Connecticut farmers have lost over $50 million as a result of weather-related events in 2023 and 2024, according to responses to a survey administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg). The responses were solicited prior to the state submitting a request for just under $84 million in block grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
DoAg began soliciting responses to a survey about weather-related losses in January 2025, shortly before the department submitted a request for block grant funding to the USDA. The USDA received $220 million in funding to provide block grants to certain eligible states that had experienced weather-related losses as part of the continuing resolution signed into law on December 20, 2024.
To be eligible to receive grant funds, states have to receive less than $250 million in farm income in 2023 and have fewer than 8,000 farms, with an average size of fewer than 1,000 acres.
“We need comprehensive data to accurately assess the scope of losses and inform the funding request. We encourage you to complete the survey, even if you have already received grants, loans, or insurance for the losses listed. These payments will be considered when the program application is launched. CT DoAg will submit our loss estimate to the USDA by January 22, 2025. The USDA will then develop a formula to allocate block grants, and CT DoAg will create and implement a program for Connecticut agricultural producers to apply for funding.” a message accompanying the survey announced.
Inside Investigator obtained responses to the survey and DoAg’s application to the USDA for block grant funding through the Freedom of Information Act.
The responses show reported losses ranging from a couple hundred dollars to over a million dollars. Cumulative excess moisture and single rain events that led to flooding made up the majority of the reported causes of losses suffered by farmers.
Vegetable, fruit, and aquaculture production are the most frequently cited tops of losses.
The survey received the most responses from Hartford and New Haven counties.
The request DoAG sent to the USDA notes that there were late frost and freeze events, historic flooding in the Connecticut River Valley in 2023, and flooding in western Connecticut in 2024.
“Other events, while more localized, also caused significant losses, including hail, drought, and cumulative effects of excessive moisture or drought. These weather extremes resulted in considerable impacts to farmers; including losses in harvestable production, yield, and crop quality; infrastructure damage; equipment; and increases in the cost of production.”
Losses related to infrastructure, hay, roads, and horticulture were also frequently reported in responses to the survey.
The state requested $83,979,000 in block grants, which they stated would be used to “compensate farms for weather related losses in 2023 and 2024, invest in resiliency projects on individual farms, and provide a two percent administration fee.”
DoAg has not yet determined eligibility requirements for the funds, but did suggest farmers would need to provide receipts in order to be reimbursed for losses.
Whether the state would receive the grant was temporarily in question, as the request was submitted days before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing funding for grants and other programs to be frozen in order to implement an executive order from President Donald Trump. OMB later walked back the pause, and a federal judge has extended a pause on enforcing the freeze.
Rebecca Eddy, spokesperson for DoAg, said the department is “in close contact” with federal partners and Connecticut’s congressional delegation to monitor the situation. ”
“At this time, CT DoAg is proceeding forward with building out the program and application process so that we can respond swiftly upon receiving further direction from USDA.” Eddy said.
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