Kersbergen mentioned in Bates article on influence of crop advisers

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

January 10, 2018 Cooperative Extension, Outreach, UMaine in the News

Rick Kersbergen, a sustainable dairy and forage systems expert with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was mentioned in the Bates College news article, “Crop advisers can influence farmers to adopt conservation practices.” A recently published study led by a visiting assistant professor of environmental studies at Bates determined crop advisers may be potential influencers when it comes to farmers implementing conservation practices, according to the article. Crop advisers work independently or for retailers such as seed or fertilizer companies, helping farmers be more productive and efficient, the article states. Kersbergen, a crop adviser certified by the American Society of Agronomy who specializes in dairy farming in Maine, says farmers trust the advice they pay to get. Kersbergen has helped Maine dairy farmers go organic in recent years and researched pasture and forage systems for dairy cows, farm safety, and soil health. While he still works directly with dairy farmers, he now also runs seminars, helps would-be crop advisers study for the certification exam, and provides recertification training, Bates reported. Kersbergen said farmers turn to crop advisers for lots of farm management decisions. “The trend has been for farmers to hire crop advisers to provide pest management advice, as well as manure, nutrient and herbicide-pesticide advice,” he said.