Contact: Jim Dill, (207) 949-2155 Potato late blight, the disease that caused the significant crop losses for tomatoes and potatoes in Maine last year has just been confirmed at a sight in Waldoboro, and several other suspected sites are now being investigated. Typical symptoms will be a water-soaked grease spot on foliage with a fine white […]
Read more
Contact: Rebecca Holberton, (207) 581-2526 ORONO, Maine — Even though the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico isn’t likely to directly affect Maine coastal habitats and wildlife, it likely will affect some of the birds that are iconic in Maine, including the common loon, many of the state’s shore birds and some of its […]
Read more
Contacts: Barb Blazej, (207) 581-2625; Jon Moody, (207) 465-2167; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756 ORONO — After implementing a new philosophical approach to discipline about 3 years ago, teachers and administrators at Messalonskee Middle School in Oakland watched disciplinary problems decline and student morale rise. The new approach called restorative discipline encourages students who misbehave to […]
Read more
Editors’ note: fire ant infestations are being studied in Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and on Mount Desert Island and Orono and Wayne in Maine Contacts: Ellie Groden, (207) 581-2984; Tamara Levitsky, (207) 581-2679 ORONO, Maine — Researchers from the University of Maine are working on solutions to the rapid population growth of invasive stinging fire […]
Read more
Contact: Andy Thomas, (207) 581-4335; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756 ORONO, Maine — Managing the Gulf of Maine’s $300 million lobster industry has been a practice mostly reliant upon the physical size of adult stocks, a system called stock assessment and one that’s made policymaking largely reactive with little environmental input. Now, a research team from […]
Read more
Contact: Professor Jm Dill at (207) 581-3879; George Manlove at (207) 581-3756. ORONO — UMaine Cooperative Extension educator and pest management specialist Jim Dill is available to discuss effective ways to deal with garden insects such as Japanese beetles and other insects that chew away at gardens. Dill says this year appears likely to be […]
Read more
Contact: Dave Boardman, (207) 649-9863; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756 OAKLAND, Maine — When two students with disabilities at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine, wanted to raise awareness about the lack of accessibility in their school, they made a video. Within 24 hours, hundreds of students, teachers and even the school board had seen it. […]
Read more
Contact: Shaleen Jain, (207) 581-2420 ORONO — Water, sometimes plentiful, other times scarce, is a vital resource to humans and the environment, but finding a balance that keeps the needs of both fulfilled is complicated, especially when combined with climate change concerns. A University of Maine research team studying how shifting climate conditions are affecting […]
Read more
Contact: Beth Calder, (207) 581-2791 ORONO — The season is here for consumers to take their pick from the bounty of fresh, locally grown produce at farmers markets. To help ensure proper food handling practices by farmers and vendors, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Food Science Specialist Beth Calder has compiled a fact sheet. A […]
Read more
Contact: Deb Eckart, (207) 255-3345 MACHIAS, Maine — For many older adults, a fear of falling can steadily decrease their physical activity, well-being and independence. At a minimum, their quality of life is jeopardized. “Falling is a fact of life. As we age, it’s just what happens to us,” says Deb Eckart, a University of […]
Read more