[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6265135,"mediaKeyId","3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c","parentId",3095162,"title","Small cannabis cultivators urge market access; committee discusses treating cannabis like other farm products","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1428590,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c&start=1428&end=1428","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c/thumbnail_1428590.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265135/Vermont/Small-cannabis-cultivators-urge-market-access-committee-discusses-treating-cannabis-like-other-farm-products","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265135-96f7b9746171c70f2a7ff80c0382d479/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162953&Signature=Mypldx809med5NmP6mYHBeB5rdMtjoYhzq0fOPnBldC0uCpjPyFYaa6A3qdIY~0KJF4sDa2fpMuqOjhyA61UdnJpED9~n3XTUaBV1rMjoDv6H0LdV4r6fxBY-DT-0ej~3tittJg71j9uXP2i~LRukgw1tg4xWIIWbihTI9csNXt2B-cTLQsuvAzfSrgc8JmDTzUabAAv19YhyJVQ542ZzUzrm51YONYbLHDyCdYKm4eqJcRh1qpRD9cT-nQT7N~OR8ITuRBLHssKXco1XQPnQwbwygkG6cXarknJOt0joFACpfukMVfO2W9uxZceWtwerqGBh3YVNkDn5kZgiqwL7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-23T15:50:55.927Z","article","Ben Wilcox, a licensed tier‑1 outdoor cultivator from Sutton, told the House Committee on Agriculture that the miscellaneous cannabis bill (referred to in testimony as H.321) should avoid closing pathways for new small cultivators and should preserve market access. \"My best advice then would be to not do it right now,\" he said of starting a small cultivation business given current market constraints. Wilcox recommended a regulated farmer's‑market model that would allow small growers to sell directly to consumers and capture full retail value, making it more feasible to recoup licensing and startup overhead.

Wilcox opposed statutory language that would close retail license windows or hard‑code limits in statute. \"The cannabis control board has already closed retail licenses ... so they've already done that,\" he said, and he recommended leaving market‑timing and licensing decisions to the Cannabis Control Board rather than fixing them in statute.

A committee member who identified Russ Ingalls by name in discussion said he supports treating cannabis more like other agricultural products and giving growers protections similar to other farm products, while acknowledging federal contradictions and remaining barriers. \"You should have the same ability to sell your products ... as a tomato grower would,\" the member said, and added that aligning cannabis with agriculture will require continued discussion about market rules and community comfort.

Grant Eunice, described in testimony as chief policy director at Earl of Mott, said the panel on the Senate side was accepting testimony on the bill and that there are advocates present from direct‑market interests and cultivators. Committee members urged continuing the conversation and coordinating with the Cannabis Control Board on market and licensing questions.

Why it matters: Testimony highlights concern among small cultivators about market access, licensing windows, and the viability of new entrants; advocates urged policy pathways that would let small producers receive full retail value and reduced barriers to entry. Committee leaders signaled openness to considering agricultural treatment for cannabis but noted legal and regulatory complexities.

Details and context: Wilcox described overhead costs for small cultivators (license fees, insurance) and suggested a farmer's‑market avenue allowing direct sales as a possible pilot to improve revenue retention for small growers. He said he had not advocated for closing licenses and urged that statutory language that would limit retail opportunities be struck. The committee did not vote on H.321 during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Agriculture - 2025-04-23 - 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","A tier‑1 cultivator urged the committee to preserve market access for small cannabis growers and explore regulated direct‑to‑consumer sales; committee leaders said they want to align cannabis more closely with agriculture while noting legal and market complexities.","taxTitle","Agriculture, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35161,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6265138,"Advocates ask legislature to require regional future land‑use maps that protect farmland",250,488090,738230,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c&start=488&end=738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c/thumbnail_488090.jpg","/articles/6265138/Vermont/Advocates-ask-legislature-to-require-regional-future-landuse-maps-that-protect-farmland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265138-283bac6935f500c89bb4380d4f62459e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162953&Signature=UKGKcrde8QVZW-90auedrIkNcBTQ5A5AqekB0GkC7lKWvGEhV1Af0rb7a8SCCBlddjN3cxcZ3w3Mx~IUtuxF0A-p5tabEPV~u5pKV3og9NUw4DqT8o8Sl4nRLgxUbdIPXFBlScgPmtdS8eDiEoBw1XglYVOhdIx2qL6lw5sNBEymzIRz~NccB94xpbby8XIKEGmTQ3MuATJUrGRk3RWUKEYxZFu4TCUhls98LyCkjrV-TfSTjI61EUKLWFoBj86W2vBt74sj9is~7INZHIdi55b9wnrkpzHxcW4XL5B-DnKjPJvs9Id7Ov0QQlIaLyRYfsFJm4qu--Mbw5cdEERDtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Samantha Langevin, a Bristol resident and representative on the Land Access and Opportunity Board, told the House Committee on Agriculture that regional planning commissions should be required to produce future land‑use maps that identify and protect farmland.

\"Future farmland protection and access has to go hand in hand with our work to provide plans for how our communities will grow,\" Langevin said, arguing that maps and regional planning should consider farmland located within historic settlement patterns because such locations provide better access to housing, transportation and markets. She cited the Intervale in Burlington as an example of in‑town farmland that supplies thousands with local food and benefits from nearby housing and services.

Langevin said the New England Feeding New England regional plan has identified a need to double the land currently in agricultural production to improve food security. She urged a consistent, statewide approach so that all regional planning commissions address farmland protection, rather than leaving it to commissions that choose to prioritize the issue.

Why it matters: Testimony connects regional planning choices to long-term food security and farm viability, suggesting that mapping and land‑use policy can either enable or hinder future farming and access to markets.

Details and context: Langevin described how town‑center farmland can reduce barriers to farmer housing and customer access, and recommended unsiloing housing and farming in regional planning. The committee did not take action on the recommendation during the hearing.","Testimony urged lawmakers to mandate that regional planning commissions include future land-use maps for agriculture to double farmland in production, improve access to housing and markets, and support local food security.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6265143,"Farmers urge lawmakers to reject right-to-farm changes; seek clarification on Act 250 and farm events",1065,201040,1266220,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c&start=201&end=1266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c/thumbnail_201040.jpg","/articles/6265143/Vermont/Farmers-urge-lawmakers-to-reject-right-to-farm-changes-seek-clarification-on-Act-250-and-farm-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265143-88562935424b03417ddf14f52cbf6ff2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162953&Signature=SdkpHc2nONpDJ2Ko2xD5f8IQWxkctf45PEEdDw1033qfDIENLlkzvwQOooKD-pMPvLmLZOsvtnFvLjWA4aidx4Jk-RQYxAQoP21n9jtIbC84vTfWtFbLu2kxwls4VqXaeJIfi~nYTRZqaUD8rlzSWM1qbeQnGy0oR-5UZbfaic2ubaizSTfjJvA5CjDYHOQ9FVn8ONYjCiHVV2UYC3a-0nLTZf3tD4MhKNqFVAgD8gnBeOpMH9zw-fGo3lfiMe460tzByTeUlhWtjeIdlltKZ332SUgIwkhuc-~YphbuZf4FwB~IHV8am2h1D53ThJr34sQuroihiZAZPAvYRHQyvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kate Seer, a farmer in Randolph Center, told the House Committee on Agriculture that she opposes proposed changes to Vermont’s right-to-farm laws and asked members to \"vote down the proposed changes to Vermont's right to farm.\" Seer described living near an industrial confined animal feeding operation and said runoff from a nearby genetically modified cornfield contaminated a spring-fed pond that she used for livestock. \"We tested the water ... it is contaminated with herbicides due to runoff from this cornfield,\" she said, and warned that the proposed language could leave neighbors \"powerless to do anything about it.\"

A Barnard farmer and cooperative member (testifying as a cooperative representative) said a law that took effect last summer created ambiguity that allowed the Natural Resources Board to assert jurisdiction over on-farm structures used for events, escalating to Act 250 review. The speaker described receiving a letter from the Natural Resources Board claiming that a pole barn used primarily for music and community meals could fall under Act 250 jurisdiction and said the resulting legal interaction has cost the cooperative \"thousands of dollars collectively for legal fees.\" He asked lawmakers to clarify that multiuse structures primarily used for farming should remain covered by the agricultural exemption.

Committee staff and members acknowledged the concern and said they are drafting clarifying language. A committee representative said the clarification will be part of a miscellaneous bill under consideration and that committee staff hope to have language available prior to a markup: \"We should have that bill hopefully passed out on this committee on Wednesday. That should give us enough time to get through the building, and we'll see where it goes.\"

Why it matters: Farmers and cooperative operators told the committee that ambiguity in the right-to-farm and Act 250 interaction risks exposing small and diversified farms to permit requirements and legal costs that could threaten their operations. Testimony combined pollution and nuisance concerns with worries about land-use jurisdiction and event-related activities on family farms.

Details and context: Seer quantified her operation as about 100 acres of certified organic pasture and said she and her husband operate two Airbnbs to make mortgage and tax payments. The Barnard cooperative speaker said their operation has about 70 head of grass-fed beef and that the board’s letter has required legal responses. Committee staff indicated they are working with stakeholders and plan to circulate draft language for comment. No formal committee vote or amendment was taken during the session.","Multiple farmers told the House Committee on Agriculture they oppose proposed changes to Vermont’s right-to-farm laws, raised pollution and nuisance concerns, and asked legislators to clarify that multiuse farm structures and farm-hosted meals/events remain covered by the agricultural exemption to Act 250.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6265149,"Advocates decry Border Patrol action at dairy; urge support for migrant farmworkers",137,29240,167080,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c&start=29&end=167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095162-b6944ee835ce55ea5693d90874a36b0c/thumbnail_29240.jpg","/articles/6265149/Vermont/Advocates-decry-Border-Patrol-action-at-dairy-urge-support-for-migrant-farmworkers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265149-52887096f650edd80cd01657e77e4b9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162953&Signature=kR0L0PTOs7FyXW1b07VI3WZ-RF~VGXoadAwwV9Gdn8~LM3trCtMfl2w6uGqBc9-LYSnYQY9~bTIY~gn5pHQcO5ALFNtnP99I~rAjYymVXqYRiRJGSODV1f0-hSv3JIg4K1FVUCgts9R4KiPJyazB-W0G-RZrPZvZpNITQBs4O4yaTb4wdBEbaqbVFG~ssY3OXOd68X58YjHaETJUV2wwBBOjlCH6cyaYJiZHFs-JLRZfRBqN~4E-~6l8YDe4h01Lstv18QEIr5WYxso8ub1Kv4S2R-Qfn34sEUhujwY99GTLAcMd2pUKGU~8tpOcOfkfopY5Tg-dFkhjp8ZBLUDLKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline Schirm Gordon, legislative director of Google Vermont, told the House Committee on Agriculture at Small Farm Action Day that she wanted to use her opening minutes to \"raise awareness about the breaking news from yesterday.\" She said U.S. Border Patrol had detained workers and made arrests at what she identified as Vermont’s largest dairy in Berkshire, and that the action had employers and advocates \"concerned\" about labor supply.

Gordon said news reports and industry testimony have consistently emphasized how critical farmworkers are to Vermont dairy and broader food production. \"There might be waves of this sort happening and, that might be, a workforce that might be in the future years afraid to come back to Vermont and and be employed on farms in Vermont,\" she said, adding that advocates are urging engagement with migrant-justice groups \"to be supportive and, in solidarity with the migrant farmworker community.\"

Rural Vermont (testimony referred to the organization’s statement) was described in the session as expressing solidarity with migrant farmworkers. The committee heard that advocates view the recent enforcement action as an unprecedented stress on an already scarce farm labor pool.

Why it matters: Several speakers at Small Farm Action Day warned that enforcement actions that remove or deter farmworkers could harm Vermont farms’ ability to operate and threaten the state’s food supply chain. The testimony framed the issue as both a labor and food-security concern.

Details and context: Gordon pointed committee members to news coverage and urged lawmakers to consider policy and outreach measures to reassure and support farm laborers and their employers. No specific statutory remedy or formal committee action was proposed during the remarks; speakers asked lawmakers to engage with migrant-justice groups and to consider how legislative language or outreach could address fear among workers.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the subject during the session. The discussion ended with an appeal for continued attention to labor issues and solidarity statements from agriculture advocates.","Speakers at Small Farm Action Day described a recent Border Patrol arrest at a large Vermont dairy and urged lawmakers to support migrant farmworkers and protect agricultural labor supply.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Small cannabis cultivators urge market access; committee discusses treating cannabis like other farm products

Advocates ask legislature to require regional future land‑use maps that protect farmland

Farmers urge lawmakers to reject right-to-farm changes; seek clarification on Act 250 and farm events

Advocates decry Border Patrol action at dairy; urge support for migrant farmworkers