Agricultural Business Development

Technical Assistance

The Division staff are available to assist individual agricultural businesses with help based on the knowledge and experience of various staff members. Currently we handle issues regarding irrigation, cranberry production, new crop development, labor, business planning, and market development and promotion. If our staff cannot help you, we will certainly help you find the resource person you may need.

Business Resource Directory

We can help you find information on agricultural subjects through our various contacts and directories. The Division maintains a list of farmers interested in promotional activities, agricultural associations, agencies that regulate or support agriculture, and various other subjects. The Department has developed a directory of cooperatives, various lists of farmers by commodity produced, and is working on a labor regulations directory.

Ag Business Planning Assistance

Need to expand, consolidate, or just better plan for your existing business? Do you need a business plan to go to the bank? The Division supports business plan development through the use of scholarships for farmers to take business planning courses. The Division can also give grants to farmers to complete a business plan if they are seeking a loan through our loan program.

The Maine Farms for the Future Program is a competitive grants program that offers: Phase 1 - technical assistance grants to help farmers develop written business plans that improve the farm's viability; and Phase 2 - investment support grants to help farmers implement their business plans and put their "ideas for change" to work. Please contact the program administrator, Stephanie.Gilbert@Maine.gov to learn more about the program.

The Division also supports the NxLevel business training program. The Division, working with local coalitions, has sponsored courses in Southern and Northern Maine. For further information, contact john.harker@maine.gov at 287-7620.

Ag Business Loans

Need a loan to make capital improvements to your farm, food processing or aquaculture business? The Division manages two loan programs for that purpose, the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund and the Potato Market Improvement Program. In addition, the Department has published a new directory of sources of financing and grants which can be found at

www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/faqs.showpage/pageID/100/index.htm.

Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund - This loan program offers a loan for either 75% or 90% of the total cost of a project for capital improvements for the business. At a favorable 5% interest rate, this program can help save money for agricultural enterprises making improvements. Click here for more information or contact John Harker at 287-7620, email John.Harker@maine.gov.

Potato Marketing Improvement Fund – The Potato Marketing Improvement Fund (PMIF) provides financing to potato growers and packers to construct modern storages, modernize existing storages, and purchase packing lines as part of the industry’s plan to improve the quality and marketing of Maine potatoes.

Long-term, fixed-rate loans are available at low interest rates for the construction or improvements to storage and packing facilities. Funds cannot be used for working capital, refinancing, or non-project related equipment. PMIF funds may only be used for permanent financing after a project is completed. PMIF consists of two programs: Storage Retrofit Fund and the New Facilities Fund. Each is tailored to achieve specific industry goals. For more information, contact Steve Belyea at the Harley D. Welch Agricultural Center, 744 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769, 207-764-2105, e-mail stephen.belyea@maine.gov.

Ag Business Grants

The Division has a few grant programs available to help adopt new technology, promote products or conduct market research. Each program has it's own eligibility criteria and reporting requirements. Contact John Harker at 287-7620 or email John.Harker@maine.gov. for further information on any of the following programs:

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The SCBG program is a competitive grant program, solicited once a year, which funds market research, market promotion and new technology projects specifically to benefit specialty crop producers. The Commissioner and a Review Committee select projects to fund through a competitive grant request for proposals process and then applys to USDA for accepting those projects selected. Grants typically are provided to projects that will help a number of businesses, rather than support individual businesses. For further information about the grant program, applications, or current projects, contact John Harker at 287-7620 or click here for the latest solicitation.

Agricultural Development Grant Program

The ADG program is a State competitive grant program, solicited once a year, which funds market research, market promotion and new technology projects. These grants are given to projects that will help a number of businesses, rather than support individual businesses. Funds for this grant program come from the interest received on the outstanding loans in the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund program. For further information about the grant program, applications, or current projects, contact John Harker at 287-7620 or click here for the latest solicitation.

Agricultural Technical Assistance Grant Program

The ATAG program, established under the AMLF loan fund, provides grants to potential loan applicants for testing new technologies and for adapting new technology or processes. This program was developed to help spur new technology adoption, especially for ag businesses interested in the loan program. An agricultural business must be interested in applying for a loan in order to be eligible for this small grant program. Grants are provided at the discretion of the Commissioner.

Other Ag Development Programs and Projects

Agricultural Water Source Development Cost Share Program

The state Agricultural Water Source Development Cost Share Program has provided over $5.4 million for projects including wells and ponds. All commodities and all size farms are assisted. The current program protects over 12,453 acres of crops from drought. The state investment will yield benefits for many years to come for the 150+ farmers currently in the program.

Currently the program is not accepting any additional applications. Contact John Harker at 287-7620, or e-mail John.Harker@maine.gov, or find more information about this program.