News

The Bill Duesing Award Committee seeks new members to continue the tradition of selecting our annual Bill Duesing Award winner. Committee members are expected to be actively involved with and knowledgeable about the sustainable and organic agriculture community in Connecticut. Members are required to meet three times a year in advance of the CT NOFA Winter Conference (typically in December, January, and February) to conduct the work of identifying candidates for the award and ultimately selecting that year's awardee.

The EPA has proposed repealing the Endangerment Finding. The Endangerment Finding is the basis for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The Endangerment Finding acknowledges what science and frontline communities have long known: that climate pollution poses a direct and growing threat to human life.

Hoadley Hills Farm (South Kent) is the first certified organic livestock farm in Connecticut. They produce pasture-raised pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs, as well as grass-fed and pasture raised beef.

With the aim of providing technical support to farm businesses, CT NOFA is reaching out to better understand how the new Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule affects Connecticut-based organic handlers, co-packers, and processors—and how we can support you. The survey takes approximately 3-5 minutes to complete.

Steadfast Farms (Bethlehem, Connecticut), a member of CT NOFA’s 2025 TOPP cohort, is proud to offer discounted certified organic poultry processing services for active NOFA members of any chapter. Steadfast can process both birds raised in certified organic conditions and those raised conventionally. Additional fees for certified organic bird processing are waived for all active NOFA members.

Last summer, we were proud to announce the organic certification of farm graduates from our Transition to Organic Partnership Program. We’re equally pleased to report the organic certification of three more farms, all members of our 2025 TOPP cohort: Steadfast Farms, Farmington Valley Fungi, and Autumn Harvest Orchard.

The 2025 Connecticut legislative session recently wrapped up and included a number of victories on important bills supporting local food and agriculture. Wins include the Farm Bill for Connecticut, the Local Food for Local Schools Incentive Program, Farmland Protection and Farmland Access programs, and more.

In early May, we announced that we had joined a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the executive branch’s reorganization of the federal government, which was underway without legislative authority. That challenge resulted in a U.S. District Court issuing a temporary restraining order on the Trump administration to prevent them from reorganizing the government while the case is reviewed. The administration appealed that decision to pause their actions, and we’re pleased to share that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has rejected the executive branch’s appeal.

Now is the time for action! The following important agricultural bills are currently before the CT General Assembly, but the session is closing soon. S.B. 1522 would increase funding for the Community Investment Act (CIA). S.B. 1497, along with the amendment filed as LCO #7446, would create a “Farm Bill” in Connecticut with several important provisions for farmland access and preservation. Both are awaiting a vote in the Senate. 

Several CT NOFA State Advocacy Priorities Are Ready to Move Forward in the State Senate! Read the full update for important and time critical action items.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA), along with the six other organizations comprising the NOFA Interstate Council (NOFA I.C.) in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, joined a broad lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal government.

Americans want healthy organic food to feed their families. Today, 82% of American households purchase organic produce and demand for organic continues to rise. In fact, over the past two decades, demand consistently outpaced domestic production capacity. Imported organic ingredients and finished goods fill the gap, with the United States spending an estimated $8.9 billion on organic imports in 2024, according to research by the Organic Trade Association in 2025.