As I’m sure was the case with my predecessors, I began my tenure with great challenges and great opportunities. I’m also sure that duality is the reality that the constituents this Department serves also face. Looking back at 2015 and 2016, I’m filled with pride at the accomplishments of our dedicated staff; both new and old. More so, I feel a momentum toward building a greater, more robust MDAR that is able to handle both the responsibilities of the present with an eye toward tackling the challenges of the future, ever mindful of the legacy we’ve inherited. I would encourage you to review this report to learn more about the Divisions that constitute the Department and the work they’ve done. Speaking of major challenges, our Commonwealth faced an abnormally long and severe drought in the summer of 2016 that created problems throughout agriculture. Losses incurred by some of our farmers were significant, serving to underscore the unpredictability of our changing climate. Farmers don’t have the luxury of time to discuss global policies, but proactive governments can ill afford to ignore these problems. In that spirit, the Baker-Polito Administration, EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton and MDAR were proud to address the issue of climate change resiliency in a substantive way, by bolstering existing resources like Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) and working with stakeholders to identify new opportunities to help build our constituents’ ability to “weather the storms” of the future. Per legislation, I co-chaired the Cranberry Revitalization Task Force. The Task Force, a group representing industry stakeholders and government agencies, sought to fully identify problems facing the cranberry industry in Massachusetts and work toward a menu of tangible solutions. Recommendations ranged from budgetary to non-budgetary and focused on key topics like renovation, technology and innovation and exit strategies. The Report produced is reflective of the legislative mandate, and will remain a blueprint not just in the short term but for years to come. Administratively, MDAR weathered our own storm when we said goodbye to ten longtime employees who took advantage of the Administration’s Early Retirement Program. Given the size of our Agency, losing staff is like losing a member of the family. In this case, we also lost over two hundred years of experience. I have consistently been impressed and amazed at how well our team has filled any void, doing their best to ensure a seamless transition for our constituents. It stands as another testament to the dedication of the people that make up this Department. Though the multiple activities of MDAR’s divisions, programs, and personnel are detailed throughout this Report, I want to personally recognize and applaud the efforts of all our managers, supervisors and staff to craft effective policies and practices. I particularly want to recognize and thank the team in the Commissioner’s office: Chief of Staff Alisha Bouchard, Agricultural Economist Catherine deRonde, Executive Assistant Sheila Theodore, and Assistant Commissioner Jason Wentworth, for their efforts to keep the department moving ahead and to keep me focused. Despite changes, both internal and external, we continue to look at what we do and how we do it and ask, “Can we do better?” In that spirit, we were pleased to participate in the 2016 Regulatory Review. Under Governor Baker’s Executive Order 562, each agency was tasked with a full review of all regulations to identify superfluous or overly burdensome regulations, and to make changes through a full public process. Through this exercise, MDAR has hopefully provided some regulatory relief to our constituents while retaining the spirit of the regulation. Looking at 2015 and 2016 in retrospect, I’m still amazed at how an agency this small can do so much and serve so many. I’ve learned in this time that there is something new to learn every day. Listen to the farmers, to the stakeholders, to those in the field ensuring that agriculture in Massachusetts survives and thrives. Listen to staff. Within their words lie the keys to not just weather the storm but also prosper. Sometimes, during bad seasons, a farmer’s greatest hope is to break even…but always with an eye toward success the following season. Our philosophy at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources mirrors that ethos; meet challenges head on and work to support our dual mission. I’m honored to be a part of a team effort to do just that. Commissioner Lebeaux dispensing with his official duties. TABLE OF CONTENTS Agency Organizational Overview ___________________________________________ 1 Snapshot of Massachusetts Agriculture ___________________________________________ 2 Agricultural Economist ______________________________________________________2 Greenhouse & Nursery _______________________________________________________2 Cranberries ________________________________________________________________3 Produce ___________________________________________________________________3 Livestock & Poultry _________________________________________________________3 Aquaculture _______________________________________________________________3 Dairy_____________________________________________________________________3 Retail Coupon For Fluid Milk Program __________________________________________4 Dairy Farmer Tax Credit Program ______________________________________________4 Cranberry Revitalization Task Force ____________________________________________4 The 2016 Drought __________________________________________________________5 Massachusetts Food Policy Council (MFPC) _____________________________________6 Financial Report _______________________________________________________ 11 Boston Public Market (BPM) __________________________________________________11 Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan ___________________________________________11 Milk Producer’s Security Fun __________________________________________________12 Budgetary Appropriations _____________________________________________________13 Administration Account (2511-0100) __________________________________________13 Supplemental Food Appropriation (2511-0105) __________________________________13 Integrated Pest Management (2511-3002) _______________________________________13 Capital Accounts ____________________________________________________________14 Federal Funds _______________________________________________________________14 Trust Funds ________________________________________________________________14 Revenue ___________________________________________________________________14 Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) ____________________________________ 15 Division Of Agricultural Markets __________________________________________ 16 Agricultural Event Certification Program _________________________________________16 Agricultural Fairs Annual Report _______________________________________________16 Culinary Tourism - Savor Massachusetts! _________________________________________16 Export Market Development ___________________________________________________17 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program _____________________________________________18 Federal - State Marketing Improvement Program (Fsmip) Grant Program ________________19 Massachusetts State Exposition Building _________________________________________21 Value-Added Technical Assistance ___________________________________________22 Division Of Agricultural Conservation And Technical Assistance (DACTA) _______ 24 Agricultural Business Training Program (ABTP) ___________________________________24 Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) __________________________24 Agricultural Food Safety Program (AFSIP) _______________________________________25 Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program (APR) _______________________________25 Apr Improvement Program (AIP) _______________________________________________25 Stewardship Assistance And Restoration On Aprs (SARA) ___________________________26 Agricultural Composting Program _______________________________________________26 Aquaculture Program _________________________________________________________27 Agenergy Grant Program ______________________________________________________28 Agenergy Special Projects Grant ________________________________________________29 Farm Energy Discount ________________________________________________________30 Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP) _____________________________________31 Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) _____________________________________32 Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) _______________________32 Massachusetts Food Ventures Program ___________________________________________33 Matching Enterprise Grants For Agriculture (MEGA) _______________________________34 Milkhouse Wastewater Pilot Program ____________________________________________34 State-Owned Farmland Licensing Program ________________________________________35 Urban Agriculture Program ____________________________________________________36 Urban Agricultural Grant Awards _______________________________________________36 Division Of Animal Health _______________________________________________ 37 Animal Imports And Livestock Markets __________________________________________38 Dairy Program ______________________________________________________________39 Equine Program _____________________________________________________________39 Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund Program (Mass Animal