BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 2, 2022
I have owned McElwain Strawberry Farm in Caribou for 30 years. A bill in Augusta being debated would ban all sludge or biosolid applications directly onto the soil or as part of the compost mix. LD 1911 is a over-the-top response to the discovery of PFAS at a few Maine farms. The high PFAS levels at those farms were caused by the spreading of contaminated materials decades ago and have nothing to do with what is used by farmers today. Farmers like me take advantage of organic material where we can. It’s a good source of nutrients for our crops. This ban will put farmers, garden centers and nurseries at a competitive disadvantage. A total ban will wipe out an important agricultural resource. Let’s take time, do research and find a middle ground that works for everybody. ~ Frank McElwain, Caribou