Title 06, Title 06: Agriculture

§ 4961. Purpose The purposes of this subchapter are to: (1) enhance the economic viability of farms in Vermont; (2) improve the health and productivity of the soils of Vermont; (3) encourage farmers to implement regenerative farming practices; (4) reduce the amount of agricultura…

§ 4962. Definitions As used in this subchapter: (1) “Certified Vermont Environmental Steward” means an owner or operator of a farm who has achieved the thresholds for the Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program to be certified as a farm that improves soil health and contributes…

§ 4963. Regenerative farming; Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program (a) Establishment of Program. There is created within the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets the Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP) to provide technical and financial assistance to Vermont …

§ 4964. Agricultural Innovation Board (a) Creation. There is created the Agricultural Innovation Board that shall: (1) Review historic recommendations for pesticide reduction in the State and coordinate with existing work groups to avoid submitting to the General Assembly conflic…

§ 4981. Agricultural Water Quality Training (a) On or before July 1, 2016, as part of the revisions of the Required Agricultural Practices, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall adopt by rule requirements for training classes or programs for owners or operators of …

§ 4987. Definitions As used in this subchapter, “custom applicator” means a person who is engaged in the business of applying manure or agricultural waste to land and who charges or collects other consideration for the service. Custom applicator shall include full-time employees …

§ 4988. Certification of custom applicator (a) On or before July 1, 2016, as part of the revision of the Required Agricultural Practices, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall adopt by rule a process by which a custom applicator shall be certified to operate within…

§ 4989. Certification of nutrient management plan technical service providers (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall adopt by rule a process by which a nutrient management technical service provider shall be certified to operate within the State. The certificati…

§ 4991. Purpose The purpose of this subchapter is to provide the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets with the necessary authority to enforce the agricultural water quality requirements of this chapter. When the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets determines that a p…

§ 4992. Corrective actions; administrative enforcement (a) When the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets receives a complaint and determines that a farmer is in violation of the requirements of this chapter, rules adopted under this chapter, or a permit or certification iss…

§ 4993. Administrative enforcement; cease and desist orders; emergency orders (a) Notwithstanding the requirements of section 4992 of this title, the Secretary at any time may pursue one or more of the following enforcement actions: (1) Issue a cease and desist order in accordanc…

§ 4994. Permit or certification; revocation; enforcement The Secretary may, after due notice and hearing, revoke or condition coverage under a general permit, an individual permit, a small farm certification, or other permit or certification issued under this chapter or rules ado…

§ 4995. Civil enforcement (a) The Secretary may bring an action in the Civil Division of the Superior Court to enforce the requirements of this chapter, or rules adopted under this chapter, or any permit or certification issued under this chapter, to ensure compliance and to obta…

§ 4996. Appeals; enforcement (a) Any person subject, under this subchapter, to an administrative enforcement order, an administrative penalty, or revocation of a permit or certification who is aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary may appeal to the Civil Division of Supe…

§ 5001. Definition As used in this chapter, “farmers’ market” shall mean an event or series of events at which two or more vendors of agricultural products, as defined in 11 V.S.A. § 991, gather for purposes of offering for sale to the public their agricultural products. (Added 2…

§ 5002. Vermont Farmers’ Market Association membership (a) Farmers’ markets in this State that meet the minimum standards and best practices set forth in subsection (b) of this section may become members of the Vermont Farmers’ Market Association. (b) The Vermont Farmers’ Market …

§ 5101. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Agency” means the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. (2) “Invasive species” means any species of vegetation that: (A) is designated as a noxious weed on the Agency’s Noxious Weed Rule under chapter 84 of this title; (B) is l…

§ 5102. Beneficial habitat standard (a) This section establishes a standard for owners that intend to claim that, through the voluntary planting and management of vegetation, a solar site provides greater benefits to pollinators and shrub-dependent birds than are provided by sola…

§ 5131. Purpose The purpose of this chapter is to establish a program for the management of residual wastes generated, imported to, or managed on a farm for farming in Vermont. (Added 2021, No. 41, § 3, eff. May 20, 2021.)

§ 5132. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Agency” means the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. (2) “Compost” means a stable humus-like material produced by the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter through active management but shall not mean sewage,…

§ 5133. Food residuals; rulemaking (a) The Secretary shall regulate the importation of food residuals or food processing residuals onto a farm. (b)(1) The Secretary shall adopt by rule requirements for the management of food residuals and food processing residuals on a farm. The …

§ 5151. Purpose It is the purpose of this chapter to recognize the importance of agricultural fairs and field days to the State’s farmers, food producers, rural communities, and economy. It is State policy that agricultural fairs and field days benefit the State and its citizens …

§ 5152. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) “Agricultural fair” or “field days” means an exhibition held at least annually by an agricultural fair association that offers premiums for competitive exhibits in at least five different categories. (2) “Agricultural fair associat…

§ 5153. Application of chapter This chapter shall apply to the Secretary’s distribution of grants to agricultural fair associations whenever funds are appropriated to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for State fair or field days organizations without distinct requireme…

§ 5154. State Agricultural Fairs and Field Days Grant Program; eligibility (a) A grant program is established within the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to provide financial assistance from funds appropriated for this purpose to eligible agricultural fair associations to …