PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES 33 GRANTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AT MASSACHUSETTS FARMS
BOSTON – Wednesday, October 03, 2012 – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan today announced grants totaling $375,000 have been awarded to 33 projects that will help farmers mitigate or prevent negative impacts to natural resources from agricultural practices.
“We are delighted to be able to support our local farmers in their efforts to ensure a sustainable future for their farms,” said Secretary Sullivan. “I congratulate all of this year’s award recipients”
Awarded through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (DAR) Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) grants went to farms in the towns of Ashfield, Becket, Carver, Cataumet, East Sandwich, East Taunton, Fairhaven, Halifax, Hardwick, Hawley, Lakeville, Leverett, Middleboro, Plympton, Rehoboth, Rochester, Shelburne, Sherborn, Stow, Westhampton, Westport, Winchendon and Worthington.
These grants will fund projects such as automated irrigations systems for cranberry operations, milkhouse wastewater treatment, compost facilities, fencing, and drip irrigation.
“This grant program not only helps farmers protect the state’s natural resources but also advances several of the strategies outlined in the recent Climate Change Adaptation report,” said DAR Commissioner Greg Watson. “The importance of implementing environmentally responsible land stewardship practices could not be any greater as we seek to adapt to changes in our climate and ensure that our local food supply remains viable.”
AEEP funds practices that improve water quality, promote water conservation, and improve air quality. Farmers selected to participate are reimbursed for the approved costs of materials up to $25,000.
AEEP is one of several programs within DAR’s Division of Agricultural Conservation and Technical Assistance (DACTA), whose mission is to advance the conservation and utilization of agricultural resources through preservation, environmental stewardship, technology, technical assistance and education in order to enhance the viability of agricultural enterprises and safeguard natural resources. AEEP has funded 422 projects statewide since 1999, providing growers and producers approximately $5 million to address environmental concerns on their farms.
Today’s grant awardees:
Farm Name | Last Name | Municipality | Project Type | Award |
| Bayside Agricultural, Inc. | Beaton | Middleboro | Tailwater Recovery System | $7,500.00 |
| Benson's Pond, Inc. | Gilmore | Middleboro | (3) Automated Irrigation | $7,500.00 |
| Bug Hill Farm | Kerivan | Ashfield | Drip Irrigation | $4,320.00 |
| Carved In Stone, LLC | Driscoll | Carver | Tailwater Recovery System | $11,000.00 |
| Cedar Meadow Cranberry, Inc. | Pontiff | Carver | Irrigation Pump; Mainline | $20,000.00 |
| Chop Chaque Cranberries, Inc. | Butler | Middleboro | Tailwater Recovery | $6,500.00 |
| Cranberry Country Bogs | Melville | Carver | (4) Automated Irrigation | $7,500.00 |
| Crimson Cranberry | Brillon | Rochester | Automated Irrigation | $6,358.00 |
| Derby Ridge Farm | Mikoski | Stow | Pesticide Storage | $9,822.00 |
| Edgewood Bogs, LLC | Rhodes | Carver | Pesticide Mixing and Loading | $5,998.00 |
| EIEIO Farm | Crocker | Leverett | Fencing; Irrigation | $25,000.00 |
| Handy Cranberry Trust | Handy | Cataumet | (2) Auto Irrigation | $7,500.00 |
| Kenburn Orchards | Flaccus | Shelburne | Irrigation Pond | $25,000.00 |
| Mayval Farm | Parsons | Westhampton | Bark Mound System | $25,000.00 |
| Meadow Brook Farm | Lacasse | Rehoboth | Fencing; Irrigation | $20,000.00 |
| Molin Farm | Molin | Hardwick | Fencing | $8,000.00 |
| Morning Dew Farm | Rida | Worthington | Fencing; Animal Train | $21,592.00 |
| Morse Brothers, Inc. | Morse III | Halifax | Automated Irrigation | $6,800.00 |
| Otter River Farm, LLC | Smith | Winchendon | Compost Pad | $25,000.00 |
| P.J. Cranberries | Hanlon | East Sandwich | Pesticide Storage | $1,459.00 |
| Peace Haven Project | Metcalf | Becket | Trickle Irrigation; Well | $9,036.00 |
| Peaceful Gathering Place, Inc. | Morceau | Fairhaven | Drip Irrigation | $5,576.00 |
| Porter Bog Company, Inc. | Knight | Rochester | Tailwater Recovery | $25,000.00 |
| Remeskyla Cranberries | Remes | South Carver | Pesticide Storage | $773.00 |
| Rocky River Bog | Drollett | Plympton | Automated Irrigation | $7,500.00 |
| Sherry's Berries | Bernier | Lakeville | Pop-up Irrigation | $13,228.00 |
| Shinglebrook Farm | Manning | Shelburne | Fencing; Barnyard Improvements | $5,908.00 |
| Sidehill Farm | Klippenstein | Hawley | Milkhouse Wastewater Treatment | $25,000.00 |
| Spring Rain Farm | McCaffrey | East Taunton | Lift Pump | $6,542.00 |
| Starsza Farm | Szaro | Westport | Irrigation System | $3,200.00 |
| Sunshine Farm | Geoghegan | Sherborn | Drip Irrigation | $2,820.00 |
| Triple C | Clemishaw | Rochester | Irrigation Pump; Fuel Containment | $11,068.00 |
| W.D. Bog, Inc. | Harriman | Carver | (2) Automated Irrigation | $7,500.00 |
For more information on the AEEP Program, visit
www.mass.gov/agr/programs/aeep/index.htm
For information on the Division of Technical Assistance programs, visit:
www.mass.gov/agr/divisions/ag_technical_assistance.htm
DAR's mission is to ensure the long-term viability of agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions - Agricultural Conservation & Technical Assistance, Agricultural Markets, Animal Health, and Crop and Pest Services - DAR strives to support, regulate and enhance the rich diversity of the Commonwealth's agricultural community to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture's role in energy conservation and production. For more information, visit DAR's website at www.mass.gov/agr, and/or follow at twitter.com/MDARcommish.
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