Agrisafe National Farm Safety and Health week seminars Sept 17-23, 2023
National Farm Safety & Health Week, “No One Can Take Your Place”
Date: Sept 17-23
Daily themes:
Monday, Sept 18: Equipment & Rural Roadway Safety
Tuesday, Sept 19: Health & Wellness
Wednesday, Sept 20: Priority Populations
Thursday, Sept 21: Confined Spaces
Friday, Sept 22: Brain Health
Webinars are two times daily and recorded, so you can watch them for free at your convenience.
Click here for more information.
Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo Nov 8-9 in Manchester, NH
Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature these educational sessions on cut flowers on November 9, 2023.
Windham County Farm Bureau An Evening in the Orchard at Lapsley Orchard July 21, 2023
USDA FSA Organic Certification Cost Share Applications Due Oct 31, 2023
Cost Share for Organic Certification
As part of USDA’s broader effort to support organic producers and in response to stakeholder feedback, this year the Farm Service Agency increased the cost share amount under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which helps organic producers cover organic certification costs, to the maximum amount allowed by statute.
Specifically, FSA will cover up to 75% of costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling and state organic program fees (California only). OCCSP will cover costs incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.
FSA begins accepting applications for OCCSP Monday, May 15. Applications are due Oct. 31, 2023. To apply, producers and handlers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center. As part of completing the OCCSP application, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses. Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating state departments of agriculture.
If you would like to receive further information regarding CT DoAg’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program, send an inquiry to Alison.Grabarz@ct.gov.
USDA Organic Market Development Grant Due Aug. 8
Organic Market Development Grants Program
Through the new Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will issue up to $75 million in competitive grants to non-profit organizations, tribal governments, and state and local government entities to fund projects designed to expand and improve markets for domestically produced organic products. OMDG is intended to increase the consumption of domestic agricultural commodities by aiding in the expansion of markets or development of new markets, marketing facilities, and uses for such commodities. For example, applicants may seek funding to develop and launch new consumer products using rotational grains, or invest in infrastructure like processing equipment to give producers better access to markets.
Through OMDG, AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers and underserved communities.
AMS is accepting applications for the program now through August 8, 2023.
Click here for more information.
May, 2023: Kimberly Farm to open Ice Cream shop
Across the street from their existing farmstand in New Milford on Route 109, their new Ice Cream shop is set to open very soon.
Read about it here
2023 CT Grown Free Downloadable Report Available
UConn DARE Zwick Center 2023 Farm to School Report available
Farm to school (FTS) programs across the State of Connecticut connect schools with fresh, local food producers. Using local procurement, school gardens, and education, these programs benefit both local producers and nutrition programs.
Click here for the downloadable report
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program, due April 10, 2023
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program improves the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. The FBMB program supports intellectual talent and collaborative efforts to meet the challenges facing the nation’s agriculture and food systems. Application closes on April 10. For more information, read the FBMB funding opportunity
Solid Ground Getting to the Root Short Video and Panel Discussions
A series exploring the entrepreneurial of new CT farmers.
March 9: Ethnic and Specialty Crops
Video Premier featuring Juliet Muhenga. Farmer Panelists; Tacina Walcott Thompson, Natty Roots Gardens, Uloma Onuma
Thursday March 9th, 2023 , 12-1:30pm , virtual event
Register here.
March 11: Added-Value Farm Products
Saturday, March 11, 2023, 9:45-11:00am. In person at Wesleyan University. Presented at CT NOFA’s 2023 Winter Conference.
Register here.