Life needs land and water.

Planning and zoning, a crucial consideration for agribusiness large and small, include the costs of doing business, labor, taxes, population growth, access, transportation, fuel, infrastructure, water – and neighbors.

A conference on Thursday, March 31, organized by the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association (CFBA) will bring people together to discuss the fundamentals of municipal planning and zoning and help educate attendees on how they can work to support local agriculture.

“This is our second annual conference and those who attend will receive an overview of the fundamentals of planning and zoning and discuss effective strategies to encourage agricultural growth in municipalities,” says Joan Nichols, CFBA government relations specialist. “So much of Connecticut agriculture is impacted by local zoning regulations and decisions that it is critical producers understand how municipal zoning impacts their agricultural operation, and more importantly, what they can do to improve the local regulatory climate for agriculture in their communities.”

With a recent University of Connecticut study showing Connecticut’s agricultural industry contributes more than $3.5 billion dollars and 20,000 jobs to the state, the need for farmers and municipal and community leaders to work together has never been higher.

The program is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the municipal regulatory process. Producers will learn tools they can use to work with municipal leaders to adopt local tax reduction programs, form agricultural commissions, right to farm ordinances, and other tactics that can preserve Connecticut’s working landscapes and help create jobs. Farmers as well as municipal planners and decision makers are encouraged to attend.

Costs for the conference is $60, less for CFBA members.

Featured speakers include Agricultural Commissioner Steven Reviczky, and UConn’s Joseph Bonelli introducing the new Agricultural Business Guide as well as municipal leaders and attorneys from throughout the state. Ben Bowell of American Farmland Trust will address the challenge of finding farmland.

The conference will take place at Maneeley’s at 65 Rye Street in South Windsor, Conn. For more information or to register visit http://www.cfba.org/conference.htm?id=lu64o75z, or call (860) 768-1100.

The Past Is Present: Land Use Insight

(A recent radio show segment brought land and the importance of it into sharp focus.

Heard this week on the radio, “Indigenous Politics” hosted by J. Kehaulani Kauanui, offered an interview episode with Lynn Malerba, the first female chief of Mohegan Tribe in almost 300 years.

The importance of land and place came across strongly. Gaming, taxes and historical background leading to the tribe's economic power as a business were discussed. The reality of the Mohegans over time as compared to corporate businesses was discussed. The economic impact of the tribe as a community to the region was well presented.

The loss of one of the most ancient tribal burial grounds to a modern building (now been restored by the tribe) was especially interesting.

To listen to the audio version or download it, visit this link.