Senator Roger Sherman Testifies in Support of Protections for Maine’s Agricultural Industry

AUGUSTA – Senator Roger Sherman (R-Hodgdon) has testified before the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, where he serves as the lead Senate Republican, in support of his bill to protect and strengthen Maine’s agricultural and farming communities.

LD 1684: “An Act To Create the Maine Agriculture Protection Act,” seeks to shield Maine’s vital agricultural industry from damaging laws and regulations. The bill is cosponsored by nine Democratic and Republican legislators, including Agricultural Committee Co-Chair Representative Wendy Pieh (D-Bremen). In addition, leaders of the Maine Dairy Industry Association, the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, and the Maine Potato Board expressed their support at the public hearing.

Sen. Sherman’s bill gives greater oversight to Maine’s Department of Agriculture by consolidating all agricultural related issues under the department’s umbrella, which is guided by generally accepted agricultural practices. These generally accepted agricultural practices strike a balance between the needs of the agricultural and farming industry with the interests of the public. Many statutes affecting agriculture are grouped under various classifications, causing confusion and potentially harmful policies, such as broad public nuisance laws. By grouping all agriculture related issues within the Department of Agriculture, the Senator expects more realistic and less detrimental policies. Additionally, provisions that require public input into rulemaking ensure that the Department of Agriculture will be well versed in the concerns of Maine’s farmers.

A significant portion of Sen. Sherman’s bill is devoted to clearly defining terms and classifications relating to Maine’s agriculture and farming industry, including: agricultural products, agriculture protection areas, composting, and farm operations. By revising and broadening these definitions, Sen. Sherman seeks to clarify existing laws, and expand the protections that these classifications guarantee.

LD 1684 also seeks to strengthen Maine’s agricultural and farming communities by penalizing farmers who do not adopt generally accepted agricultural practices, and by authorizing Maine’s Commissioner of Agriculture to conduct educational outreach programs for the agricultural community. This outreach would entail increasing awareness of the provisions set forth in the Maine Agriculture Protection Act, and generally accepted agriculture practices.

“Farming is not just a source of income for many Mainers, it’s a part of their DNA,” the Senator said. “Farming is a way of life and, often, a means of survival. Our laws should recognize this reality, emphasize the importance of agriculture to our state, and protect our farmers from unreasonable and detrimental policies.”

Sen. Sherman represents District 34, which encompasses southern and central Aroostook County, including Fort Fairfield, Houlton and Presque Isle. He can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505, in Hodgdon at 532-7073, or by e-mail at rsherm_2000@yahoo.com.

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