The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network – Northeast (FRSAN-NE) is a community of service providers across the Northeast region working to better support farmers through stress and connect them with stress assistance programs. A cohort of Maine service providers in the FRSAN-NE are focused Read More »
Action Alert Items
USDA Invests More Than $330 Million in Specialty Crops Grants, Incentives to Purchase Fruits and Vegetables, Help for Cotton Producers
USDA Also Informs Dairy Producers and Processors about New Dairy Donation Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of more than $330 million to help agricultural producers and organizations in the food supply chain recover from the financial impacts of the Read More »
DACF News Release – Infrastructure needs survey is critical for your industry
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, Read More »
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for Specialty Crop Producers
Don’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, Read More »
Maine to Use Pandemic CARES Act Funding to Support Farmers, Agriculture Producers who Invested in E-commerce
AUGUSTA – 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 Read More »
Emergency Drought Assistance
Aroostook, 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, Read More »
Take Action Today to Restore Organic Certification Cost Share Funding
USDA’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 Read More »
Two Maine organizations collaborate to launch emergency grants for Maine farms
Maine 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 Read More »
Farmers’ Guide to Applying for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Program
The National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition (NSAC) has published a comprehensive guide for the 2019-2020 Grant Cycle. Program Basics The Value-Added Producer Grant program (VAPG), a subprogram of the Local Agriculture Market program (LAMP), provides grants, awarded on a competitive basis, to individual independent agricultural producers, Read More »
Federal Register Publishes Interim Final Rule Establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program
October 31, 2019 The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the official publication of an interim final rule, which establishes the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill, creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the Read More »
NOP Origin of Livestock rule – Open for Public Comment
The public comment period is now open – please make your comments here by December 2nd, 2019. The current regulations provide two tracks for replacing dairy animals which are tied to how dairy farmers transition to organic production. Farmers who transition an entire distinct herd Read More »