Volume 18, No.1, Spring/Summer 2019

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

NEWSLETTER

PAID

Volume 18, No. 1

PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME

Spring/Summer 2019

97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915 phone: 207-338-6575 e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.org website: mainefarmlandtrust.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Looking back, looking ahead: MFT celebrates 20 years In This Issue:

Page 01: MFT Celebrates its 20th Anniversary Page 02: Farmland Protection Page 03: Policy Page 04: Farm Viability Page 05: Gallery & Joseph A. Fiore Art Center Page 06: Summer Events Page 07: Stewardship

Thank You to our featured Business Members!

In the Gallery Summer Stable Show June 3-August 9

Multi-media exhibit featuring new work by many MFT artists

20th Anniversary Show August 19-October 11

For a full list of our business members, and to find out how your business can join, go to: mainefarmlandtrust.org/business-members

Retrospective exhibit, featuring art shown in the gallery over the last 10 years 97 Main Street, Belfast M-F 9 am - 4 pm 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Just 20 years ago, a small group of farmers and farm advocates planted the seed of an idea, born from their belief that farmland and farming matters and should be protected. Word spread, meetings were held with like minds, and soon, MFT began as the first and only land trust in the state focused on protecting farmland and supporting farmers. Thanks to the pioneering vision of our founders, the hard work of volunteers and staff, and the support of so many members, that seed took root and grew.

MFT has accomplished a lot in just two decades. Since our founding in 1999, we have permanently protected nearly 300 farms, and have helped to keep over 60,000 acres of farmland in farming from York County to The County.

We linked more than 200 farmers looking for land to the farmland they need to establish or expand their business, and have created farm viability programming aimed at helping

farmers grow strong businesses and enter new markets. Along the way our work has been propelled by thousands of members and donors, and our staff has grown to meet the demand for our work.

While we’ve made so much progress in such a short time, the urgency for our work is only increasing. The just-released 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture contains some very alarming facts about the loss of farmland and farms in Maine.

Between 2012 and 2017, Maine lost 146,491 acres, 10%, of Maine’s farmland. This fact is coupled with an equally troubling loss of 573 farms. The new Census data also reflects the difficult economic conditions many farmers face in Maine and across the Nation: average net income per farm decreased from $20,141 to $16,958 (a decline of 15.8%), and average net income for producers decreased from $19,953 to $16,894 (a decline of 15.3%). Since 2012, the total per farm market value of agricultural products declined 12.6%, while the average per farm market value of products decreased 6%. And while the number of farmers under 44

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

increased by 9.6%, the number of farmers age 65 and older increased by 30%, signaling an urgent need for succession and retirement planning.

The news is not all bad, though.

There are some bright spots in the growth of local and organic markets, and encouraging shifts in demographics and in the way that producers are now being counted. But, despite some of these positive trends, the loss of farms and the loss of farmland during the last five years reflects the significant challenges facing the agriculture sector.

As MFT looks to the next 20 years and beyond, we know that we can help to shift these trends by protecting farmland, providing the land base to grow the agricultural economy in Maine, and providing farmers with the critical resources they need for economically viable businesses and successful succession plans. Now more than ever, we need to work together to make sure farming has a future in Maine.

Check out mainefarmlandtrust20th.org to see videos and read stories from farmers & members!

1

FARMLAND PROTECTION

STEWARDSHIP

Farmland Protection program protects 13 more farms Since our founding in 1999, we have permanently protected 292 farms, and have helped to keep over 60,000 acres of farmland in farming from York County to The County through our protection and viability programs.

A FEW OF OUR RECENT FARMLAND PROTECTION PROJECTS:

Snell Family Farm, Buxton John, Ramona, and daughter Carolyn Snell protected their multi-generational family farm in Buxton. The family grows produce, herbs, flowers, bedding plants, and fruit for their farm stand, a CSA, and several farmers markets. They also offer pick-your-own raspberries in the summer and apples in the fall.

Krebs Organic Dairy Farm, Starks David and Billie Jo Krebs closed on an easement to protect 490 acres of Krebs Organic Dairy Farm. David’s parents purchased the property in 1979 and at one point, the family milked over 100 cows. Today the farm is owned by David and Billie Jo, and with the help of his sister, David milks 60 cows and sells milk to Organic Valley through Agrimark/Cabot Cooperative.

Thomason Farm, Oxford Farmers Tanya and Luke Farrington placed an easement on 114 acres of fields and woods in Hartford, in the heart of Oxford County. Currently, the couple raises goats, cattle, and hogs on a neighboring property and are very much looking forward to expanding their base of operations on this larger parcel.

Estes Farm, Buxton The Estes family closed on the sale of an easement to protect their 239-acre in Buxton. Carl and Lorraine Estes purchased the property in the 1950s and started out growing potatoes before eventually switching to blueberries. Near the end of their lives, Carl and Lorraine incorporated the farm and left it to their five children. Today, Carl and Lorraine’s son Don manages a popular pick-your-own blueberry and pumpkin operation.

Verrill Farm, North Yarmouth The new owners purchased the 31-acre property from the Verrill family and simultaneously sold an easement to MFT. The farmers are planning a pick-your-own fruit farm (primarily apples and blueberries) and will have a farm store selling jams and pies.

2

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Who we are BOARD OF DIRECTORS William Bell, Saco Jason Bolton, Orono Stacy Brenner, Scarborough Dave Colson, Durham Neil Crane, Exeter Meredith Eilers, Bowdoinham Walter Fletcher, Pittsfield Eleanor Kinney, Bremen James Lawrence, Rockport Frank Miles, Secretary, Cape Elizabeth Susan Morris, Vice Chair, Waldoboro Taylor Mudge, Chair, Camden Steve Page, Bremen Jon Olson, Mt. Vernon Henry Whittemore, Treasurer, Readfield

STAFF Anna Abaldo, Gallery & Fiore Art Center Charlie Baldwin, Land Protection Adam Bishop, Land Protection Erica Buswell, VP of Programs Chris Cabot, Land Protection Erin Cavallaro, Development April Costa, Stewardship Andrea Denny, Database David Dewey, Fiore Art Center Catherine Durkin, Farm Viability Abby Farnham, Farm Viability Alex Fouliard, Farm Viability Chris Franklin, Land Protection Karen Giles, Gallery Caroline Ginsberg, Development Shannon Grimes, Farm Viability Ellen Griswold, Policy & Research Caitlin Hopkins, Land Protection Rachel Keidan, Outreach Victoria Kulwicki, Development Sue Lanpher, FarmLink Andrew Marshall, Wang Fellow Lyndsey Marston, Stewardship Justin Nadeau, Unity Food Hub LouAnna Perkins, Senior Legal Counsel Meghan Quinn, Outreach Tricia Rouleau, Land Protection Ellen Sabina, Outreach Kim Sanborn, Office Assistant Elizabeth Sprague, Farm Viability Brett Sykes, Land Protection Rachel Taker, Finance Manager Kristin Varnum, Vice President and CFO Kyle Warren, Stewardship Reeve Wood, Legal Counsel Nina Young, Land Protection & MFR

Walter Fletcher and his son, Austin, of Fletcher Farm. The Fletchers protected part of their farm in 2009.

20 years of partnership with farmland owners When a farmer protects their farm with an agricultural easement, MFT makes a commitment to the landowner that we will protect the property as farmland forever. As we celebrate our 20th year, we recognize the many landowners who have protected their farmland, including these farm families:

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Keewaydin Farm: celebrating fifteen years Fifteen years ago, Malcolm and Lucille Jewell and their family donated an easement on their farm in Bowdoinham. The Jewells worked towards protecting their land for eight years. One portion of Keewaydin Farm is now owned and managed by the Jewell’s daughter Nina and her husband, while the other parcel is owned by their nephew Andrew, who runs Campo di Fiori Nursery.

Fletcher Farm: celebrating ten years Walter Fletcher and his wife Edna bought 500 acres in Pittsfield in 1980 to start a dairy farm. Ten years ago, they protected a portion of this land with MFT to ensure that the land will stay in farming. Today, Walter and his son Austin run the farm together milking over 250 cows for Agrimark/Cabot Cooperative.

Bennett Farm: celebrating five years The Bennett family has been farming in Freedom since 1980 and protected their farm five years ago. Keeping their extensive sugarbush, managed woodlot, and hay fields protected from development was important to them as they hope to someday transfer the farm to the next generation.

Alna Hopyard: celebrating one year Last year, Patricia Krebs and her son Michael chose to protect their hop farm in Alna. Together, they produce five different varieties of hops for local craft breweries, such as Oxbow and Boothbay Craft Brewing (among others). By protecting their land with an easement, they were able to invest in new equipment to process their hops.

7

EVENTS

POLICY

Save the Date(s)!

2019 EVENTS

Recent Policy Updates Over the past six months, many things have happened in the farm policy sector. The federal farm bill finally passed and the Maine legislation sessions have included some bill proposals that will have impacts on farmland protection and viability throughout the state of Maine.

Farm Bill 2018 After several months of extended negotiations, the 2018 Farm Bill was passed and signed at the end of last year.

While not perfect, the legislation contains several important priorities for MFT and for Maine farms, including:

JUNE 3

JUNE 10

JUNE 27

JULY 11

JULY 28

Summer Stable Show Opens

Listening Tour Begins

Forever Farm Party at Santy Dairy

Open Studio Day

MFT Gallery, Belfast

Statewide

Root Down: Farm Viability Party at Ripley Farm Dover-Foxcroft

Skowhegan

Fiore Art Center

Increasing funding to $450 million per year for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Providing $50 million per year in mandatory funding for the development of local and regional food economies Providing $50 million per year in mandatory funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and the Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (Section 2501), which has been combined into a new program called the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program (FOTO)

JULY 28

AUGUST 10

AUGUST 15

AUGUST 19

AUGUST 25

Increasing funding to $250 million over 5 years for the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Program, now called GusNIP

Farm to Farm Bike Ride

A Summer Night at Rolling Acres Farm Fiore Art Center

Yoga on the Farm at Alna Hop Yard

20th Anniversary Retrospective Show Opens MFT Gallery, Belfast

Open Studio Day

Creating a Buy-Protect-Sell provision so that land trusts can act quickly using the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Ag Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) dollars to protect vulnerable farmland and then sell the land to a farmer

Bowdoinham

Alna

SEPT 14

SEPT 29

OCTOBER 3

Forever Farm Party at Bo Lait Farm

Open Studio Day

Washington

Fiore Art Center

20th Anniversary Celebration at Broadturn Farm Scarborough

Fiore Art Center

Find our table at fairs & festivals all over the state this season, including: Cape Elizabeth Strawberry Festival, The Bread Fair, Common Ground Country Fair, and more!

A Summer Night at Rolling Acres Farm Join MFT for a festive farm-to-table dinner at the Joseph A. Fiore Art Center. There will be artful pop-ups, a celebratory unveiling of the new Fiore Art Wing, and news of exciting plans as we celebrate our 20th anniversary!

~ Saturday, August 10, 2019 4:30 p.m.

To find out more details about the evening and to purchase tickets, please visit www.mainefarmlandtrust.org 6

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

State Legislation During the last legislative session, MFT supported three bills related to our farmland protection and farm viability work.

LD 920: An Act to Establish the Fund to Support Local Fruits and Vegetables Purchasing This legislation would create a fund to provide incentives to recipients of federal food and nutrition assistance programs to buy more locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. These types of programs, like MFT’s Farm Fresh Rewards, help all kinds of Maine farms gain new customers and build sales, thereby keeping more dollars in Maine’s food economy.

LD 911: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access, and Outdoor Recreation In March, the Land Conservation Task Force released their recommendations for the next generation of land conservation in Maine. These recommendations included having the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program, Maine’s primary source of funding for conservation, place a high priority on conserving lands that support Maine’s vibrant farming sector. They also included a request for $75 million in bond funding to support the LMF program and $20 million to support state parks.

LD 797: An Act to Limit Greenhouse Gas Pollution and Effectively Use Maine’s Natural Resources In addition to setting long-term and short-term emissions reductions goals, the bill calls for an inclusive process with input from various stakeholders, including agriculture, to update the state’s climate action plan. In creating the updated plan, the legislation also requires that consideration be given to encouraging natural climate solutions like healthy soils practices and farmland protection.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

3

FARM VIABILITY Implementation grant to help Emery Farm scale up

Trent Emery of Emery Farm

GALLERY & FIORE ART CENTER This spring MFT awarded its seventh implementation grant to help Emery Farm scale up their business. The farm participated in MFT’s Farming for Wholesale program and spent two years working with business advisors to research and define their business plan focused on scaling up for wholesale markets. This implementation grant is competitive and applications undergo an extensive review process by a committee comprised of MFT staff and industry consultants.

“The MFT Farming for Wholesale program has empowered the financial future of our farm,” Trent Emery shares.

“Undertaking an analysis of our farm’s business has allowed our farm to make informative decisions that have resulted in meeting our financial, philosophical, and family goals as a small vegetable

farm in Maine.”

Emery Farm will use the $48,276 award to assist with new infrastructure costs as they scale up production of crops under protected growing environments. The new structures will allow them to grow more for their institutional markets.

This is the third year MFT has offered implementation grants for farms that have participated in the 201 Farming For Wholesale program. “Access to financing to implement new changes and ideas on farms continues to be a challenge,” said Alex Fouliard, Farming for Wholesale Program Manager. “MFT is pleased to be able to fill that need and keep momentum moving forward for these farms.”

New artist residents selected for Fiore Art Center 2019 The Joseph A. Fiore Art Center is anticipating its fourth year of summer residencies at Rolling Acres Farm in Jefferson. This year, the Art Center will welcome visual, literary, performing, and for the first time, academic writing residents. A resident gardener will also live on the grounds for the summer. The 2019 residents were thoughtfully selected from a pool of 75 applicants with the help of jurors Sarah Workneh and Carl Little. The academic writing resident was selected by MFT’s Andrew Marshall and Ellen Griswold.

Six visual artists will be in residence at the Art Center this summer: three from Maine, two from out of state, and one international artist.

Mildred Bachrach describes herself as an artistic pluralist who uses a variety of techniques and materials to explore the concepts of personal and environmental trauma. She has lived on a farm in Detroit, ME for over 40 years and is a member of the Cherokee Nation. J.E. Paterak is an artist with childhood ties to Jefferson, ME whose

A snapshot of our work since 1999 With your support, we’ve done a lot in just two decades! As this map shows, since 1999 we have protected 292 farms with agricultural conservation easements, facilitated 202 farm links, and expanded our programming to include an array of Farm Viability projects aimed at helping farmers thrive. You can see an interactive timeline version of this map and read about some of our milestones and memories at our 20th anniversary website, mainefarmlandtrust20th.org.

MAP KEY Green dots represent farms we have protected with agricultural conservation easements through our Farmland Protection program.

Orange dots represent “farm links” made between farmland seekers and farmland owners through our Farmland Access program.

Blue dots represent various Farm Viability projects, including Farm Fresh Rewards nutrition incentive sites and Farming for Wholesale business planning workshops.

4

Genevieve Cohn “You Can’t Have it All But I’ll Share the Sky,” Acrylic on canvas, 45x65.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

parents built a cabin on a nearby lake.

Tessa G. O’Brien from Portland, ME makes paintings that reference light, revel in color and play with architectural space - specifically traditional timber frame structures.

Genevieve Cohn is a painter and educator currently living in Boston, MA. Genevieve’s work considers the relationship between women and nature. Eleanor Conover is a painter whose work responds to site-specificity and the human relationship to environmental space. Aubrey Chali, from Zambia, explores the realms of human culture and nature with its lavish hues and rich textures, resulting in the creation of mixed media paintings inspired by our natural world.

The literary arts residency, which focuses on poetry this year, was awarded to Maine poet Michelle Menting. Menting’s current project explores the relationship between humans, our built environments, and the natural world and all its beings.

During her residency, she will focus on themes of migration, interconnectedness, and adaptation, and how these ideas pertain to wildlife, farming, permaculture, and climate change.

Sara Trunzo is the recipient of the

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

performing arts residency. A former organizer, farmer, and non-profit professional, Trunzo is now a singer-songwriter illuminating rural stories, who’s songs are informed by the landscape, community, and transformation.

Dr. Sonja Birthisel will be the first academic writing resident at the Art Center. Sonja recently finished graduate school at the University of Maine, where she is currently employed.

This summer, she will be working on several papers about climate change and its impacts on Maine agriculture.

This season’s resident gardener will be Laurie McDonnell. From tending urban landscapes to nurturing her own small farm, she has relished the opportunities she has had to partner with the land.

In addition to hosting the residents, the Art Center will be opening a new Fiore Wing to the public this spring.

Co-Directors Dewey and Witholt Abaldo are excited about the renovated garage turned art display space that will, for the first time, be able to house the entire collection of Joseph Fiore’s work on site.

The Art Center will also be working with Kerry Altiero from Cafe Miranda to host a wonderful summer evening fundraiser, where guests can expect artful pop-ups and delicious food. This dinner will take place on August 10th. Tickets are available for purchase at mainefarmlandtrust.org.

5