Name: Highmoor Farm, University
of Maine
Address: 52 U.S. Route 202
P.O. Box 179
Monmouth, Maine 04259
Phone: 207-933-2100
Fax: 207-933-4647
Website: http://umaine.edu/highmoorfarm/
Farm Superintendent: Gregory Koller
Email: gkoller@maine.edu
Blog:
feed://extension.umaine.edu/highmoor/feed/
Products and Services:
-eighteen acres of orchards
-vegetable and small fruit research
-center for University of Maine Cooperative
Extension
-home of Maine Compost School
-integrated pest management programs
What Makes Highmoor Farm Unique?
When the state of Maine purchased the land in Monmouth in 1909, where Highmoor Farm, University of Maine is now located, the focus of the original farm was directed towards apples. The state deeded the farm and land to the University of Maine and the facility has been managed by the University ever since then. Over one hundred years have gone by and a great deal of attention is still placed on apples since there are now eighteen acres that are set aside for orchard production. Approximately forty different varieties of apples are grown.
Renae Moran is the apple specialist at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. Over the years studies have been conducted on evaluating new varieties of apples that are tolerant of the cold weather conditions found in Maine. Research has also taken place with the goal of developing ways to resist scab and insects in the apple industry. Improving the quality of apples after they are harvested and placed in storage has been another topic of interest.
Annual gatherings of the Tree Fruits Program take place at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. Some of the apple-related happenings include the yearly Preseason Integrated Pest Management Meeting in March and the Summer Tour in July. A free periodical newsletter entitled The Apple Pest Report, which addresses current cultural practices and pest management strategies, is distributed by email.
The tree fruits research plantings at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine are established in cooperation with the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Research collaborations also take place on regional and national levels and with research associations in Canada through the NE-1036 and the NC-140 research projects.
Different varieties of apples are studied to compare yield, fruit quality, flavor, cold tolerance, etc. Organic testing has taken place with such varieties as Honey Crisp, Snow Sweet, and Northern Spy apples. Several new varieties of fruit have been developed at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine over the years. The sweet and juicy Brock apple had its origins at Highmoor. It is a good baking apple. Highmoor Farm, University of Maine is also credited with developing new sweet corn varieties, a cantaloupe, a tomato, two varieties of strawberries, and scab tolerance in cucumbers.
Since vegetables and small fruits are also grown on six acres of tilled fields at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, the research taking place at the farm has expanded dramatically beyond just apples. Mark Hutton serves as Highmoor’s vegetable specialist and associate professor of vegetable crops. Vegetable trials have focused on tomatoes, green peppers, onions, sweet corn, and pumpkins.
Fruit trials have been conducted with different varieties of strawberries and high bush blueberries. There has been research on eight to twelve varieties of raspberries including an old variety of wild black raspberries. David Handley is the small fruit and vegetable specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, and he has created several excellent videos to assist farmers and gardeners with fruit production. These videos (How to Select a Site for Planting Blueberries; The Different Varieties of Raspberries - Part I and II; How to Grow Raspberries; How To Prune Raspberries; How To Grow Strawberries; Getting Strawberry Plants Ready for Winter; and Renovating An Old Strawberry Bed) are all available for viewing on the Highmoor Farm, University of Maine website: http://umaine.edu/highmoorfarm/
According to Highmoor Farm, University of Maine Superintendent, Greg Koller, the cultivation of Japanese plums has proven successful, but consistent good results with peach trees has not been obtainable. Trials are being conducted with thornless blackberries, which are not known to be cold hardy. Four varieties of hops are being tested at the farm. There are six to eight varieties of table grapes and twelve to fourteen varieties of grapes that are used for wine that are being grown.
Farmers and gardeners interested in obtaining free assistance with appropriate variety selection, optimum production techniques, and marketing can turn to Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. The staff is trained in integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Highmoor Farm, University of Maine serves as a valuable resource since workshops and resources are available through their outreach programs, publications, workshops, meetings, farm visits, phone consultations, and correspondence. Highmoor also hosts an Agricultural News RSS feed and a Highmoor Farm Blog.
Some of the upcoming topics of the gatherings that will take place at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine include an apple pre-season IPM meeting, a Maine Grass Farmers Network Conference, a farm tractor safety course, a conference on small grain production, a fruit tree workshop, and a webinar entitled, “So You Want to Farm in Maine? Blueberry plants and asparagus can be ordered during the spring plant sale.
Over the years, Highmoor Farm, University of Maine has focused on such concerns as the improvement of soil quality, crop rotation, the effects of transplanting, the use of sprays and fertilizers, heirloom seed varieties, the use of cover crops, and the use of fish waste. Scientists have studied new mulching techniques, greenhouse systems, and high tunnel gardening techniques. Reports have been published on growing grapes, hybrid mulching effects, weed dynamics, muskmelon evaluations, small-fruited pumpkin cultivars, and different varieties of strawberries and corn.
Recently David Handley of the Cooperative Extension, which has its home at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, has been actively working to stop spotted wing drosophila, a new strain of fruit fly that had its origins in Asia, then traveled to the southern part of our country and migrated to the New England area in 2011. The eggs that this fruit fly deposits on strawberries and raspberries and soft-skinned fruits and vegetables ends up hatching and destroying the crops.
The facilities at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, are quite impressive. In addition to approximately 280 acres of land, there are two large barns, two hoop houses, a greenhouse, ten cold storage lockers, two labs, a compost school and facility. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension conducts their outreach and research activities from Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, and works with approximately 200 commercial growers.
The Maine Compost School also has its home at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. It is a collaborative effort of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Maine Department of Agriculture, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Twice a year Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, hosts the Maine Compost School for one-week sessions for individuals interested in medium and large-scale composting operations. Students from around the world attend. Over sixteen experienced faculty members teach at the school. They hail from business, industry, research, teaching, extension, regulatory, and publishing backgrounds.
Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, is home to a state-of-the-art composting facility where research on agricultural waste management and soil building are being pursued. Participants receive classroom instruction, laboratory experience and hands-on project exercises in this setting.
An optional exam is administered at the Maine Compost School to participants who request it and are interested in receiving a “Certificate of Technical Ability.” In 2013, the Maine Compost School will be held at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine, from June 17-21, and from Oct. 21-25.
Collaboration is a key feature at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. Various organizations utilize the resources and facilities that Highmoor provides including the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, and Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers.
The Maine State Pomological Society has been connected with Highmoor Farm, University of Maine for many years. There is an historical photo of the meeting of the Maine Pomological Society that took place at Highmoor Farm back in 1909, that appears on the history webpage of this profile of Highmoor Farm, University of Maine. Over one hundred years have gone by and apple enthusiasts still flock to Highmoor Farm, University of Maine to enjoy the apple orchards.
Members of The Maine State Pomological Society still count on Highmoor Farm, University of Maine for news of the latest research and innovative techniques in the world of apples. While many new developments have taken place at Highmoor Farm, University of Maine with the introduction of a variety of additional crops and the advancements in technology, the farm has held true to its original goal of being a research farm and a resource for Maine farmers and gardeners.
