Press Releases

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• 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.

• 9/10/2024 Connecticut Local Food Spending Insights Revealed: Room for Growth Needed in Regional Food Consumption

  HARTFORD, CT – The New England Food System Planners Partnership just released a new detailed analysis of local food spending in Connecticut – Local Food Count 2022. The report reveals that $709 million of the state's total $26.3 billion in food, beverage and alcohol expenditures were directed towards local and regional products

• 9/10/2024 Connecticut Confirms First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis for 2024 in Horse

  HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture reports the state’s first case this year of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a domestic animal. EEE was detected in a 23-year-old unvaccinated gelded horse from Fairfield County. Upon examination the horse was exhibiting neurological signs. Diagnostic samples were collected and tested positive for EEE virus. 

• 9/6/2024 Connecticut Farm Businesses Highlighted in CT Building at The Big E

  HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Connecticut Office of Tourism, is gearing up for 17 days of showcasing what makes Connecticut a place to live, work, and play – including the state’s vibrant agriculture sector. This year 30 businesses highlighting the diversity of CT Grown farm products will be featured from Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 29, 2024.

• 8/23/2024 USDA Announces Funding Awarded to Connecticut to Support Specialty Crops

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced over $405,000 in funding awarded to Connecticut through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) will fund projects that strengthen Connecticut’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research.

• 8/21/2024 CT DoAg Releases Guidance for CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is pleased to release Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTG4CTK) Grant program guidance for fiscal year 2025. New this year are unique application opening dates and deadlines divided into microgrants and full grants. Microgrant applications for projects requesting up to $5,000 over a 12-month duration are now open for Tracks 1 through 4 and are due by 12:00 p.m. on September 18, 2024.

• 8/16/2024 Sixth Annual Edition of Connecticut Grown Magazine Now Available

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Grown magazine, the sixth annual guide to the state’s farms, food, and markets produced in collaboration between Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and Farm Flavor Media, is now available in print and digital versions. This edition focuses on diversifying the food system – how food is grown, where it is grown, who is growing it, and ways it is being made more accessible to consumers.