Press Releases

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• 12/23/2024 Connecticut Approves Santa's Reindeer for Flight on Christmas Eve

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt and State Veterinarian Dr. Thamus Morgan announce that Santa Claus and his nine reindeer have received official approval to fly over Connecticut on December 24 to ensure the holiday magic continues without delay.

• 12/24/2024 CT DoAg Statement on Animal Welfare and Compliance at the Town of Cheshire Animal Control Facility

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is committed to safeguarding animal welfare in the state. In response to allegations concerning the conditions and care of animals housed at the animal control facility operated by the Town of Cheshire, our state animal control unit initiated a thorough investigation and inspection of the facility.

• 12/6/2024 Redeem Your Passport to CT Wine Country Stamps

  The 2024 Passport to Connecticut Wine Country, a program of the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council (CFWDC) administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, will end on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

• 12/19/2024 CT DoAg Encourages Owners to Help Keep Pets Safe and Healthy During Winter Holidays 7 Action Steps to Enjoy the Cold Weather and Festivities

  (HARTFORD, CT) – As you are making a list and checking it twice during your holiday preparations, be sure to include pet safety as a priority. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) reminds owners of steps they can take to help keep pets healthy and safe through the holiday festivities and winter weather.

• 8/2/2024 Connecticut Grown Celebrates National Farmers Market Week 2024

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Grown, a program of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is celebrating National Farmers Market Week (NFMW) from August 4-10, 2024, to highlight the important role of farmers markets in our food system.

• 8/23/2024 USDA Announces Funding Awarded to Connecticut to Support Specialty Crops

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced over $405,000 in funding awarded to Connecticut through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) will fund projects that strengthen Connecticut’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research.

• 8/16/2024 Sixth Annual Edition of Connecticut Grown Magazine Now Available

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Grown magazine, the sixth annual guide to the state’s farms, food, and markets produced in collaboration between Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and Farm Flavor Media, is now available in print and digital versions. This edition focuses on diversifying the food system – how food is grown, where it is grown, who is growing it, and ways it is being made more accessible to consumers.

• 8/21/2024 CT DoAg Releases Guidance for CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program

  The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is pleased to release Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTG4CTK) Grant program guidance for fiscal year 2025. New this year are unique application opening dates and deadlines divided into microgrants and full grants. Microgrant applications for projects requesting up to $5,000 over a 12-month duration are now open for Tracks 1 through 4 and are due by 12:00 p.m. on September 18, 2024.

• 4/1/2024 Connecticut health and agriculture officials say the risk of avian flu in Connecticut is low

  HARTFORD, Conn—Despite the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus which was reported in Texas over the weekend in a person exposed to an infected dairy cow, officials from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) say there are no cases reported in any cattle or other livestock in Connecticut.

• 4/19/2024 LT. GOVERNOR, STATE OFFICIALS HIGHLIGHT DCF & DOAG PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS ‘THE LINK’ BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE & ANIMAL CRUELTY

  (BRANFORD, CT) - Today, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, with state officials and animal welfare advocates, discussed the strong correlation between animal cruelty, child maltreatment and other forms of interpersonal violence – referred to as “The Link.”

• 4/15/2024 CT DoAg Announces $1.475 Million in State Grants to Increase Long-Term Climate Resiliency in Production Agriculture

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt today announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is awarding $1.475 million in state funding to farmers and non-profits involved in production agriculture to invest in long-term climate resiliency projects which will decrease vulnerability to extreme weather events through regenerative agricultural practices.

• 4/9/2024 Refreshed CT FarmLink Website and Logo Released

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Farmland owners and farmland seekers across Connecticut now have greater access to resources through a redesigned website and refreshed logo for CT FarmLink. CT FarmLink is a collaborative effort between Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT), and other partners which acts as a clearinghouse for the transition between generations of landowners with the goal of keeping farmland accessible and in production.

• 4/5/2024 CT DoAg Invests $114,995 to Address Food Insecurity and Food Access

  HARTFORD, CT – Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announces that the CT Food Policy Council, administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), has awarded funds to six projects through the Food System Capacity Building Grant totaling $114,995. The awarded projects will focus on utilizing CT Grown farm products in the creation of innovative, localized programming to increase food access and address food insecurity in communities.

• 11/4/2024 CT DoAg Accepting Applications for Low-Income Spay/Neuter Program Starting November 4

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) will begin accepting applications for the Animal Population Control Program’s (APCP) Low-Income Program on Monday, November 4, 2024, to assist eligible Connecticut residents with spaying or neutering a dog or cat they own. Applications must be submitted using the new APCP portal.

• 11/21/2024 CT DoAg Announces Historic New Program to Support Farmland Acquisition

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt announced the release of guidance for a historic new program which will increase access to farm ownership opportunities, market access, and capital funding for socially disadvantaged farmers in Connecticut. Connecticut is the only state department of agriculture to be awarded funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the implementation of the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (LCMA) program.