American Farmland Trust announced the publication of its updated educational guide, Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities. The comprehensive guide, produced in partnership with Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, has become a go-to resource for municipalities interested in creating a farm-friendly environment for our farmers and farm businesses.
The newly-revised guide outlines ways town governments can plan for the future of agriculture and provide a supportive community atmosphere in which agriculture can thrive. The comprehensive booklet covers topics including the benefits of farms, planning and zoning tools, right-to-farm ordinances, subdivision regulations, financing local farmland protection, promoting local farm viability, and addressing common farming issues and concerns.
“Supporting our farms and farm businesses in Connecticut has never been more important. With this updated educational guide, we can be sure that all of our communities – urban, suburban and rural – are doing all they can to promote agriculture and to grow our farm economy. The guide provides a variety of tools for municipalities that will ensure there is a bright future for farming in our state,” said Jesse Robertson-DuBois, New England Director for American Farmland Trust.
“Connecticut Conference of Municipalities is pleased to partner with American Farmland Trust to produce a new edition of Planning for Agriculture. The publication has become an invaluable tool for municipal officials, Planners, Commission members and others who value agriculture and want to see our farms and farm families succeed,” said Randy Collins, Advocacy Manager for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
Planning for Agriculture, previously revised and updated in 2012, is currently in its third edition. For nearly a decade, this guide has been an effective educational tool for numerous agencies and organizations throughout the state, such as the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS, and Connecticut Farm Bureau Association. It has been used extensively to educate local elected officials, municipal staff, Planning and Zoning and Agricultural Commission members, and many others about the importance of local agriculture and the role municipalities can play in supporting the growth of farming in our state.
The project was funded through a grant from US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and with funding from Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Grant Program.
To obtain hard copies of ‘Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities’ please contact Clark Chapin at mailto:cchapin@farmland.org or contact the Connecticut office of American Farmland Trust at 860-683-4230. Electronic copies of the guide may also be downloaded on the Working Lands Alliance website: http://workinglandsalliance.org/resources/
To view a webinar AFT co-hosted with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association entitled, “Planning for Agriculture in Connecticut: How to Create A Supportive Environment for Farmers and Farm Businesses” click here.
The Working Lands Alliance, a project of American Farmland Trust, is a statewide coalition dedicated to preserving Connecticut’s productive farmland and advancing the economic viability of agriculture. To learn more about the Working Lands Alliance, visit: www.workinglandsalliance.org or call 860-683-4230.
The American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.
For more information on the policies and programs of the American Farmland Trust, visit www.farmland.org, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FarmlandNE or Twitter www.twitter.com/farmland.
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