Law bans popular fertilizers

VERMONT – When Gene Nolette, owner of Leicester-based Gene’s Property Management, went to buy the popular fertilizer mix “10-10-10” for lawn application this month, he was surprised to find that he wasn’t able to.

The fertilizer, aptly labeled for its three main nutrients, is comprised of 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus and 10 percent potassium. But a Legislative act passed in 2011, which took effect Jan. 1, has outlawed the application of phosphorus fertilizers on lawns, with a few exceptions.

The law has not been widely publicized, said Brad Lawes, owner of Lawes Agricultural Service in Brandon, which manufactures fertilizer and wouldn’t sell 10-10-10 to Nolette.

“Ninety-five percent of the stores we sell fertilizers to were unaware of this law,” he said.

The law was initiated in the House Fish Wildlife and Water Resources Committee. It came in the wake of a campaign called “Don’t ‘P’ on your lawn,” which was organized by Lake Champlain conservation groups to dissuade homeowners from using phosphorus fertilizers on their lawns, unless a soil test indicated that they needed it.

Phosphorus is one of the leading contributors to toxic blue-green algae blooms in Lake Champlain, which have been identified as the cause of several domestic animal deaths in recent years. The law – formally known as Title 10, Chapter 47, Section 1266b – aims to reduce phosphorus levels in the lake, said Rep. Kate Webb, D-Chittenden, who introduced the bill.

For the rest of the story, click here.