1. Eligibility. An applicant must own a farm business that has been producing agricultural products commercially in the State for at least 2 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. Exceptions to the 2-year eligibility requirement may be granted at the discretion of the department. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (AMD).] 2. Criteria for selection. The panel shall evaluate and approve applications that are based upon criteria developed by the department, including: A. The degree of opportunity for increasing the vitality of the farm business due to factors such as the capability of the applicant to effect positive changes in farm business operations and the suitability of the land in agricultural use to sustain those changes; and [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (AMD).] B. The degree of threat to the continuation of agricultural use of the land due to factors such as the financial capacity and current farm management practices of the applicant. [PL 2003, c. 167, §1 (AMD).] The panel, to the extent practicable, may give priority consideration to applications from applicants who have a history of generational poverty or land dispossession in the United States or from applicants who are veterans. For purposes of this subsection, "veteran" means an individual who served in the United States Armed Forces and meets the definition of "veteran" under 38 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 3.1 or who has served or is currently serving in the Maine Army National Guard or Maine Air National Guard or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 309, §15 (AMD).] 3. Services package; reimbursement. Once an applicant is selected to participate in the program, the department shall assist the selected farm business in assembling a services package to develop the business plan within 18 months of the selection. The services package must include services provided by outside experts, such as the analysis of production practices and markets or the development of financial data. These services may include instruction or classroom training in economics and business planning as available and as required by the department for the owner or operator of the farm business. A. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (RP).] B. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (RP).] A services package must be approved by the department before it is implemented. The department shall pay for outside services contracted as part of an approved services package. The department may not pay more than $10,000 for outside services contracted as part of the services package to a selected farm business. The department shall keep an accounting of the services provided to a selected farm business as part of the services package. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (AMD).] 4. First farmland protection agreement. [PL 2003, c. 167, §2 (RP).] 5. Business plan requirements. A selected farm business must use a services package to develop a business plan that identifies changes in farm management practices and investments in equipment and property that would increase the vitality of the farm business. [PL 2025, c. 254, §1 (AMD).]
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