Vermont’s attorney general is suing the state’s largest dairy farm over an expansion they say violated state agricultural laws and could be contributing to water pollution.
In a seven-count complaint filed in civil court in Franklin County Thursday, the Attorney General’s Office asserts Pleasant Valley Farms failed to acquire a large-farm permit when it expanded in 2017 and had violated the state’s agricultural regulations.
“We all know we have problems with our lakes, with our rivers,” Attorney General TJ Donovan said at Franklin Superior Court. “There’s no point in having rules and regulations if they’re not going to be followed and enforced.”
The farm, owned by Mark and Amanda St. Pierre, is the largest in the state with 5,000 cows. Amanda St. Pierre is also the executive director of the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance, a dairy lobby.
The St. Pierres expanded their Berkshire barn, the Lumbra Farm, from 13,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet in 2017, which qualifies as a large-farm operation under Vermont law, Donovan said. The barn went from 120 feet long to approximately 825 feet long.
With that expansion, the farm also built a 10 million gallon manure pit. Neither project was inspected as required by the state’s Agency of Agriculture before being built, Donovan said.
The St. Pierres did not respond to requests for comment by VTDigger.
Joe Tisbert, president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, said he did not know enough about the situation with Pleasant Valley Farms to comment on the suit.
Assistant Attorney General Ryan Kane said the state found out about the alleged violation at the Berkshire farm through reporting by VTDigger and complaints made to the Agency of Agriculture.
Because the dairy farm was not expanded with state approval, Donovan said there are concerns it could be contributing to water pollution affecting Vermont’s water supply. The farm was expanded in an area that drains into Missisquoi Bay, the second-most polluted portion of Lake Champlain.
Algae blooms linked to phosphorus pollution closed multiple beaches at times through this past summer. Lake Champlain is the source of drinking water for 250,000 people.
The new manure pit and part of the expansion was located four miles from Lake Carmi, which has also suffered from phosphorus pollution from farms.
The complaint is demanding the farm come into compliance with state regulations and is also seeking a financial penalty, which would be later determined by the court.
Kane said the Agency of Agriculture did attempt to bring Pleasant Valley Farms into compliance before the complaint was filed. The St. Pierres attempted to acquire a medium farm permit, which was denied. The farm is currently appealing the decision to the Vermont Superior Court Environmental Division, Kane said.
Michael Colby, president of farming advocacy group Regeneration Vermont, was the first to notify the agency that the farm had expanded illegally. During the press conference, he interrupted Donovan, asking him to recognize the citizens who pushed officials to hold Pleasant Valley Farms accountable.
“How about a tip of the hat to the citizens and citizens organizations that went out and found this pit?” Colby said.
Rob Cormier, a member of the Franklin Watershed Committee, also interrupted the press conference to criticize the Agency of Agriculture for taking too long to hold accountable farms that add to pollution in the Franklin County area. He asked Donovan to expand the lawsuit to prosecute “enablers” in the agency.
In response, Donovan said his office is currently focused on the complaint filed against Pleasant Valley Farms. He said state officials want to have a strong agriculture sector in the state while also balancing accountability.
“The Agency of Ag really has a dual mission,” Donovan said. “Certainly to promote farming and agriculture but also have an enforcement role.”
