University of Maine Cooperative Extension
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Piscataquis & Penobscot

Farming Newsletter
Volume 9 Number 3March 2011
In This Issue
Items of Interest
Featured Extension Publications
Goal  
The goal of the Piscataquis & Penobscot Farming Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of crops and livestock grown in central Maine.  Upcoming events and programs of interest will also be included.
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Mission
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine, with offices statewide.  UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Local Weather Anytime
Many farming activities are driven by the weather. Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day. They are willing to talk with you about rain predictions for your town. Give them a call at 492-0180. Or check out their online detailed maps at Weather
Quick Links
Underlined
Please note that underlined words and phrases link to webpages with more information.  If you are unable to access these pages contact your local Extension Office for assistance.

Federal Funding Situation for UMaine Cooperative Extension

 

The USDA provides essential funding to land-grant universities in support of Cooperative Extension programs across the United States.  That funding is authorized through the Smith-Lever Act.  For fiscal year 2011, which started October 1, 2010 and runs through Sept. 30, 2011, the process has not been completed. 

 

The US House of Representatives has passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year.  That budget calls for a 10% cut to the Smith-Lever base funding to Cooperative Extension.  The estimates are that a cut of that amount will cost UMaine Extension $230,000 to $260,000.  A reduction of this size will force the elimination of two vacant full-time faculty positions and one vacant professional position. 

 

The budget process is now in the US Senate which will develop a budget of its own.  If the Senate agrees with the House, and is signed into law by President Obama, the loss of funding will impact the ability of UMaine Extension to meet the educational needs of Maine people.  Specifically, the faculty positions to be eliminated are a crops specialist and statewide educator working with livestock.  These positions support Maine agriculture and the rural economy statewide. 

 

Anyone with questions about this situation is encouraged to contact Extension Director, John Rebar at 207-581-3238 or John.Rebar@Maine.edu

Using Internet Technologies: What is the Right Fit for You?

 

(Notes from a Maine Highlands Farmer Meeting with Greg White, School of Economics, University of Maine)

It is becoming more and more important for businesses and farms that sell directly to consumers to have an Internet presence.  Consumers are moving from passive websites toward more active e-commerce. Greg shared where the technology seems to be heading.

Web presence is more than just online sales. It helps you build your farm's brand.  The Internet is becoming the preferred method for customers to get information about you. 

Your website should include such things as phone and email contact information, new products, sales, farmers markets you attend, retail hours & directions to your farm, newsletters and current products & pricing.  A good site will inform your customers of who you are, what you sell and why they should buy from you.  Including your farm history, goals and photos helps, but don't get too wordy. You have 3 seconds to grab their attention.

There are many choices for getting online.  The most expensive is to have a dedicated independent site with your own URL such as www.farm.com. Or you can set up free sites like www.farm.wordpress.com that is through the www.wordpress.com site.  You could also set up a Facebook page. It is important to keep the information fresh by changing what is happening on your farm weekly. 

Greg's office has grant funding to assist you in setting up a free website &/or Facebook page. You need to go to Orono and work with one of his students.  Call or email Greg for details.

Social networking (Facebook, Spoke, Linkedin, Twitter, etc.) can provide an easy and quick way to get feedback and interest from customers. 

During your growing/selling season you can give updates about what is available (Sweet corn is ripe!, Time for picking peas!, See you at the Newport Farmers Market, etc.)

You do need to have email to work with your website and Facebook sites.  If you do a newsletter there are programs that can automate the process such as www.constantcontact.com . You do need to collect customer emails to grow your email list.

You need to take your own responsibility for maintaining and monitoring your sites seriously.  If you are not able to do it there maybe someone in your family or employees that can accomplish this for you.  It takes practice to become familiar and proficient with these social media programs.  Winter time is the time to start with this new technology to be able to quickly respond to emails, Facebook comments, etc. during your busy season. 

Contact Greg White at gwhite@maine.edu or 581-3159. 

 

Claims Process for Women and Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers

 

Secretary Vilsack has made civil rights one of his top priorities at USDA. As part of this effort the USDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been working on a unified claims process for Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who were discriminated against.  On Friday, February 25, USDA announced a process that allows the Department to provide significant relief to Hispanic and women farmers who were unjustifiably denied farm loan program benefits between 1981 and 2000 because of their ethnic background or gender. 

This process will include extensive outreach and notice efforts to Hispanic and women farmer communities so that all eligible farmers will be given an opportunity to participate.  We need your help to inform as many potential claimants as possible.  Please  instruct anyone who inquires about this process to call 1-888-508-4429 or visit the claims process website at https://farmerclaims.gov  

 

 

 

Items of Interest:

Maple Equipment Dealers List

Kathy Hopkins, Somerset Extension Educator developed a list of Maple Equipment Dealers.  You can either contact her at khopkins@maine.edu or my office for a copy of the list.

 

Growing Wheat 

Ellen Mallory, UMaine Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist announced that Organic Bread Wheat Variety Trial Reports from Maine and Vermont are available at the Local Bread Wheat project website: www.extension.umaine.edu/localwheat .  Click on "Research>Variety Trials".  While you're there check out the Denmark Highlights video, the first in an upcoming series on local bread wheat in Denmark. Also, check out the Denmark article by Jim Gerritsen, Aroostook Organic Potato Farmer in the MOFGA Spring 2011 edition at MOFGA Article.

 

Request Free Listing in "2011 Finding Food and Farms" Booklet

If you have a farm or farmstand and would like to be listed in the "2011 Finding Maine Food and Farms" promotional booklet from the Maine Department of Agriculture, please go to the Get Real, Get Maine website http://www.getrealmaine.com  and open the Producer Login tab to join the listing as a new farm, or update your farm's listing with new information. The publication's deadline is 5PM on Monday, March 14th! If you have issues with the website, please call the Department's helpline 287-2679 until the end of day March 14th.  

In late April, the booklets will be available on-line as a pdf and from the Department of Agriculture as a soft-cover booklet. The Get Real, Get Maine website is a free promotional website sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture. It gets thousands of hits each year from people looking for local food businesses like yours! This is a great way to advertise your farm or farmstand to Maine consumers and summer time vacationers alike - for free!!

 

Survey Request about Getting Maine Products into Maine Markets
Maine Farm Bureau is working with the Maine Department of Agriculture
and other farm groups to determine the interest among farmers in
participating in an expanded network of getting Maine farm products into
Maine markets. As such we would like to contact Farm Bureau members
willing to participate in a survey to help the Department assess the
needs of such a program, and determine what requirements Maine farmers
would require before participating in such a program. The survey will be
by email or U.S. mail. 
If you would like to be included please contact Jasmine Jennings at
Maine Farm Bureau by five p.m. Monday, March 7. The survey will go out
to those requesting one on Monday March 14 and be due back by Saturday, March 19. Contact: Jasmine Jennings, Maine Farm Bureau, 4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 1, Augusta, ME 04330 jjennings@mainefarmbureau.com 207-622-4111 

 

ATTENTION CONTRACTORS
 Starting January 2013, work done in a shoreland zone that results in soil disturbance or exposure will require a contractor certified in soil erosion & sedimentation to oversee the work.
If you would be interested in a day-long certification training session held in Dover-Foxcroft, please email Connie Sands, DF Code Enforcement Officer at  
csands@dover-foxcroft.org

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 available for free online or may be purchased at our secure publications web site.

  

  • Safe Homemade Flavored and Infused Oils
     

    Food Safety Facts, Item #4385 Publisher: UMaine Extension
    Flavored or infused oils can add excitement and new tastes to your meals. Use in salads, marinades, sauces and dips. Read more to avoid food safety risks. 2 pages. 2011. Download it for free, or buy a printout. $0.50

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    Upcoming Events  


    • March 14, 2011,How Milk Production Plans Compare - webinar from 11 am to noon EST  presented by Mark Stephenson, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin. Click here to register or visit www.hoards.com/webinars  for more sponsored webinars from Merial
    • March 15th, 2011, Maine Dairy Seminar, Elks Lodge, Waterville. Sponsored by UMaine Extension and Maine Dairy Industry Association. $20 registration includes refreshments and lunch. For more information call (207) 581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170  or email: Melissa.potts1@maine.edu
    • March 15th, 2011 Maximize Your Website Message for More Business 9 am to noon at Morton Ave. School Campus, Dover-Foxcroft and repeated 2 pm to 5 pm at Town Office Meeting Room in Greenville. $10 registration fee. To register call Janet Sawyer, PCEDC at (207)564-3638 or 1-800-539-0332 or email jsawyer@pcedc.org
    • March 16th, 2011 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School at the Bangor Motor Inn. More information and registration is available online or by calling 207-933-2100 . Cost is $30 and includes lunch. Please register by March 1st.
    • March 19th, 2011 Maine Grass Farmers Conference and Beef Conferences 8:30 am to 4 pm at Kennebec Valley College, Fairfield, ME. Featured Speakers include Jim Gerrish, Lauchlin Titus and Dave Kennard.  In association with the Maine Beef Producers, Central Maine Technical College & UMaine Extension. For more information
    • March 19th, 2011 MOFGA Offers Spring Growth Conference from 9:30am-4:30pm at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity, ME. This year's Spring Growth Conference will focus on managing the environment around hoophouse crops-the temperature, water, nutrients, humidity, light, ventilation, etc. Registration fees: $45 individual / $60 couples / $25 students & apprentices. Fees include lunch. For more information and to register, visit Spring Growth Conference.

    • March 22nd, 2011 How Can Social Networking Help My Business? 9 am to noon at Morton Ave. School Campus, Dover-Foxcroft and repeated 2 pm to 5 pm at Town Office Meeting Room in Greenville. $10 registration fee. To register call Janet Sawyer, PCEDC at (207)564-3638 or 1-800-539-0332 or email jsawyer@pcedc.org

    • March 23rd, 2011 Maine Highlands Farmers 7pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft. Donna Coffin, Extension Educator will show how you can participate in webinars and video chats.  Also, how to determine credibility on the Internet.  www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com
    • March 26th, 2011 2011 Knowledge Transfer Alliance Free Business Management Presentations 9 am to 3 pm, UM Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Ave. (Route 3), Belfast. for more information contact aaron.hoshide@umit.maine.edu  
    • April 1st, 2011 Free Dairy Insurance Workshop and Lunch 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Waterville Elks Club.  Sponsored by UMaine Extension Crop Insurance Program. One free lunch per farm, additional lunches $10 each with prior registration.  To register Online or call (207) 581-3875 or in Maine 1-800-287-0274.
    • April 4th, 2011 Piscataquis County Extension Executive Committee, 3 pm to 5 pm, Piscataquis County Extension Office.  For more information call 207-564-3301 or email donna.coffin@maine.edu
    • April 9th, 2011 Ohio Street Grange Farmers Market Annual Meeting & Planning for 2011 Market, 1 pm at the Ohio Street Grange in Bangor.  For more information contact Rolf at 973-3976 or swederolf@aol.com
    • April 27th, 2011 Maine Highlands Farmers 7pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft. Terry Sideling, Farm vehicles, licensing, weight limits, off road fuel, etc.   www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com
    • April 28th, 2011, UMaine Dairy Sanitation Workshop, 8 am to 4:30 pm Buchanan Alumni Hall, McIntire Rm, UMaine, Orono. Cost $20 with lunch provided ($10 for Cheese Guild Members) To register contact melissa.potts1@maine.edu or call in Maine 1-800-287-7170.
    • May 20, 21, & 22, 2011 Mark your calendars for the 5th annual Northeast Livestock Exposition (NELE)  at the Windsor Fairgrounds! Check out our website at www.Northeastlivestockexpo.com and find us on Facebook for all the latest updates:  "Northeast Livestock Exposition" and youth activities listed under "NELE Youth Events."

    Need Pesticide credits? Check out the Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar, many approved pesticide applicator recertification programs are listed.  You can view the calendar on their web site at: Pesticide Recertification Credit Calendar

    Contact Info
    Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
    207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
    In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran's status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University System. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
    A member of the University of Maine System
    Information in this newsletter is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this newsletter. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied. 
       

    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