06/23/2026
Climate Smart Agriculture: Project Site Visits
This month, staff from Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CT RC&D), the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and USDA Rural Development toured several farms to see completed Climate Smart Agriculture projects funded through CT RC&D’s administration of $500,000 in grant funding.
The program has supported 20 Connecticut farms and is driving over $1.5 million in on-farm energy efficiency and soil health improvements with funding provided in part by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry grant established by the Community Investment Act (C.G.S. Sec. 22-26k).
During the tour, staff visited the following three farms:
✅ installed a 22.04 kW roof-mounted solar array that will generate approximately 23,800 kWh of electricity annually, meeting nearly 100% of the farm’s historical energy needs and providing an estimated $6,000 in annual energy savings. Support for this project included a REAP grant from USDA Rural Development.
✅ implemented new field preparation equipment, including a field cultivator, sub-soiler, and seed/fertilizer applicator. These upgrades are helping improve soil health while reducing fuel consumption, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.
✅ LLC purchased a BCS walk-behind tractor and attachments, along with cover crop seed, to support conservation crop rotation, reduced tillage practices, mulching, and cover cropping. These practices are expected to improve soil organic matter and long-term soil health.
These projects are making investments towards climate smart agriculture that will strengthen farm sustainability and reduce operating costs for a variety of types and scales of Connecticut farms.
