Who protects the farmers? | Letter

Regarding an Oct. 7 news report (“Maine’s top court rejects eviction appeal by Midcoast farmers”), the farmers’ appeal was reportedly lost because it was found they had “failed to pay rent and grow crops as they had once agreed.”

Crops, for most non-farmers, usually means fruits and vegetables. Not all soils in Maine are suitable for growing fruits and vegetables. Some soils are best used for pasture and hay (a valuable crop) or for growing livestock, which might also be called a valuable crop.

The Maine Farmland Trust ought to carefully review its policies regarding farmers on leased land; the situation that happened in Harpswell will happen again. It is one thing to protect farmland. Who protects the farmers? No farmers, no food.

Jeanne Johnson
Juniper Edge Farm
Brunswick

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