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 critical issues has been gaining traction in the media, with 25 articles highlighting MOFGA’s work on the funding freeze alone, including a quote from Executive Director Sarah Alexander on NBC News.
The recent cancellation of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, a grant program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has halted the assessment of 200 Maine farms interested in improving climate resiliency. “That money has gone away, and that’s been really devastating,” said Alexander in a recent article published by The New Republic.
The USDA has also eliminated the Local Food for Schools program, which helped to support farms while getting nutritious, local food into schools. An op-ed we wrote,published in the Bangor Daily News, sheds light on the connection between school lunches and Maine farmers. Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are further destabilizing the food system and access to local foods, as outlined in this WMTW coverage. Other vital programs are being canceled or remain on the chopping block. MOFGA will be there to lift up the voices of farmers and bring attention to the impacts of these actions.
2025 News Round Up
MOFGA has been mentioned in the news 155 times so far this year, with much of the coverage related to our fight against federal actions on behalf of our farmers here in Maine.
- MOFGA’s Farmer Day of Action was successful in raising awareness about how federal funding freezes were (and still are) affecting farmers, as well as raising awareness with our representatives and the general public. The action was covered in every major Maine news outlet (12 articles total) from News Center Maine to WMTW, and led to meaningful change. As far as we’re hearing, farmers who have signed, approved, and obligated contracts are all getting reimbursement payments in Maine, which is crucial to their farm viability.
- Articles in national outlets including Ag Daily and Waste 360 highlight MOFGA’s leadership on PFAS chemical contamination through our lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Executive Director Sarah Alexander spoke about how tariffs are already impacting farmers, and was quoted in this Bangor Daily News article, as well as five others.
Join us in supporting local farmers by choosing local wherever you shop — from farm stand and farmers’ market to the grocery store — by telling congress to prioritize farmers today in the legislation they’re considering.
