Linda Piotrowicz, EditorWednesday , January 29, 2014Connecticut Department of AgricultureDannel P. Malloy, GovernorSteven K. Reviczky, Commission erCONNECTICUT WEEKLY Agrivolution, GrotonThere shall be a regular session of the General Assembly on the . . . Wednesday following the first Monday of February in the even -numbered years, and at such other times as the general assembly shall judge necessary . . . All regular and speci al sessions of the General A ssembly sha ll be held at Hartford . . . The General Assembly shall adjourn each regular session . . . in the even-numbered years not later than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in May . . . In the even-year session the General Assembly shall consider no business other than budgetary, revenue and financial matters, bills and resolutions raised by committees of the General Assembly and those matters certified in writing by the Speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate to be of an emergency nature.--Connecticut General Assembly Session Scheduling RulesThe next session of the Connecticut General Assembly com- mences on Wednesday Febru- ary 5, 2014, and promises to be exciting as usual.While it may seem over- whelming to those unfamiliar with it, there really is nothing scary or mysterious about Con- necticut’s legislative process. The General Assembly operates in an extraordinarily transparent manner and pro- vides citizens with some useful tools to follow along from home or the farm throughout the en- tire session. First is an information- packed website that serves as a convenient, readily accessi- ble window on activities at the Capitol. From www.CT.gov,click on “Legislative” from the menu (or go directly to www.cga.ct.govif you prefer) and a plethora of choices await. The Citizen Guideis a great pl ace to start. It provides a weal th of general information about the Capitol, House of Representatives, Senate, and the legislative process. The Legislative Referenceslink offers glossaries of abbreviations and acronyms as well as terms and definitions that make following the process easier. Then identify your specific legislators and find out how to contact them through the Houseand Senatelinks. The Session Informationlink takes you to more useful tools, in- cluding daily bulletins that enable you to determine events happening at the Capitol during the week. You can even sign up through the Bill Trackinglink to receive notice when the proposals you care about most move through the process. Another excellent resource is the Connecticut Network(CT-N). It provides access to unbiased information about state government deliberations and public policy events through its noncommer- cial television and webcast coverage. Managed and operated by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network,a not-for-profit compa- ny committed to strengthening civic engagement in the Consti- tution State, CT-N television is available on basic or expanded basic cable in most areas. (It is working toward full statewide availability.) It also offers both live and on- demand video coverage of Capi- tol and related events through its website, www.CT-N.com.(continued on Page 3) THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS FEBRUARY 5George E. Krivda, Jr., Legislative Program Manager, Office of the CommissionerThe Connecticut General Assembly’s website, www.cga.ct.gov, offers a wealth of tools to follow along with the legislative session from home or the farm.
Dannel P. Malloy, Governor Steven K. Reviczky, Commissioner
C O N N E C T I C U T W E E K L Y
Agrivolution, Groton
There shall be a regular session of the General Assembly on
the . . . Wednesday following the first Monday of February in the even
-numbered years, and at such other times as the general assembly
shall judge necessary . . .
All regular and special sessions of the General Assembly shall
be held at Hartford . . .
The General Assembly shall adjourn each regular session . . . in
the even-numbered years not later than the first Wednesday after the
first Monday in May . . .
In the even-year session the General Assembly shall consider no
business other than budgetary, revenue and financial matters, bills
and resolutions raised by committees of the General Assembly and
those matters certified in writing by the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate to be of an
emergency nature.
--Connecticut General Assembly Session Scheduling Rules
The next session of the Connecticut General Assembly com-mences on Wednesday Febru-ary 5, 2014, and promises tobe exciting as usual.
While it may seem over-
whelming to those unfamiliarwith it, there really is nothing
scary or mysterious about Con-necticut’s legislative process.
The General Assemblyoperates in an extraordinarilyransparent manner and pro-vides citizens with some usefulools to follow along from homeor the farm throughout the en-ire session.
First is an information-
packed website that serves asa convenient, readily accessi-ble window on activities at theCapitol.
From www.CT.gov, click on “Legislative” from the menu (or go
directly to www.cga.ct.gov if you prefer) and a plethora of choices
await.
The Citizen Guide is a great place to start. It provides a weal
of general information about the Capitol, House of Representative
Senate, and the legislative process.
The Legislative References link offers glossaries of abbreviat
and acronyms as well as terms and definitions that make following
the process easier. Then identify your specific legislators and find
out how to contact them through the House and Senate links.The Session Information link takes you to more useful tools, in
cluding daily bulletins that enable you to determine events happen
at the Capitol during the week. You can even sign up through the
Tracking link to receive notice when the proposals you care about
most move through the process.
Another excellent resource is the Connecticut Network (CT-N
It provides access to unbiased information about state governmen
deliberations and public polic
events through its noncomme
cial television and webcast
coverage.
Managed and operated
the Connecticut Public Affairs
Network, a not-for
-profit comp
ny committed to strengthenin
civic engagement in the Cons
tution State, CT-N television i
available on basic or expande
basic cable in most areas. (It
working toward full statewide
availability.)
It also offers both live and
demand video coverage of C
tol and related events through
website, www.CT-N.com.
(continued on Page 3)
THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS FEBRUARY 5
George E. Krivda, Jr., Legislative Program Manager, Office of the Commissioner
The Connecticut General Assembly’s website, www.cga.ct.gov, offers a wealth of tools to follow along with the legislative session from home or the farm.
C o n n e c t i c u t W e e k l y A g r i c u l t u r a l R e p o r t 4
VOL. XCIV
No. 4
January 29, 2014
Advertising Rates: Fifteen or fewer words: $3.75 per insertioMore than 15 words: 25 cents per word per insertion. (Initial let-ters, hyphenated words, phone numbers, and addresses arecounted separately.) Print or type copy. Advertisements accepteon a first-come, first-served basis; publication on a specific date
cannot be guaranteed. Ads with payment must be received bynoon the Friday before a publicationdate to be considered for insertion inthat issue. Only ads of an agriculturalnature with a Connecticut phone num-ber will be accepted. Remittance withcopy required. Make check or moneyorder payable to the ConnecticutDepartment of Agriculture.
The Connecticut Week Agricultural Report (ISS1059-8723, USPS 129-3is published weekly by Connecticut Departmen Agriculture, 165 Capit
Ave., Hartford, CT 061except for the weeks o
Thanksgiving and Chrimas, two other weeks
each year, and when tGovernor closes state
offices. Print subscriptiare $40.00 for two yea
Periodicals postage paidHartford, CT.
POSTMASTER: Senaddress changes to th
Connecticut Departmen Agriculture, 165 Capit
Ave., Hartford, CT 061
Print subscriptionsexpire Dec. 31, 2015
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE
165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
www.CTGrown.gov www.CT.gov/doag
860-713-2500
Commissioner
Steven K. Reviczky
860-713-2501
Marketing Joseph Dippel
860-713-2503
Regional Market Joseph Dippel
860-566-3699
State Veterinarian Dr. Mary J. Lis
860-713-2505
Regulation & Inspection Dr. Bruce Sherman
860-713-2504
Farmland Preservation 860-713-2511
Aquaculture David Carey
203-874-2855
THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS FEBRUARY 5
(continued from Page 3)
The present seed law has become difficult to administer as theerminology, technology, and science have all changed significantlysince 1963. Some examples:
The current law’s lack of distinction between cool-season andwarm-season grasses makes it difficult for companies supplying
turf -type products to comply with its requirements.
Companies supplying seed for native restoration of natural eco-systems are at a significant disadvantage because the existinglaw’s required germination testing shows their seed to have verylow germination rates. This discourages potential buyers eventhough it is normal for native grass species to take three or moreyears to germinate.
Current technology makes it is possible to label packages withactual seed counts, which is much more useful information forthe consumer than seed weight, but the present law still requiresnet weight.
The present law does not allow additional scientifically proventechniques to be used in germination testing.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has received con-sumer complaints about flower seed packets that have failed toproduce any live plants. Flowers, however, are not covered inthe present Connecticut Seed Law.
Consumers could benefit from tree and tree seed labels that in-clude species-specific information about location, elevation, soiltype, and climate suitability.
AAC TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE FARMLAND RESTORATIPROGRAM (Statutory References: Secs. 22-6c and 22-6d)
The Farmland Restoration Program came into existence at thdirection of Governor Malloy to reclaim farmland that has gone ouproduction due to encroachment by invasive plants and overgrownconditions.
Changes to Section 22-6c of the Connecticut General Statute
explicitly define “farmland restoration plan,” elaborate on what treaments are reimbursable, increase the maximum reimbursement o
state and municipal lands to 90% (up to a maximum of $20,000.00and allow for monetary and in-kind services for the farmer’s contrition.
Changes to Section 22-6d will allow broader reimbursement ffencing under the definition of “agricultural restoration purposes.”
These changes will strengthen the program and assist in brinmore land back into production.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture encourages all Conecticut farmers to learn more about, follow along with, and get in-volved in the state’s legislative process. Follow the proposals andconsider attending public hearings on issues that matter to you moLearn how to contact your legislators and/or submit testimony rega
ing proposals that directly affect your farming operation. Participais easy and rewarding once you know how.
Questions about the agency’s legislative proposals and progr
or about the legislative process in general, are always welcome.Please feel free to call the Office of the Commissioner at 860-7132501 for assistance.
