Climate Smart Agriculture

BCS Tractor Training & Compost Tea Making on the Farm

CT RC&D and partners held an informative field day at Veteran-owned and operated Artza Mendi Farm. The first portion of the day included a training on how to safely operate a BCS Tractor and attachments. View the recording shown here. The second half included an overview on making compost tea and its importance. Please see the "Compost Tea Equipment Mobile Unit" section below for Powerpoint slides as well as a recording of Monique Bosch's presentation.

Funding for this project was paid for by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

CSAG_Equipment_Hub_Signup_2

 

CT RC&D’s Climate Smart Agriculture Equipment Sharing Hubs are accepting new Equipment Hub user farms on a rolling basis until capacity is filled.


Please download and complete the Climate Smart Agriculture Equipment Sharing Hub Application form.


Once completed, click Apply Now below to complete the brief electronic form and upload the Application form.


Equipment Sharing Hubs Available for CT Farmers

The Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (CT RC&D) is pleased to offer Climate Smart Agriculture Equipment Sharing Hubs funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry Grant established by the Community Investment Act (C.G.S. Sec. 22-26k). A portion of the grant funds are being utilized to implement and support 4 Equipment Sharing Hubs. One Hub is housed in each of the following locations: the CT River Valley, Northeastern CT, and Northwestern CT, providing access to farmers operating within those regions. A fourth Hub is housed by and accessible to Farmer Veterans. This project will provide access to climate smart equipment for three growing seasons (2024-2027) while fostering collaborative education in geographically diverse areas.

CT RC&D’s Equipment Sharing Hubs will enable climate smart agriculture practices on farms across Connecticut. The climate smart practices (identified by USDA NRCS) will encourage and/or enable soil health practices including, but not limited to, planting of cover crops, conservation crop rotation, conservation tillage (no-till/low till), mulching, composting, nutrient management, improved grazing and pasture, and land management in agricultural operations. Implementation of this project will enable more agricultural producers the opportunity to cooperatively use equipment, develop a network for information sharing, and implement climate smart practices on their farms, thereby increasing soil health without individually buying each of the equipment aides on their own.

With Climate Smart Agriculture Equipment Hubs now operating on Host Farms statewide, CT RC&D is accepting applications from farms interested in becoming Equipment Hub Users.  Equipment Hub Users may apply to participate in the hub of their choice (1) by submitting the brief electronic application and uploading the Equipment Sharing Hub Application Form. Users will be accepted into the Hubs as space allows, and will be responsible for:

  • Signing a contract and providing required documentation of vehicle transport insurance, farm liability policy, workers’ compensation (if applicable), and landlord agreement (if applicable).
  • Scheduling equipment through an online calendar reservation system,
  • Legally transporting the equipment to and from the Host Farm,
  • Supplying trained staff to use each piece of equipment reserved for use on their farm,
  • Ensuring equipment is cleaned, maintained, and kept in good working order,
  • Tracking hours of use,
  • Assisting with soil and biomass testing (paid for by CT RC&D),
  • Submitting season-end reports to CT RC&D.

Farms will not receive any direct payments through participation in this Climate Smart Equipment Sharing Hub program. The benefit of this project is access to equipment for improving soil health on the farm. Each participating farm will be required to provide in-kind time to assist with monitoring the results of equipment used on their farm for the duration of the project.

Compost Tea Mobile Unit Signup FINAL

Compost Tea Equipment Mobile Unit

CT RC&D is working with CT NOFA to offer an educational Compost Tea Equipment Mobile Unit to 5 farms interested in the practice for the 2025 growing season. This traveling educational unit will demonstrate to farmers how to brew, apply, and test compost tea. Farmers will work with CT NOFA staff to conduct test trials with the compost tea and biological tests.

View a "Compost Tea Training" by Monique Bosch below.