By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
Connecticut celebrated National Farmers Week from Aug. 7 to 13, giving us an opportunity to remember and support our locally established farming industry. Between apples, tomatoes and squash, Connecticut is home to over 200 certified farmers’ markets and farm stands, all of which provide some of the best and freshest produce in New England.
I fear that between the stage 2 drought and soaring food costs, consumers will be left with fewer crops and less savings. Inflation has only been accelerated by the diesel and highway user taxes, making already high food prices soar.
As more Connecticut families figure out how to navigate these factors, I wanted to explore the perspective of our local farmers who have continued to fortify a strong agricultural tradition in our state for generations, despite the high cost of doing business here. How have they combatted affordability issues in Connecticut and how can we prioritize their concerns this upcoming session?
In Milford and Orange alone, there are roughly 20 farms that specialize in anything from berries to common vegetables, not to forget the annual Christmas trees which also make for special and memorable family outings. Unfortunately, these anticipated outings and tasty crops are at risk of equal return this year due to major concerns: higher diesel and fertilizer costs, the current drought and higher taxes on shipping food on Connecticut roadways.
Today, higher fertilizer costs of almost 200 percent in some areas are a result of a variety of factors including foreign sanctions, Chinese export restrictions and lingering supply disruptions from the recent pandemic. Additionally, the highway use tax, initially passed in 2021, has only increased delivery costs for small farms and markets as predicted by Republicans, who called for its repeal in March during the 2022 legislative session.
Beyond these concerns, Connecticut has also seen some of the driest and hottest months with calls from the state to encourage outdoor water conservation among all eight counties. Although this hasn’t been the hottest summer on record, the unfortunate combination of drier conditions with higher fuel and fertilizer costs has motivated me to share some ways we can better support local farms during these difficult times.
How can we show our support? First, find local farms and markets to buy your produce directly, which is also a great way to meet other residents and even the farmers themselves. Next, see if you qualify for recent funding to the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which awards up to $32 to certain seniors, women and children to purchase Connecticut grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, herbs and even honey. Together, both consumers and farmers can reap the benefits of newly harvested support.
As always, please contact me should you have any questions about this important issue or concerns on any other topics relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423. Also, please visit ctfarmlink.org for more information about state farms.