Cows with high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS at a farm in Maine. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg)
Maine farmers can access dedicated one-on-one assistance to manage the impacts of harmful forever chemicals on their farm thanks to a new program that launched Monday.
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry established the PFAS Navigator program with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to provide resources and guidance to farmers coping with the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, on their farms. According to a news release Monday, the program is confidential and free to farmers.
“By offering farmers tailored assistance and access to vital resources, we aim to safeguard the sustainability of their livelihoods and the well-being of their families,” said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal in the release.
Maine has been a leader in establishing PFAS protections. In 2021, Maine was the first state to pass a rule requiring manufacturers to report intentionally added PFAS in their products and ban the sale of products with intentionally added PFAS by the turn of the decade.
In recent years, Maine has also passed laws to improve testing of land and groundwater, and invest in remediation efforts, after the state-sanctioned practice of sludge spreading led to PFAS contamination on dozens of farms that have since had to close.
Under this new program, PFAS Navigators will work closely with farmers by answering questions, identifying unique needs and connecting them with technical, financial and social assistance programs, the release said. Program staff will also be able to help with PFAS-related assistance applications and forms.
The program is funded by the department’s PFAS fund, which Gov. Janet Mills created in 2022 to support farmers whose land or water is contaminated. The program is managed by the UMaine Cooperative Extension’s Maine Agricultural Mediation Program.
The state also created the PFAS Response Kit, which is a comprehensive list of resources for Maine farmers on a variety of topics they may encounter when dealing with PFAS including test results, legal services, health services and managing long-term effects.
“Producers told us that the stress of discovering PFAS was amplified by the need to search for information and figure everything out independently,” said PFAS Fund Director Beth Valentine. “With these two resources, impacted producers have a friendly, knowledgeable person and a reference guide to help ease the way forward.”
Those interested in participating in the program can contact Shiela Leonard at um.PFASNavCoord@maine.edu or 207-955-1977.
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