Senator Collins Tours Family Farm in Kennebec County, Speaks with Maine Organic Dairy Farmers
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Sidney, ME — Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Rainbow Valley Farm to tour the grounds and participate in a discussion with Maine organic dairy farmers and other key stakeholders in the organic agriculture sector.
Rainbow Valley Farm is a family-owned, 185-cow organic dairy farm located on 550 acres in Kennebec County. The farm is currently operated by Jeff Bragg—an eighth generation dairy farmer—and his wife Kathy. They employ 10-11 full-time employees and an additional 5-8 part-time/seasonal employees.
“Our agriculture sector is an integral part of our economy and continues to be the lifeblood of countless rural communities,” said Senator Collins. “The Bragg family has deep roots in Maine’s farming heritage, and I appreciated their hospitality today so that we could see their impressive dairy operation firsthand. My very first job was picking potatoes, and that has always given me a great respect for the farming tradition that we have in our state. Maine farmers work tirelessly every day to meet the growing demand for locally grown and raised products, and I will continue to support policies that provide them with the support they need to continue to thrive.”
“Organic dairy is an important part of the Maine economy,” said Jacob Bragg. “Senator Collins has been a strong supporter of our industry in Congress, and we appreciated the opportunity to showcase our family farm.”
In 2004, Jeff and Kathy Bragg transitioned to organic production and began shipping the milk from their herd of Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss crosses, and Normande cattle to Organic Valley, an organic food brand and independent cooperative of organic farmers.
Jeff Bragg grew up on Rainbow Valley Farm, while his father grew up just three-quarters of a mile down the road on a plot his ancestors began farming in 1772. Through the years, Jeff Bragg has helped his father, Harland, add onto the farm, turning it into one of the larger dairy farms in Maine.
Senator Collins voted in support of the 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law in December 2018. The legislation includes multiple provisions she championed to support farmers, advance agricultural research, and spur innovation that can help farmers add more value to their products.
In April, Senators Collins and Angus King sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize the implementation of the dairy provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill.
In addition to members of the Bragg family, participants of today’s event included Annie Watson, owner of Sheepscot Valley Farm in Whitefield; Mary Castonguay, owner of Castonguay Ayrshires in Livermore; Doug Hartkopf, owner of Hart to Hart Farm in Albion; Andrew Chase; and other members and leadership of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
