Under Public Act 26-75, the Department of Agriculture has established the Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group to develop long-term recommendations for supporting Connecticut’s dairy industry. These recommendations will address areas including reimbursable tax credits, potential use of Community Investment Act resources, instate processing capacity, and property tax considerations.

The working group includes representatives from state agencies, dairy cooperatives, independent producers, and agricultural organizations. The group held its first meeting on Friday, June 26, and will continue meeting through the end of 2026. A final report will be submitted to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027.

CT DoAg Advances $11.8 Million in Rapid Relief Dairy Payments
Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group Begins Long-Term Industry Planning

6/30/2026

HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) announces that it has processed more than $11.8 million in Dairy Stabilization Payments to 64 dairy farms across the state. This funding is part of the $22.5 million authorized by Governor Ned Lamont from the state’s Federal Cuts Response Fund to provide immediate relief to dairy farmers. Another $3 million is planned for distribution in October, and the new Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group convened on June 26 to shape long-term recommendations.

Delivery of Dairy Stabilization Payments

Within three days of receiving the funds participation notices were sent to all licensed Connecticut cow dairy farms. To date, CT DoAg has processed $11,814,795 in Dairy Stabilization Payments to 64 dairy farms as part of the June payment cycle. Direct outreach continues to the remaining 11 farms to confirm whether they choose to opt-in or opt-out of the program.

The processed payments represent more than 98 percent of the state’s total milk production. Payments were calculated at the equivalent of $5.5415 per hundredweight, based on each farm’s average monthly production over the past six months.

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“Connecticut’s dairy producers play an indispensable role in our food system, and this relief provides essential support during a challenging period for the industry,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “I appreciate the hard work and close coordination across state agencies that allowed us to distribute these funds so swiftly. The collaboration over the past several weeks demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together on behalf of the state’s farmers.”

An additional $3 million distribution is planned for October. The remaining $7.5 million of the $22.5 million allocation will be considered as part of long-term planning efforts.

Working Group Established

Under Public Act 26-75, the Department of Agriculture has established the Dairy Farming Sustainability Working Group to develop long-term recommendations for supporting Connecticut’s dairy industry. These recommendations will address areas including reimbursable tax credits, potential use of Community Investment Act resources, instate processing capacity, and property tax considerations.

The working group includes representatives from state agencies, dairy cooperatives, independent producers, and agricultural organizations. The group held its first meeting on Friday, June 26, and will continue meeting through the end of 2026. A final report will be submitted to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state’s citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state’s economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.