Women's Agricultural Network Blog

Changes to Vermont’s Current Use Program

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Women's Agricultural Network

During the 2015 legislative session, the Vermont legislature made a number of changes to the law affecting the Current Use (Use Value Appraisal) Program. They include provisions for the following:

A new calculation for the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) (beginning Oct. 2, 2015)
A temporary “easy-out” period in which landowners can remove a parcel, or portion of a parcel, without paying the full LUCT liability (between July 1 and Oct. 1, 2015).
A new annual requirement for owners of agricultural lands and buildings to certify in writing on or before September 1 of every year that all enrolled agricultural land and buildings meet the requirements for enrollment at the time of the certification (form will be available in August).
Authority given to Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to direct the Vermont Department of Taxes to remove agricultural land and farm buildings from the Current Use Program when the land or buildings are used by a person who has violated water quality requirements (beginning July 1, 2015).

For details on the changes to the Current Use Program, please see the following:

Fact Sheet: “Changes in the Law Affecting the Current Use Program in 2015”

Easy-Out Form CU-312: Application to Discontinue Land Through the “Easy-Out” Option

Posted in Business management, Farmland Transfer, Financial Management | Tagged Land Access | Comments Off

A Greener Green Up Day

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Debra Heleba

As my 9 year old daughter and I drove past a number of dairy farms in Addison County this spring day, she said, “Wow, that grass is so green, it doesn’t look real.”

“That grass is special,” I said, “It’s a cover crop.” We were looking at a beautiful stand of cereal rye, seeded in the fall following the silage corn harvest. Soon after snow melt, the rye fields green up–they break dormancy earlier than other cereals and quickly start producing.

Cereal rye in silage corn field.

Over the past few years, more and more farmers have adopted the practice of cover cropping as they realize the benefits that these crops can offer their farm fields, including protection of nutrient and soil resources, suppression of weeds, increased soil organic matter, and even extra feed for their livestock. University of Vermont Extension as well as a host of other organizations, including USDA NRCS, Vermont Agency of Agriculture FAP, and Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, among others, have been working with farmers to support the adoption of this practice. For example, both the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils (NWCS) Program and UVM Extension Champlain Valley Crop, Soils & Pasture Program teams have been conducting research, conferences, and field days to increase our collective understanding of what and how to grow cover crops in our Vermont growing conditions. Out Croppings, a blog of the NWCS program is now dedicating its posts to cover cropping and other soil health topics.

As we prepare for Green Up Day here in Vermont the first weekend in May–a tradition our state alone has been practicing since the 1970s–it occurs to me that this year, and hopefully for many years to come, we’ll celebrate a greener Green Up Day, thanks for our farmers who cover crop!

Posted in General info, Production information | Tagged agronomy, cover crops, sustainable agriculture, water quality | Comments Off

Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Kirsten Workman

I was born in the year of the snake, my kids were born in the year of the rat and tiger respectively. But this year…2015 is the International Year of Soils. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared 2015 the year to celebrate soil and it’s importance to all life, including ours. As an agronomist working with producers on soil health, it makes for an exciting conversation. I mean…soil is on Facebook! While I am glad we are spending a whole year celebrating the foundation of our food system, I only hope we continue to celebrate it every day! That said, I thought I would take the opportunity as 2015 begins to reiterate the message of the importance of soil health.

From the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization:
• Healthy soils are the basis for healthy food production.
• Soils are the foundation for vegetation which is cultivated or managed for feed, fiber, fuel and medicinal products.
• Soils support our planet’s biodiversity and they host a quarter of the total.
• Soils help to combat and adapt to climate change by playing a key role in the carbon cycle.
• Soils store and filter water, improving our resilience to floods and droughts.
• Soil is a non-renewable resource; its preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future.

So I don’t know about you, but I HEART SOIL! Soil is key to human health, food security and even water quality. Farmers across Vermont do so many things to protect and improve soil health. I hope 2015 is the year that we celebrate all the work farmers do to create the foundation of our food system, the filter for improved water quality, and the basis for human and animal health. You can celebrate it by sharing your story of all you do to grow and celebrate healthy soil. Put it on your Facebook page, your farm website, in your next CSA newsletter. Host a field day on your farm (your friendly local UVM Extension agent would be happy to help you coordinate it) focusing on soil health practices. And of course…don’t forget to try something new for soil health on your farm in 2015, the International Year of Soils:

•Learn something new…attend the 2015 No-Till & Cover Crop Symposium on February 19th.
• Cover Crop and utilize Crop Rotation
• Reduce Tillage and cultivation
• Maximize residue on the soil surface
• Take a soil health test in two fields and compare results
• Write a Nutrient Management Plan
• Set a goal for organic matter in your soils (already @ 3%…try for 5%)