WASHINGTION – Today, on National Agriculture Day, and as the deadline for the 2016 budget resolution nears, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called on his colleagues to fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) at the highest levels possible. With the BFRDP fully funded, Murphy hopes to strengthen opportunities for Connecticut’s beginning farmers and ranchers through access to enhanced training and capital.

The BFRDP provides grants to community organizations, educational institutions, federal and state agencies, and other organizations to help educate and train new farmers across the country. In Connecticut, nearly one-third of farms are considered “beginning farms”, and are operated by one or more individuals who have 10 years or less of experience operating a farm or ranch.

Throughout his time in Congress, Murphy has supported provisions that invest in Connecticut’s agricultural sector. He has fought to ensure a strong safety net for the state’s dairy farmers, to expand market access for Connecticut-grown fruits and vegetables, to make important cuts to wasteful subsidies for big industrial farms, and for other investments that align with the priorities of the state’s agricultural community.

“Connecticut’s farmers contribute a whopping $2 billion to the state’s economy each year, employing our friends and neighbors and driving economic growth. But for new and aspiring farmers, it can be particularly challenging to get started. Beginning farmers often need a little extra help to get off the ground, and the USDA’s BFRDP has been proven to give them the tools and resources they need to break into the industry. Fully funding this program is the smartest investment we can make in the future of Connecticut’s agricultural industry, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it happen.”