Urge Congress to Add Clarifying Language in the Federal Meat Inspection Act for On-Farm Slaughter to their Priorities for the Farm Bill!

Support the proposal to protect the practice of slaughtering livestock on the farms where they were raised and clarify the Federal Meat Inspection Act’s “personal-use exemption." Currently, farmers selling livestock for on-farm slaughter, itinerant (traveling) slaughterers, and custom processors all rely on guidance provided by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which bases the personal use exemption on ownership. USDA FSIS guidance, however, is vulnerable to change. 

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture programs. The Farm Bill has a miscellaneous section where a technical amendment to the personal-use exemption should clarify that it applies to persons who own animals instead of only to farmers who raise them. Twenty-seven states have livestock slaughter laws, based on this federal exemption, that allow livestock owners to have an agent slaughter their livestock on-farm, and to use that meat without state or federal inspection. The Federal Meat Inspection Act, enacted in 1906 and last updated in 1989, bases the personal-use exemption on who raised the animals instead of who owns them. 

The Federal Meat Inspection Act should be revised to protect personal use-based on ownership, reflecting modern FSIS guidance and ensuring that livestock producers and processors have permanent protection to practice on-farm slaughter in accordance with state laws.

Please support this Campaign and Take Action NOW!

1. Need more info? Policy Guide On-Farm Slaughter here

2. Call your US Senator and Representative in D.C.! Contact members of Congress here.
   Express your support with an individual message, you can customize this template message:
   “Dear Senator/Representative __________, I am reaching out to ensure that on-farm slaughter has a place in federal law and urge you to support our Petition to Clarify the Personal-Use Exemption. A resilient food system depends on small, direct-to-consumer farms outside of commodity agriculture, and those farms need a level playing field that can only be served by the protection and preservation of exempt market niches like the personal use exemption for on farm slaughter. Respectfully, _____________”

3. Share & Sign the Petition! LINK TO THE PETITION HERE

The Basic Needs of Farms, Small Businesses, Medical Patients, and Communities Disproportionately Impacted by the Criminalization of Cannabis are not being Addressed by the VT Legislature or Cannabis Control Board.

The legislature has the ability to take action right now to address clear and present inequities and negative impacts occurring in the cannabis marketplace for farmers and others.  Tell policymakers on the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs that they need to take action this session on our coalition’s priorities by including them in H.270 and by inviting impacted community members and the member-based advocacy organizations in our coalition into the committee to represent themselves and their needs.  We currently have a regulated market in which producers of the crop have no direct market access to the user of the product, in which farmers and outdoor producers face substantial barriers to participating in the market (from municipal regulation and current use, to federal law related to land trusts and programs like NRCS), and in which there is no tax revenue from this economy going towards addressing the impacts of criminalization and disproportionate enforcement in our communities (among other things).

There is harm actively occurring that can be stopped with statutory change.  Many farms and small businesses will lose their investments, livelihoods, and ability to operate this year without an improvement and extension of the exemptions provided to Tier 1 Outdoor Cultivators in Act 158 to all Tiers and types of Outdoor Cultivation license. These exemptions allow this scale of cultivation to be treated in the same manner as farming when it comes to development, municipal regulation, taxation and current use status.  Right now, there are new and existing operations which are dealing with unreasonable and potentially illegal restrictions and processes being enacted at the municipal level which will make it not feasible for them to operate and the Cannabis Control Board has said it is powerless to provide them legal support or advice.    

Contact Graham@ruralvermont.org for more information.

Rural Vermont stands in solidarity with Migrant Justice to support their campaign to persuade Hannaford’s Supermarkets to join the Milk with Dignity Program.

Join us!

To join Rural Vermont, and other organizations standing in solidarity with Migrant Justice and their Milk with Dignity campaign, please sign up here and you will be connected with specific actions in your area. In the Central VT area? Here are two ways to get involved locally:

1. Collaborating with other racial, social, and economic justice organizations in central Vermont, Rural Vermont is “adopting” the Barre, VT Hannaford’s store and holding visibility and education actions at the store in April. Email andrea@ruralvermont.org to find out how to get involved!

2. On May Day (May 1st), International Workers’ Day, we will join a regional day of action at the Barre Hannaford’s as other actions take place in Burlington, Middlebury and around the northeast. Join us from 1:30 - 3:30 on May 1!

Migrant Justice recently shared “For over two years now, farmworkers have called on Hannaford Supermarkets to join Milk with Dignity and protect farmworker rights and well-being. Despite dozens of actions and thousands of calls and emails, Hannaford continues to avoid responsibility. This means that the company hasn’t yet felt enough pressure. For Hannaford’s to come to the table and talk with farmworkers, they need to hear from their customers consistently and throughout the region.” 

If you have questions or want to help with organizing events in your area, please contact Andrea Stander, Rural Vermont’s Interim Grassroots Organizing Director.

Join the Protect Our Soils Coalition and support H.501 - An act relating to the regulation of food depackaging facilities - NOW! Call your Senator in support of this important legislation. H.501 is currently in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources - the committee who originally drafted the bill language. The committee is VERY busy and needs to hear that this issue is a priority for Vermonters in order to prioritize working on passing this bill out of committee in time. Reach out to committee members and ask to move the bill; include your personal Senators and express your support of passing H.501 this year!

Write an email to either or all of the committee members below and find your Senator here:

• Sen. Chris Bray, Addison District (Chair)  - cbray@leg.state.vt.us 

• Sen. Richard Westman, Lamoille District  (Vice Chair) - rawestman@gmail.com

• Sen. Brian Campion, Bennington District (Clerk) - bcampion@leg.state.vt.us 

• Sen. Mark MacDonald, Orange District - mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us 

• Sen. Dick McCormack, Windsor District - rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us 

The bill would apply an precautionary approach to HOW food residuals are being managed in Vermont, avoiding contaminants like micro plastics through:

• more effective separation of the organics from their packaging at the point of generation

• A moratorium on any further permits for food depackaging facilities until rules have been adopted to regulate those facilities. 

• A collaborative stakeholder process that will convene to study the impact of the management of food residuals with depackaging technology and to report recommendations to the general assembly on how to regulate them best prior to rulemaking. 

Rural Vermont is part of the Protect Our Soils Coalition with VPIRG, CLF, Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Compost Association of Vermont and Black DIrt Farm - who represent the farmer member group Poultry Farmers For Compost Foraging. Our coalition supports the passage of H.501 and advocates to amend the bill to also include:

• A ban on the application of organics derived from depackaging facilities on agricultural land

• A pathway for clean waste streams and the use of composts from food residuals that have been separated from their packaging prior to their processing and land application. 

• Transparency for farmers, gardeners and other consumers utilizing compost, digestate or other end products that may contain pollutants that could get into soil, microorganisms, and plants as well as finding ways on how to address those issues best. 

* More info about the Protect Our Soils Coalition on the coalition’s website here 

* More background info about H.501 and its process to date in the Rural Vermont From The State House blog here

* Read H.501, as passed by the House, here

* Read the amendment proposals from the Protect Our Soils Coalition as talking points here and as legislative language here.

Email caroline@ruralvermont.org with any questions.

Are you a producer who is using surface water to irrigate crops or water livestock? Now is your chance to have your voice heard on an important bill that may affect you!

We have heard substantial concerns from many different farmers - in particular vegetable growers and some livestock producers - about H.466, a bill relating to surface water withdrawals and interbasin transfers. See this testimony offered to the Senate Agriculture Committee by vegetable producers, including a representative of the VT Vegetable and Berry Growers Association. These concerns include, among others: extremely low thresholds for inclusion in registration and metering, defining springs as surface water, the inclusion of human constructed ponds used for irrigation or watering livestock which have outlets to a Water of the State, the eventual permitting program envisioned in the bill, the lack of consideration of how this surface water is used after it is withdrawn, and the overall positionality and impact of agricultural water use in VT in comparison with other uses (see some specifics from the bill below).

This bill has already passed the VT House, and is now in the Senate Natural Resources Committee, where it is scheduled to be potentially voted out of Committee this Friday, March 25th.

Here's what you can do:

1. Review the surface water bill H.466 here and/or read the excerpted sections below.

2. Contact your representative and the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee Christopher Bray and tell them how this law may affect you.

3. Ask Senator Bray for an opportunity to testify or submit written testimony to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

If you’d like to discuss the bill or need assistance, please email Rural Vermont's Policy Director Graham Unangst-Rufenacht.

Some excerpts from H.466:

…

(20) “Surface water” means all rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, reservoirs, ponds, lakes, and springs and all bodies of surface waters that are contained within, flow through, or border upon the State or any portion of it. “Surface water” shall not include the following: 

(A) groundwater as defined in section 1391 of this title; 

(B) artificial waterbodies as defined under section 29A-101

(d) of the Vermont Water Quality Standards; 

(C) treatment ponds, lagoons, or wetlands created solely to meet the requirements of a permit issued for a discharge; and 

(D) constructed ponds or other impoundments that are used for irrigation or watering of livestock and that are not subject to the Vermont Water Quality Standards [based on our understanding, any constructed pond with an outlet to a Water of the State is subject to the Vermont Water Quality Standards, and therefore included in the definition of “surface water”].

…

Registration. Beginning on January 1, 2023, any person withdrawing 5,000 gallons or more of surface water within a 24-hour period shall register with the Secretary. Registration shall be made on a form provided by the Secretary, and shall include the following information:

(1) the location of each withdrawal, including each impacted surface water;

(2) the frequency and rate of each withdrawal;

(3) a description of the use or uses of the water to be withdrawn;

(4) the capacity of the system to be used for the withdrawal; and

(5) a schedule for the withdrawal.

(a) Program development. On or before July 1, 2026, the Secretary shall implement a surface water withdrawal permitting program that is consistent with section 1041 of this subchapter provided by the Secretary and shall include all of the following information:

(1) the total amount of water withdrawn each month;

(2) the location of each withdrawal, including each impacted surface water;

(3) the daily maximum withdrawal for each month;

(4) the date of daily maximum withdrawal; and

(5) any other information required by the Secretary.

(c) Methods of estimating withdrawals. The following methods shall be used to report the amounts of withdrawn surface water required to be reported under subsection (b) of this section:

(1) Withdrawals of between 5,000 and 50,000 gallons of surface water in a 24-hour period shall either provide an estimate of total volume or provide meter data. The report shall describe how any estimate was calculated.

(2) Withdrawals of more than 50,000 gallons of surface water in a 24-hour period shall provide meter data.

.......

(5) establish limitations on withdrawals based on low flow or drought conditions and the development of potential alternatives to meet surface water withdrawal needs in such cases; and

(6) require assessment of any reasonable and feasible alternatives to proposed withdrawals that may have less of an impact on surface water quality.

Pollinators like honey bees, wild bees, and other insect species critical to our food supply are under threat in Vermont, and around the country and globe, from widespread use of a class of systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids. 

In recent weeks, the House Agriculture & Forestry Committee has taken testimony from over 20 expert witnesses on H.626, a bill that would prohibit the use of neonicotinoids unless the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (AAFM) creates regulations that protect pollinators from exposure.

"Neonics" are regularly applied as a seed coating on corn and soybean seeds to protect seeds from early season pests. Currently, nearly all corn seed planted in the state is coated with these pesticides whether or not there is a known pest threat that calls for them.

Beekeepers, agronomists, researchers, and farmers have presented powerful, science-based testimony making the case that widespread use of neonics is harming bees and other non-target insects while not, in most cases, helping farmers' bottom lines.

As Vermont beekeepers report record losses (up to 50% of hives are dying annually), one beekeeper told the committee, "There's a saying in the industry that we're no longer beekeepers - we've become bee replacers."

H.626 includes recommendations for neonicotinoids made to the legislature by the Pollinator Protection Committee in 2017. Despite having been granted the authority to regulate treated seeds, the Agency of Agriculture has not acted on these recommendations.  Right now, the House Agriculture & Forestry Committee has the ability to take steps to limit the use of neonicotinoids in ways that protect bees and beekeepers, while actively supporting other farmers in transitioning away from widespread, prophylactic use. 

Here's what you can do: 

• Write to your legislator (find them here) and urge their support for NOFA-VT and Rural Vermont's redraft of H.626 which requires AAFM to phase out prophylactic use of neonics by 2024 and support farmers in accessing untreated seed and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

• Copy Carolyn Partridge, Chair of House Agriculture & Forestry Committee, cpartridge@leg.state.vt.us, on your message.

We're not asking the farmers using these seeds to quit cold turkey. Farms have already invested in this year’s seed, and their ability to source the appropriate amount and varieties of seed not treated with neonics is challenging given - among other things - the consolidation and concentration of seed companies.  In addition to phasing out the use of neonic treated seeds, we are calling for an appropriate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocol and training for farmers and service providers.  

Our proposed version of H.626 phases out the prophylactic use of neonics by providing a deadline by which AAFM must work with the newly created Agriculture Innovation Board, agricultural service providers, and others to develop and administer this IPM protocol and training, and to support farmers in transitioning away from prophylactic use of treated seed further by assisting in sourcing seed not treated with neonics. 

Need more inspiration to act?

Watch powerful testimony to the committee on January 26 from Charles Mraz, owner of Champlain Valley Apiary and third generation beekeeper. 

Do you think farming should be a viable business?
Do you care about climate change?
Do you think the emerging cannabis market should be equitable?
Do you eat?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the policy decisions made by our legislature impact you! Join NOFA-VT and Rural Vermont at Small Farm Action Days - learn more here -  and contact legislators from the agricultural committees with your concerns, find their contact info below!

House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

• Rep. Carolyn W. Partridge, Chair, Windham - cpartridge@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Rodney Graham, Vice Chair, Orange - rgraham@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Thomas Bock, Windsor - tbock@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Terry Norris, Clerk, Addison-Rutland - tnorris@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. John O'Brien, Windsor-Orange - jobrien@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Henry Pearl, Caledonia-Washington - hpearl@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Heather Surprenant, Windsor - hsurprenant@leg.state.vt.us

• Rep. Vicki Strong, Orleans-Caledonia - vstrong@leg.state.vt.us

Senate Committee on Agriculture

• Sen. Robert Starr, Chair, Essex-Orleans - rstarr@leg.state.vt.us

• Sen. Chris Pearson, Vice Chair, Chittenden - CPearson@leg.state.vt.us

• Sen. Anthony Pollina, Washington - apollina@leg.state.vt.us

• Sen. Brian Collamore, Rutland - bcollamore@leg.state.vt.us

• Sen. Corey Parent, Clerk, Franklin- CParent@leg.state.vt.us

Join the Protect Our Soils coalition, including VPIRG and Rural Vermont, in calling on the legislature to uphold the Universal Recycling Law and stop ANR from permitting any more "depackaging" facilities to handle food scraps without regulation. Sludge from depackaging facilities is contaminated with microplastics while also making the separated shredded plastic packaging unfit for recycling. Read the full petition and sign-on below:

We are deeply concerned about the Agency of Natural Resources’ (ANR) recent reinterpretation of sections of the Universal Recycling Law (“URL”) and call on the Legislature to protect food scraps and soils from contamination, and ensure recyclable packaging is recycled. 

We believe maintaining the purity of discarded food materials and protecting soil health are critical to supporting a resilient, local food system and ensuring its benefits are broadly distributed throughout Vermont. Despite the URL being the most ambitious resource management legislation in the U.S., ANR is not enforcing the separation of discarded food from packaging or sources of plastics in blended materials (like plastic lined juice containers).

The Agency has reinterpreted the law to enable mechanical separation of food from packaging, which results in the contamination of compostable materials with plastics and other pollutants, as well as the loss of recyclable packaging from the recycling stream to the landfill and incinerators. Knowingly allowing microplastics and other pollutants to be applied to our soils is not acceptable and may result in unresolvable soil contamination and public health concerns.

Legislation is critical and urgent given that ANR has reinterpreted the law in a manner that is inconsistent with the original intent of the law and shows no sign of reversing course. This reinterpretation is threatening soil health, local composters and farmers, and privileging companies using incinerators and the landfill to deal with packaging, instead of sorting it for recycling.

A successful implementation of the goals of the URL requires legislation to help protect our crop-producing soils from microplastics and ensure food scraps are free of plastics, and put guardrails on the use of industrialized technologies that may exacerbate the microplastic crisis.

We believe the shocking disparity between the Agency’s reinterpretation of the law and the actual content of the law deserve swift reaction from the Legislature. We call on the Legislature to protect and prioritize the separation of food scraps from packaging while preventing the incineration and landfilling of recyclable plastic packaging. This will create a stable market for operators, ensuring good resource stewardship and that these resources be used to build healthy soils and support local food systems.

Specifically, the Legislature should support measures to:

• Ensure that organics recyclers and organics haulers are not knowingly accepting plastics and other contaminants that will end up in soil;

• Apply the precautionary principle in considering and reviewing approaches to separating food from packaging, and ensure adequate study of the potential effects of microplastics pollution of soils before declaring innocence;

• Call on ANR to develop a strategic plan to promote and incentivize source separation and the organics management hierarchy;

• Ensure that unpackaged food materials are not commingled with food packaging, and ensure that recyclable food packaging is recycled. Regulate the technologies (depackaging) that violate the law such that they can only be used where source separation of packaging from food scraps is not feasible;

• Adopt maximum standards of contaminants, like microplastics and PFAS, in materials that will be land-applied.

• Ensure transparency for farmers, gardeners and other consumers utilizing compost, digestate or other end products that may contain pollutants.

Support H.273, the Vermont BIPOC-led Land Access and Opportunity Act! Over the next couple of months, Seeding Power Vermont will be sending regular updates about the progress being made toward passing H.273, highlighting other land equity initiatives throughout the state, and encouraging folks to work with each other to change the narrative around what equitable land access actual means and looks like. Sign up for updates from the organizers at http://eepurl.com/hsKrQ9. #SeedingPowerVt

Take Action to support human rights in the supply chain!

• Deliver copies of this Milk with Dignity flyer to your local Hannaford customer service desk

• Organize a group to gather at your local Hannaford with signs calling for Milk with Dignity and take lots of pictures to share with us and post on social media

• Take photos with the Milk with Dignity lawn sign and send us a copy of the picture (we can mail you lawn signs if you need them or you can also print out this PDF of the lawn sign to use)

• Review the Milk with Dignity Action Toolkit for more information about supporting the campaign!

• Support Migrant Justice and this crucial work by making a financial contribution.

• Join the team of Rural Vermont folks that’s committed to taking monthly mini-actions to support Milk with Dignity. Learn more.

Every Town is a land based project focused on placing at least one parcel of quality land from every town in Vermont in trust with the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust for permanent BIPOC access and stewardship. More information here, to support this work check out the Go Fund Me.