Farmland Access Action Alert
January 27, 2025
In partnership with American Farmland Trust and the Working Lands Alliance, CT NOFA is urging concerned parties to submit written testimony and/or register to testify to support H.B. 5064, An Act Concerning an Option to Purchase Restricted Agricultural Lands at Agricultural Value.
The following is a message from Eliza Paterson, Sr. New England Policy Associate for the Working Lands Alliance.
It is with great enthusiasm that I am asking you to express your support in favor of H.B.5064 – An Act Concerning An Option To Purchase Restricted Agricultural Lands At Agricultural Value. We need your help to get this important legislation over the finish line this session! You can make your voice heard by signing up to testify, either remotely or in-person, or by submitting written testimony. Connecticut’s farmland is essential for our state’s economy, food security, and climate resiliency. Together, we can protect our valuable farmland and make it more accessible to the next generation of farmers!
If passed into law, this bill would do the following:
- Create a grant program through the CT Department of Agriculture to support increased farmland access opportunities for farmers across the state.
- Eligible recipients for these grants include agricultural nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and regional councils.
- Grant funds can be used to complete Buy-Protect-Sell deals. These allow land to be purchased at its market value, protected with an agricultural conservation easement, and sold to a farmer. The grant program will also enable the CT Department of Agriculture to work with land trusts to acquire Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value restrictions which will ensure protected farmland remains in the hands of farmers in the future. Lastly, some of the funds could be used to support the state in owning more farmland and leasing it to farmers looking for long-term lease agreements.
To make this happen, we need your support:
- Sign up to testify OR submit testimony. The public hearing for H.B.5064 will be held THIS FRIDAY January 31st 2025! You can submit your testimony here: Submit Written Testimony, and sign up to testify here: Register to Testify. **Please note that you can either testify remotely or in-person. The option to choose is available at the bottom of the registration page. A few potential talking points include:
- If you are a farmer, share your story about accessing or protecting your farmland. Why was it important to you? How will furthering these efforts support you and other farmers in the CT farming community?
- If you are a service provider, what do you do to support farmers in accessing land? How will more support aid the producers you service?
- If you are a member of the public, why is local food and farmland protection important to you?
- Consider language that will demonstrate the urgency of passing this bill, such as CT continues to have some of the most expensive farmland in the country with the average price per acre being priced at $14,300 per acre;
- The time to invest in our future is now, the time to invest in our working lands is now, please support H.B. 5064.
- In addition to submitting testimony, contact your State Representative and ask them to support and vote in favor of H.B.5064 – An Act Concerning An Option To Purchase Restricted Agricultural Lands At Agricultural Value. You can find your legislator here.
- Send an email or call them letting them know you support H.B.5064. State why investing in farmland protection and access in CT is important to you, your farm, or your organization.
- Share this action alert with your networks or other farmers.
- Follow Working Lands Alliance on Instagram.
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