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.

Sep

American Farmland Trust 2024 New England Farmer Microgrants Program Open on October 1st

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American Farmland Trust 2024 New England Farmer Microgrants Program Open on October 1st

Apply by November 21, 2024

In 2024, NEFMP will consist of two separate funding opportunities: the Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming grants (RLF) and the Farmland Access, Succession, and Transfer Support grants (FAST). Both grant opportunities will now be open to prior NEFMP awardees. Applications for both funding opportunities close on November 21st. To apply or review the eligibility guidelines, visit: https://farmland.org/new-england-farmer-microgrants-program/

Sep

Sullivan Farm’s proposed agri-education campus in New Milford marks a ‘change in direction’

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Sullivan Farm’s proposed agri-education campus in New Milford marks a ‘change in direction’

New Milford’s Sullivan Farm proposes agri-education campus (newstimes.com) September 18, 2023

Sep

Climate Smart Agricultural Grant Applications Due Oct 31, 2023

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CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE GRANT OPPORTUNITY- applications due Oct, 31, 2023

The Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (CT RC&D) is pleased to announce the application period is now OPEN for their Climate Smart Agriculture Grant opportunity. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2023. Funding for this project was paid for by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Eligible farms in business for one year or more are invited to apply for funding up to $50,000 for the implementation of energy projects (on-farm energy efficiency and renewable energy) and/or soil health equipment and practices.

CT RC&D hosted a live webinar on Thursday, 9/7. to discuss the application process and answer questions. A recording of the webinar will be available on the website for those who cannot attend it live.

Questions may be emailed to Sarah Layton at slayton@ctrcd.org, and more information about CT RC&D’s grant program can be found on their website: ctrcd.org/climate-smart-agriculture.

Sep

FREE Labor Movement Workshop Sept 13 in Sandy Hook

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FREE Labor Movement Workshop Sept 13 in Sandy Hook

Learn how to move better to prevent injury with all the stresses we put on our bodies! The Movement Workshop covers BETTER body mechanics and movement patterns in order to decrease injury potential, increase efficiency and extend career longevity. Time will be spent practicing four basic movement patterns: hinge, squat, push and pull, along with kneeling patterns, rotation and core stability. Each participant will leave with tips to improve their overall movement health + wellness. Q&A session.

*These Movement Workshops are FREE of cost to farmers and farm workers in Connecticut.

DATE, TIME & LOCATION:

Wednesday, September 13, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Sweet Ring Farm, Sandy Hook, CT

2023 Movement Workshops funded by:

Northeast Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Award Number 2021-70027-34693, awarded to Labor-Movement LLC.

Click here for more information:

https://www.labor-movement.com/…/CONNECTICUT_Movement…

Sep

Farm-To-Chef week Sept 9-16, 2023

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Farm-To-Chef week Sept 9-16, 2023

It’s Farm-to-Chef week Sept 9-16

Connecticut Farm-to-Chef Week returns this month, encouraging residents and visitors to discover menu items with seasonal, locally sourced products at restaurants and eateries.

The annual occasion, a program of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, runs Sept. 9-16. Connecticut Farm-to-Chef Week celebrates the state’s vibrant agricultural community — which includes more than 5,500 farms — and the chefs who work with them to create delicious and sustainable dishes.

The Litchfield County Restaurants participating include:

Arethusa al tavolo, Bantam

Community Table, New Preston

Edison Kitchen, Bethel

Geppetto Osteria, Torrington

Good News Restaurant and Bar, Woodbury

John’s Cafe, Woodbury

Market Place Kitchen and Bar, Woodbury

Marketplace Tavern, Litchfield

Meraki, Litchfield

Ore Hill & Swyft, Kent

Railway Cafe, Winsted

Spice 320, Colebrook

White Heart Inn, Salisbury

Winvian Farm, Morris

For a complete listing of all participating restaurants, visit:

https://ctfarmtochef.com/…/Restaurants-That-Source…