Berkshire County — On Tuesday, December 17, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $3.6 million in more than 100 grant awards through several programs, including the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP), the Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP), the Cranberry Bog Renovation (CBRG) Program, and the Climate Smart Agriculture Program (CSAP). These grants, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), provide funding to local farmers.
The funding supports farmers in meeting strict food-safety standards; improving soil health and management through composting; sustaining cranberry growing operations; and adapting to changing climate conditions. It also enhances farmers’ contributions to the state’s carbon-reduction and climate change mitigation goals. “Our farmers face countless challenges, so it’s critical that we support them with the resources they need to succeed,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “These four programs help ensure a safe, local food supply, grown by dedicated farmers who prioritize sustainability, providing us all with healthy, responsibly-produced food.”
“From the Berkshires to Barnstable County, our farms are significant economic drivers and the backbone of our local food system. Their success benefits us all,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “Programs like these help improve and strengthen Massachusetts farms in the short and long term.”
ACIP funds equipment and projects to improve agricultural composting practices and facilitate the use of compost as a valuable soil amendment on farms. MDAR also provides technical assistance to farms conducting agricultural composting and encourages farms to utilize compost as a soil amendment or manure management tool.
Berkshire County ACIP awardees:
- Baldwin Farm in West Stockbridge — $21,874.50 for a compost screener
- High Lawn Farm in Lee — $28,200 for a compost spreader
CSAP incentivizes voluntary adoption of conservation, soil health, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate-smart agricultural practices. The funding allows agricultural operations to accomplish climate-mitigation solutions and ensure economic resiliency as they adapt to a changing climate. The program is broken into two categories: Environmental and Energy. Projects include high tunnels to allow farmers to extend the growing season for their crops, equipment to facilitate no-till planting that helps preserve soil carbon, photovoltaic arrays to allow for on-farm renewable energy generation, and reverse osmosis machines to help maple syrup producers significantly reduce energy consumption.
Berkshire County CSAP awardees:
- Fairfield’s Dairy Farm in Williamstown — $50,000 for high efficiency fans
- Bonnie Lea Farm in Williamstown — $50,000 for a ground mounted photovoltaic system
- William J. Gould Associates in Monterey — $32,800 for heating and cooling upgrades
