Responding to an outcry from farmers, Gov. Ned Lamont has placed a pause on potentially large tax increases on farm land that would have made a difficult business even harder.
In a letter to the state budget director, Lamont said the tax increases must be placed on hold to prevent the farms from being turned into residential and commercial properties — as has happened around the state.
“It is in the public interest to prevent the forced conversion of these lands to more intensive uses as a result of economic pressures caused by property tax assessments at values incompatible with their preservation,” Lamont wrote to the state Office of Policy and Management.
The first step involves revoking the land use values for 2025 for farmland, open space, forestland, and maritime heritage land and returning to the values recommended in 2020. The next step in trying to resolve the issue is creating a working group of farmers, local leaders, assessors, agricultural organizations, and the state agriculture department “to recommend alternative measures to improve data collection, review, and valuation processes,” Lamont said in his letter.
A large group of farmers gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol complex for a forum that was scheduled by Republicans before Lamont’s announcement Monday on the pause on the tax hikes. The room was filled to capacity with a standing-room-only crowd, and another room was opened for anyone who wanted to watch on a simulcast.
The farmers breathed a sigh of relief for the temporary reprieve, but they said the economic battle that impacts their livelihood is far from over.
“Unfortunately, our government forgets far too often that you are the backbone of our state,” Senate Republican leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield told the farmers before holding up a petition that he said contained 20,000 signatures. “Your work, your activism made things happen. This is a temporary fix, and it’s only a temporary fix.”
During the forum, farmer after farmer said they still need relief in a difficult, hands-on business that becomes tougher with the vagaries of the weather and rising prices for items like feed, seed, and fertilizer, among others. The farmers offered stories of their difficulties making a living as they have suffered from flooding and other problems in recent years.
“In 2023, I had no apple crop, no peach crop,” said Steve Preli of Lebanon, who grew up in Glastonbury. “2024 was much better. You can’t keep taking these hits. I’m not a gambler, but I keep gambling with the weather.”
Mark Fonicello, a third-generation vegetable grower in Tolland, said that a tractor can cost more than $80,000 at a time when other prices are increasing.
“Fertilizer seems to be going up every year,” Fonicello told legislators and fellow farmers Tuesday in the crowded room. “Things have got to change or none of us will be here.”
One of the most prominent speakers was Will DellaCamera, the Northford farmer who gained widespread attention when he drove his tractor in 2024 to Washington, D.C. to protest the conditions facing farmers. He suffered major losses of more than $400,000 from a hailstorm, which prompted him to make his trek to see federal lawmakers. He was among many voices pushing for $220 million for small farms under the Farm Recovery Block Grant.
“There’s got to be answers for this, and we’ve got to work together,” DellaCamera told colleagues. “I’m going to keep going. To see so many farmers in this room today makes me proud that were are going to fight. … It’s not just today’s tax issue.”
Senate Republicans, who organized the forum, have been highly concerned about the issue. The concerns were raised after the state announced large increases related to Public Act 490, which covers the land. Under the increase, the valuation of swamp land in Connecticut would have jumped to $970 per acre, up from $40 per acre. Republicans questioned the state’s survey data and methodology, saying the process was arbitrary.
Lamont’s reversal has widespread support at the state Capitol, including from Senate Democrats who signed a statement of support.
“We thank Governor Lamont for listening to Connecticut farmers and taking action on this important affordability issue,” the Democrats said. “Agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy, and we need to protect farmers from cost hikes and keep them in business. This decision reflects our shared commitment to affordability and to making sure state policy supports the people who feed our families and sustain Connecticut’s rural economy.”
Lamont agreed that farms are a key driver of the state’s economy.
“Family farms are vital to Connecticut’s economy and are an essential part of our heritage,” Lamont said. “Preserving Connecticut’s farmland and open spaces is critical to maintaining a reliable source of food and farm products, conserving our natural resources, and promoting the welfare and happiness of our residents. Our work to address concerns around rising land use values demonstrates our understanding of the challenges farmers face. Preserving these lands is about more than economics – it’s about sustaining a way of life that defines Connecticut, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the farming community to keep Connecticut agriculture strong.”
Paul Larson, president of the Connecticut Farm Bureau, said Lamont and other leaders had stepped up to address the problem.
“Their commitment to addressing concerns over the Public Act 490 land use values demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges farmers face and the importance of this program to keeping farmland accessible for future generations,” Larson said. “This action is not only critical to our membership but to the farming community at large, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to keep Connecticut agriculture strong.”
Christopher Keating can be reached at [email protected]