The People's Agroecology School of Vermont, an independent project of Rural Vermont, wants to know how to best serve the needs of local agrarians. We hope you will take a moment to share your thoughts in this survey, including topic areas of interest (want education and training around draft animal power? Home-based organic fertilizers and ferments? On-farm plumbing and electric...?), as well as how you might want to participate (interested in hosting a work brigade at your farm? Being an educator? Participating in local events or International Exchanges?). For more information, visit this page or email mollie@ruralvermont.org
Did you know that at the very end of the 2024 legislative session, the Vermont legislature passed a new law (see Section 18, Act 181 of 2024, starting on p.25) that exempts farm stores from Act 250 permits but not farm events or farm stays - functionally implying these types of accessory on-farm businesses will need act 250 permits? It also addresses and affects the development of value-added products (the preparation or processing of farm products) as an Act 250 permit is now required unless that aspect of the farm business will make at least 50 percent of the total annual sales from products of the farm itself - without outlining how that is going to be monitored or enforced. We would like to hear from you if you are impacted: AOFB Survey
Rural Vermont is organizing a call this Wednesday 2/12 (two options: 10:30am - noon and 7:00pm - 8:30pm) for stakeholders that are affected by this new law - we would like to hear from you! If you would like to share your concerns, thoughts, and questions with the Rural Vermont team, please follow the link below….
In D.C., the first week of the new federal administration has brought a series of executive orders that directly threaten our communities and the wellbeing of many. Rural Vermont is in close dialogue with our federal delegation and allied organizations while we witness many proposed changes coming forth at high speed. Many of our community members are not safe, some are threatened with detention and deportation, critical funds supporting businesses and federal programs may be discontinued, and more. We encourage our members to be in touch about how these new federal policies impact you, your farm, and your community.
In Vermont, a new biennium has launched with many new legislators being assigned to new committees. The House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry shrank from eleven to eight seats and welcomed four returning and four new members. The Senate Committee on Agriculture still has five seats and almost entirely new members, with the exception of Senator Brian Collamore from Rutland who has been serving on the committee for more than 20 years. At the beginning of a new legislative session, all committees typically invite relevant organizations and agencies to introduce themselves and their priorities. You can watch Rural Vermont’s introductions to both agricultural committees online (Senate; House). Check out our “2025 Legislative Bill Monitor” to track progress on some of the issues of most interest to the Rural Vermont community. Also check out our Activist Toolkit where we share tips and tricks to prepare you for your advocacy in the peoples’ house, and stay tuned for a Small Farm Action Day - announcement coming soon! Finally, we continue to offer audio recordings of our legislative updates so that you can get our briefing while you go about your farm chores or other daily duties. Tune in, be in touch, & speak up!
Did you know that at the very end of the 2024 legislative session, the Vermont legislature passed a law (see Section 18, Act 181 of 2024, starting on p.25) that exempts farm stores from Act 250 permits but not farm events or farm stays - functionally implying these types of accessory on-farm businesses will need act 250 permits? It also addresses and affects the development of value-added products (the preparation or processing of farm products) as an Act 250 permit is now required unless that aspect of the farm business will make at least 50 percent of the total annual sales from products of the farm itself - without outlining how that is going to be monitored or enforced.
Rural Vermont tracked and reported on the 2024 legislation, which was introduced as H.128 with support from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM). We expressed concern about the impacts these changes would have on the farming community to VAAFM, as farms that operated Accessory On-Farm Businesses (AOFBs) of all types were previously under the impression they were exempt from Act 250. H. 128 did not pass, but the critical language was adopted last minute into a major land use bill, H. 687, that did pass (Act 181, Section 18 on p. 25). Click the link below to get to our Action Alert and learn how you can add your voice!
Rural Vermont's biggest and most important fundraiser of the year is underway now. Your gift today supports our work to build power, connection, and solidarity in pursuit of food sovereignty and dignity for all!
From now through Giving Tuesday December 3rd, a few generous Rural Vermont members will be TRIPLE MATCHING every gift received ! Not only that, but make your donation recurring and be entered to win a dried flower wreath from Wood Frog Flowers!
It's giving season and we’re celebrating an amazingly successful year! One of our most celebrated wins this past legislative season was the passage of Act 93 - the uninspected poultry parts bill…here are what rural Vermonters have to say about the impact of Rural Vermont’s work in 2024:
“Thanks to advocacy of Rural VT and others the Poultry Parts bill passed in 2024 and had an immediate impact on our small farm. We have been able to keep our production numbers the same while increasing the price per pound that we fetch for our chicken and we hope it will make our farm viable for years to come!”
-Em Virzi, Union Brook Farm
“I feel blessed to be a poultry farmer in Vermont with an organization like Rural Vermont to support important legislative challenges that we face. Rural Vermont led the charge on the passing of the H.603 Poultry Parts Bill and it was great to see farmers rally around the cause and get the bill through the house and senate committees. I am looking forward to being involved in additional impactful legislation in the future!"
-Jack Vorster, Greenman Farm
Want to learn more about 2024’s wins and how to support this good work?
Read more here…
2025 marks 40 years since Rural Vermont’s founding by farmers and allies in 1985. It is also a new legislative biennium in Vermont, with many newly elected legislators joining the General Assembly. This Course of Action forecasts some of our priorities in upcoming policy, organizing and education work for the next year. This is a living document, and given the recent elections, we will adjust our strategies & tactics accordingly as we learn more about the new administration and government federally, the makeup of VT’s legislative committees, and their priorities.
Check out Rural Vermont’s 2025 Course of Action!
Learn more about Rural Vermont, our Board of Directors HERE, or become a Rural Vermont MEMBER.
Seeking People Affected by VT’s Home and Farm Based Food Production and Processing Laws!
Rural Vermont has been hearing for a number of years from people in our membership about the need to update VT’s Home and Farm Based Food Production and Processing Laws, sometimes also referred to as “cottage food” laws. These laws relate to home baking regulations and income thresholds, home kitchens and processing that is non-baking such as canning, and more. Beginning in 2024, the Vermont Department of Health now requires producers who work from a home kitchen to add a new disclaimer to their labels stating: “Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health.” If you are affected by these laws, or other laws related to small scale processing, if you have questions, concerns or ideas - please fill out this form.
We’re hoping to bring together a number of producers to determine collectively the appropriate path / s towards creating scale appropriate regulations for VT’s small businesses. For additional questions or info, reach out to Graham (graham@ruralvermont.org) and Caroline (caroline@ruralvermont.org).
It’s that time of year! On Thursday, October 24th, we look forward to gathering with the Rural Vermont community at the beautiful Bread & Butter Farm. We’ll spend a cozy evening making art, sharing a hot meal, meeting and electing our Board of Directors, hearing and offering updates, and much more! As always, this event is FREE for Rural Vermont members! Not a member? Join in advance or pay $35 at the door.
WE HAVE BIG NEWS! Please join us in celebrating a huge milestone toward protecting on-farm slaughter at home in Vermont and nationwide. Last week, the Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act was introduced in the US Senate!
On September 19th, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing S.5106 the LOCAL Foods Act, which codifies current USDA guidance and allows consumers to buy live animals from producers and designate agents to handle the slaughter and processing of their meat.
On-farm slaughter is a practical, humane, and cost-efficient practice that livestock farmers and the communities they feed have relied on for generations. Small scale farmers that practice this tradition face regulatory uncertainty due to outdated language within the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) that bases the personal-use exemption on those who raise the animal only.
We need YOU! Rural Vermont members and allies have been guiding our work for nearly 40 years. Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out our Community Survey and help us prioritize the issues that matter most. Rural Vermont is a grassroots, member-led organization representing farmers, farmworkers and agrarian communities, and your thoughts, ideas, questions, and concerns matter. This is one of many opportunities to provide feedback. For more information, contact mollie@ruralvermont.org.
On the evening of July 10, 2024 and into the following morning, July 11th, parts of Central and Northeastern Vermont in particular experienced catastrophic flooding - devastating farms, businesses, homes, roads, and towns. This flooding event occurred precisely one year and one day from Vermont’s 2023 historic, widespread catastrophic flood.
Rural Vermont has been created a resource page (Flood Support for Farms) specifically to centralize direct aid efforts for farms affected by the July 2024 floods (crowdfunding, mutual aid, volunteer opportunities, and more). This list is a living document and is evolving. If you have an aid effort or know of one, please go to this page to submit a fundraising campaign or a volunteer opportunity. If you are able to volunteer or donate funds to support impacted farms, take a look and give!
Sadly, for the second year in a row, in response to the devastating impacts caused by the severe flooding that occurred last night and into this morning, we would like to offer a comprehensive list of currently available resources. In solidarity.
Join Rural Vermont for a chicken barbeque at our Quarterly Member Forum on Thursday, August 22nd from 5:30-8pm at the idyllic Four Springs Farm in Royalton. Come enjoy grilled chicken and a potluck picnic featuring high summer’s bounty; embrace your creative side at our art stations; catch up with friends, neighbors, and Rural Vermont news; and help us celebrate the passage of Act 93, the parted poultry bill that makes it easier to buy and sell Vermont poultry! The chicken at the center of our shared meal will come from and be prepared by Jack Vorster of Four Springs Farm.
Everyone is welcome! Free for Rural Vermont members and their families. For everyone else, there’s a sliding scale fee of $10-$15 per adult and kids are free. (Helpful Hint: Rural Vermont membership is $35/household – join today and attend for free!) Bring a picnic blanket or camp chair, place setting, and a salad, side, or dessert for the potluck. RSVP is required for planning purposes. We look forward to seeing you there!
8/18 UPDATE: This event is FULL and cannot accommodate walk-ins.
Come join Rural Vermont and Mary Lake on Saturday, August 17th at NewGrass Farmstead in Wolcott for an on-farm slaughter and processing workshop. This is an opportunity to learn about the need for culling as part of livestock management and the benefit of on-farm slaughter to ensure quality of the entirety of life for the old beloved livestock animals. In the first half of this 2-part workshop, participants will learn how to humanely slaughter a culled ewe. In the second half of the workshop, participants will learn how to efficiently butcher and process a ewe.
The workshop will be hosted by Gwyneth Harris at NewGrass Farmstead where she specializes in raw cows' milk, Clun Forest sheep, pastured meats, small batch wool yarns, and working border collies...
Check out this 2024 End-of-Session Recap for a summary of changes in policies that may affect you. Read the executive summary where we capture the session’s highlights or listen to the full audio recap here. Many thanks to our wonderful communications intern Melissa MacDonald who recorded all legislative updates and to Noah Lafaso and Sadie Farris for their tireless coverage of 2024 committee proceedings for Rural Vermont.
Please help us to continue centering our work generating resiliency, accessibility, and inclusivity for Vermont farmers and the communities they serve. These efforts, big and small, work to preserve and maintain a vibrant Vermont agrarian landscape now and into the future.
Donate here, see our Mid-Year Progress Report here, and read our full appeal for your support here!
Governor Scott vetoed H.706 - the legislation significantly limiting the use of and exposure to neonicotinoids. In preparation for the veto override session on June 17th, we encourage you to reach out to your representatives to express your support for this bill. This was a very popular bill in the statehouse and across Vermont, but we do not know if there are enough votes in the House and Senate to override the veto at this point. If you are a farmer or farmworker, your voice is very important right now to help representatives understand that this bill is supported by many farmers and farming organizations despite narratives from Governor Scott and others that it is “anti-farmer”. Rural VT and the Protect our Pollinators Coalition have developed this sign-on for farmers, farmworkers, and food professionals in particular to show your support for this bill - but please directly contact your legislators as well!
The 2024 legislative session has adjourned and, in the coming weeks, we'll be sharing a comprehensive recap of the bills that Rural Vermont prioritized, advocated for, and followed. Stay tuned! In the meantime, follow the link below to read on for select updates on bills and issues of interest to the agrarian community.