Latest news with #ConnecticutDepartmentofAgriculture
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Strawberry season has begun in Connecticut
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Strawberry season has arrived in Connecticut. New Haven schools host Shark Tank competition The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is encouraging people to visit their local strawberry patch to get a freshly-picked basket. The department said strawberry season is short, so don't delay planning your visit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut leaders to discuss link between child and animal abuse
NEWINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Gov. Ned Lamont will highlight how the state stops child and animal abuse on Wednesday. He says there's often a link between the two, and that being used to identify new cases. This is all in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. State leaders remind residents of road safety on National Work Zone Awareness Week Governor Lamont will join animal welfare advocates at 11 a.m. at a news conference in Newington. He'll be highlighting the 'proactive' work among Connecticut state agencies to 'cross-report' accounts of animal cruelty and potential child abuse in households where these reports have occurred. The state says numerous studies show a strong correlation between animal abuse, child maltreatment, and other forms of interpersonal violence, including domestic violence and elder abuse. This correlation is often referred to as 'the link.' In recent years, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture have been working together, using this 'link' to collaborate on work and identify more of these offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New report exposes over $50 million in losses from dire issue affecting farms: 'Considerable impacts'
Extreme weather has dealt a severe blow to Connecticut's farming community, with a recent survey revealing millions of dollars in losses in 2023 and 2024. As detailed by Inside Investigator, Connecticut farmers have reported devastating financial losses ranging from a few hundred dollars to over a million dollars per farm, according to a survey conducted by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg). The survey results — which revealed over $50 million in losses overall — prompted the state to request nearly $84 million in emergency block grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to help affected farms recover. Excessive moisture and flooding stand out as the primary culprits behind these agricultural losses, according to the report. Historic flooding hit the Connecticut River Valley in 2023, while western Connecticut experienced significant flooding in 2024. These events particularly damaged vegetable, fruit, and aquaculture production, with Hartford and New Haven counties reporting the highest number of responses to the survey about affected farms. "These weather extremes resulted in considerable impacts to farmers; including losses in harvestable production, yield, and crop quality; infrastructure damage; equipment; and increases in the cost of production," CT DoAg noted in its request to the USDA. The devastation of Connecticut farms affects everyone in the region. When local farms struggle, our food security weakens and prices can rise at grocery stores and farmers markets. A stable local food system provides resilience against supply chain disruptions. The financial toll on farming communities also ripples throughout rural economies. For every dollar a farm loses, local businesses such as equipment dealers, feed stores, and processing facilities can also suffer. These weather-related disasters also push more family farms toward bankruptcy, threatening a way of life that has defined Connecticut's landscape and culture for centuries. While the immediate economic impact is measured in the tens of millions, the long-term cost of inaction would be far greater. Investing in climate adaptation now is significantly less expensive than dealing with collapsed food systems and abandoned agricultural lands later. Connecticut's request for nearly $84 million in block grants could compensate farms for weather-related losses and help to invest in resiliency projects on individual farms. Organizations like the Connecticut Farm Bureau offer resources to help farmers navigate disaster assistance programs and implement climate-smart agricultural practices. The USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program also provides financial and technical assistance to farmers implementing practices that build soil health and increase farm resilience. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. On an individual level, building awareness of critical climate issues will help you understand how you can make a difference. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu wipes out a backyard flock in Guilford: Is there risk that it will spread to humans?
GUILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The bird flu wiped out another backyard flock in Connecticut: this time in New Haven County. The first flock was in New London County and now the second one is in Guilford. The owner of that flock, Kameron Shahid, showed News 8 the outdoor coop where he used to keep his backyard flock. He had chickens, Guinea Hens and ducks. Bird flu confirmed in backyard flock in New London County Shahid says his flock became infected with the bird flu because his ducks would mingle with wild ducks on this river next to his Guilford home. 'The ducks were actually coming back up and hanging out here in close proximity to the chickens, and that's how we got into the situation we're in,' Shahid said. It started with one Guinea Hen showing signs of sickness. 'I could tell its call was very raspy,' Shahid said. 'Something was wrong with it and I went to the bird and it was visibly sick.' Within 48 hours, half a dozen of his birds were dead. The state then put down the rest of the flock. 'Once it impacts a flock there is no cure, there is no ability or vaccine for the flock and so the end result is the flock will end up dying,' Bryan Hurlburt, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, said. Shahid says the biggest concern people have is if they can get sick. 'At this point, there's no threat to humans but one of the things we're paying a lot of attention to is if that jumps, as we saw in 2024, it jumped from birds to cows,' Hurlburt said. Bird flu detected in New Haven County Health officials want Shahid's coop to remain empty with no birds in it for 120 days just to be safe. They want to make sure it is clear of any disease before any other birds are brought into it. Shahid says other bird owners are concerned their flocks will also be affected. 'People who have backyard flocks, they live in the woods, or they just got a small yard there's almost no risk that their birds are gonna get sick,' Shahid said. He says being near a river or along the shoreline where they can be exposed to waterfowl is much more risky. The state asks anyone who sees a sick bird to stay away from it and give them a call right away. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
