University Extension Commons^™

S4e1: How Does Cooperative Extension Help Mainers Thrive?, Ron Lisnet, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Hannah Carter

The Maine Question

While University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s roots are in agriculture, the 106-year-old organization helps all Mainers thrive with its relevant research-based programs that promote child development, nutrition, robotics, entrepreneurship and more. Recently, “more” has included providing communities with much-needed resources during the pandemic.

In this initial podcast of Season 4, host Ron Lisnet discusses Cooperative Extension’s past, present and future with UMaine and University of Maine at Machias President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Cooperative Extension Dean Hannah Carter, who says the trusted organization can be like Google for Mainers seeking information.

Umaine Tick Surveillance Program Annual Report 2020, University Of Maine Cooperative Extension

General University of Maine Publications

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab conducts surveillance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to track their distribution, detect trends or changes in tick activity, and to identify areas of risk for tick-borne disease in Maine. In 2019, the UMaine Extension Tick Lab began testing tick samples for the causative agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis; the three most common tick-borne diseases. In 2020, an additional testing panel was added to screen applicable tick species for the causative agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia. A free tick identification program also continues to be offered.