Lindsay Werner, DACF; Facilitated by Chris Callahan, University of Vermont (UVM)

Lindsay Werner from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will present a how-to for farm food safety plan basics focusing on diversified farms and integrating U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit requirements for the General Questions, Part 1, and Part 2. Template examples will be available. There will be hands-on time for those interested in working on building out their plans and/or receiving feedback.

Gregory Witscher, Understory Farm; Angela Baglione, Seek-No-Further Farmstead

In this session, we’ll hear from several farmers about how they’ve approached decision-making to prioritize farmer well-being. Practice makes progress, and we’ll hear from these farmers about their lifestyle goals and the myriad of approaches they’ve taken to get closer to balance.

Dan Brisebois, Tourne-Sol Co-operative Farm

With a good spreadsheet by your side, you can plan your crop successions so you can provide a steady supply of crops for your farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets. Come and walk through a simple yet thorough crop planning spreadsheet system to set your financial goals, your sales plan, your field plan, and your nursery plan. We will explore the nuts and bolts of PivotTables and how to get the most out of your spreadsheets.

Kate Turcotte, Land For Good

Join Maine’s field agent from Land For Good and a panel of three farmers that lease land to discuss the dynamics of leasing land. We will explore the elements of a good lease and leasing relationship, considerations for financial planning in accessing land, and the ways leasing land may influence farming practices. While designed for farmers that lease land to connect around these issues, farmers that are interested in leasing land to other farmers are also encouraged to attend.

Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Extension; Ron Howard, Brodis Blueberries; Nicolas Lindholm, MOFGA and Blue Hill Berry Co.; Peter Jordan

This session will cover the how’s and why’s of mulching whole wild blueberry fields with wood chips, with growers speaking about what they’ve observed and learned from applying mulch as well as navigating the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding that’s available for mulching. Dr. Lily Calderwood from the University of Maine Extension will cover the reasons to do so, including the soil/moisture moderation that it offers to mitigate climate change challenges.

Noami Brautigam and James Gagne, Second Frost Farm; Nate Drummond and Gabrielle Gosselin, Six River Farm; Megan and Pheonix O’Brien, Hall Brook Farm

In this session, we’ll attempt an in-depth and honest discussion around farm financial analysis and reality. There have been many new challenges of late, from the COVID-19 pandemic to PFAS chemicals to climate change, such that many farmers, experienced and new, have voiced strong interest in talking about oft uncomfortable or even “proprietary” knowledge and experience, like “how do you take a decent owner’s draw”; “what does a financially healthy farm look like”; “what level of sales is needed to support significant and necessary infrastructure and equipment investments”; and “how much money does one need to gross farming to make a reasonable family income”? Second Frost Farm, Six River Farm, and Hall Brook Farm have all stepped forward to share their insights and open the door for peer-to-peer conversation on how different farms likely have different answers to these questions, but we also likely share a lot of common ground across the different levels of experience, growth, markets, geographic regions of the state, and confidence in farm financials.