Press Releases

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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.
3/25/2024 CT DoAg Funds 21 Agricultural Enhancement Grant Projects
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the 2024 Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program (previously known as the Farm Viability Grant) has awarded more than $531,000 to fund 21 projects received from Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments, and/or agricultural non-profit organizations for projects that directly impact or foster agricultural viability.
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.
2/5/2020 Outstanding Young Farmer Congress
Connecticut welcomed more than 200 members of the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) to the National Outstanding Young Farmers (NOYF) Congress from February 6-9 in Westbrook. Attendees included former NOYF alumni, sponsors and other agricultural professionals, as well as 10 finalists from across the nation. The organization gathered to honor the outstanding achievements of America’s young agriculturalists.
7/3/2024 Request for Proposals Released for CT FarmLink Program Technical Assistance
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is in search of qualified entities to support the agency with administering the Connecticut FarmLink program (FarmLink).
7/19/2024 Equine Owners Reminded to Protect Against Mosquito Diseases
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) reminds the state’s equine community to take appropriate measures to protect against mosquito-borne diseases this season, including eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV).
2/26/2020 Maple Sugaring Season Kicks Off
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt joined Rob Lamothe, owner of Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington, on Friday, February 14 to participate in a ceremonial maple tapping in celebration of Connecticut’s “sweetest” time of the year, the start of maple sugaring season.
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.
7/19/2024 New One-on-One Support Available to Connecticut’s Agriculture Industry
(HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut’s agriculture industry, including producers, food businesses, and non-profits sourcing CT Grown farm products, now have access to new one-on-one business technical assistance and grant coaching. Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is utilizing funds available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant Program (RFSI) to contract with three separate entities to provide an array of services, including but not limited to, market diversification and development, supply chain coordination, and business and financial planning.
7/3/2024 CT DoAg Issues Milk Handling Recommendations for Exhibitors and Event Organizers
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) has issued milk handling recommendations for exhibitors and event organizers to minimize the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1).
8/19/2020 Connecticut Producers Urged to Enroll in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is urging dairy producers to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide vital financial assistance to absorb sales losses and increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, August 17, 2020, Connecticut dairy producers have received $5.9 million in payments, accounting for 86% of payments made to Connecticut. USDA is accepting CFAP applications now through September 11, 2020. Producers should apply through the Farm Service Agency at their local USDA Service Center. Learn more at farmers.gov/cfap. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state's economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.
2/5/2020 CONNECTICUT REGIONAL MARKET TRANSFERRED TO CAPITAL REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
(HARTFORD, CT) – Per Section 10 of Public Act 18-154, the Connecticut Regional Market located at 101 Reserve Road in Hartford has been conveyed to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) effective January 1, 2020 clearly outlines the duties of each entity going forward.
10/9/2020 Department of Agriculture begins initiative to increase market share for Connecticut producers
Plans include research, development and roll out of a 12-month marketing campaign to promote Connecticut Grown agriculture and aquaculture.
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.