LISA ARASIM | NMFFPC

Nov

New Connecticut Farmer Alliance Climate Smart Ag & Forestry Grants Announced- Due 1/12/2024

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CLIMATE SMART GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH NEW CT FARMER ALLIANCE

The New CT Farmer Alliance is excited to announce the first round of our Climate Smart Ag and Forestry grant program! We will be awarding grants to 22 Connecticut farms in 2024 to fund a range of agriculture and forestry practices that contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience. Learn more here.

Key points:

Applications open on November 6th, 2023, and close on January 12th, 2024.
Funding will be available in two tiers: 18 grants of up to $8,000 & 4 grants of up to $30,000.
There are three options to submit an application: a written online application, a video submission, or a farm visit.

We are also hosting virtual info sessions on Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm and Tuesday, December 5th at 6pm for interested applicants to learn more about the grant program, application requirements, and submission process.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and how we can help with your application. Contact Liz at nctfaclimate@gmail.com or 860-785-3099 for English, or Xóchitl at xochitl.ahtziri.garcia@gmail.com or 203-680-0455 for Spanish.

Funding for this project was paid for the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Nov

Solid Ground AG Mechanics Workshops being offered

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Solid Ground AG Mechanics Workshops being offered

It’s that time of year again where our Solid Ground Trainings are starting to get their gears rolling! Kicking it off this season, they are bringing back the ever-popular Chainsaw Skills and Safety program directed toward women, Beginning Welders Workshops, and an Intro to Carpentry! Each workshop cost $25 and includes lunch. See more info below!

Note: These trainings are intended for production farmers in Connecticut, if you have a hobby farm or are gardening, please reference this other wonderful UConn Extension program here: https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/

Chainsaw Class Directed toward Women

Date: Saturday, November 18^th
Time: 8:30-4:30
Location: Long Table Farm, 256 Beaver Brook Rd, Lyme, CT
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Chainsaw Skills and Safety directed toward Women: Intro to safe chainsaw operation. Students will learn about PPE, work area safety, basic saw maintenance, chain sharpening, and how to develop a felling plan. Each student will have a chance to fell their own tree. You may bring your own saw or use one that will be provided by the instructor.

SIGN UP HERE: https://s.uconn.edu/sgchainsaw

Basic Welding for Beginners

Date: Saturday, December 9^th
Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Intro to the basics of welding. Learn the proper personal protective equipment required and safety protocols to know before getting started. Instructor will go over the fundamentals of MIG and stick welding, teaching you techniques to get welds done safely and efficiently.

SIGN UP HERE: https://s.uconn.edu/sgbasicwelding

Power Tool Safety & Carpentry Basics Training

Date: Saturday, December 16^th
Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: WorkspaceCT, 16 Trowbridge Dr, Bethel
Max Number of participants: 10
Description of class:
Get familiar with the power tools and carpentry skills that you’ll need on your farm. Learn how to use an impact driver, drill, skill saw, table saw and more. You will work with your new skills to complete a project to take home.

SIGN UP HERE: https://s.uconn.edu/sgpowertools&carpentrybasics

Please contact us 2 weeks in advance with special needs (dietary, translation, accessibility, etc.) We’ll do our best to accommodate you.

FOR ALL WORKSHOPS THAT INCLUDE TRAVEL: If the cost is prohibitive, Travel Stipends will be made available to participants at any event where travel is required to attend.

Please do not attend if you are not feeling well – you will receive a refund.

Oct

US Dept of Commerce Webinar on Current and Future PFAs Challenges in Food, Beverages and Packaging Nov 8, 1:30 PM

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US Dept of Commerce Webinar on Current and Future PFAs Challenges in Food, Beverages and Packaging Nov 8, 1:30 PM

MANAGING CURRENT AND FUTURE PFAS CHALLENGES IN FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND PACKAGING

The U.S. Department of Commerce will host a virtual webinar on November 8 at 1:30 pm EST to assist businesses in learning about how to manage PFAS challenges. Learn about new legal requirements being implemented across the United States regarding Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in food and beverage products and packaging. Hear from Lisa Navarro, PhD DABT ERT, with Ramboll, and from CT DEC member, Alfredo Fernandez, Partner at Shipman and Goodwin LLP, about how to prepare your business to comply with the new requirements and manage the many challenges associated with PFAS.

Topics to be addressed:

What are Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?
PFAS challenges in food and beverage products
Operational PFAS challenges for food and beverage manufacturing facilities
New bans on PFAS in food and beverage packaging and best practices for assessing packaging supply chains
International considerations (exports/imports)
Risk management strategies

For more information, please contact Jacqueline.Torcellini@trade.gov

Oct

UConn’s Native Plants and Pollinators Conference, Nov 2. in Storrs, CT

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UConn’s Native Plants and Pollinators Conference, Nov 2. in Storrs, CT

Click here for more information.

Oct

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center On-Farm Milk Storage and Handling Grant due Jan. 18,2024

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Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center On-Farm Milk Storage and Handling Grant due Jan. 18,2024

Milk Storage & Handling Grant
This grant provides funds for farmers to purchase needed supplies related to streamlined milk pickup, efficient milk storage, and improved handling abilities for both farmers and their processors.

This grant is expected to be released in November 2023. Awards will range from $15,000 to $50,000 with a 25% match commitment.

The application period will be November 30, 2023 through January 18, 2024.

A webinar will take place October 23, 2023. Click here to register.

Click here for more information

Oct

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant due Dec 7,2023

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Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant due Dec 7,2023

Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant

This grant for dairy farmers will fund a wide range of projects that prioritize long term farm viability and climate/economic resilience. The most competitive projects will include direct involvement of a service provider, business planner, farm succession planner, or technical assistance provider to demonstrate a strategic, long-term approach to their grant project investment.

This grant is expected to be released in October 2023. Awards will range from $15,000 – $100,000 with a 25% match commitment.

There is a webinar October 23. Click here to register for webinar.

Grants applications are open October 26 – December 7, 2023 at 2:00 pm ET.

Learn more, here.

Oct

NRCS Makes $65 Million in Grants Available- Applications due October 30, 2023

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NRCS Makes $65 Million in Grants Available- Applications due October 30, 2023

NRCS MAKES $65 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS PROGRAM

Applications due October 30, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $65 million through two funding opportunities for new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Of this funding, $25 million will be delivered through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest clean energy and climate investment in history, which directed USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to prioritize CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate mitigation benefits.

Two separate CIG funding opportunities are now available on grants.gov: $50 million through CIG On-Farm Trials https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html… $15 million is available through CIG Classic https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html…

For CIG On-Farm Trials, this year’s funding priorities are:

Irrigation water management technologies

Nutrient management

Feeding management and enteric methane reduction

Grazing lands

Soil health demonstration trials

For CIG Classic, this year’s funding priorities are:

Forestry

Habitat conservation and restoration for wildlife and invertebrates

Managing agricultural lands to improve local water quality

Energy conservation

Economics

Strengthening conservation through indigenous knowledge

Strong consideration will be given to proposals that include Historically Underserved entities and individuals.

This opportunity is open to all domestic non-federal entities and individuals based in the United States for projects carried out in the U.S.

Applications are being accepted now through October 30, 2023.

Oct

Connecticut Pomological Society Annual Meeting Nov 28, 2023 in Middletown

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Connecticut Pomological Society Annual Meeting Nov 28, 2023 in Middletown

2023 CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING

The Connecticut Pomological Society will be holding its annual meeting on Tuesday, November 28 at 44 Maynard Street in Middletown.

Meeting Agenda

8:00 Registration, Socialize, coffee, pastries, Visit with vendors
9:00-9:30 New Fruit Crops that ‘Haskap-tured’ People’s Interest. Evan Elford, OMAFRA New Crop Development Specialist. Via zoom
9:30-10:15 Precision fertilizer applications. Eric Henry, Blue Hills Orchards and Gregory Pipczynski, Helena Agri
10:15-10:30 Break – Visit with Vendors
10:30-11 Plasticulture for Improved Berry Production. Trevor Hardy, Brookdale Fruit Farm
11:00-11:30 Stone Fruit Management Options for Thrips. Peter Jentsch, Poma Tech Inc
11:30-11:50 Crop insurance update. Colleen Kisselburgh, Arthur Carroll Insurance
11:50-12:00 Re-Establishing UConn’s Orchard. Evan Lentz, UConn
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:15 Business meeting, Award presentations
1:15-1:45 Spotted Lanternfly Update. Dr. Victoria Smith, CAES
1:45-2:15 Honeycrisp – Fine Tuned Management for the Apple We Love to Hate! Jon Clements, UMass
2:15-2:45 Utility of Biologicals in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple Production. Jeremy Green, Technology Development Specialist, Stoller USA
2:45-3:15 Pome and Stone Fruit Management Options of Fruit and Trunk Boring Insects. Peter Jentsch, Poma Tech Inc
3:30 Pesticide Credits and Socialize

For more information and to register please contact Mary Conklin at Mary.Concklin@uconn.edu.

Oct

Connecticut Farm Bureau’s Connecticut Agricultural Expo 2023

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Connecticut Farm Bureau’s Connecticut Agricultural Expo 2023, November 8, 2023 in Southington, CT

The Connecticut Farm Bureau Association will be hosting the 2023 CT Ag Expo on Wednesday, November 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The CT Ag Expo includes a trade show showcasing the latest in ag innovation, farm equipment, crop production, farm supplies, and ag services, as well as educational sessions for producers to earn pesticide CEU credits.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in networking while enjoying a Taste of Connecticut array of foods and sampling Connecticut Grown beer and wine beverages.

Registration is $60 for CFBA Limited and Standard members and $75 for non-members. Online registration is available here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event…

For more information open this link https://www.cfba.org/connecticut-agricultural-expo-2022/ Questions call 860-768-1100 or email traceym@cfba.org

Sep

Biden-Harris Administration Makes Available Historic $3 Billion for Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands Through Investing in America Agenda

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Biden-Harris Administration Makes Available Historic $3 Billion for Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands Through Investing in America Agenda

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making more than $3 billion in funding available for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in Fiscal Year 2024 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The announcement comes as the Biden-Harris Administration hosts the first-ever White House Climate Resilience Summit

These funds are provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate and conservation investment in history. This law invests an additional $19.5 billion for USDA’s popular conservation programs. These programs also advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. On the heels of last week’s announcement that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) saw record producer interest in these resources in fiscal year 2023, the agency is now accepting applications from producers interested in this additional conservation assistance for fiscal year 2024.

These additional investments are estimated to help hundreds of thousands of farmers and ranchers apply conservation to millions of acres of land. These funds provide direct climate mitigation benefits, advance a host of other environmental co-benefits, and expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation on their farm, ranch or forest land through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more.

USDA is opening up the application period for FY2024 conservation assistance giving producers the opportunity to apply for this historic funding. However, in the event of a lapse in government funding, technical assistance, one-on-one help in answering questions, and other support for producers in navigating the application process would not be immediately available until the funding lapse ends. In the event of a funding lapse, NRCS would notify producers when staff are available to assist.

Learn more by clicking here.