By Brittany Cole, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The annual winter manure spreading ban begins on Sunday, December 15 and lastsuntil Tuesday, April 1 – a full 107 days. This ban on spreading manure or other agricultural waste through the winter months is designed to protect water quality. The Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) also prohibit manure spreading on saturated, frozen, or snow-covered ground before December 15th and after April 1st.
The best thing you can do to be prepared for the spreading ban is to spread your manure when you have the opportunity. Ideal conditions for spreading are dry conditions with non-saturated soils, before the snow falls.
While we can all hope for a sunny and dry fall, reality has a way of catching up with us. If you anticipate having an issue before or during the ban, please contact Laura DiPietro for assistance with manure management options at 802-595-1990. The earlier the communication is made, the more time there is to engage in a solution.
An emergency exemption from the Secretary of Agriculture for spreading on frozen or snow-covered fields, or during the winter spreading ban can be issued to farms for emergency situations only. This emergency exemption is always a last resort, and where possible the Agency always seeks alternative solutions, such as transfer to another waste storage structure before issuing an exemption. There are additional requirements as part of emergency exemption and under no circumstance can manure or agricultural waste ever make its way to surface water.
Spread your manure when you get the chance before the ban goes into effect! And if conditions change and that looks like will not be possible, please reach out to resolve any manure storage and application concerns before it becomes a major issue. Laura DiPietro: 802-595-1990.