Despite having signed government contracts, farmers who have spent money on projects to conserve soil, water and power have been told they cannot get reimbursed until USDA programs and policies are reviewed by the Department of Government Efficiency.
agriculture
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, New England, News, Politics
Maine’s maple syrup industry could get boost from federal legislation
Sens. Collins and King are supporting the MAPLE and SAP acts to promote U.S. maple syrup producers.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine body movement expert teaches farmworkers how to avoid injury
Freeport-based consultant Cynthia Flores helps farmers and their employees reduce injuries that cost the U.S. about $11.3 billion annually.
Posted inLocal & State
PFAS contamination found on more than 100 Maine farms
The state’s ambitious multiyear investigation into PFAS contamination from sludge-based fertilizer is not yet halfway done, but costs are mounting as new federal protections arise from mounting scientific evidence of potential human health risks.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Forever chemicals in sludge fertilizer pose cancer risk, EPA says
Draft findings published Tuesday echo what Maine has been saying since 2022, when it became the first state to ban the use of sludge as fertilizer because of high concentrations of harmful PFAS.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Dairy task force recommends boosting subsidy to preserve Maine farms
A draft report calls for additional taxes on gambling, cannabis or cigarettes to help stabilize funding for the subsidy program that protects Maine’s struggling dairy farms.
Posted inBusiness
The Alna Store gains national recognition. What’s its recipe for success?
Tucked away on Dock Road, The Alna Store has drawn praise from the James Beard Foundation to The New York Times. Owner Jasper Ludwig says it is all about believing in one’s vision and fostering community.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine organic farmers group formally recognizes union for its employees
Employees at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and MOFGA Certification Services put together the union and requested recognition in September.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine agriculture commissioner named vice president of national association
Amanda Beal has been elected to serve on the board of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Posted inBusiness, News
Bigelow lab receives $7 million for algae research, business development
The Boothbay lab will use the National Science Foundation grant to build the Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator in a bid to unlock more ways macroalgae and its microscopic counterpart can be used and ultimately marketed.