Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program

The Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program is a joint project of the Poultney-Mettowee, Rutland, Bennington and Windham Conservation Districts, started in 1999 with a 4-year grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.  The purpose of the program is to help agricultural producers address nutrient management needs with the help of on-farm consultant assistance to improve management practices that will positively affect water quality and farm sustainability.   Currently four individuals work one-on-one with agricultural producers, as well as coordinate educational events in the SVNMP region.

• Bruce Howlett is a full-time nutrient management planner for the SVNMP and is responsible for development of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans that meet NRCS and Vermont Agency of Agricultural criteria.

• Jennifer Durham is a ful-time nutrient managemet educator with the SVNMP and works on overall farm environmental and waste management assessment, and education about   Accepted Agricultural Practices, Medium Farm Regulations, and general crop management research and information.

• Chris LaPierre is a full-time Land Treatment Planner who works out of the Middlebury Vermont NRCS office, but covers the western SVNMP area.   He works directly with farmers on development of land treatment plans, which are preliminary to Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans, and focus on the environmental concerns, mapping, and resource assessment.

• Brandon Carpenter is a full-time Land Treatment Planner working out of the St. Johnsbury NRCS office, covering the eastern SVNMP area.  Many of the services provided by these individuals are free of charge.  

Funding for the SVNMP program is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Defense, the Vermont Community Foundation, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Additional information about AAPs, MFO regulations, and free cost-share assistance to farmers to develop CNMP is available at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture website, www.vermontagriculture.com .   Information about Farm Bill programs that help producers address water quality issues is available at any NRCS field office.  

Anyone interested in participating or receiving further information about available nutrient management assistance should contact the Poultney-Mettowee District office at 287-8339 or pmnrcd@sover.net .

Farmer Survey