Stephanie Burnette – Board Member (seat #17), University of Maine Assistant Professor
Philip Fanning – Board Member (seat #18), University of Maine Assistant Professor
Hannah Carter – Board Member (seat #19), University of Maine Cooperative Extension Dean
Sebastian Belle – Board Member (seat #20), Maine Aquaculture Association
Anne Trenholm – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Agricultural Promotions Cooridnator
Rhiannon Hampson – United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development State Director
Sherry Hamel – United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency Executive Director
Jeanne Christie – District Representative for Representative Chellie Pingree
Zachary Schmesser – District Representative for Representative Jared Golden
Scott Wilkinson – Regional Representative for Senator Angus King
Carol Woodcock – State Office Representative to Senator Susan Collins
Tori Lee Jackson – University of Maine Cooperative Extension Program Administrator of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chris Howard – University of Maine Cooperative Extension New Farmer Project Coordinator
Peyton Ginakes – University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Mark Hutton – University of Maine Cooperative Extension & Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Associate Professor
Jim Dill – UMaine Cooperative Extension, Maine House of Representatives
Sabrina DeTurk – University of Maine Strategic Re-Envisioning Project Director
Jason Charland – University of Maine Director of the Office of Research Development
John Volin – University of Maine Provost
Kelly Sparks – University of Maine Vice President for Finance and Chief Business Officer
Joan Ferrini-Mundy – University of Maine President
Samantha Warren – University of Maine System Director of Government & Community Relations
Dannel Malloy – University of Maine System Chancellor
Joseph Kennedy, University of Maine Media Services
Serge Drage – University of Maine Media Services
Lee Hecker – University of Maine, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Assistant Director, board Clerk
George Criner – University of Maine, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Associate Director
Diane Rowland – University of Maine, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Director & College of Earth, Life, & Health Sciences Dean
Introductions – Marge Kilkelly
Welcome, introductions, and agenda review
Thank you all for accommodating the last-minute venue change and attending virtually
Review and approval of previous meeting minutes – Marge Kilkelly
Minutes from February 2, April 26, and August 23, 2024, submitted for approval to and reviewed by board previous to this meeting
Motion to approved minutes – Amber Lambke
Seconded – Kevin Woltemath
Approved unanimously
Address from University of Maine System Chancellor – Chancellor Dannel Malloy
Speaks to appreciation for agriculture in Maine and the jobs the industry accounts for.
University of Maine System (UMS) has request for increase of 6% of budget, which should outpace inflation and account for an estimated 50% of University of Maine System needs.
Previous state funding accounted for as high as 70% of UMS annual needs.
UMS has $1.6 billion infrastructure deficit
The Board of Agriculture (BOA) is a valued advisory board to the UMS
Offers to speak with anyone attending the meeting. Call his office to schedule.
UMS has a system charge to educate and retain out of state students in Maine’s workforce
More students are enrolled than in the immediate past.
Receiving investments from private sector is a valued and critical component to meeting budgetary needs
UMS vows to be conservative in expenditures and wise in spending.
Question (Q) – Eric Venturini – Can you speak to the projected cuts of $8-9 million in future budgets?
Answer (A) – Chancellor Dannel Malloy – UMS is putting pressure on universities to not rely on UMS emergency funds
Students are up and we aim to keep them in Maine
The Chancellor promotes working together to understand infrastructure challenges as we are losing students as a result.
The Chancellor thanks congressmen for support, especially Senator Collins.
UMS and campuses need to be prudent in expenditures.
Comment – As a land grant university, it’s not all about the students.
Response – Research out of the University of Maine (UM) in Orono, an R1 institution is serious and represents more than 50% of what Maine (industry) does.
Expenses are going up more rapidly than state funds or enrollment
Q – Marge Kilkelly – How can the BOA be helpful in philanthropy knowing that strategic budgets have multiple inputs?
A – Chancellor Dannel Malloy – The Chancellor appreciates all contributions the BOA has already made so far, including politically.
Important to remember that some fields have more money than others.
The Chancellor is excited about current growth in professional certificates and predicts more are coming. He is a big supporter of 3-4 course programs. Learning is lifelong.
Dean Hannah Carter – Also supports micro-credentials. Provides example of a program currently developing related to customers service that includes Bangor Savings Bank and other partners.
Suggests future agenda item to gather micro-credential ideas from BOA.
Q – Eric Venturini – Can you speak about the recent changes in upper administration at the UM and UMS level and the time and money spent on replacing these positions? There are extreme costs associated with hiring/firing processes and there is concern about this type spending in light of budgetary challenges.
A – Chancellor Dannel Malloy – We don’t discuss personnel changes, but they are constant here and everywhere. There is a lot of movement in the education industry.
UMS and UM are trying to streamline onboarding new employees (e.g., internal hires) and adding stricter rules to that prevent hiring from getting bogged down.
The current hiring process can take four months and people can/will find other positions before our process is complete.
UMS must ensure we meet union requirements while hiring.
Working to keep the cost of hiring down.
When we lose researchers, we try to replace them as quickly as possible.
A – President Ferrini-Mundy – Transitions are standard and expected.
We try to keep continuity during transitions
We compete for talent in administration and research on the national scene.
Highest priority is to serve student and stakeholders with excellent personnel.
Address from UM President and UMS Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation – President Joan Ferrini-Mundy
The President provided a summary of agriculture related infrastructure projects and their current status.
Sawtech teaching sawmill in Demeritt Forest with funding from Congressionally Designated Spending (CDS) and Maine Jobs Recovery Plan (MJRP).
The project is currently in the design phase with construction planned to start spring 2025.
Aroostook Phenotype Lab at Aroostook Research Farm with funding from MRJP.
Demolition is ongoing with construction starting in the coming weeks.
Blueberry Hill Farm irrigation upgrades and packaging plant with CDS funding.
Testing of the two current wells has shown sufficient water to supply new irrigation system with installation planned for spring 2025.
Food Innovation Lab (an industrial-scale food lab) with funding from MJRP.
Design selection to occur in spring 2025.
Witter Farm dairy barn modernization with funding from UM’s G&E budget.
Foundation is in place and the shell with go up next week.
Completion scheduled for January or February 2025.
Research and development (R&D) in workforce development
UM is working to quantify impact of R&D on the state’s economy with a focus on productivity, efficiencies and improvements
The President thanks the BOA for making them think. The BOA’s deep knowledge feeds back into UM’s research.
Dean/Director Diane Rowland notes that the Analytical (soils) Laboratory in Deering Hall was omitted from the President’s list.
The project is CDS funded, the funds have been acquired and is in the designing phase with the goal to begin construction May 2025.
New soils faculty, Dr. Alison King, has been hired and is providing expertise on equipment purchases for new facility.
Q – Amber Lambke – Do CDS’ improve root cause problems around student enrollment?
Suggests highlighting Mountain View Correctional Facility rehabilitation program run by Mark McBrine focused on growing and preparing food by inmates for the prison.
See featured documentary – “Seeds of Change” – Educational Distributor of Film is Good Docs. Can request a 10-minute preview, or purchase for showing in a school/institution Filmmaker, Max Armstrong
Dean Hannah Carter highlights that Extensions is doing outreach within the prison including the Master Gardener and Master Preserver programs.
Congressionally Designated Spending (CDS) roundtable – Led by Dean/Director Riane Rowland
To address the topic from a high level the BOA was asked what their industries needs were.
Sebastian Belle
Highlights Deborah Bouchard’s program at UM’s Aquaculture Research Institute
Dr. Bouchard has a three year backlog on research and needs a Fish Nutritionist and to double the size of the Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility.
This is a good example of a facility paying for itself and driving student engagement.
The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) is partnered with the USDA.
Struggling from a facilities point of view.
Needs housing for students and faculty, which is holding back productivity.
Marge Kilkelly
Currently Maine small ruminant farmers are shipping products (e.g., hides, fibers) out of state for processing.
Maine used to be a center for tanning and pelt processing, but scale and chemicals have moved these processes elsewhere.
Can we explore pelt, hide, and fiber processing mechanisms that are more environmentally and cost-friendly?
Also, research into why there is an increase in snails carrying deadly meningeal worms?
Agriculture in the middle – Maine’s farms are smaller than large industrial farms but larger than small, mom-and-pop farms
How do we get innovative to focus on this size farm?
Commissioner Amanda Beal
Climate Action Plan update
A call for more research around resilience in agriculture and forestry
Encourages research into invasives and different species/varieties that are more resilient or appropriate for the changing climate.
Eric Venturini
Calls for agriculture engineering to reduce cost and increase yield for producers.
Currently work has been done with Advanced Structures & Composites Center and engineering PIs (John Belding was present and BHF field day, June 2024). Other engineering PIs have left and have not been replaced.
Calls for research into semi- or fully autonomous harvesting.
Agricultural engineering capacity is lacking at UM.
Mentioned specifically the loss of an Extension Agricultural Engineer about 2 years ago. The position took almost two years to be reposted and has costed other agricultural researchers time and effort to back fill for that position, even though it is outside of their area of expertise. These delays cost the University and the stakeholder community time, money, and deliverables. Two years is far too long and the hiring process needs to be much, much faster.
Justin Gray
Small fruit/vegetable industry has lost consultants and receives less private sector support
Fewer farms and farmers
Highmoor, Analytical (soils) Lab and Cooperative Extension are increasingly important resources.
Fungal disease research is an area that needs attention due to the expected increase in frequency of outbreaks and severity, and retirement of leading researchers in the field (e.g., McGrath @ Cornell University).
Also concerned about upcoming 2030 PFAS ban in Maine as this legislation will impact our farmers ability to compete with other states
Irrigation is another ongoing issue with droughts lasting longer and getting more frequent (another plug for an agricultural engineer).
Response from UM/UMS administration
President Ferrini-Mundy
We want to hear the range of ideas the BOA has provided.
The ideas presented are better pursued through means other than CDS’ such as USDA competitive funds and State competitive requests for proposals (RFPs)
Q – Marge Kilkelly – Can you speak to the UMS process related to CDS selection? Is it all internal?
A – Director Jason Charland – Starts with concept paper process, which is true not just for CDS’ but all competitive programs and working through these ideas.
Yes, the CDS process to select proposals to move forward is all internal.
Marge has prepared a list of potential survey questions.
Tori Lee Jackson – Extension and MAFES will be present at a joint table during the tradeshow and has an offer to host the BOA there.
Commissioner Amanda Beal – Appreciates everyone’s involvement in the tradeshow.
Anne Trenholm – Suggests that October 18 would be a good time to follow-up on Marge’s draft questions
A sign-up list will be created to try and ensure BOA has representation throughout
Hall of Flags
Planned with Extension for Monday, March 17
Dean Hannah Carter – Aware that this day/date is not optimal, but it was the only day open.
Will try to call back and get in on a different day, but it’s all about availability
Marge Kilkelly suggests a late afternoon/evening session as other aspects wind down could draw more people in.
Suggests potentially offering food
Strategic Re-Envisioning presentation and discussion – Dr. Sabrina DeTurk, Project Director and UM CBO Kelly Sparks
What would UM look like if we were designing it today?
Guiding principles – UM is Maine’s and-grant and R1 university, continues to expand teaching and research, is accessible to wide learner audiences, fosters a supportive and inclusive community, and is committed to climate action research.
Timeline review
May 9 – Jun 7: Reflect & Re-envision (retreat, town hall, Board of Volunteers, Cabinet +, other solicitation of ideas)
June 8 – 25: Team Development (project director hiring, provost fellow selection, onboarding)
June 19 – June 30: Project Selection (expedited selection, rank-order concepts, pick 10-20 projects to proceed based on specific criteria)
July 1 – August 31: Project Assessment (analyze each project against criteria)
September 1 – October 31: Campus engagement (categorize projects and present concepts to the campus community)
Week of September 20, working groups provided deliverables
Reminder that this timeline is cyclical and various components can be revisited or adjusted.
For example, a fourteenth theme was recently added, looking at reorganizing the administrative arena, specifically focusing on the center and institutes (e.g., lab administration)
Diving into themes suggested for discussion by the BOA via a survey circulated before the meeting:
Theme 1 – allocation of space
Opportunities – space assessment and centralized scheduling software
Needs – organizational space-use and allocation policies, consideration of one centralized space scheduling software to reduce redundancy
Theme 2 – optimizing academic units
Calls for systemic and holistic portfolio review of all academic, research and administrative units
Encourage all units to start building budgets early
Units outline rubric to give to Deans for considering which units to consolidate
Present 2-3 scenarios for UM restricting and the consequences of each
Theme 5 – Optimizing research centers and institutes
Definitions, including Mission, Institute, Center, Center Service Oriented, Research Initiative, Research Organization, and Facility, are needed for each center and institute
Established criteria for holistic portfolio review
Next steps – survey center/institute leadership and faculty
Also considering strengthening central services (e.g., ORA, Compliance, Safety and Risk, etc.), and umbrella institutes
Theme 8 – Economic development
APLU = Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
Develop and execute a targeted survey to catalog the external economic development engagement and outreach activities.
Perform a benchmark exercise of how other universities engage in such activities.
Propose criteria to evaluate opportunities for consolidation, elimination, or restructuring.
Summary of offsite locations
History of how off-site locations came to be
4.9 million gross square feet in operation of UM
UM’s Net Asset Value = 48, as most need gut renovation or are in need of improvements
Extension and MAFES offsite locations are highlighted
Dean/Director Diane Rowland notes that MAFES has five primary facilities, not five experiment stations.
The clerk notes that UM forest lands are absent from this accounting of offsite locations.
Operational efficiency, opportunities, and workforce development were discussed for each group of facilities.
Q – Marge Kilkelly – Where is UM in the SRE process?
A – CBO Kelly Sparks – While the timeline is linear, it is also iterative.
We are finishing phase 2 and entering phase 3
We have taken lots of ideas, but no recommendations yet, and are still welcoming more new ideas
UMS will select top-tier, actionable ideas that will be worked into FY26 and FY27 planning. Then, with time will incorporate second, third, etc. tier ideas with time
Q – Kevin Woltemath – In terms of operational efficiencies, how can unused portions of Highmoor be utilized for research and teaching?
A – Dean/Director Diane Rowland – Open to ideas but needs to navigate current farm needs and existing issues (i.e., condemned structures on site).
Q – Eric Venturini – In terms of consolidating centers/institutes and cost savings, have there been discussions into hot to consolidate these at the upper administration level?
A – CBO Kelley Sparks – Yes, lots of discussion but these ideas have not been vetted and carried forward yet.
Marge Kilkelly suggests seminar series around UM terminology (e.g., centers vs institutes) for
BOA education
Q – Eric Venturini – Are you considering consolidating lower administration? Also suggests that consolidation of lower administration requires more work of research and other faculty when positions are lost and decreases UMaine’s capacity to deliver. While consolidation of upper administration is far more impactful on the total budget, and would argue, less likely to decrease UMaine’s deliverables to the stakeholder community.
A – CBO Kelly Sparks – Yes, theme 14 was created to answer and address this question
An academic administration committee is evaluating how position consolidation and creation in administration.
Break out groups turned into large group discussion on three points related to SRE themes 1, 2, 5, and 8: Operational Efficiencies, Opportunities, and Workforce Development
Operational Efficiencies
Sebastian Belle
The Aquaculture Research Institute was created in part because of pressure from industry and because UM schools were not meeting industry’s needs.
Warns of UM schools feeling that they are competing with institutes and fears that if true, this situation could be detrimental to everyone’s goals.
Response – President Ferrini-Mundy – UM has a learner-focused R1 theme under which this issue is being addressed.
Marge Kilkelly
Interprets consolidation as moving to areas that are more efficient, which is typically urban areas.
Concerned about the effect of consolidations on Maine’s rural communities and industries, especially given that Maine’s population is evenly distributed between urban and rural communities.
Q – Amber Lambke – What will be new about the new food innovation lab vs the pilot plant?
A – Dean Hannah Carter – The food innovation lab will ramp up the scale of the pilot plant to a commercial kitchen.
Encourages partnerships with Sodexo
Q – Eric Venturini – Referring back to appointments in Extension and MAFES, have there been conversations about making some appointments term (suggests this could add flexibility), and are these conversations part of the SRE process?
A – President Ferrini-Mundy – Yes to both. There is a discussion around the term, tenured appointments.
One fact that has come up during the SRE process is that grad students do not know the source of their funding and these kinds of appointments could help change that.
Opportunities
Kevin Woltemath
Would like to see a trend towards diversifying farms as UM’s are currently specialized in specific commodities. Highlights Highmoor
A more holistic approach better represents Maine farms.
Mary Castonguay
Would like to see the new Food Innovation Lab partner with the Maine Dairy Promotion Board.
Could explore new uses for dairy and how to get dairy products into restaurants
Sebastian Belle
There are three world-renowned universities in the eyes of the aquaculture industry in Norway, Scotland, and Japan. The grads of these programs are THE people in the aquaculture industry.
UM has the best aquaculture facilities in North America we should be an international training center and potential to partner with private center and farms. LSU is the closest with their Peace Corps relationship.
People will pay to go to these prestigious places.
Circling back to need for agricultural engineer, UM is positioned well with aquatic animal/plant health, which would benefit from an agricultural engineer and provide an opportunity for grant funding and student enrollment.
Marge Kilkelly
Apple industry has changed from entirely wholesale to minimal wholesale and more you-pick
Is this the only area that has seen this shift?
Taiwan has great agricultural engineers that specialize in their local needs.
Maine needs agricultural engineers that specialize in mid-size farm needs that are predominant throughout the state.
Workforce development
Dean Hannah Carter
Commissioner Beal is working with Extension offices throughout the northeast to develop surveys to determine needs around workforce development and agriculture.
Sebastian Belle
The tenure system does not reward workforce training as it primarily focuses on publications and grants.
Aquaculture centers are focused on this and do not necessarily benefit the industry.
Response – Provost John Volin
UM is tracking workforce training into account in tenure promotions from the Dean level and up
Response – Dean/Director Diane Rowland
Grant proposals require workforce development components. For example, Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grants
Response – Tori Lee Jackson
Extension includes workforce development in addition to teaching and research in the tenure process.
When well-staffed Extension can do this
Dean Hannah Carter seconds this sentiment
New business
Future meeting dates and themes
No December meeting
BOA wants to have four meetings in 2025 following themes of 2024 meetings
