2015 Maine Agricultural Trades Show starts January 13

Jan 08, 2015

Event to be held at Augusta Civic Centre

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Agriculture producers, consumers, visitors and anyone with an interest in Maine’s agricultural community can attend the 74^th Maine Agricultural Trades Show, taking place January 13-15 at the Augusta Civic Centre.

Since its inception in 1941, the show gives attendees a wide array of exhibitors, meetings, seminars, activities and events to explore and enjoy.

Included in the events available are courses by the Cooperative Extension & Board of Pesticide Control. The hour-long training sessions can be used by licensed pesticide applicators as credits towards recertification.

There will also be speakers from the Maine Milk Commission, education sessions from the Maine State Florists and Growers Association, the Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

With potatoes being Maine’s primary vegetable with over $164 million in production in 2013, there will be programs dedicated to the beloved spud.

Jim Dwyer of the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension (UMCE) will do a presentation on potato pest management on January 13 and January 15 will see Andy Wilbur from Wilburs of Maine making Needhams, a staple in the Maine candy conversation.

Needhams are chocolate-coated coconut candy treats using mashed potatoes.

Video: CEOs of the Industry – International Edition Michael Agerley | Partner, IQinAbox

In this CEOs of the Industry – International Edition, we sit down with Michael Agerley, Partner at IQinAbox, to explore how data is reshaping the future of pig production.

After more than 20 years as a veterinarian, Michael shares his unique perspective on the shift from hands-on animal care to data-driven decision making across the pork value chain.

We dive into:

• How better data is improving real on-farm decisions

• The biggest opportunities still untapped in pig production

• How Europe is leading (and where it’s still lagging) in tech adoption

• The role of AI and smart systems in the next 5–10 years

• Why trust, leadership, and practical application matter more than ever

This conversation bridges veterinary insight, technology, and real-world farming, offering a clear look at where the industry is headed—and what it will take to get there.