ISSUE

Water Quality

PLACE IN FOOD CYCLE

Natural/Human Resources

POLICY

Medium Farm Operations (MFO) Rules

POLICY TOOL

Social Regulations

SCALE

State, local, civil society, individual

ACTORS

VAAFM, VT Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), consultants, businesses, farmers

PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

In response to new federal regulations effecting Concentrated Animal Feed Operations, VT rule passed in 2006 that would require VT MFOs (determined by size-# of animals) generating animal wastes to acquire a General Permit to ensure that they comply with State water quality standards with regard to nutrient management & waste storage. Wastes subject to regulation include spoiled feed, manure, milkhouse waste, washwater, leachate, used bedding, carcasses, barnyard runoff, etc. MFOs required to develop site-specific Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) that meets USDA standards. Common example of MFO is dairy farm w/ 200-699 cows.
POLICY GOALS IMPLICATED

Security - Protection of water quality for public benefit/good. Liberty - Regulations restrict farmers' actions and threaten their liberty. Efficiency - Regulations may require farmers to implement costly measures, which may interupt farming practices and prove inefficient in the short-term. Long-term, benefits of clean water far outweigh costs. Equity - Regulations are imposed but farmers may not be able to afford to implement them. Limited amount of funding could help some farmers over others regardless of need.

TOOL CHARACTERISTICS

Directness - Fairly direct b/c VAAFM will enforce through permitting and inspections. Automaticity - Low because compliance obtained through imposed penalties. Automaticity increased through financial and technical assistant on behalf of VAAFM. Coercion - although unknown now, seems like it could be high if VAAFM enforces them. Visibility - Unknown since not in effect yet. Most likely low since cost of MFOs incurred by multiple agencies/actors, including farmers. Not sure if people outside farming community are aware of MFO rules.

EXTENT POLICY SUPPORTS/HINDERS

MFO rules have the potential to thwart the efforts of nearly 200 farmers when they go into effect early next year. 200 farms will need to develop federally accepted nutrient management plans and adequate manure storage; 176 need barnyard improvements; numerous farms will need to establish vegetated riparian buffers. VAAFM estimates that 85% of farm fixes will be covered by state and federal program funds; however, a 15% cost-share is significant for many farmers in VT. One must also consider the loss of time and production caused by implementing these remedies. In the long-run, MFO rules may support more sustainable agricultural practices; thereby supporting local farmers.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

http://www.vermontagriculture.com/AgriculturalWaterQuality/MFO/Fact%20Sheet.htm
www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/rep2005/CleanAndClearExecSumm.pdf
www.vermontagriculture.com/Nutrient%20Management/Regulations/DGP%209.pdf