On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Drs. Glenda Pereira and Colt Knight discuss the basics of raising pigs. Dr. Knight owns a 14-acre registered Berkshire Farm in Garland, Maine with the distinct honor of being the top Berkshire breeder since 2023. Dr. Knight also serves on the National Pork Board Swine Education and Outreach Advisory Board where he helps plan the annual Swine Educators conference and reviews grant applications for swine education and research funded by the Pork Checkoff. Your hosts will discuss basic swine husbandry and few tips and tricks to making raising pigs successful.

• If you would like to know more about raising pigs, check out the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Swine Resources:
  Swine - Cooperative Extension: Livestock - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Drs. Glenda Pereira and Colt Knight sit down with Dr. Gary Anderson, Animal and Bioscience Specialist Emeritus, University of Maine. The conversation reviews milk quality guidelines and cleanliness during milking. Dr. Anderson was a professor at the University of Maine, and served in the role of dairy specialist working on programs such as milk quality and sanitation, estate planning, Green Pastures program and more. Dr. Anderson continues to be a resource for the dairy and livestock industries in Maine. In his free time, Anderson stays active with his grandkids.

Important: Please work with your veterinarian to develop health management plans, and discuss protocols for maintaining milk quality.

• View the factsheet: Guidelines for Improving Milk Quality by UMaine/UNH
  https://extension.unh.edu/resource/guidelines-improving-milk-quality-fact-sheet

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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

In this special 50th episode of Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Colt Knight is joined by Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler from the University of Kentucky to discuss bale grazing as a winter feeding strategy for beef cattle. They explore how this method improves manure distribution, reduces soil compaction, and enhances forage utilization. Dr. Lehmkuhler shares insights from a multi-state research project studying bale grazing’s impact on soil health and fertility.

The episode covers best practices for bale placement, choosing the right hay rings, and adjusting strategies based on soil conditions. They also discuss cost-effective ways to reduce mud-related challenges and alternative winter feeding options like unrolling hay. Whether you’re a small-scale farmer or managing a large herd, this episode provides valuable tips to optimize winter feeding while improving soil and herd health.

Tune in for practical advice on making the most of winter grazing!

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.

• 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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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 Dr. Jaime Garzon about how to start a grazing plan. Dr. Jaime Garzon is an Assistant Extension Professor and Forage Educator at the UMaine Extension. His extension program seeks to develop and conduct educational outreach and applied research with emphasis on forage production and regenerative pasture management.

• Learn more about Dr. Jamie Garzon’s program:
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jaime-Garzon-4
• Follow Dr. Garzon on Instagram:
  https://www.instagram.com/jgarzonforages/
• Learn more about Grazing Management Plans (PDF, NRCS):
  https://ucanr.edu/sites/nichemarketing/files/341577.pdf

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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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 Dr. Ankit Singh who is an Assistant Extension Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Ornamental Horticulture at UMaine. Dr. Singh is based in York County, and has statewide responsibilities for ornamental horticulture.

• Contact: ankit.singh@maine.edu or 207.324.2814
• Learn more about Dr. Ankit Singh
• Learn more about APS Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture

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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira, and Dr. Colt Knight, sit down with Dr. Dana Hill who is part of the UMaine Livestock team. Dr. Hill is an Assistant Extension Professor, Veterinarian Specialist, and the Director of the UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. She has a special interest in infectious disease research and obtained a combined residency and Ph.D. in anatomic pathology at Iowa State University. In her downtime, Hill enjoys hiking with her husband, friends and dogs all over Maine.

• The diagnostic lab is located at 17 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME 04473. You can call the lab at 207-581-3874 and email: umvdl@maine.edu
• UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory:
  https://extension.umaine.edu/veterinarylab/
• UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Services and Fees:
  https://extension.umaine.edu/veterinarylab/tests-pricing/

On this episode of Maine Farmcast, Glenda and Colt explore the rising cost of eggs. The discussion highlights the impact of the concurrent bird flu epidemic, which has led to the loss of 166 million poultry, causing a disruption in egg supply. They clarify the differences between broilers and layers, explaining why chicken meat prices have remained stable while egg prices have soared. The hosts break down the economics of raising backyard chickens, comparing the costs of feed and equipment to the price of store-bought eggs. They also provide practical advice for those considering raising their own poultry, emphasizing proper brooder setup and predator control. Heat lamp safety, choosing the right breed for Maine’s climate, and preventing common poultry diseases are key takeaways. With expert insights and real-world experience, this episode offers valuable guidance to both novice and seasoned poultry keepers. Listeners can also submit questions and topic suggestions to the show for future discussions.

• To learn more about raising chickens, check out the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Livestock page
  https://extension.umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/
• To track what is happening with H5N1 Bird Flu
  https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

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 and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

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 Dr. Ashley Marshall. Marshall is currently working as the Dairy Industry Workforce
Specialist with Eastern Maine Development Corporation. She returned to Maine after her time as a Professor of Dairy Science at SUNY Morrisville. Marshall received her Ph.D. from Colorado State University in reproduction and has a wealth of experience and is passionate about the dairy industry. This conversation revolves around the program she is conducting which focuses on bolstering the Maine dairy workforce. In her downtime, Marshall enjoys spending time with her family on her farm.

If you need more information, please reach out to Ashley Marshall, the Dairy Industry Workforce Specialist with EMDC at amarshall@emdc.org or 207.949.2472.

• Enhancing Workforce Solutions for Maine's Dairy Farms (Eastern Maine Development Corporation)

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 Institutional Equity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).