Helping Connecticut’s first-time farmers

Before Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky were defending our nation and protecting our troops, Connecticut’s farmers were one of our state’s biggest contributors toward our national defense. How? They literally fed the army during the Revolutionary War. If you’ve ever heard a reference to Connecticut as “The Provision State,” it’s because the Continental Army relied on us for critical supplies like ships, cannons, gunpowder — and, of course, food.

Too often overlooked, small farmers in our state played a vital role to the birth of our nation. And still today, small farmers across Connecticut remain a vital and iconic part of our economy and cultural identity. As our state’s population grew — driving up the value of land — and industrialization took hold, the number of Connecticut farmers plummeted. Thankfully, the trend has reversed itself as agricultural entrepreneurs have restarted farms and opened new ones. Agriculture is again a booming sector in Connecticut, injecting more than $3.5 billion into our state’s economy.

Starting a farm is hard work — it’s expensive and requires a diverse skillset. After all, farmers not only need to know how to grow crops or maintain animals, but they also need to understand how to profitably operate and grow a small business. Today, 25 percent of farmers in Connecticut are beginning farmers who face a unique set of challenges, such as lack of access to loans and a need for more mentorship and training from experienced farmers. If Connecticut residents want diverse, locally grown food in their grocery stores, at their schools, and on their restaurant menus, we need to support these beginning farmers.

I have listened to beginning and aspiring farmers discuss the challenges they face, and I’m determined to work hard in the U.S. Senate to keep Connecticut farmers strong. That’s why when the Senate Appropriations Committee was debating the agriculture funding bill, I helped secure $34 million for beginning farmers, including $2 million for a new initiative I championed to help new farmers overcome barriers to starting and growing their businesses. 

It’s also why I advocated for UConn’s successful application to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. I’m happy to say UConn and its partners won new federal funding to run group trainings and one-on-one technical assistance to new farmers. The topics and subjects of these trainings are developed with input from beginning farmers and will help our state’s new farmers get the support and mentorship they need in their first years on the farm. I urge all new farmers in northwest Connecticut to look into these resources to see if they could be helpful for you and your farm.  

Connecticut farming is on the rise, and consumers are seeing the benefits. We’ve made good progress, but we have a long way to go. I will continue to listen closely to farmers on the ground and work hard to ensure Connecticut’s small farms continue to grow.

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy serves Connecticut and is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.