Farmers in Connecticut and beyond are being impacted by federal funding cuts. In May, the USDA made cuts to programs that help fund farms and food banks.

More recently, the USDA recently cut DEI programming. This included programs on urban forestry, equitable land access and environmental justice. But we could see increased spending for other farm programs in the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Today, we speak to those working in the agricultural industry around our state. Last week, Governor Ned Lamont signed the CT Farm Bill. We’ll talk about what that means for farmers.

GUESTS:
Bryan Hurlburt: Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner
Bonnie Burr: Department Head and Assistant Director of the Extension at the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut
Juan Pablo Yepes Tobón: Windham Community Food Network Coordinator
Freedom Gerardo: Founder/Co-Owner of the Seamarron Farmstead, LLC

Farmers in Connecticut and beyond are being impacted by federal funding cuts. In May,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/1252898753/1a-05-22-2025">the USDA made cuts to programs that help fund farms and food banks.</a>
More recently, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/06/17/secretary-rollins-takes-bold-action-put-american-farmers-first-cuts-millions-woke-dei-funding">USDA recently cut DEI programming.</a>&nbsp;This included programs on urban forestry, equitable land access and environmental justice.&nbsp;But we could see&nbsp;<a href="https://farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/07/congress-passes-megabill-with-significant-farm-program-funding/">increased spending for other farm programs in the &ldquo;Big Beautiful Bill.&rdquo;</a>
Today, we speak to those working in the agricultural industry around our state. Last week, Governor Ned Lamont signed the&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2025/07/09/farm-bill-ct-agriculture-lamont/">CT Farm Bill.</a>&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll talk about what that means for farmers.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Bryan Hurlburt:&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/doag/commissioner/commissioner/about-the-department">Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cahnr.uconn.edu/person/bonnie-burr/">Bonnie Burr:</a>&nbsp;Department Head and Assistant Director of the Extension at the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut</li>
<li>Juan Pablo Yepes Tob&oacute;n:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.windhamfood.org/">Windham Community Food Network Coordinator</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ctnofa.org/speakers/hector-gerardo-2/">Freedom Gerardo:</a>&nbsp;Founder/Co-Owner of the Seamarron Farmstead, LLC</li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.