GOALS
- Deploy a farmer-led research, demonstration, and outreach program focused on the relationship between commercial agricultural production and water quality.
- Educate and improve communication among the agricultural community, community members, researchers, and policy makers.
- Identify and implement effective environmental management practices that are compatible with profitable agriculture.
- Work collaboratively with farmers, researchers, and government organizations to meet the research needs of Vermont farmers.
The Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program provided funding to support the planning and establishment of the Discovery Acres site. Discovery Acres has an advisory board comprised of four farmers as well as representatives from the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the VT Agency of Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and Miner’s Institute. Since the start of the project, this group has been meeting to develop the Discovery Acres concept and research priorities.
Discovery Acres Vermont was recently accepted to be a member of the national network of Discovery Farms. The Discovery Farms® Program was founded in Wisconsin in 2001 tasked with the goal of developing on-farm and related research to determine the economic and environmental effects of agricultural practices on a diverse group of farms. Research is used to educate and improve communication among the agricultural community, consumers, researchers, and policy makers. There are Discovery Farms programs in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
For additional information please contact Ivy Krezinski or the St. Albans University of Vermont Extension Office:
802-524-6501 or 802-656-7610
Equipment at the St. Albans Discovery Acres site (below).
