Farmers pg 11 11-10-11
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
POMFRET CENTER — Pomfret will host a farmer’s market input session at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Audubon center, 218 Day Road.
In the spring Pomfret was accepted into the AGvocate Program. Over the coming year, Pomfret will receive technical assistance from AGvocate Program Director, Jennifer Kaufman, to strengthen the farm-friendliness of municipal outreach strategies, policies, and regulations to improve the long-term viability of agricultural businesses within the community. Over the past two years the Towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Sterling, Thompson, Windham, and Woodstock have participated in the AGvocate Program. The AGvocate Program, first funded in 2009 through a CT Department of Agriculture Farm Viability Grant, is guided by a steering committee of experts.
Throughout northeast Connecticut, towns are making agriculture more viable by: Promoting agricultural producers; implementing farm tax incentives; improving town land-use regulations; including agriculture in the local economic development strategy; establishing a permanent voice for Agriculture through a town commission or committee
Jim Rivers, Pomfret’s first selectman, said, “Pomfret has demonstrated its commitment to agriculture through its farmland preservation program. Now it is time for our town to take this commitment a step further by looking at ways Pomfret can support this vital component of the local economy.”
Agricultural producers or landowners, and interested citizens are invited to share thoughts and suggestions on ways Pomfret can assist in supporting agricultural viability. Linda Rich of We-Lik-It is very excited about the program. She stated “We need and want to hear from as many farmers as possible to make this program a success.”
To find out more about Pomfret’s Farmer Input Session, contact Bonnie Ryan in the Selectmen’s Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 974-0191. For questions or more information about the AGvocate program, contact Jennifer Kaufman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 450-6007.
AGvocate Steering Committee: Ben Bowell, American Farmland Trust; Lois Bruinooge, The Last Green Valley, Inc.; David Fuss, Town of Brooklyn; John Guszkowski, Eastern CT Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc.; Rick Hermonot, Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm; Jennifer Kaufman, AGvocate Program; Kevin Kennedy, Town of Thompson; Joyce Meader, UConn Cooperative Extension; Dawn Pindell, Windham County Farm Service Agency; Norma O’Leary, The Last Green Valley Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee.