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UConn Animal Care Services Dept is seeking an Animal Care Technician in Mansfield, CT , apply by Feb. 16, 2021

The State of Connecticut, University of Connecticut, Animal Care Services Department has an opening for a permanent, full-time Animal Care Technician position.  The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. which may include holidays and rotating mandatory weekend overtime. The hourly salary is $21.12 and offers a full benefits package including medical and dental insurance. 

Application deadline is February 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. For more information, or to apply online, click here. 

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) seeks a full-time Communications Director, apply by Feb.22, 2021

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) seeks a full-time Communications Director to manage and execute all SAFSF internal and external communications in our core areas of work, in collaboration with the entire SAFSF staff. This is a newly created position that requires an individual who has experience working with a broad range of communications tools and channels and who can work effectively across a wide range of communications activities. The individual hired will also help clarify the role, the relationships, and the responsibilities of the position within the SAFSF staff as they learn on the job. 

Read the full job description here. All interested applicants must apply online at tfaforms.com/4879050 no later than 11:59 pm PT on Monday, February 22, 2021. All SAFSF employees work remotely; candidates may live anywhere within the United States.

UConn Extension Grant-Funded Contract position opportunity, apply by Feb. 26, 2021

UConn Extension is actively seeking to contract with an expert to coordinate and lead learning events over 3 years (2021-2024) for urban farmers in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. By deepening skills through knowledge sharing and immersive day-long events, our vision is to build a network of urban farmers and urban agriculture service providers within and between Connecticut’s urban centers. 
This is an exciting opportunity for the right person who is passionate about the interconnected issues of food, health, land, equity, and justice, dependable, enjoys connecting and working with people with diverse backgrounds, and demonstrates an array of skills and knowledge related to both urban farming and event organization.  

This is a grant-funded opportunity. UConn will contract an individual/entity for urban farming training services for one year, with opportunity for renewal in 2022 and 2023 based on performance. Proposals accepted until February 26, 2021. For more information, including the full RFP, please contact Jiff Martin at jiff.martin@uconn.edu. 

Live Christmas Trees Spike in Sales as More People Seek Holiday Decor, 12/23, Cheddar

About 26.2 million live trees were sold last holiday season to the tune of $2 billion, per the NCTA. This year, it is expecting near 30 million trees to be sold, based on projections made at the beginning of 2020. But because of the coronavirus and the need to nest, numbers could be higher.  Read more here:

December 9.2020,

USDA United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Employment Outlook is Promising for New College Graduates in Agriculture

A new report, released today by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University, shows a strong job demand for new college graduates with degrees in agricultural programs. U.S. college graduates can expect approximately 59,400 job opportunities annually between 2020 and 2025. This reflects a 2.6 percent growth from the previous five years. Employer demand will exceed the supply of available graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture-related fields. Read more here.

Oct. 27, 2020 SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Announced for drought. Loan applications due by June 14, 2021

To Regional Offices and other partners:

SBA releases Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) following Secretary of Agriculture Declarations.  Several Sec. of Ag declarations were issued at one time, and as a result SBA has issued releases on disaster loans. Because the Disaster loans apply to the contiguous counties of declared counties, counties may fall under two or more declaration.

Under the State of Connecticut Sec. of Agriculture declaration (Drought beginning on September 22, 2020), SBA released the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program in the counties of Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham.  These loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid if the disaster had not occurred.

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October 27, 2020: Small Business Administration (SBA) News Release (21-070, CT 16723) announced the availability of Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations in Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham are eligible under the State of Connecticut’s Sec. of Agriculture declaration as a result of drought beginning on September 22, 2020. (Please note: Because SBA releases loans in counties that are contiguous to the declared county, many counties fall under more than one SBA declaration). 

The EIDL is open to eligible farm-related and non-farm related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster.  Except for aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov and should apply under SBA declaration # 16723, not for the COVID-19 incident. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Completed Loan applications are due to SBA no later than June 14, 2021.

Oct 13, 2020: Revisions to Connecticut’s State Hemp Plan Signed Into Law

Connecticut’s budding hemp industry achieved another milestone on Tuesday, October 13, when Governor Lamont signed Public Act 20-2 into law which allows hemp growers to transition from a pilot program authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill to a state plan in compliance with the national regulatory framework established by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Interim Final Rule as directed in the 2018 Farm Bill. The ceremonial signing took place at Lasa Extract, LLC, a wholesale CBD extraction business in Suffield, CT, with Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt, Congressman Courtney, and other elected officials supportive of the public act. 

“The future of Connecticut agriculture is both innovative and entrepreneurial,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “This is a fantastic bill and we appreciate the leadership of Governor Lamont, Congressman Courtney, and the state legislature to get this done in accordance with the USDA Interim Final Rule. By transitioning to our state plan, we can be sure the opportunity exists for businesses to be successful in the state.”

In order to submit a state plan in compliance with the USDA Interim Final Rule, it was necessary for the General Assembly to act on proposed statutory amendments to the current state laws during a special session. Without an approved state plan, Connecticut’s hemp growers would have had to apply for a federal license to grow hemp. With more than 170 licensed growers and processors and over 500 acres registered for hemp production, the program was in jeopardy of expiring on October 31, 2020, when the USDA Interim Final Rule was scheduled to go into effect and pilot programs would no longer be permitted. 

The new bill implements required USDA changes and combines the grower license and processor license into one combined “producer” license valid for three years, versus two, to simplify the licensing. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture also incorporated feedback received from growers during listening sessions to expand the information exempt from disclosure under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to include test results and producer location information to provide more protection for growers’ crops. 

Complete details on the revisions will be posted at www.ctgrown.gov/hemp. 

Sept. 16, 2020, News Times: Cathleen and Howard Bronson, of Maple Bank Farm in Roxbury, Conn, have been helped by the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy navigating the state’s Farmland Preservation Program

https://www.ctinsider.com/local/newstimes/article/One-of-CT-s-oldest-farms-now-permanently-15573139.php

Hartford Courant, July 27, 2020. Available for free, it is not just a list of farms but a current inventory index. Click here to read full article.

July 2020: Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture, report prepared by Farm Credit East

Click here to download report.