Maine Beef Producer's Association 2011 Spring Feeder Cattle Sale (in conjunction with the Northeast Livestock Expo)

The Maine Beef Producer's Association held their 2011 Spring Feeder Cattle Sale in conjunction with the 5^th Annual Northeast Livestock Expo on May 21^st at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, ME.  Last year's strong pricing sparked seller's interest as the number of cattle consigned nearly doubled.  Most cattle met the preconditioning standards set forth by the MBPA, nearly all met requirements for "naturally-raised" programs, and 1/3 of the cattle qualified as 100% grass or forage fed.  The 119 head (37 steers, 80 heifers, and 2 bulls) that changed ownership weighed 77,957 lbs. to average 655 lbs.  Calves and yearlings ranged in weights from 278-1153 lbs.  Somewhat surprisingly, given an upward trend in beef markets nationwide over the past year, buyer interest on sale day was dramatically lower as total receipts grossed $76,334.33 for an average sale price of $.98/lb., approximately $150/head less than last spring's sale average.  Pineland Farms Natural Meats, Inc. was the volume buyer taking home 39 head.  Given market requirements affecting buyer participation and the extra effort necessary to set up and tear down temporary sale facilities, the MBPA is considering changes to the format of their spring and fall feeder sales, and will be gathering opinions especially from both past and potentially new consignors and buyers before any final decisions are made.    

Beef Basics Workshop:

Aldermere Farm in Rockport is hosting its annual Beef Basics Workshop on Saturday and Sunday, July 30^th and 31^st where people can come and gain a lot of information about raising beef cattle.  Below is the workshop listing. Contact Heidi Baker at (207) 975-4415 or at hhoward712@msn.com for registration information. Cost varies by workshop and certifications.  Complete program description available at  http://www.aldermere.org

·       Artificial Insemination - Amy Jasime, GENEX (both days)

·       Fitting & Showmanship - Matt Thurston, Pine Creek (both days)

·       Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) - Cindy Kilgore, ME Dept. of Agriculture (Saturday) BQA is a national program that provides guidelines for beef cattle production including information on handling, administering medications correctly, record keeping and meat processing.

·       Marketing and Market Research - Judy Blaisdell, ME Dept. of Agriculture (Saturday 8:30 am to 10:30 am)

·       Setting Up Farm Entities & Estate Planning, Paul Dillion (Saturday 10:30 am - noon)

·       USDA & FSA Programs - USDA representatives (Saturday 1 - 2 pm)

·       Farm Tour - Heidi Baker, Aldermere Farm (Saturday 2 pm - 4 pm)

·       Tractors & Forage Equipment - Mark Hutchinson, UMaine Extension (Sunday 8:30 am - noon)

·       Creating a Business Plan - Donna Coffin, UMaine Extension (Sunday 8:30 am - noon)

·       Regulations that Impact Agriculture - Rick Kersbergan, UMaine Extension (Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm)

Pasture Walks

Sponsored by the Grass Farmers Network http://umaine.edu/livestock/mgfn 

August 20^th at 10 am Pat Bates Farm, 311 Fern St., Turner. Learn about "Bale Grazing."

August 21^st all day Open Farm Day at Martin Kilby Farm, 806 Benedicta Rd., Benedicta, Justin Jamison & Elisza Currie  

martinkilbyfarm@gmail.com

September 17^th at 5 pm Fieldstone Farm, 167 Spring Rd., Newfield. Denise has a beef cow/calf operation on two farms located in southern Maine. She is a partner in Red Barns Cooperative with Joe and Christine Iannazzo, raising pasture pork and chicken. Topics covered; using pasture pens for broiler chickens and home processing under the Maine 1000 bird exemption. Direction to the farm:*  from Limerick (intersection of Rt. 11 and Rt. 5) on Rt.11 go west 4.2 miles, turn right on Elm St. go 0.4 miles, turn diagonally left on Spring Rd. go 1 mile. Farm is on right. * from West Newfield (intersection of Rt.11 and Rt. 110) on Rt.11 go east 3.1 miles, turn left on Elm St. go 0.4 miles, turn diagonally left on Spring Rd. go 1 mile. Farm is on right. 432-8771.

Maine Hay Directory

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension maintains a Maine Hay Directory at http://umaine.edu/livestock/hay  to help link farmers who have hay to sell with those looking for hay. The directory is organized by County, then town, Maine, out of state, then Canada. It costs nothing for hay sellers or hay buyers.  Sellers are asked to notify us of changes or when the hay supply is spoken for. New listings can be completed through a Hay Directory Form on the website http://umaine.edu/livestock/hay 

Maine Beef Producer's 2011 Fall Feeder Calf Sale

November 5^th, 2011 Fall Feeder Calf Sale at Dick Brown's facility in Richmond. This is a preconditioned sale and calves will need to be weaned, vaccinated, castrated and healed to be sold through the sale. More information is available on the Maine Beef Producers Association website at http://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.org or by contacting Sale Manager Pete Dusoe at (207) 948-3233 or pbdusoe@uninets.net or Dick Brown at (207) 737-8650.

Extension Publications

Controlling Smooth Bedstraw in Hayfields and Pastures
Forage Facts Series Item #2278, Publisher: UMaine Extension. The perennial smooth bedstraw is a competitive, invasive species that can significantly reduce the yields of hayfields. This publication documents the findings of recent research trials in Maine that evaluated mechanical and chemical control methods, and discusses key management strategies. 6 pages, 2008. Download it for free: Download it for free at  http://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2278e or buy a printout $0.50.  Contact Donna Coffin, Extension Educator at (207)564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or email donna.coffin@maine.edu or mail your name, address to Piscataquis County Extension Office, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME   04426.

Don't Forget to Sign Up

If you would like to continue to receive this Maine Beef News you need to let us know that you want to continue to receive it.  To keep costs down we are asking folks to sign up for the electronic version at http://bit.ly/PPfarming.  If you prefer surface mailed Maine Beef News please call Melissa Libby (207)581-2788 at or send your mailing information to UMaine Extension Livestock Office, 134 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5735.

Edited by: Donna Coffin, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME   04426.  Phone (207) 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 email: donna.coffin@maine.edu  website: http://umaine.edu/livestock/beef/