Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 J U N E 1 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S A G R I C U LT U R E / A Q UA C U LT U R E a crop that has never been grown in Maine until recently — Sunn Hemp. "I started working with Sunn Hemp during my dissertation at the University of Florida because it is a plant also found in Colombia. I saw its rapid growth firsthand, reaching over seven feet in two months, and as a legume, it has great potential to improve soil health," says Garzon. Using a tropical legume like Sunn Hemp to help Maine's hay producers and livestock farmers meant a special kind of problem solving — but what were the results? In 2024, Garzon planted Sunn Hemp that reached 53 inches in height in two months and, because it is a legume, it fixed nitrogen from the air that can be incorporated into the soil for the benefit of future crops. Although the Sunn Hemp did not reach the same height or biomass as it would in Florida or Columbia, the results showed that it can be a viable and productive hay crop even in short-season Maine. In 2025, conditions were more adverse — drought spread over much of Maine throughout the growing season. Still, Garzon's 2025 Sunn Hemp produced 900 pounds of dry matter at 60 days and added 10 kilo- grams of nitrogen per acre — fixed naturally from the air. "I think those results speak for them- selves," says Garzon, as he looks forward to testing Sunn Hemp further in 2026 and hopes for an end to drought. Problem solver Having a forage expert with Garzon's experience and training is a boon to the state's agricultural economy. As a student and young professor years ago, Garzon originally aimed to focus on animal reproduction but didn't feel that he excelled in those university classes and ultimately felt more and more drawn to the world of forages. "When I taught at the university or at family gatherings, my students and relatives asked me: 'Grasses? How are you going to succeed knowing about grasses? ose are the same plants I have in my garden, and the less I bother them, the better they do,'" says Garzon. Now, his affinity to forages has allowed him to travel the world and take a position as Maine's preeminent specialist on the topic. Garzon is a problem solver and has a strong practical side. He recognizes that the main problem facing Maine's farmers is not esoteric or obscure. "I believe this is one of the big- gest challenges for hay producers in Maine: the need for tractors and implements, along with the knowl- edge and skills to operate and main- tain them properly," he says. In addition to the capital and experience and skills necessary for the equipment essential to agriculture, farmers need land. Aroostook County is Maine's so-called Potato Empire. Although it is not still the domi- nant potato growing place in the coun- try, potatoes still dominant the county's landscape. Still, acreage is down — partially because yield per acre is up. Could more acreage in the County be producing high quality hay? e land is there — in various parts of the state — but the changing climate of Maine also offers problems. "Historically, there were weather patterns that repeated every year, but that is no longer the case. e problem arises when the farmer counts on these two- or three-day dry spells, but then C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » ceimaine.org For free business advising, workshops, & flexible financing, visit: We love Maine food & the people that grow, harvest and make it. For corporate partnership and event sponsorship opportunities, email us at giving@sweetser.org. 2026 NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR Treatment – Support – Hope SWEETSER.ORG Sweetser's Chief Communications & HR Officers Justin Chenette and Holly Hall accept the award from Chamber board members & Executive Director Alex MacPhail. Thank you Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce for the recognition! Scan code to watch video More than just the competition, my main goal is to raise awareness about the importance of assessing hay quality. It is not solely about yield; it is also crucial to understand the hay energy and protein content for the animals. — Jaime Garzon University of Maine

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