Agricultural Viability

Guiding Principle:
Agriculture provides critical goods and services to Connecticut’s citizens and ecosystems. Viable agriculture enhances the quality of life for the state’s residents through strengthening the economy, preserving cultural heritages, protecting natural resources, and increasing food security.

Goal:
To increase the viability and profitability of the Connecticut agricultural industry and its
landscapes.

Strategies:
• Facilitate and coordinate emerging efforts by organizations, citizen groups, and governmental
bodies to develop a statewide strategy to increase agricultural profitability and viability.
• Develop linkages between agricultural interest groups and statewide efforts to develop green
infrastructure and livable communities.
• Initiate and support efforts to educate the general public, government officials, and the agricultural
community on the benefits of a viable agriculture in Connecticut, and the tools available to
ensure its survival.
• Develop and initiate grant project to promote the economic and cultural importance of farmland
protection to municipal officials and decision-makers.
• Work with like-minded organizations in agriculturally related public outreach efforts.
• Support legislation to preserve and protect farm land in Connecticut.
• Assist municipalities in increasing the viability of agriculture in their communities.

Projects:
• Partner with USDA-Rural Development to assist agricultural producers with the development of
energy conservation and renewable energy grants.
A. Host a field trip to show producers and partners projects funded through Rural
Development’s REAP energy grant program
B. Hold Workshops to provide information on the CT farm Energy program and Rural
Development grant availability
C. Provide grant writing assistance to AG Producers and AG based small businesses in
the RC&D area
D. Develop a CT Farm Energy Best Management Practices Guide
• Partner with The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and King’s Mark RC&D to implement the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Program to develop conservation management practices for diversified livestock operations.
• Partner with CT Department of Agriculture, American Farmland Trust, Local Agricultural Producers, Towns and others through the CLAIM-IT initiative. CLAIM-IT is a partnership initiative with a focus on developing strategies and implementing projects that address key agricultural issues.
• Work with The Last Green Valley, NRCS, USDA Farm Service Agency, UConn, CT Department of Agriculture and
others to implement the AGvocate program in Eastern Connecticut.
• Implement the North Canaan 319h* project North Canaan Nutrient Management – Dairy Manure Nutrient
Removal System, in Partnership with the Canaan Cooperative.
• Through participation in the CT Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, provide leadership and recommendations on improving farmland protection policies in Connecticut.
• Partner with the Celebrating Agriculture event to showcase the benefits agriculture provides to the region as well as the challenges farms face today.
A. Provide assistance with publicity and outreach
• Partner with USDA Rural Development to provide environmental assistance with an air quality study to a local slaughterhouse and processing facility.
• Partner with NRCS and UCONN on forestry workshops to promote the available of programs and resources to forest landowners.
• Partnering with American Farmland Trust develop Sample Livestock Regulations for Connecticut Municipalities.
• With funding through 319h* implement a project to evaluate the potential of using dairy manure to replace peat in nursery crops.
• Assist municipalities in increasing the viability of agriculture in their communities through outreach activities and technical assistance

* Project funded by CT DEP through US EPA Clean Water Act 319h