Weather-based Crop Management Tools Event (2019 Maine Ag Trades Show)
Weather-based crop management tools are a strategy farmers can use to increase resilience to extreme weather. Farmers and service providers are invited to five sessions about using weather-based tools 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Augusta Civic Center, Howard Room, 76 Community Drive.
The free sessions, to be held during the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, are sponsored by the Maine Climate and Agriculture Network, which is organized through UMaine.
Sessions will focus on challenges and opportunities that changing weather in Maine present for agriculture, and a variety of tools to help adapt to weather risks. Individual session topics include Ag-Radar; a tool to inform pest management; efficient irrigation; and a rainfall index insurance program for grassland. Farmers also are invited to share their favorite weather tools during a show-and-tell session. As well, all sessions will include time for participants to provide input on what types of agricultural weather data, forecasts, and tools are needed for Maine.
Pesticide and certified crop adviser credits are available for select sessions. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Erin Roche, 207.949.2490, erin.roche@maine.edu.