MONTPELIER — Vermont farmers who withdraw any surface waters ( definition:10 V.S.A. § 1002(20) ) for farming are advised to begin keeping records of irrigation events this summer if a farm does not already do so. A new state law goes into effect July 1, 2022 which requires annual reporting of surface water withdrawals used for farming to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM). The first such annual report for farmers who qualify (**see below) will be due to the VAAFM on January 15th, 2023.
Vermont agriculture is the first new sector of surface water handlers to report usage of waters to the State of Vermont based on Act 135 of 2022. VAAFM is committed to deploying the education, outreach, and technical assistance resources needed to help answer farmer questions about the new law and their responsibilities. The goal of this law is to better understand the current demand for surface waters in the state and to take any necessary steps to ensure resilience and future availability of surface waters in the face of a changing climate.
“At this time, the most simple and straightforward recommendation the agency can give farmers is: ‘Keep daily records of your surface water usage’; accurate event-by-event irrigation records will ensure easy and accurate reporting when the growing season is finished. Agency staff are available to help answer questions,” said Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts. Farms which utilize groundwater or off-stream farm ponds for agriculture are not subject to the reporting requirements of Act 135.
**Act 135 of 2022 establishes that any farmer who:
- withdraws surface water for farming and uses more than 10,000 gallons of surface water within a 24-hour period, or
- 150,000 gallons or more over any 30-day period during a calendar year,
- shall file their first annual report with VAAFM on January 15, 2023.
The new law establishes the following minimum pieces of information to be reported to VAAFM on an annual basis:
- an estimate of the total amount of water withdrawn in the preceding calendar year;
- the location of the withdrawals;
- the daily maximum withdrawal for each month;
- the date of each daily maximum withdrawal.
Farmers with questions about this new surface water usage reporting requirement are encouraged to reach out to the VAAFM for more information. Farmers can access an example of a record keeping form that will enable efficient tracking and reporting of surface water usage at: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/irrigation-reporting .
To download and print the reporting form, visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/irrigation-reporting
A paper copy of the form can be requested by mail at:
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Irrigation Reporting Form
c/o Ryan Patch
116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05610
–Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
MONTPELIER, Vt. — On a hillside in Chittenden, Vermont, a 104 year-old family-farm surrounded by a forest of maples has earned the second annual ‘Fantastic Farmer’ title and a significant award of $5000 from the A.Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Jenna Baird of Baird Farm Maple was chosen to receive this special award for her commitment to […]
MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $292,268 for eight projects to benefit Vermont fruit, vegetable, and value-added producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to five organizations […]
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont farmers who withdraw any surface waters (definition:10 V.S.A. § 1002(20) ) for farming are advised to begin keeping records of irrigation events this summer if they do not already do so. A new state law went into effect on July 1, 2022 which requires annual reporting to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & […]
PIERRE, S.D. – Today [June 23, 2022], the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $243,789,728 in grants and loans for drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste projects in South Dakota. The $243,789,728 total includes $118,691,165 in grants and $125,098,563 in low-interest loans […]
MONTPELIER — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) recently opened applications for the new Vermont Pay for Phosphorus (VPFP) program, one of the first of its kind in the United States. VAAFM received a $7 million grant award from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in September of 2020, enabling the […]
