Maine farmers call on Trump administration to restore USDA funds and staff

Maine farmers call on Trump administration to restore USDA funds and staff

Farmers rallied in Augusta on Wednesday to protest funding cuts, contract suspensions and layoffs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they said threaten the livelihood of Maine’s small farms. The event came days after the Trump administration canceled another program that was slated to provide millions of dollars to help make Maine farms more resilient to the changing climate. The rally began with a rare sight, at least for Augusta — more…

Maine farmers call on USDA to restore funds and staff

Those attending the rally, organized by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and other groups, said the funding cuts, contract suspensions and other changes are especially challenging for small farms.

Maine DOE Child Nutrition Team Crowns 2025 Farm to School Cook-Off Champion

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Child Nutrition team is celebrating its 2025 Farm to School Cook-Off champion after a final round of competition on Thursday, April 17. For 10 years, this initiative has promoted the use of local foods in school meals, as school nutrition teams from across the state use locally-sourced ingredients to prepare a breakfast and a lunch, which a panel of judges then scores.After multiple regional competitions i…

Fewer USDA staff can make disaster aid difficult - Brownfield Ag News

The former USDA Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation says he’s concerned about the agency’s ability to handle disaster assistance with fewer staff. Robert Bonnie says the USDA recently offered another buy-out for employees, but hasn’t announced the details of the $21 billion in ag disaster aid approved by Congress in December.  “I do […] The post Fewer USDA staff can make disaster aid difficult appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.