- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
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Phu Mai, Director of Communications
Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $1.6 million in grants to 63 agricultural businesses across Massachusetts to strengthen their core infrastructure and improve their operational efficiency. Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the Climate Smart for Agriculture Program (CSAP) – Farm Readiness Grant is a competitive grant program that provides funding for installation-ready capital improvement projects to help farms become more efficient and reliable in their day-to-day operations.
"Massachusetts farmers work hard every day to keep fresh, local food on our tables, and we want to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help farms upgrade equipment, improve efficiency and strengthen their businesses so they can continue feeding communities across Massachusetts. We're excited to support another round of projects that will continue investing in the future of local agriculture.”
"Our farms are essential to Massachusetts' economy, food supply and communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This funding will help farmers make practical improvements that increase productivity, support sustainability and strengthen their operations. We're proud to continue investing and delivering real benefits across Massachusetts."
“This program gives Massachusetts farms the resources they need for immediate equipment and infrastructure upgrades to modernize and combat rising costs and operational challenges,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Farmers will have more time to grow food, strengthen their businesses, and help keep fresh, local products available in communities across the state.”
“These investments directly address the day-to-day operational needs of Massachusetts farms,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “From upgrading farm equipment to improving storage, handling, and delivery of Massachusetts-grown products, this program ensures that farms can make timely improvements that enhance their operations without delays from construction or permitting. Ultimately, these quick-impact projects protect local agriculture so residents can continue to access fresh, locally grown food.”
The projects funded through this round of the program were selected through a competitive review process and were required to be commercially available, installation-ready, and capable of being fully completed within a short timeframe. In addition, applicants were required to demonstrate how the proposed investment would improve farm operations through enhanced efficiency, food safety, soil health, energy performance, compost management, resource conservation, or other measurable operational outcomes. Projects were evaluated based on readiness, feasibility, anticipated impacts, and alignment with program goals.
Eligible projects limited to installation-ready capital improvements within the program’s defined project areas, Energy Efficiency Retrofits, Monitoring and Precision Agriculture Equipment, Soil Health Equipment, Food Safety and Cold Storage Equipment, or Compost Equipment.
The CSAP program consolidates several grant categories—including Food Safety, Environmental, Energy, Composting, and Climate Resiliency—into one streamlined application. This approach helps farms access resources to improve long-term sustainability while contributing to the Commonwealth’s broader climate and food system goals.
“Fresh, locally grown food is key to ensuring that our neighbors have access to healthy meals and that nobody goes hungry,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled that the Healey Administration and MDAR have selected two farms in my district as recipients of funds from its Climate Smart Agriculture – Farm Readiness Grant program. Paquette Farms in Shrewsbury and Nourse Farm in Westborough will now have the dollars to purchase equipment that will allow them to do even more for the community – something everyone should celebrate.”
“We appreciate the critical funding to our farms and farmers to enhance and develop local agriculture, benefitting all those in our communities,” said Representative Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk).
The following are the recipients for this year’s second round of theClimate Smart Agriculture Program:
| Applicant | Award | City | Description | Project Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Fresh Co | $7,500 | Sherborn | Wood Chipper; Flail Mower | Supports soil health improvements through the use of field management equipment to enhance crop residue processing and field conditions. |
| Atlas Farm LLC | $50,000 | Deerfield | Speed Disc; Harvest Bins | Improves soil health and harvest efficiency through the addition of tillage equipment and durable harvest handling systems. |
| Ayrhill Farms Inc | $30,800 | Adams | Compost Spreader | Enhances nutrient management and soil health through the use of compost application equipment. |
| Bardwell Farm | $35,700 | Hatfield | (2) water pumps & VFD systems | Improves energy efficiency and irrigation reliability through upgraded pump systems and variable frequency drives. |
| Barrett's Mill Farm | $12,400 | Concord | Barrel Washer; Bins | Strengthens food safety and post-harvest handling through improved washing and storage equipment. |
| Bar-Way Farm Inc | $23,400 | Deerfield | Calf-Feeding Milk Shuttle | Enhances livestock management and operational efficiency through precision feeding equipment. |
| Benjamin Munroe | $42,100 | Rehoboth | No-Till Drill | Supports soil conservation and reduced tillage practices through the use of no-till planting equipment. |
| Berberian’s Farm | $50,000 | Northboro | Refrigeration Upgrades for Walk-in | Improves food safety and storage capacity through upgraded walk-in refrigeration systems. |
| Boyden Bros. Maple | $5,900 | Conway | Solar Powered Vacuum System | Reduces energy use and improves sap collection efficiency through solar-powered vacuum technology. |
| Rocky Maple Bogs | $21,000 | West Wareham | HVAC; Insulation | Improves energy efficiency and climate control through upgraded HVAC systems and insulation. |
| Cook Farm LLC | $22,800 | Hadley | Compost Bagging System | Expands on-farm compost handling capacity through the addition of bagging equipment. |
| Cranston’s Tree Farm | $9,700 | Ashfield | Vacuum Pump | Improves operational efficiency through upgraded vacuum system equipment. |
| Cure For Boredom | $13,280 | Cummington | Walk-in Cooler; Bins | Enhances food safety and product quality through improved cold storage and handling systems. |
| Davidians Farm Market LLC | $32,150 | Northborough | Automated Irrigation | Improves water management and operational efficiency through automated irrigation systems. |
| Devine Farm, Inc. | $50,000 | Hadley | VSD Fans for Dairy Barn | Improves energy efficiency and barn ventilation through upgraded fan systems. |
| Earle M Parsons & Sons Inc | $50,000 | Hadley | No-till Planter | Supports soil health and conservation practices through the use of no-till planting equipment. |
| Echo Hill Orchards & Winery LLC | $36,000 | Monson | Mulch Spreader | Improves soil management and nutrient application through mulch spreading equipment. |
| Edmund T Paquette American Harvest Farm | $12,800 | Shrewsbury | Rinse Conveyor | Improves post-harvest handling efficiency through automated washing and conveyance equipment. |
| Edward Kirchner | $2,000 | Pittsfield | Weather Station | Enhances farm decision-making through real-time weather monitoring equipment. |
| Fern Hill Farm | $4,380 | Buckland | Wash/Pack & Compost Equipment | Improves food safety and handling through upgraded wash/pack equipment and storage systems. |
| Finicky Farm | $8,800 | Northfield | Livestock Handling System | Enhances livestock handling efficiency and safety through improved handling systems. |
| Four Town Farm, Inc. | $50,000 | Seekonk | Irrigation Pump | Improves irrigation efficiency and reduces energy use through upgraded pump system. |
| Foxbard Farm LLC | $20,000 | Shelburne Falls | No-Till Drill | Supports soil conservation through the use of no-till planting equipment. |
| Frank W. Matheson Jr. | $22,000 | Littleton | GPS System | Improves field accuracy and efficiency through GPS-guided precision agriculture technology. |
| Full Well Farm LLC | $12,750 | Adams | BCS Tractor & Implements | Enhances soil health and field operations through the addition of small-scale cultivation equipment. |
| Great Brook Dairy LLC | $50,000 | Carlisle | Spreader; Plate Cooler; Compressor | Improves nutrient management and dairy efficiency through upgraded spreading and cooling equipment. |
| Henry M and Edward A Parsons | $50,000 | Westhampton | Mower; Wrapper | Enhances forage management and field efficiency through upgraded mowing and wrapping equipment. |
| Hickory Lane Farm LLC | $25,500 | North Brookfield | Tedder | Improves hay production and drying efficiency through upgraded field equipment. |
| Hukowicz Farm | $41,600 | Hadley | No-Till Drill | Supports soil conservation through reduced tillage practices using no-till equipment. |
| Idyllvale Farm | $14,000 | Littleton | Milking System Upgrades | Improves milk handling efficiency and food safety through upgraded milking systems. |
| Indian Rock Farm | $28,800 | West Brookfield | Manure Spreader | Enhances nutrient management and soil fertility through manure spreading equipment. |
| Iron Ox Farm | $26,900 | Hamilton | Flail Mower; No-Till Drill | Improves soil health and field management through conservation tillage equipment. |
| Jonathan Carr DBA Carr's Ciderhouse | $15,800 | Hadley | Walk-in Cooler | Improves product storage and quality through enhanced cold storage capacity. |
| Keshtyar Seed | $7,260 | Chesterfield | Walk-in Cooler | Strengthens post-harvest storage and food safety through improved cold storage systems. |
| Kitchen Garden Farm | $24,600 | Sunderland | Strip Tiller | Supports soil conservation and efficient planting through strip-tillage equipment. |
| Knechtel Farm | $1,695 | Orange | Maple Tank; Vacuum Pump | Improves sap handling and storage efficiency through upgraded maple production equipment. |
| Lombrico LLC | $20,600 | West Whately | Stone Burier | Enhances soil conditions and field preparation through stone removal equipment. |
| M A Wendolowski Farm LLC | $38,800 | Hatfield | No-Till Drill | Supports soil health through reduced tillage practices using no-till equipment. |
| Maple Shade Farm, Inc | $50,000 | Sheffield | No-Till Drill | Improves soil conservation and planting efficiency through no-till equipment. |
| Maplewood Farm | $8,000 | Hardwick | Walk-in Cooler | Improves storage capacity and food safety through upgraded refrigeration systems. |
| McKinstry Market Garden, Inc | $42,000 | Chicopee | Shade Curtain System | Improves energy efficiency and climate control in greenhouse operations. |
| Miller Cranberry Co Inc | $34,500 | Kingston | Flumes & Auto Start | Enhances operational efficiency and water management through automated systems. |
| Moonrose Farm LLC | $8,200 | Rehoboth | Root Washer | Improves produce cleaning and food safety through upgraded washing equipment. |
| Morning Glory Farm Inc. | $23,175 | Edgartown | No-Till Drill | Supports soil conservation through no-till planting practices. |
| North Tabor Farm, Inc | $12,500 | Chilmark | Ebb & Flow Benching | Improves irrigation efficiency and plant management through controlled watering systems. |
| Nourse Family Farm, Inc. | $5,800 | Westborough | Baskets; Merchandisers | Improves product handling and display through upgraded storage and merchandising equipment. |
| Oake Knoll Farms | $50,000 | Foxboro | Dairy Barn Ventilation System | Improves animal health and energy efficiency through upgraded ventilation systems. |
| Outlook Farm | $10,900 | Westhampton | Stone Burier | Improves field preparation and operational efficiency through soil conditioning equipment. |
| Paskamansett Farms | $37,000 | Dartmouth | Dairy System Upgrades | Improves dairy efficiency and energy use through upgraded milking and cooling systems. |
| Pine Island Farm | $50,000 | Sheffield | Instant Milk Chiller | Improves milk quality and energy efficiency through rapid cooling technology. |
| Quaker Run Cranberries | $18,000 | West Yarmouth | Irrigation Pump; VFDs | Enhances irrigation efficiency and reduces energy use through upgraded pump systems. |
| Rattleroot Farm LLC | $3,700 | Princeton | Greens Spinner; Walk-in; Scales | Improves produce handling and food safety through upgraded wash, storage, and weighing equipment. |
| Red Shirt Farm LLC | $24,000 | Lanesborough | Greenhouse Controls | Improves climate control and production efficiency through automated greenhouse systems. |
| River-Maple Farm | $18,000 | Bernardston | Milking Parlor Upgrades | Improves dairy efficiency and operational reliability through upgraded milking systems. |
| Rock Harvest Farm | $9,110 | New Braintree | Egg Washer; Barrel Washer | Improves product cleaning and food safety through upgraded washing equipment. |
| Sage Farm | $30,700 | Bernardston | Manure Spreader | Enhances soil fertility and nutrient management through manure application equipment. |
| Small Farm Inc | $4,600 | Stow | Irrigation/Fertigation Upgrades | Improves water and nutrient management through precision irrigation systems. |
| Stony Hill Farm LLC | $9,600 | Wilbraham | BCS w/Implements | Enhances small-scale field operations and soil management through versatile cultivation equipment. |
| Thomas Farm | $14,800 | Sunderland | Compost Dump Trailer | Improves compost handling and material transport efficiency. |
| Tully Farms Inc. | $50,000 | Dunstable | Manure Tanker | Enhances nutrient management through manure transport and application equipment. |
| Twin Rivers Farm LLC | $43,400 | Sheffield | No-Till Drill | Supports soil conservation through reduced tillage practices. |
| Wally’s Vegetables | $50,000 | Haverhill | Walk-in Upgrades | Improves storage capacity and food safety through upgraded refrigeration systems. |
| Wildberry Acres Farm | $21,000 | Brookfield | Insulation; Air Circulation; Cold Storage | Improves energy efficiency and storage conditions through insulation and upgraded air circulation systems. |
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