Connecticut, US to extend financial aid to 2015
Agreement with US to allow Connecticut to use more than $8 million for farmland production
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- An agreement with federal agriculture officials will allow Connecticut to use more than $8 million from Washington to keep farmland in production.
Officials said Wednesday that the agreement will extend federal farmland-protection money obligated to Connecticut until March 31, 2015. The state says it has more flexibility negotiating agreements with farm owners who want to participate in the program.
More than 300 state farms have been protected in the program, which keep farms from falling into nonagricultural use. Nearly 100 farms have received $20 million in federal aid.
Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky says Connecticut and federal agriculture officials have preserved more than 13,000 acres of farmland and the recent agreement will ensure that more working land remains in productive farming.
Agriculture contributes $3.5 billion to Connecticut's economy and supports nearly 28,000 jobs.
