If you raise lambs, you know the importance of harvesting your animals at exactly the right time. Lambs that are over- or under-finished will produce meat that is less desirable to consumers. Mastering the ability to determine when your lambs are correctly finished at 0.20 to 0.25 inch of back fat can result in a superior product in the marketplace, one that surpasses your competitors and creates demand among consumers. This brief tip sheet tells you how. For those raising meat for their own consumption, this video will answer the question, "When is my lamb ready to be butchered?" This  2-page factsheet is available at National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. There is an accompanying video showing this technique. 

• Swine Website Dr. Don Hoenig, Extension Veterinarian has started working on a new UMaine Extension Swine website where information and events of interest to people raising pigs in Maine will be posted. It is located at http://umaine.edu/livestock/swine/ 
• Corinth Farmers Market is looking for farmers for this years market. Tom Thompson, Market Manager for the Corinth Farmers Market reports, "During our 4-week trial run last year, we had tremendous feedback from local townspeople as well as others from surrounding communities. The goal is to keep it simple and keep fees as close to zero as possible and provide a needed service to the community."  FMI  https://www.facebook.com/CorinthFarmersMarket 
• Milo Farmers' Market? John Maynard is asking farmers who may be interested in participating in a farmers' market in Milo to contact him at 207-943-3342 or jmayn400@gmail.com   
• USDA Resources for Small and Mid-Sized Farmers
  This new website provides valuable resources and program information about access to capital, land management and conservation practices, managing risk, finding local markets, and other educational resources.
• UN Report on climate change and the impact to the future world food supply.  There will be challenges and opportunities that will impact farmers in Maine. For more local information on our climate go to UMaine's Maine Climate News website. 
• Veterinarians for Livestock Farms A list of large animal vets is available on UMaine Extension website.  

• April 5, 2014 Managing Livestock on Pasture Workshop from 9:00AM to noon at the Sangerville Community Room.  Although there is no cost for the workshop, pre-registration is required by Monday, March 31. For more information and to pre-register, please stop by the PCSWCD office at the USDA Service Center, located at the Pine Crest Business Park at 42 Engdahl Drive in Dover-Foxcroft. You may also pre-register by emailing the PCSWCD at info@piscataquisswcd.org or by calling 564 - 2321, Extension 3. If you need special accommodations to attend this workshop, please notify the PCSWCD by March 28.
• April 9, 2014 Swine Education Seminar, 8:30 am registration, 9 am to 2:45 pm Florian Hall, Dept. of Public Safety, 45 Commerce Dr., Augusta, ME National Pork Board Veterinarians will discuss the latest information on swine health, public health, food safety and animal welfare. PQA certification for pork producers. Cost $25 (includes lunch) $20 for Maine Pork Producer Members. Pre-registration through Cindy Kilgore, Dept. of ACF, SHS 28, Augusta, ME 04333-0028 or call 207-215-4968 or cindy.kilgore@maine.gov 
• April 10, 2014 Hay & Pasture Management 7 pm to 9 pm at the Penobscot County Extension Office, 309 Maine Ave., Bangor. Rick Kersbergen will cover soil fertility, hayfield/pasture species identification and management. Also he will discuss weed control and pasture renovation techniques and the basics of forage quality. FMI Donna Coffin at 207-564-3301.   
• April 12, 2014 Cultivating Community... Mapping the Maine Highlands Food System presented by the East Sangerville Grange, sponsored by the Maine Farmland Trust. Farmers, gardeners, producers, consumers, distributors, processors, retailers, CSAs, food cupboards, farm markets, restaurants, schools, food councils, landowners, educators, lenders, investors & policy makers --- Where do you fit in? Registration at 8 am, program from 9 am to 4 pm. Cost: $10 with pre-registration or $15 without. To Pre-register contact Janet Sawyer at jsawyer@pcedc.org. information at www.grange.org/eastsangervilleme177  
• April 12, 2014 Organic Livestock Health Care

  with Susan Beal, 10am to 3pm; Common Ground Education Center, Unity.Please bring a bag lunch Register here.  
• April 23, 2014 Stutzman's Farm Tour - Hoop House & Transitioning to Organic. sponsored by the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District and MOFGA. FMI 207-564-2321 ext. 3 or info@piscataquisswcd.org   
• April 25 & 26 Northeast Horseman's Conference at the YMCA Rec Center  in Damariscotta. FMI jjennings@mainefarmbureau.com  
• April 25 - 27, 2014 Fryeburg Youth Show, Fryeburg Fair Grounds. http://www.fryeburgyouthshow.com/ 
• April 26, 2014 New England Galloway Sale, Fryeburg Fair Grounds  http://www.newenglandgallowaygroup.com/  
• May 1, 2014 Intent forms due for Union Fair Steer & Lamb Auction, Auction will be August 19th at 7 pm. Contact Heidi Baker at 207-975-4415 or email unionmarketshow@gmail.com  
• May 4, 2014 Maine Highlands Chapter of MOFGA Kick Off, at the East Sangerville Grange, contact esangervillegrange@gmail.com for details. 
• May 6, 20, June 3, 17 & July 1, 2014 Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills, Level 1 9 am to 1 pm at the Penobscot County Extension Office, Bangor.  Facilitation skills are not routinely learned and practiced. If you have ever been in a role that you wished you had more skills or practice for, then this five-lesson training is for you. Registration $120. FMI http://umaine.edu/ext-community/strengthening-your-facilitation-skills/level-1/ 

   

   
• May 16 to 18, 2014 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor.  
• May 17, 2014 MBPA Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale at Northeast Livestock Expo.  

Need Pesticide credits? Check out the Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar, many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed.  You can view the calendar on their web site at: Pesticide Re-certification Credit Calendar