Cooperative Extension

McCarty discusses economical food preservation methods on WLBZ

Kate McCarty, food preservation community education assistant for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with WLBZ (Channel 2) about the most economical ways to preserve food that is grown in the garden. McCarty said freezing is the most cost-effective method at an average of 41 cents per pound, followed by hot water bath canning […]

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Morning Ag Clips, Sun Journal advance ‘Preserving the Harvest’ workshops

Morning Ag Clips and Sun Journal reported the University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering “Preserving the Harvest” workshops around the state throughout the summer. Upcoming workshop topics include an introduction to water bath canning and how to preserve strawberry jam, pickles and green beans. UMaine Extension staff and volunteers will lead the workshops where […]

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Seacoast Online advances container gardening, yardscaping workshops

Seacoast Online reported the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Volunteers will offer July workshops at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. “Container Gardening” will be held 4–6 p.m. Thursday, July 6 and “Yardscaping & Native Plants” will be offered 10 a.m.–noon Sunday, July 16. A $10 fee to help defray the cost of containers, […]

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Dill speaks with Sun Journal about protection against ticks, mosquitoes

Jim Dill, a pest management specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was interviewed by the Sun Journal for an article about tick and mosquito season. “It’s a bad year for ticks. There’s a lot of ticks around,” Dill said, adding deer ticks thrive in high humidity, which is what the state has had […]

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Sun Journal quotes Kersbergen in article on delayed crops

Richard Kersbergen, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension professor and educator, was quoted in the Sun Journal article, “Farmers: Crops delayed, but quality looking good.” Kersbergen, an agricultural expert, said his specialty is hay and corn in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties. Like other crops, corn planting was delayed this year, according to the article. […]

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Mainebiz, BDN publish UMaine Extension’s armyworm warning

Mainebiz and the Bangor Daily News reported the University of Maine Cooperative Extension has received reports of several outbreaks of armyworms, and it is warning farmers throughout the state to inspect their fields. “The last time we had a large outbreak was in 2001,” said UMaine Extension professor Richard Kersbergen. “That year, we also had […]

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BDN interviews Brzozowski, Rebar about keeping backyard chickens healthy

Richard Brzozowski, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension food system program administrator, and John Rebar, executive director of UMaine Extension, offered recommendations to the Bangor Daily News for an article about how to keep backyard chicken flocks healthy. Brzozowski advises developing and practicing an effective biosecurity plan. “You need to have these principles you follow […]

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UMaine Extension cited in Press Herald guide to building bee houses

The Portland Press Herald cited information from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in a feature on how to build a bee house. Though native bees do not produce honey, they are excellent pollinators, according to the article. If you have some basic woodworking skills and tools, you can build a bee house, where they […]

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UMaine Extension advising early detection to stem armyworm infestations

Farmers throughout Maine should be on the lookout for a potential outbreak of armyworms (Pseudaletia unipuncta). The devastating pest normally feeds at night and much damage can occur before they mature. The preferred foods are grasses including corn, grains and perennial forage grasses. Armyworms will feed on other plants if grasses are unavailable. Once the […]

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Damariscotta River Oyster Celebration to benefit Darling Marine Center

Sea farmers of the Damariscotta River invite people to sample and shuck fresh oysters and learn about the marine environment on Saturday, June 24. The Damariscotta River Oyster Celebration will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Darrows Barn in Damariscotta. Proceeds will benefit student researchers at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center […]

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