Flash Drive or Free Download Now Available on ATTRA Website

Raising sheep and goats can be a fruitful way for small and limited-resource producers to diversify their operations. They just need the tools to make the enterprise successful. A new Small Ruminant Toolbox developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) with the help of a number of collaborators fits that bill nicely.

The free toolbox, which was funded by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), is a well-organized collection of some of the best information available on small ruminants.

The Tools

• Relevant ATTRA materials, including the comprehensive, 978-page "Small Ruminant Resource Manual"
• Several informative presentations shared by Susan Schoenian of University of Maryland Extension
• The entire course for the Tennessee Master Meat Goat Producer Program
• An extensive library of related Power Point Presentations
• A "Frequently Asked Questions" section on sheep and goat production
• A list of other resources

Not Just for Producers

The information in the Small Ruminant Toolbox is also a great resource for Extension agents and other educators. Most of the materials can be freely shared, and if there are restrictions, the toolbox lays out what they are.  There is even a section specifically geared toward Extension agents.

Where to Find the Toolbox

The Small Ruminant Toolbox is available at no cost on the ATTRA website at https://attra.ncat.org/ruminant/

Grab Your Toolbox and Go

This collection is also available on a USB flash drive. It's easily portable and all the content is readily available even when you don't have Internet access. The flash drives are $5 each, and can be ordered from the website. Information about bulk orders is available by calling 800-346-9140.

Free Webinar 

Thursday, June 26, 2014
2:00 p.m. EDT

Every 15 minutes someone in the U.S. takes his or her own life. And for every suicide, there are 25 attempts. These numbers are disproportionately larger in rural and veteran populations. This public health issue affects everyone: families, health care providers, school personnel, faith communities, friends, government, and others.

It is important that everyone knows suicide's warning signs and how to help a person contemplating suicide. Learn the signs, find the words, be able to reach out and connect individuals with the appropriate resources to keep them and their loved ones safe.

To participate in this free webinar, click here to access the online registration form by Monday, June 23. Instructions for accessing the session will be sent to registrants by Tuesday, June 24. Please pass on this invitation to others you believe may be interested. Contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264  or email agrability@agrability.org if you have questions.

I am an Assistant Professor at Paul Smith's College, in the Adirondacks of New York, and am conducting research in conjunction with the University of New Hampshire to assess the current status of silvopasture practices in New York and New England.  Silvopasture is the sustainable integration of livestock, forages, and trees on the same unit of land and this specific research project is funded by the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.  

I plan to work with approximately twenty farmers during the summer and fall of 2014 to document regional silvopasture practices.  I am reaching out to you as a agricultural outreach professional because I am in the process of identifying farms practicing silvopasture who may be willing to offer and interview and site visit.   

If you are familiar with farms in your region that practice silvopasture (even if they don't call it that) I would very much appreciate any contact information you can provide.  Alternatively, please feel free to pass along this request to any individuals who are/or know silvopasture practitioners. I have attached the project abstract in pdf format to this e-mail for your reference.   

My e-mail address is jorefice@paulsmiths.edu or 518-354-3170 

Joseph Orefice

Assistant Professor

School of Natural Resource Management and Ecology

Paul Smith's College

The Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Farming Newsletter (PPCFN), now received by over 600 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension for over 10 years. As of January 1, 2015, the PPCFN will be transitioning to electronic-only delivery. There will still be three ways to receive the PPCFN from your local UMaine Extension:

1) Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties Farming Newsletter is available online for free! You can sign up to receive the newsletter through your email or view the archived issues anytime at  http://bit.ly/PPfarming If you currently do not have an email, you can get one for free from several email hosts. If you do not have a computer, community libraries have computers for you to use to access information on the Internet and to view your email.

2) Those with no email can opt to pay an annual subscription to receive the newsletters monthly for $15/year. More details on how to subscribe later this fall.  

 3) A third option is to come into the Piscataquis or Penobscot County Extension Office and pick up a free printed copy of the newsletter.

       We appreciate our readers referring others to the newsletter, and sharing it with their family and friends.

    Thank you for your continued support of the PPCFN, valuable agricultural information from Extension for folks in the central Maine area since 2003.

• June 14, 2014 Farm & Homestead Day at MOFGA 

• June 16th An Evening with a Small Ruminant Parasitologist, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. - Evening meal (on-your-own). Meet at Cole Farms Restaurant, 64 Lewiston Road (Routes100/202/4), Gray, Maine.  Dr. James E. Miller, a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University, is scheduled to vacation in southern Maine in June. Dr. Miller is an expert in small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode parasitism. The Maine Sheep Breeders Association, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Turner Veterinary Service have arranged for sheep and goat producers and other interested parties to meet with and learn from Dr. Miller. Please arrive by 5:15 p.m. to order off the menu. RSVP 207-781-6099 or email lynne.b.hazelton@maine.edu with contact phone number, email, number attending and subject line MILLER. 
  7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Educational component of the evening, at the Maine Forest Service Building, Route 26 (356 Shaker Road), Gray. Free and open to the public. 
  Both sites are 10 minutes from Exit 63 of the Maine Turnpike. 
  Topics to be presented: * update and new concepts regarding small ruminant parasite management - including organic and natural methods; * using anthelmintics effectively; * Q&A and discussion - Bring your questions
• June 21, 2014
  Bee Sustainable Pollinator Workshop from 9:00AM to 12:30PM in Dover-Foxcroft starting at American Legion Hall Post 29 and the Field Session at the Richard and Caroline Swett Forest.  This workshop, offered in partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will cover the importance of pollinators for agricultural production, native plants and pollinators, and the USDA-NRCS conservation programs that are available to develop pollinator habitat. To register contact
  info@piscataquisswcd.org Phone:  564 - 2321, Extension 3.

   

• 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 pilgrimpt@zoho.com 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 26, 2014 UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Twilight Meeting

  'Sustainable Agriculture Research at Rogers Farm'5:00 to 7:45pm at UMaine Rogers Forage & Crops Research Farm, Stillwater.  2 Certified Crop Advisor credits and 1 Pesticide credit will be offered. No pre-registration required - Refreshments provided. For more information, contact:  Ellen Mallory - ellen.mallory@maine.edu; 207-581-2942. Come early for a Weed Walk - starting at 4:00pm, join Eric Gallandt for a stroll around the farm to identify and learn about common and maybe not so common weeds. Directions: The UMaine Rogers Farm is located on Rt. 16, 1.5 miles north of Stillwater, ME. Take exit 193 off I-95 and head east toward Old Town on Stillwater Ave.    At the third set of lights, turn left onto Bennoch Rd. (Rt. 16).  The Rogers Farm is 1.5 miles north on Bennoch Rd.

• June 27, 2014 Bucking Hardwood for Maximum Log and Veneer Grades Workshop8:30 AM - Noon at Premium Log Yard, Rt. 17, Coopers Mills. SAF Continuing Ed credits pending. FMI  kevin.doran@maine.gov or 207-287-4988

• 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   

Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Summer Camps, To register contact info@piscataquisswcd.org or phone:  564 - 2321, Extension 3

July 7^th to 11^th Teen Summer Camp Natural Resources Week for ages 13-18

 July 14^th to 18^th Teen Summer Camp Agriculture Week for ages 13-18

July 28^th to August 1^st Youth Summer Camp Natural Resources Week for ages 7-12

August 4^th to 8^th Youth Summer Camp for Agriculture Week for ages 7-12

• July 24-25 - Maine Grain Alliance Kneading Conference. Thursday 8 a.m. to Friday 5 p.m. Two-day conference fee is $300. (Includes delicious meals). Many participants arrive on Wednesday, July 23 and stay to attend the free Artisan Bread Fair on Saturday, July 26. Registration.

• July 26 - Maine Artisan Bread Fair. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Skowhegan State Fairgrounds. Free! Over 60 vendors. Parking $2. Details.

• October 23, 2014 Climate Adaptation & Sustainability (CLAS) Conference...Building a Framework & Platform for CLAS Planning for Communities 8 am to 5 pm at the Wells Conference Center, UMaine, Orono.