THE WORST OF THE WORST?!!! People who help supply food?!!

About a dozen workers detained in #SkowheganME #ImmigrationRaid, advocates say

The arrests marked the second raid this month by federal immigration agents on workers traveling to #BackyardFarms in #MadisonME.

Ethan Horton, February 25, 2026

Excerpt: "About 12 agricultural workers were detained in Skowhegan by federal officers Wednesday morning, two community advocates with knowledge of the situation said.

"Officers who appeared to be affiliated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection boarded a van and detained the workers at about 6 a.m., Iver Lofving, an advocate and translator, said.

"The van, Lofving said, was carrying workers from a former motel in Skowhegan to Backyard Farms in Madison and was stopped by federal agents about 10 minutes from Backyard Farms. The van also picked up several people from elsewhere in Skowhegan, who were detained as part of the operation, he said.

"Federal and local officials have yet to confirm the details of the operation, including how many workers were detained, where they are from, why they were detained and where they are being held. CBP and Skowhegan police did not respond to requests for comment.

"The raid marked the second time this month that immigration officers have detained workers en route from the former Skowhegan motel at 137 West Front St. to Backyard Farms. "

Read more:
https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/02/25/about-a-dozen-workers-detained-in-skowhegan-immigration-raid-advocates-say/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/5jww4

#USPol #MainePol #AbolishICE #AbolishDHS #Farmworkers #FoodSecurity #MIRC #Maine
#ICEOutOfMaine #ICEOut #DefundICE
#DefundDHS #MaineFarms #FuckICE

ON THEIR WAY TO WORK!!! SUCH HARDENED CRIMINALS!!!

#ImmigrantRights group says 17 people were arrested by #CBP agents while riding bus in #Skowhegan

Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition says it has seen more immigration enforcement activity in rural areas

Jacob Murphy, February 12, 2026

Excerpt: "Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition says the workers were staying in the former #KyesMotel in #SkowheganME. The bus regularly picks them up and brings them to #BackyardFarms.

"Backyard Farms grows #tomatoes and #lettuce and ships the produce across the country.

"Local growers are concerned that the agricultural workforce will significantly shrink with increasing immigration enforcement.

" 'The reality we're seeing is that the recent surge in ICE activity is causing uncertainty for farm labor that doesn't stop at a visa status. It’s making it harder for farms to maintain a reliable workforce, which will ultimately ripple out into the broader economy," said Jennifer Wilhelm with Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. "

Read more:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/immigrant-rights-group-says-17-people-riding-a-bus-were-arrested-by-immigration-enforcement-agents-in-skowhegan/70317074

#MIRC #Maine #ICEOutOfMaine #ICEOut #DefundICE #DefundDHS #MOFGA #MaineFarms #Farmworkers #USPol #MainePol #FuckICE

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

#Maine - #Agricultural #ConservationEasements

"The primary purpose of an Agricultural Conservation Easement is to protect the agricultural soils, agricultural viability, and agricultural productivity of a property in perpetuity by limiting non-agricultural uses of the property.

What is it?

"It is a voluntary, legally recorded permanent deed restriction place on the property. The easement or 'development right' may be donated or sold (or a combination of the two) usually to a land trust which then holds (and manages) the easement. Land protected from development with an easement remains in private ownership.

Agricultural easements help farmers balance goals of:

- generating revenue for farming or retirement;
- making their land more affordable to future farmers;
- keeping their farmland in farming;
- maintaining a treasured legacy of #SustainableFarm #stewardship.

"Agricultural conservation easements are private transactions, entered into for perpetuity, and thus harder to undo compared to other land protection land use strategies.

"The process can take some time to negotiate and carry out. The cost of buying easements on a significant scale can be prohibitive. It is also important that the 'holder' of the easements has the capacity to ensure that the agricultural land is managed as intended.

"You can contact your local #LandTrust or the statewide #MaineFarmlandTrust when considering easements as a farm viability and farmland protection tool."

Read more (via #GrowSmartMaine):
https://growsmartmaine.org/agricultural-conservation-easements/

Learn more about Maine Farmland Trust:
https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmland/protect-farmland

#FarmsForMainesFuture #SaveTheFarms #Sprawl #LandPreservation #SolarPunkSunday #Farmland #FoodSecurity #MaineFarms #GrowLocal #EatLocal

Another branch of the Marean family has already put 92 acres of land into a #ConservationEasement in nearby Standish!

https://www.pressherald.com/2024/04/17/centuries-old-standish-farm-protected-from-development/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/8PYVG

#ForeverFarms #MaineFarmlandTrust
#ConservationEasements #SaveTheFarms #PreservingFarms #MaineFarms #SolarPunkSunday

Here's some good news about a neighbor down the road -- he and his wife put an Agricultural Conservation Easement on their 42 acre farm to protect it from future development!

"Special Broadcast Presentation on the Benefits of Agricultural Conservation Easements - Aug. 21st @5:30pm
Posted on: August 14, 2025 - 12:04pm

There will be a special broadcast presentation on #SacoRiver Community TV (Cable channel 5 )Thursday, Aug. 21st @ 5:30pm by #DonMarean regarding the process and benefits of placing an agricultural conservation easement in perpetuity on their farm. This presentation will also be available to view on our Town's YouTube channel! We hope you can tune in!"

Another branch of the Marean family has already put 92 acres of land into a #ConservationEasement in nearby Standish!

Town of Hollis YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SRCM-TownofHollis/featured

#ForeverFarms #MaineFarmlandTrust #ConservationEasements #SaveTheFarms #PreservingFarms #MaineFarms #SolarPunkSunday

This event combines two timely topics close to my heart -- #MaineFarms and #Palestine!

Tomato Seed Processing Workshop

Saturday, August 16, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

#Frith =Farm
61 Ash Swamp Road
#ScarboroughME

"Come to Frith Farm in Scarborough for an afternoon of learning, community building, and #DirectAction, as we lend our hands to harvesting and processing these sacred seeds.

"Chloe Hettinger is a seed grower for the #PalestineHeirloomSeedLibrary's #SeedProtectorProject, a project rooted in #Battir, #Palestine and the United States.

"She will begin the event by speaking about the importance of preserving #heirloom vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and hold a conversation for folks to explore and share their own inherited #foodways.

"The hand-on portion of the event will include harvesting from a seed crop of heirloom tomatoes, processing the seeds from the fruit, and demonstrating the fermentation process that allows tomato seeds to be saved.

"This event is in partnership with the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library, and is supported by the #RealOrganicProject."

RSVP here...
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tomato-seed-processing-workshop-tickets-1489659655129

#MaineEvents #FreePalestine #SeedSaving #HeirloomSeeds #PreservingCulture