Farmer Climate Forum: New England Climate Trends, Soil Hydrology, and Managing the Effects of Soil Saturation

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Sean Birkel, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maine and the Maine State Climatologist, will review Maine’s historical temperature and precipitation trends and future climate projections, and discuss impacts to the growing season. Sean will give an overview of online tools relevant to agriculture, including growing degree day and precipitation summaries, frost date estimates, and other resources.

Joshua Faulkner, Director of the UVM Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture, will discuss general soil and hydrology concepts that relate to drainage and water management in agriculture in the context of extreme rainfall.  He will also address how saturation and soil moisture status can affect nutrient cycling and soil health factors and how those relate to farm management practices.

Their presentations will be followed by a facilitated farmer-to-farmer discussion. Come to listen, share your experiences, ask questions, troubleshoot, and be inspired to make your own farm more resilient.

The Climate Forums are brought to you by NOFA-VT and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA).

This event is one in a three-part series discussing Flooding, Excess Precipitation, and Farm Resilience. At the registration link you can choose to attend whichever sessions you wish.