| JULY 5, 2011 -- For many years, life on a farm has been a struggle in Connecticut. Some farms have been forced to shut down, but now there are some grants out there which may help them grow to their full potential.
Rob Schacht is trying to do just that. On Monday, Schacht showed Congressman Joe Courtney and the State Commissioner of Agriculture how he's used grants on his Hunts Brook farm in Quaker Hill for deer fencing, an irrigation system, and a green house, which allows him to extend his growing to three seasons.
When asked if his work would be a lot tougher without the grants, Schacht replied, "Oh absolutely."
Schacht hopes to achieve sustainability. He's even taken on tenants who work on the farm to be able to do that. He says most farmers have to get work off the farm as well for added income.
"Being able to live in a debt free environment takes the stress off, where people generally sell the farm and close down because they have bills to pay," he said.
Schacht is among a dozen farmers set to receive state grants, which for him would pay for another greenhouse, but when the union concession package fell through, the bond commission meeting set for Friday was canceled.
When asked if the farming grants are in jeopardy, Commissioner of Agriculture Steven Reviczky said, "I think everything is in question at this point with the state's budget and financial situation, but we're very hopefully that it will make the next bond commission agenda and be approved."
In the meantime, Congressman Courtney gets set to work on the federal farm bill.
"The future of programs like the ones that are helping Rob are going to be decided, as well as whether or not we can really identify waste like ethanol subsidies," Courtney said.
The Schachts sell their produce at farmer's markets, in stores, and soon to be in their very own farm stand. They hope to continue this sustainable life, and it helps that the demand for locally grown food has gone up. |
