Forever Beloved Watertown Farm is ProtectedPennsylvania Weekly Cattle Auction Summary Pennsylvania Livestock Auction - Eighty Four, PA New Holland Dairy Auction - New Holland, PA New

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Brought to you by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture

In This Issue

June 12 2020 Vol C No 20

Gustafson Farm Protected

COVID-19 Resources

Connecticut Grown Map

Smoothie Challenge

Ag Market Pricing

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Connecticut Grown strawberries arenow available at farm stands andpick-your-own operations throughoutthe state Find a producer near youat wwwCTGrowngovstrawberry

Beloved Watertown Farm is ProtectedForever

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) in coordination withConnecticut Farmland Trust (CFT) is pleased to announce the preservation ofGustafson Farm in Watertown The farm has been a popular destination forarea families since 1907 The preservation of Gustafson Farm was a complexfeat of partnership and teamwork involving USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service the Housatonic Valley Association CT DoAg and CFT inthe farmrsquos preservationFor many families the idea of conserving their land is like a seed ndash it takesmany years to mature For the Gustafson family the seed was planted over adecade ago by the past generation of Gustafsons who knew their 301-acreorchard and beef farm was something special that they wanted to preserveThat seed has finally come to fruition with the work of their descendantscousins Katie Barnosky Frank Gustafson III and Kristie Weidemier

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ldquoWe didnrsquot want to see it developed because my family worked so hard to keepthe farmrdquo said co-owner Katie Barnosky on the familyrsquos move to protect theland ldquoWe think that the neighbors and the town [of Watertown] will be happy tosee the farm stay We hope to provide for the town and make our family proudof usrdquoThe farm centered between Judds Pond and Black Rock State Park is wellknown to locals for its iconic rolling hills on either side of Linkfield Road and itspopular farm store The land boasts not only an orchard but well-maintainedhayfields and acres for beef cattle grazing The Gustafson family hopes torestore the orchard and produce fruits and vegetables to feed the Watertowncommunity well into the futureKatiersquos father Alan Gustafson started meeting with the Housatonic ValleyAssociation (HVA) to discuss conservation options in the early 2000s After hepassed away in 2008 there was a long pause as the family decided what theywanted to do With HVArsquos guidance the cousins eventually applied to theConnecticut Department of Agriculturersquos Farmland Preservation Program CFTand the State jointly applied for funding from USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service in 2017 After three years of active work by CFT topurchase the development rights on the entire property the land will nowremain a farm ndash foreverldquoHVA is so proud of the Gustafson family and of our conservation partners atthe Department of Agriculture and Connecticut Farmland Trust who withpatience and persistence were able to conserve this special propertyrdquo said TimAbbott Regional Land Conservation Director for the Housatonic ValleyAssociation ldquoPlaces like this have many reasons for protection ndash farmland soilsand public drinking water and connected forest habitat among them -- butsaving family land and sustaining families is one of the hardest things toachieve in land conservation and this a wonderful and gratifying outcomerdquoThe farm which is large for a farm in suburban Connecticut was preserved inthree pieces to provide the family with more flexibility when it eventuallybecomes time to transfer or sell the property to the next generation of farmersIn total 301 acres are now protectedldquoThe permanent protection of Gustafson Farm in Watertown demonstrates theimportance of a collaborative effort among state and federal agencies as wellas non-profit partnersrdquo said Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan PHurlburt ldquoThis particular project encompasses 300 acres of rolling orchardshay fields and pasture critical to the future of agriculture in ConnecticutrdquoldquoIt is critical to protect our statersquos valuable working landsrdquo said Thomas LMorgart Connecticut State Conservationist for the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service ldquoThrough our Agricultural Conservation EasementProgram we are able to help landowners protect their land and keep it inagricultural use forever More than 50 percent of the soils on this farm aredesignated prime farmland Permanently protecting this farm and its high-yielding soils are of major importance in meeting Connecticutrsquos and the nationsshort- and long-range needs for food and fiberrdquo he saidldquoThis is a tale of a familyrsquos dedication to the land that has been in their care forgenerations Twenty-one years ago when I first came to Connecticut to do landconservation work I saw this stunning land and knew that it would be essentialto keep it as a working farm The extended Gustafson family realized that too


and began actively working to protect the land three years agordquo said ElisabethMoore Executive Director of Connecticut Farmland Trust ldquoIrsquom thrilled that CFTwas a partner in the farmrsquos protection because the land is truly specialrdquoGustafson Farm is the fifth farm to be protected in 2020 and the tentheasement in the current fiscal year covering over 1100 acresThe Connecticut Department of Agriculturersquos Farmland Preservation Programwas established in 1978 to protect the best farmland soils in the state in orderto maintain and preserve agricultural land for the future

COVID-19 CONSUMER RESOURCESConnecticut Grown Farm Map online interactive listing of open farm standsfarm stores and farmers markets to access Connecticut Grown produce dairymeat shellfish greenhouse and nursery stock

COVID-19 PRODUCER RESOURCESFind the latest guidance on best practices resources and updates related toCOVID-19 visit httpsportalctgovdoag-covid

List your farm farmers market or farm stand on CTGrownMapcom by clickinghere

Farm Stand Farm Store CSA Guidance available herePick-Your-Own Guidance available hereFarmers Market Guidance available hereFood Safety Guidance available here CDC Guidance on Agricultural Employers and Workers available herePotential Resources for Seasonal Farmworker Housing available here

FREE Mask DistributionThe Connecticut State Grange and Connecticut Farm Bureau Association havejoined forces to obtain and distribute free face coverings to agriculturalproducers in the state They have purchased 80 boxes containing 50 masks perbox These will be made available to any farm operation large or smallConnecticut State Grange Agricultural Direct J Allen Cameron says TheConnecticut State Grange has a rich history of supporting Connecticutagriculture We thank you and encourage you to be steadfast in your endeavorsensuring a continual flow of meats milk vegetables fruits seafood and plantsmake their way to markets throughout ConnecticutContact agriculturectstategrangeorg with your mailing address and phonenumber to receive 50 masks

AGRICULTURAL FAIR UPDATESVisit CTAgFairsorg for an up-to-date list of active and cancelled fairs for 2020

COVID-19 Resources for Agricultural Producers


This listing is being regularly modifiedUtilize the interactive map to find an active fair near you

Smoothie Slurp Challenge

Smoothies are a great way to enjoylocal summer products Fromberries and greens to dairy Put Localon Your Tray wants everyone toenjoy CTGrown productsCelebrate JuneDairyMonth withthis tasty spring flavored smoothierecipeTry out the recipe and then take ashort video clip of you and yourfamily SLURPING your smoothiesand post on social media using thehashtag SmoothieSlurpChallenge

WEBINARS FOR USDAs CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

USDAs Farm Service Agency announces that Coronavirus Food AssistanceProgram (CFAP) webinars for all farmers and ranchers Ag producers can learnmore about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and how to submitadditional commodities for USDA consideration through the Notice of FundingAvailability (NOFA) processWebinar Dates amp Topicsbull June 16 at 300 pm EDT - Outreach CFAP Webinar for Non-Specialty Crop ampLivestock Producersbull June 18 at 300 pm EDT- Outreach CFAP Webinar on FSA Programs in theTime of CoronavirusPlease visit the FSA webinar page as pre-registration links will soon beposted httpsbitly3dD1KK6Producers are also reminded of the CFAP Call Center available for producerswho would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP applicationprocess Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employeeready to offer assistanceFSA June Deadline Remindersbull June 22 - Last date to submit additional commodities for consideration intoCFAPbull June 30 - ARCPLC Signup Ends


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Middlesex Livestock Auction - CT

Northeast Regional Eggs

New England Shell Eggs

Pennsylvania Weekly Cattle AuctionSummary

Pennsylvania Livestock Auction -Eighty Four PA

New Holland Dairy Auction - NewHolland PA

New Holland PA Hay Report

Wholesale Fruits amp Vegetables -Boston

Wholesale Ornamental Flowers -Boston

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ldquoWe didnrsquot want to see it developed because my family worked so hard to keepthe farmrdquo said co-owner Katie Barnosky on the familyrsquos move to protect theland ldquoWe think that the neighbors and the town [of Watertown] will be happy tosee the farm stay We hope to provide for the town and make our family proudof usrdquoThe farm centered between Judds Pond and Black Rock State Park is wellknown to locals for its iconic rolling hills on either side of Linkfield Road and itspopular farm store The land boasts not only an orchard but well-maintainedhayfields and acres for beef cattle grazing The Gustafson family hopes torestore the orchard and produce fruits and vegetables to feed the Watertowncommunity well into the futureKatiersquos father Alan Gustafson started meeting with the Housatonic ValleyAssociation (HVA) to discuss conservation options in the early 2000s After hepassed away in 2008 there was a long pause as the family decided what theywanted to do With HVArsquos guidance the cousins eventually applied to theConnecticut Department of Agriculturersquos Farmland Preservation Program CFTand the State jointly applied for funding from USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service in 2017 After three years of active work by CFT topurchase the development rights on the entire property the land will nowremain a farm ndash foreverldquoHVA is so proud of the Gustafson family and of our conservation partners atthe Department of Agriculture and Connecticut Farmland Trust who withpatience and persistence were able to conserve this special propertyrdquo said TimAbbott Regional Land Conservation Director for the Housatonic ValleyAssociation ldquoPlaces like this have many reasons for protection ndash farmland soilsand public drinking water and connected forest habitat among them -- butsaving family land and sustaining families is one of the hardest things toachieve in land conservation and this a wonderful and gratifying outcomerdquoThe farm which is large for a farm in suburban Connecticut was preserved inthree pieces to provide the family with more flexibility when it eventuallybecomes time to transfer or sell the property to the next generation of farmersIn total 301 acres are now protectedldquoThe permanent protection of Gustafson Farm in Watertown demonstrates theimportance of a collaborative effort among state and federal agencies as wellas non-profit partnersrdquo said Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan PHurlburt ldquoThis particular project encompasses 300 acres of rolling orchardshay fields and pasture critical to the future of agriculture in ConnecticutrdquoldquoIt is critical to protect our statersquos valuable working landsrdquo said Thomas LMorgart Connecticut State Conservationist for the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service ldquoThrough our Agricultural Conservation EasementProgram we are able to help landowners protect their land and keep it inagricultural use forever More than 50 percent of the soils on this farm aredesignated prime farmland Permanently protecting this farm and its high-yielding soils are of major importance in meeting Connecticutrsquos and the nationsshort- and long-range needs for food and fiberrdquo he saidldquoThis is a tale of a familyrsquos dedication to the land that has been in their care forgenerations Twenty-one years ago when I first came to Connecticut to do landconservation work I saw this stunning land and knew that it would be essentialto keep it as a working farm The extended Gustafson family realized that too

















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Documents

Forever Beloved Watertown Farm is ProtectedPennsylvania Weekly Cattle Auction Summary Pennsylvania Livestock Auction - Eighty Four, PA New Holland Dairy Auction - New Holland, PA New