Press Releases

Page 6 of 16

• 12/1/2023 CT DOAG ANNOUNCES FARMLAND RESTORATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCY & PREPAREDNESS GRANT OPPORTUNITY

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is accepting grant proposals for the 2024 Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency & Disaster Preparedness Grant (RRP). Support is available to provide Connecticut agricultural producers and not for profits directly involved in production agriculture funding for investments which will increase the long-term climate resiliency of farming operations and decrease farm vulnerability to extreme weather events. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

• 11/21/2023 Connecticut Dog Owners Reminded to Vaccinate Pets to Protect From Illness

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is reminding dog owners to exert caution as an atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRDC) has been reported nationally and in nearby northeast states. CIRDC is commonly referred to as “kennel cough”, a highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory tract in dogs.

• 11/17/2023 CT DoAg Encourages Eligible Participants to use Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Benefits for Holiday Meal Purchases

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is encouraging eligible participants to visit a certified farmers’ market or farm stand to use their Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits before they expire on November 30, 2023. Unused funds will not rollover to 2024. Eligible participants include women enrolled in Women, Infants, and Child (WIC) through the Department of Public Health, as well as seniors over the age of 60 and disabled individuals who meet income and housing guidelines.

• 11/10/2023 CT Veteran Grown Program Launched to Support CT's Farmer Veteran Businesses

  The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Connecticut, in coordination with Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D) and Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAG) announce the release of the newly created website, CTVeteranGrown.org, in advance of Veterans Day as part of a larger three-year program to provide the state’s Farmer Veterans marketing assistance and resources to help in their long-term success.

• 11/3/2023 CT DoAg Announces Grant Opportunities to Assist Connecticut Agricultural Producers

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is accepting grant proposals for the 2024 Farm Transition Grant (FTG) to assist Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives in the diversification of existing operations, transition to value-added agricultural production and sales, and other venues in which a majority of products sold are grown in the state. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.   

• 10/30/2023 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Accepting Applications For Low-Income Pet Vaccinations and Sterilizations Starting November 1

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Animal Population Control Program (APCP) will begin accepting applications for the Low-Income Program to assist eligible Connecticut residents with vaccination and sterilization of their owned pets on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Application forms are available for download in English and Spanish at https://portal.ct.gov/DOAG/Regulatory/Regulatory/Animal-Population-Control-Program. They must be completed and returned by mail.

• 10/24/2023 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces New Leadership for Bureau of Regulatory Services

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announces new leadership for the Bureau of Regulatory Services with the hiring of Alexander Duffy, CCA as Bureau Director and promotion of James Allyn to Assistant Bureau Director.

• 10/19/2023 CT DoAg Responds to Overturned Cattle Trailer

  The 30 remaining animals have been loaded onto a new trailer and will be transported to a facility to be evaluated by the State Veterinarian. CT DoAg is committed to ensuring the health and welfare of livestock and reminds those transporting animals to adhere to safe driving practices to provide a safe journey.

• 10/12/2023 Second Connecticut Horse Confirmed Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced today the second equine case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) for 2023.

• 10/12/2023 CT Grown Announces "Put CT Grown On Your Plate" Healthy Eating Challenge

  This fall, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s (CT DoAg) CT Grown program challenges consumers across the state to “Put CT Grown On Your Plate,” a new program that asks residents to make room on their plates for Connecticut-grown or produced foods at every meal.

• 10/6/2023 CT DoAg Annouces Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant Opportunity to Develop Farm to School Programs

  (HARTFORD) The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is now accepting applications for the CT Grown for CT Kids (CTG4CTK) Grant program for projects which develop or enhance Farm to School programs in Connecticut. An additional $2 million is also available for a Shipping Container Grower Grant for projects connected to Farm to School. The application deadline is Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Applications received after 4:00 p.m. will not be considered.

• 10/6/2023 Connecticut Department of Agriculture Announces Farmland Restoration Flood Response Grant Awards

• 10/4/2023 Connecticut Horse Confirmed Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced today the first equine case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) for 2023.

• 10/4/2023 CT Grown introduces new brand ambassador — renowned cheesemaker Lily Orr

  HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut’s farming industry will have a new voice and face this fall as renowned farmer and cheesemaker Lily Orr has signed on as the new ambassador for CT Grown. Orr, who was raised on a multigenerational dairy farm in Thompson, will be highly visible throughout the state’s entire agricultural landscape — from making video content and social media posts to appearances at agricultural fairs and visiting farms in every corner of Connecticut. 

• 9/29/2023 Connecticut Confirms First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis for 2023 in Emu

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is reporting Connecticut’s first case this year of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in domestic animals. EEE was detected in a 10-year-old male emu from Windham County.