Skip to main content

Agency of Agriculture Announces Start of Winter Manure Spreading Ban

December 16, 2020

December 16, 2020 | Montpelier, VT  - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) would like to remind all farm operations that the annual winter manure spreading ban is underway. Beginning at 12:01 am today, December 16, and running until April 1, 2021, no manure or other agricultural wastes (including: compost and spoiled feed) may be spread on agricultural fields throughout Vermont. 

This annual ban is required by the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which is a part of VAAFM’s overall strategy to protect water quality, the working landscape, and natural resources. The ban is a regulation that has been in place since 1995.  The RAPs also prohibit the application of manure or agricultural wastes on frozen or snow-covered fields outside of the dates of the winter manure spreading ban.  

VAAFM would like to remind farmers that exemptions for winter manure spreading are available for emergency situations only.  If a farmer anticipates having an issue meeting the winter manure spreading ban restrictions, they should contact VAAFM for assistance with planning winter manure management. 

Farmers must either have a storage structure that is capable of holding all manure produced between December 15th to April 1st, which is 106 days, or they must be able to stack all manure produced in a way that will not lead to adverse water quality impacts.  When field stacking manure, the RAPs require that stacking sites be located at least 200 feet from private wells and 100 feet from property boundaries.  In addition, manure cannot be stacked within 200 feet of surface water, 100 feet of a ditch, on land that is subject to annual overflow from adjacent waters, or on exposed bedrock.   

Manure spreading is a common practice in Vermont agriculture which enriches the soil for production and helps manage animal waste.  For additional information about the RAPs, including a copy of the full rule please visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/rap

Questions about the manure spreading ban, requests for assistance in the selection of appropriate manure stacking sites, or to request an emergency exemption can be directed to Laura DiPietro, VAAFM (802) 595-1990 or Ryan Patch, VAAFM (802) 272-0323. 

Contact: 

Ryan Patch | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets 

802-272-0323 | Ryan.Patch@Vermont.gov