Connecticut Department of Agriculture

Press Releases

Page 2 of 17

  • 2/26/2020 Maple Sugaring Season Kicks Off

    Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt joined Rob Lamothe, owner of Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington, on Friday, February 14 to participate in a ceremonial maple tapping in celebration of Connecticut’s “sweetest” time of the year, the start of maple sugaring season.

  • 2/5/2020 Outstanding Young Farmer Congress

    Connecticut welcomed more than 200 members of the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) to the National Outstanding Young Farmers (NOYF) Congress from February 6-9 in Westbrook. Attendees included former NOYF alumni, sponsors and other agricultural professionals, as well as 10 finalists from across the nation. The organization gathered to honor the outstanding achievements of America’s young agriculturalists.

  • 4/3/2020 DoAg Facilitates Continuation of Farmers Market and Shellfish Sales during COVID 19

    HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Department Agriculture (DoAg) has released guidance documents to facilitate the continuation of farmers’ markets and shellfish sales during the COVID-19 crisis. Per Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 7H, and 7S and DECD’s guidance on essential services and Safe Stores, food and agriculture, including aquaculture, as well as, farmers’ markets and farm stands are deemed essential. The guidance documents contain practices and protocols to be implemented as necessary in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while providing access to supply of local, fresh food.

  • 2/5/2020 CONNECTICUT REGIONAL MARKET TRANSFERRED TO CAPITAL REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Per Section 10 of Public Act 18-154, the Connecticut Regional Market located at 101 Reserve Road in Hartford has been conveyed to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) effective January 1, 2020 clearly outlines the duties of each entity going forward.

  • 8/19/2020 Connecticut Producers Urged to Enroll in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

    (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is urging dairy producers to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide vital financial assistance to absorb sales losses and increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, August 17, 2020, Connecticut dairy producers have received $5.9 million in payments, accounting for 86% of payments made to Connecticut. USDA is accepting CFAP applications now through September 11, 2020. Producers should apply through the Farm Service Agency at their local USDA Service Center. Learn more at farmers.gov/cfap. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state's economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.

  • 10/8/2020 Geer Farm - Farm Protected in Lebanon

    Connecticut Farmland Trust and Connecticut Department of Agriculture are pleased to announce the preservation of Geer Farm in Lebanon.

  • 10/9/2020 Department of Agriculture begins initiative to increase market share for Connecticut producers

    Plans include research, development and roll out of a 12-month marketing campaign to promote Connecticut Grown agriculture and aquaculture.

  • 7/27/2020 Connecticut Residents Asked to Report Receipt of any Unsolicited Packages of Seeds

    (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) have been notified that several Connecticut residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China. The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species. The packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them. Unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in several other states across the United States over the last several days.

  • 8/14/2020 Support CT Farmers and Restaurants During Farm-to-Chef Week

  • 11/2/2020 Connecticut's FFA Chapters and Students Win National Honors

  • 3/23/2020 CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EXECUTIVE ORDER 7H ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES

    (HARTFORD, CT) – On March 20, 2020, The Governor issued Executive Order 7H, directing all businesses and nonprofit entities in the State of Connecticut to utilize, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely employ. That order also directed that, no later than March 23, 2020 at 8 p.m., each non-essential business or nonprofit entity (and therefore not including or applicable to any state or local government agencies, quasi-public agencies, political subdivisions or other entities that do not constitute businesses or nonprofits) shall reduce the in-person workforce at each business location by 100% from pre-state of emergency declaration employment levels. Executive Order 7H authorized the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) to provide legally binding guidance about which businesses are essential.

  • 3/18/2020 Connecticut Farmers Markets and Farm Stands OPEN

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut residents seeking fresh, local foods are advised that farm stands and farmers’ markets remain open for business. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has worked with Governor Lamont’s office to clarify that these entities are not currently affected by the Executive Order.

  • 6/1/2020 Survey Underway to Assess Availability of Food Storage and Meal Preparation Sites in Connecticut

    HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, in partnership with other state and local agencies, is surveying various entities on their willingness to collaborate with local emergency food distribution agencies (e.g.; local food pantry) who are seeking additional food storage space and meal preparation services for home-bound individuals and families.

  • 5/8/2020 Supporting the Shellfish Industry During the COVID 19 Pandemic

    (HARTFORD, CT) - The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is collaborating with state and federal partners on the development of a phased response to support shellfish farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The innovative program will enable shellfish farmers to contribute to the rehabilitation of the state’s natural shellfish beds, and to receive compensation for their work, which will occur in two distinct phases. This work highlights the importance of the partnership between the Department and Connecticut Sea Grant to provide assistance to the industry during a critical time.

  • 1/7/2021 Southington Farm Permanently Protected

    State of Connecticut Community Farms Preservation Program Purchases Development Rights of Karabin Farms in Partnership with Town

Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... 17 Next