State announces $3 million in PFAS Fund research grants to support impacted farms

By Carol Bousquet | Maine Public | May 15, 2026

Read the full article by Carol Bousquet (Maine Public)

"The state announced on Friday $3 million in PFAS Fund for research grants to support Maine farms impacted by PFAS.

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is currently working with 127 sites to provide testing, financial assistance, research, and technical support to help farmers make informed decisions and continue operating safely.

Most contamination stems from the historic use of wastewater sludge as an abundant, low-cost fertilizer, a practice banned in Maine in 2022.

The presence of PFAS on agricultural land raises questions about how PFAS circulate through soil, water, plants, and animals.

The PFAS Fund research grant program was established to help answer these questions."