Mag Spring 2015 p 15
1
The Irving operation raises 1800 acres of potatoes and grains. Robbie and his family grow, handle and pack all sizes of white, russet, red, and yellow po- tatoes for the fresh market, and distribute and market processing potatoes and all varieties of foun- dation and certified seed and grain from Maine and other East- ern growing origins. The flagship operation (Irving Farms, Inc.) al- so grows processing potatoes for the french fry market. Robbie also is involved with the industry on a policy level, serv- ing on support committees for the Maine Potato Board, including appearing before the Legisla- ture's agriculture, forestry and conservation committee last year on LD1557. As well as his indus- try involvement, Robbie is an active participant in his commu- nity and is a member of the Bes- sie Grey United Methodist Church in Caribou. Today's young farmers are in a good place for the industry to be sustained and healthy, according to Robbie. "We young growers from multi-generational families are fortunate to be double-educat- ed. Not only do we have college educations, we were taught by our parents, uncles, grandfathers to love what we do, to see the future in farming, and to be enth- thusiastic about the satisfaction of a job well-done." He credits much of this entusiasm to his grandfather, Bob Irving. "With- out him, none of this is happen- ing. I have never met a greater man, nor a greater mentor, and someone that shows what it takes to be successful in this industry." Robbie clearly is positive and enthusiastic about the industry's future. He shared a favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "I am enthusiastic about the future and the young farmers who will lead us there," says Robbie, "…using that foundation we were taught by our families, our industry offers Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, expressed confidence and enthusiasm for the industry's latest "young farmer" honoree. "The selection of the Young Farmer of the Year covers a num- ber of criteria, and Robbie rates high in all of them," he said. "We're truly pleased to recog- nize Robbie as an industry leader. He's an excellent representative of the future of the Maine potato industry." MAPLE LANE FARMS Storage Buildings, LLC 2587 Rt 2., Smyrna 207-757-7877 Need a shed? Camp, garage, workshop, storage, outhouse? Clean Used Barrels Plastic or Steel Mike Burrell (207) 341-2800 Newport Also: 275 gallon Plastic Tote Tanks Not food grade News of farming, fishing, forestry and minerals. The true wealth of Maine Cut to your specs. / vacuum sealed / frozen We sell all our natural beef & pork Rte 11A 222 Charleston Rd. Charleston Slaughter / Processing / Custom Meat Cutting Processing Game Animals / Hay & Feed Sales Roasting Pigs available Many cuts of meat available in our inspected meat display racks. Smoked meats. 1707 Bangor Rd. Clinton 649-6199 Daniel 426-8594 Clyde Call us before you buy Pen-Bay Tractor Co.. bagelcentral.com 947-1684 Yoder’s Sawmill Cedar is our Specialty Hemlock - Pine - Cedar Shavings We Deliver 278-3539 [email protected] 16 Bolstridge Rd. Corinna MaplelanefarmsMaine.com [email protected] ME INSPD & PS’D EST 6 We process Beef, Sheep, Goat, Pork & Game learned what work ethic really means from my parents and un- cles," said Robbie. "I was on the planter when I was maybe twelve, before school and then after school until dark. It was real work, but it was also the best learning experience for a kid." After graduating from Washburn High School he attended Husson University in Bangor, majoring in business administration. "My par- ents didn't push me into staying on the farm. But once I graduated from college, becoming involved in the family farm just seemed to click. Being a part of our growing operation and having the opportu- nity to get a few decisions under my belt, I knew this is where I wanted to be." Robbie is vice president of Irving Farms Inc. as well as logistics coordinator for Irving Farms Marketing and North State Transportation. He also serves as food safety coordi- nator for Irving Farms Inc. and has HACCP certification as well as the SQF 2000 practitioners cer- tification. "At Irving Farms we have tried to be at the forefront of the newest technology available to the indus- try, including GPS and X-ray equipment for internal defects to ensure we are sending the best possible products to our custom- ers," said Robbie. State police investigation revealed that speed, tail gating and weather contributed to 142 vehicles and 149 occupants colliding like dominos from mile 172 to 4 miles back on Interstate 95 Feb. 25 before 7 a.m. One SUV started the chain reac- tion on a slippery downgrade right curve between guardrails on the northbound road. One school bus, 2 tractor trailers, 39 cars with only 26 reports of injury and no deaths were the result. Approximately 34 EMS personnel responded with 17 ambu- lances, 28 firefighters and 29 law en- forcement responders were on scene before traffic was allowed 18 hours later and all vehicles removed. Irving Farms photo-Facebook Young farmer of the year Continued from page one A The 2014 Maine Blueberry Queen attended the Ag Trade Show to help promote this agriculture in January. Elly Baubonis is recent graduate of Me- domak High and attends a pre-med pro- gram at USM and was selected at Union Fair last summer with her sponsor, Coast- al Blueberry. The following sugar houses were recently judged by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry for their outstanding maple syrup, and were awarded in several categories for exceptional products made from sap. The Best in Class went to Hilltop Boilers LLC of Hollis - Grade A: Golden Color/ Delicate Flavor. These syrups were also awarded: Grade A: Golden Color/ Delicate Flavor 1st Place - Hilltop Boilers LLC, 2nd Place - PM Larivierre of St-Zacharie Qc. CN; In the catetory: Grade A: Amber Color/ Rich Flavor 1st Place - Jillson Farm of Sabattus; 2nd Place - Springbreak Maple of Smyna; and 3rd Place - Hilltop Boilers LLC. For the: Grade A: Dark Color/ Robust Flavor 1st Place- Hilltop Boilers LLC, 2nd Place - Springbreak Maple, 3rd Place - Kinney's Sugarhouse of Knox. In the: Grade A: Very Dark Color/ Strong Flavor - 1st Place - Hilltop Boilers LLC; 2nd Place - Moonlight Maple of Mt Vernon and 3rd Place - PM Larivierre. Fir, pine, good for goats & sheep WESTBROOK - Smiling Hill Farm has been using non- tinseled, old Christ- mas trees to supple- ment the diets of 100 sheep and goats claiming the treat is a natural wormer and has a lot of vita- min C serving as a supplement to a regular use of hay and grain. When it comes to sheep, the most minimum supplement be- yond salt or minerals free choice is at least crimped oat with ample good hay and plenty of fresh water. Most shepherds feed a pellet mix, whole corn and barley with a sweet feed, especially in times of bitter cold. A same routine for goats. Blueberry Queen visits Trade Show good business opportuni- ties and has a great fu- ture. Today's growers are more business savvy plus we have that work ethic we learned at an early age. The industry is in very good hands." 2015 S P R I N G ISSUE Mainely Agriculture || Equi Ag & Livestock || Aqua Agriculture 15 Largest Crash in Maine history Linscott’s Feeds 152 Rockland Rd., Washington - 845-2480 - M-T, Th, F 9-5:30 Wed 12-5:30 Sat 8-4 Sun 9-12
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Transcript of Mag Spring 2015 p 15
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The Irving operation raises1800 acres of potatoes andgrains. Robbie and his familygrow, handle and pack all sizes ofwhite, russet, red, and yellow po-tatoes for the fresh market, anddistribute and market processingpotatoes and all varieties of foun-dation and certified seed andgrain from Maine and other East-ern growing origins. The flagshipoperation (Irving Farms, Inc.) al-so grows processing potatoes forthe french fry market. Robbie also is involved with theindustry on a policy level, serv-ing on support committees for theMaine Potato Board, includingappearing before the Legisla-ture's agriculture, forestry andconservation committee last yearon LD1557. As well as his indus-try involvement, Robbie is anactive participant in his commu-nity and is a member of the Bes-sie Grey United MethodistChurch in Caribou. Today's young farmers are in agood place for the industry to besustained and healthy, accordingto Robbie. "We young growersfrom multi-generational familiesare fortunate to be double-educat-ed. Not only do we have collegeeducations, we were taught byour parents, uncles, grandfathersto love what we do, to see thefuture in farming, and to be enth-thusiastic about the satisfactionof a job well-done." He creditsmuch of this entusiasm to hisgrandfather, Bob Irving. "With-out him, none of this is happen-ing. I have never met a greaterman, nor a greater mentor, andsomeone that shows what it takes
to be successful in this industry." Robbieclearly is positive and enthusiastic about theindustry's future. He shared a favorite quotefrom Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"I am enthusiastic about the future and theyoung farmers who will lead us there," saysRobbie, "using that foundation we weretaught by our families, our industry offers
Don Flannery, executive director of theMaine Potato Board, expressed confidenceand enthusiasm for the industry's latest"young farmer" honoree. "The selection ofthe Young Farmer of the Year covers a num-ber of criteria, and Robbie rates high in all ofthem," he said. "We're truly pleased to recog-nize Robbie as an industry leader. He's anexcellent representative of the future of theMaine potato industry."
MAPLE LANE FARMS
Storage Buildings, LLC2587 Rt 2., Smy r na 207-757-7877Need a shed? Camp,garage, workshop,storage, outhouse?
Clean Used BarrelsPlastic or Steel
Mike Burrell
(207) 341-2800 NewportAlso: 275 gallon Plastic Tote Tanks
Not food grade
News of farming, fishing, forestry and minerals. The true wealth of Maine
Cut to your specs. / vacuum sealed / frozenWe sell all our natural beef & pork
Rte 11A 222 Charleston Rd.Charleston
Slaughter / Processing / Custom Meat CuttingProcessing Game Animals / Hay & Feed Sales
Roasting Pigs available
Many cuts of meat available inour inspected meat display racks. Smoked meats.
1707 Bangor Rd. Clinton649-6199 Daniel 426-8594 ClydeCall us before you buy
Pen-Bay Tractor Co..
bagelcentral.com
947-1684
Yoders SawmillCedar is our Specialty
Hemlock - Pine - Cedar ShavingsWe Deliver [email protected]
16 Bolstridge Rd. Corinna
MEINSPD& PSDEST 6
We process Beef, Sheep, Goat, Pork & Game
learned what work ethic reallymeans from my parents and un-cles," said Robbie. "I was on theplanter when I was maybe twelve,before school and then afterschool until dark. It was realwork, but it was also the bestlearning experience for a kid."After graduating from WashburnHigh School he attended HussonUniversity in Bangor, majoring inbusiness administration. "My par-ents didn't push me into stayingon the farm. But once I graduatedfrom college, becoming involvedin the family farm just seemed toclick. Being a part of our growingoperation and having the opportu-nity to get a few decisions undermy belt, I knew this is where Iwanted to be." Robbie is vicepresident of Irving Farms Inc. aswell as logistics coordinator forIrving Farms Marketing andNorth State Transportation. Healso serves as food safety coordi-nator for Irving Farms Inc. andhas HACCP certification as wellas the SQF 2000 practitioners cer-tification.
"At Irving Farms we have triedto be at the forefront of the newesttechnology available to the indus-try, including GPS and X-rayequipment for internal defects toensure we are sending the bestpossible products to our custom-ers," said Robbie.
State police investigationrevealed that speed, tail gating andweather contributed to 142 vehiclesand 149 occupants colliding likedominos from mile 172 to 4 milesback on Interstate 95 Feb. 25 before 7a.m. One SUV started the chain reac-tion on a slippery downgrade rightcurve between guardrails on thenorthbound road. One school bus, 2tractor trailers, 39 cars with only 26reports of injury and no deaths werethe result. Approximately 34 EMSpersonnel responded with 17 ambu-lances, 28 firefighters and 29 law en-forcement responders were on scenebefore traffic was allowed 18 hourslater and all vehicles removed.
Irving Farms photo-Facebook
Young farmer of the yearContinued from page one
A The 2014 Maine BlueberryQueen attended the Ag Trade Show tohelp promote this agriculture in January.Elly Baubonis is recent graduate of Me-domak High and attends a pre-med pro-gram at USM and was selected at UnionFair last summer with her sponsor, Coast-al Blueberry.
The following sugar houses were recently judgedby the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, andForestry for their outstanding maple syrup, and were awardedin several categories for exceptional products made from sap.The Best in Class went to Hilltop Boilers LLC of Hollis -Grade A: Golden Color/ Delicate Flavor. These syrups were also awarded: Grade A: Golden Color/Delicate Flavor 1st Place - Hilltop Boilers LLC, 2nd Place -PM Larivierre of St-Zacharie Qc. CN; In the catetory: GradeA: Amber Color/ Rich Flavor 1st Place - Jillson Farm ofSabattus; 2nd Place - Springbreak Maple of Smyna; and 3rdPlace - Hilltop Boilers LLC. For the: Grade A: Dark Color/ Robust Flavor 1st Place-Hilltop Boilers LLC, 2nd Place - Springbreak Maple, 3rdPlace - Kinney's Sugarhouse of Knox. In the: Grade A: Very Dark Color/ Strong Flavor - 1st Place- Hilltop Boilers LLC; 2nd Place - Moonlight Maple of MtVernon and 3rd Place - PM Larivierre.
Fir, pine, good for goats & sheepWESTBROOK -Smiling Hill Farmhas been using non-tinseled, old Christ-mas trees to supple-ment the diets of 100sheep and goatsclaiming the treat isa natural wormerand has a lot of vita-min C serving as asupplement to a regular use of hay and grain.When it comes to sheep, the most minimum supplement be-yond salt or minerals free choice is at least crimped oat withample good hay and plenty of fresh water. Most shepherdsfeed a pellet mix, whole corn and barley with a sweet feed,especially in times of bitter cold. A same routine for goats.
Blueberry QueenvisitsTradeShow
good business opportuni-ties and has a great fu-ture. Today's growers aremore business savvy pluswe have that work ethicwe learned at an earlyage. The industry is invery good hands."
2015 S P R I N G ISSUE Mainely Agriculture || Equi Ag & Livestock || Aqua Agriculture 15
Largest Crashin Maine history
Linscotts Feeds152 Rockland Rd.,Washington- 845-2480 -M-T, Th, F 9-5:30
Wed 12-5:30Sat 8-4 Sun 9-12
