In recent years, we have faced significant challenges, including rising operating costs, the troubling discovery of PFAS contaminants on Maine’s farmland, and the unpredictability of federal funding. Despite these difficulties, the MOFGA community has shown remarkable resilience, consistently demonstrating solidarity and support for one another. While organic farmers across Maine navigate these pressures, MOFGA has
By Bill Pluecker, MOFGA’s Public Policy Organizer Maine is nationally recognized to be at the forefront of policy work on the issue of PFAS chemical contamination of farmland. Several MOFGA-certified farms came forward even before the state tested their land looking for support in dealing with the PFAS contamination they were finding. These farmers looked
The national Farm Bill, which is subject to congressional negotiation and runs on a five-year cycle, expired in the fall of 2023. While Congress has previously funded the national Organic Certification Cost Share Program rebate (OCCSP) through stopgap funding bills since the Farm Bill’s expiration, they failed to include any funding for OCCSP in the
An ecosystem doesn’t care what we call them, nor do birds, bacteria, or other wild creatures. A fact irrelevant to the birds, the Council of the American Ornithological Society announced in November of 2023 a plan to rename all eponymous, offensive, or exclusionary English common bird names in its domain. This move was essential for welcoming
Maine farmers need more support than ever Sales of Maine organic products grew 67% between 2007 and 2022, contributing $74 million in economic impact to the state in 2022, according to a new report by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). The report, “Maine Organic Agriculture from 2007-2022: Size, Economic Impact, Farmer Goals,
While national media is pulling attention to global issues, federal actions in D.C. continue to impact local farmers. MOFGA is continuing to monitor how grant freezes and program cuts by the Trump administration are impacting farmers in Maine and across the country. Our work speaking out in support of farmers and raising awareness about these
MOFGA is celebrating the advancement of a farmworker justice bill many years in the making. June 10, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law An Act to Make Agricultural Workers and Other Related Workers Employees Under the Wage and Hour. This long-awaited law ensures that Maine farmworkers will receive the same hourly wage ($14.65) to which other Maine
Join MOFGA on their main campus in Unity on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Farm & Homestead Day! This free, volunteer-run, family-friendly event includes over 50 skill-building workshops and activities centered around sustainable living. Farm & Homestead Day’s workshops and activities span woodworking, blacksmithing, bike repair, crafting, fiber arts, gardening,
At farm and garden tours this summer, learn about organic vegetable gardening, urban gardening, raising livestock, natural dyeing of wool, and much more. For additional farms to visit this summer, please check the event calendar on MOFGA’s website, where you’ll find Gather & Grow homestead tours and more. Dates Farm or Garden July 10
On Friday, February 28, 2025, MOFGA organized a press conference that took place in South Portland, Maine, where farmers from across the state shared their stories of how federal funding freezes are directly impacting their livelihoods. The briefing was the first in a series of events as MOFGA escalated our tactics punching back on cuts
