AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry plans to hold the annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show online instead of in-person the week of Monday, Jan. 10.

“After listening to concerns raised by our industry’s stakeholders, it became clear that transitioning to an online event is the safest option during a surge in COVID-19 for this year’s Agricultural Trades Show,” said Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Director Nancy McBrady, in a news release. “While we are disappointed we will not be gathering in person as planned, we look forward to celebrating our agricultural community and its many contributions to the state of Maine virtually.”

“Throughout the pandemic, our agricultural community has adapted to provide for the people of Maine. The department is adapting, too, to provide the resources our industry needs virtually, so they can address the challenges of the pandemic and plan for the future,” said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal.

In the coming days, DACF will share details of the new online event, including the anticipated schedule and information on how content will be made available to the public.

For more information, visit maine.gov.