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Many in Maine are feeling the squeeze of federal funding cuts — but perhaps none more so than farmers. It's hard, risky work, and margins are thin.
As the Trump administration continues its effort to slash what it sees as government waste, a number of USDA programs have been paused or cut entirely, leaving many farm projects in limbo.
Our rural communities reporter Adrienne Washington spoke to farmers about how they're handling the uncertainty. As the owner of Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick put it to her: “It really leaves farmers guessing, holding the bag, and trying their best to fulfill their end of the contract.”
We also have stories about ecological forest management, Maine's electricity prices and clean energy goals, the loss of a key FEMA grant and more.
If you know of federal funding cuts that are affecting Maine communities and haven't gotten coverage yet, please drop us a line — we'd love to hear from you.
— Stephanie |
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USDA funding uncertainty puts Maine farmers in a bind
Last year, Old Crow Ranch in Durham was awarded a $34,000 grant through the Rural Energy for America Program, which they planned to use to install a solar array. But the Trump administration has paused the funding, leaving them to cover the costs at a higher interest rate.
Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment in Freeport was receiving funds through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, which it used to help farmers in 22 states develop resilient practices. Since the program was cancelled, it has had to furlough nine staff members.
“Every type of farming operation, big and small … they're being impacted,” the center's executive director said. “This is a huge lost opportunity for farmers across the country.”
Read this story by Adrienne Washington |
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‘We did things backwards here.’ Some Maine landowners see a future in ecological forest management: Foresters argue the pros and cons of various models of sustainable forestry, but the overall goal is the same — timber harvests generate profits; woodlands remain healthy. Read this story by Jan DeBlieu. |
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Maine’s electricity prices grew at the third fastest rate in the country, analysis shows: Securing cheaper, cleaner power has become harder than anticipated. Read this story by Tux Turkel. |
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Maine’s clean electricity goals face unpredictable costs, availability: “We aren’t getting anywhere near where we need to be.” Read this story by Tux Turkel. |
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The Trump administration cut a key FEMA grant. What does that mean for Maine projects?: A total of 18 resilience projects in Maine had their BRIC applications terminated with the cancellation of the program and are now seeking alternate funding. Read this story by Emmett Gartner. |
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A timeline of health care tumult: The first few months of 2025 have brought turmoil for health care programs and services in Maine at both the federal and state level. Read this story by Rose Lundy. |
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A new model for kelp farming as a Maine climate solution
(Published in 2022)
The model devised by researchers involves farming kelp far offshore, then transporting it out even farther to “sink sites” in deep water.
Read this story by Annie Ropeik |
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Have feedback or a correction to send to Stephanie McFeeters? Send it to her directly via email: stephanie@themainemonitor.org.
Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom.
The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support. |
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