Maine Farms: Agriculture History, How Farms Make Money and Strategy
Guide updated November 2026
Maine farms numbered about 7,036 in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, working about 1.23 million acres. The average farm sold $123,582 of products, the highest of any census year, and specialty crops such as maple syrup, Christmas trees, hay, nursery and greenhouse products made up 63.1 percent of sales, about $548.5 million, according to UMaine Cooperative Extension's summary of the census.
| Farms and land in farms | About 7,036 farms on about 1.23 million acres (2022 Census of Agriculture) |
|---|---|
| Top commodities | Specialty crops (maple, Christmas trees, hay, nursery and greenhouse), livestock and poultry, potatoes, wild blueberries |
| Market value of ag products sold | Specialty crops about $548.5 million (63.1 percent of sales); livestock and poultry 34.3 percent |
| State agriculture department | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |
| Land-grant extension | University of Maine Cooperative Extension |
| Farm Bureau | Maine Farm Bureau Association |
Agriculture in Maine: A Short History
Maine agriculture grew from small coastal and river-valley farms into a state known for potatoes in Aroostook County, wild blueberries in Washington County, dairy in the central and southern counties, and a long list of specialty products. The 2022 census shows how far the state has come from its farm count peak: 8,173 farms in 2012 fell to 7,036 in 2022, and farmland fell from 1.45 million acres to 1.23 million.
The sector has also reshaped itself around large and small operations at the same time. Wyman's, a Milbridge company that began in 1874, owns more than 55,000 acres. Crane Brothers Farms in Exeter has supplied chip potatoes to Frito Lay since 1961. At the other end, many Maine farms are small, diversified and direct-market, which fits the state's strong local food culture.
How Farms in Maine Make Money
Commodity sales
Specialty crops lead Maine sales at about $548.5 million, or 63.1 percent, and livestock and poultry follow at 34.3 percent, per UMaine Extension's reading of the 2022 census. Potatoes, wild blueberries, milk, eggs, maple and Christmas trees are the best-known commodities. Large fresh and chip potato growers such as Green Thumb Farms and Crane Brothers Farms show how contract and branded sales work for big acreage.
Value-added and direct sales
Direct sales totaled $172.6 million, nearly 20 percent of sales, in the 2022 census. Branded frozen fruit, juice, maple products and farm-stand or CSA sales let Maine farms keep more of the retail dollar. Wyman's frozen fruit line is the large-scale example; Hidden Valley Farm's CSA is a small-scale one.
Agritourism, leases and diversification
Agritourism and on-farm recreation income doubled to $12.2 million across 241 farms. Timber, trails and education also bring in money, as at Hidden Valley Farm. Leasing land to other farmers and diversifying crops spread risk.
Agriculture Strategy for Maine Farms
Soils, water and climate
Maine's cool, short seasons favor crops like potatoes, hay, blueberries and apples, and its glacial soils range from productive loams in Aroostook County to acidic barrens used for wild blueberries. Rotation matters: Green Thumb Farms uses feed corn as a rotation crop to support soil health for potatoes, and Crane Brothers Farms rotates potatoes with corn and small grains with about 70 percent of land irrigated. Warmer temperatures have extended seasons in the north but increase pest and drought risk, so irrigation and soil organic matter planning help.
Production and risk
Choose crops that match your soil and market. Wild blueberries run on a two-year prune-and-harvest cycle and depend on pollinators, so bee management is part of the plan. Crop insurance through USDA, USDA farmers.gov tools, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service's conservation programs can offset weather and conservation costs. Dairy farms such as GreenValle Farm have grown herd size over decades to spread fixed costs.
Technology and inputs
Technology that cuts cost pays back quickly. Green Thumb Farms installed Maine's first high-efficiency grain dryer of its kind in August 2024, cutting drying time from about two months to about two weeks and saving an estimated $28,000 a year in fuel, with a USDA REAP grant covering about half the cost. Check REAP and other USDA programs before major equipment purchases.
Farm Business Strategy in Maine
Margins and markets
Large Maine operations secure markets through contracts and brands: Frito Lay for Crane Brothers Farms, supermarket sales for Green Thumb Farms, retail frozen fruit for Wyman's. Small farms use direct sales. Either way, know your buyer's specifications and costs.
Land, credit and succession
Maine lost 564 farms and 82,567 acres since 2017, while the average farm's land and buildings reached $649,229, the highest since 1997 after inflation. Land is expensive, so use leasing, conservation easements, Maine Farmland Trust programs and Farm Credit East or Farm Service Agency loans. Succession planning matters: GreenValle Farm and Crane Brothers Farms both bring the next generation in early.
Marketing and diversification
Awards and recognition help. GreenValle Farm was 2023 Maine Dairy Farm of the Year, and Hidden Valley Farm won the 2024 New England Leopold Conservation Award. Add products like frozen fruit, maple, timber or agritourism, but keep core costs in check.
Farm Insight: Maine Trends to Watch
Watch land access and consolidation. Fewer farms with higher average sales suggest that scale and direct markets are both paying off, while high land values challenge new farmers. Energy and drying projects with federal support offer cost savings.
Watch climate and labor. Warmer temperatures have shaped Maine's potato boom and also create risks, and seasonal labor remains important in blueberries and potatoes. Extension and the state department publish current guidance.
Maine farmers deal with potatoes the size of a small boulder, blueberries that grow on rocks and winters that test everyone's patience, so a laugh in the truck cab is practical equipment. For farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, farm.FM is a fine stop. Wild blueberry growers know better than anyone that a good crop sometimes comes from the least promising ground.
farm.FM got there first as the nation's first satirical farm site, and it backs the writing with Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Here is one contributor's collection of farm satire to start with.
Elite Farms and Ranches in Maine
These 5 operations are profiled in full, with history, how each makes money, lessons for other farms and published contact details.
Elite operations in Maine
- Crane Brothers FarmsElite operation. Exeter, Maine. Crane Brothers Farms of Exeter, Maine: four generations, 3,200+ acres, chip potatoes for Frito Lay since 1961. History, revenue, lessons and contact details.
- Green Thumb FarmsElite operation. Fryeburg, Maine. Green Thumb Farms of Fryeburg, Maine: founded 1965, 2,200+ acres of potatoes, corn and more. History, revenue streams, lessons and contact details.
- GreenValle FarmElite operation. Newburgh, Maine. GreenValle Farm of Newburgh, Maine: 2023 Maine Dairy Farm of the Year, about 240 milking cows, sixth generation. History, revenue, lessons and contact notes.
- Hidden Valley FarmElite operation. Whitefield, Maine. Hidden Valley Farm of Whitefield, Maine: 1,200 acres, organic CSA and sustainable forestry, 2024 New England Leopold Conservation Award. History and contacts.
- Wyman'sElite operation. Milbridge, Maine. Wyman's of Milbridge, Maine: founded 1874, 55,000+ acres, wild blueberry grower and frozen fruit brand. History, revenue streams, lessons and contacts.
Who to Contact in Maine: Agriculture Offices and Associations
- Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - State agriculture department contact information
- UMaine Cooperative Extension agriculture programs - Land-grant extension programs for Maine farmers
- UMaine Extension 2022 Census article - Maine census figures and trends
- WMTW report on the Maine farm census - News coverage of Maine farm and acreage declines
- USDA Census of Agriculture - Federal census data
- Maine Potato Board - Potato growers and industry information
- Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine - Wild blueberry industry research and commission
- USDA farmers.gov - Federal programs, loans and conservation help
Maine Farming FAQ
How many farms are in Maine?
About 7,036 farms on about 1.23 million acres in the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
What are Maine's most valuable farm products?
Specialty crops lead sales at about $548.5 million; livestock and poultry follow. Potatoes, wild blueberries, dairy, maple and Christmas trees are well known.
Who should Maine farmers contact for help?
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, UMaine Cooperative Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency and NRCS offices.
Which Maine farms are profiled here?
Wyman's, Green Thumb Farms, Crane Brothers Farms, GreenValle Farm and Hidden Valley Farm.
Maine farms range from 55,000-acre blueberry land to 15-acre organic vegetable plots. Read the profiled operations below to see how the best of them make it work.