Whether it’s conducting cutting-edge research, commenting on current events or receiving that diploma, University of Maine faculty, students and leaders made headlines locally, nationally and internationally in 2025. From research labs and classrooms to commencement stages and championship arenas, UMaine was featured in more than 18,000 stories published from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. […]
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Discover campus and coastal life at the University of Maine through “Life in the Pines,” where real students share their experiences studying, exploring nature and embracing community on both the Orono and Machias campuses. “Life in the Pines,” an unscripted video series sharing stories of students at the University of Maine and University of Maine […]
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The research farm recently underwent a $3 million renovation funded by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan so that the land-grant university could accelerate its development of new potato varieties, like the successful Caribou Russet, and the growth of Maine’s agricultural economy and workforce Gov. Janet Mills and leaders of the University of Maine and […]
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The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) awarded Xiuyan Zhang, a Ph.D. student with the University of Maine’s Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, its 2024-25 Academic Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship, awarded annually to a graduate student who is interested in research that could benefit the potato industry, will support Zhang, who is studying […]
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Augusta (August 27, 2024) – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced today an investment in Maine’s agricultural sector of more than $600,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards (SCBGP). This funding will help a diverse group of recipients, including the University of Maine System, North Spore, LLC, and the Maine Organic […]
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Science interviewed Andrei Alyokhin, a professor of applied entomology at the University of Maine School of Biology & Ecology, for a story about Calantha, a new pesticide to combat Colorado potato beetles. These beetles have developed a resistance to traditional pesticides over the years, but Calantha, created by GreenLight Biosciences, uses RNA interference (RNAi) to […]
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Warm weather means many farms across Maine will be hosting public access hours and events (check Real Maine or local farm websites for hours and details). MAFES’ Aroostook, Blueberry Hill, Highmoor, and Rogers farms will all be hosting field days and other opportunities for public access throughout the summer (see our events page for details). […]
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Profitable production of potato, which continues to be the most important agricultural commodity in the state of Maine, is impossible without successful control of its insect pests. Insecticides do not provide a long-term solution because of the rapid evolution of resistance in the targeted populations. Furthermore, they are largely ineffective in preventing the spread of […]
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Most potato production systems used in the U.S. require high rates of chemical fertilization to maintain yields and frequent chemical sprays for disease control. This project will develop and evaluate nutrient management practices that will reduce the dependence of potato production systems on purchased P and K fertilizers. It will also improve the nitrogen fertilization […]
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Consumer demographics and food preferences present new challenges for farmers who seek to supply high quality, highly nutritional products to consumers, while maintaining economically and environmentally sustainable production practices. This multidisciplinary regional research project helps farmers address these needs. Specifically, we propose to provide farmers new potato varieties to solve production problems and meet consumers […]
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