Maine farmers have received the first $1 million from a $60 million fund to help producers affected by “forever chemicals” contamination on their operations.
The payments so far — mostly to replace lost income from crops or livestock that couldn’t be sold — could be a model for future federal aid on a national scale, as farm groups and a handful of federal lawmakers push for more assistance from Congress.
“These farms have been contaminated through no fault of their own,” said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, which has helped lead efforts for assistance.
The state assistance — plus $5 million provided by the federal government — covers a range of uses, including income replacement and testing for the chemicals, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
