LePage introduces legislation
to merge agriculture, conservation agencies
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced legislation Feb. 22 that would merge the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources with the Maine Department of Conservation into a single Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
The goal, he said, is to strengthen Maine’s natural resource economy in the areas of forestry, farming and conservation. The legislation is expected to go to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for consideration and approval.
“Farming and forestry are an important part of Maine’s heritage, and can play a significant role in our economic engine,” said LePage. “These industries are important to Maine’s future, and it is important we maximize the potential of our natural resource-based economy to provide jobs and economic prosperity to Maine people.”
Agriculture Commissioner Walter Whitcomb, Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley, along with many leaders in the natural resource industry, support the governor’s plan. Many agree that there is a possibility to greatly enhance Maine’s forestry and farming industries, while capitalizing on the state’s natural resources.
“Growing Maine’s natural economy while protecting its long-term productivity needs the support of more concentrated services from a single department,” said Whitcomb. “The sustainable goals envisioned by Maine farmers, forest owners and those who use the parks and public lands will be better coordinated by merging the wide array of resource-related skills within the talented workforce of these two departments.”
“Agriculture and forestry, conservation and public access to Maine’s natural resources are all intertwined,” Beardsley said. “A merger that yokes the two departments simply makes sense. By combining forces, we can focus on the scientific foundation and the common ground we share as we pursue a 21st century natural resource economy for Maine.”
The Maine Potato Board, based in Presque Isle, has yet to take a formal position on the governor’s recommendation.
“We believe the governor’s office when they say the logic behind this move is to strengthen the natural resource sector and we appreciate that, but we’re going to wait and see how things play out,” said Tim Hobbs, director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board. “We’re supportive of the concept, but the devil is in the details. We have some concerns that could potentially involve the potato industry that we want to have some discussions about before we throw our wholehearted support behind the bill.
“That will be a process that will start now that there’s a document out there, and as soon as it starts through the public hearing process, we will be actively involved with that,” he said.
Hobbs said one concern is making sure that the right people are put in the right position.
“By merging the two agencies, there’s going to be some divisions and those division heads are political appointees. We need people with good, technical backgrounds to be involved,” he said. “Because those people are political appointees, the potential is there for somebody to be appointed that may or may not know as much as we would like them to, so we want to make sure as this process moves forward that concern is considered and addressed.
“We’re waiting to see how some of the details get flushed out before we take a position,” said Hobbs, noting that whichever governor’s administration has been in office, the state has “generally been pretty good to the potato guys and we think that will continue.”
Rep. Jeff Timberlake (R-Turner) is the lead sponsor of the bill and has been involved in the farm community his entire life.
“It makes sense to combine the resources of both departments to emphasize the importance of being good stewards of Maine’s land,” he said.
