Ag expo is sure growing
Kennebec Journal - 1/11/2010. By Mechele Cooper – Augusta: More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the 69th agricultural trades show this week. The three-day event, hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, is today through Thursday at the Augusta Civic Center. |
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Going local – safely
Kennebec Journal - 1/10/2010.Op-ed by Rep. Jeff McCabe – The trends speak for themselves: local farming is booming across the country, with Maine leading the charge. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers markets increased by 13 percent in 2009 and industry experts expect the trend to continue to boom in 2010. In the past 15 years, farmers markets have tripled, with much of the growth occurring in the past few years. |
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Innovative program would establish funding for rural areas
Kennebec Journal - 1/9/2010.By Susan M. Cover – Augusta: Strong, Rockport and the Unity region will participate in a pilot program encouraging residents to pledge 5 percent of their estates to local community development funds. Maine Rural Partners, the state's federally recognized rural development council, launched the new effort Friday in a State House Cabinet Room ceremony. |
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Dairy farm support system under fire
Kennebec Journal - 1/9/2010.By Ethan Wilensky-Lanford – Maine's shrinking number of dairy farmers are "barely surviving" under a state milk subsidy system that is struggling to provide the financial support necessary to sustain their operations. The 315 dairy farms in the state are 78 fewer than in 2004 and 184 fewer than those that operated in 2000. |
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