|
Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine
|
|
|
|
Piscataquis & Penobscot
Farming Newsletter
|
|
Volume 10 Number 11
|
November 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
Find Penobscot County on Facebook
|
| 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.
|
|
Maine Beef Conference Saturday, November 1st at the Bangor Hilton Garden Inn. To register contact Melissa Libby at 207-581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170 or visit http://bit.ly/QTkYNO
|
|
Dover Cove Market Place
Dover Cove Market Place, is a non-profit, online farmer's market, formed to provide farmers, farm producers, and farm consumers, in southern Piscataquis, northern Penobscot, and eastern Somerset counties; with a place to conveniently, buy and sell local farm produce throughout the year. The market is located online, at www.harvesttomarket.com.
The Dover Cove Market Place link, is "live" soon at www.harvesttomarket.com, with information regarding customer policies, and farm/producer rules.
The market works like this: Customers will place their orders, via "pre-buy" (meaning orders are paid for when they are placed) from Saturday morning, at 10AM, through 7am Friday, each week. When the market closes Friday morning, farmers/producers will prepare orders for delivery, on Saturday. The weekly pick-up and drop off site, is located at the Center Theater, 20 East Main St, in Dover-Foxcroft. Farm/Producer drop off will be from 9:30am until 10am, and customers may pick up their orders from 10am until noon, on Saturday.
There is no initial cost to farmers who want to join, fees are based on sales, and are set at 15% of sales. This percentage covers: transaction and software maintenance fees, marketing, and administration. The scheduled market opening is Saturday, November 17th, for deliveries on Saturday November 25th. A workshop for farmers/producers to set up their web pages, was held earlier this month. For more information, or to join the market as a customer or farm producer, please contact Jackie Robinson at 415-264-4560, or via email at jackieblue750@yahoo.com.
|
Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balances Productivity, Profitability and Environmental Health
Balancing productivity, profitability, and environmental health is a key challenge for agricultural sustainability. Most crop production systems in the United States are characterized by low species and management diversity, high use of fossil energy and agrichemicals, and large negative impacts on the environment. It was hypothesized that cropping system diversification would promote ecosystem services that would supplement, and eventually displace, synthetic external inputs used to maintain crop productivity. To test this, a field study was conducted from 2003-2011 in Iowa that included three contrasting systems varying in length of crop sequence and inputs. A conventionally managed 2-yr rotation (maize-soybean) that received fertilizers and herbicides at rates comparable to those used on nearby farms was compared with two more diverse cropping systems: a 3-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + red clover) and a 4-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + alfalfa-alfalfa) managed with lower synthetic N fertilizer and herbicide inputs and periodic applications of cattle manure. Grain yields, mass of harvested products, and profit in the more diverse systems were similar to, or greater than, those in the conventional system, despite reductions of agrichemical inputs. Weeds were suppressed effectively in all systems, but freshwater toxicity of the more diverse systems was two orders of magnitude lower than in the conventional system. Results of the study indicate that more diverse cropping systems can use small amounts of synthetic agrichemical inputs as powerful tools with which to tune, rather than drive, agroecosystem performance, while meeting or exceeding the performance of less diverse systems. Source: Davis, A. S., J. D. Hill, C. A. Chase, A. M. Johanns, and M. Lieman; Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balances Productivity, Profitability and Environmental Health, October 2012, PLOSOne.org. |
FSN 121 - Brewing with Food Science Course at UMaine
A new course that will be offered this spring for UMaine students is designed to utilize the process of making beer as a model to engage students in thinking about the biology, chemistry and processing aspects of the foods they consume. The course will focus on the process of beer making as well as the ingredients that go into beer and their functions. Other topics will include the history of beer (from world and U.S. perspectives), styles of beer and a beer judge's perspective of beer. Satisfies the General Education Science Applications Requirement. (3 credits)
This course covers the technical aspects of brewing to assist those considering commercial brewing enterprises. Course instructors are Jason Bolton, UMaine Extension and Brian Perkins, UMaine Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
For information on applying to the University of Maine go to www.umaine.edu
|
|
|
 University of Maine Cooperative Extension at the Harvest Maine Festival 2012 This year more than 100 Maine vendors and thousands of consumers gathered at the past Maine Harvest Festival 2012 (Nov 10-11), one of the largest events of this kind in Bangor that enables consumers to meet farmers and producers from throughout the State. Here the community has the opportunity to attend seminars, demonstrations, taste the products and learn about educational programs related to these activities available in the area. Since education is a large part of this event the University of Maine Cooperative Extension was a proud educational vendor providing information about the different programs and services we offer to the community. We had over a hundred people sign up for the Piscataquis/Penobscot Gardening Newsletter. For more information about these programs please visit our County Offices or our website http://extension.umaine.edu/ |
Beginning Women Farmers Classes
This series of classes is sponsored by the Maine Women's Agricultural Network, and funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The Beginning Women Farmers program draws on the work of Allen Savory and others, and is designed to help women farmers to be successful. This innovative program instructs participants on using a holistic approach to decision making on their farms.
Participants will meet for ten sessions on topics such as goal setting, financial, business, and marketing planning, land and infrastructure planning, soil fertility, and planned grazing. Participants are provided with a mentor and are connected with a network of other beginning women farmers throughout the Northeast for additional support.
Two of the classes take place on local farms. Classes will be held in Fairfield, Maine, on Sundays from 9 am - 4 pm. Cost for all sessions is $300.00. Scholarships are available.
Class Subjects and Dates:
- December 9, 2012 Financial Planning 1
- January 6, 2013 Financial Planning 2
- January 20, 2013 Business Planning
- February 3, 2013 Marketing
- March 3, 2013 Leadership and Communication
- April 7, 2013 Land Planning
- May 5, 2013 Soil Fertility
- June 2, 2013 Grazing Planning
For more information, and to request an application, contact: Gail Chase gchase@kvcog.org (207) 453-4258 ext. 218
|
|
Webinars of Interest
- Break Even Calculator for Poultry Enterprises Webinar - A break even calculator for poultry meat and egg enterprises has recently been revised by its original
developer, Adam Hady of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Adam has given permission for UMaine Extension to distribute it to producers in New England. Email richard.brzozowski@maine.edu for an electronic copy of the excel spreadsheet. In addition, we plan to have a webinar on using the calculator. This spreadsheet could be a very handy tool in calculating your costs and determining a profitable price of the poultry meat (any poultry species) or eggs that are produced on your farm. The 60-minute webinar is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 pm. Please contact Colleen at colleen.hoyt@maine.edu to sign up for the link to that free webinar - Tennessee Value-Added Beef Webinar Series - These webinars are designed to help TN beef producers interested in marketing live animals for custom harvest or beef cuts directly to consumers understand the risks and gain information and skills to effectively manage this type of operation. Held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from October 2012 to March 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (CST) and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (EST). To receive a link by email to join each webinar, send an email to cpa@utk.edu and include the following information: name, county, state, email address. All sessions are being archived and can be viewed at https://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa/Pages/VA%20Beef.aspx
- Purchasing & Owning a Horse 101- Owning a horse can be a rewarding experience. Success depends on matching the right horse to owner, based on the prospective owner's goals and equestrian ability. Once the match is made, both the fun and work begins! Horse ownership is a big responsibility, not just in relation to the size of the animal, but also in the amount of time and financial investment that is required in the day to day upkeep of an equine companion. A horse requires daily management including feeding and exercising the horse as well as maintaining the horse's housing. In addition, routine health care including annual vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, and hoof care must be regularly attended to. After all of the necessary daily work and health care is accomplished, the owner can enjoy building a partnership with their equine companion through riding, driving or ground work. Free online course from My Horse University. To sign up for this self-paced webinar go to http://myhorseuniversity.com/online_courses/short_courses/po101
|
|
Items of Interest
- 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.
|
|
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.
- Facts on Strangles (Streptococus equi) Infections in Horses, Equine Facts Series, Item #1009. Publisher: UMaine Extension - 4-page fact sheet describes the symptoms, transmission, treatment and prevention of strangles infections. 2012. Download it for free: or buy a printout. $0.75.
- Building Soils for Better Crops. Item #1171. Publisher: Sustainable Ag. Network. Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es. Learn the secret of maintaining a diverse ecosystem below ground to foster healthy crops above. Ecological soil management, as detailed by the soil experts who wrote the book, can raise fertility-and yields- while reducing environmental impacts. Topics explored include increasing soil organic matter, appropriate tillage, animal manures, making and using composts, integrating cover crops into rotations, reducing erosion, and avoiding soil compaction. Also includes practical information such as interpreting soil test results. 240 pages. 3rd edition, 2009. $19.95
|
|
Upcoming Events
- November 28th, Farm to Cafeteria, hosted by the UMaine Extension and the Maine Highlands Farmers, all are welcome to attend this 7 pm session at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. We will have school food service directors attending to discuss opportunities and challenges to getting more local foods into the schools. This is a free session. For more information and to RSVP please email Zoe Hastings (zoe.hastings@foodcorps.org) or call 1-800-287-1485 (in Maine)
- 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.
- January 8 to 10, 2013 Maine Agriculture Trades Show, Augusta Civic Center.
- March 20, 2013 Swine Health Meeting, Augusta area, contact Cindy.Kilgore@maine.gov for more information.
- March 23, 2013 Maine Grazing Conference, Fairfield.
- May 17 to 19, 2013 Northeast Livestock Expo, http://www.northeastlivestockexpo.com/
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 |
|
|
|
|
