MOFGA and MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) are pleased to announce that we have been chosen as a core partner and the state lead for Maine through USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is one of three focus areas by USDA to transition more Read More »
MCS News
2022 Organic Cost Share Update
As many of you know, MCS works with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) to administer the USDA organic cost share rebate for certified producers located in Maine. This long established relationship has been a benefit to producers because MCS provides your 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 »
The Organic Sprout – Spring 2020 Issue
The 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 Read More »
The Organic Sprout – Fall 2019 Issue
The Fall 2018 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 the interim final rule for domestic hemp production, record keeping for organic Read More »
Mainers Invited to Dispose of Unusable Pesticides
Free disposal with pre-registration by October 7 This October, Mainers can dispose of unusable and waste pesticides thanks to a project sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Read More »
Governor Mills and Commissioner Beal Urge USDA to Finalize Origin of Livestock Rules
August 5, 2019 Governor Janet Mills and DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal are calling on USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue to finalize the proposed Origin of Livestock rules to maintain important markets for Maine organic dairy farmers. Because of a lack of clarity in current regulation, some Read More »
MOFGA Notes Mixed Results with the 2018 Farm Bill
Wins on funding for organic certification, research, new farmers and import enforcement shadowed by changes to the National Organic Standards Board. December 12, 2018 (Unity, ME) – The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) generally is pleased with the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act Read More »
MOFGA Certification Services 2017 Year in Review
MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) continued to see steady growth in 2017. We certified 49 new applicants, bringing our year-end total of MOFGA-certified operations to 536 and over 88,000 acres. This is an amazing achievement in a state our size, and much of the success of Read More »
MCS Staff Announcement
Katy Green has joined MCS as a full time staff inspector and materials reviewer, and is replacing our outgoing staff inspector, Jake Galle. Katy has worked for MOFGA since 2008, primarily helping farmers and processors transition to organic production. This work has allowed Katy to Read More »
MOFGA Certifies More than 500 Organic Producers
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is excited to announce that as of August 2016, Maine has more than 500 certified organic farms and processors, according to MOFGA Certification Services LLC (MCS). About 464 farms (some of which are involved in processing as Read More »
22 April 14 Field Notes-Maple Syrup
Jerome Rigot and I just returned from the last of the maple syrup inspections in the north woods of Somerset County, Maine. In order to access these sugar camps, located in the unorganized territory of Seboomook Lake, we stay in St. Georges, Quebec, and Read More »