agriculture

Those attending the rally, organized by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and other groups, said the funding cuts, contract suspensions and other changes are especially challenging for small farms.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins notified Gov. Janet Mills of the funding freeze last week, warning that "this is only the beginning" unless the state complies with the Trump administration's ban on transgender athletes.

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association says farmers are waiting for at least a million dollars in reimbursements from USDA contracts approved by Congress during the Biden Administration.

If implemented, solar companies would have to pay a compensation fee to the DEP in order to develop on what is assessed as 'high-value agricultural farmland.'

So far, tests have revealed 82 farms have varying levels of contamination with the "forever chemicals." But one state official said that is just 1% of farms in Maine.

The state's agricultural sector is particularly reliant on foreign-born workers.

At the same time, close to 40% of the state's farmers are 65 or older.

Researchers say they hope the findings can help cattle and dairy farmers reduce the risk of contamination.

For the first time, the PFAS Fund is considering inquiries to purchase four contaminated properties around the state.

While Gov. Janet Mills had proposed increasing the dairy stabilization program payments by 25%, Democrats on the budget-writing committee recommending limiting that increase to 10%.