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Vermont Farm Bureau outlines agenda on labor, water quality and current-use at Southern Agriculture meeting
Summary
Leaders of the Vermont Farm Bureau presented the organization’s priorities — including farm labor and housing, PFAS concerns, current-use protections, and outreach plans — during a Southern Agriculture meeting, urging lawmakers and staff to consider farmers’ perspectives as bills move through committees.
Representatives of the Vermont Farm Bureau told members of Southern Agriculture that their top priorities this legislative session include farm labor and housing, water-quality rules, protections in the current-use tax program and outreach to grow membership and legislative contacts.
Jackie Balsam, president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, spoke for the organization and summarized its role. “We want to advocate for our members. We wanna educate people who don't understand what we're talking about, and we also follow our policy,” Balsam said, outlining a membership of about 1,500 farms that spans dairy, beekeeping, crop, and forestry operations.
The Farm Bureau identified several policy areas it will track. On worker issues, members said a recent study committee shifted focus from unionization to wages and housing and that any future bills will be watched closely. Balsam said committee discussion included whether farmers should be allowed to count employer-provided housing as part of wages; Farm Bureau leaders expressed concern about that approach and said they will monitor proposals closely.
Water quality and PFAS-related disposal also drew attention. Balsam warned of what she called “collateral damage” when disposal rules push material down the supply chain to farms: “Where do you get rid of the sludge? Spread it on fields. Oh, you're going to destroy a farm,” she said, urging careful attention to how state rules and federal actions affect farmers.
The Farm Bureau emphasized its preference that current statute remain intact in assigning direct-discharge responsibility to the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and indirect-discharge responsibility to the Agency of Agriculture. Balsam said the group supports the existing statutory split and intends to present farmers’ perspectives as the state responds to EPA requirements and litigation affecting water regulation.
Mary White, first vice president of the Vermont Farm Bureau and a dairy farmer, described climate and flood impacts on working lands and highlighted conservation practices. “Agriculture is one of the unique industries that we manage the land in a way we can actually incorporate practices to help increase soil capacity,” she said, urging continued incentives and technical support for no-till, cover crops and other practices that reduce flood damage and sequester carbon.
Outreach and member services were a recurring theme. Field representative Eliza Shaver described county events and legislative luncheons designed to connect farmers and lawmakers: “We strive for nice casual events where you can really have those wonderful one-on-one conversations with our members,” she said. The Bureau said it recently moved its state office to 97 State Street and will host county “coffee days,” farm tours and other opportunities for legislators to visit working farms.
Financing and housing supports were discussed in concrete terms. Balsam said a $2,000,000 funding pot that had supported farm labor housing was released again after earlier rounds were oversubscribed; she said the initial $1,000,000 had been oversubscribed and that new funds are now available through local programs. The Farm Bureau indicated it will back efforts to secure emergency funding for farmers where feasible.
The group also signaled continued engagement on broader statutory issues, including potential amendments to the state’s right-to-farm law, concerns about multiple inconsistent statutory definitions of agriculture, and attention to recent appointments to the Natural Resources Board (now called the Land Use Board).
The Farm Bureau urged legislators and staff to request farm testimony when committees consider agriculture-affected bills and offered to help arrange site visits and witnesses. Members said they will keep members updated through a weekly briefing during the session and by continuing county outreach and events.
Less critical details: the Farm Bureau described its national affiliation with the American Farm Bureau Federation and said it will send delegates to the national convention. Local field staff will continue to organize county activities, and the organization plans to repeat a legislative farm tour that connected lawmakers with organic and conventional operations.
