FMNP FARMER CERTIFICATION MEETINGS

Connecticut’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now accepting applications for the 2021 program year. The goal of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in domestic and foreign markets. An eligible plant must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered a specialty crop. The complete definition of specialty crops can be found on the USDA’s website.

Eligible applicants include commodity groups, agricultural organizations, colleges and universities, municipalities, state agencies, and agricultural nonprofits. The USDA wants to see as many entities as possible benefit from these dollars during the three years in which the project can take place.  As a result, individual farms or businesses are encouraged to apply and partner with other eligible applicants rather than apply themselves.

This is a reimbursement grant for research with awards up to $75,000. Completed applications must be sent to AGR.Grants@ct.gov by 4 p.m. on March 19, 2021. For more information on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and an example application, please visit the website, www.ctgrown.gov/grants and click on Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or contact Haley Rowland at 860-895-3095 or haley.rowland@ct.gov.

Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice; and USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice. Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.

For the full press release and more information, click here.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the Farm Transition Grant (FTG) has been restructured to better serve Connecticut farmers and farmer cooperatives.

The creation of five grant categories will address gaps in funding to support farmers in times of growth, change, and emergency need. Applications will be accepted starting April 8 and due no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 15, 2021.   

“The changes to our Farm Transition Grant are a direct result of listening to the producers we currently serve and creating attractive funding opportunities for new farmers in Connecticut,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “The revised categories will level the playing field through a proactive approach, which fosters an environment of innovation and support, throughout the lifecycle of a farmer and their business enterprise.” 

The Farm Transition Grant is a matching grant program for Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives to support the diversification of existing farm operations, transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales. Funding is provided through C.G.S. Section 22-26j. 

“The Farm Transition Grant was previously a one-size-fits-all approach. After hosting a farmer focus group and giving extensive consideration to industry needs, five new grant categories have been developed,” said Jaime Smith, Bureau Director for Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation. “The agency strives to support farmers from those just beginning, to those well established. We now have grant opportunities which echo that.”  

The new grant categories are summarized below.  

• New Farmer Micro Grants:  To support new individuals/partnerships who have one full year to three years of production history and are seeking long-term careers that financially support them through farming and agriculture.  
• Infrastructure Investment Grant:  To support farmers in production for a minimum of three years with infrastructure to expand the farm’s production and operation.   
• Research and Development Grant:  For farms to conduct research to assess the viability and development of a new product line, service, or market.  
• Innovation and Diversification Grant:  For the implementation of a new product or service for market or business expansion after a research and development phase has been explored.   
• Crisis and Emergency Response Grant: To provide aid in response to disasters where federal support, insurance, and loans are unavailable or have been exhausted. (This grant will not be initially available and will be announced as needed at a later date.) 

Grant guidelines and forms can be found at www.CTGrown.gov/grants for additional detail on match requirements and eligible expenses.  

A virtual workshop to assist interested applicants in learning about the new grant categories and application process will occur at 1:00 p.m. on March 17, 2021. The session will be recorded and posted to the agency website if you are unable to attend the live event.   

Questions regarding the Farm Transition Grant can be directed to Amanda King at Amanda.King@ct.gov or found online at www.CTGrown.gov/grants.

January 26, 2021: USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus. Read full Press Release here.