The Maine Departments of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Marine Resources; and Economic and Community Development invite you to help identify how best to support your industry, should any federal or state funding become available to support investment in Maine’s heritage industries. For this survey’s purpose, please consider infrastructure and innovation needs to include: transportation, storage,…
DetailsBased on input from the National Organic Standards Board (Board) and members of the organic community, the Board’s Spring 2021 Meeting will be held live online, instead of in-person. This allows the Board to safely deliberate in an open and public setting. Online Meeting Details Tuesday, April 20, Noon – 5:00 pm Eastern Thursday, April…
DetailsMaine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) are offering emergency grants to assist farmers impacted by the current COVID-19 crisis, including those who have experienced sales losses, increased expenses and/or other challenges during 2020, and who anticipate needing to make further changes and adjustments for 2021. After offering an initial…
DetailsDon’t miss a “beet” and apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) by December 11, 2020, through your local USDA Farm Service Agency. More than 230 fruit, vegetable, horticulture, and tree nut commodities are eligible for CFAP 2, along with honey, maple sap, floriculture and nursery crops. Check to see if the crops…
DetailsThe Fall 2020 issue of The Organic Sprout is here! You can access it and view or download a PDF from this link: https://indd.adobe.com/view/fa6c0648-c7ce-4e2f-83cf-633c72a4a0e9/ Contents include the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule, the 2020 drought variance, using mediation to prevent a crisis, NOP updates and much more. Remember, back issues of the Sprout are also available on the MCS…
DetailsAUGUSTA – Nov 17, 2020. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) will use federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to support farmers and agricultural producers impacted by COVID-19, DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal announced today. “Adapting and meeting the challenges of market disruptions caused by COVID-19 prompted many farmers to…
DetailsThe University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering two upcoming online Zoom classes on food safety for produce farms. It covers best practices for on-farm produce safety and the requirements of FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule. This is the FDA-approved training for required for any farm that is fully covered under FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule. All…
DetailsAroostook, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington Counties are eligible for emergency drought assistance from the Farm Service Agency For drought assistance, start by contacting your local USDA Farm Service Center. Farmers in Maine’s eligible counties have eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration, September 11, to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency…
DetailsUSDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced on August 10 that they are cutting reimbursement rates for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program from 75% to 50%. This action by USDA is unwarranted and completely unacceptable, especially during a pandemic. The 2018 Farm Bill provided new funding for the program so there should be plenty of funds…
DetailsThe Spring 2020 issue of The Organic Sprout is available online! Please follow this link. You can read it from any device of your choice or download it as a PDF. Contents include Organic Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic, MOFGA Certified Organic promotion extension, Wash & Pack Basic Design, Primary COVID-19 Resources and much, much…
DetailsWASHINGTON, May 19, 2020 – As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will provide up to $2.1 billion in direct payments to specialty crops producers. The payments will be based on losses where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will help producers…
DetailsMaine Farmland Trust (MFT) and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) are introducing new Maine Farm Emergency Grants to assist farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine indicates farmers and food producers are experiencing significant market disruption. This collaborative effort will provide…
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