Press Releases

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• 7/1/2022 Himmelstein Farm in Lebanon Permanently Protected

  (Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) announces that during fiscal year 2022, which ended on June 30, a total of 16 farms and 1,432 acres have been permanently protected through the Farmland Preservation Program. Since the inception of the program in 1979 the state has protected 47,611 acres of farmland and more than 400 farms.

• 6/28/2022 Stars, Stripes, and Sweet Corn

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Summer is officially underway as Connecticut farmers are picking early varieties of sweet corn in time for you to celebrate our nation’s independence this upcoming weekend. Whether you are planning to invite friends and family over for a barbeque or heading to a campground or the beach, Connecticut’s farm stands and farmers’ markets have everything to fill your grill or cool you down.

• 6/27/2022 Birkbeck Farm in North Stonington Permanently Protected

  (Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is pleased to announce the preservation of Birkbeck Farm in North Stonington. This 69-acre farm was protected in concert with Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT) and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) bringing the tally of farms protected this fiscal year by CT DoAg to 15 farms and 1,400 acres.

• 6/9/2022 Pick-Your-Own Connecticut Grown Strawberries

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut’s pick-your-own farms are bursting with ripe, juicy strawberries ready to be eaten. Now is the time to visit a Connecticut berry patch for a fun experience with family and friends!

• 6/8/2022 The Connecticut Department of Agriculture Awards 22 Farmland Restoration Program Grants Totaling $400,000

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announces that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has awarded funds to 22 projects from the Farmland Restoration Program (FLRP), totaling $400,000 to Connecticut farmers, landowners, non-profits, and municipalities to increase food and fiber production by restoring prime and important farmland soils into active agricultural production.

• 6/3/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces Additional Funding Opportunities for Connecticut Specialty Crops

  (HARTFORD) The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is pleased to announce the competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for projects that enhance competitiveness of specialty crops in Connecticut.

• 4/29/2022 Officials Raise Awareness of the Correlation Between Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse, and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence

  (Newington, CT) - Officials from across the state today discussed the correlation between animal cruelty, child maltreatment and other forms of interpersonal violence.

• 4/29/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Awards 33 Farms Transition Grants Totaling $515,953

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announces that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has awarded funds to 33 projects from the Farm Transition Grant (FTG) program, totaling $515,953 to strengthen the economic viability of Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives seeking to expand, diversify, and improve their existing operation.

• 4/22/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces Permanent Protection of 400th Connecticut Farm Contributing to Environmental Sustainability

  (Hartford, CT) – Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt today celebrated Earth Day and agriculture’s commitment to environmental sustainability by visiting Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, CT, to announce the milestone achievement of the state’s 400th permanently protected farm.

• 4/21/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Hosts USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt, Signs Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) today hosted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at Connecticut Foodshare in Wallingford to sign a cooperative agreement under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through the agreement, CT DoAg will receive funding to promote economic opportunities for Connecticut food producers. Connecticut is the second state to enter into a cooperative agreement under the program.

• 3/31/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Investigates Contaminated Milk Incident

  (STATEWIDE) The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) Bureau of Regulatory Services is investigating an incident involving Guida’s Dairy in New Britain, CT. The incident is regarding 1% low-fat half-pint milk cartons with a sell by date of APR 11 that contains diluted sanitizer.

• 3/25/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces Farm Viability Grant Recipients

  $337,000 Awarded to 11 Connecticut Municipalities and Agricultural Non-Profits to Foster, Sustain, Develop, and Promote Local Agriculture

• 3/24/2022 Connecticut Milk Promotion Board Announces Funding Opportunities

• 3/2/2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Non-Commercial Backyard Flock in New London County

  Poultry producers and hobbyists encouraged to practice biosecurity measures to prevent spread of the disease

• 2/20/2022 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Warns Poultry Producers of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

  Heightened Biosecurity Recommended Following Detection in Multiple States Including New York