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UConn Extension Solid Ground “The Business of Farming” Course Starts Jan. 19-March 1, 2024

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UConn Extension Solid Ground “The Business of Farming” Course Starts Jan. 19-March 1, 2024

UCONN EXTENSION’S SOLID GROUND PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR “THE BUSINESS OF FARMING” 

This course will accommodate 15-18 participants for a 7-week learning opportunity that includes both virtual and in-person meetings (details below). It is designed to develop and strengthen the business and technical skills for beginning farmers with 0 – 3 years of experience. Historically underserved beginning farmers are encouraged to apply.

Participate in a learning experience with farmer peers and develop new networks along the way. You are welcomed to a safe space and environment to foster informal interactions, knowledge, comradery and relationship building. As we enter the winter months in agriculture, this is an important time to acquire some of the fundamental skills in farm business management, such as completing your business plan, creating farm business record-keeping, tax filing, and grant writing.

Please only apply if you can commit to attending all seven training sessions (both virtual and in-person) that take place on Fridays from January 19 – March 1.

Apply to join at: s.uconn.edu/businessoffarming

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JANUARY 9, 2024!

Farmer to Farmer Conference in Meriden CT Jan. 27, 2024

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Farmer to Farmer Conference in Meriden CT Jan. 27, 2024

FARMER TO FARMER CONFERENCE
Farming is a profession full of trial and error. Every year, we take stock of what worked and what didn’t, assess our weaknesses and strengths, and tweak the plan for next year.This winter, take the time to reflect and learn from the experiences of your fellow farmers at NCTFA’s Farmer 2 Farmer Conference.
Our conference will feature workshops on production methods, scaling up the farm, and more!

Breakfast and lunch will be served free of charge. Attendees will take home some locally saved seeds and maybe some other surprises!

There will also be a FARM HACK competition where you can show off the tools you’ve invented and win a cash prize!

Register here.

CT DoAG Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency Preparedness Grants due Jan 31, 2024

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CT DoAG Farmland Restoration, Climate Resiliency Preparedness Grants due Jan 31, 2024

FARMLAND RESTORATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCY & PREPAREDNESS GRANT OPPORTUNITY 
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.

“This grant is a revision and expansion from the previous Farmland Restoration Grant Program to better prepare our farmlands with climate resiliency outcomes and disaster preparedness planning and implementation to support Connecticut’s agricultural sector as they navigate changing weather patterns,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “Over the past four years we have experienced dramatic and more frequent extremes in weather – drought, flooding, and late freezes. This grant is one avenue to help mitigate those in the future through strategic investments while continuing to improve lands to produce food for people and livestock.”

Grant information can be found here.
Press Release is available here.

National Young Farmers Coalition Grant Applications due Jan. 15, 2024

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National Young Farmers Coalition Grant Applications due Jan. 15, 2024

YOUNG FARMERS GRANT PROGRAM
Applications due January 15, 2024
In the fifth and final year of the program, they are celebrating distributing 50 grants to a new cohort of young farmers and ranchers in 2024!
This year, forty-five awards will go to businesses already in operation, and five to farm and ranch operations starting up in 2024.
Applications are currently open for the 2024 Young Farmer Grant Program!
Applications are open until January 15th, 2024, at 3pm ET. Please reach out to em@youngfarmers.org with questions. No phone calls please.
This program seeks to support “livelihood farmers and ranchers” or those seeking long term careers that financially support them through agriculture. At this time, they are not able to offer funding to farmers who are not currently, or are not working, toward making an income farming through long-term careers in agriculture.
Applicant must be the operation owner or plan to start their own operation in 2024. For non-profit farms without “owners” applicant must be the lead farmer/farm manager. Farmer part-owners of cooperative or collective farms are qualified to apply. Please choose just one owner to represent the operation in the application.
Young farmers and ranchers who are at least 18 and not over 40 years of age as of May 1, 2024.
Applicant must use farm practices that protect natural resources for future generations.
There are no preferences for what applicants produce on their operations or for current scale of farm.
They strongly encourage farmers of color, Indigenous farmers, and farmers who are facing significant structural barriers to accessing other funding opportunities and success in agriculture to apply.
Staff and Board members of the National Young Farmers Coalition are not eligible to apply.
Recipients of the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Young Farmer Grants are not eligible to apply.

 

 

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund Applications due Jan 3, 2024

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FARMER VETERAN FELLOWSHIP FUND
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund application will be opening on January 3, 2024! Join the Farmer Veteran Coalition for a webinar on December 19, 2023, at 12pm CST where they will discuss the Fellowship Fund application and creating a business plan with our partners at Center for Farm Financial Management. For more information about the Fellowship Fund, click here.
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. The Fellowship Fund does not give money directly to the veteran, but rather to third-party vendors for items the veteran has identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000, and nearly $4 million has been awarded to more than 930 veterans since 2011.
Wanting to start a farm, but unsure if it’ll be successful? Full of great ideas for your farm, but struggle to implement them? Or maybe just trying to strategize your farm’s future, but don’t know where to start? Writing a business plan can dramatically increase the success of implementing your ideas and goals. Using the AgPlan online business planning software, this workshop will guide you in creating a business plan to incorporate your farm vision into your operation.
Webinar Registration

CT DoAG CT Grown for CT Kids Grants due Dec. 14, 2023

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CT DoAG CT Grown for CT Kids Grants due Dec. 14, 2023

CT DOAG ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS GRANT OPPORTUNITY
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.

Through a combination of financial and technical assistance, the CTG4CTK grant will help develop farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state’s economy.

CT DoAg is accepting applications for up to $50,000 in funding for 18-month long projects from eligible entities for projects which align with one of the following grant tracks. Simplified microgrants of less than $5,000 are offered in each of the four tracks as well. CT DoAg has approximately $900,000 in funds to award for CTG4CTK Grant projects in fiscal year 2024.

  • Track 1: Farm to School (K-12) Local Procurement Assistance Grant
  • Track 2: Farm to School (K-12) Experiential Learning Grant
  • Track 3: Producer Capacity Building Grant* (up to $5,000 only)
  • Track 4: Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Grant
  • Track 5: Shipping Container Grower Grant* New FY 2024 only
New this year, Track 5: Shipping Container Grower Grant is for eligible applicants seeking to purchase and install shipping container growing units that will benefit students through contracts with school districts for product grown in the container and/or building educational opportunities for students.  Funding for this was provided by the state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the 2023 legislative session. Applicants for Track 5 can apply for up to $250,000 for 24-month long projects. All applications will be evaluated through a competitive selection process by an advisory team after an administrative review by CT DoAg.

Eligible applicants include Connecticut local and regional boards of education, regional education centers, cooperative arrangements, childcare centers, group childcare homes and family childcare homes, or any organization or entity administering or assisting in the development of a farm-to-school program. Entities who received CTG4CTK funds for the two prior grant periods are not eligible to apply this year. A one-round break in funding is required.

For interested parties, there will be a webinar including a question-and-answer session on Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. This will be recorded and posted on www.CTGrown.gov/grants under the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant tab.  Please visit our webpage to register. The guidance, application portal, and additional information required to apply are available at the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program page.  CT DoAg will host weekly office hours following the webinar and grant coaching by track will also be available.

For more information visit the webpage or contact Cyrena Thibodeau at Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov or 860-895-3094.

CT DoAg Farm Transition Grants Due Jan 10, 2024

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CT DoAg Farm Transition Grants Due Jan 10, 2024

CT FARM TRANSITION GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE BY JANUARY 10, 2024
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. NEW FOR 2024:

  • A 25% advance of the grant award can be made available for Infrastructure Investment Grant, Research and Development Grant, or Innovation and Diversification Grant awardees. The remaining 75% of the award will be reimbursed upon project completion and submission of final reporting documents. New Farmer Micro Grant awardees will continue to be able to request a 50% advance of their award.
  • Applicants to the New Farmer Micro Grant can apply for funds to establish websites and conduct marketing efforts.
  • Applicants to the Research and Development Grant apply for funds to conduct in-store testing events to determine consumer viability.
The grant categories are summarized below.
  • New Farmer Micro Grants:  Up to $5,000 awarded to support new and beginning individuals or partnerships with one full year to three years of production history, seeking long-term careers that financially support them through farming and agriculture.
  • Infrastructure Investment Grant:  Up to $20,000 awarded to support farmers in production for a minimum of three years with a need for infrastructure to expand the farm’s production and operation.
  • Research and Development Grant:  Up to $25,000 awarded for farms to conduct research to assess the viability and interest to develop a new product line, service, or market.
  • Innovation and Diversification Grant:  Up to $49,999 awarded for the implementation of a new product or service for market or business expansion after a research and development phase has been explored.

Grant guidelines and forms can be found at www.CTGrown.gov/grants with additional details on match requirements and eligible expenses.  Applications will be scored by a review panel. Grant awards to be announced in February 2024.

APPLY HERE.

Webinars:

  • November 16, 2023, from 10-11:30am: Click here to view a recording of the grant overview workshop or to access the presentation slides.
  • November 30, 2023, from 10-11:30am: Click here to register for the workshop to explain the intricacies of the budget sheet and budget narrative, complete a mock budget sheet, and provide tips and tricks to allow Excel to work for you, rather than against you.
  • December 19, 2023, from 6-7:30pm: Click here to register for open office hours. Applicants are invited to drop in and out and ask questions on the grant program or their application.
  • January 4th, 2024, from 6-7:30pm: Click here to register for open office hours. Applicants are invited to drop in and out and ask questions on the grant program or their application.
Questions regarding the Farm Transition Grant can be directed to Alison Grabarz at Alison.Grabarz@ct.gov. More information on application requirements, submission process, and accompanying forms can be found online at www.CTGrown.gov/grants.

UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference Jan 9 in Storrs, CT

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UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference Jan 9 in Storrs, CT

Attend the annual UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference for an educational day of learning, regulations, and updates on the latest trends in vegetable and small fruit production. The event is Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at the UConn Student Union Ballroom, Room 330, Storrs CT. There will be a trade show held in UConn Student Union, Room 304 throughout conference. Pesticide recertification credits: 4 CEU to be confirmed.

Lunch and Parking is included in the registration price. Prior to the day of the conference, you will be sent an event parking link to register for validated parking. You must pre register by January 3, 2024 in order to receive free parking.

Registration will increase to $60.00 after December 20, 2023. Online registration is available through January 3, 2024 at noon. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER DECEMBER 20.

The full agenda and speaker information is available at: s.uconn.edu/ctvfcprogram

Register online ats.uconn.edu/ctvfcregistration
To pay by check visits.uconn.edu/ctvfconference or email tolland@uconn.edu
Trade Show Exhibitor Registrations.uconn.edu/ctvfctradeshow

USDA Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program Webinar for Small Growers at 2PM

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USDA Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program Webinar for Small Growers at 2PM

USDA announced $65 million in grants are available for agricultural employers through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP). The pilot helps employers address workforce needs in agriculture, promotes a safe and healthy work environment for farmworkers, and supports migration pathways for workers, including for H-2A workers from Northern Central America.

This webinar will take a deeper dive into some the unique challenges that smaller, mid-sized and underserved producers and employers may face as they navigate participation in FLSP, the application process, and the H-2A program.

Attendees will hear about the technical assistance available to prospective applicants and grantees – and why FLSP is uniquely suited to address their needs.

On the same day, following the Small Growers webinar, USDA will host FLSP Office Hours beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

Register here.