On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Colt travels to the Commonwealth State of Kentucky to talk about alternative and direct marketing strategies we use here in Maine with beef producers in Kentucky. While there, he catches up with good friend and repeat podcast guest, Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler and attends the Heart of America Grazing Conference and Pasture Ecology Workshop. Dr. Lehmkuhler shared a solar powered water well system. They also got to take part in a presentation where pastoralists discussed pros and cons of the different electric fencing wires, temporary posts, fence storage solutions, and chargers.

• Learn more about the Heart of American Grazing Conference
  https://www.research.uky.edu/news/heart-america-grazing-conference-2024-merges-science-and-practice
  (If you would like to see a similar conference in Maine, please send us an email at extension.farmcast@maine.edu)
• Learn more about Dr. Lehmkuhler
  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).

On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Eduardo Stern, Director of Tropical Seeds LLC, and Dr. Jaime Garzon, Assistant Extension Professor and Forage Educator, drop by to discuss some new research of cover crops. Tropical Seeds LLC is a Florida-based company that markets seeds for tropical forage crops, including sunn hemp, a fast-growing warm-season legume used as a forage or cover crop in many countries worldwide. In this episode, we discuss the advantages of using cover crops in agricultural systems, some suitable forage species, and the ongoing legume trials Dr. Garzon is conducting in Maine.

• Learn more about Tropical Seeds LLC
  https://www.tropseeds.com/varieties/
• Learn about sunn hemp performance and quality in Florida
  https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agj2.20465
• UMaine Extension Fact Sheet: Cover Cropping for Success
  https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/1170e/

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).

Recorded in front of live studio audience. On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Colt and Glenda set up shop on the main stage of the the Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta, Maine on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 to record a live show with Kevin Woltemath of Pineland Natural Meats to discuss his journey through agriculture, his work with beef producers in the Pine Tree State, his involvement with the Maine agricultural industry over the last 20 years and his thoughts on the future of agriculture in Maine. Kevin is an active member of the Maine Agricultural Community working with Ag Com, the Maine Beef Producers Association, Agricultural Fairs, the University of Maine and much more.

Correction - I mistakenly said Mr. Woltemath received the MBPA Hall of Fame Award but he was too polite to correct me during the podcast. He actually won the MBPA Service Award.

• Learn more about Pineland Natural Meats – https://pinelandnaturalmeats.com
• Check out the Maine Ag Trades Show - https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/events/agtradesshow/index.shtml
• Interested in the Maine Beef Producers Association? Visit them here - https://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.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).