Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine

Piscataquis & Penobscot   

Farming Newsletter             

 February 2012 

- updated.  The new map-jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group-is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.

For the first time, the new map offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly. The map website also incorporates a "find your zone by ZIP code" function.  

Plant hardiness zone designations represent the average annual extreme minimum temperatures at a given location during a particular time period. They do not reflect the coldest it has ever been or ever will be at a specific location, but simply the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in the survival of plants at specific locations.

Basic techniques needed for small-scale livestock producers, 4-H project leaders and older 4-H youth will be the topic at Livestock 101 Field Day on Saturday, March 10th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Witter Farm, University of Maine, Orono. This program will provide hands-on livestock methods for people just starting out or thinking about raising these animals.

Participants will learn basic techniques such as measuring livestock vital signs, body condition assessment, how manage injections, animal restraint, how to make a halter, reading a feed tag, grain & feed quality assessment, how to start or join a 4-H livestock club and bio-security for the small farm.

Speakers include Dr. Gary Anderson, Dr. Dick Brzozowski, Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, Dr. Dave Marcinkowski from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Cindy Kilgore from the Maine Department of Agriculture.

This program is sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Pre-registration is required for this free program. Send your name, address, phone, and email to Melissa Libby, 134 Hitchner Hall, UMaine Extension, Orono, ME 04469-5735, 207-581-2788 in Maine 1-800-287-7170 or Melissa.Libby1@maine.edu. Online pre-registration through http://bit.ly/xKPgFN

Items of Interest  

• Late Blight APP.  Steve Johnson, Extension Potato Specialist has written a Smartphone application (app) for late blight risk. Details are located: http://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatoprogram/late%20blight%20app.htm 
• Finding Funds for Farmers. Revised publication on finding funds for farmers compiled by the Maine Department of Agriculture.
  http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/faqs.showpage/pageID/100/index.htm. Click the pdf at the base of the page to open the 82 page document. Also, I just heard about a website that helps to match people interested in helping small businesses get started.  Check out http://www.kickstarter.com/ 
• Barrier Identification Survey for New Farmers. The Cornell Small Farms Program is conducting a barrier identification survey of beginning farmers, service providers and others.   This survey is intended to collect results from all Northeast states.  They have asked help of Extension Educators in Maine to promote this within the state to make sure we are represented.  If you have any questions contact Steve Hadcock, Beginning Farmers and Market Development Educator, Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Phone:  518-828-3346 x106 or Email:      seh11@cornell.edu.  The link to the survey is: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_e5s9Jknd8dj43IM   
• Plant Hardiness Zone Map - updated.  The new map-jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group-is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.

  For the first time, the new map offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly. The map website also incorporates a "find your zone by ZIP code" function.  

  Plant hardiness zone designations represent the average annual extreme minimum temperatures at a given location during a particular time period. They do not reflect the coldest it has ever been or ever will be at a specific location, but simply the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in the survival of plants at specific locations.

• Rural Tax Education Tax issues are important for agricultural operations because income and self-employment taxes are a major cost and also because more and more USDA programs are being linked to a producer's federal income tax return. A special website http://ruraltax.org/ provides farmers and ranchers, other agricultural producers and Extension educators with a source for agriculturally related income and self-employment tax information that is both current and easy to understand. 
• Farmers Tax Guide - Publication 225 This publication explains how the federal tax laws apply to farming. Use this publication as a guide to figure your taxes and complete your farm tax return. If you need more information on a subject, get the specific IRS tax publication covering that subject. All IRS tax publications and forms are available online or call 1-800-829-3676, or write to: Internal Revenue Service , 1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, Bloomington, IL 61705-6613. 
•  Maine Farm Labor Laws The Maine Department of Agriculture has a site for information about farm labor.  Maine Farm Labor Info   
• e-Organic Learn the latest in organic farming practices and research by attending or watching an eOrganic Webinar. Sign up for upcoming Webinars to watch slides, listen to the presenter, and type in questions during the live event. Or you can listen to the archived sessions.   http://www.extension.org/pages/25242/webinars-by-eorganic  

Featured UMaine Extension Publications / Store  

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.     

You Can ...

To register for a You Can program contact PVAEC, 48 Morton Ave., Suite M, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 or call 564-6525 or register online at http://bit.ly/pyoucan. Sessions are held throughout Piscataquis County and nearby towns. Costs range from $5 to $10 with partial scholarships available. Go online to find the times and places for the following sessions.  

March 1 - Backyard Maple Syrup

March 1 - Small Scale Livestock Care

March 5 - Beginning Beekeeping

March 13 - Raise Cash as a Crop

March 14 - Simplify Your Life - Getting Back to the Good Ole' Days

March 20 - Spring Cleaning 

Upcoming Events                                                              

• February 17, 2012 Maine Grain Conference - Commercial Production for Food and Feed,  

  Bangor Banquet and Conference Center (at Bangor Motor Inn). Come hear what's going on with food and organic feed-grade markets and how to produce quality grains.  A panel of grain buyers will discuss what their looking for.  Farmer and co-owner of Farmer Ground Flour, Thor Oechsner, will talk about growing, handling, and processing food-grade grains.  Elizabeth Dyck, Organic Growers' Research and Information Sharing Network, will share her insights from working with farmers in New York and Pennsylvania to supply grains to local markets.  Jake Dyer, of UMaine and Qualey Farms, will tell how he's reduce feed costs for the UMaine dairy herd by growing his own barley.  Alice Percy, Treble Ridge Farm, will talk about small scale production of feed and food grains.  Also, fitting organic grains into forage and crop rotations, UMaine wheat research results, and more. FMI contact Ellen.Mallory@maine.edu Pre-registration required. $15 fee includes lunch.   

  Register on-line at http://extension.umaine.edu/2012mainegrain/workshop/ or by phone by calling Meghan Dill at (207) 581-3878.   
• February 17, 2012 Best Greenhouse Practices: Effective Biocontrols and Reducing Your Heating Costs 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Cozy Acres Greenhouses, 26 Cozy Acres Lane, N. Yarmouth. $10 registration fee includes lunch. Preregistration is required. Contact Megan Dill at 207-581-3878 or online at http://extension.umaine.edu/bestgreenhousepractices/workshop/  
• February 23, 2012  Swine Health Seminar 9:00am-2:00pm, with Simon Alexander, DVM, Department of Agriculture   $20.00 to register, sign up:    cindy.kilgore@maine.gov   215-4968  
• February 24, 2012 Youth Pork Quality Assurance Seminar,1:00pm to 4:00pm Presque Isle   Aroostook County, Cindy Kilgore - PQA Coordinator, FMI:   Linda.trickey@maine.edu   1-800-287-1469                                                
• February 25, 2012 Beef Quality Assurance seminar / chute side training, 9:00am to 2:00pm, Pineland Feed Lot, Fort Fairfield  Aroostook County, Cindy Kilgore - BQA Coordinator, Simon Alexander, DVM, Cost $25.00    $15.00 for 4H / FFA, Register:   cindy.kilgore@maine.gov  215-4968                                                                                               
• February 28 & 29, 2012 Heart of Maine's 10th Annual Soils Conference, Full Conference details and Registration Info at www.heartofmaine.org
• February 22, 2012 Maine Highlands Farmers Meeting - 7 pm at the Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. Dr. Stephanie Burnett, UMaine, Organic Greenhouses in Netherlands - European Hoop Houses. www.MaineHighlandsFarmers.com   
• March 1, 2012 Backyard Maple Syrup 9:30 am to noon at the Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. Kathy Hopkins will be the speaker.  This is part of the You Can series. FMI and to register go to http://bit.ly/pyoucan  
• March 1, 2012 Small-Scale Livestock Care  6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft.  Donna Coffin will be the speaker.  This is part of the You Can series. FMI and to register go to http://bit.ly/pyoucan   
• March 1, 2012 Hay Makers Webinar series scheduled for Thursday nights from 7-8 pm starting March 1st (watch, listen and ask questions from the comfort of your home!) Registration required. All the webinars are free. Register now for Maine Hay School Webinar- Part 1  or by calling 207-342-5971.  
• March 2, 2012 Third Annual Northern New England Nursery Conference, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Common Man Restaurant, Concord, New Hampshire. You can register for this program ($30 per person) at this website: https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=9693 
•  March 5, 2012 Beginning Beekeeping 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Dexter Regional High School in Dexter.  This is part of the YOU CAN series.  FMI and to register go to http://bit.ly/pyoucan 

• March 9, 2012 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School - Bangor Motor Inn Conference Center, 701 Hogan Rd., Bangor. Sponsored by the UMaine Extension, Maine Crop Insurance Education Program, Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association.  2 hours pesticide recertification credit and 5 hours certified crop advisers credits available. Pre-registration is required and cost is $35 per person and includes lunch. Make checks payable to KLCEA and mail to Highmoor Farm, Att. Pam St.Peter, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, ME 04259. For more information contact Mark Hutchinson mhutch@maine.edu or call 207-832-0343.    

• March 9 to 11, 2012 Farm Business Skills Weekend Retreat at the Gazebo Room of the Bangor Motor Inn on the Hogan Road in Bangor. Sponsored by the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society and Knowledge Transfer Alliance. The goal is to have farmers use and customize farm business management tools (QuickBooks, Excel Spreadsheets, recordkeeping, and on-line social networks.)  Cost is $190 (for those lodging at the Bangor Motor Inn) or $50 (for those with other lodging arrangements. Lunch and dinner on Saturday, as well as snacks and refreshments throughout the weekend, will be provided. To register, please contact Andrew Files at (207) 843- 7581 or afiles@mesas.org or http://mesas.org/regionaleventsprojects.html. Space is limited!  
• March 10, 2012 Livestock 101 Field Day 11 am to 3 pm, Witter Center Farm, University of Maine, Orono. Participants will learn basic techniques in animal care and handling. This program is sponsored by the UMaine Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.  Pre-registration is required for this free program.  Send your name, address, phone and email to Melissa Libby, 134 Hitchner Hall, UMaine Extension, Orono, ME 04469-5735, (207) 581-2788 in Maine 1-800-287-7170 or Melissa.Libby1@maine.edu.  Online pre-registartions through http://umaine.edu/livestock 

• March 11th 4-H Fun Day - equine judging and training at Witter Farm, University

• March 13, 2012 Raise Cash as a Crop 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the SEDOMOCHA School in Dover-Foxcroft.  This is part of the YOU CAN series.  FMI or to register http://bit.ly/pyoucan  
• March 13, 2012 Backyard Poultry 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Penquis Valley High School in Milo. This is part of the You Can series. FMI and to register go to http://bit.ly/pyoucan   
• March 13, 2012 Maine Dairy Seminar 
• March 14 & 15, 2012 Transferring the Farm March 14 in Houlton at Houlton Higher Ed Center and March 15 in Waterville at Governor's Restaurant. An introductory workshop to help farm families minimize farm business succession risks. Registration at 8:30 am with program to start at 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. Late fee of $10 for registrations received after March 7th.  To register contact Gary Anderson at (207) 581-3240 or 2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170 or garya@maine.edu  
• March 20, 27, April 3,10,17, 2012 So You Want to Farm in Maine 6:30 pm to 9 pm at the Penobscot County Extension Office in Bangor and electronically linked to Aroostook Extension Office in Presque Isle. This is a farm business course for those already farming who would like to brush-up their business skills, or those thinking about becoming farmers.

  Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, recordkeeping, market research and much more. Cost is $50.00 per farm with a limited number of partial scholarships available. Sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Risk Management Agency. For more information contact Donna Coffin at 1-800-287-1491 or Andrew Plant 1-800-287-1469 (in Maine). To pre-register contact Theresa Tilton at 207-942-7396 or 1-800-287-1485 or email Theresa.Tilton@maine.edu or go online at http://www.extension.umaine.edu/penobscot. 

• March 23, 2012 Swine Health Seminar -  9 am to 2 pm, Room 319, Deering Building, Dept. of Agriculture, Augusta. Sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, UMaine Extension and the Maine Pork Producers Association. Drs. McEvoy, Alexander and Lichtenwalner will speak along with Cindy Kilgore (Dept of Ag) and Sam Sides (Sides Family Farm.) Registration is $20 and includes lunch. Checks made out to Maine Pork Producers Association and mailed to Cindy Kilgore, Dept. of Ag, 28 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0028. For more information contact cindy.kilgore@maine.gov or call 215-4968.   
• March 17, 2012 Grass Farmers Network and Beef Conference, Waterville 

Beginning Women's Farmers Classes  Classes are offered for free, and include lunch.There is a mentor for the class who will keep in touch with you and will visit your farm once within the year.
For more information contact: Gail Chase, Community Development Manager, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, 207 453-4258 ext. 218, Director, Maine WAgN -Women's Agricultural Network,  207 453-4258  ext. 218, wagnmaine@gmail.com   

Three Shearing Schools are sponsored by The Maine Sheep Breeders Association and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For more information, contact UMaine Extension at 1-800-287-1471 (207-781-6099) or email colleen.hoyt@maine.edu

March 30-31, 2012 Blade Shearing School* with expert blade shearer, Kevin Ford. Fee $100/person. Participation limited to 8 individuals. Site in Maine to be determined  

Blade shearing is the shearing of sheep with hand shears (no electricity). This hands-on, 2-day school will equip participants with skills and knowledge to shear sheep and in the proper use and care of hand shears. Shears are provided for the school and will be available for purchase.

April 21, 2012 Sheep Shearing School, Beginner Level, Windham, Maine (Cumberland County) Fee: $35/person

April 28, 2012 Sheep Shearing School, Beginner Level, Littleton, Maine (Aroostook County) Fee: $35/person

The conventional sheep shearing schools are taught by a team of experienced, Maine-based sheep shearers. The team is comprised of Jeff Burchstead, David Averill, Brandon Woolley, Joan Rolfe and Richard Brzozowski. Participants will learn how to catch, handle and maneuver sheep for shearing, shear efficiently with electric shears, shear on a table as a option, and the proper trimming of hooves, handling of wool and caring of equipment.

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  

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