David Handley and Jim Dill of University of Maine Cooperative Extension were interviewed for a Lewiston Sun Journal article about the spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly that has Maine’s blueberry growers worried because it attacks ripening and not just rotten fruit. Handley, a vegetable and small fruit specialist based at UMaine Extension’s Highmoor Farm […]

University of Maine Cooperative Extension educators and garden specialists Barbara Murphy and Diana Hibbard were interviewed for a Portland-area KeepMECurrent news report on community gardens and UMaine Extension’s Harvest for Hunger program, which generated more than 293,000 pounds of produce for soup kitchens, homeless shelters and individuals last year. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator for 4-H youth Ellie Libby was a recent guest for a WERU radio discussion on teaching children about programs and opportunities for youth to learn about healthy foods, gardening and farming. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

Foster’s Daily Democrat advanced beekeeping classes being offered by the Maine State Beekeepers Association in conjunction with the York County office of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension starting Oct. 16 in Springvale. The five-week classes are being held on Tuesday evenings. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

A Portland Press Herald gardening column about preserving and freezing fruits and vegetables included advice from University of Maine Cooperative Extension food preservation aide Kate McCarty. McCarty suggested freezing or canning garden produce as jams, jellies, salsas or other tomato-based sauces. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

The Ellsworth American’s Fenceviewer website, Channel 6 (WCSH) and Channel 2 (WLBZ) interviewed University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator and cranberry specialist Charlie Armstrong for an update on the 2012 cranberry crop. Armstrong said the harvest appears to be an excellent one in spite of some adversarial weather conditions and a three-fold increase in cranberry […]

Wanda Lincoln, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension nutrition education professional, was noted in a Kennebec Journal article on a school choice task force assembled by Maine Gov. Paul LePage. Lincoln was appointed to the task force, which is charged with developing a school choice proposal to send to lawmakers in January. Contact: Jessica Bloch, […]

The Drovers CattleNetwork website  posted an editorial column praising the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s new “More Maine Meat” initiative, designed to support sustainable agriculture and increase revenues for Maine livestock producers through encouraging more forage-based feed resources. The editorial says the program provides a business model that aims to keep the state’s meat producers […]

University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator and cranberry specialist Charlie Armstrong was interviewed for a Maine Public Broadcasting Network report on the 2012 cranberry harvest. Armstrong said the crop is looking good, in spite of an increase in crop pests in some areas. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756