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As part of this collaboration, I recently joined Rep. Davis and Berkshire Bounty's Jenny Schwartz at the Massachusetts State House to testify in support of this new bill. We emphasized that even a modest shift in institutional purchases could mean millions of dollars for local farmers, fresher meals for kids and patients, and stronger rural economies.
๏ปฟFrom BAV's work with farmers, policymakers, and nonprofit allies in Connecticut and New York, we know that these states, and others, are already reaping the rewards of strong farm-to-institution and farm-to-school programs. It would be great to see Massachusetts learn from the policy and practices of neighboring states and catch up!
H.4106 isn't the only farm and food bill currently before the legislature that deserves support. S.55 and H.112, the Agricultural Resilience bills, would integrate agriculture into emergency planning, create a statewide food system coordinator, and expand access to local food through state assistance programs. These bills would also codify the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program and establish a Next Generation Farmers Fund to support farm viability, training, and workforce development.
A fourth bill, S.311, the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, would create grants and incentives to help Kโ12 schools and childcare programs purchase local food, upgrade kitchen equipment, and provide food literacy education.
Together, this package of legislation could be transformative for local farmers, community health, climate resilience, and local economies. If you're a Massachusetts resident, we encourage you to speak up for these bills in your communities and reach out to your state elected officials to urge their support.
Thank you for reading, and all of us at BAV wish you a great fall!
Best,
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Jake Levin
Local Food Systems Program Manager
| | FOR FARMERS: OCTOBER GRAZING WORKSHOPS | |
Monday, October 13, 8:30am-4:30pm
Water Infrastructure for Grazing Operations
>>Register HERE!
๏ปฟJoin BAV and the team at Sky High Farm to learn more about water infrastructure for year-round grazing operations. Features a tour of Sky High Farm's frost-free water infrastructure accompanied by in-depth presentations from grazing expert Russ Wilson from Wilson Land & Cattle Company, who consulted on the project. ($25 per attendee)
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Saturday, October 18, 8:30am-4:30pm
Grazing Nutrition
>>Register HERE!
BAV is hosting nationally known expert Woody Lane for a presentation on pasture management, sheep and beef cattle nutrition, and grazing at Kinderhook Farm. For more than 20 years, Woody has taught dozens of practical courses on forage management and livestock nutrition across North America, and will join us in the Berkshire-Taconic region for a deep dive on managing animal nutrition in grazing systems. ($25 per attendee)
| FARMER GATHERING AT THE STISSING CENTER! | |
Monday, October 13, 5-7pm
Farmer Gathering
Free, but registration strongly encouraged
>>Register HERE!
Open to ALL area farmers - an October gathering at the beautiful Stissing Center in Pine Plains, NY. Join other local farmers to reconnect after a busy growing season. Light refreshments available for free; cash bar hosted by the Stissing Center.
| | RECENT EVENTS: RECAPS & HIGHLIGHTS | | ๐ Fodder: Stories from the Fields | | |
Funny, poignant, inspiring, beautiful, real. If you were with us at Greenagers last month, you already know the storytelling magic that was FODDER: Stories from the Fields. If you weren't able to attend, you can watch the video here!
๏ปฟFor us, this storytelling event brought into focus not just the challenges and rewards of farming, but the beauty of our shared humanity. Thanks to our wonderful partners - BRIDGE, Greenagers, Berkshire Grown, and Farmsteads for Farmers - for the honor of co-presenting this event with you! Thanks also to Sheela Clary for her graceful emceeing and storyteller coaching - and to our communities for joining us. Most of all, thanks to the storytellers: Delinx Cherami, Nick Puas, Dicken Crane, Amanda Freund, Monti Lawson, Paul Paisley, Ana Quizphi, Susan Sellew, Maeve Wilber, and Stephanie and Arthur Wright!
| | ๐ Local Meat Processing: Recent Research and Future Directions | |
About 60 partners, processors, farmers, and policymakers from across our region gathered in-person and over Zoom earlier this week to discuss findings and next steps from BAV's multi-year effort to strengthen regional meat processing capacity. The briefing - viewable here - highlighted BAVโs leadership in convening this work and shared the tangible outcomes achieved through our Local Meat Processing Support Program. These outcomes include more than $5 million in grant funding secured for processors, $400K in loans deployed, and a 40% increase in USDA-inspected capacity in the region.
Check out coverage from WAMC here!
Huge thanks to Kat Chang of Reed Farm in Sunderland, MA, for sharing her perspectives and experience as a farmer-processor - currently state certified and poised for USDA Grant of Inspection - and to Anna Houston of Off the Shelf Farm in Great Barrington, MA, for sharing her thoughts (via this video) on the challenges related to local meat processing and how BAV has been able to support her farm.
Thanks also to MA State Sen. Paul Mark for his remarks, and to MA Commissioner of Agriculture Ashley Randle for her reflections on the importance of strengthening local meat processing. And thanks to the 1Berkshire team for the use of their space and their partnership and support over the past four years of this work! BAV is grateful to all who attended and expressed interest in moving local meat processing forward in our region.
| | ๐ฑ Farming in a Changing Environment | | |
BAV was pleased to partner with The Farmer's Table and the Northwest Connecticut Land Trust for a Climate Week event last month that shared local farmers' perspectives on regional challenges and potential solutions. BAV Climate Smart Agriculture Program Manager Ben Crockett teed up the conversation, with a panel of local farmers and remarks by CT Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt. The event was held at the beautiful De Hoek Farm in New Milford, CT, co-owned by Margery Feldberg. Thanks to all who came out to learn from our farmers - Kelley Babbin of Howling Flats Farm, Paul Bucciaglia of Fort Hill Farm, and James Shepherd of Smokedown Farm.
| | COMING IN NOVEMBER: NUT FEST 2025! | | BAV is delighted to be collaborating with a range of great partners to present Nut Fest, a celebratory showcase of the resilience and diversity of local Northeastern nuts! See details below and on the Nut Fest website. | | FARMER EVENTS & RESOURCES | | |
Workshops/Events
See also BAV workshops/events highlighted above.
Saturday, October 18, 9am-3pm
Join the New York Nut Growers Association for their 2025 Fall Meeting at Ramble On, 3383 Colegrove Rd, Trumansburg, NY. $20/member, $25/nonmember. Learn more and register here.
Saturday, November 1, 10am-noon
AgCom Roundtable, Berkshire County, MA. Gathering of local agricultural commission members, farmers, and representatives of farm resource organizations. Held at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA. Sign up here.
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Resources/Opportunities
Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Program. Provides funds to farmers to explore innovative concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations, or other research and education techniques. Application deadline is December 9. View the call for proposals here.
Brighter Future Fundโs New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grants. Provides funds to livestock farmers in select counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut to support field-based conservation practice projects that improve soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat. Applicants can request up to $10,000 under this funding opportunity. Application deadline is October 24. Learn more and apply here.
Climate Smart Adaptation Strategies for Beginning Farmers. UConn Extension's Solid Ground Program is offering an online course to help beginning farmers understand the best practices for your farm in a changing climate. Farmers who participate in the training are then eligible to apply for Climate Smart Microgrants for the purchase of equipment/inputs that cost up to $2,400 for implementing climate smart farming practices. Learn more here.
The ADAPT Project recently launched The New England Agroforester quarterly newsletter to share region-wide updates on agroforestry research, practices, events, trainings, funding, and more.
Food and beverage establishments and organizations across New England are invited to participate in the 2025 Local Food Count, a regional effort to measure how much local food they buy and sell within the six state region. Stay tuned for details about the importance of this effort and how local food businesses can participate!
| | We ALL have a stake in local agriculture. Farmers need our support more than ever. Give today and be a part of BAV's vital work. | | | | |
