Agricultural Water Quality Training
6 V.S.A. § 4981
in effect4981. Agricultural Water Quality Training
(a) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets may adopt by rule requirements for training classes or programs for owners or operators of small farms, medium farms, or large farms certified or permitted under this chapter regarding:
(1) the prevention of discharges, as that term is defined in 10 V.S.A. § 1251(3); and
(2) the mitigation and management of stormwater runoff, as that term is defined in 10 V.S.A. § 1264, from farms.
(b) Any training under this section may address:
(1) the existing statutory and regulatory requirements for operation of a large, medium, or small farm in the State;
(2) the management practices and technical and financial resources available to assist in compliance with statutory or regulatory agricultural requirements;
(3) the land application of manure or nutrients, methods or techniques to minimize the runoff of land-applied manure or nutrients to waters of the State, and identification of weather or soil conditions that increase the risk of runoff of land-applied manure or nutrients to waters of the State;
(4) standards required for nutrient management, including nutrient management planning; or
(5) best management practices and other techniques for improving farm practices or water quality.
(c) The Secretary may include training requirements as a condition of a large farm permit, medium farm permit, or small farm certification required under this chapter, or may require any farm operator or owner to participate in assigned training when the Secretary determines additional water quality education is appropriate.
(d) The Secretary may approve or authorize other entities, including the University of Vermont Extension Service and the natural resources conservation districts, to perform any training described in this section.
(e) The Secretary shall not charge the owner or operator of a large, medium, or small farm for any training the Secretary requires. The Secretary shall provide or pay for any training required under this section from funds available to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for water quality initiatives.
(f) As of July 1, 2026, the mandatory water quality training requirements in the Required Agricultural Practices Rule are repealed, and the Secretary may prospectively determine appropriate training requirements as described by this section.
Added 2015, No. 64, § 15; amended 2025, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2026.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/06/215/04981Fetched: 10/21/2026