University of Maine Cooperative Extension
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Piscataquis & Penobscot   

Farming Newsletter             
Volume 10 Number 6

 June 2012 
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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Need Hay? Got Hay or silage to sell? Maine Hay Directory 

 

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.
  Agriculture Census

July 1 is the sign-up deadline for farms to voluntarily register for the next Ag Census. It is very important to get farms included that were not the 2007 survey.

New farmers should go to http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/index.php, and click "Make your voice heard. Sign up" green box.


 Merger of New Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Under Way

 

As the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Conservation gets under way, a series of public stakeholder meetings have been scheduled to start this month. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb and Department of Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley encourage Mainers to participate in the public forums which are designed to gather suggestions, comments and ideas about the merger process.

 

Information about the meetings and the merger process can be found at a new, collaborative website that also includes an email address for comments. The new website can be found at:  www.maine.gov/ACFMerger 

 

The first of four public forums will be held at the University of Maine at Orono on June 22 which will be followed by a meeting in Augusta on June 26. Details regarding two additional meetings in Northern and Western Maine will be available soon on the merger website, which will be updated regularly.

 

Under legislation passed during the 125th Legislative Session, the new Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (MDACF) will be formed effectively August 30, 2012. Work on the merger is well in process, according to the commissioners of both departments.

 

"Input from the Maine people who derive their livelihood from the farmland, forest and outdoor recreation sectors is critical guidance as we move ahead with the details creating the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry," said Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. "Starting at the University of Maine on June 22, all those who are interested are encouraged to offer their suggestions that will improve our delivery of important programs for all those vested in land-based natural resources."

 

"As our two departments increase their interactions, many of the institutional barriers are naturally falling away," said Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley. "The merger is sort of like the rural Mainer who harvest timber in the winter, plants and harvests crops during the growing season, tends to the wildlife and enjoys the nearby trails and streams.

 

"It all fits into Maine's rural quality of place and should revitalize our natural resource economy as well," Commissioner Beardsley said.

 

The new department will have 732 full-time and seasonal employees and have a budget of $96.5 million. It will be organized into seven divisions.

 

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, go to: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/index.shtml

 

For more information about the Maine Department of Conservation, go to:

http://www.maine.gov/doc

For more information about the public meetings contact: Amy Higgins, (207) 287-2735 or Jeanne Curran, (207) 287-23156

Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale

 The Maine Beef Producers Association had a very successful preconditioned feeder calf sale at the Northeast Livestock Expo last month. The 74 head averaged $1.41 per pound and the average weight was 780 pounds so the average price per head was $1,103.  

Their next preconditioned feeder calf auction is November 3rd at Dick Brown's facility in Richmond. Preconditioning protocols are available at the Maine Beef Producers Association website or by contacting Pete Dusoe at (207)416-5442 or 948-3233 or pbdusoe@uninets.net.  

Small Grain & Forage Field Day 

Tuesday, July 10th, 5:30 to 8:00pm. Registration starts at 5:15pm. UMaine Rogers Forage & Crops Research Farm, Stillwater, Maine (see below for directions)  

Please join us and learn about:
  •  Small grain varieties for organic production (wheat, spelt, flax)
  •  Wheat and spelt varieties for later fall planting
  • Growing flax for feed to alter milk quality
  • Summer slump pasture forages
  • Fitting wheat into dairy rotations
  •  Preplant nitrogen sources for organic bread wheat yield and quality
  •  Nitrogen topdressing decision tools for organic bread wheat  
  • Microbial soil inoculants for wheat: farm-produced and purchased

Speakers include: 

  • Rick Kersbergen, UMaine Extension Educator
  • Ellen Mallory, UMaine Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
  • Tom Molloy, UMaine Research Associate
  • Aaron Englander, UMaine Graduate Student

No pre-registration required - Refreshments provided.  Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available. For more information, contact: Ellen Mallory - ellen.mallory@maine.edu; 207-581-2942. 

Directions: The UMaine Rogers Farm is located on Rt. 16, 1.5 miles north of Stillwater, ME. Takeexit 193 off I-95 and head east toward Old Town on Stillwater Ave. At the third set of lights, turn left onto Bennoch Rd. (Rt. 16). The Rogers Farm is 1.5 miles north on Bennoch Rd.

Sustainable Agriculture Field Day 

Advances in Pest Management
Location: The Rogers Forage and Crops Research Farm
               914 Bennoch Road
               Old Town, ME 04468    
Date and Time: July 25, 2012
                       4:00pm to 6:30pm- (Registration will start at 3:45pm)
                       FREE! No preregistration required
For those interested, there will be a Pest Identification session from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. (Optional)
2012 Sustainable Agricultural Field Day Topic's:
  • Sweet Corn IPM, David Handley
  • Crow Management in Corn, Gary Fish (BPC)
  • What's Eating Your Garden, Sean McAuley
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Tree Fruit, Glen Koehler/Jim Dill
  • Spotted Wing Drosophila, Jim Dill
  • Pollinator Project, Frank Drummond and Lois Stack
  • Master Gardener Program, Kate Garland

No pre-registration required - Refreshments provided.  For more information, contact: John Jemison jjemison@maine.edu ; 207-581-2942. 

Directions: The UMaine Rogers Farm is located on Rt. 16, 1.5 miles north of Stillwater, ME. Take exit 193 off I-95 and head east toward Old Town on Stillwater Ave. At the third set of lights,  turn left onto Bennoch Rd. (Rt. 16). The Rogers Farm is 1.5 miles north on Bennoch Rd.

Items of Interest   

  • Current Pest Reports: Strawberry IPM, Potato IPM,  for vegetables - MOFGA,  
  • 2012 Potato Pest Guide is available online  The Potato Program team at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides information on potato production. They update the pesticide recommendations annually by May; more frequently if new products become labeled. This guide is not an exhaustive list of materials labeled on potatoes in Maine, it is a list of recommended chemicals. 
  • Soil Biology Test Now Available. The University of Maine Analytical Lab just announced the availability of this non-chemical test that measures the microbial biomass and biological health of your soil.  It is an extra $10 when you ask for a Standard or Comprehensive Soil Test. Beneficial microbes thrive on yearly additions of high quality organic matter (compost, manures, cover crops.) Recommendations on organic matter management are included. For more information and prices for the various tests go to the UMaine Analytical Laboratory and Soil Testing Service or call (207) 581-3591. 
  • Instructional Bulletin #27 "Sales of Prepared Food" information on state sales tax on prepared foods was amended on March 26, 2012 and can be viewed at the following link:
     
  • Aroostook County beef, sheep, goat & pork pick up route is being considered by Maple Lane Meat Processing facility. If you are interested contact Barry Higgins at 866-279-9775 or maplelanefarms@yahoo.com or their website at maplelanefarmsmaine.com 
  • For a list of farmers' markets throughout the state you can go to Maine Federated Farmers Markets,  Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association or Get Real Maine.  
  • For price listing of organic produce and livestock stock products go to MOFGA's organic price reports. They also have a link to previous years prices.    
  • Agronomist Job Announcement - POS#200. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is seeking an Extension Educator, Assistant Extension Professor (Agronomist) for a full-time, fiscal year, continuing contract eligible faculty position to be housed in Presque Isle, Maine who will develop and conduct educational programs throughout State with an emphasis on Aroostook County. For a full job description with additional duties and responsibilities, additional required and preferred criteria and application instructions please visit:  http://jobs.umaine.edu.  

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.         

  • 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:or  buy a printout. $0.50 
  • New England Guide to Weed Control in Field Corn, Item #1124. Publisher: UMaine Extension. Poor weed control can cause crop failures that can be devastating to New England dairy producers, as well as create weed-seed issues that will plague growers for years. This publication offers a comprehensive approach to weed management in field corn, discussing commonly used herbicides, timing of applications, and alternative controls that reduce herbicide use and risks to the environment. Includes tables listing corn herbicides registered for use in New England, their relative effectiveness, and modes of action. 20 pages, 2007, 2011.Download it for free, or  buy a printout. $3.00
  • This Old Hayfield: A Fact Sheet on Hayfield Renovation. Forage Facts Series. Item #2491. Publisher: UMaine Extension. Learn how to bring neglected hay fields back into production or simply maintain the fields with desirable grasses and open space. 2 pages, 2004. Download it for free: or buy a printout. $0.50 

 

Upcoming Events                                                                 

  • June 16th, 2012 Farm and Homestead Day 9 am to 3 pm at MOFGA in Unity. Free event with donations accepted. There are a number of tracks for the day including: low impact forestry, wool, building, poultry, cooking, scythe, ID walks, and gardening.  Some workshops may have fees for supplies. For more information.   
  • June 19th & 20th, 2012 Meat & Poultry HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) workshop for those processing livestock and livestock products. 8 am to 5 pm each day at 203 Hitchner Hall, UMaine in Orono. Registration is $130 and includes the sanitation workshop, notebook and lunches.  For more information, to register or to request special accommodations, contact Theresa Tilton at (207) 942-7396 or (800) 287-1485 in Maine or email Theresa.Tilton@maine.edu. Registations can also be done online through the Extension Website   http://umaine.edu/food-health/food-safety/sanitation-and-haccp-workshops/.    
  • June 21st, 2012 Broadband Summit... a conversation about the Internet in Piscataquis County, 4 pm to 7 pm at the Piscataquis Community Elementary School, Guilford. Sponsored by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council.  FMI Janet Sawyer, PCEDC, 564-3638 or jsawyer@pcedc.org.  
  • June 22nd, 2012, Restoring Heritage Wheat, 11 AM - 7 PM, Potluck Meal, Location: MOFGA, Unity, Maine. Program Details and Registration www.mofga.org.
  • June 23rd, 2012 Road and Stream Crossing Workshop 9 am to 3:30 pm at the American Legion Post 92, 75 Railroad Ave., Brownville Jct. Talks by NRCS District Conservationist on programs related to road and stream crossings, NRCS Fisheries Biologist, Forest Service Water Resources Forester.  The group will move to demonstration sites in Williamsburg to see a recently installed bridge and learn about Best Management Practices for Road and Stream Crossings.  Sponsored by Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District with additional partners: University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Central Small Woodlot Owners Association and Leader Evaporator. This workshop is free but pre-registration is required. For more information and to register go to www.piscataquisswcd.org, info@piscataquisswcd.org or call 564-2321 
  • June 23th, 2012 Growing Fruit Trees Organically at MOFGA in Unity. Fee is $30. C.J. Walke, MOFGA's Organic Orchardist, discusses organic orcharding methods and explains how he manages the orchards at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center.  The workshop will start with an inside presentation focusing on OMRI-approved material inputs, establishing tree health and common fruit tree insects and diseases, followed by a walk through MOFGA's orchards to see these things in action.  Please bring a bag lunch, course will run from 10-2 pm. Pre-registration requested.   
  • June 27th, 2012 Maine Highlands Farmers Meeting Donna Coffin will lead a Weed ID Walk at the Stutzman's Farm on Douty Hill Rd., in Sangerville. 2 hours of pesticide recertification credits available to private pesticide applicators. Walk starts at 7 pm a short Maine Highlands Farmers Meeting will follow. All interested farmers are welcome to attend this free meeting. FMI www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com   
  • July 10th, 2012 Small Grain & Forage Field Day, 5:30 to 8:00pm (registration starts at 5:15), University of Maine Rogers Forage and Crops Research Farm, Stillwater, Maine (1.5 miles from I-95 Exit 193) Sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.  No pre-registration required - Refreshments provided. Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available. For more information, contact: Ellen Mallory - ellen.mallory@maine.edu; 207-581-2942   
  • July 10th, 2012 American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, morning program on Poultry Breeding - evening program on Using Heritage Breeds on the Farm, sponsored by MOFGA. FYI www.mofga.org 
  • July 18th, 2012 Wild Blueberry Field Day, 9 am to 4 pm, Blueberry Farm Wild Blueberry Research and Extension Facility, Rt. 1, Jonesboro. Notify Nancy England at 581-1475 or email England@maine.edu if you plan to attend. 2 pesticide recertification credits available.   
  • July 25th, 2012 UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Field Day at Rogers Farm, University of Maine. The focus will be on pest management.No pre-registration required - Refreshments provided.  For more information, contact: John Jemison jjemison@maine.edu ; 207-581-2942.  
  • July 26th to 28th, 2012 The Kneading Conference, Skowhegan.  
  • July 28 & 29, 2012 Beef Basics at Aldermere Farm, Rockport. A two-day workshop for people interested in raising beef cattle. Experts in the field will present numerous topics from pasture management to feeding and breeding issues. Some certifications will be available. Call 236-2739 or email asabaka@mcht.org 
  • July 28th, 2012 New England Galloway Group Summer Meeting, at Moonshadow Farm in Starks. For more information contact Scot or Chris Adams, (207) 696-3812 or mnshadow@tdstelme.net.  
  • August 22 to 23, 2012 Maine Farm Days 
  • October 13th, 2012 Early Entry for Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
  • November 3rd, 2012 Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale, Dick Brown's facility in Richmond, ME. Preconditioning protocol available at the Maine Beef Producers Association website or contact Pete Dusoe at (207) 948-3233 or (207) 416-5441 or email pbdusoe@uninets.net 
  • December 1, 2012 Beef Conference in the Bangor area. Focus will be on marketing. Stay tuned for more information.      

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