MOFGA at the 2026 Maine Agricultural Trades Show

The State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show is sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It takes place every January and is a place for farm, agricultural and related sectors to network and connect around business needs and trends. Producers and consumers alike visit this three day show to get professional expertise, learn about technologies and to gather information on the agriculture industry.

Join MOFGA staff and presenters on Tuesday, January 13, for a full schedule of programming (details TBA). The Trades Show runs from Tuesday, January 13 to Thursday, January 15.

MOFGA will be revealing the 2026 Common Ground Country Fair poster design on Tuesday, January 13 at 11 a.m.

2026 MOFGA at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

9-10 a.m.

Coffee Hour Crop Conversation

Caleb Goossen, MOFGA Crop Specialist; Jason Lilley and Nick Rowley, University of Maine Extension

Join extension, technical assistance providers, and your peers for a round table discussion on organic vegetable production. Bring any insect, disease, or weed management questions, or just talk about your crop production last year and plans for this year. Coffee will be provided!

1 pesticide applicator credit 

10-11 a.m. No-Till Tarping Techniques

BrennaMae Thomas-Googins

Gain some insight on the pros and cons of tarping in a no-till system! BrennaMae of Patch Farm will share her farm experiences, trials and tribulations with tarping and landscape fabric.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Maine Organic Milk Producers Meeting 

• Updates from MOFGA Certification Services on any changes to rules or processes.
• Updates from Maine Dairy Industry Association.
• Updates from processors

12-1 p.m.

Farmer Discussion Space – Barriers to Organic

Open discussion 

MOFGA will be facilitating a discussion on barriers farmers are facing to certifying organic. 

1-2 p.m.

Biological Control and IPM in Cropping Systems

Maryam Nouri Aiin, UVM

This session explores how biological control and IPM can work together to build resilient, ecologically balanced cropping systems in the Northeast. Dr. Maryam Nouri-Aiin will share current research on sustainable pest management, highlighting the use of fungi, soil health strategies, and findings from recent studies on the Colorado potato beetle and wireworms.

The session will also include an interactive discussion inviting farmers to share their perspectives on biological control—its effectiveness, practicality, and costs—and how research can better align with on-farm realities.

1 pesticide applicator credit.

2-3 p.m.

Demystifying Organic Certification and USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) 

Chris Grigsby, MOFGA Certification Director; Jacki Perkins, MOFGA’s Organic Dairy and Livestock Specialist

Join Chris Grigsby, MOFGA’s certification director, and Meg Mitchell, MOFGA’s climate smart and organic transition specialist, to learn the basics of organic certification as well as demystifying the process and requirements of becoming a certified organic producer. The USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) will also be covered. TOPP, which is part of USDA’s larger Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), aims to offer unprecedented support for farms and producers to transition to organic certification. MOFGA is a core partner in the TOPP Northeast group for Maine, through 2027, which includes a mentorship program, technical assistance and support from project partners UMaine Cooperative Extension and Maine Grain Alliance. Learn about becoming a mentor or a transitioning producer (mentee), as well as other opportunities through USDA’s OTI.

3-4 p.m.

Economic Impact Report of Organic Farming in Maine: Key Takeaways and Findings 

Jed Beach, FarmSmart

In 2025, MOFGA completed a three-year project of assessing the economic impact of our certified organic producers, updating a report first published in 2010. New trends, data, financial benchmarks, and analysis will be shared, to highlight the opportunities and challenges that we face in the current marketplace. 

4-5 p.m.

Climate Impacts on Your Farm

Dr. Rachel Schattman, UMaine Agroecology Lab, Sara Keleman, New England Soil Health Specialist, American Farmland Trust

Join UMaine Agroecology Lab’s Dr Rachel Shattman and AFT’s New England Soil Health Specialist Sara Keleman to discuss climate impacts on your farm and pathways to adapt to the changes to come. Farmers of all scopes are welcome to join the discussion and share their specific challenges and as a group, we will workshop how to gear your business to weather the storm of financial and production struggles as you create a plan for a resilient farm operation.

1 pesticide applicator credit.

Find the full Agricultural Trades Show schedule of activities, participant directory, and general information here!