The University of Maine's Apple, Small Fruit, and Vegetable Research Facility
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s tree fruit, small fruit, and vegetable specialists are based at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, Maine. Their programs provide research-based information for Maine’s fruit and vegetable producers. Ongoing research includes variety trials, pest and disease management experiments, and evaluations of various cultural management practices. Information gained from these projects may be found on our Crop Resources page.
Recent Updates
Newsletters and Alerts
Upcoming Events
Join us at upcoming events to learn about fruit and vegetable production. Workshops, twilight meetings, and trainings are offered throughout the year. Visit our Upcoming Events page to view a full list of events. To be notified when events are scheduled, email extension.highmoor@maine.edu or call 207.933.2100.
Integrated Pest Management Programs
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension maintains active IPM programs based at Highmoor Farm for apple, strawberry, and sweet corn. Regular scouting informs pest alerts and control recommendations that can be found in newsletters made available weekly throughout the growing season. To subscribe to these newsletters and alerts, email extension.highmoor@maine.edu or call 207.933.2100.
Composting Program
Highmoor Farm houses the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s state-of-the-art composting facility, which serves as a base for both research and teaching. Research at this facility spans best management practices for municipal and agricultural waste, mortality (animal carcass) management, and compost utilization as a soil building practice.
Additionally, the Maine Compost School is regularly offered at Highmoor Farm. Nick Rowley, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional in Franklin County, leads this program in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Participants receive classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and hands-on project exercises. Trainings specific to carcass management also offer participants the opportunity to become certified animal carcass composting subject matter experts for USDA-APHIS.
About Highmoor Farm
Highmoor Farm is a Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. It encompasses 278 acres on Route 202 in Monmouth, Maine, with 17 acres in orchards and five acres of vegetables and small fruits. The facilities consist of specialists’ offices, two large barns, a laboratory, two high tunnels, a classroom, and a greenhouse.
Purchased in 1909, Highmoor Farm has provided more than 100 years of research and outreach to Maine farmers and gardeners.