Federal and State Conservation Program Consulting

Would you like some help navigating the application process for federal and state conservation programs?  After a site visit, we can advise you on the conservation programs available to your operation and assist with submitting applications.  To learn more about current programs, visit our Conservation Programs page. If you are interested in learning more about conservation in general, please visit our Educational Resources page.

Required Agricultural Practices (RAP) Compliance

Overview 

• We are here to help farms in Orange and Windsor counties to come into compliance with the RAPs.  
• Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices are the management standards all types of farms must meet to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water quality. The RAPs include required practices and management strategies for farms in Vermont.  
• To read the RAPs in full, please visit https://agriculture.vermont.gov/rap. 
• If you are looking for help with a project or need recommendations regarding compliance, please give us a call.  We are not a regulatory organization and we will not report any potential violations to the state.

Required Agricultural Practices

The Required Agricultural Practices outline the practices and restrictions that farms in Vermont must adhere to. Depending on the size of your the farm, there are different rules and restrictions. For a summary of the RAP's please view the document below. For the statutory text, see PDF below.

Farm Size Classification

The RAP's classify farms by the amount of revenue that the generate, the size of the land that they operate on, and the type of operation. Farms that are Certified Small farm or larger must undergo an annual certification process, get water quality credits, and have a nutrient management plan. 

Re-certification 

All farms which are a CSFO or larger must re-certify with the state every year. For more information on certification, click here.