Maine has many of the ingredients needed to support an active and vibrant agricultural sector – abundant water, good soils, access to markets, intact farm infrastructure, a good quality of life, consumers who care about locally-produced foods, and more young people entering the field. But this potential will not be fully realized without communities in Maine supporting farming through farm-friendly policies, ordinances and local planning.
In 2011, MFT partnered with American Farmland Trust and the Mainewatch Institute to create Cultivating Maine’s Agricultural Future, A Guide for Towns, Land Trusts, and Farm Supporters, which outlines many of the farm-friendly policies that communities in Maine could consider adopting. These policies include tax policies and programs, urban agriculture policies, land use ordinance considerations, policies to protect important farmland soils, and right to farm provisions.
How can your town help to cultivate Maine’s agricultural future? Learn more below:
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