Mainebiz interviewed Kathy Hopkins, a maple syrup educator with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Jenny Shrum, a doctoral biology and ecology student at the University of Maine, for the March 18 article “Maine syrup makers brace for widespread variability.” Hopkins spoke about the unusually warm seasons producers have been seeing in the past few years. She said despite the variability of the seasons, syrup production has been booming and state licenses for commercial production have increased. Shrum spoke about her research into how to better define what temperature rises and weather variability will mean for sap flow, as well as possible steps that could safeguard the state’s industry.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Hopkins, Doctoral Student Interviewed in Mainebiz Article
Thursday, March 21st, 2013McConnon, Calder in Mainebiz Article
Thursday, March 21st, 2013Mainebiz interviewed University of Maine faculty members Jim McConnon and Beth Calder for the March 18 article, “Belfast food hub creates new market for local vendors.” McConnon, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension business and economics specialist and professor of economics, explained why a food hub has taken root in Belfast. Calder, a UMaine Extension food science specialist and associate professor of food science, spoke about the sustainability needs of creating a “common kitchen.” Both weighed in on what makes for a “recipe for success.”
McConnon in MPBN Karen Mills Report
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013A Maine Public Broadcasting Network report on the contributions of Karen Mills of Brunswick, who announced this week she will step down as administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, a Cabinet-level appointment in the Obama administration, included comments from Jim McConnon, University of Maine Cooperative Extension business and economics specialist and professor of economics, who said Mills’ appointment in 2009 was “very, very positive.”
So You Want to Farm in Maine? Free Webinar
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
So You Want to Farm in Maine is a farm business course for people who want to start a profitable farm or expand their farm hobby into a profitable business. This course will be offered in eight (8) evening webinars, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., starting Thursday, March 7. Classes will be held on the Internet, live and with an archived version that will be available shortly after the live session.
Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, record keeping, market research, and much more. The webinar is free. Course texts can be purchased from the UMaine Extension Publications Store.
“Tourism business opportunities for fishermen” amoung offerings at annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013Maine Sea Grant helped start the Maine Fishermen’s Forum more than 30 years ago, and we continue to be involved in the annual gathering of Maine’s fishing industry, this year scheduled for February 28 through March 2. The Marine Extension Team will be co-leading sessions on tourism business opportunities for fishermen, ocean renewable energy, the basics of shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, ocean acidification, and Trade Adjustment Assistance trainings for enrolled lobstermen. We are also sponsoring a reading series at the Forum by New England authors with recent books on fisheries-related topics: Nancy Frazier, I, Lobster: A Crustacean Odyssey; Mary Cerullo, City Fish, Country Fish; Eva Murray, Well Out to Sea; W. Jeffrey Bolster, Mortal Sea: Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail; and Gordon Holmes, East of the Hague Line.
McConnon Comments on State Credit Downgrade
Monday, January 28th, 2013The Sun Journal carried a Bangor Daily News article about the recent downgrade of Maine’s credit rating, which included comments from Jim McConnon, University of Maine Cooperative Extension business and economics specialist and professor of economics.
Sunday Telegram Features UMaine Agritourism Initiative
Monday, December 17th, 2012A feature story in the Maine Sunday Telegram about the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s promotion of agritourism in Maine, which engages consumers in more active farm product acquisition, included interviews with UMaine Extension Director John Rebar and Marc Edwards, a UMaine Extension tourism and economic development professional in the Franklin County office in Farmington.
McConnon Comments in Black Friday News Report
Thursday, November 29th, 2012Comments by University of Maine Cooperative Extension business specialist and professor of economics Jim McConnon were included in a Lewiston Sun Journal article about what retailers and consumers might expect as the holiday shopping season gets underway. McConnon said improving consumer confidence in the economy is being reflected in retail sales.
McConnon Comments in Regional Economies Report
Monday, November 26th, 2012Comments from Jim McConnon, business and economics specialist and professor of economics with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the UMaine School of Economics, were included in a Bangor Daily News article about the increasing strength of the Portland-area economy. The Bangor-area economy also is important as a service center for northern and eastern Maine, according to the article, which notes that McConnon has developed a method based on taxable retail sales figures to measure a community’s success in attracting money from outside its confines.