University of Maine Cooperative Extension
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Piscataquis & Penobscot   

Farming Newsletter             
Volume 10 Number 9

 September 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
  
Find Piscataquis County on Facebook
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Find Penobscot County on Facebook
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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.
Farm Marketing & Image Building

Marketing and promotion basics for farmers and value added agricultural producers

Tips for Developing Effective Marketing Materials

  1. Create sketches or "dummies" for each promotional piece. This will provide you with visual tools to work with as you move forward in the design process.
  2. Make sure your logo is a part of each promotional piece.
  3. Try to make creative materials, but never at the customers' expense. Sometimes you see a brochure that's really creative-folded and shaped uniquely- but is difficult to open or the flow of the text is hard to read. Make your pieces easy to read and customer friendly. Make sure there is a logical flow to the text.
  4. Don't make your materials too cluttered- leave some white space for the eye to rest.
  5. When writing copy, don't say too much or too little. Say only what your customer needs to know and what you need them to hear.
  6. Labels should include all necessary information according to certification and governmental regulations. Check often, as regulations tend to change. Run your labels by "experts" before printing.
  7. Follow these suggestions for Design Basics:
  • Select Appropriate Typefaces- use serif fonts when you have a lot of text to be read and sans serif for short amounts of text (headings, etc.). Script or "handwriting" and novelty fonts are useful for titles and headings.
  • Use Strong Contrast- contrasting colors, typefaces, lines, etc.
  • Repetition- repeat colors, lines, typefaces, graphic elements. Choose a format and use it consistently and accurately.
  • Alignment- either use alignment or don't- never "almost align". Make sure every item on the page is aligned with another item on the page.
  • Spatial relationships- create proximity between type and objects as they relate to each other.
  • Graphics- use images that appeal to your customer base and suit your farm business. Don't choose tacky clip art- go for unique or custom illustrations created specifically for your farm. Use photos that are easy to make read. If using digital photos (for print) make sure they are saved as CMYK TIFF files at 300 dpi to 600 dpi. Never photocopy photos unless you have no other choice- photos are best when printed from "film" or directly to a printer.
Source: McPhail, G, Farm Marketing & Image Building, Piscataquis Farming Newsletter, April 2007.   
Agritourism Limited Liability Legislation  

 

Recently enacted legislation (7 MRSA, chapter 8-E) exempts farmers from liability for any property damage or damages arising from personal injury of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities. The new law becomes effective August 30, 2012.

Notice of the inherent risks of agritourism activities is required and may be satisfied either by a statement signed by the participant/ visitor or a sign or signs prominently displayed at the place or places where the agritourism activities take place. The statement or sign must contain the following information.

"WARNING

Under Maine law, there is no liability for injury to a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment and animals, as well as the potential for injury if you act in a negligent manner. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity."  

 

The message on the sign must be in black letters at least one inch in height and the sign or signs must be placed in a clearly visible location on or near the places where the agritourism professional conducts agritourism activities.

Maine Farm Bureau has the warning signs available. To order a sign call the Farm Bureau office at 1-800-639-2126. 

Fiber Resource Guide
 An online directory profiling Maine's fiber community (fiber farmers, producers, artists, craftspeople, supply shops, processing mills, spinneries, etc.) is being created by Maine
Fiberarts, a statewide nonprofit organization based in Topsham. The group is cooperating with the Maine Department of Agriculture, through a FSMIP grant, to compile this comprehensive, online, consumer-oriented listing of resources. This "resource" could include related processing mills, farms, artists, craftspeople, galleries, producers, suppliers, shops, learning centers, organizations and manufacturers. It may also include relevant books, websites, residency programs, and annual festivals or retreats. Listings are FREE, submission forms can be found on the group's website, www.mainefiberarts.org. Contact Maine Fiberarts at 13 Main Street, Topsham, ME 04086, 207-721-0678 for more information.
Source: Farm Scoop, September 2012.
combine  2012 Maine Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial Preliminary Results Available
Ellen Mallory, Thomas Molloy, Hannah Griffin In 2010,  with the University of Maine and the University of Vermont began a series of coordinated trials evaluating varieties of hard red winter and spring wheat to identify those that perform well in northern New England under organic production. They just released a publication that reports preliminary results for winter wheat varieties trialed in 2012. A final version will be published when all of the results are completed. Separate publications are available for spring and winter wheat
variety trials conducted in 2010 and 2011 (www.extension.umaine.edu/localwheat).
Emergency Farm Loans
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine.
Emergency loan funds may be used to:
  • Restore or replace essential property;
  • Pay all or part of production costs associated with the dis-aster year;
  • Pay essential family living expenses;
  • Reorganize the farming operation; and
  • Refinance certain debts.
On August 29, 2012, the Secretary declared the following counties eligible for emergency loan assistance: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York.
Further information and applications for the loan programs described are available at local FSA county offices.
  Maine AgrAbility Coordinator Message

Hello,

My name is Lani Carlson.  As of August 1, 2012, I have become the new Coordinator for the Maine AgrAbility program.  I will be using my technical background, combined with my passion for people and agriculture to make a difference in a Maine farmer's life that is affected by a disability or chronic illness.  I have a BS in mechanical engineering and over 12 years experience in the environmental engineering and consulting industry.  In addition, I have over 6 years experience with our family farm, with 3 successful seasons running my own small-scale CSA.  During the last three school years I was also a Title 1A tutor for math and literacy at Belgrade Central School.

So what is AgrAbility?    

The Maine AgrAbility program is funded by a grant from the USDA, and provides free consultative services and technical assistance, such as suggestions for modifying or adapting the agricultural operation, buildings, equipment, and/or tools.   The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Goodwill of Northern New England and Alpha One work as rural agriculture, rehabilitation, and health care professionals; partners in the program to share information and resources across Maine through networking activities.  AgrAbility specialists support Maine farmers, farm family members or farm-workers with disabilities or chronic illnesses.  AgrAbility addresses a wide variety of disabling conditions, including, but not limited to, arthritis, spinal cord injuries/paralysis, back impairments, amputations, brain injury, visual impairments, hearing impairments, disabling diseases, cerebral palsy, respiratory impairments, and head injury.

If you know of someone who would benefit from our service, or an assessment of their situation or farm operation, please contact me for more information at (207)944-1533 or maine.agrability@maine.edu or our website http://umaine.edu/agrability/ .

Items of Interest   

  • Looking for Vendors  The Town of Bradley is looking for market vendors for their community day that will be held September 22nd from 8 am - 12 noon.  The person to contact is Kelly Brown in the Town Office.  She can be reached at 827-7725, 1 pm - 5:30 pm Tuesday-Friday. 
  •  Central Maine Sheep Breeders Association Wool Pool will be held on Saturday Oct. 27 at the fairgrounds in Dover-Foxcroft  between 10:00 and 2:00.   The wool will be going to Canada so the final price will depend on the exchange rate but is quite a bit better than other markets. Please bag white, blackface and colored wool separately. Label each bag with your name. Please be prepared to help weigh and repack your wool.   If you absolutely can't make it on the 27th, give Kim Morris a call (943-5098) and she will arrange to meet you at the fairgrounds and store it in their building. As usual, CMSB dues $10 will be deducted from the wool check. There will be a short meeting at noon to elect a secretary.    
  • Small Scale Farmers: Register Now for Fall, Winter and Spring Online Courses - Cornell University. Whether you are a seasoned, new, or aspiring farmer, there's something for you in the 2012-2013 line-up of online courses presented by the Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. View all 12 courses at http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses. 
  • Hunters for the Hungry Program Maine sportsmen and sportswomen can play a major roll in game management while providing thousands of nutritious meals to hungry people across the state. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry distributes the donations to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households with a medical need. The program accepts bear, deer and moose donations. Hunters do not pay for the processing of donated meat. For more information, to donate, or to get connected to Hunters for the Hungry call 1-888-4DEERME (1-888-433-3763.)   
  • Got Hay? Need Hay? The Maine Hay Directory is a resource for people
    who need hay or have hay to sell or hay stumpage available for cutting. Check it out at http://umaine.edu/livestock/hay/ or call your local Extension office for a copy. 
  • Small and medium layer flock owners. If you have over 3,000 layers in one place, the new FDA Egg Rule is now in effect for your farm.  You can read about it in this announcement, and also there is a very helpful set of information at the FDA site,  http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/EggSafety/default.htm  The UMaine Animal Health Lab can help with any needs for salmonella testing of the environment of the farm, or of eggs.  For more information click on Salmonella testing 
  • 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.    

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.           

  •  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 buy a printout. $0.50.
  • Biodiversity in the Forests of Maine: Guidelines for Land Management, Item #7147, Publisher: UMaine Extension. The book that set a new standard in the understanding of how forest management practices influence biological diversity in Maine's managed forest. This landmark work details voluntary forestry practices for forestlands that are actively managed for timber and other products. Includes broad, landscape-level considerations absent from most previously published guidelines. Intended for use by foresters, biologists, loggers, forestland owners and managers, educators, and land-use planners. Includes extensive appendices chock full of valuable data. 2nd edition. 166 pages. 2008. $15.00.

Upcoming Events                                                                  

 

  • September 21st - 23rd, 2012 - Common Ground Country Fair. MOFGA's premier event celebrating rural living. Three full days of educational talks and demonstrations, entertainment, delicious Maine-grown, organic food and products from local artisans. Details. To volunteer contact volunteers@mofga.org.  
  • September 22nd, 2012 Bradley Community Day Farmers' Market  8 am to noon. The Town of Bradley is looking for market vendors for their community day. The person to contact is Kelly Brown in the Town Office.  She can be reached at 827-7725, 1 pm - 5:30 pm Tuesday-Friday.  

  • September 26, 2012, A Forum for Small Business Organizations, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at libraries (by video link) in the following towns: Bangor, Pittsfield, Cherryfield, Presque Isle, Belfast, Portland, Augusta, and York. Sponsored by IRS and Maine Libraries. Topics include SBA programs & services to Help Start and Grow Businesses, Maine's Small Business Advocate and Regulatory Fairness Board, Workforce Development, etc. FMI Shawn.S.Savage@irs.gov .  

  • September 28, 2012 Deadline for Obsolete Pesticide Disposal Program. Due to safety and regulatory requirements, disposal "drop-ins" are not allowed, registration is necessary. The BPC will contact registrants several weeks prior to that drive to inform them of their local collection date and location. To register, get additional details or information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to http://www.thinkfirstspraylast.org or call Henry Jennings,
    Maine Board of Pesticides Control, director, at 207-287-2731. 
  • October 2, 2012 Blueberry Flamer Demonstration at Blueberry Hill Farm in Joneboro at 6 pm to see a propane burner that can be used to both prune and sanitize blueberry fields for insects and disease. The machine has been used to kill potato tops. Steve Koch, Director of Agriculture Division of Flame Engineering, Inc will be the demonstrator. http://www.flameengineering.com/Potato_Vine_Flamers.html  
  • October 6th - 8th, 2012 - Nose to Tail Pork Processing. At MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity. This workshop covers all aspects of raising, humanely slaughtering, and processing pigs. Registration fills very quickly, you can sign up for the wait list.  Details.
  • October 13th, 2012 Early Entry for Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
  • October 17th, 2012 Backyard Beef 6 pm to 9 pm, Penquis Valley High School, Milo. You have some pasture available and are interested in raising your own beef animal to supplement your family food budget. Or you are thinking about finishing a beef calf to sell to supplement your family income. How much space does this animal need? What will it eat and how much will it eat? What do I do with the manure? How much time will it take? How do I know when the animal is healthy and when it is sick? How much meat can I expect? Donna Coffin, Extension Educator is the instructor. Registration through the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative, $5 fee. For more information or to register contact PVAEC at (207) 564-6525 or go to   http://pvaec.maineadulted.org/courses/course/backyard_beef 
  • October 24th, 2012 Sales, Use and Service Provider Tax Symposium, by the Maine Revenue Service, 8 am to 5 pm at the Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Rd., Bangor. Cost is $40. Pre-registration is required by mail.  Registrations are due no later than October 5, 2012.  Please use this form and make checks payable to: Treasurer State of Maine. Since an accurate count is necessary for the facility, no walk in registrations will be allowed.  For more information call 624-9693 or go online.   
  • 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.    
  • October 27, 2012 Focus on Fiber Seminar at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine. UMaine Extension has partnered with several associations to plan and present a day-long seminar on fiber.  FMI contact Extension at 1-800-287-1471 or see the website http://umaine.edu/livestock/fiber/ 
  • November 3rd, 2012 Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale, Dick Brown's facility in Richmond, ME. Preconditioning protocol available here or contact Pete Dusoe at (207) 948-3233 or (207) 416-5441 or email pbdusoe@uninets.net 
  • November 3, 2012, Technical Forum and Operator Round-table, 8:30am - 4:30pm, Spring Creek Farm, Lyman, Maine. The focus will be on Allis-Chalmers All Crop Harvesters but the organizers welcome operators of other small combines to come and broaden the discussion. $20 registration (includes refreshments & lunch. FMI sntrout@roadrunner.com or call (207) 985-5652. 
  • November 9 & 10, 2012 Farmer to Farmer Conference at Point Lookout, Northport. MOFGA is having some great speakers this year The website for all the info on the conference is  http://www.mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=293 Special room rates  and registration ends October 10th, so reserve early & save! 
  • November 17th, 2012 Horse Health Conference...Focus on Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases, hosted by UMaine, UMaine Extension, Pineland Farms, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and Laboratory for the Expansion of Animal Disease Survellance. For more information  http://umaine.edu/livestock/equine/horse-conf/ or contact Melissa Libby, 134 Hitchner Hall, UMaine Extension, Orono, ME 04469-5735 or call (207)581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170
  • December 1, 2012 23rd Annual Maine Beef Conference registration starting at 8 am at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor. Focus will be on marketing with Dr. Jim Ochterski from Cornell as keynote speaker talking on the whole farm marketing strategy, Dr. Henrettia Beaufait, ME Dept of Ag will talk about regulations for selling meat in Maine and Gabe Clark, Cold Spring Ranch in New Portland will talk about the cost of production - what to sell your meat for to make a profit. Once again trade show vendors will be available at breaks and during lunch. To register to go Maine Beef Conference website.  or contact Melissa Libby, 134 Hitchner Hall, UMaine Extension, Orono, ME 04469-5735 or call (207)581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170.   

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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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