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Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine
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Piscataquis & Penobscot
Farming Newsletter |
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Volume 9 Number 9
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September 2011 |
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| 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. |
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 |
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Quick Links
Find Piscataquis County on Facebook
Find Penobscot County on Facebook
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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.
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FOOD SAFETY ADVICE TO COMMERCIAL
GROWERS REGARDING FLOODED CROPS
From Dave Handley, UMaine Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit SpecialistFloods occur when water or runoff from surface waters such as rivers, lakes or steams overflows and runs into fields. Water from heavy rainfall that pools on the surface of saturated soils is NOT considered flooding. Flood waters are likely to contain contaminants. These may come from upstream farms and rural septic systems, urban lawns and roadways, industrial sites or overflow from municipal sewage systems. Contaminants may include: raw manure or feces, agricultural chemicals, heavy metals or other chemical contaminants. Microbial pathogens that could be in flood waters include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. For these reasons, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers crops where the edible portion has come in contact with flood waters to be adulterated and not to be sold for human consumption. See: Adulterated Crops from Flooding
As painful as it may be to do, all crops with edible portions that have
come in contact with flood waters should be destroyed or discarded.
Advice for flooded crops: Per FDA, discard all crops that have edible
portions that have come in contact with flood water. Before cleaning
up or destroying crops in flooded fields, check with your crop insurance and/or local Farm Services Agency (FSA) representatives regarding exact documentation to certify losses, procedures for initiating claims, possible financial assistance. Although root crops are usually cooked and often
peeled before consumption, if under flood waters, they may be
considered to be grown in unsanitary conditions. We are waiting to learn more details from the FDA about their regulations, but common sense suggests that intact, undamaged crops that are to be peeled and
cooked, such as winter squash, can be sold after they were flooded
BUT ONLY IF flooding was for a short period of time (several hours at most)
and the crop was promptly harvested and is thoroughly washed and then treated with a high rate of sanitizer such as chlorine or Sanidate before sale. We have contacted the FDA about this -- if we learn differently from the FDA we will inform you as soon as we have a response.
Place markers at the high water line so you can identify the area where
crops were in contact with flood waters. Leave a 30 foot buffer between flooded areas of fields and adjacent areas to be harvested for human consumption; this is to accommodate a generous turn-around distance
for equipment to prevent contact with flooded soil and avoid cross-contamination of non-flooded ground. Workers should wear protective
clothing such as rubber boots and rubber gloves when working in fields
that were flooded where plants that may be contaminated. Protective clothing should be discarded or thoroughly cleaned after working in
flooded areas. Avoid feeding crops that came in contact with flood
waters to livestock as plants could have pesticides, pathogens,
mycotoxins, or other contaminants that could be harmful to livestock
health. If your well head was submerged, re-test your well water to make
sure that only safe, potable water comes into direct contact with produce.
to test your well. Regarding crops near flooded areas, or with no
edible parts developed or exposed to flood water: Crops near flooded
areas or those that were flooded without the edible part of the plant
coming in contact with flood water (such as sweet corn or staked
tomatoes) need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. These, and
crops in which the edible portion develops after flood waters recede
are not automatically deemed adulterated. It is your decision whether
to sell them after considering the following: Is the edible part of the plant developing and if so, how far above the flood water was it? Is there any
evidence that floodwater splashed up onto edible portion of the crop? Floodwater almost certainly contains some pathogens and/or chemicals.
If feeding to livestock, was the crop exposed to prolonged periods of
moisture and stress that could promote fungal growth or molds that could produce mycotoxins? Other considerations: Allow at least 60 days to elapse between flooding and planting of the next human food crop. In absence
of known or suspected biological or chemical contaminants in flood
waters (such as sewage discharge or run-off from industrial sites) you can replant after 60 days. Organic growers: flood waters might contain
residues of prohibited substances.Contact your certifier to discuss your situation. Soils should be allowed to dry sufficiently and then tilled to at
least six inches deep before planting crops. Adding compost or other
organic matter when tilling will be beneficial to many soils. The soil
should be retested for nutrient levels after flood waters recede, as the
pH and nutrient levels of the soil may have changed. To protect the soil
from erosion, it is advisable to plant a cover crop on fields that cannot
be re-planted soon with an edible crop.
Cover crops can also help suppress weeds, and improve overall soil
health. At this time of year (early fall) small grains such as oats or winter rye are good choices, with or without hairy vetch for adding fixed nitrogen.
Accessed June 6, 2011 Soil Testing Following Flooding:
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Initial Core Exam Pesticide Training
University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Piscataquis County will collaborate with the Maine Board of Pesticide Control (BPC) to hold the Core Exam Training. The class will be held on Oct. 21st from 1pm to 4pm at the Charlotte White Center in Dover-Foxcroft. The class will prepare participants for the core exam that is required for all pesticide licensing.
After the training, participants are welcome to stay and take the core exam. The class will only focus on training for the core exam, but folks are welcome to take a private commodity or commercial category as well, without any training. For private applicators the exams are free. There is a $10.00 fee per exam for commercial licensing. Those interested in commercial licensing must pre-file an application for exams which is available from the BPC web site www.thinkfirstspraylast.org or by calling the BPC office at (207) 287-2731.
For more information or to register for this class please call the Piscataquis County Extension Office at (207) 564-3301 or toll free in Maine at 1-800-287-1491. Registration is required so that proper test materials will be brought to the exam sight.
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Preliminary Results of Maine / Vermont Organic Winter Wheat Trials
In 2010, the University of Vermont and the University of Maine began a series of coordinated trials evaluating varieties of hard red winter wheat to identify those that perform well in northern New England under organic production. This publication presents results for winter wheat varieties. Separate publications are available for results from 2010, as well as for spring wheat variety trials. In Maine, trials were established at two locations: the University of Maine Rogers Farm Forage and Crop Research Facility in Old Town and Naure's Circle Farm, a private farm in Houlton. In Vermont, these trials were established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh and at Cornell University's Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, NY. This collaborative work was funded by a grant from the USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to improve bread wheat production in our region. This preliminary report includes information on test weights (lbs./ bu) and yield at 35% moisture (lbs./A) for over 25 varieties of wheat. More detailed information will be available later this winter but Ellen Mallory, UMaine Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist wanted to get preliminary information out early so farmers could utilize the results in making decisions about fall plantings. To see the results go to Northern New England Local Bread Wheat Project webiste For more information contact Ellen Mallory or call (207) 581-2942. |
| MAINERS URGED TO SIGN UP FOR FREE DISPOSAL OF BANNED, UNUSABLE PESTICIDES
It's not uncommon for new owners of older homes or farms in Maine to discover they have inherited hazardous waste-caches of old pesticides around their property. Old chemicals like DDT, lead arsenate, 2,4,5-T, and chlordane are often discovered in barns, basements, sheds, or garages. When these discoveries are made, homeowners quickly learn that disposal of old chemicals can be complicated and very expensive.
Fortunately, there's an option that's legal, responsible, and free. Just contact the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) for details. This fall, the state regulatory agency will dispose of banned pesticides or pesticides that have become caked, frozen, or otherwise rendered unusable. And, again, there is no cost to homeowners.
"We urge people holding these chemicals to contact us immediately to register," says Paul Schlein, BPC Public Education Specialist. "There will be four sites throughout the state where participants will be able to bring their obsolete pesticides."
The collected chemicals go to out-of-state disposal facilities licensed by the US EPA where they are incinerated or reprocessed.
"Disposal of obsolete pesticides is expensive for the state," notes Schlein, "but it's clearly much less than the cost of cleaning up contaminated soil or water. However, it's worth noting that future funding is not guaranteed, so be sure to take advantage of this year's collection while you can."
Preregistration is required by September 30, 2011. To register, get details, and learn important information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to the BPC Web site at www.thinkfirstspraylast.org. Or, call the BPC at 287-2731.
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Items of Interest
- Summer Issue of Climate Change News Focus on Agriculture Esperanza Stancioff, Climate Change Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Maine Sea Grant wanted to point out the current issue of MCN is focused on agriculture. Check it out when you have a chance-- http://umaine.edu/maineclimatenews/
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Morris Scholarship Michaele Bailey, 4-H Youth Professional, University of Maine announced that this year, the Morris Scholarship winner is Aryn Martin of the Eastern States Dairy Team. Aryn is a senior this year at Gorham High School. The Morris Scholarship is awarded once every two years to a member of one of the seven livestock and animal teams that represent Maine at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Candidates must plan to attend a two or four year college, have excellent grades, and demonstrate leadership in 4-H. - Maine Beef Newsletter Don't forget to sign up for the Maine Beef Newsletter at http://bit.ly/PPfarming. If you prefer a surface mailed edition of Maine Beef News please call Melissa Libby at (207)581-2788. Currently we are only able to offer free mailed editions to Maine residents but anyone who wants to may sign up for the electronic version.
- Helping Farmers Cope with Stress Farming can be stressful in the best of times. Financial worries, unpredictable weather, plant pests, livestock diseases, and isolation all contribute to farmers' anxiety. University of Maine Cooperative Extension has established a web site with links to resources to help farmers and their families who are under stress. Helping Farmers Cope with Stress
- Maine Hay Directory - Don't forget about the Maine Hay Directory where you can list hay or hay stumpage that you have for sale. Sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to assist livestock producers in identifying sources of hay for their livestock. The listing is free, just complete the form on the site. When you open the link above it lists farms that have hay available by county.
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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.
- Insect Repellents Pest Management Fact Sheets Item #5108 Publisher: UMaine Extension Enjoying the Maine outdoors often involves facing an onslaught of arthropod pests including ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, midges, and other biting flies. This publication can help you choose the right repellent that best fits your needs. 3 pages, 2011. Download it for free, or buy a printout. $0.75.
- Testing Your Soil Know Your Soil Series Item #2286 Publisher: UMaine Extension 2-page fact sheet explains how and when to take a soil sample and what information a soil test can give homeowners, gardeners and farmers. 2008. Includes video for online viewing. Download it for free, or add it to your cart to buy a printout.$0.50
- The Pond Guidebook Constructed ponds of all shapes and sizes dot the American countryside, for many different purposes: irrigation, fish, recreation, nature study, and real estate value, among others. A pond creates its own microenvironment, bringing peepers, dragonflies, and cool morning mists to the landscape. Yet mistakes in pond management can affect people and wildlife downstream and downhill: water does not recognize property boundaries. This book, developed by faculty from Cornell and Penn State, addresses construction, water chemistry, aquatic weed management, fish stocking, wildlife (wanted and unwanted), maintenance, safety, and more. 76 pages, 2007. $19.75
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Upcoming Events
Piscataquis Farmers' Markets:
Piscataquis YMCA, Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm and Tuesdays 2 pm to 6 pm.
Greenville Farmers' Market, Saturdays noon to 4 pm, July & August, 221 Pritham Ave, at the big red Bartley barn. Please let Jessica at 695-5215 or Ken Tolman know you are coming.
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
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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.
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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 |
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