
BOSTON — On Wednesday the Healey administration announced that 56 farms will share in $1.75 million from the Climate Smart Agriculture Program to help them adapt to climate change.
The grant program has incentives for voluntary adoption of conservation, soil health, renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate-smart agricultural practices. It also aids with climate mitigation solutions and economic resiliency.
“Our farmers see the devastating impacts of climate change every day. They are seizing this opportunity to adopt cutting-edge technology and the latest climate science to help lower emissions and promote sustainability,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “As extreme storms and severe weather become the new norm, these grants will help protect our farms from the unpredictable weather brought on by climate change.”
The program also encourages Massachusetts growers to help the state reach its ambitious climate goals, by ensuring efficient water use, water quality, reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration
“This year we have seen firsthand in Western Massachusetts the impact of climate events on our local farms and their ability to survive,” Sen. Paul W. Mark, D-2nd Berkshire, said. “These grant awards will help our farmers adjust their practices to remain viable in the face of climate change while also helping to mitigate future damage and find a sustainable balance with the environment.”
The following farms were among the recipients of the environmental portion of the grant:
- Atlas Farm, Deerfield, $45,000 for a spading machine
- Bostrom Farm, Greenfield, $50,000 for a no-till drill and a well
- Clover Hill Farm, Hardwick, $39,500 for a no-till rotary harrow
- Cook Farm, Hadley, $40,080 for a heavy-use area and manure storage
- Fairfield’s Dairy Farm, Williamstown, $50,000 for high efficiency fans
- Gould Maple Farm, Shelburne, $50,000 for a well, fence post auger and minimum tillage cultivator
- Mayval Farm, Westhampton, $31,000 for a sub-soiler and sprayer
- J&J Farms, Amherst, $18,000 for a high tunnel
- Kinne Brook Farm, Worthington, $45,000 for maple monitoring and silvopasturing
- Maplewood Farm, Hardwick, $37,500 for a no-till drill
- North Country Harvest, Westfield, $48,000 for an interseeder and soil moisture sensors
- Plainville Farm, Hadley, $11,500 for a band sprayer
- Red Fire Farm, Montague, $17,000 for a no-till transplanter, drainage and fuel storage
- River Valley Farm, Leverett, $30,000 for a portable wind machine
The following farms were among the recipients of the energy portion of the grant:
- Atlas Farm, Deerfield, $50,000 for an 88-kilowatt roof-mounted photovoltaic system
- Bashista Orchards/TCB Fruits, Southampton, $23,935 for a high efficiency refrigeration system
- Biodynamic Farmland Cons. Trust/Brookfield Farm, Amherst, $20,508 for insulation and refrigeration
- Blue Heron Farm, Charlemont, $36,321 for reverse osmosis machine; variable speed drive, vacuum and tubing
- Bonnie Lea Farm, Williamstown, $50,000 for a 30.72kW ground-mounted photovoltaic system
- Boyden Bros. Maple, Conway, $23,400 for a reverse osmosis machine
- DAR Ridge Farm, Colrain, $33,198 for a reverse osmosis machine and vacuum pump
- Dunn Mountain Farm, Westhampton, $26,286 for an evaporator and reverse osmosis machine
- Gould Maple Farm, Shelburne, $10,750 for a 4.3kW roof-mounted photovoltaic system and barn fans
- Headwater Cider, Hawley, $16,200 for a 8.1kW pole-mounted photovoltaic system
- Hickory Hill Farm, Worthington, $30,000 for a 30kW ground-mounted photovoltaic system
- Teddy C. Smiarowski III Farm, Sunderland, $45,360 for an energy efficient greenhouse
- The Forest Farm, Shutesbury, $6,000 for a 13.77kW roof-mounted photovoltaic system and an electric tractor
- William J. Gould Associates Inc., Monterey, $32,800 for HVAC upgrades and a building envelope