Agricultural Viability

Guiding Principle
Agriculture provides critical goods and services to Connecticut’s citizens and ecosystems. Viable
agriculture enhances the quality of life for the state’s residents through strengthening the economy,
preserving cultural heritages, protecting natural resources, and increasing food security.

Goal
To increase the viability and profitability of the Connecticut agricultural industry and its landscapes.

Objective 1: Facilitate and coordinate emerging efforts by Ag producers, organizations, citizen
groups, and governmental bodies to increase agricultural profitability and viability in Connecticut.
Strategies:
1. Partner with UConn and Connecticut Beef Producers to provide business assistance to
increase capacity of local slaughterhouse operations and processing facilities.
2. Investigate and study State and local efforts to increase farm‐to‐school participation.
3. With funding through 319h* implement a project to evaluate the potential of using dairy
manure to replace peat in nursery crops.
* Project funded by CT DEP through US EPA Clean Water Act 319h

Objective 2: Develop linkages between the agricultural community and state & federal efforts to
develop green infrastructure and livable communities.
Strategies:
1. Partner with USDA‐Rural Development to assist Agricultural Producers with the
development of energy conservation and renewable energy through the CT Farm Energy
Program.
a. Host an Energy Fair for Ag Producers in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable
Energy at Eastern CT State University.
b. Annually host county based Grant Workshops to provide information about the CT Farm
Energy program, Rural Development REAP Grants as well as other grant opportunities
available to AG Producers in Connecticut.
c. Provide REAP Grant writing assistance to AG Producers and AG based small businesses
who are eligible in the RC&D area.
d. Distribute the CT Farm Energy Best Management Practices Guide.
e. Work to implement State funding for energy projects on Connecticut Farms.

Objective 3: Initiate and support efforts to educate the general public, government officials, and
agricultural interest groups on the benefits of a viable agriculture in Connecticut, and the tools
available to ensure its survival.
Strategies:
1. Continue with The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and King’s Mark RC&D to
implement the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Program to develop
conservation management practices for diversified livestock operations.
2. Partner with NRCS and UCONN on forestry workshops to promote the availability of
programs and resources to forest landowners.

Objective 4: Develop and initiate policies & projects to promote the economic and cultural
importance of farmland protection to municipal officials and decision‐makers.
Strategies:
1. Strengthen the Connecticut Food System by partnering with CT Department of Agriculture,
American Farmland Trust, Local Agricultural Producers, Towns and others through the
CLAIM-IT initiative. CLAIM‐IT is a partnership initiative with a focus on developing strategies
and implementing projects that address key agricultural issues.
2. Partnering with American Farmland Trust to develop a Livestock BMP Guide for Connecticut
Municipalities.

Objective 5: Work with like‐minded organizations on agriculturally related public outreach efforts.
Strategies:
1. Continue to partner with the Celebrating Agriculture event to showcase the benefits
agriculture provides to the region as well as the challenges farms face today.
2. Work with the Town of Putnam to develop a Saturday Market program for the Northeast
Connecticut Farmers’ Market.

Objective 6: Support policy to preserve and protect farm land in Connecticut.
Strategies:
1. Through participation in the CT Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, provide leadership
and recommendations on improving farmland protection policies in Connecticut.

Objective 7: Assist municipalities in increasing the viability of agriculture in their communities.
Strategies:
1. Partner with The Last Green Valley, NRCS, USDA Farm Service Agency, UConn, CT
Department of Agriculture and others to continue the AGvocate program in Eastern
Connecticut.
2. Assist municipalities in increasing the value of agriculture in their communities through
education, outreach activities and technical assistance.
3. Recognize a Municipality for their outstanding work with Agriculture at the Eastern CT RC&D
Annual Meeting.

Objective 8: Encourage the continued viability of agriculture as a primary land use in Eastern
Connecticut.
Strategies:
1. Work with local partners to create a Shared Use Community Kitchen that would be a
licensed kitchen facility where space would be provided to prepare and process value‐added
food for consumer markets.

Agricultural Viability Updates: News & Events

*Event* Soil Health Workshop: Are you interested in increasing crop productivity while decreasing costs? Save the Date!  The Healthy Soils workshop will be held February 18th at the Lebanon Fire Complex in Lebanon, CT.  The workshop will cover how Healthy Soils can reduce both cost and labor, while maintaining high productivity.  Guest speakers and specialists will be giving presentations and demonstrations on how to incorporate  Healthy Soils management on your farmland.  This is not a workshop that you want to miss.  For more information call 860-774-8397 x 2. A registration fee of $10 shall cover lunch and refreshments. Registrations will be accepted at the door, but please RSVP by February 11, 2011 for a lunch count. Soil Health Flyer (pdf)

*News* AGvocate Program Seeking Communities for the 3rd year of the program funded by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Four additional municipalities in The Last Green Valley Heritage Corridor will be selected to receive technical assistance from circuit rider “AGvocate,” Jennifer Kaufman, to strengthen the farm-friendliness of community regulations and improve the viability of agricultural businesses within the community over the long term.

Municipalities that wish to apply should have prime agricultural soils and an active farm community.  Both municipal officials and agricultural producers must be committed to creating tools to improve the understanding of agricultural issues and communication between local agricultural producers and other members of the community over the long-term.

Technical assistance may include, but is not limited to:  initiating or improving the effectiveness of an existing Agricultural Commission; reviewing tax reduction options; planning for farmland protection; encouraging buy local opportunities; exploring methods to promote local farms; including agriculture in town plans; and right-to-farm ordinances.  

The AGvocate program began in early 2009 when the CT Department of Agriculture awarded the first Farm Viability Grant to establish an AGvocate Pilot Program in The Last Green Valley.  Six towns, Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Franklin, Sterling, and Thompson, have been working with the AGvocate to implement tools and create action plans to help promote farm viability.  Phase II added the Towns of Eastford, Hampton, Windham, Woodstock to the program.

Municipalities within The Last Green Valley that interested in participating in the AGvocate program should contact Jennifer Kaufman at AGvocate@yahoo.com or 860-450-6007, for more information and for an application form.  All applications must be received no later than Thursday, March 31, 2011. Information Flyer (word doc) AGvocate Application (word doc)

*Event* Connecticut Farm Energy Workshops: Join the CT Farm Energy Program for a series of 5 free workshops in January 2011 about technical assistance and financial incentives that are available to AG producers as it relates to energy.  Topics will include the CT Farm Energy Program, the new CT Farm Energy BMP Guide, NRCS EQIP program and grant and loan programs offered through USDA Rural Development REAP Grants (Renewable Energy for America Program) for renewable and energy efficiency projects.

Learn about the CT Farm Energy Program and the technical assistance it provides, along with an overview of the new Connecticut Farm Energy Best Management Practice (BMP) Guide. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will present information on  funding available for select conservation practices allowed under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to address energy issues, and what is involved in applying for an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP).  Learn how the recommendations from the AgEMP can be funded through EQIP financial assistance. CT Farm Energy Program will discuss in detail how to apply for a USDA Rural Development - REAP (Renewable Energy for America Program) Grant and go through the application binder for those interested in applying. CT Farm Energy Grant writers will be on hand to assist & answer questions.
 
January 5, 2011 @ 6 pm
Tolland County AG Center                                              
24 Hyde Avenue (Rte 30)                               
Vernon, CT 06066

January 10, 2011 @ 6 pm
Middlesex UConn Extension
1066 Saybrook Road (Rte 154)
Haddam, CT 06438

January 19, 2011 @ 3 pm
Norwich USDA Service Center
238 West Town Street
Norwich, CT 06360

January 24, 2010 @ 6 pm
Windham UConn Extension
139 Wolf Den RoadBrooklyn, CT 06234

January 26, 2011 @ 3 pm
Windsor USDA Service Center
100 Northfield Drive, 4th Floor
Windsor, CT 06095

This series of workshops is made possible through the partnership of Eastern CT Resource Conservation & Development Area (RC&D), USDA Rural Development (RD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the CT Farm Energy Program (CFEP).
USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider                      
The workshops are free and open to the public to attend, please call or email the CT Farm Energy Program if you plan to attend so that we have enough materials available.
Event Flyer (pdf)

*Event* Connecticut Farm Energy BMP Guide Roll Out Sessions: Join the Connecticut Farm Energy Program along with Ensave, Inc. as we unveil the new Connecticut Farm Energy Best Management Practice Guide. This guide outlines energy efficient measures, renewable energy options and funding resources for AG Producers in Connecticut.
There will be 2 roll out sessions. Printed copies of the guide will be available for attendees. For more information please call 860-345-3977.
Event Flyer (pdf)

*Event* Manure Technology Tour will be held on October 20th at Laurel Brook and Freund Farm. The workshop will focus on the phosphorus removal and compost systems at Laurel Brook Farm and the CowPots factory and initiative at the Freund Farm. Please share with those who would be interested in attending this workshop. Tour Agenda (pdf)

*News* USDA Rural Development RBEG Funding: Eastern CT RC&D has been awarded 2 Rural Business Eneterprise Grants (RBEG) by the USDA - Rural Development. The first grant is for $41,000 to conduct an environmental quality analysis for a slaughterhouse in Stafford Springs, CT. The second grant in the amount of $40,000 was to continue the CT Farm Energy Program which provides outreach and technical assistance to AG producers and AG based small business who are looking to apply to USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).