CT Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D)

At CT RC&D, our hearts go out to the farmers and families affected by the recent devastating storm effects and flooding aftermath in Western CT. We understand some of you are facing significant crop and infrastructure loss, among other challenges. You are not alone, and we have put together a list of some available resources to assist with the impacts from these losses: https://lnkd.in/eaBXUMJS. Please feel free to reach out to us if you need help contacting any of these agencies. Stay strong, and know that your community supports you. 🌾💪 📷: Guardians Farm in Southbury, CT

Lettuce help you! Are you an agricultural producer looking for ways to conserve water, or address water, air, or animal waste issues? Are you looking to reduce erosion, improve wildlife habitat, or obtain a seasonal high tunnel? Do you want to improve overall conservation on your farming operation? If you answered yes to any of these, you may be eligible for technical and/or financial assistance. The United States Department of Agriculture( USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers assistance to all eligible producers – from small urban farms to larger rural operations with production on rented, leased, or owned land, through a variety of programs. Although NRCS accepts applications year-round, to be eligible for the first sign-up period for FY2025 funding, be sure to submit your application to your local NRCS office by October 15, 2024. Find your local USDA service center at https://lnkd.in/gNmSyMiG. Learn more about NRCS programs at www.ct.nrcs.usda.gov. Contact John Randall – john.randall@usda.gov, 860-871-4029 if you have any questions.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Tran, CT RC&D's 2024 recipient of the Norma O'Leary Award for Excellence in Agriculture Innovation! Jacqueline is a graduate of Waterford High School and will be attending the University of Hartford to study biochemistry with a focus on agriculture. Jacqueline’s goals are to work on pollution, fertilization, water abundance, and climate. Having heard stories from her family about the polluted waterways in their homeland of Vietnam impacting their access to safe food, Jacqueline was inspired to pursue a field where they can make a difference for people affected by pollution. Jacqueline has been a member of the National Honor Society, the Board of Education as a High School Liaison, and the Cultural Diversity Alliance. Jacqueline also participates in the Chemistry Club and Envirothon. The CT RC&D Excellence in Agriculture Innovation Award is given in honor of Norma O’Leary, an active and dynamic longtime dairy farmer, tireless volunteer, friend, former CT RC&D Council Member, and champion of local agriculture in Connecticut. To list Norma’s agricultural and conservation leadership roles would be impressive enough; past President of Connecticut Farm Bureau, Council Member of CT RC&D, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, and founding member of Thompson Together. Her diligence in rallying support for initiatives that raise the profile of agriculture and make our communities more vibrant continues to be an inspiration. Norma was the inspiration and driving force behind the AGvocate Program, which has been responsible for the proliferation of local Agricultural Commissions across Connecticut. Beyond all of this, she remains the matriarch and the rock of Fort Hill Farms, one of the most prominent dairy farms in the state and a member of Cabot Cheese and the Farmer’s Cow.

Join American Farmland Trust's Working Lands Alliance Project & CT Farmland Trust for an event at Graywall Farms. Sunday, September 8th 3-5pm 49 Chapel Rd, Lebanon, Ct To register, email achesmer@farmland.org or call (860)969-1043 by Friday, 8/30

USDA Grant Deadline Fast Approaching: 9/30/24

Congratulations to Jacqueline Tran, CT RC&D's 2024 recipient of the Norma O'Leary Award for Excellence in Agriculture Innovation! Jacqueline is a graduate of Waterford High School and will be attending the University of Hartford to study biochemistry with a focus on agriculture. Jacqueline’s goals are to work on pollution, fertilization, water abundance, and climate. Having heard stories from her family about the polluted waterways in their homeland of Vietnam impacting their access to safe food, Jacqueline was inspired to pursue a field where they can make a difference for people affected by pollution. Jacqueline has been a member of the National Honor Society, the Board of Education as a High School Liaison, and the Cultural Diversity Alliance. Jacqueline also participates in the Chemistry Club and Envirothon. The CT RC&D Excellence in Agriculture Innovation Award is given in honor of Norma O’Leary, an active and dynamic longtime dairy farmer, tireless volunteer, friend, former CT RC&D Council Member, and champion of local agriculture in Connecticut. To list Norma’s agricultural and conservation leadership roles would be impressive enough; past President of Connecticut Farm Bureau, Council Member of CT RC&D, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, and founding member of Thompson Together. Her diligence in rallying support for initiatives that raise the profile of agriculture and make our communities more vibrant continues to be an inspiration. Norma was the inspiration and driving force behind the AGvocate Program, which has been responsible for the proliferation of local Agricultural Commissions across Connecticut. Beyond all of this, she remains the matriarch and the rock of Fort Hill Farms, one of the most prominent dairy farms in the state and a member of Cabot Cheese and the Farmer’s Cow.

Happy National Farmers Market Week from CT RC&D!

2024 marks the 4th year of the NW CT Cover Crop Challenge! Partners include northwest conservation district, CT Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D), USDA NRCS and Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. This offering is eligible to farms in the northwest conservation district's service area realize a fuller potential for cover crops. Participation on a first come, first served basis. Signup today: https://lnkd.in/dAWSk9AG #CTSoilHealthInitiative #CTSoil #SoilHealth #Covercrops #2024CoverCropChallenge

New in 2024 CT Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D) is partnering with USDA NRCS and Southwest Conservation District to offer a Cover Crop Challenge to farms located within the Southwest Conservation District's service area. This program is aimed to help farms start using cover crops and realize a fuller potential for their use, recognizing the value of agricultural practices which enhance soil health. Signup today: https://lnkd.in/dB_a9Ztr #CTSoilHealthInitiative #CTSoil #SoilHealth #Covercrops #2024CoverCropChallenge

Last week CT Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D) board members and staff had the opportunity along with Congressman Joe Courtney and Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt to welcome USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small to eastern Connecticut. The visit to local farms gave an opportunity to hear from farmers on how they’ve used federal funding. A strong focus was on the USDA Rural Development REAP Grant program which enables farms to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The tour included a stop at Running Brook Farms in Killingworth with owners Becky Goetsch and Scott Papoosha. They have utilized REAP funding to make energy efficiency upgrades as well as install solar at the farm. At the press conference held at Running Brook Farms it was announced that CT RC&D was a recipient of the USDA REAP TAG grant that will enable continued work through the CT Farm Energy Program for the next three years. For fifteen years, CT RC&D has assisted farms and ag-based rural small businesses in securing nearly 7.5 million dollars in REAP grant funding. This has resulted in close to 34 million dollars worth of projects being implemented in Connecticut. In the last two quarters of 2024, CT RC&D supported $1.3 million dollars in grant applications submissions to the REAP program for farms. Next was a visit to Long Table Farm in Lyme for a tour with owner Baylee Drown and a roundtable discussion on USDA programs with local farmers, including Michael Swanson of Broad Brook Acres in Preston, Robert Chang of Echo Farms in Woodstock, Chris Pacheco of Seacoast Mushrooms in Stonington, and Paul Larson of Sprucedale Gardens.