Vermont-NRCS Alternative Manure Management Program

Since 2004 the Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has worked in conjunction with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets (VAAF&M) by pooling funds and participation to the Vermont Alternative Manure Management Program (VT-AMM).  Vermont-NRCS has received its part of the funding through an earmark generously and diligently allocated by Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy (D). 

The VT-AMM Program funds eligible projects that propose alternative technologies for managing on-farm animal manure with the primary goal of significantly reducing phosphorus inputs to Vermont’s surface waters. 

The Program circulates a Request For Proposals (RFP) 1-2 times yearly to seek Pilot Projects that will significantly reduce the nutrient content of wastewater from farm operations.

Other criteria for eligibility involve:

• the level of risk to the farm operator and applicant, in other words a project an applicant could not take on otherwise without grant-funded assistance

• technology that is not in mainstream use or perhaps a tried and true technology but used in a novel way. 

A total of nine demonstration projects have been co-funded in Vermont from St. Albans to Middlebury. Technologies include:

• steel slag filters

• manure and bedding composting system that also recovers heat energy for hot

water and heating

• small farm anaerobic digester system 

• medium farm anaerobic digester system

• screening and dewatering processes combined with electrocoagulation 

• algae cultivation

• separation system combined with a compost drum dryer (bedding recovery unit).

Direct all other inquiries to:

Lucinda Newman, Special Program Manager

VT-NRCS Alternative Manure Management Program

TELE: 802- 223-1903 EM: ldn@pshift.com