Section 22-6c - Reimbursement or payments in advance of comprehensive farm nutrient management plan, farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan or farm resources management plan(a)(1) The Commissioner of Agriculture may pay, not more than fifty per cent of the cost, in advance, or reimburse, any farmer for part of the cost to implement and comply with a comprehensive farm nutrient management plan, farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan or a farm resources management plan, including, within available appropriations, for the cost of farm equipment purchases. The Commissioner of Agriculture may approve for such payment or reimbursement comprehensive farm nutrient management or farm resources management plan practices that have been approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. The total state grant available to a farmer pursuant to this subdivision shall not be more than ninety per cent of such cost.(2) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Agriculture may pay, not more than fifty per cent of the cost, in advance, or reimburse, any farmer the cost to develop a farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan. Such plan may require agricultural restoration purposes and climate-smart agricultural and forestry practices, as such terms are defined in section 22-6d. The total state grant available to a farmer pursuant to this subdivision shall not be more than ninety per cent of such cost.(b) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Agriculture may pay, not more than fifty per cent of the cost, in advance, or reimburse, any nonprofit organization, soil and water conservation district, The University of Connecticut Extension Services or any municipality the cost to: (1) Provide technical assistance,(2) distribute grant funding to producers,(3) coordinate training programs,(4) coordinate projects that pilot or demonstrate conservation practices,(5) create tools that help reduce barriers to accessing assistance for conservation practices on farms,(6) establish equipment-sharing programs, or(7) other activities that will increase the number of farmers who are implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices. The total state grant available pursuant to this subsection shall not be more than ninety per cent of such cost.(c) For purposes of this section, "farmer" includes, but is not limited to, any lessee or franchise holder of a state or town shellfish bed and "farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan" means a conservation plan of the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, a conservation plan of a soil and water conservation district established pursuant to section 22a-315 or a conservation plan approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture. "Farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan" includes agricultural restoration purposes, as defined in section 22-6d, and conservation and restoration plans for leased or franchised shellfish beds.(P.A. 74-258, S. 1, 3; P.A. 75-335, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-266, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-305, S. 28, 32; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 , S. 8 , 203 ; P.A. 97-234 , S. 1 ; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146 (e); P.A. 04-65 , S. 1 ; 04-189 , S. 1 ; P.A. 11-80 , S. 1 ; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 11-1 , S. 14 ; P.A. 15-22 , S. 1 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 , S. 121 .)
Amended by P.A. 23-0184,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.Amended by P.A. 22-0118, S. 145 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2022.Amended by P.A. 15-0005, S. 121 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Special Session, eff. 10/1/2015.Amended by P.A. 15-0022, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2015.Amended by P.A. 11-0001, S. 14 of the 2011 October Special Session, eff. 10/27/2011.