Saud Anwar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

April 29, 2026

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) strongly supported the passage of legislation supporting Connecticut dairy farms at a time when they need support, creating new programs and expanding existing aid. Sen. Anwar’s district represents numerous farms and dairy farms in Ellington, East Windsor, East Hartford and South Windsor, including the largest in the state, Oakridge Dairy.

“Connecticut needs to protect its agricultural industry or risk losing community mainstays that have supported our households with fresh, nutritious produce,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m proud to help advance this legislation because of its strong supports for Connecticut agriculture and dairy farms in particular. A new program improving grant access and investments, an expanded farm tax credit and the restoration of recommended land use values are all going to pay strong dividends for farmers, and I’m encouraged to see this become law.”

Senate Bill 148 seeks to support Connecticut dairy farms through a number of measures, including:

• The creation of a Dairy Modernization Grant Program under the Department of Agriculture, which will aid farms with equipment, operational and infrastructure investments.
• Expanding eligibility for a farm investment tax credit program to include Connecticut taxpayers with annual income from farming of at least $250,000.
• Establishes a working group to study dairy farming sustainability, looking at long-term recommendations for the dairy industry.
• Reinstates recommended land use values for forest land, reversing an unexpected increase, until the next valuation.

In the last 20 years, Connecticut’s dairy farms have fallen by 63%, CT News Junkie reported, far from a peak of nearly 1,000 in the 1950s and 1960s. Fewer than 80 remain, with the dairy farm industry in Connecticut projected to lose a collective $20 million this year. That’s largely due to federal ordering systems tied to Midwest prices, where production costs are far lower and grain is grown locally, which constrain Connecticut farms’ financial abilities.

With today’s unanimous adoption in the Senate, the bill now heads to the House.