About Maine Department of Agriculture

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is the State’s lead agency dealing with all aspects of the food system from the field to the table. The Department maintains a mission of fostering opportunities for the agriculture community and of promoting stewardship of Maine’s natural resources.

Maine farmers are the stewards of 1.25 million acres. The land provides the public benefits of open space and recreation. They are the cornerstone of food security for Maine people. The industry has a $1.2 billion impact on the Maine economy.

Welcome to the Division of Market & Production Development 

Technical Production and Marketing Assistance. Division staff provide agricultural businesses with assistance in the following program areas: market development and promotion, business development and planning, labor, irrigation, potato storage and packing, farmland protection and foreign trade assistance.

Financial Assistance. A number of grant and loan programs are available to help producers adopt new technology, promote products or conduct market research. Each program has it's own eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.

Promotions and Event. Maine’s agricultural fairs showcase the diversity of Maine’s 6000 farms. The annual January Ag Trades Show is the annual event for producers in January. Many other special events occur throughout the year. Publications such as "get real. get maine!" brochures and wholesale buyers’ guides promote sales of Maine food and farm products. Order promotional items—stickers, hang tags, signage, hats, aprons. Visit www.getrealmaine.com for searchable listings of apples, berries, specialty foods and other farm products, or find Maine food and farm producers with maps.

Public Information. Research, statistical reports, and information is provided to the Commissioner, Legislature, media, commodity groups and individuals on issues impacting farm businesses and agriculture in Maine.

Senior FarmShare program. Thanks to a grant from the USDA, the Senior FarmShare program provides low-income seniors the chance to receive fresh vegetables and fruits from Maine farmers during the growing season. Farmers sign up in March, seniors sign up in April and May.

Food Assistance Programs

The Maine Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Resources is the designated agency for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) a federally supported program that provides donated federal commodities to local voluntary feeding programs across Maine. There are over 250 participating programs in the statewide network. The Food Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Resources works in conjunction with the Community Action Programs of Maine to coordinate the distribution of the donated USDA commodities to the local voluntary feeding programs. Along with the acquisition, storage and distribution of the donated federal commodities the Food Assistance Program also provides an outlet for various other products that may be donated for distribution to those of our state that may be in need.

Hunters for the Hungry, a cooperative program between Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and The Food Assistance Program, provides a means for hunters to donate all or a portion of their hunt to a local food pantry. This program has been a boon to our citizens providing meat to those who may no longer be able to hunt, to those who have a medical necessity of having natural low fat meat and to others who visit their local emergency feeding organization. Those wishing more information on this program may call toll free 1/888-4DEER-ME. 

A study by the Maine Coalition for Food Security concluded that the "likelihood of experiencing hunger or the risk of hunger is directly related to income." As family income goes down, the likelihood of being hungry goes up. Low-income families experience hunger throughout the year. Parents frequently shield their children from the impact of hunger by denying themselves food so that their children will have enough food to eat. Children living in households that experience hunger, or that are at risk of hunger, are more likely to experience health or school-related problems than children in households, which are not hungry. Federal food programs provide important benefits to many of Maine's needy and hungry, but because of budget limitations and restrictive eligibility criteria, federal programs alone cannot be relied on to effectively end hunger in Maine. Personal and community involvement are necessary if we are to impact hunger in Maine. Maine's needy and hungry households rely on many coping strategies in their attempts to feed their children. One is to turn local voluntary feeding programs such as soup kitchens, food pantries and temporary shelters. These voluntary programs get minimal support to do their work. The soup kitchens and food pantries in your community are voluntary organizations that provide great benefits to the needy and hungry individuals and families of your area. These programs need your help. They need food, money and volunteers to continue and to improve the services they provide. 

Find a list of programs in your area by County.

Welcome to the Division of Animal Health and Industry

The goal of our Division is to prevent the introduction and spread of contagious diseases among poultry and livestock, promote public health and food safety as it relates to zoonotic disease, to enhance the quality and health of livestock, and to maintain fair practices in the buying and selling of poultry and livestock.

Our objective is disease control through regulation and education. We ensure the health of animals to ensure the public health. We provide technical assistance and law enforcement to control livestock and poultry diseases. Enforcement of permit regulations, prompt diagnosis of disease, surveillance testing programs, a reportable disease list, the accreditation of veterinarians, licensed livestock and poultry dealers and auction sales are key activities. The movement of livestock and pets entering Maine is regulated.

Welcome to the Division of Plant Industry

The Division of Plant Industry is Maine's plant regulatory agency, responsible for protecting the state's plant resources from the introduction and spread of regulated insects and diseases. The Division provides technical information and support to agricultural producers in the state and also issues a number of licenses and permits for individuals to conduct certain business in the state.

Welcome to the Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations

The mission of the Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations is to provide marketing assistance and consumer protection for Maine’s agriculture, industry, and citizens. The Division ensures that a safe, high quality food supply is maintained, that weighing and measuring devices used in commerce are correct, and that standards used in law enforcement are properly calibrated and accurate.

The Quality Assurance Program enhances marketing opportunities for Maine companies and producers by ensuring that Agricultural commodities produced in Maine meet or exceed minimum quality standards. This assurance results in increased consumer confidence, fostering an increase in business and profitability.

Minimum Standards for Planting - Potatoes

This program ensures that commercial potato growers (those who plant more then one acre) plant certified seed, reducing disease content and improving the over quality of the Maine potato crop.

The Division of Plant Industry is Maine's plant regulatory agency, responsible for protecting the state's plant resources from the introduction and spread of regulated insects and diseases. The Division provides technical information and support to agricultural producers in the state and also issues a number of licenses and permits for individuals to conduct certain business in the state.