US Ag Secretary Vilsack says up to $25M to help soil, water quality in Lake Champlain

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced up to $25 million will be provided for efforts to protect soil and water quality in the Lake Champlain Basin over the next five years.

Vilsack said Thursday the funding will provided for conservation activities in Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay and South Lake watersheds.

Over the past 10 years, the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided about $46 million to help farmers address water quality issues, but Lake Champlain has continued to suffer algae blooms that are blamed on phosphorous-laden runoff.

Vilsack is remaining at the ECHO Center on Lake Champlain for a national media conference call on new dairy policy in the farm bill.