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15
Jan

2026 CT NOFA’s Annual Winter Conference Middletown, CT March 7, plus virtual March 3-5

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2026 CT NOFA’s Annual Winter Conference Middletown, CT March 7, plus virtual workshops March 3-5

CT NOFA 2026 WINTER CONFERENCE

CT NOFA, the Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, is excited to announce that our 44th annual Winter Conference will be taking place March 7, 2026, at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. It will be proceeded by 3 days of virtual workshops, March 3-5. Tickets are available now!

CT NOFA is currently looking for sponsors, exhibitors, and workshop proposals. Visit our website to learn more and register to join us.

Sponsors

The organic agriculture movement may not be a new phenomenon, but it is a vital one, helping us preserve and regenerate healthy, living soil to grow our food in, and protecting the web of diverse life in and around farms that are crucial to long term agricultural sustainability. More now than ever, the educational, informational, and community resources provided by the CT NOFA Winter Conference are essential to protecting and expanding organic agriculture in our state.

Help support that movement by becoming a sponsor of our 2026 Winter Conference. In addition to helping us continue defend and expand the reach of organic agriculture, you’ll enjoy numerous benefits leading up to and at the conference. Click here to learn more about becoming a 2026 CT NOFA Winter Conference sponsor.

Exhibitors

Does your business or organization offer products or services that would be of interest to our conference attendees? Then join us at CT NOFA’s 44th annual Winter Conference on March 7, 2026 to connect with 300+ farmers, home gardeners, and organic advocates from across the region.

Agricultural industry suppliers, education and resource providing organizations, environmental conservation groups, and others are invited to register for an exhibitor table. Click here to learn more about becoming a 2026 CT NOFA Winter Conference exhibitor.

Workshop Proposals

The CT NOFA Winter Conference educational slate of workshops is made possible thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of our knowledgeable community members. Are you an expert on a topic that would be of interest to conference attendees? We’d love to hear from you.

Workshop slots are available for our in-person conference on March 7, 2026, as well as the conference’s virtual workshop series from March 3-5. Presenters are provided with free admission to the conference, as well as a $150 honorarium.

We welcome all submissions for workshops that capture CT NOFA’s mission of fostering organic and regenerative agriculture. Click here to learn more about submitting a workshop proposal for the 2026 CT NOFA Winter Conference.
Learn more about the conference. 
15
Jan

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Zoom Virtual Workshop on selling at Farm Markets Jan. 28

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Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Zoom Virtual Workshop on selling at Farm Markets Jan. 28

MARKETING TIPS FOR SELLING AT A FARMERS’ MARKET
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is excited to invite you to a free virtual workshop designed to help farmers and market managers boost sales, strengthen customer engagement, and make the most of their farmers market presence.

📅 Date: January 28, 2026
⏰ Time: 1:00–2:30pm
📍 Location: Zoom
🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l5SYdGd0T0iNGqwJJceMHg

Workshop: Marketing Tips for Selling at a Farmers’ Market
Presenter Zoe Richardson, Creative Director at Good Roots, will walk participants through the most essential marketing assets every farmers’ market booth should have. Using real-world farm experience and years of branding and marketing expertise, Zoe will help you elevate your visibility, attract new customers, and communicate your story clearly and effectively.

You’ll learn:

  • What signage you actually need—and how big it should be
  • What messages resonate most with customers
  • Where to get signage printed
  • Best practices for using QR codes
  • How to encourage customers to stay in touch
  • Design basics for creating appealing, effective materials
About the Presenter
Zoe is a branding and marketing expert dedicated to helping farmers increase sales, build loyal customer bases, and strengthen their farm businesses. At Good Roots, she supports farms and food entrepreneurs in telling their stories and building beautiful, effective brands.

This workshop is free and open to all farmers, market managers, and service providers
Register
15
Jan

UConn Extension Online Vegetable Production Course- Register by Jan. 20

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UConn Extension Online Vegetable Production Course- Register by Jan. 20

2026 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION CERTIFICATE COURSE
Back by popular demand: UConn Extension’s Vegetable Production Certificate Course for farmers with 0-3 years of experience. Build foundational knowledge and practical skills as it relates to growing health food, building a farm business, and becoming part of Connecticut’s local food system.

Participants will also have access to:

  • Technical assistance from UConn Extension staff
  • Access to resources and tools to support your learning
  • A network overview of CT agriculture

Details:

  • Fully online course, making it easy to learn from anywhere and at your own pace.
  • The course will open in late January 2026, and certificates will be available for all students that complete the course by April 2026.
  • Industry professionals and experienced farmers facilitate learning.
  • Course cost: $149
  • Registration will close Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.
Group registration is available. To enroll multiple students, or with any questions on this course, please contact Nicole.Davidow@uconn.edu
Click here for more info or to register.
14
Jan

NMFFPC Agritourism Workshop Jan. 29 6:30 PM at NMPL

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NMFFPC Agritourism Workshop Jan. 29 6:30 PM at NMPL

New Milford Farmland and Forest Preservation Committee is hosting a seminar at the New Milford Public Library on Thursday, January 29 at 6:30 PM. Join us in learning more about the benefits and impact of Agritourism. Contact steven.kleppin3@gmail.com with any questions.

09
Nov

USDA Farm to School 2026 Grant Proposals due December 5, 2025

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USDA Farm to School Grant Proposals due December 5, 2025

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

The program objective for the FY 2026 Farm to School Grant Program is to:

Improve access to local foods in eligible child nutrition program (CNP) sites through comprehensive farm to CNP programming that includes local sourcing and agricultural education efforts.

Proposed activities should clearly align with the objective and their associated activities and indicators. Careful consideration of proposed activities and indicators will prepare grantees for their progress reporting requirements if awarded.

Examples of project activities that could be supported by FY 2026 Farm to School grants and support the required objective include, but are not limited to:

  • Launching a pilot program that creates opportunities for eligible entities to create farm to CNP initiatives;
  • Incorporating more unprocessed and value-added, minimally processed, locally or regionally sourced meal components into the CNP meals;
  • Readying producers to participate in the CNP food marketplace by providing training on procurement regulations, Good Agricultural Practices, and other food safety-related topics;
  • Improving infrastructure to accommodate new local ingredients or local menu items in CNP meals;
  • Solving distribution bottlenecks that limit the feasibility of sourcing more locally or regionally produced items by working closely with intermediaries (e.g., distributors, food hubs);
  • Integrating agricultural education with career and technical preparation programs to encourage the next generation of agricultural producers;
  • Expanding experiential learning opportunities at CNP sites, such as creating school gardens, developing school-based farmers markets, providing support to agriculture/food clubs, and/or increasing exposure to local farms and on-farm activities;
  • Encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in CNP sites through promotional activities, taste tests, and other activities featuring local products;
  • Adopting agricultural education curricula that encourage the sharing of Indigenous traditional knowledge between generations, such as native plant varieties and planting practices; and
  • Developing and implementing integrated curriculum to reinforce food and nutrition-based learning throughout the school environment or on a local farm(s).

Under this Request for Applications (RFA), all entities marked with an asterisk (*) must be part of a Partnership to be eligible to apply:

  • State agencies
  • Indian Tribal organizations
  • Child Nutrition Program operators*
  • Local agencies*
  • Agricultural producers*
  • Groups of agricultural producers*
  • Non-profit organizations* (All non-profit organizations must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).)

Applications are due December 5, 2025, at 11:59pm. 
Click here for more information:

 

09
Nov

New England Regional Milkshed Project Virtual Monthly Workshops with Univ of Vermont

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New England Regional Milkshed Project Virtual Monthly Workshops with Univ of Vermont

NEW ENGLAND MILKSHED WORKSHOPS EXPLORE PROTECTION STRATEGIES AGAINST FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS

Agricultural producers of livestock and livestock products and their industry allies are being asked to help shape strategies that can protect local farms and the New England “milkshed” from a foreign animal disease outbreak. Foreign animal diseases (FADs) are not normally found in the U.S., and some have the potential to cause devastating impacts to U.S. agriculture if they occur. A milkshed includes all sources of milk processed or manufactured into dairy products in a region.

Researchers at the University of Vermont (UVM) are hosting a series of four monthly, online workshops, where participants will identify challenges and possible solutions for New England’s dairy industry.

Workshops will be held via Zoom from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET on the following dates:

  • November 12, 2025
  • December 10, 2025
  • January 14, 2026
  • February 11, 2026

Dr. Julie Smith, veterinarian and research professor in the UVM Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, is leading this milkshed project and collaborating with dairy farmers, dairy cooperatives, veterinarians, and federal and state regulatory officials. The goal is to gather input and ideas from the workshops that could lead toward reducing the risks of disease spread from livestock and dairy product movements.

“The workshops will explore strategies for reducing harm to the New England dairy industry if a foreign animal disease outbreak occurs anywhere in the United States. We need dairy producer and industry perspectives on what is needed to develop a milkshed protection plan.”

Why Care About Foreign Animal Diseases?

The U.S. enjoys preferential status in the international trade of animal products because of its freedom from many foreign animal diseases. Foreign animal disease-free status benefits animal welfare, the environment, and helps to make food more affordable. However, as long as these diseases exist in the world, it is important to have effective plans to deal with the threats and their consequences if an outbreak occurs.

Register for Workshop
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