Connecticut Farmers Move Closer to Long-Awaited Disaster Relief

Connecticut farmers who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses from floods, frost, hail, drought and other severe weather events are now one step closer to receiving long-awaited financial relief.

Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt and members of the state’s Congressional delegation announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has received a fully executed agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture establishing a $52.9 million Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant.

The money will be available to eligible Connecticut farmers who experienced documented losses during severe weather events in 2023 and 2024.

More than 200 farms reported an estimated $72 million in losses during that two-year period.

Those losses followed late frost and freeze events, historic flooding along the Connecticut River Valley in 2023, flooding in western Connecticut in 2024, hail, drought and the cumulative effects of excessive moisture and dry conditions.

The damage did not stop with lost crops.

Farmers experienced reductions in harvestable production, yield and crop quality, along with infrastructure damage, equipment losses and increased production costs.

The grant is intended to fill gaps left by traditional crop insurance programs that state and federal officials said have not always addressed the realities facing small and midsized New England farms.

“Connecticut’s farms not only provide fresh, nutritious food for the people of our state, but they also are small businesses that support thousands of jobs and are a critical component of our economy,” Governor Lamont said. “When severe weather events impact their land and wipe out their crops, we need to stand by them to ensure these farms can recover and continue operating. I am glad that our administration, through the efforts of Commissioner Hurlburt and his team at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, along with our state’s Congressional delegation, were able to work together to secure these valuable federal funds on behalf of our agricultural businesses.”

Under the program, farmers earning at least $1,000 in farm income and reporting at least $500 in documented weather-related losses from 2023 or 2024 will be eligible to apply.

Payments may cover as much as 95% of eligible losses.

Awards cannot exceed $1 million per year for each category.

Any crop insurance payments or other third-party compensation previously received will be deducted from the grant amount.

Farmers will have two opportunities to apply.

The first application round is anticipated to open in September.

A second round is expected in late fall.

State officials are strongly encouraging farmers to submit their information during the first application period.

Payments will be issued after each round closes.

“Our farmers feed Connecticut, and when severe weather wipes out a season’s harvest, the damage ripples through our local economies,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “I’ve seen that impact firsthand on farm visits across the state. This block grant delivers real, targeted assistance to the people who grow our food, and I’m grateful to our federal delegation and Commissioner Hurlburt for the work they put in to deliver this relief to our local farmers.”

The announcement was made at Cecarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm in Northford.

The farm was among the Connecticut agricultural businesses affected by the severe weather events.

“Today’s announcement of the Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant signed agreement marks an important milestone for our agricultural community,” Commissioner Hurlburt said. “This program is designed with farmers at its core, and I strongly encourage all eligible farmers across the state to apply during the first round so we can begin delivering assistance as soon as possible. I’m incredibly proud of our team at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for their steadfast dedication to this project and our federal delegation, the farmer focus group, and all of industry partners, who worked hard to build a strong program that serves farmers today and supports the long-term vitality of agriculture in Connecticut.”

William Dellacamera, owner of Cecarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm, said the grant recognizes the unique challenges faced by smaller agricultural operations in Connecticut and across New England.

“Connecticut and the other New England states are built on small and midsized farms, and for years the traditional crop insurance programs simply haven’t fit the realities we face,” William Dellacamera, owner of Cecarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm, said. “As weather becomes more unpredictable, dependable support will be essential for every part of agriculture. While the process to obtain this assistance has been a long one, those who truly need it are grateful. We know how many people worked hard behind the scenes to make it happen and we appreciate every one of them. I, and many other impacted farmers, look forward to utilizing these funds to remain viable and keep feeding our communities.”

Connecticut’s Congressional delegation worked to secure the targeted assistance through a disaster supplemental funding bill.

That legislation created the Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant to address deficiencies in existing crop insurance programs.

“This $52.9 million in federal aid provides long overdue and much needed relief to the Connecticut farmers impacted by 2023 and 2024’s devastating storms,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “I saw firsthand the damage and distress these storms caused farmers—destroying their crops and property and threatening their livelihoods. I am proud to have fought to secure this relief and will keep fighting to support the small farms that are essential to Connecticut’s economy and culture.”

“Connecticut’s small farmers have needed help for a long time,” Senator Chris Murphy said. “Not only have they endured the fallout of natural disaster, Trump’s policies are pushing farmers into full-blown crisis. For more than a year and a half, our delegation has fought to get millions in approved funding out of D.C. and into Connecticut farmers’ pockets. I’m relieved the federal government is finally making good on its promise to help make our farmers whole.”

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said the agreement moves the federal money closer to reaching affected farmers.

“I am proud that nearly $53 million in federal funds are now one big step closer to putting money in the pockets of Connecticut farmers,” Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said. “After severe hailstorms and floods devastated farms in Connecticut, I worked to create this historic block grant tailored to the needs of New England farmers. It is through the devoted advocacy of farmers like my constituent, Willie Dellacamera, my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional delegation who helped write and pass this law, Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Hurlburt’s work in finalizing a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Governor Lamont’s leadership that this grant has moved forward, and Connecticut now has the power to deliver aid to our farmers that desperately need it.”

“When our region’s small family farms were hit with severe flooding and frost—some of whom have worked the same soil for over 400 years—I was proud to help lead the charge with the federal delegation to secure relief funding through a package that directly accommodates the needs of Connecticut’s farmers,” Congressman John B. Larson said. “It’s an honor to join my colleagues, along with Governor Lamont and Commissioner Hurlburt, to announce an agreement that takes a consequential step closer to ensuring our state’s growers are made whole for the losses they incurred. The Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant is a first-of-its-kind program that delivers relief dollars to farmers while removing the federal barriers that have consistently prevented our small- and medium-sized farmers from receiving any disaster aid. I will continue to work with state leaders to ensure our farmers receive the financial relief they deserve as soon as possible.”

“For years Connecticut farmers have absorbed devastating losses from extreme weather events, while traditional crop insurance programs have left them behind,” Congresswoman Jahana Hayes said. “This block grant will bring targeted relief to farmers to address these gaps. I am pleased to have worked with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to ensure farmers across our state get the assistance they need.”

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture expects the application period to begin in early fall.

Payments are expected to start in late fall.

Farmers who suffered losses are being encouraged to begin gathering records and documentation immediately and to register for updates before the application portal opens.