Senator Kissel Pleased with Announcement of State Funding for Suffield Farm

State Senator John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) was pleased today with Governor M. Jodi Rell’s announcement that over $1.6 million in state bonding for the protection and preservation of farmland in Connecticut is expected to be approved at next month’s State Bond Commission meeting. Among the six family farms included in the bond package is the James Allen Farm located on 1175 Copper Hill Road in Suffield, which is represented by Senator Kissel.

“I would like to first express my thanks to Governor Rell for recognizing the importance of preserving Connecticut farmland,” said Senator Kissel. “Connecticut has so much to offer and it is wonderful that today the state committed to protecting nearly 600 acres of family farms, including the Allen Farm.”

Owned by James Allen, the Allen Farm is a 109.2-acre dairy and support farm in hay and silage corn located in the West Suffield area of Suffield.

The funding will be used to purchase the development rights to the farms to ensure that they will never be used for non-agricultural purposes. Farms located in East Windsor, Franklin, North Franklin, Sharon, and Woodstock are also scheduled to have funding approved when the State Bond Commission meets on December 9th. Each farm remains under private ownership and is responsible for paying local property taxes.

Senator Kissel is serving his seventh term representing the seventh district communities of Granby, East Granby, Enfield, Somers, Suffield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.