The ground has broken on construction of Witter Farm’s new dairy barn

Construction of a new dairy barn has began at the J.F. Witter Research and Teaching Center, a Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES) facility. This undertaking will support long-standing relationships with industry and corporate partners, increase student and faculty productivity, and provide a welcome center to thousands of visitors from the region.

With these new renovations, the Witter Center will be poised to significantly contribute to the state’s workforce and economic needs. Witter is a center where students take animal and veterinary sciences classes, conduct research, and enjoy the farm setting for stress relief. Moreover, Witter welcomes over 6,000 visitors each year, helping recruit new students to major in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. With excellent faculty and hands-on large-animal experience, many graduates are successful candidates for veterinary schools and other graduate programs.

The modernization plan includes a new milking barn with a DeLaval VMS Series V300 milking robot, a compost-bedded pack housing system, teaching spaces, staff and research offices, and a public viewing platform. Investment in Witter supports UMaine’s land-grant mission to conduct original research, investigation, and experiments which contribute to the establishment and maintenance of the agricultural industry in the United States. A modernized facility will return investment costs through revenue generation from increased student enrollment, additional research grants, and farm-operation efficiencies.

Construction began in June and is planned to be completed by November. The goal is to open the Witter Center to the public again in January 2025. Between now and then monthly tours of the current facility and construction site will be held (for more information contact MAFES Assistant Director, Lee Hecker; lee.hecker@maine.edu; 207-581-4214).