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October 7, 2011

Funds to help ME food producers

By The Mainebiz News Staff

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is doling out nearly $400,000 to its Maine equivalent for seven projects in the state.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is receiving nearly $399,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for the Maine department to assist with the following projects, according to a press release from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe:

  • A Good Agricultural Practices/Good Handling Practices audit cost-share program to all Maine specialty crop growers who successfully obtain an annual farm review, field harvest and field packing activities, house packing facility, or storage and transportation certification in 2012;
  • AgMatters' educational meetings, materials and guidance to over 100 Maine specialty crop growers to keep them informed of new FDA rules for improved handling and processing of specialty crops, and help them apply the rules to specific operations;
  • The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato Integrated Pest Management Program to ensure an adequate response to the potential pest-related hazards confronting potato growers through field monitoring, disease forecasting and the distribution of educational materials;
  • The Maine Potato Board to breed, select and develop new potato varieties that will provide marketing opportunities for Maine potato growers at all scales of production while also placing a high priority on developing disease-resistant varieties;
  • The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine to develop integrated pest management practices to improve the management of mummy berry blight and Valdensinia leaf spot, two serious diseases;
  • The Wild Blueberry Commission's efforts to develop and implement a blueberry thrips integrated pest management program for Maine's 575 growers;
  • Perform pre-award and post-award activities to administer the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

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