An Act To Promote the Agricultural Economy
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2245
Committee Amendment CA_A_H862 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §318

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1606, L.D. 2245, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote the Agricultural Economy" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §318, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 763, §1, is amended to 
read: 
1. Eligibility. An applicant must own at least 5 acres of land in agricl:llrurall:lse and 
a farm that has been producing agricultural products commercially in the State for at least 
years at the time of application. The applicant must submit an application to the 
department to be eligible for participation in the program pursuant to procedures 
developed by the department.' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in subsection 3 in paragraph B in the first line (page 2, 
line 3 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Instruction" and inserting the following: 
'Instfl:lction Department-approved instruction' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in subsection 3 in paragraph B by striking out all of the 
last sentence. 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subsection I in the 4th line (page 2, line 18 in L.D.) by 
striking out the following: "or" and inserting the following: 'and' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subsection 2 in the 3rd line (page 2, line 23 in L.D.) by 
inserting after the following: "1" the following: 'and farms that are eligible to apply for a 
reduced-interest loan under section 435, subsection 3-A' 
Amend the bill in section 4 by inserting after subsection 4 the following: 
'5. Review of business plan. The department shall arrange to review the business 
plan for a farm selected to receive a grant under subsection 2 within 2 years of the date 
the grant is awarded.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
t~, ~ ~, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 1606, L.D. 2245 
Amend the bill in section 13 in subsection 3-A in the 3rd line (page 4, line 22 in L.D.) 
by inserting after the following: "318" the following: 'for a farm determined eligible 
under section 3 19' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment removes a cross-reference to a definition of "agricultural 
enterprise," allowing any additional definitions needed to implement the Maine Farms for 
the Future Program to be established in rule. It specifies that instruction or classroom 
training in economics or business planning required for participation in the program must 
be approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. It allows a 
participant in the program who completes a business plan to apply for a reduced-interest 
loan, a grant or both. The amendment specifies that the review panel's responsibility to 
develop a competitive process applies to both applications for grants and eligibility to 
apply for reduced-interest loans. It also requires the department to review a business plan 
within 2 years of awarding a grant for implementation ofthe plan. 
FIS(\ ; 
, . T'· ""'. T IRED. 
(Sl'l' 'Hl<ICiled) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Approved: 03/26/08 ;'J!;?ac 
LD 2245 
LR 3522(02) 
An Act To Promote the Agricultural Economy 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Minor cost increase - Other Funds 
The estimated costs for the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to meet three times 
to review the recommendations included in the agriculture creative economy report are projected to be $4,875 in 
fiscal year 2008-09. The Legislature's proposed budget includes $20,000 in fiscal year 2008-09 for legislative studies. 
Whether the amount is sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative 
Council and the Legislature 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Finance Authority of Maine can 
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR3522(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1