Maine Potato Board
744 Main Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769
(207) 769-5061
(Presque Isle, ME) – The Maine Potato Board has announced that the state of Maine has provided $750,000 to Maine potato growers to help cover the cost of environmentally sound disposal of unmarketable potatoes. Senator John Martin of Eagle Lake sponsored the legislation, with the support of the Aroostook County delegation.
“The sound disposal of unmarketable potatoes is extremely important to Maine growers and to our environment,” explained Maine Potato Board Executive Director Don Flannery. “On behalf of Maine growers, we would like to extend our appreciation to the Baldacci administration, and all of the bill sponsors and co-sponsors for their support of this funding.” Disposal funds will be distributed at $1.50 per hundredweight up to a total of 500,000 hundredweight, or prorated accordingly.
The $750,000 funding is in addition to funds received from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Growers interested in participating in the disposal program can begin signing up on May 5th at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Deadline for sign up is June 11, 2004. Growers participating in the program must follow Best Management Practices for disposal and provide documentation by a third party of the volume of potatoes disposed. All disposal and related documentation must be completed by June 30, 2004.
If you would like more information, please contact Don Flannery or Timothy Hobbs at (207) 769-5061, or contact your local Farm Service Agency office.