT and NOFA VT’s Small Farm Advocacy Day in support of our proposed amendments.
Process downs:
Our coalition’s agricultural and economic equity and access proposals were separated from our racial equity proposals in the drafting process with Legislative Council, resulting in our advocacy being split between one effort (H.414) focused on racial equity, and another effort (without drafted language) focused on introducing all of our proposals (racial equity, agricultural equity, economic equity) to S.25.
H.414 has not proceeded beyond an initial reading.
Extremely few of our proposals have gained traction in Committee, largely due to time based concerns, suggestions that our efforts would be more appropriately directed to the rulemaking process before a 3 member unelected Board (the Cannabis Control Board), and political concerns expressed about how the House of Representatives will receive the bill. The response from the Senate Agriculture Committee was particularly disappointing, revealing the lack of fluency with Act 164 across the legislature, and the lack of understanding of (and willingness to understand) the issue from the perspective of cultivation and small business. It is unfortunate that a Committee (in this case the Senate Ag Committee) would determine not to act on proposals which its members acknowledge have "merit", and which will help to achieve equity and access for the communities which a Committee is specifically tasked with serving and representing, for primarily and explicitly political reasons.
For more information on S.25 & H.414, please contact graham@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials on S.25 & H.414: Senate Judiciary
Feb 16 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Oxho9J_vA
Walk-through: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ram amendment: Sen. Kesha Ram, Sponsor
Feb 25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXl4RUNV74A
Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance; Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association;Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermonthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL2uD0rJfGc
Belan Atensaye, Public Policy and Research Analyst, City of Burlington's Racial Equity,Inclusion & Belonging Office; Skyler Nash , Public Policy and Research Analyst, City of Burlington's Racial Equity,Inclusion & Belonging Office; David Scherr, Assistant Attorney General, Vermont Attorney General's Office
March 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNVqDiElh84
Amendments: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel: Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance; Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association; Virginia Renfrew, Lobbyist, Marijuana Dispensaries; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
March 9
Amendments: Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance; Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Amendments: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel: Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance; Joshua Decatur, Trace VT; Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
March 10
Amendments: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel: Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association; Virginia Renfrew, Lobbyist, Marijuana Dispensaries; Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA VT; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
March 11- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvjeO_qBODw
Committee Discussion: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
March 11
Amendments: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel: Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association; Virginia Renfrew, Lobbyist, Marijuana Dispensaries; Maddie Kempner, Policy Director, NOFA VT; Graham Unangst-Rufehacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
March 12
Committee Discussion: Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
March 17
Joint Committee Hearing at Small Farm Action Day
On Farm Slaughter/ Meat Processing - H. 315 & H. 420
Status: H. 315 - House concurred with Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendment; H.420 - passed the House.
Current drafts: H. 315 House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, H. 420 as passed by the House
Process ups:
H. 315 - The Senate reserved 500K of the 3M going to Working Lands for slaughter and processing capacity grants and the House concurred.
H. 420 - AAFM acknowledged the continued importance of on-farm slaughter and proposed the removal of the sunset of the law in the 2021 miscellaneous ag bill
Process downs: Without data that proves that on-farm slaughter is used at capacity by practitioners in registration and report numbers, legislators are hesitant to make improvements to the law.
For more information on on-farm slaughter, please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials (excerpt):
Feb 09 - House Agriculture and Forestry 02-09-2021-01 - YouTube
Kristin Haas, State Vet, Director, Food Safety, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Payment For Ecosystem Services - H. 420 & H.315
Status: H. 420 - Passed the House, referred to Senate Ag.; H. 315 - House concurred with Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendment
Current drafts: H. 315 House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, H. 420 as passed by the House
Process ups:
Senator Bobby Starr championed for PES & Soil Health research funding and managed to add 250K to H. 315 as requested in the PES & Soil Health working groups report. House concurred in their proposal of amendment.
Section 6 of H. 420 extends the PES & Soil Health Working Groups timeline into February 1, 2023 and gives the group until January 15 of 2023 to submit their report.
Process downs: Why didn’t the administration request any funding for Payment for Ecosystem Services and Soil Health?
For more information on PES & Soil Health, please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org
Testimonials (excerpt):
SAG, Feb 10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0-lZ_6FdI
Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Senate Appropriations, March 11 - Senate Appropriations 3-11-21 - YouTube
Senator Bobby Starr championing for PES & Soil Health funds