With a boost from two Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources grant programs, farmers across the region are investing in equipment ranging from no-till planting tools and irrigation systems to walk-in coolers and compost-handling equipment, improving efficiency and sustainability as they face an unpredictable future.
The two funding sources, the Farm Readiness Grant and the Farm Viability Enhancement Program, distributed approximately $2.5 million to Massachusetts farms, of which $584,150 went to Hampshire County and $708,000 to Franklin County.
With a $14,800 Farm Readiness Grant, Thomas Farm & Dairy co-owners Jim Thomas and Laurie Cuevas bought a trailer to carry their goats’ manure from the barn to the hayfields.
Cuevas described the trailer as one stop in a “full circle” of sustainable operations at the Sunderland-based farm.
“The whole point of sustainability is being able to take care of what you have. It’s almost like a full circle,” Cuevas said. “If we can make high-quality hay and it’ll grow better because it’s been fertilized … then we can feed the goats a high-quality diet, which in turn helps us create high-quality milk, which adds to our benefit as far as high-quality cheese. … It lends itself all the way around.”
With a $23,400 Farm Readiness Grant, Peter Melnik, who runs Bar-Way Farm with his brother in Deerfield, purchased what he calls a “milk taxi.” The machine pasteurizes cows’ milk, kills the “bad bugs” and feeds the milk to the dairy farm’s calves, he described. As the calves grow into cows, their portions increase, adjusting to suit their stage of development.
Like many of the grant recipients, Melnik described a ripple effect of benefits. For Melnik, healthier calves means more calves on the farm and more beef to sell at local stores.
The grants are supporting a wide range of improvements, with several farms using the money to invest in equipment designed to improve soil health and conservation.
Earle M. Parsons & Sons Inc. in Hadley received $50,000 toward a no-till planter, while Hukowicz Farm in Hadley received $41,600 for a no-till drill. M.A. Wendolowski Farm LLC in Hatfield received $38,800 for another no-till drill. The equipment will support reduced-tillage practices and soil health.
Other farms are using the grants to improve field preparation and planting. Atlas Farms LLC in Deerfield received $50,000 for a speed disc and harvest bins, while Kitchen Garden Farm in Sunderland received $24,600 toward a strip tiller. Outlook Farm in Westhampton received $10,900 for a stone burier, and Lombrico LLC in West Whately received $20,600 for the same type of equipment.
Several awards will improve storage, handling and food safety. Keshtyar Seed in Chesterfield received $7,260 for a walk-in cooler, while Cure For Boredom in Cummington received $13,280 for a walk-in cooler and bins. Carr’s Ciderhouse of Hadley received $15,800 for a walk-in cooler. Flowerwork Farm in Florence received $4,610 for a cooler and covered workspace.
Other grants are focused on composting and material handling. Cook Farm LLC in Hadley received $22,800 for a compost-bagging system.
Livestock and dairy operations also received funding for equipment intended to improve efficiency. Devine Farm Inc. in Hadley received $50,000 for variable-speed-drive fans for its dairy barn, which will improve ventilation and energy efficiency.
Bardwell Farm in Hatfield received $35,700 for two water pumps and variable-frequency-drive systems to improve irrigation and energy efficiency.
Other awards include $20,000 for a utility task vehicle for Many Graces Farm in Hadley; $50,000 for a mower and wrapper for Henry M. and Edward A. Parsons in Westhampton; and $90,000 for a hay and equipment storage building at White Rock Farm in Worthington.
“Massachusetts farmers work hard every day to keep fresh, local food on our tables, and we want to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “These grants will help farms upgrade equipment, improve efficiency and strengthen their businesses so they can continue feeding communities across Massachusetts. We’re excited to support another round of projects that will continue investing in the future of local agriculture.”
