Maine Farmcast

In this episode of Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Glenda Pereira talks with Devon Ouellette, a dairy farmer in Hermon, Maine, about a project they have been working on together to implement SenseHub monitoring technology on her farm. The project was funded by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. Listeners will learn about applying for grant funding, how monitoring technology can improve dairy...

Things are getting a little spooky on the Maine Farmcast! In this special Halloween episode, Dr. Colt Knight and Dr. Glenda Pereira trade their usual livestock discussions for something a little more sinister: witches, vampires, werewolves, and the surprisingly strange connections between monster folklore and animal science. From haunted trails in the Appalachian Mountains and the Salem witch tria...

What happens when you combine three animal species, two knives, a handsaw, 600 GB of video footage and five years of editing? Apparently, you get Carcass to Cut: The Maine Meat Cutting School . In this episode of Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira turns the tables and interviews co-host Dr. Colt W. Knight about the new 27-video Carcass to Cut series. Colt shares how a pandemic-era meat-cutting sch...

In this episode of Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Glenda Pereira talks with University of Maine doctoral candidate Kyle Brennan about his research on sea scallops and aquaculture in Maine. Brennan works in Dr. Tim Bowden's lab, which focuses on disease resistance in oysters and other shellfish, treatments for shellfish diseases and fish immune function. Listeners will learn about the challenges of farmi...

This week on Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt W. Knight takes the podcast on the road for a visit with returning guest Mark King, better known to listeners for his expertise in composting but also a lifelong bat enthusiast and researcher. King shares how one charismatic biology professor changed the direction of his career, eventually leading him to graduate research studying little brown bats and more th...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Glenda Pereira sits down with Owen Cortner to discuss his background and how it informs his work as a livestock specialist. Cortner is a livestock specialist with the Division of Animal and Plant Health at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Listeners will learn about silvopasture, animal health, biosecurity and farming in dif...

Colt W. Knight sits down with longtime friend and colleague Robert Causey for what was supposed to be a conversation about equine veterinary medicine. But, as often happens when two longtime horse people get talking, things quickly head down a few rabbit holes. Colt and Robert talk about Secretariat and equine physiology, growing up with horses, cavalry and war horses throughout history, the human...

In this episode of Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt W. Knight sits down with author, professional speaker, educator, former college lacrosse coach and custom hatter John Brubaker, better known to many as Coach Brew, for a conversation about communication, leadership, youth development and the value of simply being yourself. John shares how a chance encounter with Maine agricultural youth led him to the No...

This week on the Maine Farmcast, we head to Hemond Farms in Minot, Maine, for the Buckles and Banners Jackpot Show and sit down with Brittany and Sierra Hemond to talk about livestock, leadership, entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a farm for the next generation. Sierra shares how she got hooked on showing livestock, her experiences in 4-H and FFA, competing in livestock judging at the Na...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Glenda Pereira sits down with Jacki Martinez Perkins to discuss management practices that can help maintain hoof health in livestock and horses and prevent lameness. Martinez Perkins serves as the organic dairy and livestock specialist for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and is a valuable resource for farmers across Maine. Zinpro loco...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Glenda Pereira sits down with Amber Blodgett to learn about the Ben and Jerry's Low Carbon Dairy Pilot Project. Amber is the Dairy Research & Outreach Specialist for the UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Team. Listeners will learn about different the project, and the specific intervention opportunities to potentially decrease greenhouse gas...

Recorded outdoors around a table at Knight Family Farm in Garland, Maine, this episode features plenty of fresh air, farm sounds, barbecue and a conversation about things that are not always quite so fresh. Dr. Colt Knight is joined by longtime friend Mark King, organics management specialist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and one of Maine’s leading composting experts. Mark...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Glenda Pereira sits down with Jacki Martinez Perkins to discuss the role the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) plays in promoting organic agriculture through education, advocacy and connection. Jacki serves as MOFGA’s organic dairy and livestock specialist and is a valuable resource for farmers across Maine. Contact Jacki 50th annua...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Glenda Pereira talks with Dr. Owen Cortner about biosecurity, heat stress and other animal health considerations when exhibiting animals at fairs. Cortner is a livestock specialist in the Division of Animal and Plant Health at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Contact the Maine DACF animal health team Maine DACF Heat Str...

How do farmers help shape USDA programs in their communities? In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Glenda Pereira and Colt Knight welcome Tommy Higgins, Maine state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, for a conversation about the important role FSA county committees play in supporting agriculture. Higgins shares his journey from military service to lea...

How much forage do your cattle really need, and how much grass is actually available in your pasture? This week, Dr. Colt Knight welcomes Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler back to the Maine Farmcast for a practical conversation about the numbers behind successful grazing management. They explain how estimating forage inventory, calculating dry matter intake and using simple tools such as grazing sticks and plat...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Dr. Glenda Pereira sits down with Annie Leahy, a recent University of Maine zoology graduate and incoming Clemson University DVM student, to discuss her honors thesis on emerging pathogens affecting ruminant livestock in Maine. Leahy’s research analyzed cases submitted to UMaine’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab between September 2022 and January 2025, coverin...

A pest that many producers thought was confined to the history books is making headlines again. In this episode, Dr. Colt Knight sits down with Ashley Wright of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension to discuss New World screwworm, a devastating livestock pest that has reemerged in North America. They explain what screwworm is, how it differs from ordinary fly strike and why veterinarians...

This Independence Day week, Dr. Colt Knight is joined by Dr. Dean Fish of Arizona’s Anchor F Cattle Co. to explore one of America’s most recognizable symbols: the cowboy hat. From John B. Stetson’s original design in the 1860s to today’s custom-crafted masterpieces, Colt and Dean trace the history, function and cultural significance of the hat that helped shape the American West. Along the way, th...

Why does a ribeye cost so much more than it did a few years ago? In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt Knight sits down with Dr. Gregg Rentfrow, meat science specialist at the University of Kentucky, while attending North Carolina State University’s BBQ Camp. Together, they break down the many factors driving today’s record-high meat prices, including historically low cattle inventories,...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Colt W. Knight sits down with Sue Ishaq, associate professor and microbiome researcher at the University of Maine, to explore the fascinating world of microbes and their role in animal and human health. From her nonfarm upbringing and path through animal science to building a dynamic research lab, Ishaq shares how curiosity and a few career pivots led he...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Glenda Pereira celebrates June Dairy Month with a solo episode on how robotics are shaping dairy farm management. She discusses the benefits and considerations of milking robots, including milk production, labor, cow traffic, facility design and the importance of consistency in daily routines. Dr. Pereira also takes a closer look at manure robots and how...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, host Colt W. Knight is once again joined by Richard Brzozowski, professor emeritus and former Extension livestock specialist, for a practical and story-driven discussion on common mistakes new farmers make and how to avoid them. Drawing from decades of experience in Extension and agriculture, Brzozowski shares insights from working with beginning farmers, alo...

Raising kids on a farm comes with a unique mix of challenges, responsibilities and rewards. In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, we dive into what it really means to parent in an agricultural setting. From chore schedules and safety considerations to balancing farm work with family life, our conversation explores how farm families pass along values such as work ethic, resilience and stewardship...

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Glenda and Colt sit down with Rick Linscott, a retired senior scientist from IDEXX Laboratories, based in Westbrook, Maine. Rick reflects on his 35-year career with the Maine-based diagnostics company, tracing its evolution from early livestock and poultry testing to its global work in companion animal, water quality and biomedical diagnostics. Listeners will...