Maine

When compared to 2024 numbers, Idaho’s potato acres are projected to decrease by 15,000 in 2025.  If realized, that would be a 5% year-over-year drop, according to the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.   In addition, total U.S. potato acres are ...

Earlier this week, central Washington's representative Dan Newhouse and Maine’s Chellie Pingree relaunched the bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus, renewing efforts in Congress to combat food loss and waste nationwide as part of National Food Waste Prevention Week.  ...

On Tuesday, Idaho senator Jim Risch and Maine senator Angus King introduced the Future Logging Careers Act, in an effort to support America’s family-run timber industry.  This legislation would allow teenage members of logging families to gain hands-on experience in the trade so they may carry on the family business. The Future Logging Caree...

Earlier this week, senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act.  Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat and Collins, a Maine Republican, say the bill will provide water testing and treatment technology grants directly to individuals and non-profits in rural communities.  Current...

Representatives Chellie Pingree of Maine and Jim Baird of Indiana, along with Senators John Thune of South Dakota and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, plan to reintroduce legislation to support small meat and poultry processors.  Supporters of the Strengthening Local Processing Act say the legislation will diversify and make U.S. m...

In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by PFAS, lawmakers recently introduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act.  Led by Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, the legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers.     ...

Over the weekend, the Fertilizer Institute again urged Congress to take action to avoid a freight rail shutdown this Friday, September 16th.  TFI sent a letter to Congressional leaders pushing for intervention to prevent a stoppage from occurring.  TFI Pre...

The American Farmland Trust is throwing their support behind the Agriculture Resilience Act introduced by Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. AFT Policy Director Tim Fink said the legislation meets all three goals of the organization’s mission but does so in a voluntary form. “For o ...

Earlier this week, the USDA announced investments to modernize and improve rural electric grids through 11 projects under the Electric Loan Program. The funding will benefit 460,000 rural residents and businesses in 7 Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia ...

The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that Idaho is among six other states and Puerto Rico with the highest overall census response rate. According to the Lewiston Tribune, as of last week, 99.9% of Idaho households have been counted. Among the responses, 69 ...