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Maine Blueberry Growers Offered $1.3M in Emergency Funds After Drought
The funding aims to help offset an estimated $28.1 million in lost revenue from the 2025 growing season.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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The Maine Wild Blueberry Commission has created a new $1.3 million emergency funding program to help growers stay in business after serious crop losses in 2025 due to a wet spring, high heat, and fast-onset drought. The challenging season came at a time when growers were already struggling with higher production costs and increasing competition from cultivated blueberries.
Why it matters
The blueberry industry is an iconic part of Maine's agricultural landscape, but growers have faced significant challenges in recent years. This emergency funding is a critical lifeline to help keep growers afloat after an unprecedented crop failure, but the commission acknowledges it falls far short of the full relief needed.
The details
The 2025 growing season saw an estimated $28.1 million in lost revenue for Maine's blueberry growers. Production dropped to 54.9 million pounds, almost 30 million pounds less than the prior year. Production costs per acre have also increased by about 50% since 2023, partly due to the lower yields. The commission is continuing to advocate for additional federal assistance, as specialty crops like blueberries have historically had less access to disaster aid compared to other agricultural sectors.
- The 2025 growing season saw a wet spring that reduced pollination, followed by a summer of high heat and fast-onset drought.
- The commission announced the new $1.3 million emergency funding program on February 10, 2026.
The players
Maine Wild Blueberry Commission
The state organization representing Maine's blueberry growers and industry.
Eric Venturini
The executive director of the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission.
Lisa Hanscom
A Washington County grower and member of the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission.
What they’re saying
“The season was one of the industry's most challenging in decades.”
— Eric Venturini, Executive Director, Maine Wild Blueberry Commission (Bangor Daily News)
“The commission's offering 'falls far short' of the amount of relief growers need to be able to tend to and harvest a crop this year.”
— Eric Venturini, Executive Director, Maine Wild Blueberry Commission (Bangor Daily News)
“The impacts of a serious drought also can linger in the crop for years.”
— Lisa Hanscom, Grower, Maine Wild Blueberry Commission (Bangor Daily News)
What’s next
The Maine Wild Blueberry Commission is continuing to advocate for the USDA to release assistance funds for specialty crops from its Farmers' Bridge Assistance Program, and is urging Congress to direct at least another $5 billion in emergency relief money across the nation.
The takeaway
This emergency funding is a critical short-term measure to help Maine's iconic blueberry industry weather an unprecedented crisis, but longer-term solutions are still needed to address the growing challenges facing growers, including the impacts of climate change, rising production costs, and increased competition.
