In 2012 nursery and horticulture ranked number one of the top 15 agricultural products produced in Connecticut with a value of $252.9 million. And the number and sizes of farms in the state are increasing. The 2012 Census of Agriculture in the United States reported that Connecticut farms have increased by 22 percent in the past five years, the highest rate of any other New England state.

Agritourism is helping increase income for farmers by offering recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, tours, hay rides and other pursuits and activities. And many farms in the state now derive a portion of their revenue from tourists. Organizers have even published a Connecticut Farm Map available online at www.ctfarms.uconn.edu, which outlines trails that highlight wine, beer and cheese producers, farmers markets and historic barns. The full-scale road map also lists 207 farm businesses by category with detailed directions to reach them and brief descriptions of their business. It includes agritourism, farmers markets, Christmas trees, pick-your-own, orchards, maple syrup and others.

The map also contains information on Connecticut agricultural statistics, farmers markets, cooperative extension offices and Department of Agriculture contacts. It is both entertaining and educational and it points to the diversity of Connecticut’s agriculture and its importance as a destination attraction. The map is also distributed at extension offices, town halls, libraries, tourism centers and farm stands.

Between July and October, agricultural fairs occur throughout the state, and many producers attend the Eastern States Exposition, held annually in September in West Springfield.

The CDA steers agricultural policy at the state level, with membership-based farm bureaus and other nonprofits contributing to policy direction. The department has several responsibilities that include fostering a healthy economic and environmental climate for farms; protecting resources; enforcing laws related to domestic animals; and promoting the industry.

The agency includes a commissioner’s office, bureaus for regulation and inspection, aquaculture and agricultural development and resource preservation and an administrative arm overseeing a farmer’s market in Hartford.

In 2011, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed Steven Reviczky as commissioner of the CDA. Reviczky chairs a Governor’s Council for Agricultural Development charged with developing policies to encourage Connecticut residents to spend at least five percent of their food purchases on locally grown products by 2020. The state Department of Agriculture oversees several programs that provide direct funding for farms.

The state has also authorized one-time assistance programs, including the Production Loss Assistance Needed Today, or PLANT, grant program authorized in 2013 that provided funds for farmers impacted by storms and flooding. A state Bureau of Inspection and Regulation has oversight for a wide range of duties such as inspecting inputs like feed and fertilizer, tracking communicable diseases and licensing agricultural and animal health facilities.

In 1986, Connecticut created the Connecticut Grown program to help farmers promote products to consumers who wish to buy locally. Other efforts to promote consumer awareness of local farms include a Farmers’ Markets program that includes signage directing visitors to farms, a Farm-to-School program, a Farm-to-Chef program, crop seasonal availability calendars and promotional boards focused on apples, milk, seafood and wine, in addition to other products.

With farms thriving and growing across the state in new and exciting ways, many farmers have capitalized on changing consumer trends and now offer a bounty of healthy, fresh food to local consumers. Farms are an integral part of many Connecticut communities and residents are increasingly interest in learning about the source of their food and now visit neighboring farms regularly.

To assist farmers the American Farmland Trust and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, along with the collaboration and input of a diverse advisory committee that reflects the many interests that have a stake in the future of local agriculture, published the Planning for Agriculture: A Guide For Connecticut Municipalities.

Additionally, several Connecticut municipalities have created a formal town commission or committee to both provide farmer input into town policies that impact local agriculture and to help develop initiatives that will keep farming in the community viable. These agricultural commissions are typically advisory commissions created by ordinance, with no regulatory or enforcement authority. The size and makeup of agricultural commissions have varied by town, but most have five to seven members who are farmers or are involved in a farm-related business.

As an alternative to a formal agricultural commission, a municipality may consider appointing an informal advisory board or group of representatives to serve as the voice of agriculture in municipal affairs. Towns with few farms or insufficient farmer interest in a formal commission may wish to consider forming a region-wide agricultural commission that could serve multiple municipalities.

Agricultural commissions can provide a valuable voice for agriculture in town affairs. While their functions may vary by town, most agricultural commissions are established to help identify issues of concern to farmers, to raise public awareness of the benefits of local farms and working lands, and to identify ways in which towns can support the business and land use needs of local farms. An agricultural commission can help to see that the needs of agriculture are considered and integrated into town policies and regulations. A commission can facilitate the resolution of farmer-neighbor conflicts, sponsor farmers markets or town celebrations of agriculture, and serve as a clearinghouse for information on state and federal agricultural programs.