OCTOBER 2003 -- I am Gordon Gibson of Vernon, Legislative Director of the Connecticut State Grange. I am speaking this evening on behalf of the 6,000 Grange members throughout Connecticut.

Many people think of Connecticut as an industrial and commercial state, but agriculture is also a significant factor in Connecticut’s economy. In 2001, Connecticut’s agricultural production had income of approximately $900 million, ranking number one in New England in both net farm income and also in cash farm income per square mile. Connecticut’s agricultural industry provides jobs for 50,000 people, most of them low or moderate wage earners, in production, service, processing and marketing. Each year the agricultural fairs throughout Connecticut attract more than one million visitors, most of whom contribute to Connecticut’s tourism economy through the purchase of meals, lodging, souvenirs and other activities normally associated with tourism.

Despite these impressive statistics, the Connecticut Department of agriculture lacks the necessary budget and staffing to do its job. While other states support their agriculture industry through their agricultural fairs, the fairs in Connecticut reimburse the Department of agriculture for the inspectors time to inspect the livestock at our fairs because the department of agriculture has neither the funds to pay the inspectors overtime nor the staff to complete the inspections within the normal work week. The Association of Connecticut Fairs performs random drug tests of animals in the pulling contests at the fairs because the Department of Agriculture does not have the qualified staff to draw the samples.

Connecticut’s farmers try to be good stewards of their land, crops and animals, for without them there is no agriculture. As government has grown, the licensing and regulation of farmers has increased to the point where merely applying for and obtaining all the necessary licenses and permits a farmer needs has become onerous. Farmers must obtain licenses and permits from the Departments of Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Environmental Protection, Health and Labor among others. In many cases those reviewing the applications for the permits and licenses have little understanding of best management practices in agriculture and therefore unfairly deny the application or require the farmer to go through an extended hearing process, often resulting in the loss of the best time to implement the process or procedure for which the farmer is seeking the permit. The Grange believes farmers would be better served if the General Assembly revised the authority and mandated responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture to provide “one stop shopping” so that farmers could apply for and receive all necessary State licenses and permits through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Forests are also an important part of Connecticut agriculture. Trees are planted, managed and harvested like any other crop. Approximately 1.7 million acres of Connecticut are currently forested. Connecticut ranks 48th in size of the 50 states, but nationwide ranks 10th in the production and sale of maple syrup. Our forests produce enough quality timber each year that commercial vendors rent space at our fairs to display and demonstrate the newest sawmills and latest technology to convert native timber into lumber. Despite the relationship and importance of forestry to agriculture, Connecticut’s State Forester and its Forestry Division are located within the Department of Environmental Protection rather than the Department of Agriculture. At the federal level, forestry is recognized as part of agriculture and is organized as part of the Department of agriculture. The Grange recommends that the State’s Forestry Division be transferred from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of agriculture.

Connecticut’s agriculture industry contributes $2 billion annually to our local economy. It deserves to have its own agency within the framework of Connecticut’s government with adequate funds and staff to protect and promote this important agriculture industry. The Association of Connecticut Fairs, Inc. urges the General Assembly to maintain the Connecticut Department of Agriculture as a separate agency, that the Forestry Division be transferred from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture and that the Department of Agriculture be given sufficient funds and staff to adequately fulfill its statutory responsibilities to protect and promote Connecticut’s important agriculture industry.

Although I have been speaking about Connecticut’s farmers and the Department of Agriculture, other residents of Connecticut and other State departments and agencies face similar problems. In recent years the State’s bureaucracy has grown astronomically and many agencies now have overlapping jurisdictions. I was employed by the State of Connecticut for 28 years and I can assure you that one of the main functions and objectives of every State agency is to guard its own turf. These agencies are not willing to surrender any areas of authority or responsibility to streamline state government. The Grange therefore urges the General Assembly to appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to perform a function study of the State government and to propose a reorganization of agencies on a function basis to eliminate cross jurisdictions. It may be time to reinvent the wheel.

Thank you for your consideration of my testimony.

Gordon F. Gibson
Legislative Director
Connecticut State Grange
836 Hartford Turnpike
Vernon, CT 06066-5114
860-871-7757
GFGibson@aol.com