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Commissioner Beal Announces Recipient of the 2023 Commissioner's Distinguished Service Award
January 11, 2023 - AUGUSTA, Maine - Yesterday, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal named Caitlin Hunter the recipient of the 2023 Commissioner's Distinguished Service Award. Hunter invested more than 40 years in raising goats and making cheese and has been called the "Bedrock of the Maine Cheese Guild" and "cheesemaker extraordinaire." The Commissioner's Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have significantly contributed to Maine agriculture. The award was presented at the DACF's Maine Agricultural Trades Show Commissioner's Luncheon on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, in front of representatives of all four Congressional offices, state legislators, past DACF Commissioners, and over 300 friends of Maine agriculture. Continue Reading
Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal Makes Key Position Appointments
January 10, 2023 - AUGUSTA, ME - Today, Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal named Nancy McBrady as the Deputy Commissioner and Craig Lapine as the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources (BAFRR) Director. Lapine replaces McBrady, who served as BAFRR Director since 2019. Lapine has served as Special Assistant to Commissioner Beal since 2020. Also joining the Department is Jo D. Saffeir, who will be stepping into the role of Special Assistant to the Commissioner. Continue Reading
More outdoors enthusiasts than ever chose a Maine State Park campground in 2022; get your camping trip locked in for 2023
January 6, 2023 - AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) Director Andy Cutko announced a record set during 2022 for camping nights. During 2022, Maine State Park campgrounds recorded over 319,000 visitor nights. 2022 was BPL's second-highest ranking year for total state park visitation, with more than 3.28 million people spending time at the bureau's 48 parks and historic sites. In 2021, Maine State Parks welcomed more than 3.3 million visitors and more than 315,000 campers. Continue Reading
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Opens Applications for the 2023 Visiting Artist Program
January 5, 2023 - AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) today announced the opening of its 2023 Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) Visiting Artist Program application period. The program invites visual artists to the remote wilderness of Maine for two consecutive weeks of solitude. One artist and a guest will receive lodging at the AWW Lock Dam Camp for two weeks of the artist's choosing during August and an orientation and regular visits from AWW Rangers. Visual artists may apply on the AWW webpage. The application period ends Monday, February 6, 2023. Continue Reading
Mills Administration Announces Next Call for Proposals for Land for Maine's Future Program
December 13, 2022 - AUGUSTA - The Mills Administration announced two new calls for proposals through the Lands for Maine's Future Program (LMF). The requests are for projects of statewide significance, community conservation, and working forests and build on numerous successful proposals for conservation, recreation, water access, and working waterfront preservation. Continue Reading
Baxter State Park Authority Accepting Applications for Park Director
December 7, 2022 - AUGUSTA, Maine - The Baxter State Park Authority (BSPA), a three-person authority consisting of Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, Maine Forest Service Director Patty Cormier, and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso, announced that they are accepting applications for the position of Director of Baxter State Park. Continue Reading
82nd Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show Kicks Off January 10
December 6, 2022 - AUGUSTA, ME - The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Agricultural Trades Show, the state's largest farmer-focused event, returns to the Augusta Civic Center on January 10-12, 2023. This year's event is the first in-person gathering since 2019. The previous two years featured exclusively online attendee experiences. DACF's Agricultural Resource Development Division is the show organizer and announced plans for the 2023 edition. Continue Reading
Animal Health Officials Remind Bird Owners to Protect Flocks from HPAI
November 25, 2022 - AUGUSTA- Maine Animal Health officials with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) remind commercial and backyard flock owners to keep birds indoors to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Today's reminder follows the detection of HPAI in a small, non-commercial group of backyard birds in Washington County. Continue Reading
Send Holiday Cheer, Not Pests: Follow Out-Of-State Plant Health Regulations
November 18, 2022 - AUGUSTA -Many Maine residents' holiday celebrations are incomplete without decorating with Maine-grown wreaths, trees, and other decorative plant material. Sending wreaths and trees to our friends and families across the country can help us feel connected even if we can't be together this holiday season. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reminds Mainers sending holiday greenery that they can save time and money and prevent product loss by shipping only healthy plant material. Continue Reading
Report Highlights Economic Impact of Urban Trees in Maine
October 31, 2022 - AUGUSTA, ME - Project Canopy, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's urban and community forestry program, announced findings from the recently published and ground-breaking economic analysis of urban forestry. Published by the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance (NMSFA), the study revealed that Maine's urban and community forestry industry contributes an estimated $410 million to the economy annually and directly supports nearly 4,000 jobs. Further conclusions show that trees cover 44.9% of Maine's most populous communities and save $83.8 million annually by removing air pollutants, reducing stormwater, and carbon sequestration. Continue Reading
Maine Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Announces New Division Director
October 27, 2022 - AUGUSTA, ME - The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources announced Michelle Webb as Director of the Agricultural Resource Development Division (ARD). As the new ARD Director, Michelle will oversee important and impactful statewide programs benefitting farms, food producers, and the public, including marketing and promotion efforts such as the Real Maine agriculture and agri-tourism branding program, as well as supporting domestic and international trade opportunities. Continue Reading
Vigilance is still needed as HPAI continues to be detected in Maine's wildlife
October 14, 2022 - AUGUSTA, ME - Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including through wild birds, contact with infected poultry, equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Starting in February 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reported detecting 12 cases of the disease in domestic birds, all involving non-commercial backyard flocks. DACF found these cases in six counties across the state. Though the DACF has not reported any HPAI cases in domestic bird flocks since June 29, 2022, the virus is still being detected in wild birds. Continue Reading
Cleaning up storm debris? Here's what to know.
October 13, 2022 - Continue Reading
State Drought Task Force Says Drought Conditions Have Improved Across Maine
October 7, 2022 - Continue Reading
Mills Administration Creates PFAS Fund Advisory Committee and Hires Elizabeth Fuller Valentine as PFAS Fund Director
October 5, 2022 - Augusta, ME - The Mills Administration has named Elizabeth (Beth) Fuller Valentine as the new PFAS Fund Director and announced the list of appointed members to serve on the newly established PFAS Fund Advisory Committee. The $60 million PFAS Fund, proposed by Governor Mills and passed by the State Legislature, will provide direct relief to Maine farmers impacted by PFAS contamination. Continue Reading