Maine Farmcast
Education & Explainer
About
The Maine Farmcast features weekly conversations with experts from across the country sharing insights and advice for both new and seasoned farmers running operations of any size. Hosted by three livestock specialists from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the show brings you world-class expertise paired with practical advice about how to apply cutting-edge research to improve the efficiency and sustainability of your farming operation.
Episodes
- Planning for Success in Animal Agriculture with Dr. Richard Brzozowski
Richard Brzozowski shares insights on animal agriculture, discussing his experiences with livestock and Extension service. The conversation explores the pros and cons of farm animal enterprises and offers practical advice for livestock pro…
- Forage Quality: Preparing for a Successful First Cutting with Joe Lawrence
Joe Lawrence, a dairy forage systems specialist, shares insights with Dr. Glenda Pereira on preparing for spring planting and harvesting. They discuss tips for forage quality and successful first cutting.
- Revitalizing the Northeast Livestock Expo: Youth, Education, and Opportunity with Dana Brown
In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt Knight and Dana Brown discuss the revival and impact of the Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE). They cover how the event has evolved into a multi-species educational experience emphasizing hands…
- Insuring the Farm: What Every Producer Should Know with Courtney Morse
On Maine Farmcast, Courtney Morse from Robinson Insurance Agency discusses farm insurance. The conversation covers how insurance needs change as farms grow and diversify, common misconceptions, and the importance of communicating farm acti…
- Emerging Threats to Plant Health: A Discussion on Fusarium Diseases of Garlic With Dr. Alicyn Smart
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features Dr. Alicyn Smart, who discusses the increase in Fusariam, an emerging garlic pathogen. Her team is working to develop resistant garlic, improve detection tools, and identify cultural practices to…
- Kick This Pig: 100 Episodes Later
Drs. Colt W. Knight and Glenda Pereira celebrate the 100th episode of the Maine Farmcast. They reflect on the podcast's journey, its growth, and the impact of conversations with guests on their Extension work.
- Why Maine Farmers Need Marketing, Not Just Better Fences with Erin Percival Carter
In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Erin Percival Carter addresses the challenges Maine farmers face in making their businesses profitable. She explains the importance of marketing, pricing, and understanding target customers for lo…
- Corn Silage Hybrids: Understanding the Influence of Management, Weather and Genetics with Joe Lawrence
Joe Lawrence, dairy forage systems specialist with the Cornell PRO-DAIRY team, discusses corn silage hybrids. He also covers the annual Commercial Corn Silage Hybrid Evaluation Program in New York and Vermont.
- Inside the Sample: How DNA Testing Transforms Farm Management with Dr. Tom Rounsville
In this episode, Dr. Tom Rounsville discusses applying molecular tools and DNA technologies to challenges facing Maine residents, producers, and natural resources. He explains how genetic testing and molecular diagnostics are utilized acro…
- Maine's Most Influential Sheep: A History of the Katahdin Breed with Tom Hodgman
Tom Hodgman discusses the origin and development of the Katahdin sheep, a breed developed in Maine. The conversation covers breed development, genetics, and the adaptability of this hair sheep breed.
- Potatoes and Midcoast Maine with Brett Johnson
This episode of Maine Farmcast features a discussion with Brett Johnson, assistant Extension professor. The conversation covers agricultural needs in Midcoast Maine and potato varieties.
- Robots, Research and Really Good Chocolate Milk with Patricia Henderson
Patricia Henderson, farm superintendent at the J.F. Witter Center at the University of Maine, discusses her career path, the university's robotic milking facility, student learning, and faculty research. The conversation also includes a de…
- Navigating Vet School Applications with Maddy Philbrick (Part 2)
Maddy Philbrick shares insights into applying to veterinary school, covering topics such as school selection, interviewing, and financing. This episode offers tips and tricks for prospective vet students.
- Navigating Vet School Applications with Maddy Philbrick (Part 1)
Dr. Glenda Pereira interviews Maddy Philbrick, a UMaine graduate attending veterinary school. Philbrick shares insights on the application process, covering timelines, letters of recommendation, and personal statements in this first part o…
- Diagnosing Plant Problems with Dr. Alicyn Smart
Dr. Alicyn Smart, plant pathologist and director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Maine, discusses diagnosing plant pathogen issues. She also shares insights on minimizing and preventing plant health diseases.
- Maine’s Fields, Forests, and Food Systems: An Interview with Amanda E. Beal, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF)
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features an interview with Amanda E. Beal, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). She discusses her career path, current role, and the future of Maine agric…
- Udderly Educational: Learning from Experts at the Northeast Regional 2025 Dairy Challenge
Dr. Glenda Pereira reports from the 2025 Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge, where students participated in a farm evaluation competition. The episode highlights insights from Doug Benedict about network and IT on dairy farms and Dr. Phili…
- Lambing Without Guesswork: Experience-Driven Sheep Management with Tom Hodgman
Tom Hodgman discusses lambing season preparation and small ruminant management. He shares insights on body condition scoring, breeding management, and setting up a lambing space based on his experience with Katahdin sheep.
- Digging Deep: Understanding Soil Health and Fertility
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features a discussion on soil health and fertility with Dr. Colt Knight, Dr. Jaime Garzon, and Dr. Leandro Vieira. They explore topics such as pH, organic matter, microbial diversity, and grazing manageme…
- Maine Christmas Tree Industry Spotlight with Brett Johnson
Brett Johnson joins Dr. Glenda Pereira on the Maine Farmcast to discuss Christmas tree production in Maine. Johnson provides tips on how to keep a live Christmas tree healthy for a longer period of time.
- Swientists Unite: Biosecurity and Beyond – Keeping the Bacon Safe
This episode of The Maine Farmcast features Dr. Jacqueline Nolting and Dr. Colt W. Knight discussing African Swine Fever (ASF) and biosecurity. They explore disease prevention, animal handling, and the Swientist Program, a national youth i…
- Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program (MeCHAP) Meeting Highlights with Maddy Philbrick
On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira speaks with Maddy Philbrick about the Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program (MeCHAP) meeting. They discuss the MeCHAP program, which assists livestock and dairy producers with anima…
- In Vitro Fertilization with Dr. Jessica Motta
Dr. Jessica Motta, a faculty member at the University of Maine, discusses her background and research in reproductive physiology, specifically focusing on embryo production in dairy cattle. She also talks about agricultural education and p…
- Maine EFNEP: Empowering Healthy Living Through Nutrition and Cooking with Alex Gayton
This episode of Maine Farmcast features Alex Gayton, Assistant EFNEP Coordinator, who discusses the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The program delivers interactive food and nutrition education to empower healthy liv…
- Building Better Beef: Youth, Leadership, and the Cattlemen’s College
This episode of The Maine Farmcast features Dr. Colt W. Knight and Ashton Caron discussing youth leadership, livestock shows, and the future of Maine's beef industry. They also highlight programs from the Maine Beef Producers Association a…
- Food Safety Education with Dr. Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek
On this episode, Dr. Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek, an Associate Extension Professor and Seafood Technology and Food Safety Specialist at UMaine, discusses food safety from the processing side. She also supports seafood producers in her role.
- Managing the Unknown: Risk and Reward on the Farm with Chris Howard and Dr. David Handley
This episode of The Maine Farmcast features Dr. Colt W. Knight, Chris Howard, and Dr. David Handley discussing farm risk management. They cover topics such as business planning, farm recordkeeping, and USDA insurance and disaster assistanc…
- From Butcher Blocks to Classrooms: The Story of Maine Meat Cutting School
This episode of the Maine Farmcast discusses the Maine Meat Cutting School, a program offered by UMaine Cooperative Extension. It covers the school's origins, curriculum, and its impact on meat processing education in Maine and beyond.
- Simulators, Science and Sires: Building Better Herds
This episode of The Maine Farmcast explores artificial insemination (AI) in livestock with Dr. Colt Knight and Dr. Glenda Pereira. They discuss UMaine Extension’s hands-on AI training program, breeding techniques for cattle and swine, and…
- Reins, Research, and Robert Causey: A Look into UMaine’s Horse Program
Dr. Colt Knight speaks with Dr. Robert Causey about the University of Maine's horse program. They discuss its development, student involvement, community collaborations, and research in equine reproduction, fetal development, and mucosal i…
- Maine Maple Industry and Education Initiative with Jason Lilley
On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Jason Lilley, Assistant Extension Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Maple Industry Educator at UMaine Extension, discusses the Maine maple industry and programs he leads to support maple produc…
- Flowering in the North Conference with Dr. Ankit Singh
On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira and Dr. Ankit Singh discuss the upcoming Flowering in the North Conference. Dr. Singh is an Assistant Extension Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Ornamental Horticulture at U…
- From Butcher Shop to Advocacy: The Story Behind Slicing Through the Stigma
Niki Sargent, co-owner of Windham Butcher Shop and Southpaw Packing, discusses her Slicing Through the Stigma initiative. This program provides mental health resources and support for farmers, meat industry professionals, veterinarians, an…
- Dairy Grant Applications: Tips and Resources from UVM, UMaine, and UNH
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features a pre-recorded webinar from the Northern New England Tri-State Dairy Team. The discussion includes tips and tricks for applying to dairy grants.
- From Drought to Deficit: Navigating Winter Feed Shortages in Dairy with Sarah Allen and Carl Majewski
This episode of Maine Farmcast discusses navigating winter feed shortages in dairy. The conversation covers how drought stress may impact forage production and inventory and considerations for increasing forage inventories.
- Maine Cheese Festival with Heather Donahue
Dr. Glenda Pereira and Heather Donahue discuss the Maine Cheese Guild and the Maine Cheese Festival. The festival will be held at Manson Park, Pittsfield, Maine on Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Cover Crops in Action with Jason Lilley
Jason Lilley, Assistant Extension Professor, discusses cover crops and their role in improving soil health. He speaks with Dr. Glenda Pereira of the University of Maine.
- Brains, Bears and Butchery: Tall Tales from Extension Life with Dr. Gregg Rentfrow
Drs. Colt Knight and Gregg Rentfrow discuss their experiences in agricultural extension and meat science. They share stories about their careers, including encounters with bears and other unpredictable events.
- Artificial Intelligence on the Farm: Grant Writing, Marketing, and More with Ashley Wright
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features Ashley Wright discussing the use of artificial intelligence in farming, specifically for grant writing, marketing, and streamlining farm tasks. The discussion includes practical strategies for ut…
- Getting Glattered: Mari's on a Mission to Expand Extension's Digital Frontier
Mari Glatter, an instructional designer with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, discusses her work in developing online learning experiences. She highlights the range of micro-credential courses available and the accessibility…
- Planning a Dairy Barn Conversion: Tie Stall to Free Stall with John Porter
Dr. Glenda Pereira and John Porter discuss converting a tie-stall barn to a free-stall barn. John Porter is an extension professor emeritus at the University of New Hampshire with over 52 years of experience in dairy topics.
- Maine Wild Blueberries with Dr. Lily Calderwood
Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist, talks about the history of wild blueberries in Maine, her research, and home cultivation. She is joined by Dr. Glenda Pereira of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
- Dairy Insights: Tips and tricks to improve Milk Quality with Dr. Gary Anderson
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features Drs. Glenda Pereira and Colt Knight interviewing Dr. Gary Anderson about milk quality guidelines. The discussion covers cleanliness after milking and in the milk room.
- Animal Care Facility Aquaculture in Maine with Mark Nilan and Megan Joynt
Mark Nilan and Megan Joynt from the University of Maine join Dr. Colt Knight to discuss zebrafish research. They cover topics such as why zebrafish are effective research models, current projects on various diseases, and the new state-of-t…
- Livestock Judging, Leadership, and Life Lessons with Dr. Dean Fish
In this episode, Dr. Dean Fish discusses livestock judging with Dr. Colt Knight. They explore evaluating animals, animal welfare, and genetics in beef production, highlighting critical thinking and communication skills development.
- Dairy Wearable Technology in Azorean Dairy Farming with Helder Ponte
In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira interviews Azorean dairy farmer Helder Ponte. They discuss how Azorean dairy farmers use precision technologies, particularly wearable technologies, to improve farm management.
- Cook Wild Kentucky with Dr. Gregg Rentfrow
On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt W. Knight and Dr. Gregg Rentfrow discuss the Cook Wild Kentucky program. They explore adapting its principles for marketing locally raised livestock and farmstands in Maine.
- The Science of Harvesting Hay: Maximizing Yield and Quality with Dr. Juan Romero
In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira and Dr. Juan Romero of the Tri-State Dairy Team discuss optimizing haymaking in Maine and northern New England. Dr. Romero also shares insights from his research on forage quality,…
- June is Maine Dairy Month with Sarah Littlefield
Sarah Littlefield, Executive Director for the Maine Dairy Promotion Board and a dairy farmer, discusses Maine Dairy Month and related events. Littlefield spoke with Dr. Glenda Pereira, Assistant Extension Professor and State Dairy Speciali…
- Updates in Beef Fecal Egg Count Study with Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler
This episode of the Maine Farmcast features Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Professor and Beef Specialist for the University of Kentucky. He discusses his background in agriculture and research results regarding the efficacy of different ca…