Maine farmers need help paying for more water sources, state officials say

MAINE PUBLIC • February 2, 2023

State officials are pushing for more resources to help Maine farmers prepare for and respond to drought and climate change. Maine has experienced four droughts within the last six years. Three of them reached extreme levels on the U.S. Drought Monitor severity scale in various parts of Maine, state agricultural officials told the Legislature earlier this week. As temperatures rise, droughts may become more severe, putting pressure on farmers to find and pay for new water sources, said Nancy McBrady, deputy commissioner of Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Additional funds to help farmers pay for new ponds, wells and water storage structures would be transformational, she said.