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2025 Maine Agricultural Trades Show
Conference Schedule
Preliminary schedule. Adjustments may occur. Last updated: Oct. 23, 2024.
Date | Time | Conference | Category | Host | CEU | Room | Description |
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January 16, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | MFFM Annual Meeting | Fruit, Membership Meeting, Vegetables | Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets | Capitol/Pinetree | The Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets Annual Meeting is an opportunity to learn about MFFM's impact over the last year and learn what we have planned for the year ahead. |
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January 15, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM | MMPA Maple Contest Judging Space | Specialty Food and Craft Beverage | Maine Maple Producers Association | Knox | Judges will evaluate Maine Maple Producer Association Meeting maple syrup contest. |
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January 16, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Raspberry Production Workshop | Fruit | University of Maine Cooperative Extension Vegetable & Fruit Production | Ft. Western | A workshop for farmers interested in commercial raspberry production; we will cover site preparation, varieties, production methods and pest management. |
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January 15, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Forestry Forum | Land ownership, Timber/forestry, Woodlots | Maine Woodland Owners | Augusta/Cap/Pinetree | A day of information and community building for Maine woodland owners and forest stewards. |
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January 14, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM | Maine Christmas Tree Association Winter Meeting | Membership Meeting, Timber/forestry, Woodlots | Maine Christmas Tree Association | Arnold | An opportunity to learn about growing Christmas Trees, and interact with fellow growers. |
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January 16, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training | Farm safety and quality, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Pesticide | Arnold/Howard | Fruit and vegetable grower certificate course on farm food safety. |
January 15, 2025 | 8:45 AM - 4:00 PM | Maine Pomological Society Winter Meeting | Fruit, Membership Meeting | Maine Pomological Society | Arnold | Annual meeting for tree fruit growers with Society updates, Highmoor Farm research and IPM. |
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January 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Local Food Purchase Assistance Partnership Meeting | Sales (wholesale) | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Hancock | The meeting is for partner farms and sponsors participating in the LFPA program. |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Empowering Maine's Communities: Cultivating Health, Leadership, and Community Through Sustainable Foodscapes | Human nutrition | Maine Foodscapes | Waldo | Join us for a transformative work session with Maine Foodscapes, where we empower limited-resource Mainers to cultivate their own food. Through health and wellness promotion, free garden installations, and educational community events, we're fostering a grassroots movement. This innovative approach shifts the focus from emergency food relief to sustainable community empowerment. Together, we're growing gardens, nurturing leaders, and building stronger communities-one garden harvest at a time. |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Finding the Value of your Woodlot | Woodlots | Renoster | Arnold | To help landowners find the volumes and species of their woodlots through remote sensing. |
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January 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Agroforestry Research and Networking | Timber/forestry | Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry | Arnold | Showcasing farmers and woodland owners incorporating agroforestry into their operations, as well as new research underway in Maine and the region to evaluate various agroforestry techniques for broader adoption. |
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January 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Understanding Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave Law | Labor | Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Program | Androscoggin/Aroostook | Staff from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program (PFML) will provide a general overview about the new law followed by an opportunity to hear from the public with a question and answer session. |
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January 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Interactive Training | Federal Programs, Human nutrition | Maine WIC Nutrition Program & Farmers Market Nutrition Program | Somerset | This session will give insight on programs purpose, eligible foods, requirements, and process. Apply to become a Maine WIC farmer. |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | "Sustain Our Maine" Destination Stewardship Learning Program | Business advising or technical assistance training | Maine Office of Tourism | Hancock | This session will provide technical training in strategies that support the long-term vitality of the Maine experience for visitors and residents. |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Coffee Hour Crop Conversation | Business advising or technical assistance training | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | Join extension, technical assistance providers, and your peers for a round table discussion on vegetable production. Bring any insect, disease or weed management questions, or just talk about your crop production last year and plans for this year. Coffee will be provided! |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Food System Infrastructure Investment Policy Priorities | Policy | Maine Food Policy Work Group | Ft. Western | Join Maine Policy Work Group members to learn about and help shape policy priorities for the 132nd Legislature that are needed to build an equitable and resilient food system. |
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January 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Local Food Buyers and Sellers Meet-Up | Sales (wholesale) | Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network | Hancock | Are you a Maine farmer or food producer looking to sell to new buyers? Are you a buyer interested in sourcing more Maine food? Attend this matchmaking event to connect with new local food buyers and sellers. Farmers, schools, colleges, hospitals, prisons, and other wholesale and institutional partners welcome! |
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January 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Connect With the New England Grazing Network! | Sheep | New England Grazing Network | Washington/York | What would be helpful to your grazing and grass-based farming needs? What types of training and events are helpful to your farm throughout the year? How do you connect with other farmers to share ideas and get support? Please join the New England Grazing Network (NEGN) to add input for 2025. Anyone with an interest in grazing and grass-based livestock farming is welcome! |
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January 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Maine Agritourism Summit | Promotions and marketing | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - Maine Agritourism Summit | Augusta | Join us for the annual agritourism summit! Come with questions about what types of agritourism might be ideal for your farm, best practices for marketing, risk management, and business ideas. Plus, there will be plenty of time for networking. |
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January 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Annual Meeting | Membership Meeting, Specialty Food and Craft Beverage | Maine Maple Producers Association | Washington/York | Judges will evaluate Maine Maple Producer Association Meeting maple syrup contest. |
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January 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Maine Nutrition Council Gathering | Human nutrition | Maine Nutrition Council | Lincoln/Oxford | The Maine Nutrition Council works to contribute to the health and well-being of Maine citizens through education, research and advocacy. |
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January 16, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Maine's Second Harvest -Upcycling -Creating New Markets for Maine's Off Grade Crops | Business advising or technical assistance training, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | Come learn how partners engaged in the USDA's Regional Food System Partnership are addressing farm waste by purchasing off grade produce, utilizing local processors, and are creating quality value added products for institutional sales. |
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January 16, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM | WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Interactive Training | Federal Programs, Human nutrition | Maine WIC Nutrition Program & Farmers Market Nutrition Program | Somerset | This session will give insight on programs purpose, eligible foods, requirements, and process. Apply to become a Maine WIC farmer. |
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January 15, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Meat and Poultry Processing Financing for Growth | Beef, Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm finances and planning, Lending / Grants / Financial Resources | Coastal Enterprises, Inc. | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | We will be discussing financing options for meat and poultry processors, including grants, loans, equity capital, and other innovative ways to fund your business. |
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January 14, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Maine Cheese Guild Annual Meeting | Dairy, Membership Meeting | Maine Cheese Guild | Hancock | Learn about the Maine Cheese Guild at the annual meeting and networking. |
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January 14, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Maine Dairy Meeting | Dairy | Maine Dairy Industry Association | Washington/York | Meeting of Maine's dairy farmers to get updates and discuss current market conditions, hosted by MDIA |
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January 14, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Strategies for Making a Dairy Farm an Attractive Business Venture | Business advising or technical assistance training, Dairy | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | As Maine dairy farmers age into retirement and look toward transferring the business onto someone else, they need to start thinking about showing potential buyers that operating a dairy can be successful and fulfilling. Having skills to present dairy farm financial tools is one of the cornerstones of successful farm transfer. |
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January 16, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Public Meeting | PFAS | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Fund to Address PFAS Contamination | Washington/York | This meeting will be an opportunity to hear the latest status update from the PFAS Fund and to offer suggestions for management of the Fund. |
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January 16, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Labor Law Guidance Consultation | Labor | Bureau of Labor Standards | Androscoggin/Aroostook | Come provide feedback to the Maine Department of Labor on how best to provide guidance to small employers on their labor law obligations. |
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January 16, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Maine Farm & Sea Membership Meeting | Membership Meeting | Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | TBA |
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January 15, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Partnering with Daybreak Growers Alliance | Business advising or technical assistance training | Daybreak Growers Alliance | Hancock | Learn about the process of partnering with Daybreak Growers Alliance, how to crop plan ahead for a fruitful and cooperative season. |
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January 14, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Maine Organic Milk Producers Meeting | Dairy | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | Updates from MOFGA Certification Services on any changes to rules or processes. Updates from Maine Dairy Industry Association. |
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January 16, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM | The Local Food Switchboard Project - coordinating our local food supply chain and institutional buyers! | Human nutrition, Sales (wholesale) | Maine Food Convergence Project | Hancock | Come learn about the Switchboard, connect with members, and provide your insights to develop an effective program. |
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January 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Farmer Discussion Space | Business advising or technical assistance training | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | MOFGA is leaving the space open for farmers to meet and have their own discussions on whatever topics they would like to connect on. Please feel free to use this as a meeting space! |
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January 15, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Connect With the New England Grazing Network! | Sheep | New England Grazing Network | Washington/York | What would be helpful to your grazing and grass-based farming needs? What types of training and events are helpful to your farm throughout the year? How do you connect with other farmers to share ideas and get support? Please join the New England Grazing Network (NEGN) to add input for 2025. Anyone with an interest in grazing and grass-based livestock farming is welcome! |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Farm Succession and Transfer Farmer Panel | Farm finances and planning | Land for Good | Washington/York | Kate Turcotte, Maine Field Agent for Land for Good will describe the seven key components of a farm succession plan ranging from management transfer to retirement planning to family communication. We will discuss strategies for identifying a successor for farms operating without an heir, strategies for success, and how to build a team of advisors that can turn your succession plan into a reality. The goal is to provide a broad overview of the process and to identify resources and next steps. |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Interactive Training | Federal Programs, Human nutrition | Maine WIC Nutrition Program & Farmers Market Nutrition Program | Somerset | This session will give insight on programs purpose, eligible foods, requirements, and process. Apply to become a Maine WIC farmer. |
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January 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Building Maine's FarmDrop Network | Business advising or technical assistance training, Membership Meeting | FarmDrop | Hancock | Come learn about FarmDrop. We will host the annual meeting, followed by a farmer panel and workshop on using the FarmDrop network for business growth. |
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January 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) Annual Meeting | Membership Meeting | Maine Beef Producers Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | MBPA's annual meeting includes the election of the Board of Directors and the annual Awards. |
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January 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Produce Farm Food Safety Plan Workshop | Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm safety, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Arnold | Produce Farm Food Safety Plan How-To and Help. |
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January 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM - | Selling to Schools: Farm & Sea to School Mythbusting | Human nutrition, Sales (wholesale) | Maine Dept. of Education Farm & Sea to School | Somerset | Maine DOE Child Nutrition, along with Farm & Sea to School partners, will be hosting a roundtable discussion to demystify, myth bust, and tackle the common perceived challenges food producers come up against when trying to sell to schools in Maine. |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | ESE Maine Trustees Annual Meeting | Membership Meeting | ESE Maine Trustees | Waldo | ESE Maine Trustees Annual Meeting |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Produce Farm Food Safety Plan Workshop | Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm safety, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Arnold | Produce Farm Food Safety Plan How-To and Help. |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Maine Winery Guild Annual Membership Meeting | Membership Meeting | Maine Winery Guild | Hancock | Annual membership meeting comprising a business session and a presentation. |
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January 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Emerging Diseases of Concern in Tunnel Tomatoes | Business advising or technical assistance training, Fruit | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | Over the last four years, we have identified two new diseases in tomatoes in Maine. This presentation will cover everything you need to know about them and what else is on the horizon. |
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January 16, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Transferring the Farm | Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm finances and planning, Land ownership | Land for Good | Washington/York | Kate Turcotte, Maine Field Agent for Land for Good will describe the seven key components of a farm succession plan ranging from management transfer to retirement planning to family communication. We will discuss strategies for identifying a successor for farms operating without an heir, strategies for success, and how to build a team of advisors that can turn your succession plan into a reality. The goal is to provide a broad overview of the process and to identify resources and next steps. |
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January 14, 2025 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Farm Succession and Transfer Farmer Panel | Farm finances and planning | Maine Farmland Trust | Arnold/Howard | Do you know what will happen to your farm business when you're ready to pass it on? Come hear other farmers' personal successes and challenges in their farm succession journey, and consider the next steps you can take for your own process. This panel hosted by Maine Farmland Trust is a great addition to Land For Goods workshop or a standalone. |
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January 14, 2025 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Demystifying Organic Certification & USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) | Business advising or technical assistance training, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | From basics to support and more. Learn how to become a certified organic producer or support others. Includes details about the USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which offers valuable resources. Bring a friend, and come with questions! |
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January 14, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Planning the Future: Responsible Land Use for Renewable Energy | Energy | ReVision Energy | Hancock | Learn how Maine's longest standing energy company uses responsible practices to site solar on land in Maine. |
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January 15, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Produce Safety Rule Agricultural Water Workshop | Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm safety, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Arnold | Produce Farm Food Safety Plan How-To and Help. |
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January 14, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Produce Safety Rule Agricultural Water Workshop | Business advising or technical assistance training, Farm safety, Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Arnold | Produce Safety Rule Agricultural Water Testing, Assessment, and System Inspection Workshop. |
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January 14, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Economic Impact Report of Organic Farming in Maine: Key Takeaways and Findings | Fruit, Vegetables | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | What are the opportunities and challenges for Maine farms and organic agriculture? Learn how the full report, which includes recent data, can be a tool to support farmers. Gain insight into size, economic impact, farmer goals, profitability, and other trends. |
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January 14, 2025 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | What to Expect When You're Expecting Soil Test Results | Business advising or technical assistance training | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Piscataquis/Sagadahoc | Why soil test? How do you test your soil? How many samples should you take? How do you read the results and make fertilizer decisions? Get answers and insight about soil fertility, testing, and what to do with nutrient recommendations. |