$16,590 Awarded to Double J Farm in West Brookfield
BREWER AND GOBI ANNOUNCE GRANT AWARD
FOR DOUBLE J FARM IN WEST BROOKFIELD
Boston – Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) and Representative Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer) today announced that Double J Farm in West Brookfield received a $16,590 Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) grant from the Department of Agricultural Resources.
Double J Farm will use the funding to install fencing on its property. The farm is in the process of transitioning from a dairy farm to a free range beef farm. With a focus on raising cattle on grass, Double J Farm needs to rotate grass crops to ensure the feed is nutritious and the land has time to recover from the grazing. The fencing will keep the cattle from contaminating Coy Brook, which runs through the property and into the Quaboag River Watershed.
“This funding is important to protect the integrity of our water, while also ensuring that this new venture can move forward,” said Senator Brewer. “I applaud Jim Talvey of Double J Farm for his work to secure the grant and the Department of Agricultural Resources for recognizing the importance of this project.”
"I congratulate Double J Farm on receiving this grant," stated Representative Gobi. "It will aid them in protecting their cattle and help preserve Coy Brook for use by future generations."
Since 1999, AEEP has provided over $3 million to growers and producers to address environmental concerns on their farms. To be eligible for AEEP funds, growers’ property must consist of at least five contiguous acres of land under the same ownership and be actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use, have at least three acres in bog production, or have at least 5,000 square feet under greenhouse production.
Posted: Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Updated Mon, Jan 11, 2010