Commissioner seeks UConn-led farmland conservation meeting for fall

Commissioner Kara Marshall said the Conservation Commission is planning a public meeting on farmland conservation featuring a representative from University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension to explain conservation easements, grant opportunities and soil testing.

Marshall reported she reached out to Ellen Whitlow of the Agricultural Commission about soil testing but has not yet received a response. She said Holly Johnson of the town library approached the Commission to help organize the meeting and suggested coordinating a date in late October or early November, with Oct. 27 and Nov. 5 mentioned as possibilities.

The proposed program would model a session held in South Windsor earlier this year that included UConn Extension presenters and covered conservation easements, grant funding, and soil-testing protocols. Marshall was assigned to work with Johnson to arrange logistics and confirm a speaker.

The Commission did not set a firm date at the July 7 meeting; next steps are for Marshall to coordinate with the library and with the Agricultural Commission to confirm soil-testing availability and the UConn Extension speaker.