Constitution State News

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is working on the administration of the Farm Recovery and Support (FRS) Grant, which was established through a disaster supplemental funding bill. This program provides $220 million to eligible states for compensating producers for expenses related to crop, timber, and livestock losses due to weather events in 2023 and 2024. The grant also covers on-farm infrastructure affected by these events.

According to CT DoAg, "the weather events of the past two years have had a catastrophic impact" on many farm operations in Connecticut. The department has reported losses amounting to $72,333,283 based on responses from farmers. This figure includes $50,591,373.53 from 210 responses received in January 2025 and additional data from surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024.

On January 22, CT DoAg submitted a request for $83,979,000 to the USDA. This request comprises compensation for weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, an investment of $10 million in resiliency projects on individual farms, and a 2% administration fee.

Efforts are underway within the department to advance the program's implementation. These efforts include conducting an in-person brainstorming workshop with industry service providers and ongoing discussions with New England states, federal delegations, and the USDA.

As of now, CT DoAg has not received confirmation regarding the allocation from this federal funding opportunity. While the total request from all eligible states remains unknown, New England states have collectively requested over $320 million.

The next steps involve assigning a USDA representative to negotiate program details with CT DoAg. An informational session will be held for agricultural producers to provide feedback on shaping the program once further clarification is obtained from USDA.

Following this process will be the execution of a formal agreement between USDA and CT DoAg authorizing fund release to Connecticut. A guidance document and application will be finalized and released with an extended application period for farmers. Verification of application requests will include documentation review to confirm eligibility before executing agreements with grant recipients and disbursing funds.