OPINION:
When people think of Maine, one of the first things that probably springs to mind is lobster. And rightly so. We have the bar-none best in the world, after all!
But if there’s any food that might rival our beloved crustaceans, in terms of both economic importance and global reach, it’s wild blueberries.
Maine produces nearly 100% of all wild blueberries grown in the U.S. In a typical year, Maine growers harvest 80-100 million pounds of these small-but-mighty fruits, generating more than $350 million for Maine’s economy.
Growers, processors, truckers, seasonal workers, small-town businesses and communities throughout Down East and Central Maine all rely on healthy, sustainable blueberry yields.
Sadly, between climate change, market disruptions and rising costs in production and harvesting, Maine’s wild blueberry industry like so many specialty crops across the country faces some significant long-term challenges.
That’s why I introduced the Agricultural Management Assistance Act (AMAA), which would reauthorize and strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA).
For decades, federal crop insurance has been geared heavily towards large commodity crops like corn and soybeans. Created in the 2000 Farm Bill (under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act), the AMA aimed to level the playing field by giving effective risk-management tools to farmers in states that have low rates of crop-insurance participation, many of which have higher rates of specialty crop production.
Today, the AMA program supports farmers in 16 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
My bill would modernize and strengthen the AMA by expanding access to conservation and risk-management tools for eligible producers from strategies to improve soil health to encouraging value-added processing and sustainable water-management practices.
In other words, it’s designed to help farmers make the right investments (up to $200,000 over five years) before disaster strikes, rather than relying solely on federal aid after the fact.
Those risk factors are only growing. Across the U.S., heat waves, heavy rainfall, drought and extreme weather events are all on the rise, making life increasingly difficult for farmers. These aren’t minor inconveniences. For many farmers, they’re existential threats.
The AMAA would provide investments that are especially valuable in light of skyrocketing costs for things like fuel, fertilizer and equipment, all of which have been made harder to manage by the policies of this administration, particularly unpredictable tariffs and the war in Iran.
It’s not just about strengthening today’s farm operations. It’s also about ensuring the next generation of farmers have the tools they need to succeed, so they can keep their farms in the family.
For generations, American farmers have faced serious challenges, from economic turmoil and ever-shifting global markets to harsh and unpredictable weather. As a longtime organic farmer myself, I know that success depends on resilience, adaptability and a willingness to plan for the unexpected.
Which is why it’s imperative that Congress work together to give America’s farmers of all sizes and production types the support and resources they need, not only to survive, but thrive.
The AMAA would go a long way in helping specialty crop and other eligible farmers better prepare for an increasingly volatile and unpredictable future.
Republicans and Democrats might not agree on much these days. But if there’s one area where we should be able to find common ground (and common-sense legislation), it’s the stability and resilience of our food systems.
Because when our farms are strong, America is strong and that starts with making sure they have the tools to endure whatever comes next.
• Rep. Chellie Pingree represents Maine’s 1st District in the U.S. Congress and is a national leader in climate policy. In Congress, Chellie relies on her experience as a certified organic farmer to support the diverse range of American agriculture, including sustainable, organic, and locally focused farming. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, she has been a vocal advocate for food policy reform. Pingree has pioneered legislation to reduce food waste across the American food system and is the founder and chair of the Food Recovery Caucus. She is the author of the Agriculture Resilience Act, a comprehensive bill that recognizes farmers as an integral part of the climate solution.
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