This season might summon visions of summer vacations and sunbathing, but for Christmas tree growers, it signals sweat, strategy and survival. These hot, hectic months are a pivotal period in the production of picture-perfect pines. To deliver full-bodied firs in December, growers must diligently def...

Christina Dodge provided some simple yet effective tips for building a motivated and committed workplace team. Dodge is a Maine Small Business Development Center business advisor. “The power of motivation is that motivation drives results and that shows up in increased productivity, better customer ...

The concept of soil health is all about enriching your soil. Jamie Garzon, the assistant Extension professor and forage educator at UMaine, defines soil health as “the soil’s continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem.” Maintaining healthy soil can lead to increased plant growth, qua...

Apples and autumn are the ultimate match-up. People love to go apple picking, drink apple cider and plan ahead for holiday pies. But for growers who have to plan what to do with their many bushels of apples once they’re off the trees, proper storage is a cause for concern. Talking about environmenta...

It’s Christmas all year round at Chestnut Mountain Christmas Tree Farm. Owner Robert Schrader currently has 40,000 trees in different stages of growth to be ready for the upcoming holiday season this year and those to come. He grows Fraser, Balsam, Canaan and Concolor firs and some blue spruce on th...

Farmers are familiar with AI as the abbreviation for artificial insemination or avian influenza, and many know it also stands for artificial intelligence. Alexis Stevens, farm management specialist with Iowa State University, said there are more than 36,000 AI tools available today – and the number ...

Waking up early to hear a lecture on economics sounds like something you had to do in college, not something you’d choose to do as a plant-growing professional. Still, the annual State of the Industry address at Cultivate, the conference and trade show organized by AmericanHort, has grown so popular...

Stews, sides, gratins, fritters – is there anything potatoes can’t do? But as with many everyday heroes, it’s easy to take the tubers for granted. Enter specialty potatoes: petite, colorful and full of flavor, these spuds are entering the spotlight as consumer demand rises. In 2024, potato sales wen...

Hello, farm family! Since you’re reading this, you already know that “farmer” is really a hyphenated word. It stands for farmer-carpenter, farmer-mechanic, farmer-veterinarian, farmer-sales manager, farmer-marketing director – you get the idea! Farmers take great pride in that hyphenated identity, a...