PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 24, 2023
The soggy summer has left growers across Maine struggling to overcome delayed and diminished hay harvests. Many are already looking to buy hay out of state, despite last year’s record harvest. And some may not survive a crisis that could have ripple effects for years to come. Farmers across Maine have harvested about one-third of the hay needed to feed farm animals through the coming winter, said Jacki Perkins, a dairy and livestock specialist with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Maine is home to 7,600 farms that employ more than 13,000 workers. They include more than 100 dairy farms.