Title 22 — Title 22: Agriculture. Domestic Animals

Sec. 22-1. Department of Agriculture. There shall be a state Department of Agriculture, consisting of a Commissioner of Agriculture and, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, such employees as may be necessary for the performance of the duties required by the general statutes.…

Sec. 22-10. Reports of moneys expended. Any person who receives money from the state for the purpose of promoting the increase of agricultural products or of domestic animals and products thereof shall, on or before the fifteenth day of November of each year in which such money w…

Sec. 22-11. Promotion of agricultural interests. Any corporation or association organized in any county to provide instruction and practical demonstration in agriculture and home economics, to promote advanced business methods among farmers or to assist in any manner in the devel…

Sec. 22-11a. “Integrated pest management” defined. As used in sections 22-11b and 22-84a, “integrated pest management” means a comprehensive strategy of pest control whose major objective is to maintain high crop quality with a minimum use of pesticides and includes, but is not l…

Sec. 22-11b. Duties of The University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service re integrated pest management. (a) Within available appropriations, The University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service shall develop and implement (1) nonagricultural integrated pest manag…

Sec. 22-11c. Aquaculture development: Definitions. (a) As used in sections 22-11d to 22-11f, inclusive, “aquaculture” means the controlled rearing, cultivation and harvest of aquatic plants and animals in land-based and marine-based culture systems, tanks, containers, impoundment…

Sec. 22-11d. Aquaculture development: Lead agency. The Department of Agriculture shall be the lead agency for aquaculture development in this state. The department shall: (1) Coordinate the activities of other state agencies with regard to aquaculture; (2) act as a liaison betwee…

Sec. 22-11e. Interagency Aquaculture Coordinating Committee. Section 22-11e is repealed, effective May 23, 2022. (P.A. 94-227, S. 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e), (f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 13-5, S. 28; P.A. 22-54, S. 7.)

Sec. 22-11f. Licensing of aquaculture operation. Regulations. Control of importation and cultivation of nonnative plants or animals. The Department of Agriculture, after consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall adopt regulations, in accordanc…

Sec. 22-11g. Releases from aquaculture systems. No person may release water, plants, animals or other material from any land-based or marine-based aquaculture systems, including, but not limited to, tanks, containers, impoundments or ponds, unless such person first provides notic…

Sec. 22-11h. Permits for aquaculture operations. Exemptions from environmental protection programs. General permits. (a) The Department of Agriculture shall have exclusive authority for granting or denying aquaculture permits, except for matters specifically concerning water disc…

Sec. 22-11i. Licensing of aquaculture producers. Regulations. (a) As used in this section: (1) “Aquaculture producer” means any person who engages in the controlled rearing, cultivation and harvesting of aquatic animals or plants in land-based or marine-based culture systems, tan…

Sec. 22-11j. Planting and cultivating seaweed. License. Requirements. Renewal. Prohibition on interference with right of fishing or shellfishing. Interference with seaweed license. Penalties. Regulations. (a) The Commissioner of Agriculture may issue a nontransferable license, in…

Sec. 22-11k. Ninety-day aquaculture permit application final determinations. The Department of Agriculture shall review and make a final determination on each aquaculture permit application not later than ninety days after receipt of such application. Following such ninety-day pe…

Sec. 22-12. Appropriations for promotion of agricultural interests. The annual appropriation for the promotion of agricultural interests shall be ten thousand dollars per county. These funds shall be distributed by the Agricultural Extension Service of The University of Connectic…

Sec. 22-12a. Use of term “Connecticut State Fair”. No person, firm, corporation or association, other than an agency or instrumentality of the state, shall use the words “Connecticut State Fair” in relation to any fair, exhibition or entertainment without the written consent of t…

Sec. 22-12b. (Formerly Sec. 26-41). Licensing of fur breeders. Disease control. The breeding and raising in captivity of foxes, mink, chinchilla, marten, fisher, nutria and muskrat, and the marketing of such animals, shall be classified as farming and as an agricultural pursuit a…

Sec. 22-13. Employment of minors in agriculture. No minor under fourteen years of age shall be employed or be permitted to work in agriculture. No minor fourteen or fifteen years of age shall be employed in any agricultural occupation for more than six days a week, or for more th…

Sec. 22-14. Birth certificate or agricultural work permit required. No minor under sixteen years of age shall be employed or permitted to work, when school is not in session, in any agricultural occupation unless the employer of such minor has received a birth certificate, an agr…

Sec. 22-15. Administration. Regulations. Inspection. The Labor Commissioner shall have charge of the administration of sections 22-13 to 22-17, inclusive. The commissioner shall establish regulations and standards for the administration of said sections necessary to the health an…

Sec. 22-16. Employer of more than fifteen affected. The provisions of sections 22-13 to 22-17, inclusive, shall apply during any calendar week to any employer whose average number of employees during that week is more than fifteen. Said provisions shall not apply to work performe…

Sec. 22-17. Penalty. Any person, including a parent or guardian, whether acting for himself or as agent for another, who employs or authorizes or permits to be employed any minor in violation of sections 22-13 to 22-16, inclusive, shall be fined, for a first violation, not more t…

Sec. 22-17a. Sanitary regulations concerning agricultural workers. The Labor Commissioner may make regulations and establish standards as to living quarters furnished by a farm operator to agricultural workers and to migratory farm laborers to insure their adequacy as to sanitati…

Secs. 22-18 to 22-26. Farmers' loans, generally. Obsolete. (September, 1957, P.A. 15, S. 1–9; March, 1958, P.A. 19, S. 1, 2; 1961, P.A. 23.)

Secs. 22-1a and 22-1b. Commissioner, department and council, general terminology change. Sections 22-1a and 22-1b are repealed. (1959, P.A. 637, S. 2–5; 1961, P.A. 39, S. 2; 67; 217; February, 1965, P.A. 24, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 94, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 154.)

Sec. 22-1c. Terminology change. As used in the general statutes, the terms “Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources”, and “Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources” and “commissioner” and “department”, when used in reference thereto, mean the Commissioner of Agri…

Sec. 22-2. Board of Agriculture. Section 22-2 is repealed. (1953, S. 1692d; 1967, P.A. 269; P.A. 76-261, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610.)

Sec. 22-26a. Equine Advisory Council. Members. Section 22-26a is repealed. (P.A. 73-547, S. 1–3; P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610.)

Sec. 22-26aa. State program for the preservation of agricultural land. The General Assembly finds that the growing population and expanding economy of the state have had a profound impact on the ability of public and private sectors of the state to maintain and preserve agricultu…

Sec. 22-26b. Agreement with landowner enrolled in federal Dairy Termination Program. Section 22-26b is repealed, effective October 1, 1997. (P.A. 86-356, S. 1, 3; P.A. 97-234, S. 11.)

Sec. 22-26bb. Definitions. As used in sections 22-26aa to 22-26nn, inclusive: (a) “Agricultural land” means any land in the state suitable by reference to soil types, existing and past use of such land for agricultural purposes and other relevant factors for the cultivation of pl…

Sec. 22-26c. Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council. (a) There shall be a Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council which shall be within the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only. Said council shall consist of thirteen members as follows: The Commissioner…

Sec. 22-26cc. State acquisition of development rights to agricultural land. Program established. Joint ownership by the state and a town. Assistance of nonprofit organization. State acquisition of right to construct residence or farm structure. (a) There is established within the…

Sec. 22-26d. Purposes. The purposes of the council are to promote state wines and related products by (1) engaging in activities to maintain current markets and create new and foreign markets; (2) advising groups on farm wine development, including, but not limited to, the Depart…

Sec. 22-26dd. Maps of land use in state. To include soil types, crops and use classification. (a) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, acting with such assistance as may be required from the Commissioner of Agriculture, the United States Natural Resources Conserv…

Sec. 22-26e. Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation. (a) There is hereby established a Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation within the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only, consisting of the following members…

Sec. 22-26ee and 22-26ff. Study of state responsibilities and opportunities for preserving and developing Connecticut's dairy industry. Commissioner to report on acquisition of development rights. Sections 22-26ee and 22-26ff are repealed, effective October 1, 1997. (P.A. 78-232,…

Sec. 22-26f. State Veterinarian. (a) There shall be a State Veterinarian who shall be an employee of the Department of Agriculture and shall serve as the state animal health official for the state. The Commissioner of Agriculture may designate one or more veterinarians to exercis…

Sec. 22-26g. Noise-making devices used in agriculture to repel wildlife. Permits. Operation. Municipal resolution re undue hardship. Best practical use procedure. Violation. Warning. Revocation. Appeal. Fine. (a) No person may use any noise-making device to scare or repel wildlif…

Sec. 22-26gg. Regulations. The commissioner shall, in consultation with the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board established under section 22-26ll, adopt, in accordance with chapter 54, such regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 22-…

Sec. 22-26h. Agricultural technology development. Advisory board. Responsibilities of commissioner. Section 22-26h is repealed, effective June 8, 2004. (P.A. 94-133, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 99-110, S. 5; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S 146(e); P.A…

Sec. 22-26hh. Bond authorization. The State Bond Commission shall have power, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred sixty-five million two hundred fifty thousand …

Sec. 22-26i. Maintenance, repair and improvement account. (a) There is established a separate, nonlapsing account, within the General Fund, known as the maintenance, repair and improvement account. All moneys collected from any rent paid by any person occupying or otherwise using…

Sec. 22-26ii. Inspection of restricted land. The commissioner may enter at all reasonable times upon any restricted agricultural land, for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of section 22-26cc. (P.A. 79-208, S. 3.)

Sec. 22-26j. Agricultural enhancement matching grant program. Eligibility. Purposes. The Department of Agriculture shall establish and administer an agricultural enhancement matching grant program to any agricultural not-for-profit organization, municipality, group of municipalit…

Sec. 22-26jj. Acquisition of fee simple title to agricultural lands. Lease of property. (a) The Commissioner of Agriculture, with the approval of the State Properties Review Board, may acquire by purchase or accept as a gift, on behalf of the state, the fee simple title of any ag…

Sec. 22-26k. Farm transition grant program. Matching grants. (a) There is established a farm transition grant program which shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Matching grants shall be made to farmers and agricultural cooperatives for diversification of existi…

Sec. 22-26kk. List of agricultural land whose development rights have been offered to state. (a) On or before April 1, 2001, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall prepare a list of agricultural land whose development rights have been offered to the state under section 22-26gg and…

Sec. 22-26l. Connecticut Farm Link program. (a) The Department of Agriculture shall establish and administer a Connecticut Farm Link program to establish a database of farmers and agricultural land owners who intend to sell, lease or otherwise transfer their farm operations or ag…

Sec. 22-26ll. Farmland Preservation Advisory Board. Established. Membership meetings. Responsibilities. (a) There is established a Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, within the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only, to assist and advise the Commissioner of…