Certified Small Farm Operations (CSFO)

ANNUAL SELF-CERTIFICATION IS DUE JANUARY 31, 2025!

The CSFO annual certification form has been updated and there is a new, more user-friendly platform for submitting the form online. Please contact Brittany Cole at 802-522-7413 or Brittany.Cole@vermont.gov if you need help or have questions.

Submit the CSFO Annual Certification form online here!

Print the CSFO Annual Certification form here!

ANNUAL CERTIFICATION FORMS ARE DUE JANUARY 31 OF EACH YEAR

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• CSFO Definition

• CSFO Inspection Video

• Contact

• Additional Resources

Introduction

Vermont Statute 6 V.S.A. § 4871 requires Certified Small Farm Operations (CSFO) to annually self-certify compliance with the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs). The goal of this program is to support farmers to ensure understanding of the RAPs, while providing assistance to assess, plan, and implement any necessary conservation and management practices that might be necessary to meet water quality goals. CSFOs are required to:

• complete the CSFO self-certification form each year by January 31
• develop and implement a nutrient management plan that meets the USDA NRCS 590 Standard
• obtain four hours of water quality training every five years
• be inspected by the Agency of Agriculture at least once every seven years for compliance with the RAPs
• comply with the RAPs

CSFO Definition

A CSFO can be a crop farm or animal feeding operation, and is defined as:

• growing more than 50 acres of annual cropland (e.g. corn, sweet corn, soybean, or pumpkin), OR
• growing more than 50 acres of vegetables, OR
• an operation that houses and manages the following animal numbers;
  • 50-199 mature dairy cows 
  • 75-299 youngstock or heifers
  • 75-299 veal calves
  • 75-299 cattle or cow/calf pairs
  • 188-749 swine weighing over 55 pounds
  • 750-2,999 swine weighing less than 55 pounds
  • 40-149 equines
  • 750-2,999 sheep or goats
  • 4,125-16,499 turkeys
  • 2,250-8,999 laying hens or broilers or 375-1,499 ducks (w/ liquid manure system)
  • 6,250-24,499 laying hens or broilers or 2,500-9,999 ducks (without a liquid manure system)
  • A combination of animals with total live weight exceeding 90,000 pounds

Do I need to Certify? Operations that meet the definition of a Small Farm Operation (SFO) are required to comply with the RAPs.

This video is a guide for what to expect during an Agency of Agriculture inspection for compliance with the RAPs.