Farmers rally at state Capitol

Hartford (WTNH) - A group of Connecticut farmers pulled a tractor with a rope at the state Capitol today to protest reductions in state funding for agriculture.

Connecticut farmers like Kevin Soboslai of East Windsor planted themselves and several tractors at the state Capitol today. They are upset about proposed cuts to agriculture.

“It’s tough to maintain for the amount of land I have and I’m just one person,” Soboslai said.

He’s just starting out, selling eggs, goats and hay. But if the state takes away the tax exemption he gets on feed and equipment, it would really hurt.

“You’re definitely talking more money out of my pocket so either way it goes. I mean that money I have to use for that I can’t use the money to feed him or get him clothes,” said Soboslai.

Dairy farmers are suffering too. Daisy the cow was paraded around the Capitol lawn for the second time in a week.
Though a gallon of milk is around 4 bucks a gallon it costs nearly twice that for farmers to produce the milk.

Dairy farmers are looking to lawmakers for a permanent financial safety net so they don’t go under.

Soboslai says the future of Connecticut farms is at stake.

“Everybody gets nickeled and dimed and either way, we lose,” he said.