Christina Howard

New Farmer and Crop Insurance Education Professional
52 US Rt 202, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, ME 04259
Phone: 207.212.8612
Email: christina.howard@maine.edu

Chris is the project manager for the UMaine Risk Management and Crop Insurance Education program.

Chris has worked in many roles within the University of Maine Cooperative Extension over the years. In the recent past, Chris was the Program Manager for the Maine New Farmers Project, Produce Safety Professional, and the Risk Management/Crop Insurance Professional for UMaine Extension. And before that, she worked as a Scientific Technician, working on various projects from broccoli, tomatoes, and other vegetable and small fruit trials, Integrated Pest Management trials, and presentations, to identifying and monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila in raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry fields in Maine.

Education:

M.S., Concentration in Plant Soil and Environmental Science, University of Maine, 2007
Undergraduate Degree: Sustainable Agriculture, University of Maine, 2003

Work-Related Certifications:

2025: Search for Excellence in Young, Beginning, or Small Farmers or Ranchers National Award Winner
2021, 2025: General Responsible Conduct of Research Training
2020, 2025: Human Subjects Research Certification and Conflict of Interest Training
2020: Community Accreditation for Produce Safety (CAPS)+ Audit Training, University of Vermont
2018: On-Farm Readiness Review Produce Safety Training, Rutgers University
2018: Produce Safety Alliance Train the Trainer, Louisiana State University

Professional Organizations:

2021-present: Member of the Maine Association of Agricultural Extension Agents (MAEA)
2021-present: Member of the Northeast Association of County Agricultural Agents (NEACAA)
2021-present: Maine Farmer Resource Network
2021-2024: Extension Professionals Committee (Professionals Promotion Review Committee)