The Maine Agriculture Commissioner, Walter Whitcomb, says the state is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to help food producers in the state after a couple lackluster harvest seasons, the Associated Press reports.

According to the article, the federal government is investing more than a half million dollars in Maine to help, with $100,000 of it going to the Maine Potato Board to help make the state’s potato growing system more financially and environmentally stable.

This isn't the first time the USDA has stepped in to help Mainers out. The program has been used over the years to improve Maine’s harvest of everything from hops to honey, the article reports.

The University of Maine will also get a chunk of the change, they will receive more than $40,000 to study the impact of fertilizers on wild blueberry production.

 

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