The Cornell University Berry Program continues to host a series of Webinars for Berry farmers, supported by funding from the Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center (NEIPM).  The webinars feature experts from eastern North America speaking on production and pest management topics and their current related research.

All webinars are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., so berry growers can enjoy hearing these live presentations in the comfort of their home or office while they eat lunch! Speakers will answer questions live during and after the presentation.

All webcasts will be recorded and archived at: http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/webcastarchive.htm.

Participation is easy; all you need is a high-speed internet connection and a web browser. Participants will connect to a secure Cornell Cooperative Extension server to join the presentation.

Don’ t have high speed internet access or a home computer? Participate in the webcasts at a group location. Options for attending a group session at extension offices across the region are being arranged, so check the website to find a location near you, or call your local extension office and see if they can arrange a viewing.

The webcasts have been divided into 3 mini-series focusing on major berry crops: Strawberries, Blueberries/Cranberries and Brambles with 4 presentations for each crop group.  The entire schedule follows.  If you have missed a topic of interest, just check the website and view the archived webcast.

There is no charge for webcast participation, but registration is required.  Connection details are sent to registered participants the day prior to the event.  Connections for each webcast are limited, so register now by contacting Laura McDermott, lgm4@cornell.edu or calling 518-746-2562.

For additional program details and other information: http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/webcastindex.htm.

See Calendar for dates. 

As of today, Farms for the Future website is up and running. This is an interim site while we work on the new official site through CEI and the Dept of Ag. Feel free to pass on the link to anyone you think might be interested in the program.

Visit the website here:

Maine Farms for the Future

And, as always, folks can email or call Gary Harris directly if they would like to discuss the program.

Gray Harris
Program Administrator--Farms for the Future
CEI/Wiscasset
Phone: (207) 882-7552 ext. 135
ghs@ceimaine.org

The others will appear on the Web site according to this schedule:

- Maine's Brain Gain, Prof. Gary Hunt (Feb. 2)

- Bottom-Up Business Innovation, Prof. Terry Porter (Feb. 9)

- Investing in Maine's College Students, Prof. Philip Trostel (Feb. 16)

Each presentation is approximately 20 minutes in length, produced in a lively question-and-answer format hosted by Jim McConnon, a professor in the School of Economics and UMaine Cooperative Extension.

This year, the Northeast Pasture Consortium is putting out a call for abstracts/poster presentations at their annual meeting in Morgantown WV on March 4-5. Details about the meeting are downloadable at the Grazing Guide website.

Please distribute this announcement to your faculty, students and field staff who may want to present their research and extension activities related to grass based agriculture. The form for submitting abstracts for consideration can be found here.

For more information about the pasture consortium visit the Northeast Pasture Consortium Website.

Farmer educators from Cooperative Extension, NRCS, non-profits, and state agencies in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire are invited to apply for intensive in-service training, funded by Northeast SARE, in one of two areas of high priority in New England:

1) Alternative Farm Energy Strategies
2) Local Grain Production

The first workshops will occur between mid-February and late-March of 2009. For each training group, three (3) educators will be selected from each state based on their commitment to the training and their potential to contribute to the educational needs in the subject area.

Trainees will agree to:
-Attend annual two-day workshops to be held in Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire
-Read training materials
-Work with at least two farmers during the 3-year period
-Develop either one farm case study or one SARE mini grant on their topic
-Interact with fellow trainees through Webinars, blogs, and other distance learning venues
-Design and deliver educational programs for farmers and peers in their topic area.

If you are interested in applying, please send the following to your state's SARE coordinator (listed below) by January 9, 2009:
-Your current position and job responsibilities
-Which training group you are interested in joining
-Why you are interested in building your capacity in this subject area
-How you would contribute to educational needs in the subject area in your state and region
-A letter from your supervisor in support of your participation

You will hear back from us by January 16, 2009.

SARE state coordinators:

Deb Heleba - Vermont: Debra.heleba@uvm.edu
Becky Grube - New Hampshire: becky.grube@unh.edu
Ellen Mallory - Maine: emallory@umext.maine.edu

Late blight has appeared on potatoes in the Fryeburg area. It first appeared in a low-lying wet area and has now spread. The source is a mystery.

It appears that late blight is also on tomato plants in the area. The fact that it is on tomato leaves indicates at two likely scenarios.

One scenario is that there is very heavy inoculum pressure in the area. We have been dealing with a clonal population (US-8) of the pathogen and this clone is aggressive on potato tops and tubers. It is not particularly aggressive on tomato leaves but will affect them if the inoculum load is high. However, it is aggressive on the green fruit and extremely aggressive on the ripening fruit.

A second scenario is that we are dealing with a different isolate (possibly US-14) of the pathogen that may be aggressive on tomato leaves. The likely cause is tomato transplants imported to our area. This has happened in the past. I am in the process of getting the isolate typed as to whether it is US-8, US-14, or something else.

Late blight is not only in the Fryeburg area and it will spread. I use a spread template, depending on size of the inoculum source, of up to 40 miles. For those that have not experienced late blight epidemic, the speed and thoroughness of the pathogen is mind boggling.

If this pathogen, irrespective of the isolate, gets into a greenhouse, watch out! The result can be devastating. The larger the concentration of susceptible plants, the bigger the problem.

Interested people can call the Potato Pest Management hotline (1-800-USE-UMCE) for a description of what we are doing to deal with the pathogen and subsequent disease.

Steven B. Johnson, Ph.D.
Crops Specialist and Extension Professor
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
P.O. Box 727, Houlton Road
Presque Isle, Maine 04769
voice: 1-207-764-3361VOICE
fax: 1-207-764-3362FAX
email: sjohnson@umext.maine.edu

University of Maine Sweet Corn IPM Newsletter
No. 2 July 3, 2008
SILKING CORN IN EARLY FIELDS
Scattered European Corn Borer and Corn Earworm Potential Threat

Reminder: Highmoor Farm Field Day: 7/29/08

Special Mare to be Presented before Second Race

For more information email Nonni.Daly@umit.maine.edu or call 207-827-8386.

NBC affiliated Channel 6 (Portland) and Channel 2 (Bangor) plan to air short weekly home vegetable gardening spots during the 5 o' clock news on Friday afternoons (around 5:20). These 16 segments will be aired through the growing season.

The first in a series of segments of Home Vegetable Gardening will be aired on May 23, 2008 on Channel 6 in Portland and Channel 2 in Bangor. This series features the University of Maine Cooperative Extension personnel, Master Gardener Volunteers and our outreach to home gardeners.

Don't miss it!

In addition to the televised segments, the UMaine Extension website offers free information on gardening. Visit the site to sign up for a free gardening newsletter, or call 1-800-287-0274 to connect with your county UMaine Extension office.

UMaine is now one of just 37 colleges and universities with a presence on iTunes U, the Web-based content distribution system that creates an interface where handheld media player users can access audio and video materials.

UMaine has made available educational, informational and promotional materials through this site, which is certain to grow in popularity and usefulness over time. More information is online here. Staff members in the Division of Lifelong Learning, Information Technologies and University Relations worked very hard over several months to make this happen.

Extension’ s Potato Technical Assistance Program honored

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato/Crops Program received a 2004 Award of Excellence February 1 in Washington, D.C., from the Northeast Cooperative Extension Directors. This is the highest award presented by extension directors in the Northeast. It recognizes extension outreach programming that has achieved outstanding accomplishments, results and impacts in addressing contemporary issues.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Professor Richard J. Kersbergen, a member of the Maine Agricultural Center, was among 10 professors honored recently by the University of Maine System Chancellor’ s Office for their research contributions in fields that advance Maine’ s scientific, agricultural and economic development.

Kersbergen received University of Maine System Trustee Professorship in December. Trustee Professorships were created by university trustees in 1998 to honor and support outstanding university faculty from the seven system campuses. They recognize individuals who have made significant and noteworthy contributions to academic excellence on their campuses and within the system. The professorships are for one year. Kersbergen, of Burnham, joined the faculty in 1985.

The focus of Kersbergen’ s research will be on forage and pasture production in Maine and throughout New England, specifically with regard to organic crops. Organic and forage-based milk production is the fastest growing agricultural sector in the Northeast, and Kersbergen’ s efforts will enable small dairy farmers to assess the impact of switching to organic production of milk and contribute to sustainable agriculture in the state.

MAC member and Professor of Horticulture Jack Smagula was elected to be the 2005-2006 President of the Northeast Region branch of the American Society for Horticultural Science at the January meeting in Washington, D.C. He will preside over the 2006 meeting to be held at Cornell University. At this year’ s meeting, he presented a paper with Wind Fastook titled “ Raising Lowbush Blueberry Leaf N by Foliar Feeding.” Jack has also been invited to be a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the Korean Society for Horticultural Science.

New England Maple Grading School a Success

In December 2004, 33 participants and three instructors gathered for the first ever New England Maple Grading School. The event was organized by a joint collaboration of Henry Marckres, Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets; Sumner Dole, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension; and Kathy Hopkins, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and partially funded through a Maine Agricultural Center grant. Over the three-day program, participants from six states and the province of Quebec who represented research institutes, producers, state and provincial departments of agricultural and maple packers were exposed to key elements of grading: density, color, clarity, and taste. Proper techniques for reading hydrometers and hydrotherms at the actual parallel plane of the syrup and not at the false apex of syrup on the stem were demonstrated, as were eight different refractometers used for measuring density. Colors were tested by grading a series of samples with ten different types of grading instruments and results were compared. Off-flavors were tasted and compared and participants learned how to identify and react to different flavors.

Excerpt from Gary Graham, Ohio State University Extension Center at Wooster and program participant.

More than fifty people attended the Equine Breeding Management Clinic sponsored by The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and The University of Maine Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences held in Orono earlier this year. After a brief presentation on the history of the UMaine equine program and plans for the future, UMaine researchers and local veterinarians spoke of various concerns involved in equine breeding. The topics discussed included the internal reproductive tract of the mare and uterine infections, the role of light in production hormones, the costs and risks involved in breeding and successful foaling, the feed needs of the mare during and after pregnancy, benefits and drawbacks of the options available for breeding mares, and options for preventing breeding and foaling problems. Participants were encouraged to enroll in two currently available equine degree programs offered at UMaine. At the end of the day some of the participants ventured to the J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center where the university’ s horses are housed for a tour of the facilities. Evaluations of the program indicated that half of those responding planned to make changes in how they manage and feed their mares. When asked what the greatest challenge is to the person breeding horses in Maine, many commented on the low profit margin, climate, and availability of good quality stallions and veterinary care.

For information on this clinic contact Donna Lamb, Extension Educator, University of Maine Piscataquis County Extension Office, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426, phone 207-564-3301 or email dlamb@umext.maine.edu.

Aroostook Farm

Aroostook Farm has had a productive year, with good harvest conditions and good potato quality going into storage. A new state-of-the-art greenhouse has been completed this year, replacing the old structure built in 1942. New control software and sensors have been installed to manage the environment in each of the twelve lockers in the barn at Aroostook Farm. Finally, one of the more visible changes to Aroostook Farm has been the addition of a beautiful new sign at the entrance to the facility. It is UMaine blue with gold lettering and more clearly shows our mission at Aroostook Farm— potato research.

Blueberry Hill

Construction of new garage/carpenter shop was completed during the summer. Construction of a new lab facility, which will house labs, offices, and conference space, is currently underway. We anticipate a summer completion.

The big news from Blueberry Hill Farm, of course, is the retirement of Dell Emerson after more than 50 years of service to the university and blueberry industry. Jeffrey Brann became the new superintendent in March. Formerly the farm mechanic, Jeff has been an employee at Blueberry Hill Farm for over five years. There will be a retirement party for Dell at the Blueberry Hill Field Day on July 20th.

Highmoor Farm

Highmoor Farm has had an exciting year. We welcomed a new crop technician, Juanita White, last winter and a new superintendent, Gregory Koller, in the fall of 2004. Nearly 100 growers and industry professionals joined us in celebrating our 95th year of serving Maine’ s fruit and vegetable farmers at our summer tour and field day in July. Not only were the small fruit and vegetable trials successful, but we were also able to donate over three tons of produce to area food banks. The apple harvest was very good this year as well and continued post-harvest research in apples has led to markedly increased fruit quality after months in CA storage.

A new equipment building was completed in the spring, one of our two new hoop houses has been completed, and renovations to create a classroom in the old grading room are underway.

Littlefield Gardens/Roger Clapp Greenhouses

Over the past year we installed a transformer to get electricity to storage facility/shop. This work, funded by the 2003 bond money, is completely done.

Many new herbaceous perennials were added to the Garden’ s collection during the spring and summer of 2004. A small area was developed in the south-central part of the garden for evaluation of some shade-tolerant cultivars. This fall many larger caliper trees were harvested from concluded trials in the research nursery area.

Plant propagation mist benches were renovated and expanded in the Roger Clapp Greenhouses over the summer. These are used for various stem cutting propagation and related projects.

University Forests

The University Forests Office has been active this past year. An April 7 open house celebrated the completion of a new 40 x 50 ft heated garage. The new garage replaces the 1962 pole structure, which was not heated and had dirt floors. The structure was made possible by 2003 bond funds.

The Dwight B. Demeritt Forest has seen heavy use for classes and laboratories by several UMaine departments. Recreational use of the forest has been very heavy and varied. The maple sugaring operation recently completed its eleventh season. Throughout the early spring, the office conducted tours and demonstrations of “ sugaring,” the process of making maple syrup.

The Penobscot Experimental Forest has been the site for research in long-term forest productivity and silvicultural systems studies, the Forest Ecosystem Research Project, and the LEAP project, which is focusing on vernal pools and their inhabitants.

Witter Center/Rogers Farm

Justin Jamison, formerly the superintendent at Highmoor Farm, is the new superintendent at the Witter Center and Rogers Farm, replacing Glenn Dickey. Marsha Hamilton is the new Livestock Program Manager/Assistant Farm Manager, replacing Marcy Guillette, who left last fall.