Five projects were selected to receive funding
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
In an effort to support and improve its agricultural industry and the farmers who provide the crops and livestock, five farms in Massachusetts will split $400,000 in grants to be used towards improving infrastructure.
State legislators believe the grants will support different sectors in Massachusetts because they will put more people to work.
“These agricultural investments help create jobs and make Massachusetts’ farms more competitive in the national and global marketplace,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is committed to supporting Massachusetts’ vibrant agriculture industry, which provides fresh, healthy food for the Commonwealth’s residents.”
The grants will be distributed among five farms in Adams, Hatfield, Westborough, Sunderland and Westport counties. Each farm, under the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, is permanently protected from development.
With agriculture being an ever-changing landscape with the introduction of new technology and practices, the investments could help farmers be on the cutting edge of agricultural infrastructure.
“Reinvesting in these farms has enabled these businesses to keep up with the changing dynamics of modern agriculture and demands of today’s consumers,” said Department of Agriculture Commissioner John Lebeaux.
Rob Russell, owner of Westport Rivers Winery, one of the farms scheduled to receive a share of the funding, said the investment will support the winery’s production for years to come.
“We will be using these funds to contribute to the construction of our own grapevine grafting facility,” he said. “This facility will give us the luxury of a consistent supply of quality replacement vines, surely a great help mastering our next 30 years.”
A report by Farm Credit East in 2012 provided stats about Massachusetts agriculture, including:
- 7,700 farms spread out over 520,000 acres created 68,110 jobs
- Agriculture is responsible for $13 billion in output - $5.5 billion of which stays within the community
- The state produces 2.3 million barrels of cranberries – second only to Wisconsin