Freeport-based consultant Cynthia Flores helps farmers and their employees reduce injuries that cost the U.S. about $11.3 billion annually.
agriculture
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Solar and wind developers must pay extra to build on farmland. The question is, how much?
As demand grows for solar projects, the Legislature directed that rules be drawn up to govern compensation paid by solar developers to boost farmland conservation.
Agricultural tradition lives on at Skowhegan State Fair
Now in its 206th year, the Skowhegan State Fair, which kicked off last Thursday and ends its 10-day run this Saturday, is the oldest consecutively running agricultural fair in the country and draws about 100,000 visitors in a typical year, according to organizers.