The Northeast Regional Center for Rural
Development Land Use Toolbox
Maine - Agriculture & Rural Change
links
Description:
The Cooperative Forestry Research Unit (CFRU) is a partnership between
forest landowners and managers in the state of Maine and the University
of Maine. The purpose of the CFRU is to help its member organizations
advance forest management practices in the state of Maine through scientific
research and education.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
University
of Maine
Maine
Image Analysis Laboratory,
http://www.ume.maine.edu/~MIAL/welcome2.htm
Description:
Since 1991, the Department of Forest Management's Maine Image Analysis
Laboratory (MIAL) has provided technical skills and education in remote
sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIs) as well as conducted
groundbreaking research. In addition, the MIAL had provided workshops
and training programs in support of users in industry, business and governmental
sectors.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Planning/Zoning
Jurisdiction: Maine
University
of Maine
Maine
Rural Development Council,
http://mrdc.umext.maine.edu/Default.htm
Description:
MeRDC is an intergovernmental and inter-agency association established
in 1991 as part of a national initiative on rural development. It is dedicated
to the promotion of innovative rural development policies and programs
by: fostering the principles and practices of strategic and comprehensive
planning among member organizations and in rural communities; providing
a forum for building collaboration and partnership among institutions
and agencies; serving as a platform for formulating and influencing national
and state rural policies; and undertaking the development and demonstration
of innovative rural projects.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Planning/Zoning, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
University
of Maine
Yankee
Woodlot Forestry Camp,
http://www.umaine.edu/umext/YankeeWoodlot/
Description:
Forestry information for landowners in Maine.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, What You Can Do
Jurisdiction: Maine
University
of Maine
Senator
George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental Research,
http://www.umaine.edu/WaterResearch/default.htm
Description:
The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed
Research has a diverse interdisciplinary mission: to promote world-class
caliber collaborative research among Maine faculty and external scientists;
to facilitate the quest for research funding for the UMS and government
scientists; to enhance training of future water resource professionals
through research experiences and coursework; and to offer information,
guidance and environmental education as a public service to individuals,
groups, and organizations.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
University
of Maine
Water
Quality Team,
http://www.umaine.edu/waterquality/
Description:
The Water Quality team at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension
(UMCE) provides information to the public on protecting Maine's water
resources. We focus on lake and watershed issues, and work with agricultural
producers to implement best management practices (BMPs) on their farms.
Through applied research we provide growers with information on efficient
nutrient and weed management practices.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Planning/Zoning, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
OTHER MAINE LINKS
American
Farmland Trust
American
Farmland Trust Northeastern Regional Office: Maine,
http://www.farmland.org/northeast/maine.htm
Description: Since their founding in 1980, American Farmland Trust has helped win permanent protection for over a million acres of American farmland. They have three strategies for saving America's farmland: protect the best land through publicly funded agricultural conservation easement programs; plan for growth with agriculture in mind through effective community planning and growth management; and keep the land healthy for farmland through encouraging stewardship and conservation practices.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Conservation
Law Foundation
Conservation
Law Foundation,
http://www.clf.org/
Description:
The Conservation Law Foundation is the oldest and largest regional environmental
advocacy organization in the United States. We're based in New England,
where our attorneys, scientists, economists, and policy experts work on
the most significant threats to the natural environment of the region
and its residents.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Housing, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Department
of Agriculture
Agricultural
Business Development,
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/mpd/business/index.html
Description: Maine FarmLink is a farm transfer program that connects farmers seeking farmland with farmers and farm owners that are selling, transferring or leasing their farms and farmland.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Agriculture
Maine
Farm Link,
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/mpd/farmlink/index.html
Description: The Division has a number of grant programs available to help adopt new technology, promote products or conduct market research. Need a loan to make capital improvements to your farm, food processing or aquaculture business? The Division manages two loan programs for that purpose, the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund and the Potato Market Improvement Program. The Division also provides Technical, Marketing and Business Planning Assistance for Agricultural Businesses.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Agriculture
Maine
Farmland Protection,
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/mpd/farmland/index.html
Description: Information on several permanent and temporary land protection programs.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Agriculture
Maine
Nutrient Management Program,
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/oanrr/NutrientManagement.htm
Description: Over the years, Maine has seen an increased awareness of non-point source pollution such as nutrients and sediments. It became essential to develop a statewide Nutrient Management Program to target agriculture, a significant nutrient contributor to the waters of Maine. One fundamental goal of the Program is to implement education opportunities and best management practices to reduce nutrient loads into our waterbodies.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Agriculture
Soil
and Water Conservation District Program,
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/oanrr/SWCD.htm
Description: Maine's 16 Soil and Water Conservation Districts are subdivisions of state government that are run by locally elected and appointed volunteers. Their purpose is to solve local natural resource conservation problems (both urban and agricultural) as determined by local stakeholders.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Conservation
Forest
Policy and Management Division,
http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/fpmhome.htm
Description: The Forest Policy and Management Division provides technical assistance, information and educational services to the public, forest landowners, forest products processors and marketers, municipalities and other stakeholders. The division also implements the Forest Practices Act, providing outreach and enforcement services. The division anticipates and responds to forest policy issues and reports to the public on the state of the forest resource.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Fiscal Impact/Taxation, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Conservation
Natural
Areas Program,
http://www.state.me.us/doc/nrimc/mnap/home.htm
Description: The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) serves Maine citizens as the most comprehensive source of information on the State's important natural features. The Program inventories lands that support rare and endangered plants and animals, rare natural communities, and outstanding examples of representative natural communities. By providing objective and comprehensive information, the Maine Natural Areas program helps to equip decision-makers with the necessary tools to make informed and responsible decisions.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Conservation
Project
Canopy,
http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/projectcanopy/
Description: An innovative effort to help Maine people develop long-term community tree programs, and maximize the benefits trees and forests provide. Learn how we can provide your town or organization with education, technical expertise, help in raising public awareness, and publicity to recruit volunteers.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of the Secretary of State
Online
Rules of Maine State Government Agencies,
http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/rcn/apa/depts.htm
Description: Rule chapters in the Code of Maine Rules (CMR) are arranged by unique numbers which identify the department, departmental unit, and chapter. For example, 01-015 CMR Chapter 1 represents Chapter 1 of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Maine Milk Commission. Click on the highlighted departmental designation to reach a complete list of its current chapters.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Fiscal Impact/Taxation, Healthy Communities, Historic Preservation, Housing, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Department
of Transportation
Community
Transportation,
http://www.maine.gov/mdot/community-programs/community-programs.php
Description: Links to information about community transportation programs.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Transportation
Jurisdiction: Maine
Economic
Research Service - USDA
Maine
State Fact Sheet from USDA/ERS,
http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ME.htm
Description: State fact sheets provide information on population, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for each state in the United States.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Maine
Farm
Service Agency - USDA
Farm
Service Agency,
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/me
Description:
Stabilizing farm income, helping farmers conserve land and water resources,
providing credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and helping
farm operations recover from the effects of disaster are the missions
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Growing
New Farmers Initiative
Growing
New Farmers Initiative,
http://gnf.bigmindcatalyst.com/cgi/bmc2.pl?page=pubpg1.html&node=1010
Description:
The Growing New Farmers (GNF) Project is a regional initiative to provide
future generations of Northeast farmers with the support and expertise
they need to succeed. GNF brings together service providers from across
the Northeast who are committed to working with and advocating for new
and beginning farmers.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
GrowSmart
Maine
GrowSmart
Maine,
http://www.growsmartmaine.org/
Description:
We are working to create an organization that can engage, inspire and
mobilize the people of Maine to protect our communities, our environment
and our economy from the potentially devastating effects of sprawl. We
hope to build a new kind of organization to take on this problem, one
that combines citizen involvement with technical sophistication and that
attacks the many facets of the sprawl problem - in public policy, planning,
public attitudes and the marketplace - in an integrated way.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Housing, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
Harvard
University
Harvard
Forest,
http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/index.html
Description:
Since 1907 research and education have been the mission of the Harvard
Forest, one of the oldest and most intensively studied forests in North
America. From a center comprised of 3000 acres of land, research facilities,
and the Fisher Museum the scientists, students, and collaborators at the
Forest explore topics ranging from conservation and environmental change
to land-use history and the ways in which physical, biological and human
systems interact to change our earth.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Maine
Audubon Society
Maine
Audubon Society,
http://www.maineaudubon.org/about/index.html
Description:
Maine Audubon is a community of people who share an appreciation of Maine's
wildlife and outdoors, a concern for the stewardship of its natural resources,
and a commitment to a clean environment. Dedicated to both environmental
education and advocacy we: work to protect wildlife and conserve the state's
outstanding natural resources; connect people and nature through hands-on
experiential learning; and build community through members and chapters.
Check out the information under wildlife and habitat conservation.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Maine
Coastal Program
The
Sea Around Us,
http://www.state.me.us/mcp/projects/sea_around_us.html
Description:
Information about the habitats of Maine's marine and estuary waters and
their management and protection.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Maine
Environmental Policy Institute
Maine
Environmental Policy Institute,
http://www.meepi.org/
Description:
The mission of the Maine Environmental Policy Institute (MEPI) is to help
Mainers understand the importance of healthy ecosystems to their families
and communities. The Institute, an independent nonprofit organization
based in Hallowell, Maine, is dedicated to researching environmental challenges
facing the state and reporting this research to policy makers and the
public.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Housing, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Maine
Farm Bureau
Maine
Farm Bureau,
http://www.mainefarmbureau.com/
Description:
Maine Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, voluntary organization financed
and controlled by the member families. The mission of Maine Farm Bureau
is to analyze economic and public problems of agriculture and formulate
action to achieve economic opportunity for the members.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Maine
Maine
Judicial Branch
Supreme
Court Opinions,
http://www.courts.state.me.us/opinions/supreme/index.html
Description: The opinions of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court sitting as the Law Court have been published on this site since January 1, 1997. The permanent official version of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's opinions is that published in Atlantic Reporter, 2d Series, which has been Maine's Official Reporter since 1966.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Fiscal Impact/Taxation, Healthy Communities, Historic Preservation, Housing, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Maine
Real Estate and Development Association
Maine
Real Estate and Development Association,
http://www.mainehousing.org/
Description: MEREDA's mission is the same today as it was at its founding - to promote fair and responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout the State of Maine. MEREDA remains firmly committed to vigorously presenting the views and concerns of its members on issues that affect them to state lawmakers and other government officials, and advocating effectively on their behalf.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Housing
Jurisdiction: Maine
Natural
Resource Conservation Service - USDA
Maine
NRCS,
http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov/
Description:
NRCS soil conservationists, soil scientists, agronomists, ecologists,
engineers, planners, and other specialists promote land stewardship by
providing technical assistance through teams to address surface and groundwater
quality; wetlands, riparian areas, and biodiversity; aquatic and terrestrial
habitat; and impacts of landuse changes. NRCS teams work on all of a state's
landscapes: agricultural, wetlands and riparian areas, suburban, rural,
urban centers, and forested.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
New
England Regional Water Quality Program
New
England Regional Water Quality Program,
http://www.usawaterquality.org/newengland/
Description:
The CSREES New England Regional Water Quality Program works to improve
water quality management through educational knowledge and extension programming
that emerges from a research base. The program builds on the strengths
of the Extension Water Quality Programs at the Land Grant Universities
throughout New England.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
New
England Small Farm Institute
New
England Small Farm Institute,
http://www.smallfarm.org/
Description:
A private non-profit organization supporting beginning farmers and sustainable
small scale agriculture throughout New England.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Northeast
Center for Risk Management Education
Northeast
Center for Risk Management Education,
http://www.necrme.org/
Description:
The goal of the Northeast Center for Risk Management Education is to assist
and educate agricultural producers and their families from the Northeast
region. As a regional resource, the Center provides risk management education
leadership and coordination, establishing priorities for RME programs
and conducting a competitive grants program to respond to these priorities.
The Center also works to enhance collaboration and partnering within the
region, and disseminates information regarding risk management activities
occurring throughout the Northeast.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
Northeast-Midwest
Institute
Northeast-Midwest
Institute,
http://www.nemw.org
Description:
The Northeast-Midwest Institute is a Washington-based, private, nonprofit,
and non-partisan research organization dedicated to economic vitality,
environmental quality, and regional equity for Northeast and Midwest states.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
Northeast
Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Northeast
Sustainable Agriculture Working Group,
http://www.smallfarm.org/nesawg/index.php
Description:
The Purpose of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
is to build a sustainable food and agriculture system... one that is environmentally
sound, economically viable, socially just and produces safe, nutritious
food.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
Office
of GIS
Maine
Office of GIs,
http://apollo.ogis.state.me.us/
Description:
MEGIS coordinates GIs activities and provides services to encourage and
guide the development of GIs in Maine to serve both public and private
sector applications. MEGIS is responsible for providing services which
ensure the quality of and access to these data. To this end, MEGIS manages
the State's GIs database to maximize data sharing and compatibility between
local, state and national programs, develops GIs standards and guidelines,
provides quality control services, and maintains public "one-stop
shopping" for digital geographic data. MEGIS operates a GIs computer
center for state agencies and provides an array of application development
and technical services.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning, Transportation, Water/Sewer, What You Can Do With Others
Jurisdiction: Maine
Open
Space Institute
Northern
Forest Protection Fund,
http://www.osiny.org/northernforest/
Description:
The Northern Forest Protection Fund is a grant and loan making program
established by the Open Space Conservancy, an affiliate of the Open Space
Institute, Inc., in 2000 to support the purchase of critical forestlands
in the Northern Forest region. The Fund's goal is to support the permanent
protection of significant Northern Forest landscapes in order to promote
sustainable forestry, protect ecosystems, and secure opportunities for
public recreation.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation
Jurisdiction: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
Sierra
Club
Maine
Chapter Homepage,
http://maine.sierraclub.org/
Description: The mission statement of the Sierra Club is to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; and educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine
Small
Woodlands Owners Association of Maine
Small
Woodlands Owners Association of Maine,
http://www.swoam.com/
Description: Owning and managing small woodland properties in Maine can be a very rewarding endeavor, but there are many issues that small woodland owners must deal with, including: taxes, public use of private lands, land use regulations, protecting wildlife habitats and water quality, and marketing and utilization of forest products. For more than two and half decades SWOAM has been helping small woodland owners address these and countless other issues.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Land Preservation, What You Can Do
Jurisdiction: Maine
State
Planning Office
Maine
Land Use Planning Team,
http://www.state.me.us/spo/landuse/
Description:
The Land Use Team provides technical and financial assistance to municipalities,
advises the legislature, coordinates with other state agencies, and, in
general, advocates for sound land use planning. The Land Use Team administers
SPO's Community Planning and Investment Program (CPIP), covering the topic
areas of community planning, growth management and smart growth.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Land Preservation, Planning/Zoning
Jurisdiction: Maine
Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education Program
Northeast
Region SARE,
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/index.html
Description:
SARE supports research and education that helps build the future economic
viability of agriculture in the United States.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
University
of New Hampshire
Center
for Integrative Regional Problem Solving,
http://www.unh.edu/cirps/
Description: The Center for Integrative Regional Problem Solving facilitates ecologically-based, innovative approaches for securing quality of life and addressing land use challenges in Northern New England through integrated research, outreach, education, and multi-disciplinary partnerships.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Housing, Land Preservation, Transportation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
USDA
Forest Service
Northeastern
Area State and Private Forestry,
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/
Description:
The mission of the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area is to lead and
help support sustainable forest management and use across the landscape
to provide benefits for the people of the 20 Northeastern and Midwestern
States and the District of Columbia.
Topics: Ag & Rural Change, Healthy Communities, Land Preservation, Water/Sewer
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
NERCRD ©2004
The Toolbox is a joint effort of The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
and Penn State Cooperative Extension in Adams County.
This page was last updated on July 13, 2005.
For questions, suggestions or to report broken links, please contact NERCRD: nercrd@psu.edu.