CT DoAg Announces Millions in State Grants to Increase Long Term Climate Resiliency

Press Releases

04/15/2024

CT DoAg Announces $1.475 Million in State Grants to Increase Long-Term Climate Resiliency in Production Agriculture

(HARTFORD, CT) – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt today announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is awarding $1.475 million in state funding to farmers and non-profits involved in production agriculture to invest in long-term climate resiliency projects which will decrease vulnerability to extreme weather events through regenerative agricultural practices.

“Connecticut’s agricultural producers have demonstrated a strong desire to implement sustainable farming practices to be part of the climate change solution while also mitigating the impacts of more extreme weather events,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “Through these strategic investments, farmers will be able to conduct projects to improve soils for increased productivity and enhanced resilience.”

The 20 funded projects are part of the Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency and Preparedness Grant, which was authorized by and funded through Connecticut General Statues 22-6c with a focus on restoring and improving land with prime and important farmland soils. Funds can be used for capital investments, including equipment, to implement farming practices that will have a multi-year or cumulative effect on the climate resiliency of the land or farming operation. CT DoAg received 66 eligible grant applications requesting up to $4.8 million in funding. Of the 20 awards, 13 were directed towards beginning/underserved producers and 5 to BIPOC producers.

Awardees will be provided technical assistance by a soil scientist or other advisor assigned by and paid for by CT DoAg in the development of their Farmland Restoration and Climate Resiliency Plan (FRCR Plan). Upon approval of the FRCR Plan by CT DoAg, grantees will receive funding to implement the FRCR Plan.

The fiscal year 2024 Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency and Preparedness Grant recipients are:

• Barkhamsted – The Stead Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Forest Management, Enhanced Grazing Land Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Canaan – Howling Flats Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Enhanced Grazing Land Management)
• Coventry – Still River Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management)
• East Granby – Oxen Hill Farm, LLC: $100,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity)
• Ellington – Oakridge Dairy LLC: $100,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Guilford – Arbor Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Enhanced Grazing Land Management)
• Lebanon – Graywall Farms LLC: $100,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Ledyard – Full Heart Farm: $50,000 (Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Morris – Hungry Reaper Farm: $100,000 (Water Management, Forest Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Morris – Lakeside Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Naugatuck – Sunset Farm: $50,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• North Stonington: Grijalva Cattle Co. LLC: $100,000 (Forest Management, Enhanced Grazing Land Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Northford – Cecarellis Harrison Hill Farm: $100,000 (Soil Health and Organic Matter Biodiversity, Water Management, Capital Improvements and Purchases)
• Oxford – Rowland Farm, LLC: $100,000 (Water Management, Forest Management, Enhanced Grazing Land Management)
• Putnam – Assawaga Farm: $50,000 (Water Management, Forest Management)
• Stafford SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 15: Life on Land

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
  • SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  • SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  Although the article does not explicitly mention indicators, the following indicators can be inferred:

  • Number of funded projects focused on regenerative agricultural practices
  • Amount of state funding allocated to farmers and non-profits for climate resiliency projects
  • Number of beginning/underserved producers and BIPOC producers awarded grants
  • Number of projects focused on soil health and organic matter biodiversity, water management, forest management, enhanced grazing land management, and capital improvements and purchases

  Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  SDGs	Targets	Indicators
  SDG 2: Zero Hunger	SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.	– Number of funded projects focused on regenerative agricultural practices – Amount of state funding allocated to farmers and non-profits for climate resiliency projects – Number of beginning/underserved producers and BIPOC producers awarded grants – Number of projects focused on soil health and organic matter biodiversity, water management, forest management, enhanced grazing land management, and capital improvements and purchases
  SDG 13: Climate Action	SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.	– Number of funded projects focused on climate resiliency – Amount of state funding allocated to climate resiliency projects – Number of projects focused on soil health and organic matter biodiversity, water management, forest management, enhanced grazing land management, and capital improvements and purchases
  SDG 15: Life on Land	SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.	– Number of funded projects focused on land restoration and improvement – Amount of state funding allocated to land restoration projects – Number of projects focused on soil health and organic matter biodiversity, water management, forest management, enhanced grazing land management, and capital improvements and purchases

  Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

  Source: portal.ct.gov

   

  

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