Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This page serves as the program’s central FAQ resource. Questions received through the program email inbox will be aggregated, answered, and routinely published here. This page was updated on August 31, 2026.
Table of Contents
General Program Questions | Eligibility Questions | Key Definition & Terms
Application & Documentation | What Counts Toward Crop Revenue | Crop Loss
Infrastructure | Payment Questions | Still Have a Question?
General Program Questions
Are there any additional loss categories that are not currently open?
The program currently only funds Crop Production Loss, Infrastructure Loss, and Future Economic Loss. Three additional categories – Timber Loss, Bare-Ground Practices, and Other Infrastructure – are not currently active, and CT DoAg may open them later based on producer demand and FSA approval. The application includes a survey to gauge need.
Is my payment taxable?
CT DoAg cannot provide tax advice. Payments are reported to the IRS as required; please consult a tax professional about how an award affects your situation.
What is the Connecticut Farm Recovery & Support Block Grant Program?
It is a financial assistance program administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to compensate Connecticut producers for documented crop, infrastructure, and future economic losses resulting from eligible weather events in 2023 and/or 2024. The program is authorized under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division B of the American Relief Act, 2025; P.L. 118-158).
Who is administering the program?
CT DoAg administers the program using federal funds provided through USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Is this a grant or a loan? Do I have to pay it back?
This is a grant program, not a loan. Payments to eligible producers do not need to be repaid, provided the information certified in your application is accurate and you comply with program requirements. Payments determined to be based on false statements, or that result in a duplication of benefits, may be subject to recovery.
What types of assistance are available?
There are three loss categories:
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Crop Production Loss – for eligible crop revenue losses.
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Infrastructure Loss – for damage to eligible agricultural structures and farm infrastructure.
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Future Economic Loss – for perennial crop losses that reduce production over multiple years while crops are replanted and reach maturity.
What weather events and years are covered?
The program covers adverse weather events in 2023 or 2024 that CT DoAg, in its sole discretion, determines warrant relief—including storms, frost and freeze events, hail, drought, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall or flooding. Coverage is not limited to federally declared disasters; localized events may also qualify. The specific event is certified by the producer in their application.
What commodities are eligible—and what is excluded?
Eligible commodities broadly include crops grown for food, fiber, feed, or fuel, as well as aquaculture, nursery stock, orchard and maple trees, Christmas trees, and perennial fruit crops. The following are excluded: livestock, honeybees, timber (currently), crops grown solely for grazing, and cannabis that does not meet the definition of hemp.
What if my loss doesn't fit the current categories (e.g., timber or land restoration)?
The current program covers crop, infrastructure, and future economic losses. CT DoAg may open additional categories—such as timber or bare-ground practices—later if there is sufficient demonstrated interest, subject to USDA approval. A survey during the application process will help gauge that need.
Eligibility Questions
Can I be reimbursed for the NAP or RMA crop insurance premiums I paid?
Reimbursement of insurance premiums is not an allowable expense under USDA rules. The program compensates for documented crop, infrastructure, and future economic losses, reduced by any insurance proceeds received for the same loss.
My loss was already covered, in whole or in part, by insurance or another program. Am I still eligible?
You may still apply, but your payment will be reduced by amounts already received for the same loss – including Federal crop insurance, private insurance, and state or federal recovery payments. This prevents a duplication of benefits (see Definitions).
Who qualifies as an Eligible Producer?
An Eligible Producer is an individual or legal entity that suffered an eligible loss in Connecticut as a direct result of an eligible weather event in 2023 and/or 2024, and who held an ownership share and production risk in the eligible crop, livestock, or poultry. Producers must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, a partnership or corporation composed solely of citizens/resident aliens, or an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization. The operation must also meet the definition of an Eligible Farm—a place that produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more in agricultural products during the year.
I didn't respond to the earlier CT DoAg loss survey. Can I still apply?
Yes. Eligibility is based on meeting the program's producer, loss, and documentation requirements. Participation in any prior loss survey is not an eligibility condition.
What is the minimum loss threshold to apply?
Minimum Loss Threshold: Each program category carries a $500 minimum loss threshold. A producer must have experienced at least $500 in eligible losses within a category to apply for assistance under that category.
Can I apply if I already received insurance or other disaster assistance?
Yes. However, to prevent a duplication of benefits, your payment will be reduced by amounts already received to compensate for the same loss—including federal crop insurance, private insurance, and other state or federal recovery program payments.
Are there payment limits?
Yes. For each program category, per eligible year, payments are limited to the lesser of 95% of your eligible loss or $1,000,000.
Key Definitions and Terms
Allowable Gross Revenue (AGR). Your total revenue (Schedule F or other allowable tax document) for a year minus excluded or ineligible revenue, tied to eligible commodities. It is the basis for the Standard Revenue Method of crop loss.
Baseline Year. A single year you select between 2020 and 2025 that fairly represents your normal AGR. The same baseline year is compared against both disaster years (2023 and/or 2024).
Infrastructure. Buildings (including immovable equipment and machinery needed for production), above-ground irrigation, on-farm roads, bridges, and culverts. Easily movable equipment, wells, pumps, and main supply lines are generally not eligible.
Future Economic Loss. Multi-year revenue loss because perennial crops – or crops that take several years to mature – were damaged or destroyed, covering the years between (re)planting and full production.
Payment Limitation. The maximum award per loss category per eligible year: the lesser of $1,000,000 or up to 95% recovery of eligible loss. Under the crop-loss Minimum Payment Method, the cap is $150,000 per crop year.
Program Factor / Payment Factor. Program factor is the fixed 95% recovery rate; payment factor is an equitable proration applied only if a category is oversubscribed.
Duplication of Benefits (DOB). Receiving assistance from more than one source for the same loss. Total assistance may not exceed your documented loss, and overpayments are recovered.
View the Full List of Definitions and Terms
Application and Documentation
My farm changed its business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship to an LLC) and now has a different EIN. Can I still apply using my prior tax years?
A change in business structure does not necessarily prevent you from applying, provided you can demonstrate that this is a continuing business entity and operation. In the application narrative, you should explain the transition between the prior and current structures, noting whether the business operations, locations, and farming activities remained the same despite the change in legal structure. You should also upload supporting documentation that helps establish continuity between the two structures — for example, FSA records showing the transfer of farm records, organizational documents, or tax records. Whether the documentation adequately demonstrates continuity is determined during review of the application.
What if my tax records or Schedule F don’t clearly break out my eligible farm revenue?
The program’s Allowable Gross Revenue (AGR) Estimate Worksheet helps you place revenue from your financial records (such as QuickBooks or other accounting reports) onto the appropriate Schedule F lines within the application, and a published revenue guide explains which income is included or excluded. Please also review the AGR Estimate Worksheet instructional video: Link.
For farmers who file IRS Form 1120, the Department is developing a separate worksheet that helps translate financial information into the Schedule F structure. If additional records would help support, validate, or explain the amount you are claiming, please upload that documentation to your application. Program staff can provide technical assistance on how to use the program worksheets, but cannot provide tax advice.
How does the program handle income that was earned in one year but reported to the IRS in a different year (e.g., deferred proceeds)?
Revenue (and any offsetting insurance or program payments) is counted in the tax year it appears on your return, regardless of the year the underlying loss or activity occurred. Because payments are calculated by comparing a baseline revenue year to a disaster year, the timing of when income lands on your return can impact your calculated loss. If your income shifted across tax years, consider whether a different eligible baseline year better reflects your operation, and consult a tax professional with questions.
How do I identify where my loss occurred if my farm spans multiple parcels or I lease from multiple owners?
Contiguous acreage
operated as a single farm can be treated as one operating location. To identify each location where you experienced loss, you may use any one of the following:
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Physical address
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Latitude/longitude
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USDA FSA Farm Track and Field Number
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Tax Parcel ID
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Map/Block/Lot number
How do I apply, and how many applications do I submit?
Applications are submitted through the dedicated online portal. Submit one application per EIN or SSN, including all eligible losses tied to that number. The portal is projected to open in early September 2026.
What documents will I need to apply?
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Personal and business contact information, and a W-9
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FSA Farm Number, if applicable
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IRS Schedule F (Form 1040) or other CT DoAg-approved documentation, plus the AGR Estimate Worksheet (Provided by CT DoAg)
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CT Certificate of Legal Existence and corporate officer information, for entities
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Property details – Tax Parcel ID and physical address
Depending on the loss claimed, also provide evidence of loss, such as a revenue reduction on Schedule F (or allowable tax document), photos of the damage, insurance settlement records, or contractor quotes, invoices, or receipts for repair or replacement.
How do I handle crop insurance or disaster payments (Lines 6b and 6d) received in a different tax year than the loss?
Report the revenue in the tax year it appears on your return. For example, a 2023 claim that was paid and reported on your 2024 tax return stays in the 2024 tax year.
How do I identify a property if I don't have a clear tax parcel number or street address?
Nearly early every parcel has an identifier, and most properties (including rented or municipally owned land) have records on file. Use the Connecticut Parcel Viewer to search by clicking the plot or entering an address. At minimum, provide a physical address or Parcel ID so CT DoAg can locate where the activity took place.
How long must I keep my records?
Retain program records for three years after funds are distributed, or until any audit or litigation is resolved, whichever is later.
When does the portal open?
Applications will be submitted through a dedicated online portal, which is currently being finalized. The portal is expected to open in rounds, with the first round anticipated in early fall 2026. Please monitor this website and the program email inbox for the official opening announcement.
Will I need to certify my information, and how long should I keep records?
Yes. Applicants must certify that all statements are true and correct, and false statements may carry civil and/or criminal liability. Producers are also required to retain relevant financial and program records for at least three years after program funds are distributed.
What can I do now to prepare?
While the portal is being finalized, review the program categories to determine which may apply to your operation, begin gathering loss records and documentation, monitor this website for updates, and submit any questions to the program email inbox.
Which Program Payments Count Toward Your Crop Revenue?
How do I know which federal farm program and disaster payments count toward my crop revenue?
For the Crop Production Loss program, your loss is measured by comparing your farm’s revenue in a normal “baseline” year against a disaster year (2023 or 2024). Program payments are reported on your Schedule F, primarily on Line 4b (agricultural program payments) and Lines 6b & 6d (crop insurance and disaster payments). In general, only count payments tied to an eligible crop. The charts below list which programs are included and excluded on each line, which is also found in the program’s AGR revenue guide.
Line 4b: Agricultural Program Payments
Only the following allowable agricultural program payments count. Pandemic assistance and the other programs listed on the right are excluded.
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✓ Counts (Included) |
✗ Doesn’t Count (Excluded) |
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Pandemic Assistance payments, including but not limited to:
Other Programs:
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Lines 6b & 6d: Crop Insurance & Disaster Payments
Payments related to an eligible crop count. Payments tied to livestock, honeybees, or dairy excluded.
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✓ Counts (Included) |
✗ Doesn’t Count (Excluded) |
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Any payment related to an Eligible Crop, including:
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Any payment not related to an Eligible Crop, including:
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Crop Loss Calculation
How is my crop loss calculated?
You choose one of two methods, applied consistently across disaster years:
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Standard Revenue Method – (Baseline Year AGR − Disaster Year AGR) × 95% × payment factor. Cap: lesser of 95% of eligible loss or $1,000,000 per crop year.
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Minimum Payment Method – a simplified flat-rate approach using published loss rates (23.91% for 2023 and 5.26% for 2024). You submit your tax return for the disaster year to verify AGR. Cap: lesser of 95% of the calculated amount or $150,000 per crop year.
Which baseline year should I choose?
Any single year from 2020 through 2025 that best represents your typical AGR. The same baseline year applies to both the 2023 and 2024 comparisons, so choose a representative, non-disaster year.
Infrastructure Loss
Can I be reimbursed for using my own labor or equipment to make infrastructure repairs?
Eligible Producers who used self-labor to complete infrastructure projects may claim an hourly reimbursement rate of $40/hr. per unit. The producer must include an accounting of the number of hours spent on each repair or reconstruction project in their application. Please note that the USDA has not allowed costs specific to owned equipment or machines that are used forthe infrastructure repairs or replacements.
Eligible: livestock, poultry, or aquaculture facilities; barns; greenhouses; packing houses; immovable equipment; above-ground and immediately below-surface irrigation; on-farm roads, culverts, bridges; and plasticulture. Not eligible: equipment buildings, repair shops, well pumps and header lines, other underground irrigation, boats, and easily movable equipment. Structures must show an eligible crop, aquaculture, or livestock/poultry was present within 12 months before the event.
Do I have to repair or replace the infrastructure before I can be paid?
Yes. For the initial (2) rounds of funding, only producers who have repaired or replaced the damaged infrastructure are eligible, for either a partial or total loss claim.
How is the value of my infrastructure loss determined?
Total losses are valued at the lesser of your actual receipts or standard valuation tables. If you did the work yourself, you may claim $40/hour for self-labor with an accounting of hours per project.
What if my repair overlaps with USDA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)?
Losses already covered by ECP are not eligible for this program.
Future Economic Loss
What is Future Economic Loss and which crops qualify?
It compensates for lost revenue from perennial crops that take multiple years to mature (ex. apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and Christmas trees) covering the years between (re)planting and full production. Published per-unit and per-acre values are used; if a crop is not listed, CT DoAg uses a functionally equivalent crop.
Do I have to replant to qualify?
Yes. You must demonstrate the lost crops (or similar crops) have been replanted. Plants eligible for replanting under USDA’s Tree Assistance Program (TAP) are not eligible for replacement costs here; replacement costs for non-TAP-eligible plants can be covered.
Payment Questions
How and when will I be paid?
Payments are made by ACH transfer (paper check only by exception), generally within 30 days of CT DoAg’s final approval of the applicable round. All recommendations go to the CT DoAg Commissioner for final approval before payment.
Could my initial payment be less than my calculated award?
Yes, if a round is oversubscribed. An initial partial payment may be adjusted by a payment factor, with a possible supplemental payment after all rounds close if funds remain. No payment will exceed the payment limitation for the category.
Can I appeal an eligibility or award determination?
No. There are no appeals of eligibility or determination. Upon Commissioner approval, you will receive an email notifying you of your award amount or denial.
Could a payment be taken back after I receive it?
How are payments calculated?
losses.
Still Have a Question?
Program Email Inbox: AGR.Disaster@ct.gov
Questions received through the program inbox will be aggregated, answered, and routinely published on this page.