By: Ellen Stern Griswold, MFT's Policy & Research Director The new legislative session began this month, and I wanted to share some of the state policy priorities MFT will be working on this session. Not all of the bills have…
By Ellen Stern Griswold, MFT's Policy & Research Director On December 21, 2020, Congress passed, and the President later signed on December 28th, the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020, a bipartisan compromise bill that combined approximately $900 billion in…
On Dec. 1, 2020, the Maine Climate Council presented the state’s new climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait, A Plan for Climate Action, to the Governor and the Maine Legislature. The Maine Climate Council (MCC) – a collection of industry…
On August 27, some farmers delivered to the House Select Committee a letter signed by several thousand farmers across the country urging effective policy action to combat climate change, and especially to help farmers and ranchers weather the storm and…
Federal Government Activity on Climate Change At the end of June, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its report outlining policy recommendations for Congress to implement in order for the U.S. to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions…
The lack of access to reliable, high-speed Internet service in Maine remains a challenge for farmers across the state, preventing them from growing and diversifying their businesses. Lack of access can diminish sales, cause delays in obtaining needed supplies, produce…
The Maine Climate Council was established to advise the Governor and the Legislature on mitigation, adaptation, and resilience strategies that will allow Maine to reduce the impacts of climate change on its residents, communities, industries, and ecosystems. Ellen Stern Griswold, MFT’s Policy…
$484 Billion Relief Bill Good news! Congress has passed and the President is expected to sign a $484 billion relief bill, which includes some important items for Maine farms. The new aid package: Provides $60 billion to replenish the Small…
Maine Farmland Trust and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) are introducing new Maine Farm Emergency Grants to assist farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine indicates…
Federal Support for Maine Farmers Last week, MFT was pleased to see that Congress passed and the President signed an aid package that includes $9.5 billion for agricultural producers impacted by COVID-19, including producers of specialty crops, producers that supply…