Malloy funds farm programs

Gov. Malloy and state Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky announced that more than 40 farms, agricultural non-profits and municipalities will receive state funding totaling $880,327 as part of an ongoing effort to expand Connecticut’s growing agricultural economy.
Funding is from Agriculture Department’s Farm Transition Grant and Farm Viability Grant programs.The funding – which requires a match from the grantee – will leverage nearly $2.4 million in investments.
Some grants are:
Miller Tree Farm LLC, Durham – Farm diversification into a maple syrup production facility.
Total project budget: $25,000; Grant: $12,500
7 Falls Mushroom Farm, Higganum – Creation of a 1,000 log Shiitake mushroom production area for sale at local markets. Total project budget: $15,866; Grant: $7,963
Shady Maple Farm, Salisbury – Redo milking parlor in order to raise dairy and beef cows. Total project budget: $19,965; Grant: $9,982
Sweet Apple Farm LLC, Easton – For plantings at a new farm-production orchard.
Total project budget: $1,750; Grant: $875
Rogers Orchards, Southington – Install a trellis system for a high-density orchard.
Total project budget: $80,000; Grant: $20,000
Larson’s Garden Center, LLC, Burlington – Purchase of a green sustainable wood-heating system for their greenhouse facility and an additional Quonset greenhouse to be used for wood and crop residue storage of the fuel. Total project budget: $86,700; Grant: $42,500
Farm Viability Grants (municipalities and agricultural non-profit organizations)
American Farmland Trust, Windsor – Update and reprint the booklet Conservation Options for CT Farmland. Total project budget: $22,202; Grant: $11,803
Brass City Harvest, Waterbury – Mobile farmers’ market and nutrition program.
Total project budget: $95,576; Grant: $12,000
CT NOFA – Educational marketing Campaign. Total project budget: $7,000; Grant: $3,500
CT Agricultural Experiment Station – Two-year low trellis hop trial research for small farmers. Total project budget: $76,600; Grant: $45,960
Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain – Energy audit on greenhouses including heaters, insulation, equipment. Total project budget: $97,200; Grant: $48,600
Town of Southbury – Farmers’ market promotions and advertising. Total project budget: $6,001; Grant: $2,999
Town of Weston – Improvements to Lachat Farm. Total project budget: $35,000; Grant: $17,500
The grants were awarded on a competitive basis and a match must be supplied by the applicant.
For more information on these grants, please visit the Department’s website at www.ct.gov/doag/. Click on: “Programs and Services” and then: “Agriculture Viability Grants.”