Author Archives: News & Updates

training-opportunities

Grant Opportunity

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The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is excited to kick off the second round of the Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant. This round comes after the success of the 2022 Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant in which we funded close to $300k for 12 projects across the Northeast.

Applicants eligible for these funds must fall into at least one of the following categories:

1. Dairy farmer (producer) of milk that is headquartered or based in the Northeast and sources or produces milk within the Northeast.
2. Dairy processors that are headquartered in the Northeast that transform raw milk into an edible product with milk sourced from the Northeast region. Processors must be licensed in a way that their product can be sold across state lines OR are a processor whose grant project will help their business move toward getting licensed in a way that will allow them to sell their product across state lines.
3. Dairy producer association/dairy council which represents and promotes dairy products/dairy businesses of the Northeast.

Learn more here.

Maine Cheese Guild

Message From the Cheese Guild – Mental Health Resources

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We all know that farming and life in general can be very stressful. With the recent news of yet another member of our farming and cheese making family passing as a result of taking their own life, we want to offer the resources below as a starting place for those in need. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to these folks:

• Maine’s 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112

• Agricultural Resources for mental health:    https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/resources/mental-health.shtml#hotlines

• Our friends at Extension have resources available for our cheesemakers:
https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-frsan/agricultural-resilience/resources-building-resilience/ through the Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network:
Helping Farmers Cope with Stress website has a number of resources listed at Cooperative Extension Help Lines  

• Facebook group Maine Farm Sitters:
They may provide potential workers. This allows you to go to appointments and take care of yourself.

• Maine Farm Bureau : They  have a disaster relief fund that  can assist farmers. You do not need to be a Farm Bureau member.

 • Maine Department of Agriculture:
Maine Farmer Wellness Fund (accepting applications through Sep 30) They distributed in amounts of $100, $250, or $500. These funds can be used to support Maine farmers and farm workers in their mental health and wellness needs.