Press Releases

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• 12/19/2024 CT DoAg Encourages Owners to Help Keep Pets Safe and Healthy During Winter Holidays 7 Action Steps to Enjoy the Cold Weather and Festivities

  (HARTFORD, CT) – As you are making a list and checking it twice during your holiday preparations, be sure to include pet safety as a priority. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) reminds owners of steps they can take to help keep pets healthy and safe through the holiday festivities and winter weather.

• 12/12/2024 CT DoAg Announces $750,000 Investment in CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program 15 Projects Funded to Benefit More Than 18,000 Students

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) announces the selection of 15 projects valued at more than $750,000 to receive funding through the Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant (CTG4CTK Grant) in fiscal year 2025.

• 12/6/2024 Redeem Your Passport to CT Wine Country Stamps

  The 2024 Passport to Connecticut Wine Country, a program of the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council (CFWDC) administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, will end on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

• 11/29/2024 Shop CT Grown: Spread Holiday Cheer

  (HARTFORD, CT) – This holiday season, Connecticut Grown is inviting residents to support their local communities by shopping CT Grown with the purchase of locally grown and made farm products, from festive decorations to thoughtful gifts, delicious holiday ingredients, and much more. With Small Business Saturday fast approaching on November 30, this is the perfect opportunity to show love for local farm businesses and keep dollars circulating within the community.

• 11/21/2024 CT DoAg Announces Historic New Program to Support Farmland Acquisition

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announced the release of guidance for a historic new program which will increase access to farm ownership opportunities, market access, and capital funding for socially disadvantaged farmers in Connecticut.

• 11/21/2024 CT DoAg Announces Historic New Program to Support Farmland Acquisition

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announced the release of guidance for a historic new program which will increase access to farm ownership opportunities, market access, and capital funding for socially disadvantaged farmers in Connecticut. Connecticut is the only state department of agriculture to be awarded funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the implementation of the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (LCMA) program.

• 11/19/2024 Consumer Advisory: State Officials Urge Residents to Make Informed Decisions When Purchasing Raw Milk 

  (HARTFORD, CT) – State officials from Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) are urging consumers to be aware of the potential risks associated with consumption of raw milk. Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria or viruses that may pose serious health risks. If you choose to purchase and drink raw milk, keep the following in mind.

• 11/4/2024 CT DoAg Accepting Applications for Low-Income Spay/Neuter Program Starting November 4

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) will begin accepting applications for the Animal Population Control Program’s (APCP) Low-Income Program on Monday, November 4, 2024, to assist eligible Connecticut residents with spaying or neutering a dog or cat they own. Applications must be submitted using the new APCP portal.

• 11/1/2024 CT DoAg Announces Farm Transition Grant to Support Diversification and Expansion of Agricultural Businesses

  (Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) announces the release of Farm Transition Grant program guidance for fiscal year 2025. Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives are eligible to apply with a focus on projects seeking to diversify existing operations or transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales. All applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, January 10, 2025.

• 10/31/2024 LT. GOVERNOR BYSIEWICZ AND AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER HURLBURT CELEBRATE FARMLAND PRESERVATION MILESTONE OF 50,000 ACRES

  (Hartford, CT) – Yesterday, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt were joined by partners to celebrate the protection of 50,000 acres statewide since the inception of the farmland preservation program in 1979. This significant achievement is part of a long-term goal to preserve 130,000 acres of farmland, ensuring that agriculture remains a vital part of Connecticut’s landscape and cornerstone of the state’s economy.

• 10/17/2024 USDA and Connecticut Award Over $670,000 to Projects that Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has partnered with Connecticut to award over $670,000 for three projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.

• 10/8/2024 CT DoAg Issues Recall of Raw Milk from Nature View Dairy

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) has issued a stop sale and recall of bottled raw milk from Nature View Dairy in Bridgewater, CT. This action follows confirmation by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) of two human cases of Campylobacter illness which were related to the consumption of bottled raw milk. CT DoAg and DPH immediately began investigating the source of illness.

• 10/7/2024 CT DoAg Celebrates CT Grown for CT Kids Week, October 7-11

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Department of Agriculture marked the start of Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTG4CTK) Week from October 7 through October 11, with a visit to Beman Middle School in Middletown to announce nearly $80,000 to fund 19 CTG4CTK microgrant projects. Upon implementation these awards will continue developing farm to school programs throughout the state with the potential to positively impact more than 3,300 students. Beman Middle School received a CTG4CTK Grant award in fiscal year 2023 to provide a multi-faceted experiential learning opportunity for more than 900 students.

• 10/4/2024 Celebrate the Fall Harvest: Explore Connecticut Farms for a Fun-Filled Experience

  (HARTFORD, CT) – As the leaves turn and the air cools, it’s time to embrace the beauty of autumn and all the delightful activities it brings. This fall, CT Grown invites families and friends to create lasting memories by visiting local farms for a variety of harvest activities, including pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, corn mazes, and award-winning farm wineries. Experience the joys of fall harvest activities that bring together community, tradition, and fun by gathering your loved ones and heading out to explore all that Connecticut’s farms have to offer.

• 9/12/2024 LT. GOVERNOR BYSIEWICZ AND AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER HURLBURT ANNOUNCE $250,000 FUNDING TO 12 RECIPIENTS OF THE CONNECTICUT RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT’S CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM

  (Bethany, CT) – On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt held a press conference at Clover Nook Farm in Bethany joined by Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (CT RC&D) to announce the awardees from Round 2 of its Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program. In this second round of funding, CT RC&D administered $250,000 to twelve farms around Connecticut. This funding will drive over $663,000 in climate smart projects.