ORONO, Maine — University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and UMaine Cooperative Extension Dean Hannah Carter released the following statement today following the announcement from U.S. Senator Susan Collins (External Site), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, that after a two-month pause, federal funding has been restored for Maine AgrAbility (External Site):
“Farming, fishing and logging are essential to Maine’s economy, especially in our rural communities. Through Maine AgrAbility, University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides education and technical assistance that keeps Maine’s aging farmers, fishermen and loggers working safely in these physically demanding jobs, improving their livelihoods and quality of life. On their behalf, we are grateful to Senator Susan Collins for advocating to the USDA Secretary in support of this and other essential UMaine programs and thrilled for this restoration of our federal funding so we can resume serving these Mainers whose hard work strengthens our state’s heritage industries.”
Background: From April 3 through June 3, UMaine could not access its federal funding for Maine AgrAbility, a program that provides education and technical assistance to the state’s farmers, fishermen and loggers so they can work safely and more productively.
The university had received no notice that funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support Maine AgrAbility (External Site) activities was being paused. NIFA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and AgrAbility is a national program that provides education and technical assistance to farmers and other natural resource workers, including those whose businesses have been impacted by an injury, illness or chronic condition.
The four-year award restored this week was for $551,520 and currently has a $187,699 balance to support activity through August 2026.
Each year, Maine AgrAbility directly serves more than 1,600 workers in the state’s heritage industries, enabling their upward mobility and the growth of our state’s natural resource economy. For example, UMaine recently delivered training to more than 100 loggers in Hancock County on preventing slips, trips and falls on the work site as part of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast spring safety training. Participation in the training helps loggers reduce their risk of injury, maintain professional certification, and lower their workers’ compensation coverage costs.
Maine AgrAbility also provides direct services and support to farmers, fishermen and loggers with a disability, including Veterans, so they can safely work in a way that reduces aggravation of existing injuries and prevents future ones. This includes on-site visits by occupational therapists and ergonomic experts who can suggest modifications to work tasks, tools and equipment.
About the University of Maine System
The University of Maine System (UMS) is the state’s largest driver of educational attainment and economic development and its seven public universities and law school are the most affordable in New England. Over the past two decades, UMS has awarded 106,362 degrees and spurred and strengthened thousands of small Maine businesses through its world-class research and development activities. For more information, visit www.maine.edu.
Media Contact:
Samantha Warren
Director of External Affairs, University of Maine System
207-632-0389 / samantha.warren@maine.edu