News

UConn Extension is partnering with CT DoAg (Connecticut Grown) to improve farm marketing capacity for Connecticut organic farms through free, one-on-one technical assistance. This assistance, available to certified organic and transitioning organic farm businesses, will aid in marketing and branding, and will inform you of the best ways to increase consumer awareness of the value of your USDA certified organic products.

Earlier this year, CT NOFA faced a critical funding crossroads. Well into our budgeted programming for the year, we faced sudden and substantial cuts to federally funded programming that constituted the majority of our work for 2025. But then, something moving happened.

Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to stop blocking the funding of SNAP using emergency funds. The Trump administration has agreed to partially fund SNAP benefits. It is not clear how much SNAP beneficiaries will receive or how long it will take to load the partial benefits onto their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards.

If the Federal government shutdown continues, on November 1 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will halt for the 10% of Connecticut residents who rely on it. SNAP serves about 360,000 people in our state.

The seven Northeast Organic Farming Association chapters (CT-NOFA, NOFA-MA, NOFA-NH, NOFA-NJ, NOFA-NY, NOFA-RI and NOFA-VT), and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) are documenting the impacts of the current government shutdown, and the expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, on farmers and farm workers in our region.

Joanne Charon, owner of Autumn Harvest Orchard, is proud to be able to provide organic produce for her community. “It gives people a choice to purchase and enjoy fresh CT Grown Organic produce, which is totally different than what’s in the big box store,” she says. “Fresh, organic produce is higher in vitamin and mineral properties, and we are committed to growing all fruits, berries, herbs, nuts, and vegetables in healthy soil using ORMI fertilizers and pest control measures.”

Who is in charge here? The human beings or the machines and the corporations that profit from them? Are we going to dig up every crumb of coal and uranium to feed the AI beast? Are we going to pollute the air we breathe? Destroy the climate that allows us and all of nature to thrive? Give away all our water? And then what?

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.