University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine

Maine Beef Newsletter
Volume 1 Number 2
February 2013
News and events of interest to beef producers in Maine from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine, Department of Agriculture, Maine Beef Producers and other agriculture organizations in Maine.  
Free online sources of information:
Maine Beef Production Information by UMaine Extension
Beef Cattle Comments by Mike Baker, Cornell University
Drovers - Cattle Network - America's Beef Business Source 
Ag Trades Show logo Beef Program at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show
The Maine Beef Producers Association, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry sponsored a session to help people considering getting into raising beef learn about management needs from other beef farmers, Department of Agriculture and UMaine Extension staff. Over 70 current and potential beef producers attended this information session. 
In the post program evaluation 73% rated the program as effectively addressing the topics of starting a beef herd. Their understanding of the topics increased from 32% rated as considerable to 69% who rated their knowledge as considerable after the program. And confidence in starting a beef herd or improving their current beef herd increased from 36% who were very confident at the start of the program to 73% who were very confident in their ability after the program. All were likely to recommend this program to someone else to attend.
Some comments included, "I went into the program with no solid knowledge of the subject matter. Went away with a good foundation." "I've attended quite a few courses sponsored by Extension. All of which has added to my success as a local farmer, and is also reflected on the good health of my livestock."
Suggestions for future program include, "I was hoping to get/see a list of vaccines/medicines recommendations from calf birth to full grown so we could compare what we give our calves/herd." "Talk about different markets/marketing ideas."
The winner of the raffle for a free MBPA membership was Peter Pushor from Exeter.   
Red Barn
So You Want to Farm in Maine Webinar

So You Want to Farm in Maine is a farm business course for those people who want to start a profitable farm or expand their farm hobby to a profitable business. This course will be offered in eight evening webinars, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, starting Thursday, March 7th. Classes will be held on the Internet live and with an archived version that will be available shortly after the live session.  

Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, recordkeeping, market research and much more. Cost of the webinar is free. Course texts can be purchased from the UMaine Extension Publications Store.

For more information go to http://bit.ly/FARMME. To pre-register go to http://bit.ly/SYWTFIM 

 The Maine Beef Producers Association is in the process of updating and redesigning their website. A committee has been established to work with a web designer to make this site an asset to the members of MBPA, potential members and people interested in finding out about beef production in Maine. The committee welcomes your suggestions and recommendations to make this site as helpful as possible. Please send your suggestions to:
Bob Dusoe, rjdusoe@uninets.net
Dan Costain, dancostain@gmail.com
Phil Newcomb, pnewcomb@kvcc.me.edu
Jenn Grant, findviewfarm@juno.com
Donna Coffin, donna.coffin@maine.edu
or Jacob Guimond, jacob.guimond@maine.gov
Calves 4 Kids ... Accepting Applications
by Jenn Grant
The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting applications for the Calves for Kids program. The deadline is April 1st, 2013. Youth applying will be asked to come for an interview before the Calves for Kids committee at a later date. This program, started in 2007, has given 14 youth in the State of Maine a heifer calf. The program gives a youth an opportunity to have a registered beef heifer to show and start a herd. The youth's obligation is to breed the heifer to a registered bull and give back to the program the first heifer calf. If they do not get a heifer calf born after a few years they are obligated to pay the MBPA $1000. Of the 14 heifers that have gone to youth so far, 9 were either donated or bought by MBPA and the other five have come back from the youth. At the 2013 NELE, to be held at Windsor fairground in May, the 15th heifer will be awarded to Matthew Carroll of Lyman. This calf will come from Tyler Stevenson of Thorndike as his Angus heifer had a heifer this past fall. Applications can be found at the MBPA website or you can e-mail Jenn Grant at Findviewfarm@juno.com.
cattle on pasture
Maine Grass Farmers Network Grazing Conference

The 9thAnnual Maine Grass Farmers Network Grazing conference will be held on March 23rd in Fairfield on the campus of the Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, ME. This year, the focus will be on soil quality in pasture-based systems. Nationally recognized soil quality expert, Ray Archuleta from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Technology Center in North Carolina will be the keynote speaker. Ray will be speaking on "Improving Soil Health by Mimicking Nature". Ray is a dynamic and passionate speaker who will bring a wealth of knowledge to pasture based livestock producers in Maine.

Other presentations available at the conference include forage species selection options, USDA program opportunities and a producer spotlight featuring Steve Sinisi from Old Crow Ranch in Durham talking about his pastured poultry and pork operation. By popular demand, the conference organizers are bringing back Cole Ward "the Gourmet Butcher" who will be cutting and processing a side of beef.

The Maine Grazing Conference is co-sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Grass Farmers Network, MOFGA, NRCS and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Maine Beef Producers Association.

Registration and information is available by calling the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Waldo County at 207-342-5971 or by visiting the website www.umaine.edu/livestock/mgfn

 

Beef cow and calf
Beef Management Calendar

A calendar of important events that have to happen at specific times on your farm will let you plan for the success of your beef operation. A beef management calendar includes planned dates for various management activities to occur such as breeding, calving, health checks, cropping, pasture and marketing dates. Every farm is unique and your calendar will reflect what you are marketing, when you are marketing your product, how you produce your product and the inputs that you use to produce your product.

There are several state Cooperative Extensions that have developed calendars for you to start your own farm management calendar. A calendar is available from Washington State Extension at  http://bit.ly/10oghjW. There are also a number of electronic apps that can be used including Google Calendar if you have a gmail account. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service has a comparison of Computerized Herd Management Software for Cow-Calf Producers at http://bit.ly/RULxot (pdf). The low-tech calendar can be that holiday calendar from the equipment dealer that you can write in your management activities. What ever you use it is important to write down your planned dates, record the actual dates of your activities and production.

Management calendars are started at the end of your production cycle.

  • What do you sell? Finished animal, background animal, feeder calf, cuts of meat?
  • When do you sell it? At a specific sale or sales, during a specific holiday, during a specific season, or all year round?
  • How long will it take to get a calf to the weight you need to sell your product?
  • What management activities do you need to do to get the calf to the next production stage?
  • Are you raising that calf or buying from an auction?
  • If you are raising the calf, when will you need to breed the cow so she will have the calf at your desired time?
  • What management activities do you have to do to get the cow ready to breed?
  • Are you producing your own feed or do you buy it?
  • Etc.

Your management calendar can help you set goals for your farm to be more efficient, productive, and profitable. Some years you will hit your goals, other years will be a challenge. Your past management calendars will help you determine where you need to focus attention in your operation.

Breeding:

Once you know your calf due date, you can use gestation tables to figure out when to either put a bull with your animals or plan on AI. Some farmers use estrous synchronization to focus calving for a very limited time. If you want to have calving start April 1st, 2014 you will find that the breeding date that corresponds to this is June 23rd, 2013. Once you have decided how long you want your calving season, then you can mark the following dates on your calendar.

At least 45 days prior to breeding season, purchase bulls (tested for breeding soundness)and/or order semen and artificial insemination (A.I.) supplies or contact A.I.technician. Get a Breeding Soundness Evaluation for on-farm bulls.Quarantine purchased bulls until test results are confirmed negative.

Decide how many times and when you will work cattle.

Place appropriate forage-related information on calendar (i.e. hay and pasture management activities.)

Can ya help me find a bull? 

By Kevin Woltemath 

This seems to be a more commonly-asked question in Maine and throughout New England as there's been a gradual shift from what was a great many seedstock producers compared to the number of "commercial" cows, to now more and more farms either "direct-marketing" beef, or cow-calf producers marketing more value from their feeder cattle.    

Recognizing the demand for serviceable-age bulls, the Northeast Livestock Expo organizers are considering the addition of a Bull Auction as part of the event on May 18, immediately following the MBPA Spring Feeder Cattle Sale. If you have a bull (or bulls) to sell for breeding in 2013, and would like them to have a new home by June 1, please contact Kevin Woltemath at 207-926-1006, or email kwoltemath@pfnmeats.com .

Angus Bull Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training
Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase - and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry.
The next BQA Training March 2, 2013 at the Witter Center, UMaine, Orono Campus. 
Topics include: biosecurity, What is BQA and impact on carcass quality, E-coli and other diseaseas you can catch from your animals, overview of drug practices, facilities, flight zone, transportation, recordkeeping and hands-on cattle handline, current diseases and vaccinations.  
Cost is $25 for adults and $10 for youth age 19 and under (includes lunch.) Bring warm clothes, wear boots that are washable. The afternoon session is outside and all footwear will need to be washed before approaching the barn area. If you plan to come please contact Cindy Kilgore at 215-4968 or cindy.kilgore@maine.gov   
FREE Beef Quality Assurance Webinar  
(Until March 15th, 2013) The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University is able to offer free BQA certification thanks to a generous offer from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. For one month beef producers can take advantage of this opportunity. For more information and to sign up for the training go to BIVI-BQA 
Value-Added Beef Webinar Series
Beef producers interested in marketing live animals for custom harvest or beef cuts directly to consumers face financial, marketing and legal challenges. The Tennessee Value-Added Beef Program has started a series of online seminars (webinars) designed to help producers understand the risks and gain information and skills to effectively manage these likely obstacles. Maine beef producers are invited to participate for free.
Webinars will be held the second and forth Tuesday evenings of the month from October 2012 to March 2013 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm Eastern Time. Links to the archived sessions will be made available online at http://cpa.utk.edu
To receive a link by email to join each webinar, send an email to cpa@utk.edu with the following information (name, county, state and email address.)
Schedule of Webinars
02/26/13  What you should know about your product (continued) and become sales tax savvy
03/12/13  Developing effective marketing materials and tools
03/26/13  Resources Round-up: available resources for local beef marketers
Questions? Contact Megan Bruch at mlbruch@utk.edu or (931) 486-2777.
To receive Maine Beef News: All Maine beef producers are welcome to subscribe to the Maine Beef News for free. To keep costs down we are asking folks to sign up for the electronic version at http://bit.ly/PPfarming If you prefer surface mailed Maine Beef News, please call Melissa Libby at (207)581-2788 or send your mailing information to UMaine Extension Livestock Office, 134 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04479-5735. Currently we are only able to offer free mailed copy for free to Maine residents. 
MBPA logo and top of brochure Join the Maine Beef Producers Association The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2013 year. For more information on this organization go to  http://bit.ly/U5MSWu 
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
  • Beef Housing & Equipment Handbook, #1001. Information on cow-calf, cattle handling, and cattle feeding facilities; feed storage, processing and handling; water and waterers; manure management; farmstead planning, building construction, materials, ventilation and insulation; fences; gates and utilities. 133 pages with index, 1986. $15.

Calendar

  • Second & forth Tuesdays of the month Value-Added Beef Webinar Series, 7:30 pm to 9 pm Eastern. To receive link by email to join each webinar, send an email to cpa@utk.edu with your name, county, state and email. Links to archived session will be made available online at http://cpa.utk.edu 
  • March 2, 2013 Beef Quality Assurance Training  Witter Farm, University of Maine, Orono. 9 am to 3 pm. Cost $25 for adults & $10 for students. Pre-registration is required. To pre-register contact Cindy Kilgore at 215-4968 or cindy.kilgore@maine.gov   
  • March 6, 2013 Pfizer Cattle Health Program, Presque Isle, FMI 207-926-1006 kwoltemath@pfnmeats.com    
  • March 7, 2013 Pfizer Cattle Health Program, Central Maine, FMI 207-926-1006 kwoltemath@pfnmeats.com   
  • March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2013 So You Want to Farm in Maine Webinar 7 pm The purpose of this course is to equip participants with the business knowledge and skills to start, adapt and maintain a profitable land-based business.  It is designed for current farmers and those who want to have a farm. The sessions will be free, course texts can be purchased from the UMaine Extension Publications Store. This course will be archived so participants can view it live or at a convenient time. For more information go to www.bit.ly/FARMME. Sign up survey at www.bit.ly/SYWTFIM.   
  • March 23, 2013 Grass Farmers Conference Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, ME. 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration fee starting at $75 for first person from farm includes lunch, discounts available. To pre-register and for more information go to  www.umaine.edu/livestock/mgfn or call 207-342-5971.   
  • April 11, 2013 Agritourism Options for the Farm 7 pm at the UMaine Extension Office in Piscataquis County, 156 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME Marc Edwards, Extension Professional will discuss ways farms can expand their incomes by agrictourism. Maine Highlands Farmers regular business meeting to follow. All interested people are invited to attend. FMI contact Donna Coffin at 207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or donna.coffin@maine.edu  
  • April 13th, 2013 - Calves weaned to meet precondition protocol for May 18th feeder calf sale. Go to www.mainebeefproducersassociation.org for full protocol details.   
  • April 25 - 28, 2013 National Belted Galloway Sale at the Fryeburg Fair Grounds in Fryeburg, ME sponsored by the New England Galloway Group. FMI go to their website    
  • May 18, 2013 Spring Feeder Calf Sale at NELE, Windsor, ME followed by a Bull Auction. Contact Pete Dusoe 207-416-5441 or 207-948-3233 or email pbdusoe@uninets.net for info on the feeder calf protocol and sale and Kevin Woltemath 207-926-1006, or email kwoltemath@pfnmeats.com for information on the bull sale.   

 

Contact Info
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
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