February 7, 2018

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is seeking applications for its 2018 Farm Transition Grant pro-gram. Applications are due Wednesday, February 14, 2018.

Farm Transition Grants are awarded to farmers and agri-cultural cooperatives for activities such as diversifying existing farm operations, and transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales.

Awards are made as reimbursements of up to $49,999, and must be matched by the recipient, who has one year to complete the approved project.

With a focus on expanding and diversifying agriculture, priority will be given to the following project types:

On-farm improvements to comply with the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Meeting food safety requirements for advanced position-ing in the marketplace

Strengthening infrastructure to meet changing climate conditions

Processing Connecticut Grown products to increase year-round market availability and farm viability

Diversification of existing farm operations into new and emerging crops and/or product lines

Since 2006, Farm Transition Grants have been an im-portant tool for many Connecticut farm families to invest in agricultural buildings, equipment, fencing, promotional pro-jects, energy efficiency improvements, and a wide variety of other projects.

One example of a successful Farm Transition Grant pro-ject is the on-farm food-safety improvements at Hindinger

Farm in Hamden. The farm was awarded a $7,750 Farm Transition Grant to update their packing house and cooler to comply with the new federal FSMA guidelines. The grant was supplemented with an $8,703 match from Hindinger Farm for the $16,453 project.

Hindinger Farm was one of 21 farms to be awarded a Farm Transition Grant in 2016. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the economic viability of Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The $588,306 awarded that year leveraged $1,236,824 in matching funds as part of the competitive matching grant program.

Hindinger Farm hired Shepard Brook Carpentry, located in Hamden, CT, to implement the project. Project activities included putting up sheet rock, building shelving and packing benches, and installing insulation in the packing room. Shep-ard Brook did all the ceiling installation in the coolers, which included removal of existing water decayed framing. A new ceiling was put up with moisture-resistant sheathing and paintable surface.

An electrician was hired to change all the wiring, fix all the switches, and put up LED lighting flush to the ceiling in the packing room. During the renovation a new electrical panel was installed to be compliant with building codes. Elizabeth Hindinger did all the painting and the finish surfaces. The re-sult of these improvements is a very clean and easy-to-sanitize packing room that is safer now with the wiring up to code and framing more solid.

Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky said the Hindinger Farm improvements are an example of how Farm Transition Grants can help farmers “take the next step” in im-proving and modernizing their operations.

FARM TRANSITION GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 14, 2018 Mark Hood, Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation

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Ice cream made with Hindinger strawberries sold at the annual strawberry festival at Hindinger Farm.

Musical entertainment at the 2017 Hindinger Farm strawberry festival.

Shepard Brook Carpentry makes im-provements at Hindinger Farm funded

through a Farm Transition Grant.

WHOLESALE FRUITS & VEGETABLES Boston Terminal and Wholesale Grower Prices

CONNECTICUT AND NEW ENGLAND GROWN LOW HIGH ALFALFA SPROUTS, 5 LBS 14.00 15.00 ALFALFA SPROUTS, 12-4 OZ 16.00 18.00 APPLE,CORTLAND, XFCY, 72 28.00 29.00 APPLE,CORTLAND,XFCY, 80 30.00 30.00 APPLE,CORTLAND,XFCY, 88 30.00 30.00 APPL,CRTLAND,FCY,12-3LB 22.00 22.00 APPLE, FUJI, US FANCY, 56 24.00 24.00 APPLE, FUJI, US FANCY,125 20.00 20.00 APPLE, GALA, XFANCY, 88 28.00 28.00 APPLE, GALA, XFANCY,100 28.00 28.00 APPLE, GALA, US FANCY, 88 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GALA, US FANCY, 100 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GALA, #1, 12-3LB, 2-1/2” 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GOLD DEL, FCY, 64 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GOLD DEL, FCY, 72 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GOLD DEL, FCY, 80 24.00 24.00 APPLE, GOLD DEL, FCY, 88 24.00 24.00 APPL,HNYCRSP,XFCY,TRAY,80 60.00 60.00 APPL,HNYCRSP,XFCY,TRAY,88 60.00 60.00 APPLE,HNYCRSP,XFY,TRAY10058.00 58.00 APPLE,HNYCRSP,FCY,TRAY,64 32.00 32.00 APPLE,HNYCRSP,FCY,TRAY,72 32.00 32.00 APPLE,HNYCRSP,FCY,TRAY,80 32.00 32.00 APPLE,MAC, XFCY,TRYPK 72 30.00 31.00 APPLE,MAC,XFCY,TRYPK 80 29.00 31.00 APPLE,MAC,XFCY,TRYPK 88 28.00 31.00 APPLE,MAC,XFCY,TRYPK 100 26.00 26.00 APPLE,MAC,USFCY,TRYPK 80 21.00 21.00 APPLE,MAC,USFCY,TRYPK 88 21.00 21.00 APPLE, RED DEL, FCY, 72 24.00 24.00 APPLE, RED DEL, FCY, 80 24.00 24.00 APPLE, RED DEL, FCY, 125 20.00 21.00 APPLE, RED DEL, #1, 12-3LB 20.00 20.00 BEAN SPROUTS, 10 LBS 6.00 7.00 BEAN SPROUTS, 12-12 OZ 12.00 15.00 BEET,CHIOGGA,25 LB,M-L,LSE 14.00 14.00 BEETS,GOLD, 25 LB, M, LOOSE 14.00 14.00 BEETS, RED, 25 LB, M, LOOSE 8.00 8.00 CARROT,S-M,25LB,LOOSE 11.00 11.00 CIDER, 4– 1 GALLON 22.00 22.00 CIDER, 9-1/2 GALLON 26.00 26.00 POTATO,RNDRED,#1,SZA,50LB 12.00 13.00 POTATO,RNDRED,#1,SZB,50LB 14.00 14.00 POTATO,YLLW,#1,CHEF,50LB 15.00 16.00 SQUASH, ACORN, L, 1-1/9 18.00 18.00 SQUASH, ACORN, M, 1-1/9 16.00 16.00 SQUASH, BUTTERNUT, M, 1-1/9 14.00 16.00 SQUASH, KABOCHA, M, 1-1/9 16.00 18.00 TURNIP,WHITECAPE,M-L,1-1/9 30.00 30.00

GREENHOUSE CROPS

Price Range. Per unit.

CUKES,LNG SDLS, CN, FILM, L 14.00 15.00 CUKES,LNG SDLS, MX, FILM, M 12.00 13.00 CUKE, PERSIAN, DO, M, 20 LB 34.00 35.00 EGGPLANT, ITALIAN, NL,11 LB 17.00 18.00 EGGPLANT, STRIPED ,NL,11 LB19.00 22.00 ENDIVE, WITLOOF, BE, 5KG 16.00 20.00 ENDIVE,WITLOOF,RED,NL,5KG 24.00 24.00 LEEKS, NL, 5 KG 15.00 18.00 LETTUCE, BOSTON, CN,12-4OZ 16.00 17.00 MACHE, PA, 3 LBS 12.00 12.00 PEPPR,BELL,ALL, MX,XL,11LB 16.00 20.00 RHUBARB, NL, XFNCY, 5 KG 40.00 40.00 TOM,HEIRLM,CN,VINERP,10 LB 22.00 24.00 TOM, GRAPE, DO, S-M, 12-1PT 10.00 10.00 WATERCRESS,PA, 2.2LBS 13.00 13.00 WATERCRESS,ORG,PA, 2.2LB 26.00 26.00 WINTERCRESS, CN, 3.5 OZ 8.00 8.00

NORTHEAST EGGS/USDA Per doz. Grade A and Grade A white in cartons to retailers (volume buyers)

XTRA LARGE 1.73 1.87 LARGE 1.72 1.86 MEDIUM 1.29 1.42

NEW ENGLAND SHELL EGGS Per doz. Grade A brown in carton delivered store door. (Range)

XTRA LARGE 2.65 2.75 LARGE 2.64 2.74 MEDIUM 1.64 1.74 SMALL .77 .87

LANCASTER, PA LIVESTOCK Avg. Dressing. Per cwt. Unless noted LOW HIGH

SLAUGHTER COWS Avg. Dressing breakers 75-80% lean 55.00 59.50 boners 80-85% lean 54.00 59.50 lean 88-90% lean 46.00 51.00 SLAUGHTER STEERS Hi Ch/Prime 3-4 123.00 127.00 Choice 2-3 118.00 122.50 Select 1-2 109.00 117.50 SLAUGHTER HOLSTEINS Hi Ch/Prime 3-4, few 82.00 84.00 Sel 1-2 78.50 81.00 SLAUGHTER HEIFERS Hi Ch/Prime 2-3 118.50 123.50 Choice 2-3 115.00 119.00 Select 1-2 113.00 114.50 CALVES - Graded bull No 120-130 lbs 80.00 80.00 No.1 88-118 lbs 90.00 100.00 SLAUGHTER LAMBS: Wooled & Shorn Markets: Choice and Prime 2-3 80-90 lbs 230.00 245.00 90-110 lbs 195.00 225.00 110-130 lbs 175.00 200.00 130-150 lbs 140.00 180.00 150-200 lbs 145.00 175.00 SLAUGHTER EWES: Good 2-3 80-120 lbs 117.00 130.00 120-160 lbs 92.00 120.00 160-200 lbs 80.00 105.00 200-300 lbs 75.00 80.00 SLAUGHTER KIDS: Sel 1 20-40 lbs 120.00 150.00 40-60 lbs 160.00 185.00 60-80 lbs 185.00 215.00 80-100 lbs 200.00 230.00 SLAUGHTER NANNIES/DOES: Sel 1 80-130 lbs 190.00 220.00 130-180 lbs 205.00 250.00 SLAUGHTER BUCKS/BILLIES: Sel 1 100-150 lbs 245.00 280.00 150-250 lbs 275.00 340.00

USDA WHOLESALE CUTFLOWERS February 6. $/pack as noted

ALSTROEMERIA, 10/BN, EC 8.50 8.50 AMARYLLIS, NL, EA, LONG 3.50 4.00 CARNATIONS, CB, EA .38 .46 CARNATIONS, CB BN, LONG 3.50 5.00 DAFFS, 10/BN,CD, LONG12.50 8.50 10.00 FORSYTHIA, CA, BN, LNG 13.50 13.50 HYACINTH, CD, 5/BN, LONG 8.50 8.50 LILIES, ASIA, /BN, CA, LONG 13.50 13.50 MUMS, CB, /STEM, LONG 1.00 1.00 ORCHID,CYMB, NL, /SPRAY,L 18.50 18.50 ROSE, TEA, ET, 60CM, EACH .85 .85 ROSE, SPRAY, CB,10/BN, MED 8.50 8.50 TULIPS, PARROT, CA, 10/BN 10.00 10.00 TULIPS, STD, CD, 10/BN, LNG 5.50 6.50

MIDDLESEX LIVESTOCK AUCTION Middlefield, CT - February 5, 2018

Bob Calves: LOW HIGH 45-60 lbs. 36.00 40.00 61-75 lbs. 50.00 55.00 76-90 lbs. 72.00 75.00 91-105 lbs. 77.50 80.00 106 lbs. & up 83.00 87.50 Farm Calves 160.00 210.00 Starter Calves 26.00 30.00 Veal Calves 80.00 120.00 Feeder Heifers 55.00 100.00 Beef Heifers n/a n/a Feeder Steers n/a n/a Beef Steers 70.00 83.00 Feeder Bulls n/a n/a Beef Bulls 70.00 76.00 Replacement Cows n/a n/a Replacement Heifers n/a n/a Boars n/a n/a Sows n/a n/a Butcher Hogs n/a n/a Feeder Pigs each n/a n/a Sheep each n/a n/a Lambs each 200.00 270.00 Goats each 85.00 250.00 Kid Goats each 100.00 175.00 Canners up to 52.00 Cutters 53.00 57.50 Utility Grade Cows 58.00 62.00 Rabbits each 5.00 18.00 Chickens each 3.00 24.00 Ducks each 6.00 9.00 Auction will be held February 12 and 19.

DAIRY REPLACEMENT COWS New Holland, PA, February 5. By the head.

FRESH COWS: APPROVED 1275.00 1625.00 MEDIUM 850.00 1200.00 SHORT BRED COWS (1-3 MONTHS) MEDIUM 775.00 875.00 SPRINGING COWS (7-8 MONTHS) APPROVED 1025.00 1200.00 SPRINGING HEIFERS (7-9 MONTHS) APPROVED 975.00 1225.00 MEDIUM 650.00 775.00 BRED HEIFERS (4-6 MONTHS): APPROVED 750.00 1075.00 SHORT BRED HEIFERS (1-3 MONTHS) APPROVED 750.00 900.00 MEDIUM 525.00 750.00 OPEN HEIFERS (100-300 LBS) APPROVED 150.00 200.00 OPEN HEIFERS (300-600 LBS) APPROVED 475.00 585.00 MEDIUM 275.00 300.00 OPEN HEIFERS (600-900 LBS) APPROVED 700.00 800.00 MEDIUM 475.00 685.00 BULLS 1200-1500 LBS 925.00 975.00

NEW HOLLAND, PA. HOG AUCTION Per cwt.

52-56 200-300 lbs 59.00 66.00 300-350 lbs 57.00 62.00 350-400 lbs 58.00 61.00 48-52 200-300 lbs 54.00 62.00 300-350 lbs 51.00 58.00 350-400 lbs 43.00 51.00 Sows, US 1-3 300-500 lbs 31.00 32.00 500-700 lbs 42.00 49.50 Boars 400-725 lbs 5.00 5.00

FOR SALE 1-R. Blumenthal & Donahue is now Connecticut’s first

independent NATIONWIDE Agri-Business Insurance Agency. Christmas tree growers, beekeepers, sheep breeders, organ-ic farmers and all others, call us for all your insurance needs. 800-554-8049 or www.bludon.com

2-R. Farm, homeowner and commercial insurance—we do it all. Call Blumenthal & Donahue 800-554-8049 or www.bludon.com

3-R. Gallagher electric fencing for farms, horses, deer control, gardens, & beehives. Sonpal’s Power Fence 860-491-2290.

4-R. Packaging for egg sales. New egg cartons, flats, egg cases, 30 doz and 15 doz. Polinsky Farm 860-376-2227.

5-R. Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Program, en-dorsed by the CT Farm Bureau, save up to 23% on your farm insurance and get better protection. References available from satisfied farmers. Call Marci today at 203-444-6553.

10-R Greenhouse furnaces, 300,000-400,000 BTU’s. Price range from $1,500 to $3,000. Call Alex 203-223-4853.

12-R. Certified organic hay 4X5 net wrap July cut grass hay stored outside. $40.00. July cut grass baleage 4X4 $40.00. Falls Village, CT. 860-248-0362.

14-R. Modine Effinity 93 propane greenhouse heater Model PTC215. 199,950 BTU/Hr. Output and hanger kit. New, in box. $1,500.00. 203-457-1304.

15-R. Hay for sale. Timothy/orchard grass mix, $5.00 for first cut, $6.00 for second cut. Call 860-536-2588. Bulk dis-counts available.

16-R. Farm stand for rent May and June. 30x30 building with attached greenhouse. Established customer base for annuals, bedding plants and perennials. Contact Alex Arisco @ 203-217-0549.

17-R. Registered, mature Belted Galloway bull. Excellent genetics, black and white. $1,400.00. John Deere 1240 4 row plate corn planter. 30” rows. $650.00. 48” X 50” round bale bedding straw. Net wrap under cover. 860-355-1264.

18. Smart Net System (poles, wire, netting). 860-707-6372.

19. 350 mature blueberry bushes (4 varieties). Last prun-ing and production 2017. 860-7070-6372.

WANTED 7-R. Livestock wanted: Dairy cattle, heifers of any age,

beef cows, bulls, steers, feeder cattle, veal, groups of sheep and goats. RyanM01@comcast.net or 860-655-0958. If no answer, leave message. All calls returned.

MISCELLANEOUS

6-R. Farm/Land specializing in land, farms, and all types of Real Estate. Established Broker with a lifetime of agricul-tural experience and 40 years of finance. Representing both Buyers and Sellers. Call Clint Charter of Wallace-Tetreault Realty (860) 644-5667.

AG JOB CONNECTION

20-R. Salaried Manager for a Hop Farm. Connecticut’s two largest hop farms seek a full-time, salaried farm manag-er. Salary, housing, vacation. If interested in learning about the qualifications, please send an email to info@ct-hops.com.

“One of our priorities continues to be offering grants that will assist with hardening of farms’ infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and to help growers comply with the requirements of new federal Food Safety Modernization Act regulations,” Reviczky said. “Connecticut’s agricultural econ-omy is making many significant advances in the right direc-tion, and these grants will help keep that momentum going.”

Elizabeth Hindinger said the on-farm food-safety im-provements project will not only enable the farm to comply with the new FSMA regulations, it will also enhance the safe-ty of their food and customers.

“Thanks to the Department of Agriculture for providing us with a Farm Transition Grant. We are able to look to the fu-ture and remain sustainable,” said Elizabeth Hindinger. “This grant has enabled us to complete a project that would not have been possible without the grant.”

Hindinger Farm has been growing fresh produce in Ham-den since 1893 when William and Rose Hindinger started the farm on a 60-acre parcel of land in Hamden.

Today the Hindinger family continues to farm about 120 acres in Hamden, where its seasonal store offers fresh pro-duce and other items through its gift shop. The farm also operates a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that provides consumers with a weekly share of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and farm-fresh products. In 1996, the fourth-generation farm received the Century Farm award from the Connecticut Agricultural Information Council.

Farm Transition Grant awards are funded through the Community Investment Act (CIA). Established through P.A. 05-228 and codified in C.G.S. Sec. 4-66aa – Sec. 4-66cc, CIA supports statewide initiatives in agricultural viability and sustainability, farmland preservation, open space protection, historic preservation, and affordable housing. It also sup-ports municipal capital improvement projects and costs asso-ciated with collecting fees. CIA funds are generated through a fee for filing documents on municipal land records and are held separately from the state’s General Fund.

Additional information and application materials for the Farm Transition Grant are available at www.CTGrown.gov/grants.

Continued from Page 1 ADVERTISEMENTS

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IT’S NOT TOO LATE

It’s not too late to be counted in the 2017 Census of Agri-culture. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service con-ducts the Census of Agriculture every five years. The infor-mation you provide supports critical work, including DoAg pro-gramming and local, state, regional, and national educational efforts emphasizing the importance of Connecticut agriculture.

Respond online at www.agcounts.usda.gov.

VOL. XCVIII, No. 5 February 7, 2018

FMNP FARMER RECERTIFICATION MEETINGS

All fruit, vegetable, and honey producers currently certified with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) must attend a recertification meeting to maintain their certification. The certification allows farms to accept the FMNP checks for fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey from WIC clients and income eligible seniors over the age of 60. Below is the list of meeting dates and locations.

Tuesday, February 13, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT Ag Experi-ment Station, 153 Cook Hill Road, Windsor.

Wednesday, February 21, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. New London County Extension Center, 562 New London Turnpike, Norwich.

Monday, March 12, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. CT Ag Ex-periment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven. Consumer Protection will be offering scale certifications before and during this March 12 FMNP meeting. Farmers are encouraged to bring their scales to receive the re-quired annual inspection. Additional information regarding scale certifications can be found in the Farmers’ Market Reference Guide on CTGrown.gov.

SNOW DATE for any meeting cancelled: Tuesday, March 20, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. CT Ag Experiment Station, 153 Cook Hill Road, Windsor.

Please RSVP no later than 24 hours in advance of the meet-ing to Mark Hood at 860-713-2503 or Mark.Hood@ct.gov. Should a meeting be cancelled due to weather, attendees who RSVP will be contacted. Questions can be directed to Jaime Smith at 860-713-2503 or Jaime.Smith@ct.gov.

SIGN UP FOR AG DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Ag Day at the Capitol will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration is now available online: http://ctaginfocouncil.org/index.html. Regis-tration and payment is due by Thursday, March 1, 2018.

UPCOMING CONNECTICUT FARM BUREAU EVENTS

Creating a Business Entity for Your Farm: Exploring Choices and Options. Thursday Feb. 22, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Fields Memorial School, 8 Bozrah St. Ext., Bozrah, CT (snow date Feb. 27, 2018).

Maintaining and Transferring PA 490 Farmland, Forest Land and Open Space Land. Tuesday March 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Memorial Hall. Main St., Bethlehem, CT.

These events are free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required. Contact the CT Farm Bureau at 860-768-1100 for additional information or visit: www.cfba.org.

TOLLAND COUNTY FARM BUREAU EQUINE NUTRITION & LIABILITY PROGRAM MARCH 30, 2018

The Tolland Country Farm Bureau will hold a program on equine nutrition and liability issues on Friday, March 30, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Pleasant View Farm, 452 South Road, Som-ers, CT. The program will feature Nichole Rambo, Ph.D., an Equine Nutritionist with Tribute Equine Nutrition. Additional information on equine liability issues will be presented by a liability representative from Nationwide Insurance.

The program, including refreshments, is free for CT Farm Bureau members or $15 for non-members. For more infor-mation please contact tollandcountyfarmbureau@gmail.com or call 860-742-5725.

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Commissioner Steven Reviczky at the NASDA 2018 Winter Policy Confer-ence viewing the signing of a coordination agreement between USDA’s Sec-

retary Sonny Perdue and FDA’s Commissioner Scott Gottlieb