TOPP Climate Smart Field Days
March 7, 2024
CT NOFA is excited to announce a series of 2024 field days as part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), a national program that helps farmers navigate challenges related to organic certification and provides mentorships and technical assistance to those who are considering it. Registration links are provided, below, for each of the field day courses. For more information about TOPP, visit our website.
High Tunnels: How to Get and Use Them
- Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
- Time: 10am – 2pm
- Location: Star Light Gardens, 85 School St, Middlefield, CT 06455
High tunnels can provide farmers with many benefits, such as longer growing season, reduction of environmental stress, temperature and moisture control, among others. The Field Day will cover climate smart high tunnel production practices and benefits. There will also be a discussion of how to get funding to install your own high tunnel. Lunch will be provided.
Safe & Efficient Water Management
- Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024
- Time: 1pm – 4pm
- Location: Russo’s Roots Farm, 289 North Society Road, Canterbury
Too much water? Not enough water? Climate change in Connecticut continues to impact farms every year and incorporating different water management techniques can mean the difference between a successful season and not. Libby from Russo’s Roots will go over the different water management techniques used on their farm, water sources, using timers for watering, and the different nozzles they use when doing overhead watering. We’ll also touch on what hasn’t worked in the past and changes they’d like to make in the future.
Energy Efficiency on the Farm
- Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024
- Time: 1pm – 4pm
- Location: Four Root Farm, 257 Tater Hill Road, East Haddam
Ridge vents? Shade cloths? As temperatures continue to rise, finding ways to protect your crops in the high heat of the season is just one more thing for farmers to worry about, including the raising energy bills! Implementing new strategies on the farm can be expensive so learn about what’s out there before making that big purchase. Aaron from Four Root Farm will go over some of the techniques they’ve implemented over the years to help with Energy Efficiency on the farm and the benefits they’ve seen as a result.
Soil Health Assessment 3 Ways: Biological, Chemical, Physical
- Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
- Time: 10am – 2pm
- Location: Sunset Farm, 1057 Andrew Mountain Rd, Naugatuck, CT 06770
We will break down the various ways we study soil to get a complete picture of how well our soil functions as a living ecosystem. The Field Day will cover the various testing methods that evaluate the physical structure of soil, chemical composition and biological activity as well as address how these methods of testing can be incorporated into your soil management plan. Lunch will be provided.
Soil Health Benefits of No-Till Production
- Date: Sunday, June 2nd, 2024
- Time: 1pm – 4pm
- Location: Sweet Acre Farm, 28 Taylor Bridge Rd., Lebanon
Are you thinking of trying out some new soil health practices on your farm? Join us at Sweet Acre Farm to learn about what practices they’ve implemented over the years and the changes they’re seeing in their soil. They’ll discuss low/no-till methods, cover crops, field rotation, and how they’ve begun to integrate their flock of chickens into their field plans.
Recent Posts
CT NOFA Launches Equipment Share Program
CT NOFA is proud to announce the launch of our Equipment Share Program. In partnership with The Hickories in Ridgefield, Connecticut, this program aims to provide both commercial farmers and home gardeners free access to both specialized equipment and expertise in a shared environment. Equipment Share days at The Hickories will include free soil analysis, seed winnowing services, nut cleaning, compost tea brewing workshops, and much more.
Advocacy News: May 2026
The Good News: CT Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill (bipartisan and bicameral) to increase funding for Agricultural Management Assistance to $30 million and to expand the eligible uses for these funds to include “soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.” Let’s thank Senator Murphy for introducing this bill!
The Bad News: The Farm Bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, despite 320 food, farm, and conservation organizations, including CT NOFA, voicing our opposition to a bill that does not fix SNAP, does not support new and beginning farmers, and does not adequately support conservation programs or organic agriculture. Now it goes to the Senate and we need to urge both of Connecticut’s Senators to reject this Farm Bill.