Blumenthal announces legislation aimed at providing aid for Connecticut farms

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — One year ago, devastating flooding destroyed farmland along the Connecticut River, causing farmers across the state to lose millions of dollars in revenue.

The farmers are continuing to feel that loss.

“Even though we’re starting off with a great season this year, we’ve got those underlying loans that are right over our head,” Chris Bassette, of Killam & Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury, said. “We do what we do because we love what we do.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced the Save Our Small Farms Act at the Killam and Bassette Farmstead, which aims to improve access to disaster assistance programs and crop insurance for small farms.

“That $20 million was devastating to these farms and they’re still living with the burdens of those losses,” Blumenthal explained.

This legislation would help farmers, who rely on the Non-Insurance Disaster Assistance Program, by:

• Lowering the cost of purchasing coverage
• Reducing paperwork burdens
• Increasing the cap on payouts from $300,000 to $600,000

“One of the greatest ways we can ensure there is a future in agriculture in our great state is to make sure we’re there for them when times are down,” Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said.

It would also require the Farm Service Agency to improve data collection at the county level to improve the accuracy of the payouts.  In addition, it would incentivize and assist farmers in moving to a true insurance policy under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program.

“Declaring Connecticut a disaster area did nothing for these farms because it didn’t expand the insurance and it didn’t provide the relief they need,” Blumenthal said.

As these farms continue to recover, Bassette shared the support from the community helps carry them through.

“Just try to remember, if you’re going to the grocery store and you’re going to pick all your products, just pick up what you can’t pick up at the farms, farmers markets,” Bassette said. “We all greatly appreciate it.”

Blumenthal hopes this legislation will receive bipartisan support.

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