Press Releases

Page 2 of 12

• 2/2/2024 Lt Governor Bysiewicz and Agriculture Commissioner Hurlburt Announce $250,000 Funding to 8 Recipients of the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development's Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Program

  (Bloomfield, CT) – On Friday, February 2, 2024, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt held a press conference at Auerfarm in Bloomfield joined by Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (CT RC&D) to announce the awardees from Round 1 of its Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program, and the opening of Round 2 of funding. In this first round of funding, CT RC&D administered $250,000 to eight farms around Connecticut. This funding will drive over $867,000 in climate smart projects.

• 1/25/2024 CT DoAg Announces Food System Capacity Building Grant

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), on behalf of the CT Food Policy Council, announces the competitive solicitation process to award funds to Connecticut organizations and groups involved in food system policy or creating innovative, localized, programming in their respective communities to increase food access and address food insecurity through the Food System Capacity Building Grant. Applicants must submit a completed application by March 6, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. using Cognito Forms.

• 1/19/2024 CT DoAg Announces Funding for Specialty Crops

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is now accepting applications for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for the 2024 program year. Applicants must submit a completed application by March 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. using Cognito Forms.

• 1/16/2024 Connecticut Seeks Outstanding Young Farmer Nominations

  The Connecticut Agricultural Information Council (CAIC) is seeking nominations for the 2024 Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF). Awarded annually during Ag Day at the Capitol, the Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer Award recognizes the winner’s progress in their agricultural career, their soil and water conservation practices, and their contributions to the well-being of the community, the state, and the nation. Nomination applications must be submitted electronically via email to erin.pirro@farmcrediteast.com by Friday, February 23, 2024.

• 1/5/2024 CT DoAg Requests Public Comment

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) has announced a public comment period on the funding priorities for Connecticut’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in 2024. The public is asked to submit a response through the online form by Friday, January 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. EST.

• 1/5/2024 CT DoAg Releases Agricultural Enhancement Grant

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the 2024 Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program (previously known as the Farm Viability Grant) is now available for eligible Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments, and/or agricultural non-profit organizations for projects that directly impact or foster agricultural viability. Applications are due February 16, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

• 12/1/2023 CT DOAG ANNOUNCES FARMLAND RESTORATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCY & PREPAREDNESS GRANT OPPORTUNITY

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is accepting grant proposals for the 2024 Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency & Disaster Preparedness Grant (RRP). Support is available to provide Connecticut agricultural producers and not for profits directly involved in production agriculture funding for investments which will increase the long-term climate resiliency of farming operations and decrease farm vulnerability to extreme weather events. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

• 11/21/2023 Connecticut Dog Owners Reminded to Vaccinate Pets to Protect From Illness

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is reminding dog owners to exert caution as an atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRDC) has been reported nationally and in nearby northeast states. CIRDC is commonly referred to as “kennel cough”, a highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory tract in dogs.

• 11/17/2023 CT DoAg Encourages Eligible Participants to use Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Benefits for Holiday Meal Purchases

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is encouraging eligible participants to visit a certified farmers’ market or farm stand to use their Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits before they expire on November 30, 2023. Unused funds will not rollover to 2024. Eligible participants include women enrolled in Women, Infants, and Child (WIC) through the Department of Public Health, as well as seniors over the age of 60 and disabled individuals who meet income and housing guidelines.

• 11/10/2023 CT Veteran Grown Program Launched to Support CT's Farmer Veteran Businesses

  The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Connecticut, in coordination with Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D) and Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAG) announce the release of the newly created website, CTVeteranGrown.org, in advance of Veterans Day as part of a larger three-year program to provide the state’s Farmer Veterans marketing assistance and resources to help in their long-term success.

• 11/3/2023 CT DoAg Announces Grant Opportunities to Assist Connecticut Agricultural Producers

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is accepting grant proposals for the 2024 Farm Transition Grant (FTG) to assist Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives in the diversification of existing operations, transition to value-added agricultural production and sales, and other venues in which a majority of products sold are grown in the state. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.   

• 10/30/2023 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Accepting Applications For Low-Income Pet Vaccinations and Sterilizations Starting November 1

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Animal Population Control Program (APCP) will begin accepting applications for the Low-Income Program to assist eligible Connecticut residents with vaccination and sterilization of their owned pets on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Application forms are available for download in English and Spanish at https://portal.ct.gov/DOAG/Regulatory/Regulatory/Animal-Population-Control-Program. They must be completed and returned by mail.

• 10/24/2023 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces New Leadership for Bureau of Regulatory Services

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announces new leadership for the Bureau of Regulatory Services with the hiring of Alexander Duffy, CCA as Bureau Director and promotion of James Allyn to Assistant Bureau Director.

• 10/19/2023 CT DoAg Responds to Overturned Cattle Trailer

  The 30 remaining animals have been loaded onto a new trailer and will be transported to a facility to be evaluated by the State Veterinarian. CT DoAg is committed to ensuring the health and welfare of livestock and reminds those transporting animals to adhere to safe driving practices to provide a safe journey.

• 10/12/2023 Second Connecticut Horse Confirmed Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced today the second equine case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) for 2023.