Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council 2010 Annual Report

Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council
2010 Annual Report
Photo by Allen Matthews
Compiled by UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point Center, Colchester, Vermont 05446
www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Why sustainable agriculture matters ............................................................................................. 1
Sustainable agriculture 2010 ......................................................................................................... 2
SAC’s role in Farm-to-Plate ............................................................................................................ 2
Sustainable Agriculture Across the state: a sampling of 2010 initiative and efforts ................................... 3
Goals 1, 2, and 3 of the F2P Strategic Plan focus on increasing the amount of
and demand for healthy, locally-produced food for Vermonters and the region
and to reduce food related health problems. .................................................................................. 3
Goals 4 through 7 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to reduce the
cost of farm inputs, conserve agricultural land and soils, and protect the
natural environment from the impacts of agricultural practices. ..................................................... 3
Goal 15 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to ensure that appropriate
distribution and storage infrastructure is in place over the next 10 years. ...................................... 5
Goal 16 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to strengthen Vermont’s
retail distribution system, to provide food enterprises with a growing number of
market outlets in Vermont and beyond, and to provide consumers with more year-round
Vermont-produced choices. .............................................................................................................. 6
Goals 18, 19, and 20 address the need to increase access to fresh, local food
for all Vermonters. ............................................................................................................................ 7
Goals 21, 22, and 23 highlight priority areas in the effort to improve food system education,
from kindergarten to college. ........................................................................................................... 8
Goals 24 and 25 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to increase the number
of new farmers and food system entrepreneurs and respond to the needs of a 21st
century food system workforce. ....................................................................................................... 9
Goal 26 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to increase coordination
between technical assistance and business planning providers to further strengthen
Vermont’s food system. .................................................................................................................. 10
Goals 27 and 28 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to increase the
awareness of and access to funding and financing opportunities for food system
entrepreneurs and farmers to further strengthen Vermont’s food system. .................................. 10
Goal 29 of the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan focuses on reducing non-renewable
energy use, while increasing efficiency and renewable energy production. .................................. 11
Goals 7 and 30 of the F2P Strategic Plan are geared toward achieving good
public policy and an appropriate regulatory framework, all designed to strengthen
Vermont’s food system. .................................................................................................................. 11
SAC Annual Award ............................................................................................................................ 12
SAC in 2011…. .................................................................................................................................... 12
6 V.S.A. Chapter 209, Sustainable Agriculture § 4701 ..................................................................... 13
2007 Memorandum of Understanding ........................................................................................... 15
2010 Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council Members .............................................................. 18
Introduction
Background on the Council
The Sustainable Agriculture Council (SAC) was established in statute in 1990 with the charge to identify
needs, set goals, select priorities and make annual recommendations regarding sustainable agriculture
research, demonstration, education and financing in Vermont. The 1990 legislation identified the
Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets as the Council chair. A 2007 MOU between the Vermont
Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and the University of Vermont updates and clarifies
the role of each organization. In the 2007 MOU, UVM’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) is
designated to provide day-to-day leadership and management of the Council, working “closely with the
members of the Council and the leadership required by statute.” The SAC is responsible for submitting
an annual report to the Vermont legislature outlining relevant accomplishments, trends and
recommendations, hence this report.
The SAC currently convenes on a quarterly basis each year to meet its goals. Staff from UVM’s CSA take
responsibility for the regular operations of the SAC, including organizing and facilitating meetings, taking
minutes, managing the SAC annual award process, maintaining regular communications, and
coordinating research. Funds for the SAC to sponsor research that is germane to its priorities have
historically been provided by UVM Extension and the VAAFM. During the past two years, the VAAFM
has been unable to provide financial support due to budget challenges, but Agency staff have continued
to play a central role in the Council. Research is currently underway that is sponsored by UVM Extension
and was identified as important by the SAC.
Why sustainable agriculture matters
Sustainable agriculture is a concept that has been important to Vermont for over two decades, and its
significance has only continued to grow in recent years. Given national and global problems related to
climate change, energy, degraded soil and food insecurity, to name a few, sustainable agriculture, and
the broader concept of sustainable food systems is considered by many international authorities to be a
global imperative. Considering the fact that food production currently uses approximately 70% of the
total freshwater withdrawals globally, we will be faced with a major challenge in the not-too-distant
future to meet the projected food need on the same amount of land we currently use, but with less
water.
In June, 2010, the National Research Council produced a report on Sustainable Agriculture in the 21st
Century. The report identified four generally agreed-upon goals of sustainable agriculture as being to:
Satisfy human food, feed, and fiber needs, and contribute to biofuel needs.
Enhance environmental quality and the resource base.
Sustain the economic viability of agriculture.
Enhance the quality of life for farmers, farm workers, and society as a whole.
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Without specifically providing a definition of sustainable agriculture, the report stated that sustainability
can best be measured not as an end state, but as a process related to moving farming systems along
towards the four stated goals. While Vermont agriculture has made great headway in recent years, our
food production system must continue to adapt to current and future realities if we hope to stay viable
into the future.
A primary question to be researched and addressed as we consider the best way forward for Vermont
agriculture is how we can maintain and/or restore healthy ecosystems which produce nourishing, safe
food for all Vermonters while providing a decent income and quality of life for our farmers and farm
workers. This question is at the heart of the research and associated educational opportunities in which
the Sustainable Agriculture Council has been engaged.
Sustainable Agriculture 2010
Despite all of the challenges that lie ahead, Vermont is experiencing an agricultural renaissance that has
placed it as one of the leaders in sustainable food systems’ efforts across the country. Farmers are
embracing innovative practices related to the production of food, fiber, and biofuels, numerous
organizations across the state are engaged in work that is altering the processing, distribution and
marketing of locally produced food, and consumers are excited to support an agricultural system that
provides healthy, safe, fresh and tasty food, while protecting the working landscape. With the advent of
the Farm to Plate initiative (“F2P”), comes the real possibility that Vermonters can use policies and
strategic investments to plan for the strong local and regional food systems which will deliver on our
core values. Because the Farm to Plate strategic plan provides a coherent and compelling set of goals to
move us forward, a sampling of the efforts of the past year will be described in categories that are
organized according to the broad goals in the Executive Summary of the plan. But first we will share the
ways in which SAC was involved in development of the plan.
SAC Role in Farm-to-Plate
Six members of the SAC served over an 18 month period on the F2P Strategic Plan Process Team,
assisting the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund staff in various ways.
The SAC sponsored and helped local food committees in each site organize the eight local (and one
statewide) food summits that were held November, 2009 – April, 2010.
Many SAC members participated in the in-depth working sessions which reviewed draft text and
strategies for various sections of the plan.
An on-going discussion took place at SAC meetings over a 15 month period regarding the role of the
SAC once the F2P plan is released. The Council reviewed the SAC’s enabling legislation, reviewed our
accomplishments over the past several years and considered how best to assist with implementing the
F2P plan.
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Sustainable Agriculture across the state: a sampling of 2010 initiatives and efforts
Goals 1, 2, and 3 of the F2P Strategic Plan focus on increasing the amount of and demand for healthy,
locally-produced food for Vermonters and the region and to reduce food related health problems:
 A strong Farm to School network in Vermont furthered
its growth in 2010 through resources from the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention to Vermont FEED.
These resources were used to convene regional Farm to
School partners in order to explore promising practices
in place-based education, and to more fully evaluate
the efficacy of Farm to School programs in increasing
healthy food choices among school children.
 University campuses such as UVM and Vermont
Technical College have worked on increasing purchases
of locally grown foods. For example, during 2010, VTC
worked with Freedom Foods, a local company, to get more farm products to the Aramark-catered
dining hall.
Goals 4 through 7 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to reduce the cost of farm inputs,
conserve agricultural land and soils, and protect the natural environment from the impacts of
agricultural practices.
 The Intervale Center’s land stewardship approach focuses on sustainable land use, ensuring
access to farmers and maintaining healthy water, soil and overall environmental stewardship.
 The Intervale Conservation Nursery (ICN) grows native riparian trees and shrubs for
conservation projects statewide. Plants are grown by staff from seeds or cuttings collected
from native wild populations in Vermont. The ICN addresses the need to protect the natural
environment from the impacts of agricultural practices.
 UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture embarked on a new project during 2010 to
study the biological and mechanical practices that alleviate pasture soil compaction. With six
farmer partners around Vermont, the Center expects the project will help to increase carbon
sequestration and forage production in pastures. Trial plots using a unique subsoiling technique
have been established on farm pastures. Called Keyline plowing, this method avoids disruption
of the soil surface and promotes increased organic matter. The Center continued to work on
winter management, grazing season extension and bedded pack housing and use of composted
pack materials. Farmer partners in Franklin, Addison and Orange Counties have been managing
trial plots to measure changes in soil and forage.
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 The UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Pasture Program continued to share information
via pasture walks and workshops, organizing or co-sponsoring 16 events, with over 300
attendees in 2010. They also worked with farmers to promote idea exchange through
discussion groups across the state. Topics at these events ranged from reclaiming fallow
pastures to dairy forage balancing and farmland access. This year, the pasture program was
proud to assist more than 50 farmers directly and through a team of consultants. The combined
energy and experience of these grazing professionals increased the profitability and
sustainability of farms through the adoption of improved management strategies.
 Vital Capital Index for Dairy Agriculture: This multi-year effort to develop a national dairy
industry survey on sustainability efforts for dairy farmers saw publication of the initial working
version in late 2010. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy adopted and funded this effort that
initially was a collaboration between Agri-Mark/Cabot and the Manomet Center for
Conservation Sciences. More information at: http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Vital-CapitalIndex-for-Dairy-Ag/732.html
 Sustainability continues to be a focus for the national dairy industry through efforts of Dairy
Management, Inc., and its partners in the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
(http://www.usdairy.com/sustainability). Agri-Mark/Cabot has been involved in several ways.
Many farmers contributed data used for the 2010 release of the peer-reviewed life cycle
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assessment (“LCA”) of a gallon of milk. The creamery in Middlebury is a model for development
of a similar LCA for cheese. The Innovation Center also released two reports in 2010
("Sustainability in Practice" and "U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment Progress Report") that
reference Agri-Mark/Cabot farmers and staff. One of those staff, Jed Davis, serves on both the
Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council and the Innovation Center's Sustainability Council.
 Northeast Dairy Sustainability Collaborative: With facilitation assistance from the Sustainable
Food Lab, three of the Northeast's consumer dairy brands and their cooperatives - Ben & Jerry's,
Stonyfield and Cabot Creamery - plus other interested parties such as the Vermont Agency of
Agriculture and the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture are convening semiannually to
explore ways to work together to advance sustainability initiatives.
 Context-Based Sustainability: Cabot Creamery continues to pioneer an approach to
sustainability metrics that incorporates context in a new manner that better addresses whether
economic, social and environmental impacts are sustainable. Dr. Mark McElroy of Deloitte
Consulting is assisting Cabot in development of these metrics.
Goal 15 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to ensure that appropriate distribution and
storage infrastructure is in place over the next 10 years.
 Across the state, local initiatives and actions have emerged that represent important drivers and
key local infrastructure in advancing the primary goals of the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan. Some
of these organizations emerged from transformative work in the 1980s (The Intervale Center,
Food Works at Two Rivers Center) and others represent new initiative based on collective
entrepreneurial activity (Center for an Agricultural Economy) or grassroots community energy
(Post Oil Solutions, Addison County Relocalization Network). In 2009 eight organizations banded
together to form the Vermont Regional Food Centers Collaborative. One objective was to
ensure support of activities that covered communities throughout the state and explored new
models for organizing consumer-producer, public-private sector initiatives. More than 20 selfidentified initiatives have now emerged and continue to organize toward a state-wide vision of
an interconnected food system guided by its roots at the local level. The Vermont Regional Food
Centers Collaborative acts as an established network whose mission and goals address gaps in
the local food system and serve the needs of farmers, food processors, and consumers.
Members of the network are organizations working in and serving different designated regions
of throughout the state. Members of these groups work together to develop and share
resources including information, infrastructure and funding, when appropriate. They also
mentor other Vermont community groups who share similar values and goals.
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Goal 16 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to strengthen Vermont’s retail distribution
system, to provide food enterprises with a growing number of market outlets in Vermont and beyond,
and to provide consumers with more year-round Vermont-produced choices.
2007 Local Food Distribution Channels in Vermont
 There continues to be an increase in consumers who seek to purchase food directly from farmers,
and farmers who are interested in “relationship marketing.” There are over 84 farmers’ markets in
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Vermont, and a Vermont Farmers Market Association, currently under the umbrella of NOFA-VT,
serves as the statewide voice for farmers’ markets. NOFA-VT administers a $100,000 farmers’
market mini-grant program with private funding to support the management of farmers’ markets,
infrastructure, community outreach and promotion. In addition, NOFA-VT holds an annual Direct
Marketing Conference to share best practices among farmers, managers and community
advocates.
 Retail sales of fresh food at farmers’ markets, farm stands and CSAs are booming. However,
institutional buyers, such as hospitals, schools and senior centers, are often less enthusiastic about
purchasing local foods due to concerns about cost, convenience and consistent supply. Because
these institutions purchase large volumes of food and because they serve many low-income
people, it is essential to overcome these concerns in order to create more viable markets for
wholesale growers to expand access to healthy food for the less affluent. The Windham Farm and
Food Network (WFFN) is a pilot project of University of Vermont Extension that is connecting
wholesale food producers with local institution markets to increase farm profitability while meeting
the needs of food service buyers. As a result, a larger volume of fresh, healthy food is being served
to students, patients and seniors, many of whom would otherwise not be part of the local food
movement. In its first full season of 2010, WFFN forged relationships among 30 food service
buyers, 11 farmers and 3 farm-to-school programs in Windham County. These relationships were
supported by a convenient web-based ordering platform, a reliable low-cost system of delivery and
invoicing, and coordinated communication between buyers and sellers to assure mutual
satisfaction. This marketing model and system of support could be replicated in many other
communities. In its first year, WFFN facilitated purchase and delivery of 40,000 lbs. of fresh
produce returning $42,000 to local farmers; by the end of 2010 sales averaged $3,000/week. This
food was served to over 4,000 school children, hospital patients and seniors who were exposed to
promotional materials and educational programs aimed at increasing awareness and thus
consumption of local foods in cafeterias. Working with institutional partners, WFFN helped
implement taste tests, point-of-purchase education, and farm product identification on menus. The
goal of this project is to increase farm-to-cafeteria sales to $250,000 annually in Windham County
within three years.
Goals 18, 19, and 20 address the need to increase access to fresh, local food for all Vermonters.
 UVM’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture worked in cooperation with UVM Extension’s EFNEP
Program to develop the “Around the Table with Local Food” curriculum for limited-resource
parents who have children up to age 19. Main goals of the curriculum are to facilitate behavior
change among participants in the areas of food resource management, nutrition practices,
increasing consumption of and access to local food, and food safety and preservation. Participants
attend a series of weekly classes for seven weeks. During the classes, paid peer educators deliver
discussion-based and hands-on lessons on topics ranging from hand washing and safe meat
handling to container gardening and accessing local food through farmers’ markets and community
supported agriculture farms. Nutrition education is based on recommendations set forth in the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Each series includes a field trip to a farm, lessons held at local
grocery stores, cooking lessons, and much more. Five series of classes were piloted in Chittenden
and Caledonia Counties in 2010 and further pilots will occur in the summer of 2011.
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 In partnership with the Vermont Agency of Human Services, NOFA-VT has increased low income
access at farmers’ markets by equipping 30 farmers’ markets with wireless card readers (up from
16 in 2009), with $50,000 in EBT (electronic benefits transfer) sales and $100,000 in overall sales.
EBT at farmers’ markets was listed in the Attorney General’s Healthy Weight Initiative as a priority
for improving healthy food access.
 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is another way for farmers to reach all members of their
community with fresh, local food. There are over 100 CSAs in Vermont. In 2010, 38 CSAs
partnered with NOFA-VT in their Farm Share Program, providing over 1,500 CSA shares valued at
over $100,000 to low income seniors, younger adults and children. NOFA-VT is currently working
with CSA farms to be able to accept EBT.
Goals 21, 22, and 23 highlight priority areas in the effort to improve food system education, from
kindergarten to college.
 In 2010, the University of Vermont identified “food systems” as one of three “spires of
excellence” for the university. UVM’s intent is to intensify development of research and
scholarship in this area, furthered by a strategic investment of resources, as well as focus on
graduate and undergraduate education. Ultimately UVM plans to create new knowledge,
advance economic development, and engage communities around food systems issues.
 UVM’s “Food Systems Research Collaborative,” based out of the Center for Rural Studies,
funded its first “Opportunities for Agriculture” white paper series which resulted in five white
papers that can be found at:
http://www.uvm.edu/crs/?Page=projects/fsrc.html&SM=projects/projectssubmenu.html
 Green Mountain College (GMC) is furthering its education and research initiatives in sustainable
agriculture and fossil-free agriculture with the establishment of two new high tunnel research
facilities, thanks to the generous support of the Windham Foundation. One of the tunnels is
heated by solar thermal root-zone heating, while the other serves as an experimental control
with no supplemental heat source.
 GMC received a $93,000 grant for a two-year research position to help develop the college
farm's long-term research project on the economic and ecological efficiencies of different power
sources for small-scale vegetable production, including human power, draft animal power, and a
walking tractor.
 GMC renovated a residential kitchen in its new Solar Harvest Center to make it an educational
commercial kitchen called the "Community Food Lab." This new kitchen facility will serve as a
hands-on classroom available to GMC students as well as the regional community. Linked to the
establishment of the new Community Food Lab is a collaborative research project on the
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viability of the state's mobile flash-freeze unit for use in preserving fresh local produce for use in
institutional kitchens, thanks to the donation of the unit to the college for two growing seasons.
 All of GMC’s efforts have been supported by the critical contributions of GMC's VISTAAmericorps position of a Local-Link Coordinator who has worked in conjunction with GMC and
the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link (RAFFL) to provide affordable food access to regional
residents through RAFFL's Grow-A-Row programs and other gleaning projects.
 Vermont Technical College (VTC) is currently recruiting heavily for its diversified agriculture
degree and having some success. The goal is to have an incoming class of 20+ students, to total
80+ over the past four years. VTC will graduate their first Diversified Ag Bachelor’s degree
students this spring. There will be three.
 VTC’s CSA was successful during the past year as was its chicken project. They hope to get their
loaner pig bred.
 VTC’s dairy incubator will need another year to reach its equity goal. The dairy program has
rebounded nicely. They have lots of happy students and happy graduates.
Goals 24 and 25 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to increase the number of new farmers
and food system entrepreneurs and respond to the needs of a 21st century food system workforce.
 University of Vermont Extension continued during 2010 to develop its New Farmer Program. At
the heart of the New Farmer Program is a website that serves as a virtual toolshed. It connects
new and aspiring farmers with everything needed to create personalized business development
plans, including an array of online and on-the-ground resources, from fact sheets and
guidebooks to courses, workshops and webinars. See: http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer/
 To grow the “supply side,” NOFA-VT has worked to strengthen commercial organic farms in
Vermont through farmer education and technical assistance. NOFA provides information and
services to commercial organic growers throughout the state providing technical assistance in
production issues, business planning and energy management. Local and organic agriculture is
an economic driver in Vermont. In 2010, there were 580 certified organic farmers and
processors, farming on a total of 102,000 acres, with total gross sales over $125,000. Over 21%
of the state’s dairy farms are now organic. People are moving into Vermont to farm organically.
There is a strong beginner farmer movement and we are formalizing a farmer-to-farmer
mentoring program and a Journey Farmer program to provide more on-farm technical
assistance. A big focus of NOFA-VT’s work in the coming years will be to grow the number of
farmers and acreage managed organically in Vermont.
 The Farms Program at the Intervale Center highlights the need to increase the number of
farmers and food entrepreneurs and respond to the needs of a 21st century workforce.
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Goal 26 of the F2P Strategic Plan addresses the need to increase coordination between technical
assistance and business planning providers to further strengthen Vermont’s food system.
 The Intervale Center’s Success on Farms program has a focus on farm business development and
understanding appropriate farm investment.
 The Farm Enterprise Program at the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture works to assure
that more high quality, sustainably-produced local food is available to all Vermonters, to add
income for those farmers producing that food and to increase sustainable production,
marketing and infrastructure for processing and distribution of local food. Within UVM
Extension’s Farm Viability Enhancement (FVE) Program, work is done with farmers who are
interested in diversifying their operations to examine alternative products and markets. During
2010, the Center began to work with multi-farm groups and local organizations interested in
strengthening the local food system. Efforts with these groups included examining their business
and organizational structure, conducting feasibility studies to support their long term plans, and
developing cash flow projections.
Goals 27 and 28 of the F2P Strategic Plan address the need to increase the awareness of and access to
funding and financing opportunities for food system entrepreneurs and farmers to further strengthen
Vermont’s food system.
 Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) is a USDA grants program
managed by faculty and staff at the University of Vermont. In 2010, over 100 grants totaling
more than $3 million were made to projects in 12 Northeastern states. Of these, $377,896 in
grants were made to the following projects with Vermont participants; these exemplify the
innovative research and outreach being conducted by farmers and agricultural service providers
across the region: Novel Approaches to Improve Energy Efficiency in Northern New England
Greenhouses; The Farmer-Built Savonius Rotor: A Low-Tech Approach to Renewable Power for
Farms; Comparing Fingerling Potato Cropping Methods on No-Till Raised Beds; The Effects of
Topdressing Organic Nitrogen on Wheat Protein; Compost for Management of Plant Pathogens
and Weed Seeds; Evaluating On-Farm Environmental and Economic Impacts of Aerators with
Liquid and Semi-Solid Manure; Facilitating Collaborative Farm-to-Restaurant Sales; Greater Falls
Food Hub; Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms as an Agroforestry Crop for New England;
Improving Small Ruminant Parasite Control In New England; Utilizing Holistic Planned Grazing as
a Regenerative Engine for Sustainable Agriculture.
 The Vermont Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) was created in 2009 when Senator Patrick
Leahy secured $469,000 in funding through the USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Demonstration
Center program. The goal of the Innovation Center program is to fund state-based Agriculture
Innovation initiatives that provide technical, marketing and organizational development services
to value-added agricultural businesses. Value-added businesses include farms that do some
level of processing for raw products, alternative production (e.g. organic), diversified farming, or
local foods marketing. The AIC is chaired by the VT Secretary of Agriculture and directed by 13
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board members, representing food system components and primary agriculture sectors of the
state of Vermont. For FY 2010, Senator Leahy has secured one million dollars for the Vermont
Agriculture Innovation Center to continue its work and disburse funds to strategically enhance
value-added agriculture in the state of Vermont. FY 2010 funding will be available through a
competitive “request for proposals” process in these five high-leverage project areas: 1)
Improving Systems of Technical & Business Assistance for Agricultural and Ag Related
Businesses, 2) Infrastructure Development – Processing & Storage, 3) Market Development, 4)
Workforce Development, and 5) Professional & Organizational Development.
Goal 29 of the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan focuses on reducing non-renewable energy use, while
increasing efficiency and renewable energy production.
Biofuel Pilot Study: Cabot Creamery collaborated with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and
Bourne Energy to pilot a biofuel study in 2010. The pilot's initial success has encouraged them
to expand it to include more of the Cabot transportation fleet.
Goals 7 and 30 of the F2P Strategic Plan are geared toward achieving good public policy and an
appropriate regulatory framework, all designed to strengthen Vermont’s food system.
 Recent outbreaks of food-borne illness from fruits and vegetables have brought food safety to
the forefront of consumer consciousness. In response, some chain supermarkets and other
buyers are requiring that produce growers undergo a USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)
Audit to certify that they are following food safety practices on their farms.
The process of preparing a farm for passing a third party audit can be very costly for farmers in
terms of time, labor, and infrastructure improvements. In response to this need, the UVM
Center for Sustainable Agriculture launched an Outreach Program in the Spring of 2010 to help
Vermont produce farmers become GAPs certified and maintain their contracts, thereby keeping
local food in local markets. The Center conducted 35 farm visits and worked closely with 19
farms during 2010, helping them to develop their food safety plans. So far, 20 of these farms
went through a USDA GAPs Audit and successfully passed.
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Sustainable Agriculture Council Annual Award
Since 1997, the Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council has presented an annual award to a farm that
was identified as being a leader in sustainability. This year the Council decided to grant a “team” award
for the efforts of a group to support sustainable agriculture. The SAC chose a citizens group from
southeastern Vermont, Post Oil Solutions, to be the 2010 recipient of this annual award. The group was
honored at the NOFA-VT conference in Burlington and received the award at the Brattleboro Winter
Farmers’ Market. Post Oil Solutions was recognized for their outstanding team effort to build
sustainable, collaborative and socially just community-based food systems.
Leaders of Post Oil Solutions considered this award a “tribute to all of us in southeastern Vermont
who’ve made the kinds of efforts we have to make local food a part of our daily diet, and to increasingly
become a people – a community – who can feed ourselves.” Post Oil Solutions is a group of citizens who
have come together as volunteers under the leadership of Tim Stevenson and Sherry Maher. Over 50
volunteer supporters, three Americorps VISTA volunteers and dozens of farmers are among the partners
who have contributed to growing the local food economy. Examples of their efforts include starting the
Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market and the Townshend Farmers’ Market, initiating three school
gardens in support of local Farm-to-School programs, and offering a series of workshops focused on
eating out of the garden year-round. They are also partners on an ambitious project to create a local
food processing and distribution center in Bellows Falls called the Greater Falls Food Hub.
SAC in 2011
Research
Three research projects will be carried out in 2011 with funds from UVM Extension and the blessing of
the SAC. The UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture identified the need for each of these projects and
is involved in all three. They are:
A study on the economic impacts of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification to Vermont’s
produce industry. This research is a joint effort of the UVM CSA and UVM’s Department of
Community Development and Applied Economics.
A study on the role of Vermont farmers in providing food access to underserved Vermonters. In
particular, this research is focused on how farmers’ strategies to address food insecurity affect
their farm businesses, and what they believe are the biggest barriers to providing food access
in the state. This research is being conducted by the UVM CSA.
A study on the benefits and problems associated with liquid manure application as it relates to
salt accumulation and soil quality. This research is being planned in collaboration with the
UVM Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Farm to Plate
The SAC will be working to identify its role in the implementation of Farm to Plate moving forward.
Because priorities identified in the F2P Executive Summary are consistent with the work of the SAC, and
SAC members have steadily expressed a commitment to F2P, the SAC will stay involved as the
appropriate process for moving F2P forward unfolds.
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6 V.S.A. Chapter 209, Sustainable Agriculture Section 4701
§ 4701. Sustainable agriculture research and education program
(a) The purpose of this section is to promote research and education that will encourage the
development and use of economically and ecologically sound sustainable agriculture practices such as
organic methods, biological control, integrated pest management, soil improvement, cultivation,
harvesting and irrigation techniques, and transportation and marketing innovations, through:
(1) The control of pests and diseases of agricultural importance through alternatives that reduce or
eliminate the use of pesticides and petrochemicals.
(2) The production, processing and distribution of food and fiber in ways that consider the interactions
among soils, plants, water, air, animals, tillage, machinery, labor, energy and transportation to enhance
the viability of agricultural soils, public health and resource conservation.
(3) The expansion of marketing opportunities and promotion of products produced through the practice
of sustainable agriculture which will encourage the purchase of Vermont grown foods and promote
regional food security.
(4) The coordination of research and education activities on sustainable agriculture among private and
public agencies and individuals within Vermont.
(b) A sustainable agriculture council is established, to be chaired by the secretary of agriculture, food
and markets. The council shall include the commissioner of education and representatives, appointed by
the secretary of agriculture, food and markets, of the college of agriculture at the University of Vermont,
the extension service at the University of Vermont, Vermont Technical College and farm organizations,
and a representative of the low input sustainable agriculture program of the United States Department
of Agriculture. The council shall meet on call of the secretary and shall make recommendations
regarding:
(1) Goals and priorities for ongoing public and private research of particular relevance to Vermont
agriculture, and for the coordination of research and demonstration projects on sustainable agriculture.
(2) The dissemination of research results, the identification of future research needs and other useful
information on sustainable agriculture.
(3) The use of state-owned lands, participating farmer managed land, and land owned by the University
of Vermont and state colleges system for continuing research on sustainable agriculture practices.
(4) Techniques for financing the integration of sustainable agriculture practices into farming operations.
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(5) The teaching of sustainable agriculture practices in schools at the elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary levels.
(c) The secretary of agriculture, food and markets is authorized to apply for, accept and make use of
grants from public and private sources to achieve the objectives of this section, in accordance with the
provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5. In awarding grants, preference shall be given to individuals, especially
farmers, conducting on-farm research.
(d) By January 15, annually, the council shall prepare a report for distribution to participating
organizations, the general assembly and the public summarizing developments in sustainable agriculture
in Vermont and nationally. The report shall also make recommendations for future activities that will
promote the objectives of this section. (Added 1989, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2003, No. 42, §
2, eff. May 27, 2003.)
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2007 Memorandum of Understanding
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between the
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
And the
VERMONT AGENCY OF AGRICULTURE
With regard to implementation of
6 V.S.A. Chapter 209. Sustainable Agriculture
Section 4701. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
August 2007
Introduction
This memorandum of understanding updates and replaces a previous MOU signed in 2004 that
describes the protocol for activities of the Sustainable Agriculture Council, which was established in
statute by the Vermont legislature in 1990. The purpose of the Council is to facilitate coordination and
identify priorities for research, education and policies that support economically, socially and
ecologically sustainable agricultural practices in Vermont. The Council will take a forward-looking
approach to supporting the long-term viability and vitality of Vermont’s food and farming systems.
1) The Council will provide coordination among groups supporting stewardship of Vermont’s farms and
sustainable agriculture to identify clear roles and avoid duplication of efforts concerning research or
education on themes that are relevant across member organizations.
2) The Council members will identify strategic priorities for the development of sustainable agriculture
in Vermont.
3) The Council requires consistent and engaged leadership and management to maintain member
commitment and focus. Whereas the mission of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, created in
1994, largely mirrors the purpose of 6 VSA Chapter 209 Section 4701, it is agreed that the Center will
provide the day-to-day leadership and management of the Council, working closely with the members of
the Council and the leadership required by statute.
4) The Council will facilitate activities that meet the Council’s objectives. Toward that end, in furtherance
of Section 4701 part C, the Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets may have the
Council secure grants, gifts, or state allocations. Funds may be used for services and activities provided
by organizations or individuals, either Council members or external collaborators, according to
procedures to be developed by the Council. Activities that may be funded through the Council shall be
conducted by member’s organizations of the Council, and not directly by the Council itself.
5) The Council needs a minimum level of resources committed to its management, information needs,
staff support and operating expenses. Whereas UVM Extension commits to covering the salary of the
Center’s Director and partial operating costs of the Center, the Center’s director and staff shall be
responsible for arranging Council meetings, preparing meeting documents, taking and distributing
15
meeting minutes, publishing and distributing reports, and following up on Council requests for
information. In addition, the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Agency each agree to fund
annual operating support, from existing resources, to the Council in the amount of $7,500, for a total
operating budget of $15,000 to be deposited annually by October 1 into a UVM account holding only
Council funds.
Structure of the Council
The Council will consist of the following standing members: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Dean of
UVM Extension, the Dean of UVM-CALS, and the Director of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
In addition, there will be a representative from the Department of Education, Vermont Technical
College, NOFA-VT, the USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, other
USDA agencies(s), farmers representing commodity or marketing associations, and representatives of
non-governmental agricultural organizations. Individual members will be nominated and approved by
the Council and appointed by the Secretary.
To maintain continuity of effort and streamline management of the Council, the Secretary of the
Agency, or their designee and the Director of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture shall be
responsible for co-chairing the Council. The Council will be staffed by the UVM Center for Sustainable
Agriculture, which will work with council members to: set meeting dates, develop meeting agenda, draft
annual reports, and conduct public relations and outreach activities. The Center will arrange for meeting
rooms, meals, audio visual equipment and other logistics as necessary. The Center will maintain the
Council’s records, including minutes of meetings, annual reports, and the membership mailing list. It will
communicate with members in a timely fashion about Council activities and procedures.
A subset of the Council shall serve as the Council’s operational committee and shall have the purpose of
setting the Council’s direction and themes for meetings. The committee will be nominated by the Cochairs.
Regular member terms will be three years, staggered so that one-third of the Council rotates off every
year.
Any member of the Council may nominate individuals to serve. Annually, the entire Council will vote in
new members from the slate of nominees, with recommendations being forwarded to the Secretary for
confirmation.
Members will serve on a volunteer basis and be subject to all customary terms and conditions of service
of volunteer boards in the State of Vermont. Upon request, the Center will reimburse members for auto
mileage at UVM rates.
Activities and Responsibilities of the Council
The Council will meet at least twice per year. Ad-hoc committees may be established that meet more
frequently. The Council will review documents, publications and request presentations as it deems
necessary to familiarize itself with issues, trends and existing programs.
16
The Council will develop a plan which sets priorities for the long term sustainability of Vermont’s farms
and their changing needs. The Council will establish and maintain a list of sustainable agriculture
priorities with specific recommendations for action, to be reviewed annually and revised as necessary.
The Council may serve as an advisory body to member organizations with regard to sustainable
agriculture research.
An annual report will be prepared by the Council and submitted by 15 January to the Vermont
Legislature, the University of Vermont, and Council members, as required by statute. Specific issues may
be selected for focus and elaboration in the annual report, with the goal of informing and advising the
legislature, the public and the agricultural community.
This MOU will be reviewed by the Council, the Agency of Agriculture, the Center for Sustainable
Agriculture, The University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and University of
Vermont Extension every five years to determine it's effectiveness at meeting the intent of the
authorizing legislation.
Signed
Roger Allbee, Secretary
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Douglas Lantagne, Dean
University of Vermont Extension
Rachel Johnson, Dean
University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
17
2010-2011 Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council
Roger Allbee (S)
Secretary, VT Agency of Agriculture
116 State Street – Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
802-828-2430
[email protected]
Philip Ackerman-Leist (2005)
Green Mountain College
1 College Circle
Poultney, VT 05764
802-287-8254
[email protected]
Brent Beidler (2006), Dairy farmer
Member, Vermont Grass Farmers Assn.
Beidler Family Farm
PO Box 124
Randolph Center, VT 05061-0124
802-728-5601
[email protected]
Jed Davis (2009)
Director of Sustainability
Cabot Creamery Cooperative
One Home Farm Way
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-371-1260
[email protected]
Edward Delhagen (2007)
Verdana Ventures, LLC
PO Box 2
Randolph, VT 05060
802-498-3172 (c)
[email protected]
Linda Berlin (S)
Director
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point Center, Suite 300
Colchester, VT 05446-8800
802-656 -9891
[email protected]
Chris Dutton (S) (2005)
Vermont Technical College
PO Box 500
Randolph Center, VT 05061
802-728-1793
[email protected]
Diane Bothfeld
Deputy Secretary, VT Agency of Agriculture
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
802-828-828-3835
[email protected]
Ted Foster (2009)
Foster Brothers Farm Inc.
297 Lower Foote St.
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-1137 office
[email protected]
Megan Camp (2005)
Vice President, Shelburne Farms
1611 Harbour Road
Shelburne, VT 05482
802-985-8686
[email protected]
Vern Grubinger (S)
Director, USDA- NE SARE
11 University Way, Suite 4
Brattleboro, VT 05301-3669
802-257-7967 x13
[email protected]
Ela Chapin (2009)
VT Farm Viability Enhancement Program
VT Housing and Conservation Program
58 E. State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-828-2117
[email protected]
Gail Hall (S)
Department of Education
120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-828-0156
[email protected]
Ellen Kahler (2007)
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
3 Pitkin Court, Ste. 301E
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-828-5320
[email protected]
Will Stevens (2007)
Golden Russet Farm
1329 Lapham Bay Rd.
Shoreham, VT 05770
802-897-7031
[email protected]
Jane Kolodinsky (2009)
Professor and Chair
Community Development & Applied Economics
Co-Director, Center for Rural Studies
Morrill Hall, Rm. 202
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
(802)656-4616
[email protected]
Ryan Torres (2009)
Philanthropic Advisor
The Vermont Community Foundation
3 Court Street
P.O. Box 30
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-3355 Ext 289
[email protected]
Doug Lantagne (S)
Dean and Director, UVM Extension
19 Roosevelt Hwy., Ste. 305
Colchester, VT 05446-5933
802-656-2990
[email protected]
Jack Lazor (2007)
Butterworks Farm
421 Trumpass Road
Westfield, VT 05874
802-744-6855
[email protected]
Glenn McRae (2009)
Executive Director, Intervale Center
180 Intervale Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
802-660-0440 x103
[email protected]
Allen Matthews (2007 )
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point Center, Suite 300
Colchester, VT 05446
802-656-0037
[email protected]
Meghan Sheradin (2007)
Vermont Fresh Network
PO Box 895
Richmond, VT 05477
802-434-2000
[email protected]
Thomas Vogelmann (S)
Dean, UVM College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences
Dean’s Office - Morrill Hall
Burlington VT 05405
802-656-0422
[email protected]
Enid Wonnacott (2005)
Executive Director, Northeast Organic
Farming Association of Vermont
P.O. Box 697
Richmond, VT 05477
802-434-4122
[email protected]
Jim Wood (2007)
Natural Resources Conservation Service
356 Mountain View Drive, Ste. 105
Colchester, VT 05446
802-951-6796
[email protected]
Staff
Rebecca Haskell
Center for Sustainable Agriculture
802-656-5459