Feasibility of a Farmer Marketing Group in Piscataquis County

View the project final report

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn, potatoes, grass (misc. perennial), hay
• Fruits: apples, berries (other), berries (strawberries)
• Vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucurbits, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), onions, peas (culinary), peppers, rutabagas, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips
• Additional Plants: herbs, trees
• Animals: bovine, goats, sheep
• Animal Products: dairy

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage
• Crop Production: cover crops, fertigation, foliar feeding, forestry, multiple cropping, organic fertilizers
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, focus group, networking, on-farm/ranch research
• Farm Business Management: whole farm planning, marketing management, feasibility study, market study
• Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, compost extracts, cultural control, economic threshold, field monitoring/scouting, physical control, mulching - plastic, cultivation, precision herbicide use, prevention, row covers (for pests), mulching - vegetative
• Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis, nutrient mineralization
• Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, employment opportunities, social networks

There is no established farmers’ market or marketing organization in the Penquis region of Maine, and a group of farmers will see if developing one is feasible. They will conduct a market analysis, assess the development of a marketing group, and enhance their current marketing efforts by producing a map of ecotourism destinations and local farm stands. The farmers will gather information from other producers and recruit them to join the marketing organization if it is formed. Outreach will be through meetings, direct contact, and nonprofit and extension cooperation.