Maine Drought and Agriculture Survey
You are being invited to participate in the Maine Drought and Agriculture Survey, a research project led by Dr. Rachel Schattman (University of Maine School of Food and Agriculture. A group representing the University of Maine School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is working together to assess, through this survey, the direct and indirect effects that drought has had on agricultural production in Maine over the past five years. The purpose of the research is to understand your perspective on how drought and water resources affected your farming operation over the past five years.
Variable weather intensified by a changing climate continues to be an issue for Maine agricultural producers. This has made growing conditions challenging, and leads to a lot of uncertainty regarding yields, quality, and ultimately marketability. It’s important that we understand how these conditions are impacting Maine producers.
We ask that you participate in this survey collecting this valuable information. You must be a farmer in Maine who is at least 18 years of age or older to participate in the survey. The survey is confidential and anonymous.
The survey will include general questions and then requests that you identify your primary crop (plant or animal) which will connect you to more specific questions related to your crop. The survey should be completed by January 11, 2021. Preliminary results will be presented during a session at the virtual Ag Trade Show in January 2021. A final report will be made publicly available in Spring 2021. Individual responses will remain confidential.
The results of our work will identify opportunities for investment in water resources in Maine, such as reviving programs that assist with pond construction or irrigation infrastructure. The information gained through this survey will be used to inform future outreach and education around these specific issues. We hope you will take the time to share your thoughts and experiences with us. The survey will take ~30 minutes to complete. Please note that because the survey branches to different questions by commodity, there is no “Go back to the previous question” button.
Thank you in advance for your time,
Rachel Schattman
Questions? Contact rachel.schattman@maine.edu; 207-581-2913
Please follow this link to take the survey
Research Consent Information (Please download a PDF version of this information for your records)
The full link to the survey is: https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2l6xn5MnFy7WJtr