Maine Farmer Resource Network

Under the Food Safety Modernization Act non-exempt farms must maintain records of several aspects of the farm. These records include management of compost, test results of irrigation and wash water, training of employees, and more. The Produce Safety Alliance has compiled a list of these required records with details about each, and templates to use […]

All across the United States, farmers are increasingly using cover crops to suppress weeds, conserve soil and control pests and diseases. But agricultural educators know that savvy farmers are reluctant about risk and often want to see cover crops in action before making significant change. SARE’s Library of Cover Crop and Soil Health Images is […]

Bulletin #2034, Plum Production in Maine The resurgence in demand for locally-grown fresh fruit has created an opportunity for Maine’s famers to grow and sell plums. Many varieties of plums with excellent fruit quality and market potential are adapted to Maine’s cold climate. As a summer fruit, they are ready to harvest when most farmstands […]

Are you a grower or producer interested in learning more about food safety on your farm? If so, please join us for an introduction to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. This session will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Knox/Lincoln Counties Cooperative […]

For many farmers and ranchers, branching into institutional sales alone might seem daunting. Some producers may rely on independent distributors or co-ops to engage with these markets. This newly archived webinar on the ATTRA website, NCAT and partners discuss topics including developing partnerships, direct marketing, wholesaling, forward contracting, utilizing MOU’s, and briefly, food safety. Though […]

A new study, funded by USDA, and led by Syracuse University, New York University, the Pennsylvania State University, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) seeks to examine local and regional agricultural production and intermediated markets. The study will examine the opportunities and risks of four main marketing opportunities for farmers—direct-to-consumer, direct-to-institution, direct-to-retail, and […]

USDA has continued funding through May 2017 to assist direct marketing farmers and farmers markets join the SNAP program by providing free equipment to qualified farmers and farmers markets. The National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP) has created MarketLink, an online solution to an expedited application process, nationally negotiated rates for SNAP, debit […]

By Cathryn Kloetzli, Extension Professional, and Erin Roche, Crop Insurance Education Program Manager, University of Maine Cooperative Extension As a farmer, gardener or landowner, there are steps and management practices you can implement to reduce or eliminate threats caused by water shortages and damaging weather events. This collection of resources has been gathered for you […]

Tuberculosis transmission from cattle to humans was once common in the United States, but human infections have been greatly reduced by decades of disease control in cattle herds and by routine pasteurization of cow’s milk. In recent history, most human infection in the US are caused M. bovis are due to the consumption of unpasteurized […]

Farmers who want to sell meat directly to restaurants, grocery stores, or consumers need a reliable and skilled partner; the meat processor is an essential team member and an asset to the business. This publication suggests some key ways to work effectively with a meat processor and lists resources for further information.