Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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“Why Are You Seeking Out Farm Training?” 2022 New Farmer Survey Results

Jonathan Malacarne and Christina Howard

The “Why Are You Seeking Out Farm Training?” survey received 118 responses in the winter of 2022 from new and beginning farmers. According to the USDA, new and beginning farmers are people who have been farming for less than 10 years. The respondents shared their priorities on what training needs they have for the topics of ‘sales and marketing’ and ‘business management’. The top choices included collaborative marketing, online sales, farm stands sales, financing, bookkeeping, and business goal setting. UMaine Extension educators and other service providers will use the survey results to design farm trainings based on the interests and needs of new and beginning farmers.
Nutrition for Backyard Chicken Flocks in Maine

J P. Blake

Raising chickens for eggs or meat requires the right nutrition at the right life stage. Follow these guidelines to maintain the growth, reproductive performance, and health of your backyard flock.
Raising the Backyard Pig in Maine

Donna Coffin

So you’re thinking you might like to try raising your own bacon or pork chops. This fact sheet provides a general overview of what you need to know to care for a pig. It covers selecting and transporting, feeding, water, shelter, and other considerations. Armed with this knowledge, you can make an informed decision about whether this project is right for you.
Joseph Henry Bodwell Becomes First County Agent in Piscataquis County

Mary Annis

The story of Joseph H. Bodwell starting his career as the new county agent in Piscataquis County. Full of the trials and tribulations of working in the early twentieth century. His first transportation was a horse and buggy. Learn how Joe was able to capture the hearts and minds of area farmers.
Growing Maine - Heartstone Farm

Leslie Forstadt

Heartstone Farm is a beef operation in Charleston Maine with beginning farmers at the helm. They work with a mentor to help them get up to speed.

The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their "behind the scenes" perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them.

UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated.

Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.
Nurse Cropping in Potato Systems

John M. Jemison Jr.

In the summer of 2016, a study was conducted at the Rogers Farm in Stillwater, Maine to study the effect of short-term nurse crops on potato yield and quality. The study was designed as a randomized complete block design with six replications. The study compared two sowing rates (winter rye at 100 vs. 200 lbs/ac) to 20 lbs of annual ryegrass or a check plot (no nurse crop). In addition, each of the winter rye treatments was either killed with an herbicide prior to one-pass hilling or just hilled. To address the question of how long to grow a NC, WR treatments were allowed to grow either three weeks or four weeks prior to being incorporated.
Use of EndoMaxx mycorrhizal seed treatment to improve potato production in Maine

John M. Jemison Jr.

With the increasing cost of fertilizer and the ever-decreasing supply of apatite worldwide, improving phosphorus (P) uptake should be a goal for all producers. Due to our high levels of iron and aluminum oxides in Maine soils, P efficiency is very poor. As a result, potato farmers tend to over apply P to ensure that their crop will have adequate P. Over time, this has led to increasing plant available soil test P levels. I recently requested the Maine Soil Test Lab director for potato soil tests over the past ten years. The percentage of soils testing above 40 lbs/ac has grown steadily over the past 10 years (Figure 1). Mycorrhizal fungi have long been used as a means to effectively improve P absorption of perennial plants. Less work has been done evaluating these for annual crops. With funding from the Valent corporation, we were able to evaluate one such mycorrhizal fungi product, EndoMaxx, to see if it might improve P uptake, yield and quality of potatoes.
Growing Maine - Jillson Family Farm

Leslie Forstadt

The Jillsons work together as a family to keep their maple operation thriving.

The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their "behind the scenes" perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them.

UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated.

Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.
Growing Maine - Stoneheart Farm

Leslie Forstadt

Stoneheart Farm is a family farm, with a couple of very important four-legged members.

The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their "behind the scenes" perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them.

UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated.

Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.
Growing Maine - Treworgy Family Orchards

Leslie Forstadt

Treworgy Orchards in Levant is a 2nd generation orchard. Learn the story of their motto, "start small."

The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their "behind the scenes" perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them.

UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated.

Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.
Bulletin 2220: Best Management Practices for Small Scale Poultry Producers in Maine

Richard Brzozowski, Donna R. Coffin, and Michael Darre

Written for small-scale poultry producers. University specialists, Extension educators, and agriculture service providers from New England and New York developed this list of Best Management Practices to assist small-scale poultry growers to provide the best of care for their birds, minimize losses due to disease and predation, as well as minimizing the impact on the environment while assuring a high quality, wholesome product for their family and customers.
Space Planning for Small, Multipurpose Livestock Barns

Donna Coffin

The design of barns and other livestock facilities on small-scale farms in Maine depends on the number and types of livestock raised, grain- and feed-storage needs, and production methods used. Planning for a new livestock building, or adapting existing facilities, starts with establishing goals. These may include expanding or starting a new livestock enterprise, or improving labor or production efficiency for an existing enterprise. When designing facilities, allow as much versatility as possible for future changes. A venture that starts out as a hobby can develop into a larger enterprise to offset costs, and eventually lead to profit.
Selling Beef in Maine #1048

Donna R. Coffin

Are you a beef producer interested in learning more about the different markets available to you to sell your beef? This bulletin discusses the risks, benefits, and requirements for selling beef in Maine. 2 pages. © 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Beef Cattle Herd Health Management Guide for Maine #1031

Donna Coffin

A herd health management plan is vital to profitable beef production. Do not wait until a disease outbreak occurs before implementing a sound herd health program. For cattle to reach their performance potential, they must be healthy. Vaccinations are an approved practice for organic producers. 5 pages. © 2014 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Maine Family Farms: Life and Business in Balance #4800

Leslie A. Forstadt Ph.D. and Tori Jackson

The needs of farmers at each life stage are unique, as choices about farming practices, child rearing, business growth, and succession planning enter into decision making.

This publication series, Maine Family Farms: Life and Business in Balance, provides a starting point for farm families to think about issues that range from family conversations to managing stress and sharing ideas about life and business balance.
What We Have Learned About Burning Wood Pellets in Maine

Donna Coffin

Maine’s forests have long supported a variety of natural-resource-based industries, from providing ship masts for the king of England, to providing pulp for the paper industry. The production and use of wood pellets supports Maine’s forest industry and continues Maine’s tradition of managing and utilizing our forest resources to support Maine people.
Performance of Small-Fruited Pumpkin Cultivars in Maine

David T. Handley, Mark G. Hutton, and Gregory J. Koller

A small-fruited (2-4 lb) or “pie” type pumpkin variety trial was established in the spring of 2009 at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, ME. Three replications of seven varieties were direct-seeded on 18 June through black plastic mulch. Plots were 18 feet long with three feet between plants and six feet between rows. All fertilizer was applied according to soil test recommendations and incorporated prior to mulch application and seeding. Fruit were harvested on 18 September. Top performing varieties in terms of yield per plot included ‘Chucky’, ‘Small Sugar’, and ‘Field Trip’. ‘Fall Splendor’ produced the largest fruit in the trial, followed by ‘Winter Luxury’ and ‘Mystic Plus’. ‘Field Trip’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ had the highest stem quality in the trial and ‘Field Trip’, ‘Mystic Plus’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ were rated highest for exterior color and ribbing. The results of this trial suggest that ‘Field Trip’, ‘Mystic Plus’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ offer very high quality fruit with acceptable yields for pie-type pumpkins, while ‘Chucky’ offers acceptable fruit quality and very high yields.
Why Consumers Buy---and Don't Buy---Your Farm Direct Products

Donna Coffin, Tai Cheng, and Lili Dang

In 2003 we conducted a consumer survey to assess direct marketing opportunities and barriers for farmers in the Maine Highlands region (Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties). The survey addressed five direct marketing methods: farm stand, pick-your-own (PYO), tailgate market, home delivery, and farmers’ market. Our questionnaire was designed to determine whether the current outlets of farm products satisfy consumer needs, and to identify potential areas of direct marketing of farm products that can better serve the needs of consumers.