Who We Are
Apple Creek Farm Consulting,
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is a nonprofit organization that provides rural business financing, technical assistance and policy advocacy for small and medium sized companies that create jobs, improve the economic development in their areas, or offer environmental benefits. The Sustainable Agriculture program at CEI offers free business planning services and a variety of financing options to beginning farmers throughout Maine.
Cultivating Community uses sustainable agriculture as an engine for anti-hunger and community development work. We run a range of food access, youth empowerment, and economic development programs including one that helps immigrants and refugees build farm-based businesses. In connection with that work, we operate Maine’s largest training farm and farm business incubator at Packard-Littlefield Farm in Lisbon.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry serves a broad range of duties, from assisting beginning farmers, promoting agricultural events, and protecting the public’s health, to science-based land management, stopping forest fires, keeping our parks and public lands pristine and accessible, and mapping the ocean floor. Within the Department, the Maine Forest Service provides guidance on forestry rules and regulations, and offers educational and technical assistance to woodland owners; and the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, provides guidance on agricultural rules and regulations, and offers technical assistance to farmland and farm business owners regarding: animal and plant health; food product quality and safety; agricultural business planning and market development; agricultural fairs, events and trades shows; farmland protection; and farm succession and transfer planning.
Farm Credit East serves the agricultural, commercial fishing and forest products industries, as well as the rural communities in the state of Maine. Part of the national cooperative Farm Credit System, Farm Credit East originates and services loans to its cooperative members. In addition to loans, we also offer leasing, appraisal, tax and payroll services, credit life insurance and crop insurance services.
Land for Good: Coaching beginning, established and retiring farmers, as well as non-farming landowners, through farmland transition processes such as farm searches, succession plans, ownership transfer and leasing.
The Legal Food Hub (LFH) is part of Conservation Law Foundation’s Farm & Food program which advances local, state, regional, and national policy reforms that better support farm and food enterprises. The LFH serves to reduce legal hurdles for sustainable agriculture in New England. For program overview, please refer to the New England Food Policy (March 2014) report, which Conservation Law Foundation co-authored with American Farmland Trust and Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
Maine AgrAbility is a non-profit collaboration of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, and Alpha One. Maine AgrAbility is part of a nationwide network of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs begun through the 1990 Farm Bill. The goal of the National AgrAbility Project is to inform, educate, and assist farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and their families with disabilities, so they can continue to have successful careers in agriculture.
Maine Agricultural Mediation Program, helps people in Maine agriculture resolve conflicts. Issue areas may include farm debt & credit issues, rural housing loans & foreclosures, pesticide use, property disputes, family farm/estate transactions, crop insurance, easement & access issues, wetland determinations, contracts with food processors, neighbor conflicts, and many other disputes. Our services are confidential, informal, and free or very low cost. Funded by the USDA, an equal opportunity provider and employer, and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in cooperation with Family and Community Mediation.
The Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) represents the 16 Soil & Water Conservation Districts in Maine. MACD’s mission is to strengthen public awareness of Conservation Districts, work with State and federal agencies on conservation issues, and enhance the technical and financial capacity of Conservation Districts.
The Maine Aquaculture Association is a non-profit trade association that represents the Maine aquaculture industry at the state, federal, and international levels. Our members grow shellfish, fin fish, and sea vegetables. Since 1978, we have worked to support Maine’s aquatic growers in developing economically and environmentally sustainable business practices, promote the benefits of aquaculture in the local food system, and preserve Maine’s heritage of a vibrant working waterfront.
Maine Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, non-profit voluntary organization that lobbies for issues important to agriculture, landowners and the rural way of life. The Farm Bureau was formed to analyze problems and implement solutions important to Maine’s rural families.
Maine Farmland Trust helps beginning farmers to create and sustain new farm operations through programs dedicated to farmland access, farm viability, land protection, and events. Maine Farmland Trust is a member-powered statewide organization that protects farmland, supports farmers, and advances the future of farming.
The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) mission is to cultivate a vibrant, sustainable farmers’ market community as a vital part of Maine’s local food network. The Federation works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability.
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country. MOFGA offers a full suite of beginning farmer resources, support, and services, including Apprenticeship and Journeyperson Programs; educational workshops, classes, and programs on a range of agricultural topics; and farm visits, land assessments, and technical services.
The Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society (MESAS) is a farmer-led, member-based, 501(c)3 educational organization focused on developing and promoting ways to increase the economic returns to farmers while at the same time maintaining the environmental systems and community networks in which farmers live and work. We represent farmers from all sectors and of all scales. We strive to serve as a “middle ground” by bringing together, and encouraging dialogue among, the diverse participants within Maine’s agricultural community.
Maine Sea Grant seeks to promote marine science and education in the development, management and stewardship of marine and coastal resources.
USDA FSA: Our mission is to serve all farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs and loans for all Americans.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as the fact finders for agriculture is committed to providing timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in existence since 1935, is the lead conservation agency that helps farmers conserve, maintain and improve natural resources through science-based conservation efforts, technical assistance and incentive-based programs.
The USDA Rural Development of Maine, promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools. We offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations.
United Farmer Veterans of Maine, exists to promote collaboration that advocates, supports, and mentors Maine’s military veteran farmers in order to facilitate success in sustainable and secure agriculture throughout our communities in Maine.
For more than 90 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land-grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county.
Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment is a leading demonstration farm and educational resource center for innovative and sustainable practices in agriculture and natural resources.