UMaine News

UMaine Cooperative Extension horticulturist Lois Berg Stack was quoted in a Village Soup report on the dangers of touching the giant hogweed plant, which has been reported in more than 30 sites in Maine. Touching the plant can cause severe skin and eye irritation, blisters and permanent scarring. Contact: Jessica Bloch, 207-581-3777

A Bangor Daily News story about a rise in abundance of the Hickory Tussock caterpillar included comments from UMaine Cooperative Extension entomologist Clay Kirby. Kirby told the BDN he has more samples of the caterpillar sent to his laboratory and more information requests than previous years. The numbers of the caterpillar, which can cause an […]

Portland television station WCSH interviewed UMaine Cooperative Extension horticulturalist Kate Garland about how to clear downed trees and tree limbs. Garland said limbs should be pruned in a way that minimizes the chance of doing further damage to the tree. Contact: Jessica Bloch, 207-581-3777

A Lewiston Sun Journal news report about damage to farms in western Maine following Hurricane Irene included comments from Greg Koller, who runs UMaine Cooperative Extension’s Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, and Extension educator Tori Jackson. Although toppled trees are an issue, Koller said, more crops may fall due to soft ground conditions. Jackson said farmers […]

Comments from UMaine Cooperative Extension sustainable agriculture specialist Ellen Mallory were included in a Foster’s Daily Democrat newspaper story about the revived local wheat movement. Mallory said a surge of consumer interest in locally grown food that has brought back the New England wheat industry, and farmers have recognized an opportunity to add another crop […]

Lauren St. Germain of the UMaine Cooperative Extension faculty is one of the experts quoted in a Sunday Lewiston Sun Journal story about factors causing some trees to drop their leaves early this year.  St. Germain and others attribute the phenomenon to the cold, wet spring and certain fungal diseases that have been prevalent around […]

Comments from Lois Berg Stack of the UMaine Cooperative Extension faculty were included in Tom Atwell’s Maine Sunday Telegram gardening column.  The article examined the factors that determine the extent to which people remain enthusiastic about home vegetable gardening.

UMaine Cooperative Extension educator Kate Yerxa was interviewed for a Thursday news report by Channels 2 (WLBZ) and 6 (WCSH) about preparing for the effects of Hurricane Irene. Yerxa offered advice for stocking up on appropriate food and emergency provisions in case of power outages. Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

Mark Hutton, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist, was interviewed by the Mid-Coast’s Village Soup newspaper group for a Thursday story about potential crop damage from Hurricane Irene, due to hit Maine Sunday or Monday. Hutton advises growers to harvest any crops that are ripe or near ripe, with the exception of melons, […]