Advanced Integrated Pest Management Online Courses

IPM3 is excited to announce that it will be running four different training modules in January 2011.  They are:

• IPM Core Concepts Module:  The IPM Core Module provides basic information on the principles of integrated pest management.  
• Invasive Species Module:  This module provides an understanding of the mechanisms that account for invasion success, reviews their role in several invasion examples, and describes their significance when selecting management options.
• Pest Biology - Weeds:  The course provides a introduction to weeds and then guides students through basic plant biology to the extent necessary to make management decisions.  Information includes:  why weeds are invasive, what makes plant communities prone to invasion, how invasions occur, how populations spread, and how different control techniques can be integrated and used to target weeds in different life stages and different phases of infestation.
• Pest Biology - Plant Pathology: This module provides basic biological information about bacteria, viruses, nematodes and fungi; how these organisms can harm plants; and how to mitigate damage using various integrated pest management tactics. It is recommended for students who work with or are responsible for plants of all types including landscapes, turf, vegetables, trees, shrubs and green foliage plants.

IPM³, a consortium of federal agencies and land-grant institutions is dedicated to the efficient and timely delivery of practical integrated pest information to people responsible for developing and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

IPM³ provides a Web-based, distance delivery opportunity for individuals interested in IPM to become proficient in the principles and application of IPM as taught by leading IPM authorities in diverse disciplines from various United States universities. Most of the individuals who seek our IPM training are not academics but need practical information so they can implement IPM in their day-to-day pest management decisions.

Please visit www.umn.edu/ipm3 for full module details and registration information. 

KSU/Purdue Study on Animal Well Being and Meat Demand

A joint Kansas State/Purdue study by professors Glynn Tonsor and Nicole Olynk found a search of U.S. newspapers and magazines from 1982 to 2008, suggested that media attention to animal welfare issues has not directly impacted beef demand.  It did, however, reduce pork and poultry demand. This of course makes some sense as poultry battery cages and swine gestation stalls have been the focus of much of the animal rights agenda, but beef is impacted in overall reduction in meat expenditures, according to the study.

Key findings include:

* As a whole, media attention to animal welfare has significant, negative effects on U.S. meat demand;

* Direct effects of media attention are primarily associated with pork and poultry demand;

* Increasing media attention to animal welfare issues triggers consumers to purchase less meat rather than reallocate expenditures across competing meats.

The report recommends: Influence of media on total meat expenditure suggests beef, pork, and poultry producers may be well served by collaborating in recognizing and responding to changing societal pressures regarding animal well-being.  Indeed these findings are timely, and quantify that the more radical of the animal rights groups are achieving progress toward their goal of reducing meat demand.

The paper and related materials (fact sheets) you can find them at this AgManager page (see top entry): Agmanager Link

Source: Erica Rosa, Agricultural Economist, Livestock Marketing Information Center, P.O. Box 25566, Denver, CO 80225 phone (303) 236-0460.

Featured UMaine Extension Publications  

The following agriculture related Extension publications are available or can be ordered at the Extension Office nearest you.  You will notice that some publications are free and some have a cost recovery charge.  Many other publications are avilable for free online or may be purchased at our secure publications web site.

Upcoming Events  

• January 11th - 13th, 2011 - Maine Agriculture Trade Show - Augusta Civic Center, Augusta. ME Ag Trade Show Information
• January 19th & 20th  2011 - Maine Potato Conference Agenda will be forthcoming on the web page  http://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/  or call 1-207-764-3361   
• January 24th & 25th, 2011 Maine Wind Energy Conference, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta. For more information email info@mainewindenergyconference.com or go to their web site at  Maine Wind Energy Conference
• January 26th, 2011 Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MeLNA) Annual Trade Show & Conference at the Ramada Inn, Lewiston.  For more information contact Mark Faunce at 207-625-3075 or mefaunce@roadrunner.com or www.melna.org
• January 26th, 2011 Maine Highlands Farmers Meeting  7 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com Guest speaker is Paul Saliwanchik with WABI TV who will talk about how to get your farm on television through ads and news stories.
• January 28th - 29th, 2011 - 3rd Annual Maine Farmers' Market Convention, 2011. The Hutchinson Center, Belfast. Presented by: Down East Business Alliance. Contact: mfmc@whcacap.org or 207-664-2424 ext 4460. 
• January 31st, 2011 Piscataquis County Extension Executive Committee Meeting 3 pm to 5 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft.
• February 4th, 2011 Wind Assessment Training 9:00am-4:00pm, Kennebec County Community College, Fairfield. $100 registration fee includes lunch and a complete manual.  For farmers, the fee is reduced to $25.  Contact Claudia Lowd. Reserve your spot now for a jam packed Wind Geography & Assessment Training Course taught by Professor Mick Womersley of Unity College.  Participants should be fluent in spreadsheets will earn how to interpret existing wind data, use Google Earth and assess feasibility for small-mid scale turbines.  Turbines, power curves, cost estimation, noise and other siting issues will also be covered.  To explore whether this training is right for you contact Claudia Lowd (581-4523 / cleanenergy@mainerural.org).
• February 8th, 2011 Go Green to Get Green: Sustainable Landscapes and Beautiful Waters, Can We Have Both? for landscape professionals. 8 am to 4:15 pm at the Ramada Conference Center, 490 Pleasant St., Lewiston. Registration is $50 per person, $25 per student.  Registration includes lunch and 6 pesticide recertification credits. To register call 207-780-4205 or in Maine 1-800-287-1471.
• February 10th, 2011 Pork Quality Assurance Certification Class 10 am to noon, Maine Department of Agriculture, Deering Building, Augusta.  Pre-registration required for this free program sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the National Pork Board. to register contact MOFGA at 568-4142 or email mofga@mofga.org
• February 11th, 2011 Senior Farm Share Deadline applications for this program need to be in the Maine Department of Agriculture.  For more information go to http://bit.ly/seniorfarmshare
• February 15^th, 2011 Turning Today's Economic Challenges Into Opportunities... A Workshop to Help You Position Your Business for Success in the Future sponsored by the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association. Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm at Verrillo's Convention Center, 155 Riverside Street, Portland ME (207-775-6536). Program Fee: $30 MELNA members $40 nonmembers. Preregistration is required. Registration deadline: February 1, 2011. To register send Names of people you want to register;  Name and address of your company; and check for total amount (see fees above) made payable to "MELNA". Mail these items to: Don Sproul, Executive Director, Maine Landscape and Nursery Association, PO Box 4666, Augusta, Maine 04330, E-mail: MngmtPlus@aol.com.
• February 23rd, 2011 Maine Highlands Farmers 7 pm Speakers: Greg White and Aaron Hoshide from School of Business UMaine to talk about Internet Marketing and offer a hands-on demonstration of budgeting using the Excel spreadsheets at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com
• Feb. 24, 2011Fruit and Vegetable Market News Portal Training- How to Get the Most out of USDA's Market News Reports and Information. The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service invites you to participate in their free interactive webinar at 2 pm Eastern.  Registration: The webinar is free. Registration is required. Deadline is Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.  Register here.                                              
  Every business day, AMS Market News collects and reports detailed information about marketing conditions for hundreds of fruits, vegetables, ornamental crops and nut products at major domestic and international wholesale markets, production areas, and ports of entry. The Market News portal offers customized views and downloads of data from as far back as 1998 for wholesale or terminal markets, retail, shipping point prices, imports and domestic movements, and specialty crops. All of the reports and information are available at no cost to the industry and public.
  Patty Willkie, officer-in-charge of the Idaho Falls Market News office, will lead the webinar. Ms. Willkie will introduce the Market News portal and provide practical tips to get the most out of the available information and reports. Following a formal presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to ask questions live.
• March 2nd & 3rd, 2011 - Harvest New England Agriculture Marketing Conference and Trade Show - Sturbridge, MA. Pre-conference session on March 1st. NE Ag Marketing Info or call 860-713-2559.
• March 3,10,24,31 & April 7 So You Want to Farm in Maine? 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm to be held at the Penobscot County Extension Office in Bangor.  A farm business course for those already farming who would like to brush-up on their business skills or for those thinking about becoming farmers. Topics include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, recordkeeping, market research and more. Cost is $50 per farm.  For more information contact  Theresa.Tilton@maine.edu or call 207-942-7396 or in Maine 1-800-287-1485.   
• March 16th, 2011 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School at the Bangor Motor Inn. Details to follow.
• March 19th, 2011 Maine Grazing and Beef Conferences at Kennebec Valley College, Fairfield, ME.
• March 23rd, 2011 Maine Highlands Farmers 7pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft. www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com
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SURFACE MAIL RECIPIENTS CAN CONTACT THEIR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WHEN WEB LINKS ARE INCLUDED IN AN ARTICLE.

Piscataquis County Office 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491

165 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426

Penobscot County Office 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

307 Maine Avenue Bangor, ME 04401