Maine Grower of the Year
Lagerstrom Farms of Presque Isle, Maine, is a son and mother operation that has grown considerably in recent years. Marena Lagerstrom and her son, Paul, have operated the farm for three years, following the death of John Lagerstrom, husband and father, in 2001.
Since then Marena has been serving as a Maine State Committeeperson on the advisory panel of the Farm Service Agency of the USDA, and Paul was named Young Farmer of the Year of 2003.
The farm has continued to grow to 1,400 acres with 700 in potatoes for french fries and, at the same time, an increase in barley acreage to 700 acres. The barley is the rotation crop. The Lagerstroms purchased several farms in the area, which provides them with more acreage and the opportunity to better rotate their crops.
Paul graduated from the University of Maine in 1991. He majored in agri-business and resource management. He joined his father in the business shortly after completing college. He has served as president of the Central Aroostook Association of Young Farmers and has been active in Future Farmers of America.
At present their processing potatoes acreage includes 600 acres of Russet Burbanks and 100 acres of Shepodies. The expanded processing acreage has meant constructing more storage. One of the operation’s storage buildings is refrigerated during summer months. The Lagerstroms said they are always seeking to improve their farm operation with new and better equipment. Toward that end, they currently use two harvesters and three windrowers.
Located now in Presque Isle, the farm was founded in Caribou, Maine, by John’s grandfather who had moved to America from Sweden. His grandfather started with three acres of potatoes on a 10-acre farm. Needing more land, his grandfather sold the Caribou farm purchased another in Presque Isle. With that move, John began selling table stock and two years later, he changed over to seed stock. Since John’s death, Marena and Paul have moved the business to all processing potatoes.
Marena’s farm background dates back centuries in North America. Her ancestors include family that settled in Quebec City, Canada, in 1610. A farm started by Louis Hebert, a relative, has been reported to be the first North American farmer in Quebec City.
Marena has been serving as a Maine State Committeeperson on the advisory panel of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for four years. The FSA purpose is to stabilize farm income, help farmers conserve land and water resources, to provide credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and to help farm operations recover from the effects of disaster, as part of the USDA.”
Marena the state agency hears repeals for denied loans and reviews disaster programs.
“I had a general understanding of FSA programs before my appointment, but now I have a much deeper understanding of them,” she said. “The staff is wonderful. They really take the time to review procedure in order to help us make good decisions.”
She is also a member of Agri-Business Women.
Marena and her son Paul talk at least three times a day, with Paul keeping his mother up to date on farm activities. Marena handles the interviews when hiring farm help, such as harvest workers and some students in the summer. She also does the payroll and some bookkeeping. The farm has considered expanding to other crops, such as soybeans, but that would mean more investment in machinery, and machinery is expensive,” she said.
Paul’s wife, Sarah, works on the enterprise as well. She is often found working in the operation’s business office. The couple have two young daughters who keep them busy: Lindsey, 6, and Emily, 4.
Sarah was not born on a farm, but she is learning more everyday about its operation, and she “loves it.”
The next generation of Lagerstroms also love the farm. Even at 6, Lindsey said she wants to be a farmer.
To further the Lagerstrom crop rotation program, a land swap is being done with Smith Foundations broccoli growers. One year Smiths will plant broccoli on Lagerstrom land, then the Lagerstroms will plant barley and then a potato crop. At the same time Lagerstroms will plant their own crops on the Smith land. This gives them a three-crop rotation.
Currently, about 65 percent of their potatoes are irrigated. The operation is currently considering the expansion of their irrigation system for newly purchased farmland. They irrigate the home farm with the help of a farm pond constructed by his Paul’s father, John, in 1975.
The goal is to have the farm 100 percent irrigated, Paul said. They consider it “crop insurance.”
