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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 5 visited three organic farms represent- ing current agricultural trends. Balfour Farm in Pittsfi eld, a certifi ed organic dairy farm that makes cheese, yogurt and other value-added milk products, is being sold by its current owners, who want to set up a smaller farm on part of the 100 acres they now own because they lack their own grazing fi elds and their kids don't want to take over the farm. Goranson Farm in Dresden, which in 1996 transitioned into an organic farm, is focusing on ways to improve soil nutrients and diversify its crops in anticipation of the next generation taking over. And Squire Tarbox Farm on Westport Island represents the boom in young farmers and the move to add season- extending crops like bok choy typi- cally not associated with Maine. BALFOUR: Farming small Elbows resting at the edge of her kitchen table, hands wrapped around a large mug of fresh-brewed coff ee, Heather Donohue of Balfour Farm leans forward and talks purposefully about how she and husband Doug want to sell 17 acres of the core farm and build a much smaller house, creamery and 10-stall barn on the remaining 83 acres, which is largely wooded, as they downsize. ree Labrador retrievers and two house cats seek attention and a space before the sizable wood stove that Heather fi red up moments before. Heather has just fi nished show- ing her visitor through the hoop house, where many of the herd of 40 calves and cows stare outside, unwill- ing to venture into the pounding snow. Another building houses several pigs and a new litter of piglets along with chickens nuzzling against them for warmth. Alongside the farmhouse in the creamery, where the farm produces butter, yogurt and cheeses, a worker repeatedly kneads and squeezes water from a solid yellowish lump that even- tually will turn into butter. Like many organic farmers, the Donohues have had to change with the times. at includes two years ago deciding to no longer sell milk and focus on value-added products like cheese and yogurt, which bring in more money. "A couple years ago, the insurance company said it wouldn't cover raw milk anymore," says Heather, sliding her index fi nger down the page of her bookkeeping ledger. "We had to sell 100 gallons of milk to pay for insur- ance for a month." ey also realized their prices were too low to make a profi t. And while they upped the price to $4.50 per half gallon for milk sold at farmers markets, C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » P H O T O / P E T E R F E L S E N T H A L Heather Donohue of Balfour Farm in Pittsfi eld cutting curds. The farm produces value-added cheeses and butter that it sells at farmers markets. Delivering Results for Maine Businesses Since 1992 Direct Mail • Email • Social Delivering results since 1992 Rockland, ME | www.TargetMaine.com | (207) 596-6203 Visit Our Website to Learn More!

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