Title 7, Title 7

In addition to other requirements provided in this chapter, a licensee that holds pari-mutuel racing meets must put on an agricultural fair during one racing meet each year to be eligible to receive a stipend. Exhibits must be kept in an attractive display for a minimum of 3 cons…

1. Annual reports. No later than December 31st of the year for which a stipend is requested, a licensee claiming a stipend shall file with the commissioner a statement setting forth: A. The financial condition and transactions of the licensee; [PL 2005, c. 563, §3 (NEW).] B. The …

1. Fund created. The Treasurer of State shall establish an account to be known as "the Agricultural Fair Support Fund" and shall credit to it all money received under Title 8, section 1036, subsection 2, paragraph D. The fund is a dedicated, nonlapsing fund. All revenues deposite…

The officers of an agricultural society may appoint persons to act as constables at a licensed fair sponsored by that society for the preservation of the public peace and the enforcement of the regulations of the society. An appointment made under this section is valid only withi…

An agricultural society may acquire and hold property, real and personal. The annual income from this property must be used for the purposes stated in the society's charter. The treasurer for a society may receive conveyances or leases of property for the society, and hold, sell,…

1. Payment of entry fee. A person who enters an animal or article in a competition for premiums offered by a licensee must pay the entry fee in accordance with the advertised rules and regulations of the licensee, as long as the rules and regulations are not in conflict with the …

1. Sale of goods and exhibitions restricted. A person who sells refreshments or other merchandise, or exhibits a show or play, unless in that person's own dwelling or usual place of business, within a quarter of a mile of the fairgrounds during the time a licensed fair is conduct…

1. Prohibition on administration of prohibited substance. A person may not feed, inject, insert or otherwise administer or attempt to administer or instruct, aid or conspire with another person to administer or employ anyone who administers or attempts to administer a prohibited …

1. Permit required. A person or entity may not sponsor a public or private pulling event between animals or pairs of animals within the State without a permit from the commissioner issued in accordance with this section and rules adopted pursuant to this section. 2. Application. …

The Pull Events Commission, as authorized by Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 3‑A, is established in accordance with this section. [PL 2005, c. 563, §3 (NEW).] 1. Membership. The Pull Events Commission consists of 10 members: A. Two members appointed by a statewide associatio…

1. Appointment. Each person or entity conducting a pulling event shall appoint a pull superintendent who is certified by the commissioner as qualified in accordance with rules adopted under section 98. The name of the pull superintendent must be submitted in conjunction with the …

1. Establishment. The department of the University of Maine System known and designated as the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, referred to in this section as the "station," established at the University of Maine at Orono in connection with the university and under the dire…

The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station shall conduct scientific investigations in orcharding, corn and other farm crops and, to this end, shall maintain the farms purchased in the name of the State, and stocked and equipped for the use and benefit of the station. The Director …

The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station shall conduct scientific investigations in animal husbandry, including experiments and observations on dairy cattle and other domestic animals, and these investigations are under the control of the director of the station with the agreeme…

Sums that are appropriated in favor of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station must be expended by the director of the station with the agreement of the Board of Agriculture in executing sections 121, 122 and 123. The board and the director shall seek agreement on all issues. I…

1. Establishment; duties. The Board of Agriculture, referred to in this section as the "board," as established in Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 4‑A, is created within the University of Maine System. The board shall advise the Chancellor of the University of Maine System an…

This Act may be known and cited as "the Maine Agriculture Protection Act."

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2007, c. 649, §3 (NEW).] 1. Agricultural composting operation. "Agricultural composting operation" means composting that takes place on a farm. "Agricultural comp…

A farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation may not be considered a public or private nuisance under Title 17, chapter 91 if the farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation alleged to be a nuisance is in compliance with applicable state and federal l…

A farm operation or agricultural composting operation located in an area where agricultural activities are permitted may not be considered a violation of a municipal ordinance if the farm operation or agricultural composting operation conforms to best management practices as dete…

This chapter does not affect the application of state and federal laws. A municipality must provide the commissioner with a copy of any proposed ordinance that affects farm operations or agricultural composting operations. The clerk of the municipality or a municipal official des…

The commissioner shall investigate all complaints involving a farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation, including, but not limited to, complaints involving the use of waste products, groundwater and surface water pollution and insect infestations. In cases of ins…

The Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 11 applies in any private action filed against the owner or operator of a farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation in which it is alleged that the farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation constitutes a nui…

If the person responsible for a farm, farm operation or agricultural composting operation does not apply best management practices as required by the commissioner, the commissioner shall send a written report to an appropriate agency if a federal or state law has been violated an…

There is established the nonlapsing Agricultural Complaint Response Fund. The commissioner may accept from any source funds designated to be placed in the fund. The commissioner may authorize expenses from the fund as necessary to investigate complaints involving a farm, farm ope…

The commissioner shall conduct an educational outreach program for the agricultural community to increase awareness of the provisions of this chapter and the best management practices of the department. The commissioner shall inform the public about the provisions of this chapter…

The commissioner shall adopt rules in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act to interpret and implement this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

The commissioner shall establish a process for designating Maine Farm Agricultural Resource Management and Sustainability recipients according to this section. This designation provides farmers an opportunity to recognize their commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and…

The commissioner may establish a pilot program to examine the effectiveness of agricultural districts in keeping farmland in agricultural production and enhancing the profitability of farming. For the purposes of this section, "pilot program" means an agricultural districts progr…

1. Program established; administration. The Maine Working Farmland Access and Protection Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established to provide protection to strategically significant working farmland properties as defined in Title 5, section 6201, subse…

It is the policy of the State to work to find and implement ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases in a manner that minimizes risks to humans and the environment. The State, led by the department and the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to this chapter and Title …

1. Lead agency. The department is the lead agency of the State for carrying out mosquito management activities as described in this chapter. 2. Management methods. The commissioner may use appropriate methods for the management of mosquitoes and the prevention of their breeding i…

1. Study; plan; arrange cooperation. When sufficient money for such purposes is available in the fund, the commissioner, in cooperation with appropriate personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services, shall: A. Consider and study mosquito management problems, includin…

The Maine Mosquito Management Fund, referred to in this chapter as "the fund," is established to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The fund consists of any money received as contributions, grants or appropriations from private and public sources. The fund, to be accounted f…

For the purposes of preserving and promoting the public health and welfare by providing for coordinated and effective management of mosquitoes, municipalities may cooperate with each other through the creation of mosquito management districts.

The commissioner may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

In order to aid in diffusing among the people of this State useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture and natural resources, youth development, and home economics and community life and to encourage the application of the same, there may be inaugurated …

Cooperative extension work shall consist of the giving of practical demonstrations in agriculture and natural resources, youth development, and home economics and community life and imparting information on those subjects through field demonstrations, publications and otherwise. …

For the purpose of carrying out this chapter, there may be created in each county or combination of 2 counties within the State an organization to be known as a "county extension association," and its services available to all residents of a county. Such county extension associat…

The executive committee of each county extension association shall prepare an annual budget as requested, showing in detail its estimate of the amount of money to be expended under this chapter within the county or counties for the fiscal year, shall submit the same to a vote of …

A county extension association shall annually present to the University of Maine and the county commissioners its plan of extension work for the ensuing year and a full detailed report of its extension activities for the preceding fiscal year, including a detailed report of its r…

The county commissioners of a county or combination of 2 counties in which there is a county extension association may form a county extension building association pursuant to this section and Title 13, chapter 81. In addition to the powers and authority granted and duties and li…

The University of Maine within available funding shall provide cooperative extension education regarding meat and poultry processing, including quality control training and hazard analysis and critical control point training and plan development for meat and poultry processors.

It is the policy of the State to encourage the procurement of Maine foods and food products by state institutions to increase the viability of Maine farms and food businesses, thus making a positive contribution to the State's economy and enhancing food self-sufficiency for the S…

1. Brokers or wholesalers. 2. Maine food producer. "Maine food producer" means any person who is a resident farmer, person who fishes commercially or processor of food grown or harvested in the State, or an association of resident farmers, persons who fish commercially or food pr…

In accordance with this section, the commissioner shall establish and promote a Maine foods procurement program with the goal that, no later than 2025, 20% of all food and food products procured by state institutions are Maine food or food products. [PL 2019, c. 677, §7 (NEW).] 1…