Episodes

  • Online Marketing with Dan Kaplan
    Sep 18 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast Colt is joined again by Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Professor and Beef Specialist for the University of Kentucky and Mr. Dan Kaplan, owner/operator of Heartstone Farm in Charleston, Maine. Dan moved to Maine and started a beef farm about 10 years ago. He shares his story on coming to Maine, and how he utilized the skills of his past career to create a vibrant online market for his beef, and how he has diversified into other products along the way. Be sure to listen in to Dan’s insights on marketing, customer acquisition, repeat business, and managing your marketing along with your livestock.

    To learn more about Heartstone Farm, please visit:
    https://heartstonefarm.com

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    29 mins
  • Best Management Practices for Harvesting Corn Silage with Dr. Juan Romero
    Sep 11 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira and Dr. Colt Knight have a conversation with University of Maine professor Dr. Juan Romero about best management practices for harvesting corn silage. Dr. Romero is an Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition and conducts research on: forage quality and conservation, ruminant nutrition, and PFAS. He also teaches forage science and range management as well as animal nutrition within the School of Food and Agriculture. You can reach him at juan.romero@maine.edu or 207.581.2925.

    Learn more about Dr. Juan Romero and his lab:

    https://umaine.edu/animal-pfas/


    To learn more about the research Dr. Romero conducted with inoculant Lactobacillus buchneri:

    https://m.jtmtg.org/abs/t/64681


    To learn more about Forage Conservation: Troubleshooting Hay and Silage Production:

    https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/forage-conservation-troubleshooting-hay-and-silage-production


    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    39 mins
  • Tractor Safety with Jason Lilley and Caragh Fitzgerald
    Sep 4 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira, Assistant Extension Professor and State Dairy Specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has a conversation with UMaine Extension professors and educators Jason Lilley and Caragh Fitzgerald about tractor safety.

    Jason Lilley is an Assistant Extension Professor of Maine Sustainable Agriculture and Maple Industry Educator, whose focus is on improving the overall environmental and economic sustainability of commercial farm operations. Caragh Fitzgerald is an Associate Extension Professor of Agriculture working primarily in Kennebec and Oxford Counties in production of vegetables, corn silage, and other forages as well as season extension and soil health.

    To learn more about UMaine farm safety programs:
    https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/farm-safety/

    To sign up for the Maine farm newsletter:
    https://extension.umaine.edu/new-farmers/sign-up-for-email-notifications/

    Learn more about Caragh and Jason:
    https://extension.umaine.edu/about/staff-directory/caragh-fitzgerald/
    https://extension.umaine.edu/about/staff-directory/jason-lilley/

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    33 mins
  • Pasture Health and Regenerative Practices with Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler
    Aug 28 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, I am joined by Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Professor and Beef Specialist for the University of Kentucky, and we are going to discuss the basic principles of pasture health and regenerative agriculture. This episode hits on cattle intake, forage utilization, stocking densities, soil health, how regenerative agriculture can reduce inputs and carbon emissions. Join in and learn why these practices can make a difference without the politics to get in the way.

    Dr. Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler was raised in southern Indiana. He attended Purdue University and obtained his M.S. in silvopastoral systems and Ph.D. in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Missouri. Jeff continued his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 and was hired by the University of Kentucky in 2008 where he now holds the title of Extension Professor. His internationally recognized programming has spanned five countries and covered a diverse range of ruminant production from dairy steers to yaks. Jeff’s external funding exceeds $6M dollars and he authored more than 125 newsletter and popular press articles, 66 abstracts and journal articles, and 46 proceedings and extension publications. A key to his success has been forging relations with colleagues to work as a team. Jeff received the Agri-Communicator award in 2004, Southern Region ASAS Extension award in 2016 and M.D. Whiteker Excellence in Extension award in 2021. Jeff and his wife, Gwen, have three children.

    If you would like to learn more about Dr. Lehmkuhler, visit:
    https://afs.ca.uky.edu/person/jeffrey-lehmkuhler

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    37 mins
  • Updates in Internal Parasite Research with Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler
    Aug 21 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, I am joined by Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Professor and Beef Specialist for the University of Kentucky. Jeff discusses his diverse background in agriculture and some pertinent research results from his recent research in accessing the efficacy of different types and routes of administration of common cattle dewormers on the market. Stay tuned for next week’s episode when we discuss pasture health and regenerative practices of grazing livestock.

    Dr. Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler was raised in southern Indiana. He attended Purdue University and obtained his M.S. in silvopastoral systems and Ph.D. in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Missouri. Jeff continued his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 and was hired by the University of Kentucky in 2008 where he now holds the title of Extension Professor. His internationally recognized programming has spanned five countries and covered a diverse range of ruminant production from dairy steers to yaks. Jeff’s external funding exceeds $6M dollars and he authored more than 125 newsletter and popular press articles, 66 abstracts and journal articles, and 46 proceedings and extension publications. A key to his success has been forging relations with colleagues to work as a team. Jeff received the Agri-Communicator award in 2004, Southern Region ASAS Extension award in 2016 and M.D. Whiteker Excellence in Extension award in 2021. Jeff and his wife, Gwen, have three children.

    If you would like to learn more about Dr. Lehmkuhler please visit:
    https://afs.ca.uky.edu/person/jeffrey-lehmkuhler

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    40 mins
  • Shades of Green: Cows, Agrivoltaics, and Climate Resilience with Dr. Brad Heins
    Aug 14 2024

    On the this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira, Assistant Extension Professor and State Dairy Specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has a conversation with Dr. Brad Heins, Professor of Dairy Management at the University of Minnesota. The conversation focuses on the dairy research that is being conducted at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Minnesota. Dr. Heins grew up in Minnesota and obtained his Animal Science degrees at the University of Minnesota. Based in West Central Minnesota, Dr. Heins conducts research on topics including organic dairy production, crossbreeding in dairy cattle, calf rearing, precision technology, and renewable energy systems.

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    28 mins
  • Dairy Financials and Breakeven Milk Price with Joanna Lidback
    Aug 7 2024

    On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira, assistant Extension professor and state dairy specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has a conversation with Joanna Lidback, CFO for Adirondack Farms and the principal consultant for Adirondack Management Services. Joanna is a Certified Agricultural Consultant and has over 20 years of experience in dairy financial analysis with a background in agricultural credit and consulting. She holds an MBA from the F.W. Olin School of Management and a B.S. from Cornell University. Joanna and her husband Adam started their own dairy farm in Northern Vermont, and are raising their three children there.

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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    25 mins
  • Heat Stress Considerations for Dairy Farms with Dr. Bethany Dado-Senn
    Jul 31 2024

    In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira, assistant extension professor and state dairy specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has a conversation with Dr. Bethany Dado-Senn about heat stress on dairy farms. Dr. Dado-Senn grew up on a 500-cow dairy farm with her family in northwest Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned her bachelor's and Ph.D. and the University of Florida where she earned her master's. Dr. Bethany Dado-Senn is a calf and heifer technical specialist for Vita Plus, providing technical expertise to help producers raise the next generation of their milking herd. She resides in Northwest Wisconsin with her husband and daughters, and is the calf manager for her family dairy farm.

    • Learn more about Dr. Bethany Dado-Senn
    • Learn more about Heat Abatement and Ventilation of Adult Cow Facilities from the Wisconsin Dairyland Initiative

    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).


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    16 mins