Join us for 2020 Small Farm Action Days! Events will take place on 3/25, and 4/29.

• Learn about the legislative process

• Get briefed on Rural Vermont’s core issues & pending bills

• Meet with your legislators

• Observe Committee meetings & House/Senate floor sessions

• Network with activists & farmers

Events are free and open to everyone who shares our vision of Vermonters living in deep connection to one another and to the land that nourishes us all. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with your legislators about the issues that are impacting you and your farm, and get more involved in Rural Vermont's advocacy efforts.

Rural Vermont has a limited amount of farmer stipends available to make it easier for farmers to participate. Stipends can be used to cover childcare, relief labor, and transportation. If you'd like to apply for a stipend, please let us know how receiving a farmer stipend would make it easier for you to attend and the stipend amount requested.

Another significant influence in the 2020 session is the impact of vigorous and passionate activism, primarily by young Vermonters, urging the legislature and the Governor to take immediate and meaningful action to address the climate change crisis. Rural Vermont supports the demands of the VT Youth Climate Congress.

Rural Vermont is working to build on our successes from the 2019 session and continue to support a broad range of policy efforts that extend well beyond those at the Statehouse to address the needs and challenges faced throughout the agricultural community. All of our work requires grassroots support to be effective so please stay alert to our “calls to action.” Once again we will be hosting monthly Small Farm Action Days - learn more about the events here.

LEGISLATION TO WATCH
The 2020 session kicked off with the introduction of over 30 new bills related to Rural Vermont's policy priorities, some of which you can browse below. A comprehensive list of all the bills we are following is available on the Rural Vermont website and will be updated regularly. It's unclear which of these bills will gain traction in the legislature at this time, but we will keep you informed with additional updates as the session progresses. Please contact caroline@ruralvermont.org for more information or to get involved.

ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING- Bills for which Rural Vermont is advocating for and organizing our constituency around

Pesticides

H.759 & S.266 – “An act relating to the use of neonicotinoid-treated article seed”

The Pesticide Coalition succeeded in 2019 with Act 35 in making neonicotinoid pesticides “restricted use” pesticides thereby limiting their use to trained and licensed applicators. However, agricultural seeds treated with neonicotinoids were exempted from the Act 35 registration requirement. These bills propose to prohibit the sale, offer for sale, distribution, or use of neonicotinoid-treated article seeds in the State beginning July 1, 2023 and require authorization to use neonicotinoid-treated article seed from the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets upon a showing of a “need”. Rural Vermont is advocating with the Pesticide Coalition for passage of this bill as the next step to reduce the use of pesticides in Vermont.

Food Residuals

S. 265 & H. 830 – “An act relating to the use of food residuals for farming”

Beginning on July 1, 2020, the Vermont Universal Recycling Law (URL) will require every household to separate and recycle all of their food residuals. Rural Vermont advocates with the Don’t Waste Food Coalition for these identical bills that will allow for local and decentralized systems that close the nutrient loop and return food scraps to farms where they serve as a chicken forage, a composting compound, and finally, a soil enhancer. Learn more about these bills and support our efforts during the “No Food Waste Day” on January 29th at the State House. 

Hemp

S. 194 – "An act relating to standards for the sale of hemp seeds"

After cultivators complaints about the quality of hemp seeds, especially occurrences of almost 50% male seed, this bill establishes standards for the sale of hemp seed in the State that also entail certification or germination standards set by rule.

For a more comprehensive overview of the bills Rural Vermont is organizing around and following, please go here.

Rural Vermont joins the National Family Farm Coalition and many other groups in opposing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), also known as "NAFTA 2.0." The new agreement does not fix the fundamental shortcomings of the previous North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while further locking in trade rules that have devastated family farms and expanded corporate control over agriculture and our food system in all three countries. The bill could be voted on in Congress as early as next week. Read the letter from environmental and agricultural groups that Rural Vermont endorsed here. Contact Vermont's delegation to voice your opposition. 

Visit https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials for contact information for your federal, state and local elected officials. You can also be directly connected to US representatives by calling 202-225-3121 and US senators by calling 202-224-3121.

To read our call for support, please click here.

This is a series of educational workshops on the slaughter and processing of two lambs guided by Mary Lake. Mary Lake is a professional itinerant slaughterer, butcher and sheep shearer who lives in Tunbridge. Join the full day and experience the whole  process from slaughter to butchering during these two sequential workshops.

*Please note: The workshop is hosted in two separate locations. Join for just one workshop or both morning and afternoon workshops.

On-Farm Slaughter Workshop at Howvale Farm in Tunbridge
35 Howe Lane 6 | Tunbridge, VT 05077 | from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Meat Cutting Workshop at Arnold Block in Bethel
245 Main Street | Bethel, Vermont 05032 | from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Mary learned the craft of slaughter through several years of full-time work with the Royal Butcher in Randolph, which is a USDA inspected slaughter facility. Her expertise and engagement through testimony was essential for the new improvements to the On-Farm Slaughter law. At the workshop, Rural Vermont will present the requirements of the updated law and give room for questions and discussion.

Ticket Price: $40 per workshop or $70 for both workshops. RV, VGFA, VSGA members get $10 off registration fees. Enter MEMBERS in the discount code during checkout.

Registration: Registration and advanced ticket purchase is required and a minimum attendance of 7 people per workshop is needed for this event to take place. Your ticket purchase will be your RSVP.

Lunch: BYO, Tea and light snacks will be provided.

Questions? Contact: caroline@ruralvermont.org

At our annual meeting in October, we elected a new group of board members. To read more about each candidate, check out our 2019 Board here.

Feed, Appreciate, and Revel with our Members!

Come join us on Tuesday 10/22 for an evening of fun, food, and just a little bit o' business. This year, we're taking a new approach to our Annual Meeting, and making this event all about our beloved members. There'll be an awesome catered Jamaican dinner by Kool Runninz, door prizes, awards, a jam session, on-site screen-printing of original art by the one and only Erok, and more surprises than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and a cash bar with drinking chocolate (did we mention the event is at the new Rabble-Rouser space in Montpelier?). We'll have a short business meeting, a brief update of what your support has made possible over the past year, and a board election. But mostly, we'll eat, drink, be merry, and talk about all the rabble we're going to rouse in 2020. Please join us in raising a glass to an amazing year for Rural Vermont, and to all of you for making it possible.

This event is FREE for Rural Vermont members!!

Not a member? Join with $35 in advance or at the door. Or join as a Working Member with a 3 hour volunteer commitment - email Shelby to sign up.

Oh, and please, please, please RSVP - it helps with our planning. Thank you!"

Big thanks to our friend Erok Gillard for the original designs, and lots of appreciation for all who came out to make art with us! Check out the great photos in our Facebook album.

Burlington: Rally at City Hall from Noon-2 pm. Marches from Champlain College, UVM, Pine Street.

Montpelier: Youth-led March meets at 9am at Montpelier High School. Adults are welcome and needed! If you are a young person interested in getting involved, email the Youth Action Alliance.

For more statewide opportunities for action, check out the Vermont Climate Strike.

To the Members of the Green Mountain Care Board,

Rural Vermont has supported, organized, and advocated for farmers, other members of the working lands, and the communities of which they are a part for 34 years.  Rural Vermont’s mission is to lead the resurgence of community-scale agriculture through education, advocacy, and organizing in support of Vermonters living in deep connection to one another and to the land that nourishes us all.

Locally and nationally farmers and members of our rural communities are identifying healthcare as a significant issue affecting their farms, livelihoods, and communities; and are asking farming organizations to represent them in the policy making process.  In the HirednAg 2017 National Farmer and Rancher Survey, 72% of respondents wanted the USDA to represent them in national health insurance policy discussions. In Rural Vermont’s 2018 Issues Survey - in which we identified a number of policy and / or organizing opportunities which we could focus on, and asked respondents to prioritize them - Healthcare ranked highest in over 200 responses.  It is our intention to honor these voices - and to work alongside others to organize agricultural, food systems, and rural economic development organizations (among others) to understand healthcare as an integral issue for their members, to advocate for their communities, and to help to bring them and their voices to conversations about the future of healthcare in Vermont, the greater northeast, and nationally.

Rural Vermont feels there is sufficient evidence to support the position - our position - that the proposed rate hikes submitted by Blue Cross Blue Shield and MVP, and ongoing significant rate hikes on a yearly basis, are unaffordable, excessive, and inequitable.

The following are some of the HirednAg 2017 National Farmer and Rancher Survey Findings: 

• Health Insurance is a National Farm Policy Issue - Health insurance is tied to farm and ranch risk management, farm viability and economic development. 

• Over half of the households (55%) are not at all or slightly confident that they could pay for the costs of a major illness or injury without going into debt. 

• 22% of the farm households had a medical or dental debt of over $1,000. 

• Over three-fourths (79%) of these households said health insurance was a risk management tool. 

• Almost half of farmers and ranchers (45%) are concerned they will have to sell some or all of their farm or ranch assets to address health related costs such as long-term care, nursing home, or in-home health assistance.  

• Just over half of farmers and ranchers (52%) are not confident they could pay the costs of a major illness such as a heart attack, cancer or loss of limb without going into debt. 

• Farmers are particularly vulnerable to healthcare needs (avg. age of app. 58 years, type of work, etc.)

The USDA forecasted avg. national net income for farmers is projected to be -$1,449.00 for 2019.  This will be an improvement from 2018.

The Vermont Farm to Plate Annual Report from 2015 presents the following data with respect to farm based income:

• 79% of farms under 220 acres—4,491 farms— got <25% of household income from farming.

• 67% of farms over 260 acres—893 farms (the number is reduced substantially at this point) —got >25% of household income from farming.

What we’d like to point out about this information is the low bar set at 25% of household income for farms of both scales, as well as the great number and percentage of farms in both categories which make less than 25% of their household income from farming.  This further attests to the economic challenges faced by farms, farm families, and farming communities. 

Dairy farmers have been one of the most economically devastated sectors of farmers over the last few years - and over the last number of decades.  According to data provided by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, the number of cow dairy farms in Vermont has dropped from 1,015 in 2010, to 728 in 2018.  From January to July 2019 the number has dropped from 700 to 675. In the last couple of months we have seen conventional milk prices rise for the first time in approximately 5 years - yet they are still below the cost of actually producing the milk on most farms.  The Organic milk market has remained closed to new producers for well over a year, has asked many producers to produce less milk, and has in many cases also reduced its payments to farmers. Damien Boomhower, a farmer milking an app. 60 cow Organic dairy herd in Franklin County told me in November 2018 that he is losing more than $1,000 / cow this year and is not sure if he wants his children to take over the farm or become farmers.  The past few years have seen milk processors sending out suicide prevention notices with paychecks to farmers - and a substantial number of dairy farmers taking their own lives nationally, including in Vermont.

Rural Vermont strongly believes that general trends in farm income, farm viability, and rural economic health need to be justly considered in your deliberations concerning these proposed rate hikes and their affordability, and how access to - and quality of - healthcare in VT is affected by the high costs of premiums, deductibles, and copays.

Given that health insurance costs affect farm viability and the choices farmers make (as established in the testimony of farmers which Rural Vermont has heard, as well as the surveys and data provided in this testimony), here are just a few of the potential impacts of raising rates:

• Environmental impacts:  the Farm and Water Coalition - as well as many organizations locally and nationally - have identified a nexus between farm viability and water quality (among other environmental outcomes).  Farms which have a stable income and profit are able to invest in methods of agriculture which provide more protection of - if not generation of - ecological integrity (which also affects human health).    

• Compromising Farm viability (as attested to above)

• Worse health care outcomes for individuals, families, communities (including mental health).  Testimony the GMCB has heard suggests that people already choose not to visit healthcare providers or take necessary medications with the current cost of their healthcare.  This will only increase with further rate hikes - leading to unnecessary worse health outcomes.

• Diminished rural community vitality and economic viability:  less time available for volunteerism, poor small business viability, etc.

It is inequitable and unjust for many sectors of the economy (in this case, farmers and many local small rural businesses), of society, to be told by regulators, industry, and policymakers that they can not be afforded the cost of doing business, or of providing necessary healthcare to themselves and their families (as with many people who live in Vermont) - while allowing another sector assurance of its profits in the form of rate hikes well above inflation rates and at the expense of the general public.

This proposed rate hike will without a doubt affect the affordability of, and access to healthcare for many Vermonters who are currently struggling to even afford the costs of their current healthcare.  

At the Blue Cross Blue Shield hearing, a representative of BCBS stated: we are “on our way to a more sustainable healthcare system” through this process.  This is certainly not true for a public which is currently being asked to afford some of the most expensive healthcare with some of the poorest healthcare outcomes in a “developed” nation globally.  And though it is not the purview of this particular hearing, Rural Vermont feels that a publicly funded universal health care system is the only sustainable path forward, and the only path which assures the affordability of, and access to, healthcare for everybody.  

This same representative said that “solvency [for his industry and company] is the most fundamental factor in consumer protection”.  He said - to paraphrase - that individual Vermonters may struggle to afford healthcare - but better to struggle than to lose access. These statements, and those in the previous paragraph, belie the disregard of BCBS for the testimony which people - its members - provide year after year to this Board in relationship to its proposed rate hikes, their access to care, the affordability of care, and the quality of the care they receive.  Rural Vermont understands that people do lose access to healthcare when healthcare is not affordable.  

He also said that healthcare is as expensive as it is because BCBS must provide rates based on a “community” vs. individual basis in VT.  We know that our community members are struggling to afford their premiums, deductibles, and insurance regardless of age or whether they are on medicare.  

He said that because there is “no penalty” for not carrying healthcare in VT - BCBS will lose clients.  BCBS and MVP may lose clients, however it is because they offer unaffordable and inadequate coverage, and many people have experienced poor quality of care.  Many of the fees suggested over time for not purchasing healthcare have been less expensive than the excessive costs of healthcare itself.  

As Blue Cross Blue Shield has pointed out - there are many rising costs in the healthcare industry from pharmaceuticals to hospital executive salaries which affect their rate projections.  We recognize these factors and agree that they are problematic and must absolutely be addressed - and we feel it is unjust and inequitable to pass along the cost of these problems to the rate paying public when most of this industry and its players enjoy profits and salaries well above most Vermonters.  

Lastly, we recommend that this Board suspend the end date of this public comment period - and conduct public hearings like this across the regions of Vermont outside of normal work hours.  This hearing and process itself is relatively inaccessible to those who need to work regular work hours, or travel in order to have their voices heard in person.
Sincerely, 
Graham Unangst-Rufenacht

Rural Vermont Field Organizer

The VT Agency of Agriculture conducted two required public hearings on the proposed Rules to implement the law governing Vermont’s state Hemp Program. Rural Vermont sent a representative to both meetings, provided testimony and submitted formal comments. Read Rural Vermont’s comments here.

The DRAFT Rules will now be edited by VAAFM, based on the comments they received. There will be no further public hearings but Rural Vermont intends to stay in close communication with VAAFM about the final version of the Rules. Once finalized, the Rules must be submitted first to the VT Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) and then to the USDA. The VAAFM is working hard to get the final rules in place in time for this year’s hemp harvest.

Both public hearings (in Brandon and in Newport) were lightly attended, no doubt because both dates were ideal days for planting hemp after the relentlessly cool wet spring. Rural Vermont’s testimony and comments from producers and processors at the hearings generally focused on the following concerns:

1. More information is needed about how the VAAFM will be conducting the research that is mandated under the federal law. Especially as it is related to data the Agency will be collecting form farmers and processors. (It is likely there will be a “preamble” about this concern added at the beginning of the Rules.) 

2. Objections were voiced by Rural Vermont an others to the requirement for public disclosure (including to law enforcement) of information included on Hemp Registration applications.

3. Rural Vermont strongly criticized the proposed restriction on participation in the Hemp Program by those who have a past drug-related felony conviction. The Agency has said that this is included in the rules to comply with federal provisions.  Past and present Vermont hemp registrants that this situation applies to have the possibility of being grandfathered into the program moving forward. If you have a past drug-related felony and are interested in participating in Vermont’s burgeoning hemp industry, email mollie@ruralvermont.org for more information. 

4. Other comments focused primarily on the testing and record-keeping requirements 

If you have questions about the Hemp Rules or any other aspect of Vermont’s Hemp Program please contact mollie@ruralvermont.org. The VAAFM also has many resources available on its website.

Summer 2019

 With the wet, cool spring behind us, we at Rural Vermont are loving the long days, and doing our best to ensure they include plenty of time outside, and a dip in the local swimming hole. Like you, we’re incredibly thankful for the return of warm weather, and we’re equally grateful for the generous support we’ve received over the past year; because of it, we’re stronger, more resilient, and more effective than ever.

Between the sun bathing and creek dipping, we’re working harder than ever to deliver greater equity, transparency, and opportunity to Vermont’s agricultural community, as well as to all those who depend on it for nourishment. We’ve just finished off a successful legislative session, which resulted in meaningful progress for raw milk, on-farm slaughter, and pollinators, to name but a few and we’re remaining vigilant as discussions about farm viability and environmental outcomes work their way through both the ag community and the Statehouse. Read our latest progress reports from the State House and the field here.

Outside the Statehouse, we continue work to build coalitions, and to be sure the voices of Rural Vermont’s constituency ring loud and clear wherever decision makers gather. And we’re incredibly pleased to announce that we’ve increased our capacity by hiring Mollie Wills (a former Rural Vermont staffer that we’re thrilled to welcome back to the fold) to strengthen our field organizing efforts. Additionally, we’ve extended the contract for our incredibly dynamic legislative intern, Caroline Gordon. This critical increase in capacity could not have happened without your support.

Of course, there’s always more to be done. Over the coming months, we’ll be conducting extensive farmer outreach, as we gather input about the critical issues impacting our agricultural community. And with our coalition partners, we’re working to be sure that Vermont becomes a place where healthy soil is revered, pollinators are fully protected, and every Vermonter has equal opportunity to access the farm fresh food of their choosing.

We need your support now! A generous donor has committed $15,000 to match the first $15,000 in contributions; this means that right now, your support in any amount is doubled! If you’re not already a member, please review our membership options and decide what level of support is right for you.

In closing, thank you so, so much for your support. It is a wellspring of motivation for us all, to keep working toward an agricultural future that nourishes all Vermonters, while healing the land we all love so deeply.

In deep and enduring appreciation,

All of us at Rural Vermont

P.S. We’d love to welcome you to our growing circle of sustaining members! Monthly giving means uninterrupted membership status for you and a steady source of support and minimized administrative costs for us! PLUS, sign up for monthly giving by August 31st and receive a limited-edition Make America Graze Again print!  

Become a sustaining member with a monthly gift, and receive this limited-edition print from our beloved friend and artist Erok Gillard!

The Big Picture

Currently, these bills are on their way to the Governor’s desk and are expected to be signed:

l  S.58 - Align Vermont’s Hemp law with new federal law so that farmers, gardeners, and others can more easily integrate this crop into their plantings and products.

l   H.205 - Takes a small crucial step toward protecting our pollinators by making a class of pesticides (neonicotinoids) restricted to use only by trained and licensed applicators, thus taking them off the shelves for consumer use. LATE-BREAKING NEWS: The Governor signed H.205 late on May 28th. Call 828-3333 to thank him.

l  S.160 (SJ, p. 1620) - Extends the sunset on the On-Farm Slaughter law to 2023 AND makes “game-changing” improvements in the on-farm slaughter law along with many other policy changes intended to support rural economic development

l  H.525 (SJ, p. 1659) - Makes meaningful improvements to Vermont’s Raw Milk Law and other changes to agricultural policy and programs

With these victories comes a lot of work including: Informing Rural Vermont’s constituents of the changes and their impact and following up with the regulators and our allies to ensure that the new laws are effectively implemented. Stay tuned for more information and how you can be involved.

A Brief Look Ahead

In addition to outreach about changes to the On-Farm Slaughter and Raw Milk Laws and the new Pollinator Protection Law, Rural Vermont will be paying close attention to how the following sections of S.160 are implemented:

•   A strategic planning process and report by the VAFFM in consultation with the Vermont Farm-to-Plate Investment Program on revitalizing and stabilizing VT’s agricultural economy (Section 1);

• A report by VAAFM that provides an assessment of marketing opportunities in major metropolitan markets in the Northeast for VT dairy products (Section 2);

• A Soil Conservation Practice and Payment for Ecosystem Services Working Group – Rural Vermont was successful in advocating for a representative from the VT Healthy Soils Coalition and a small-scale diversified farmer to be part of the Working Group (Section 3);

• A report on radio frequency identification tags for livestock (Section 7). Since scale appropriate and humane identification of livestock is one of Rural Vermont's core issues, it was important for us to successfully include that the Secretary shall consult with the Vermont Grass Farmers Association and the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association during the development of the report so that the concerns and needs of small-scale and small-size livestock producers are taken into consideration.

• It also establishes a Forest Carbon Sequestration Working Group (Section 9);

• Genetically engineered seeds will be subject to a seed review committee prior to sale, distribution or use in Vermont (Section 18).

  And in H.525, Rural Vermont is eager to keep an eye on:

• Legislative Study Committee on Wetlands (Section 21);

• The Environmental Stewardship Program (Sections 11 & 12)

• The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (Section 13);

• The Agricultural Environmental Management Program (Section 14).

For a more detailed recap, please visit the From the Statehouse Blog here.

Rural Vermont was honored to collaborate with Sterling College, NOFA-VT, Cedar Circle Farm, Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition and many other grassroots food, farming and community-based organizations in bringing Dr. Vandana Shiva to the State House on May 6th as part of her ‘Northeast Earth Journey.” HUGE thanks to Rural Vermont’s Board Member Cat Buxton for her tireless work organizing this event. 

Here’s a link to the video coverage of the event: https://youtu.be/Hb9TxDCPHlk

Dr. Shiva’s tour was focused on promoting and gathering signatures for the “Poison-Free Food and Farming by 2030 Pledge:

 “We are creating a network of poison free organic zones that rejuvenate biodiversity, the soil and water, that create climate resilience and climate stability, that protect the health and well being of our children and the heirs of all species. Through poison free food and farming, we sow the seeds for a brighter future and the future of all beings on our living vibrant and generous Earth”

Sign the pledge here.

Dr. Vandana Shiva, one of the world’s leading advocates for a poison-free future and India’s most prominent spokesperson for biodiversity and climate change issues, came to the Northeast to galvanize support for her initiative to unite communities across the globe that are campaigning for food and farming practices not reliant upon the use of synthetic pesticides and other toxins. A physicist by training and an activist by necessity, Dr. Shiva brought her decades of experience in linking science and social action to Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York from May 4-8. Sterling College’s School of the New American Farmstead coordinated Dr. Shiva’s “Northeast Earth Journey,” a series of presentations geared toward concerned citizens, farmers, health-care professionals, and policy-makers focused on the interrelated issues of food system toxins, biodiversity, rights of farmers, and climate change.

Since the fall of 2017, Dr. Shiva and her colleagues at Navdanya (the India-based organization founded by Dr. Shiva to promote seed-saving, biodiversity conservation, organic farming practices, and the rights of farmers) have been working to connect different communities around the world that are working toward poison-free futures through a variety of political, grassroots, and economic initiatives. Dr. Shiva’s “Northeast Earth Journey” comes at a critical moment in our history when the true costs of food and farming systems based on the use of synthetic pesticides and other toxins are becoming increasingly evident. Scientists have recently unveiled a broad range of studies documenting extraordinary declines in biodiversity around the globe. Meanwhile, juries in the US are siding with plaintiffs as a long line of individuals suffering from cancer pursue lawsuits against the manufacturers of glyphosate—the commonly used active ingredient in commonly-used herbicides such as Roundup.

Small Farm Advocacy Days provide the chance for Vermont farmers to share their stories, challenges and concerns with their legislators. It is an essential component of Rural Vermont’s mission to ensure that the voices of those most concerned and impacted by agricultural legislation are heard and to educate Rural Vermont members about relevant issues and the status of accompanying bills. It is also a great chance for members to become more informed about the legislative process in general, and is a driver for taking additional political action.

Rural Vermont is fortunate to work with House and Senate Committees that regularly give the time and attention needed for farmer testimony via informal conversations. It is true that in Vermont, legislators are more accessible than in most other states, and Vermont’s agricultural heritage encourages legislators to really consider the farmer concerns brought before them. This increases the chances that the Committees will incorporate the information learned from the testimony provided through SFAD in their work.

For example, during our latest and final SFAD, issues related to raw milk have been raised by two farmers, which caused the Senate Committee on Agriculture to take further testimony on the issue this late time of the session. Even though related bills (H.480 and H.481) have not been worked on in the House Ag Committee these past months, the issues are now reflected in H.525 due to the Senate Agricultural Committee.

As space in the State House is scarce, Rural Vermont is also fortunate to have Lt. Governor Zuckerman and his Chief of Staff Megan Polyte offer their office as a meeting space, as well as act as our allies in our mission.  During every SFAD we made use of this space differently, whether that be preparing for testimony, talking about Rural Vermont’s policy priorities, sending messages to legislators through the page system, demonstrating how to navigate the State House’s homepage, or having lunch together.

For me, the greatest value of the Small Farm Advocacy Day was to build relationships with the people we are advocating for and with our board members. I enjoyed helping to facilitate this relationship building with the legislators as well.  For Rural Vermont, this relationship-building is key to building a strong foundation of which advocacy work can emerge from.

-Caroline Gordon, Rural Vermont Legislative Intern

Rural Vermont's events, advocacy, and outreach are only possible because of our members' support! Donate $35+ to Rural Vermont by May 15th, and our friends at Johnny's will help us thank you by offering a 25% discount on your tools and supplies order! Make your donation here

8:30-9: Lt Governor's Office -  Coffee & Donuts from Miss Weinerz with Legislative Update with Q&A

9-10: Ethan Allen Room (Optional) - Neonic Research presentation by Agency of Ag (Those not wishing to attend the Neonic presentation can choose a tour of the State House or opportunities to reach out to legislators)

10-12: Ethan Allen Room -  Joint Hearing with House & Senate Ag Cmtes - opportunities to testify 

12-1: Lunch & Meetings w/ Legislators

1-1:30: Opportunity to observe House or Senate Floor action

Please RSVP here

For more information, visit the events page here.

“What I heard here today confirms why my wife and I have lived here for 15 years.” Ward Heneveld echoed the sentiments of many while reflecting on attending Rural Vermont’s “Faces of Dairy: Conversations with Vermont Farmers”, a panel event that took place at the Dairy Center in Enosburg Falls last Saturday.

Almost fifty local farmers and eaters alike gathered to listen to and honor the dairy farming community, and to have a conversation about the future of Vermont’s dairy economy. The six-person farmer panel represented many facets of the dairy industry, and widely diverse perspectives on the agricultural backbone of Vermont.

“What is this country going to do for us? There’s only so long you can stretch a dollar,” reflects Damien Boomhower, a fourth generation organic dairy farmer based in Fairfield, referencing consistently plummeting milk prices and a general lack of support from federal and state agencies. “What incentive are we giving the next generation to get into dairy?” Damien is the father of two young children, and wasn’t the only farmer concerned about the next generation.

George van Vlaanderen, of Does’ Leap Farm in East Fairfield, ponders the same question. His take on how to best support future farmers? “It’s contingent on us to educate friends and neighbors about where our food comes from and the impact of voting with your dollars.” We can support a prosperous agricultural future by supporting our farmer neighbors today.

Amber Machia, herdswoman and owner of Red Barn, a value-added dairy processing company in Highgate Center, could not agree more. “It’s a few dollars out of your pocket, but it goes all over the place” she concurs, referencing the power of spending dollars locally and how farming supports a multitude of local businesses, including feed supply stores, trucking companies, label and package makers, and distribution hubs.

The deep impact of farming on our local communities was a sentiment soundly echoed by all of the panelists, and many audience members to boot. Panelist Larry Gervais, of Gervais Family Farm in Enosburg Falls, one of the largest dairy operations in Franklin County, sums it up well: “We don’t need to grow. We need viability. If we can keep farms on this land, the impact in our communities is huge. Farming is the heartbeat of our community.”

Our agricultural heartbeat is in threat, as is our farmland. With an average farmer age of 58 and consistently inadequate milk prices, the future for our dairy community, and its accompanying 80% of Vermont’s agricultural land, is in jeopardy as it goes through a formative transition. Heather Darby, renowned agronomist and soil specialist with UVM Extension and moderator of the event, bluntly questions the future: “Producing food is a requirement for life. How important is that career? Will people know how to produce food in this county [in the future] when only 1% of the population is farming?”

Despite tough questions and an uncertain future, the atmosphere in the room remained surprisingly bright, and the current reality is not without its triumphs. Marita Canedo, Migrant Justice staff member and event panelist representing the Milk with Dignity Program, reflects on Ben & Jerry’s adoption of the program as a human rights victory. “It took more than two years in a public campaign and 4 years in conversation. We had to have translators and it took a long time, but we finally had everyone at the same table. There’s human rights in that ice cream.” The Milk with Dignity Program brings together farmers, farmworker, buyers, and consumers to ensure dignified working conditions in the dairy supply chain, asking the corporations making the most in the dairy industry to pay for a higher standard of human rights for workers.  

Perhaps the most commonly echoed sentiment in the room was that of gratitude. Gratitude for the support of Vermont’s farming community and its local products, gratitude for our working lands and animals and the nourishment they provide, and gratitude to have hands in the earth and the ability to feed one’s neighbors. This was perhaps best summed up by raw milk producer and panelist Aubrey Schatz of the Family Cow Farmstand in Hinesburg. “I’m thankful that I get to do this. I choose to do this. Connection as a human is what we have in life” says Aubrey, in deep acknowledgment of the foundational role she plays within her community. After all, as well stated by farmer and audience member Jenny Nelson, “farmers own the land that holds this state together.” It is our responsibility to support our agricultural landscape and the vital heartbeat that feeds our communities, fills our bellies, and makes this state home for us all.

By Rural Vermont Organizer Mollie Wills
A recap of the 3/30/2019 event Faces of Dairy: Conversations with Vermont Farmers

For more photos, check out the Facebook Album. Thank you to Red Hen Bakery, Skinny Pancake, and the Wood Meadow Market for their generous sponsorship of this event.

April 25th: 8:30-1:30

This will be the final opportunity during the 2019 legislative session to see how it all works. Rural Vermont is grateful to be co-sponsoring this event with our allies at NOFA-VT. Although we don’t know the specifics yet of what will be happening in the State House that day, we can guarantee you will have a chance to learn more about the legislative process, meet your legislators, observe committees in action and possibly witness final votes on the floor of the House and Senate. If you are interested, there may also be the opportunity to provide testimony on an issue you care about. RSVP now so we can keep you informed about the plans for the day.  We also have a limited number of Farmer Stipends to help offset the costs of taking a day away from the farm. AND as a special treat, (and effective lure for legislators) we will have delicious donuts courtesy of Miss Weinerz. Thank you Ren!

For more information about this and other Rural Vermont Events, visit our Events page