Research Programs

State’s new robotic milking barn unveiled at UMaine’s Witter Farm

OLD TOWN, Maine — The University of Maine unveiled its new robotic milking barn — the third of its kind in Maine and a new resource for bolstering the agricultural workforce and pursuing research activities — at Witter Farm in a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, April 2.  Featuring the latest technology in the dairy […]

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Economic contribution of snowmobiling slid last winter, study finds

Scarce snowpack hindered snowmobile recreation in Maine last winter, squeezing businesses that count on the sport to draw tourists. The University of Maine released an updated report on the economic contribution of snowmobiling in Maine, revealing a significant decline in impact for the 2023-24 season. According to the study, snowmobiling generated an estimated $582 million […]

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UMaine seeks to thwart ticks by helping landowners weed out invasive forest plants

Ask anyone who frequents the forests of New England and they will likely speak of unwelcome companions — ticks. Blacklegged ticks are expanding their range and rising in numbers, infecting people with pathogens that cause conditions like Lyme disease and babesiosis. Climate change is frequently blamed, but researchers have noticed another man-made problem may be […]

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Governor Mills Proclaims 2025 as the “Year of Youth in Agriculture” in Maine

Leaders Augusta– Governor Janet Mills, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) and Maine Department of Education (DOE), has proclaimed 2025 as the “Year of Youth in Agriculture” in Maine. The Year of Youth in Agriculture will provide opportunities to spotlight and elevate young adult voices in agriculture by leveraging […]

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November 29, 2024 is “Maine Grown Christmas Tree Day” 

Governor Mills Declares November 29, 2024, as “Maine Grown Christmas Tree Day”  Maine-grown Christmas Trees and Wreaths Generate $18 Million in Annual Economic Impact  Augusta – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced today that Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed Friday, November 29, 2024, as “Maine Grown Christmas Tree Day” to honor […]

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UMaine leads international team to study, conserve woodcock

The American woodcock is a well known shorebird found across eastern North America. Each year, they migrate from overwintering locations in the southeastern U.S. to breeding locations across the northeastern and midwestern U.S. and southeastern Canada. To gather data on the woodcock’s migration, a team led by faculty at the University of Maine has collaborated […]

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A portrait of John Daigle

Native Plant Trust honors Daigle for leadership in ash tree conservation

John Daigle, professor of forest recreation management at the University of Maine, is receiving the 2024 Regional Impact Award from Native Plant Trust, a plant conservation organization focused solely on New England’s native plants. The award recognizes regionally significant leadership and achievement in conservation, horticulture and education.  A citizen member of Penobscot Nation, Daigle created […]

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American lobster population, habitat preferences shifting, study finds

American lobsters along Maine’s coast have relocated to new habitats, while the population simultaneously shrunk in abundance and grew older, according to a new study by University of Maine researchers. For decades, the vast majority of adult lobsters resided in boulder shelter habitats. This knowledge helped inform longtime conservation efforts and regulations within the more […]

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