All dairies with 200-699 mature animals, whether milking or dry, qualify as a MFO.  Other common MFOs include beef operations (300-999 cattle or cow/calf pairs), youngstock and heifer operations (300-999 youngstock or heifers), horse operations (150-499 horses), turkey operations (16,500-54,999 turkeys), and egg facilities (25,000-81,999 laying hens without a liquid manure handling system).

The MFO program provides a common-sense, Vermont-based, cost-effective alternative to a potentially burdensome federal permitting program by allowing medium sized farms to seek coverage under a single Vermont state General Permit.  The General Permit prohibits discharges of wastes from a farm's production area to waters of the state and requires manure, compost, and other wastes to be land applied according to a nutrient management plan.

The Draft General Permit for Medium Farm Operations was made available for official public comment and 14 public hearings, one in each county, were held statewide during July and August 2006.  Official public comment closed in September 2006 and based on written comments received and the public hearings, a revised Draft General Permit was made available in December 2006.  A response to public comment and list of changes to the Draft General Permit were made available online. Comments were solicited with regard to these revisions through January 2007.  No comments were received and the General Permit was issued effective February 13, 2007. 

Farms Seeking Coverage under the General Permit for Medium Farm Operations (pdf)

Downloads:

General Permit for Medium Farm Operations (pdf)

Notice of Intent to Comply with the General Permit (NOIC) (pdf)

Medium and Small Farm Operation Rules for Issuance of General and Individual Permits (htm) (pdf)

Additional Resources for Medium Farm Operations:

Cover Letter for the General Permit for Medium Farm Operations (htm) (pdf)

Instructions for the NOIC (htm) (pdf)

Resources Available at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (htm) (pdf)

Production Area Assessment Tool (doc)

• A guide to meeting production area evaluation requirements

Appendices:

Appendix A: Notice of Intent to Comply (pdf)

Appendix B: Notice of Termination (pdf)

Appendix C: Incident Report (pdf)

Appendix D: Annual Compliance Report (pdf)

Appendix E: Notice of Transfer of Operation/Ownership (pdf)

For more information on the MFO Program, contact:

            Franklin, Lamoille, and Essex Counties

            Matt Kittredge at 828-6908 or matt.kittredge@state.vt.us

            Chittenden, Caledonia, Grand Isle, Orange, Orleans, Washington, Windsor, and Windham Counties

            Abbi Pajak at 828-1397 or abbi.pajak@state.vt.us

            Addison, Bennington, and Rutland Counties