 Every day is a good day to think about agriculture, and the month of March is a great time to remember why agriculture is important. Two days in March are dedicated to Maine Ag Day on March 13, and National Ag Day March 20. We invite you to celebrate Maine agriculture this month and every month.
Farmers are busy people. Their work continues every day as the first seeds are sown for plants that will provide food and beauty for life’s necessities and luxuries in the months to come. The scents of spring fill the air as the soil warms to facilitate proper germination, plants grow to prepare for the task of harnessing the sun’s energy, and future generations of animals are born on farms across the state. Farmers will, watch, wait and cultivate to turn this energy into foods and goods that are necessary and useful, and add comforts, benefits and beauty to our daily lives.
The availability of Maine-grown food and goods in our lives and communities is not spontaneous. It may seem spontaneous that Maine-grown Maine-grown food, provisions and goods are accessible and available at supermarkets, grocers, farm stands and farmers’ markets, or even in home-delivery boxes.
For all its value, and the sense of place Maine agriculture has in our lives, the work to sustain this is more than spontaneous. Cultivating Maine-grown food, goods and provisions is literally rooted in planning ahead, science and perhaps some luck. From seed germination, to the arrival of new life, and the care and stewardship of fine value-added products we enjoy year-round such as Maine maple syrup, artisan cheeses, and nutrient-rich preserved produce, it all started with a plan and actions months before it found its way to our daily lives.
Farmers must plan and be prepared to provide their customers and animals with nutritious foods before the need arises for nourishment, and raw materials before the need arises for clothing, fuel, shelter, and the variety of other useful and beautiful items that originate on farms. The success of Maine farms depends on their ability to plan, and revisit this plan each month, season, year, and in many cases, each generation. Less than one-percent of Mainers are involved in production agriculture. Their work is valuable and measurable--Maine agriculture has a $1.2 billion impact on the state’s economy--and worth celebrating! And, to celebrate we all--farmers and customers--can participate.
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As the snow banks melt, and we wonder about the depths of mud puddles, and witness the lengthening daylight hours, we maintain the farmers habit of optimism each spring. We are optimistic of the opportunities for Maine farmers, food producers and patrons to support Maine-grown goods. We are optimistic you will help us celebrate. And we remind farmers and their customers that to celebrate is to participate. We encourage you to participate in this celebration March and every month.
Below, you will find links to help farmers and customers celebrate and participate.
Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and there's still time to >>submit your farm's Ag Census data.<< In the same way the daily tasks and planning happens at farms this spring to prepare for the future, the Ag Census matters, and we encourage you to participate--mare sure your farm and Maine is counted.
"A lot is at stake if producers are not represented in this data. Census data have and will continue to influence important decisions for American agriculture. The data will affect every operation and every farming community at some point, whether it be through farm policy, disaster relief, insurance or loan programs, infrastructure improvements, or agribusiness setup. There is accuracy and strength in numbers, which is why NASS is committed to giving producers every opportunity to respond." --NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer
>> Read full USDA-NASS release <<
For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. For questions or assistance filling out the Census, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
Get Real Maine Food and Goods:
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>> get real. get Maine! Food, Farms and Forest search
- Seasonal food availability chart
- Take a tour! Agritourism map
March Agritourism Event Feature: Maine Maple Sunday®:
Ongoing Events:
- There's always something happening on the farm and in agriculture
- >> List of current events happening on Maine farms
- >> Bookmark this page for future calendar listings and deadlines for producer promotions in Ag Resources Division events marketing
Spring REAP Grants Deadline Approaches for Renewable Energy Projects. Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is now scheduling free, one-on-one
site visit appointments for USDA's Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP).
Workshops and Conferences Maine Food Business offered
by UMaine Cooperative Extension. Occurs at locations across the state. Click on the workshop name for registration and more information.
For farmers and food producers:
- Maine Grain Conference, March 8
- Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop, March 10
- Maine Greenhouses Best Practices Workshop, March 12
- Maine Vegetable and Fruit School March 13 and 14
- Meat and Poultry Two-Day Course, Sanitation and HACCP Courses,
March 14, 15, 16
- Maine Grass Farmers Network Conference, March
16
- Gardening Short Course—starting seeds indoors, March 21 (multiple
dates and months)
- Cooking for Crowds, March 21, 22, 27
- 'So, You Want to Farm in Maine?' Course Tuesday evenings
starting April 3. Participant limit.
For the kids:
Business Management Workshops. Click on the workshop name for registration information and dates.
The "get real.
get Maine!" program is a marketing resource for Maine farmers and food
producers to promote sales of Maine food and farm products. The program is administered by the Agricultural,
Resource and Development (ARD) team, whose work aims to ensure that
agricultural businesses remain profitable and sustainable. ARD is a division of
the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry—Maine’s lead
agency for all aspects of the food system from field to table.
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