Press Releases

Page 2 of 13

• 3/21/2024 Jared McCool of Steadfast Farms in Bethlehem Named Connecticut’s Outstanding Young Farmer in 2024

  HARTFORD, Conn. — Unlike many past Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) recipients, the 2024 honoree is a relative newcomer to agriculture. In fact, it began on a pheasant hunting trip with friends following his time with the US Marine Corps. Jared McCool, owner of Steadfast Farms and Steadfast Farms Poultry Processing and Slaughter in Bethlehem was named Connecticut’s Outstanding Young Farmer during Ag Day at the Capitol in Hartford on March 20, 2024.

• 3/12/2024 Update on Connecticut Horse Confirmed Positive for Equine Infectious Anemia

  HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian Dr. Jane Lewis, DVM, MSFS, DACVPM, confirms that the Windham County horse which was confirmed positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) on March 7, 2024, has been humanely euthanized. The other horses on the property remain under quarantine and will be undergoing EIA testing at regular intervals.

• 3/8/2024 Connecticut Horse Confirmed Positive for Equine Infectious Anemia

  HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s (CT DoAg) State Veterinarian, Dr. Jane Lewis, DVM, MSFS, DACVPM, announced today a confirmed case of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in a eight-year-old Quarter Horse in Windham County. The diagnosis was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) on March 7, 2024.

• 3/7/2024 Connecticut’s Backyard Flock Owners Encouraged to Practice Biosecurity for Healthy Flocks, Healthy People

  HARTFORD, Conn. — Spring season is upon us, and many residents may be considering starting or adding to their flock with the purchase of baby poultry including chicks and ducklings from farm stores throughout the state. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is reminding backyard and commercial flock owners of proper biosecurity measures to keep both people and birds healthy.

• 3/5/2024 Agricultural Businesses Encouraged to Apply to Exhibit in CT Building at The Big E

  HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is now accepting vendor applications for the agricultural booth spaces inside the Connecticut Building at the 2024 Big E. The Connecticut Building is one of six New England buildings on the Avenue of the States at The Big E in West Springfield, MA. The 17-day annual event will take place September 13-29, 2024, offering farms, small agricultural businesses, and agricultural non-profit organizations based in Connecticut the opportunity to market their products and promote their services.

• 3/1/2024 CT DoAg Announces New Census of Agriculture Data Available

  (HARTFORD, CT) The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) has received the results of the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2022 Census of Agriculture, with new information about Connecticut farms and those who operate them, including data about decision-making, down to the county level. The average farm size in Connecticut is 74 acres, a 7% increase from 2017, however the amount of land in farms has decreased by 2.5% to 372,000 acres. The number of farms in Connecticut has declined to 5,058, however net farm income has increased by 90%. The data also shows that the total value of agricultural products is $704 million, an increase of 21% with nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod totaling $362 million or 51% of the total sales.

• 2/16/2024 CT DoAg Encourages Consumers to Sign Up for Farm Shares during National CSA Week, February 19-25

  HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is encouraging consumers to sign up for a farm share during National CSA Week, which will run from February 19-25, 2024. This annual celebration of Community Supported Agriculture is a time to recognize the value of buying direct from local producers and enhance the connection between consumer and farmer.

• 2/8/2024 CT DoAg Awards $2.8 Million Investing in 53 Farm-to-School Based Projects

  (HARTFORD, CT) The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is awarding 53 grants totaling more than $2.8 million through its Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant (CTG4CTK Grant) to increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state's economy.

• 2/7/2024 USDA Partners with Connecticut to Award Over $2.1 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Connecticut under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Connecticut are working together to offer over $2.1 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Connecticut is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through April 10, 2024.

• 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.