about us

Maine farmer in work gloves holds out a few potatoes

Our Story

The Maine Healthy Soils Program…

Was created to provide farmers with resources to adapt their farms to a changing climate. Healthy soils are, literally, the foundation of a resilient agricultural system, and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is proud to offer new resources to help Maine’s farmers achieve their soil health goals. Our services range from one-on-one soil health coaching to administration of grant and incentive opportunities. Our approach to developing soil health management systems is holistic, accounting not only for the physical features of your farmland but also for the overall capacity of your farm operation. Building soil health into your business must work for you, the farmer, to be sustainable. That fact is a foundational pillar of our program’s mission.

Matt Boucher, Ph.D, L.s.s

State Soil Scientist

Our Goals

The Maine Healthy Soils Program is dedicated to supporting projects and agricultural practices that advance soil health and its many associated benefits on Maine farms. To meet our program goals, new grant and payment-for-practice initiatives will be available to support the adoption of healthy soils best practices. Financial resources will be integrated with accessible technical assistance to diagnose, support, and troubleshoot practice adoption. The objectives of our financial and technical services include:

  • Improve the health, yield, and profitability of Maine’s agricultural soils and commodities.
  • Improve the biological diversity and greenhouse gas drawdown capabilities of Maine’s agricultural soils.
  • Promote healthy soils best practices through outreach, education, incentives, and peer-to-peer learning – based on indigenous knowledge, current understanding, and emerging research.
  • Expand the use of healthy soils best practices among Maine farmers.

People

Meet the folks bringing you soil health support throughout the State of Maine

Matt Boucher

State soil scientist

Matt Boucher, Ph.D., is the State of Maine Soil Scientist and Director of the Maine Healthy Soils Program. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. Dr. Boucher has spent over a decade providing technical assistance in sustainable agriculture to farmers across the Northeastern United States. As a research and extension professional, Dr. Boucher developed expertise in soil science, entomology, and plant pathology, focusing on integrated pest management and cover cropping. He has experience supporting various commodities from small fruit, tree fruit, and grapes to field crops and mixed vegetables. Dr. Boucher joined the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry in 2022 and is a licensed soil scientist.

Join our Team

The Maine Healthy Soils Program welcomes partnerships with agricultural service providers across Maine. If you want to highlight your soil-health efforts; work with the Maine Healthy Soils Program to offer programming for farmers; or advertise soil-health opportunities available through your organization, email Dr. Boucher at matthew.boucher@maine.gov or schedule a meeting today!