Update 2/26/10
In this update:
-- H.614 Compost
-- USDA Abandons NAIS!
-- Rural Vermont Events
-- Volunteer Opportunities
-- Other Upcoming Events
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ACTION
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House bill H.614 was voted out of the Fish and Wildlife committee this week and will head to the house floor when the legislature comes back on March 9th. H.614 outlines several types of on-farm composting operations that are not development, and therefore would not be subject to Act 250. However, it also included an income-based definition of farming which basically means that whether or not a composting operation is subject to Act 250 depends upon the amount of income it generates, relative to the rest of the farm. If the farm makes more money than the composting, then the composting is exempt from Act 250, but if the composting makes more than the farm, then the composting operation is subject to Act 250. Simply put, this bill says that when a composting operation is making money, it becomes less like a farming activity and more like development. We believe that composting should be viewed as a farming activity.
Rural Vermont has expressed our concern with the income-based "farm" definition in the bill that relates to two of the on-farm composting exemptions:
Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. ยง 6001(31) is added to read:
(31) “Farm,” for purposes of subdivisions (3)(D)(vii)(V) and (VI) of this
section, means a parcel of land devoted primarily to farming, as farming is
defined in subdivision (22)(A) or (B) of this section, and which produced
annual gross income from farming, as defined in subdivision 6001(22) of this
title, that exceeds the annual gross income from a composting operation
Our concern is with the income test that says a farm must have a higher gross income than the composting operation in order for the composting operation to qualify for the Act 250 exemption. The full bill is located at: www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Intro/H-614.pdf
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NO MORE NAIS - WE DID IT!
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The National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a program proposed by the US Department of Agriculture for tracking livestock to control outbreaks of disease, would have had negative impacts on small farms, for whom compliance may have been unbearably costly. Because of this, and various other concerns about the program, Rural Vermont worked hard to oppose this program, especially when the Vermont Agency of Agriculture proposed to implement phase one (Premises Registration) here in our state. Thanks to numerous dedicated activists and Rural Vermont members, this implementation didn't happen. Now, the USDA has finally abandoned NAIS altogether!
Read about this decision, and the USDA's new plans for traceability here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/. Thanks to our members, activists, supporters and partners over the last 5 years, who fought hard to keep this invasive and poorly planned program from coming to fruition!
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RURAL VERMONT EVENTS!
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** Rural Vermont’s Activist Farmers: Photos & Stories
A Rural Vermont exhibit will be making appearances at libraries around the
state through the fall and winter months. Professional photographs and
interviews tell the stories behind Rural Vermont's farmer-activist Board of
Directors and why they are finding time between haying, weeding, milking,
butchering, marketing, and everything else farmers do from sun up til sun
down to make Rural Vermont a top priority. Along with each exhibit, Rural
Vermont will host a reception with Board members, seasonal refreshments and storytelling
about the farmers and food sustaining rural communities. Bring YOUR stories
about favorite farmers, special meals, or the harvest season!
Through the month of February
Griswold Library
Green Mountain College, POULTNEY
Reception has come & gone, but exhibit will be on display through February
Through the month of March
Bradford Public Library, BRADFORD
Reception on Wed 3/3, 6:30 - 8 pm
* Snacks generously donated by Bradford's own Local Buzz!
Through the month of April
Starksboro Public Library, STARKSBORO
Reception on Thurs 4/1, 6:30 - 8 pm
** Beyond Milk! Raw Dairy Processing Classes
NEW CLASSES ADDED! Learn how to make all kinds of delicious dairy goods in your own kitchen! With some simple instruction and good quality raw milk, it’s easy! Rural Vermont is partnering with some raw milk farmers to bring you both. Classes will cover dairy processing basics, and will include info about how and where to purchase local, raw milk.
RESCHEDULED Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Butter & Baking with Buttermilk with Millicent Johnson
Thursday, March 25th
Mount Holly Dairy-Aire Farm, MOUNT HOLLY
* SOLD OUT! Get in touch to be added to waiting list.
Soft Cheeses, Yogurt, & Kefir with Metta Earth staff
Sunday, March 28th
Metta Earth Institute Inc., LINCOLN
Mozzarella, Ricotta, & Fromage Blanc with Lindsay Harris of Family Cow Farmstand
Thursday, April 8th
Hollister Hill Farm, MARSHFIELD
Chevre with Gay Foster
Tuesday, May 25th
Hollyhock Farm, PUTNEY
Feta, Ricotta, & Chevre with Sara Armstrong Donegan of Trillium Hill Farm
Friday, June 11th
United Church of Hinesburg, HINESBURG
More classes to be scheduled soon!
All classes $20 - 40 sliding scale and from 1-4 pm. All proceeds benefit Rural Vermont. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited. Get in touch TODAY to reserve your spot! To sign up, call Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or email shelby@ruralvermont.org.
* FARMERS! Want to teach OR HOST a dairy processing class and boost your milk sales? If yes, call or email Shelby (see above).
** SAVE THE DATE!
Rural Vermont's 2nd Annual "Art for Agrarians" Art Auction
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lincoln Peak Vineyard, NEW HAVEN
** SAVE THIS DATE TOO!
3rd Annual Tour de Farms
Sunday, September 19, 2010
SHOREHAM
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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**CALL TO ARTISTS**
Rural Vermont is seeking donations of art from Vermont artists to offer in our second annual "Art for Agrarians" Art Auction. All art must reflect our vision of Food with Dignity. Deadline is June 25, 2010. For additional guidelines, please visit our website to download the flyer.
**Do you like to bake? We are seeking bakers to donate some yummy treats for us to have on hand at the "Rural Vermont's Activist Farmers" reception in Starksboro on April 1. Cookies, bars, or other finger foods are welcome and highly appreciated.
For more info on these and other volunteer opportunities, please email liz@ruralvermont.org or call Liz at 223-7222.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
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** Hand-milking Demonstration
Saturday, February 27, 2010
4:30 pm
Vermont Center for Essential Arts, 1113 Vershire Center Rd., VERSHIRE
$5-$15 sliding scale donation, with barter options
Witness the ancient art of milking a family cow by hand, then enjoy a glass of cold milk or cream in your tea or coffee, or bring another beverage of your choice. For more info,contact Dawn at vtessentialarts@gmail.com or visit www.vtessentialarts.ning.com.
** Going the Whole Grain Conference
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
9:30 am - 4 pm
Davis Center, University of Vermont, BURLINGTON
$40 fee
The 6th annual grain-growing conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Paul Hepperly, a Fullbright scholar who has spent his career working with farmers all over the world to solve critical agricultural sustainability issues, and a day of workshops devoted to growing, processing, and baking/brewing local grains. Register by March 5th. For more info, (802) 524-6501 or heather.darby@uvm.edu or eecummin@uvm.edu.
** National Agriculture Day
Saturday March 20, 2010
10:30 am - 2 pm
Vermont Statehouse, MONTPELIER
Vermont’s farmers, hunters, anglers, culinary and food education organizations, historical societies, farm and food focused artisans and statewide associations, school children and farm youth organizations will be showcasing Vermont’s farm and food heritage through a parade, vendor booths, farm & food samples, live music, and more! Come visit the Rural Vermont booth! For more info, email organizer Diane Konrady at diane@SliceofVermont.com.
** Artisan Cheesemaking Workshop
April 16-17, 2010
9 am - 4 pm each day
Mount Mansfield Creamery, MORRISVILLE
$350
The two-day class will be a combination of hands-on cheese making and short lectures on cheesemaking and affinage (the process of cheese aging). The workshop is appropriate for all levels of home and commercial cheesemakers. Lunches and course materials, including many tried and true recipes, will be provided. Also - an optional dinner at local restaurant and tour of Rock Art Brewery. More info available at http://www.dairyfoodsconsulting.com/training.shtml. To register and for information about lodging contact Stan Biasini, cheesemaker and owner of Mount Mansfield Creamery, at 802-888-7686 or Rugit13@aol.com.