2026 Conference Schedule

Learn how to qualify for REAP grant funding for agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

This presentation will provide a clear, step-by-step overview of the H-2A process-from preparing and submitting the initial application, through housing inspections and to the arrival of approved workers. Participants will gain an understanding of key requirements, timelines, agency roles, and common challenges, helping ensure compliance and smooth coordination throughout each phase of the program.

Maine Christmas Tree Growers' Meeting

A full day presentation for people interested in commercial strawberry production, with a morning session on classic matted row system production and the afternoon addressing growing strawberries in a plasticulture system. There will be a break mid-session. Have lunch on own, and explore the Trades Show Floor.

Being a Maine WIC Nutrition Program farmer offers an opportunity to support your local community, provide healthy food options to families in need, and create stronger connections. We will train farmers on rules and procedures for redeeming WIC and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits.

This session is for all Agricultural, Aquaculture, and Forestry Products. Attendees will learn about infrastructure-related programs and funding resources managed by Agricultural Resources Development. The session will include breakout sessions with attendees to better understand Producer and Processor infrastructure needs. For a more in-depth discussion, staff will offer a 1:1 Listening Post sign-up.

Being a Maine WIC Nutrition Program farmer offers an opportunity to support your local community, provide healthy food options to families in need, and create stronger connections. We will train farmers on rules and procedures for redeeming WIC and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits.

Meetings about topics of interest to help a variety of producers.

What do you see as the main challenges that farmers face? What changes do you want to see in terms of regulation, public funding, and more? Please join the Agricultural Council of Maine and Maine Farm Bureau for an interactive dialogue with policymakers on the issues affecting Maine agriculture. Share your priorities and learn how you can get engaged.

A workshop geared towards Maine's young people, and supporters. Led by FFA and 4-H members! Join us for four engaging 45-minute sessions focused on leadership, hands-on learning, and career insights in agriculture. Sessions include Leadership Training for Youth in Agriculture (9:00 AM), Skill-A-Thon and FFA/4-H Activities (10:00 AM), Alumni and Industry Panel (11:00 AM), and 4-H and FFA 101 (1:00 PM). Youth and the public are invited to connect, learn, and lead in the future of agriculture. Choose the link to learn more.

Winter membership meeting.

Annual meeting, followed by special guests and presentations about forestry management, health, and important insights

Join extension, technical assistance providers, and your peers for a round table discussion on organic vegetable production. Bring any insect, disease, or weed management questions, or just talk about your crop production last year and plans for this year. Coffee will be provided!

1 Pesticide Credit

Educational talks for growers and member business meeting. There is a membership registration fee to attend.

The Local Food Switchboard is a statewide effort to strengthen coordination in Maine's food system by connecting producers, processors, distributors, and buyers through a shared platform and support network. This session will highlight the progress made over the past year of research and design, including the hiring of the Switchboards first Central Operator, who is coordinating day-to-day connections across the supply chain. Participants will have the chance to interact with the platform in development, see how it is designed to inventory infrastructure and connect food system partners, and provide feedback on its direction and usability.

A two-part series! Join us to explore the complexities of modern food systems, with a focus on the nutritional aspects of ultra-processed foods and regional strategies for building sustainable, resilient food networks. Understanding the History and Implications of Ultra-Processed Foods, presented by Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., CFS, and East Coast & West Coast: A Brief Look at Food Systems, presented by Catherine Elizabeth Brown, CDM/CFPP.

Being a Maine WIC Nutrition Program farmer offers an opportunity to support your local community, provide healthy food options to families in need, and create stronger connections. We will train farmers on rules and procedures for redeeming WIC and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring agricultural and forestry industry members who will share how they prioritize their own health and wellness while managing the demands of their farm and forestry operations. Panelists will discuss challenges they face and identify critical gaps in support services. This session will also showcase organizations and service providers dedicated to enhancing health and wellness resources.

This session will feature important resources and opportunities for sheep and goat owners in Maine. Farmers will also have the chance to talk about their needs related to small ruminant production.

Ready to grow beyond the farmstand? Discover what retailers look for, resources from MFBEC and MGFPA, and real-world perspectives from Maine producers and buyers.

Connect with farmers, small business owners, the Maine Office of Tourism, and others who are shaping agritourism across the state. Learn about new training opportunities, upcoming "digital field days," and trends influencing agritourism in Maine. You'll also pick up ideas on how to collaborate, explore whether agritourism is a good fit for your goals, and find ways to tailor it to your brand or agricultural group. Whether youre just getting started or already running agritourism activities, or a person who loves to explore Maine agriculture, everyones welcome! RSVPs encouraged!

The Dirigo Business Incentives tax credit program offers a 10% capital investment tax credit (5% in some counties) and $2,000 per employee provided a qualified training. The qualified business must exceed $50,000 in eligible capital investment to claim annual tax credit. Apply for certification before the start of investment to ensure eligibility for tax credit.

Maine Cheese Guild winter meeting

An opportunity for Maine's dairy farming community to connect and discuss market conditions and policy changes of importance.

Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping to Improve Soil Dynamics.

Compost Tea: Benefits, Concerns and Uncertainty

Learn the pros and cons of tarping in a no-till system. Includes farm experiences, trials, and lessons with tarping and landscape fabric.

Value-added means so much more than turning fruit into jams and jellies! Learn the five different ways an agricultural product would qualify as a value-added product, how the program works, and how to prepare a successful VAPG application.

Find out how Maine farms can sell food to schools. Learn about Maine's Local Food Fund, which helps schools buy local products. Hear real-world experiences from local farmers and see how USDA and Full Plates Full Potential programs are improving school food systems. Plus, sample Maine foods being served in cafeterias!

This meeting will be an opportunity to hear the latest status updates from DACF's PFAS Response Program and PFAS Fund. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and offer recommendations.

Get inspired by Maine farmers, food producers, aggregators, and buyers on how they have incorporated farm to institution work into their business. Spend most of the session making connections to buy and sell more local food. Come with your business cards and promotional materials.

Staff from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program (PFML) will provide a general overview about the new law followed by an opportunity to hear from the public with a question and answer session.

Recognition event thanking farmers and stakeholders who participate and support Good Shepherd Food Bank's Mainers Feeding Mainers program.

Join staff from the SBA Maine District Office as they explain how the agency supports farms through various programs and networks. SBA provides access to capital, business development and support for government contractors.

Maine Sheep Breeders Association Maine Sheep Breeders Meeting

A Review of Potassium and Sulfur in Maine Cropping Systems.

Recycling Farm Residuals for Reducing Expenses and Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Updates from MOFGA Certification Services on rules/process changes, the Maine Dairy Industry Association, and processors.

Learn more about the programs and collaboration information.

Take a practical look at your farm business and set a plan for a stronger year. Reflect on the past season, benchmark against similar farms, and develop clear improvement goals with actionable tactics.

Back for another year! Hosts Colt and Glenda set up shop for a live show with a surprise, special guest from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.

Learn more about the Farmcast.

MOFGA facilitates open discussion on barriers farmers face when certifying organic.

Learn about a new grant opportunity that would allow for the purchase of minor equipment (per unit cost less than $10,000 )for specialty crops. This session will cover the complete grant process, including eligibility, allowable items, and reporting requirements.

Maine Eastern States Exposition Trustees winter meeting

Hiring your first W-2 employee can be challenging and confusing. This one-hour session covers the essentials-from finding and interviewing candidates to onboarding new hires. We'll also review how to report new hires to the state of Maine to stay compliant with employment regulations. Tailored for the agriculture sector, the session will address industry-specific hiring challenges and conclude with a Q&A.

This interactive workshop will begin with an overview of the Maine food policy landscape, the work of the Maine Food Policy Work Group, and the policy priorities identified by the Work Group members. We will then hear from advocates about the bills and bonds they are working on, why they are important, and how people can get involved. Policy topics may include anti-hunger research and program funding, farmland preservation, food infrastructure investment, institutional local food procurement, and farmer mental health and wellness.

Educational talks for apple growers, Society business meeting

Come learn about agroforestry practices like alley cropping, silvopasture, windbreaks, vegetated buffers, forest farming and forest gardening. We will use a case study to demonstrate a structured design process to elegantly arrange these practices and operations around the farm landscape.

Learn about forest carbon credits.

Managing Useable Products for the Farm; and Compost Management Plan Development

This session explores how biological control and IPM can work together to build resilient, ecologically balanced cropping systems in the Northeast. Dr. Maryam Nouri-Aiin will share current research on sustainable pest management, highlighting the use of fungi, soil health strategies, and findings from recent studies on the Colorado potato beetle and wireworms.

The session will also include an interactive discussion inviting farmers to share their perspectives on biological control-its effectiveness, practicality, and costsand how research can better align with on-farm realities.

1 Pesticide Credit

Learn how grid-tied solar + battery storage can cut energy costs now while building long-term resilience. ReVision Energy will cover how systems are designed to grow with your farm-supporting future needs like EVs, added infrastructure, or expanded operations.

Farms, local businesses, and farm supporters are invited to learn more about various promotional tools and resources

This session will help farmers navigate Maine's health insurance marketplace with the goal of increasing the number of Maine farmers with health insurance coverage. This session will increase awareness of the availability of premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions that farmers may be eligible for depending on adjusted gross income, significantly decreasing farmers' health insurance costs.

What is it, how is it made, what types are there, and the big question... Is it always SWEET???

Resources for Planning and Implementing NRCS Practices and Activities Related to Farm Nutrient Management

This session will highlight farmers and woodland owners incorporating agroforestry into their operations and will include a discussion about what resources are available and what support is needed. It will include a primer on agroforestry techniques and their practical application in Maine.

Learn the basics of organic certification and USDA's TOPP program. Discuss becoming a mentor or transitioning producer, technical assistance, and opportunities via USDAs Organic Transition Initiative.

Value-added means so much more than turning fruit into jams and jellies! Learn the five different ways an agricultural product would qualify as a value-added product, how the program works, and how to prepare a successful VAPG application.

Learn about the Agricultural Minimum Wage requirements and other changes to wage and hour and workplace safety laws affecting ag workers and employers. Get resources and best practices for meeting state and federal safety standards.

Passing a farm to the next generation-or finding the right successorcan be both rewarding and complex. Learn practical guidance on succession planning, land access, and farm transfer strategies. Learn how to start the conversation, take key steps, and connect with professionals who can help you plan for your farm's future with confidence.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is preparing to launch the Maine Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP) for producers impacted by severe weather in 2023 and 2024. Maine will receive $60 million in funding to distribute to eligible Maine producers across four loss categories: crop, timber, aquaculture and infrastructure. Learn more about how you can qualify for this relief funding. DACF staff will be joined by staff from USDA Farm Service Agency who will describe other relief funding for which Maine producers may be eligible.

Related Grant Webpage

Presentation of a three-year economic impact study of Maine's certified organic producers. Covers new trends, financial benchmarks, and market opportunities/challenges.

Learn how to qualify for REAP grant funding for agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Join UMaine Agroecology Lab's Dr Rachel Shattman and AFT's New England Soil Health Specialist Sara Keleman to discuss climate impacts on your farm and pathways to adapt to the changes to come. Farmers of all scopes are welcome to join the discussion and share their specific challenges and as a group, we will workshop how to gear your business to weather the storm of financial and production struggles as you create a plan for a resilient farm operation. 1 Pesticide Credit