The Vermont legislature enacted Act 182 in 2024, titled “An Act Relating to the Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides.” The Act aims to regulate the sale and use of neonicotinoid treated seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides within Vermont to protect pollinator populations and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Learn about Vermont’s Act 182 related to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and how it impacts sales and use of neonicotinoid treated seed and neonicotinoid pesticides. This law is similar to legislation in New York.

Speaker: Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agriculture Resource Management Division, VT Agency of Ag. Food & Markets. Stephanie manages a team addressing the consumer protection side of agricultural inputs: feed, animal health products, seed, fertilizer, lime, soil amendments, nursery stock, and pesticides.

FYI, 'neonics' include products containing

Imidacloprid (Admire Pro, Confidor, Gaucho...)

Thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum, Cruiser...)

Acetamiprid (Mospilan, Assail, TriStar 8.5 SL...)

Clothianidin (Belay, Poncho, Dantosu...)

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All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:

https://vvbga.org

Learn about research-based strategies to manage Alternaria, flea beetles, cabbage aphids and more.

Speakers: Susan Scheufele, UMass Extension, Becky Sideman, UNH, and Ethan Grunberg, Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

WPS are intended to protect employees and others from exposure to pesticides. All farms that apply pesticides are required to follow the WPS. There have been changes to the WPS. This webinar explains what you need to do to be in compliance and how you can get assistance. Speaker: David Huber, Deputy Director, Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management Division, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

Michael Desrochers, Executive Director, Division of Fire Safety, will provide an overview of the Division of Fire Safety and describe the authority it has. He will describe different types of farm housing occupancy classifications, what DFS looks for in farm housing occupancies, what the expectations are, and owner and occupant responsibilities regarding safety.

All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Living mulches can provide many soil health benefits and reduce erosion. Learn innovative strategies and how these practices impact yield. Speakers: Lincoln Fishman, Momentum Ag; Ash Loehr, Hurricane Flats, South Royalton; Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension. All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

What strategies are effective for mitigating excess water during wet years? There are a range of techniques to help your crops stay drier and more productive, ranging from field layout to subsurface drainage. Speaker: Joshua Faulkner, UVM Extension.

All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

This webinar explores the spectrum of reduced tillage practices at all scales, covering equipment and methods that can improve soil health and save labor. Speakers: Julie Fine, American Farmland Trust; Natalie Lounsbury, University of New Hampshire.All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

Growers and researchers are always inventing and refining methods of managing this very persistent pest. Explore mechanical bug beaters, data on delayed planting, and updates on spray efficacy.

Speakers: Vic Izzo, UVM; Jon Cohen, Deep Meadow Farm, Ascutney; Goran Johanson Goranson Farm, Dresden, Maine; Phil Mason, Crossroad Farm, Post Mills.

Beating Beetles Better: Mechanically Controlling Colorado Potato Beetlehttps://go.uvm.edu/cpbbeaterAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!

Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Growers will share cover crops mixes and sequences designed for pollinator habitat and soil health benefits. Speakers: Jake Kornfeld, (The Farm at VYCC, Richmond); Spencer Hardy, (The Farm Upstream, Jericho); Colin O’Brien (Common Roots Farm, S. Burlington); Laura Johnson, UVM Extension.

Cover cropping for pollinators and beneficial insects

https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/15-054_01_SARE_Cover-Cropping-for-Pollinators%2BBeneficial-Insects_web.pdf

Pollinator Friendly Cover Cropping

https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/22-013_web-screen.pdfAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association: https://vvbga.org

Growers will discuss planting style, comparing production costs, varieties, and pest and disease management. Speakers: David Marchant (Riverberry Farm); Kevin O’Dwyer (Langwater Farm, North Easton, Massachusetts).All webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org

This webinar will focus on organic management of multiple onion diseases (bacterial bulb rot, bacterial leaf blight, downy mildew, Stemphylium leaf blight) and thrips. Speakers: Christy Hoepting (Cornell Cooperative Extension) and Ann Hazelrigg (UVM).How to Diagnose Onion Bacterial Bulb Rothttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmGHBUezVcHow to Identify Foliar Symptoms of Bacterial Diseaseshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYmdIwjbaoAll webinars are free, thanks to support from the VVBGA, the Vermont Clean Water Improvement Program, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Thank you to the generous farmers and researchers willing to share their knowledge to make this series possible!Learn more or become a member of the Vermont Vegetable & Berry Growers Association:https://vvbga.org