Above: From left to right, Doug Stephan, owner of Eastleigh Farm in Framingham, Senator Jamie Eldridge, Rep. Carolyn Dykema, and Rep. Chris Walsh (photo via Facebook)
Lawmakers, along with state and local officials, visited Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough last week as part of a tour of farms in the 8th Middlesex District to discuss agricultural issues. On hand were Rep. Carolyn Dykema and Senator Jamie Eldridge, among others.
Here are more details in a press release from Dykema’s office.
Joined by a number of state and local officials including Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard Sullivan and Agriculture Commissioner Greg Watson, Representative Carolyn Dykema, led a tour of four farms throughout the 8th Middlesex District on September 10th to discuss issues of concern to the agriculture community.
“I’m thrilled that the farmers in our community welcomed us to their farms to share the challenges that they face on a daily basis,” said Dykema. “Agriculture is part of our heritage here in Massachusetts and I’m proud of the work we’re doing to promote the industry’s continued success.”
Rep. Dykema has been pleased to work with the agriculture community this legislative session to work develop a bill to provide an agricultural investment tax credit for small agricultural businesses. She also spearheaded the successful effort to reinstate the Agriculture Innovation Center that will fund projects with a 100% match of private funding, creating new opportunities for farms to grow and improve here in the Commonwealth.
In addition to Chestnut Hill, the group visited Outpost Farm in Holliston, Water Fresh Farm in Hopkinton, and Harvey’s Farm in Westborough.
