Maine Senior FarmShare: For Farmers

On this page:

• Become an Authorized Farm
• Farmer Resources
  • Guidelines
  • MOSSA
  • Forms
  • Social Media Graphics
• Training
• Annual Schedule and Deadlines

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Become an Authorized Farm

• Are you a Maine Farmer?
• Do you grow mixed produce?
• Can your farm offer a minimum of 5 different produce items over an 8-week period?

If you answered yes to these three questions, you may be eligible to participate in the Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP) if we are seeking farmers in your area. While we are accepting applications for new farms in all counties, we are particularly focusing on Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington counties.

Please fill out a New Farmer Appliation Form (PDF). Submit it via email to SeniorFarmShare.AGR@maine.gov or by mail to:

Maine Senior FarmShare Program
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

For your farm to be considered, it meet all eligibility requirements in the MSFP Farmer Policies and Guidelines. All applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified of their status.

New Farm Application Form (PDF)

Farmer Resources for Authorized Farms

Guideline Documents

• 2023 Farmer Policies and Guidelines (PDF)
• 2023 Participant Eligibility and Income Guidelines (PDF)
• Eligible Foods List (PDF) - Only foods that are listed on the MSFP can be purchased with Senior FarmShare benefit funds by participants.

Maine Online Senior Share Access (MOSSA)

• MOSSA - Access your account
• 2023 Share Tracking and Reporting (PDF)

Forms for Authorized Farms

• Participant Agreement Form - English (PDF)
  • Albanian (PDF) / Arabic (PDF) / Chinese (PDF) / French (PDF) / Khmer (PDF) / Russian (PDF) / Somali (PDF) / Spanish (PDF) / Vietnamese (PDF)
• Participant Rights and Responsibilities - English (PDF)
  • Arabic (PDF) / Chinese (PDF) / French (PDF) / Khmer (PDF) / Russian (PDF) / Somali (PDF) / Spanish (PDF) / Vietnamese (PDF)
• Proxy Form - Individual Participant (PDF)
• Proxy Form - Multiple Participants (PDF)
• Individual Share Tracking Form (PDF)
• Participant Waiting List (PDF)
• USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF)

Shareable Social Media Graphics

Let seniors know your farm has available shares by creating a social media post. We have created graphics to help you share the news! Share the post on your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page. Social Media Graphics for Farmers (ZIP).

Farmer Training

We provide assistance and training on:

• Completing your end of season reporting
• Completing your farmer application
• Signing up participants

Trainings listed below are for previously authorized farms.

2023 Annual Training

Farmers who participated in previous that will be applying again for the upcoming season are required to complete the MSFP annual farmer training. Please read the updated Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP) Farmer Policies and Guidelines, including Appendix A, Civil Rights Training. Once you have read through both please use the link below to take the short quiz. After you complete the quiz you will receive your confirmation code to complete your farm sign up in MOSSA.

Complete 2023 Farmer Training

Annual Schedule and Deadlines for Authorized Farms

Month	What's Happening & What's Due
January - March	Complete required annual farmer training. Sign and submit Farmer Application in MOSSA. Program Manage allocates shares to all authorized MSFP farms. Share allocations are posted in MOSSA accounts.
April	Public information posted online. MSFP webpage is updated with the current years authorized farms. Eligible seniors may begin signing up for the season.
May - October	MSFP issues payments to farms for all eligible Senior FarmShare Agreement Forms entered into MOSSA.
July 31	Deadline to fill shares from first allocation or request a 30-day extension to fill remaining shares. The MSFP begins the second allocation of shares by reallocating unfilled shares.
August	During the first week in August the MSFP will post second allocation share amounts in farm MOSSA accounts.
September 30	Final deadline to sign up senior participants for payment. Farmers must enter all Senior FarmShare Agreement Forms into MOSSA by September 30. (Forms that are mailed must be signed by the participant no later than September 30 to be eligible.) Farmers may continue to sign up senior participants as replacements.
October - November	Farmers begin recording share redemptions in MOSSA for end of season reporting. All redemption reports must be completed no later than November 30. NO EXCEPTIONS
December	All reimbursement checks that are due by farmers must be post marked on or before the second Friday of December. Checks are made payable to: Treasurer, State of Maine Checks must be mailed to: Maine Senior FarmShare Program 28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Read the USDA Non-Discrimination Statement (PDF)