2018 Vermont Statutes
Title 6 - Agriculture
Chapter 215 - Agricultural Water Quality
§ 4828 Capital equipment assistance program
§ 4828. Capital equipment assistance program
(a) It is the purpose of this section to provide assistance to contract applicators, nonprofit organizations, and farms to purchase or use innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to State waters, improve water quality of State waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers.
(b) The capital equipment assistance program is created in the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to provide farms, nonprofit organizations, and custom applicators in Vermont with State financial assistance for the purchase of new or innovative equipment to improve manure application, separation of phosphorus from manure, or nutrient management plan implementation.
(c) Assistance under this section shall in each fiscal year be allocated according to the following priorities and as further defined by the Secretary:
(1) First priority shall be given to capital equipment to be used on farm sites that are serviced by custom applicators, phosphorus separation equipment providers, and nonprofit organizations and that are located in descending order within the boundaries of:
(A) the Lake Champlain Basin;
(B) the Lake Memphremagog Basin;
(C) the Connecticut River Basin; and
(D) the Hudson River Basin.
(2) Next priority shall be given to capital equipment to be used at a farm site that is located in descending order within the boundaries of:
(A) the Lake Champlain Basin;
(B) the Lake Memphremagog Basin;
(C) the Connecticut River Basin; and
(D) the Hudson River Basin.
Subsection (d) effective until July 1, 2023.
(d) An applicant for a State grant under this section to purchase or implement phosphorus removal technology or equipment shall pay 10 percent of the total eligible project cost. The dollar amount of a State grant to purchase or implement phosphorus removal technology or equipment shall be equal to the total eligible project cost, less 10 percent of the total as paid by the applicant, and shall not exceed $300,000.00.
Subsection (d) effective July 1, 2023.
(d) [Repealed.] (Added 2007, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2011, No. 104 (Adj. Sess.), § 28d, eff. May 7, 2012; 2011, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 51, eff. May 14, 2012; 2015, No. 39, § 8; 2017, No. 77, § 8; 2017, No. 77, § 12, eff. July 1, 2023.)
