Agriculture Commons^™

The Influence Of Framing And Recent Experience On Farmer Choices In Experimental Games Depicting Risk-Reducing Agricultural Technologies, Ana Maria Ospina Tobar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is a major threat to food security, particularly in low and middle-income countries that are highly dependent on staple crops for subsistence. The vulnerability of staple crops, like maize, in the face of climate change, is increasing due to the increasing frequency of droughts. This thesis aims to evaluate two mechanisms through which farmers may be more willing to adopt new technologies that increase their resilience to climate change: First, I evaluate the effectiveness of a new virtual maize farming game as a learning tool to teach farmers about the outcomes they could obtain under different weather events …

S7e7: How Can Business Savvy Help Maine Farmers Succeed?, Ron Lisnet, Erin Percival Carter

The Maine Question

Like opening any business, starting and operating a farm can be challenging without any in-depth entrepreneurial knowledge or skills. To help strengthen support for farmers’ business skills, University of Maine faculty members Erin Percival Carter and Stephanie Welcomer established the Business, Agriculture, and Rural Development (BARD) technical assistance training program in the Maine Business School.

The BARD program trains UMaine students to serve as consultants for farmers and operators of other small-scale and sustainable agricultural businesses. These students can assist agribusinesses with various aspects of commerce, such as data-management, price-setting, marketing, financial and strategic forecasting, market segmentation, product development, market …

S6e5: Who Doesn’T Love Maine Maple Syrup?, Ron Lisnet, Jason Lilley

The Maine Question

Maple syrup is a staple product in Maine, and many rejoice when the sugaring season returns each year. At the end of winter when the temperatures are just right, producers harvest gallons of sap to transform into sweet syrup inside their sugar shacks.

In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Jason Lilley, a sustainable agriculture professional with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, describes how the producers make maple syrup from sap. He also discusses the future of the maple industry in Maine and shares a few tips and recipes.

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 …

To Know The Land With Hands And Minds: Negotiating Agricultural Knowledge In Late-Nineteenth-Century New England And Westphalia, Justus Hillebrand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ever since the eighteenth century, experts have tried to tell farmers how to farm. The agricultural enlightenment in Europe marked the beginning of a long arc of new experts aiming to change agricultural knowledge and practice. This dissertation analyzes the pivotal period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Germany and the United States when scientists, improvers, and market agents began to develop comprehensive ways to communicate agricultural innovation to farmers. In a functional approach to analyzing the negotiation of agricultural knowledge through its communication in things, words, and practices, this dissertation argues that the process of change …

S3e2: What Does The Future Look Like For Maine’S Wild Blueberries?, Ron Lisnet, Lily Calderwood

The Maine Question

Along with lobsters and lighthouses, wild blueberries are an iconic product from the state of Maine. While the industry has struggled of late, promising developments exist for wild blueberries and the people who grow and make products out of them. UMaine's wild blueberry expert Lily Calderwood shares her thoughts on the work being done at the university to grow the industry and what the past, present and future holds for this delicious, native crop.

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 …

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 …

Using The Real Food Calculator To Assess The University Of Maine's Dining Purchases Within A Food System Context, Ashely Thibeault

Honors College

This study investigated the University of Maine’s food purchasing using the Real Food Calculator to determine the Real Food percentage. Real Food is defined by the Real Food Challenge as local, humane, fair, and ecologically sound. The Real Food Challenge is an organization that seeks to create systemic food system change through student efforts on college campuses by shifting food purchasing to 20% Real Food by 2020. The University of Maine had 5% Real Food in the 2012-2013 academic year. While there are limitations to Real Food and the Real Food Calculator, it may produce a change in the food …

The Enhancement Of Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) For Pollination Security, Eric M. Venturini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The acreage of pollinator-dependent crops continues to expand across the globe. Simultaneously, honey bee hives – an annually rented commodity that growers rely on – are more expensive every year and in some cases, scarce. In response, pollinator-dependent growers seek alternative pollinators. One approach is installing bee pasture on farms, a strategy that enables systems-based farmers to become in-situ farm-scale habitat managers. This thesis first presents a review of the literature on bee pasture plantings and provides a brief overview of some methods for assessing their impacts on the pollinator community. There are three major gaps in current bee pasture …

‘The Farmer’S Family Must Find Compensation In Something Less Tangible, Less Material’: Culture And Agriculture In Maine And New England, 1870-1905”, Cody P. Miller

Maine History

Following the Civil War, American agriculture changed dramatically, and New England was no exception. With new railroad systems, specialized crop markets, and chemical fertilizers, Maine and other New England farmers found themselves as part of an increasingly commercialized agricultural system. Farmers, urban pundits, and agricultural reformers all stressed the need to abandon small, mixed husbandry farming and instead they urged farmers to start treating agriculture like a business. In order to “progress,” one needed to increase acreage and adopt specialized cropping. While many farmers accepted this mantra, others resisted it and argued that there was a moral quality to agriculture …

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.

An Economic Analysis Of Wild Bee Pollination In Lowbush Blueberry Production, Francis A. Drummond

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

The purpose of this project is to determine the relative economic values of wild bee pollinators and commercial honeybees in lowbush blueberry production for individual Maine farms. The lowbush blueberry requires insect pollination in order to set fruit. Most farmers rent colonies of the non-native honeybee for pollination services, but wild, native bees are also effective pollinators. This project aims to provide growers with the means to assess the pollination needs of individual fields and to understand the levels of pollination possible if honeybees are not available. In order to achieve these goals, the relative abundance and species diversity of …

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 …

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.

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. …

Genetically Modified Food: What Are Mainers Thinking?, Mario F. Teisl, Luke Garner, Brian Roe, Michael E. Vayda

Maine Policy Review

Whether to allow genetically modified (GM) foods in Maine, and if so, under what circumstances, has been hotly debated in recent years. The authors explore one aspect of the issue—Mainers’ attitudes about the labeling of GM foods. They point out that labeling GM foods is more complex than simply whether to label. Policy decisions need to be made about whether labeling should be mandatory, what pieces of information should be on the label, who should be in charge of monitoring compliance, and even what foods should be labeled. The authors discuss the potential benefits of GM food labeling, and conclude …

Tb189: The Cost Of Producing Milk In Maine: Results From The 2002 Dairy Cost Of Production Survey, Timothy J. Dalton, Lisa A. Bragg

Technical Bulletins

This report summarizes the results of the 2002 Dairy Cost of Production survey implemented by The University of Maine and the Maine Milk Commission. Funding for this report was provided by the Maine Milk Commission. Analysis and discussion of the data in this report centers on four major groups called clusters. Cluster analysis attempts to identify groups of farms from within the sample of survey respondents that have relatively homogenous characteristics.

Tb183: Investment, Ownership And Operating Costs Of Supplemental Irrigation Systems For Maine Wild Blueberries, Timothy J. Dalton, Andrew Files, David Yarborough

Technical Bulletins

This study investigates the investment and annual cost of supplemental irrigation equipment used on lowbush blueberries and calculates breakeven yields required to pay for annual costs and the earliest possible payoff period to recover investment costs. Using an economic-engineering approach to simulating investment and operating costs, this project assesses breakeven requirements on irrigation investment. The report reviews several of the technical factors contributing to the irrigation decision, calculate economic costs and are breakeven measures, but only introduce some of the financial factors for a grower to consider.

Tb181: 2000 Milk Processing Costs In Maine, Timothy J. Dalton, George K. Criner, John Halloran

Technical Bulletins

The objective of this study is to provide an estimate of the theoretically lowest achievable costs of processing and distributing milk in Maine. This processing and distribution margin (referred hence as "margin") is estimated for a state-of-the-art processing plant assumed to be located in the Portland, Maine, area. The plant is assumed to produce and distribute a line of products including white milk, chocolate milk, orange juice, and other fruit drinks, and to distribute additional purchased products such as cheeses and yogurts. This report will present information for four plants to better study the impact of plant size and production …

B843: The Ecology, Economics, And Management Of Potato Cropping Systems: A Report Of The First Four Years Of The Maine Potato Ecosystem Project, A. Randall Alford, Francis A. Drummond, Eric R. Gallandt, Eleanor Groden, David A. Lambert, Matt Liebman, Michele C. Marra, Jeffrey C. Mcburnie, Gregory A. Porter, Bacilio Salas

Bulletins

The bulletin reports on the first four years of the Maine Potato Ecosystem Project, a long-term, multidisciplinary study of alternative crop management strategies. The study site is a 15-acre tract on the northern boundary of the University of Maine's Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle, Maine, divided into 96 main plots that are grouped into four blocks. Each block is an area where soil survey data show similar soil characteristics. Thus, given the same production inputs, the crop output is expected to be the same on each plot within a block. Within each block there are 24 plots to which the …

Tb158: Milk Processing And Distribution Costs: Maine 1993, Stephan C. Howick, George K. Criner, Stephen L. Jacobs

Technical Bulletins

The objective of this study is to provide an updated estimate of the theoretically lowest achievable costs of processing and distributing milk in Maine. Costs are estimated for a state-of-the-art processing plant assumed to be located in the Portland, Maine, area. The plant produces and distributes a full line of products, including white milk, chocolate milk, and orange juice, and distributes additional products such as cheeses and yogurts.

Regulatory Updates: Maine Milk Commission, Ralph Townsend

Maine Policy Review

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Agriculture And Public Policy, Stewart Smith

Maine Policy Review

This article is an adaptation of Stewart Smith’s recent presentation on sustainable agriculture to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the Maine Legislature.

Regulatory Updates: Maine Milk Commission

Maine Policy Review

Maine Policy Review has taken a particular interest in the activities of Maine's key regulatory agencies, such as the Public Utilities Commission and the Board of Environmental Protection. The state also has a number of regulatory agencies with jurisdictions over relatively narrow interests or industries. Because of their narrow mission, these agencies often do not attract regular media attention. In this issue, MPR continues its policy of highlighting these "other" regulatory boards, in this case the Maine Milk Commission, providing readers with general and contextual information about these bodies.