They showed up, on their tractors, to protest millions in cuts to federal grants, canceled support for school lunches and the termination of 20% of USDA workers who support Maine’s farmers.
farming
King-backed bill would force USDA to pay farmers’ federal contracts
Despite a judge’s orders and the Trump administration’s promise to release the funding, farmers across the country, including in Maine, are still waiting for millions in federal reimbursements for agricultural conservation projects.
Like egg prices, demand for chicks is up this year
Across Maine, and much of the country, a rise in egg prices and anxieties — over avian flu, price stability, trade — has fueled a similar increase in demand for backyard chicks.
Maine Climate Council says it’s ‘not all doom and gloom’ amid concerns about federal cuts
The council working to achieve state goals to reduce climate change emissions says it is still on track despite some funding disruptions.
Maine makes first purchase of farm contaminated by forever chemicals
The state tapped its PFAS relief fund to spend $333,000 to buy a Palermo hay field where sewage sludge was once spread as fertilizer that tested 3 times above the state’s recommended level for safe dairy forage.
Who are Maine’s lawmakers taking to Trump’s address to Congress?
Every member of Congress can bring one guest to the presidential address, and they often use the privilege to honor a local hero or send a political message.
Maine lawmaker wants state to help farmers affected by federal funding freeze
A proposed bill would create a state-funded no-interest loan program for Maine farmers whose federal contracts are frozen by the Trump administration.
Experimenting with a local flour that may surprise you
There’s a learning curve as you learn to use Maine Grains’ Organic Black Bean Flour, but expect healthful payoffs.
With funds running out, Maine is at a PFAS crossroads
A multiagency presentation before lawmakers warns of the difficulty the state will face trying to meet the needs of residents adversely affected by the spreading of sewage sludge containing forever chemicals.
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.