Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant

Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant is sponsored by Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program provides financial assistance to Connecticut agricultural producers impacted by eligible weather events in 2023 and 2024. It covers crop production loss, infrastructure loss, and future economic loss for perennial crops.

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General Program Questions What is the Connecticut Farm Recovery & Support Block Grant Program? It is a financial assistance program administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to compensate Connecticut producers for documented crop, infrastructure, and future economic losses resulting from eligible weather events in 2023 and/or 2024.

The program is authorized under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division B of the American Relief Act, 2025; P. L. 118-158).

Who is administering the program? CT DoAg administers the program using federal funds provided through USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). Is this a grant or a loan?

Do I have to pay it back? This is a grant program, not a loan. Payments to eligible producers do not need to be repaid, provided the information certified in your application is accurate and you comply with program requirements.

Payments determined to be based on false statements, or that result in a duplication of benefits, may be subject to recovery. What types of assistance are available? There are three loss categories: Crop Production Loss – for eligible crop revenue losses.

Infrastructure Loss – for damage to eligible agricultural structures and farm infrastructure. Future Economic Loss – for perennial crop losses that reduce production over multiple years while crops are replanted and reach maturity. What weather events and years are covered?

The program covers adverse weather events in 2023 or 2024 that CT DoAg, in its sole discretion, determines warrant relief—including storms, frost and freeze events, hail, drought, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall or flooding. Coverage is not limited to federally declared disasters; localized events may also qualify. The specific event is certified by the producer in their application.

What commodities are eligible—and what is excluded? Eligible commodities broadly include crops grown for food, fiber, feed, or fuel, as well as aquaculture, nursery stock, orchard and maple trees, Christmas trees, and perennial fruit crops. The following are excluded: livestock, honeybees, timber (currently), crops grown solely for grazing, and cannabis that does not meet the definition of hemp.

Who qualifies as an Eligible Producer? An Eligible Producer is an individual or legal entity that suffered an eligible loss in Connecticut as a direct result of an eligible weather event in 2023 and/or 2024, and who held an ownership share and production risk in the eligible crop, livestock, or poultry.

Producers must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, a partnership or corporation composed solely of citizens/resident aliens, or an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization. The operation must also meet the definition of an Eligible Farm—a place that produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more in agricultural products during the year. I didn't respond to the earlier CT DoAg loss survey.

Can I still apply? Yes. Eligibility is based on meeting the program's producer, loss, and documentation requirements.

Participation in any prior loss survey is not an eligibility condition. What is the minimum loss threshold to apply? Minimum Loss Threshold: Each program category carries a $500 minimum loss threshold.

A producer must have experienced at least $500 in eligible losses within a category to apply for assistance under that category. Can I apply if I already received insurance or other disaster assistance? Yes.

However, to prevent a duplication of benefits, your payment will be reduced by amounts already received to compensate for the same loss—including federal crop insurance, private insurance, and other state or federal recovery program payments. Are there payment limits? Yes.

For each program category, per eligible year, payments are limited to the lesser of 95% of your eligible loss or $1,000,000. Application and Documentation Questions How do I apply, and when does the portal open? Applications will be submitted through a dedicated online portal, which is currently being finalized.

The portal is expected to open in rounds, with the first round anticipated in early fall 2026. Please monitor this website and the program email inbox for the official opening announcement. What documents will I need?

Regardless of category, applicants should be prepared to provide: CT Certificate of Legal Existence FSA Farm Number, if applicable Tax Parcel ID and physical address for each associated property IRS Schedule F (Form 1040), or other documentation approved by CT DoAg, for applicable years Additional category-specific documentation (e.g., revenue records, repair invoices, photographs, replanting records) may be required depending on the loss type.

Do I submit one application or one per loss type? You submit one application per operation (per EIN or SSN, as applicable), which is expected to include all eligible losses associated with that operation across all applicable categories. Will I need to certify my information, and how long should I keep records?

Yes. Applicants must certify that all statements are true and correct, and false statements may carry civil and/or criminal liability. Producers are also required to retain relevant financial and program records for at least three years after program funds are distributed.

What can I do now to prepare? While the portal is being finalized, review the program categories to determine which may apply to your operation, begin gathering loss records and documentation, monitor this website for updates, and submit any questions to the program email inbox. How are payments calculated?

Payments are based on documented losses and established program methodologies that vary by category. A program factor of up to 95% is applied to eligible losses. Will this payment affect my taxes?

Program payments may be considered taxable income, and CT DoAg is required to report funds distributed under this program as required by the IRS. Producers are encouraged to consult a tax professional regarding their individual circumstances. When will payments be issued?

Payments (typically via ACH) are expected within 30 days following CT DoAg Commissioner approval of each application round. Additional Program Questions What if my loss doesn't fit the current categories (e.g., timber or land restoration)? The current program covers crop, infrastructure, and future economic losses.

CT DoAg may open additional categories—such as timber or bare-ground practices—later if there is sufficient demonstrated interest, subject to USDA approval. A survey during the application process will help gauge that need.