Just like Maine, the Great Plains are finding solutions in adaptation and diversification. It's a history of continual adaptation to new market forces, uh, to new transportation developments. And Maine farmers from the 1820s on have learned very effectively to adapt to these new developments. And we will, I think, continue into the twenty-first century to do the same. As Maine heads into the 21st century, agriculture faces a whole new challenge.
Open farmland is at risk like never before from urbanization and sprawl.
We've got to really appreciate what good farmland is and hang on to it because the good farmland in Maine didn't come easily. It was cleared at great price and it doesn't take it long to grow up. A lot of these towns only have one or two farms left in their towns. It's nice to have new houses, but I think we've got to be careful where we put them. Because once we lose prime farmland, you won't get that back.