The Maine Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP) will offer a 16-hour training program on Wednesdays in April for individuals interested in learning more about conflict resolution or becoming a MAMP co-mediator. The four program sessions will meet from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. online via Zoom on April 3, 10, 17. The last session on April 24 will be held in person in Augusta.

This 16-hour training will introduce a range of topics including conflict theory, stress response, participant rapport, interventions and ethics and provide daily opportunities to practice and review case studies around the types of conflicts and issues that arise within Maine’s agricultural community. Upon completion of this training and a 40-hour basic mediation course, participants can apply to be a MAMP co-mediator and work with a wide range of issues and needs involving producers, loan holders, and members of the ag community. 

Participants will learn from service providers from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Land for Good, SCORE, Maine Farmland Trust, UMaine Extension as well as current MAMP Co-Mediators. 

The sessions will be facilitated by Lucy Wess and Leslie Forstadt from MAMP and Extension. Karen Groat, a UMaine at Augusta libra professor and mediation professional, will also provide guidance and instruction throughout the training.

For more information and to register, visit the event website. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact Lucy Wess, maineagmediation@maine.edu, 207.974.9637.

MAMP, a part of the USDA Agricultural Mediation Program, is locally managed by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The program aims to support and promote the agricultural community in Maine by providing no-cost mediation and conflict resolution services, contract and lease co-drafting, and personal financial coaching. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process which is guided by trained neutrals. It can help resolve conflict around topics that include agricultural loans, conservation programs, wetland determinations, pesticides, family farm transition, lease issues, neighbor disputes and worker/employer disagreements. Visit the program website to learn more about agricultural mediation at UMaine Extension.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine's land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.