Maine Weather and Climate Update

The latest National Weather Service (NWS) forecast shows mild weather for the next several days with temperatures near normal for this time of year. On Saturday, daytime high temperatures are forecast in the 30s and 40s north to south, and there may be some lingering precipitation following the passage of a storm system overnight Friday. Sunday is forecast to be cooler with high temperatures generally in the 20s or low 30s, and otherwise breezy with a slight chance of flurries in some areas. Then a quite weather pattern is forecast until the end of the week with daytime high temperatures generally in the mid 20s and mid 40s north to south. By Friday a spring storm system could develop and bring mostly rain statewide. As always, be sure to check weather.gov for the latest weather forecast for your area. For detailed winter weather information refer to the NWS Caribou and Gray forecast office pages.

The NWS Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook probability maps for March 23 –29 show near normal temperature and a lean toward above normal precipitation. The one-month outlook for April (issued March 16) leans above normal temperature and equal chance of above or below normal precipitation. Looking further out, the three-month seasonal outlook for April–June (issued March 16) also leans toward above normal temperature and equal chance of above or below normal precipitation.

Hydrology: The Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard shows that streamflow and groundwater levels are normal or above normal statewide, and recent significant snowstorms have brought snowpack to near normal for this time of year statewide. Visit the NWS Regional Snow Analysis to see the latest snow depth and other related maps.

Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Climate Change Institute, Cooperative Extension University of Maine. For climate/weather questions related to agriculture, send Sean e-mail at birkel@maine.edu

Swine 101: Raising Pastured Pork

This seminar will be held in multiple locations across the state, and a meal will be provided at no cost (smoked pork!). Join Dr. Colt W. Knight, UMaine Extension State Livestock Specialist, for a 2-hour primer on raising pastured pork. Topics include: breed selection, basic reproductive information, swine nutrition, fencing, housing, meat yield, and more.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023. 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• UMaine Extension Penobscot County, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor, Maine

Monday, March 27, 2023. 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• UMaine Extension Oxford County, 9 Olson Rd., South Paris, Maine

Thursday, April 27, 2023. 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• UMaine Extension Cumberland County, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine

More info and registration.

Maine Vegetable and Fruit School



Reserve your seat for the Maine Vegetable and Fruit School and earn two pesticide credits!  

Join us in Augusta on March 29th from 8:30am-4:00pm. Lunch will be provided. Topics include winter injury in berry crops, health implications of tick diseases for farmers, cover crops and under seeding, farmer resilience, growing quality cauliflower, invasive plants, weed management, and the Maine New Farmer Project. Presenters include experts from UMaine Extension and state officials. 

For more info, click on the event's Registration Page. Please register by March 23rd for catering purposes.

High Tunnels & Greenhouses: A Guide for Municipalities

This new bulletin from DACF (High Tunnels & Greenhouses – A Guide for Municipalities) provides a baseline of shared vocabulary and preliminary guidance on how tunnels, greenhouses, and other ag accessory structures might be approached by town governments and municipal staff. It might not solve all the headaches that come up trying to explain what a high tunnel is and why a $6,000 building permit might not make sense – but it might get the conversation started on the right foot. A legislative solution to provide some guidance on the unanswered questions may be in the works in the future - but hopefully this provides some support in the interim.

Rural Energy for America Program Funds Still Available

This is a reminder of the upcoming Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application deadline of 4:30 p.m. on March 31, 2023.

Currently, if all applications that have been submitted are determined to be eligible, we will only use approximately 76% of our Unrestricted funds and 21% for $20,000 and less funds. Funds that are not used will be sent back to the National Office. Let's get those applications in so we can fund projects in Maine!  Here is an information sheet to help with completing your application. Contact Katrina Shaw, USDA RD at 207-990-9129 or katrina.shaw@usda.gov.

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness invites farms to donate to Mobile Food Pantry

The Wabanaki Mobile Food Pantry is a refrigerated food truck that delivers fresh, healthy and traditional foods to the five tribal communities across the state at no cost, with a goal to increase access to healthy, traditional and nutritious foods, supplementing the resources of the tribal food pantries and not taking their place. The mobile unit has the space to transport and store large amounts of food. As the growing season quickly approaches, Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness (WPHW) is asking Maine’s non-native growers and producers to consider donating a portion of their harvests to the Wabanaki Mobile Food Pantry. They can accept all donations of fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, eggs, dairy and more. Landowners with access to wild edibles or wild game are highly encouraged to reach out. Please contact Amelia St. John, WPHW’s food sovereignty coordinator, for more information at 207-944-8525 or astjohn@wabanakiphw.org.

SARE Fellows Program Now Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the SARE Fellows program. SARE Fellows is a unique professional development opportunity for agricultural professionals to:

1. Build new relationships with colleagues across the nation.
2. Deepen their understanding of the concepts and intentions of sustainable agriculture.
3. Visit with innovative producers and partners nationwide who are striving to sustain agriculture for future generations.
4. Increase their awareness about educational opportunities and approaches in sustainable agriculture.

Applications must be submitted by May 8, 2023. Apply online now.

Community Food Councils Play an Important Role in our Local Food Systems

The Maine Network of Community Food Councils (MNCFC) began in 2011 and now has 10 councils, covering much of Western, Southern and Central Maine, and tackling a variety of issues in our local food systems. Councils range in size, makeup, and mission, but are united by a shared desire to make Maine’s food systems more healthy, just, and sustainable for all.

What makes food councils special is their ability to fill in gaps and connect groups and individuals who are doing important work within local food systems. Some help to provide on-the-ground work like gleaning and food delivery. Some help create paid training opportunities for future farm workers. Some help promote local farms. There are no directives handed down by our network leadership, so councils are free to be fluid in their work and decide for themselves what they are most able to contribute to their communities.

We hope, in time, to have councils representing all corners of our state. Perhaps you see a need that a Community Food Council may be able to fill in your community! To learn more, reach out anytime to: mainefoodcouncils@gmail.com.

Hygienic Equipment Design for Vegetable Growers

This workshop is hosted by Chris Callahan, UVM Extension Associate Professor: Agricultural Engineering; the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF); the University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and Bell Farms.

The workshop will go over hygienic design & evaluation, cleaning & sanitizing, writing Standard Operating Procedures, as well as hands-on equipment evaluation. We will be working with a green bean sorter, harvest totes and worktables, and possibly a potato wash/pack line. 

This will take place on Thursday April 6th. This is limited to 24 participants, so don't forget to register soon! Participants will get 2 pesticide applicator recertification credits. Click here for more details and to sign up. 

2023 Registered Pesticides List

There are many pesticide products that were registered in 2022 that are still not registered for 2023. This is mostly due to new requirements to register a pesticide for sale in Maine. If a company does not register a product, then after the registration deadline, that product cannot be brought into Maine for sale or distribution to end users until it is registered for the current year. Below is the information from the Board of Pesticide Control. Questions should be directed to their office at 207-287-2731 or pesticides@maine.gov .



2023 Registered Pesticides List (XLSX) - This list was generated March 17, 2023 at 8:00 AM. Please recognize that registrations are being submitted continuously and this list will become out of date almost immediately. Check back for an updated list. The extension end date is March 21, 2023. This extension will allow for the continued distribution of products registered in 2022 by those registrants who intend to renew their product registrations for 2023.

Create Or Update Your Real Maine Profile!

Real Maine is a Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry promotion program that connects consumers and wholesale buyers to Maine’s great foods and farm products. Membership is free! To create a Real Maine profile, go to the Become A Member page on the Real Maine website. If you are a Real Maine member and would like to update your profile with your latest information, go to the Member Login page.

Maine Senior FarmShare Invites Participants, Farmers

Maine Senior FarmShare, a program that provides eligible older adults the opportunity to receive a share (worth $50) of first-quality, fresh, local produce at no cost directly from local Maine farmers during the growing season, recently received funding to serve more eligible participants and farmers. Help spread the word and find out more here.

HPAI Found in Nova Scotia

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced a small flock of mixed poultry, about 20 birds (ducks, geese, chickens, and guinea fowl) have been killed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI.)

A reminder that HPAI is highly contagious virus that can spread in various ways from flock to flock, including through wild birds, contact with infected poultry equipment, and on clothing and shoes of caretakers.



Although it spreads quickly and is often fatal among birds, transmission to humans only happens "on rare occasions" according to the CFIA.