The Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture is an interdisciplinary
program offered cooperatively by the faculties of the Departments of Plant, Soil
and Environmental Sciences; Biological Sciences; and Resource Economics and
Policy. The program is designed for students interested in working in the
growing field of ecologically based agriculture in areas of information
dissemination, research or production within the public and private sectors; as
policy analysts; or as farmers with sound training in natural resource
management and economics. The BS degree in Sustainable Agriculture can also be
used as preparation for postgraduate study in a variety of disciplines.
The Sustainable Agriculture program stresses how to build soil tilth and
fertility through rotations, multiple cropping and nutrient recycling; how to
protect water quality and human health by decreasing the need to use synthetic
agrochemical; how to manage crop pests and livestock diseases with integrated,
ecologically sound strategies; how to create a strong, diversified agriculture
that is stable through market and weather fluctuations; how to increase farm
profits by decreasing the costs of crop and livestock production.
Our web site is:
www.umaine.edu/pse.
Black Bear Food Guild:
The Guild, a community-supported agricultural endeavor, was initiated and
developed by students in response to need for more hands-on learning. Students
manage approximately 3 acres of organic vegetables, herbs and cover crops. The
majority of the operating capital is from the sale of membership shares to
community members as well as from participation in local farmers markets.