News

Maine Climate & Agriculture Network Spring 2022 Webinar Series

The Maine Climate and Agriculture Network (MECAN) is pleased to offer a three-webinar series about climate change and agriculture on Tuesday March 22nd 2-3 pm, Monday March 28th 2-3 pm, and Thursday April 14th 1-2 pm.  The first two sessions address Adapting to Climate Change on the Farm, where farmers and agricultural advisors share their […]

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USDA Northeast Climate Hub Webinar – Climate Adaptation Resources for Northern New England Farmers, Part 1: Livestock Enterprises

“Join us as we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of silvopasture systems as climate adaptation strategies. Farmers, educators, and technical service providers will learn about the online tools and resources that are available to help determine if these practices are a good fit for a particular farm operation.” The webinar is schedule for March 29th, […]

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USDA Northeast Climate Hub Webinar – Climate Adaptation Resources for Northern New England Farmers, Part 2: Vegetable Production Systems

“Join us as we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of tarping and irrigation systems as climate adaptation strategies. Farmers, educators, and technical service providers will learn about the online tools and resources that are available to help determine if these practices are a good fit for a particular farm operation.” The webinar is schedule for […]

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UMaine Extension Soil Health course starts Feb. 14

This “Soil Health Short Course” is designed to improve understanding of soil health science and practical management strategies, including cover cropping, reduced tillage practices, crop rotation and soil testing and amendments. (Photo courtesy of University of Maine Cooperative Extension) The University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a five-session online course about soil health science […]

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Dairy farmers can adapt to climate change

Dairy farmers in the Northeast — facing a warming climate that exacerbates nutrient pollution but lengthens the growing season — can reduce the environmental impact of their operations and maximize revenues by double cropping and injecting manure into the soil, rather than broadcasting it. That’s the conclusion of a team of researchers, led by Penn […]

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Vermont Pay for Phosphorus program open for applications from farms

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets recently opened applications for the new Vermont Pay for Phosphorus program, one of the first of its kind in the United States. Climate change-caused increases in precipitation and intense rain events are likely to cause increases in nutrient leaching and runoff from fertilized fields, which will degrade […]

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Cost-effective strategies to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases

Crop and livestock production lead to the unintentional release of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Farmers can do something about that. The top two green-house gases in agriculture in the United States are nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Nitrous oxide emissions come mostly from excess fertilizer nitrogen (agricultural soil management). Methane has two main sources, livestock […]

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Following nutrient management guidelines can help to reduce nitrous oxide emissions

Agriculture is the largest source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, with a majority produced in soils receiving fertilizer and manure. The largest emissions of N2O generally come from wet soils. Nutrient management guidelines have largely been developed to protect water quality, but practices that improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency by crops also […]

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Maine potato companies to invest in solar power systems

$24 million is coming to the state in the form of grants and loans to build green infrastructure in rural communities in the state PUBLISHED ON December 13, 2021 The U.S. Department of Agriculture money is part of more than $24 million coming to the state in the form of grants and loans to build […]

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