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By MADDIE FABIAN

NORTHAMPTON — This year was a tough run for Massachusetts farmers, with more than $42 million and 13,000 acres of crop losses reported due to extreme weather during the spring and summer.Despite the Feb. 4 freeze, May 18 frost and July 10 flooding...

By JACOB NELSON

In many ways, farming is an act of faith. Faith that nature will provide for a harvest, and a farmer’s faith in themselves to figure out whatever challenges arise. Some years bring bumper crops, others disappointment, but with climate change fueling...

By CHRIS LARABEE

ASHFIELD — Like many Americans after Thanksgiving, crowds of Franklin County residents left their homes on Black Friday to knock out some holiday shopping.In Ashfield, though, it wasn’t to purchase electronics or other big-ticket items, but rather one...

By JACOB NELSON

It’s hard to throw water on a burning house while trying to rebuild it at the same time, but that’s exactly what addressing climate change requires. Rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already changing the planet. The choice is whether to...

By MARY BYRNE

GREENFIELD — The annual winter Farmers Market will soon be underway, thanks in part to a new partnership with the Greenfield Public Library.“Having it at the library is a huge deal because the library is going to be open while the farmers market is...

By BELLA LEVAVI

GREENFIELD — Business leaders came together at the monthly Franklin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Friday morning to discuss how they can continue to support the region’s farmers amid the increasing challenges they face. With about 830 farms...

By SHERYL HUNTER

There’s nothing better than live music — except live music raising money for a good cause.That will be the case when folk and Americana artist Reed Foehl and Friends head to the backyard at Berkshire East in Charlemont on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. for...

By MADDIE FABIAN

A farm share program providing fresh and locally grown produce to low-income seniors across Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties is seeking to expand its reach.Now at the tail end of the season, Senior FarmShare — a program offered by the South...

By CHRIS LARABEE

With $10,000 donations already sent to hundreds of farms around western and central Massachusetts, farmers have praised the joint efforts of the state and private donors for supporting the Farm Resiliency Fund.The initial round of funding went out on...

By DOMENIC POLI

The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and organizers knew just what to get you for the occasion: half-price admission that’s good for the whole weekend.To celebrate two-and-a-half decades of community support,...

GREENFIELD — The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew is teaming up with South Deerfield-based Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) on Sunday to host a panel discussion on the challenges of farming amid the climate crisis, the...

By JAMES PENTLAND

Picking apples is one of the rites of fall, with crisp, sunny mornings beckoning families out to the orchard to help gather in the season’s brilliant red and green bounty.This year, though, pick-your-own opportunities will be limited because so much...

By DOMENIC POLI

You’re unlikely to hear any squealing from local pig farmers about the impending enforcement of voter-approved pork regulations, as they say they’re already in compliance with the law aimed at improving the living conditions of swines raised for...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Each weighing just 35 pounds or less at birth, but getting bigger each day, Nichelino, Naples and Novara are among the newest heifer calves at Barstow’s Longview Farm.While numerous calves are being raised in the calf barn at the dairy farm...

By CHRIS LARABEE

CONWAY — Just a few weeks after losing its main field to the South River’s floodwaters, Natural Roots has reached its initial $85,000 GoFundMe goal through hundreds of community donations.As of Wednesday, the farm had raised more than $87,000 to...

By CHRIS LARABEE

CONWAY — As farms around the region determine their plans going forward following unprecedented rainstorms, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and several other state and federal partners emphasized the opportunity in this moment to prepare farmers for a changing...

By JAMES PENTLAND

HATFIELD — Farmers who lost crops to this month’s floods, the February freeze and May frost will be able to seek compensation from a new $20 million fund announced Monday by Senate President Karen Spilka.“We have added $20 million to the supplemental...

By JAMES PENTLAND

Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton and Antonellis Farm in Deerfield are among 165 recipients of $26.3 million in food security grants announced last week by Gov. Maura Healey.Farms and other organizations applied for the grants for specific projects....

By SCOTT MERZBACH

EASTHAMPTON — Between 30 and 35 acres of fields remain submerged at Pepin Farm in Easthampton, including land with hay and oats for cattle feed.Continuing to reel from floods and wet weather, Pepin Farm owner Ken “Skip” Pepin was among farmers who...