Wild Blueberry Newsletter, November 2019

Wild Blueberry Newsletter header graphic, text and a photo of blueberries and leaves

November 2019

Emerging Pest Page
Thanks to my new research assistant, Brogan, there is a new Emerging Wild Blueberry Pests Update page on the UMaine Wild Blueberry Website. As a grower, you can help us understand how wide spread each pest is by reporting the location of blueberry leaf miner and tip midge to date. We plan on adding more pests in the future.

Call for Northeast SARE Farmer Grants
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a USDA funded grant program. As a farmer, you can apply to conduct a small applied research project on your farm and be awarded up $15,000 to complete it. Proposals are due December 3, 2019 by 5:00 pm. Reach out to Lily if you are interested. Read more about the program.

Natural Heritage Area Meeting
On October 9, the Sunrise County Economic Council held a meeting at the Schoodic Institute to pursue a Natural Heritage Area designation in Hancock and Washington counties. For more information, please see meeting notes.

Value-Added Committee
On October 28, the newly established Value-Added Committee of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine met with food scientists on campus in Orono to understand some of the ways that UMaine can assist in product development. Here are some useful value-added resources from UMaine.

Upcoming Events

  • Last Produce Safety Rule Training at $25
    Rob Machado and Jason Bolton have been offering the one-day Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Act (PSA) training for a subsidized fee of $25. The last grant subsidized training, see details:
    Date: December 6, 2019 (Snow date Dec.13)
    Time: 8:15 AM – 5:15 PM
    Location: University of Maine Cooperative Extension Waldo County Office, 992 Waterville Rd, Belfast, ME
    Register Online
  • New England Farm Succession School – 3 Day Workshop
    Are you unsure who will take over your farm? Feel like your family needs to start talking, but you don’t know where to start? Have questions about retiring that you don’t know how to answer? Can the farm support two generations? Land for Good and the Beginning Farmer Resource Network present this farm succession program to aid in generation and land transfer. Farmers are required to attend all three days. There will be homework between sessions. Individualized support will be offered between sessions and after the course is concluded.
    Date: December 6, January 10 and February 7
    Location: Coastal Enterprises Inc., Brunswick, ME
    Registration Deadline: November 27, 2019
    Register Online or call 603.357.1600
  • Downeast Agriculture Conference
    The goal of this new event is to bring agricultural education and resources to Hancock and Washington counties and connect farmers with other farmers, stakeholders, and organizations. Both land and sea based production will be included. Lily Calderwood will talk about the future of wild blueberry production and Mark Hutton will give a talk on high tunnel production. The full agenda will be available online soon!
    Date: Saturday, January 18 (Snow date Jan.25)
    Time: 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
    Location: Lee/Pellon Center, Machias, ME
    Registration Deadline: January 12, 2020
    Space is limited to 200.
    Register Online or call 207.581.3175 or 1.800.287.0274 (in Maine).
    If you would like to have a table at this event and/or contribute a donation contact Lily at lily.calderwood@maine.edu.
  • UMaine Wild Blueberry Conference
    This year’s conference will include an IPM morning session with pesticide credits available followed by a split-session afternoon which will include value-added and production sessions. Come to connect and gain new ideas. The full agenda will be available online soon!
    Date: Saturday, February 22 (Snow date Feb 29)
    Time: 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
    Location: Hollywood Slots Casino Hotel, Bangor, ME
    Registration Deadline: February 16, 2020.
    Space is limited to 200.
    Register Online or call 207.581.3175 or 1.800.287.0274 (in Maine).
    If you would like to have a table at this event and/or contribute a donation contact Lily at lily.calderwood@maine.edu.