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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

ME: Rural/Farming

About one-quarter of Maine farmworkers live in poverty, and they are roughly 4.5 times as likely to live below the poverty line as other workers in the state, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Effort continues to ensure state minimum wage for ME farmworkers

Legislation proposed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills would ensure thousands of farmworkers are eligible to receive the state minimum wage. Current law …

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A recent American Farmland Trust survey revealed that over 50% of farmers surveyed sought conservation education from another farmer, versus 20% who looked for help from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. (Adobe Stock) <br />
Bill Aids Farmer Education to Tackle Impacts of Climate Change

New federal legislation aims to help farmers in Maine and elsewhere share their knowledge of conservation practices as they face an increasing number …

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About one-quarter of Maine farmworkers live in poverty, making them roughly 4.5 times as likely to live below the poverty line as other Maine workers, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. <br />(Adobe Stock)
ME Farm Workers Denied Minimum Wage

Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed a bill to pay Maine farmworkers the state's minimum wage, but labor groups say the fight isn't over. They plan to keep …

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently allocated $300 million for projects that will increase land access for underserved farmers, including funding to restore lands into the hands of those who have been underserved. (Adobe Stock)
Cultivating Food and Community for Maine Immigrants

New immigrants in Maine are benefiting from an effort to improve access to traditional foods and farming practices. Presente! Maine, a Latino and …

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In 2021, workers in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry experienced one of the highest fatal injury rates at 20 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, compared to a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers for all U.S. industries. (Adobe Stock)
ME Farmworkers Strive for Minimum Wage, Right to Unionize

Lawmakers in Maine are considering legislation to improve the wages and working conditions of thousands of farmworkers. Current law requires …

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In the next decade, as much as 400,000 acres of Maine farmland will change hands, according to Maine Farmland Trust. The 2017 Census of Agriculture revealed that only 11% of Black farmers in Maine own the land that they cultivate. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />(Adobe Stock)
Congress Aims to Remove Land Access Barriers for Young Farmers

New bipartisan legislation in Congress aims to fix the number one challenge facing the next generation of American farmers - access to land. The …

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The 2022 National Young Farmers Coalition Survey found more than 70% of respondents have experienced at least one climate impact such as floods or drought in the past five years, impacting their livelihood and mental health. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Network of Young Farmers Provides Mental Health Supports

Young farmers in the United States face extensive structural barriers affecting their mental health, according to a new survey from the National …

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Since 1939, Maine has celebrated June as Maine Dairy Month. The event currently honors the 176 dairy farmers caring for 700,000 acres of critical farmland across the state. (Adobe Stock)
Grants Help ME Farmers, Processors Keep Milk Local

Dairy processors and farmers throughout Maine are eligible for grants to help them improve their operations as part of a growing movement to keep loca…

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Leaders of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations tell state lawmakers tribal sovereignty would bring federal funding, and jobs. Research shows per-capita income for non-Maine tribes grew by 61% between 1989 and 2020, yet only 9% for Wabanaki Nations. (Wabanaki Alliance)
Wabanaki Nations Seek Tribal Sovereignty from Maine

Leaders of the Wabanaki Nations are asking Maine lawmakers to recognize tribal sovereignty and help ensure a better economic future for their youth…

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Maine's largest crop is potatoes, which grow best in cool weather. But projected warming from climate change may reduce potato yields by 25 to 35%, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine. (Adobe Stock)
Lawmakers Consider Drought-Relief Measures for ME Farmers

Lawmakers in Maine are considering ways to help farmers develop long-term solutions to drought, which has plagued the state for the past three years…

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The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced $18.914 million from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would go to address emerging contaminants such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Maine. (Adobe Stock)
Maine Farmers Seek Help with 'Forever Chemicals' Contamination

Lawmakers in Maine are considering a bill to compensate farmers for the widespread use of state-sanctioned PFAS, or "forever chemicals" on their land…

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Data shows an increase in development has resulted in 19 acres per day, or 7,000 acres per year of New England agricultural land being lost or threatened between 2001 and 2016, according to a report from the American Farmland Trust. (Adobe Stock)
Maine’s Small Farmers See Benefits from USDA Census

Maine's small farmers are encouraged to complete the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture census to ensure they have a voice in federal decisions …

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