WASHINGTON – Ahead of this week’s committee mark-up of the Agriculture Appropriations bill, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced his budget priorities to help Connecticut farmers and local agriculture. Specifically, Murphy called for funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that assist young and beginning farmers, provide food assistance to low-income seniors, connect local farmers to urban food markets, and support organic agricultural research at institutions like the University of Connecticut. 

“I’ve visited farms throughout our state, and we have a great story to tell. Local agriculture is booming, more and more farmers are making a living off the land, and our state is really leading the way with innovative community partnerships that connect our cities and our schools with fresh Connecticut produce,” said Murphy. “I fought for a seat on the Senate Appropriations so I could fight for what matters most to our state. That’s why I’m focused on growing federal investments in programs that support Connecticut farmers and the local food systems Connecticut families value and demand.”

Connecticut agriculture contributes $3.5 billion to the state’s economy, including $2 billion directly from small farms. According to the 2012 Agriculture Census, there are nearly 6,000 farms across Connecticut, almost double the number in the late 1980s. 

Murphy’s priorities for the Agriculture Appropriations bill include:

• $20 million to full fund the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Grant.

• Full funding for President Obama’s FY 2017 Budget Request for beginning farmers, including:

  • An additional $10 million for Office of Advocacy and Outreach at USDA to increase access to USDA programs for new, beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers;
  • An additional $3.9 million for the Farm Service Agency to support regional coordinators to assist beginning farmers overcome barriers such as access to capital and help increase mentorship opportunities;
  • An additional $5 million for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program to support farmer-driven research that will help beginning farmers adopt sustainable agriculture practices;
  • An additional $3 million for the National Agricultural Statistics Service to survey beginning farmers on challenges, barriers, and unmet needs to assess the success of current programs and help direct future efforts;
  • An additional $500,000 for the Economic Research Service to examine how new farmers are adopting to meet consumer demands.


• $236 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to support food assistance for 2,400 low-income seniors across Connecticut.

• Funding for USDA research programs that support research projects at the University of Connecticut and across the state—including the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the Hatch Act programs, and the Smith-Lever programs—and directing USDA to support more organic agriculture research projects through these and other major grant programs.

• Directing the USDA to support urban farmers markets and food hub projects that serve the needs of rural farmers through various rural development grants.