By Mary Welander
State Rep., D-114
Mary Welander
The state Department of Agriculture on March 25 hosted its annual Connecticut Agriculture Day for the first time in two years. I had a great time talking with producers and advocates about our state’s $9 billion agriculture and green industry.
Marking National Agriculture Week and the beginning of Spring, Agriculture Day was an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contribution of local agriculture in our everyday lives. Connecticut’s diverse agricultural community consists of more than 5,500 farms which contribute almost $4 billion to our state’s economy and more than 20,000 jobs, while providing a safe, abundant supply of food, fiber and flowers.
The event was not only fun, but also a wonderful learning opportunity. I spoke with some folks who taught me about a program called CT Farmlink, which connects farmland owners with farmland seekers, and has done so for over 15 years.
The program is described as “a clearinghouse for the transition between generations of landowners with the goal of keeping farmland in production. There is a new generation of farmers who want to be tomorrow’s stewards of the land today, but they need land to work.”
Additionally, they provide information, assistance and resources with consultations on lease agreements, suitability, planning, preservation and more. You can find information about this program at ctfarmlink.org.
Lately we have been reminded of the increased importance of creating and supporting a local and domestic supply chain. We are incredibly fortunate to have a large variety of providers in our smaller town and community. I encourage everyone to continue their support of our farms this spring, and continue those efforts all the way through fall.
As winter (hopefully) fades into the background and spring is officially here, our focus also shifts from concerns about heating our homes to cooling them. Increasingly hotter and longer summers means an increase in our usage of air conditioning methods, which means higher bills for residents.
While there are proposals in the legislature that explore options to lower rates while allowing for utility companies to operate safely in unpredictable weather patterns, those unfortunately will not produce any immediate changes in your wallet.
One way you can explore energy cost-saving options is by having a home energy audit done by Energize CT, a state-run program where energy professionals will make improvements that can lower your energy costs. You may also qualify for rebates on certain upgrades like insulation and appliances.
You can find more information about this program by visiting energizect.com, clicking on the “Home” image at the top of the page, then selecting “Home Energy Solutions/Energy Assessment” from the left-hand side of the webpage. From there you can make an appointment to have your home assessed and made more efficient.
As always, if there are any issues that you think we should be paying more attention to, please do not hesitate to contact me at Mary.Welander@cga.ct.gov.