2022 Working Lands Alliance Policy Priorities
Maintain and Support Funding for Farmland Protection
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- Ensure full funding levels of the Community Investment Act
- Continue farmland preservation and community farms funding
Strengthen the CT Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Program
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- Prioritize establishing new pathways to increase the number of agricultural appraisers and surveyors and increase CT Department of Agriculture’s staff capacity.
- Explore and support recommendations that make the CT Farmland Preservation Program more accessible to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) that are developed by the CT Department of Agriculture’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Securing Land Access Sub-Committee
Support Working Lands Component in Any and All Climate Change Legislation
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- Update the Farmland Restoration Grant Program Statute to support farmers in transitioning to climate–smart agricultural practices
- Support funding for climate–smart agricultural practices, including investments in soil health and adaptation strategies
- Support policies and incentives to encourage forest resiliency
Support Policy Priorities Developed by CT Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Access Working Group
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- Increasing purchase amount for buy-protect-sell projects from $2 million to $5 million
- Support implementation of Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV) in Connecticut
- Improve farmland access opportunities for urban producers
Support Policies that Increase the Agricultural Viability of Farmers and Promote Food Security
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- Increase incentives for schools and other public institutions to procure more CT Grown products, including CT Grown Forest products
- Support incentives that connect more CT Grown products to individuals and families that are experiencing food insecurity
Support the Design and Implementation of an Urban Agriculture Unit Within the CT Department of Agriculture.
Support Provisions that Promote Smart Solar Siting Planning and Placement of Large-Scale Arrays. Including Disincentive Solar Arrays on Prime and Important Farmland and Core Forest
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- Amend the CT Siting Council, Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-50j, et seq. to include a representative with background and knowledge of agriculture
- Support state-level initiatives to convene multi-stakeholder, consensus-building processes with representation from diverse members, including BIPOC producers, to ensure minimal solar development on farmland and core forest. Support the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s engagement process on Sustainable, Transparent, and Efficient Practices (STEPs) for Solar Development
