University of Maine Cooperative Extension
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Piscataquis & Penobscot   

Farming Newsletter             
Volume 10 Number 7

 July 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
Quick Links
  
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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.
Late Blight on TomatoLate Blight in Penobscot County
Late blight has just been reported in potato plantings in coastal Maine (Woolwich) and an outbreak was reported in Penobscot County says Dr. Jim Dill, UMaine Extension Pest Management Specialist. Conditions for the development of late blight have been very good in Maine and growers should be on the alert to catch any early symptoms on their plants and be ready to apply appropriate control measures. Typical symptoms will be water-soaked lesions on the leaves with fine, white cottony mycelium on the undersides. Infections on the stems appear as dark, almost black lesions. For photos of the symptoms, go to UMaine Extension IPM Photo Gallery - Late Blight 

Late blight spores can travel over 40 miles under the right conditions (wet and warm) and the spread can be very fast. We are encouraging all growers to carefully and regularly inspect their plants for this disease. Please report any suspicious symptoms to the UMaine Extension Pest Management Office at 207-581-3883 or 1-800-287-0279 (in Maine) or e-mail PMO@umext.maine.edu.

       Samples can be sent to:

Pest Management Office 

        491 College Avenue

Orono, ME 04473-0279

Samples should be sent in a sealed plastic bag with a dry paper towel to keep them fresh. For the latest control options available for late blight on tomatoes, check out the University of New Hampshire Extension's fungicide table (PDF).

 

Farmland Finder
The New England Farmland Finder website is a new online service that helps farmers and landowners find each other. This farm property clearinghouse is free, simple, up-to-date, and privacy protected. It contains information and resource links to inform and support farm seekers and landowners.
The site was launched by a collaboration of New England organizations focusing on farmland access issues. The new service complements local and statewide efforts to match new farmers with available land. The website is part of a region-wide, USDA-funded project on farmland access.
Landowners, farm seekers and realtors are encouraged to visit www.newenglandfarmlandfinder.org to post or search for farm properties, and to check out the resources. The site will become increasingly useful as more properties are added.
The New England Farmland Finder is not involved in real estate transactions. It does not sell or rent properties or receive a commission for any transactions.
Is Your Town Farm-Friendly?
Maine Farmland Trust has an online quiz that towns can rank their Land Use Ordinances and Regulations to see how farm friendly they are.
Some of the questions ask if there is a detailed section on agriculture in the comprehensive plan, if there is flexibility to accommodate unique needs of agriculture businesses, if off-site signs are allowed to attract and direct farm stand customers, if agricultural structures are assessed properly.  
Also, having farmers serving on local planning, comprehensive plan, ordinance review or conservation commissions can assure a broad perspective. 
There are 21 questions and towns that answer yes to over 17 questions are seen as FARM CHAMPIONS, those with yes on 11 to 16 questions are seen as FARM SUPPORTERS.
After years of decline, farming in Maine is on the rise. But farmers still face challenges, and communities can help farmers address them. A new guide recently released by Maine Farmland Trust and American Farmland Trust provides specific examples and suggestions of what local officials and residents can do to support farming in their communities. The newly published guide,  Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future, describes some of what's been done in Maine communities to support local farms, including examples from Unity, Turner, Cape Elizabeth, Monmouth, and Bowdoinham. Beyond this, the guide provides a set of tools from which a town can chose those best suited to its circumstances and situation. 
milkweedPoisonous Plants
 As pastures start to get over grazed more and more livestock producers have been calling the office to ask if their pastures may be infested with poisonous plants.
The first thing to do is identify the plant. There are many plant identification books available. UMaine Extension has a nice reference book WEEDS OF THE NORTHEAST that can help identify herbaceous (non-woody) weeds. Cornell University has a very helpful site Plants Poisonous to Livestock that also includes woody plant identification information.
Once you know what plant you are dealing with then the question is if it is poisonous to your species of livestock, how toxic it is and how much your animals would need to ingest to cause a problem. Purdue's website Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets (by species) gives information on these points. It also has first aid suggestions.
Some plants are so toxic that just one mouthful can cause problems (ie Yew.) Some plants are only poisonous when their leaves are wilted (ie. Cherry).  Luckily many times poisonous plants have such a bad taste that animals with access to adequate forage will avoid the poisonous plant(ie. milkweed.) 

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   

  • Find a Farm Market: There's an app for that called Harvest to Hand that Farm Family Casualty Insurance developed for anyone to use to find local farms, agritourism venues, farmers' markets, farm festivals, etc. You do not have to be a Farm Family member to either list or search the listings. It is a free app for smart phone and tablet users and you can enter your farm or event through their website for free.  This is a great way to attract folks new to the area to find your farm. Go to http://www.harvesttohand.com/ to enter your farm info. 
  • 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.    
  • Rural Youth Loans from FSA The Farm Service Agency reminds us that they have funding available to help rural youth establish and operate income-producing projects in connection with 4-H clubs, FFA and other agricultural groups. The projects need to be planned and operated with the help of an organization advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide the youth with practical business and educational experience. The maximum loan amount is $5,000. Stop by the county FSA office for help with the application process and to answer any questions you may have about the program.  
  • Farm Storage Facility Loan Program allows producers of eligible commodities to get low-interest financing to build or upgrade farm storage, drying and/or handling facilities. Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for more information.  
  • Disaster Assistance crop and livestock producers who have recently experienced severe damage from recent severe weather conditions can contact their local Farm Service Agency to see if there is assistance to help them recover.  

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.         

  • Weeds of the Northeast Item #2164. Publisher: Cornell University Press. Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal, Joseph M. DiTomaso. This lavishly illustrated manual provides ready identification of 299 common and economically important weeds in the region south to Virginia, north to Maine and southern Canada, and west to Wisconsin. Based on vegetative rather than floral characteristics, this practical guide gives anyone who works with plants the ability to identify weeds before they flower. The first comprehensive weed identification manual available for the Northeast, this book will enable appropriate weed management in any horticultural or agronomic cropping system, and will also serve home gardeners and landscape managers, as well as pest management specialists and allergists. 746 color photos, 416 pages, paperback. 1997. $29.95.
  •   Potato Late Blight, Item #2441. Publisher: UMaine Extension. Potato late blight can cause severe crop losses. Learn about the transmission, symptoms and control of potato late blight. Color photos. 4 pages, 2010. Download it for free, or buy a color copy $1.25    
  • Integrated Pest Management for Fly Control in Maine Dairy Barns Item #5002. Publisher: UMaine Extension. Explains IPM techniques for fly control that enable dairy operators to reduce pesticide use. 6 pages, 2002. Download it for free or buy a printout $1.00  

Upcoming Events                                                                 

  • July 10th, 2012 Organic Dairy Farm Pasture Walk, 10 am to 2 pm Balfour Farm, 461 Webb Road in Pittsfield with hosts Heather & Doug Donahue. Presentations on organic dairy farms, pasture intakes and dairy cow diets. For More Information click here Register through the Waldo County Extension Office at (207) 342-5971 or in Maine 1-800-287-1426 or email richard.kersbergen@maine.edu 
  • 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 11th, 12th, & 13th, 2012 Genetically Modified: In the News & On Your Plate with Dr. Michael J. McNeill sponsored by the Maine Alternative Agriculture Association (MA3). July 11th 6 pm to 9 pm at the MA3, 699 Anson Rd, Starks. July 12th 7 pm to 9 pm at Main Lounge, Moulton Union, Bowdoin College, Brunswick. July 13 5:30 pm to 8 pm at Campus Center, Allagash Hall, University of Maine Presque Isle. FMI call 207-696-8377 or info@mainealternativeag.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 22nd, 2012 Open Farm Day. Sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture when many farms in Maine are open to the public. FMI Open Farm Day 
  • 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 25th, 2012 Maine Highlands Farmers - 7 pm Shaw Road Historic Farm hosted by Fred & Karen Cookson, 283 Shaw Road, Dover-Foxcroft. They raise natural black & red Angus beef, vegetables & eggs. The cattle graze intensively managed pastures that are rotated continuously throughout the spring, summer and fall. After the tour the Maine Highlands Farmers will have a short business meeting. All are welcome for this free program. FMI Maine Highlands Farmers   
  • 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 at Misty Meadows Farm in Clinton. Maine Farm Days began in the early 70's as an agricultural trade show that is held on a working farm. Farm Days Inc. joins the host family, USDA, state agricultural agencies, farm organizations, and cooperating farm equipment and service dealers in sponsoring this agricultural exhibition. Pesticide Recertification credits are available both days.  FMI Maine Farm Days or http://www.facebook.com/maine.days 
  • August 22nd, 2012 Maine Highlands Farmers - 7 pm Widdershins Farm hosted by Wendy & Chris Russell, 843 Bear Hill Rd., Dover-Foxcroft. They raise Devon Cattle, Katahdin Sheep & Nigerian Dwarf Goat. Products available from their farm include grass fed beef (by the side or by the piece) and raw cow & goat milk from their state licensed dairy.  After the tour the Maine Highlands Farmers will have a short business meeting. All are welcome for this free program. FMI Maine Highlands Farmers     
  • October 13th, 2012 Early Entry for Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
  • October 26-27, 2012 ESTIA - The International EcoPeace Community's 9th Annual Conference on Slow Food, A Model for Sustainable & Healthy Living at Wells Commons, University of Maine, Orono, ME.   
  • 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
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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