ME LD1925

Increases the maximum grant amount for farm business investment support from $25,000 to $45,000, while maintaining the cap at 25% of total investments identified in the business plan

Removes the requirement that grant applicants must own at least 5 acres of agricultural land, expanding eligibility to farmers operating on leased land with long-term lease arrangements

Allows farm businesses with existing agricultural conservation agreements to qualify for grants, rather than requiring all recipients to enter new 7-year farmland protection agreements

Grants the department discretion to waive the 2-year commercial production requirement for program eligibility

Approved by the Governor on June 10, 2025 as Public Law Chapter 254