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Piscataquis and Penobscot
Farming Newsletter
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Practical farming information based on university research
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Why a New Animal/Plant Disease and Insect Control Lab for Maine?
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 On November's ballot there will be an $8,000,000 bond referendum to support Maine agriculture, facilitate economic growth in natural resource based industries, and monitor human health threats related to ticks, mosquitoes, and bedbugs through the creation of an Animal and Plant Disease and Insect Control Laboratory administered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Explore the ways a new Animal/Plant Disease and Insect Control Laboratory will benefit Maine by clicking on one of these topics:
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 Spotted wing drosophila captures continued to be low and erratic this week. No spotted drosophila were found at most of our trap sites; but we also caught four flies in our Turner and Wales locations, the most we have caught in a single week this season. We caught two flies in traps in Thorndike and Farmington this week, and single flies in traps in Bowdoinham, Warren and Livermore Falls. We have not yet had any reports of fruit infested with larvae. The other New England states are all now reporting captures of spotted wing drosophila in traps; but like us, the counts have been low.
If the population growth of spotted wing drosophila follows a similar trend as the past two years, we expect populations to start to build rapidly in the next two to three weeks, especially if conditions remain warm and humid. Set out traps, if you haven't already, and examine them every couple of days. Start protective sprays on any berries that have begun to ripen, once more than one spotted wing drosophila is caught in a trap, or any larvae are noticed in the fruit. Look for fruit flies hovering around fruit and symptoms of premature fruit decay.
For information on materials to use and directions for building a monitoring trap click here.
From: David Handley, Vegetable & Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Frank Drummond, Professor of Insect Ecology/Entomology
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Made in Maine - by Dr. Don Hoenig, VMD
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 Don's July blog focused on his work with Maine swine farmers through the years. Recently he has helped Maine producers prevent the spread of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) through tightened import requirements. So far, so good, but the danger is still at a high level. He also talks about his work in swine welfare and his observation that swine farmers in Maine don't use gestation crates, but many rely on farrowing crates.
The end of his blog talks about the five freedoms of Animal Welfare.
- Freedom from hunger & thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease
- Freedom from fear & distress
- Freedom to express normal behaviors
You can read his blog by clicking here. |
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To this date, potato late blight has been reported a few locations in Aroostook County and several other locations in Southern Maine. Conditions have been conducive for disease spread; we strongly urge all growers to be carefully scouting their fields at this time.
With blackleg, white mold, sunscald, and lightning strikes being found in area potato fields, disease diagnosis can be difficult. Please feel free to bring disease samples to your local Cooperative Extension office.
For the latest information on potato late blight, please call the hotline at (207) 760-9ipm (760-9476) or 1-888-use-umce (1-888-873-8623).
From: James Dwyer, Crops Specialist; James Dill, Pest Mgmt. Specialist; Steven Johnson, Crops Specialist; Griffin Dill, IPM Professional
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2012 Census of Agriculture -
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Many times people ask - how many potato farms, vegetable farms, beef farms, pig farms or sheep farms in Piscataquis or Penobscot County. The answer may not be easy. If we look at all "Farms" in 2012 Piscataquis had 203 farms and Penobscot had 677.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. The census also lists number of farms that have different crops or livestock in inventory or that have been sold. The NAICS doesn't include some farm categories that the inventory includes.
It is easy to see that both Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties have a great resource available with our hay and forages that are utilized by beef, dairy, sheep, goats and equines. These counties also have a growing number of vegetable, greenhouse & poultry farms. Many of these farms are very small-scale and sell directly to the consumer.
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Update Hay and Straw Directory
If you have excess or are in the position to sell hay or straw, consider using the Maine Hay and Straw Directory. It is free to use. More information is available online, or call Cooperative Extension 1.800.287.1426. 2014-2015 Good Husbandry Grants Program
Animal Welfare Approved announced a call for proposals to improve farm animal welfare. AWA-certified farmers (and those with application pending) can apply for up to $5,000 towards projects that demonstrate improved well-being of the animals, such as mobile housing, breeding stock, and on-farm processing. For application details, and other information go to AnimalWelfareApproved.org/farmers/grants-for-farmers or emily@AnimalWelfareApproved.org or (202 618-4497.
A Trip to Fossa's General Store selling local goods to local people in Dexter - was recently featured in a Maine Farm Land Trust Blog. Click here for a link to the story. IPM Information
The UMaine Extension has a vibrant IPM program for a number of important crops in Maine. You can go to this page to sign up for or view the latest information on the following crops and their pests: Strawberry, Blueberry, Apple, Sweet Corn, Potato, Cranberry and Home & Garden. Three Rivers Farmers' Market -Elm St., Milo
I just visited their market last weekend and found they have at least 50 customers that visit the market. If you are looking for a place to sell your farm products please contact them at the email below for a copy of the application, list of bylaws, rules for market participation and a food sample information sheet. After you have looked through all the information, please let them know if you would like to participate as soon as you have decided. They will follow up with a phone call in a few days. Three Rivers Farmers Market 3RFM@trcmaine.org NRCS Conservation Program Signup Deadline for 2015 The next deadline for the Conservation Program signup is August 15, 2014 for the 2015 Fiscal year. NRCS has a wide variety of programs of interest to farmers including: animal waste mitigation, cropland protection, forestry, seasonal high tunnels, erosion control, etc. Contact your county NRCS office for signup details. New USDA Website for Beginning Farmers New Farm Bill measures and other policy changes to improve the financial security of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Harden also unveiled www.usda.gov/newfarmers , a new website that will provide a centralized, one-stop resource where beginning farmers and ranchers can explore the variety of USDA initiatives designed to help them succeed.
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Selling Successfully at a Farmers' Market
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension just released this 12-page publication that offers over 35 marketing and merchandizing tips for folks selling at or thinking about selling at Farmers' Markets. click here.
Integrated Pest Management for Fly Control in Maine Dairy Barns #5002
Explains IPM techniques for fly control that enable dairy operators and other livestock producers to reduce pesticide use. 6 pages. © 2002 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free: click here or buy a color copy. $1.00.
A call to action - Reenvisioning Food to Address Maines Need. YouTube 4 minutes on the Maine Hunger Dialog and what you can do.
Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm from NCAT. This publication helps farmers decide if they are ready to expand their operations to serve wholesale markets or produce more for direct markets. It describes how organization and planning can help a producer meet the challenges involved in scaling up. This publication addresses important considerations such as land, labor, food safety, marketing, and insurance.
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The Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Farming Newsletter (PPCFN), now received by over 620 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.
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August 15, 2014 NRCS Program Sign-up Deadline. AMA-spinkler & microirrigation and deer fence, CStP Stewardship, EQIP Conservation Activity Plan, EQIP on-farm energy & organic, EQIP Water Quality Initiative, EQIP Beginning Farmer-Soil Health, Socially Disadvantaged, Tribal Projects, Water Conservation/Irrigation, Aquatic Organism Passage, Working Lands for Wildlife. For 2015 Projects. Contact your local NRCS office to sign up. - August 15, 2014 Go For the Goal... Business and Personal Finance Applications for Farm Women, Webinar Noon to 1 pm, To register go to http://tinyurl.com/p7cuwvy For more information 609.465.5115, ext 607 or Carleo@NJAES.rutgers.edu
- August 20 - 21, 2014 Maine Farm Days, Misty Meadow Farm in Clinton. 8-hours of pesticide recertification credits offered.
- August 21 - 24, 2014 Piscataquis Valley Fair, Dover-Foxcroft
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August 26, 2014 Gubernatorial Forum - Focus on Agriculture. 1pm to 4pm, at the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Office, 205 Church Hill Rd., Augusta. Sponsored by the Agriculture Council of Maine
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September 6, 2014 UMaine Extension Piscataquis County Annual Meeting - Valley Grange Guilford. Piscataquis County UMaine Extension with the help of Valley Grange and Penquis are inviting the general public to join them to celebrate the Annual Meeting and raise some money to help Piscataquis Santa. The first part of the program called
The Meal Deal will be running from 5:00-7:00pm and it is a celebration of the harvest using locally grown products, the second part is the
Annual Meeting at 7:00 pm with Exhibits and Demonstration regarding farming, gardening and 4-H and what Extension is all about. Also John Jemison, Agronomist and Soil/Water Quality Specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will offer a talk on "Think Globally, Eat Locally ... the Maine Food Strategy" and how local producers fit in it. Attend either of both and enjoy this event at Valley Grange in Guilford, located at 172 Guilford Center Road - corner of Butter Street. For more information about this event you can contact UMaine Extension Piscataquis County Office by phone (207) 564-3301 or by e-mail at cepsq@umext.maine.edu
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October 22, 2014, Small-Scale Livestock Care, 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension Office, in Dover-Foxcroft with Donna Coffin. Livestock can be a lot of fun and a lot of work. If you have never cared for anything other than a family pet, this class will cover some of the things you need to know before you by that pig, sheep, goat or calf. How much space does this animal need? What will it eat and how much do I need? What do I do with the manure? How much time will it take? How do I know when the animal is healthy and when it is sick? How much meat , fiber, or milk can I expect? Where can I go for help? Sign up through the Penquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative at (207)564-6525 or go to https://pvaec.coursestorm.com/course/small-scale-livestock-care -
- November 1, 2014 Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale, sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association at Dick Brown's facility in Richmond. FMI click here.
- November 8 & 9, 2014 Maine Harvest Festival, Cross Center, Bangor. Click here for more info.
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November 12, 2014 Small-Scale Livestock Care, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the NOKOMIS High School in Newport with Donna Coffin. Livestock can be a lot of fun and a lot of work. If you have never cared for anything other than a family pet, this class will cover some of the things you need to know before you by that pig, sheep, goat or calf. How much space does this animal need? What will it eat and how much do I need? What do I do with the manure? How much time will it take? How do I know when the animal is healthy and when it is sick? How much meat , fiber, or milk can I expect? Where can I go for help? Sign up through the NOKOMIS Adult Education at (207)368-3290 or http://rsu19.maineadulted.org/ - November 13 - 16, 2014 Equine Affaire at Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield, MA. www.equineaffaire.com
- December 6, 2014 Maine Beef Conference, Ramada Inn, Bangor.
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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 http://www.weather.gov/car/. |
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.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
donna.coffin@maine.eduGoal
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.
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The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
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Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
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Penobscot Office
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
Piscataquis Office
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 |
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 Penobscot County Piscataquis County |
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