WHITEFIELD — Maine Farmland Trust, a statewide nonprofit working to protect and preserve farmland, will host a landowner workshop 10 a.m. Saturday at Whitefield Elementary School, 164 Grand Army Road.

The workshop will teach owners of Maine farmland how to place an agricultural conservation easement — a permanent deed restriction that prevents non-agricultural development — on their properties.

There will be an informal presentation and time for landowners to ask questions. Light refreshments will be served.

For reservations, call Lara at 333-6575 or email lcampbell@mainefarmlandtrust.org by Thursday.

State agency proposes deer permit reduction

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing a reduction in antlerless deer permit allocation numbers for this fall’s hunting season.

Commissioner Chandler Woodcock is proposing 26,390 antlerless deer permits for the state’s 29 wildlife management areas this year — a reduction of 22,435 permits or 46 percent from 2010. The allocations are based on biological and harvest data, winter weather information, population density levels and other factors thoroughly researched and analyzed by department wildlife biologists, Woodcock said in a news release.

Antlerless deer permits also are known as “any-deer” or “doe” permits. Once the allocation numbers are finalized, the department will inform hunters when it is time to enter the any-deer permit lottery.

The public is invited to comment by May 13 to Deputy Commissioner Andrea Erskine, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., SHS 41, Augusta, ME 04333; or by email at andrea.erskine@maine.gov.

Compiled from staff reports