Senator Honig Votes to Pass Legislation Benefitting Dairy Farms

HARTFORD — Senator Paul Honig (D-Harwinton) voted Wednesday to pass legislation that will help Connecticut dairy farms modernize their operations, preserve working farmland, and plan for the long-term sustainability of the state’s agricultural sector.

“Northwest Connecticut has a strong agricultural tradition worth protecting, and this bill gives our dairy farmers new tools to invest in their operations and stay competitive,” Senator Honig said. “Farms in places like Granby, Harwinton, and New Hartford are essential to what makes this region what it is, and I’m glad we were able to pass something that takes their future seriously.”

Senate Bill 148 establishes a new Dairy Modernization Grant Program through the Department of Agriculture to help farms invest in equipment, operations, and infrastructure. It also creates a Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group, brought together at the recommendation of the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Agriculture, and the industry, to develop long-term support recommendations.

The bill also expands eligibility for a farm investment tax credit to include Connecticut taxpayers with at least $250,000 in annual farming income, correcting an eligibility issue from last session’s legislation.

Additional provisions reinstate land use values for forest land in the PA 490 program, remove an existing cap on farmland preservation development rights offers to keep Connecticut competitive in preserving working farmland, and update the Farmers Market Nutrition Program to reflect current electronic benefit practices.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov |