Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!

Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water

Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025

FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.

The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/

#BigWater #BigWaterLies #MaineDrought Maine

Persistent #drought takes toll on #Maine #farmers

After a wet spring, farmers hoped for blue summer skies, but also got a drought that caused crop losses and may last through winter.

Penelope Overton & Robert Lowell, October 5, 2025

"This year, Maine saw its sixth-driest summer on record, with nearly 3 fewer inches of rain than the historical average of 11 inches, according to the National Weather Service. As of Oct. 2, more than half of the state was in severe or extreme drought.

"The Maine agricultural economy is grappling with significant long-term repercussions from the persistent drought, which deprived crops of critical water in July and August and now threatens next year’s harvests, state officials said Thursday at a meeting of the state’s Drought Task Force.
The drought has caused reductions in hay crops, shortened the season for many row crops, resulting in smaller harvests, and it could hurt next year’s berry and tree fruit, according to Tom Gordon, soil and water conservation program coordinator at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

" 'For agriculture, timing is everything,' Gordon said. 'Consistency of precipitation is what’s essential and we can’t in agriculture really catch up on lost precipitation. We need about 1 inch of water per week for crops, and that was lacking during the critical growing season.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/05/persistent-drought-takes-toll-on-maine-farmers/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/URhAj

#MaineDrought #ClimateDiaryMaine #ExtremeDrought #ClimateChange

Not just Smiling Hill Farm, other #MaineFarms are feeling the effects of the #Drought!

#SevereDrought causing concern for #Maine farmers

Some farmers say they are down at least 30% and are either making adjustments, or looking ahead to next season

Sep 17, 2025
Jackie Mundry, Reporter

TURNER, Maine — "Whether it's beef, apples, or corn, farmers in Maine are having to cut corners or make other plans because we haven't seen enough rain this year.

" 'You need at least one inch of rain to grow a good crop,' Russ Black of Black Acre Farm said.

"He typically saves his second crop of hay to feed his cows over the winter, but he's already using it because the grass hasn't grown fast enough for hay. [Smiling Hill Farm is having the same problem.]

" 'We haven't seen it this dry, so it's definitely a year to stand out,' Jared Hood of Hood Farm said.

"Hood grows corn and sells it to dairy farmers to feed their cows. He says the corn stalks are typically 10-12 feet tall, but right now some are less than 5 feet.

" 'We have some irrigation up here, but we can't irrigate it all. We're on top of a hill,' Jeff Timberlake of Ricker Hill Orchard said.

"Timberlake added that despite the lack of rain, there will still be plenty of apples at the orchard's U-Pick.

"He's hoping for rain not just for the rest of apple season but for next year's apples because the flowers for that are growing now.

"Ricker Hill Farm and Hood Farm are down at least 30-60%

" 'This apple right now is about an inch and a quarter. It's dehydrated. It's shriveled up,' Timberlake said, showing off his apples.

"Black told Maine's Total Coverage he hasn't seen it this dry since the early 2000s; at that time, he had to make adjustments.

" 'I sold some cows. I had to buy a lot of feed. You know, I might have to buy feed this year if I can find it,' he said.

"Black said he hopes we get more rain in the next four weeks, while Timberlake and Hood are looking ahead to next year."

Source:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/severe-drought-causing-concern-maine-farmers/65997555

#MaineDrought #Drought #NewEnglandDrought
#ClimateChange #SmallFarms #MaineFarms

Saw a piece about this on the local news...

#SmilingHillFarm (post from FB): "Because of the drought, we have been moving our cows around to different pastures… in search of green grass. We cannot recall the last time the cows grazed in the shadow of our Big Red Barn. The fields are just that dry… and not growing fast enough to sustain them. 😢 "

#MaineDrought #Drought #NewEnglandDrought #ClimateChange #SmallFarms #FamilyFarms #MaineFarms

Ahhhh... The soil had a deep drink, the air has cleared and there is a cool breeze. Bring it on!!!

#Maine #MaineWx #ClimateChangeDiary #HabitableZone #MaineDrought #Heatwave #Relief #ClimateDiaryMaine #ClimateChangeWeatherWheel