2012 Vermont Environmental Consortium (March 26, Middlebury)

Charting a Path to Successful Farms and Clean Water in Vermont

Monday, March 26th, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
McCardell Bicentennial Hall (Off of Route 125)
Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont 05753

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In partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Vermont Environmental Consortium (VEC) will hold a conference to discuss the public policy tools - including incentives, technical and financial assistance, and regulation - that have and will yield results addressing agricultural water pollution in Lake Champlain. The goals of the conference are to:

• Bridge the growing divide between conservation proponents and agricultural producers in the Lake Champlain basin on the best approach for realizing shared water quality goals;

• Provide accurate scientific information about the current condition of Lake Champlain and its watersheds; and

• Develop a framework for a cooperative vision to address the challenges currently facing Lake Champlain.

• All parties, including leading scientists, state and government officials, academic and representatives from Vermont's important agricultural and farming community, will be attending this high-profile event.

2012 VEC Expo Agenda

• 8:30 a.m. Registration Opens
• 9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks, Jill Michaels, VEC and Chuck Ross, Secretary of Agriculture
• 9:15 a.m. Opening Plenary: Finding the Right Solution, Introduction: David Mears, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation
• 9:30 a.m. History of Land Use and Water Quality in Vermont, Roger Allbee, Former Secretary of Agriculture
• 10:00 a.m. The Future of Agriculture in Vermont,Tom Vogelmann, Dean, UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• 10:30 a.m. Break
• 10:45 a.m. Morning Session: What Do We Know?, Introduction/Moderator: Adam Lougee, Addison County Regional Planning Commission
• Approaches to and opportunities for best management practices (20 min each; 15 minute panel discussion)

• Don Meals, Ice.Nine Environmental Consulting • Jennifer Reed-Harry, PennAg Industries Association • Dr. Craig Ferris, Ducks Unlimited

• 12:00 p.m. Remote identification of field-level nutrient sources

• Missisquoi Bay Critical Source Area Project, Julie Moore, Stone Environmental

• 12:30 p.m. Lunch: What are we studying right now?

• Dr. Chris Koliba, Associate Professor, UVM EPScOR • Vicky Drew, State Conservationist, USDA NRCS • Laura DiPietro, Agency of Agriculture • Amanda Gervais, UVM Extension

• 1:45 p.m. Getting the Right Practices in the Best Places (10 min each; 30 min panel discussion)

Moderator: Julie Moore, Stone Environmental • Marli Rupe, District Manager, Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District • Kent Henderson, Chair, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain • Vic Guadagno, Bright Blue EcoMedia, Bloom Producer • Jeff Nelson, Director of Energy & Environmental Services, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

• 3:00 p.m. Break
• 3:15 p.m. Moving from Discussion to Action (10 min each; 30 min panel discussion)

Moderator: Buzz Hoerr, Chair, Citizens Advisory Committee on the Future of Lake Champlain • Harvey Smith, farmer/legislator • Jane Clifford, farmer/Green Mountain Dairy Farmers Cooperative Federation • John Roberts, farmer • James Ehlers, Lake Champlain International

• 4:30 p.m. Concluding Remarks, Chuck Ross, Secretary of Agriculture
• 5:00 p.m. Adjourn

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