Regional Agriculture Farm Viability Study

The Western Connecticut Region was once dominated by agriculture, but over the last 75 years, suburban development has resulted in the loss of many farms and decreased the availability and increased the cost of land for new farms, especially large parcels whose soil and topography are suitable for the types of farming that once defined the region.
The Regional Agriculture Farm Viability Study was conducted to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing current and future farmers in Western Connecticut, reviewed regulatory barriers to the expansion of agriculture, and provides recommendations for WestCOG and its’ local governments to support, expand, and establish farming practices in the Region.
This project is funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Farm Viability Grant established by the Community Investment Act (C.G.S. Sec. 22-26j).