ME gains farms, despite losing farmland
More Mainers are getting into the farming business, particularly in the form of small organic operations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's five-year census report released this week found that the number of farms in the state rose 13% to 8,136 from 2002 to 2007, well above the national increase of 4%, according to a state press release. Maine farms generated $617 million in sales in 2007, up 33% from 2002. Organic farms posted the strongest growth, with sales surging from $4 million in 2002 to $23.3 million in 2007. A full 90% of those sales came from wholesale demand for wild blueberries, milk, vegetables and meat from family farms. Farmers who sold directly to local consumers saw a 64% increase in sales over the past five years, the press release states.
A more sobering statistic listed in the report was that Maine has lost 4,440 acres of farmland per year to development since 2002. "While [farm] sales are up, we have to be constantly vigilant about saving our farming infrastructure," said Commissioner Seth Bradstreet of the Maine Department of Agriculture.
Mainebiz web partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments