Food and Agriculture

Today, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) and Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) re-introduced legislation to make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. The PRIME (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption) Act (H.R. 2657/S. 1232) would give individual states freedom to permit intrastate distribution of… Read more »

At a hearing today with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree raised her concerns about the deep budget cuts proposed for USDA that would weaken or eliminate many critical programs for rural America--from affordable housing to small business investment. She also urged the Secretary to get behind new areas of opportunity for farmers in Maine and across the… Read more »

Reps. Pingree, Newhouse, and Panetta introduce legislation to increase funding for USDA’s flagship organic research program Read more »

CREAATE Act increases funding for two USDA programs that help Maine foods reach global market Read more »

Today, despite 14 years of public input, the Trump Administration further postponed implementation of a new organic animal welfare rule until November—putting consumer confidence and economic opportunities for organic farmers in jeopardy. In response Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement: “It’s disappointing to see the USDA once again kick the… Read more »

Rules written to protect farmers who struggle under unfair contract with giant processors Read more »

After holding a Health Care Town Hall on Sunday evening, Congresswoman Pingree convened another public forum early Monday morning in Portland—this one focusing on hunger and nutrition programs in the Farm Bill. Over a hundred people attended to ask questions and hear from Pingree on the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill and the effects Trump’s proposed budget could… Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree held a roundtable for stakeholders from Maine's dairy industry on December 15 to get their feedback on how federal programs are working for them.  With her is USDA Farm Services Agency Deputy Administrator Brad Pfaff, who oversees some of these programs.  The event was the second she held to collect feedback from Mainers ahead of Congress' upcoming… Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree talks with a group of contract poultry farmers about the unfair practices large processors have subjected them to. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today applauded the release of new Farmer Fair Practice Rules by the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).  The new rules will help level the playing field between poultry farmers and… Read more »

Farmers in five counties to get access to emergency assistance, including loans Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared five counties in southern Maine as a disaster area because of the recent drought.  Cumberland, Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc, and York Counties are all part of the disaster area, making farmers in those… Read more »