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Commissioner Amanda Beal: Head of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry

Maine Farmland Trust

Farming in Maine is in transition. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, in the five years from 2012-2017, Maine lost 10 percent of its farmland and 573 farms. On the other hand, Maine has more young farmers per capita than just about any other state. Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal is responsible for helping grow and promote agriculture in Maine. Beal has recently been in the news pushing to extend federal aid to members of Maine’s wild blueberry industry. She’s also requested that the federal government finalize its proposed “origin of livestock” standards for organic dairy farms. We’ll discuss the other initiatives Beal is engaged with and the priorities of the Mills’ administration.

 

Guest

Amanda Beal, commissioner, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; former president and CEO, Maine Farmland Trust; co-author, "A New England Food Vision: Healthy Food for All, Sustainable Farming and Fishing, Thriving Communities." Beal grew up on her family's commercial dairy farm in Maine.

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Jonathan was born in Monsey, New York. A field trip to Washington, DC when he was in 7th grade started him on his circuitous path to a career in public radio. The trip inspired a love of politics and led to his desire to one day call DC home. After graduating from Grinnell College, he worked on a couple of campaigns in Iowa (presidential and congressional) and moved to Washington, DC.