Solid Ground Ag Mechanics Training March 15, March 22, March 29, April 9
Click here for more information or to register.
UConn Extension Biosecurity Workshops for Livestock and Poultry March 20 and March 22
Register here.
NASDA Foundation and Regional Business Centers Northeast Business Builder Sub-Award Applications deadline April 7
Click here for more information.
CT Compost Alliance 2025 Compost Tour Long Table Farm, Lyme CT March 27, 2025
UConn Extension Climate Mitigation Field Days April 15 and April 16
Big E Agricultural Booth Space Applications Due March 28
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is now accepting vendor applications for the agricultural booth spaces inside the Connecticut Building at The Big E in 2025. The Connecticut Building is one of six New England buildings on the Avenue of the States at The Big E in West Springfield, MA. The 17-day annual event will take place September 12-28, 2025, offering farms, small agricultural businesses, and agricultural non-profit organizations based in Connecticut the opportunity to market their products and promote their services. In 2024, The Big E attracted more than 1.6 million visitors, setting an overall historic attendance record and seven single-day attendance records.
Eligible entities include agricultural businesses, non-profits, and other entities with an agricultural mission to showcase the diversity of Connecticut agriculture to over one million attendees who come through the Connecticut Building. Connecticut Day will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, and Harvest New England Day will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025.
In 2024, the Connecticut Building at The Big E featured 30 businesses highlighting CT Grown farm products and the producers who make them possible, including farm wine, dairy, honey, maple syrup, and fiber products, plus jams, jellies, sauces, and goat milk products.
The application deadline for the agricultural spaces is Friday, March 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Visit www.ctgrown.gov for more information or click here to apply. For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Erin Windham at Erin.Windham@ct.gov.
Licensed Connecticut farm wineries wishing to sell wine by the glass are encouraged to apply here for consideration. Those applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025. Farm winery inquiries should be directed to Ally Hughes at Allison.Hughes@ct.gov.
See application here.
CT Dept of Agriculture Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants
Equipment Only Grants due April 9
Infrastructure Grants Due April 16
Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) announces the guidance release and application period opening for the second round of Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build and establish resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses; to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, and fair wages; and create new and safe job opportunities.
“Strategic investments in the middle of the food supply chain are critical for creating a reliable flow of goods from farm to table,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “Farmers, consumers, and local economies all stand to benefit. A robust and efficient food supply chain contributes to more resilient economies, expanded agricultural production, and a healthier community.”
Two funding opportunities exist – the Equipment Only Grant Program and the Infrastructure Grant Program. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
Equipment Only Grant Program
The Equipment Only grant will fund only special purpose equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs) to meet the goals of the RFSI program. Special purpose equipment is defined by the USDA as tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 per unit. Items under $5,000 per unit are considered supplies and not eligible for this grant.
Infrastructure Grant Program
Infrastructure Grants will fund projects impacting more than one producer or organization that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products.
Examples of acceptable projects related to the funding priorities are available in the grant guidance. Additional details on match requirements and eligible expenses can be found in the guidance document. All applications must be submitted electronically via the “Apply” tab on the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
Applications will be accepted from eligible entities including agricultural producers or processors, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals.
Questions regarding the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program can be directed to Cyrena Thibodeau at Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov.
RFSI is federally funding through the United States Department of Agriculture authorized by section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117— 2), as amended, and administered by the CT Department of Agriculture. CT DoAg received $2.1 million in February 2024 to administer the program and in October 2024 awarded over $670,000 to fund three projects in round one. Program awards and funding are subject to USDA review and approval.
UConn/Solid Ground Small Farm Innovation Project Applications and Ideas due March 15
