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The Vermont Statutes Online



Title

06

:
Agriculture






Chapter

215

:
AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY






Subchapter

009
:
CERTIFICATION OF CUSTOM APPLICATORS OF MANURE OR NUTRIENTS










 

§

4988. Certification of custom applicator

(a) On or before

July 1, 2016, as part of the revision of the required agricultural practices,

the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall adopt by rule a process by

which a custom applicator shall be certified to operate within the State. The

certification process shall require a custom applicator to complete eight hours

of training over each five-year period regarding:

(1) application

methods or techniques to minimize the runoff of land-applied manure or

nutrients to waters of the State; and

(2)

identification of weather or soil conditions that increase the risk of runoff

of land-applied manure or nutrients to waters of the State.

(b) A custom

applicator shall not apply manure or nutrients unless certified by the

Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

(c) A custom

applicator certified under this section shall train seasonal employees in

methods or techniques to minimize runoff to surface waters and to identify

weather or soil conditions that increase the risk of runoff. A custom

applicator that trains a seasonal employee under this subsection shall be

liable for damages done and liabilities incurred by a seasonal employee who

improperly applies manure or nutrients.

(d) The

requirements of this section shall not apply to an owner or operator of a farm

applying manure or nutrients to a field that he or she owns or controls,

provided that the owner or operator has completed the agricultural water

quality training required under section 4981 of this title. (Added 2015, No.

64, § 16.)