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Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine
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Volume 1 Number 3
| April 2013
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| 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 |
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Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
May 18th @ 11am
Sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers
Grass has started to grow and backyard beef producers looking for beef calves to turn out on pasture this spring have an opportunity to buy healthy calves. The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) is sponsoring a preconditioned feeder calf sale at the Northeast Livestock Expo on Saturday, May 18th at 11 am at the Windsor Fair Grounds, just off Route 32 in Windsor www.northeastlivestockexpo.com .
Cow Calf producers have taken the time to precondition their calves for this sale. Preconditioning reduces the incidence of respiratory disease, enteritis and pinkeye by increasing the immunity of the calf in preparation of the stress of weaning and shipping. Dehornings and castrations are healed. "This is a great opportunity to purchase high quality calves for your summer pasture," says Dick Brown MBPA Director and auctioneer for the sale.
Some cow calf producers consigning animals to the sale have also signed affidavits attesting that their animals have been raised under the MBPA Natural Meats program protocol of never having received hormones, antibiotics, or feeds or feed supplements containing animal-by-products. And/or their animals are 100% grass (forage) fed, no grains, grain-by-products, grain crops, grain crop silages, or other prohibited feeds under the USDA grass fed guidelines have been fed.
The MBPA are expecting about 100 calves weighing from 400 to 900 pounds to be sold at the May 18th sale at 11 am. If you are interested in buying a few or a lot of animals or have questions contact Sale Manager, Pete Dusoe at 207-948-3233, 207-416-5441 or pbdusoe@uninets.net or Bob Dusoe at 207-322-5609.
Sale is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday, May 18th.
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Maine Ranks Second in Stroll's 2013 Locavore Index
The Vermont-based local food advocacy group has released its second annual Strolling of the Heifers Locavore Index, ranking the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of their commitment to local foods.
Using recent indicator data from multiple sources, the Index incorporates farmers markets, consumer-supported agriculture operations (CSAs) and food hubs in its per-capita comparison of consumers' interest in eating locally-sourced foods - also known as locavorism.
The top five states for locavorism, according to the Index, in order, are Vermont (first), Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Iowa, while the bottom five are Texas (last), Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and Nevada.
Source: http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/locavore-index-2013/
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New Naming System for Beef at Retail
The Industry-Wide Cooperative Meat Identification Standards Committee (ICMISC) has introduced updated Uniform Retail Meat Identification Standards (URMIS) nomenclature for fresh beef & pork for retailers to use on packs. After two years of consumer research they found that consumers were confused by naming standards that were developed years ago. The consumer is really looking for simplified naming that identifies the cut and also suggests how to prepare the different cuts of meat.
This cross-industry effort was established to increase consumer confidence by simplifying common names for meat and offer shoppers consistent, easy-to-follow preparation standards. Below is an example of how the old "beef shoulder top blade steak boneless flat iron" name has been changed to a shorter "Flat Iron Steak beef, top blade, boneless" name with cooking suggestion "Grill for best results."
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 | | Courtesy of the Beef Checkoff Program |
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Items of Interest
Agriculture Marketing Service publishes daily, weekly, monthly and yearly market reports on most agriculture commodities based on auctions throughout the country. Here is the link to the weekly market reports for livestock and grain.
Alternative Beef Production Systems: Issues and Implications
Outlook No. (LDPM-21801) 34 pp, April 2013
U.S. beef markets are undergoing rapid change as alternative production systems evolve in response to consumer demands and compete with conventional grain-fed beef production. Beef produced through distinguishable systems has different marketable attributes that may attract price premiums.
Beef Marketing Alternatives ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service This publication explores marketing alternatives for small-scale cattle ranchers who would like to add value to the beef they produce. Part One discusses methods to add value within the conventional marketing system, including retained ownership and cooperative marketing. Part Two introduces alternative marketing strategies, including niche markets for "natural," lean, and organic beef. Production considerations for pasture-finished beef are given special attention. A section on direct marketing focuses on connecting with consumers and developing a product. Processing and legal issues are also covered. This publication also provides information on developing prices for retail beef based on wholesale prices and desired mark-up, and for determining carcass value. A list of resources provides suggestions for further reading, contact information for several producers and marketers of "alternative" beef, and Web pages of interest. 2006
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=200Direct Marketing Techniques & Tips for Farm Products - Donna Coffin presented a virtual program to farmers in Frenchville from Dover-Foxcroft in February of 2013. This is a very low tech presentation that includes the PowerPoint and audio at http://youtu.be/0e3vH760RM0 If you have any questions you can contact Donna Coffin at donna.coffin@maine.edu Seeding the Livestock Industry Survey Coming Soon The Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society (MESAS) project More Maine Meat is attempting to get a better handle on what it is going to take to grow the part of the livestock industry pertaining to animal agriculture born and raised in Maine. There will be a separate survey to slaughter/processors as we endeavor to meet the (More Maine Meat) goal of more animals born, raised and processed here in Maine. When it comes your way, please make every effort to complete the survey when it comes your way.
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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
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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 .
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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.
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 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
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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.
- This Old Hayfield: A Factsheet on Hayfield Renovation, # 2491. 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: PDF (for printing) or buy a printout for $0.50.
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Calendar
- 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 8, 2013 Maine Beef Producers Association Meeting, 6:30 pm, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Deering Hall, Augusta.
- 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.
- June 26, 2013 Rogers Farm Field Day, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm UMaine Research Farm, Bennock Road, Stillwater (near Orono).FMI contact ellen.mallory@maine.edu
- July 21, 2013 Open Farm Day - www.getrealmaine.com
- August 21 & 22, 2013 Maine Farm Days, Misty Meadows Farm, Clinton. FMI http://www.kcswcd.org/
- November 16, 2013 Maine Harvest Festival, Bangor Civic Center, Bangor
- December 7, 2013 Maine Beef Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, Bangor
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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.
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