Potato crops
Potato growers and industry representatives are invited to a field day and research open house hosted by the University of Maine at Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle on August 4. Topics of discussion will include breeding, entomology, nutrient management and the use of remote sensing.

UMaine will host potato field day and research open house at Aroostook Farm

July 10, 2026 Agriculture, Aroostook - Fort Kent, Aroostook - Houlton, Aroostook - Presque Isle, In-Person, News

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — University of Maine, with support from the Maine Potato Board, will host a potato field day and research open house from 8–11 a.m. on August 4, 2026, at Aroostook Farm, 59 Houlton Road in Presque Isle. The event will highlight current potato research projects conducted at the farm, part of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.

The open house is designed for individuals interested in exploring the research being conducted to support and strengthen potato production in the state. Attendees will learn about breeding, entomology, nutrient management, and remote sensing for nitrogen management and PVY management. Presenters include University of Maine researchers Julia Barra Netto-Ferreira, Jair Rodriguez, Mario Andrade, Andrei Alyokhin, Jay Hao, and Han Tan, as well as Paul Collins from USDA Agricultural Research Service and Peter Nelson, founder of the Laboratory of Ecological Spectroscopy (LECOSPEC).

This event is free to attend and light refreshments will be provided. Registration is available on the 2026 Potato Field Day page. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Julia Barra Netto-Ferreira at 207.581.2821 or julia.barra@maine.edu.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety, and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H, which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.