The legislature hit the ground running and we are blessed with support from our legislative intern Elena Roig (UVM) to cover the State House issues around cannabis, neonicotinoids, land access, plastic contamination, dairy, protecting farmers from poor workmanship from utility companies and much more. Despite the question about whether or not legislators will resume in person next week - which appears unlikely - hearings will continue to be streamed live on YouTube where recordings will also continue to be available. Check out this initial overview outlining bills and issues that have a good chance to be passed during this second half of the biennium. Reach out to info@ruralvermont.org with your policy inquiries and if you’d like to support this work. 

Rural Vermont Policy Priorities 2022 - some have already been picked up! 

Cannabis

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont:

S.185, An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis establishment procedures

S.186, An act relating to the Medical Cannabis Registry

S.188, An act relating to regulating licensed small cannabis cultivation as farming

S.154, An act relating to cannabis excise tax revenue and the Vermont State Colleges

S.152, An act relating to the cannabis excise tax and local fees (I believe this replaced S.94) 

H. 414, An act relating to cannabis social equity programs - VT Cannabis Equity Coalition, that RV is part of, supports this bill

H.502, An act relating to the cannabis wholesale gross receipts tax

What has happened so far?

We are currently focused on S.188 (recently introduced in the Senate Ag Committee) and H.414 or other coming social equity focused bills which may emerge.  S.188 would classify all licensed small cultivators as “agricultural”.  It would allow licensed cultivators to purchase and sell seeds and immature plants to one another and licensed wholesalers to sell such products to licensed cultivators.  This bill does not support any of the recommendations our coalition has made directly, and we intend to meet and share with its sponsors ideas for amending the bill.  Some of our recommendations include: all outdoor production be classified as “agricultural” (this is a core aspect of our advocacy), we do not think it’s wise to include indoor production as agricultural (as this bill would), we have questions about allowing wholesale license holders to also have the same abilities as nurseries (a separate license category). We are also trying to determine to what extent agricultural exemptions and allowances would apply - such as the direct sale of “principally produced product” - and continue to advocate for some means of direct sales allowance for cultivators.  Significantly, last week the CCB voted to affirm a recommendation of its Social Equity Subcommittee that 5% of the excise tax go to the Cannabis Development Fund, and that 20% go to reinvestment in communities which have been disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of cannabis (our coalition has been making a similar recommendation).  We are awaiting a bill reflecting this recommendation.

Plastic Residues in Compost

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont:

H. 501, An act relating to physical contaminant standards for residual waste, digestate, and soil amendments - The Protect Our Soils Coalition, that RV is part of, is informing the work on this bill

What has happened so far?

The Senate Committee on Agriculture held a meeting (watch recording here) on depackaging machines and microplastics in compost (Read this recent The Guardian article on Microplastics damage Human Cells). Lawmakers expressed frustration about how little the problem has been investigated while contamination has been allowed to occur. The Protect Our Soils Coalition is working to uphold the original intent of the Universal Recycling Law and is aiming to protect our soils while preventing pollution of composted food scraps with microplastics, as well as the incarceration of recyclable materials.  Senator Bray, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, wants to see a committee bill on this issue alongside H. 501, introduced by Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee (Rep. McCullough) that would set a contamination standard. Learn more about the issue and listen to this hearing from April 28, 2021 with Professor Deborah Neher, Professor of Plant and Soil Science at UVM here.

Get more info! 

Webinar on UVM research on the state  of microplastic pollution of compost  here

Rural Vermont factsheet for farmers interested in composting food residuals here

Payment For Ecosystem Services

Relevant bills?

Legislation for a PES program proposal is currently being developed by the Payment for Ecosystem Services working group. A final report is due on January 15, 2023 (see Act 47, 2021, p. 8). Speak Up and provide Public Comment during one of the PES working group meetings! Register for their next meetings, which are every other Tuesday @ noon, online here.

What has happened so far?

The House Agriculture and Forestry Committee heard a presentation by Dr. Sara Via of the University of Maryland who gave an overview on known, science-backed methods to improve carbon sequestration such as no-till and the use of cover crops.  Much of this data is based on modeling, however–soil sampling to test for carbon levels is very costly, complex, and tends to be outside of a farmer’s capabilities. Notably the PES working group continues to explore how to focus their programmatic proposal on measurable outcomes that prove to improve soil health only. 

Attention! If you want to get involved in the PES program development - consider joining our Small Farmer Group that meets in between PES WG meetings to discuss ideas on how to engage best. Next meeting of the Small Farmer Group is January 19, 1pm (email catduffybuxton@gmail.com)

Poor Workmanship of Utility Companies causing Animal Welfare issues

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont:

S. 166 - An act relating to utility construction worksites and consumer protection

What has happened so far?

Last fall that two farms in Tunbridge Vermont experienced significant harm to their animals due to remains that (subcontractors) from utility companies have left behind. This bill would require rules to ensure a standard of care related to construction worksite cleanup to hold companies accountable for instances like this. The bill starts off in the Senate Judiciary where legislators already took testimony from the affected farmers earlier this week (watch their testimony here). We are in support of this initiative to prevent harm from poor workmanship of utility companies in the future. 

Bills we’re tracking out of interest or support are:

Neonics, and Pesticides

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont:

H. 626 - An act relating to the sale, use, or application of neonicotinoid pesticides

What has happened so far?

The House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry heard about  EPA findings that three chemicals - clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam - were determined to likely adversely affect the majority of endangered species and critical habitats they studied, with a frequent mode of exposure being abrasion dust coming off of treated seeds. The committee will consider H.626 that finds that treated seeds violate science-based integrated pest management principles and aims to reinstate to apply pesticides only to mitigate existing pest problems rather than on the presumption of one. The bill would charge AAFM to amend the pesticides rules to uphold this standard and includes a complete prohibition on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides should the Secretary fail to adopt such rules by July 1, 2024.

BIPOC Land Access and Opportunities

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont:

H. 273 -  An act relating to promoting racial and social equity in land access and property ownership

What has happened so far?

Advocates hope to now move and pass this important bill that was introduced last year and aims to reconcile with historical marginalization of BIPOC Vermonters by addressing wealth disparities in home and land ownership by creating a fund. A hopeful sign was the initial hearing right at the beginning of this week in the Housing Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs on Tuesday with the coalition Seeding Power including (not exhaustive) Ashley Laporte, Every Town organizers Kenya Lazuli (NEFOC) and Mindy Blank, Steffen Gillon from the Windham County NAACP and Rep. Brian Cina of Burlington. Watch the hearing here. 

Climate Action Plan

Relevant bills for Rural Vermont (not exhaustive):

S. 234 - An act relating to changes to Act 250

S. 148 - Environmental Justice Bill

Note: Legislators are still soliciting recommendations derived from the Climate Action Plan for informing legislation. Rural Vermont is in contact with legislators emphasizing our recommendations to the Agriculture and Ecosystems Subcommittee of the Climate Council and offering our feedback and takeaways from the final CAP recommendations and mitigation strategies. Watch Rural Vermont's committee introduction to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and read more on what’s moving from CAP in this VTDigger article. 

What has happened so far?

While there is a LOT of chatter in the virtual State House, the Rural Vermont perspective largely focuses on discourses in the agricultural complex of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act and intersectional issues. In the House Ag committee the week began with hearing from Jane Lazorchak, the Director of Global Warming Solutions Act (ANR)

Watch the hearing in House Ag and Forestry Committee or House Nat Resources and hear farmer and Climate Council member Abbie Corse testify about her experience in working towards the CAP. 

Jane pointed to improved manure management systems as one of the main opportunities for reducing Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals in the agricultural sector. Rural Vermont emphasised during Rural Vermont's committee introduction to design policy incentives that support farmers who want to compost their manure.  

CAP, p. 123 states in this regard:

“Manure from livestock contains carbon and nitrogen, which can be lost to the atmosphere primarily as methane (CH4) but also nitrous oxide (N2O), both potent greenhouse gases—25 and 298 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period, respectively. Emissions from manure management are significantly affected by storage type, duration, temperature, moisture and manure composition. Storage of manure as a liquid has four times higher emissions compared to solid storage because more methane, which is more potent, is emitted from the anaerobic conditions of liquid storage, compared to more aerobic conditions of solid storage, which emits carbon dioxide (less potent). As such, switching from liquid storage (2.01) to solid storage (0.49), especially one that composts (0.28 MTCO2e/dairy cow/year), reduces emissions from manure storage (4-7 times).”

We also support farmer advocates like Stephen Leslie from Cedar Mountain Farm in speaking up on the benefits of old growth forests (see mitigation strategy d “Implement agroforestry and silvopasture practices that integrate woody vegetation in agricultural production,” CAP p. 117). Commissioner of Forest, Parks and Recreations Snyder gave his take on Agroforestry and Silvopasture in his presentation to HAG (following Rural Vermont's introduction, see link above). Along these lines, legislators of the House Natural Resources committee started discussion to establish more forever wild forests.

Jane also pointed to an increased net loss of natural or working lands, especially in agricultural and forest land and pointed to Act 250 amendments as a cross cutting solution to promote compact settlement as opposed to increased subdivision of the landscape. The Senate Natural Resource Committee is therefore working on a bill, S. 234, that would allow municipalities privileges through waivers from Act 250 requirements for towns that adopt municipal plans that designate so-called “Smart Growth” centers to attract development of town centers. Watch the SNR hearing here. 

Essential for a Just Transition towards enacting any climate related policy - or policy in general - are questions of equity that start with upholding principles like creating transparency or facilitating public participation. The Environmental Justice Bill S. 148 demands policy makers to catch up on those fronts where Vermont is lacking behind. Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale presented the bill for the first time to the Senate Natural Resources Committee this morning - watch the recording here if you want to learn more. 

Want to get involved?

Join the monthly meetings of the Vermont Soil Health Policy Network where a diversity of stakeholders shares about their work in the field and consults about policy proposals, contact caroline@ruralvermont.org. This week Abbie Corse shared insights about the Climate Action Plan and gave a passionate testimony of the need to think intersectional and link environmental programs with farm viability goals as farmers lack healthcare, childcare, retirement plans and other social benefits. 

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ Hemp Program received USDA approval on the Vermont Hemp Production Plan. The plan supports the Vermont Hemp Rules and governs registration, production, sampling and compliance for hemp cultivation for all growers of any scale beginning in 2022. There are some significant changes in Vermont’s Hemp Plan from the pilot program producer’s in the state have been operating under for a number of years. 

As part of Federal requirements for hemp producers, in 2022 all individuals interested in growing hemp must obtain and submit to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Hemp Program a criminal history report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The 2018 farm bill prevents anyone with a drug-related felony from participating in legalized hemp production for 10 years after their date of conviction and that applicants for growers (only) must be fingerprinted by the FBI. For information on how to obtain a criminal history report, please go here. This requirement does not apply to processor only registrants of the Vermont Hemp Program. 

Rural Vermont testified strongly against the drug-related felony ban and background check requirements for growers as part of the 2019 Hemp Rulemaking process (section 4.3). We also testified against registration and fees for hemp grown for personal use. Currently, growing small quantities of hemp for personal use is significantly more regulated than growing high THC cannabis for personal use.  

Federal requirements in the 2018 Farm Bill authorizes significant shared state-federal regulatory power over hemp cultivation and production. State departments of agriculture must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of USDA.

The following summary of changes is via Stephanie Smith from VAAFM. Follow the Agency of Agriculture’s Hemp Blog for updates.

THC Compliance is 0.3% and includes both THC and THC-A

• The acceptable hemp tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level is when, after the application of the measurement of uncertainty, the range of total delta-9-THC concentration includes 0.3 percent or less, as measured on a dry weight basis. Total delta-9-THC includes the potential conversion of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid into THC.

• Cannabis plants exceeding the acceptable hemp THC level constitute marijuana, a schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act and registrants/licensees must either ensure the disposal of such cannabis plants on site at the farm or hemp production facility or use a DEA-registered reverse distributor or law enforcement to dispose of non-compliant plants.

• A negligent violation occurs when a cannabis plant’s total delta-9- THC concentration exceeds 1.0%.

• Registrants may be able to remediate and retest a harvest lot that exceeds the acceptable hemp THC level by

  • Removing flowers and leaves and disposing of them appropriately, and retaining only stalk; or

  • Chipping the entire plant into biomass for extraction or other commercial purposes.

            
New registration and reporting requirements

• A registration will not be issued unless a criminal history report(s), submitted within 60 days of an application submission, confirms that the key participant listed on the registration has not been convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance within the past ten (10) years. If the applicant registrant was lawfully cultivating hemp under the 2014 Farm Bill and registered on or before December 20, 2018, and has felony conviction relating to a controlled substance that also occurred before that date, they may be a registrant of the program.

• All registrants/licensees must report hemp crop acreage to the Farm Service Agency within 30 days of planting hemp and provide the location where hemp is being produced, acreage or square footage of all areas dedicated to hemp production, and the issued registration/license number.

Significant changes to sampling practices including the requirement to use sampling agents when taking samples for potency testing

• Registered hemp producers are no longer able to collect samples of their own crops. Sampling must be performed by a “sampling agent”. Vermont will use USDA’s sampling agent training to establish who is eligible to be a sampling agent.

  • Hemp producers (registrants of the Vermont Hemp Program), employees of individuals or businesses registered to grow or process hemp, individuals residing in the same household as a hemp producer registrant, or individuals related to Vermont hemp producers are not eligible for to become sampling agents.

• Sampling agents must collect floral material from the flowering tops of the plant by cutting the top five to eight inches from the “main stem” (that includes the leaves and flowers), “terminal flower” (that occurs at the end of a stem), or “central cola” (cut stem that could develop into a flower) of the top of the plant. Depending on the size of harvest lot, multiple cuttings will comprise the representative sample.

• Sampling must occur no more than 30 days prior to harvest.

• If the registrant/licensee fails to complete a harvest within thirty (30) days of a sample collection, a second pre-harvest sample of the remainder of the lot shall be required to be submitted for potency testing.

• Sampling agents must have complete and unrestricted access to all hemp and other cannabis plants, (whether growing or harvested), all hemp production and storage areas, all land, buildings, and other structures used for the cultivation, handling, and storage of all hemp and other cannabis plants, and all locations listed in the producer license.

Laboratories that conduct pre-harvest potency testing must report their results to USDA, using the HeMP online document management system here: 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp/hemp-emanagement-platform.

Effective on January 1, 2023, all registrants/licensees may only use DEA-registered laboratories to conduct THC potency testing.  

Please see the Code of Federal Regulation review the requirements of the Domestic Hemp Production Program, 
https://ecfr.federalregister.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-990. 

For more information on hemp regulation in Vermont,
please contact Stephanie Smith, Stephanie.smith@vermont.gov 
or Michael DiTomasso, Michael.DiTomasso@vermont.gov.

The legislative session brings the sudden arrival of a number of bills related to cannabis:

S.185, An act relating to miscellaneous cannabis establishment procedures
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.185

S.186, An act relating to the Medical Cannabis Registry
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.186

S.188, An act relating to regulating licensed small cannabis cultivation as farming
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.188

S.154, An act relating to cannabis excise tax revenue and the Vermont State Colleges
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.154

S.152, An act relating to the cannabis excise tax and local fees
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/S.152

H.502, An act relating to the cannabis wholesale gross receipts tax
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/H.502

This new need for advocacy and attention intersects with the ongoing Cannabis Control Board rulemaking process, as well as its ongoing meetings addressing proposals to the legislature.  We continue to actively work with our coalition partners to affect the rulemaking process by attending and providing testimony at meetings of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB), as well as meeting with members of the Board and offering written testimony.  We also continue to hear from members of our community - from cultivators to manufacturers to wholesalers - about their needs and concerns and ideas for an equitable economy around cannabis.  

Of the current bills cited above, S.188 is one we are monitoring and intend to testify on. This bill would classify all licensed small cultivators as “agricultural”.  It would allow licensed cultivators to purchase and sell seeds and immature plants to one another and licensed wholesalers to sell such products to licensed cultivators.  This bill does not support any of the recommendations our coalition has made directly, and we have a number of concerns we intend to share with its sponsors as well as ideas for amending the bill to include our recommendations.  Some of our recommendations and concerns include: all outdoor production be classified as “agricultural” (this is a core aspect of our advocacy), we do not think it’s wise to include indoor production as agricultural (as this bill would), we have questions about allowing wholesale license holders to also have the same abilities as nurseries (a separate license category).  Senators Sears (Bennington), Pollina (Washington), Benning (Caledonia) and Thomas (Chittenden) are the sponsors of this bill - and it will need to proceed through both ag committees in order to be successful.  

The current proposed Rules of the CCB can be found here - they are taking public comment for a period of time.  Significantly, last week the CCB voted to affirm a recommendation of its Social Equity Subcommittee that 5% of the excise tax go to the Cannabis Development Fund, and that 20% go to reinvestment in communities which have been disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of cannabis.  There are currently no mechanisms ensuring ongoing funding for the Cannabis Development Fund in statute - and no money for reinvestment in communities; so this recommendation will require legislative action, but we have not yet seen anything introduced.  Achieving funding for these initiatives from the excise tax as well as vertically integrated dispensaries has been an important recommendation of our coalition from its inception.  

We continue to be disappointed to see no direct sales retail option for producers - leaving them price-takers in a wholesale marketplace.  Direct markets (the opportunity for a producer to sell their product directly to a consumer) are critical for small farmers’ and businesses’ viability.  Direct markets and sales do not mean unregulated sales - scale appropriate regulations exist which ensure that farm stands and stores, home kitchens, farmers markets, and particular products like raw milk and on-farm slaughtered poultry are not required to meet the same regulatory standards as full grocery or retail operations or full kitchens or fully inspected meats.  A direct sales license would have a lesser regulatory burden than full retail (only selling product “principally produced on the farm”), and could be limited or expanded in a variety of ways: from a CSA type model (pick-up or delivery), to a salespoint with particular operating hours on-site, to online ordering and pick-up.  A marketplace which does not offer accessible direct markets for producers of the very product they produce is not an equitable marketplace, and continues the pattern of undervaluing these people in our economy and policy making.  The CCB and legislature are considering additional licenses - now is a good time to explain to your representatives the value and need for this type of license and / or ability for cultivators.  

Please be in touch with us about your ideas, concerns, and interests.  This is an important time to be active with your legislators on this issue.  

We are working in the Protect our Soil Coalition to uphold the values embedded in the Universal Recycling law and to hold ANR accountable for implementing the requirement to separate food residuals from other recyclables at the source of generation. Seven Days has been shedding light on the current practice of co-mingling food waste with their packaging aiming separation through an industrial process that results in micro and nano particles of plastic in the otherwise compostable material. Read more here. 

As plaintiff in the ongoing lawsuit against the USDA GMO labeling rules, our coalition of nonprofits and retailers took an important step in filing details with the federal court. The case challenges USDA’s decision to allow GMO labeling to be hidden behind QR codes, especially because that will restrict access for so many in rural areas of Vermont. The Center for Food Safety’s recent press release shares more information:

The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) organized a broad coalition of over 90 organizations (including Rural VT) who sent a letter to Congress calling for sweeping reforms to the US dairy industry based on ensuring a just price to farmers, supply management, and increased competition. Alongside the letter, the NFFC released its new Milk from Family Dairies Act (MFDA), based on these principles.  From here, the real work begins of pushing Congress to advance the policy debate on dairy ahead of the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations in 2022.

The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has released two of its proposed Rules related to the Licensing and Regulation of Cannabis Establishments. Rural VT and the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition are reviewing them and providing comments. Sen. White has submitted a bill for introduction, S.94, which proposes to cap the local control license fee which municipalities can charge cannabis establishments, and distribute cannabis excise tax revenue that is equal to two percent of the taxable retail sales to municipalities that host a cannabis establishment. We’ll continue to share updates and encourage you to contact us, your reps, and the CCB with your suggestions!

The Vermont Climate Council has formally adopted the VT Climate Action Plan, and the Legislature’s Climate Solutions Caucus will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, December 15 at 7pm to share their reactions to the Climate Action Plan, plans for the upcoming legislative session, and to hear directly from Vermonters about what climate policies they should prioritize in 2022.  Rural VT will work with its allies and members to understand the Plan and its impacts on our farms and in our communities (it’s a 270 page document), and work to continue to improve how the State addresses climate change and agriculture.  

In October, we shared with you information about our dispute with the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (AAFM) and USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) about whether or not CSA programs can include animal shares from on-farm slaughtered livestock like it is legal to include on-farm slaughtered poultry (more info here). Legislators intended with Act 47 (2021) to explore the legal situation for livestock and the need for further legislation. Rural Vermont engaged in that process with AAFM and the legislative council earlier this year. From our interpretation of the law, these types of CSA programs should be already legal, given that Rural Vermont advocated successfully in 2019 to allow for multiple owners in the VT statute. The CSA program would be an option for the contractual relationship between those owners about sharing those animals and carcasses. In contract law, anything that is not prohibited is allowed. In the now issued final report on the matter, the legislative council agrees with Rural Vermont and states: 

“Moreover, in review of existing law under the FMIA, FSIS regulations, and FSIS guidance, Legislative Counsel agrees with Caroline Gordon that there is a reasonable interpretation that personal slaughter under an animal share agreement, although not specifically referenced, is allowed under federal and state law. FSIS guidance seemingly provides that there may be multiple owners of an animal under the personal use exemption and that the multiple owners under the personal use exemption do not need to reside at the same physical location. 

One would assume that persons who do not reside together but own livestock together have some legal arrangement, formal or informal, addressing ownership of the livestock and rights in that livestock. In addition, Vermont law explicitly allows for a person or persons to own livestock subject to the personal use exemption in State law.”

Michael O’Grady (Office of Legislative Counsel), Memo- Slaughter of Livestock under Animal Share Agreements, Dec 1, 2021, page 6

The report also shows that FSIS is inconsistent by opposing language around animal shares in statute but allowing for multiple owners in the past in their guidance documents. Aside from Vermont, most states allow for multiple owners, like California, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. See a list of on-farm slaughter laws across the US on the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund website here. FSIS is rendering the multiple owners' allowance ad absurdum by indicating that all owners need to take part in the slaughter of the livestock. Rural Vermont also criticized AAFM in the past for interpretations of the VT statute that render the on-farm slaughter exemption impractical and make it extremely difficult for practitioners to comply. AAFM Meat Inspection Chief Julie Boisvert stated that not farmers but customers of animals sold for on-farm slaughter have to hire an itinerant slaughterer- even though the statute does not rule out that farmers can organize on-farm slaughter themselves (watch the AAFM virtual forum from May 2021 here). From a business standpoint, it would be impossible to have customers reach out to the few busy itinerant slaughters in the state individually, creating an extreme organizational burden for the itinerant slaughter community who then would have to concert the inquiries with the farmer. 

The discourse around animal shares with AAFM and legislative council revealed that our State agency is handcuffed themselves as FSIS is threatening Vermont's ‘equal-to status’ that allows AAFM to conduct and receive funding for the state's meat inspection program under an agreement with FSIS.

Take Action! Speak with VPR about what on-farm slaughter means to you, if the law currently is clear or confusing to you and if it would be meaningful to you if AAFM would support CSA’s with shares from on-farm slaughter. Email VPR reporter Howard Weiss-Tisman (hweisstisman@vpr.org) and CC: caroline@ruralvermont.org. 

More info? 

* Read the memo from legislative council Michael O’Grady from December 1, 2021, “Slaughter of Livestock under Animal Share Agreements” here

* Find the current interpretation of the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets presented in this virtual Q&A forum here, and in their online brochure here. 

Get in touch - and join our on-farm slaughter supporter email list, email caroline@ruralvermont.org, and seek practitioners to join our core stakeholder group to consult on the issue (Subject: OFS core).

Anyone knows that plastics decompose on a very different timescale than organics - they basically don't decompose. Google says it can take anywhere between 20 to 500 years depending on size and structure. Yet our Agency of Natural Resources and Vermont's number one waste systems management company, Casella, believe that we don't have to go through the inconvenient process of separating plastics from food wastes, as mandated by the Universal Recycling Law, at the source. Instead, Casella’s new innovative solution to the mandated landfill ban is a so-called Depackaging Facility that does the hard work automatically and separates food scraps from the plastics that package them.

Watch the video above and learn in 6 minutes from Casella that the technology is so proficient that the resulting stream of food scraps may be composted, sent through biodigesters, and even land applied on farms. But what about the remaining plastic contamination, yet the hard to scope microplastic contamination? Casella is funding research at UVM to analyze the issue and associated risks for the environment, including human health (learn more here).

“Our findings are hugely important to Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (URL) which necessitated this kind of research,... There is so much we don’t know about using food waste, particularly the impacts of plastic contamination.” said Kate Porterfield, a PhD student in College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS).

Rural Vermont is in coalition with Poultry Farmers For Compost Foraging (PFCF), Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) to emphasize that there are decentralized pathways to compost food residuals that have been separated from their recyclable packaging materials at the source on farms in a way that does not create another resource concern but that truly enhances the soils of agricultural producers in Vermont. The coalition imposes political pressure on the Agency of Natural Resources to implement and enforce the related source separation requirement and the priority uses of food residuals as laid out in the Universal Recycling Law (more info here).

Depackaging technology conveniently alleviates generators' responsibility under the Universal Recycling Law to separate organics from other waste streams in stark contrast to the mandate and definitions in the law but upon incentive from ANR. Alongside the pressing environmental concerns resulting from plastic contaminations of soils, this mismanagement or lack of implementation of the URL directives also furthers corporate consolidation towards a monopoly on food residuals management (remember that Casella bought Grow Compost? see story here). A development that infringes upon opportunities for market development for decentralized on-farm composting facilities like Black Dirt Farm, Perfect Circle Farm, Cloud Path Farm, Sunrise Farm and others. The easy way out for generators, including institutions like grocery stores and schools, through depackaging facilities makes collaborations with decentralized actors less attractive/ less cost effective.

Contact caroline@ruralvermont.org to stay in the loop on this campaign for protecting the Universal Recycling Law.

Legislative leadership (Speaker Krowinski and Pro Tem Balint) have scheduled more community conversations in the following counties: 

• Washington County Conversation, Thursday, October 28th, 5:30 - 6:30. Register here.

• Orange County Conversation, Tuesday, November 2th, 5:30 - 6:30. Register here.

• Chittenden County Conversation, Thursday, November 4th, 5:30 - 6:30. Register here.

• Orleans County Conversation, Monday, November 8th, 5:30-6:30. Register here.

• Lamoille County Conversation, Wednesday, November 10th, 5:30 - 6:30. Register here.

• Final conversation open to anyone across the state, Tuesday, November 16th. Register here.

You can also fill out an online survey to share what your community needs and your recommendations on how VT should spend the ARPA funds here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5jgOMdwDpuDGcdKbSCnJ5yTpyyY2ebN9SJriWMY8z2X1VyQ/viewform

Sign up for email updates on this process here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScad6wzCAqPJO-rfiSDAo2HuwXbtj35fAlGJVwEP454kw14Yw/viewform 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2021

Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition Releases Sweeping Recommendations to Cannabis Control Board: Will There be a Place for Equity, Small Farmers, and Small Local Businesses?

Montpelier, VT — The Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition has recently submitted its sweeping recommendations to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) for its public rulemaking process, and in support of a cannabis economy in Vermont which is racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound.
Collectively, the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition represents tens of thousands of Vermonters, including local communities and individuals most impacted by cannabis prohibition, and it is the Coalition’s sincere hope that the CCB integrates its vision, principles, and proposals into its own work, process, and recommendations to the legislature. The Coalition likewise expresses hope that the CCB take a different posture than the most of the Vermont legislature, and invite in and prioritize the voices of Black, Brown and poor communities, individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of cannabis, as well as small businesses, legacy growers and cultivators, patients, nurses, caregivers, and small farmers.

The Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition shares a vision for a cannabis economy in Vermont which is racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound. We envision a Vermont cannabis market where Black, Brown and poor folks are assured an equitable opportunity for success within every aspect of this industry. This vision for a racially just economy is grounded in an understanding of our true national history and the impacts of systemic racism; the history of criminalization and disproportionate, violent, enforcement of prohibition in communities of color and poor communities; and, the necessity for mechanisms of repair being established by members of those communities most impacted. In this decentralized economy, scale- appropriate regulations facilitate and prioritize small businesses, outdoor cultivation, and distributed access to the wealth generated by this industry to community members throughout the State. Cannabis is grown, packaged, and distributed in ways which protect and improve soil health, water quality and account is taken for climate change mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and human health.

The CCB was handed a rushed and impractical timeline by the legislature - through ACT 164 (2020) and ACT 62 (2021) - for developing rules and regulations for every aspect of the legal cannabis marketplace, and to reform the state medical cannabis program. The Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition would like to call attention to the inadequacy of this timeline within which the CCB has been asked to complete its rule making process, and the inadequacy of the associated timeline by which the legislature must act on the CCB’s recommendations. In conversations with members of the CCB, with consultants hired by the CCB, and with legislators, the Coalition's concerns about this timeline have repeatedly been reflected and shared by these other actors.. The CCB is doing its best within the limitations set by the legislature - however, it is very clear that the rulemaking process and regulatory considerations would be afforded more thorough public input, and more comprehensive research if more time were available - and thereby move us further in the direction of our collectively desired equitable outcomes.

“Though we will still need action from the legislature to address foundational issues of inequity in existing statute outside of the rulemaking process, the CCB public rulemaking process is a significant opportunity to affect change and grow our collective movement for an equitable, accessible, affordable, and scale appropriate cannabis economy in VT. Our coalition’s recommendations with respect to racial and social equity programs and funding, a scale appropriate and affordable licensing structure (including producer to consumer direct sales), and more have the potential to affect a greater distribution of wealth and access in the coming market.”
– Graham Unangst-Rufenacht / Rural VT

The conception of an entirely new market is a unique opportunity for Vermonters to generate wealth, especially for local people of color, economically disadvantaged, and those most harmed by prohibition, and Vermont must get it right at the start. The recommendations from the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition lead with racial equity and market access and construct a viable craft-centric marketplace ready for federal legalization and bringing redress to those harmed by cannabis prohibition.”
– Geoffrey Pizzuillo / Vermont Growers Association

Members of the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition include the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Justice for All, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), Rural Vermont, and the Vermont Growers Association (VGA). We have received significant support from Vermonters in our advocacy demanding the inclusion of structures ensuring the racial justice and agricultural and economic equity that a viable adult-use and medical cannabis marketplace needs.

With the rulemaking process moving forward at an unreasonable pace, member organizations of the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition and their constituents are calling on the CCB and legislators to work to integrate their recommendations which truly promote racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound legal cannabis industry in VT.

Link to recommendations: https://www.vtcec.org/s/20211006-vcec-ccb-recs.pdf

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About the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition: We are a local coalition representing communities across Vermont that came together to support a cannabis economy that is racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound for all Vermonters.

Press Conference 10/25/21:

From VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Forest Economy-

The Pre-Application for Supply Chain and Market Level Infrastructure Grants opened for reading and reviewing on October 8, 2021. Submittals to this Pre-Application opens on October 22, 2021, and are due on December 6, 2021. These Pre-Applications will be reviewed by the Working Lands Enterprise Board in December, and applicants will be notified in January of denial or invitation to submit Full Applications.

• Supply Chain project activities under these grants will demonstrate how the market or product the applicant is developing or expanding, will positively impact multiple businesses within its own supply chain, for projects ranging from $25,000 - $75,000.

• Market Level Infrastructure project activities under these grants will illustrate how the market or product the applicant is developing or expanding will positively impact multiple businesses and/or create a new market. Only low-grade wood, forest products and/or value-added agriculture product sectors are eligible, for projects ranging from $75,000-$250,000.

The Working Lands Enterprise Board is also currently accepting applications for other grant opportunities, to help Vermont businesses with everything from infrastructure, marketing, meat processing, professional development projects and more.

The following are the funding opportunities currently open:

• Standard Business Grants for projects ranging from $10,000 - $25,000

• Meat Slaughter and Processing Grants for projects ranging from $50,000 - $100,000

• Producer Association Grants for projects ranging from $10,000 - $20,000

NOTE: The $50K baseline for Meat Slaughter and Processing Grants appears a steep entry barrier for small initiatives given the required 1:1 match. Rural Vermont reached out to AAFM regarding this matter and the Agency clarified that small scale infrastructure investments in meat slaughter and processing, e.g. custom slaughter facilities, can apply through the Standard Business Grant, starting at $10K and can also apply for a waiver of the match making requirement with AAFM.

Applications for the above three grants are due by 11:59pm, on November 1st,  2021.

Applications  will also reviewed in December of 2021 by the Working Lands Enterprise Board. Project decisions will be communicated in late January 2022.

Please visit https://workinglands.vermont.gov/ to find out more.

For questions please contact:

Lynn Ellen Schimoler  (she/her) LynnEllen.Schimoler@vermont.gov
Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
94 Harvest Lane, Williston Vermont 05495 | https://workinglands.vermont.gov/

During the 2021 legislative session, Rural Vermont and allies demanded that legislators from the House and Senate Natural Resource committees clarify their legislative intent behind the Universal Recycling Law with the Agency of Natural Resources (read the letter here). In a legislative hearing, on April 28 (watch recording here), ANR had stated that the organics management hierarchy would be a menu of options and like the source separation requirement - which mandates that food residuals need to be separated from trash and recycling at the source of generation - would not be enforceable. This is in stark contrast to the letter of the Universal Recycling law. Now lip service has to be followed by action and ANR has to be held accountable for implementing the law!

UPDATE: From October 4th - 14th, the public comment portal for the Cannabis Control Board’s rulemaking process did not accept comments and did not let people know their comments were not received - this includes Rural Vermont’s own comments submitted as a member of the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition. PLEASE MAKE THE TIME TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME NOW, OR RESUBMIT COMMENTS YOU ALREADY SUBMITTED. Rural VT and its allies in the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition have submitted our public comments in support of a cannabis economy in Vermont which is racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound. Please let the CCB know that you support our recommendations, and provide them with your feedback and personal concerns, ideas, and experiences.

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Rural VT and its allies in the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition have submitted our public comments to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) for its rulemaking process, and in support of a cannabis economy in Vermont which is racially just, economically equitable, agriculturally accessible, and environmentally sound. Please let the CCB know that you support our recommendations, and provide them with your feedback and personal concerns, ideas, and experiences through the public comment portal.

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.