by Courtney Llewellyn
During the Plant Ag & Pesticide Regulation Committee meeting which took place as part of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Policy Conference in February, a policy amendment for the promotion of hemp was presented by Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets Anson Tebbetts. (more…)
Jordan Clasen started his farming venture in Johnston, Iowa, with 5,000 garlic cloves on a quarter acre. Photo courtesy of Grade A Gardens
by Sally Colby
Managing the produce department at a local specialty grocery co-op and café gave Jordan Clasen an appreciation for local food. Working with farmers who were selling to the co-op, (more…)
Mohamed Abukar, Jabril Abdi, Seynab Ali and Batula Ismail are Somali refugees who created a farming co-op in Maine. Photo courtesy of the Cooperative Development Institute
by Catie Joyce-Bulay
In many ways, New Roots Cooperative Farm in Lewiston is like most small farms in Maine. Its CSA makes up the largest part of farm revenue, (more…)
Ken Michael fights back against the short growing season in Idaho by utilizing four high tunnels. Photos courtesy of Teton Full Circle Farm
by Sally Colby
Although they took a roundabout way to end up where they are, Ken Michael and Erika Eschholz brought their Teton Full Circle Farm (more…)
Andrew Rodgers uses a small tractor to help when it’s time to harvest his carrots. Photo courtesy of Clark Farm
by Sally Colby
Sometimes timing is everything. Andrew Rodgers had been successfully managing an organic farm, but that farm was slated for development. (more…)
Holde Fink and his wife at the coast. Fink has run Native and Urban Gardens for almost 30 years. Photos courtesy of Holde Fink
by Aliya Hall
Although Holde Fink is a landscaper, he also uses his position to help educate his clients on the environment and the most ecological practices to maintain their yards. (more…)
A Cinara aphid colony on a Christmas tree. Photo courtesy of NYSIPM
by Courtney Llewellyn
Pest management is an ongoing battle for all growers, but Christmas tree growers have their own war to wage. Fortunately, in New York State they have researchers at Cornell University and NYSIPM (more…)
Research assistant Caleb Slemmons helps to set up one of a network of weather stations used to monitor conditions to help blueberry growers across Maine. Photo courtesy of University of Maine
by Enrico Villamaino
The University of Maine’s School of Biology and Ecology was recently endowed with a grant from the USDA to enable pomologists to research (more…)
The Erinium mite trial, which took place at two vineyard sites on Old Mission Peninsula in 2020, had both sites treated at bud swell. Photo courtesy of Isaacs Lab/MSU
by Courtney Llewellyn
Grapes can be finicky. As a crop, they require somewhat specific conditions to grow to the best of their ability, and even then, all (more…)
by Sally Colby
Organic farmers will say that weed management is one of their biggest challenges. A variety of weed management methods are acceptable for organic certification – some more effective than others. Many organic farmers use cover crops to add organic matter and keep weeds down, and if managed properly, cover crops can eliminate the need for tillage. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
The hemp industry needs a Checkoff. That’s what Patrick Atagi, board chair of the National Industrial Hemp Council believes, and that’s what an online survey illustrated too.
The NIHC, along with the Hemp Industries Association, hosted a survey (more…)
Vermont vegetable farmer and writer Kate Spring.
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin
“I really love marketing,” said Vermont vegetable farmer and writer Kate Spring during her presentation at the 2020 Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Farmer to Farmer online conference. (more…)
