Vermont Land Trust - The 2008 Farm Bill Enacted into Law!

The 2008 Farm Bill Enacted into Law!

Thanks to the hard work of Vermont’s Congressional Delegation the 2008 Farm Bill passed with more than enough votes to override a presidential veto.

The final version of the Farm Bill brings to Vermont record levels of funding and wider access to conservation programs that have become crucial to Vermont’s economy and environment.

The key Vermont conservation priorities in the Farm Bill include:

increased funding and wider access to farmland conservation programs
funding for agricultural land management such as improving water quality and erosion control
assistance for producers of agricultural products to obtain organic certification
funding for some on the farm energy production
a new community forestry and open space conservation program which will provide matching funds for those trying to acquire town forests.

More Vermont Highlights of the 2008 Farm Bill provided by Vermont's Sen. Leahy, the most senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The tax incentive for easement donations which expired on December 31, 2007 was also extended through the new Farm Bill. This incentive is now effective through the end of 2009 and is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008. Landowners who donate a qualified conservation easement in 2008 or 2009 will be able to:

Increase charitable deductions of easement donors from 30% to 50% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) in the year of their gift. (Qualified farmers may deduct up to 100% of AGI.)
Increase the carryover any unused deduction for up to 15 years instead of only 5 years.

For more information, see our Guide for Vermont Landowners.

Charron Farm barn & silos