Photo: Edwin Remsburg
   Piscataquis & Penobscot Farming Newsletter
UMaine Cooperative Extension Logo
Putting knowledge to work
for the people of Maine
Volume 12 Number 5

May 2014  

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
  
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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.
Photo: Scott Bauer
UMaine Extension Tick I.D. Lab
 

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office has started a new tick identification lab.  The PMO has always identified ticks with averaging around 50 or so specimens a year.  The bulk of Maine's tick identifications were done at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough.  There, they processed up to 1300 samples per year, looking at tick distribution and occurrence of Lyme disease as well as other tick borne problems.

As of Dec 31, 2013 they stopped this part of their research and approached the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office to take over the I.D. part of this service.  A website, as well as a submission program/online form, were quickly established, and a $10 fee per tick for ID instated.  To ensure quick turnaround time on specimens, an extensive day-long training was held at PMO for tick ID of the 14 species found in Maine. The program came online the first week April, and the first tick specimens are now being submitted.  Please go online to view the new website and find the submission form.

 
poultry
How would you know if your hens are laying eggs???
1. Check the nests daily (but what if they are hiding the eggs?)
2. Keep track of whether they are eating and drinking well (but what if they are just getting fat?)
3. Check the color of wattles and legs: bright or pale? Busy layers are pale.
4. Pick them up and palpate them!
  • Feel the Keel: are they too skinny or too fat, or just right?
  • Feel the Pelvis: is there room for an egg to pass through?
  • Look at the Vent: is it wide enough for an egg to pass through?

Remember: Hens may lay an egg a day, so they need a special diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Use layer feeds for hens that are old enough to lay eggs.  

Keep nests clean: remove manure when you gather eggs daily. Be sure each hen has a nesting space.  

Source: University of Maine Animal Health Lab, 5735 Hitchner Hall, UMaine, Orono, ME 04469 http://umaine.edu/veterinarylab  

 
The USDA Grass Fed Program for Small and Very Small (SVS) Producers was designed as a verification tool for small and very small producers to certify that animals meet the requirements of the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard. For this program, USDA is targeting producers that market 49 cattle or less each year.
As part of USDA-wide efforts to create more opportunities for small-scale livestock producers, AMS designed a less costly application process for SVS producers, using the USDA Certified Grass-Fed claim as its first example.
Cost of the Service: The set fee for the review and approval is $108.00.
Duration of the approval: Two year period
Website Listing: One requirement of this program is that all approved producers must be listed on this website. The producer does have the option of what the listing includes but at a minimum that name of the location, ranch or farm and the approval date must be included.
Producers who are certified under this new program will receive a certificate that will allow them to market cattle as USDA Certified grass-fed, either as calves or market ready cattle, increasing their market value and creating new economic opportunities for these producers.
AMS will review submitted documentation and the detailed farm or ranch plan submitted by the producer. If the plan is sufficient, AMS will approve the producer and the cattle at that location as meeting the requirements of the Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard.
The grass-fed marketing claim standard requires that ruminant animals be fed only grass and forage, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Animals certified under this program cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.
UMaine Extension Offers New Blog for Farmers!
Donald E Hoenig, VMD, is author to a new blog for Maine farmers called Made in Maine: Thoughts on Food, Animals and Agriculture. Dr. Hoenig retired as the Maine State Veterinarian in 2012 and, after completing a year-long Congressional Fellowship in Sen. Susan Collins' office in Washington DC last year, in January 2014 he started working as a part-time Extension Veterinarian for University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Submit questions and comments to [email protected]. Answers to selected questions will appear in future blog posts.
May 12th post was on consuming raw milk.
May 21st post was on egg production methods.
Maine Food Strategy 2014 Consumer Survey Report
The phone survey of 600 households was conducted to determine how Mainers understood the state's food system and find out how they viewed various food-related issues.
Some of the questions/ topics included:
  • What does local mean?
  • In a typical month how much do you spend on food grown locally?  
  • Do you garden, hunt, fish or gather food from the wild to provide food for your family? 
  • Have you purchased Maine-raised or Maine-caught fish?
  • What factors influence food purchases?  
2012 Census of Agriculture logo
2012 Census of Agriculture State and County Level Data
The detailed statistics from the 2012 Census of Agriculture has been released and can be viewed at http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/
The number of crops farms in Penobscot increased by 6 and Piscataquis County increased by 21 farms from 2007 to 2012.
The number of livestock farms in Penobscot County increased by 30 and Piscataquis County increased by 33 farms. Sales of agriculture products in Penobscot County increased from $43 Million to $50 Million from 2007 to 2012. 
Small Acreage Farms (10 acres or less)
USDA Economic Research Service just released a study on  small acreage farms that had gross sales of $10,000 or more in a given year to better understand the product choices and strategies used by small acreage farms that appear to be operating profitably.
Small acreage did not necessarily mean small sales. Over 30,000 SA farms had sales between $10,000 and $50,000 in 2007, while 6,000 SA farms grossed over $50,000 and 3,600 had sale of at least $500,000. These farms tended to specialised in a single stage of production process when raising livestock or they produced high-value crops. They produced very little or no field crops, which require large acreages.  High-value crops included floriculture, tree nurseries, orchards and vegetables.
Working the Land With 10 Acres: Small Acreage Farming in the United States, April 2014

Items of Interest
  • Free Parasite Testing If you currently own sheep and graze them on pasture, you are eligible for FREE parasite testing from a group at the University of Maine.  This summer's project is the start of a three-year research, teaching and outreach commitment to the small ruminant producers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that will be funded through Northeast SARE.  For more information [email protected]  
  • New Maine 4-H Science Video was recently created that highlights a key program area for our 4-H program in Maine. Some of you might not be as familiar with what's happening in 4H so I encourage everyone to take less than two minutes out of your busy day to watch this video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4egJKiyxH6U&feature=youtu.be 
  • Garlic Website includes information (bulletins and videos) on growing, harvesting and pest management of this very valuable crop.   
  • 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/ 
  • Find a Farmers Market  The Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets  has a list of farmers markets in the state of Maine as well as the Get Real Get Maine site that the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry maintains.   
  • 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.  

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.

  • Managing Insect Pests of Sweetcorn #  5101 This Sweet Corn IPM fact sheet describes monitoring, scouting, and pest control procedures for the three major insect pests of sweet corn in New England: European corn borer, corn earworm, and fall armyworm. Includes insert with 12 color photographs as well as sturdy chart with spray thresholds to post near your sprayer. 8 pages. � 1996 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy $1.75. 
  • 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 or buy a printout $0.50.  
Upcoming Events

 

  • May 24, 2014 Maine Highlands Chapter of MOFGA Raspberry Thinning, Pruning & Transplanting at 9 am at Felix Blinn's, 230 Church St., Brownville. Email [email protected] if you plan to attend.  
  • May 30, 31 & June 1 Piscataquis Heritage Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds in Dover-Foxcroft. Come visit UMaine Extension & 4H display and talks on container gardening, invasive insects, shooting sports, rabbit care, blood pressure readings and spiders. Sunday we will have a Kite making and flying program. Great for kids and adults!  
  • May 31 White Pine Management Workshop sponsored by the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District at their Williamsburg Forest. Recertification credits are available for this workshop through the Society of American Foresters, the Maine Certified Logging Professionals, and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. Continuous Improvement Documentation is available through the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program. Pre-registration is required. Contact PCSWCD at 207-564-2321 ext. 3 or [email protected] 
  • June 7 & 8, 2014 Maine Fiber Frolic 
  • June 12, 2014 Weed Identification Walk, 7 pm to 9 pm sponsored by the UMaine Extension at Stutzman's Farm in Sangerville. Two hours of pesticide recertification credits have been applied for. If you have a problem weed please bring pictures. This is free to any interested farmer. FMI contact Donna Coffin at 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or [email protected]     
  • June 14, 2014 Farm & Homestead Day at MOFGA 

  • June 21, 2014 Corinth Threads in History Spinning Workshop from 10:00-4:00 at the Corinth Historical Society Museum, 306 Main St (Rt 15) Corinth, ME. Patty Blomgren of Dummerston, VT, who has been a spinner and weaver for 30 years will discuss fiber preparation, tools of the trade, terminology, drafting and plying techniques. Fee $45, FMI: email [email protected] or call 884-7636 and ask for Jan.    

  • June 25, 2014 NMPAN Webinar: Business of Dry Curing free webinar from the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network will cover the growth of artisan cured meats and the basics of the business. Two charcuterie processors will talk about how they got started, their day-to-day operations, and the costs and revenue for dry curing. The webinar will focus specifically on the economics of charcuterie. To attend, log in as a guest five to 10 minutes before start time 1 p.m. Eastern.
  • June 28, 2014 MOFGA Orcharding Workshop 10 am to 3 pm at 496 Davis Rd., Durham $30 FMI MOFGA.org 
  • July 4 - 6, 2014 Northeast Permaculture Convergence at MOFGA  

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 

 

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

 or

Penobscot County Office 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

307 Maine Avenue Bangor, ME 04401