Vermont Research News: Farming with dynamite, e-bikes and reducing dairy wastewater

Farming by dynamite
The use of dynamite by Vermont farmers was once a common practice for increasing crop production and manipulating the landscape. A recent article details this practice, which is now strictly prohibited by Vermont law. In 1913, The Vermont Agricultural Report suggested using dynamite for increasing the depth of streams, writing,  “With the present scarcity and high cost of labor, it is practically impossible to correct this without the use of considerable amounts of dynamite” (75).

Removing wastewater from milk processing
Vermont dairy farms produce approximately 321.25 million gallons of milk per year, 63% of the total milk produced in New England. However, milk also poses problems in wastewater management, as it is made up of soluble particles. A recent article describes the process of separating these particles by use of nanotechnology, a sustainable and effective method for removal of dairy wastewater effluents.

Summertime cyclists – powered by electricity
Summer brings more cyclists and some of them are on E-bikes. An electric bike is at least 40 times more energy efficient than the average gas-powered car and nearly 10 times more efficient than an electric car. A recent blog post from Sustainable Transportation Vermont advocates for e-bike affordability. This comes as Green Mountain Power and VBike partner up to increase access to e-bikes in Vermont cities.

Reducing nicotine and quitting smoking In quitting cigarette smoking, how effective is reducing the number of cigarettes smoked per day? New research suggests smoking cigarettes with reduced nicotine is more effective. The study, which featured Vermont subjects, found that participants smoking reduced-nicotine cigarettes in the study smoked less per day outside of the study than those who were given less standard cigarettes in the study.

 

Maternal depression rates increase
Vermont has some of the highest recorded rates of depressive disorders recorded during delivery hospitalizations in the country, a new study finds. Recorded rates of maternal depression have increased over recent years. The study suggests that this data may reflect variability in the identification of depression, rather than the inherent risk of depression, as non-Hispanic white women are more likely to be screened for depression at delivery than non-Hispanic black women, potentially inflating rates of depression among non-Hispanic white women. 

Connections between ALS and water pollution 
Increased ALS cases in Vermont and New Hampshire may be related to the presence of cyanotoxins in water sources, which can linger in the air, a new study suggests. With a higher number of ALS cases in Vermont, the study urges further research into the linkages between algae blooms and ALS and other diseases. 

Drug importation plan popular
In May 2018, Vermont enacted the first law in the nation instructing a state agency to develop a wholesale drug importation plan which could save participating Vermont commercial insurers between $1 million and $5 million dollars. A recent article details how Vermont legislation on the issue has paved the way for wider acceptance of drug importation, with 70% of the public in favor of implementing a wholesale drug importation plan.

Gardens make a difference
Huertas, a gardening project, and El Viaje Más Caro a participatory comics project, are two projects that were created with the goal of interrupting the forms of structural violence and structural vulnerability that negatively impact the wellbeing of migrant farmworkers in Vermont’s dairy industry. The study found that gardens are significant in rebuilding some sense of place and fostering practices of food sovereignty, in addition to enhancing access to fresh and culturally familiar foods.