Hytone Farms in Coventry, a member of The Farmer’s Cow, has been selected as the 2010 Connecticut winner of the Green Pastures Award. This award has been given annually since 1947 to a dairy farm in each of the six New England states and recognizes each farm’s commitment to growing better quality crops, outstanding farm management, and the family farm’s involvement in community service and conservation practices.

 

 "We’re honored to receive this award. It’s always heartening to get recognition for the hard work we do at Hytone Farm,” says farm co-owner Bill Peracchio. "We have tried to be good stewards of the land over the years and do all we can to protect our environment, raise healthy crops and cows, and ensure the our farm will be here for future generations. Receiving a regional recognition such as the Green Pastures Award helps energize us for all of the hard work we do each year.”

 

Giovanni (John) Peracchio started Hytone Farm in 1944, growing peaches, pears, vegetables, and raising a small dairy herd. By 1960, his son Antonio started increasing the dairy herd, which has grown to 240 cows under the ownership of his sons, Bill and Tom, and grandson Greg. His wife Betty remains the bookkeeper.

 

The family grows 240 acres of corn and 200 acres of grass for forage and hay. As part of their environmental management plan, the Peracchios use the manure generated by the cows as the primary source of nutrients for their crops. It is applied according to their nutrient management plan and helps meet the needs of the crop without putting on excess nutrients, which could harm the environment. They also try to keep their schedule of spreading manure to Monday through Friday, so as not to be a nuisance to their many non-farm neighbors.

 

In addition to being a member of The Farmer’s Cow, the Perachhios are heavily involved in many other farming groups. Greg is president of the Agri-Mark Cooperative Young Farmers, Bill is president of Very Alive, and Tom is a member of the Central Connecticut Cooperative Board.   The Peracchios are members of the Tolland County Farm Bureau.  The Green Pastures Award for 2010 was presented to Hytone Farm at the Big E in September, along with the winners from the other five New England states. This is the second Green Pastures Award for Hytone Farm.