DeLauro Highlights Ground-Breaking Connecticut Agriculture Study

New Haven, CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) visited the Nelson Cecarelli Farm in Northford, CT today to attend the release of a new study by the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Connecticut, the "Economic Impacts of Connecticut's Agricultural Industry."

A $3.5 billion industry in Connecticut and the source of more than 20,000 jobs, agriculture is a critical part of the state's economy. This new study seeks to document the importance of agriculture to Connecticut's economy, and its potential for the future. It is the first study ever conducted to assess the total economic value of agriculture's contribution to the state's economy. Additionally, with so many people increasingly removed from the agriculture industry, this study aims to educated and equip the public with detailed analyses and information on the state's agriculture economy.

The study was lead by a team of University of Connecticut researchers, lead by Professor Rigoberto Lopez, Head of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The Department's mission is to conduct and communicate economic research with the goal of improving the viability of the food and fiber crops while protecting and bettering the environment.

"This study represents the first comprehensive effort to evaluate the impact of the Connecticut agriculture industry on our economy. With over 4,900 farms in Connecticut, and over 400 farms in the 3rd district, this report is very significant, and should further improve our understanding of the state's economy," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "Good information is vital to good policy-making at every level. And as Congress begins working on the next farm bill, it will be important to build on the momentum from the previous farm bill, and focus even more of our policies on specialty crops, such as Connecticut's horticulture industry, and locally-grown foods – which is good news for our state agriculture industry.

"It is time we let everyone know just how much of an impact the agriculture industry makes on our state's economic health. I hope we can continue to build on the release of this report, and make comprehensive analyses of our agriculture industry like this one a more regular occurrence."