Life Sciences Commons^™

Mf121 Maine Organic Farmers And Gardeners Association (Mofga), Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History Finding Aids

This collection contains interviews with people associated with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine. Themes include the process of beginning to farm organically, the early development of MOFGA and its growth; the Common Ground Fair and its expansion; marketing organic food; farming strategies; raising livestock; and MOFGA's interactions with conventional farmers and the wider community.

Mp765: Creating The Orono Bog Boardwalk: A Facility For Education, Research, And Recreation, Ronald B. Davis

Miscellaneous Publications

A memoir by Dr. Ronald Davis detailing the creation of the Orono Bog Boardwalk. The Orono Bog Boardwalk is a premier destination in the Bangor/Orono area for persons wishing to experience the beauty and fascinating plants and animals of a Maine bog. The 1-mile boardwalk loop trail begins at the forested wetland edge in the Bangor City Forest, and after 800 feet crosses the Orono town line into the portion of the Orono Bog owned by the University of Maine. Along the way the boardwalk passes through a wide range of changing vegetation and environments on its way to the …

College Of Natural Sciences, Forestry, And Agriculture (University Of Maine) Records, 1885-2003, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

The College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture was established in 1996 as part of a University of Maine restructure. Many of the individual schools and units within the college had formerly been in the College of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agriculture which itself was established in 1993 following the merger of the College of Forest Resources and College of Applied Sciences and Agriculture. The first dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture was G. Bruce Wiersma.

The record group includes copies of College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture and individual unit publications; photographs and negatives …

Page Farm And Home Museum (University Of Maine) Records, 1989-2021, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

Planning for the Maine Farm and Home Museum began in 1989, overseen by the University of Maine Farm and Home Museum Committee. In 1992, the Museum was renamed the Page Farm and Home Museum in honor of Henry Page

Items in this collection were compiled by Page Farm and Home Museum donor Claire S. Sanders. Sanders was born December 14, 1910, in Sangerville, Maine and was a member of the University of Maine Class of 1934, graduating with a B.S. degree in Home Economics. Sanders went on to work for the University of Maine from 1938-1973, including in the College …

Alpha Beta Chapter Of Omicron Nu (University Of Maine) Records, 1931-1987, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

The honors society in home economics Omicron Nu was formed at the Michigan State College in April 1912. The Alpha Beta Chapter of Omicron Nu was established at the University of Maine on April 9, 1931, by National President, Dean Margaret M. Justin, of Kansas State College. Among the 11 charter members were Mildred Brown Schrumpf. The objective of the society was to recognize and promote scholarship, leadership, and research in the field of Human Economics. On February 21, 1990, Omicron Nu merged with Kappa Omicron Phi to form Kappa Omicron Nu (KON) an honor society for collegiate students in …

“Why Are You Seeking Out Farm Training?” 2022 New Farmer Survey Results, Jonathan Malacarne, Christina Howard

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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 …

Mr449: Allagash Wilderness Waterway Visitor Survey 2019, John J. Daigle, Ashley Cooper

Miscellaneous Reports

Quality in outdoor recreation can be defined as the degree to which recreation opportunities provide the experiences for which they are designed and managed. Key to protecting the backcountry experiences is an understanding of the different types of visitors to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, each one with different needs and expectations, and the different levels of importance they place on recreation opportunities and conditions. In this report, visitor management implications and suggested further research focus on the diversity of use of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in order to maximize the quality of the visitor experiences while protecting the unique natural …

Simpson (Geddes W.) Records, 1920-2001, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

Geddes Wilson Simpson received an A.B. in zoology from Bucknell University in 1929 and an A.M. in insect morphology from Cornell University in 1931. In 1935 he completed a Ph.D. in economic entomology at Cornell.

In 1931, Simpson joined the staff of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Maine. As a research entomologist, he gained national recognition for his work on aphids, especially those affecting potato plants. In 1952, Simpson was named professor of entomology at UMaine. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1974. For many years he was editor of the Potato Association …

Mr448: Bees And Their Habitats In Four New England States, Alison C. Dibble, Francis A. Drummond, Anne L. Averill, Kalyn Bickerman-Martens, Sidney C. Bosworth, Sara L. Bushman, Aaron K. Hoshide, Megan E. Leach, Kim Skyrm, Eric Venturini, Annie White

Miscellaneous Reports

Bees are crucial to pollination in unmanaged ecosystems and some crops, and their roles are increasingly understood in four states in the Northeastern U.S., abbreviated “NNE” in this paper: Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont (VT). The four states have in common many native bee and plant species, forest types, and natural communities. They share drought events and risk of wildfire (Irland 2013). They are exposed to many of the same major storms (e.g., hurricanes, Foster 1988), pollution events (Hand et al. 2014), and effects ascribed to climate change (Hayhoe et al. 2008). Beekeeping enterprises (the western …

Mr448: Bees And Their Habitats In Four New England States, Alyson C. Dibble, Francis A. Drummons, Anne L. Averill, Kalyn Bickerman-Martens, Sydney C. Bosworth, Sara L. Bushmann, Aaron K. Hoshide, Megan E. Leach, Kim Skyrm, Eric Venturini, Annie White

Miscellaneous Reports

Bees are crucial to pollination in unmanaged ecosystems and some crops, and their roles are increasingly understood in four states in the Northeastern U.S., abbreviated “NNE” in this paper: Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont (VT). The four states have in common many native bee and plant species, forest types, and natural communities. They share drought events and risk of wildfire (Irland 2013). They are exposed to many of the same major storms (e.g., hurricanes, Foster 1988), pollution events (Hand et al. 2014), and effects ascribed to climate change (Hayhoe et al. 2008). Beekeeping enterprises (the western …

Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station (University Of Maine) Records, 1888-1987, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

In 1883, the Maine Board of Agriculture called for the establishment of a formal experiment station in Orono. With the support of state funds the Maine Fertilizer Control and Agricultural Experiment Station (later becoming the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station). Eventually the Station would expand its research into genetics and breeding, entomology, forestry, food, potatoes, blueberries, and dairy. Such studies have been funded by both state and federal agriculture grants.

The records mainly contain textual information created and curated by the University of Maine's Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station. The record series Administrative Records includes: budget reports including …

Eggert (Franklin P.) Records, 1959-1993, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

Franklin Paul Eggert was born in 1920 in Buffalo, New York. He came to the University of Maine in 1949 as extension fruit specialist and head of the horticulture department of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He was dean of the Graduate School from 1963 to 1975. He retired from the University in 1986. Franklin Paul Eggert died age 83 on October 23, 2003.

The records include the various correspondence of Eggert related to his time as chairperson of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences including regarding horticulture research both at the University of Maine and elsewhere, professional meetings and …

Nurse Cropping In Potato Systems, John M. Jemison Jr.

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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, …

Use Of Endomaxx Mycorrhizal Seed Treatment To Improve Potato Production In Maine, John M. Jemison Jr.

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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 …

Joseph Henry Bodwell Becomes First County Agent In Piscataquis County, Mary Annis

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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.

B854: Cost Of Producing Milk In Maine: Results From The 2013 Cost-Of-Production Survey, Xuan Chen,, Gary Anderson, Dylan Bouchard, Julia Mcguire, George K. Criner, David Marcinkowski

Bulletins

The state of Maine has a unique tier-pricing program for dairy farms, established in 2004, which has been funded by milk-handling fees paid by processors. Given the nature of volatile production costs in dairy farming, it is important to update the baseline cost estimates for each tier every three years. This study aims to provide a precise baseline estimate of cost of production for each tier so that state legisla­tors can better manage the tier-pricing program. The authors provide a historic overview of past Maine dairy cost-of-production studies. They analyze the trend of the cost of producing milk in Maine …

Bulletin 2220: Best Management Practices For Small Scale Poultry Producers In Maine, Richard Brzozowski, Donna R. Coffin, Michael Darre

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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.

Selling Beef In Maine #1048, Donna R. Coffin

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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.

Mr445: Maine Wild Blueberry Growers: A 2010 Economic And Sociological Analysis Of A Traditional Downeast Crop In Transition, Anya Rose, Francis A. Drummond, David E. Yarborough, Eric Asare

Miscellaneous Reports

An extensive mail survey of Maine wild blueberry growers was conducted in spring 2010, the first extensive sur­vey of growers in almost three decades (1974). The objective of the survey was to quantify the diversity of growers’ philosophies, management practices, and perspectives on their priorities in producing blueberries. We also wanted to identify the sources of new information upon which growers rely. Our results are based on 100 responses from a grower population of 353. We asked growers to place themselves into one of four categories representing distinct ap­proaches to management: conventional (12%), integrated pest management (IPM, 65%), organic (13%), …

B853: Cost Of Producing Milk In Maine: Results From The 2010 Dairy Cost Of Production Survey, Richard Kersbergen, Gary Anderson, George Criner, Anthony Davis

Bulletins

The present study reports on a survey conducted for the Maine Milk Commission to determine the cost of milk production for 2010. This assessment was undertaken sooner than the normal three-year update because of the difficult economic climate for dairy farms in Maine.

Tb205: Cost Of Supplemental Irrigation For Potato Production In Maine, David Silver, Ermias Afeworki, George K. Criner

Technical Bulletins

This report presents estimated irrigation costs for potato production in Maine. The variability of the weather in Maine (particularly precipitation) has a large influence on crop yields and overall farm profitability. The use of supplemental irrigation on high-value agricultural crops can improve the economic situation of farmers who use this equipment efficiently. Costs considered in this report include capital costs (equipment, interest, water development (pond construction, permitting, engineering), and operating and maintenance costs (labor, power, repair).

Tb204: Organic Milk Production In Maine: Attributes, Costs, And Returns, Amelia L. Cook, Patrick S. Heacock, George K. Criner, Lisa A. Bragg

Technical Bulletins

This report summarizes attributes, costs, and returns for organic dairy farms in Maine that responded to the 2008 dairy cost of production survey. This survey and analysis was conducted by the University of Maine in cooperation with the Maine Milk Commission. This publication reports on data collected over the 2007 production year. Analysis and discussion of the data revolve around four categories. The first category averages all 30 organic farms to create a statewide group. The authors then broke these 30 farms into three size groups (small, medium, and large) based on the number of cows on each farm. There …

Performance Of Small-Fruited Pumpkin Cultivars In Maine, David T. Handley, Mark G. Hutton, Gregory J. Koller

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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, …

B852: Organic Wild Blueberry Production, Frank Drummond, John Smagula, Seanna Annis, David Yarborough

Bulletins

Recent research carried out under the auspices of a USDA organic transition grant resulted in a better understanding of the interaction of wild blueberry production tactics such as pruning method, soil pH reduction by sulfur (S) application, and organic fertilizer rates on wild blueberry growth, development, and yield. This bulletin is the product of what we have learned over the past four years of this research project.

Tb198: Economic Analysis Of Organic Pest Management Strategies For Lowbush Blueberries Using Enterprise Budgeting, Andrew C. Files, David Yarborough, Frank Drummond

Technical Bulletins

Enterprise budgets were developed for the 12 different pest management treatments of a large-plot organic blueberry transitions project in Maine, covering two prune/harvest cycles (2004–2005 and 2006–2007). Regression analysis of the plot-level yield results for the aggregate of the two prune/harvest cycles indicated that burning fields as compared to mow­ing fields significantly increased blueberry yields over the aggregate of two prune/harvest cycles. Similarly, adding 1,000 lbs of sulfur before the first prune/harvest cycle significantly increased blueberry yields over the aggregate of two prune/harvest cycles as compared to no addition of sulfur. The addition of fertilizer had no significant impact on …

B851: A Comparative Analysis Of Organic Dairy Farms In Maine And Vermont: Farm Financial Information From 2004 To 2006, Timothy J. Dalton, Robert Parsons, Richard Kersbergen, Glenn Rogers

Bulletins

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide an insight into the relative financial performance of organic dairy farming through the examination of three years of detailed farm financial records. Farm financial records were collected in person by trained enumerators from organic dairy operations in Maine and Vermont for the 2004–2006 production years. These farm records are complemented by surveys on farm and farmer characteristics along with farmers’ motivational interests for organic dairy production and performance satisfaction. This report, therefore, provides a rich financial perspective on the evolution of organic dairy farming performance unlike single-season surveys.

Tb193: The Cost Of Producing Milk In Maine: Results From The 2005 Dairy Cost Of Production Survey, Lisa A. Bragg, Timothy J. Dalton

Technical Bulletins

This report summarizes the results of the 2005 Dairy Cost of Production survey implemented by The University of Maine and the Maine Milk Commission. This study summarizes data collected over the 2004 production year. Funding for this report was provided by the Maine Milk Commission. Analysis and discussion of the data in this report centers on an industry-wide group and three smaller sets called clusters. Cluster analysis attempts to identify groups of farms from within the sample of survey respondents that have relatively homogenous characteristics.

Why Consumers Buy---And Don't Buy---Your Farm Direct Products, Donna Coffin, Tai Cheng, Lili Dang

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

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.

B850: Representative Farm Budgets And Performance Indicators For Integrated Farming Practices In Maine, Aaron K. Hoshide, Timothy J. Dalton, Stewart N. Smith

Bulletins

This report compares the relative profitability and sustainability of Maine farms integrating crops and livestock with comparable non-integrated or conventional farms. Potato and dairy systems coupled for only two years had greater profitability compared to conventional systems. Profitability increased in the short term in two ways. First, potato farms grew more of their primary cash crop. Second, dairy farms expanded cow numbers, increasing profitability assuming increasing returns to scale. Coupled systems integrated for more than ten years (long term) had more favorable profitability and sustainability measures than short-term couplers since greater manure-nutrient credits were taken for potatoes and silage corn. …