Extension in Northeastern Massachusetts

About Northeastern Massachusetts

The northeast region of Massachusetts is composed of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties. The largest city in the region is Boston.

Pick Your Own Apples: It's Been a Hard Year for New England Farmers

October 3, 2023

Jon Clements, UMass Extension, is quoted in an article about how this year’s late spring freeze and summer flooding impacted apple trees. “We are encouraging people to be patient with the harvest,” he says, adding that the apples still taste great. He reports that there has been a 25% apple crop loss in Massachusetts (with farms in the western and northern parts of the state faring the worst), increased diseases, and more apples in higher branches than lower ones.

A Longer Fruit-Growing Season in the Northeast, but with Considerable Trade-offs

August 30, 2023

Jon Clements, UMass Extension, is quoted in an article about the challenges of climate change on fruit trees. “Right now, with some of the difficulties we’re facing with the changing climate, we have new diseases moving in. We have new insect pests; I have to spend a lot of time just dealing with that and making sure that we can successfully grow what we currently have,” Clements says.

New Research Shows Climate Change Impacts on Whale Habitat Use in the Warming Gulf of Maine

June 13, 2022

There is coverage of a study led by the New England Aquarium that includes researchers from UMass Amherst finding climate change is having an impact on how large whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, use habitats in the warming Gulf of Maine. It shows that right whales’ use of Cape Cod Bay has shifted significantly over the last 20 years.

Study Affirms Bright Future for Blue Economy

October 25, 2021

UMass Amherst’s Gloucester Marine Station (GMS): Phase 1 conclusions of a study led by the GMS about the importance and impact of the Blue Economy on North Shore communities found that now is the time for the communities to use their unique strengths to build resilient, sustainable and equitable maritime economic development while also promoting and sustaining ocean ecosystem health.

Extension Programs and Functions Moving Online

March 18, 2020

Because of the coronavirus emergency, the UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment and UMass Extension have postponed public face-to-face programs through at least May 18.  Online presentations are being prepared where possible. The Soils and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory as well as the Plant Diagnostics Laboratory are both also closed until at least then.

Ecosystem Climate Adaption Conference Held at Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst

November 14, 2019

The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, along with other sponsors, hosted the Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network’s third annual conference on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Mount Ida campus of UMass Amherst.

The conference was designed to serve as a venue to shape conversation about ecosystem resilience, for participants to reflect on their own work, to boost morale and to network.

Clem Clay Named Director of UMass Extension Agriculture Program

September 23, 2019

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has named Clem Clay as director of the UMass Extension Agriculture Program, a 110-year old educational outreach program that serves farmers, landscape and turf professionals, fruit growers, arborists, nursery owners, flower growers, service providers, public agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses.

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