Blog
State Asks Vermonters to Report When Lakes Lose Their Ice Cover
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking Vermonters to report when lakes and ponds lose their ice cover, also known as the “ice-out date.” Once a lake or pond is completely free of ice from shore to shore, DEC scientists can…
Conservation Stewardship Program
Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). While applications for CSP are accepted year-round, applications must be received by April 23, 2021, to be considered for this funding period. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation…
Change to the two acre homesite exclusion rule in Vermont’s Use Value Appraisal Program
A new rule went into effect January 1st 2021 now stating that “More than one dwelling may share the same house site, provided the dwellings are contained within a two-acre area.” Prior to January 1st 2021, if you had a house with an…
New Wood Heat Rebates and Incentives Now Available
Is your home or business ready for a heating update in 2021? Ready to opt out of oil and do your part to help the state meet its goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050? Many rebates and incentives are available…
Zebra Mussels Identified in Aquarium Products
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources staff scientists were alerted last week that an aquarium plant sold within Vermont and throughout the country may contain an invasive aquatic animal species, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). The aquarium plant commonly known as moss balls, may be…
Legistlative Update for Week Ending February 26th
Week Ending February 26, 2021 Click for More on House Bills Click for More on Senate Bills H.88 An act relating to certification of agricultural use for purposes of the use value appraisal program Changes to Current Use under H.88 would provide the…
Combined Heat and Power at Allard Lumber Saves Money, Jobs, and Environment
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund When the water pump on Allard Lumber’s boiler went a few years back, Trevor Allard finally had the excuse he needed to begin building the Combined Heat and Power (CHP)…
Legislative Update for Week Ending February 19, 2021
Click for More on House Bills Click for More on Senate Bills Bills of Interest S.52 An act relating to increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. This bill is in the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs….
Update from the Working Lands Coalition:
Great news for Vermont’s working landscape! Governor Scott has proposed investing $3.6million in the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative for Fiscal Year 2022. Thanks in part to the advocacy of many members of the Working Lands Partnership over the last several years, the…
Greetings Vermonters – From Dept. of Forests, Parks & Rec
We continue to field calls about potential state and federal pandemic economic relief packages and know that many forest businesses are concerned. We are actively monitoring for new relief packages, but currently, there is nothing new to share. The Agency of Commerce…
New Federal Tax Credit for High-Efficiency Wood Heaters
As of January 1, 2021, residential wood heaters (stoves, furnaces, and boilers – all wood fuel types) with at least a 75% efficiency rating are eligible for a 26% Federal tax credit. The tax credit and all the rebates listed below *can* be combined….
Not “Horsing Around”: Brad Johnson and Third Branch Horse Logging
Brad Johnson lives in Northfield, VT and operates Third Branch Horse Logging with business partner Derek O’Toole. Third Branch uses draft horses and some machine use for land management, timber/firewood, and residential tree services around central Vermont. Between the two of them…
Happy New Year
It’s only six days into 2021 but I already feel like I own the hope of a better year ahead. That’s not to say we are out of the woods with Covid – we are not. We are still experiencing rising case…
A Holiday Message from Kathleen
I am in countdown mode …. 7, 6, 5, 4 …. and guardedly optimistic that 2021 will prove to be a better year for us all. I must readily admit that the December holiday season is not one of my favorites, except…
Member Profile – Stonehenge in Vermont: Jock Irons
Active VWA members and Tree Farmers come in all shapes and sizes, just like their woods. For this issue, we peek in on VWA member and Tree Farmer Jock Irons. Jock was born and raised in Bennington, where he stayed until he…