- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Massachusetts Agriculture Day with over $3 Million in Grants to Support Farmers
Phu Mai, Director of Communications
Boston — Today, Governor Maura Healey declared April 3, 2024, as Massachusetts Agriculture Day. As part of the celebration, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced over $3 million in grants to support Massachusetts farmers through programs that improve composting efforts, food safety, cranberry bog restoration, stewardship, and business planning.
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle also announced the formation and inaugural members of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council. Comprised of high school seniors, the Ag Youth Council will cultivate and foster the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry in Massachusetts.
Organized by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and MDAR, Massachusetts Agriculture Day at the State House celebrates the agricultural industry and gathers farmers, producers, and commodity groups from across the Commonwealth to showcase the richness and diversity of Massachusetts grown products, allowing legislators and officials the opportunity to sample locally produced food and crops and learn more about important issues directly from farmers.
“This Ag Day we’re celebrating our farmers who work tirelessly throughout the year to grow and produce a diverse, healthy food supply to feed residents across Massachusetts. Last year, I witnessed the resilience of our farmers as they worked to recover from a series of devastating severe weather events,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration stands in support of the agricultural industry and will continue provide farms with resources to increase production and help reduce food insecurity.”
“Strong, flourishing farms contribute so much more than the food that they produce. They catalyze economic benefits that go beyond the agricultural sector,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “Providing direct funding to our farmers through these programs ensures our vibrant industry continues to produce the highest quality food. These grants demonstrate our commitment to the agricultural industry and goes a long way to ensuring this sector thrives.”
“These programs showcase our commitment to supporting our farmers at all stages in their businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Whether just starting out, taking the reins from a previous owner, or working to secure their continued longevity, our MDAR grant opportunities can enhance sustainability for farms.”
Agriculture Youth Council
MDAR selected 12 high school students to serve on the council. The group will meet monthly to discuss agricultural issues, hear from guest speakers from the agricultural industry, learn about the legislative process and workforce development opportunities attend special events and tours, and enhance their professional skills. The inaugural members of the Agricultural Youth Council are:
- Noorhan Al-Dulaimi - Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury High School)
- Tammy Anderson - Boston (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
- Susan Barrows - Upton (Nipmuc Regional High School)
- Amanda Cooper - Ipswich (Malden Catholic High School)
- Michaela Jardine-Yeats - Lunenburg (Lunenburg Middle & High School)
- Shayn Jones - New Bedford (Bristol County Agricultural High School)
- Colleen Kielbania - Ipswich (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)
- Miru Kunst - West Boylston (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
- Haley-Ann Lynch - Southwick (Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School)
- Brooke Macjewski - Grafton (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
- Ana Carolina Maloon - Salem (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)
- Carolinne Rodriguez - Beverly (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)
“Being a fifth-generation dairy farmer, I was fortunate to have mentors to teach, guide, and empower me. The creation of the Ag Youth Council will go further - in bringing together future Massachusetts agricultural leaders to nurture their skills so that the next generation will have the tools to succeed in this everchanging field,” said MDAR Commissioner Randle. “Our administration is committed to supporting beginning farmers and providing them with resources they’ll need to start and grow an agricultural business. Youth engagement and workforce development is necessary to the future of our state’s agriculture industry, and I look forward to working with this first class of students.”
Grant Funding
MDAR is awarding over $3 million in funding to 74 farms through the Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP), the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP), Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant (CBRG) Program, Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) Program, and Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs (SARA) Program. These programs will help to improve and strengthen their operations in the short and long term.
“On the Cape and Islands, our farmers and aquaculturists bolster our local economy and allow residents to access fresh and healthy food,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D – Cape and Islands). “I am thrilled that ten farms on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard will receive funding through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. These monies will ensure food safety, help renovate cranberry bogs, and support the vitality and vibrancy of our coastal agriculture industry.”
The Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP) funds equipment and projects to improve agricultural composting practices and facilitate the use of compost as a valuable soil amendment on farms. MDAR provides technical assistance to farms conducting agricultural composting and encourages farms to utilize compost as a soil amendment or manure management tool. The following are the Agricultural Composting Improvement Program grant recipients for FY2024:
| Farm Name | Site City | Project/Purchase | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breton Meadow Farm | Lincoln | Compost spreader | $5,562.00 |
| Dickson Farm | Princeton | Compost spreader | $7,410.00 |
| Fivefork Farm | Upton | In-vessel composting unit, site preparation, and compost spreader | $43,443.00 |
| Mt. Toby Farm | Becket | Windrow turner and compost spreader | $38,441.00 |
| Global Village at Tuckaway Farm | Grafton | Compost screening equipment and compost spreader | $16,502.00 |
| New Entry Sustainable Farming Project | Beverly | Windrow turner, windrow covers, and compost spreader | $40,636.00 |
| Skalbite Family Farm | Monson | Compost spreader | $10,424.00 |
The Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP) allows produce and aquaculture operations to address food safety on their farms. It enables the operations to meet buyer demands, increase local food consumption, and protect public health by reducing food safety risks. The following are the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program grant recipients (Round 1) for 2024:
| Farm Name | Site City | Project/Purchase | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lookout Farm, LLC | Natick | Plastic Apple Bins; Stainless Steel Packing Tables | $22,840.00 |
| Elliot Farm, LLC | Rochester | Harvest & Storage Bins | $11,262.00 |
| Blue Stream Shellfish, LLC | Fairhaven | Ice Machine; Refrigeration; Shed | $23,620.00 |
| Honeysuckle Oyster Farm | Edgartown | Oyster tumbler; Generator; Sump Pump | $15,147.00 |
| Atlas Farm, LLC | Deerfield | Rinse Conveyor | $19,773.00 |
| Natural Roots Farm | Conway | Washing & Packing Upgrades | $38,244.00 |
| Aquacultural Research Corporation | Dennis | Refrigerated Delivery Van | $50,000.00 |
| Husselton Head Oysters | Vineyard Haven | Oyster tumbler | $6,520.00 |
| Round Island Shellfish | Fairhaven | Insulated Vats | $2,744.00 |
| Orr's Farmstand | Westport | Washing, Packing, Storage Building w/Walk-In | $50,000.00 |
| Teddy C. Smiarowski III Farm | Hatfield | Harvest Bins | $50,000.00 |
| Red Fire Farm | Montague | Root Washing Equipment; Greens Packing Equipment | $42,855.00 |
| Copper Beech Farm, Inc. | Mattapoisett | Ice Machine; Insulated Vat | $7,417.00 |
| East Dennis Oyster Farm | Dennis | Ice Machine; Walk-In Condenser & Evaporator | $17,486.00 |
| Sweet Little Farm | Amherst | Walk-in Cooler | $11,877.00 |
The following are the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program grant recipients (Round 2) for 2024:
| Farm Name | Project/Purchase | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Brox Farm, LLC – Dracut | Washing Station | $39,000.00 |
| C A Dowse & Son, Inc. – Sherborn | Stainless Steel hydro-feeder for apples | $32,000.00 |
| Cape Harvest Oysters - Marstons Mills | Oyster Tumbler | $3,500.00 |
| Clarks Island Oyster, LLC – Plymouth | Oyster Tumbler; Roof Cover | $37,215.00 |
| Fay Mountain Farm – Charlton | Walk-in Cooler | $30,000.00 |
| J&J Farms – Amherst | Wash Line; Bins | $18,000.00 |
| Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm – Lincoln | Harvest Bins; Pallets; Fencing | $11,000.00 |
| Sobieski's River Valley Farm – Whatley | Walk-In; Packing Facility Upgrades | $41,000.00 |
| The Neighborhood Farm, LLC – Westport | Well for Greenhouses | $14,000.00 |
| Twenty Acre Farm & Greenhouses – Hadley | Walk-In; Wash Line; Bins; Tables | $44,000.00 |
| Waynes Hayes Seafood – Hyannis | Automated Oyster Grading Machine | $50,000.00 |
| World Farmers Inc. dba Flats Mentor Farm – Lancaster | Washing Stations | $48,000.00 |
The Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant Program provides reimbursement to cranberry operations that implement projects that improve both bog design and production while preventing, reducing, or eliminating negative environmental impacts that may occur from cranberry production. By funding these projects, the program enhances the cranberry industry's overall financial and environmental sustainability. The following are the Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant Program recipients for FY24:
| Cranberry Operation | Renovation | City | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Holt Cranberry Co., Inc. | Bog Renovation on 11 Acres | Wareham | $125,000.00 |
| Beaton's, Inc. | Bog Renovation on 2.29 Acres | Rochester | $57,250.00 |
| WM Couto Cranberry | Bog Renovation on 2.5 Acres | Berkley | $54,869.00 |
| State Rd Lot 52-44-57 Realty Nominee Trust | Bog Renovation on 3 Acres | Plymouth | $75,000.00 |
| Fresh Meadow Farm | Bog Renovation on 2.9 Acres | Carver | $72,500.00 |
| Johnson Cranberries, LLC | Bog Renovation on 5 Acres | Middleboro | $125,000.00 |
| Mills River Cranberry Corporation | Bog Renovation on 3 Acres | Marstons Mills | $65,284.00 |
| Meadow Street | Bog Renovation on 5 Acres | Carver | $97,088.00 |
| Rocky Maple Bogs | Bog Renovation on 5 Acres | Wareham | $125,000.00 |
| Miller Cranberry Co., Inc. | Bog Renovation on 5.18 | Kingston | $78,670.00 |
| WJM Cranberries | Bog Renovation on 1.7 Acres | Middleboro | $42,500.00 |
| Red Eye Cranberry, Inc. | Bog Renovation on 3.2 Acres | Middleboro | $64,562.00 |
| H.M. Riggle | Bog Renovation on 3 Acres | Rochester | $75,000.00 |
| Cape Cod Cranberry Realty Trust | Bog Renovation on 2 Acres | W. Barnstable | $49,500.00 |
| Ross Cranberry, LLC | Bog Renovation on 2 Acres | E. Sandwich | $42,750.00 |
| Sleepy Hollow Cranberries | Bog Renovation on 7 Acres | Rochester | $99,857.00 |
| S K Wainio Bogs, Inc. | Bog Renovation on 3.25 Acres | Carver | $81,250.00 |
| Highland Cranberry Company, Inc. | Bog Renovation on 3 Acres | Lakeville | $75,000.00 |
| SRD Real Estate, LLC | Bog Renovation on 1.43 Acres | Carver | $35,750.00 |
| Eric & Elaine Weston | Bog Renovation on 5.75 Acres | Carver | $125,000.00 |
| Weston Cranberry Corp. | Bog Renovation on 4.77 Acres | Carver | $119,250.00 |
| Wilson Cranberry, LLC | Bog Renovation on 6 Acres | Rochester | $63,920.00 |
The Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture Program assists beginning farmers who have been in business for between 1 and 10 years by providing technical assistance (including a mentorship option) and business planning assistance. Grant funds of up to $30,000 may be available on a 1:1 matching cost reimbursement basis to assist farmers whose goal is to raise agricultural products and who are developing their farms into commercially viable operations. Funds are typically used for equipment, infrastructure, or other capital improvements to implement strategies identified during the planning process that will help their business grow. The following are the Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture recipients for 2024:
| Farm Name | Site City | Project/Purchase | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husselton Head Oysters | Tisbury | Insulated cooler for transporting oysters | $10,000.00 |
| Blue Stem Natives | Norwell | Pot-filling machine and forklift | $10,000.00 |
| Sibling Organic Crops | Lakeville | Tractor | $10,000.00 |
| Rattleroot Farm | Princeton | Tractor and installation of roll-up sides | $10,000.00 |
| Mills River Cranberry Co. | Marstons Mills | Mowing equipment, water pump, tractor implements, and dump trailer | $30,000.00 |
| Cottage City Oysters | Vineyard Haven | Outboard motor for existing work boat | $20,000.00 |
| Sage Farm | Bernardston | Walk-in freezer and barn renovation for storing and distributing frozen pork products | $20,000.00 |
| Revival Farm | Plympton | Bulk grain feeders, grain auger, mobile livestock shelters, water trailer, and tractor | $20,000.00 |
The Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs Program helps restore active commercial farming on land that has protected through the Department’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Funds may be used for materials, contracted labor, or equipment rental costs to clear or reclaim inactive fields that are out of production at no fault of the current owner. Grant funds of up to $35,000 are available on a cost reimbursement basis with a 15% match of total project costs required by the awardee. The following are the Stewardship Assistance on APRs grant recipients for 2024:
| Farm Name | Site City | Project | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dick’s Market Garden | Lunenburg | Clean-up of debris and trash from previous operation, restoration of road access onto property, and removal of invasive plants to restore vegetable production | $35,000.00 |
| Hillside Farm | South Deerfield | Clearing of backfield edges of invasive growth, repairing a culvert for rear field access, and restoration of erosion areas | $35,000.00 |
| JDF Enterprises LLC | Spencer | Reestablishment of farm road along field edge to decrease erosion and farmland reclamation by clearing field edges of invasive plants | $35,000.00 |
| Kosinski Farms | Westfield | Soil restoration and repairing of ditches to address erosion and bring land back into production | $13,183.50 |
| Lilac Hedge Farm LLC | Holden | Clearing of field edges and overgrown hedgerows to return crop fields to production by planting hay in order to feed livestock | $34,000.00 |
| Slocum King Farm Inc. | South Dartmouth | Clearing of field edges of invasive plants, repairing of rock walls used with electric fencing as part of grazing system for small herd of beef cattle | $20,102.50 |
| Samantha & Hale Staebner | Oxford | Restoration of inactive land by removing invasive plants on field edges and overgrown rockpiles within pastures | $30,302.50 |
| The Lewis Family Farm | Westport | Clearing of field edges and overgrown hedgerows to return underutilized land to fully productive pasture for beef herd | $35,000.00 |
| Upswing Farm LLC | Pepperell | Clearing of field edges of invasive plants to return areas of inactive land into production for their organic vegetable operation | $29,750.00 |
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Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Massachusetts Agriculture Day with over $3 Million in Grants to Support Farmers
