Cooperative Extension: Agriculture

2012 Strawberry Pest Management Season Begins: Fighting Frost and Fungi

extension — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:52:49 +0000

Frost injury; photo by David Handley

An early warm up in March and April got strawberry growth off to an early start, especially in fields that weren’t covered with straw. However, the trend reversed itself later and growers found themselves protecting buds and flowers from frost much earlier than usual. More recent cool, damp weather has slowed strawberry development, resulting in an extended bloom period. This stretch of wet weather may help keep spider mites and tarnished plant bugs in check, at least temporarily, as these pests tend to have less success reproducing under cool, wet conditions. However, gray mold, caused by the fungus Botrytis, and bacterial angular leaf spot can develop quite well under these conditions, and growers should be ready to apply preventative sprays as soon as possible. Read more>>

UMaine Extension Raspberry Video Wins National Award

extension — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:04:14 +0000

David Handley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension vegetable and small fruit specialist at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, has been judged a winner in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Communications Awards Program for a video on raspberry pruning. He will be recognized in mid-July at the Communications Awards Luncheon in Charleston, S.C. In addition, a second UMaine entry, an outline of UMaine Extension’s Integrated Pest Management program for reducing pesticides on sweet corn crops by Handley and UMaine Extension pest management specialist Jim Dill, was named one of three national finalists in the NACAA Search for Excellence program in Crop Production.

Boston’s WBZ Interviews Dill on New Fruit Fly Threat

extension — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:44:14 +0000

University of Maine Cooperative Extension pest management specialist Jim Dill was interviewed by Boston’s Channel 4 (WBZ) television station for a news report on the threat to blueberries and other soft-skinned fruit by a pest new to Maine and New England, the Drosophila Suzukii fly, which is far more damaging to crops than traditionally common fruit flies. Dill also appeared in a Channel 7 report on the fruit fly.

Extension’s Fitzgerald in MPBN Farming Discussion

extension — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:02:08 +0000

University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Caragh Fitzgerald was part of a panel discussion on farming in Maine and farming co-ops. The discussion was broadcast live on Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Dill Discusses Season’s Honeybee Outlook

extension — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:20:13 +0000

Jim Dill, University of Maine Cooperative Extension pest management specialist, discussed expectations for honeybees this year, in view of the light winter, with Channel 7 (WVII). Dill says elevated mite populations could cause a decline in this year’s bee populations, but hives are healthy at this point.

Webinar: Social Media Strategies for Farms to Generate Education, Awareness, and Action

extension — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:50:27 +0000

Webinar: Social Media Strategies for Farms to Generate Education, Awareness, and Action
Wednesday, May 2, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT
Free — open to all interested

Facebook…Twitter…Linked In…Four Square…. They can be effective ways to connect with your community….Or they can be a huge waste of your time and energy. How can you use social media to build a supportive community online and in-person? Public relations expert Rachel Carter will explain how to develop a strategy for building a community of champions for your farm. Whether you are a farmer, a farm-based educator, or an Extension educator, this webinar will provide guidance for creating a strategy to use social media effectively and manage related risks.

Hosted by: Lisa Chase, Jessie Schmidt, Ben Amsden, and Erica Curry
University of Vermont Extension, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Plymouth State University Center for Rural Partnerships, and the Farm-Based Education Association

To access the webinar, please follow this link five minutes before the webinar begins: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2009421&password=M.EC2DFDA3A4FD4A8B3CDC30CB8D6610

For technical assistance during the webinar, contact Jessie Schmidt at (802) 223-2389, ext. 203, E-mail: jessica.a.schmidt@uvm.edu.

FAMACHA & Microscope-Use Workshops 2012 for Sheep and Goat Producers

extension — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:28:33 +0000

FAMACHA workshops are designed to equip sheep and goat producers with the skills and knowledge to determine the degree of infection of Haemonchus contorutus (barber pole worm) in sheep and goats using blood color of the capillaries around the eye. The barber pole worm is a blood sucking internal parasite that is a common cause of death and poor-doing in small ruminants. The workshops will be presented by Dr. Thomas Settlemire and Dr. Richard Brzozowski. Participants will receive an information packet, record sheets and a FAMACHA card. The fee to participate in a FAMACHA workshop is $20.00 per farm. The microscope-use workshop is free. One or more individuals from each farm are welcome to participate.

May 19, 9:00 a.m., FAMACHA, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
May 19, 11:00 a.m., Microscope-use, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
June 2, 2:00 p.m., FAMACHA, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine

Download and send in enrollment form with check or call 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine) or 207-781-6099 to register for this workshop with a credit card or for more information.

FAMACHA Enrollment Form: Word | PDF

Extension’s Rebar Op-Ed Extolls Program Benefits

extension — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:19:50 +0000

An opinion column in the weekend edition of the Bangor Daily News by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Director John Rebar discussed the resurgence of farming in Maine and the role UMaine Extension researchers play in helping farmers and food producers with the latest science-based advice and agricultural methodology, in addition to nutritional food choice options for the public. In the past decade, Rebar writes, Maine has seen the number of farms grow by 1,000 and 1.3 million acres are now in agricultural use.

‘No-Till’ Corn Production Workshop April 13 in Waterville

extension — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:51:31 +0000

University of Maine Extension in association with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering a No-till Corn workshop for dairy and forage producers on April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Waterville Elks Club.

Participants will hear about techniques and practices to improve profitability on their farms. The workshop will feature soil health expert Ray Archuleta from NRCS and Mark Anderson from Landview Farms in New York. Landview Farms produces 1,250 acres of corn using a combination of tilling and non-tilling methods.

A $20 workshop fee includes lunch. The workshop is part of a research project funded by Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NESARE).

For more information, or to register, contact Rick Kersbergen at the UMaine Extension Waldo County office at 1-800-287-1426 or e-mail richard.kersbergen@maine.edu.

UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. To provide adequate time to respond to your request please provide as much notice as possible.

Grazing Management Seminar Planned April 12 in Waterville

extension — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:33:42 +0000

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer a seminar on grazing and pasture management Thursday, April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Governor’s Restaurant in Waterville.

Pre-registration is requested. $15 fee includes lunch. The workshop is designed for both beginning and experienced livestock graziers.

Maine has thousands of acres of grasslands that could easily be utilized as highly productive livestock grazing lands. Ray Archuleta from NRCS and Kevin Ogles from the National Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative will be the featured speakers in the day-long workshop.

For more information or to register, contact UMaine Extension Waldo County at 1-800-287-1426 or e-mail richard.kersbergen@maine.edu.

UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. To provide adequate time to respond to your request please provide as much notice as possible.