Henry Talmage, who serves as the Executive Director for the Connecticut Farm Bureau, has been chosen by Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky to co-chair the Governor’s Council for Agricultural Development. The Council, which was reactivated through legislation passed last spring and had its first meeting on January 5th, is charged with increasing the success of the state’s agricultural industry. Talmage will co-chair with Dr. Greg Weidemann, Dean and Director of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut.

 

"This appointment to the Governor's Council and to serve Commissioner Reviczky in this role as vice-chairman is a tremendous honor," says Mr. Talmage. "Connecticut Farm Bureau has taken the lead on many of the initiatives that the council plans to address. I agree with Commissioner Reviczky that these are exciting times for agriculture. Farm Bureau is pleased to see farm businesses receive the attention it deserves. "

 

The Council will make recommendations to the Department of Agriculture on ways to increase the percentage of consumer dollars spent on Connecticut-grown fresh produce and farm products. This includes, but is not limited to, increasing the amount of money spent by state residents on locally-grown farm products to not less than five per cent of all food expenditures by 2020. Additionally, the Council will make recommendations concerning the development, diversification and promotion of agricultural products, programs and enterprises in the state and provide for an interchange of ideas from the various commodity groups and organizations represented.

 

"The fifteen-member council was appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders and includes six individuals actively engaged in agricultural production, members representing agricultural processing, marketing, sales, a trade association, the green industry and agricultural education,” says Talmage. "By law, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is named vice-chair and by being designated to represent the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board, I was selected as the other chair. Each of us will head up a sub-committee. Mine will focus on production, investment and infrastructure and Dean Weidemann’s, will deal with issues related to demand, education and research.”

 

During the Council’s first meeting, Commissioner Reviczky reviewed examples of plans created by other states that have developed state-level plans for food and agriculture. They also reviewed "A Proposal for Growing Connecticut Farms, Food and Jobs" presented by Jiff Martin from UConn Cooperative Extension and Melissa Spear from Common Ground. The proposal was created by a working group in 2011 with which Mr. Talmage participated and contains recommended actions including improving state leadership, planning, and coordination with regard to the food system; strengthening the path from farm to institution; developing a key foods growth strategy; and strengthening food system training and education.

 

"The goals of the Governor's Council are closely aligned with many of the initiatives Connecticut Farm Bureau is undertaking," says Mr. Talmage. "For example, CFBA has just been awarded a USDA Specialty Crop Grant to help increase farmers' understanding of marketing and distributing fruits and vegetables to a variety of outlets in an effort to help increase in-state consumption of Connecticut-grown fruits and vegetables. These efforts will contribute to the improving opportunities for producers."

 

Additional members of the Governor's Council include Erica Andrews of Hurricane Farm, Scotland, Allyn L. Brown, III of Maple Lane Farms, LLC and Connecticut Currant, LLC, Preston, Winter Caplanson of Coventry Regional Farmers' Market, Coventry, James Guida of Guida's Milk, Kensington , George Hindinger of Hindinger Farm in Hamden, Jason Hoagland representing the Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation, Herb Holden, Jr. of Double H Acres in Broad Brook, Jamie Jones of Jones Family Farms of Shelton, Michael T. Keilty of Maple Spring Farms, Morris, Shelly Oechsler of Botticello Farms, Manchester and Kevin Sullivan, Jr. of Chestnut Hill Nursery, Stafford.

 

Participation in the work of the Governor's Council will extend beyond the immediate committee members. According to the Department of Agriculture's CT Farm-to-Chef Program News, Commissioner Reviczky expressed that individuals can provide input to the council, or be part of working groups under the council's two major subcommittees.