UMaine Extension’s mediation program offers training opportunity in April

The Maine Agricultural Mediation Program 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. to 1 p.m. online via Zoom on April 3, 10, and 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 the 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, 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 at maineagmediation@maine.edu or 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 at https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/agricultural-mediation/ to learn more about agricultural mediation at UMaine Extension.