OXFORD — Oxford Fair, one of the oldest in the state, returns this week. Thousands of people from Oxford County and beyond are expected to descend on the Oxford Fairgrounds off Pottle Road beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10. Fair officials say they have made many changes in the past few years, including affordable pricing, new competitions […]
agriculture
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Blueberry growers expect a strong season
JONESBORO — It should be a fruitful season — above average — for wild Maine blueberries, according to an expert and growers who attended an annual meeting and field day event Wednesday. About 150 people, representing growers, processors, vendors and suppliers, attended the gathering at Blueberry Hill Farm, the wild blueberry research and University of […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Potato blight found in Buxton field
BUXTON — Maine officials say late blight symptoms have been found in a potato field in Buxton. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension say the blight symptoms were located this week. Late blight is a non-treatable disease that spreads rapidly in warm, wet conditions. It affects potatoes […]
Posted inMaine
Report: Some bee-friendly plants contain bee poison
Garden plants that homeowners buy to attract bees and butterflies may be poisoning them, according to reports from environmental groups. “Gardeners Beware” by Friends of the Earth reports that bee-friendly plants sold at big-box stores often have been pre-treated with a neonicotinoid, a class of insecticide that kills or sickens bees. According to the report […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine celebrates Greenhouse and Nursery Day
AUGUSTA — Mainers are celebrating the greenhouses and nurseries used to cultivate plants in their often chilly climate. The state’s annual celebration is Saturday with facilities across the state opening their doors with planned events that include raffles, planting demonstrations, tours and speakers. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry says more than half […]
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Maine maple syrup industry looks to sweeten its market share
KNOX — Could the Pine Tree State become the sugar maple state? Some state officials, tribal leaders and maple syrup producers say the answer is yes, but that it will take a lot of work and a lot of planning to sweeten Maine’s syrup industry so it becomes the national leader that Gov. Paul LePage believes […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Reporters notebook: Buy a brick to build a park
LEWISTON — The Friends of Pettingill Park project are asking for $25 donations in exchange for a brick from the Pettingill School demolition. Each memorial brick has an engraved brass plate identifying the school and the years it was open. The Friends of Pettingill Park are raising money to build a new neighborhood park at […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston: Talk on preserving seeds Wednesday
LEWISTON — Professor Mark Silber of the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will give a one-hour presentation Wednesday, Feb. 26, about choosing plants for the garden, and harvesting and preserving seeds. Silber is a farmer, teacher, anthropologist, photographer and a former public official. He will share his concerns about a shift in seed availability […]
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Number of Maine farms growing according to Census
PORTLAND — The number of Maine farms has grown and continues to lead the New England states, while the farm total nationwide has dropped, the federal government said Thursday. Maine had 8,174 farms in 2012, an increase of half-a-percentage point from five years ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2012 census. The 10-year trend […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
‘Garden buddies’ Hands-on science
This is the second story in a series about Edward Little High School teacher Kim Finnerty’s agriculture class. The first story was published Sept. 5. AUBURN — During their chemistry class Thursday, Edward Little High School students took a field trip to Park Avenue Elementary School. There, the big kids taught the little kids about […]