Rachel Schattman serves as expert witness at Congressional hearing on supporting farmers adapting for the future

potato fields, Aroostook County, MaineOn July 19, Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow Rachel Schattman told a Congressional committee about successful efforts led by UMaine to understand and support farmers to adopt sustainable practices that will make their small businesses and our nation’s food supply more resilient for the future.

Schattman, an assistant professor of sustainable agriculture in the School of Food and Agriculture at UMaine, testified as an expert witness at a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment examining the role of farmers and ranchers in solving climate change and increasing food production.

She urged Congress to support investment in sustainable agriculture and climate research and region-specific outreach like that happening at UMaine, and to consider incentivizing the transition to proven practices that enhance soil and water quality like nutrient management and rotating cover and cash crops to mitigate farmers’ risk.

Schattman’s written testimony is available here and the full hearing can be viewed here.

University of Maine researcher serves as expert witness at Congressional hearing on supporting farmers adapting for the future