More Farmers Receive Climate Smart Grants

On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt held a press conference at Clover Nook Farm in Bethany joined by Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (CT RC&D) to announce the awardees from Round 2 of its Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program. In this second round of funding, CT RC&D administered $250,000 to twelve farms around Connecticut. This funding will drive over $663,000 in climate smart projects.

In February of this year, CT RC&D administered the first round of CSAG funding and awarded $250,000 to eight farms around Connecticut. In total through the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program, CT RC&D has awarded $500,000 to twenty Connecticut farms, driving over $1.5 million in on-farm energy and soil health projects.

“Our Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development are continuing to provide opportunities for farms across the state to complete climate smart projects,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “Through the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program, we are empowering farmers to build resiliency and sustainability through on-farm energy and soil health projects. I’m excited to see these grant projects come to fruition!”

In March 2023, Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) awarded nearly $7 million to 12 entities through the Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry Grant, established under Public Act 22-118 to increase the number of farmers implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices.

“CT DoAg is committed to investing in climate smart farming practices and long-term resiliency projects enabling Connecticut’s agricultural producers to continue their operations in an increasingly sustainable manner,” said Agriculture Commissioner Hurlburt. “The implementation of these farming practices positions Connecticut’s farmers to be part of the climate change solution through on-farm energy and soil health projects.”

Read the full press release.